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Round The States
New Delhi, 27 August 2022
AAP-BJP
Row
DELHI’S ‘OPERATION
LOTUS’?
By Insaf
‘Operation Lotus’ has
miserably failed in Delhi. A claim made by AAP, after accusing Prime Minister
Modi and BJP of trying to dislodge its government by offering “its MLAs Rs 20
crore to join it or Rs 25 crore to get others.” On Thursday last, AAP ensured all
of its 62 legislators in the 70-member Assembly were accounted for, both
physically and online, at a meeting lasting minutes, at Chief Minister
Kejriwal’s home. The BJP rubbishes the claim saying the MLAs “may have got such
offers from liquor mafia, they should name them…Kejriwal is trying to dodge
attention on his skewed excise policy and Dy CM Sisodia under ED scanner.” The
AAP demands ‘ED must probe how Delhi BJP got Rs 800 to poach AAP MLAs.’ Both
camos seem to be getting incoherently high amidst the liquor scandal.
After the meeting,
the AAP flock even went to Rajghat to pray for failure of ‘Operation Lotus,’
with the BJP retorting: ‘The fact AAP leaders have gone to Mahatma Gandhi’s
Samadhi means they have definitely committed an act which is to be considered a
sin. So, in order to purify it, the BJP workers will sprinkle Ganga Jal on the
Samadhi.” Surely, the histrionics wouldn’t amuse the public. On a serious note,
the AAP has called a special session of the Assembly over the CBI, ED raids
targeting its ministers and so-called “poaching” attempts by the BJP. The AAP
will have a free run here undeniably given its majoritarian rule as BJP has
only eight members. Rest assured the climax will playout over a long period of
time, Hic!
* * * * * * *
Jharkhand Nagging Suspense
Are Jharkhand Chief
Minister Hemant Soren’s days numbered? Will he eventually have to give up his
kursi? News from Raj Bhavan is keenly awaited as a BJP MP tweeted on Thursday
last: The EC letter has reached the Governor...I had announced that It will be
done within August...”. More or less confirming news that in the morning
NirvachanSadan ‘recommended’ to Governor Ramesh Bais his disqualification as an
MLA, following a petition the BJP filed seeking the same for violating
electoral law by extending a mining lease to himself. Soren’s office, however,
had no word till then. But Soren wasted no time in hitting out. He alleged
‘blatant misuse’ of constitutional authorities and public agencies and its
“complete takeover by BJP HQ in this shameful manner is unseen in Indian
Democracy…It apparently seems that BJP leaders, a BJP MP and his puppet
journalists have themselves drafted the ECI report, which is otherwise in a
sealed cover report.” Bais has kept the suspense going as he told media he will
be in a position to comment once he takes stock of developments after reaching
Raj Bhavan. However, there are no two opinions that his decision shall be
final. Nagging wait indeed for the ruling JMM United Progressive Alliance
government and Soren.
* * * * * * *
MahagathbandhanOn Firm Ground
Expectedly, it was
comfortable sailing for the newly-formed ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in Bihar
Assembly. In all 160 MLAs voted in favour of the confidence motion for
Nitish-Tejashwi government and none against as the BJP MLAs staged a walkout on
Wednesday last. The going may not be easy as a smarting BJP intends to play an
aggressive opposition’s role, with one of the matters listed in House business
being related to ‘misconduct of some MahagathbandhanMLAs’. What the old
ally churns out would be worth a watch, but Nitish is not worried as he
admitted severing ties with RJD in 2017 over corruption cases against Tejashwi,
sating “five years have since passed. Not one thing has been proven”. A
reflection on his judgement too?He lambasted the BJP for raising a rowover IT
Minister Israil Mansuri visiting Vishnupad templewith him. “What’s their
grouse? Have their ministers not visited temples with me?”(a hint at senior BJP
leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain). But this didn’t cut any ice with the saffron
party. It’s Gaya unit held a purification ceremony of the temple after bringing
water from Falgu river and offered prayersthere. Much water has flown over the
politics being played out!
* * * * * * *
UP Focus on Jats
Long term planning.
That’s the USP of BJP’s Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Eyeing
the 2024 General elections, the party appointed Cabinet minister Bhupendra
Singh Chaudhary, a Jat leader, as its State’s chief. Clearly, the message is to
reach out to the Jat community, which recall was upfront on the Farmers’
protest against the controversial bills. Besides, it’s also a bid to counter
the RLD and SP alliance influence on the Jat voters in western UP, which has 29
Lok Sabha seats. Apparently, the move is an ongoing process of the BJP to plug
in any weakness viz its vote bank as a Jat leader has been appointed as State
party chief in two other States—Haryana and Rajasthan. On taking over,
Chaudhary maintained there was no problem between the organisation and
government and said the party has fixed a target of winning all the 80 seats in
2024. He has time on his hands, but will he deliver is the test.
* * * * * * *
Kashmiri Azad Discards
Cong
The Congress suffers
another blow. It’s senior leaderGhulam Nabi Azad who had joined the party in
the then erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir in mid-70s “when it was
considered a taboo given its chequered history’ from 8th August
1953”, resigned from all party positions, including its primary membership on
Friday last. In a five page letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, he said he
‘has lost both the will and the ability under tutelage of the coterie that runs
the AICC to fight for what is right for India’. Recall Azad was part of the rebel
G-23 group seeking a change in the party. The hit was directly aimed at Rahul
Gandhi, wherein he said that unfortunately after the entry of the young scion into
politics and particularly after January 2013 when he was appointed as VP, “the
entire consultative mechanism which existed earlier was demolished by him”.
Accusing the leadership of committing a “fraud” on the party in the name of
“sham” internal polls, he said “Before starting a 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'(unite
India), the leadership should have undertaken a 'Congress Jodo Yatra' (unite
Congress). A bruised Congress reacted a day later saying his resignation
was ‘unfortunate’ and termed the timing ‘awful’, as it has come when the party
is engaged in combating the BJPon issues of price rise and unemployment. The
party also said that the contents of the letter were ‘not factual.’ Instead of
splitting hairs, it would be better for the grand old party to make requisite
amends to keep its flock together, whatever is left. ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
New Delhi
26 August 2022
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