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Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu building anti-BJP alliance in south

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7 years ago

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Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu building anti-BJP alliance in south

In the “now it’s there – ‘now it isn’t” alliance-building efforts of opposition parties against the BJP, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has been meeting opposition leaders across the country to tie up grand alliance to take on BJP in the Lok Sabha Elections 2019.

The Andhra chief minister was a BJP ally till March this year, when he exited the NDA over his state not being granted special status.

After meeting Janata Dal (Secular) leaders and Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, Nadu met Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin at his residence in Chennai on Friday. Other DMK leaders such as Rajya Sabha MP MK Kanimozhi and MK Alagiri were also present at the meeting where Stalin announced his party’s decision to support Naidu’s efforts to unite opposition parties against the ruling BJP-led NDA at the Centre.

“Regional leaders across India should immediately come together to oust BJP from power. Anti-national, anti-secular BJP rule needs to be stopped and Naidu has taken the efforts towards that. Naidu had met Rahul Gandhi. When he met Rahul, I had welcomed and supported it,” Stalin said.

Stalin urged leaders from all states to unite against the BJP at Centre, adding, institutions such as CBI, RBI and judiciary are supposed to be autonomous but the government does not allow that.

“Under the BJP rule at the Centre, states are losing their rights. Federal structure and democracy of the nation are facing a threat. I have been vocal on urging all the regional and federal forces to work together to remove BJP,” Stalin told reporters after coming out of the meeting.

“Since Chandrababu Naidu is concurring with my contention, he has called on me and asked DMK’s support to show doors for BJP. I assured him that we will stand together to remove BJP government from the centre,” he said.

Stalin also said that they will form a minimum programme plan to form the alliance.

“We, all the like-minded parties, will sit together and form a minimum programme plan for proceeding further. After that meeting, we will devise further strategies. Our only agenda is to work for removing BJP from the Centre,” Stalin said.

Speaking to the media, Naidu said when compared with Modi, Stalin is the better leader.

“I came here to request Stalin to join with us for saving the nation. Both the nation and democracy are in danger now. The BJP government is interfering with the autonomous institutions,” he said.

Naidu said he is trying to bring the opposition leaders on one platform. He said he has good relations with DMK and wants to work with the Congress to “save the nation”. TDP leader said they had differences with Congress for the last 40 years but will have to come together as Nation and Democracy are more important.

“We have good relation with DMK. We want to work with the Congress. We want to save nation and we want to protect the nation. We are together. I am only bringing them on one platform. They will decide how to take this forward. We have differences with Congress for last 40 years. But we joined together. Nation is important. Democracy is important,” Naidu told reporters after meeting DMK president.

“All of us are having some differences. But for the sake of protecting the nation, we should ignore the differences. As a major opposition party in the nation, Congress will play the role of an anchor in the Lok Sabha elections. I already met Rahul Gandhi. We have spoken a lot about this subject. Also, I will meet Mamata to discuss this,” he told reporters.

Naidu clarified he does not have any national ambitions behind his efforts to stitch an alliance saying, “Congress is the main opposition party. They have a pan India base. We are regional leaders. Mamta is strong in WB. Stalin is strong in TN. Am not face of this alliance. Am not any aspirant, I am only a facilitator.”

Targeting the government over “destruction” of key institutions, Naidu said: “CBI is completely defamed. See RBI today, even the RBI Governor prefers to quit. Interference by this government in such autonomous agencies, it never happened in the past.”

“The Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax are being used to malign and harass opposition leaders,” Naidu said, adding that the economy is in chaos.

Naidu also asked what was the benefit of demonetisation. “Honourable finance minister is now saying that demonetisation was not to curb black money. All black money has become white money after demonetisation,” he said.

Speaking of a “derailed banking sector and lack of confidence and escape of big time defaulters as NPA increases”, Naidu said “intolerance” towards other communities is increasing in India under the leadership of Modi.

He said people are prepared to defeat the BJP government now. Asked who would lead the Opposition alliance against the BJP, Naidu asked a reporter, “Have you got any benefit from the NDA government? You stood for so many days to get your money.”

When the question was repeated, Naidu said, in a lighter vein, “There are so many leaders. Even Stalinji is better than Narendra Modi.”

Naidu said he is to meet West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Naidu met his Karnataka counterpart HD Kumaraswamy and his father and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda of the Janata Dal (Secular) in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Earlier, he had met several leaders of various parties, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, J-K National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah, BSP’s Mayawati, SP’s Akhilesh Yadav and former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, during his two visits to Delhi.

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Rahul Gandhi attacks Centre ahead of Vladimir Putin’s India visit

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government discourages visiting foreign dignitaries from meeting Opposition leaders, calling it a sign of “insecurity,” hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Delhi.

Published

1 day ago

on

December 4, 2025

By

Rahul Gandhi

As Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Delhi today for the India-Russia Annual Summit, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has renewed his charge that the Centre discourages visiting foreign leaders from meeting Opposition representatives. He called it a sign of “insecurity” within the government.

Rahul Gandhi alleges break in long-followed tradition

Speaking outside Parliament, Rahul Gandhi said that it has traditionally been the norm for visiting foreign leaders to meet the Leader of the Opposition, a practice he claims continued during the tenures of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh.

He alleged that the present government advises foreign dignitaries against such meetings. “When foreign leaders come, the government suggests they should not meet the Leader of the Opposition. This is their policy,” Gandhi said. He added that a meeting with the Opposition offers visiting leaders a broader perspective, as “we too represent India.”

Gandhi further stated that this approach reflects the government’s reluctance to allow engagement between the Opposition and foreign guests.

Former Foreign Secretary counters Gandhi’s remarks

Responding to Gandhi’s allegations, former Foreign Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla said visiting leaders operate on very tight schedules and there is no protocol mandating a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition. He stressed that such interactions depend entirely on the guest’s time and preference, noting that the required meetings are those with the President and the Prime Minister.

Putin’s schedule packed with bilateral engagements

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to land in Delhi this evening on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation. His itinerary includes:

  • A private dinner with PM Modi
  • Visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Raj Ghat
  • Engagements at Bharat Mandapam and Hyderabad House
  • A banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu

The visit forms part of the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

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TMC MLA Humayun Kabir suspended after Babri Mosque replica proposal sparks row

TMC suspended MLA Humayun Kabir after he proposed building a Babri mosque replica in Murshidabad, a move that drew criticism from the party and sparked political tension.

Published

1 day ago

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December 4, 2025

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Trinamool Congress on Thursday suspended MLA Humayun Kabir after he publicly announced plans to construct a replica of the Babri Masjid in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district. Party leaders said Kabir had earlier been cautioned for making such statements but continued to push ahead with the controversial proposal.

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said the MLA’s remarks were unacceptable, stressing that the party stood firmly by its secular stance. “We noticed that one of our MLAs suddenly declared he would build the Babri masjid. We had warned him before. As per the party’s decision, we are suspending him,” he said.

Kabir vows to continue project, may form new party

Kabir had planned to lay the foundation stone for the mosque replica in Beldanga on December 6. Sources indicated he is likely to resign from Trinamool on Friday and float a new party while continuing with the project.

The choice of date and nature of the project drew sharp criticism from the Trinamool leadership. Hakim alleged the move reflected a “divisional politics” strategy aligned with the BJP. “Why December 6? He could build a school or college. This is divisional politics,” he said.

Sources also said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was “hugely annoyed” by Kabir’s remarks and informed him that the party would not support or associate with such activities.

Governor raises concerns, administration on alert

West Bengal Governor Ananda Bose questioned why action was not being taken if the MLA’s statements risked creating a law-and-order issue. He said intelligence inputs suggested attempts to turn Murshidabad into a “hub of scandal,” adding that authorities would not remain silent if communal tensions were provoked.

Officials confirmed that while Kabir has permission to hold the December 6 event, the administration is maintaining a high-level alert in Murshidabad.

Minutes after his suspension, Kabir withdrew from Mamata Banerjee’s rally in the India–Bangladesh border district, where she was protesting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.

BJP attacks Kabir over remarks

BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo condemned Kabir’s comments, claiming they were intended to “create communal tensions.” He said any attempt to raise structures linked to historical rulers would trigger disputes similar to the Babri Masjid conflict.

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Karnataka Power Shift: What Siddaramaiah–DK Shivakumar compromise formula means

A closer look at the emerging ‘compromise formula’ between Karnataka’s top leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, and how it may shape the state’s political future.

Published

6 days ago

on

November 29, 2025

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A possible settlement between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has emerged, signalling a calmer phase in the leadership tussle within the state Congress. While the final decision rests with the party leadership in Delhi, details of the so-called “compromise formula” are gradually becoming clearer.

Breakfast diplomacy calms tensions

After weeks of speculation over friction between the two top leaders, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar met over breakfast today. The meeting, aimed at projecting unity, served as a symbolic reset after their strained ties over the chief ministership question.

Analysts believe the optics were crucial — the Congress successfully avoided a public showdown by diffusing tensions before they escalated further.

A transition of power likely, say analysts

According to political observers, the compromise indicates a strong possibility of Shivakumar taking over as Chief Minister in a smooth transition, potentially as early as March–April 2026.
For now, sources say the arrangement requires Shivakumar to continue as Deputy Chief Minister without pushing for immediate change.

In return, the formula reportedly includes more cabinet positions for leaders loyal to Shivakumar and continuation of his role as the state Congress chief. Siddaramaiah is also expected to back Shivakumar as the party’s face for the 2028 Assembly election.

Why the Congress prefers this route

Replacing Siddaramaiah abruptly would not only upset internal balance but could also weaken the party, given his stature and mass appeal. Shivakumar, despite his influence, does not have the numbers within the legislature to force a takeover, making compromise the most viable path.

Siddaramaiah has already stated that this will be his final term as Chief Minister. With his legacy secure and his position as one of Karnataka’s tallest leaders intact, he appears willing to enable a dignified transition when the time comes.

Variables that could shape the final outcome

The success of the formula depends on three key factors:

1. Trust between the two leaders

Whether Shivakumar believes Siddaramaiah will keep his word remains uncertain. Karnataka’s political history is full of last-minute shifts, giving rise to the phrase “natak in Karnataka”.

2. Decision-making by the Congress high command

Delhi’s leadership must ensure the transition happens on time and without internal resistance, especially in the run-up to the 2028 Assembly polls.

3. Caste equations and political alignment

Siddaramaiah is the strongest face of the AHINDA bloc, while Shivakumar represents the OBC Vokkaliga community. The Congress cannot afford to alienate either group, making the timing and execution of any transition extremely delicate.

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