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RJD and JMM Will Contest LS Polls Together: Tejashwi

By LokMarg 11th February 2023

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday said that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) will be fighting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections together.

Tejashwi Yadav made the announcement after his meeting with the Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren at his residence.
“I met Chief Minister Hemant Soren today and discussed the challenges of the future and also about contesting upcoming Lok Sabha polls together,” RJD leader Tejashwi said while speaking to media.

The Deputy CM also spoke about RJD’s plans of reviewing the party work in Jharkhand, and said, “We (RJD and JMM) will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections together. I had planned to come and see the party’s work in Jharkhand. But in between Lalu Prasad ji’s health deteriorated. Lalu Ji’s transplant was successful. He will be coming home today. BJP was removed from power in Bihar and the Mahagathbandhan government was formed. Due to all these issues, Jharkhand could not be visited.”

“Now, all programmes and visits will be planned properly. A new organization of RJD has been formed in Jharkhand. Our fight is against communal forces. We formed ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government in Bihar and removed BJP from power. We are working to strengthen our alliance in Jharkhand,” he said.

He also accused BJP of playing cheap politics and trying to buy voters.

Tejashwi told reporters that RJD leader Shyam Rajak met JMM supremo and former Chief Minister Shibu Soren, and wished him speedy recovery.

“We want Shibu Soren ji to get well soon just like Lalu Yadav is returning to India from Singapore after recovery,” he added.

Notably, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha supremo and former Chief Minister Shibu Soren was admitted to Medanta Hospital in Ranchi on February 9. (ANI)

Govt Committed To Providing Transparent, Responsive, Accountable Administration: Sukhu

By LokMarg 3rd January 2023

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday said that the state government is committed to providing a transparent, responsive, and accountable administration to the people of the state.

While addressing a huge rally ‘Jan Aabhar Rally’ organized at Zorawar Stadium in Dharamshala, CM Sukhu expressed gratitude to the people of Kangra district for their massive mandate in favour of the Congress Party in the recently held assembly elections.
Incidentally, this is the first visit of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to the district after becoming the Chief Minister of the State.

The Chief Minister said that the present State Government was here not to enjoy power, but for bringing a change in the system.

He said that after being sworn in as Chief Minister of the State, he visited the Girl Child Care Institute, Tutikandi in Shimla, and felt that a lot more is required to be done for the destitute children, women, and senior citizens.

“We have decided to set up ‘Chief Minister’s Sukhashray Sahayata Kosh’ with an outlay of Rs 101 crore so that it can meet the basic educational facilities of the children and destitute women,” he added.

He also attacked the BJP government and said that it opened 900 institutions in different parts of the state without any budgetary provisions

“This was simply done to lure the people and with an eye on assembly elections, haphazard announcements were made. The present State Government cracked a big paper scam going on since the tenure of the BJP Government in the Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission, Hamirpur, which had become a den of selling question papers,” he said.

CM Sukhu said that the State Government would implement all the ten guarantees as promised in the congress manifesto during assembly elections in a phased manner,

“The Government will implement Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in its first cabinet. Besides, a decision to provide Rs. 1500 to the women in the age group of 18 to 60 years would also be taken soon,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, while addressing the audience took a jibe at BJP leaders and remarked that it seems that these leaders were finding it difficult to digest, and defeat and thus were issuing baseless statements.

“The State Government in the last about 21 days of its tenure has taken some historic decisions. Rs 101 crore ‘Chief Minister Sukhashray Sahayata Kosh’ has been established to ensure that lesser privileged children can get adequate financial assistance for higher education as per their choice,” he said.

Member of Parliament and State Congress President, Pratibha Singh thanked the people of the state for their wholehearted support in the assembly elections.

“It was due to the support and love of the people that the Congress Party was able to form the Government in the State, she said. The party organization and the State Government would work with complete unison to ensure that the pace of development gets added vigour so that Himachal can emerge as a model State in the matter of development,” she said. (ANI)

Lathi-Charge At Members Of Labour Unions Near Mann’s Residence

By LokMarg 30th November 2022

Punjab Police on Wednesday resorted to a lathi-charge on members of the agriculture labour unions who were marching towards Chief Minister Bhagwant e in Sangrur over their various demands.

The protestors, who included agricultural workers, gathered at the Patiala bypass after which they started moving towards the Chief Minister’s residence where there was heavy police deployment.
The police tried to stop the protestors who included members of eight labour organizations and resorted to the use of force which left some of the protestors injured.

Police, however, said that they did not resort to the lathi charge and stated that “an aggressive faction of protestors indulged in a scuffle”.

“No lathi charge was done, and the protest is going on in a peaceful manner. An aggressive faction of protestors indulged in a scuffle, which was later controlled by the police. We have taken cognizance of their demands,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sangrur said.

The incident created a political uproar with Bharatiya Janata Party’s Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Shehzad Poonawalla attacking the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of showing his “true face” and said the people of Punjab will give a befitting reply to the injustice done to them.

“Kejriwal showed his true form through a lathi-charge on Punjab farmers sitting on dharna outside CM Bhagwant Mann’s house. Instead of giving the farmers their rights, Kejriwal is weakening Punjab by investing money of Punjab in the Gujarat campaign. Punjabis will give a befitting reply to this injustice of Kejriwal,” Sirsa said in a tweet.

He also said that making promises before elections and not fulfilling them later is the “new change” brought by AAP.

“Instead of giving rights to the farm labourers protesting outside the house, doing lathi charge at them is proof of the atrocities of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann. Making promises before the elections and not fulfilling them after the elections is the change by AAP. People of Delhi and Gujarat should stay away from this deceitful party,” Sirsa said in another tweet.

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that AAP is an “anti-people anti-peasant party”.

“The workers who were peacefully going towards the CM’s residence were brutally lathi-charged. It shows the real face of AAP. It stands for ‘anti-People anti-peasant party’. CM Bhagwant Mann is busy campaigning in Gujarat and the farmers of Punjab have been left in miserable conditions,” he said. (ANI)

Bommai Hits Back At Cong Amid Voters Data Theft Charge

By LokMarg 17th November 2022

The Congress government made use of the entire information of the state but still lost the election, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Thursday, adding that the Congress leaders were issuing ‘desparate’ statements.

Speaking to reporters on the charges by Congress leaders on the misuse of the election nomination paper, the CM said the previous Congress government headed by chief minister Siddaramaiah spent Rs 130 crore to carry out a socio-economic survey of the state, which included caste, sub-caste among other aspects and prepared a huge document.
Instead of making it public, the same was used for the election purpose, the CM alleged.

The current government was in no way connected with it, the CM said, adding that if this thing happened at a lower level, it will be enquired and the guilty will be punished.

Earlier on Thursday, Congress attacked the Karnataka chief minister alleging that he was directly involved in the electoral fraud that has come to light in Bengaluru.

“Shocking expose reveals that those in power, including Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai, are responsible for theft of voters data, fraud and impersonation,” Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said at a press conference in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Surjewala demanded a high-level probe in the matter claiming that a private agency named ‘Chilume’ was authorised by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) — the urban local civic body of Bengaluru — to carry out a door-to-door survey of voters in the city.

He alleged that the agency collected the personal details of voters, which tantamounts to a breach of privacy, adding that it was a ‘fraud’ on Bangaloreans.

“CM Bommai, his officials, govt officers, BBMP people, and the state election authority are partners in crime,” Surjewala alleged.

The Congress leader claimed there was no prior intimation on the door-to-door survey, and CM Bommai was responsible for electoral fraud.

“CM Bommai is the BBMP’s minister in charge and its chief commissioner is Bengaluru’s electoral officer. A private entity, Chilume Edu Institute, applies for permission for voter awareness. On being permitted, they commit the fraud of collecting voter data by impersonating booth-level officers,” he alleged.

An FIR should be filed against him (Bommai) and he should be arrested, the Congress leader said.

Surjewala also claimed that the agency had a freehand and its staff were given booth level officer (BLO) cards.

“The agency did not even upload voters’ information on Garuda — ECI app — but on Digital Sameeksha app, which is owned by a private company, for use by MPs, MLAs, and political parties,” Surjewala claimed. (ANI)

Taliban Advocating For Peace: Mann Attacks Previous Punjab Govt

By LokMarg 16th November 2022

Launching a scathing attack on the previous government, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said that those patronised criminals during their regime are now raising questions about the peace and harmony of the state.

He said that it is like “Taliban” is advocating for peace.
“Under their regime the jails break incidents occurred. In order to save the daughter’s honour, the police officer was shot in the market and they stepped on them and raised slogans in favour of their boss. They patronised gangsters and now, they question the peace and harmony of the state. It is just like the Taliban take out a candle march and advocate the peace,” Chief Minister wrote in a tweet in Punjabi apparently targeting Congress.

The Chief Minister said the state government is firmly committed to maintaining a law and order situation in Punjab and any anti-social element will not be allowed to disturb the hard-earned peace and communal harmony of the state at any cost.

He said that a few unfortunate incidents occurred in the state but still law and order is intact in Punjab under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

“The crime rate is extremely low in Punjab as compared to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and other states of the country but still we are taking precautionary measures like cracking down on gun culture and reviewing gun licences issued recklessly by the previous governments so that the law and order situation remains intact,” the Chief Minister said. (ANI)

Sachin Pilot Denies Reports Of Bringing Cong MLAs Together

By LokMarg 27th September 2022

Congress leader Sachin Pilot has denied media reports stating that he told the party high command that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot should not remain in office if he decides to contest the party presidential poll.

It was earlier reported quoting the sources that Pilot had told the high command that it is his responsibility to bring the MLAs together.
“Congress MLA Sachin Pilot has told the Congress high command that Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot should not remain CM if he decides to contest for the party president post & that it is his responsibility to bring MLAs together,” the sources had said.

Refuting the reports, the Congress leader said that says he has spoken neither with the party’s high command nor with Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot.

“Am afraid this is false news being reported”,” he tweeted.

Notably, Pilot is being seen as the successor of Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan which is engulfed by a political crisis triggered apparently by Gehlot agreeing to file his nomination in the Congress presidential polls and wanting a successor of his choice as CM in Rajasthan.

With party observers slamming some actions of loyalists of Chief Minister Gehlot, sources said the decision on issuing show cause notices to miffed MLAs, who have been vocal in public, will be taken after interim party chief Sonia Gandhi looks into the report by the observers sent to the state.

“Status-quo to be maintained till Congress president election nominations. Decision on issuing of show cause notices to miffed MLAs, vocal in public will be taken after interim chief takes action on a report by observers,” a source said.

Pilot had attended the CLP meeting called in Jaipur recently along with the MLAs of his camp in the presence of Central observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken. The MLAs of the Gehlot camp demanded that the next chief minister be chosen from the MLAs who stood by the party when Pilot allegedly revolted in 2020 against the Gehlot-led government.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan cabinet minister Shanti Dhariwal on Monday lashed out at Congress’ state in-charge Ajay Maken alleging that he was part of a “conspiracy” to remove Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Dhariwal, a Gehlot loyalist who had held a meeting of MLAs on Sunday to oppose Sachin Pilot’s possible elevation to the CM post, took a veiled swipe at Pilot and said that Rajasthan MLAs will not sit through and tolerate if traitors are being rewarded.

“It was a 100 per cent conspiracy to remove the CM (Ashok Gehlot) and the general secretary incharge was a part of it. I am not talking about anyone else, no charge on Kharge but only the General Secretary incharge,” said Dhariwal.

He further said that disgruntled lawmakers of Rajasthan asked him to “listen to their voice”.

“A general secretary is himself canvassing to make such people chief minister who betrayed the party and because of it, MLAs are angry and disgruntled. MLAs asked me to listen to their voice. They want someone from 102 MLAs who huddled together to stay with Congress for over 34 days (in 2020) to be made CM,” he added.

A legislative party meeting was scheduled on Sunday evening at the residence of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in the presence of the observers, which was attended by Sachin Pilot and his camp MLAs, the Gehlot loyalists had held a meeting with Cabinet Minister Shanti Dhariwal at his residence, following which over 90 MLAs had submitted their resignations to Speaker CP Joshi.

Earlier today, Congress MLAs supporting Sachin Pilot for Chief Minister’s post arrived at his residence in Jaipur.

“The party’s top leadership is restructuring the organisation for the 2023 elections here. Top leadership will decide (CM face),” said MLA Khiladi Lal Bairwa. (ANI)

Nominations For Congress President Poll Begins Today

By LokMarg 24th September 2022

Filing of nominations for the post of Congress president is scheduled to begin today with a contest between Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and former union minister Shashi Tharoor on the cards.

The nominations will be filed till September 30 and results declaring the new Congress chief will be announced on October 19.
This will be the first time in 25 years that Congress will see a non-Gandhi chief after Sonia Gandhi replaced Sitaraman Kesri as party chief in 1998. The last time the party had a non-Gandhi chief was in 1997 when Sitaram Kesri defeated Sharad Pawar and Rajesh Pilot

Chairman of Central Election Authority Madhusudan Mistri will be available in Congress headquarters in the national capital to take the nomination papers as returning officer of the election.

Yesterday, Rajasthan chief minister Gehlot made it clear that there will be no candidate from the Gandhi family this time.

Speaking to ANI Gehlot said, “I have requested him (Congress MP Rahul Gandhi) multiple times to accept everyone’s proposal of becoming the Congress President. He clarified that no one from the Gandhi family should become the next chief.”

Gehlot further said, “It’s decided that I’ll contest (for the post of Congress President). I’ll fix the date soon (to file his nomination). It’s a need for the Opposition to be strong, looking at the current position of the country.

Earlier, after meeting Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, former CM of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, “In our meeting today, we spoke about the party and how to strengthen it. She said that she has a neutral stand regarding the congress president election.”

Till now, Gehlot has made it clear publically that he will contest the elections, while another name that is most likely to give him a contest is Shashi Tharoor who is also in the fray and had met Madhusudan Mistri.

Sources close to former union minister Manish Tewari had also said that he is also considering the possibility of contesting the polls.

The crux of the story that emerges is that the Congress party is all set to witness a tripartite or more contest.

Earlier, Madhusudan Mistri said that more than 9,000 delegates will be voting in the polls. Anybody can contest and 10 delegates will be needed to support his or her candidature. The last date for filing nomination is September 30. (ANI)

Every Angle Should Be Probed: Nitish on Begusarai Firing

By LokMarg 14th September 2022

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday said that a probe should examine all angles in the firing incidents that took place in Begusarai yesterday claiming the life of one person while leaving nine injured.

“We have called a meeting and held a detailed discussion on this incident. A probe should be done from every angle into this incident. A few days ago, I conducted a meeting to review law and order in the state,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Kumar said that he had instructed the officers to remain vigilant.

One person died while nine others sustained injuries in separate firing incidents at different locations on Tuesday in Bihar’s Begusarai. Following the incidents, Bihar Police on Wednesday suspended seven police officials.

Addressing media persons, Additional Director General of Police (HQ) Jitendra Singh Gangwar said, “Prima facie, our patrolling party was on the streets. Still, they either could not stop the criminals or could not do the checking. In this connection, seven police officials have been suspended with immediate effect.”

Asked about the attackers, ADG Gangwar said CCTV footage captured the assailants and police are verifying their identities. He said some people have been detained and police are questioning them.

Meanwhile, hitting out at the state government, former Union minister and BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, “I was trying to set up industries in Begusarai but now bullets are being fired like terrorists in Punjab and Kashmir. So many people have been shot and injured. This is a big incident in Bihar. The morale of criminals is increasing in Bihar and people will not forgive those who boost the morale of criminals.”

The BJP leader said these kinds of incidents will defame the image of the state and asked the Bihar government which direction the state has been going.

“What will be the image of Bihar in the country? Nitish Kumar needs to check this situation,” Hussain said.

Jeetu Paswan, one of the injured told ANI that he was selling ice cream at Malhipur Chowk when the assailants came and shot at him. He said another person who was near him was also shot at.

As per police, two bike-borne assailants are behind the firing incidents in which several people are reported to be injured.

“Two persons with bullet injuries have been brought to the hospital,” said the doctor in the Government hospital in Teghra. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI)