News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Odisha bypoll: BJP alleges govt employees working for ruling party

    By PTI

    BHUBANESWAR: A BJP delegation led by its general secretary Lekhashree Samantasinghar, in a petition to Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), has alleged that the BJD used government officials to campaign for the ruling party candidate in the Dhamnagar Assembly bypoll.

    The BJD, in its petition to the CEO, claimed that BJP leaders were threatening its workers as they feared defeat in the elections.

    The party urged the CEO to step up surveillance and ensure free and fair elections in the assembly constituency.

    The saffron party claimed it has submitted videos and photos of government officers campaigning for the BJD at two places in the Dhamnagar Assembly constituency, including a woman government official.

    “A number of officers are campaigning for the BJD candidate even though they are drawing salaries from the government exchequer,” Samantasinghar alleged.

    She also said two government officials were identified putting BJD shawls on their shoulders while campaigning.

    “We demand stern action against the errant officials.” With barely a day left for campaigning for the November 3 bypoll in Odisha’s Dhamnagar Assembly segment, both the ruling BJD and BJP have intensified their attempts to woo voters.

    The Dhamnagar assembly constituency has been witnessing high- voltage campaigning by leaders of the BJD, Congress, BJP and Independent candidates.

    A number of Odisha ministers and MLAs were engaged in campaigning for BJD candidate Abanti Das, while the party’s rebel leader and Independent candidate Rajendra Das was sighted canvassing from door to door.

    Two union ministers, Dharmendra Pradhan and Bisheswar Tudu, campaigned for BJP candidate Suryabanshi Suraj for the second consecutive day on Saturday.

    OPCC president Sarat Pattnayak and other senior Congress leaders could also be seen campaigning for party candidate Baba Harekrushna Sethi.

    “The people will bless Congress which had set up over a dozen of hospitals in Dhamnagar during its rule before the BJD government,” said Pattnayak.

    BHUBANESWAR: A BJP delegation led by its general secretary Lekhashree Samantasinghar, in a petition to Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), has alleged that the BJD used government officials to campaign for the ruling party candidate in the Dhamnagar Assembly bypoll.

    The BJD, in its petition to the CEO, claimed that BJP leaders were threatening its workers as they feared defeat in the elections.

    The party urged the CEO to step up surveillance and ensure free and fair elections in the assembly constituency.

    The saffron party claimed it has submitted videos and photos of government officers campaigning for the BJD at two places in the Dhamnagar Assembly constituency, including a woman government official.

    “A number of officers are campaigning for the BJD candidate even though they are drawing salaries from the government exchequer,” Samantasinghar alleged.

    She also said two government officials were identified putting BJD shawls on their shoulders while campaigning.

    “We demand stern action against the errant officials.” With barely a day left for campaigning for the November 3 bypoll in Odisha’s Dhamnagar Assembly segment, both the ruling BJD and BJP have intensified their attempts to woo voters.

    The Dhamnagar assembly constituency has been witnessing high- voltage campaigning by leaders of the BJD, Congress, BJP and Independent candidates.

    A number of Odisha ministers and MLAs were engaged in campaigning for BJD candidate Abanti Das, while the party’s rebel leader and Independent candidate Rajendra Das was sighted canvassing from door to door.

    Two union ministers, Dharmendra Pradhan and Bisheswar Tudu, campaigned for BJP candidate Suryabanshi Suraj for the second consecutive day on Saturday.

    OPCC president Sarat Pattnayak and other senior Congress leaders could also be seen campaigning for party candidate Baba Harekrushna Sethi.

    “The people will bless Congress which had set up over a dozen of hospitals in Dhamnagar during its rule before the BJD government,” said Pattnayak.

  • AAP leader, eight members join BJP in Jammu

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Satish Sharma Shastri and eight activists joined the BJP here on Saturday, saying only this party can strengthen the nation and serve people.

    BJP president of the union territory Ravinder Raina and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma welcomed them to the party at its headquarters here.

    Ashish Abrol, Rakesh Shastri, Rakesh Bali, Ashok Sharma, Deepak Sharma, Sunita Devi, Charu Abrol and Madan Lal Sharma were the others who switched over to the BJP from the AAP.

    Raina said Shastri was a dedicated social worker and hoped that all the new members abided by the party’s principles.

    Shastri said he repented his earlier decision to join the AAP and that only the BJP can strengthen the nation.

    “I am now feeling alive, enlightened and ready to serve the people,” he added.

    Jugal Sharma said the gates of the BJP are open for all those who want to serve the people and strengthen “nationalist forces”.

    JAMMU: Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Satish Sharma Shastri and eight activists joined the BJP here on Saturday, saying only this party can strengthen the nation and serve people.

    BJP president of the union territory Ravinder Raina and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma welcomed them to the party at its headquarters here.

    Ashish Abrol, Rakesh Shastri, Rakesh Bali, Ashok Sharma, Deepak Sharma, Sunita Devi, Charu Abrol and Madan Lal Sharma were the others who switched over to the BJP from the AAP.

    Raina said Shastri was a dedicated social worker and hoped that all the new members abided by the party’s principles.

    Shastri said he repented his earlier decision to join the AAP and that only the BJP can strengthen the nation.

    “I am now feeling alive, enlightened and ready to serve the people,” he added.

    Jugal Sharma said the gates of the BJP are open for all those who want to serve the people and strengthen “nationalist forces”.

  • People won’t be misled, state has no power to make such laws: Cong on Guj govt’s decision on UCC 

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Congress on Saturday said people would not be misled by the BJP government’s decision to form a committee for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code.

    Calling it a “gimmick” ahead of Assembly elections, senior Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia said the state legislature has no power to make such laws.

    The Bhupendra Patel government earlier in the day announced that a committee headed by a retired High Court judge would be formed to study the modalities of implementing the UCC.

    “This gimmick is aimed at misleading the public who are suffering due to inflation and joblessness and a host of other problems because of the failure of the government.

    The power to implement the Uniform Civil Code lies with the Centre.

    Personal laws were passed by Parliament, and the Gujarat Assembly does not have the power to make this law,” Modhwadia said at a press conference.

    “The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for the last 27 years and it has been in power at the Centre for eight years.

    Now that the Assembly elections are round the corner, the decision regarding the Uniform Civil Code does not make sense,” he added.

    The BJP was using this “trick” as the people are determined to throw out the state government which has left the youth, farmers, cattle herders and all other segments of society frustrated, the Congress leader claimed.

    AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Congress on Saturday said people would not be misled by the BJP government’s decision to form a committee for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code.

    Calling it a “gimmick” ahead of Assembly elections, senior Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia said the state legislature has no power to make such laws.

    The Bhupendra Patel government earlier in the day announced that a committee headed by a retired High Court judge would be formed to study the modalities of implementing the UCC.

    “This gimmick is aimed at misleading the public who are suffering due to inflation and joblessness and a host of other problems because of the failure of the government.

    The power to implement the Uniform Civil Code lies with the Centre.

    Personal laws were passed by Parliament, and the Gujarat Assembly does not have the power to make this law,” Modhwadia said at a press conference.

    “The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for the last 27 years and it has been in power at the Centre for eight years.

    Now that the Assembly elections are round the corner, the decision regarding the Uniform Civil Code does not make sense,” he added.

    The BJP was using this “trick” as the people are determined to throw out the state government which has left the youth, farmers, cattle herders and all other segments of society frustrated, the Congress leader claimed.

  • Ahead of Assembly polls, Gujarat govt to form committee for Uniform Civil Code implementation 

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Ahead of the Assembly polls in Gujarat to be held by the year-end, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state on Saturday decided to set up a committee to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

    Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi said the state cabinet cleared a proposal to constitute the committee during its meeting held on Saturday.

    This is considered the last meeting of the Bhupendra Patel-led cabinet as the schedule for the state elections is expected to be announced next week.

    “The committee will be headed by a retired high court judge and will have three to four members,” Union minister Parshottam Rupala said.

    Earlier, the BJP governments in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh had announced implementation of the UCC in their states.

    ALSO READ | Uttarakhand to be first state in country to implement Uniform Civil Code since Independence

    AHMEDABAD: Ahead of the Assembly polls in Gujarat to be held by the year-end, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state on Saturday decided to set up a committee to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

    Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi said the state cabinet cleared a proposal to constitute the committee during its meeting held on Saturday.

    This is considered the last meeting of the Bhupendra Patel-led cabinet as the schedule for the state elections is expected to be announced next week.

    “The committee will be headed by a retired high court judge and will have three to four members,” Union minister Parshottam Rupala said.

    Earlier, the BJP governments in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh had announced implementation of the UCC in their states.

    ALSO READ | Uttarakhand to be first state in country to implement Uniform Civil Code since Independence

  • BJP slams Uddhav for ‘Marathi Muslim’ article in ‘Saamana’; calls it politics of appeasement 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday accused the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) of indulging in the politics of appeasement after the latter’s mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ carried an article on “Marathi Muslims” supporting the former chief minister.

    ‘Saamana’ carried a front-page article on October 22 about the Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh backing Uddhav Thackeray, adding that the outfit is active in Mumbai, Konkan, Marathwada, Vidarbha and western Maharashtra.

    “The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Party wants to garner Marathi and Muslim votes, but it cleverly played with the words by calling them Marathi Muslims,” Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar said at a press conference.

    He said his party would organise ‘Jagar Mumbaicha Yatra’ in November to spread awareness among the residents of the metropolis about this “politics of appeasement” as well as “corruption” in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

    Shelar said Thackeray was getting frustrated as he was staring at defeat in the BMC polls.

    The city’s civic body, currently under an administrator after the terms of corporators ended, has been ruled by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena for several years now.

    “This is appeasement. Balasaheb (Thackeray) never believed in garnering votes in the name of religion and caste. Why did you (Uddhav) ditch this? Why do you have to seek votes in the name of caste and religion,” Shelar questioned.

    “Then why can’t you (Uddhav) have Marathi Jains, Marathi north Indians? Why the fissure between Marathi and Gujarati? Why did you quit Marathi Hindu?” Shelar added.

    Asserting that the BJP stood for “Marathi-Mumbaikar”, Shelar said his party will not ask for votes in the name of caste and religion but in the name of development.

    Shelar also labelled former state environment minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray’s tour of rain-affected areas in Maharashtra as “teaser and tokenism”.

    The BJP leader questioned why farm loans were not cleared by the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi despite assurances.

    MUMBAI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday accused the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) of indulging in the politics of appeasement after the latter’s mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ carried an article on “Marathi Muslims” supporting the former chief minister.

    ‘Saamana’ carried a front-page article on October 22 about the Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh backing Uddhav Thackeray, adding that the outfit is active in Mumbai, Konkan, Marathwada, Vidarbha and western Maharashtra.

    “The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Party wants to garner Marathi and Muslim votes, but it cleverly played with the words by calling them Marathi Muslims,” Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar said at a press conference.

    He said his party would organise ‘Jagar Mumbaicha Yatra’ in November to spread awareness among the residents of the metropolis about this “politics of appeasement” as well as “corruption” in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

    Shelar said Thackeray was getting frustrated as he was staring at defeat in the BMC polls.

    The city’s civic body, currently under an administrator after the terms of corporators ended, has been ruled by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena for several years now.

    “This is appeasement. Balasaheb (Thackeray) never believed in garnering votes in the name of religion and caste. Why did you (Uddhav) ditch this? Why do you have to seek votes in the name of caste and religion,” Shelar questioned.

    “Then why can’t you (Uddhav) have Marathi Jains, Marathi north Indians? Why the fissure between Marathi and Gujarati? Why did you quit Marathi Hindu?” Shelar added.

    Asserting that the BJP stood for “Marathi-Mumbaikar”, Shelar said his party will not ask for votes in the name of caste and religion but in the name of development.

    Shelar also labelled former state environment minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray’s tour of rain-affected areas in Maharashtra as “teaser and tokenism”.

    The BJP leader questioned why farm loans were not cleared by the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi despite assurances.

  • 95 per cent donations through electoral bonds going to BJP: Ashok Gehlot

    By PTI

    SURAT: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is getting 95 per cent of the total donations made through electoral bonds as donors are not providing funds to other parties out of fear.

    Addressing a press conference here as part of the Congress’s campaign for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls, the senior party leader accused the BJP of even “threatening” corporates, who wish to donate to Congress and other political parties.

    He also targeted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its chief Arvind Kejriwal, saying they spend money to suppress any negative news against them.

    “If the donation is given to other parties, the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department will come knocking on the doors of the donors. In our democracy, even donations are going to one party only. They have amassed crores of rupees, which they use to build five-star party offices across the country,” Gehlot alleged.

    “Following the introduction of electoral bonds, 95 per cent of the total donations are going to BJP. Donors are not giving to other parties out of fear.”

    “BJP has introduced a model wherein money collected through donations is being used to change state governments, as they did in Maharashtra and Karnataka,” he claimed.

    Accusing the ruling BJP of being a “fascist” force, Gehlot said the party wins elections on religious lines instead of any policy, programme or principles.

    “Gujarat is the land of Mahatma Gandhi. But there is an atmosphere of violence and unrest here. The situation is dangerous for democracy. All sections of the society are unhappy with BJP. Time has come to change this regime and Congress is ready to form the next government,” he added.

    State BJP leaders were not available for comment on his allegations.

    Gehlot, who is Congress’s senior observer for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections, also accused the AAP and its national convener Kejriwal of controlling the media through money.

    “What Kejriwal is doing is also dangerous for democracy. They spend money for suppressing any negative news against them and run their announcements continuously. Their TV interviews are also fake. They created an atmosphere during the last three months that everything has changed (in their favour). But that is not true. People know their tricks,” he said.

    SURAT: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is getting 95 per cent of the total donations made through electoral bonds as donors are not providing funds to other parties out of fear.

    Addressing a press conference here as part of the Congress’s campaign for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls, the senior party leader accused the BJP of even “threatening” corporates, who wish to donate to Congress and other political parties.

    He also targeted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its chief Arvind Kejriwal, saying they spend money to suppress any negative news against them.

    “If the donation is given to other parties, the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department will come knocking on the doors of the donors. In our democracy, even donations are going to one party only. They have amassed crores of rupees, which they use to build five-star party offices across the country,” Gehlot alleged.

    “Following the introduction of electoral bonds, 95 per cent of the total donations are going to BJP. Donors are not giving to other parties out of fear.”

    “BJP has introduced a model wherein money collected through donations is being used to change state governments, as they did in Maharashtra and Karnataka,” he claimed.

    Accusing the ruling BJP of being a “fascist” force, Gehlot said the party wins elections on religious lines instead of any policy, programme or principles.

    “Gujarat is the land of Mahatma Gandhi. But there is an atmosphere of violence and unrest here. The situation is dangerous for democracy. All sections of the society are unhappy with BJP. Time has come to change this regime and Congress is ready to form the next government,” he added.

    State BJP leaders were not available for comment on his allegations.

    Gehlot, who is Congress’s senior observer for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections, also accused the AAP and its national convener Kejriwal of controlling the media through money.

    “What Kejriwal is doing is also dangerous for democracy. They spend money for suppressing any negative news against them and run their announcements continuously. Their TV interviews are also fake. They created an atmosphere during the last three months that everything has changed (in their favour). But that is not true. People know their tricks,” he said.

  • AAP disowns hawala money, documents tell another story

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD:  The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday denied that the Rs 20-lakh cash seized by the Gujarat police belonged to it.AAP candidate from Bardoli constituency, however, gave a statement to the Surat police that the money did belong to AAP.  This newspaper has a copy of the statement given by AAP candidate Rajendra Solanki to the police.

    In a statement sent to this paper by AAP spokesman Pritam Singh said: “AAP has nothing to do with any such money. The AAP candidate has not given any such statement. It is an attempt by BJP to tarnish AAP image due to the growing graph of AAP in Gujarat. BJP has become very desperate and will resort to similar dirty tricks in the next one month.”

    The acceptance of the policeAAP spokesperson’s statement that their candidate has not said that the money belonged to AAP is disproved by the statement of the party’s Bardoli candidate. In a statement given to the Surat rural police in Gujarati, AAP candidate Rajendra Solanki said “amo Arajdar/ fariyadi bardoli vidhansbhana umedvar tarike jaher thayel hoi Party tarf thi party na prchar prasar maate bardoli khaate saurabh prasra ne kamgiri sopvama aavel che, jethi teo paarti na prchar prasar tatha menejment nu kam kaaj kare che e rite ame temne olkhie che.”

    This translates to: “I, petitioner/complainant, has been declared as a candidate for the Bardoli Assembly and the party has appointed Saurabh Parashar at Bardoli to carry out the party’s publicity and management work. That’s how I know him…” Solanki further said: “Saurabh no maara mobail par fon aavel ke mere par hamla hua hai, meri gadi ka kanch tut gaya hai,meri gadi ka kaanch tod ke paise ki chori ho gai hai, tethi hu banav banel bardoli polis stesan khaate pahonchi gayel hato tyare amo e saurbh bhai ne puchel ke shu banav banel hato tyare temna haath ma kaala color ni beg hati ane te batavi emno e janavel ke aa beg tena gaadi maathi ajanya ismo chori kari nasi gayel hata ane te beg aadil naam na isme chor no picho kari beg paachi laavel hata tevu janavel ane aa rupiya teo aangdiya pedhi maathi laavel hata ane rupiya event na kahrch maate hata.”

    ALSO READ: Stench of hawala in Gujarat AAP cash theft

    This translates to: “I received a call from Saurabh on my mobile saying that there was an attack on me, my car’s glass was broken, they broke my car’s glass and stole money. So I went to the Bardoli police station. When I reached the place, I asked Saurabh bhai about the incident. He said he had a black bag that an unknown person stole from his car and escaped, and the bag was returned to him by a person named Adil by chasing the robber. Adil chased and brought the bag with the money back. He (Saurabh) said that the money was received by him from an angadia (hawala operator). The money was meant for the expenses of the party event.”

    The last line clearly says that Santosh collected money from an angadia (hawala operator) and it was to be used to meet the expenses of a party event.

    AHMEDABAD:  The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday denied that the Rs 20-lakh cash seized by the Gujarat police belonged to it.AAP candidate from Bardoli constituency, however, gave a statement to the Surat police that the money did belong to AAP.  This newspaper has a copy of the statement given by AAP candidate Rajendra Solanki to the police.

    In a statement sent to this paper by AAP spokesman Pritam Singh said: “AAP has nothing to do with any such money. The AAP candidate has not given any such statement. It is an attempt by BJP to tarnish AAP image due to the growing graph of AAP in Gujarat. BJP has become very desperate and will resort to similar dirty tricks in the next one month.”

    The acceptance of the policeAAP spokesperson’s statement that their candidate has not said that the money belonged to AAP is disproved by the statement of the party’s Bardoli candidate. In a statement given to the Surat rural police in Gujarati, AAP candidate Rajendra Solanki said “amo Arajdar/ fariyadi bardoli vidhansbhana umedvar tarike jaher thayel hoi Party tarf thi party na prchar prasar maate bardoli khaate saurabh prasra ne kamgiri sopvama aavel che, jethi teo paarti na prchar prasar tatha menejment nu kam kaaj kare che e rite ame temne olkhie che.”

    This translates to: “I, petitioner/complainant, has been declared as a candidate for the Bardoli Assembly and the party has appointed Saurabh Parashar at Bardoli to carry out the party’s publicity and management work. That’s how I know him…” Solanki further said: “Saurabh no maara mobail par fon aavel ke mere par hamla hua hai, meri gadi ka kanch tut gaya hai,meri gadi ka kaanch tod ke paise ki chori ho gai hai, tethi hu banav banel bardoli polis stesan khaate pahonchi gayel hato tyare amo e saurbh bhai ne puchel ke shu banav banel hato tyare temna haath ma kaala color ni beg hati ane te batavi emno e janavel ke aa beg tena gaadi maathi ajanya ismo chori kari nasi gayel hata ane te beg aadil naam na isme chor no picho kari beg paachi laavel hata tevu janavel ane aa rupiya teo aangdiya pedhi maathi laavel hata ane rupiya event na kahrch maate hata.”

    ALSO READ: Stench of hawala in Gujarat AAP cash theft

    This translates to: “I received a call from Saurabh on my mobile saying that there was an attack on me, my car’s glass was broken, they broke my car’s glass and stole money. So I went to the Bardoli police station. When I reached the place, I asked Saurabh bhai about the incident. He said he had a black bag that an unknown person stole from his car and escaped, and the bag was returned to him by a person named Adil by chasing the robber. Adil chased and brought the bag with the money back. He (Saurabh) said that the money was received by him from an angadia (hawala operator). The money was meant for the expenses of the party event.”

    The last line clearly says that Santosh collected money from an angadia (hawala operator) and it was to be used to meet the expenses of a party event.

  •  CPM issues directive: No pact with BJP in rural polls

    Express News Service

    KOLKATA:  Two days after a BJP MP and MLA met CPM leader Ashok Bhattacharya at his residence in Siliguri, the state leadership of West Bengal’s erstwhile ruling party issued a directive to district-level office-bearers asking them to steer clear of any official or unofficial pact with the BJP in panchayat elections scheduled next year.

    The directive is said to be a fallout of an apparent realisation in the Left party that it cannot afford to lose its supporters to the saffron camp anymore when the organisation has started gaining strength in all recent elections after the disastrous performance in the last year’s Assembly polls.

    The CPM suffered a big dent in its vote bank in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and 2021 Assembly polls resulting in BJP making inroads in the state. The Marxists have since started regaining their electoral strength securing the second position in all the elections after the last year’s Assembly polls. The party is hopeful to perform better in the rural polls next year.

    The ‘no pact’ directive reportedly follows the meeting, which both the BJP and the CPM claimed a courtesy visit, anticipating that the meeting might send out a wrong message of the saffron camp making electoral dividends at the cost of the Left’s attempt to regain strength in panchayat polls.

    “The directions have been clearly spelled out. No form of alliance with the BJP will be permitted. We will lay down a series of guidelines. The area committees will have to make decisions conforming to those guidelines,” said CPI-M state secretary and party’s politburo member Mohammad Salim.

    According to Selim, decisions related to panchayat polls such as selecting candidates or supporting some other party are normally taken by leaders and workers at the grassroots. The process of candidate selection will remain the same, the decisions will be screened by the district committees and the state committee will intervene, if necessary, he said.

    The last rural polls had seen an unofficial understanding between the Left and the BJP at the grassroots level in several areas of the state. On Tuesday, BJP’s Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and Siliguri MLA Sankar Ghosh met Bhattacharya. The timing of the meeting and Bhattacharya’s stature sparked speculation on the future equation between the CPI-M and the BJP at a time when the saffron camp is desperate to consolidate its position in North Bengal ahead of the panchayat polls.

    “The contest between the BJP and the TMC is much closer in north Bengal than in the rest of the state. Support of a leader like Bhattacharya can disrupt the ruling party’s plan in north Bengal in the panchayat elections. The visit to Bhattacharya by our elected representatives was not at all only a courtesy. It definitely has a political purpose to achieve,” said a BJP leader.

    Bhattacharya, a former state minister, was elected five times from Siliguri, but he failed to secure victory in the 2021 Assembly polls as his former aide defected to the saffron camp and contested against him.Given Bhattacharya’s political skills, the TMC is smelling conspiracy. “There is a conspiracy going on to destabilize the government, especially in north Bengal. BJP’s elected representatives from that region are demanding separate statehood and now they are trying to bring CPI-M leaders into their fold,” said TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh.

    The BJP made major gains in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by bagging seven seats out of eight in north Bengal. Though the performance was not as good as it was expected, it won 30 seats out of 54 in that region.

    Who is Ashok Bhattacharya?

     5-time Siliguri MLA since 1991
     Became a minister in Jyoti Basu’s cabinet in 1996 
     Lost in 2011 when TMC defeated Left Front
     Became chairman of Siliguri Municipal Corporation in 1987. After 2011 Assembly poll loss, he became the civic body chief in 2014 in alliance with Congress
     Made a comeback in 2016 by defeating TMC MLA RN Bhattacharya
     Known for his close proximity with Sourav Ganguly

    KOLKATA:  Two days after a BJP MP and MLA met CPM leader Ashok Bhattacharya at his residence in Siliguri, the state leadership of West Bengal’s erstwhile ruling party issued a directive to district-level office-bearers asking them to steer clear of any official or unofficial pact with the BJP in panchayat elections scheduled next year.

    The directive is said to be a fallout of an apparent realisation in the Left party that it cannot afford to lose its supporters to the saffron camp anymore when the organisation has started gaining strength in all recent elections after the disastrous performance in the last year’s Assembly polls.

    The CPM suffered a big dent in its vote bank in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and 2021 Assembly polls resulting in BJP making inroads in the state. The Marxists have since started regaining their electoral strength securing the second position in all the elections after the last year’s Assembly polls. The party is hopeful to perform better in the rural polls next year.

    The ‘no pact’ directive reportedly follows the meeting, which both the BJP and the CPM claimed a courtesy visit, anticipating that the meeting might send out a wrong message of the saffron camp making electoral dividends at the cost of the Left’s attempt to regain strength in panchayat polls.

    “The directions have been clearly spelled out. No form of alliance with the BJP will be permitted. We will lay down a series of guidelines. The area committees will have to make decisions conforming to those guidelines,” said CPI-M state secretary and party’s politburo member Mohammad Salim.

    According to Selim, decisions related to panchayat polls such as selecting candidates or supporting some other party are normally taken by leaders and workers at the grassroots. The process of candidate selection will remain the same, the decisions will be screened by the district committees and the state committee will intervene, if necessary, he said.

    The last rural polls had seen an unofficial understanding between the Left and the BJP at the grassroots level in several areas of the state. On Tuesday, BJP’s Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and Siliguri MLA Sankar Ghosh met Bhattacharya. The timing of the meeting and Bhattacharya’s stature sparked speculation on the future equation between the CPI-M and the BJP at a time when the saffron camp is desperate to consolidate its position in North Bengal ahead of the panchayat polls.

    “The contest between the BJP and the TMC is much closer in north Bengal than in the rest of the state. Support of a leader like Bhattacharya can disrupt the ruling party’s plan in north Bengal in the panchayat elections. The visit to Bhattacharya by our elected representatives was not at all only a courtesy. It definitely has a political purpose to achieve,” said a BJP leader.

    Bhattacharya, a former state minister, was elected five times from Siliguri, but he failed to secure victory in the 2021 Assembly polls as his former aide defected to the saffron camp and contested against him.
    Given Bhattacharya’s political skills, the TMC is smelling conspiracy. “There is a conspiracy going on to destabilize the government, especially in north Bengal. BJP’s elected representatives from that region are demanding separate statehood and now they are trying to bring CPI-M leaders into their fold,” said TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh.

    The BJP made major gains in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by bagging seven seats out of eight in north Bengal. Though the performance was not as good as it was expected, it won 30 seats out of 54 in that region.

    Who is Ashok Bhattacharya?

     5-time Siliguri MLA since 1991
     Became a minister in Jyoti Basu’s cabinet in 1996 
     Lost in 2011 when TMC defeated Left Front
     Became chairman of Siliguri Municipal Corporation in 1987. After 2011 Assembly poll loss, he became the civic body chief in 2014 in alliance with Congress
     Made a comeback in 2016 by defeating TMC MLA RN Bhattacharya
     Known for his close proximity with Sourav Ganguly

  • TRS stages protest over BJP’s ‘attempt to buy MLAs’

    By IANS

    HYDERABAD: Telangana ministers and leaders of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) staged protests in different parts of the state on Wednesday night to protest against what they called an attempt by the BJP to buy TRS MLAs.

    TRS leaders staged a dharna at Choutuppal near Hyderabad on the Vijayawada highway. Ministers Gangula Kamalakar and Indrakaran Reddy participated in the protest.

    The protesters raised slogans against BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They alleged that the saffron party was trying to pull down the TRS government by luring its MLAs with offers of money and posts.

    The protest led to a traffic jam on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway. Similar protests were organised by the ruling party leaders in other districts.

    Earlier, police claimed that it caught three persons while they were trying to ‘buy’ four MLAs of TRS

    The four were detained during a raid at a farmhouse at Aziz Nagar on the city outskirts while offering money to four MLAs. Cyberabad police conducted the raids on a tip-off by the legislators.

    Cyberabad Police Commissioner Stephen Ravindra said the deal could be to the tune of Rs 100 crore.

    TRS MLAs Rega Kantha Rao, Guvvala Balaraju, Beeram Harshvardhan Reddy and Pilot Rohit Reddy had alerted police that attempts were being made to lure them to switch loyalties.

    Those detained are Ramachandra Bharati alias S. Satish Sharma from Delhi and Simhayajulu from Tirupati, both said to be temple priests and Nanda Kumar, a businessman from Hyderabad said to be close to a union minister.

    Meanwhile, four MLAs met Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao at Pragati Bhavan, the official residence of the chief minister. Ministers K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao were also present.

    In the meeting, KCR discussed the latest developments with ministers and other party leaders.

    HYDERABAD: Telangana ministers and leaders of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) staged protests in different parts of the state on Wednesday night to protest against what they called an attempt by the BJP to buy TRS MLAs.

    TRS leaders staged a dharna at Choutuppal near Hyderabad on the Vijayawada highway. Ministers Gangula Kamalakar and Indrakaran Reddy participated in the protest.

    The protesters raised slogans against BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They alleged that the saffron party was trying to pull down the TRS government by luring its MLAs with offers of money and posts.

    The protest led to a traffic jam on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway. Similar protests were organised by the ruling party leaders in other districts.

    Earlier, police claimed that it caught three persons while they were trying to ‘buy’ four MLAs of TRS

    The four were detained during a raid at a farmhouse at Aziz Nagar on the city outskirts while offering money to four MLAs. Cyberabad police conducted the raids on a tip-off by the legislators.

    Cyberabad Police Commissioner Stephen Ravindra said the deal could be to the tune of Rs 100 crore.

    TRS MLAs Rega Kantha Rao, Guvvala Balaraju, Beeram Harshvardhan Reddy and Pilot Rohit Reddy had alerted police that attempts were being made to lure them to switch loyalties.

    Those detained are Ramachandra Bharati alias S. Satish Sharma from Delhi and Simhayajulu from Tirupati, both said to be temple priests and Nanda Kumar, a businessman from Hyderabad said to be close to a union minister.

    Meanwhile, four MLAs met Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao at Pragati Bhavan, the official residence of the chief minister. Ministers K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao were also present.

    In the meeting, KCR discussed the latest developments with ministers and other party leaders.

  • Two BJP leaders quit party, file papers as independents from Dharamshala

    By PTI

    DHARAMSHALA: Two senior BJP leaders here resigned from the party and filed nomination papers as independent candidates for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls.

    Vipin Naihariya, the party’s ST Morcha vice president, and BJP district chief Anil Choudhry were ticket aspirants but the party chose OBC leader Rakesh Chaudhary over them and sitting MLA Vishal Naihariya.

    Meanwhile, the sitting MLA said he is with the party and expressed confidence in Rakesh Chaudhary.

    Vipin Naihariya, a Gaddi community leader, claimed that all office-bearers of the BJP’s Dharamshala Mandal have put in their papers in protest against the party ticket to Chaudhary.

    Tuesday was the last day for the filing of nominations, which can be withdrawn till October 29.

    The voting will take place on November 12 and the results will be declared on December 8.

    DHARAMSHALA: Two senior BJP leaders here resigned from the party and filed nomination papers as independent candidates for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls.

    Vipin Naihariya, the party’s ST Morcha vice president, and BJP district chief Anil Choudhry were ticket aspirants but the party chose OBC leader Rakesh Chaudhary over them and sitting MLA Vishal Naihariya.

    Meanwhile, the sitting MLA said he is with the party and expressed confidence in Rakesh Chaudhary.

    Vipin Naihariya, a Gaddi community leader, claimed that all office-bearers of the BJP’s Dharamshala Mandal have put in their papers in protest against the party ticket to Chaudhary.

    Tuesday was the last day for the filing of nominations, which can be withdrawn till October 29.

    The voting will take place on November 12 and the results will be declared on December 8.