Maha Buzz for Simultaneous polls
It is now clearly emerging that the BJP leadership may go in for simultaneous polls in Maharashtra in April-May 2024. If reports emanating from the ruling dispensation are any indication, the BJP may advance Assembly elections and hold it along with the Lok Sabha polls early next year. There is a strong view that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charisma will help the coalition government in Maharashtra tremendously in the Assembly polls as well. The party has conducted a couple of internal surveys that have indicated that a sympathy factor is at work in favour of Uddhav Thackeray among the grass-root cadre of Shiv Sena. It is largely because of this very reason that the coalition government is not holding the much-delayed BMC polls. The PM had also visited Mumbai twice in the last two months and given massive projects to the state. Yet there is no announcement in sight for the BMC polls. The outcome of the It was due to this very reason that fresh surveys were ordered to find out if simultaneous polls may help the coalition partners. The results were positive and now the matter is being looked into by the Central BJP after the state unit gave a go-ahead. Interestingly, the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has been keeping cards close to its chest though it is not averse to consider the proposal.
But the move of simultaneous polls has rattled the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners. The MVA partners comprising Sena, NCP and Congress had been struggling hard to amicably settle the seat-sharing formula for the Lok Sabha polls. There is a buzz that the Thackeray faction may contest 21 Lok Sabha seats followed by NCP with 19 and Congress 8 under this formula. However, a formal decision is still far away. The parties would like to wait for the outcome of Assembly polls being held in 2023. Meanwhile, the BJP is busy head-hunting in the state. The state BJP chief, Chandrashekhar Bawankule is on record to say, “Our doors are open for everybody. We will ensure Individuals who join us would be given their stature.”
A costly Tweet for Rohini
Heard of Rohini Acharya, a mother of two sons, settled in Singapore with her family after obtaining an MBBS degree in India. She married to a software engineer Samresh Singh and opted to become a home maker rather than practice medical profession. She shot into prominence when she gave her kidney to her father Lalu Prasad Yadav and took care of him during his difficult days. After he landed in Delhi from Singapore, the CBI knocked at his residence to grill him again. An infuriated Rohini tweeted on March 7, 2023 warning- 'Agar Papa ko kuchh hua to..mein chhodungi nahin..' (If anything happens to her father she will not spare anyone). It was an instant reaction of a daughter. But she did not realize that times have changed. An infuriated establishment suddenly included Rohini's name in the list of suspects in the land-for-job scam by the CBI.
Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Yadav, currently Deputy Chief Minister, daughter Misa Bharti, Rajya Sabha MP and two other members of family are already accused in the land-for-jobs scam when he was Minister for Railways between 2004-09. The chargesheets have been filed. Rohini's name never figured ever. But now she will have to face music.
When Manmohan Singh showed spine too
PM Modi earned laurels when the government withdrew barricades and security outside the office and residential premises of British High commission and commissioner in Chanakyapuri. India retaliated after the Indian high commission in London was attacked and the Indian Flag was removed by a handful of protesters. But few would recall that Modi's predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh had withdrawn all security cover from the American embassy and consulates in India in 2013 when an IFS officer Devyani Khobargade was arrested and strip searched in New York.
In the past, India would have rolled over and played puppy, as it did after an Indian RAW officer defected to the US, or when senior diplomats were treated to humiliating searches. Even former President Abdul Kalam and ex-defence minister George Fernandes were subjected to such humiliation. The US government saw reason and the matter was settled amicably.
Why Kejri changed tack
AAP Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is re-calibrating his strategy after playing a solo match all these years. He has sharpened his attack on Modi and now decided to join hands with the other Opposition parties including the Congress he had shunned earlier. The AAP joined Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's dinner invite on March 27 at his residence and decided to walk together. Though his party may contest Lok Sabha polls alone. But there are enough indications that the AAP may have some tacit understanding with some of the Opposition parties in states. For example, he has thrown hints to Congress to share 2-3 Lok Sabha seats in Delhi out of seven. The Congress has yet to respond. Perhaps, Kejriwal is also feeling the heat after many of his Ministers were put behind bars and the say is not far when he is dragged in the Liquor scam. The unity song, however, may be for a short while.
