Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said that his party intends to contest local body elections independently to bolster its foundation and clarified that they have never called for the dissolution of the opposition INDIA bloc or the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

Raut’s comments came a day after he expressed concerns about the lack of opportunities for party workers within the alliance and emphasized the importance of organizational growth, raising questions about the unity of the opposition bloc.

Speaking to reporters, Raut stated, “The MVA was established for the Assembly elections and the INDIA bloc for the Lok Sabha elections. Local body elections are crucial for empowering party workers and fortifying the organization at the grassroots level.” He added, “Neither I nor my party have ever suggested that the INDIA bloc or the MVA should be dismantled.”

The alliances of the INDIA bloc and MVA include Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP). When asked about criticism from Congress leaders regarding his statements about going solo in the elections, Raut suggested that they should listen to his full remarks before reacting. “The Congress leaders should learn to listen to others,” he remarked.

Raut emphasized the importance of ensuring that the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s election symbol, the ‘flaming torch,’ reaches voters at the grassroots level. He mentioned that MVA allies should focus on strengthening their parties and their workers at the booth level. “We have time, as there are four-and-a-half years until the next Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections,” he added.

In response to questions about NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar’s discussions with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis concerning peace in Beed and Parbhani, Raut stated that Maharashtra remains shocked by the results of the assembly elections. “Peace cannot be achieved by protecting the killers of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh and Somnath Suryavanshi,” he emphasized.

The brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district on December 9, has intensifed tensions between the ruling and opposition parties, especially since one suspect in a related extortion case is a close associate of state minister Dhananjay Munde. This incident has sparked widespread protests and heightened fears of caste conflict, as Deshmukh was a Maratha and some individuals arrested belong to the Vanjari community.

Somnath Suryavanshi, who was arrested following unrest in Parbhani related to the vandalism of a replica of the Constitution, died on December 15 after being hospitalized from jail due to sudden illness.

The ruling Mahayuti alliance, consisting of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, secured 230 out of 288 seats in the November 2024 assembly elections, significantly reducing the MVA’s representation to just 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (SP) contributing 20, 16, and 10 seats respectively.

Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia announced that a Passport Seva Kendra will be established in each of the 543 parliamentary constituencies across the country. This declaration was made on January 11, 2025, during the inauguration of a Passport Seva Kendra in Guna, Madhya Pradesh, the constituency he represents.

Additionally, Scindia revealed plans to open six new passport centers in Madhya Pradesh this year. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to set up a Passport Seva Kendra in every parliamentary constituency to enhance service accessibility. The Department of Posts, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, is dedicated to bringing this initiative to fruition,” he stated.

The Minister also highlighted that approximately 6,000 post offices have been opened nationwide. He emphasized the importance of reviving the tradition of handwritten letters, which he believes convey genuine emotions.

Scindia noted the technological advancements within post office services, explaining that residents of Guna previously had to travel to Bhopal and Gwalior to obtain passports, a situation that will be alleviated by the establishment of the Passport Seva Kendra.

In December last year, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was renewed for five years between the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Department of Posts to ensure continuous access to passport services via the Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs). The MoU was signed by Manisha Bansal Badal, General Manager of the Business Development Directorate on behalf of the Department of Posts, and Dr. KJ Srinivasa, Joint Secretary (PSP & CPO) from the Ministry of External Affairs. This agreement outlines a mutual commitment to efficiently manage and support the operations of POPSKs, guaranteeing that citizens receive top-tier passport services at their local post offices.

According to official sources, the Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs), launched in 2017, have significantly contributed to providing passport services to over 1.52 crore citizens, especially in rural and underserved regions, thus increasing accessibility. The total number of operational POPSKs has risen, now standing at 442 centers across the nation.

This renewed MoU aims to reinforce the collaboration between the Ministry of External Affairs and the Department of Posts, with the goal of improving service delivery, optimizing operations, and addressing the growing demand for passport-related services.

As part of this initiative, there are plans to expand the number of Passport Seva Kendras to 600 by 2028-29, ensuring enhanced accessibility and convenience for citizens. This expansion is expected to increase the annual customer base from 3.5 million to 10 million over the next five years.

This initiative demonstrates the collaborative efforts of both ministries to enhance the citizen experience through a seamless, accessible, and efficient passport issuance process, thereby strengthening India’s postal network and making passport services more reliable and readily available to all citizens.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is expected to be the chief guest at the upcoming Republic Day celebrations in the capital, according to reports.

Following his visit to India, it appears that President Subianto may not travel to Pakistan as initially planned, due to concerns raised by New Delhi.

While there was an intention for the Indonesian President to visit Pakistan after India, this plan is now uncertain. India has yet to officially announce this year’s Republic Day chief guest.

During his visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will engage in extensive discussions with Subianto. Every year, India extends invitations to global leaders to attend the Republic Day festivities. Last year, French President Emmanuel Macron served as the chief guest, while in 2023, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was honoured with the role.

Notably, there were no chief guests for the Republic Day celebrations in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the chief guest was then-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The previous year, in 2019, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attended, and in 2018, all 10 leaders of ASEAN countries were present.

In the years leading up to 2017, notable guests included Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who attended in 2017, and then French President Francois Hollande in 2016. In 2015, then-U.S. President Barack Obama was the chief guest, followed by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2014 and Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in 2013.

Over the years, the Republic Day celebrations have welcomed numerous prominent leaders, including Nicolas Sarkozy, Vladimir Putin, Nelson Mandela, John Major, Mohammed Khatami, and Jacques Chirac. Noteworthy appearances include British Prime Minister John Major in 1993, Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s President in 1995, and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak in 2010.

In addition, past guests such as Sarkozy in 2008, Chirac in 1998, Nepal’s King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev in 1999, Iran’s President Mohammed Khatami in 2003, Indonesia’s then-President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2011, and Maldives’ President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in 1991 have also attended the celebrations.