Senior Advocate Iqbal Chagla, a prominent figure in India’s legal community and a distinguished member of the Bombay Bar Association (BBA), passed away on Sunday, January 12, at the age of 86. The son of former Bombay High Court Chief Justice MC Chagla, Iqbal had been unwell. He was also the father of Justice Riyaz Chagla, a sitting judge of the Bombay High Court.

BBA President Nitin Thakker confirmed the news, stating, “Yes, Mr. Chagla is no longer with us. He was unwell. The last rites will be held on Monday at Worli Crematorium.”

Born in 1939, Iqbal Chagla earned an MA in History and Law from Cambridge University before being called to the Bombay Bar. He was bestowed with the title of Senior Advocate in the 1970s. From 1990 to 1999, he served as President of the BBA for three terms.

Chagla was also a member of the Executive Committee of the Bar Association of India and served on the National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) in Delhi. Notably, he declined a direct offer for a judgeship on the Supreme Court, which would have positioned him to become Chief Justice of India (CJI) within a few years.

In the 1990s, during his presidency of the BBA, Chagla moved resolutions calling for the resignations of five judges from the Bombay High Court, some of whom resigned or were transferred. He notably introduced a resolution in 1995 demanding the resignation of Chief Justice AM Bhattacharjee, who faced significant scrutiny regarding his integrity. Under pressure from Chagla’s actions, Chief Justice Bhattacharjee ultimately resigned.

As one of the leading legal luminaries of the Bombay Bar, Chagla was highly sought after for his expertise in civil litigation and corporate law. With nearly 60 years of membership in the BBA, he represented clients in numerous high-profile cases and was recognized as a distinguished Senior Advocate at the Bombay High Court. His expertise extended to international arbitrations, where he provided counsel on proceedings in foreign courts.

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.

The Congress on Sunday unveiled the “Yuva Udaan Yojana,” aimed at providing educated but unemployed youth in Delhi with a monthly financial assistance of ₹8,500 for one year, should they secure power in the national capital.

During the announcement, Congress leader Sachin Pilot, who is also the former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan, emphasized that beneficiaries must demonstrate their skills in a professional setting. “We will offer financial support to youth who can showcase their abilities at a company, factory, or organization. The financial aid will be disbursed through these organizations—this is not a scheme where individuals receive funds while remaining idle at home,” he stated.

Pilot further mentioned, “Our goal is to ensure individuals are placed in fields related to their training, thereby helping them to enhance their skillset.”

This announcement follows the Congress’s previous launch of the “Pyari Didi Yojana” on January 6, which promises ₹2,500 per month if they win the election in Delhi. Additionally, on January 8, the party introduced the “Jeevan Raksha Yojana,” offering free health insurance coverage of up to ₹25 lakh.

The Congress on January 8 announced plans to introduce the ‘Jeevan Raksha Yojana’, offering free health insurance up to Rs 25 lakh if they are elected in the upcoming Delhi elections on February 5.

Ashok Gehlot, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan and a senior party figure, expressed confidence in the Congress’s prospects of forming a government in the capital, describing the proposed initiative as a potential ‘game-changer’. “The landscape in Delhi has shifted. The Congress campaign is stronger this time, and I believe the results will reflect that. Our chances of forming the government in Delhi are steadily rising,” he stated.

He elaborated that the scheme aims to provide extensive health coverage for families, encompassing medical expenses related to critical illnesses, hospitalizations, and treatments. “The health insurance program in Rajasthan has seen great success, and we will replicate that in Delhi. Our benefits are universal, unlike the limitations seen in Ayushman Bharat,” he added.

Gehlot emphasized that the ‘Jeevan Raksha Yojana’ demonstrates the Congress party’s dedication to addressing the healthcare needs of Delhi’s residents. The campaign slogan “Hogi Har Zarurat Puri, Congress Hai Zaroori” was prominently featured during the announcement, underscoring the party’s commitment to delivering essential services to all citizens.

The elections for the 70-member Delhi assembly are set for February 5, with vote counting scheduled for February 8. The Congress party has not held power in Delhi since December 2013 when it was defeated by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

In the subsequent elections, AAP secured 67 and 62 seats in 2015 and 2020, respectively, while the Bharatiya Janata Party came in a distant second on both occasions. The Congress, however, has struggled significantly, failing to win any seats in the last two elections.