By Rahil Nora Chopra
The Congress has hit the streets. With a bang, the grand old party has announced a series of protest programmes as well as launched Jai Bharat Satyagraha, a massive Opposition action to register dissent against the disqualification of former Congress president Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha, following his conviction in a criminal defamation case. On April 1, Congress workers of the ST, SC, OBC, minority department plan to hold rallies next to the statues of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi in every state capital. On April 3, IYC and NSUI will run a massive public campaign to send postcards to. PM Narendra Modi. The grapevine is that one section of Congress senior leaders is looking forward to move a no-confidence motion against the Speaker Om Birla. According to sources, Congress has approached like-minded opposition parties to walk together and move the motion, though their responses are still awaited. According to Parliament rules, a no-confidence motion can be introduced only in the Lower House and has to be supported by at least 50 Lok Sabha MPs to be considered. Once it is introduced, the Speaker can allocate a date for discussing the motion, but within 10 days from the date of introduction.
MVA BACK ON TRACK AFTER PAWAR, RAUT ASK RAHUL TO GO EASY ON SAVARKAR
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar has intervened to support and rescue the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra, after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remark on V D Savarkar created a series of fissures between the INC and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction. Meanwhile, Sena leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut interacted with former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and asserted that everything was fine, indicating an end to the row over Savarkar. On the other hand, NCP supremo Pawar asked Rahul Gandhi to tone down his criticism of Savarkar and reminded the Congress leader that the real fight of the opposition parties was with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. In turn, Rahul Gandhi firmly told the opposition leaders that though his ideological position on the Savarkar issue is firm, he is willing to mellow down his position if it creates problems for the allies.
BAGHEL VS. DEO ROW MAY HIT CONGRESS’ POLL CHANCES IN CHHATTISGARH
The ongoing power scuffle in Chhattisgarh and the rift between Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and state cabinet minister TS Singh Deo has become a raging storm in the state for some years now. As assembly elections are less than a year away, there is a growing feeling within the ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh for and against rejig in the state party organization, with CM Baghel signalling a change and triggering speculation on the potential appointment of a new PCC chief. On the other hand, T S Singh Deo said that he could not comprehend the logic behind any restructuring when everyone was confident of the Congress being comfortably placed to win the assembly elections. Both Baghel and Deo camps are framing their own lists of ticket nominees and demanding greater share in the ticket distribution.
UTTAR PRADESH CONGRESS LEADER DEDICATES HIS HOME TO RAHUL
In a warm gesture and demonstrating undying party loyalty, senior Uttar Pradesh Congress leader Ajay Rai has symbolically dedicated his home to former party chief Rahul Gandhi, who has been asked to vacate his official bungalow in Delhi following his lightning-fast disqualification as a Lok Sabha member. The former MLA and his wife have put up a board outside their home in the Lahurabir locality of the city that reads, “Meraghar, Shri Rahul Gandhi kaghar (my home is Shri Rahul Gandhi’s home)”. This comes after Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday replied to the Lok Sabha Secretariat’s notice asking him to vacate his official bungalow, and said he would follow the law and abide by the notice.
AKHILESH BETS ON NITISH KUMAR’S CHARM TO WOO KURMIS, OTHER OBC IN UP
JD (U) leaders in Uttar Pradesh have a stance that CM Nitish Kumar should contest from the Kurmi-dominated seats of Phulpur or Mirzapur in the next year general elections. SP has an alliance with Apna Dal (Kamerwadi) and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s desire to tie up with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) in UP may bear fruits. Nitish belongs to the Kurmi OBC community, and the SP comprehensively hopes to cash in on this to reach out to the OBCs in UP. The Kurmis have the potential and capability to determine the electoral outcome in various seats in UP. They are the second most influential OBC segment in the state. (IPA Service)
