Fresh bonhomie between the Bihar two leaders — Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Opposition leader in the state assembly Tejashwi Yadav— was observed when leaders of 11 parties met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 23 August, demanding that the Centre initiates a caste-based census. According to sources, the delegation was surprised as PM Modi asked Tejashwi Yadav several questions about his father, before getting down to the agenda of the meeting and Nitish Kumar’s formal presentation. After the meeting with PM Modi, Nitish and Tejashwi came out of the PMO walking together, while other leaders followed them. The two were seen talking to one another till others who were a part of the delegation came out. Nitish even appreciated Tejashwi Yadav for coming up with the idea of meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue of a caste-based census. Moreover, Nitish also raised the issue of the Pegasus controversy at a time when BJP is locked in a bitter battle with the Opposition over the issue. The remarks are seen as intended to unsettle BJP by hinting he might have options outside NDA. Political observers say that the closeness between Nitish and Tejashwi may put pressure on the BJP.Nitish has made it clear that he will not compromise with his ideologies, even when in an alliance with the BJP. JDU’s Upendra Kushwaha has said that the party may be a part of the NDA, but if their demands were not met, a confrontation would surely happen. Meanwhile, indications abound that the emerging political formations are bipolar — one led by the BJP and the other by the Congress, into which fold Lalu Prasad Yadav appears to be trying hard to bring Samajwadi Party, JD(U) and other like-minded outfits. Lalu, the one-time great strategist, wants to give a credible battle to PM Modi in UP, Bihar and Jharkhand, which together account for a whopping 134 parliamentary seats.
SIDHU FACTION RATTLES GANDHIS OVER ANTI-CAPTAIN REBELLION
In Punjab Congress, the infighting is at the peak after the party high-command named Navjot Singh Sidhu as PCC chief and Captain Amarinder Singh as the party’s face for 2022 Assembly polls. With Sidhu camp inciting a fresh rebellion against Captain and seeking his immediate replacement, a rattled party high-command asserted to the dissenting leaders that as far 2022 Assembly polls in Punjab was concerned, Amarinder Singh would remain the CM face. AICC in-charge for Punjab Harish Rawat said, “We will contest 2022 Punjab elections under the leadership of Captain Amrinder Singh.” Rawat’s remarks came after the four rebel Punjab ministers —Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Charanjit Singh Channi – who led the move, had a meeting with him in Dehradun. They are also trying to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi in Delhi. The Congress high-command, who feels that Captain is still the best choice for the party in 2022 polls, has not taken kindly to this open rebellion and is in no mood to consider the demand for change.
PRIYANKA ATTACKS YOGI GOVERNMENT ON SUGARCANE PRICES
With an eye on the Uttar Pradesh 2022 assembly polls, the Congress is putting pressure on the BJP government to fulfill the demands of the people in the state. In this context, Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday attacked the state government on the farmers issue and said that the electricity rates for the farmers have increased many times, diesel rates have hiked over 100 times, but there has been no increase in the rates of sugarcane. She also said, “The UP BJP government came to power on the promise of raising the sugarcane prices, but in the last three years it has not raised a penny and if someone raises voice farmers are intimidated with threats.” While the UP Congress is focussing on the grassroots level ground issues, the Congress has launched a 100-day campaign to train its office bearers under the ‘Prashikshan Se Parakram’ programme. There would be 700 training camps in the different parts of state where two lakh office bearers from the grassroots level will be given training and the focus on booth management and Congress ideology.
SHIVRAJ BOTHERED BY SCINDIA’S CM AMBITION
After Jyotiraditya Scindia has been made the civil aviation minister at the Centre, party insiders feel that Scindia has his eye set on the chief minister’s seat to rule the state, and it was the reason he left the Congress and joined the BJP. Now, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is worried and he is trying to mend relations with Kailash Vijayvargiya and other state leaders to counter Scindia. Recently, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Vijayvargiya were seen at a function and showing their closeness infront of party workers and media.
BJP BENGAL LEADERS STILL PUSHING SEPARATE NORTH BENGAL STATE BOGEY
With peace no longer prevailing between BJP and TMC in West Bengal, the Union minister John Barla has demanded for a separate statehood of North Bengal districts. Addressing a press conference in Siliguri as part of the BJP’s ‘Shahid Samman Yatra’, Barla said he would discuss the issue at the appropriate level to bring to fruition for creating a separate state. Later, John Barla, a Minister of State for Minority Affairs, found support in Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh, who said, “If the demand for a separate north Bengal or Jangalmahal gathers steam, it is Mamata Banerjee who must bear the responsibility.” Dilip Ghosh, however, also clarified that the views of John Barla were his own and the BJP was not in favour of it. However, TMC and a section of state BJP leaders are criticizing Barla on the issue. (IPA)