Politics
‘Nothing Changes’: Maharashtra Misadventure After Haryana Havoc Sparks Questions Inside Congress
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There are some who complain that the campaign was too Rahul Gandhi-centric, that his interactions with women in Maharashtra or on pollution were good and popular but took away attention from the local leaders
Despite the attempt and desire to keep the campaign ‘vocal for local’, it was not so. Only Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who speaks Marathi, was seen as the right choice. But almost every decision was taken in Delhi. (File image/PTI)
With defeat comes the unravelling. Faced with two consecutive losses in key states, Haryana and Maharashtra, voices are being raised in the Congress against many top leaders and political strategists.
Some have questioned the free rein given and the political strategy being left in the hands of Sunil Kanugolu. Sunil was at one point with Jan Suraaj party leader and former political tactician Prashant Kishor but branched out to form his own firm.
Called the whiz kid of elections after his campaigns in Karnataka and Telangana were successful, Sunil was part of the inner circle of top Congress leaders. Shying away from the limelight and keeping a low profile, he has the ears of the Gandhis. Sunil has controlled the strategy, campaigns, ticket distribution to a certain extent, and of course the election manifesto. But now, he is in the line of fire, with some in the party asking why he was given such a free hand.
In the end, many of the suggestions by Sunil’s team were not heard. There was some frustration that a mere strategist could not help win elections, and the leaders too had to cooperate and work. News18 reached out to Sunil Kanugolu for a reaction, but his team said he had no comments to make.
One criticism is that the Congress should have been more aggressive over the Ladki Bahin Yojana and taken on the BJP over this. Many leaders on the ground also make the point that a similar Mahalakshmi scheme was not aggressively pushed on the ground.
But a few point out that it’s unfair to put the blame on Sunil alone. “Given the nature of the Congress, where there are many segments and too much democracy, no one is willing to pay heed to the discipline a political strategist wants to bring to the table,” said an insider. The big question now is, will Sunil still call the shots in the 2025 Delhi polls?
Too centralised?
Despite the attempt and desire to keep the campaign “vocal for local”, it was not so. Only Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who speaks Marathi, was seen as the right choice. But almost every decision was taken in Delhi.
Reports of local leaders being sidelined or snubbed came out. It was clear to see at, say, press conferences, where the Delhi leaders were made to sit in front while those from the state had to scramble for seats.
Overreliance on Rahul?
Now this is where there is some concern and discord. A couple of hours after results poured in, a Congress supporter with the X handle Amock announced that he would not steer anymore, saying that while he considers Rahul Gandhi to be his leader, he can no longer be dictated about what to post or work under an NGO-style of functioning. There are some who complain that the campaign was too Rahul Gandhi-centric, that his interactions with women in Maharashtra or on pollution were good and popular but took away attention from the local leaders.
Like the BJP, the Congress too adopted the state “by and for locals and local leadership” model, but the social media campaigns in and around Rahul Gandhi had two problems. One, they didn’t help the state voters become familiar with the Congress leaders of the state. Second, they needlessly made Rahul Gandi a stakeholder and inevitably one of those held responsible for the defeat, something that the top leadership didn’t want.
So what next? And who will be held accountable? Said one of those involved in the strategy, “In the Congress, every day is a new day. The past is forgotten and forgiven. So nothing changes.”
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Shiv Sena MLA Nilesh Rane said Hindu community just has one country – India. Nepal is also a Hindu majority country, but number of community members is very less in Himalayan nation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (PTI Image)
Shiv Sena MLA Nilesh Rane on Tuesday claimed India will save Hindus in Bangladesh, where they are facing attacks, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi can defeat the neighbouring nation in “48 hours”.
Speaking at a rally organised in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra to protest against atrocities on minority Hindus in Bangladesh, Rane said India is being surrounded by all sides everyday.
He said the Hindu community just has one country – India. Nepal is also a Hindu majority country, but the number of community members is very less in the Himalayan nation.
“Muslims have many countries. If you (Muslims) do not like our country then leave,” the ruling coalition MLA maintained.
Hindu women are being kidnapped and stones are being pelted on Ganpati, Ram Navmi and Hanuman Jayanti rallies/processions in Maharashtra, alleged the MLA whose party is aligned with the BJP.
“We will save Hindus in Bangladesh. There is (PM) Narendra Modi for that. But it is our responsibility to save our country. Do not let your guard down. Modi ji will not take more than two days to defeat Bangladesh. We will defeat Bangladesh in 48 hours,” the Shiv Sena legislator told the gathering in his home district.
Nilesh Rane is son of former Maharashtra chief minister Narayan Rane and elder brother of BJP MLA Nitesh Rane, who has been accused of make provocative speeches.
Nilesh Rane, a former BJP member, joined the Shiv Sena led by deputy CM Eknath Shinde ahead of the last month’s assembly polls and won from Kudal in Sindhudurg district.
Meanwhile, in Thane district, the Sakal Hindu Samaj, on the occasion of World Human Rights Day, organized an event to highlight atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh and express solidarity with them.
A delegation representing the organization met with Thane district collector Ashok Shingare and Police Commissioner Ashutosh Dhumbre, and submitted a memorandum outlining their concerns and demands.
The memorandum brought attention to the “inhumane treatment and violence faced by Hindus in Bangladesh,” and urged the Indian government to take “swift and decisive action” to address the crisis.
To amplify their message, the Sakal Hindu Samaj organized a “silent march” in Thane on Sunday, as part of the “Bangladesh Hindu Nyaya Yatra” (Bangladesh Hindu Justice March).
The campaign also extended to Vasai in Palghar district, where hundreds of citizens took part in the yatra. The march was led by BJP leader Mahendra Patil.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
- Location :
Sindhudurg, India
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The decision to approach the Supreme Court against the Election Commission was announced by Prashant Jagtap, leader of the NCP-Sharad Pawar who lost the assembly elections from the Hadapsar seat in Pune
During the meeting, Kejriwal flagged concerns related to voter lists in Delhi where assembly elections are due early next year.
(File Photo)
The opposition INDIA bloc in Maharashtra is set to move the Supreme Court over alleged manipulation of EVMs in the recent assembly elections.
The decision to approach the Supreme Court against the Election Commission was announced by Prashant Jagtap, leader of the NCP-Sharad Pawar who lost the assembly elections from the Hadapsar seat in Pune.
The decision was announced after a meeting between NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal and noted lawyer and Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi here.
Pawar has been meeting leaders of his party who lost the assembly elections.
The INDIA bloc has claimed that it lost the elections in Maharashtra due to alleged manipulation of EVMs in favour of the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition.
In the elections held last month, the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition won 235 seats in the 288-member House while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance bagged 46.
During the meeting, Kejriwal flagged concerns related to voter lists in Delhi where assembly elections are due early next year.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
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Opposition’s motion of removal against Jagdeep Dhankhar: The notice, as per article 67(B) of the Constitution, will have to be put to vote first in the Rajya Sabha and, if needed, later in the Lok Sabha
Jagdeep Dhankhar has become the first Vice-President in the history of Independent India to face such a motion for removal. (PTI File)
A total of 60 MPs from opposition parties have submitted a notice to the Rajya Sabha Secretary General, demanding a motion for removal of Rajya Sabha chairman and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar
The MPs from the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Samajwadi Party (SP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and other INDIA bloc allies have alleged that Dhankhar’s conduct is biased and therefore unbecoming of his position as the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
Article 67(b) of the Constitution of India states that the Vice-President can be removed from office by a resolution of the council of states. The resolution must be passed by a majority of the council of states and agreed to by the House of the People. Before a resolution can be moved, at least 14 days’ notice must be given of the intention to move the resolution.
For the first time in the 72-year history of the Rajya Sabha, Opposition Parties have formally submitted a no-confidence motion against the Chairman.There have been three occasions, however, when a no-confidence motion has been moved against the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. pic.twitter.com/DHjo5vqL2K
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 10, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
The notice, as per article 67(B) of the Constitution, will have to be put to vote first in the Rajya Sabha and, if needed, later in the Lok Sabha.
Constitutional expert P D T Achari told News18 that the Rajya Sabha rule book makes no mention of any provision for removal of the chairperson. However, article 67 of the Constitution provides for the procedure for impeachment of the Vice-President of India. “The motion moved by the opposition will have to be put to vote in the Rajya Sabha. If a majority votes in favour, then it will be sent to the Lok Sabha. The Vice-President can be removed only if a majority of members in both the houses vote to impeach him,” Achary said.
#WATCH | On Opposition’s no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh says, ” In the last 72 years, it is the first time that Opposition parties have submitted a motion over Rajya Sabha Chairman. This shows how the situation has… pic.twitter.com/ySiO4r8D7u— ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2024
GOVERNMENT’S STAND
Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju condemned the move by the INDIA bloc, but said the government did not have a problem in accepting the notice and getting it voted upon. Rijiju, however, pointed out that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) enjoys a majority in Parliament and all NDA MPs have full faith in the chairperson. “This notice is a diversionary tactic because the Congress is scared and disturbed over the Soros revelation. Dhankhar is a Jat, son of a farmer. We condemn this move to target him,” Rijiju said.
14 DAYS REQUIREMENT
As per article 67, a 14-day notice must be given before any resolution to remove the Vice-President is voted upon. Achari clarified that although this is an unprecedented situation, a bare reading of the Constitution suggests that the resolution moved by the opposition can be taken up in the next session of Parliament as less than 10 working days remain in the winter session. “A special session of the two houses can be called or the notice can be voted upon in the next session,” he told News18.
UNPRECEDENTED MOVE
Dhankhar has become the first Vice-President in the history of Independent India to face such a motion for removal. The numbers in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha favour the ruling side, but the opposition insists on “putting on record the bias of the Chair”.
“As Chairperson, the manner in which Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar conducts parliamentary affairs of the Rajya Sabha is extremely partisan. It is a matter of record that Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar has repeatedly interrupted members of the Opposition while they are speaking, unfairly used privilege motions to silence leaders of the opposition, and openly delegitimized dissent with respect to the actions of the Government in the utmost disparaging manner,” the notice alleges.
It adds that his open praise for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and calling himself an “Ekalavya of the RSS” is proof of his bias. Rijiju dismissed the charge and said there was nothing wrong with praising an organisation like the RSS.
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