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Sharad Pawar rejects speculation that nephew's rebellion has his blessings

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday rejected speculation that his nephew Ajit Pawar's rebellion has his blessings. Addressing a press conference here, Sharad Pawar also said he has launched a statewide tour to strengthen the NCP and boost the confidence of party workers, unfazed by actions of a few leaders. On Sunday, Ajit Pawar led a vertical split in the NCP to become the deputy chief minister. Eight other NCP leaders were also sworn in as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-BJP government. Asked whether Ajit Pawar's rebellion on Sunday had his blessings, the NCP chief said, "It is a mean thing to say. Only those with a mean and low intellect can say this." "I have set out on a tour of the state and galvanize the cadre. They should not feel disillusioned with what some leaders have done," Sharad Pawar said.

Next Opposition meet of parties to be held in Bengaluru on July 17-18: Cong

The Congress announced on Monday that the next meeting of opposition parties will be held in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18. Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal made the announcement on Twitter and said "we are steadfast in our unwavering resolve to defeat the fascist and undemocratic forces". In a tweet, Venugopal said, "After a hugely successful all-opposition meeting in Patna, we will be holding the next meeting in Bengaluru on 17 and 18 July, 2023. We are steadfast in our unwavering resolve to defeat the fascist and undemocratic forces and present a bold vision to take the country forward." Earlier, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar had said the next opposition meet will be held in Bengaluru on July 13-14. Those dates were said to be clashing with the Assembly sessions in a few states. The first such meeting of opposition parties was held in Bihar's Patna on June 23.

CPI(M) in Kerala trying to turn UCC into communal issue: Congress

Upset over the overtures by the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala to Congress' key ally IUML in connection with the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the grand old party on Monday alleged the Left party was trying to turn it into a Hindu versus Muslim issue for gaining political mileage. A day after CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan reached out to Muslim organisations in the state, including IUML, for discussions on the UCC issue, the Congress claimed that the Left party was "walking the same path" as the BJP which was allegedly trying to create communal unrest and divide the people by pushing for implementation of the UCC. AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said that his party was in agreement with the 2018 finding of the Law Commission that UCC was "unnecessary and not desirable". "However, in our state (Kerala), some are trying to turn it into a Hindu versus Muslim issue and the CPI(M) is championing such efforts. They are saying it is a Hindu-Muslim issue. It is not something that would affec

'Dirty tricks': Opposition hits back at BJP after NCP split in Maharashtra

Ajit Pawar's decision to abandon his uncle Sharad Pawar and join the BJP prompted many Opposition leaders to call the NCP veteran

BJP has promised Maha CM's post to Ajit Pawar, claims Prithviraj Chavan

Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Monday claimed he has information that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has promised Ajit Pawar the post of Maharashtra chief minister. With Ajit Pawar's move to join the ruling Eknath Shinde-BJP coalition on Sunday changing political dynamics in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also claimed that Shinde will lose the CM's post. On Sunday, Ajit Pawar led a vertical split in the NCP to become the deputy chief minister, shocking his uncle Sharad Pawar, who founded the party 24 years ago. Eight NCP leaders were also sworn in as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. To a query, Chavan while speaking to reporters in Karad said, "I had spoken about it (that Ajit Pawar may go with BJP) publicly but I faced criticism." The Congress leader said he knew this was happening. "Just bargaining was going on over what he (Ajit) should be getting. As per our information, he has been given a promise of chie

EC launches portal for parties to file financial statements, contributions

The Election Commission on Monday came up with an online portal to allow registered political parties file their financial statements, including contribution reports and poll expenditure accounts, a move seen as an effort to bring in more transparency in disclosures made by political entities. The move is part of the poll panel's "3C strategy" comprising clean up, crackdown and compliance to strengthen transparency and accountability in the political funding and expenditure on which it had been working for a year now under Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, sources said. Political parties not intending to file the financial report through online mode will have to convey the reasons for not doing so in writing and may continue to file reports in hard copy format along with CDs or pen drive in the prescribed formats. "The Commission will, in turn, publish all such reports online, along with a letter of justification sent by the party for not filing financial statements online,"

Need to fight forces creating communal divide in Maharashtra: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday said there was a need to fight forces creating communal divide in Maharashtra and the country. Addressing NCP workers and supporters in Karad a day after Ajit Pawar led a vertical split in the party to become the deputy chief minister in the Eknath Shinde-led government, Sharad Pawar also said "some of our people fell prey to BJP's tactics to break other parties." "Attempts are being made to create communal divide in Maharashtra and the country. We need to fight forces that create fear among peace-loving citizens," he said. "We need to protect democracy in the country," he added. Sharad Pawar visited the memorial of his mentor and Maharashtra's first chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan in Karad and paid floral tributes to him. The 82-year-old leader's visit to late Chavan's memorial 'Pritisangam' on the occasion of Guru Purnima is being seen as a show of strength by him, a day after his nephew Ajit Pawar led a vertical sp

If any party wants to promote dynasty politics, they will end soon: AIADMK

Several Opposition parties have alleged that it was indulging in dynastic politics after Baramati MP and Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule was appointed the party's working president

Shinde will be replaced as CM soon, 16 MLAs will be disqualified: Raut

Raut's remark came after NCP leader Ajit Pawar joined the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra and took oath as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister on Sunday

NCP files disqualification petition against 9 MLAs including Ajit Pawar

We have filed a disqualification petition with the speaker of the assembly, and we will send hard copies as soon as possible. This disqualification petition was filed against nine leaders

'BJP called NCP a corrupt party, now welcoming its leaders': Supriya Sule

"BJP is 24x7 in election mood...BJP, which called the NCP a corrupt party, are now welcoming our leaders. How? I don't want to comment on who will be the candidates of BJP" said Supriya Sule

Ajit Pawar doesn't have support of majority of MLAs as claimed: NCP

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Sunday night said Ajit Pawar, who has joined the Eknath Shinde-led government as Deputy Chief Minister with some leaders, doesn't have the support of 36 MLAs as being claimed. NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto also claimed that the party working president Supriya Sule and state unit chief Jayant Patil are contacting all the 53 MLAs and the picture will become clearer by Monday. The NCP has 53 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly and Ajit Pawar needs the support of at least 36 legislators to not attract the provisions of anti-defection law. "Ajit Pawar doesn't have the support of 36 MLAs as being claimed," claimed Crasto. Ajit Pawar took oath as Deputy CM in the Shiv Sena-BJP government on Sunday afternoon, while eight other MLAs of NCP were sworn in as ministers. In the evening, sources cited a letter submitted to Raj Bhavan to claim that Ajit Pawar enjoys the support of more than 40 MLAs and over six of nine MLCs of his party.

Congress committed to progress of Telangana, says party Prez Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said the party's blueprint for a "new dawn" in Telangana is ready and that 3.8 crore people of the state want change. He also said that the Congress is proud of its collective leadership in Telangana. The remarks came ahead of the party's grand public meeting in the district where Rahul Gandhi will sound the poll bugle in the state. Assembly elections in the state are slated in the next few months. "3.8 Crore people of Telangana want change. Shri Rahul Gandhi's #TelanganaJanaGarjana grand rally shall be voicing their shared aspirations, today," Kharge said on Twitter. "The Congress party is proud of the collective leadership of Telangana Congress. Our blueprint for a new dawn in Telangana is ready," he also said. "We are strongly committed to the development and progress of Telangana based on social justice and equity," the Congress chief said. Kharge also said that several senior leaders from other parties will join the Congress a

New Leader of Oppn in K'taka Assembly will be known by Sunday: BJP Leader

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai said it will be known by Sunday as to who will be the Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly. According to party sources, BJP's legislature party meeting is likely to take place on Sunday to elect its leader, who will also be the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, ahead of the legislature session starting from July 3. "It will be known surely tomorrow evening," Bommai told reporters in Chikkamagaluru on Saturday, in response to a question as to who will be the Leader of Opposition. According to BJP sources, the party national general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Arun Singh, has already gathered opinions of the newly elected legislators, and the new leader is likely to be chosen based on it and the outcome of consultations with the BJP's national leadership. Bommai and senior leader and former Union Minister Basanagouda Patil Yatnal are said to be the frontrunners for the post. Questions w

Will write to PM, leadership regarding K'taka poll defeat: BJP leader

Karnataka BJP leader and former MLA M P Renukacharya, who has been served a notice by the party for "anti-party" remarks, on Saturday said he will not fear such things and will write a letter to the national leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the defeat in the Assembly polls and those responsible for it. The former Minister who met veteran party leader and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said abiding by the latter's instructions, he will not make public statements regarding party before the media. His meeting with Yediyurappa came a day after he skipped the meeting called by the party's state leadership, with 11 leaders who had either indulged in anti-party activities or were making public statements, which had caused embarrassment to the BJP. "They issued notice to Renukacharya, will I fear for notice? No....we got to know about the existence of the disciplinary committee after I was served the notice. The State President said eleven people have been

TN Governor RN Ravi must be removed from his post: CPIML Liberation

The Communist Party of India (MarxistLeninist) Liberation, an alliance partner of the grand alliance' government in Bihar, on Friday demanded removal of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi for transgressing his jurisdiction. In an unprecedented move, Ravi on Thursday dismissed with immediate effect arrested minister V. Senthil Balaji from the council of ministers, only to backtrack on his decision late in the night. Ravi has decided to keep the dismissal order of Senthil Balaji in abeyance for the time being and informed Chief Minister M K Stalin about it, sources said. Talking to PTI on Friday, CPIML Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said, Ravi had been repeatedly transgressing his jurisdiction and indulging in acts of gubernatorial adventurism. Bhattacharya said, The Governor has been emboldened by the arrogance of the Narendra Modi-led government. Every non-BJP government is being treated as an enemy. From the demotion of Jammu and Kashmir to Union territories to the .

Modi Govt gulled people with lies: Cong on rising prices of commodities

The Congress on Friday targeted the Modi government over rising prices of commodities, accusing it of deceiving people with its "achche din" slogan and misleading people through "Goebbels-inspired" lectures. "'Enough of inflation' they had said. Then they deceived the people saying 'Acche Din Aane Wale Hain.' The result is that for the last nine years, the public is facing the brunt of inflation. There has been no reduction in the prices of essential food items," Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi. "Modi ji's ministers make new excuses everyday on inflation and keep dishing out lies and propaganda in the empty plate of the public. Some of those devoted to guarding this ecosystem even teach 'how inflation is good for us' and 'Modi ji must have done it after some thought.' They mislead people with such Goebbels-inspired lectures," he said. "But now people are becoming aware. The public has come to know that the real sponsor of inflation is only the Modi government," the Congress chief ..

Should not politicise situation: BJP as Rahul Gandhi meets Manipur's people

Congress leaders, who earlier alleged that the authorities were preventing him from meeting victims, later said the administration did not permit him to come to Moirang