By Rahil Nora Chopra
The Maratha reservation row has escalated, with OBC leaders threatening state-wide protests and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Minister Chhagan Bhujbal skipping the state Cabinet meeting and declaring that he would move court against the Maharashtra government’s decision to issue Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Congress on Thursday demanded that the state raise the OBC reservation quota from 27% to 42%, on the lines of the Congress-led Telangana government, saying this was the only way to amicably resolve the ongoing dispute over quotas. In addition, activist Manoj Jarange Patil’s ended his five-day hunger strike in Mumbai after the State accepted six of his eight demands. The government also came out with a GR on the issuance of Kunbi (OBC) caste certificates to eligible Marathas. The GR states that “in accordance with the historical references contained in the Hyderabad gazetteer, a dedicated scrutiny process shall be conducted to verify documents and establish the eligibility of persons from the Maratha community for Kunbi caste certificates.” Meanwhile, several OBC leaders have expressed reservations about the decision of the government. “The decision is anti-Constitutional and anti-people,” said Prof Laxman Hake, who heads the OBC Sangharsh Sena.
EPS, TTV-LED EXITS FROM NDA CAMP CAUSE FLUTTER IN TAMIL NADU
With the return of the Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS)-led All India Anna Dravidar Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and a change of leadership in the state BJP, TTV Dhinakaran, leader of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) walked out of the NDA alliance in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday following in the footsteps of O Panneerselvam (OPS) who left on July 31. Their exit has raised questions on whether Palaniswami was serious about fighting the DMK in the polls, or merely interested in ensuring his supremacy in the AIADMK. It is an open secret that Palaniswami is opposed to OPS and TTV being part of the NDA especially at a time when voices for the unification of AIADMK is getting shriller. Turning to actor Vijay’s political entry, Dhinakaran suggested that TVK could reshape the state’s political landscape. “Like I said how Vijayakanth caused an impact in 2006, there is a chance for such an impact in 2026. When Vijayakanth entered politics, all parties were affected and a similar effect will happen,” he said.
AMIT SHAH HOLDS HIGH-LEVEL MEETING TO TACKLE BIHAR POLLS FOR NDA
As the high-stakes battle for Bihar inches closer, Union home minister and the party’s key electoral strategist Amit Shah held a meeting with the party’s state unit to draw up a strategy. Shah held meetings with leaders of the core committee including deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, state president Dilip Jaiswal, besides Vinod Tawde. While ticket distribution was discussed, nothing was finalised since some of the seats might be redistributed among NDA partners. On the other hand, HAM (Secular) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi publicly staked claim to at least 20 seats, stressing the need for the NDA leaders to show sympathy towards his party. The HAM (Secular) draws strength primarily from the Musahar caste Dalits in the central Bihar districts. While the Chirag Paswan’s party had 100 percent strike rate in Lok Sabha polls, winning all five seats, it has now demanded for nearly 30 to 35 seats. The LJP (RV) is primarily known as a party of the Paswans among the Dalits. Meanwhile, the BJP’s push for a larger share of the lie in Bihar is based on its assessment that the JD(U)’s vote bank among Muslims, EBCs and Mahadalits was eroding along with its organizational strength. According to NDA sources, the JD(U) is insisting on 50:50 formula. Now BJP have a stiff challenge to reach a consensus on seat-sharing with JD(U), LJP and other smaller parties.
CM NITISH KUMAR REACHES OUT TO WOMEN AS BIHAR POLLS INCH CLOSER
With Bihar increasingly bustling with political activity ahead of the state Assembly polls later this year. Political parties are actively reaching out to women voters with welfare promises. The Nitish Kumar government’s Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana provides Rs 10,000 to eligible women to support income generation, alongside the announcement of 35 per cent reserved seats in state government jobs. The government has also introduced a pension scheme for women. While the main opposition RJD, too, has rolled the dice. Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, promised various schemes, including the ‘Mai-Bahan’ scheme providing Rs 2,500 monthly to women, an increase in pensions for widowed mothers and sisters to Rs 1,500, subsidised gas cylinders for Rs 500 in every kitchen, 200 units of free electricity and high-quality residential coaching institutes for daughters, world-class sports training and job opportunities and free exam forms and travel facilities. Both the NDA and Mahagathbandhan alliance strategy to woo women is understandable in the sense that out of 7.2 crore voters in Bihar, women voters comprise 3.7 crores.
RAHUL’S ‘VOTE ADHIKAR YATRA’ A HUGE HIT, SAYS MORE EXPOSÉ TO FOLLOW
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has threatened the BJP with a bigger vote chori exposé soon, promising to drop a hydrogen bomb as the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar culminated in Patna. The Mahagathbandhan leaders travelled in open SUVs with people lining the roads, waving flags, and cheering him. Hundreds of young people were seen clicking selfies. The party cadres raised slogans of vote chor, gaddi chhod (vote thief, leave the chair)”. Rahul Gandhi accused the ruling party of undermining democracy and curbing citizens’ rights, describing vote theft not merely as a means to seize power, but as a theft of democracy itself. The rally drew a large crowd, reflecting the enthusiasm for the Grand Alliance’s campaign. Both leaders asserted that the movement, which began in Bihar, was resonating across India and expressed confidence that citizens would take decisive steps to defend democracy and their rights. (IPA Service)
