The selection committee consisting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, law minister Arjun Meghwal and Leader of Opposition met this morning to consider names for the vacant positions of election commissioner.

After the meeting of the selection committee, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that the procedure followed for selection of the Election Commissioners has some lacunae.

“They (government) have the majority (in the committee that appoints election commissioner). Earlier, they had given me 212 names, but 10 minutes before the appointment they again gave me just six names. I know that the CJI isn’t there, government has made such a law that the CJI doesn’t interfere and the Central govt can choose a favourable name. I am not saying that it’s arbitrary but the procedure that is being followed has some lacunae.” Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.

Sources say, the selection committee finally closed on two names, retired IAS officers Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu. The two will join Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on the commission.

Gyanesh Kumar retired as secretary of the cooperation ministry in February, while Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, was former Chief Secretary, Government of Uttarakhand.

On December 12, Rajya Sabha passed a bill to regulate the appointment and service terms of Chief Election Commissioner and election commissioners. The bill replaces the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991.

As per the Bill, the CEC and ECs will be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of a Selection Committee, which will consist of the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition or leader of the largest opposition party in Lok Sabha.

On March 9, Election Commissioner Arun Goel on Saturday resigned from the post. His resignation was accepted by the President

The first task before the new election commissioner will be to ensure the successful conduct of the Lok Sabha polls which are slated to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)

]]> https://indiapost.com/adhir-chowdhury-dissent-on-ec-selection-gyanesh-kumar-sukhbir-sandhu-to-be-new-ecs/feed/ 0 https://indiapost.com/india-setting-itself-up-for-major-logistics-success-dhl-express-ceo/ https://indiapost.com/india-setting-itself-up-for-major-logistics-success-dhl-express-ceo/#respond Wed, 13 Mar 2024 13:04:39 +0000 https://indiapost.com/?p=190763 NEW DELHI: John Pearson, global CEO of DHL Express, emphasized on Wednesday that India is a good market for them, adding that the country is poised for major logistics success.

The global CEO of DHL Express Pearson said that it is a market that is posting just about the highest GDP growth of almost any major market at the moment.

“India is a very good market for us. It’s the fifth-largest economy in the world. For a start, it’s a market that is posting the highest, just about the highest GDP growth of almost any major large market at the minute,” Pearson told ANI.

Pearson, while speaking to ANI, praised India and called it incredible, creative and innovative.

“We’re very well positioned to capture the opportunities. We have Great build here. It’s an incredible country, very innovative, very creative, and setting themselves up for major logistics success, in my opinion,” he added.

Earlier in September 2022, Prime Minister Modi launched the National Logistics Policy and expressed confidence that the logistics Policy would act as a driving and guiding force.

Meanwhile, highlighting the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Gaza conflict, John Pearson, global CEO of DHL Express hoped that the conflict would ease.

“There is very sadly conflict in Russia and Ukraine and in Israel and Gaza. Hopefully, those things will ease. But as a global company, there is one type of crisis just about every day, and the business is very resilient. India is a great example of that,” he said.

At the launch of the DHL Global Connectedness Report, John Pearson, said, “The most recent findings of the DHL Global Connectedness Report unequivocally dispel the notion of globalization reversing course. Far from being a mere buzzword, globalization is an influential force that has profoundly reshaped our world and has great potential.”

It has further expanded markets and fostered opportunities, empowering individuals, businesses, and entire nations to flourish in unique ways.

“Embracing globalization allows us and our customers to forge a promising future, fostering an increasingly interconnected world, more prosperous for all – and poised for further growth,” he said.

The report affirmed the considerable potential to continue growing global flows.

It pegs the world’s current level of globalization at only 25 per cent on a scale from 0 per cent (meaning no flows cross national borders) to 100 per cent (borders and distance have ceased to matter at all). (ANI)

]]> https://indiapost.com/india-setting-itself-up-for-major-logistics-success-dhl-express-ceo/feed/ 0 https://indiapost.com/india-bhutan-signs-mou-on-general-supply-of-petroleum-oil-and-lubricants/ https://indiapost.com/india-bhutan-signs-mou-on-general-supply-of-petroleum-oil-and-lubricants/#respond Wed, 13 Mar 2024 13:00:14 +0000 https://indiapost.com/?p=190759 NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its nod for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the General Supply of Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants (POL), and related products from India to Bhutan, in a significant move aimed at fortifying the economic ties between India and Bhutan.

According to a press release, the memorandum, set to be inked between the Government of India and the Royal Government of Bhutan, seeks to enhance bilateral trade in the hydrocarbon sector, ensuring a secured and long-term supply of petroleum products to Bhutan.

The approval underscores India’s commitment to bolstering its commercial relations with Bhutan, regardless of gender, class, or income bias.

One of the primary objectives of the MoU is to foster mutually beneficial economic and commercial linkages between the two nations.

By facilitating the exchange of petroleum products, both India and Bhutan anticipate substantial gains in their respective economies.

Additionally, the MoU aligns with India’s vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), as exports play a pivotal role in realizing this goal.

The MoU will be a strategic fit as Energy Bridge in India’s Neighborhood First Policy.

The MoU is expected to provide a framework for cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector, promoting synergy between the energy industries of India and Bhutan.

It will facilitate smoother trade operations, ensuring a steady flow of petroleum products to Bhutan while enhancing India’s export portfolio. (ANI)

“I met the Chief Minister yesterday. We have already extended our support to CM Manohar Lal-led government. We also discussed the strategy for the Lok Sabha elections. I got the impression that the process of breaking the alliance with JJP has already started,” Haryana Independent MLA Nayan Rawat said on Tuesday after his meeting with the Chief Minister

Nayan Pal Rawat was elected to the Haryana Legislative Assembly from Prithla in the 2019 Haryana Legislative Assembly election as a member and Independent candidate.

Another independent MLA Dharampal Gonder said that the independent MLA were supporting the BJP led government.

Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) MLA Gopal Kanda claimed that the alliance between the BJP and the JJP was at break point but the BJP can win all 10 Lok Sabha seats from the state on its own. He also said that there would be another meeting with the Chief Minister after which future course of action will be determined.

In the 90 member Haryana Assembly the BJP has 41 MLAs, it also enjoys the support of 5 independent MLAs and the HLP MLA Gopal Kanda.

Meanwhile, according to the sources, the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) called a meeting in Delhi and the discussion will be held at the residence of Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala. Sources also say that the Haryana Deputy Chief Minister returned the government carcade, a sign that the alliance was at break point.

On March 10, Brijendra Singh, the former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Haryana’s Hisar joined the Congress after resigning from the ruling party.

Earlier in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had won all 10 parliamentary seats while JJP, which had contested the elections in alliance with AAP, could not put up a fight on 7 seats it contested.

The Lok Sabha polls are expected to be held sometime between April and May this year. (ANI)

“If my voice is reaching Rahul Gandhi, then he should listen with open ears. Let there be a discussion on what is the difference between your (UPA) 10 years and Modi’s 10 years,” she said on Monday while speaking at the ‘Namo Yuva Maha Sammelan’ organised by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha in Nagpur.

She said that if she asked to discuss it with Rahul Gandhi, he would not come. He would not be able to stand even in front of an ordinary worker of the BJP.

“I guarantee that even if an ordinary worker of Yuva Morcha starts speaking in front of Rahul Gandhi, he will lose the strength to speak,” she said.

Smriti said in her address that the BJP has fulfilled the three major promises made to the public in the party manifesto in the last 10 years.

She said that the abrogation of Article 370 that ended the special status of the then state of Jammu and Kashmir, women’s reservation in the legislature and the construction of Ram Mandir were these promises and they were fulfilled. (ANI)

Also Read: ‘Misogynistic man’: Smriti Irani over Rahul Gandhi’s ‘flying kiss’ to Parliament

Suraj Chokhani, the Managing Director of Ability Games Ltd Company, and Girish Talreja, known to be suspected key players in the case, were remanded to one-day judicial custody by the Raipur Court on Sunday.

The recent arrests follow the arrest of Nitish Diwan in the same money laundering case.

Saurabh Pandey, the lawyer representing the ED, revealed that the statements of Chokhani and Talreja were recorded to validate the claims made by Diwan. However, their statements reportedly contradicted the evidence in possession of the ED, leading to their arrest.

On the arrest of two persons in connection with the Mahadev betting app case, the lawyer representing ED in the case, Saurabh Pandey said, “The last arrest that we made in this money laundering case was of Nitish Diwan. To verify the factual correctness of the statements made by him, the statements of these two have been recorded but they are making statements contradictory to the evidence that we have and so they were arrested. The court has granted a one-day judicial remand, however, we had demanded a 14-day custodial remand.”

According to ED lawyer Saurabh Pandey, Suraj Chokhani, the Managing Director of Ability Games Ltd Company, is a close associate of Tibrewal, a hawala operator.

“An ID by the name Lotus 365 is there which works for the Mahadev app. Girish Talreja along with Saurabh Chandrakhar used to manage this ID and involved in betting. Suraj Chokhani is closely linked with Hari Shankar Tibrewal who is associated with a lot of people involved in the Mahadev app betting case.” Pandey said.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) last week conducted raids at more than 15 locations across the country as part of its ongoing money laundering investigation into the Mahadev online betting and gaming app case.

Earlier, the ED had arrested alleged accused Asim Das, Bheem Singh Yadav, Chandrabhushan Verma, Anil Kumar Agrawal and Sunil Dammani, and Satish Chandrakar. The agency stated that the illicit funds generated by the app were used for bribing politicians and bureaucrats.

Several celebrities and Bollywood actors have also been summoned by the agency for questioning regarding their connections with the online betting platform and the payment methods involved.

The agency stated that the illicit funds generated by the app were used for bribing politicians and bureaucrats. (ANI)

Also Read: Bhupesh Baghel to complain to EC on betting app link allegations

Areas including Mandi House, RK Puram, Indraprastha, Kartavya Path, and Central Delhi witnessed fresh showers.

Delhi witnessed a sudden change in weather on Saturday morning as well. Several areas in Delhi, including Greater Kailash, India Gate, RK Puram, and Janpath, experienced strong winds and light showers on Saturday morning.

On Saturday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi.

“Severe Weather Observed over Northwest India during 0830 hrs IST to 2030 hrs IST of yesterday, the 02nd March 2024,” IMD posted on X.

The IMD said that a western disturbance as a cyclonic circulation lies over north Afghanistan and its neighbourhoods, and a trough runs from this cyclonic circulation to the Northwest Arabian Sea in lower and middle tropospheric levels. It further said that high moisture feeding is taking place from the Arabian Sea to northwest India and is likely to continue till March 3.

The minimum temperature departure was recorded above normal at isolated places over Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi on Saturday, as per IMD.

Further, the Met Department said that no significant change in minimum temperatures is very likely over northwest India during the next three days and will fall by 3-5 degrees Celsius thereafter.

Also, IMD has predicted isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall or snowfall is very likely over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad and Himachal Pradesh on Saturday.

The IMD issued warnings of hailstorm activity at isolated places in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, West Uttar Pradesh, north Madhya Pradesh, East Rajasthan and East Uttar Pradesh on March 2. (ANI)

” Hon’ble PM, when will you listen to Man Ki Baat of our deprived MGNREGA beneficiaries? Despite your govt. stopping funds, Mamata Banerjee-led govt by today will clear dues of all deprived MGNREGA beneficiaries in the State,” AITC statement said.

“Will you suspend CBI-fir named Suvendu Adhikari today from your Party or share the stage with him to prove your ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ to shelter corrupt people?” the statement added.

TMC MP Saugata Roy took a dig at the Prime Minister saying that despite him campaigning in the state the BJP would not win seats.

“In West Bengal, the condition of the BJP is very poor. The PM is trying to lift it up. The PM comes to the state before every election, but it does not make any difference… This time he will do three rallies but it will not make any difference. The PM will not be able to win those seats” Saugata Roy said.

Earlier, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit out at the central government for blocking the disbursement of funds to the state.

Banerjee further said that just like the state government is providing beneficiaries with MGNREGA funds, it will do so for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana as well if the Centre does not release funds for it by April 1.

“If by April 1, the Center does not release money for Awaas Yojna, the state government will release funds for the same, just like we are releasing MGNREGA funds for the deprived beneficiaries,” the Chief Minister said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in a public programme where he will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 7,200 crore in Arambagh, Hooghly, West Bengal.

At Arambagh, Hooghly, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone and dedicate to nation multiple developmental projects related to sectors like rail, ports, Oil Pipeline, LPG supply and wastewater treatment.

The Prime Minister will inaugurate Indian Oil’s 518-km Haldia-Barauni Crude Oil Pipeline, developed at a cost of about Rs 2,790 crore. This pipeline passes through Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The pipeline will supply crude oil to Barauni Refinery, Bongaigaon Refinery and Guwahati Refinery in a safe, cost-efficient, and environment-friendly manner.

The Prime Minister will also dedicate to nation and lay the foundation stone for multiple projects for strengthening of infrastructure at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, worth about Rs 1000 crore.

“The projects whose foundation stone will be laid include reconstruction of Berth No. 8 NSD and mechanisation of berth no. 7 and 8 NSD of the Kolkata Dock System,” the PMO stated.

Prime Minister will also dedicate to nation the project for augmentation of the firefighting system at oil jetties of Haldia Dock Complex, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port. The newly installed firefighting facility is a state-of-the-art, fully automated set-up equipped with cutting edge gas and flame sensors, ensuring immediate hazard detection.

The Prime Minister will dedicate the third Rail Mounted Quay Crane (RMQC) of Haldia Dock Complex with lifting capacity of 40 tonnes. These new projects at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata will boost the productivity of the port substantially by helping in faster and safer cargo handling and evacuation.

He will dedicate to the nation important rail projects worth about Rs 2680 crore.

“The projects include the third rail line connecting Jhargram – Salgajhari (90 km); the doubling of Sondalia – Champapukur rail line (24 km); and the doubling of Dankuni-Bhattanagar-Baltikuri rail line (9 km). These projects will expand the rail transport facilities in the region, improve mobility and facilitate seamless service of freight traffic, leading to economic and industrial growth in the region,” a staement from the Prime Miniser’s office read.

The Prime Minister will also inaugurate Indian Oil’s LPG bottling plant with a capacity of 120 TMTPA at Vidyasagar Industrial Park, Kharagpur. Developed at a cost of more than Rs 200 crore, the LPG bottling plant will be the first LPG bottling plant in the region. It will supply LPG to about 14.5 lakh customers in West Bengal.

The Prime Minister will inaugurate three projects related to wastewater treatment and sewerage in West Bengal. These projects, developed at a cost of about Rs 600 crore have been funded by the World Bank.

“The projects include Interception and Diversion (I&D) works and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) at Howrah with a capacity of 65 MLD and a sewage network of 3.3 km; I&D works and STPs at Bally with capacity of 62 MLD and a sewage network of 11.3 km, and I&D works and STPs at Kamarhati and Baranagar with a capacity of 60 MLD and a sewage network of 8.15 km,” the statement added.

The Prime Minister will be on a two-day visit to Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Bihar on March 1 and 2. (ANI)

Also Read: Sheikh Shahjahan in safe custody of Mamata police: Suvendu Adhikari’s on TMC leader’s arrest

Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested by West Bengal police on Thursday morning in connection with allegations of ‘sexual assault and land grab’.

The LoP, in a post on X, alleged that Shahjahan will be extended five-star facilities while in jail.

“The Scoundrel of Sandeshkhali, Seikh Shahjahan, is in the safe custody of Mamata Police since 12 am last night. He was taken away from the Bermajurr-II Gram Panchayat area, after he managed to negotiate a deal with the Mamata Police, through influential mediators, that he would be taken care of properly while in police and judicial custody,” Suvendu Adhikari said in his post.

“He will be extended 5-star facilities during his time behind bars and will have access to a mobile phone, through which he will be able to lead the Tolamool Party virtually,” he added.

“Even a bed in the Woodburn Ward will be kept ready and vacant for him if he chooses to spend some time there,” Adhikari said.

Shahjahan’s arrest comes three days after the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice ordered to add Sheikh Shahjahan to the Sandeshkhali case.

On February 26, Calcutta HC Justice asked to issue a notice in the case and said, “There is no reason to not arrest him.”

He had been evading arrest by both state and central agencies for over a month.

Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district has been witnessing widespread protests against TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh this month as a section of women were seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by the TMC leader.

A large number of women in Sandeshkhali had accused Shajahan Sheikh and his close aides of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion. (ANI)

The meeting will be held under the chairmanship of BJP President JP Nadda.

During the meeting, an important discussion about the selection of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be held, a source confirmed.

Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, BL Santosh, and state officials and chief ministers, among others, will be present in the meeting.

Sources said that the chief ministers and party officials of Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Assam, and the other three states will be present at the meeting on Wednesday.

Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party held the core group meeting of five states on Saturday at the party headquarters in New Delhi.

Given the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, the core group meeting of five states was called at the BJP headquarters.

The meeting was led by BJP National President JP Nadda in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah and Organization General Secretary BL Santosh.

The meeting was held in phases and saw discussion for the preparation of Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan. (ANI)

Also Read: BJP launches ‘Modi ko chunte hai’ campaign for 2024 Lok Sabha Election

Earlier on Tuesday, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had claimed that opposition leaders were obstructing the work of counting officials, and that “5-6 Congress MLAs were taken away in a convoy of the CRPF and Haryana Police.”

Meanwhile, members of the BJP Legislative Party led by Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday met Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla.

The meeting comes a day after the ruling Congress’s Abhishek Manu Singhvi lost the Rajya Sabha election to the BJP’s Harsh Mahajan despite the Congress enjoying a comfortable majority in the state assembly.

After meeting Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Himachal Pradesh LoP Jairam Thakur said, “We have informed the Governor about what happened in the Assembly…In the Assembly, when we demanded division of vote during the financial bill, it was not allowed and the House was adjourned twice. The way Marshals behaved with our MLAs was not right. We have a doubt that the Vidhan Sabha Speaker can suspend BJP MLAs and some MLAs of Congress who voted for BJP in Rajya Sabha elections, can also be suspended. Currently, the Congress government has lost the right to stay in power…”

Jairam Thakur further said that the state government has lost the ‘moral right to stay in power’ after it lost the Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday.

“From the recent political point of view of the developments that have taken place in Himachal Pradesh, it can be said that the state government has lost the moral right to stay in power…” the BJP leader said.

The Budget Session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly has been convened for today. The BJP is pressing for division voting on the passing of the Budget after it is introduced in the assembly. If the Congress is unable to see the Bugdet through the government in the state will fall.

The Congress has 40 MLAs while the BJP has 25 in the 68-member state assembly. The remaining three seats are held by independents.

Meanwhile, winning BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan feels the BJP is in pole position to return to power in the state.

“BJP is going to form its government in the state. Some more MLAs of Congress are in touch with us. I got phone calls from some of their MLAs and ministers…The situation is going to change in the next few hours and you will see BJP will form its govt soon…For the next 10-20 years, Congress is not going to come to power here” BJP Rajya Sabha winning candidate Harsh Mahajan said.

In a shocking political development in Himachal Pradesh, the ruling Congress’s Abhishek Manu Singhvi lost the Rajya Sabha election to the BJP’s Harsh Mahajan despite the Congress enjoying a comfortable majority in the state assembly.

Both candidates secured 34 votes each in the 68-member state assembly. Victory tilted towards Mahajan after a draw of lots was held as a tie-breaker. (ANI)

Also Read: A grassroots leader, Sukhu reaches the highest post in state politics

Addressing the News 9 Global Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi said, “India of 21st century does not think small. Whatever we do, we do best and biggest. World is amazed and sees the benefit of moving with India.”

The Prime Minister said that the level of trust toward self and the government is equal and the government’s work culture and governance are the cause of this turn-around.

“Government offices are no longer a problem but are becoming allies of the countrymen,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that the government has developed infrastructure keeping rural needs in mind resulting in better connectivity, new employment opportunities and income for women.

“This strengthened rural India, he said adding that “For the first time in India, food expenditure has become less than 50 per cent of the total expenditure. That is, the family which earlier used to spend all its energy in procuring food, today its members are able to spend money on other things.”

PM Modi mentioned the decisions taken by the government to resolve old challenges.

“Our government is moving forward keeping the principle of Nation First paramount,” the Prime Minister remarked.

He touched upon the abrogation of Article 370, construction of the Ram Mandir, ending of triple talaq, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, One Rank One Pension, and creation of the post of Chief of Defense Staff.

He underlined that the “government completed all such incomplete tasks with the thinking of Nation First”.

The Prime Minister stressed the need to prepare India of the 21st century.

“From space to semiconductor, digital to drones, AI to clean energy, 5G to Fintech, India has today reached the forefront of the world,” he said.

Referring to a recent report on the consumption pattern of the country, the Prime Minister highlighted the fact that poverty has reached its lowest level till date into single digit.

“In the last 10 years, consumption in villages has increased at a much faster rate than that in cities. This means that the economic power of the village people is increasing, they are having more money to spend,” he said. (ANI)

Calling it a “new beginning” in his political career, Ashok Chavan said, “Today it’s a new beginning of my political career. I am formally joining the BJP in their office today. I am hopeful that we will work for the constructive development of Maharashtra.”

He further said that he will be joining the BJP in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, party leader Ashish Shelar and Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

On asked about MLAs and Congress legislators joining the BJP, he declined to comment saying that he is not aware of others.

According to sources, Ashok Chavan is likely to be BJP’s Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra putting Congress in a tight spot. Ashok Chavan resigned from the primary membership of the Congress party on Monday.

Chavan submitted his resignation to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Nana Patole.

“I have resigned from the Assembly membership as an MLA. I have given my resignation to the Speaker. I have resigned from the Congress Working Committee and the Congress primary membership,” Chavan told reporters after resigning from Congress on Monday.

Ashok Chavan was the Vice President and General Secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress Committee from 1986 to 1995.

He served the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for three terms, starting in 1999 and ending in May 2014.

He served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra State from December 8, 2008, to November 9, 2010. On November 9, 2010, the Congress Party asked him to resign from office over corruption allegations relating to the Adarsh Housing Society scam.

In the 2014 general elections, Chavan was elected from the Nanded constituency but lost the seat in 2019 Pratap Patil Chikhalikar of the BJP.

He is the third big name to desert the Congress ship in Maharashtra. First to go was former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora, followed by former MLA Baba Siddique.

Chavan, who represents Bhokar, Nanded, as an MLA, was reported to have severe differences with state party chief Nana Patole. (ANI)

Also Read: Eknath Shinde vs Uddhav Thackeray: SC hears pleas of Shiv Sena factions

Further, AAP MP Sandeep Pathak said that even though the Congress party does not merit even a single seat in Delhi, in the spirit of alliance, the AAP party is willing to offer one seat.

The AAP plans to field candidates in the remaining six seats in Delhi, Pathak added.

“You must have seen in the Delhi elections that the Congress party has zero seats in the Lok Sabha, zero seats in the Vidhan Sabha, and in the MCD elections, out of 250, only 9 seats have come to the Congress party. If you look at this data on a merit basis, the Congress party does not get a single seat, according to this data. But data is not important; keeping in mind the dharma of the alliance and the respect of the Congress party, we offer them one seat. So we propose that the Congress party fights on one seat and the Aam Aadmi Party fights on six seats,” he said.

The AAP MP added that the candidate’s announcement is not being made today. He expressed hope that a meeting will soon commence in Delhi, and the conclusion of this meeting will determine the next steps.

“Today, we are not announcing the candidate. I hope that the meeting will start in the context of Delhi soon, the conclusion of the meeting will come out, we will all get on with our work and if the conclusion does not come out, then in the next few days we will announce the candidate on the six seats we are saying and we will start our preparation and our work, AAP MP Sandeep Pathak said,” he said.

AAP also threw the gauntlet at the Congress by announcing Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas’ name as the candidate to contest LS poll from South Goa seat. This is a seat that is currently held by Congress MP Francisco Sardinha. AAP has also named Chaitar Vasava from Bharuch and Umesh Bhai Makwana from Bhavnagar as candidates from Gujarat. It was reported that Congress was considering late Ahmed Patel’s daughte Mumtaz Patel for Bahruch.

Pathak also expressed his disappointment over the lack of progress in seat-sharing discussions with the Congress party; he added that despite two official meetings, no concrete outcomes have been achieved.

“We had two official meetings with the Congress party regarding seat sharing but there was no result of these meetings. Other than these two official meetings, no other meeting has taken place in the last month. We have been waiting for the next meeting; even the leaders of Congress are not aware of the next meeting. Today, I am sitting here with a heavy heart. We announced three candidates from Assam and I hope the INDIA alliance will accept them,” he said.

As the Lok Sabha elections approach, political parties across the spectrum are ramping up their efforts to connect with voters. With the BJP bringing on new partners like the RLD on its platform the INDIA bloc is sinking in its efforts to put up a united front. (ANI)

Also Read: Mallikarjun Kharge turns down proposal to be INDIA alliance’s PM candidate

The police have deployed concrete slabs, iron nails, barricades, barbed wires, and police and paramilitary personnel at Kurukshetra in Haryana in view of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march by the farmers.

“11 companies deployed here. We are ensuring that there is no law and order situation here and citizens do not face any trouble in commuting. As of now, there is no march towards the Tikri border (with Delhi), but the situation is dynamic and we are monitoring it using various sources”: SP Jhajjar Arpit Jain said

To ensure law and order, Delhi police have already enforced Section 144, restricting entry of tractor trolleys and large assemblies.

DCP Dwarka Ankit Singh said, “Secc 144 CrPC is imposed in the city, tractor trolleys are not allowed in the city. Social media monitoring has also been done. Drone is an effective tool for security monitoring, we will use it”

Meanwhile, the Delhi-Noida-Delhi (DND) road witnessed heavy vehicular traffic from Noida towards Delhi following multi-layered barricading at the borders to restrict the protesting farmers from entering the national capital.

Earlier in the day, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said that all efforts were made in the meeting to find a solution to avoid a confrontation with the government adding that they anticipated a positive result.

Union Minister Arjun Munda, in response to the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, emphasized the necessity of time and deliberation to address the concerns raised by the farming community.

“We care about the interests of the farmers. It is not our concern if someone is doing politics over this issue. We have always been ready for talks and discussions and we are ready to do everything possible to find a solution to this issue.”

Arjun Munda is among the team of ministers holding talks with the farmer leaders that also includes Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, MoS Nityanand Rai and Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal.

The farmers have put forth 12 demands before the central government for which they’re marching to Delhi.

The protest this time has been called by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee led by farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher.

According to the protesting farmers, the centre promised them better crop prices after which they ended the 2021 protest.

They are demanding to enact a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission report.

They are also demanding a complete debt waiver and a scheme to provide pensions to farmers and farm labourers.

The farmers have also urged to scrap the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 and are demanding to reintroduce the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, ensuring consent from farmers and compensation at 4 times the collector rate.

Further, they are demanding to punish those involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings.

An appeal to provide 200 days of employment per year and a daily wage of Rs 700 under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) linking it with farming has also been made by the farmers.

Also, a demand to provide compensation to the families of farmers who died during the protests in 2021 and a job for any family member has been put in place. (ANI)

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