Seat-sharing talks have begun in right earnest with Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray conducting separate meetings with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and NCP-SP supremo Sharad Pawar. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and K C Venugopal were also present during Kharge’s meeting with Thackeray. The MVA alliance is working to assure that the alliance comes out with a common manifesto and a unified campaign strategy, including setting up of a joint war room, for the forthcoming Assembly elections. The Shiv Sena (UBT) believes its chief Uddhav Thackeray is the automatic choice for the Chief Minister’s post if the alliance is voted to power. However, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said that the formula to the path ahead is collective leadership. It is obvious that the issue of future CM face is causing some fissures, strain and stress among the MVA partners. Meanwhile, the Congress is set to carry a grand rally at the MMRDA ground in Bandra-Kurla Complex on August 20 to mark the birth anniversary of the late former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. During Wednesday’s meeting, invitations for the rally were extended to NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray.
RAJYA SABHA BY-POLLS: BJP TO FACE STIFF CHALLENGE IN HARYANA
The Election Commission has announced September 3 as the date for the by-election to 12 Rajya Sabha seats, including 10 that fell vacant after the MPs were elected to Lok Sabha. The 12 seats comprise two each in Assam, Maharashtra and Bihar, and one each in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tripura, Telangana and Odisha. The BJP is likely to face a stiff challenge for the vacant seats in Haryana. The current strength of the 90-member Upper House Assembly in Haryana is 87. While the BJP has 41 members and has support of two MLAs, Independent MLA Nayan Pal Rawat and HLP MLA Gopal Kandla, which makes the BJP strength to 43 in the assembly. On the other hand, the remaining 44 MLAs appear to be in the Opposition camp, at least on paper, which include 29 of the Congress and 10 of the JJP. Out of the remaining four Independent, three MLAs have announced support to the Congress. INLD’s Abhay Chautala has also not announced his support to any party. Meanwhile, the Congress will win its lone seat from Telangana and RJD are likely to easily win one seat. However, the Congress has just enough numbers to hold onto the LoP post. The Congress has 26 members and party needs at least 25 members to hold the leader of opposition post, currently held by Mallikarjun Kharge.
VINESH PHOGAT’S OLYMPIC DISQUALIFICATION HEATS UP HARYANA POLITICS
The political temperature is soaring up in Haryana as the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Olympics race has become a flash point between the BJP and Congress. Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Vadra, and the Haryana Congress leaders have demanded justice for Phogat. However, the Congress saw vindication of their stand that the Modi government had scant regard for the wrestlers. By raising the issue, Congress hopes to consolidate the Jats and women vote bank in Haryana. On the other hand, the government has strongly defended itself with the PM taking the lead in asking the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to review the decision. Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, calling Ms Phogat “a champion among champions” and urging her to “come back stronger”.
LALU YADAV WANTS HEENA SHAHAB TO CONTEST UNDER RJD TICKET
Ahead of Bihar assembly elections, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, along with former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav met former RJD MP from Siwan Mohammed Shahabuddin’s wife, Heena Shahab. It is believed that Lalu Yadav wants to bring Heena Shahab to RJD in view to consolidate the Muslim votes of Seemanchal region of the state. Heena Shahab had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Siwan as an independent candidate, but lost to the JD(U) candidate. Still, she managed to garner 29.42% vote share, proving her political clout despite it being her fourth consecutive defeat from the seat. Shahabuddin’s family still has a strong support base not only in Siwan district, but also in adjoining Saran and Gopalganj districts.
WAQF AMENDMENT BILL HARSHLY POLARISES INDIAN POLITICAL PARTIES
The Waqf Amendment Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha, has prompted a heated debate with opposition parties criticizing the government and naming the draft legislation unconstitutional, anti-federal and divisive. The bill, which was criticized by opposition from Congress, Samajwadi Party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Trinamool Congress, found favour from NDA allies including Telugu Desam Party, Shiv Sena (Eknath faction) and Janata Dal United. The Lok Janshakti Party, however, favoured the idea of sending the legislation for further consultation. Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP said it supported the bill, but have no issues if it is sent to a standing committee for wider consultations. However, Congress MP KC Venugopal called the Bill an “attack on the federal system”. Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav demanding that the government provide a written promise that Waqf properties will not be sold. While BSP supremo Mayawati accused the government of messing in the matters related to mosques, madrasas, and Waqf. She said that this was against the principles of secularism enshrined in the Constitution. Meanwhile, the Centre on Thursday agreed to refer the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to a joint parliamentary committee after a vociferous Opposition in the Lok Sabha objected to its introduction. This is only the third time since 2014 that the Narendra Modi government has agreed to refer a bill to a JPC for closer scrutiny. And, the waqf bill is the first of them with political ramifications, the earlier two being the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, and the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2021. (IPA Service)
Narendra Modi Govt Is Pursuing Jobless Growth Strategy Even In Its Third Term 