Two bills that lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous elections in the country were introduced in Lok Sabha on Tuesday after a fiery debate, with the opposition terming the move "anti-constitutional" and Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal asserting that the legislation would not tamper with the powers enjoyed by states. Amid uproar by the opposition, Home Minister Amit Shah told Lok Sabha that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said during a meeting of the Union Cabinet that the bill should be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for wider deliberations at every level. The government is likely to move a resolution to refer the bill to the JPC on Wednesday in Lok Sabha. The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha by Meghwal after a nearly 90-minute debate, followed by a division of votes -? the first step towards completion of BJP's long-cherished dream. As many as 269 members voted in favour of introduction of the bill and 198 against it. Opposition Congress, DMK, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, NCP-SP, Shiv Sena-UBT, AIMIM among others objected to the introduction of the bill contending that it was an assault on the basic structure of the Constitution. During the consultations held by former president Ram Nath Kovind-led high level committee on 'One Nation, One Elections', 32 political parties supported the measure and 15 parties opposed it. YSRCP, which has four members in Lok Sabha, is the only non-NDA party to have declared support for the bill. BJD, another fence sitter, is yet to spell out its stand. BJD failed to open its account in Lok Sabha in elections this year, but has seven members in Rajya Sabha. Meghwal also introduced The Union Territories Amendment Bill, which seeks to align elections in the Union territories of Puducherry, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir with the Lok Sabha polls. He said the proposed bills did not attack the "basic structure doctrine of the Constitution, as claimed by the opposition". "Detailed discussions can take place in the JPC. The report of the JPC will be approved by the Cabinet. Then again, there will be a discussion on this (bills) in the House," Shah said. Meghwal said he would move a resolution referring the Bills to a joint committee of Parliament. The government would require a two-thirds majority for the passage of the bill in both the Houses in separate votes -? numbers it does not enjoy in Parliament currently. After bills were introduced, Congress member Manickam Tagore pointed out that the government did not have a two-thirds majority among the 461 members who took part in the voting on Tuesday. In Lok Sabha, 269 members voted in favour of the bill against the two-thirds-mark of 307. Though a two-thirds majority is not required to introduce a bill in Parliament, the numbers on Tuesday in Lok Sabha was indicative of the tough road ahead of BJP's floor managers. Amid the opposition onslaught against the bill, BJP allies TDP and Shiv Sena declared "unwavering support" for the legislation. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Shah and Meghwal held forth from the government side. TDP member and Union minister Chandra Shekhar Pemmasani said "one nation, one election" would reduce expenditure on polls and enhance logistical efficiency.Shiv Sena member Shrikant Shinde hit out at the opposition, saying they were allergic to reforms. As Meghwal moved a motion for introduction of the bill, Congress member Manish Tewari expressed his opposition and termed the move an assault on the basic structure doctrine that stipulates certain features of the Constitution are beyond the amending power of Parliament. Tewari warned that implementing simultaneous elections would require amending Articles 83 and 172, which guarantee the fixed tenure of legislative bodies. He argued that such changes violate the basic structure doctrine Samajwadi Party member Dharmendra Yadav said the measure to introduce "one nation, one election" was anti-constitutional, anti-federalism and against the basic structure of the Constitution. Earlier, Trinamool Congress member Kalyan Banerjee said the bills linked the tenure of state assemblies to that of Lok Sabha, thus undermining the mandate of the people. "The state government is not subordinate to the central government or Parliament. The bills take away the autonomy of the state assembly. It is not an election reform but just the fulfilment of one gentleman's desire and dream," he said. DMK member TR Baalu said, "The electors have the right to elect the government for five years and this right cannot be curtailed with simultaneous elections." The opposition members also objected to Speaker Om Birla's move to call the treasury benches to speak on the bills, leading to a heated debate. Rijiju said the speaker had given a ruling to allow floor leaders of all parties to speak on the introduction of the bills. "You alone do not represent Parliament, every political party has a representation here," he said. DMK's Baalu and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) member Supriya Sule favoured referring the bills to a parliamentary committee, if they could not be withdrawn. "This bill is aimed at maximising political gain and convenience. This bill will finish off regional parties," All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi said. Shiv Sena-UBT member Anil Desai said the bill was an assault on the federal structure. He also wanted the Election Commissioners to be directly elected by the people. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. 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17 December,2024 11:02 PM IST | New Delhi | PTILok Sabha MP Ravindra Waikar from Mumbai North West presented a series of critical development demands during the Supplementary Demands for Grants discussion for 2024-2025 on Tuesday. Waikar’s proposal focused on multiple aspects of infrastructure, community welfare, and security enhancement for Mumbai and Maharashtra. The MP emphasised several key infrastructure development needs, including repairing and renovating Konkan Railway stations, expanding Mumbai airport's runway, completing the Mumbai-Goa highway, and establishing comprehensive telecom network connectivity across Maharashtra's villages. Additionally, he advocated for developing ports along the Konkan coast under the Sagarmala scheme. Waikar's demands included providing grants to the Koli fishing community for construction purposes and requesting modern weapons for the Mumbai Police force. The Shiv Sena MP also proposed establishing a special court in Mumbai and securing funding for maintaining both new and old hospitals in the city. Mumbai North West MP Ravindra Waikar calls for cancer research centre, hospital on the lines of AIIMS in suburbs Shiv Sena's Ravindra Waikar, while addressing the Lok Sabha on Monday, stressed on the need for the setting up a cancer hospital and research centre on the lines of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in suburban Mumbai. The Member of Parliament (MP) from the Mumbai North West constituency said with the increase in the population of Mumbai, the number of cancer patients are also surging. This is adding to pressure on the existing hospitals, and leading to delay in treatment for patients. "Effective measures should be taken to provide relief to patients and their relatives. Priority should be given to set up a hospital and a research centre on cancer on the lines of AIIMS in the suburbs of Mumbai," he said. Waikar added that as Mumbai is the financial capital of India, people from all over the country visit the city seeking treatment for various diseases. "The population of Mumbai is increasing by the day. The number of cancer patients is increasing in the country. There are very few hospitals such as Tata Memorial that treat cancer patients but they inadequate. As a result, patients are suffering as they are unable to get timely treatment," he said, adding that the treatment in private hospitals is very expensive. The winter session of the Parliament is currently in progress.
17 December,2024 05:01 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray called on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the latter's chamber in the Vidhan Bhawan in Nagpur district of Maharashtra on Tuesday, reported the PTI. The former state CM was accompanied by Sena (UBT) legislators Aaditya Thackeray, Anil Parab and Varun Sardesai during the meeting with senior BJP leader and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. Uddhav Thackeray, who is a member of the state legislative council, arrived in Nagpur on Tuesday to attend the ongoing winter session of the state legislature. He will also take part in the Shiv Sena (UBT) legislature party meeting in the evening. After the 2019 Maharashtra assembly polls, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (then undivided) snapped ties with long-term ally BJP over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post. Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said that the Centre's move to introduce a bill on simultaneous polls in the Lok Sabha was an attempt to divert attention from issues plaguing the country. Addressing reporters in Nagpur, Thackeray demanded a transparent election process before implementation of the 'One Nation One Election' proposal, according to the PTI. He also said the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government should pay Rs 2,100 per month to women under the Ladki Bahin scheme as promised before the state assembly polls held last month. Currently, women in the state get Rs 1,500 per month under the scheme. On Tuesday, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved in the Lok Sabha two bills which lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous polls in the country, with the opposition dubbing the draft laws as an attack on the basic structure. "The One Nation One Election (proposal) is an attempt to divert attention from issues plaguing the country," Uddhav Thackeray said. The Sena (UBT) leader also slammed the BJP- led centre over shifting of the iconic painting depicting signing of documents after Pakistan army's surrender in 1971 war from the Army chief's annexe in South Block to the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The former state chief minister asked why was the painting shifted as it was a symbol of bravery of Indian soldiers. (with PTI inputs)
17 December,2024 04:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActivist Manoj Jarange said that he would launch an indefinite fast on January 25, 2025, to call for the Maratha community's demands, including reservation in jobs and education under the OBC category, reported news agency PTI. Jarange urged members of the Maratha community to gather in large numbers at the protest site. Jarange was addressing the media at Antarwali Sarthi village in Jalna. "No one should stay at home. Come to Antarwali Sarthi, and let us show our collective strength," he said. The 42-year-old activist has been demanding the implementation of a draft notification that recognises Kunbis as 'sage soyare' (those related by birth or marriage) of Marathas and granting reservation in jobs and education to the latter under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, stated PTI. Kunbi, which is an agrarian community already gets quota benefits under the OBC category. Jarange accused the government of failing to fulfil its promises, he said, "The government has cheated us. We will not spare them if they don't meet our demands during the ongoing winter session." Jarange stressed that the hunger strike would be a voluntary affair and any member of the Maratha community could participate. In the last one year, he has launched six hunger strikes. "Anyone willing to join is welcome. There will be no compulsion or pressure on anyone," he clarified. Apart from the 'sage soyare' notification, Jarange has also demanded speeding up the work of the Justice (retd) Sandeep Shinde Committee set up by the Maharashtra government to expedite the process of granting Kunbi certificates to members of the Maratha community, making them eligible for quota, stated PTI. The state legislature unanimously passed a bill providing 10 per cent reservation for the Marathas in education and government jobs under a separate category, in February this year, stated PTI. Jarange, however, has been insisting on a quota to be under the OBC head for the agrarian community. Maharashtra: Sarpanch killed, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange join protest in Beed Recently, a village head (Sarpanch) was allegedly abducted and murdered by some persons, after which angry villagers blocked roads in Beed district of Maharashtra, police said, reported the PTI. Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange too joined the protesters at Massajog village in Beed. He demanded stringent action against the culprits. According to the PTI, Manoj Jarange warned that Maratha community members - the slain sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was a Maratha and 'will take law into their hands if the killers were let off'. Two persons have been arrested for allegedly killing Deshmukh, who was in his mid-30s, police said. Protesters in Kej torched a state transport bus while staging a rasta rook and clashed with police, an official said, as per the PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
17 December,2024 04:25 PM IST | Jalna (Maharashtra) | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said that the Centre's move to introduce a bill on simultaneous polls in the Lok Sabha was an attempt to divert attention from issues plaguing the country, reported the PTI. Addressing reporters in Maharashtra's Nagpur, Uddhav Thackeray demanded a transparent election process before implementation of the 'One Nation One Election' proposal. Uddhav also said that the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government should pay Rs 2,100 per month to women under the Ladki Bahin scheme as promised before the Maharashtra Assembly election 2024 held last month. Currently, women in the state get Rs 1,500 per month under the scheme. On Tuesday, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved in the Lok Sabha two bills which lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous polls in the country, with the opposition dubbing the draft laws as an attack on the basic structure. Arjun Ram Meghwal moved for introduction the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, popularly being referred to as the Bill on "one nation, one election" and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to align the elections of the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry and the NCT of Delhi, according to the PTI. "The One Nation One Election (proposal) is an attempt to divert attention from issues plaguing the country," Uddhav Thackeray said. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also slammed the Centre over shifting of the iconic painting depicting signing of documents after Pakistan army's surrender in 1971 war from the Army chief's annexe in South Block to the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The former state chief minister asked why was the painting shifted as it was a symbol of bravery of Indian soldiers, the news agency reported. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party MPs on expressed their full support for the 'One Nation, One Election' bill, which aims to synchronise national and state elections, calling it a "very important bill." 'One Nation, One Election' bill, which provides for simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies is slated to be introduced in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The listed agenda of Lok Sabha for Tuesday includes the Constitution Amendment Bill concerning simultaneous elections. (with PTI inputs)
17 December,2024 03:57 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentLeader of Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council Ambadas Danve on Tuesday claimed that the railway station, airport, district cooperative banks and other institutions in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar were still using the district's old name, PTI reported. Raising the issue in the council, the Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader stated that Aurangabad was renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar by the state government with approval from the Centre. He said that the name change had not been implemented at the railway station, airport, district cooperative banks, market committees, and other institutions in the district, PTI reported. He highlighted that the case was similar in Dharashiv and Ahilya Nagar. Darve requested the government to take action against these institutions and order them to implement the name change, PTI cited. Maharashtra council passes resolution to rename seven Mumbai local train stations The Maharashtra legislative council on July 9, unanimously passed a resolution to rename seven Mumbai local train stations, reported the PTI. According to the PTI, the Mahayuti government were expected to submit the new names to the Union government for approval. The resolution, moved by state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil, was adopted unanimously. The names of most of the stations on the Mumbai local train network are in English, and it has been argued that they carry a colonial legacy. As per the resolution, Currey Road station will be renamed Lalbaug, Sandhurst Road as Dongri, Marine Lines as Mumbadevi, and Charni Road will be named as Girgaon, the news agency reported. The renaming of Sandhurst Road will be effective on the Central Line as well as the Harbour Line. Among other stations, Cotton Green station will be renamed Kalachowki, Dockyard Road as Mazgaon, and King's Circle as Tirthankar Parswanath. Notably, Mumbai had witnessed such changes before, with iconic stations like Victoria Terminus (VT) renamed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Elphinstone Road to Prabhadevi, which adding to the momentum of embracing culturally resonant nomenclature for public spaces. Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition in the council, Ambadas Danve, raised a question regarding renaming the airport in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city, currently called Aurangabad airport. However, Danve's demand for discussion was rejected by deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe, stating the concerned minister could respond to his query later. The Maharashtra government had previously changed the names of Aurangabad and Osmanabad districts in Marathwada region to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Dharashiv, respectively. Earlier, the Maharashtra Cabinet has approved renaming some of the Mumbai local train railway stations that currently carry names from the British colonial era. (With inputs from PTI)
17 December,2024 02:53 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentThe Education and Health Ministries are currently in discussions about whether the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) should continue to be conducted in pen-and-paper format or transition to an online format. A final decision on this matter is expected shortly, according to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. As per PTI, the Education Ministry has already held two rounds of talks with the Health Ministry, which is led by Union Minister JP Nadda, to assess the most suitable mode of conducting the exam. Currently, NEET-UG is administered offline, with students answering multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on an OMR sheet. NEET-UG is one of the largest entrance exams in the country, with a record 24 lakh candidates expected to appear for the 2024 examination. The exam is primarily used for admissions into medical courses, including MBBS, BDS, and other undergraduate programmes in fields like Dentistry, Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha. In total, there are approximately 1,08,000 seats available for the MBBS course, with roughly 56,000 in government medical colleges and 52,000 in private institutions. Pradhan explained that since the Health Ministry administers NEET, the Education Ministry is working closely with them to determine the best mode of conducting the examination. "We have had two rounds of discussions with the Health Ministry, led by JP Nadda. The National Testing Agency (NTA) is ready to carry out the exam in whatever mode is decided," he stated. The Education Minister further confirmed that a final decision is expected soon, and any reforms regarding the examination format would be implemented starting with the 2025 edition. The idea of transitioning NEET to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) has been considered several times in the past but gained significant momentum this year following the controversy over a paper leak. As per PTI, the Centre responded by forming a high-level committee to ensure the transparent and fair conduct of examinations by the NTA. The panel, led by former ISRO chief R. Radhakrishnan, recommended the possibility of multi-stage testing for NEET-UG as a viable option. The panel also suggested that a new framework should be established, outlining thresholds, scoring systems, and ranking at each stage of the exam, in addition to guidelines on the number of attempts candidates may be allowed. In the wake of alleged irregularities surrounding NEET and other entrance exams, including the UGC-NET, the Ministry had also taken swift action to cancel exams where the integrity of the process was compromised. These include NEET PG, CSIR-UGC NET, and others, which were cancelled either during or just before their scheduled dates as a precautionary measure. The committee tasked with examining and strengthening the security protocols surrounding the exam process also includes several prominent academicians and experts, such as former AIIMS Delhi Director Randeep Guleria, IIT Madras’ Professor K. Ramamurthy, and People Strong co-founder Pankaj Bansal, along with members from IIT Kanpur, as per PTI reports. (With inputs from PTI)
17 December,2024 02:44 PM IST | New DelhiWelcome to Mid-Day's Top News at this hour! We bring you a curated selection of the most significant and compelling news from around the globe. Stay informed with the latest developments in the nation, Mumbai, entertainment, sports, and more. Let's dive into the headlines shaping our world today. Rejected RS seat offer week before Maharashtra cabinet expansion: Bhujbal Nagpur: Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who is disappointed at not being included in the new Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, has claimed he was offered a Rajya Sabha berth eight days ago but he rejected it. Meghwal moves to introduce bills on simultaneous polls; opposition says attack on basic structure New Delhi: Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday moved in the Lok Sabha two bills which lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous polls in the country, with the opposition dubbing the draft laws as an attack on the basic structure. Markets dip in early trade, led by Reliance and HDFC Bank, amid caution ahead of US Fed decision Indian equity markets saw early losses as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of the US Fed’s interest rate decision, with major stocks like Reliance and HDFC Bank witnessing selling pressure. Mrunal Thakur to star opposite Adivi Sesh in Dacoit, see first look Get Ready for a tale of Love, Betrayal and Revenge! Adivi Sesh's passion project, Dacoit, a mega pan-India action drama has been mounted to be an adrenaline pumping experience at the cinema. On his birthday today, the actor announced his leading lady welcoming her to be part of this high octane face off! The stunning actress Mrunal Thakur joins the film as the female lead, ready to dive into a story filled with action, emotion, and drama - between two former lovers. Gloves in the air, retirement in the air? Rohit Sharma's Gabba moment stirs speculation Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul began India's fightback on Day 4 of the third Test against Australia in Brisbane, aiming to close in on the hosts' daunting total of 445. While Rahul regained his form from Day 3 after surviving a first-ball reprieve, Rohit fell cheaply for just 10 runs.
17 December,2024 02:04 PM IST | MumbaiA fresh wave of bomb threats was reported across multiple schools in Delhi on Tuesday, marking the second such incident within the week and the fifth in just nine days, officials confirmed. This recurring pattern of threats has created alarm among students, parents, and school authorities in the national capital. According to the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), a call regarding a bomb threat was received from Crescent Public School, located in Saraswati Vihar, northwest Delhi. DFS officials said personnel from the fire department, local police, bomb detection squads, and dog teams swiftly responded to the alert. After a thorough search of the premises, no suspicious items were found, officials reported. Several other schools across the city also received similar threat emails, as per PTI. Security teams were promptly dispatched, and search operations are ongoing to ensure the safety of students and staff. Authorities have yet to confirm the origin of the threats or any connections between the recent incidents. This development comes a day after approximately 20 schools, including the prominent Delhi Public School (DPS) in RK Puram, received bomb threat emails on Monday. Similar threats have repeatedly targeted educational institutions over the past week, triggering a multi-agency response and extensive safety inspections. On December 14, eight schools, including DPS RK Puram, received emails containing threats to detonate "bomb vests," according to officials. A day earlier, on December 13, at least 30 schools had reported receiving similar emails, prompting large-scale searches. Earlier this month, on December 9, as many as 44 schools in Delhi received threat emails, leading to widespread panic and disruptions in academic schedules. As per PTI, the Delhi Police Special Cell has taken cognisance of the recurring incidents and registered an FIR following the December 9 threats. Investigations have been launched to identify the source and motive behind the emails. Officials remain on high alert, working in coordination with various agencies to address the issue. In a separate development, schools in Delhi-NCR on Tuesday shifted to a hybrid mode of conducting classes due to anti-pollution measures imposed under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Under these measures, physical attendance for students in classes 6 to 9 and 11 has been made optional, while hybrid (physical and online) learning remains in place. However, students in grades 10 and 12 are required to attend classes in person. (With inputs from PTI)
17 December,2024 01:26 PM IST | New DelhiShiv Sena UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Tuesday voiced strong opposition to the proposed 'One Nation, One Election' Bill, describing it as an unconstitutional move that seeks to centralise power while undermining the federal structure of the nation. Speaking to ANI, Chaturvedi criticised the bill, stating, "The One Nation, One Election is being brought in the guise of centralising power again." She emphasised that the bill has been a matter of extensive deliberation in Parliament, with the Lok Sabha having already spent two days discussing the Constitution in detail. The debate, she noted, is expected to continue in the Rajya Sabha in the coming days. According to ANI, Chaturvedi expressed concern over the implications of the bill on India's federal system, labelling it a veiled attempt by the central government to consolidate power. She stated, "Attacking the Constitution in this manner is very unfortunate. Tampering with the process of elections and working against federalism is one such way of centralising power." The MP also raised doubts about the purported cost-effectiveness of simultaneous elections, remarking that the government has yet to provide clarity on the financial feasibility of the proposal. “I believe it is wrong and against the Constitution,” Chaturvedi asserted. She further predicted that the opposition would strongly resist the bill's introduction in the Lok Sabha, pushing for it to be referred to either the Select Committee or a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further scrutiny. According to ANI reports, opposition leaders across party lines have also condemned the bill. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh categorically rejected the proposal, terming it "unconstitutional and a threat to democracy." Ramesh remarked, "The Congress party firmly, totally, and comprehensively rejects the One Nation, One Election Bill. We will oppose its introduction and demand that it be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee." Ramesh went on to allege that the bill is part of a broader agenda aimed at replacing India's Constitution. "Amending the Constitution is one thing, but bringing a new Constitution is the real objective of the RSS and PM Modi," he claimed, further accusing the RSS of historically rejecting the Constitution for not aligning with Manusmriti. ANI further reports that Congress MP Pramod Tiwari criticised the government's approach, arguing that no all-party consultation had been held before presenting the bill. "The government brought this issue to divert attention from other important matters," he claimed, adding that the ruling party lacks the necessary majority in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to enact constitutional changes. NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule also echoed the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to deliberate the matter thoroughly, while Congress MP K Suresh accused the bill of undermining democracy and India's federal system. He said, "The Congress party is strongly opposing this bill as it goes against the interests of our democracy and federal structure." According to ANI, Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav also criticised the proposal, declaring that his party would oppose it on constitutional grounds. Meanwhile, Congress MP Manish Tewari submitted a formal notice in the Lok Sabha, outlining his objections based on "serious concerns regarding constitutionalism and constitutionality." (With inputs from ANI)
17 December,2024 12:44 PM IST | New DelhiSenior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday expressed his disappointment at not being included in the new Mahayuti government and said he would decide his future course after talking to people from his constituency, reported news agency PTI. Thirty-nine legislators from Mahayuti allies, the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, were sworn in on Sunday in the first cabinet expansion of the Devendra Fadnavis-led government. Ten former ministers were dropped from the cabinet, and 16 new faces have been introduced. Former ministers Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil of NCP and Mungantiwar and Vijaykumar Gavit of BJP were some of the prominent leaders excluded from the new cabinet, reported PTI. Talking to reporters, Bhujbal said he was upset at not being included in the new cabinet. Asked about his future course, the legislator from the Yeola constituency in Nashik district said, "Let me see. Let me think it over. I will talk to my constituency and discuss with the Samata Parishad," reported PTI. After the cabinet expansion on Sunday, Fadnavis said Mahayuti allies have agreed to conduct a "performance audit" of ministers during their tenure. Bhujbal declined to comment on the performance audit of ministers. Former minister Deepak Kesarkar, who was also dropped, said he wasn't upset. "When we authorised our party leader to make a decision, we have to abide by it and share the happiness of the newly sworn-in ministers. There are political compulsions as the party leader has to give representation to all regions and communities," the Shiv Sena leader said, reported PTI. Congress leader Bhai Jagtap said the performance audit of ministers has no meaning. "If a minister doesn't perform, why wait for two and half years? The duration cannot be a parameter for the performance audit. In the next two and half years, a people's movement will come up against electronic voting machines," he said., reported PTI. Opposition stages protest on Vidhan Bhawan steps against EVMs Opposition members staged a demonstration on the steps of the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhawan on Monday and raised slogans against the use of EVMs in elections. The protest was held on the opening day of the winter session of the state legislature in Nagpur. Leader of opposition in the state legislative council Ambadas Danve led the demonstration of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders, who called for "saving" the Constitution and democracy and opposed the use of EVMs. Danve was joined by Congress legislators Vijay Wadettiwar, Nitin Raut, Bhai Jagtap and Vikas Thakre, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Bhaskar Jadhav, Varun Desai and Sachin Ahir, and NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad. (With inputs from PTI)
17 December,2024 10:11 AM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
