Kerala governor Arif Mohammad Khan is one of the most vocal supporters of the Modi government and a vocal critic of “Islamic fundamentalism”. Khan has backed the abrogation of Article 370, He may be the choice for next Vice President of India. The “think tank ” of BJP is keen on his candidature as due to this, they hope to improve their strength in Kerala and Telangana. The focus of BJP is now on southern India, after having its major hold on Northern India except Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. According to BJP sources, Narendra Modi will propose his candidature as a Vice President of India because Modi wants to give message to Muslims that the country is progressing on a path where none can be left behind because of religion, where all get equal opportunity to move ahead and fulfill their dreams.
JD(U) TO FIELD 75 CANDIDATES IN BENGAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS IN 2021
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) is all set to field candidates in the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections and his party has now identified 75 seats in the state. Giving details of the JD(U)’s plan in West Bengal, Gulam Rasool Baliyawi, party Bengal in-charge, said that they have been working in West Bengal for the last three years and have now decided to fight elections. Gulam Rasool Baliyawi said the party’s Bengal unit has identified 75 seats in Siliguri, Murshidabad, Malda, Dinajpur, Bankura, Medinipur, 24 Pargana and Nandigram where JD(U) has a potential to perform well. The JD(U) leader said just like Bihar, prohibition will be the party’s main poll plank in West Bengal. The JD(U) has been maintaining that its alliance with the BJP was confined to Bihar. The party has fought in states like Jharkhand, Karnataka and Gujarat without a tie-up with the BJP. In BJP-rule Arunachal Pradesh, the JD(U) is the main opposition party but the party is faced with desertions by its MLAs to BJP.
CONFUSION STILL REMAINS ABOUT PRESIDENT ISSUE AFTER SONIA’S MEETING WITH REBELS
The absence of Randeep Surjewala and KC Venugopal at the meeting of senior Congress leaders convened by Sonia Gandhi on 19 December was noted by many in the party. Surjewala’s absence was interesting as his remarks a day before the meeting that all issues in the party stood resolved with the announcement of the next election to the Congress president post had not gone down well with many of the letter writers .According to Congress sources there was an indirect attack on Rajiv Satav and Randeep Surjewala who handled the Gujarat bypolls and Bihar elections, respectively. Who will take responsibility for the losses, was the question put forth by the rebel group. At the over four-hour long meeting, the issue of next president wasn’t discussed. Sonia Gandhi made it clear that the electoral process had begun and the leadership issue would be finalized soon. But some seniors like Harish Rawat said that Rahul Gandhi should take charge soon. Many seniors feel that they were being sidelined by the younger lot who are close to Rahul Gandhi. His outreach to the seniors was made possible by significant effort by Sonia Gandhi to ensure that the party stays together.
CONGRESS CHIEF MINISTERS SUPPORT MAMATA IN HER FIGHT AGAINST CENTRE
Congress chief ministers Bhupesh Baghel, Amarinder Singh and Ashok Gehlot have come out in support of their West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee in her fight against the centre over the transfer of police officers. Her plans to hold a rally inviting NCP Chief Sharad Pawar and DMK leader MK Stalin will put the party in a quandary. The Congress is set to take on the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal Assembly elections next year along with the left parties. Mamata is signaling that she will use it as an issue in the assembly polls. It is to be seen whether Mamata would reach out to the Congress and how Congress responds.
POLITICS OVER BEEF CONTINUES IN BJP RULED STATES
The ruling BJP government in Karnataka passed the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill 2020, which is one of the most stringent anti-beef laws passed in the country. The law defines beef as the flesh of any cattle, and those caught smuggling, illegally transporting, or involved in any atrocities against cows and cattle will be stringently punished. But BJP Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday stated that it is his duty to fulfill the needs and interest of the state’s 30 percent minority population. “Currently there is an issue because Karnataka has suddenly banned beef,” Sawant said. Karnataka Congress leaders said that the ruling BJP leaders must prove their “real commitment” to protecting cows by taking steps to ban beef export completely in the country, instead of adopting double standards by banning cow slaughter in select states. The politics over beef will continue in days to come. (IPA)
CPI’s Bengali Daily Kalantar Reappeared On December 26, 2020 