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ND Tiwari Ditches Congress for Son Rohit

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10 years ago

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ND Tiwari Ditches Congress for Son Rohit

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]After refusal from SP, veteran Congressman ND Tiwari switches side and joins BJP just so his son gets a ticket

By Sujit Bhar[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Narayan Dutt Tiwari, a Congress veteran and a Nehru-Gandhi acolyte for most of his 91-year life so far, changed his colours and his identity on January 18. As had been rumoured, he arrived at BJP president Amit Shah’s Asoka Road residence at around 12.30 this afternoon. He was accompanied by his son Rohit Shekhar Sharma, and carried with him the support of many former Uttarakhand chief ministers, except the incumbent Harish Rawat of the Congress.

Tiwari had been once chief minister of Uttarakhand and had also been chief minister of Uttar Pradesh thrice between 1976 and 1989.

Shah welcomed Tiwari with the traditional shawl, symbol of the BJP, and a bouquet of flowers as Tiwari signed on the dotted lines that allowed him to switch allegiance.

Rawat has refused to pay any attention to this, saying the Congress was ready to go it alone in Uttarakhand and would not miss any moral support from outside. Pradeep Tamta, Congress spokesperson, has said: “If he wishes to go, he can. Some vested interests are using him to further their ends.”

Tiwari’s change of heart had nothing to do with his relationship with the Congress. He had been an inner-circle man of the Nehru-Gandhi family and of successive prime ministers, and it was difficult to think of him as anybody but just that. He did it for his son, Rohit, who was refused a ticket by the Samajwadi Party (SP) for the Haldwani seat, where the sitting MLA is Indira Hridyesh of the Congress.

This meant Tiwari could not even approach the Congress for a ticket for his son for that particular seat, because the Congress has declared its alliance with the SP. The only way out was to let go of his very identity, his life’s work and his ideology and join the BJP.

How the BJP will benefit from the 91-year-old Tiwari’s arrival is not clear. Tiwari had been out of politics for some time, and the image the people hold of him at this point isn’t a happy one. If the BJP wants to boost its prospects with the Brahmins in the coming polls, Tiwari, at least, should be visible in campaigns. Considering his physical condition, Tiwari is unlikely to be able to join the campaign for the BJP.

Incidentally, Tiwari becomes the oldest member of the BJP, being older than even the party’s top ideologist and member of the party’s Margdarshak Mandal Lal Krishna Advani, who is reaching 90.

One thing, though, looks eminently possible through this arrangement; Tiwari’s son Rohit should now get a Haldwani ticket from the BJP.

How did it come to such a pass, that a father had to give up decades of hard work and even his identity for a son he not so long ago didn’t even want to recognise? A DNA test has proved that Rohit was his biological son, though out of marriage.

Tiwari, a freedom fighter, an accomplished scholar and a former Minister of External Affairs in Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s cabinet, has been embroiled in sex scandals that have done little to enhance his image. Apart from scandals that rocked the administration when he was governor, Rohit filed a paternity suit against him in 2008. Rohit claimed that Tiwari was his biological father.

This case went completely out of hand, with the court not only ordering a DNA mapping of Tiwari to compare with Rohit, but the Delhi High Court in 2012 also rejected a request from Tiwari’s lawyers to keep the result a secret. Results, available in July that year established Rohit as the son.

In March 2014 Tiwari not only accepted Rohit as his son, but also married Rohit’s mother Ujjwala Sharma.

All that has led to this day’s fiasco. The credibility of politics has been the biggest loser.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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New UP Congress chief Aradhana Mishra backs stronger alliance with SP 

Newly appointed UP Congress chief Aradhana Mishra said the party would strengthen its alliance with the Samajwadi Party ahead of the 2027 Assembly election.

Published

3 days ago

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October 3, 2026

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Newly appointed Uttar Pradesh Congress president Aradhana Mishra, also known as Mona, has said the party will take its alliance with the Samajwadi Party forward with full strength ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.

Mishra, the daughter of Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, has been given the responsibility of leading the party’s state unit as Congress prepares for the assembly polls due in around six months, according to the report.

Speaking about Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Mishra described the SP as a strong partner of the Congress in the INDIA bloc.

“The Samajwadi Party is a partner of ours in the INDIA bloc, and a strong one at that,” she said, while praising the way Akhilesh Yadav has strengthened his party.

Aradhana Mishra backs Congress-SP alliance

Mishra referred to the performance of the INDIA bloc in the 2024 Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh while discussing the alliance’s prospects for the next assembly election.

The INDIA bloc won 43 of Uttar Pradesh’s 80 Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 election, according to the report.

Mishra said the alliance had stopped the BJP’s advance in Uttar Pradesh in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and expressed confidence that the partnership would produce results in the 2027 Assembly election.

“We will take this alliance forward with full strength,” she said.

The new state Congress chief will also have to advance seat-sharing discussions with the Samajwadi Party. The report said Congress wants a larger share of seats, while the SP has not indicated a willingness to give ground, arguing that it is in a stronger position in the state.

Congress announces new UP team

The leadership change is part of a wider organisational reshuffle by the Congress in Uttar Pradesh.

Along with appointing Mishra as state Congress president, the party named Rajya Sabha MP Imran Masood as working president. Chaudhary Virendra Singh was appointed Leader of the Congress Legislature Party.

Devinder Nishad and Alok Prasad were also appointed senior vice presidents of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee.

The new appointments bring different social groups into prominent positions in the state organisation. Mishra is a Brahmin, Masood is a Muslim and Rajendra Pal Gautam, the Congress’ AICC in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, is a Dalit, the report said.

Mishra, however, said the Congress does not practise caste or religion-based politics.

She said the party wanted to strengthen the country, protect the Constitution and build a strong alternative ahead of the 2027 election.

Mishra’s challenge ahead of 2027 polls

As the new Uttar Pradesh Congress chief, Mishra will be responsible for strengthening the party’s organisation in the state while also taking forward its alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

The Congress and SP are part of the INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh. With seat-sharing discussions ahead of the 2027 Assembly election, Mishra’s comments indicate that the Congress intends to continue working with the Samajwadi Party.

The appointment of Mishra comes alongside other organisational changes aimed at preparing the party for the upcoming assembly election.

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BJP may drop over 100 UP MLAs, focus shifts to voters and fix internal rifts 

The BJP is considering major changes to its Uttar Pradesh candidates, with more than 100 sitting MLAs potentially facing ticket cuts as the party works to address internal rifts and voter concerns.

Published

4 days ago

on

October 1, 2026

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BJP

The BJP is preparing a major organisational and electoral strategy in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly election, with the party considering dropping more than 100 sitting MLAs from its candidate list.

The proposed changes are part of a broader effort to address internal differences within the party, strengthen its organisation and reconnect with voters across the state.

BJP’s plan for Uttar Pradesh

The party’s strategy involves reviewing the performance and prospects of its sitting legislators before deciding on candidates for the next Assembly election. More than 100 MLAs could potentially be denied tickets as part of the exercise.

The focus is also on resolving internal rifts and improving coordination within the organisation. The BJP is looking to address issues that emerged during the 2024 Lok Sabha election and strengthen its connect with voters.

The party’s review comes as it prepares for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, where it will seek to strengthen its position across the state.

Focus on internal differences and voters

Along with changes to its pool of candidates, the BJP is working on repairing differences within the organisation.

The party’s strategy places emphasis on reconnecting with voters and understanding issues at the ground level. Leaders and workers are expected to focus on strengthening the party’s presence among voters as preparations for the Assembly election continue.

The approach reflects the BJP’s effort to draw lessons from its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and make organisational changes ahead of the next major electoral contest in Uttar Pradesh.

Candidate changes under consideration

The possibility of dropping over 100 sitting MLAs would represent a significant change in the BJP’s candidate strategy in the state. However, the final decision on individual tickets will depend on the party’s assessment and the selection process.

The BJP is therefore combining a review of its sitting legislators with efforts to resolve internal differences and rebuild its connection with voters as it prepares for the 2027 polls.

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PM Modi speaks to Trump, reviews India-US trade and defence ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US President Donald Trump and reviewed India-US bilateral cooperation, including trade and defence.

Published

5 days ago

on

September 30, 2026

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday and reviewed key areas of India-US bilateral cooperation, including trade and defence.

The conversation came as the two countries continue discussions on strengthening their broader partnership, with economic and strategic issues forming an important part of the engagement.

Modi, Trump discuss key areas of bilateral cooperation

During the phone conversation, Modi and Trump reviewed cooperation between India and the United States across several areas.

Trade and defence were among the key subjects discussed by the two leaders. Their conversation also covered energy and emerging technologies, reflecting the broad scope of the India-US partnership.

The two leaders also discussed issues linked to regional and global peace and security.

India-US trade talks continue

The conversation took place amid ongoing trade discussions between India and the United States.

India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is visiting the US from September 29 to October 5 for discussions related to an interim trade agreement and the possibility of a broader bilateral trade deal.

The talks are aimed at advancing trade engagement between the two countries as officials work towards an agreement that is described as balanced and mutually beneficial.

Defence and strategic cooperation

Defence cooperation was another area reviewed by Modi and Trump during their conversation.

India and the US have developed broader cooperation across defence and strategic sectors, and the latest discussion included the two countries’ continuing engagement in this area.

Energy and emerging technologies were also part of the leaders’ discussion, underlining the range of issues covered during the phone call.

Modi-Trump discuss regional and global issues

Beyond bilateral matters, Modi and Trump also discussed regional and global peace and security.

The conversation comes as India and the US continue to engage on issues extending beyond their bilateral relationship.

The latest phone call is part of the continuing engagement between the two leaders on strengthening cooperation across trade, defence and other areas of mutual interest.

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