Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan’s death on Thursday before Bihar votes in the first phase on October 28 will cast a shadow on the polls and have a bearing on almost every political move. Although BJP has handled Chirag Paswan with kid gloves so far even as he has walked out of NDA in Bihar and openly taken on Nitish Kumar and several posters were seen in Patna with the slogan “Modi se bair nahi, Nitish teri khair nahi” (No issues with Modi, but Nitish, you’re done) in a bid to target the CM. As for LJP President Chirag Paswan who has taken a leap of faith by fighting the election alone, his father’s death leaves him in an extremely delicate position. Now with one pillar of that chapter gone, political leaders in Bihar say there could be consequences for the LJP. There was never any doubt in Paswan’s mind over Chirag being his political heir. He always played the indulgent father as his son spoke of rebooting LJP’s politics. Paswan had proudly claimed that the LJP’s political slogan ” Bihar First, Bihari First”, was Chirag’s idea. In fact Paswan had started transferring power to his son soon after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. After the LJP won six of seven seats it contested that election. He made Chirag chairman of the party’s parliamentary Board. When Chirag starts to campaign, it will seen whether the sympathy factor will translate into votes for LJP.
LJP ALLOTS SEATS TO REBEL BJP CANDIDATES IN BIHAR ASSEMBLY POLL
The LJP’s first list of 42 candidate included five unsuccessful ticket seekers from the BJP and one from the JD(U) has proved that LJP has allocated tickets to the candidates of BJP and JD(U) who could not get the tickets from their own parties and also gave tickets to their district presidents and looking to fight the polls on 143 seats of the total 243 in Bihar, presenting Chirag as an alternative to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the future. LJP will field a candidate where JD(U) is fighting but will not contest against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Top state level BJP leaders Rajendra Singh, Rameshwar Chourasia and Usha Vidyarthi, who recently quit the party will be contesting as LJP nominees from Dinara, Sasaram and Paliganj. Another BJP rebel Ravinder Yadav will contest as an LJP nominee from Jhajha. Mrinal Shekhar who was the BJP runner- up from Amarpur will contest the same seat as an LJP nominee. Another BJP leader Indu Devi Kashyap will contest as LJP candidate from Jehanabad. JD(U) rebel Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha will contest as LJP nominee from Jagdishpur. Imam Gajali (Shekhpura) is the only Muslim candidate on the LJP list. Nine candidates on the list are women.
NAQVI’S BLOG PRAISES PROFUSELY NARENDRA MODI FOR HIS TWO DECADES OF GOVERNANCE
Minorities Affairs Minister Muktar Abbass Naqvi has written a blog to praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The nearly 1,500-word blog, titled “Shri Narendra Modi’s 20 glorious years of good governance”, talks first about Modi as the Gujarat Chief Minister and then as the Prime Minister. Naqvi calls Modi’s tenure a “crown of thorns”, the thorns being the natural calamities: earthquake in Bhuj, Gujarat, and now Covid-19. The blog details how Modi has tackled every crisis with efficiency and grace.
RUMOURS ABOUND ABOUT THE FUTURE OF KARNATAKA CM B S YEDDYURAPPA
Buzz about a change guard in Karnataka refused to die down. Crystal gazing over BS Yeddiyurappa getting a post retirement sinecure and BJP grooming another Lingayat leader to take his place, seems to be a favourite pastime here in Karnataka.. Denials from Delhi do little to stymie the rumour around BSY and his family, particularly his younger son BS Vijayendra. Salacious gossip about the latter’s backseat driving in the government and his alleged deals with the real estate abound. Adding fuel to the fire, is BL Santosh’s perceived rise in the BJP central coterie. That there’s no love lost between BSY and Santosh, is no secret! Neither that Santosh would like Prahlad Joshi to take over BSY’s job. The main opposition Congress is not unhappy with such a development. For the Lingayat strongman’s exit can only weaken the state BJP base, give its Vokkaliga KPCC chief Shivakumar a chance to break even.
OPPOSITION LEADERS TARGET BJP IN UTTAR PRADESH OVER FARM LAWS ALSO
Farmers Bill once again united the Jat community. This time it is the issue of lathi charge on RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary by the Uttar Pradesh police in Hathras. Loktantra Bachao maha panchayat was organised on Thursday in Muzaffarnagar demanding justice for the family victimized in the Hathras case where some of the prominent leaders from Haryana including Abhay Singh Chautala, Deepender Hooda and other Jat leaders joined the rally. Addressing the gathering, Deepender Singh Hooda, Rajya Sabha MP and senior congress leader, appealed to the farmers to organize by rising above the caste or community line. “If the farmers do not organize, they will be beaten up on roads and their crops would be beaten up in Mandis. Said Deepender. The INLD leader Abhay Chautala appealed to all the political parties present on the stage that the time has come again to rise above politics and mobilize against the oppressive policies of the BJP for the farmers’ rights. (IPA)
Battle Lines Drawn For Fierce Contests In Bypolls In Madhya Pradesh 