Tag: Ashok Gehlot

BJP welcomes Ajay Maken

BJP MP Welcomes Maken Quitting As Cong Rajasthan Incharge

By LokMarg

A day after senior Congress leader and former Union minister Ajay Maken stepped down as the party’s Rajasthan in-charge, BJP MP Kirodi Lal Meena welcomed his decision and said he would have been stuck between two raging bulls had he remained in the post.

Maken’s move came amid a continuing and bitter tussle between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot.
The tussle came to a head again in the lead-up to the polls to elect the Congress national president, as Gehlot, who has initially seen a frontrunner for the post, pulled out in the face of a rebellion by his loyalist MLAs who wanted him to continue as CM.

Maken had earlier written to octogenarian Dalit leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who was recently elected the party’s first non-Gandhi national president in 24 years, expressing his unwillingness to continue in his post as the Congress’ Rajasthan in-charge.

Speaking to ANI after presiding over a function in Dausa, Meena said, “If Maken hadn’t taken this step, he would have been stuck in the fight between two raging bulls.”

The BJP Rajya Sabha MP added that with the next Assembly elections in the state not too far away, the infighting in the party (between Gehlot and Pilot) will only get more intense in the coming days. (ANI)

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Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC)

Sachin Pilot Targets Modi-Gehlot Chemistry, Draws Parallels With GN Azad

By LokMarg

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi heaped praise on Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Congress leader and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot termed it as a “very interesting” development that “should not be taken lightly.”

“The PM had similarly praised Ghulam Nabi Azad in Parliament. We saw what happened after that,” Pilot said.
Talking to reporters here, Pilot said, “We all witnessed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s praises during his visit to the Mangarh Dham, We all have seen similar things, earlier in the Rajya Sabha as well when the PM heaped praises on former Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Azad on his farewell day. Everybody knows what happened after that. It is an interesting development yesterday and should not be taken lightly.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited Mangarh Dham in Rajasthan and shared the dias with Gehlot at the event “…When PM Modi goes abroad, he receives great honor. Because he is PM of the nation of Gandhi, where democracy is deep-rooted. When the world realizes this, they feel proud that the PM of that country is coming to them…,” Gehlot said.

Addressing the event, PM Modi recalled his days as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. “Ashok ji (Gehlot) and I had worked together as CMs. He was the most senior in our lot of CMs. Ashok ji is still one of the senior-most CMs among those who are sitting on the stage right now,” he said.

Meanwhile talking to reporters here today, Pilot also said that the time has now arrived “to take action against indiscipline” and sought action against errant MLAs of Rajasthan.

The pilot said MLAs who have been served notices should be told to file their replies. “Congress is an old party… I request the new president to take action against indiscipline,” he said.

“As far as Rajasthan is concerned, a CLP meeting called on September 25 couldn’t be held. AICC considered it a matter of indiscipline…Rules same for all. So, if indiscipline occurred and replies were given, action should be taken. I believe party chief Mallikarjun Kharge will take a decision soon,” Pilot said.

In the run-up to the nomination for Congress president election, Gehlot was forced to bow out of the process after Congress MLAs supporting Gehlot did not attend a Congress Legislature Party meeting on September 25. (ANI)

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Madrasa Survey in UP

Rajasthan Govt To Build Smart Classrooms In Madrasas, Multiple Crores Approved

By LokMarg

The Rajasthan government has announced to connect 500 madrasas in the state with a digital mode of education by building smart classrooms, according to an official notification on Wednesday.

The government has also approved an amount of Rs 13.10 crore for the purpose.
The modernization of education in madrasas will take place in a phased manner, which is in accordance with the announcement in the budget 2022-23. The Ashok Gehlot-led government had announced to provide smart classrooms with internet facilities in registered madrasas in a phased manner. Under this, 500 madrasas will be upgraded in the coming year in the first phase.

The students studying in the 500 madrasas which are registered by the Rajasthan Madarsa Board, and are selected in the first phase will now get education through a smart board instead of the blackboard. An amount of Rs 2.62 lakh will be invested per madrasa, according to the notification.

Besides the madrasas, the government will also set up digital libraries in 344 residential schools in the state. Gehlot government approved an amount of Rs 36.56 crore for the purpose.

“The state government has started connecting madrasas of the state with modern technology. Now for better education in madrasas, various facilities like smart classrooms will be made available to them. Here students will now get education through smart board instead of blackboard,” Gehlot tweeted.

“For this, an additional budget of Rs 13.10 crore has been approved. For setting up of smart classrooms in 500 madrassas out of the madrassas registered by the Rajasthan Madarsa Board, Rs 2.62 lakh will be spent per madrassa. It is noteworthy that in the budget year 2022-23, it was announced to provide smart classrooms with internet facilities in registered madrasas in a phased manner. Under this, 500 madrasas will be upgraded in the coming year in the first phase,” he added. (ANI)

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Not Prepared For The Role of Kerala CM, says Shashi Tharoor

Revival Of Cong Has Begun: Tharoor; Kharge: Together We Will Build Party

By LokMarg

Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, who is pitted against party veteran Mallikarjun Kharge for the post of the Congress president on Monday, said the revival of the grand old party has begun whatever the outcome and that the fate of the Indian National Congress lies in the hands of the party workers.

Voting for the Congress presidential polls commenced at 10 am today and will culminate at 4 pm. Results will be declared on October 19. The fate of the Congress party will be decided by over 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates who comprise the electoral college for electing the party chief.
Tharoor said that he was confident of winning the election but acknowledged the odds stacked against him

“I am confident. The fate of the Congress party is in the hands of party workers. The odds have been stacked against us as the party leaders and establishment were overwhelming with the other candidate,” Tharoor told media persons at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram today.

Tharoor also said he had spoken to Kharge earlier in the day

“Today I spoke to Mr. Kharge and said whatever has happened, we remain colleagues and friends,” Tharoor said.

Kharge also told ANI today: “It is part of our internal election. Whatever we said to each other is on a friendly note. Together we have to build the party. (Shashi) Tharoor telephoned me and wished me luck and I also said the same.”

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said that Congress was the only political party to hold elections for its president.

“This is a historic day. Rahul Gandhi will cast his vote in Ballari during Bharat Jodo Yatra. Party’s interim president Sonia Gandhi is expected to cast her vote around 11 am,” he told ANI.

Tharoor took to Twitter and said that they shared “devotion to the success of the Congress”.

Previously, Tharoor had said that if one just “plays safe”, they lose.

He tweeted, “Some people play safe in order not to lose. But if you just play safe, you will definitely lose.”

On Thursday, Tharoor alleged that he has been facing differential treatment from the party leaders as against his opponent Mallikarjun Kharge.

In the previous week, Tharoor had said he could act as a catalyst of change for the grand old party in order to revive the party’s presence in the country.

Meanwhile, Congress veteran leader and party’s presidential candidate Mallikarjun Kharge had said that his name was not suggested by the party supremo Sonia Gandhi and dismissed the speculations of receiving support from the party’s interim president.

Kharge said that Sonia Gandhi had never suggested his name for the party president position and called it a rumor.

Kharge further said that members of the party have elected delegates which are 9,300 in number, who will vote for the candidate and the one with the majority would be elected.

With the party, all set to elect its new president, the 75 delegates, including interim chief Sonia Gandhi, General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and other members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and senior leaders will cast their vote in the headquarters of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in New Delhi.

Apart from these, 280 other delegates will also cast their vote in the Delhi Congress office, the sources added.

The delegates who obtained prior permission from the Central Election Authority to cast their vote will vote in Delhi instead of their own state today.

It is not the first time that a non-Gandhi leader is contesting for the party presidency post-Independence, Jitendra Prasad contested for the post of the president about 22 years ago against Sonia Gandhi in which she emerged as a winner holding the mantle of the party for 20 years.

Sonia Gandhi is the longest-serving president of the party, having held the office for over twenty years from 1998 to 2017 and since 2019.

This time no member of the Gandhi family is contesting for the post of President.

This is the sixth time in its nearly 137-year-old history that polls are being conducted to elect the national president of the party. In the 2017 elections, Rahul Gandhi became the president unopposed. (ANI)

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Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge

We Are Brothers No Differences Between Us: Kharge

By LokMarg

Reacting to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s “uneven playing field” remark, senior leader and party presidential candidate Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said that there are no differences between them.

“…We are brothers. Someone can speak in a different manner. I can do it in a different way. There are no differences between us… Shashi Tharoor and I are from the same family that is Congress, instead of complaining to each other we would rather complain to Narendra Modi and Amit Shah regarding inflation, unemployment, and other issues” said Kharge on Tharoor’s uneven playing field remark.
He further alleged that dragging the Gandhi family’s name in this poll is BJP’s conspiracy to defame them and some people are encouraging it.

“I am a candidate of delegates. Leaders-delegates together fielded me as a candidate…dragging the Gandhi family’s name, I feel, is BJP’s conspiracy to defame them and some people are encouraging it. I condemn this. They said anybody can contest,” he added.

Notably, Shashi Tharoor and Mallikarjun Kharge are up against each other in the race for the post of Congress President.

The election for the Congress’s top leadership is slated to conclude on October 17.

The Congress leader further said that he believes in democracy and it is not good to talk about winning the elections ahead of it.

“I am contesting for the presidential post, delegates are supposed to vote and whoever they will choose will be the next president of Congress party. I believe in democracy and it is not good to talk about winning the elections ahead of it. However, delegations from all the states have put their trust in me,” he said.

He said that everybody has different manifestos ahead of elections if elected his focus will be on protecting the Congress’s ideology and Udaipur declaration

“Another focus will be on increasing women representation, backward class, and minorities in the party,” he added.

Bharat Jodo Yatra is being done to keep the former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s ideology and constitution alive which is being hampered by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Earlier, Tharoor said he has been facing differential treatment from the party leaders as against his opponent Mallikarjun Kharge.

On his “uneven playing field” remark, Congress presidential candidate Tharoor said, “…In several PCCs, leaders welcomed and met Kharge Sahab. The same was not done for me. I visited PCCs but PCC chiefs were not available. I am not complaining, but do you not see a difference in treatment?”

He said his party men should vote for him only if they are seeking a change in Congress.

With the Gandhis not running for the top post, the grand old party is all set to get a non-Gandhi president after over 25 years. (ANI)

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tharoor On Uneven Playfield In Prez Polls

Difference In Treatment: Tharoor On Uneven Playfield In Prez Polls

By LokMarg

Ahead of the run-up to Congress presidential polls, party MP and a contender for the top post-Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said he has been facing differential treatment from the party leaders as against his opponent Mallikarjun Kharge.

Notably, Shashi Tharoor and Mallikarjun Kharge are up against each other in the race for the post of Congress President.
Addressing a press conference here, Tharoor said, “We are contesting elections. There is no spirit of enmity in our party. Kharge Sahab is my senior leader and I have worked closely with him. The election is about two colleagues seeing how to work to strengthen the party.”

On his “uneven playing field” remark, Congress presidential candidate Tharoor said, “…In several PCCs, leaders welcomed and met Kharge Sahab. The same was not done for me. I visited PCCs but PCC chiefs were not available. I am not complaining, but do you not see a difference in treatment?”

He said his party men should vote for him only if they are seeking a change in Congress.

“Do you want the party to go with change or are you satisfied with everything? If you think everything is fine, do not vote for me as I want such a change in the party that would bring back voters who did not remain with us in 2014 and 2019,” added the Thiruvananthapuram MP.

Earlier this week, Tharoor had said he could act as a catalyst of change for the grand old party in order to revive the party’s presence in the country.

Regarding rumors that Kharge is an official candidate for party chief and he is not, Tharoor said, “Some people are saying Kharge is an official candidate and I am no one. But I want to say that the Gandhi family is unbiased and no one is an official candidate as we are standing for strengthening of the Congress party. If someone is saying that delegates are asked to vote for a certain person, it’s not true.”

Meanwhile, Congress veteran leader and party’s presidential candidate Mallikarjun Kharge had said that his name was not suggested by the party supremo Sonia Gandhi and dismissed the speculations of receiving support from the party’s interim president.

Kharge said that Sonia Gandhi had never suggested his name for the party president position and called it a rumor.

Kharge further said that members of the party have elected delegates which are 9,300 in the number who will vote for the candidate and the one with the majority would be elected.

Notably, Digvijaya Singh pulled out from the race earlier and extended his support to Kharge, who he said is a senior and respected leader of the party, and against whom he “cannot think of contesting”.

Singh was the second Congress leader to pull out of the race after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced he would not contest the elections following the political turmoil in his state.

With the Gandhis not running for the top post, the grand old party is all set to get a non-Gandhi president after over 25 years.

Voting will take place on October 17 and the election results will be declared on October 19. (ANI)

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Last Rites Of Mulayam

Last Rites Of Mulayam In His Ancestral Village Saifai Today

By LokMarg

The final rites of Samajwadi Party patriarch and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav will take place at his ancestral village Saifai in Etawah district on Tuesday.

Mulayam Singh passed away on Monday morning at the age of 82 at Gurugram’s Medanta Hospital due to age-related ailments. He was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital last Sunday after his health deteriorated. He is survived by two sons, Akhilesh and Prateek.
Several chief ministers along with the Speaker of Lok Sabha, Om Birla expected to attend the funeral.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel will represent the Congress at the funeral of a Samajwadi Party veteran, according to sources.

Congress veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge will also participate in the funeral on Tuesday. Kharge is contesting the election of the party president, so he will not join as the party’s official leader.

However, it is not yet clear whether Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi who is leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Karnataka will attend.

Meanwhile, condolences poured in after the demise of the veteran Samajwadi Party leader and former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

President Droupadi Murmu expressed condolences on the demise of veteran politician and Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday, saying his death is an “irreparable loss” to the country.

“The death of Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav is an irreparable loss to the country. The achievements of Mulayam Singh Yadav Ji, who came from an ordinary environment, were extraordinary. ‘Dharti Putra’ Mulayam Ji was a down-to-earth veteran leader. He was respected by people of all parties. My deepest condolences to his family members and supporters!” the Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted.

Soon after learning about the demise of the Samajwadi Party founder, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recollected his relationship with the veteran leader and tweeted, “Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav Ji was a remarkable personality. He was widely admired as a humble and grounded leader who was sensitive to people’s problems. He served people diligently and devoted his life towards popularising the ideals of Loknayak JP and Dr. Lohia.”

Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla said, “I express my deepest condolences on the demise of former UP CM & veteran politician Mulayam Singh Yadav. Despite his old age and deteriorating health, he used to attend Lok Sabha sessions regularly. He served the country staying in various imp positions.”

Mulayam Singh Yadav had seen Uttar Pradesh go through many ups and downs during his five-decade-long career and remained almost synonymous with the politics of the state. Fondly called “Netaji”, he was well-versed in the politics of the most populous state of India.

National General Secretary, of Samajwadi Party, Ram Gopal Yadav said, “The politics of the country became poor due to the death of Netaji. The way he started politics after his entry into it, and the way he brought the common man to the forefront. Those who did not know the route to Lucknow and Delhi were also made MLAs and MPs.”

Born on November 22, 1939, in Saifai village of Etawah district, Mulayam Singh rose quickly in politics and became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh thrice; he also served in the Union government once as the Defence Minister.

He was elected 10 times as MLA and 7 times as Lok Sabha MP.

His career began when he was elected MLA in 1967 at the age of 28. He founded the Samajwadi Party on October 4, 1992, and soon turned it into a regional party based in Uttar Pradesh. His son Akhilesh Yadav took over the reins of the party later and is now its president. (ANI)

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Digvijaya Drops Out Of Cong Presidential Race

By LokMarg

In yet another twist in the tale of the Congress president polls, Digvijaya Singh on Friday said he was dropping out of the race for the top post and announced his support for Mallikarjun Kharge, who is likely to be in the fray.

Today is the last day to file nominations for the polls.
Singh had said on Thursday that he would file his nominations today. However, after reports of Kharge also mulling contesting the party’s internal polls, he decided to drop out of the contest.

Singh made the announcement after he met Kharge this morning at the latter’s residence.

Speaking to reporters here, Singh said he “cannot think of contesting an election” against a senior leader like Kharge.

“Kharge is my leader and my senior. I went to his residence yesterday and asked if he is contesting. If he does, I will not fill up the form. He said he did not intend to contest. I came to know through the media that he is a candidate. I went to meet him this morning. I said if he is filing the nomination, I am with him. He is a senior and respected leader of the party and I cannot think of contesting an election against him,” he said.

“If Kharge had told me earlier, he would not have gone to collect the form. Now he intends to file his nomination, I will become his proposer,” Singh added.

He said he will not compromise on his “commitment to the Nehru-Gandhi family”.

“I have always worked for Congress all my life and will continue to do so. I do not compromise on three things. First, Dalit, tribal and poor. Second, I do not compromise with those involved in disrupting communal peace. I will not compromise on my commitment to the Nehru-Gandhi family, neither have I ever done it,” he said.

The quick turn of events is taking place on the last day of the filing of the nominations which closes at 3 pm today.

Singh is the second Congress leader to pull out of the race after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced he would not contest the elections following the political turmoil in his state.

Sources on Friday said that no leader from Congress’s “G-23” will file a nomination for the post of Congress president.

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said he will be the proposer for Kharge.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand Congress leader KN Tripathi said he will file his nomination at 1 pm today.

“I’ll file my nomination at 1 pm today (for the Congress president post). Rahul Gandhi and party chief Sonia Gandhi have said they’re neither requesting anyone to contest nor declining anyone…we want to see what the rank and file of the party wants,” he said.

With the Gandhis not running for the top post, the grand old party is all set to get a non-Gandhi president after over 25 years.

The results of the party polls will be declared on October 19. (ANI)

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Tharoor Congress Prez

Tharoor To File Nomination For Cong Prez Post Tomorrow

By LokMarg

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is scheduled to submit his nomination papers for the upcoming presidential elections of the All India Congress Committee on Saturday.

As per the information, Tharoor will visit 24 Akbar Road at 12.15 pm tomorrow.
He will subsequently hold a press conference at 1.00 pm at his residence on 97 Lodhi Estate (opposite Airforce Bal Bharti Public School)

Meanwhile, party leader Digvijaya Singh, another contender for the topmost position in the party, will also file his nomination tomorrow between 11 am and 3 pm.

Tharoor welcomed Singh’s candidacy and said that both of them have agreed to consider it a friendly contest.

“Received a visit from @digvijaya_28 this afternoon. I welcome his candidacy for the Presidency of our Party. We both agreed that ours is not a battle between rivals but a friendly contest among colleagues. All we both want is that whoever prevails, @incIndia will win!,” Tharoor tweeted.

Notably, another prominent contender for the President post in the party, Ashok Gehlot recently announced that he will not contest the elections.

“I met Rahul Gandhi in Kochi and requested him to fight the polls (for Congress President). When he didn’t accept, I said I’ll contest but now with that incident (political crisis in Rajasthan), I have decided not to contest the elections,” CM Gehlot said.

Gehlot’s remarks came after the veteran leader met with the party’s interim chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence at 10 Janpath in the national capital.

Rajasthan CM further apologized for the ruckus in Rajasthan triggered by his loyalists over a possible leadership change in the state after Gehlot was set to file his nomination papers for the Congress chief polls.

Gehlot said that whatever happened in the state in the past two days had shocked everyone.

On being asked if he will remain Rajasthan CM, Gehlot said, “I won’t decide that, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will decide that.”

“One-line resolution is our tradition. Unfortunately, a situation arose that resolution wasn’t passed. It was my moral responsibility (to pass the resolution), but despite being a CM I couldn’t get it passed,” he added.

Talking to reporters, Gehlot said the party works under the Congress president and decisions will be taken in the time to come.

He said Congress workers worry about the direction in which the country is heading and tackling the issue was more important. (ANI)

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Ashok Gehlot

Will Not Contest Cong Prez Polls: Gehlot

By LokMarg

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said that he will not fight for the post of Congress chief.

His remarks came after the veteran leader met with party’s interim chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence at 10 Janpath in the national capital.
“I met Rahul Gandhi in Kochi and requested him to fight the polls (for Congress President). When he didn’t accept, I said I’ll contest but now with that incident (political crisis in Rajasthan), I have decided not to contest the elections,” CM Gehlot said.

Gehlot also apologised for the ruckus in Rajasthan triggered by his loyalists over a possible leadership change in the state after Gehlot was set to file his nomination papers for the Congress chief polls.

Gehlot said that whatever happened in the state in the past two days had shocked everyone.

“I had a conversation with Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi. Whatever happened two days ago shocked us. It gave a message that all of it happened as I wanted to be CM. I apologised to her,” said CM Gehlot addressing the media persons after meeting Sonia Gandhi.

Further in his address to the media persons, Gehlot said that he won’t contest the elections in this atmosphere. “I won’t contest these elections in this atmosphere, with moral responsibility,” Gehlot said.

On being asked if he will remain Rajasthan CM, Gehlot said, “I won’t decide that, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will decide that.”

“One-line resolution is our tradition. Unfortunately, a situation arose that resolution wasn’t passed. It was my moral responsibility (to pass the resolution), but despite being a CM I couldn’t get it passed,” he added.

Talking to reporters, Gehlot said the party works under the Congress president and decisions will be taken in the time to come.

He said Congress workers worry about the direction in which the country is heading and tackling the issue was more important.

Also, today Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh collected his nomination papers and announced that he is likely to file his nominations tomorrow between 11 am to 3 pm.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has announced that he will submit his nomination for the post at 12.15 pm tomorrow.

The filing of nominations for the top Congress post will take place till September 30, and the election will take place on October 17. (ANI)

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