The Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge, has dissolved the entire Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) unit in Himachal Pradesh, along with the district and block units. Now, the next line-up for change is in the government. According to sources, a Cabinet reshuffle is likely to be taken in the state after the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, and also the reconstitution of the unit might see the wings of party chief Pratibha Singh getting clipped. The Congress high command is also looking forward to change the in-charge of Himachal Pradesh, Rajeev Shukla, where the party failed to attain any of the four seats in the parliamentary elections. Moreover, despite having numbers to win the Rajya Sabha seat in the state, the Congress could not win it.
AKHILESH, RAHUL’S COUNTER-SLOGAN AIMS TO UNITE UP COMMUNITIES
The verbal war over ‘batenge to katenge’ (divided we fall) slogan from the CM Yogi-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is now seeing the Samajwadi Party coining a new one:“Naa batenge, naa katenge, ek hain aur ek rahenge” (We will neither get divided, nor fall. We are united and will remain so). Posters carrying pictures of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav together have come up at SP headquarters in Lucknow, while Rahul has been once again attempting to bring focus back on UP’s caste issues. The SP’s hoarding further read: “Batenge toh gas cylinder 1200 mein milega. Ek honge to 400 rupye mein milega” (We will get LPG cylinder for ₹1200 if we get divided and for ₹400 if we are united). Another hoarding read: “Ganga-Jamuna tehzeeb ko na hi batne denge, na hi Samaj ki ekta ko katne denge” (We will neither let anyone divide Ganga-Jamuna culture, nor will allow anyone to divide the unity in society). Meanwhile, after Yogi reiterated his slogan “batenge to katenge” at a poll rally in Maharashtra, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Thursday said the people of the state do not appreciate such remarks. Ajit Pawar said: “Maharashtra belongs to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj and Mahatma Phule. You do not compare Maharashtra with other states, Maharashtra’s people do not like this.”
AFTER PRASHANT KISHORE, NITISH’S FORMER AIDE RCP SINGH LAUNCHES PARTY
With Prashant Kishore’s launch of Jan Sauraj, another political party Aap Sab ki Awaz (ASA) has been launched in the state. Former Union minister Ram Chandra Prasad Singh announced his new party last month, marking his departure from JD(U). Incidentally, the 66-year-old Singh hails from the Kurmi caste, which figures among the Other Backward Classes, and considers Patel as its icon. Nitish is also from the same caste. The Kurmis are around 3 per cent of Bihar’s population, but are economically well-off, counted among the landed gentry, socio-political aware, and considered upwardly mobile. RCP Singh, who raised his voice and criticised Bihar’s prohibition laws and deteriorating public education, aims to field candidates in 140 of 243 assembly seats in the next election. Both RCP and Prashant were at one time the closest aide of CM Nitish Kumar, but now both of them are sworn political rivals.
MARATHA QUOTA ACTIVIST WITHDRAWS FROM MAHARASHTRA ASSEMBLY POLLS
Springing a surprise, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil withdrew from the make-or-break elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, but he said that he would back 10–15 candidates in the November 20 polls. This move is expected to bring benefit to the opposition comprising Congress, Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and Uddhav Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena (UBT), as it would prevent the division of anti-BJP votes. However, Jarange-Patil made it clear that the campaign involving the Maratha reservation demand would continue. On the other hand, Maratha votes were widely seen as a prominent factor behind the BJP-led NDA’s poor show in the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, where the Congress-led INDIA opposition bloc gained prominently. Marathas comprise 30–33% of the state’s total population. The fight in Maharashtra is considered bipolar between the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is currently in alliance with Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena under the ruling Mahayuti banner. The Shiv Sena (UBT), the NCP (Sharad Pawar) and the Congress are part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
MVA SAYS MAHARASHTRA READY FOR CHANGE AFTER MAHAYUTI’S DISMAL STINT
As Maharashtra goes to polls on November 20 with the counting on November 23, the battle has commenced with ruling alliance Mahayuti, comprising Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, BJP, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, eyeing to retain the power. While the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) and Congress, aspires to secure a majority and overthrow the present government. Shiv Sena (UBT) Uddhav Thackeray unveiled his party’s manifesto for the Maharashtra assembly polls, assuring free education for male students, stabilising prices of essential items and scrapping of the Dharavi redevelopment project. Thackeray said if the MVA comes to power, it will scrap cluster development of Koliwadas and Gaothans and it will be done after taking the residents into confidence. On the other hand, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said the people of Maharashtra are looking forward for a change and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will work towards giving them that alternative after the upcoming state assembly polls. Pawar also supported Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s demand for a caste census in the country. (IPA Service)
BJP Desperate To Get Back Lost Tribal Support Before Jharkhand Polls 