Category: Politics

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher criticized Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Haryana. He asked if the PM would say his party’s wins in elections show his way of helping India is working. Pandher pointed out that farmers are unhappy with both the ruling BJP and the opposition INDIA alliance. He urged PM Modi to pay attention to the ongoing farmers’ protests.

“Is he going to say that because his party wins elections, we should see his development as good?” Pandher said. “Farmers and youth have many problems, and the PM should announce solutions that help farmers.”

Today, PM Modi is in Panipat to start construction on a large new campus for Maharana Pratap Horticultural University in Karnal. This $700 crore project will help farmers grow different crops and improve gardening technology.

Recently, police in Punjab and Haryana spoke with farmer leaders about their concerns after many farmers were injured in protests. Tensions are high at the Punjab-Haryana border, where police used tear gas on farmers trying to head to Delhi. Pandher accused the Punjab government of working with the central government to stop the protests. Opposition leaders criticized how the government is handling the situation, highlighting problems like fertilizer shortages and the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.

More discussions are planned for today as farmers decide their next steps in their fight for better treatment.

The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) might move to disqualify two of its MLAs, ST Somashekar and A Shivaram Hebbar, this month. BY Vijayendra, the state BJP president, shared this news with news agency. His team will recommend tough action against these two lawmakers to the party’s leaders soon.

The BJP’s central disciplinary committee will send them notices explaining why they are in trouble. Vijayendra expects this to happen in the next 3-4 days. The party members believe they need to take strong steps against Somashekar and Hebbar because they have been supporting the ruling Congress party and working against BJP’s interests.

Vijayendra mentioned that the party leadership in Delhi wants to ensure that the state BJP operates smoothly and discourages actions that could harm the party. They want to give Somashekar (from Yeshwantpur) and Hebbar (from Yellapur) a chance to explain themselves in 10 days. After that period, they will ask the Assembly Speaker to start the disqualification process.

The same disciplinary committee is also looking into Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda R Patil (Yatnal) for making negative comments about senior BJP leaders. However, his situation is different; he has violated party rules but hasn’t engaged in any activities against the party.

Somashekar and Hebbar have not followed the party’s orders by voting against the BJP’s official candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections and have campaigned for Congress candidates in recent elections. They are among 17 MLAs who switched from Congress to support the BJP in 2019, helping Yediyurappa take control of the government. Although they were ministers before and contested in the last elections with BJP support, their bond with the party seems to have weakened.

On Sunday, BJP leader Pravin Darekar said that when Sharad Pawar backed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to lead the INDIA bloc, it showed that he thinks Rahul Gandhi isn’t a good leader for the Congress party anymore. Darekar said, “I believe Pawar is suggesting that Rahul Gandhi can’t lead and that Congress isn’t able to guide the alliance now. It seems like there’s one message from him, but also conflicting words. Only time will tell what he truly thinks.”

Sharad Pawar recently praised Mamata Banerjee, calling her a strong national leader. He said, “Yes, she can lead the alliance. She is a well-known leader and her team in Parliament is responsible and skilled. She deserves to lead.”

Sanjay Raut from Shiv Sena also supports Mamata’s role, saying they want her to be an important part of the alliance. He mentioned that they plan to meet her soon in Kolkata to discuss this.

Congress MP Kirti Azad responded to ideas from TMC leaders that Mamata should lead the INDIA bloc after Congress lost in the Maharashtra elections. He praised her leadership, saying, “Mamata has a perfect record. Whenever Prime Minister Modi faced loss, it was in West Bengal. Her support grows when he insults Bengal. She speaks clearly and is known for uniting people.”

Meanwhile, BJP leader Darekar criticized the opposition MLAs for their actions surrounding their oaths, calling it a “drama” and insulting to the people of Maharashtra. He stated that if they didn’t want to take the oath, they shouldn’t have agreed to it later. He added that their actions were a “flop show” and said the people won’t forgive them.

Mumbai: BJP MLA Rahul Narwekar has officially announced his candidacy for the Speaker’s position in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. On Sunday, he submitted his nomination papers with the support of several key leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and both Deputy Chief Ministers, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. The election for the Speaker will take place tomorrow, December 9.

Rahul Narwekar previously served as the Speaker during the last term under the Mahayuti government. He took his oath as the MLA from the Colaba constituency on Saturday. In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Narwekar expressed his gratitude, stating that he feels proud to be elected and is committed to earning the trust of the people.

Also on Saturday, Senior BJP MLA Kalidas Sulochana Kolambkar was acting as the pro-tem Speaker. A total of 173 newly elected MLAs took their oaths that day, while 115 opposition MLAs are yet to do so. Under the Shiv Sena (UBT), leader Aaditya Thackeray announced that their winning MLAs would refuse to take their oaths, citing concerns over the legitimacy of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar responded to Thackeray by stating that if there are doubts about the EVMs, the opposition should take their concerns to the Election Commission or the courts. There’s no use in bringing it up here, he said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shared exciting news about the recent assembly elections. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) didn’t think they would win 90% of the seats they competed for. At an awards event in Mumbai, he explained, “We didn’t see this big win coming. A small increase in votes usually means a big win or a big loss. I felt confident about our victory because of the positive buzz I saw around me.”

Fadnavis thanked the people of Maharashtra for supporting the Mahayuti coalition, saying it was a huge victory and gave them the responsibility to help India’s economy grow. He dismissed rumors about the new government, saying they have been united from the start, and Eknath Shinde has always been on their side.

He mentioned that important government roles, like home and finance, will be decided soon. Fadnavis also highlighted that Maharashtra is doing great in attracting foreign investment. “This year will be a record for FDI,” he said proudly.

He called the state a business hub, saying, “We’re back and better than ever.” He talked about important projects like the new Vadhavan port that will boost India’s economy and mentioned plans for a new airport in Mumbai.

With a bridge connecting Mumbai to Navi Mumbai and plans for creating a “third Mumbai,” Fadnavis assured everyone that doing business in Maharashtra will be easy and rewarding. “This is a fantastic chance to invest and grow your business here,” he said.

Kolkata (West Bengal): West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has hinted she might lead the opposition group called the INDIA bloc. BJP leader Locket Chatterjee responded by saying that Congress is losing its power, which is why Mamata wants to step up as the main opposition leader. Chatterjee told ANI that we shouldn’t trust anything Mamata Banerjee says.

He pointed out that after Congress lost important elections in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand, the party is becoming less significant. Chatterjee believes Mamata is trying to take advantage of Congress’s struggles.

Earlier, BJP’s Tarun Chugh said that both the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi are holding the alliance back. He claimed they are more of a burden than a help and that the main goal of the INDIA bloc is to protect corrupt leaders.

On December 3, TMC MP Kirti Azad commented on how Mamata Banerjee could lead the INDIA bloc, highlighting her track record of working well with others. He noted that whenever Prime Minister Narendra Modi has failed in West Bengal, Mamata’s support has grown.

On November 26, another TMC MP, Kalyan Banerjee, suggested the need for a strong leader to guide the INDIA bloc, especially after Congress’s recent losses in Haryana and Maharashtra. He emphasized that the opposition needs to be united to challenge the BJP effectively.

In a surprising move, the Samajwadi Party (SP) announced that it is leaving the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra. This decision came after a close aide of Uddhav Thackeray, the Shiv Sena UBT leader, praised the demolition of the Babri Masjid, a mosque that was destroyed over 30 years ago.

Abu Azmi, the head of the Samajwadi Party in Maharashtra, stated on Twitter that they cannot support the communal ideas of the Shiv Sena UBT while being part of the MVA. He mentioned that the Samajwadi Party has two MLAs in the 288-member state Assembly and is ready to work on its own if necessary.

Azmi explained that the party’s decision was influenced by an advertisement from Shiv Sena UBT that celebrated the mosque’s demolition. He highlighted a social media post from an MLC of Shiv Sena UBT, Milind Narvekar, which included a quote from founder Bal Thackeray, saying he is proud of those who tore down the mosque.

Azmi further questioned the difference between the Shiv Sena UBT and the BJP if they continue to speak in such a manner.

The Babri Mosque, a building with a rich history, was demolished in 1992 by supporters of a Hindu group. The Supreme Court eventually ruled in favor of building a Ram temple at the site, allowing for a mosque to be built elsewhere.

Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, spoke out on Saturday about the current focus on mosques in politics. He believes that instead of worrying about religious sites, leaders should be helping people who are struggling with rising prices and farmers protesting. Vadra warned that concentrating on religious surveys could lead to more communal issues.

He said, “We should keep religion away from politics because India is a land of many beliefs. It’s important to promote peace and unity among everyone.” Vadra was in Mumbai, where he offered prayers at the famous Haji Ali Dargah, wishing for the well-being of his family and the nation.

Vadra also expressed his doubts about the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in elections. He questioned how the ruling BJP could win elections in Haryana and Maharashtra if people were unhappy with them. Farmers have been demonstrating, asking for fair prices for their crops.

He criticized the way opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has been treated and mentioned that Priyanka Gandhi, his wife and Congress MP, will represent women’s issues strongly in Parliament. Vadra believes that the future of Congress is bright with Priyanka and Rahul pushing for the people’s voices in government.

The JD(U) party, led by Nitish Kumar in Bihar, is worried about the recent political changes in Maharashtra. There, Eknath Shinde was taken out of his job as Chief Minister, and now Devendra Fadnavis is back in charge. The BJP, part of the ruling alliance, has promised that Nitish Kumar will lead Bihar in the 2025 assembly elections. However, JD(U) leaders fear that the BJP might try to push Nitish aside if they get close to winning a majority in the 243-seat assembly.

Although JD(U) leaders haven’t spoken openly about this, some senior members are nervous about what the BJP might do. They remember how, in Maharashtra, Shinde was the choice for Chief Minister but was removed after the BJP gained a majority.

Inside JD(U), the big worry is if the BJP will try to replace Nitish Kumar if they reach the important 122-seat mark needed for a majority in Bihar. In the last assembly elections in 2020, JD(U) got only 43 seats, while the BJP won 74. Still, Nitish was made Chief Minister thanks to the support of the BJP leaders, even though he felt uneasy about accepting the role due to his party’s weakness.

Some believe the situation in Bihar is different. A JD(U) leader mentioned that unlike Shinde, Nitish has strong support from the people in Bihar. He highlighted that JD(U)’s vote share is very important to the NDA alliance’s strength in the state.

JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar emphasized that Nitish’s position in Bihar is significant, regardless of differing opinions. Political experts think the BJP won’t replace him since there’s no good alternative. They argue that if Nitish leaves the NDA, it could create serious problems for the BJP.

JD(U) has also shown it is not pleased with the BJP on specific social and political issues. For example, JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad criticized a recent decision in Assam to ban beef consumption, saying it could lead to societal divisions and calling for individual rights.

As the political situation in Bihar develops, JD(U) is keeping a close watch on the BJP’s actions ahead of the 2025 assembly elections, knowing their future might depend on how well the NDA operates together.

A new argument has started between the Central Government and the opposition group known as INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) about where members should sit in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament). The Congress party is accusing the ruling BJP government of not sticking to the agreed plan for seating allocation.

Normally, for every 28 members of a party, they get one seat in the front row. According to insiders, the INDIA bloc was given seven front-row seats, not including seats for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Mamata Banerjee. The opposition decided how to share these seats: one for the Leader of the Opposition, three for Congress, two for the Samajwadi Party (SP), and one for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

However, later on, the government reduced the number of seats for the Samajwadi Party by one, moving their MP from Faizabad, Awadhesh Prasad, to a seat in the second row. Akhilesh Yadav from SP expressed his frustration after this change. The Congress and SP protested this decision and spoke to the concerned minister about their problem.

Moreover, senior leaders from the DMK and NCP (the Sharad Pawar faction) complained about being pushed back to the seventh row, which they felt didn’t reflect their experience or importance.

Even some members of the ruling NDA coalition were unhappy with their seats. For instance, senior TDP MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy expressed his disappointment about being placed in the eighth row; last time, he had a better spot in the second row.

In response, Speaker Om Birla stepped in, saying, “No member should question the seating arrangements in Parliament while in the House. If you have concerns, please discuss them privately with us.”

Some sources indicated that the Samajwadi Party was not happy with Congress for not being more forceful with the government about the seating issues. But Akhilesh Yadav responded that he wasn’t upset with Congress and hinted that the BJP was trying to create divisions within the INDIA bloc.

Before the new winter session of Parliament began, the seating plan for the 18th Lok Sabha got updated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi still hold their front-row seats—seat numbers 1 and 498, respectively. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh sits next to Modi in seat number 2, followed by Home Minister Amit Shah in seat number 3. Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, who started out in the back row, was moved to seat number 4 beside Amit Shah.

On the opposition side, Congress leader KC Venugopal sits next to Rahul Gandhi in seat number 497. New MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has a seat in the fourth row (seat number 517), while Akhilesh Yadav from Samajwadi Party sits in the front row at seat number 355. Senior Congress leaders like Manish Tewari and Shashi Tharoor are assigned to the fourth and third rows, respectively. Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress leader Sudeep Bandopadhyay has seat number 354.