16 Independents to be Cong associate members

MUMBAI, MARCH 22: The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has decided to admit 16 Independent MLAs into the party but not as fu...

MUMBAI, MARCH 22: The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has decided to admit 16 Independent MLAs into the party but not as full-fledged members. They will be associate members of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meaning they will align themselves with the Congress in the State Assembly.

The decision was in the offing but was formally announced by PCC president Prataprao Bhosale on Monday in the presence of four of these 16 Independents. The four present in the party office were Madam Pisal, K C Padvi, Dattuanna Patil and Rajvardhan Kadampande – all named by Shiv Sena Legislator Chandrakant Padval in his petition to the Speaker demanding their disqualification.

Sources say that leaders are in touch with other Independents, but they are holding out for a ticket in the coming Assembly elections. Incidentally, Pisal defeated Madan Bhosale, the PCC president’s son, in the Assembly election in 1995. Bhosale was initially opposed to the entry of Independents in any capacity largely becauseBhosale would have to share the stage with Pisal now. Eventually, the party wore down his opposition and set the stage to admit the Independents.

Party sources say that leaders are in touch with other Independents as well including a few ministers but they are mostly holding out for the promise of a ticket in the forthcoming Assembly election. Such an assurance, if made, will upset the applecart within the Congress. However, negotiations will continue, sources said.

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Assam government's portal for indigenous citizens to seek arms licenses has received 266 applications. Most applications are from Muslim-majority districts, but 28 have been rejected and none have been accepted. Eligibility criteria include being an indigenous citizen, 21 years old, and residing in a vulnerable area. The government aims to protect those in sensitive areas, not arm young people.

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