The COVID-19 lockdown has put the Uddhav Thackeray led Maharashtra government in a tough spot not only for the highest number of coronavirus cases, but Thackeray himself as Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president, is not a member of the legislature. And if he doesn’t manage to find a way into the state’s bicameral legislature, either the assembly (lower house) or the council (upper house) by 27 May, he risks losing his chair. Uddhav Thackeray has taken oath on 28 November 2019. The election commission of India has postponed the Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Parishad elections due to Coronavirus. Uddhav Thackeray had planned to go house through state legislative Council (MLC) election but due to Coronavirus the election has been postponed now he wants to go through state legislative Council seats that are to be nominated by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to avoid constitutional crisis. For this Maharashtra Cabinet, which was chaired by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, has recommended CM Uddhav Thackeray’s name for one of the two vacant State legislative Council seats. Now it all depends on the Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari when he will nominate Uddhav Thackeray. As per the constitution, the Governor has to accept the advice of the cabinet.
SHIVRAJ SITS ON HIS ONE-MAN CABINET AS CORONA RAVAGES MP
Coronavirus has brought turmoil for the people of the state of Madhya Pradesh, but relief to the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Chouhan has taken oath as a chief minister of Madhya Pradesh on 23 March for the fourth time, and Prime Minister had announced Janata curfew on 22 March. Therefore, he had taken oath alone as he had to adjust the MLAs who had come along with Jyotiraditya Scindia from the Congress party, as well as his own BJP MLAs. It was promised that one of the MLAs of Jyotiraditya Scindia’s group would be given deputy chief ministership. While the claim of deputy chief ministership of BJP MLA Narottam Mishra could not be ignored either. For this, Shivraj Singh Chouhan would have to take the permission of the BJP high command, and as a result, the CM has not been able to expand his cabinet till today. With his one-man cabinet, Chouhan has been left alone to battle coronavirus, which is ravaging the state of Madhya Pradesh. The irony is that Chouhan has to take the approval from the high command to form the cabinet, and approval from the yet-unformed cabinet for all the decisions to tackle the covid-19 response. Power grab notwithstanding, Chouhan is in a tough spot.
YEDIYURAPPA, SHIVAKUMAR SAY NO TO COVID COMMUNALISATION
The BJP Chief Minister of Karnataka BS Yediyurappa has found a new supporter in the state, Congress state president DK Shivakumar. Several BJP leaders have turned against Yediyurappa after he criticized his party men for vilifying Muslims over Covid-19. Shivakumar openly came out in support of Yediyurappa’s warning since too many BJP leaders were accusing Muslims of spreading the coronavirus. The rare friendship at such a critical time has raised eyebrows in the state since everyone knows Shivakumar does not make empty moves.
SONIA GANDHI TAKES STOCK OF COVID LOCKDOWN IMPACT
Congress president Sonia Gandhi held a meeting with presidents of state units via video conference to take stock of the situation arising out of the continuing nationwide lockdown. She hoped that the central government would come up with a detailed plan to mitigate the suffering of the poor, farmers and unorganized workers. During the meeting, the party said almost every state president has spoken about how lack of testing is hampering the fight against coronavirus. The Congress also accused the centre of failing to secure the safety and livelihood of Indians in America. Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said: “The sword of H-1B visa job terminations looms large on the heads of an estimated 75000 Indians, with the United States giving them only a 60 day period to find a new job in case of a layoff. There are 309,986 Indians working on H-1B visa in the USA.” (IPA)