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Game On 2019: Sonia’s dinner brings 20 Opposition party leaders together

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7 years ago

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Kicking off the first concrete effort to unite non-NDA parties in the battle to halt the Modi-Shah juggernaut from rolling the BJP back to power at the Centre in the 2019 general elections, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi hosted a dinner at her residence on Tuesday night that saw the participation of leaders from 20 Opposition parties.

The ‘dinner diplomacy’ by Sonia, who remains the chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) despite stepping down as Congress president to make way for her son Rahul a few months ago, is reminiscent of her efforts to stitch together a coalition of “like-minded parties” back in February 2004.

The dinner she had hosted at her residence on February 5, 2004 – days after then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee decided to call for early general elections in the hope that his ‘India Shining’ slogan would help the BJP-led NDA retain power – had marked the first step of the Congress’ revival plan for the hustings following successive drubbings in state polls. The situation today is unarguably grimmer for the Congress, led now by her son, which holds power in just three states while the BJP has painted 21 of India’s provinces saffron.

With her dinner diplomacy, Sonia hopes to strengthen ties between existing allies in the UPA while scouting for new ones; an effort that is touted as the first real step towards unifying the Opposition.

The dinner also signalled unequivocally that though her son may be the Congress president now, it is only her stature (and perhaps the added fear of political wilderness) that can act as the glue that can bring arch-rivals like the CPM and Trinamool or the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party or even the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) together in a central coalition even if these parties continue to fight against each other at the provincial level.

In attendance at Sonia’s dinner party were leaders of existing and estranged UPA allies – NCP chief Sharad Pawar, DMK’s Kanimozhi, Trinamool Congress’ Sudip Bandopadhyay, JMM’s Hemant Soren, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav and Misa Bharati, National Conference’s Omar Abdullah, SP’s Ram Gopal Yadav, BSP’s SC Mishra, Rashtriya Lok Dal’s Ajit Singh – as well as new-found friends AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, RSP leader NK Premachandran, Hindustan Awam Morcha’s Jitan Ram Manjhi, among others. The CPI (M) – battered after losing Tripura, its citadel of 25 years, to the BJP earlier this month – also seems to have shed its impractical stubbornness to not ally with the Congress and sent leaders Mohammed Salim and TK Rangarajan for the dinner while the CPI was represented by veteran leader D Raja.

While Sonia played the host, her party was represented by chief Rahul Gandhi, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, veterans Mallikarjun Kharge , Ahmed Patel and other senior leaders.

Sonia’s dinner diplomacy comes days after she said at a public function that “like-minded parties” needed to forget their rivalries to come together for the country’s sake. Earlier, soon after Rahul had taken over as Congress president, Sonia had told MPs from her party: “As Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, I will work with the Congress President and other colleagues in discussions with likeminded, political parties to ensure that in the next election, the BJP is defeated and India is restored to a democratic, inclusive, secular, tolerant and economically progressive path.”

Though details of the discussions that actually took place at Sonia’s dinner are not known, Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted about the evening saying:[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]The BJP, still riding on the supposed popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has continued to crush the Congress, as well as other Opposition parties, in successive assembly polls. However, following the scare in Gujarat and successive defeats in Lok Sabha by-polls, the latest being the shockers from Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur and Phulpur constituencies – which had sent now chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya respectively to the Lok Sabha in 2014 – it appears that the Congress is hopeful of a political and electoral re-alignment of that may not be very favourable for the saffron alliance in 2019.

With Sonia’s dinner clearly being a hit with Opposition parties, the game, as they say, is now on for the 2019 Big Fight. The challenge for the Congress is to sustain the dialogue and momentum built by the party’s matriarch.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India News

Republic Day 2025: States and UTs gear up for parade with grand Tableaux display

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10 mins ago

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January 24, 2025

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Republic Day 2025

India is all set to celebrate its 76th Republic Day this year, marking the adoption of the Constitution in 1950. As part of the national celebrations, the Republic Day parade, scheduled for January 26, will feature a spectacular display of cultural exhibitions, with a special emphasis on state tableaux. This year’s Republic Day theme is “Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas” (Heritage and Development), aiming to highlight the nation’s rich cultural legacy alongside its progress and future development.

Fifteen States and Union Territories to showcase their Tableaux

The Republic Day parade will see the participation of fifteen states and union territories, each presenting a tableau that will reflect their unique culture, heritage, and contributions to India’s development. The participating states and UTs include Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Dadar Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

In addition to the states and UTs, 15 government ministries and departments will also present their own tableaux, offering insights into the various initiatives and achievements of the Indian government.

Kartavya Path: The heart of Republic Day celebrations

The grand parade will be held on Kartavya Path, the ceremonial avenue in the national capital, New Delhi. While these selected states, UTs, and ministries will take center stage during the parade, the ones not featured at Kartavya Path will have an opportunity to present their tableaux at Bharat Parv, a cultural exhibition organized at the Red Fort from January 26 to 31.

How preparations are underway

To ensure the highest quality and visual appeal of the tableaux, preparations have been in full swing since last year. A senior-level meeting was conducted in April 2024 to finalize the design and execution process. Authorities have emphasized the importance of using vibrant, easily comprehensible designs that convey their messages without the need for written explanations or logos, unless explicitly approved.

The tableaux will feature the names of the states and union territories in Hindi at the front, with English at the back, and regional languages on the sides. Ministries and departments will follow the same format, showcasing their names in both Hindi and English fonts. Virtual reality designs will also be included in some tableaux using CDs and DVDs to enrich the display.

As India gears up to celebrate Republic Day 2025, the tableaux will undoubtedly serve as a visual testament to the country’s diverse heritage, vibrant culture, and progressive path toward development.

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India News

Five dead in deadly explosion at ordnance factory in Maharashtra’s Bhandara

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1 hour ago

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January 24, 2025

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Smoke rising from the site of the massive explosion at the Ordnance Factory in Bhandara, Maharashtra

At least five people are feared dead following a massive explosion at an ordnance factory in Bhandara, Maharashtra, this morning. The blast, which occurred at around 10:30 am, was of such intensity that it was heard from a distance of 5 kilometers. The incident took place at the ordnance factory located near Nagpur, in the Bhandara district of Maharashtra.

According to District Collector Sanjay Kolte, the explosion led to the collapse of a roof, trapping several people beneath the debris. Initial reports suggest that at least 12 individuals were caught under the rubble, though two have been successfully rescued. Authorities are continuing their efforts to locate and save survivors, with heavy machinery being brought in to assist with the removal of debris.

Rescue teams, along with medical staff, are actively engaged in the operation, while firefighters work to contain the aftermath of the explosion. A thick cloud of smoke was visible rising from the factory, as captured in a video filmed from a distance. The blast has caused widespread panic, but the full scale of the damage is yet to be determined.

Officials have confirmed that emergency response teams have been deployed at the scene, with hopes of finding more survivors. As the investigation into the cause of the explosion unfolds, authorities are working to ensure the safety of those in the vicinity.

This tragedy adds to the growing concerns about safety in industrial areas, with questions likely to arise about the maintenance and safety protocols in place at ordnance factories across the region. Further updates on the situation are awaited as recovery operations continue.

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Bihar news

BPSC 70th prelims result 2024 out: Here’s direct link to check

The BPSC has also released the cutoff marks for the CCE, providing candidates with valuable insight into the performance benchmarks. The cut-off scores vary across different categories, reflecting the commission’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. 

Published

18 hours ago

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January 23, 2025

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The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) released the results for the 70th Preliminary Examination on January 23, 2025. Candidates can view their results on the official BPSC website, bpsc.bih.nic.in. The results include those for the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), Finance Administrative Officer, and Child Development Project Officer positions.

This year’s examination covered a wide range of posts, including those under the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), Finance Administrative Officer (FAO), and Child Development Project Officer (CDPO). The release of these results marks a significant step forward for thousands of candidates pursuing careers in public service within Bihar.

The BPSC 70th Preliminary Examination, conducted on December 13th and January 4th, 2025, witnessed a massive turnout of 328,990 candidates. This substantial number underscores the immense competition and the high stakes involved in securing a government position in Bihar. The results, however, reveal a more selective outcome.

A total of 21,581 candidates successfully cleared the preliminary round for the CCE, demonstrating their competence and readiness to progress to the subsequent stages of the recruitment process. For the specialized roles of FAO and CDPO, a considerably smaller, yet still significant number of candidates qualified. 61 individuals successfully passed the preliminary examination for FAO positions, while 144 candidates qualified for CDPO posts.

The BPSC has also released the cutoff marks for the CCE, providing candidates with valuable insight into the performance benchmarks. The cut-off scores vary across different categories, reflecting the commission’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. 

Cut-off Marks:

  • Unreserved: 91
  • Unreserved Female: 81
  • EWS: 83
  • EWS Female: 73
  • SC: 70
  • SC Female: 55
  • ST/ST Female: 65

How to Check Your Results:

  1. Go to bpsc.bih.nic.in.
  2. Locate and click the “BPSC 70th Prelims Result 2024” link.
  3. A PDF containing the results will open. Download and save a copy for your records.

Examination Results: The Bihar prelims exam, held on December 13th and January 4th, 2025, saw 328,990 candidates. The following number passed:

  • Combined Competitive Examination: 21,581
  • Finance Administrative Officer: 61
  • Child Development Project Officer: 144

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