Politics

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a constitutional amendment bill for the 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) initiative, aiming to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The proposal, backed by a high-level committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, seeks to synchronize the elections for the national and state legislatures, with plans for municipal and panchayat elections to be phased in later. The move has sparked mixed reactions: while several national and regional parties support it, key opposition parties like Congress and AAP have voiced strong objections, arguing that it could undermine parliamentary democracy and federalism. For the amendment to pass, the government will need the backing of two-thirds of members in both houses of Parliament.

The BJP’s Murshidabad unit in West Bengal has announced plans to build a Ram temple in Berhampore, set to begin construction on January 22, 2025, one year after the Ram temple inauguration in Ayodhya. This move follows TMC MLA Humayun Kabir's proposal to construct a mosque modeled after the Babri Masjid in Beldanga, which has sparked political controversy. The BJP’s decision is seen as a strategic attempt to strengthen its presence among Hindus in Murshidabad, where minorities make up 75% of the population. The TMC distanced itself from Kabir’s remarks, calling them his personal opinion.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday responded sharply to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations regarding public sector banks (PSBs). Gandhi had criticized the Modi government for allegedly forcing PSBs to prioritize profit over people, which he claimed hindered their ability to serve the public effectively. In a counterstatement, Sitharaman accused the Congress of mismanaging PSBs during its tenure, highlighting the “phone banking” practices and indiscriminate lending under the UPA government. She defended the Modi government’s banking reforms, including the recapitalization of PSBs, and emphasized that public sector banks serve the interests of all citizens, with dividends benefiting the public.

Opposition leaders, led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, have strongly criticized Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, accusing him of partisanship and undermining the dignity of his office. Kharge claimed that Dhankhar's conduct, which he described as biased and supportive of the government, had left the opposition with no choice but to move for his removal. He further alleged that Dhankhar had prioritized politics over parliamentary rules, tarnishing the country's dignity. The opposition INDIA bloc, comprising 60 MPs, submitted a formal notice seeking Dhankhar's removal, accusing him of exhibiting partisan behavior as Chairman.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has dismissed allegations of EVM misuse in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, asserting that there were no discrepancies between the VVPAT slip count and EVM control unit data. The ECI stated that the VVPAT slip counts from 1440 units across 288 constituencies were tallied transparently during the vote counting process. Despite this, opposition parties, including the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, have raised concerns over alleged EVM manipulation, with NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar claiming that unprecedented levels of power and money were used to influence the election results. The NCP (SP) is considering legal action to challenge the allegations.

The recent violence in Sambhal, which resulted in five deaths following a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Masjid, has ignited tensions within the INDIA bloc, particularly between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress in Uttar Pradesh. The SP has accused Congress of sidelining the Sambhal issue in Parliament, focusing instead on the Adani controversy. In response, Congress leaders have defended their stance, asserting they have consistently raised the issue. The dispute highlights deeper rifts over leadership within the alliance, with both parties jostling for influence, particularly in minority-dominated constituencies ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju condemned the Opposition INDIA bloc's move to submit a notice for the removal of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, calling it "extremely regrettable." Rijiju praised Dhankhar for his professionalism and impartiality as Rajya Sabha Chairperson, while criticizing the Opposition for disrespecting the dignity of parliamentary chairs. The Opposition’s notice alleges that Dhankhar’s actions have been partisan and unfair, pointing to instances where he allegedly silenced dissent. However, the move is unlikely to succeed as the Opposition lacks the numbers needed to pass the motion in the Rajya Sabha.

Ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP have drawn inspiration from the blockbuster film Pushpa 2 for their political campaigns. AAP's poster features Arvind Kejriwal with the slogan “Kejriwal Jhukega Nahi,” signaling the party's intent to secure a fourth consecutive term. In response, the BJP released a poster with Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva posing as the film's protagonist, Pushpa, with the tagline “Bhrashtachariyon Ko Khatam Karenge,” targeting AAP over corruption. Both parties are using these creative campaigns to appeal to voters ahead of the crucial elections.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced its second list of candidates for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections, including a major change with Manish Sisodia being shifted from Patparganj to contest from Jangpura. Educator Avadh Ojha, a recent AAP inductee, will now contest from Patparganj. The list also features Rakhi Bidlan, who will shift from Mangolpuri to Madipur, and several new faces, including Jitender Singh Shunty and Parvesh Ratan, both former BJP members. The elections, likely to be held in February, are seen as a critical test for AAP, which has dominated the Delhi assembly since 2013.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday raised concerns over the alleged links between Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros, urging all political parties to unite against "anti-India forces." Rijiju emphasized that such issues should not be viewed through political lenses and must be addressed seriously if they involve anti-India elements. His remarks came after the BJP accused Sonia Gandhi of having ties with an organization funded by the Soros Foundation that supports Kashmir's independence. Rijiju called on Congress and other parties to collectively fight against any such forces, regardless of political affiliation.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) has announced its exit from the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra, citing Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s justification of the Babri Masjid demolition as the primary reason. SP Chief Abu Azmi criticized Thackeray for reverting to his stance on the controversial issue, calling it “unacceptable.” The move follows a controversial social media post by Thackeray’s aide, Milind Narwekar, which displayed an image of the Babri Masjid demolition with a caption praising those responsible. Azmi also expressed dissatisfaction with the MVA’s internal dynamics, stating there had been a lack of communication and consultation with the party.

The much-awaited cabinet expansion of the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government is expected to take place on December 11 or 12. The NCP is likely to retain the Finance portfolio, while the BJP will keep the Home department. The Shiv Sena may hold on to Urban Development and possibly gain the Revenue department. The cabinet, which can have up to 43 ministers, will include 21-22 from the BJP, 11-12 from Shiv Sena, and 9-10 from the NCP. The final decision on the number of ministers will be made soon, with the newly-elected MLAs taking their oath in a special session starting Saturday.