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."
Pakistani government drags on, Imran Khans party names its PM candidate
Imran Khan's jailed leader has nominated Omar Ayub Khan as a candidate in a parliamentary vote to choose a new prime minister after last week's national elections, according to a senior aide to the former prime minister of Pakistan. Although no candidate emerged with a clear majority from the polls, Khan's independent candidates secured 92 of the 264 seats, making them the largest group. As a result of Khan ruling out coalitions with the three biggest parties, his candidate does not currently have enough support to form a government.After meeting with the former prime minister in jail, Asad Qaiser, a senior leader of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party, informed reporters, "Omar Ayub will be our candidate for the prime minister election; he has been nominated by Imran Khan. Qaiser stated that PTI would talk to other parties about endorsing Ayub's candidacy. A coalition to establish a minority government has already been announced by Khan's opponents. Because they were technically prohibited by the election commission from participating in the polls under the electoral symbol of Khan's party, Khan's supporters filed as independents.Millions of Khan's fans turned out to vote for him in spite of the ban and his incarceration for convictions stemming from charges of corruption to state secrets leakage. Khan is prohibited from serving in any government while he is incarcerated. Ayub is presently in hiding and is wanted by law enforcement for a number of reasons, including possible involvement in the rioting that followed Imran Khan's arrest. Despite not participating in the campaign, he ran for office and was elected. He had previously belonged to both the ruling party of Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the former head of the military, and the party of Khan's principal opponent, Nawaz Sharif. The first military dictator of Pakistan, Ayub Khan, is the grandson of Ayub.
Sold until 2022, Election Bonds valued at ₹16,000 crore.
Given that the Bharatiya Janata Party received more than 60% of the donations made under the electoral bonds scheme between 2016 and 2022, the party is probably going to suffer the most as a result of the Supreme Court's decision to discontinue the programme. A five-judge bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud ruled that the electoral bonds scheme was unconstitutional just months before the Lok Sabha 2024 elections. The plan violates citizens' fundamental right to information, the court declared. A financial tool called electoral bonds enables people and organizations to give money to political parties in secret. In lieu of cash donations, the BJP government introduced them in 2018. They were presented as a project to increase political funding transparency.Election Commission data shows that 28,030 electoral bonds were sold for ₹ 16,437.63 crore between 2016 and 2022. Nearly 60% of the total donations, or ₹ 10,122 crore, went to the BJP, which was the main recipient of these contributions. In the same period, the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal received ₹ 823 crore, or 8% of all electoral bonds, while the main opposition Congress party received ₹ 1,547 crore, or 10%. Election-bond donations to the BJP exceeded the total contributions to all other thirty parties on the list by a factor of three. The following are the donations that seven national parties reportedly received: BJP: 10,122 crore rupees Congress: INR 1,547 million TMC: ₹ 823 crore CPI(M): ₹ 367 million NCP: ₹ 231 crore BSP: 85 crore rupees CPI: 13 crore rupees
Electoral bonds: What Are They? Contribute to Political Parties
The Supreme Court invalidated the electoral bonds program today, citing violations of the constitutional rights to information and freedom of speech and expression. This decision is a historic one. However, what are electoral bonds exactly? As initially stated by the Finance Minister in the Union Budget 2017–18, an electoral bond is a means of financing donations to political parties.As per the Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018, an electoral bond is defined as a bond that is issued with the characteristics of a promissory note and must have bearer character. According to the Association for Democratic Reforms, a bearer instrument is one that lacks a buyer or payee's name, no ownership information is kept on file, and the holder of the instrument—a political party, for example—is assumed to be its owner.Citizens of India may donate these bonds, which are issued in multiples of ₹ 1,000, ₹ 10,000, ₹ 1 lakh, ₹ 10 lakh, and ₹ 1 crore, to political parties of their choice under the scheme. The political parties have fifteen days to redeem these bonds. An individual can purchase bonds on their own or in partnership with other people. There is no cap on the quantity of electoral bonds that an individual or corporate entity may buy. The authorized bank will deposit the amount of bonds to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund if they are not cashed within the 15-day validity period. The ADR drew attention to the fact that the scheme does not mandate that political parties include the names and addresses of individuals making contributions through electoral bonds in their yearly contribution reports that are submitted to the Election Commission.
Pakistani Caretaker PMs View On Candidates Supported by Imran Khan
Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Pakistan's acting prime minister, stated on Monday that the only reason independents, who were supported by imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, became the single largest party in the general elections was because his administration gave "a level playing field" to all political parties. Prior to Thursday's election, Mr. Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party had made repeated claims that the ruling elite and the interim administration were not treating all political parties equally and that certain parties and their leaders were receiving special treatment.The results of the National Assembly showed that the PTI-backed independents won 101 seats, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by another former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, won 75 seats, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, won 54 seats, and the MQM-P, in addition to others, won eight seats.The state-run news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) cited Mr. Kakar as saying, "A large number of independent candidates backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf emerged as the largest single group on the national and provincial assemblies."Mr. Kakar emphasized that social media was the source of claims of electoral tampering, which were false and at odds with the actual situation. He also stated that "people had always questioned the electoral process throughout the country's democratic history." He emphasised, "Such results indicated the transparency and non-interference by any quarters," during a press conference at PM House.While acknowledging the possibility of flaws or other minor issues, Mr. Kakar said that "in general, the elections were conducted in a way that the entire nation and the law enforcement agencies deserved commendation despite various security challenges." asserting that the PTI achieved outcomes "the party never dreamt of during 2018," he stated, "The loyalists of jailed PTI leaders emerged as returned candidates in the general elections, but no one is appreciating that aspect of the neutrality of the caretaker government." Mr. Kakar asserted in response to a question that more than 60 million people exercised their constitutional right to choose their preferred candidates in "a pressure-free environment." "The elections in Pakistan were held in a free and fair manner and there was no institutional mechanism to favour any group," Mr. Kakar stated.
PM Modi Is Traveling To Jammu & Kashmir
According to sources, on February 20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute over a lakh appointment letters at a Rozgaar Mela in Jammu and Kashmir. During his visit, the Prime Minister will also officially launch a number of massive projects. Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Prime Minister's visit to the Union Territory is perceived as an effort to win over the young voters in the area. Union Ministers Ashwini Kumar Choubey and Dr Jitendra Singh are expected to attend the job distribution mela at BSF Headquarters Paloura in Jammu, as planned.According to the sources, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farm Welfare Kailash Choudhary will give out appointment letters to young people at the Rozgar Mela in Leh, while Union Minister of State for AYUSH, Women and Child Development Mahendra Munjpara will attend the Rozgar Mela in Srinagar. "The PM will inaugurate mega projects in Jammu, which includes the inauguration of AIIMS in Vijainagar and an Indian Institute of Management (IIM)," a top BJP official stated. "Before the Model Code of Conduct is declared some promises made by the party would be fulfilled and also some mega projects would be inaugurated by the Prime Minister," said the leader. "With the removal of Article 370, this Lok Sabha election will be the first to be held in Jammu and Kashmir, which has five seats. Thus, the stakes are high for us as well," he said.
Amit Shah says BJP always welcomes new allies, talks on with SAD
The BJP does not believe in "family planning" in politics and always welcomes new allies, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Saturday and said that talks were on with the Shiromani Akali Dal. Speaking at an event, Shah also stressed that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will be implemented before the Lok Sabha polls and predicted the BJP will win 370 seats while the NDA will get more than 400 seats out of 543 in the elections.Asked about the possibility of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), headed by Jayant Singh, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and other regional parties joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the home minister said, "We believe in family planning (in general) but not in politics." "We always want that our alliance grows and we always welcome new allies. Our ideology has remained the same since the days of Jan Sangh. Those who like to join us can come," he said at the ET NOW Global Business Summit 2024.When pressed further on the re-entry of SAD in NDA, he said, "Talks are going on but nothing has been finalised." On the possibility of joining hands with the TDP, which left the NDA in 2018, or the YSR Congress, Shah said, "Everything is not disclosed in such platforms. Wait for some time. Everything will be clear for all." In a major political realignment ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar switched from the opposition INDIA bloc to the NDA last month while there is talk of RLD also joining the BJP-led alliance."There are normally two reasons why they leave. It is because of certain incident or it is because of the political equation of a particular state. But the BJP never sought separation from any party. BJP always maintained the coalition dharma," Shah said. The Union minister asserted that there is no suspense over the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls and even the Congress and other opposition parties have realised that they will again have to sit in the opposition benches.
PM Modi banters with MPs during surprise lunch, reveals he sleeps for 3.5 hours, doesn eat after 6 pm
Prime Minister Narendra Modi surprised MPs on Friday after stopping for a meal at the Parliament canteen during the ongoing Budget session. The senior politician was joined by eight lawmakers from different parties for a platter of platter of rice, khichdi, paneer, daal, til and ragi sweets. The NDA politicians dubbed it a 'casual cordial meeting' that spanned a variety of topics — from the Prime Minister's lifestyle to his foreign trips.“Everyone was surprised and happy at the same time. PM Modi talked about his daily routine, his exercise, his foreign trips, when he visited Karachi. We got to spend 45 minutes with him. We learnt so many inspiring things from him. He said he sleeps for 3.5 hours and does not eat after 6pm," Union minister and MP L Murugan later told ANI. The Winter Session of Parliament ends on Saturday. It is the final session for both Houses before the Lok Sabha elections — likely in April-May.“Enjoyed a sumptuous lunch, made even better thanks to the company of parliamentary colleagues from various parties and different parts of India," the PM later tweeted. He also shared photos of their repast.
Cannot afford any further delays in decision-making: AAP to INDIA bloc
Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced its contenders for three seats in Assam, signalling its readiness to contest the polls independently, outside the INDIA alliance if necessary. AAP MP Sandeep Pathak expressed frustration over prolonged discussions with the INDIA bloc, urging the need for swift decisions in securing victory in the elections.Addressing the media, Sandeep Pathak stated, "Talks with the INDIA alliance have been ongoing for months. We are growing weary of mere discussions. It's time to not just talk but also to contest and emerge victorious. We cannot afford to delay any further. We stand in solidarity with the INDIA alliance and hope that these three seats announced today will be allotted to the AAP." Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Pathak stressed the importance of time and strategy in the electoral process. "When aiming for victory through an alliance, time and strategy are crucial. We cannot afford further delays in decision-making. It's time to expedite all processes and take decisive actions," he asserted. AAP's declaration of candidates for the Assam seats includes Manoj Dhanohar for Dibrugarh, Bhaven Chaudhary for Guwahati, and Rishi Raj for Sonitpur. Pathak expressed confidence in the maturity of the alliance and expressed hope that the INDIA bloc would endorse the AAP's candidates. Pathak also called for urgency ahead of the polls, he said, "With time slipping away, the window for contesting the polls is narrowing. We must accelerate all proceedings. Talks have been ongoing for months, yet no concrete results have emerged. All decisions regarding the alliance must be made promptly," he urged. The Congress and AAP party held a meeting on Monday to gear up for the elections, particularly in Delhi. Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely stated at the time that the party was in the process of finalising a panel of candidates for the seven Lok Sabha seats in the capital.
Uttarakhand Assembly passes UCC Bill; becomes Indias first state to implement Uniform Civil Code
A day after Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, the state Assembly passed it on Wednesday. With the House nod, Uttarakhand became the first state in the country to implement a Uniform Civil Code, which presents common law for marriage, divorce, inheritance of property, etc. The UCC Bill, which will now become an Act is based on the draft submitted by a high-level committee formed by the Uttarakhand government under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana P Desai. The implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand comes months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. The reports have claimed that the Union Government is planning to bring a similar law at the national level and BJP-ruled states like Gujarat and Assam are already in the process of passing UCC law in their respective states. The Uniform Civil Code has been one of the foundational items of BJP's agenda apart from the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The Uniform Civil Code brings a common law for marriage, divorce, inheritance of property, etc., which were earlier governed by personal laws of every religion. The common code bars bigamy (marrying one person while still legally married to another) and polygamy (having multiple spouses simultaneously). The Uttarakhand government has cleared that the members belonging to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) community will remain out of the purview of the Uniform Civil Code. The UCC will not apply to "members of any Scheduled Tribes within the meaning of clause (25) of Article 366 read with Article 142 of the Constitution of India and the persons and group of persons whose customary rights are protected under Part XXI of the Constitution of India."
Rahul Gandhi bats for caste census after Modis iggest OBC remark
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated calls for a caste census on Monday following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that he was the ‘biggest OBC’. The Wayanad MP — currently travelling through Jharkhand for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra — said the PM appeared to ‘get confused’ during his address in Parliament and urged him to ‘decide first’. Gandhi said that it was necessary to count members of the community if the administration ‘wanted to give them participation’. The question is in front of everyone. PM calls himself OBC. In between he got confused and then started saying that there are only two castes in the country – rich and poor. So he should decide first...We want caste census to be done…" Gandhi said. Prime Minister Modi had come down heavily on the Congress and other Opposition parties during an address in Parliament on Sunday, accusing the UPA government of not delivering justice with OBCs. “Congress can't tolerate OBCs...They keep counting how many OBCs are there in government. Can't you (Congress) see the biggest OBC here (pointing towards himself)?" PM Modi said during his reply to the 'Motion of Thanks' on the President's address. This question is not just of one person but of the people of India. As an example, there are only three OBCs out of 90 IAS in Delhi. You will not find Dalits and tribals in the health and education system. Name any OBC owner among the top 100 corporate companies in India. You might have heard the names of Adani, Tata, and Birla but there is no name of any OBC. What kind of country would there be in India of injustice?" he added
Champai Soren to face floor test in Jharkhand Assembly today, Section 144 imposed
Jharkhand Assembly will witness crucial ‘floor test’ on Monday, 5 February, of the ruling alliance led by JMM leader and chief minister Champai Soren. Last week Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren was arrested by Enforcement Directorate in land fraud case, necessitating another senior JMM leader Champai Soren to take over. The Assembly will convene for a two-day session on 5 February. The newly formed Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in Jharkhand under the leadership of Chief Minister Champai Soren will face the floor test today. Section 144 has been imposed near Jharkhand assembly. A special court in Ranchi allowed former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren to participate in the trust vote in the state assembly on February 5. JMM leader Manoj Pandey said, "I think it is just a formality. The spirit of the opposition is already low seeing the numbers and the unity of the INDIA alliance. The figure can also cross 48. Our party, our alliance is united...Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren will also be present and will vote during the floor test. The ruling alliance of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had sent off their MLAs to Congress-ruled Telangana to prevent any poaching by Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
Arvind Kejriwal sympathises with Delhi police action after MLA poaching charges.
On Delhi Police serving notice to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, he said ‘Sympathise with police, they're being made to do drama instead of stopping crime.’Earlier in the day, a team of Delhi Police Crime Branch officials arrived at the residence of AAP leader and issued notice alleging that his party charged that Bharatiya Janata Party "of trying to buy AAP MLAs". They also sought a reply from him in the next three days Police officials also came to serve notice on Friday and asked him to provide evidence that BJP "of trying to buy AAP MLAs". They also visited the residence of AAP minister Atishi.Sources close to ANI cited that both the AAP leaders were not present at their respective residences.Atishi also revealed that the AAP possesses a recording of one such "Operation Lotus 2.0" conversation, hinting at its potential release if necessary. The Aam Aadmi Party accuses the BJP of attempting to destabilize the elected Delhi government through "Operation Lotus 2.0," and also alleged that BJP has offered bribes and threats to AAP MLAs to induce defection.Atishi said “BJP has started 'Operation Lotus 2.0', and is trying to topple the democratically elected AAP government in Delhi. 7 MLAs of the AAP have been contacted by the BJP, and have been told, that Arvind Kejriwal will be arrested soon, after which AAP MLAs will be rifted apart. They are in touch with 21 of our MLAs, using whom they aim to topple the Delhi government. Those 7 MLAs have been offered ₹25 crores each. Operation Lotus is the tactic used by the BJP to come into power in states, where they are not democratically elected. Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh are examples,"
