Fly on the Wall
Sena Hosting INDIA
Officially,
the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is hosting the 26-Opposition parties'
alliance in Mumbai, most likely this month. There are reports that it
may be extended to September considering the uncertainty of weather.
But for all practical purposes, it's the Shiv Sena (UBT) that will be
doing the groundwork and hosting the conclave. If Patna's first
conclave was hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the
Congress hosted the second show of strength in Bengaluru. Now it's
the turn of Shiv Sena (UBT) to do the legwork. The Congress
leadership is lending its full support to INDIA's constituents and
keen that the Common Minimum Program (CMP) is formulated as early as
possible. The seat-sharing formula for the 2024 Lok Sabha is not on
the table as yet. The seat-sharing will be the most difficult task
for 26 parties. Secondly, the BJP is vigorously working to lure
leaders of the Opposition parties in Bihar, Maharashtra, UP, Punjab,
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The “open door policy”
of the BJP has rather intensified lately causing uneasiness in the
Congress, Samajwadi Party and JD (U). It is in this context that the
Congress wants Lok Sabha seat-sharing talks delayed until the
Assembly polls in five states. Therefore, the Congress is keen that
the CMP be decided on a priority basis and then the seat-sharing
formula be worked out statewise on the basis of ground reality and
winnability of the candidate or the party's own strength. Sanjay Raut
of the Shiv Sena (UBT) has a tough task in hand relating to NCP
supremo Sharad Pawar who is known for making unexpected moves.
Pawar's recent decision to attend the Lokmanya Tilak National Award
ceremony where PM Modi was the chief guest caused avoidable confusion
in the Opposition camp. But Pawar remains unruffled. Will he stay
with the MVA? How long? No one knows.
Tricky Nitish Kumar
Bihar Chief Minister and JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar is another unpredictable character in the INDIA alliance. After the Bengaluru conclave, he has suddenly gone quiet. Recently, his comments baffled political observers when he was asked by reporters his opinion about the Manipur violence and the no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He had a huge opportunity in hand to put the BJP on the mat. But he did nothing of the sort and made no caustic remarks. His cryptic remarks were limited to saying that Modi should have given a statement in Parliament.
A senior leader close to Nitish revealed that the latter did this to return a favour to the saffron party. About a month ago, the Union home minister, Amit Shah, was attending a public rally in Bihar where he had attacked Lalu Prasad, his children, and the Congress, but had spared Nitish. Secondly, Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav have not been seen together in public or at government programmes of late. Observers say that Nitish is unhappy as he was expecting to be anointed at least the convenor of the alliance, if not the chairperson. He had worked hard to form INDIA. There are also moves to set up an 11-member coordination committee for the alliance. If this happens, it will surely undermine the role of the convenor. Nitish is also worried that the BJP is making all kinds of efforts to lure JD (U), Congress & RJD MLAs.
Bhupesh Baghel in huge trouble
After establishing the NDA government in Maharashtra by winning over Ajit Pawar and hoping to retain its 23 Lok Sabha seats in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP is now focusing in Chhattisgarh where Assembly polls are due in November-December. The BJP's big worry is that its own state unit is in shambles and Bhupesh Baghel looks firm in the saddle. The saffron party is banking on the “coal & liquor scams” surfaced a couple of months ago. The scams led to the arrest of several senior officers including IAS, businessmen, politicians and middlemen close to Baghel. The ED calls it “a massive scam in which an illegal levy of ₹25 was being extorted for every tonne of coal transported in Chhattisgarh by a cartel involving the caucus. There are reports that the agency is working hard to convert an accused approver and likely to succeed soon. But the big battle is taking place between the Baghel government and ED in the Supreme Court where all top lawyers like Mukul Rohtagi, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Harish Salve are appearing for accused languishing in jail and seeking bail.
Priyanka- Sharmila te-te
If
Rahul Gandhi is busy fixing nuts & bolts to strengthen the
26-parties alliance named INDIA, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is
busy helping him politically as well. Priyanka spoke to YSR Telangana
Party Chief YS Sharmila Reddy who is set to contest for the Assembly
polls in 2023. She is the estranged sister of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy,
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and had conducted padyatra of the
entire state to take on the BRS leader and Chief Minister K
Chandrashekhar Rao. The Congress has been desperately looking for a
foothold in Telangana and a tie-up with Sharmila may help both to
take on the BRS and BJP. After all, her father YS Rajshekhar Reddy
was installed as Chief Minister by the Congress Party also. After his
death, the son fell out and formed his own regional party. Priyanka
was given the charge of connecting with Sharmila. Rahul Gandhi had
taken a break of 10 days to go for the Ayurveda treatment for his
knee pain which erupted during his Bharat-Jodo-Yatra. He is reported
to have explained to the doctors there that at one point his knee
pain became so unbearable that there was uncertainty whether to
continue with his 4000 km Bharat-Jodo-Yatra which was completed in
136 days across 75 districts and 14 states.
