National
BJP holding internal surveys to assess going solo in Maha Assembly polls
Mumbai, June 13 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra, according to sources, has been conducting an internal survey to assess the possibilities of contesting the upcoming Assembly elections alone, in the aftermath of a disappointing performance in the Lok Sabha polls along with its alliance partners in the state that sends second-highest representatives to the Lok Sabha – 48 – only next to Uttar Pradesh’s 80.
In fact, a senior RSS leader has questioned the J.P. Nadda-led party’s move to enter an alliance with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, terming the move “ill advised”.
Sources, however, submitted that the BJP, which won only 9 out of the 28 Lok Sabha seats it contested, has not yet made up its mind to ‘dump’ the Ajit Pawar-led NCP ahead of the Assembly elections slated for September-October this year.
Instead, in the wake of a dismal performance in the general elections, the BJP, which is the “big brother” in the MahaYuti government in Maharashtra, has launched an internal survey in the state’s 106 Assembly constituencies which it had won in 2019 to assess the prevailing mood and challenges to retain the seats going solo.
Similar surveys will soon be launched in the remaining 182 Assembly segments to study the ground reality if the party decides to go solo in the Assembly polls.
A BJP source said: “These surveys have been launched to find out how the party will get the simple majority going solo. Besides, the surveys will also show how the BJP will perform in an alliance with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. It will also gauge the mood about whether to continue its alliance with the NCP.”
While the BJP’s tally dipped to 9 against 23 in the 2019 general elections, Shiv Sena won 7 and NCP one, taking the MahaYuti’s total strength to 17 seats against 31 by Maha Vikas Aghadi.
Sources said that these surveys had been kicked off much before the RSS magazine, The Organiser, suggested that the BJP’s move to induct Ajit Pawar into the NDA had affected the party’s performance.
“Maharashtra is a prime example of unnecessary politicking and avoidable manipulations,” veteran RSS leader Ratan Sharda wrote in an opinion piece published in The Organiser, adding that the Ajit Pawar faction joined the BJP even though the BJP and Eknath Shinde had a comfortable majority in the state.
“Sharad Pawar would have faded away in two to three years as the NCP would have lost energy with infighting… why was this ill-advised step taken?” Ratan Sharda wondered.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye, said: “The Organiser is a magazine of independent thoughts. The BJP respects the editorials of each and every newspaper. The BJP does brainstorm after every victory and defeat, and on the basis of that, the party decides the future course of action.”
He, however, declined to comment on the possibility of the BJP parting ways with the NCP in the Assembly elections.
On the other hand, NCP Working President Praful Patel said: “The article is not an official stand of the BJP. None of its office bearers has made any statement. It is an individual view. Every single thing does not need clarification or reaction from us.
“Some issues can be raised by people in their capacity, but this does not make any difference to the alliance. Our alliance is here to stay and win the next elections,” he added.
On the other hand, Maharashtra unit NCP spokesperson Suraj Chavan said: “If the BJP wins, it is due to the disciplined planning of the RSS and if it loses, it is due to Ajit Pawar. Try to understand against whom the people of Maharashtra are angry…”
Incidentally, Deputy Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who had announced to resign from the government, taking the onus of the party’s drubbing last week, at the party meeting, declared that the MahaYuti will sweep the upcoming Assembly elections as it would be possible for the ‘grand alliance’ to win 51 per cent votes to regain power by putting a show of unity and fighting elections with full force and strength.
Fadnavis had said that the MahaYuti has got 43.6 per cent votes against 43.9 per cent votes bagged by Maha Vikas Aghadi.
Fadnavis, who has decided to continue as Deputy CM after the BJP’s central leadership intervened, said that his party lost 11 seats by 1 to 5 per cent votes, which can be improved in the upcoming Assembly elections.
–IANS
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National
Three killed as two cars collide in Karnataka
Shivamogga, July 6 (IANS) At least three persons were killed and two others injured as two cars collided head-on in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district on Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Chandru, Siddanna and Imam Saab, all residents of Belagere village near Challakere town in Chitradurga district.
The injured were shifted to the Meggan Hospital in Shivamogga.
According to police, the incident occurred due to overspeeding.
One of the cars was en route to Sagara town from Shivamogga and the other car was coming towards Shivamogga from Sagara town.
Kumasi Police have rushed to the spot and taken up the investigation.
Both vehicles were severely mangled in the crash.
Details are awaited.
–IANS
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National
On Syama Prasad Mookerjee's birth anniversary, an account of how PM Modi championed his ideals
New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tributes to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, on his birth anniversary.
“Respectful tributes to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his birth anniversary, who made India proud with his strong nationalist views. His dedication and sacrifice for the motherland will always inspire the citizens of the country,” said the Prime Minister in a post on X.
As the nation observes his birth anniversary, here is an account of how PM Modi not only championed his ideals but also realised his dream of ‘One Nation’.
Modi Archive, a popular X handle, on Saturday, shared information on PM Modi steadfastly upholding Mookerjee’s beliefs and ardently pursuing his efforts to unify the country. It accentuates the special tribute paid by PM Modi to the Bharatiya Jan Sangh founder in 2013.
It informs that after becoming BJP’s campaign committee chairman for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi led his first rally at the spot where Mookerjee was arrested in 1953. This event also marked Mookerjee’s ‘Balidan Diwas.’
The public rally was held in Punjab’s Pathankot, the very location where the Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder was arrested in 1953 and kept in custody for 45 days. His sudden death in prison stunned the nation, leading to the abolition of the Permit System in J&K, shortly thereafter.
Mookerjee, a strong proponent of United India, passed away while fighting for the integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the nation.
In 2019, the Modi government actualised Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s vision by revoking Article 370, thereby paving the way for the revocation of its special status. A few months later, on January 1, 2020, the government took another historic step by abolishing the last traces of Jammu and Kashmir’s enforced autonomy, thereby locking Mookerjee’s dream of a fully integrated India.
Also, the government ceased operations at the Lakhanpur Toll Plaza in Pathankot, the very site where Mookerjee was arrested, a location signifying the artificial legal barrier between J&K and the rest of India.
–IANS
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National
Love jihad helpline: Pralhad Joshi seeks probe into bomb threat to Sri Rama Sena
Hubballi, (Karnataka) July 6 (IANS) Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, on Saturday demanded a probe into bomb threats allegedly issued to the Sri Rama Sena for opening helplines for victims of ‘love jihad’.
Speaking to reporters in Hubballi on Saturday, Joshi said, “The closure of Facebook accounts of Sri Rama Sena is wrong. It is also wrong to issue bomb threats. Violence isn’t right always. The state government should investigate the matter.”
Earlier, addressing the media, Gangadhar Kulkarni, a senior Sri Rama Sena leader stated that after they began a campaign against ‘love jihad’ by opening a helpline on May 29, bomb threats and life threats were given.
The Sena has got more than 170 such calls already and the threat calls are made through internet, he alleged.
The Facebook accounts of all Sri Rama Sena members and the main page have been closed for the last two days, Kulkarni alleged.
“We don’t know whether this was done by jihadis or the government. This has been done to prevent the awareness campaign on love jihad by us,” Kulkarni slammed.
“All Facebook accounts should be allowed to operate, failing which, statewide protests would be launched,” Kulkarni warned.
–IANS
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National
J&K: Army soldier dead in Kulgam encounter (Ld)
Srinagar, July 6 (IANS) An Army soldier has died in an encounter between the security forces and the terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday.
Officials said that an Army soldier, injured during the encounter between the security forces and the hiding terrorists in a village of Kulgam district, succumbed to critical injuries in the hospital.
Security forces started a cordon and search operation in Modergam village of Kulgam early on Saturday, following reports about the presence of terrorists in the village.
“As the security forces came close to the hiding terrorists, they fired at the security forces triggering an encounter,” officials said.
The exchange of fire between the security forces and terrorists is continuing in the area.
–IANS
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National
Heavy rain disrupts life in Rajasthan; schools in Tonk shut
Jaipur, July 6 (IANS) Heavy rain disrupted normal life in Rajasthan on Saturday causing waterlogging, traffic jams, and the Tonk district administration announcing the closure of schools.
Incessant rain in Kota for the past two days increased Parvati River’s water levels, leading to the closure of the road connecting Sheopur and Gwalior in MP.
The Meteorological Department said that the Baran district recorded the highest rainfall (195 mm) while Parbatsar and Nagaur, registered 71 mm.
In the past 24 hours, Deoli in Tonk 155 mm rain, Malpura (144 mm), Peeplu (144 mm), Tonk tehsil (137 mm), Aligarh (130 mm), 126 mm in Todaraisingh and Nagarfort (115 mm).
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department officials have warned of heavy to very heavy rain in the state till July 8.
Further on July 9 and 10, heavy rainfall has been forecast for eastern Rajasthan.
–IANS
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