“We will not stop till the Lok Sabha polls. We want to see Narendra Modi as prime minister for the third time,” he added.
Tag: BJP
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‘After CBI, I am expecting ED’: Tejashwi on fresh charge sheet against parents
By PTI
PATNA: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, whose parents Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi were named in a fresh CBI charge sheet, on Saturday sought to link the development to the BJP’s loss of power in the state where it is now pitted against a formidable multi-party ‘Mahagathbandhan’.
The RJD heir apparent, who had earlier mockingly asked central investigating agencies to open their offices at his residence, added tongue in cheek that after the CBI, he expected the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to swing into action.
“The BJP, having lost power in Bihar, obviously has a problem with us. It also knows that it stands no chance against the Mahagathbandhan. So, in keeping with its strategy of misusing institutions, it has let loose the CBI,” Yadav told reporters in reply to queries about the fresh charge sheet against Prasad, the RJD president, and Rabri Devi who is a former chief minister.
The CBI has filed the charge sheet against Prasad, Rabri Devi and 14 others in connection with an alleged land-for-jobs scam during his tenure as the railway minister.
“I do not attach much importance to CBI action now. Though I would like to add that soon ED will be sent after us,” said the young leader, who has himself been named in the IRCTC land for hotels scam as an accused.
He was also asked about the by-elections to Gopalganj and Mokama assembly seats, which have been necessitated by the demise of the sitting BJP MLA and disqualification of the incumbent RJD legislator, respectively.
“We will hold discussions with allies and decide which party will field its candidates for the respective seats. I can, however, assure you that the Mahagathbandhan will win the by-polls hands down,” said Yadav, whose RJD is the largest constituent of the seven-party coalition that includes Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), the Congress and three Left parties.
The RJD leader was also asked about speculations that the unceremonious exit from the state cabinet of Sudhakar Singh, who frequently embarrassed the government with his outspokenness, has left the latter’s father Jagadanand Singh, the party’s state unit chief, in a sulk.
“I do not think Jagadanand Singh is upset. Had it been so he would have told me,” said Yadav, who will be spending the next few days in Delhi to attend the RJD’s national executive meeting on Monday, which will be followed, a day later, by the national council’s open session where Lalu Prasad will be formally declared as re-elected to the party president’s post for yet another term.
However, when asked whether Jagadanand Singh will be present at the meeting, Yadav replied cryptically, “It is for him to decide whether he will attend the meeting.”
PATNA: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, whose parents Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi were named in a fresh CBI charge sheet, on Saturday sought to link the development to the BJP’s loss of power in the state where it is now pitted against a formidable multi-party ‘Mahagathbandhan’.
The RJD heir apparent, who had earlier mockingly asked central investigating agencies to open their offices at his residence, added tongue in cheek that after the CBI, he expected the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to swing into action.
“The BJP, having lost power in Bihar, obviously has a problem with us. It also knows that it stands no chance against the Mahagathbandhan. So, in keeping with its strategy of misusing institutions, it has let loose the CBI,” Yadav told reporters in reply to queries about the fresh charge sheet against Prasad, the RJD president, and Rabri Devi who is a former chief minister.
The CBI has filed the charge sheet against Prasad, Rabri Devi and 14 others in connection with an alleged land-for-jobs scam during his tenure as the railway minister.
“I do not attach much importance to CBI action now. Though I would like to add that soon ED will be sent after us,” said the young leader, who has himself been named in the IRCTC land for hotels scam as an accused.
He was also asked about the by-elections to Gopalganj and Mokama assembly seats, which have been necessitated by the demise of the sitting BJP MLA and disqualification of the incumbent RJD legislator, respectively.
“We will hold discussions with allies and decide which party will field its candidates for the respective seats. I can, however, assure you that the Mahagathbandhan will win the by-polls hands down,” said Yadav, whose RJD is the largest constituent of the seven-party coalition that includes Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), the Congress and three Left parties.
The RJD leader was also asked about speculations that the unceremonious exit from the state cabinet of Sudhakar Singh, who frequently embarrassed the government with his outspokenness, has left the latter’s father Jagadanand Singh, the party’s state unit chief, in a sulk.
“I do not think Jagadanand Singh is upset. Had it been so he would have told me,” said Yadav, who will be spending the next few days in Delhi to attend the RJD’s national executive meeting on Monday, which will be followed, a day later, by the national council’s open session where Lalu Prasad will be formally declared as re-elected to the party president’s post for yet another term.
However, when asked whether Jagadanand Singh will be present at the meeting, Yadav replied cryptically, “It is for him to decide whether he will attend the meeting.”
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Mumbai Diary: BJP to field giant-killer Irani in Pawar bastion?
Express News Service
BJP to field giant-killer Irani in Pawar bastion? BJP is leaving no stone unturned to better its chances for the 2024 Baramati Lok Sabha seat by planning to field a strong candidate against NCP’s Supriya Sule in party patriarch Sharad Pawar’s bastion. There is strong buzz in the Pune and Baramati political circles that Union Minister Smriti Irani could be the possible pick. After defeating Rahul Gandhi in Amethi in 2019, the giant killer may be chosen by the party to contest against NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s daughter. For the BJP, MLA Rahul Kul – who won in Daud assembly seat in 2019 by a 6,000-vote majority against NCP’s Ramesh Thorat – will prove instrumental in furthering BJP’s reach in Baramati.
NCP hopes for swing in 40 assembly seatsPoll momentum is gaining traction within a demoralised NCP for the upcoming state assembly elections in 2024. With 54 MLAs presently, the NCP is hoping to get 30 more legislators as per its internal survey. With the aim of 85-MLA strong NCP in the state assembly, the party looks for a swing in 40 seats ruled by Eknath Shinde-backed Shiv Sena MLAs. These MLAs had won against NCP candidates with victory margins vary between 500 to 5,000 votes. The split in Shiv Sena votes between Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena candidates and Eknath Shinde camp candidates will pave the way for the NCP candidates, the latter party believes.
For BJP, roads to BMC not too smoothBJP toppled the Uddhav Thackeray regime ahead of the BMC polls. Close to striking power in the BMC in 2017, BJP was outsmarted by Shiv Sena in the last leg. Chasing BMC power, BJP began by toppling the Uddhav-led Shiv Sena in BMC. The saffron camp also poached MLAs and cadre from Shiv Sena as well as from the formations of Eknath Shinde – hoping it will help them get closer to winning BMC. But the scene is different. A BJP insider says that there are 55 Sena strongholds where no party including the BJP can beat them. Many Shiv Sena leaders may have defected to BJP, but its cadre is intact under Uddhav.
Sudhir Suryawanshi Our correspondent in [email protected]
BJP to field giant-killer Irani in Pawar bastion?
BJP is leaving no stone unturned to better its chances for the 2024 Baramati Lok Sabha seat by planning to field a strong candidate against NCP’s Supriya Sule in party patriarch Sharad Pawar’s bastion. There is strong buzz in the Pune and Baramati political circles that Union Minister Smriti Irani could be the possible pick. After defeating Rahul Gandhi in Amethi in 2019, the giant killer may be chosen by the party to contest against NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s daughter. For the BJP, MLA Rahul Kul – who won in Daud assembly seat in 2019 by a 6,000-vote majority against NCP’s Ramesh Thorat – will prove instrumental in furthering BJP’s reach in Baramati.NCP hopes for swing in 40 assembly seats
Poll momentum is gaining traction within a demoralised NCP for the upcoming state assembly elections in 2024. With 54 MLAs presently, the NCP is hoping to get 30 more legislators as per its internal survey. With the aim of 85-MLA strong NCP in the state assembly, the party looks for a swing in 40 seats ruled by Eknath Shinde-backed Shiv Sena MLAs. These MLAs had won against NCP candidates with victory margins vary between 500 to 5,000 votes. The split in Shiv Sena votes between Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena candidates and Eknath Shinde camp candidates will pave the way for the NCP candidates, the latter party believes.For BJP, roads to BMC not too smooth
BJP toppled the Uddhav Thackeray regime ahead of the BMC polls. Close to striking power in the BMC in 2017, BJP was outsmarted by Shiv Sena in the last leg. Chasing BMC power, BJP began by toppling the Uddhav-led Shiv Sena in BMC. The saffron camp also poached MLAs and cadre from Shiv Sena as well as from the formations of Eknath Shinde – hoping it will help them get closer to winning BMC. But the scene is different. A BJP insider says that there are 55 Sena strongholds where no party including the BJP can beat them. Many Shiv Sena leaders may have defected to BJP, but its cadre is intact under Uddhav.Sudhir Suryawanshi
Our correspondent in Maharashtra
[email protected] -
AAP releases 4th list of 12 candidates for Gujarat Assembly polls; 41 seats covered so far
By PTI
NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday released its fourth list of 12 candidates for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections, giving tickets to people from a cross-section of society, including teachers, businesspersons and tribals.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal exhorted his party candidates to “fight hard” in the upcoming elections, saying the people of Gujarat have pinned their hopes on those joining the fray from the AAP this time.
“Many congratulations to all the new AAP candidates for the Gujarat elections. Fight the election hard. This time, people of Gujarat have pinned their hopes on you only,” the party’s national convenor said in a tweet in Hindi.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led party had earlier announced 29 candidates for the Assembly polls in the BJP-ruled state in the end of the year.
With the latest list, the Delhi-headquartered party, which seeks to contest on all the 182 Assembly seats in Gujarat, has so far announced 41 candidates.
The fourth list of candidates covers 12 seats, two of which are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) — Garbada and Gandevi.
Two out of these 12 seats were won by the Congress in 2017, while 10 were bagged by the BJP.
Two of these dozen seats — Amraiwadi and Vatva — are in Ahmedabad city, while one — Limbayat — is in Surat city.
Among the candidates in the latest list are teachers, businessmen and social workers, Gujarat AAP president Gopal Italia said.
The candidate list includes Nirmalsinh Parmar for Himatnagar seat, who is a retired teacher, while Doulat Patel for Gandhinagar (South) is a businessman.
Kuldeep Vaghela (Sanand seat) is an industrialist, Bipil Patel (Vatva) sells garments and Bharat Patel (Amraiwadi) is an AAP worker who has contested the corporation election in the past, Italia told reporters.
Among other candidates, Ramjibhai Chudasama (Keshod) is a leader from the Koli community who was in the past associated with the Congress.
Natwarsinh Rathod (Thasra, Kheda district) has worked as a district panchayat member, while Takhatsinh Solanki (Shehra, Panchmahal district) is a popular leader in the region, Italia said.
Dinesh Baria (Kalol, Panchmahal district) is an arts teacher while Shailesh Bhabhor (Garbada) is an AAP worker.
Pankaj Tayde (Limbayat, Surat) is a businessman and social worker while Pankaj Patel (Gandevi) is a young tribal leader, the AAP leader said.
The AAP, which rules Punjab and Delhi, has positioned itself as the main challenger to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in power in Gujarat for nearly three decades now.
AAP convener Kejriwal has been aggressively campaigning in the state, holding rallies and town halls and making a host of pre-poll “guarantees”, including free electricity and better education and healthcare facilities, to woo voters.
The Opposition Congress and the BJP have yet to release their lists of nominees.
The Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has announced three candidates.
NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday released its fourth list of 12 candidates for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections, giving tickets to people from a cross-section of society, including teachers, businesspersons and tribals.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal exhorted his party candidates to “fight hard” in the upcoming elections, saying the people of Gujarat have pinned their hopes on those joining the fray from the AAP this time.
“Many congratulations to all the new AAP candidates for the Gujarat elections. Fight the election hard. This time, people of Gujarat have pinned their hopes on you only,” the party’s national convenor said in a tweet in Hindi.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led party had earlier announced 29 candidates for the Assembly polls in the BJP-ruled state in the end of the year.
With the latest list, the Delhi-headquartered party, which seeks to contest on all the 182 Assembly seats in Gujarat, has so far announced 41 candidates.
The fourth list of candidates covers 12 seats, two of which are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) — Garbada and Gandevi.
Two out of these 12 seats were won by the Congress in 2017, while 10 were bagged by the BJP.
Two of these dozen seats — Amraiwadi and Vatva — are in Ahmedabad city, while one — Limbayat — is in Surat city.
Among the candidates in the latest list are teachers, businessmen and social workers, Gujarat AAP president Gopal Italia said.
The candidate list includes Nirmalsinh Parmar for Himatnagar seat, who is a retired teacher, while Doulat Patel for Gandhinagar (South) is a businessman.
Kuldeep Vaghela (Sanand seat) is an industrialist, Bipil Patel (Vatva) sells garments and Bharat Patel (Amraiwadi) is an AAP worker who has contested the corporation election in the past, Italia told reporters.
Among other candidates, Ramjibhai Chudasama (Keshod) is a leader from the Koli community who was in the past associated with the Congress.
Natwarsinh Rathod (Thasra, Kheda district) has worked as a district panchayat member, while Takhatsinh Solanki (Shehra, Panchmahal district) is a popular leader in the region, Italia said.
Dinesh Baria (Kalol, Panchmahal district) is an arts teacher while Shailesh Bhabhor (Garbada) is an AAP worker.
Pankaj Tayde (Limbayat, Surat) is a businessman and social worker while Pankaj Patel (Gandevi) is a young tribal leader, the AAP leader said.
The AAP, which rules Punjab and Delhi, has positioned itself as the main challenger to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in power in Gujarat for nearly three decades now.
AAP convener Kejriwal has been aggressively campaigning in the state, holding rallies and town halls and making a host of pre-poll “guarantees”, including free electricity and better education and healthcare facilities, to woo voters.
The Opposition Congress and the BJP have yet to release their lists of nominees.
The Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has announced three candidates.
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Resigned Gujarat Congress MLA Harshad Ribadiya joins BJP
By PTI
GANDHINAGAR: Two days after resigning from the Gujarat Legislative Assembly as a Congress legislator, Patidar community leader Harshad Ribadiya on Thursday joined the ruling BJP here.
He was inducted during a function organised at the Bharatiya Janata Party’s state headquarters ‘Kamalam’ here. Gujarat BJP general secretary Pradipsinh Vaghela welcomed him into the party fold.
Several local Congress leaders, including the Junagadh district Congress president, vice president, Mehsana taluka Congress president, and Kisan Morcha leaders, also joined the ruling outfit during the event.
Assembly elections in the BJP-ruled state are slated to be held by the end of this year. Ribadiya submitted his resignation to Assembly Speaker Nimaben Acharya on Tuesday.
Soon after joining the BJP, the former Congress MLA praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership and said he was influenced by the central government’s “pro-farmer” policies and initiatives like raising the minimum support price (MSP) and introducing new technologies for their support.
The former legislator from Visavadar seat in Junagadh district of the state’s Saurashtra region also targeted the Congress for being “directionless” and accused the party leadership of not helping him in his time of need.
“I am influenced by the way Modi is developing the country and working to protect the interests of farmers by raising the MSP and taking several other initiatives,” he told reporters.
“At the same time, Congress has become directionless,” he alleged. Ribadiya said the BJP’s policies have influenced the people of his constituency as well.
“The BJP government heeded my request for electricity supply to farmers in my region during the day time. I am influenced by many such initiatives and that is the reason why I have joined the BJP. In the coming days, many of my friends will also join the party. We will work as its soldiers,” he said.
He added that the issues that he had raised in the Legislative Assembly were not against any party or any particular person, but for the benefit of farmers.
“All the issues were resolved by the BJP government, which is also a reason I have joined it,” he claimed.
Ribadiya was elected from the Visavadar assembly segment, a predominantly Patel community seat, in 2017 as a Congress candidate. Before that, he had also won the 2014 bye-election from that constituency.
The 2017 Assembly elections in Gujarat were held against the backdrop of the Patidar quota agitation, and members of the Patel community in the Saurashtra region had largely voted for the Congress to express their anger against the ruling BJP.
GANDHINAGAR: Two days after resigning from the Gujarat Legislative Assembly as a Congress legislator, Patidar community leader Harshad Ribadiya on Thursday joined the ruling BJP here.
He was inducted during a function organised at the Bharatiya Janata Party’s state headquarters ‘Kamalam’ here. Gujarat BJP general secretary Pradipsinh Vaghela welcomed him into the party fold.
Several local Congress leaders, including the Junagadh district Congress president, vice president, Mehsana taluka Congress president, and Kisan Morcha leaders, also joined the ruling outfit during the event.
Assembly elections in the BJP-ruled state are slated to be held by the end of this year. Ribadiya submitted his resignation to Assembly Speaker Nimaben Acharya on Tuesday.
Soon after joining the BJP, the former Congress MLA praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership and said he was influenced by the central government’s “pro-farmer” policies and initiatives like raising the minimum support price (MSP) and introducing new technologies for their support.
The former legislator from Visavadar seat in Junagadh district of the state’s Saurashtra region also targeted the Congress for being “directionless” and accused the party leadership of not helping him in his time of need.
“I am influenced by the way Modi is developing the country and working to protect the interests of farmers by raising the MSP and taking several other initiatives,” he told reporters.
“At the same time, Congress has become directionless,” he alleged. Ribadiya said the BJP’s policies have influenced the people of his constituency as well.
“The BJP government heeded my request for electricity supply to farmers in my region during the day time. I am influenced by many such initiatives and that is the reason why I have joined the BJP. In the coming days, many of my friends will also join the party. We will work as its soldiers,” he said.
He added that the issues that he had raised in the Legislative Assembly were not against any party or any particular person, but for the benefit of farmers.
“All the issues were resolved by the BJP government, which is also a reason I have joined it,” he claimed.
Ribadiya was elected from the Visavadar assembly segment, a predominantly Patel community seat, in 2017 as a Congress candidate. Before that, he had also won the 2014 bye-election from that constituency.
The 2017 Assembly elections in Gujarat were held against the backdrop of the Patidar quota agitation, and members of the Patel community in the Saurashtra region had largely voted for the Congress to express their anger against the ruling BJP.
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Congress loses chairmanship of parliamentary committee on IT, Home; 6 key panels with BJP
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Opposition parties have not been given the chairmanship of any of the four key parliamentary panels including the committee on Home Affairs and Information Technology, which were with the Congress, in the latest rejig announced on Tuesday.
With this, the chair of six major parliamentary committees — Home, IT, Defence, External Affairs, Finance and Health — all are with the BJP and its allies.
Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi has been replaced by BJP MP and retired IPS officer Brij Lal as the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing committee on Home Affairs.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is contesting the party’s presidential polls, has been replaced by Prataprao Jadhav, a Shiv Sena MP from the Shinde faction, as the head of the Parliamentary Panel on Information Technology.
The Trinamool Congress, which had the chair of the Parliamentary Panel on Food and Consumer Affairs, has not been given the chairmanship of any parliamentary committee after the reshuffle.
“TMC is the third largest party in Parliament, also the second largest opposition party does not get a single chairmanship. The largest opposition party loses two crucial chairmanships of Standing committees. This is the stark reality of New India,” TMC leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien said in a statement.
Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav has been replaced as the chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare.
The panel on food will be chaired by BJP MP Locket Chatterjee and Health by her party colleague Vivek Thakur.
Also, the DMK has been given chairmanship of parliamentary panel on Industry which was till now with the TRS.
NEW DELHI: Opposition parties have not been given the chairmanship of any of the four key parliamentary panels including the committee on Home Affairs and Information Technology, which were with the Congress, in the latest rejig announced on Tuesday.
With this, the chair of six major parliamentary committees — Home, IT, Defence, External Affairs, Finance and Health — all are with the BJP and its allies.
Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi has been replaced by BJP MP and retired IPS officer Brij Lal as the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing committee on Home Affairs.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is contesting the party’s presidential polls, has been replaced by Prataprao Jadhav, a Shiv Sena MP from the Shinde faction, as the head of the Parliamentary Panel on Information Technology.
The Trinamool Congress, which had the chair of the Parliamentary Panel on Food and Consumer Affairs, has not been given the chairmanship of any parliamentary committee after the reshuffle.
“TMC is the third largest party in Parliament, also the second largest opposition party does not get a single chairmanship. The largest opposition party loses two crucial chairmanships of Standing committees. This is the stark reality of New India,” TMC leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien said in a statement.
Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav has been replaced as the chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare.
The panel on food will be chaired by BJP MP Locket Chatterjee and Health by her party colleague Vivek Thakur.
Also, the DMK has been given chairmanship of parliamentary panel on Industry which was till now with the TRS.
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Congress loses chairmanship of parliamentary committee on IT, Home; 6 key panels with BJP
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Opposition parties have not been given the chairmanship of any of the four key parliamentary panels including the committee on Home Affairs and Information Technology, which were with the Congress, in the latest rejig announced on Tuesday.
With this, the chair of six major parliamentary committees — Home, IT, Defence, External Affairs, Finance and Health — all are with the BJP and its allies.
Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi has been replaced by BJP MP and retired IPS officer Brij Lal as the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing committee on Home Affairs.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is contesting the party’s presidential polls, has been replaced by Prataprao Jadhav, a Shiv Sena MP from the Shinde faction, as the head of the Parliamentary Panel on Information Technology.
The Trinamool Congress, which had the chair of the Parliamentary Panel on Food and Consumer Affairs, has not been given the chairmanship of any parliamentary committee after the reshuffle.
“TMC is the third largest party in Parliament, also the second largest opposition party does not get a single chairmanship. The largest opposition party loses two crucial chairmanships of Standing committees. This is the stark reality of New India,” TMC leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien said in a statement.
Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav has been replaced as the chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare.
The panel on food will be chaired by BJP MP Locket Chatterjee and Health by her party colleague Vivek Thakur.
Also, the DMK has been given chairmanship of parliamentary panel on Industry which was till now with the TRS.
NEW DELHI: Opposition parties have not been given the chairmanship of any of the four key parliamentary panels including the committee on Home Affairs and Information Technology, which were with the Congress, in the latest rejig announced on Tuesday.
With this, the chair of six major parliamentary committees — Home, IT, Defence, External Affairs, Finance and Health — all are with the BJP and its allies.
Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi has been replaced by BJP MP and retired IPS officer Brij Lal as the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing committee on Home Affairs.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is contesting the party’s presidential polls, has been replaced by Prataprao Jadhav, a Shiv Sena MP from the Shinde faction, as the head of the Parliamentary Panel on Information Technology.
The Trinamool Congress, which had the chair of the Parliamentary Panel on Food and Consumer Affairs, has not been given the chairmanship of any parliamentary committee after the reshuffle.
“TMC is the third largest party in Parliament, also the second largest opposition party does not get a single chairmanship. The largest opposition party loses two crucial chairmanships of Standing committees. This is the stark reality of New India,” TMC leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien said in a statement.
Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav has been replaced as the chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare.
The panel on food will be chaired by BJP MP Locket Chatterjee and Health by her party colleague Vivek Thakur.
Also, the DMK has been given chairmanship of parliamentary panel on Industry which was till now with the TRS.
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BJP got Rs 10 crore from Mumbai-based trust in ’21-22: Election Commission
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Mumbai-based AB General Electoral Trust donated Rs 10 crore to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the financial year 2021-22, the Election Commission of India said on Tuesday.
The trust received Rs 10 crore in two instalments of Rs 5 crore each from Hindalco Industries Ltd in the financial year and donated the entire sum to the BJP in two instalments of Rs 5 crore each.
Chennai-based Triumph Electoral Trust received Rs 50 lakh from Tube Investments of India Limited in FY 2021-22. It donated the entire amount to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the party which rules Tamil Nadu.
Both trusts had submitted their annual contribution statements to the EC which put them in public domain on Tuesday.
Electoral trusts are non-profit companies established for receiving donations from a person or a company and distributing the same to political parties. The trusts get income tax exemptions as well.
NEW DELHI: Mumbai-based AB General Electoral Trust donated Rs 10 crore to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the financial year 2021-22, the Election Commission of India said on Tuesday.
The trust received Rs 10 crore in two instalments of Rs 5 crore each from Hindalco Industries Ltd in the financial year and donated the entire sum to the BJP in two instalments of Rs 5 crore each.
Chennai-based Triumph Electoral Trust received Rs 50 lakh from Tube Investments of India Limited in FY 2021-22. It donated the entire amount to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the party which rules Tamil Nadu.
Both trusts had submitted their annual contribution statements to the EC which put them in public domain on Tuesday.
Electoral trusts are non-profit companies established for receiving donations from a person or a company and distributing the same to political parties. The trusts get income tax exemptions as well.
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Prashant Kishor working on behalf of BJP: JD(U)
The JD(U)'s comment comes a day after state BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand issued a statement, calling Kishor a “political middleman” who had a “tacit understanding” with Nitish Kumar.
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Tharoor picks ‘Reinvent Congress’ slogan to garner support, rules out differences with Kharge
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday asserted that a reimagined party is needed to take on the BJP, while seeking support from party electors for his candidacy to the post of party chief.
Tharoor, who is canvassing for his candidature among party delegates, ruled out ideological difference with veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also in the presidential race.
“Let me make clear that I agree with @kharge ji that all of us in @incIndia wish to take on the BJP rather than each other. There is no ideological difference between us. The choice for our voting colleagues Oct 17 is only on how to do it most effectively,” Tharoor said in a tweet.
His remarks comes a day after Kharge said he conveyed to Tharoor that a consensus candidate would be better, but the Lok Sabha MP insisted on a contest for the “sake of democracy”.
Tharoor, who is in Hyderabad in connection with his campaign for Congress presidential poll, said he has “enormous” respect for his rival Kharge.
“I believe we need a reinvented, reimagined Congress to take on the BJP. That’s why I have continued with my candidacy in this election,” he told reporters in Hyderabad.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP said he would not withdraw from the contest despite his respect for Kharge as that would amount to betrayal of many colleagues who urged him to contest.
His campaign is getting good response and he would visit cities including Chennai and Mumbai as well, he said.
“We want the Congress party to prevail once again in our country. As far as I am concerned, the only real difference in this election is about how we go about the challenges facing the Congress party in overcoming the BJP and its formidable electoral machine,” he said.
The contest is a “discussion within the family” and there is no quarrel, he said.
Kharge has great experience, ability and knowledge, he said. “I bring a different approach and I put that before the voters to see what they want. But, I do want to stress. We are all in this together.”
On his Twitter handle, Tharoor said he was delighted to receive the endorsement of Telangana Congress working president and cricket legend Mohammed Azharuddin.
“Azhar joins me in wanting change & reform in our party so as to better equip us to take on the BJP,” he tweeted. Tharoor told reporters that irrespective of who emerges victorious, it would be the biggest victory for the Congress party.
Asked about Kharge’s comments in favour of a consensus candidate, Tharoor described Kharge as a giant in the country’s politics and said both of them wished each other well during a telephonic conversation.
On his comment favouring a public debate with Kharge, he said he was only responding to a question from a journalist. Tharoor said he was asked if he was prepared for a debate.
There is no need to debate because they both agree on the party’s fundamental commitment to the ideas of India and the ideals enshrined in the Constitution, he said.
To a question on the Gandhi family being neutral vis-a-vis the presidential election, he said they welcome a free and fair election and that they would stay neutral.
On “G-23 group”, he said it was a “media creation”. Recalling past developments on that matter, he said a couple of senior leaders had written to the party high command on the desired reforms.
Due to the COVID induced lockdown in 2020, he said only 23 people were available to affix their signatures, backing them.
“That’s why 23 signed. It could have been 100. It could have been less, it could have been more. These were the people who were available to sign,” he said.
When told that there is a possibility of a Dalit leader (Kharge) becoming Congress president after many years if he withdraws from the contest, he said he sees Kharge as a very great leader well beyond any question of caste identity.
He said he would reach out to the voting delegates across the country once their phone numbers are available on Wednesday.
Former Union Minister M M Pallam Raju visited Tharoor. The polling for the Congress presidential election is scheduled to be held on October 17. The counting of votes would be taken up on October 19 and the results are expected the same day. More than 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates form the electorate.
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday asserted that a reimagined party is needed to take on the BJP, while seeking support from party electors for his candidacy to the post of party chief.
Tharoor, who is canvassing for his candidature among party delegates, ruled out ideological difference with veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also in the presidential race.
“Let me make clear that I agree with @kharge ji that all of us in @incIndia wish to take on the BJP rather than each other. There is no ideological difference between us. The choice for our voting colleagues Oct 17 is only on how to do it most effectively,” Tharoor said in a tweet.
His remarks comes a day after Kharge said he conveyed to Tharoor that a consensus candidate would be better, but the Lok Sabha MP insisted on a contest for the “sake of democracy”.
Tharoor, who is in Hyderabad in connection with his campaign for Congress presidential poll, said he has “enormous” respect for his rival Kharge.
“I believe we need a reinvented, reimagined Congress to take on the BJP. That’s why I have continued with my candidacy in this election,” he told reporters in Hyderabad.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP said he would not withdraw from the contest despite his respect for Kharge as that would amount to betrayal of many colleagues who urged him to contest.
His campaign is getting good response and he would visit cities including Chennai and Mumbai as well, he said.
“We want the Congress party to prevail once again in our country. As far as I am concerned, the only real difference in this election is about how we go about the challenges facing the Congress party in overcoming the BJP and its formidable electoral machine,” he said.
The contest is a “discussion within the family” and there is no quarrel, he said.
Kharge has great experience, ability and knowledge, he said. “I bring a different approach and I put that before the voters to see what they want. But, I do want to stress. We are all in this together.”
On his Twitter handle, Tharoor said he was delighted to receive the endorsement of Telangana Congress working president and cricket legend Mohammed Azharuddin.
“Azhar joins me in wanting change & reform in our party so as to better equip us to take on the BJP,” he tweeted. Tharoor told reporters that irrespective of who emerges victorious, it would be the biggest victory for the Congress party.
Asked about Kharge’s comments in favour of a consensus candidate, Tharoor described Kharge as a giant in the country’s politics and said both of them wished each other well during a telephonic conversation.
On his comment favouring a public debate with Kharge, he said he was only responding to a question from a journalist. Tharoor said he was asked if he was prepared for a debate.
There is no need to debate because they both agree on the party’s fundamental commitment to the ideas of India and the ideals enshrined in the Constitution, he said.
To a question on the Gandhi family being neutral vis-a-vis the presidential election, he said they welcome a free and fair election and that they would stay neutral.
On “G-23 group”, he said it was a “media creation”. Recalling past developments on that matter, he said a couple of senior leaders had written to the party high command on the desired reforms.
Due to the COVID induced lockdown in 2020, he said only 23 people were available to affix their signatures, backing them.
“That’s why 23 signed. It could have been 100. It could have been less, it could have been more. These were the people who were available to sign,” he said.
When told that there is a possibility of a Dalit leader (Kharge) becoming Congress president after many years if he withdraws from the contest, he said he sees Kharge as a very great leader well beyond any question of caste identity.
He said he would reach out to the voting delegates across the country once their phone numbers are available on Wednesday.
Former Union Minister M M Pallam Raju visited Tharoor. The polling for the Congress presidential election is scheduled to be held on October 17. The counting of votes would be taken up on October 19 and the results are expected the same day. More than 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates form the electorate.