The farmers protest has put the centre in a tight spot. Both the government and the protesting farmers look equally determined not to give in. The farmers and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi are repeatedly exhorting that the laws are meant to benefit three or four big corporates. Rahul Gandhi said: “Farmers know the reality. All farmers know what Rahul Gandhi does. I have a character, I am not scared of Narendra Modi or anyone, they can’t touch me but they can shoot me. I am a patriot and will protect my country. It is my dharma. I am more fanatic than them.” Internally BJP is worried by this campaign. A similar jibe “suit boot ki Sarkar” by Rahul Gandhi had led the government to shelve some measures. Even the BJP’s own member Subramanium Swamy leveled his guns against corporates saying that their wealth has been growing under Modi. The double attack may be worrying BJP.
SHAHNAWAZ HUSSAIN IS BACK IN BIHAR POLITICS AS A BJP LEADER
Twenty years after he became the youngest Union minister at 32 in Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain is returning to Bihar politics. The BJP has nominated him as a candidate in the Bihar legislative council polls. There are two ways to look at this nomination: The BJP has rehabilitated him to increase the party base in minority dominated Seemanchal areas where the AIMIM has won five seats in 2020 assembly election. Further, the BJP has shunted him out of Delhi. Shahnawaz Hussian might be the first Muslim face from BJP in the Bihar cabinet, in a clear message to the minority community that BJP does not have an aversion or overlook the community in the government.
CONGRESS-DMK ALLIANCE IN PUDUCHERRY IN DEEP TROUBLE BEFORE POLLS
The Congress-DMK alliance in Union Territory of Puducherry is in trouble. Senior DMK leader S Jagathrakshagan made the announcement that it will contest all 30 seats in the upcoming assembly elections soon after a meeting of DMK functionaries in Puducherry. After chairing the party meeting, Jagathrakshagan addressed a gathering near Puducherry where he categorically stated that DMK will contest and win all 30 seats in the UT. To the surprise of many, he added: “If we fail (to win polls), I will commit suicide on this stage.” According to political observers, the DMK leadership in Chennai is of the view that the Congress-led Narayanaswamy government is unlikely to make a comeback and that it may be better for the DMK to go with Jagathrakshagan’s plan and contest alone. Narayanaswamy hoped he could talk and resolve any problem through MK Stalin. Meanwhile Rahul Gandhi on Thursday had a meeting with Chief Minister V Narayanaswamy and Pradesh Congress Committee president AV Subramanium to review preparations for the forthcoming Assembly polls.
MORE PARTIES ARE FIELDING CANDIDATES IN BENGAL ASSEMBLY POLLS
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut formally announced the decision of contesting in the upcoming election battle in West Bengal scheduled to be held in April-May this year. “After discussions with Party Chief Shri Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena has decided to contest the West Bengal Assembly Elections,” With the BJP exuding confidence of wresting Bengal from the Trinamool Congress, the assembly election will witness a tooth-and-nail fight. What adds to these are the entries of Shiv Sena, JD(U) and AIMIM etc while Congress and the Left have decided to join hands. Asaduddin Owaisi has already visited West Bengal for AIMIM’s poll preparations and has met Abbasuddin Siddiqui, a popular Muslim leader. The Left Front and the Congress said that their seat-sharing arrangement will be finalised by the end of this month.
ARVIND SHARMA MAY BE A MINISTER IN UTTAR PRADESH GOVERNMENT
The hot discussion in Uttar Pradesh unit of BJP these days is about the entry of Arvind Kumar Sharma a former IAS officer from the Gujarat cadre. He joined in BJP Uttar Pradesh unit after resigning from his post in the central government as MSME secretary on January 11. Arvind Kumar Sharma belongs to Mau district of UP. According to sources he will fight the state legislative council election and speculation is rife that Sharma would be the next state deputy chief minister. According to inner sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants the Yogi Adityanath government to take advantage of his experience and ability to successfully carry out his work.(IPA Service)