Today in Politics: BJP meet in Mumbai, SP MPs land in city for Assembly poll negotiations

Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Vaishnaw, Railway Minister, are the in-charge and co-in charge of the party in Maharashtra respectively. Members of the core committee of the state BJP, including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and state unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, were present at the meeting, party sources said.

Addressing the media after the meeting, senior leader and former union minister Raosaheb Danve said, “It was a review meeting. We have decided to contest the elections with our allies Shinde Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Regarding seat-sharing, it will be collectively discussed later with our alliance partners.”

“The party has decided to focus on 97,000 booths to strengthen organisational base and through it proactively take to people the welfare schemes like Ladki Bahin Yojana and electricity waiver to farmers,” Danve added.

The BJP has convened a conclave on July 21 in Pune, which will be addressed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

A core committee member, requesting anonymity, revealed, “Based on the ongoing process, state BJP believes it should contest at least 165 to 170 seats. The party already has 105 sitting MLAs. And in 55 to 65 seats, it narrowly missed victory in the last polls and is stronger compared to allies.”

The two Union ministers will continue their talks on Friday.

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the BJP’s seat count in Maharashtra dropped drastically from 23 in 2019 to just nine, with its ally Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde securing seven seats and the NCP, led by deputy CM Ajit Pawar, managing to win in just one constituency.

In contrast, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), and the Congress, put up an impressive show and collectively won 30 out of the 48 seats.

Samajwadi Party meet in Mumbai

The Samajwadi Party (SP) Maharashtra unit led by MLA Abu Asim Azmi has invited all party MPs to Mumbai for a programme with an eye on the Assembly elections later this year.

SP MPs will visit B R Ambedkar’s resting place in Dadar, the Shivaji statue, a temple and a dargah in Mumbai. With elections round the corner in Maharashtra, an SP leader in Mumbai said that the party unit in Maharashtra has conveyed to the central leadership that it should stake claim to 12 seats in the state as part of negotiations with the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance. The party currently has two MLAs in the state.

Speaking to The Indian Express on Thursday evening, MLA and state unit party president Abu Asim Azmi said: “We have invited the MPs to thank and welcome them. We are expecting participation from almost all the MPs.”

A source in Lucknow said that party president Akhilesh Yadav won’t be able to attend the event in Mumbai on Friday.

Karnataka Assembly session to continue

The Karnataka Assembly witnessed acrimonious scenes on Thursday.

The House debated the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation scam. It is alleged that funds were siphoned from the Valmiki Corporation that was meant to be used for the welfare of STs.

Multiple agencies, including the CBI and ED, have registered cases. The entire episode came to light when an official of the corporation, P Chandrashekaran, involved in auditing and coordinating with Union Bank of India died by suicide on May 26. In his six-page suicide note, he named several officials and levelled allegations of systemic corruption. Tribal Welfare Minister B Nagendra who resigned after the allegations surfaced is now in ED custody.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has admitted in the Assembly that Rs 89.6 crore were siphoned off.

On Thursday, the opposition BJP trooped into the well of the House expressing their displeasure over Siddaramaiah’s reply on the adjournment motion moved by Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka.

The BJP said the Chief Minister’s reply amounted to shielding B Nagendra.

In response, Siddaramaiah said the accounts superintendent of the corporation Chandrasekharan P mentioned only three names in his suicide note.

“The death note contained the names of MD J G Padmanabha, Accountant Parashuram Durgannanavar and Chief General Manager (UBI, MG Road) Suchismita Rahul who were responsible for his death,” he told the assembly.

Kiran Parashar writes that the BJP is turning up the heat on the Siddaramaiah government. As the Monsoon Session began on Monday, the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular) stepped up efforts to corner the government in both Houses of the Legislature. On Wednesday, the Opposition parties received another shot in the arm as the Industry reacted sharply to the Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet’s decision to clear a Bill envisaging 75% reservation in the jobs in non-management and 50% in management sector in all establishments for “local” candidates.

On Thursday, BJP leaders, including the party’s state president B Y Vijayendra, were detained when they attempted to lay siege to the Assembly over the alleged scam in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited and demand the Chief Minister’s resignation. The alleged scams also continued to rock the Karnataka Assembly where Siddaramaiah on Thursday targeted the Opposition and said he does not have a single “black spot” in his career.

Also happening: The Budget session of the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly will begin on Friday and the annual financial statement for the 2024-25 fiscal will be presented on July 24, an official said.

The session will conclude on July 26.

Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who also holds the Finance and Planning portfolio, will present the budget on July 24 during the eight-day session, Assembly Secretary Kago Habung said.

—- With PTI inputs