By Rahil Nora Chopra.
The SP-BSP alliance wants to give only 8 seats to Congress in UP in return of which it expects the party to accommodate alliance candidates in a few seats in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan Assembly election and at least 2 parliamentary seats to each party in the Lok Sabha election from the three states. But Congress party sources say the party is not in a mood to make an alliance with SP-BSP on these conditions. According to sources, Congress has been discussing two options: first it wants to make an alliance with BSP to fight the Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan assembly elections as well as the 2019 Lok Sabha election with an alliance in UP for the Lok Sabha. In UP Congress is ready to offer 50 seats to BSP, retaining the remaining 30 seats, out of which 7 seats could be offered to Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). The second option is for the Congress to fight the Lok Sabha election on its own in Uttar Pradesh and there is opinion building up within the party for going alone in all the seats as the party feels it is strong in 30 to 40 seats.
BJP SUSPECTS TMC HAND IN ACCIDENT AT PM RALLY
The Bengal BJP unit suspects the hand of TMC workers in the accident at PM’s successful rally in Midnapore in which 90 people were injured as a part of the pandal came down. The state BJP leadership has demanded that the Centre hold an inquiry into the incident and expose the TMC conspiracy. The state government has appointed an enquiry committee to look into the incident. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed the 25th Martyrs Day rally in Kolkata, where former BJP MP Chandan Mitra, former CPI(M) MP Moinul Hassan and four Congress MLAs joined the TMC. Mamata claimed in her address that her party will win all the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state, while BJP has set a target of winning 22 seats. Although that may be a very ambitious target, it is a fact that the BJP has increased its vote share and is ahead of Congress and the Communists.
SONS’ FIGHT EMBARRASSES LALU
Bihar strongman Lalu Prasad Yadav, who is keen to unite all Opposition parties against the BJP, is faced with a piquant situation where he has to first settle the fight between his two sons. The relationship between the sons has turned very bitter, with elder son Tej Pratap Yadav touring the state and meeting with party workers drumming up support for him. Younger son Tejashwi Yadav is out of the state for the past two weeks and busy meeting with different party leaders to forge a strong alliance in Bihar to fight unitedly against the BJP alliance. So, Lalu is passing through a difficult phase, have trouble physically, mentally and politically. He is very sick and is under treatment, but wants to see both the sons face the Lok Sabha elections unitedly and enlist the support of maximum number of parties for the alliance with Congress.
SENSE OF RELIEF IN UTTARAKHAND CONGRESS
With Congress president Rahul Gandhi making Harish Rawat the general secretary in charge of Assam and including him in the Congress Working Committee, the infighting in the Uttarakhand Congress is expected to subside. Rawat’s removal from the state scene gives a relief to the state Congress leaders as he has had a bitter relationship with state Congress chief Pritam Singh and Vidhan Sabha Congress leader Indira Hardesh. The infighting had peaked when Pritam Singh was organising dharnas and protest rallies against the BJP government while Harish Rawat attended mango parties with Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.
RAJASTHAN MINISTERS IN UNSEEMLY FIGHT
With the Rajasthan Assembly election coming close, the ministers are openly fighting for the transfer and posting of their favourite officials. The fight had turned ugly with education minister Vasudev Devnani and health minister Bansidhar Bajiya taking on each other physically. Bajiya had himself gone to Devnani’s house to protest that his request for certain transfers was not entertained. Another incident occurred at the party office between Kali Charan Saraf and Adivasi Parliamentary Secretary Bhima Bhai on the same issue of transfers and postings. As it is the election year, everybody wants administrative officers of their choice to be posted in their district. BJP state organising secretary Chandrashekhar has called a meeting of all ministers to ask them not to fight in the open on these petty issues. (IPA)
The post Alliance Blues Hit Congress, SP-BSP appeared first on Newspack by India Press Agency.
