After watching the direct fight between BJP and Congress in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are trying hard to show their existence in the state. For this, Akhilesh Yadav has taken back the petition which was filed against Shivpal Yadav for cancelling his membership from Vidhan Sabha. In return, Shivpal Yadav has written a letter of thanks to Akhilesh. It seems that the whole family of Mulayam Singh Yadav is going to unite and rumours abound that the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party of Shivpal Yadav will soon merge with the Samajwadi Party. However, the problem in both the parties is that the leaders who have given support to Shivpal Yadav at the time of division in the Samajwadi Party may join the Congress or BSP. On the other hand, the leaders who have supported Akhilesh Yadav and opposed Shivpal Yadav are worried whether they should remain with SP or join another party. Their standing in the party will become precarious when Shivpal Yadav rejoins Akhilesh Yadav and the relationship between the uncle and the nephew becomes as strong as it was in the early days, with Shivpal Yadav once again becoming no 2 in the party.
Congress Urges Citizens to Voice Covid Grievances on Social Media
Congress launched the #SpeakUpIndia campaign, urging citizens to take to social media platforms and point out the Centre’s Covid-19 management failures. Party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said: “We have, in our own capacity, helped at least 90 lakh people in the last one-and-a-half month. We urge people to take to Twitter, Facebook or any other social media platform to raise voice for the people who are struggling in these situations.” The party feels that the displacement of millions of workers during the lockdown, massive job losses and the healthcare crisis will generate countless stories of human interest. While it is difficult for a political party to reach out to every distressed person and tap every voice of dissent, local activists and aggrieved persons may feel encouraged to voice their concerns using the Congress platform. Interesting videos will be uploaded on social media and some people will even be given certificate for being #SpeakUpIndia warriors.
Bihar Polls, MP By-Polls, Rajya Sabha Seats See Politics Go Virtual
After the lockdown, the political activities in the country had dwindled, but with the upcoming assembly election in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh by-election of 24 seats approach closer, the political parties have become active. Beginning with the virtual rallies of Home Minister Amit Shah in Bihar, now Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is also doing virtual rallies in every district. Similarly, RJD has also started online meetings with every district of Bihar. In Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan has likewise started preparations for the by-election on the seats fallen vacant due to the resignations by Congress MLAs toppling the previous Kamal Nath government. It seems that the Bihar assembly election will be held in October-November and the date may be announced in August if the situation allows. Meanwhile, the election for the Rajya Sabha seats has also resulted in increase in political rumblings in different states, especially in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The four candidates for the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka were declared elected unopposed.
Congress Grills Centre on Covid, Economy & China Conundrum
The Congress has attacked the Central Government and demanded lowering of fuel prices, injection of cash into the economy, while questioning India’s China policy. “If GOI doesn’t inject cash to start the economy now: 1) The poor will be decimated. 2) The middle class will become the new poor. 3) Crony capitalists will own the entire country”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet. Gandhi maintained that the government needs to offer cash transfers for the poor to tide over the Covid-19 crisis. Meanwhile, Congress leader Ahmed Patel questioned the government’s China policy in the wake of the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. He said: “Since 1947, Narendra Modi ji is the only Prime Minister who made 9 official visits to China — 5 times as PM & 4 times as CM (Gujarat). Dr Singh visited only twice, while Pandit ji, Rajiv ji , Vajpayee ji & Narasimha Rao ji visited only once. Apart from them, other PMs didn’t even visit China. Despite numerous visits by the incumbent PM, we have this situation.”
Political Infighting Resumes in Uttarakhand Congress
Once again, infighting in Uttarakhand Congress is the news of the hour. Although the Congress had not won a single Lok Sabha seat from Uttarakhand, at one point it did seem that the Congress would unite and do better in the next election. After the departure of Vijay Bhaguna and Satpal Maharaj from Congress to BJP, the infighting within Congress was not seen for last six months, but now it has peaked again. One of the senior Congress leaders has written a letter to the Congress high command about the relationship of the opposition leader with the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, resulting in the creation of many power centres in Congress in Uttarakhand. Now the Congress workers and leaders are waiting for the decision of Congress high command.
By arrangement with IPA
