By Rahil Nora Chopra
The long-pending expansion and reshuffle of the Karnataka cabinet is expected soon and the Congress high command is keen to use the rejig to project a fresh image and showcase generational transition within the party. Sources signal that the Congress leadership approves the induction of several new faces, rather than relying solely on seasoned legislators. The Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi have held a meeting with Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, former CM Siddaramaiah, KPCC president B K Hariprasad, as well as the Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala. Siddaramaiah strongly advocated giving top importance to SC, ST, OBC and minority communities in the induction, while Shivakumar pushed for a balanced mix that includes young leaders, major communities and underrepresented groups. The Karnataka Council of Ministers has a sanctioned strength of 34, including the Chief Minister. At present, it has only 14 members, leaving 20 vacancies. State leaders, including the CM, had been camping in Delhi since July 27, but the finalisation was delayed due to the ongoing Parliament session.
BSP BRINGS BACK AKASH ANAND IN WAKE OF ANTI-PAPER LEAK PROTESTS
With the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections scheduled for 2027, the Congress, SP, BJP have stepped up efforts to reach out to young voters in the wake of the recent anti-paper leak protests. In this context, the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has geared up to re-launch its 31-year-old convenor Akash Anand once again. The BSP, which has traditionally dependent on its core Dalit vote base, is now seeking to regain relevance among first-time and young voters by bringing Anand back to the forefront. BSP national convenor Akash Anand will formally launch the party’s campaign for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections from the Sadabad assembly constituency in Hathras district on August 10, marking the commencement of a statewide outreach programme aimed at repowering the organisation, particularly its youth base. With Mayawati busy finalising the party’s campaign blueprint and candidates for the assembly elections, Akash will energise the tone for the campaign by addressing workers’ conferences and public meetings across the state.
OPPOSITION LEADERS ENACT RAM TEMPLE THEFT SKIT OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT
Opposition leaders and independent MP Pappu Yadav staged a representative protest on Friday in the Parliament complex enacting an alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Pappu Yadav attired in saffron garb and carrying a donation box sent a strong political message. During the symbolic act, MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, put money inside the boxes, while Pappu Yadav took it out and put the money into his pockets to symbolise the Opposition’s allegations of donation theft at the Ram Temple. The INDIA bloc MPs including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party MPs Awadhesh Prasad and Dharmendra Yadav were among those who participated in the protest. They stood behind a banner that read: “Amit Shah Sadan Se Gayab Kyun?”
AKHILESH YADAV TRAINS BARBS AT E20 PETROL, GADKARI STILL DEFENSIVE
Amid mounting criticism over the E20 petrol (80 per cent petrol, 20 per cent ethanol), now Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has taken a potshot at the government over the same. Yadav shared a photo on his X account which showed the SP logo of the bicycle and with the words in Hindi written on it: “Cycle ki raftaar jordaar hai kyunki cycle E20 se azaad hai”. (The cycle’s pace is fast because it is free of E20). The rollout of 20 percent ethanol blended fuel has received criticism from opposition parties and as well as from consumer groups, who have voiced concerns about its impact on older vehicles not specifically designed for 20 per cent ethanol blends. Meanwhile, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said tests found no issues in parameters such as drivability, startability, metal compatibility and plastic compatibility. Gadkari, however, said that in BS-III vehicles introduced from April 1, 2005, and manufactured before 2016, some rubber parts and gaskets may require replacement. “This can be easily managed during the routine servicing regime of the vehicle,” he said.
PRIYANKA-KALYAN BANERJEE BANTER RECALLS RAJIV’S RESPECT FOR MAMATA
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee, who was suspended from the Lok Sabha, were seen exchanging friendly banter inside the Parliament complex over the political ties between the two parties. For a while now, Kalyan Banerjee, has been staging a one-man protest wearing a placard displaying photographs of 20 rebel TMC MPs under the caption, “Lok Sabha mein Bangal ka 20 Gaddar” (20 traitors from Bengal in the Lok Sabha). Noticing the poster, Priyanka Gandhi ridiculed that several of the leaders featured on it had originally left the Congress to join the TMC before switching parties again. Responding in jest, Kalyan Banerjee said those leaders had joined the TMC because the Congress had virtually ceased to exist in West Bengal by 2014. “They won on our party’s ticket,” he quipped. Another MP needled him further, saying, “But they were Congressis.” “Even we were with the Congress,” Kalyan replied, drawing laughter. “I was vice-president of the (West Bengal) Youth Congress. Aap log tab Didi (Mamata) ko toh bhaga diya tha — jawaab do aap (in a raised voice) — 1997 mein. Didi ko nahi bhagata toh tum log ka aisa haal hota (You chased away Didi in 1997, reply to this. If you did not chase away Didi, would this be your plight today?)” Priyanka said, smiling: “Rajivji liked Didi a lot.” Kalyan calmed down a bit and said that he was aware of that. “Rajivji bahut pyar karte thhey. Rajivji Didi ko samman diya (Rajiv ji loved Didi a lot. He gave Didi a lot of respect).” (IPA Service)
