Today in Politics: NDA to hold meeting of all CMs, Deputy CMs; Meitei group to launch protest in Manipur

Nearly 20 CMs and 18 Deputy CMs from the states ruled by the BJP and its allies will attend the meeting besides Modi, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and J P Nadda, who is also BJP president.

While the resolution on Operation Sindoor will reaffirm the ruling alliance’s hard stand on national security, the one on caste enumeration is expected to credit the Modi government for being the first to do so since Independence and hail its commitment to social justice.

A part of deliberations at the conclave will also be devoted to best practices by different NDA state governments, with state CMs expected to make presentations on their initiatives.

At the NITI Aayog meeting on Saturday, Modi had emphasised the importance of cooperation between states. “We should focus on one goal, to make Bharat Viksit by 2047. We should have the aim of making each state viksit, each city viksit, each nagar palika viksit and each village viksit. If we work on these lines, we will not have to wait till 2047 to become Viksit Bharat.”

Notably, three of the nine Opposition CMs – West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee, Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan and Karnataka’s Siddaramaiah – stayed away from Saturday’s NITI Aayog meeting.

Shivraj Chouhan padayatra in MP

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is set to hold a ‘padayatra (foot march)’ in his Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh from May 25 to highlight Central welfare schemes.

Chouhan will cover 20-25 kilometres per day and touch every part of his constituency. “The yatra will run for two to three days in a week and Chouhan will later also reach other Lok Sabha constituencies of the country to take out padayatra,” a statement said.

Notably, Chouhan’s Vidisha visit comes amid an organisational overhaul launched by the Madhya Pradesh Congress, as reported by Anand Mohan J. The Congress has selected the Vidisha district for a pilot project for this new organisational model, which, if successful, would be implemented in all 52 districts of the state. The Opposition party’s plan introduces a new tier of committees at the panchayat and ward level, aimed at rebuilding the party’s grassroots presence after a series of electoral defeats in the state.

Meitei group to protest Manipur governor

On Sunday, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a Metei group, is set to launch a civil disobedience movement across Manipur in protest against Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla’s alleged refusal to apologise for the removal of the state’s name from a government bus, sparking widespread discontent.

In a statement on Saturday, the COCOMI said that the 48-hour deadline given to the Governor to issue a public apology has expired. The committee stated that this development “confirms (the governor’s) disconnect from the ground reality and their disdain for the sentiments of the people”. The COCOMI also announced plans to mobilise non-violent mass protests, rallies, torch processions, and sit-ins across districts of the state.

In February, the ethnic conflict-hit state was placed under President’s Rule with CM N Biren Singh of the BJP resigning.

Meeting on suspended Karnataka BJP MLAs

A meeting will be held on Sunday consisting of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Speaker U T Khader and Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka to discuss revoking the suspension of 18 BJP MLAs from the Karnataka Assembly.

The MLAs were suspended for six months from the Assembly in March for showing “indiscipline” and “disrespecting the Speaker”, following which they were forcefully evicted from the House by marshals as they refused to leave.

The suspended MLAs include BJP chief whip Doddanagouda Patil and former Deputy CM C N Ashwath Narayan, among others.

– With PTI inputs