Top Trending Politics News & Highlights
Pawan Singh of the BJP Discusses Running for the Lok Sabha
Pawan Singh, an actor and singer from Bhojpur, stated on Monday that "time would tell" if he decided to run in the next Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to the media following his meeting with BJP president JP Nadda, Singh—who had been scheduled to run as the BJP candidate from Asansol in West Bengal but declared he would not after receiving negative feedback on his candidacy—avoided discussing the reasons behind his decision. "I spoke with the president of the party. After meeting with Nadda, Singh told the media, "Whatever happens in the future will be good." "That only time would tell," he responded when asked if he would run in the upcoming elections. I'll let you know if something occurs. Put it on hold for the time being "... On the other hand, Singh declined to respond to inquiries regarding the reasons behind his choice.Singh withdrew his name from the Lok Sabha election contest on Sunday from the West Bengal seat of Asansol, one day after the BJP announced him as its candidate from the seat currently held by Shatrughan Sinha of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).Singh thanked the BJP leadership in a post on X, but he also stated that he would not be able to run from Asansol "due to some reason," without providing an explanation.
Published 04 Mar 2024 05:25 PM
In Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee meets with PM Modi
"Following protocol, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described her interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Raj Bhavan on Friday night as a courtesy meeting. According to Banerjee, she also discussed with the PM the matter of the state's unpaid bills. ""In addition to chatting with the prime minister, I brought up state-related issues with him,"" Banerjee told reporters following the meeting.Beginning on Friday, PM Modi will spend the night at Raj Bhavan while on a two-day tour of West Bengal. The prime minister arrived at the governor's house shortly after Banerjee's convoy pulled in. Governor C V Ananda Bose took to X and said he met the PM at the Raj Bhavan. Earlier in the day, Bose had also attended the prime minister's official program at Arambagh, where Modi dedicated, inaugurated, and laid the groundwork for several development projects totaling more than ₹ 7,200 crore.Banerjee met with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi in December of last year to demand the release of the state's outstanding debt. The TMC claimed that West Bengal owed the Center ₹ 1.18 lakh crore. According to the Union government, two tranches of tax devolution were released to all states on Thursday. West Bengal received ₹ 10,692 crore, which is the fourth-highest amount after Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. On Monday, the state government started paying over 30 lakh MGNREGA workers their outstanding debt of ₹ 2,700 crore, which had been unpaid since March 2022."
Published 01 Mar 2024 09:04 PM
Congress To Defend 18 Seats in Maharashtra Opposition Seat Deal
According to sources who spoke with NDTV on Friday morning, the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in Maharashtra has decided on a seat-sharing agreement for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. In 48 hours, there'll probably be an official announcement. Sources claim that 20 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state will be contested by the Shiv Sena faction, which is led by former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The Nationalist Congress Party unit under Sharad Pawar will field candidates for the remaining 10 seats, with the Congress contesting 18 of them. The Sena (UBT) will give two seats to regional parties like Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi, and Mr. Pawar's share will give a ticket to an independent candidate named Raju Shetty.Additionally, according to sources, the Sena (UBT) will run for four of Mumbai's six Lok Sabha seats; the VBA may receive one of them, potentially the Mumbai North East seat. The MVA's seat-sharing agreement is a significant step forward for the opposition bloc in India, which is attempting to finalize agreements as soon as possible because the election is scheduled for a few weeks from now. State parties have consistently pushed the national outfit to secure a larger share of seats, making it difficult for the Congress-led group—which was founded in June of last year with the specific goal of unseating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party—to reach agreements.Its task has been made even more difficult by the Congress's miserable electoral record over the past ten years, particularly in 2014 and 2019, when it won a combined total of fewer than 100 seats. In Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party has been riding the alliance to an almost impossible level. After the Congress persisted in negotiating Mamata Banerjee's "final" offer of two seats—the same (and only) two it had won the previous time—the Trinamool Congress in Bengal even ended all negotiations with the party.
Published 01 Mar 2024 10:24 AM
The Himachal Crisis and Congress: Navjot Sidhus War Cry
Navjot Sidhu's War Cry During Congress' Himachal Crisis: "Purge The Party" After launching a fierce attack this morning on six party lawmakers who crossed-vote in Tuesday's Rajya Sabha election, which the party should have easily won, Navjot Singh Sidhu, the leader of the Congress in Punjab, appeared to be siding with the Bharatiya Janata Party. A political crisis in the hill state, where the Congress won less than two years ago, has been brought on by the shocking Rajya Sabha loss. The BJP is now demanding that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's weakened government demonstrate its strength in the 68-member House.Next, Mr. Sidhu attacked "masqueraders" who were "secretly dancing to the tunes of agencies like CBI, ED" and said that leaders in the Congress should be removed for "prioritizing personal gain over the collective good." "'Masqueraders' (for) plum posts, covertly dancing to the tunes of agencies like Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, and Income Tax Department, have spelt doomsday for us many-a-times!" said he.
Published 28 Feb 2024 05:25 PM
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Many items in my business are designed: Piyush Pandey
I spent a brief time working at Ogilvy Mumbai in the early years of my profession. I was definitely looking forward to meeting Piyush and simply watching and learning from his talent. It was the strongest incentive to sign up. However, deep down I was also realistic about it. I was aware that he would never have a conversation with a junior. After joining, I came to the realization that he most likely would have, but I also understood it was impossible given the amount of work he had to accomplish each day. And boy, was I glad I was. Apart from the fact that he is an advertising genius, these are the things I picked up from him during my tenure, even though I never worked directly with him.I learned the power of words from him. On my first day there, I recall being sucked into a film short for a newly launched bank. I expected an assignment when I walked in, but instead I got a really good poem. It was exquisite. The story and the slogan were both brimming with skill. Written specifically for the pitch, Piyush delivered it to the group by reading it aloud. The client gave it their blessing because it was so clever. It was enjoyable to come up with ways to carry it out. That day made me proud to be a copywriter because he demonstrated to me the power of words to accomplish goals that so many rounds of PowerPoints couldn't. I learned from him that leaders are people too.Everyone gathered on the floor to celebrate Piyush's birthday by cutting cakes. He was asked to speak a few words, as custom would have it. He became so overcome by the festivities during his remarks that he started crying. The largest agency leader in our nation displayed weakness during a time when all of them exuded strength and conceit. Furthermore, this was taking place in front of 200 or more workers. And we all cherished it. He taught me early on that leaders are people too and that it's appropriate to occasionally display your feelings as a leader since it's the right thing to do.
The biggest shake-up in Congress history
"The Congress announced significant organizational changes on Saturday in advance of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, including the removal of Priyanka Gandhi as the party's leader in Uttar Pradesh.The ancient party has named Ramesh Chennithala as its Maharashtra in-charge and Sachin Pilot, a former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan, as the leader of the Chhattisgarh Congress.With no designated job, Priyanka Gandhi will continue to serve as the party's general secretary, the Congress stated in a statement.The Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge, presided over a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision-making body, two days prior to the appointments. Senior leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, were present. Senior leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala, K C Venugopal, Mukul Wasnik, and Jairam Ramesh continue to serve as general secretaries, with responsibility for Gujarat, Karnataka, communication, and organization, respectively. According to the statement, Deepak Babaria is in charge of Delhi and Haryana, while Jitendra Singh, the general secretary in charge of Assam, was assigned the additional charge of Madhya Pradesh."
Congress rearranges the leadership group, giving Sachin Pilot a major role
"With the Lok Sabha elections quickly approaching, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge completed the much-needed reorganization of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretariat on Saturday. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was relieved of her duties as general secretary for the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, and Sachin Pilot was named general secretary for the state of Chhattisgarh. These nominations followed the party's appointment of a manifesto committee, chaired by former Union Minister P Chidambaram, to formulate the party's platform and issues for the Lok Sabha election campaign. Several leaders of the party urged the Congress Working Committee (CWC) to act quickly and begin organizing for the general elections on Thursday. As general secretary, Priyanka will remain so ""without any assigned portfolio."" There are rumors that she might receive a significant position within the company. The AICC general secretary Pilot's promotion and Ashok Gehlot's appointment to the national alliance committee earlier this week suggest that the Congress may consider a different candidate for Rajasthan's Leader of the Opposition position. granted that Pilot has been granted a function outside of the state and that Ashok Gehlot was included in a national alliance group earlier this week, Congress may be considering a new candidate for Rajasthan's Leader of the Opposition."
Avinash Pande is who? The new UP chief for the Congress, who took over for Priyanka Gandhi
"In the party's reorganization ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Avinash Pande took over as the Congress General Secretary overseeing Uttar Pradesh, replacing Priyanka Gandhi. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party named senior leader Avinash Pande as the General Secretary responsible for Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. Pande responded to the appointment by writing on X, ""I swear, Smt. Priyanka ji, to uphold your legacy."" I shall fully utilize the authority bestowed upon me as the General Secretary in charge as well as the task that has been assigned to me."
"Those who receive a summons from Lord Ram...”: BJP as CPM's Yechury turns down an invitation to Ayodhya
"Following the CPI(M)'s confirmation on Tuesday that it will not be attending the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, a furor broke out. Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi stated, ""Invitations were sent to all (but) only those called by Lord Ram will come,"" in an interview with news agency ANI.I received the invitation from Nripendra Mishra ji and a leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The CPI(M) respects and upholds each person's freedom to practice any religion they so choose. But now, the state is funding this inauguration ceremony. Attendees at the event will include the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the Prime Minister, and other constitutional officials. Politicization like this is wrong, Yechury said to India Today TV. ""According to the Constitution and the Supreme Court, the state shall not profess any particular religion or have any religious affiliation,"" he added.Our stance is to uphold each person's freedom to practice their religion and their beliefs. Religion is a matter of personal preference that should not be used as a political tool. Despite being invited, Comrade Sitaram Yechury will not be attending the ceremony, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) announced on X."
Amit Shah and JP Nadda are scheduled to meet in Kolkata prior to the Lok Sabha elections.
"On Tuesday, December 16, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda arrived in Kolkata to evaluate West Bengal's organizational readiness for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Throughout the day, West Bengal BJP workers are expected to attend a number of organizational meetings with Amit Shah and JP Nadda. On the occasion of Veer Baal Diwas, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda attended and offered prayers at Gurudwara Bara Sikh Sangat in Kolkata on Tuesday."
Caste, religion, and god in Kannada: How Karnataka Rakshana Vedike came to represent the state's language war
On Wednesday, the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) made headlines once more when its members destroyed non-Kannada signage and vandalized commercial establishments in Bengaluru, demanding that they have 60% Kannada. The demand has been made by pro-Kannada organizations previously. However, Wednesday’s vandalism came after the state government directed all establishments to sport Kannada signboards prominently and the Bengaluru civic body – Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) – set a February 28, 2024, deadline for the same.Parties have refrained from confronting the KRV due to its influence and network, which have been established over 20 years, and Siddaramaiah government's cautious response to the most recent wave of vandalism."
Congress seeks to determine a ""safe"" path after the Ram Temple event, where the road was paved with mines.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust invited the Congress to the Pran Pratishtha, or consecration ceremony, of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, but the Congress is not at all happy about the invitation. The Congress is caught in a political minefield, trying to craft a stance that won't do too much electoral damage, knowing that the BJP stands to gain political ground from the ceremony on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections. The matter may also cause rifts within the INDIA alliance. The Trinamool Congress has hinted that Mamata will speak at the function, although the CPI(M) has formally announced that its general secretary Sitaram Yechury will not be there and has criticized the BJP and RSS for combining religion and politics. In response to the Cong predicament, Shashi Tharoor says that invitees ought to have the freedom to choose, ""rather than being described as 'anti-Hindu' if they don't go, or 'playing into BJP hands' if they do."""
The main political events of 2023, in numbers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the new Parliament building on May 28. The Lok Sabh However, in terms of Parliament's operations, the year was still turbulent. It started with the chaotic Budget Session, which saw the second-lowest amount of time this government has ever spent in office. Though the Monsoon and Winter Sessions saw some of the most Bills passed since 2019, the productivity of the next two regular Sessions of Parliament suffered as well. However, there were constant interruptions during each session, and many important and divisive bills were passed with little to no debate. The government called a Special Session in September and unveiled the women's reservation bill, which aimed to give women 33% of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, shocking the electorate ahead of the Assembly poll. During this session, the Bill was approved by both Houses.a chamber now has 888 seats, up from 543 in the previous building. Additionally, the Rajya Sabha chamber's capacity was increased from 250 to 384 seats. Although the precise amount has not been disclosed, the construction is thought to have cost around Rs 1,200 crore. However, because the PM was launching the Parliament and ""sidelining"" President Droupadi Murmu, the legitimate head of state, twenty opposition parties, representing 242 MPs in both Houses, boycotted the inauguration."
Mohan Yadav of the BJP amid Kamal Nath rumors
Amidst the uncertainty surrounding Congress veteran Kamal Nath's next political move, a number of local leaders from his constituency of Chhindwara district became members of the BJP on Wednesday. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav greeted them with cryptic remarks, saying that many people are feeling uneasy and that they will eventually join the BJP in the upcoming days. In Mr. Yadav's presence, a number of Congressmen, including workers, council members, sarpanches, state Congress general secretary Ujjwal Singh Chauhan, and janpad members, defected to the BJP.A representative for Congress stated that deserters have no effect on the party. "A lot of people experience anxiety. They will become a part of the BJP family, if not today, then tomorrow. The chief minister stated at a public meeting that "nobody in the world will be able to prevent this from happening." In addition, he urged the populace to guarantee the BJP's win in the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat. Currently held by Kamal Nath's son Nakul Nath, Chhindwara was previously represented by Kamal Nath for nine terms. In the 2019 Madhya Pradesh elections, when the BJP won 28 out of 29 seats, this is the only constituency that the Congress was able to seize from the BJP. 1,500 Congressmen, the district BJP president of Chhindwara claimed, Sandeep Ghatode, the chairman of Pandhurna Nagar Palika, 16 sarpanchs, council members from Nagar Palika, and others are among the new members of the BJP. One of the seven assembly segments that make up the Chhindwara Lok Sabha constituency is Pandhurna. "I came to Chhindwara today to thank the people of Madhya Pradesh for electing the BJP to power with a mandate of 163 seats (in assembly elections)," said Mr. Yadav. In addition, the chief minister dedicated and laid the cornerstone for a number of 104 crore rupee development projects.Under PM Modi's direction, Madhya Pradesh would grow and no force on earth could stop it. The BJP government led by Narendra Modi is in power at this time. It's the poor people's government. Only because of PM Modi, more than 25 crore people nationwide—including 2.5 crore in MP—could escape poverty, he claimed. Additionally, Mr. Yadav organized a "Jan Abhar Yatra" from the Imlikheda airstrip to the public meeting location. Anand Bakshi, a spokesperson for the Congress, stated that if some employees defect to other parties, it won't have an impact on the party or the organization.Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, the general secretary of the Congress, stated on Tuesday that there is no truth to the rumors that Mr. Nath is joining the BJP, claiming that the media and the ruling party at the Center are the ones generating these discussions. According to a party leader, Mr. Nath will take part in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi once it enters Madhya Pradesh on March 2.
Rahul Gandhi is depicted as Lord Krishna on posters.
Congress leader Sandeep Shukla on Wednesday erected hoardings featuring Rahul Gandhi as Lord Krishna and state party chief Ajay Rai as Arjun from the epic "Mahabharat" in anticipation of the arrival of the Congress's ongoing "Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra" in Kanpur. On Wednesday, hoardings were erected throughout the city. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Shukla expressed his belief that Rahul Gandhi represents Lord Krishna in the modern era."Like when Lord Krishna stopped the Kauravas' animosity toward the Pandavas during the Dwaparyug, his goal is evident. Lord Krishna seemed to be spreading love at the time. In a similar vein, this Kalyug, our leader Rahul Gandhi has made it his mission to promote love and brotherhood. He is traveling to Kanpur today with the intention of bringing unity and love to all. He reminds me of Lord Krishna, in my opinion," Mr. Shukla had earlier in the day stated.With the honorable Ajay Rat-ji at his side, ready to battle the BJP as Arjun. Posters portray him as such," he continued. All the preparations were made for the procession, which will pass through the city's Ghantaghar intersection in the interim. Congressmen Rahul and Sonia Gandhi's posters and banners were all over the place. Jairam Ramesh, the general secretary of the Congress party, had earlier announced that the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' would be put on hold from February 26 to March 1 due to election-related meetings in Delhi. There will be a break from February 26 to March 1 because Rahul Gandhi must be present at several crucial meetings in Delhi related to the elections, Mr. Ramesh told ANI in Lucknow on Wednesday. He told them that on March 2, the Yatra will start up again.
Amid BJP Switch Speculation, Congress Says This About Nakul Naths Candidature from Chhindwara
Amid speculations that Congress veteran Kamal Nath and his son Nakul Kamal Nath might join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections, Congress made a big announcement about Nakul Nath’s candidature from Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara.Congress general secretary Jitendra Singh, who is touring Madhya Pradesh to understand the mood of party workers, said Nakul Nath is a strong candidate. Singh also hinted that the Chhindwara MP could be the party’s candidate in this election as well. “He is a strong candidate from there (Chhindwara) and will definitely contest the elections,” Singh told ANI.However, rumours are strife that Nakul Nath might join the saffron camp soon as he dropped a major hint of a possible political switch after he removed the party name and symbol from his social media bio last week. About the reports that former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and one of Congress’s senior-most leaders Kamal Nath might leave the party, Singh said those were just rumours being spread by the BJP.“There is nothing like this. All these rumours (of Kamal Nath leaving Congress) have been spread by the BJP. He is our senior leader and he will attend the meeting today regarding the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,” Jitendra Singh added. Meanwhile, suspense over Kamal Nath’s possible BJP switch continues as the leader, according to sources, is likely to join the saffron camp soon. The move, if happens, would turn out to be a massive blow to the already shaky INDIA bloc and Congress party ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.
Former Punjab PM Amarinder Singh meets PM Modi, discusses farmers issues
Former Punjab chief minister and BJP leader Amarinder Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed a host of issues related to farmers, he said on Tuesday.Singh said in a post on X, "Had a detailed meeting with Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji on wide-ranging issues related to Punjab, including the issues concerning the farmers. The meeting comes amid the ongoing protest by farmers, mostly from Punjab, who on Monday rejected the Centre's proposal to procure pulses, maize and cotton at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) by government agencies for five years and reiterated their call to march to the national capital, seeking a legal guarantee for the MSP regime, among other demands. Addressing reporters in Udupi, she said the M S Swaminathan committee had given 207 recommendations in its report, which was kept in "deep cold storage" by the UPA government. She claimed that all the recommendations were addressed by the Narendra Modi government alone, and minimum support price (MSP) was one among them.
Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP Ceased to Visit Sandeshkhali in Bengal
Following their refusal to visit the island this morning, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and CPM leader Brinda Karat are expected to engage in yet another political showdown in West Bengal over the Sandeshkhali issue. Due to the BJP's accusations of sexual violence by Trinamool leaders and numerous reports from women alleging harassment and extortion, the Sandeshkhali island in the North 24 Parganas district has gained media attention. The Bengal Assembly's Leader of Opposition, Mr. Adhikari, was prevented from boarding a ferry to transport him and his supporters to the island at Dhamakhali. This is his third trip to Sandeshkhali following the political uproar caused by the accusations made against Trinamool leaders.By the way, yesterday's Calcutta High Court decision permitted Mr. Adhikari to travel to Sandeshkhali. It requested that the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party submit an oath promising that neither he nor his allies would take part in any actions that could worsen the state of law and order. However, barricades were seen being erected this morning at Dhamakhali by police and members of the riot control force in an attempt to stop the BJP leader and his supporters. Furthermore, prohibitory orders were enforced by the local government in Sandeshkhali, prohibiting public gatherings on the island.Before Ms. Karat could travel to the island, she was also stopped at Dhamakhali. Supporters of the BJP and CPM are currently demonstrating in Dhamakhali. The BJP has claimed that supporters of local Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan harassed women sexually, putting the island at the center of a heated political dispute. Reports from the ground by NDTV exposed claims of extortion and land grabs, with locals accusing Shahjahan's aides of stealing money they were given through federal and state government welfare programs.Since a mob attacked an Enforcement Directorate team conducting raids against Mr. Shahjahan in a corruption case, Mr. Shahjahan has been evading capture for the past month. Uttam Sardar and Shibu Hazra, two of his assistants, have been taken into custody. According to state police, 17 people have been taken into custody, and camps have been established in Sandeshkhali to document locals' complaints. With party leader Mamata Banerjee claiming that Sandeshkhali has a "RSS base" and alluding to the organization's involvement in the disturbances, the ruling Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP of causing unrest on the island.
India Fails As Mehbooba Mufti Gets Ready
The People's Democratic Party of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has stated that it is getting ready to fight the general election, which is only a few weeks away, on its own. This could put the INDIA bloc in yet another crisis, adding to the drama in Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Nitish Kumar's walkout in Bihar. The six Lok Sabha seats in the union territory are divided between the National Conference of Farooq Abdullah, a former chief minister, and the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in control of the center. Ms. Mufti's PDP said that its parliamentary board will choose candidates for these seats soon.We will talk about it because they (the National Conference) have already made a decision. Suhail Bukhari of the PDP stated, "There will be discussions and a future course of action will be decided (soon)."The PDP's statement regarding going it alone was made a few days after similar statements were made by Farooq Abdullah, a member of INDIA whose National Conference is also a member. Nevertheless, shortly after the senior leader's statements, Omar Abdullah, his son, emphasized that the NC "was part of INDIA and still is..."Even more oddly, the PDP has maintained that it is "firm in our commitment to unity and our alliance..." "Ignore fake reports that the PDP is severing its ties to the INDIA alliance. We remain steadfast in our dedication to our alliance and unity. The party said on X, "Don't let malicious misinformation fool you.According to sources, the party could win at least three seats on its own, according to an internal assessment that served as the basis for this call. According to sources, this has led to the NC's reluctance to cede seats to the Congress or the PDP, highlighting the difficulties INDIA bloc members face in negotiating seat-sharing agreements. The remarks raised eyebrows because INDIA is fighting for its life after being rejected by Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of Bengal, and the Aam Aadmi Party, as well as abandoned by its founder, Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of Bihar. Additionally, the Samajwadi Party of Akhilesh Yadav
Former Minister Mahendrajeet Malviya of Rajasthan Joins the BJP
Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, a former minister and four-time MLA, joined the BJP on Monday, which dealt a blow to the Congress in Rajasthan. Malviya, the Banswara district MLA from Bagidora, claimed that he joined the BJP in order to further the development of the Vagad area. South Rajasthan's Vagad tribal region includes the districts of Banswara and Dungarpur. Malviya, a former MP as well, arrived at the BJP office in Jaipur and was greeted by Arun Singh, the party's in-charge of Rajasthan, CP Joshi, the head of the state unit, and other leaders. The lawmaker claimed to have met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP leader JP Nadda on Sunday in Delhi, and he also mentioned being swayed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the party's national convention. Malviya, taking aim at the Congress, expressed his hurt at the party's refusal to come to the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.I am joining the BJP with all of my devotion," he declared during a press conference held at the party headquarters. "There is no one else who can work in the tribal area except the BJP and Modi," he stated. Joshi claimed that Malviya was inspired by the actions and policies of the Modi administration and made the decision to join the BJP.
After Chandigarh Mayor Resigns, Arvind Kejriwal Says
Today, Arvind Kejriwal declared that Manoj Sonkar, the leader of the BJP, had resigned, proving that the elections had been rigged. "It is evident from the mayor's resignation that election manipulation occurred. "Our councilors are being bought and broken if the election is not won," Mr. Kejriwal declared. His words are made one day after Mr. Sonkar resigned from his position in anticipation of the Supreme Court hearing a case alleging manipulation of the mayoral elections.In the much anticipated election on January 30, Mr. Sonkar triumphed over Kuldeep Kumar of the Aam Aadmi Party. In the election, Mr. Sonkar received sixteen votes as opposed to the AAP candidate's twelve. Eight votes were deemed invalid, which threw doubt on the BJP's victory and prompted harsh criticism and charges from the opposition. Three AAP council members—Poonam Devi, Neha, and Gurcharan Kala—decayed to the BJP on the same day, compounding the party's problems.The BJP now has 17 members out of the 35-member Chandigarh Municipal Corporation as a result of this development. The BJP now has 19 members in total thanks to the support of one Shiromani Akali Dal councilor and Kirron Kher, the MP for Chandigarh, who is an ex-officio member and may vote. With just 10 council members remaining, the AAP and its ally Congress, which has seven, are in a difficult position. Chaos has surrounded the election aftermath, with claims of electoral irregularities and cheating. The opposition, comprising the AAP and Congress council members, charged that the BJP had not followed the correct electoral procedures, pointing out that in a video that was sent to the Supreme Court, the presiding officer, Anil Masih, was seen "tampering" with voting papers.
Congress Is Offered 15 UP Seats By Akhilesh Yadav, With A Yatra Requirement
In order to oppose the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a number of opposition parties banded together last year. However, the Congress and its alliance partners have not succeeded in moving forward with seat-sharing negotiations, and it is still unclear whether the INDA bloc will run jointly in the 2024 elections. The Samajwadi Party has delivered the Congress yet another blow by posing a demanding demand for the party's support in Uttar Pradesh. Sources claim that Samajwadi has stated that it is only willing to allow the Congress party to run for 15 of Uttar Pradesh's 80 Lok Sabha seats. The Congress won 52 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, with very few of those victories occurring in the Hindi belt or the northeast. Raebareli was the only seat it won in Uttar Pradesh, as Rahul Gandhi was defeated by Smriti Irani in Amethi. In courtesy to the Congress, Samajwadi had withdrawn from the 2019 elections in Amethi and Rae Bareli. This time, though, the party has adopted a strong stance, offering the Congress 15 seats and insisting that the Congress cannot contest any additional seats as long as the alliance remains in place. Congress now has the ball in their court, and we are waiting for a response. The Congress president Rahul Gandhi's current Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is being led by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav; Yadav's decision to join is also pending the Congress's acceptance of the invitation. "We've exchanged numerous lists and held multiple rounds of discussions. The Samajwadi Party will take part in their Nyay yatra after seat-sharing is completed, Mr. Yadav declared.As it enters its 37th day, the opposition has used the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra as a focal point to criticize the BJP, which is currently in power. Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, two prominent members of the Congress, are expected to speak at a public gathering in Babuganj. Regarding Akhilesh Yadav's involvement in the Yatra, Congress General Secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh had voiced optimism.Regarding seat sharing, the AAP's Bhagwant Mann in Punjab and Mamata Banerjee in Bengal have both rejected the Congress. NItish Kumar, who deviated and took the oath of office as the ninth Chief Minister of Bihar last month to lead an alliance government with the BJP, has betrayed the entire Opposition.It is important that Congress maintain the Samajwadi Party's support in light of these setbacks. Samajwadi sources have stated that if Congress requests more seats than the 15 allotted, the party may split from the INDIA bloc.
Bank account freeze case: Why accounts of Congress were under I-T depts scanner | Explained
The Congress' main bank accounts were frozen on Friday over an income tax demand of ₹210 crore but an I-T appellate tribunal later allowed it to operate them pending a further hearing next week, a huge relief for the party which said the move had impacted all political activity.ITAT (Income Tax Appellate Tribunal) will hear the matter on February 21, sources told ANI, adding that the current due of Congress to the Tax Department totals ₹115 crores.No bank operations have been seized or stopped in the Congress bank account freeze case, the sources informed further. "The Congress' tax due pertains to FY 17-18, AY 18-19. The initial due to the Tax Dept was ₹103 crores and ₹32 crores in interest accrued on late payment. The claims were for not filing the returns on time. The tax due was reassessed at ₹105 crores on 6th July 2021. Post this, the INC appealed before Commissioner Appeals but did not pay the mandatory 20 per cent of the tax as they had filed a plea by then," a source said. "INC paid only ₹78 lakh, prompting CIT (Appeal) to dismiss their plea. Again, on May 2023, the INC went for 2nd appeal at ITAT. The Congress did not apply for any stay on the tax demand at ITAT. In October 2023, the INC paid ₹1.72 crore. No orders were passed by ITAT today. Nowhere in their appeal has the Congress disputed the tax-due amount. No bank account operation has been stopped by the Income Tax department," the source told ANI. “You are hereby required under Section 226(3) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, to pay to me forthwith any amount due from you to or, held by you, for or on account of Bank Account No. 062304xxxxx and any other bank account/fixed deposit with your bank in the name of Indian National Congress upto the amount of arrears shown above" All Our bankers are being sent this...
57% vs 10%: BJP vs Congress share in electoral bond funds
In the six years since the electoral bonds scheme was introduced, more than half, or 57%, of the funds extended through bonds have gone to the BJP. The party, as per its declarations to the Election Commission, received Rs 5,271.97 crore via bonds between 2017-2022. The Congress was a distant second at Rs 952.29 crore. The EC is yet to publish the annual reports of parties for the financial year 2022-2023. The Supreme Court on Thursday held the changes made in the law to introduce the electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional, in a unanimous verdict on a batch of pleas challenging the legal validity of the Centre’s scheme which allowed for anonymous funding to political parties. A five-judge Constitution Bench presided by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud also directed that “the issuing bank shall herewith stop the issuance of electoral bonds” and asked the State Bank of India (SBI) to “submit details of the electoral bonds purchased since the interim order of the court dated April 12, 2019, till date to the Election Commission of India (ECI)”. The bench, also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said, “The deletion of the proviso to Section 182(1) of the Companies Act, permitting unlimited corporate funding to political parties is arbitrary and violative of Article 14”. Under the scheme, notified by the Narendra Modi government on January 2, 2018, electoral bonds could be purchased by any citizen of India or entity incorporated or established in India. An individual can buy electoral bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals. It was pitched as an alternative to cash donations and as a way to increase transparency in political funding. In the period between 2017-2018 and 2021-2022, electoral bonds worth Rs 9,208.23 crore were sold, according to State Bank of India data obtained by The Indian Express through RTI.An analysis of the annual audited account statements submitted by the parties to the EC puts the worth of the contributions via bonds to the BJP at Rs 5,271.97 crore, from 2017-2018 till 2021-2022.
After Swami Maurya, SP’s Apna Dal ally speaks out over ‘sidelining’ of backwards
There is trouble brewing within the Samajwadi Party (SP), with dissenters using the latest round of rolling Rajya Sabha polls, due on February 27, as a platform to voice their disagreements with the party leadership. At least two prominent leaders of the party have questioned the SP’s “treatment” of backward leaders, with questions raised on why it had not stood by its own Lok Sabha poll promises regarding, what it calls, the PDA (Pichda, Dalit and Alpasankhyak) groups, while naming its Rajya Sabha candidates. The first was party national general secretary Swami Prasad Maurya, who resigned from his post on Tuesday, claiming that he was being undermined within the party by other leaders who described his statements as his “personal views”. Now Pallavi Patel, who won the Assembly seat from Sirathu in 2022 on the SP symbol, with her party Apna Dal (Kamervadi) as SP’s ally, has said she won’t cast her vote for the Rajya Sabha polls. The vote of the lone Apna Dal (K) leader could become crucial for the SP in getting all three of its nominees elected to the Rajya Sabha. Patel has objected to the fact that two of the three candidates nominated by the SP are not from PDA communities, and she suggested Wednesday that it was not certain that her party would continue as an SP ally. SP sources claimed her real grievance was that her mother Krishna Patel wasn’t nominated. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, still recovering from the exit of ally RLD, asserted that there was no cause for worry. The SP, which can win 3 of the 10 Rajya Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh that are falling vacant, has nominated former chief secretary Alok Ranjan, actor-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan — both Kayasths — and Ramji Lal Suman, a Dalit. Other party leaders too said on Wednesday that there was a difference between what SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is preaching and what he does. “To vindicate his PDA pitch, he should have sent three PDA people to the Rajya Sabha. He has sent Jaya Bachchan ji, who is a reliable leader for the SP. But was it the right choice in an election year? The second choice — Alok Ranjan — has raised more eyebrows within the party. He is from an upper caste, has no grounding in politics. The party leadership could have chosen a woman from a marginalised community. Maybe a Muslim woman and a backward class leader…,” a Lucknow-based SP leader said. Another SP leader said: “Look at what the BJP is doing. They have given Bharat Ratna to a farmer leader (Chaudhary Charan Singh) and a backward leader (Karpoori Thakur). This is all a part of their election strategy. Akhileshji and the top leadership could have also made the nominations a tactical move. The Muslims are a main vote bank for the SP now, but it seems they have no standing within the party.”
