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BJP’s Maharashtra MP attacks Modi government, quits party, resigns from Lok Sabha

Published

9 years ago

December 8, 2017

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A blow dealt, a jolt received: as the BJP went after suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar over his comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Lok Sabha MP from its own fold quit the party and his parliamentary seat on Friday, criticising Modi government’s style of functioning.

The development comes a day before the first phase of polling for Gujarat Assembly on Saturday, Dec 9.

BJP Maharashtra leader Nana Patole announced on Friday that he had quit BJP and resigned from the Lok Sabha. He had been elected from Bhandara-Gondiya, a seat had wrested from NCP’s Praful Patel.

Patole who said he had submitted his resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan’s office and also to the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership, had criticised Modi earlier this year saying that the PM does not like being questioned or to listen to any criticism.

He had also criticised the BJP-led Maharashtra government for the way it was implementing the farm loan waiver scheme. He said the government was insensitive to farmers’ problems and farmer suicides. Patole had also extended support to senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha in his agitation for farmers at Akola in Maharashtra earlier this week. Sinha has also been severely critical of Modi government’s handling of economy.

Patole said he had quit the Lok Sabha and the party since he was “deeply anguished and felt let down by the party”. His resignation letter addressed to Mahajan read: “Respected Madam, I hereby tender my resignation of my seat in the House with effect from today i.e. 08/12/17.”

“The objectives with which I had joined the (BJP) party have been belied, but now (post-quitting) I am free of the turmoil in my mind,” Patole told journalists after submitting his resignation letter to the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

He said that all central ministers ‘were always in a state of fear’ and that he was on the hit list but was ‘not afraid of anyone’.

Nana Patole gave 14-point resignation letter accusing PM Modi and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis of pursuing anti-people policy, said India Today. He said:

There has been an increase of 43 per cent in farmers’ suicides over the last one year. The government had promised to give one-and-a-half times the existing price for produces to the farmers, but they are not getting adequate price. The government has not implemented the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report for farmers’ benefit.

The state of unemployment is very serious while the government had promised to provide employment to 2 crore youths. The government has not taken any measure for employment generation. There has been 90 per cent reduction in government jobs.

The nomadic people are backward in educational, social and economic spheres in Maharashtra and other parts of the country. But, the government has not implemented Renke Commission’s recommendations for their benefit.

The state of economy is pathetic.

Crores of people were rendered jobless due to demonetisation. Youths have been thrown out of jobs from private banks.

Small industries have almost shut down after GST.

The government has failed in providing reservation due to which SC/ST and OBC communities are in distress. The government has even acted against its own promise of conducting caste census to know the exact population of OBC community. Till date OBC population is not known.

The provision to penalise poor for keeping less than minimum amount in bank accounts is not going down well with people. Even the LPG subsidy is being lost to penalty for non-maintenance of minimum amount in bank accounts.

Farmers are being exploited due to non-availability of seeds and fertilizers. Farmers are also facing problems in selling their produces in the mandis.

The government schemes have not been properly implemented efficiently which led to policies like the Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme become a failure.

Lack of knowledge on the part of farmers for the use of chemical insecticides led to further trouble for the farmers.

Lack of compensation for the loss of crops. The farmers were asked to register their complaints online which is not in their favour.

The incidents of farmers’ suicide increased in the last three years. But, the government did not take measures to put a check on this trend.

The government’s policy is in favour of corporate world. It seems that the government’s intention is to favour contract and privatisation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India News

INDIA bloc likely to meet on September 30 over Gyanesh Kumar row

INDIA bloc parties are likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 amid growing opposition to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Published

21 hours ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

Opposition parties belonging to the INDIA bloc are set to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns surrounding the Election Commission, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a proposed removal motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The proposed meeting comes amid growing coordination among opposition parties over the functioning of the poll panel and demands for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The parties are also discussing a possible joint response to the developments.

Why is the INDIA bloc meeting being planned?

The INDIA bloc meeting on September 30 comes amid reports of objections within the Election Commission over certain decisions and orders related to the SIR exercise.

According to the report, Opposition leaders have been discussing a coordinated response to their concerns over the Election Commission and the electoral-roll revision process.

The issue is also expected to be discussed at the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for September 29, a day before the proposed INDIA bloc meeting.

Gyanesh Kumar removal demand in focus

The demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has become a major point of contention between the Opposition and the Election Commission.

The CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-Liberation have demanded Kumar’s removal and an immediate halt to the SIR exercise. Congress has also intensified its criticism of the CEC.

Opposition parties are also working on a fresh removal motion against Gyanesh Kumar. The September 30 meeting is expected to finalise the strategy for the motion, including the collection of signatures. According to the report, this would be the Opposition’s third such attempt.

What is the SIR controversy?

The political dispute is linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, or SIR.

The controversy intensified following a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on several occasions concerning decisions and orders related to the SIR process.

The Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are part of normal deliberations in a multi-member constitutional body. The poll panel has also maintained that its orders have legal sanction and follow statutory procedures, while stating that the final decisions on the SIR were taken unanimously.

TMC and Left parties coordinate over the issue

The developments have also brought the Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) together on the Election Commission issue, despite their political differences in West Bengal.

CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby proposed an immediate meeting to discuss a joint strategy. According to the report, Mamata Banerjee spoke with M A Baby and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, after which the leaders settled on September 30 for the meeting.

What could be discussed at the September 30 meeting?

The proposed meeting is expected to focus on:

Concerns surrounding the Election Commission
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
Opposition demands concerning CEC Gyanesh Kumar
A possible fresh removal notice against the CEC
A coordinated response by INDIA bloc parties

The exact agenda and participation will depend on the discussions among the opposition parties before the proposed meeting.

India News

Gandhi Parivar vs Sangh Parivar, Revanth Reddy’s remark sparks BJP attack

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s remarks contrasting the Gandhi Parivar with the Sangh Parivar triggered a BJP response accusing Congress of prioritising the Gandhi family.

Published

1 day ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s remarks comparing the Gandhi Parivar and Sangh Parivar have triggered a political exchange, with the BJP hitting back at the Congress leader.

Speaking in Kerala on Friday, Mr Reddy described the contest over India’s future as a fight between the two “parivars”. He said the Gandhi family had made sacrifices for the country while accusing the Sangh Parivar of attempting to divide India on the basis of religion, caste, region and language.

What Revanth Reddy said

Mr Reddy cited Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi while speaking about what he described as sacrifices made by the Gandhi family.

He also referred to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, saying they had given up positions, power and high office.

The Telangana Chief Minister said he had no remaining personal political ambitions and described his objective as working towards a Congress-led government at the Centre with Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister.

Mr Reddy also appealed to people to stand with the Gandhi Parivar and oppose the Sangh Parivar. He described the latter as a threat to India’s democracy.

BJP hits back

The BJP responded to Mr Reddy’s remarks on Saturday.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said the Telangana Chief Minister’s comments amounted to an admission that Congress’s objective was to bring the Gandhi family back to power.

He also linked Mr Reddy’s remarks to the ongoing political debate around “vote chori”, the Election Commission, the Constitution and democracy, arguing that the Congress’s focus was instead on the Gandhi family.

The exchange adds to the political confrontation between the BJP and Congress, with Mr Reddy presenting the Gandhi Parivar and Sangh Parivar as opposing forces in India’s political future, while the BJP has interpreted his remarks as evidence of Congress’s focus on the Gandhi family.

India News

Veeramani POCSO case: Vijay questions Stalin over earlier probe

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has questioned MK Stalin over the handling of the Veeramani POCSO case, while Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected anyone.

Published

2 days ago

September 25, 2026

APNLive Desk

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay has questioned DMK president MK Stalin over the handling of the POCSO case involving Gem Granites founder R Veeramani. The political exchange follows renewed investigation into allegations involving minor girls.

Vijay’s remarks came as the ruling TVK stepped up its questions about how the case was handled during the previous DMK government. The party’s IT wing has alleged that the earlier investigation was weakened and questioned why a final report was filed.

The allegations have been rejected by the DMK. Stalin has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to protect anyone in the case and has called the allegations false and defamatory.

What did Vijay say about the Veeramani case?

Vijay questioned Stalin over the handling of the case and demanded an explanation from the former chief minister.

The TVK has specifically questioned why action was not taken against Veeramani during the previous administration and why the earlier investigation resulted in a closure report.

The party has also raised questions about the role of officials involved in the earlier investigation. These are political allegations made by the TVK and have not been established as facts.

What is the Veeramani POCSO case?

The case concerns allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving R Veeramani, the founder of Gem Granites.

The case came under renewed scrutiny after a special POCSO court rejected an earlier closure report and ordered further investigation. The expanded probe has subsequently identified additional alleged survivors who were minors at the time of the alleged offences, according to current reporting.

The investigation is also examining the circumstances surrounding the earlier probe and whether there were any lapses in how the case was handled.

What has MK Stalin said?

Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected Veeramani.

He has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to shield anyone in the case. Stalin has also said that everyone responsible for the alleged offences, including anyone who aided or attempted to protect the accused, should face the law.

The DMK president has further said that the focus should remain on securing justice for the affected girls rather than making political allegations.

Why has the case become a political issue?

The Veeramani case has become the subject of a political dispute between the ruling TVK and the DMK over the handling of the earlier investigation.

The TVK is questioning the previous government’s handling of the case, while the DMK has denied that it intervened to protect the accused.

At this stage, claims about political interference or deliberate weakening of the earlier investigation should be treated as allegations unless established by the ongoing investigation or judicial proceedings.