Despite losing the chief ministership, Congress senior leader Kamal Nath hasn’t yet lost the hope to once again become the CM of Madhya Pradesh. Although many Congress MLAs continue to leave the party and join BJP instead, especially after Jyotiraditya Scindia’s fiery exit from the Congress, Kamal Nath hasn’t given up. He’s looking forward to the by-poll which will be held soon after the Covid-19 induced lockdown period comes to a close. On the other hand, the Madhya Pradesh BJP seems confident of winning the by-polls because of the reinvigorated Ram Mandir wave, particularly after the bhoomi pujan and site worship by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5. PM Modi’s move has expectedly laid the ground for the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and consequently, its resonance is expected to impact all the BJP-ruled states in the country. However, Kamal Nath isn’t disheartened and is being seen reciting the Hanuman Chalisa and offering prayers sitting before idols of Ram, Sita and Hanuman at his residence in Bhopal a day before the bhoomi pujan. Kamal Nath also was heard dubbing August 5, 2020 a “historic day for which the country was waiting” referring to the bhoomi pujan, during which the foundational stone for the Ram temple at Ayodhya was laid by PM Modi. Kamal Nath said: “We are sending 11 silver bricks to Ayodhya from the people of Madhya Pradesh. The bricks were bought with donations from Congress members…Hanuman Chalisa recital is for the welfare of the people of the state.” The buzz is that Kamal Nath is confident of winning the by-polls.
RAJASTHAN BJP MOVES MLAs, EX-CM RAJE CONSULTS NADDA
After Congress, the BJP has now shifted several Rajasthan MLAs in a move seen as an attempt to stop any poaching bid amid growing factionalism within the state unit. The party claimed its legislature was being harassed by the state government. The party has shifted 19 MLAs to Gujarat. BJP state President Satish Poonia said the MLAs have gone on an excursion after the Congress government started spreading rumours about them. The party, it was learnt, had shifted 13 MLAs, mainly from the Udaipur division. Later, Rajasthan BJP sent six more MLAs to Porbandar, Gujarat, in a chartered flight under the watch of Phulera (Jaipur) MLA Nirmal Kumawat, Gopichand Meena, Jabbar Singh Sankhla, Dharmendra Kumar, Gopal Lal Sharma and Gurdeep Singh. The BJP has 72 MLAs in the 200-member house. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje’s visit to Delhi has triggered fresh rumours, even though the BJP appears not to be taking any proactive steps to take advantage of the open differences within the Rajasthan Congress. Raje met with both the party general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh and the national president JP Nadda. Raje’s discussions were linked with the party exploring possibilities and also about the party’s strategies for the Assembly session with the BJP moving a motion of no-confidence against the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in the state assembly. According to BJP sources, former chief minister Vasundhra Raje will be the main speaker to attack the Gehlot government to show the unity in BJP after the failure of the kamal mission in Rajasthan.
WILL TS SINGH DEO DO A SCINDIA IN CHHATTISGARH?
After Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, it is now the turn of Congress government in Chhattisgarh to feel the heat. Soon after the criticism of the New Education Policy of the Modi government by Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Congress leader and health minister TS Singh Deo has praised the NEP, raising eyebrows. Deo was the CM candidate after the Chhattisgarh assembly elections, but the Congress high command preferred Bhupesh Baghel for the seat of the CM against Deo. According to political observers, while the Chhattisgarh government is working hard for development and has almost controlled the coronavirus in the state, the statement made by TS Singh Deo at such a time had given signals that everything is not alright within the government. Deo might act like Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot if the Congress high command is not able to control the damage immediately.
CONGRESS RAJYA SABHA MEMBERS BAJWA AND DULLO FACE PARTY IRE
Congress’s Punjab unit has recommended disciplinary action against Rajya Sabha members Partap Singh Bajwa and Shamsher Singh Dullo for their alleged anti-party activities and using derogatory language against chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and state party chief Sunil Jakhar. The recommendation in form of letter has been sent to the party’s central disciplinary action committee headed by former defence minister AK Antony and comprising veteran leaders Motilal Vohra, Sushil Kumar Shinde and also Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Bajwa and Dullo have stepped up their attacks against the chief minister and Jakhar following the recent hooch tragedy in which over 100 people were killed. They have demanded their removal over alleged failure to check the liquor mafia’s nexus. A joint letter written by Bajwa and Dullo to Punjab governor VP Singh Badnore seeking a probe by the central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate into the alleged illegal liquor trade in the state. A Congress functionary said “Whatever grievance they had the two leaders should have written directly to the party high command and not the governor against their own government. This is gross indiscipline and a clear cut case of anti-party activities.” Bajwa said he and Dullo are firm on their demand for the removal of the chief minister and Jakhar and that they will also present their views to the central disciplinary panel.
HIGH COMMAND MIFFED WITH UP UNIT OF BJP, YOGI GOVERNMENT
The BJP high command is worried about the UP BJP affairs as there are three prominent news items published in papers within a week which has disturbed the central high command. Firstly, a senior BJP MP wrote on his Facebook post saying:“In my 30 years in politics this is the first time that I am feeling helpless and weak.” Secondly, a BJP MLA from Unnao sat on dharma in front of the kotawali as the police was not listening to his complaint. Thirdly, BJP Mayor of Lucknow has complained against some officers to the chief minister which weren’t heard by Yogi. Before that, the party had given a notice to an MLA after his viral video against the working of the state government sent shock waves. Few months back, a BJP MLA sat on dharna in assembly against the government. The central leadership, after discussing these episodes, has called a meeting of UP state leaders in Delhi after the bhoomi pujan of Ram Mandir. However, the matter had to be postponed since the state BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh was found to be corona positive. (IPA)
Kerala Demands Withdrawal Of EIA Draft 