by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Drug consumption in J&K doubled in 5 years

The Union Home Ministry has maintained that “there is no clear cut evidence of drugs being smuggled from across the border i.e. Pakistan and Afghanistan into J&K.” Though the number of drug smuggling cases have doubled during the past five years (2017 to 2021) in J&K, the ministry felt that there is no Pakistani hand in it. Of the 4598 cases registered in J&K, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) could find its links with Pakistan & Afghanistan in 12 cases only. "The total number of cases of smuggling with Pakistan & Afghanistan links were just 12 in five years which is not alarming", said these sources.

As per a report of NCRB, the number of cases of drug smuggling registered in J&K have doubled in five years (2017-21). If the number of cases registered in 2017 were just 743, they shot up to 1324 in 2021. The MHA also asserted that there is no study to indicate an increase in smuggling and consumption of narcotics/drugs in J&K in the last 5 years. As per survey conducted by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment on Extent and Pattern of Substance use in India through the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi during 2018, the estimated number of drug users are 5,85,000.

Of them, 1,36,000 persons consume cannabis, 4,47,000 use Opioids, 1000 Cocaine and 1,000 Amphetamines type stimulants. Official sources said that the number of users and the type of users do not indicate an alarming rise of smuggling or number of consumers.  It is significant to mention that the NIA has been empowered under NDPS Act 1985 for investigation of Narco terrorism cases.  A Dedicated Anti Narcotic Task Force has also been established in J&K.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Fly on the Wall

EC goes by the wind!

The Election Commission moved with great alacrity in the Shiv Sena symbol dispute and pronounced its judgement in less than a year. The Shinde faction revolted in June last year with 40-odd MLAs of the Shiv Sena and staked claim to be the real Shiv Sena.  The Election Commission froze the symbol (Bow & Arrow) and allotted two different symbols to both the factions temporarily. The EC moved rather fast and by February it declared Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena as the real party and allotted him the original  symbol. The decision came within 8 months of the split which is a record of sorts in recent history. Political observers wonder as to why the EC is sitting pretty in the case of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) headed by late Ram Vilas Paswan. After his death, his brother Pashupati Paras Kumar walked away with 5 out of six Lok Sabha  MPs and claimed that he is the real LJP in June 2021. However, Chirag Paswan, a son of late Ram Vilas Paswan and Lok Sabha MP, claimed that he is the real inheritor of the Paswan's legacy and staked his claim on the symbol. The EC froze its symbol and allotted two different symbols to the two factions. Strangely enough, both the factions owe their allegiance to the NDA and praise PM Modi for his leadership. Pashupati Paras Kumar is a Cabinet Minister while Chirag Paswan is waiting to reap the harvest whenever the next reshuffle takes place. But there are no answers as to why the EC is not deciding the case even as two years have gone by after the split in 2021.

All is well now

The bitter battle leading to a public spat between the Judiciary and the executive seems to be heading towards a tuce. If reports emanating from the highest court in India on Tilak Marg and Modi Establishment in South Block are any indication, the two vital pillars of democracy have reached an informal understanding. Barring small pinpricks and occasional statements in public domain, both sides have decided to call it a day. Sources say that an informal understanding has been reached between the two. It transpires that the Chief Justice of India led collegium will take into account the sentiments and suggestions made by the government in respect of appointments, transfers and posting of the judges of the high courts and Supreme Court. A close look at the seven new appointments at the Supreme Court in a span of one month will show that views of the Modi government have also been taken into consideration. It created a history of sorts as the highest court is functional with its full strength of 34. This is a rare feat for the SC under CJI D Y Chandrachud.  All seven appointments were cleared by the government within a month. Union Law Minister Kiran Rijiju thinks he has achieved a feat of sorts during his tenure.

Tail of a Rahul Loyalist

Rahul Gandhi may be running the party even after demitting office of Congress president through his loyalists like K C Venugopal, Randeep Surjewala and many others. But some of his close loyalists are having the taste of master craftsmen Mallikarjun Kharge. The "elected" Congress president, Kharge can't be rated as 100% subservient to the powers that be. Ajay Maken, a close loyalist of Rahul Gandhi, is having the taste of Kharge regime in the party. He resigned as general secretary incharge of Rajasthan after having a bitter tiff with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Without losing a moment, Kharge accepted his resignation and gave him no work. Ajay Maken is now sulking as he has no work even in states which are going to polls. On the other hand, Kharge has rewarded Randeep Surjewala as general secretary incharge of poll-bound Karnataka. Surjewala has taken a house on rent in Bengaluru and is camping there permanently. It's Kharge's home state and stakes are high for him too. Maken is eyeing the post of Election Strategy department that the AICC is planning to set up for the 2024 polls.

A third extension

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) plays a major role in the stock market and is capable of deciding which way the markets should move. The government seems to be very happy with the current chairman M R Kumar and giving him one extension after the other. The government had appointed Kumar in 2019 as the LIC chief and he was to be at the post till June 30, 2021. The first extension was given to him from July 2021 to March 2022 and this was followed by a second one to March 2023. Reports are emerging that Kumar may get another extension for a period of six months as the process of selecting the new chairman has not set in as yet. The Centre is likely to invite applications for the position of LIC chairman and until the process is complete Kumar may continue to hold the post. No one is sure in North Block as to what prevented the government from starting the selection process early. Maybe, Kumar is “Kaam Ka Aadmi hai."

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group



Govt.'s huge challenge to recover Rs 8 lakh crores in Tax arrears 

Fiscal deficit a worry 

The Union Finance ministry is working overtime to recover Income-Tax arrears running into nearly Rs 8 lakh crores to achieve its targets before March 31, 2023. Though the total arrears due are to the tune of Rs 19 lakh crores. But the government has set a reasonable target to recover a minimum of 40% of this amount.

Since the Modi government has fixed the target of spending Rs 10 lakh crores towards infrastructure projects across the country during the next fiscal, the Finance ministry has been asked to recover arrears at a faster pace. The past record suggests that It has been able to recover only 10% of its arrears. The government is now targeting to take this amount to 40%. It is for this very purpose that nearly 100 joint commissioner rank officials will be deployed to dispose of appeals filed by the tax-payers and also recover from those where a huge amount is due.

The tax arrears are piling up because of litigation, liquidation of companies, untraceable taxpayers, and a mismatch in tax deduction at source. There are also cases stayed by courts or tribunals. The IT officials have been directed to carry out recovery surveys in a large number in suitable cases after due diligence.

The dichotomy is that the IT department is also flooded with appeals where tax-payers want it to refund Rs 14.19 lakh crores until 2021-22. As many as 5,98,448 were filed during the past five years. Of this 4,40,153 appeals have been disposed of during the five year period. But it shows that more than 2 lakh appeals are still pending with the Commissioner (Appeals). The government is seriously contemplating settling the issue through negotiations. But IT officials are unwilling as they may be hounded by probe agencies for giving favours to taxpayers.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Fly on the wall

Modi's uncharted journey

Remember Prime Minister Modi's golden words, “There is always an opportunity in crisis.” His calm & composure was first witnessed on October 27, 2013 when bomb blasts rocked the city of Patna during a massive rally as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate. Be it earthquake ridden Gujarat areas or killing of CRPF jawans in Pulwama, he emerged stronger after every crisis. Now Modi sees a role for himself in the global arena by brokering a peace deal in Russia – Ukraine war. It is a feather in India's cap that the country's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had two meetings with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, another first. Doval had a scheduled meeting with the National Security Advisors of seven nations as part of the regional dialogue on Afghanistan. But the shocker came when Doval was invited for a one-to-one meeting by Putin which lasted for nearly an hour, a rare feat.

But another first came when the White House said the USA would welcome any effort that could lead to an end of hostilities referring to the efforts made by Modi. The PM has spoken to the presidents of Russia and Ukraine on multiple occasions and had a bilateral meeting with Putin in Uzbekistan on September 16 where he said "today's era is not of war". Modi nudged Putin to end the conflict. It may also be noted that India has not yet criticized the Russian attack on Ukraine and has been in regular contact with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. It was Modi who persuaded Russia and Ukraine to declare a ceasefire to allow safe passage to Indian students holed up in war-torn Ukraine. It emerged later that Doval was carrying a secret message for Putin from Modi. Surely, the US may be prodding Modi to broker a peace deal, if possible. But this is the first time an Indian PM is negotiating with two countries at war. What an irony ? It is the same US which had denied Visa to Modi now wants Modi to Broker peace. Is Modi in line for the Nobel prize for Peace!

Incorrigible IAS officer

Shah Faesal, an IAS officer of the UT cadre currently posted as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, has put his finger in the Adani pie. His recent tweet has surprised the government as Faesal has been an incorrigible officer in the services. Faesal was the first UPSC topper from Jammu & Kashmir, resigned from service three years ago citing "rising intolerance in India". He went on to float his own political party. However, in a surprise decision, the Modi government allowed him to rejoin the IAS last year as he regretted his decision saying, "his idealism had let him down". But Shah Faesal was back in the news for jumping into the Adani row. He joined the debate saying, “I respect Gautam Adani.” He did not stop there and went further,“I wish him the best as he and his family face this trial by fire.”  He said,“I respect  @gautam_adani for the way he has refused to let adversity get the better of him. I know him as a great human being who is deeply respectful of diversity in society and wants to see India at the top. I wish him the best as he and his family face this trial by fire.” 

Three Congress CMs in cross fire

Even as Rahul Gandhi continued with his tirade against India's top businessman Gautam Adani in the wake of the Hindenburg Research controversy, three Congress Chief Ministers - Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu - have maintained their studied silence. Rather, Ashok Gehlot put up a spirited defence of Adani saying all his decisions relating to Adani's  investment in the state are above board. After all, the Adani Group has large projects in these states as well and in other Opposition-ruled states as well.

Rahul's Beard, a matter of time !

Contrary to popular perception, Rahul Gandhi may get rid of his entangled beard and return to his clean shaven look sooner than expected. Reason; He is feeling uneasy particularly when he takes his food. Secondly; he is also under pressure from his “own people.” Who are his own people? He won't answer. Rahul Gandhi is on record to say which largely went unreported, “I don't know how I decided to grow my beard. During the Bharat Jodo yatra, I felt that I should not shave my beard, nor should I cut my hair.” He whispered that he is uncomfortable at times and may have to return to his original look. Why? Maybe because his own people (Read Sonia and Priyanka) are pressuring him to shave. Some of his party people (read members of his coterie) are also telling him to get rid of long hair and beard. But right now, he is resisting this temptation as many feel that his new look has benefited him politically and his “Pappu” image is a thing of the past.

After all, PM Modi also grew his long beard during the Covid era which may have been aimed at wooing the voters in West Bengal. But the Rabindranath Tagore look alike beard didn't quite carry the election for the BJP. Modi's long beard vanished soon thereafter. Will Rahul trim his beard or it may vanish in thin air? Watch out.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Govt. Stares at massive losses in running Airports

Pune, Kolkata & Goa only saving grace

Private airports not making big bucks either

Barring Pune, Kolkata and Goa, most of the 124 airports under the command and control of Airport Authority of India (AAI) have been running at massive losses for the past five years together.

The AAI's accumulated losses during the past five years are a whopping Rs 5285 crores. Had Pune in Maharashtra, Kolkata in West Bengal and Goa not made profits during this period, losses could have sky-rocketed. Even these three airports were in losses during 2020-21 and 2021-22 due to Covid pandemic. But they made massive profits from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2020.

But for Pune, all AAI run airports in Maharashtra including Akola, Jalgaon, Juhu, Kolhapur and Solapur have incurred losses consistently.

Some of the popular travel destinations including Tirupati, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Jodhpur,Shimla, Srinagar and the like, are all in losses for the past five years.

The data accessed showed that even 14 privately run airports also made losses to the tune of Rs 1847 crores during 2020-21 after making profits during 2018-2020.

The government had cut its losses by bringing in private operators. But these operators, after being in profits initially, also suffered losses lately. With traffic rising post-Covid, the government is planning to privatize 25 more airports including Nagpur during 2023-25.

Out of the 10 operationalized greenfield airports, Durgapur, Kannur, Sindhudurg and Mopa have been developed by respective state governments with the help of private developers. The development of new greenfield airports at Jewar, Bhogapuram, Navi Mumbai, Karaikal and Dabra are also being offered to private operators.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Reduction in Corporate tax rate caused losses over Rs 1 lakh crore per year

No proposal to review 

The government admitted in Rajya Sabha that reduction in corporate tax from 30% to 22% has resulted in losses to the tune of Rs. 128,170 crores during the financial year 2019-20. The estimated losses during the financial year 2020-21 has come down to Rs. 100,241 crores. The year also saw a resurgence in corporate tax collections as it showed growth of about 56% as compared to the tax collection during the financial year 2020-21.  The government said that the corporate tax collection during 2021-22 was even higher at Rs 7.12 lakh crore. This was far higher compared to 2018-19. The current year has further shown buoyancy in corporate tax collection so far which is due to economic growth and new investment as a result of reduction in corporate tax.  

As mentioned in the Statement of Revenue Impact of Tax Incentives under the Central Tax System in the Receipt Budget 2023-24, 61% of the reported aggregated total income of all companies has opted for the new concessional tax scheme under section 115BAA of the Income-tax Act, 1961 for FY 2020-21.

The Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said, "As mentioned in the Statement of Revenue Impact of Tax Incentives under the Central Tax System in the Receipt Budget 2022-23, 62% of the reported aggregated total income of all companies has opted for the new concessional tax scheme under section 115BAA of the Income-tax Act, 1961 for FY 2019-20.

In response to a spate of questions posed by A A Rahim in the Rajya Sabha who wanted to know whether the government estimated the revenue loss due to the reduction in Corporate tax from 30 per cent to 22 per cent in 2019-20 and if so, the amount of revenue loss for 2020 and 2021, the minister admitted that collections were less than estimated. But with growth picking up the corporate tax collections will rise during 2023-24. The government also made it clear that there is no proposal to revise the corporate tax rate in view of losses incurred.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

 

Modi's 60 seats gamble 

 

Prime Minister Modi is known for doing the unthinkable and a big risk taker. He has the habit of surprising all and sundry by his decisions.  If the mandarins in the corridors of power are to be believed, Modi is considering contesting from the South in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The gamble, if taken, is aimed at opening the doors of the BJP in a big way. Insiders in the BJP say that the PM asked senior party leaders to give him a road map of how the party could win 60 Lok Sabha seats from five Southern states. Currently, the BJP has a strong base in Karnataka where it won 25 seats out of 28 in 2019 Lok Sabha polls and 4 seats in Telangana out of 17. But it drew a blank in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The BJP high command is fixing nuts and bolts in these states and enhancing its Telangana tally. Modi has been posing pointed questions to the BJP leadership about its plans to expand the party's base in the South. In Kerala, it's a long shot but Tamil Nadu is on the radar. One of the suggestions engaging the attention is how beneficial it would be to pitch the PM from Tamil Nadu as well in addition to his current Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency.  

 

Entering the Southern dragon 

 

The BJP’s southern sojourn may take Modi to Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha constituency in TN. The BJP leadership is aware that it has almost reached a saturation point in the Hindi heartland, West and North East and could add another 20 odd-seats in the kitty of 303 seats it  won in 2019. Therefore, it must take unimaginable steps to conquer the South. An IPS officer has been given the command of TN BJP with Hindutva Agenda. The month-long event held in November, 2022 was aimed at rediscovering the bond between Kashi and Tamil Nadu. Hundreds of delegates from Tamil Nadu participated in this month-long event. The PM has been traveling to TN wearing TN attire and even spoke in Tamil for a brief while. The BJP leadership is working hard to bring the two AIADMK factions together. Secondly, Ramanathpuram has Lord Rama’s connection, the Hindutva ideology. Ram Setu is likely to be declared National Heritage which is currently in court. There is only one hitch; should the PM contest from two seats and what signal it may send to UP voters where the BJP wants to win 75 plus Lok Sabha seats. The last word on the issue is yet to be written. The mystery will unfold only when the Election Commission announces an 8-phase Lok Sabha poll schedule in 2024. 

 

 

 

Eyes set on two Vacant RS Seats

Of the 12 nominated MPs of the Rajya Sabha, two seats continue to remain vacant for nearly a year. The government nominated 5 celebrities to the Rajya Sabha last year and the choice of each one of them gives a clue of PM Modi’s astute thinking. If legendary athlete P T Usha was picked up from Kerala, Indian philanthropist Dr Veerendra Heggade was chosen from Karnataka. Music maestro Ilaiyaraaja Iyaraja  from Tamil Nadu and screenwriter and director from Andhra V Vijendra was privileged one. All four from southern states. To top it all, Modi also nominated Ghulam Ali, a ST leader from Jammu & Kashmir. But none of them joined the BJP as had been the trend in the past with nominated MPs like Sonal Mansingh and others. It is learnt that two remaining nominations may be from poll bound states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh etc. A close look at the list of Padma awardees reveals focus on South India. 

 

Gehlot gets a breather

 

If the BJP high command reported to have given a breather to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan until the Assembly polls in November-December 2023, the Congress too has finally given up its plan to replace Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The BJP has been unable to find an OBC leader capable of facing poll year challenges to replace Chouhan. Rahul Gandhi tried hard to bring a solution to the on-going bitter battle going-on between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. On the contrary, a tripartite meeting among the three leaders ended virtually in a fiasco. Sachin Pilot has been left high & dry.

 

Modi opens treasure chest for Odisha 

 

There is nothing without reason in PM Modi's dictionary. When Modi inducted Ashwini Vaishnav in his Cabinet and gave him three plum portfolios, the credit was given to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who facilitated his entry into the Rajya Sabha. But all that is history and relationship took a bitter turn when BJP president J P Nadda gave a clarion call to make "BJD-Mukt" Odisha at a party workers rally. Neither Modi nor Vaishnav have uttered a word against Naveen Patnaik. On the contrary, the former IAS officer who was a district collector in Cuttack and Balasore, was able to allocate more funds for Railway projects than asked for by the state. Modi opened the centre's treasure chest for Odisha which had demanded Rs 8,400 crore. But Modi doled out Rs 10,012 crore in 2023-24. The allocation was Rs 1,600 crore more than the government’s expectation and 57 railway stations would be modernised in the state. Obviously, Vaishnav may be the face of the BJP in Odisha where Lok Sabha and Assembly polls will be held simultaneously. 

 

  

 

 

 

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Food, Fertilizers, Fuel, MNREGAS, Mid-day meal face huge cut

Budget hits rural poor as Rs 4 lakh crores subsidies reduced 

Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman resorted to massive cuts in many subsidies in Food, Fertilizers and Fuel subsidies between 28% to 31% in the  2023-24 Union Budget compared to 2022-23. If the food subsidies benefiting the poor under the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana were given Rs 2,87,194 crores in 2022-23, the Budget earmarked Rs 1,97,350 crores in 2023-24  which is almost Rs 90,000 crores less. 

Even the fertilizers subsidy bill for the farmers has taken a huge hit of more than Rs 50,000 crores which is more than 22%. The allocation for fertilizers subsidy was Rs 2,25,220 crores in 2023-23 and has been brought down to Rs 1,75,000 crores. The Fuel subsidies have been budgeted at Rs 2,257 crore, a fall of 75% compared to 2022-23.

As if this was not enough, the rural employment scheme, known as MNGREAS, saw a massive cut of Rs 29,400 crores. The scheme was allocated Rs 89,400 in 2022-23 and now given Rs 60,000 crores in 2023-24. Officials, however, explain that it's a demand driven scheme and the demand was low. The Rashtriya Swasthya Suraksha Yojana also saw a massive; from Rs 8270 crores in 2022-23 to Rs 3365 crores in 2023-24. The PM Poshan Shakti Nirman, better known as Mid-Day meal scheme also witnessed a cut of Rs 1200 crores; from Rs 12800 crores to Rs 11,600 crores at a time when school enrollment rose sharply after the pandemic. Of the five key welfare schemes of the rural development ministry, the National Social Assistance Program (NSAP) has been marginally reduced but the rural housing scheme received a 12% hike. No doubt, certain schemes saw a rise in allocations as well including Jal Jeevan Mission and Health. But Health Research saw a deep cut in allocation at a time when focus is on research.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Fly on the wall 

Narayan Rane to contest Lok Sabha polls

 

The grapevine has it that the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi wants that of the 18 Union Ministers hailing from Rajya Sabha, at least 10 of them should contest Lok Sabha polls in May 2024.  Modi is also keen that of the 92 BJP MPs from Rajya Sabha at least 25-30 should enter the electoral fray. The prominent names emerging from the BJP’s closet from Maharashtra include MSME Minister Narayan Rane and Minister of State Ramdas Athawale (RPI-Athawale). The third term Rajya Sabha MP and Leader of the House Piyush Goyal who is holding several key portfolios is also from Maharashtra. But he has also been working as a back-room boy during the Lok Sabha polls and his services are vital for the polls in 2024 in Delhi.  However, 8 other Union Ministers belonging to other states that may be pitched for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls are Sarbananda Sonowal (Assam), Parshottam Rupala and Mansukh Mandaviya (Gujarat), Dharmendra Pradhan (Odisha), Jyotiraditya Scindia (Madhya Pradesh), V Muraleedharan (Kerala) and couple of others. Among the MPs who may be pitched include Sushil Modi (Bihar), Saroj Pandey (Chhattisgarh), Neeraj Shekhar (UP) and others.

Amrinder Singh may not replace Koshiyari?

 

There is a strong buzz in political circles that former Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amrinder Singh may be sent to Maharashtra as Governor. With Bhagat Singh Koshiyari expressing his desire to quit, a search has begun for his successor. But those considered close to the Modi Establishment say that the BJP may not like to send the Captain to Maharashtra as his services may be needed by the BJP at least until the Lok Sabha polls in May 2024. The BJP could win only two seats (Guradaspur and Hoshiarpur) and that too in alliance with the Akali Dal. With Akali Dal walking out of the NDA, the BJP leadership is working hard to galvanize the party cadre and expand its base. Secondly, Capt. Amrinder Singh’s wife Parneet Kaur who continues to be Congress MP from Patiala, may cross over to the BJP once the elections are announced in March, 2024 or abdicate her seat in favour of her son Raninder Singh. The BJP is keen to win at least 6-8 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab and wooing leaders from all parties in Punjab. Recently, Punjab’s former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, a close relative of the Badals, joined the BJP.

 

 

Rising graph of Fadnavis 

 

The graph of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the BJP continues to rise. Though he missed the Chief Ministerial post due to political compulsions, his political clout is rising by the day. In a surprise move, the BJP high command nominated him to the all powerful Central Election Committee. The move sent a major signal as no Chief Minister of the BJP-ruled states was given the place of pride in the CEC. As if this was not enough, Devendra Fadnavis was asked to move economic resolution at the BJP’s National Executive Committee meet in Delhi causing uneasiness among seniors in the party. More interestingly, the political resolution was moved by Union Law Minister Kiran Rijiju. Obviously, the party high command wants to send a clear signal that seniority can’t be the sole criteria for persons to move political and economic resolutions. Two years ago when the BJP held its national executive meeting in Delhi, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was chosen to move the political resolution during the proceedings. He was the only chief minister who attended the meeting in person while the others joined via video conferencing. 

Utter confusion in Bihar  

Three developments in Bihar are worth watching closely; one that the Union home ministry decided to give Z-category security cover to LJP (Ram Vilas Paswan) MP  Chirag Paswan; 2) Banner of revolt by Janata Dal (U) Parliament Board chairman Upendra Kushwaha against Nitish Kumar and 3) Bihar BJP leaders suddenly declaring "no truck" with JD (U) after remaining silent against Nitish Kumar. The straw in the Camel's back came when Janata Dal (U) decided not to go to Srinagar to participate in the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi. The JD (U) leaders rather went a step further and declared that why should they go there as its Congress Party's internal program. Political pundits are baffled as to what Nitish Kumar is up to after dumping the BJP and joining hands with Congress and RJD to remain in power comfortably. The BJP, meanwhile, is cooking JD (U)'s goose and may engineer some defections when Lok Sabha polls draw near. The Centre’s benevolence towards Chirag Paswan and offer to send Paras Paswan as Governor may be part of BJP's larger game plan to bring unity in two factions of the LJP. Chirag Paswan has emerged as a dynamic leader and is a known baiter of the Bihar CM. The BJP needs six percent of Bihar’s Passi votes. With the 2024 elections in sight, the saffron party plans to use Paswan against Nitish and unite the two groups of LJP soon. Upendra Kushwaha is also  being wooed though he wants the Deputy Chief Minister's post. But Nitish is delaying it and this infuriates him.  But Nitish is delaying it and this infuriates him.