The political arena of Maharashtra witnessed a twisting development as Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar will fight against each other again, this time in the Malegaon co-operative sugar mill elections in Bamarati. Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, as head of the Nilkanteshwar panel, has declared his candidature for the cooperative elections for the chairman post. On the other hand, Sharad Pawar has also announced his candidature as representative of NCP SP’s Baliraja Sahakari Bachav panel. Another group, the Sahakar Bachav panel, led by Ranjan Taware, is also contesting, making it a triangular battle. The election is scheduled for June 22, with results to be declared on June 24. The Pawar vs Pawar difference comes as Sharad Pawar refused for any possibility of an alliance with his nephew for the upcoming local body elections. Meanwhile, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar indicated that the party’s pre-poll alliance with constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will continue during the upcoming civic polls, similar to how it was during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Maharashtra. He also expressed the need to give due importance to the Shiv Sena (UBT) for its strength in Mumbai.
RESURGENT CONGRESS IN UTTAR PRADESH PREAPRING FOR 2027 STATE POLLS
Putting an end to the speculations of any rift, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has cleared that its alliance with the Congress will continue in Uttar Pradesh and that the two parties will contest the next assembly polls scheduled in 2027., in the state together. However, Akhilesh Yadav asserted that the INDIA alliance remains firm strong and intact as usual. He expressed confidence that the alliance will play a prominent role in bringing political change to Uttar Pradesh and in ousting the BJP government from power. He commented in response to Congress MP Imran Masood’s statement that the Congress is not a beggar seeking seats from the Samajwadi Party. Both parties are key members of the INDIA coalition, which was formed ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to challenge the ruling party BJP. SP sources said that Akhilesh’s remarks were also aimed at spreading a clear message to the party leaders and workers, who were sceptical about the continuation of the alliance between the two parties. The Congress’s resurgence in the 2024 general elections, winning 6 of the 17 seats it contested as part of the SP-Congress alliance, has clearly changed the dynamics. While the SP emerged as the primary challenger to the BJP with 37 seats, the Congress believes its revival is no longer symbolic. Now the next year panchayat elections will determine whether this Congress-SP coalition evolves into a cohesive force or fractures under the weight of competing aspirations.
UDDHAV THACKERAY AND EKNATH SHINDE FIGHTING FOR KEEPING RESPECTIVE BASES IN MUMBAI
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray blamed the BJP for trying to scuttle the possibility of his party’s alliance with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena led by his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray. Uddhav was addressing at his party’s 59th foundation day rally in Mumbai and used one of his frequent barbs, referring to the Shinde-led faction as gaddars (traitors) for breaking away from him three years ago and aligning with the BJP. In response, Maharashtra’s Deputy CM Eknath Shinde slammed Uddhav for betrayal and hunger for power. Shinde said “You abandoned his ideology, tied up with the Congress and NCP, the same people Balasaheb fought all his life.”. Both Thackeray and Shinde addressed rallies of their respective parties in Mumbai to celebrate the 59th foundation day of Shiv Sena, founded by Uddhav’s father Bal Thackeray in 1966. While the Shinde-led Shiv Sena held its event at the NSCI Dome in Worli, the Sena (UBT) rally was at Shanmukhand Hall in the Sion area. The two rival Senas battled for control over Mumbai, and Marathi voters, Now one thing is clear, the legacy of Bal Thackeray remains the battleground, but the war is somehow now being personal.
MANGANI LAL MANDAL IS FIRST PRESIDENT OF BIHAR RJD FROM EBC COMMUNITY
The political activity in Bihar is heating up as Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President Lalu Prasad Yadav called upon party leaders and workers in Patna to gear up and ensure victory of the INDIA bloc in Bihar assembly elections due in October-November so that a government is formed under the leadership of Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.. Addressing his party’s state executive meeting in Patna, Lalu congratulated the RJD’s new state president Mangani Lal Mandal, who was elected unopposed. He replaced senior leader Jagdanand Singh. Speaking on the occasion, Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav told party leaders to stop concerning much about party tickets for the assembly elections and work diligently to bring the INDIA alliance to power. The occasion was the State council meeting of the RJD in Patna’s Gyan Bhavan where veteran socialist leader Mangani Lal Mandal was officially elected new State president. The RJD had State presidents from Scheduled Caste, Muslims, Backward Class and forward class in the past but for the very first time the party has assigned a State president from the EBC community.
DELHI CONGRESS JOB FAIR ISSUES APPOINTMENT LETTERS TO 3500 CANDIDATES
A large-scale job fair was organized by the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) at Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium on Thursday to mark the 55th birthday of Rahul Gandhi, According to the IYC, over 8,500 youths registered for the job fair and nearly 7,500 of them were interviewed. Around 3,500 job seekers received appointment letters on the spot, while several others were called for a second round of interviews by the HR representatives of companies. It said 170 companies participated in the recruitment process. Speaking at the event, Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav said the party had carried out extensive campaigns for over 10 days in all the 258 Block Congress Committees to register youth for the Mega Job Fair. Several senior Congress leaders, including AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, Sachin Pilot, Kanhaiya Kumar, Deepender Hooda, Devender Yadav and Supriya Shrinate, marked their presence at the event. (IPA Service)
Bangladesh Angry With Delhi For Pushing “Immigrants” Through Border Without Formalities 