English हिन्दी
Connect with us

Latest Politics News

TDP-BJP differences strain NDA, but things may change in a year

Published

on

TDP-BJP differences strain NDA, but things may change in a year

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and BJP have parted ways, their members resigning from governments led by each other’s leaders, and the former would consider whether it would stay on in BJP-led National Democratic alliance (NDA).

This signifies a clear strain in their relations which, if it continues, could do damage to BJP’s prospects in the Lok Sabha elections due in the beginning of summers in 2019. The NDA has 17 MPs in Lok Sabha from Andhra Pradesh and BJP alone has just two, the rest from TDP, the third largest constituent of NDA. Given the issue on which the split has happened, chances of BJP tying up with TDP’s rival YSR Congress are doubtful. There is, however, one full year to go before the Lok Sabha elections and that is a long time in politics. In today’s politics, it is a very very long time. In any case, the BJP, with 274 MPs in Lok Sabha, does not need any other party’s support for the survival of the government at the Centre.

For now, the TDP-BJP rift is out in the open. BJP ministers in Andhra Pradesh government, Srinivasa Rao and T Manikyala Rao, submitted their resignations after Chandrababu Naidu announced that TDP members in the Union Council of Ministers will resign on Thursday.

Shortly after the resignations of BJP ministers in his cabinet, Naidu said that the two TDP leaders in Modi government, Aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for science and technology YS Chowdary, too have submitted their resignations.

Naidu is yet to decide on whether his party will pull out of the BJP-led NDA Democratic Alliance completely.

While the two parties decided to snap ties, there was no bitterness in evidence. When the BJP ministers reached CM Office to submit their resignations, the TDP ministers hugged the quitting BJP ministers and also posed for cameras. The BJP members’ resignation letters were also appreciative of the CM and the chance to work under him.

Naidu’s move is being seen as forced on him by state politics ahead of the Assembly election next year. He is facing a lot of heat from the opposition YSR Congress which accuses Naidu of failing Andhra Pradesh by not ensuring special status for it as a partner at the Centre. Andhra’s political parties say nothing short of “special status” will do as that was promised to the state when it was bifurcated to carve out a new state Telangana, leaving what was left of Andhra Pradesh in a deep revenue deficit.

On Wednesday night, Naidu announced his decision to pull out TDP ministers from the centre, hours after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley ruled out “special status” for Andhra Pradesh. NDTV reported TDP lawmaker Ravindra Babu as saying that the next “logical step” is to exit the BJP-led national alliance NDA, but Chandrababu Naidu seemed to leave options open, saying he would “plan further course of action” based on the Centre’s reaction to his decision.

At an emergency press briefing on Wednesday night Chandrababu Naidu said the TDP has taken the “painful decision” to withdraw its ministers from the Centre in the interest of the state, as it was left with no other option. The TDP joined the NDA just ahead of the 2014 national elections.

“I went to Delhi 29 times, met Prime Minister and Central Ministers and requested them to fulfil our demands,” said Naidu, “When the intended purpose (of joining the Union Cabinet) has not been served, there is no point in continuing. For me the sole agenda is to safeguard the interests of the state.”

The chief minister also said he tried to speak to PM Modi on phone as a courtesy to inform him about the decision to pull out of the government. “It is my responsibility as a coalition partner to inform the prime minister about our party decision. My OSD spoke to his OSD but the prime minister did not come on line,” he said, according to media reports.

On Wednesday evening, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said the Centre was happy to give Andhra Pradesh funds, but said giving it “special category status” as demanded by Naidu was not possible. The reason cited, said a report in the India Express (IE), was the Constitutional limitation of 14th Finance Commission report: after the implementation of the 14th Finance Commission award, such a treatment was “constitutionally” restricted to just the north-eastern and three hill states.

At the time of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and birth of Telangana, a special category status could be given to AP as at that time, concept of special category states did exist. But when the 14th Finance Commission report came in, a constitutional award, they said there is no special category status that can now be given, the IE report quoted Jaitley as saying.

“We are committed to give monetary equivalent of a special status to Andhra Pradesh. We are awaiting response from the Andhra Pradesh government,” Jaitley said at Wednesday’s press conference. He also said that just because it is a political issue, the quantum of assistance can’t be increased.

According to NDTV, there was another statement from Jaitley that did not go down well with Naidu. Jaitley said, “The Centre cannot say now that all the funds that I have will now be given to the states and I have no money because after all the security of India is a Central responsibility.”

Chandrababu Naidu said Jaitley’s words were “hurtful and insulting,” alleging that they suggested that the TDP was “asking for money at the expense of the country’s Defence Budget… Jaitley spoke like we asked for all the money. We felt insulted.”

India News

Uttar Pradesh on high alert after gangster turned politician Mukhtar Ansari death, probe ordered on poisoned in jail charge

Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), Prashant Kumar said that as a precautionary measure, Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed across the state.

Published

on

Several towns in Uttar Pradesh are on high alert and security has been strengthened after jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari died of cardiac arrest. His family alleged that the gangster, who has been in jail since 2005, was poisoned. 

The jailed gangster was hurried to a hospital after he fell unconscious at district jail on Thursday night. After a few hours, he was declared dead by the doctors at the Rani Durgavati Medical College. 

Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), Prashant Kumar said that as a precautionary measure, Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed across the state. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has also been called in to assist the police. Reportedly, the CRPF units have already been deployed in Banda, Mau, Ghazipur, and Varanasi.

Additionally, the social media cell of the Uttar Pradesh Police is also on high alert to track unlawful elements that may try to spark a riot. Furthermore, a magisterial investigation into the death of Mukhtar Ansari will be carried out by a three member team, reports said.

A former five-time MLA from Mau Sadar seat Muktar Ansari, had 60 criminal cases pending against him. The gangster turned politician was sentenced in eight cases since September 2022 by different courts of Uttar Pradesh and was lodged in the Banda jail.

Earlier, the former five-time MLA from Mau submitted an application in Barabanki court, alleging he was given some poisonous substance along with his food. He claimed that on March 19, his nerves and limbs started paining after he consumed the food.

Muktar Ansari was born into a family with deep roots in the independence struggle. His grandfather served as the Indian National Congress president in 1927. He was initially affiliated with the Bahujan Samaj Party before forming the Quami Ekta Dal (QED) after being expelled.

Continue Reading

India News

Delhi LG VK Saxena directs probe into remarks against Kangana Ranaut by Congress leader Supriya Shrinate

The Delhi Police will investigate who was behind the said social media post and whose mobile phone was used for the purpose.

Published

on

Delhi lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena today sought a detailed probe from Delhi Police commissioner Sanjay Arora in relation with the alleged defamatory social media post made by Congress’s Supriya Shrinate against actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut.

Reportedly, BJP candidate from New Delhi Bansuri Swaraj had given a complaint to the LG seeking probe and registration of an FIR against Shrinate for outraging the modesty of a woman. Subsequently, the Delhi LG has forwarded the complaint to the Delhi Police Commissioner, directing a scientific investigation in the matter and initiation of legal action, if necessary.

Reports said that the Delhi Police will also investigate who was behind the said social media post and whose mobile phone was used for the purpose. A major controversy erupted on Monday after an objectionable post from Supriya Shrinate’s social media handle against Kangana Ranaut, who has been announced as the BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi.

Responding to the remarks, Kangana Ranaut said that they must free the daughters from the shackles of prejudices and must rise above the curiosity about their body parts. She added that people must refrain from using sex workers’ challenging lives or circumstances as some kind of abuse or slur. She concluded that every woman deserves her dignity. As the controversy intensified, the Congress leader asserted that someone else had posted the objectionable content from her handle. 

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Wednesday issued a show cause notice to Congress leader Supriya Shrinate for her derogatory remarks against Kangana Ranaut. The Election Commission observed that the remarks are undignified and in a bad taste. The election body asked the Congress leader to respond to the commission by Friday. In the notice, the Election Commission stated that the statements made by the leader is prima facie violative of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) being in force ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. 

Continue Reading

India News

Bollywood actor Govinda joins Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena

Govinda on his official induction in the party by CM Eknath Shinde said he is joining Shiv Sena and it is a blessing from God. He said he thought he would not enter politics again. Govinda said Mumbai looks cleaner and better now.

Published

on

Bollywood actor Govinda joined Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena on Thursday ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. In 2004 Govinda contested from Mumbai North Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket and earned the nickname of a giant slayer as he defeated BJP’s Ram Naik. He resigned from the party and said that he had decided to take a break from politics.

Govinda on his official induction in the party by CM Eknath Shinde said he is joining Shiv Sena and it is a blessing from God. He said he thought he would not enter politics again. Govinda said Mumbai looks cleaner and better now. He said his parents had a good relationship with Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

Shiv Sena leader Krishna Hedge met the Bollywood actor at his residence in Juhu. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said the actor’s joining the Shiv Sena does not come with a rider. Govinda said whatever work is assigned to him, he will do it to the best of the ability. He said he was a part of the 14th Lok Sabha and has returned to politics after 14 years.

Speaking about his role in politics, the actor said he would transform the film city of Mumbai. He did not reply when he was asked about contesting elections. Govinda said everybody has seen the same level of progress in Maharashtra in the last 2 years, as it has been seen in the country in the last 10 years. He said he is going to focus on the beautification of the state and work towards the growth of art and culture.

Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora welcomed Govida into the party and said he has known the veteran Bollywood actor for almost 25 years. He recalled the 2004 election and said both of them had fought elections together.

Continue Reading

Trending

-->

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com