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Doors still open for alliance with TMC Jairam Ramesh

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Gwalior : Even as the Trinamool Congress has decided to contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, the Congress on Sunday said doors are still open for an alliance with the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC for the upcoming general polls.

Ahead of the opposition’s rally in Patna, Congress general secretary and in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh told PTI they are still hopeful and believe that when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says she is in the INDIA alliance, her priority is to defeat the BJP.

“We take that as a statement of her priority and intent,” he said in Gwalior.

“We have not closed any doors. She has unilaterally announced that she will contest all 42 seats (in West Bengal), well that is her announcement. As far as we are concerned, talks are still continuing, the doors are still open and the final word will not be said till the final word is said,” he said.

On the rally to be held in Bihar capital Patna, Ramesh said it is a joint opposition rally and coming after the prime minister went there on Saturday.

“It’s a very significant political rally and it shows the opposition unity to defeat the BJP and its allies,” he said.

Former Congress president and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi has also given a break to his ongoing ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ to take part in the rally, he said.

“Today is the 50th day (of the yatra), there has been a slight change because Rahul Gandhi has to go to Patna for the opposition rally and Congress president Malliarjun Kharge is also going to participate in it,” Ramesh said.

“So this morning, he (Gandhi) is going to have an interaction on the Agniveer issue. Then there will be a road show in Mohna. After that there is no yatra today. But tomorrow, on the 51st day, as planned and as scheduled, we will start from Shivpuri (in MP), ” he said.

On the fifth day, he (Gandhi) will be in Ujjain and visit the holy Shri Mahakaleshwar temple, he said.

Asked about the Lok Dal’s participation in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Uttar Pradesh recently, Ramesh said the “real” Lok Dal welcomed Rahul Gandhi during the yatra in Aligarh. There were posters, banners and hoardings of former PMs Chaudhary Charan Singh, Indira Gandhi and the Lok Dal, he said.

“That was the real Lok Dal, asli Lok Dal, RLD (Rashtriya Lok Dal) is the nakli Lok Dal,” he claimed.

The RLD joined the BJP-led NDA after the central government recently conferred the Bharat Ratna posthumously on former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh. Asked whether Rahul Gandhi will contest from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat (in Kerala), Ramesh said, “That is under discussion and Rahul Gandhi will decide the seat.”

On the BJP declaring its first list of 195 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, Ramesh said why should he comment on the saffron party’s candidates.

“We are finalising our manifesto, our candidates and our seats in different states. My concern is what we are doing and not what the BJP is doing,” he added.

BSP leader and former UP MLA Shah Alam alias Guddu Jamali joins SP

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Lucknow: BSP leader and former UP MLA Shah Alam alias Guddu Jamali on Wednesday joined the Samajwadi Party in presence of Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

Guddu Jamali, BSP Candidate Who Marred SP's Chances In 2022 LS By-Polls, Joins Akhilesh's Party

Jamali, a two-time MLA (2012, 2017) from Mubarakpur seat of Azamgarh, is considered to have a good following in the district.

He had contested 2014 and 2022 Lok Sabha by-election from Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat against SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and Dharmendra Yadav, respectively, on a BSP ticket.

In 2022 bypoll, Jamali had secured 2,66,210 votes from the constituency, apparently on the back of the Muslim voters.

BJP’s Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirhua won that poll by getting 3.12 lakh votes, while SP’s Dharmendra Yadav secured 3.04 lakh votes.

In 2014 poll also, Jamali secured over 2.66 lakh votes from Azamgarh and was at third place, while SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav won the seat securing 3.40 lakh votes.

SP has not yet declared any candidate on Azamgarh seat and has made Dharmendra Yadav in-charge of this and Kannauj seat.

Record 3,300 kg of narcotics caught off Gujarat coast 5 foreigners held

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New Delhi: Indian agencies have seized 3,300 kg of narcotics in the highest ever offshore capture and arrested five foreigners from an Iranian boat off the Gujarat coast, the NCB said on Wednesday.

The operation was undertaken in the Arabian Sea along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) jointly by the Navy, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). The contraband is suspected to be containing charas, methamphetamine, and morphine.

The NCB and other agencies have busted yet another international drug trafficking network and effected the highest-ever offshore seizure (by quantity) in the country, a senior officer of the federal anti-narcotics agency said.

The five people arrested from the boat are suspected to be either Iranian or Pakistani nationals. No documents of nationality have been recovered from them, a senior NCB officer said.

Vikramaditya Singh resigns from Sukhu cabinet says felt humiliated

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Vikramaditya Singh resigns from Sukhu cabinet, says felt humiliated

Shimla : Amid a fresh scramble for power in the state, Himachal Pradesh Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Wednesday announced his resignation from the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu cabinet.

“I am submitting my resignation to the chief minister and the governor,” he told reporters.

“There have been attempts to humiliate and undermine me from some quarters and in spite of reservations, I supported the government,” he said.

Troubles have been mounting for Congress since Tuesday, when it lost the sole Rajya Sabha seat to the BJP with six of its members cross-voting in the poll.

Vikramaditya Singh, as he announced his resignation, said he was “deeply hurt” with the transpirings over the past two days and said there’s a need to ponder what went wrong for the Congress.

He said he has apprised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi about the developments and the ball is now in the party high command’s court.

“The Congress party had made promises to the people and we owe the responsibility to fulfil those promises and I would decide my future course of action after consulting my supporters,” Vikramaditya Singh said.

He said that the 2022 assembly election in the state was fought in the name of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, also his father. “There was no poster, or hoarding or banner which did not carry his picture. There was a full-page ad with his picture in the newspapers a day before voting.”

But after victory when the matter of his statue came, the government failed to decide the location.

“It is not a political but an emotional thing for a son,” Vikramaditya Singh said.

He also quoted a couplet by the last Mughal Emperor of India Bahadur Shah Zafar, “Kitna hai bad-naseeb ‘Zafar’ dafn ke liye, do gaz zameen bhi na mili kuch-e-yaar main.”

Allegations of pro-Pakistan slogan: CM Siddaramaiah says strict action if found true

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Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday serious action would be taken against those who allegedly raised ‘Pakistan zindabad’ slogan inside the ‘Vidhana Soudha’ if the investigation found the charge to be true.

When Congress workers were celebrating Syed Naseer Hussain’s victory in the Rajya Sabha elections here on Tuesday night, it is alleged, some people shouted ‘Pakistan zindabad’ slogan. The BJP lodged a police complaint on the issue, and staged protests in several parts of the State, including Belagavi, Chitradurga and Mandya, on Wednesday, condemning the Congress government.

Reacting to the allegation, Siddaramaiah said there is no question of sparing anyone.

“It is not only allegation by BJP, it is also allegation by media”, he said referring to the charge that “Pakistan zindabad” slogan was heard after Hussain was declared winner at “Vidhana Soudha”.

“If the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) report proves that the slogan raised in favour of Pakistan is true, serious action will be taken in this regard. There is no question of protecting those who raised slogans in favour of Pakistan,” the Chief Minister told reporters.

“We have sent the voice report to the FSL. When the report comes, if it’s true that somebody has made a slogan that ‘Pakistan zindabad’ such a person will be punished seriously”, Siddaramaiah said. “If somebody has raised such a slogan, there is no question of sparing them. If it is true we will take strict action, serious action.”

On the alleged incident taking place in Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature and secretariat, he said: “What difference will it make to those who want to raise slogans?” 

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi warned that a statewide agitation will be launched if the accused are not arrested.

“Instead of condemning the incident, Naseer Hussain is trying to mislead people, saying that somebody is spreading false information, which is more dangerous,” Joshi told reporters in Hubballi in north Karnataka.

The Minister sought to know the “take” of the Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on this incident “because Hussain is the ‘Shishya’ of Kharge”.

“I ask the state Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara to take a serious note of it, otherwise the BJP will launch a statewide agitation,” Joshi said.

As his govt faces turbulent time, Sukhvinder Sukhu says he has not resigned

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As his govt faces turbulent time, Sukhvinder Sukhu says he has not resigned
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

Shimla : Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Wednesday said he has not resigned as the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh even as his government risks losing majority after some Congress MLAs cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls.

“I am a fighter. I hail from a humble family. We will win this battle and also prove a majority in the Vidhan Sabha,” he told mediapersons here.

Six Congress MLAs voted in favour of the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday with sources claiming they are “disappointed” with the working style of Chief Minister Sukhu.

The Congress government in the state faces an existential crisis after the six MLAs cross-voted.

“We are in touch with some of the MLAs who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls,” Sukhu said, adding his government would last its full five-year term.

Congress to contest 16 seats in Kerala

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Thiruvananthapuram : The Congress Party will contest 16 seats in Kerala in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan said here on Wednesday.

The allocation of seats within the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) for the Lok Sabha elections has been finalised, he said.

Like in the previous polls, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second largest coalition partner in UDF, would contest in two seats, the LoP said while addressing a press conference here.

Of the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, the Congress will contest in 16 seats, IUML- 2, KCJ (J) – 1 and RSP-1.

The IUML leadership recently admitted that they had demanded one more Lok Sabha seat this time and said they won’t backtrack from their decision.

Satheesan, however, said issues were sorted through discussions.

He also indicated that the IUML would be allotted a Rajya Sabha seat instead of the Lok Sabha seat they had demanded.

Congress top brass in damage control to save Himachal govt rushes 2 observers

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Congress top brass in damage control to save Himachal govt, rushes 2 observers
DK Shivakumar | Bhupinder Singh Hooda

New Delhi (PTI): The Congress top brass on Wednesday rushed former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and DK Shivakumar to Shimla to parley with members of the party which is facing loss of support and risks losing power in the state.

Sources said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is learnt to have spoken to former party chief Rahul Gandhi as also general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on the Himachal developments.

Hours after six Congress MLAs voted in favour of the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls in Himachal Pradesh, Kharge swung into action to pacify the disgruntled lawmakers and sent Hooda and Shivakumar to the state. They are expected to reach Himachal Pradesh soon.

They have been asked to engage with the disgruntled MLAs, including six MLAs, who are learnt to be “disappointed” with the working style of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and are seeking his replacement.

The Congress government in the state faces an existential crisis after six MLAs crossed sides and are learnt to be in touch with the BJP.

Adding Congress’ woes, former state chief minister Vikramaditya Singh also announced his resignation from the cabinet and said he has already spoken to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Meanwhile, HP Vidhan Sabha Speaker suspended 15 BJP MLAs for misbehaviour and adjourned the house.

The state budget is pending approval in the assembly and the BJP, with the help of Congress rebels, is ensuring that the budget is not passed and is seeking a division of votes.

In a stunning upset for the ruling Congress in Himachal Pradesh, the BJP on Tuesday won the state’s lone Rajya Sabha seat with its candidate Harsh Mahajan defeating Congress stalwart Abhishek Manu Singhvi and apparently set the stage for a no-trust motion in the assembly.

The contest tied with both the Congress and the BJP candidates getting 34 votes, indicating that at least six Congress MLAs voted against the party. The result was then declared on the basis of a draw of lots, officials said.

In the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly, the Congress has 40 MLAs while the BJP has 25 legislators. The remaining three seats are held by independents.

Bill Gates visits Bhubaneswar slum, interacts with residents

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Bill Gates visits Bhubaneswar slum, interacts with residents

Bhubaneswar: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Wednesday morning visited a slum in Bhubaneswar and interacted with the people who live there.

He visited the Biju Adarsh Colony in the Maa Mangla Basti along with state government officials.

Besides enquiring about the well-being of the residents of the slum, Gates also interacted with members of women’s self-help groups (SHGs) that work there.

State Development Commissioner Anu Garg said, “We have shown him that the slum dwellers have got land rights, tap water connections, toilets and power supply. He expressed happiness over the transformation of the slum area into a model colony.”

State Urban Development Secretary G Mathi Vathanan said that Gates spoke to the beneficiaries of different welfare schemes of the government.

A resident of the colony said that the philanthropist interacted with them and asked about the changes in their lifestyle as a result of the schemes.

“He asked about how we were living earlier and our present status,” she said.

Gates, who arrived here on Tuesday, is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik later in the day.

Different departments of the state government work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

DKShi, Gundu Rao slam BJP for lack of patience to wait till investigation reveals truth about slogan

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Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao have criticized the members of the Bharatiya Janata Party for raising a ruckus over the slogan called out by supporters of Congress leader Naseer Hussain on his victory in the Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday before the investigation reports were submitted.

Shivakumar, when asked to comment on the matter, told reporters that legal action would be taken by the government if a ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogan was shouted on the said occasion, adding, “The BJP members, in desperation after losing the Rajya Sabha election on Tuesday, have tweaked the slogan only to gain popularity among the voters.”

The Deputy CM also clarified, “The government, on its part, has ordered the investigation of the incident. Once the investigation reports are submitted to us, the police will be told to take legal action against the guilty.”

The Health Minister, commenting on his personal ‘X’ account on Wednesday, has sharply asked why the BJP was impatient in the matter. “We are yet to receive the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report on the incident of sloganeering ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ in the Vidhana Soudha but the BJP has already concluded that the crime had been committed,” he has said.

Dinesh Gundu Rao clarified that the matter was still under investigation as there is uncertainty regarding the slogan called. “If it was truly a pro-Pakistan slogan, however, the law will not spare such traitors. We are getting the matter investigated, to find if the slogan was ‘Naseer Saab Zindabad’ or ‘Pakistan Zindabad’, and will learn the truth only after getting the FSL report,” the minister explained, demanding the BJP to wait with patience till then.

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