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Chhattisgarh elections: Raman Singh’s 3 mistakes that cost him in 2018 still cast a shadow

Himself without the taint of corruption, Singh didn’t act when his ministers ran riot.

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By Neeraj Mishra

It’s polling day tomorrow in Chhattisgarh and it will take former chief minister Dr Raman Singh to the same day five years ago when he lost his empire to the Congress. Politics is all about opportunities lost and opportunities snatched. Dr Raman Singh’s 15-year reign came to an end to what most people attribute as the anti-incumbency factor and Congress’ clever promise of paddy procurement at Rs 2,500 per quintal that swung the farm vote.

While that may be true, what Singh will probably rue most are the three crucial mistakes he made in power in the third term. There was no serious allegation of corruption against him personally and he remains popular till this day but his government had become corrupt and inefficient and you cannot sit over it and expect people to swallow the inadequacies of his administration. While corruption in itself was not a major issue in the 2018 campaign, people had had enough of Singh’s team.

So the first mistake was to succumb to the pressure of the business lobby. Brijmohan Agarwal, Amar Agarwal, Gaurishankar Agarwal and Rajesh Mudat were the most powerful ministers in his cabinet. They more or less did as they pleased and each one was involved in some scam or the other. Some proven, some mere allegations. From land to real estate, excise to mining, they controlled every bit of the monetary landscape. Ultimately, Singh was forced to use some trusted bureaucrats to counter their power. This brought on another calamity.

Some bureaucrats gained disproportionate power as happens almost everywhere. They remain behind the scenes so the ultimate loss was the BJP’s and Raman Singh’s. All the businessmen-turned-politicians lost in an upheaval, except Brijmohan, caused by dissatisfaction in the electorate with exploitation.

The Congress, and particularly Bhupesh Baghel, caught onto this theme smartly and over the next five years, Baghel built an aura of being “Chhattisgaria” and everyone else branded as outsider or pardesia. Today, the elections are being fought on farmer enticement and Chhattisgaria pride. Some of the losing businessmen politicians of the BJP have returned and may again cause some damage. Singh perhaps knows but not everything is now under his control.

Which brings us to the second big mistake Raman Singh made. He let go of a solid corruption case against a senior Congressman. This leader was involved in a scam in his department as minister in the Jogi government. Singh let the case be withdrawn by the state. Today, he must be kicking himself for it, since it ultimately led to his own downfall and the Congress’ return.

The third mistake Raman Singh made was to bring his son into active politics by making him contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. His son, Abhishek, is a warm, smart person but should have remained in the background, biding his time. This was also done against the advice of the then BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi, who frowned upon dynastic politics. Abhishek was denied a ticket in 2019 after his name came up in the Panama papers. Though nothing has been proved and the allegations have remained unsubstantiated, it brought down Raman Singh’s own standing within the party.

Tomorrow, Raman Singh and his party face the most crucial election of his life because after this he will not get another shot at anything in Chhattisgarh politics. If he loses, he will fade into the political horizon and if he wins, he will still have the opportunity to contest against political upstarts in his own party for the top job. The stage is set, the stakes are high and Raman Singh has his fingers crossed firmly.

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Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat’s name absent from election voter list

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Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat

In a surprising turn of events during the municipal elections in Uttarakhand, former Chief Minister Harish Rawat was unable to cast his vote due to his name being missing from the voters list. Rawat, a prominent figure in the Congress party and a long-time resident of Dehradun, discovered the omission at his local polling station in the Niranjanpur neighborhood, a locality from which he has voted since 2009.

Despite his attempts to address the issue, including lodging a complaint with the State Election Commission, Rawat was informed that a server malfunction prevented any immediate resolution. This incident drew sharp criticism from Rawat, who hinted at political interference. “I should have been more alert… knowing they are involved in adding and removing names from the list,” he commented, alluding to the ruling BJP’s involvement.

The local elections, which include voting for 11 municipal corporations, 43 municipal councils, and 46 Nagar Panchayats, are crucial for both major political parties. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, representing the BJP, urged voters to support his party, linking their success to the broader national leadership of Narendra Modi and promoting the concept of a “triple-engine government.”

This electoral hiccup has cast a shadow over the democratic process in Uttarakhand, raising questions about the integrity of the electoral rolls used in these pivotal local elections.

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Controversy erupts over Saif Ali Khan’s stabbing incident as Maharashtra Minister expresses doubts

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Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane speaking at a press conference, questioning the authenticity of Saif Ali Khan's stabbing incident.

In an unexpected twist to the stabbing of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, Maharashtra Ports Minister Nitesh Rane has cast doubt on the authenticity of the incident. Last week, it was reported that Khan, aged 54, was the victim of a stabbing attack during a home invasion, which resulted in him sustaining six knife wounds, including a critical one near his spinal cord, as confirmed by doctors at Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital.

However, Rane’s comments came shortly after Khan was discharged from the hospital and spotted leaving seemingly in good spirits. The minister provocatively referred to Khan as “garbage,” criticized his demeanor upon discharge, and insinuated that the actor might have been feigning his injuries. “I doubted if he had been stabbed… or if he was acting. He was dancing while walking,” Rane told reporters, further intensifying the controversy.

Rane also took this opportunity to make inflammatory remarks about the presence of Bangladeshis in Mumbai, connecting them to the alleged break-in at Khan’s residence. “Look at what Bangladeshis are doing in Mumbai. They entered Saif Ali Khan’s house,” he stated, implying a link without presenting evidence.

The situation was further complicated by political undertones involving other leaders. Rane criticized NCP leaders Jitendra Awhad and Supriya Sule for their selective concerns, contrasting their reactions to incidents involving Khan with their silence on issues affecting Hindu actors.

Responding to Rane’s allegations, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar downplayed the comments but confirmed the arrest of a suspect, identified as Shariful Shehzad, a Bangladeshi national. According to police, Shehzad attempted a burglary at Khan’s residence, leading to the confrontation.

Amidst the political crossfire and media frenzy, Saif Ali Khan has remained out of the public eye following the incident. The comments from Rane have sparked a significant backlash, with many calling for a more respectful and measured approach to the situation.

The case continues to unfold, with Shehzad’s legal representation denying all allegations and disputing the claims of his client’s illegal status in India. As Mumbai Police delve deeper, the true circumstances surrounding the alleged attack on Saif Ali Khan are yet to be fully revealed.

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Bollywood on alert: Death threats sent to Rajpal Yadav, Kapil Sharma, and more

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Kapil Sharma faces legal trouble: Case filed against comedian for breach of contract during North America Tour in 2015

In a chilling development in Bollywood, Rajpal Yadav along with other celebrities like Kapil Sharma have been targeted with death threats via email. These threats have been traced back to Pakistan, escalating concerns over the safety of Indian celebrities.

Rajpal Yadav discovered the threatening email dated December 14 last year, which had initially gone unnoticed in his spam folder. It wasn’t until three days later that he reported the incident to the authorities. The email not only threatened Yadav but also instructed him to forward the threat to comedian Kapil Sharma, mentioning that preparations were being made to target Sharma’s family and associates.

Photos from Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala’s funeral were also attached to the threatening email to Yadav, perhaps as an intimidation tactic. The involvement of the Bishnoi gang was claimed by the sender, who referenced ongoing scrutiny of the celebrities’ activities.

In response, Rajpal Yadav has lodged a complaint with both the Amboli Police and the cyber crime department. He expressed his desire to focus on his career and leave the matter to the authorities. “I am an artist and I want to entertain the audience with my performances,” said Yadav.

Senior Police Inspector Sadashiv Nikam from Amboli Police Station noted that while the IP address of the sender has been located in Pakistan, the case is currently being treated as a threat without any demands for money. The police are continuing their investigation into these disturbing threats.

This series of threats comes in the backdrop of other violent incidents targeting Bollywood actors, including an attack on Saif Ali Khan in his Mumbai residence and a shooting near Salman Khan’s Bandra apartment. These incidents have heightened security concerns within the Bollywood community, prompting increased security measures such as the installation of bullet-proof windows in vulnerable residences.

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