Page 18 - Politics

Best of BS Opinion: The inside story of two U-turns, Bopanna & more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

Champai takes oath as Jharkhand CM; Hemant in five-day ED custody

Champai Soren won the Assembly election in 1995 from the Saraikela seat as an Independent when Jharkhand was still part of Bihar

The inside story of two U-turns

The next battle in Bihar could be between Samrat Choudhary and Tejashwi Yadav

What Modi read in 'school'

Is this government really so mysterious? Is there a key to breaking the code of this BJP's politics? The answer lies in understanding old texts on the BJP-RSS ideology

Recently announced organisational elections of Imran Khan's party postponed

The party has fielded independent candidates for the next week's elections

Tamil Actor Vijay enters politics with 'Tamilaga Vetri Kazham' party

Renowned South Indian actor Vijay has declared that his newly launched party will not be contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and will not extend support to any other party

In govt's focus: 4 'pillars', Vishwakarma, tribals and border villages

FM promises White Paper on the economy before & after 2014

Hemant Soren in ED custody, JMM leader Champai Soren to be new Jharkhand CM

Hemant Soren on Wednesday resigned as Jharkhand Chief Minister while the ruling JMM-led coalition proposed the name of senior leader Champai Soren as new state head. Soren tendered his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan after about seven hours of questioning by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to a land scam. "Hemant Soren has resigned as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The ruling JMM-Congress-RJD alliance has proposed the name of senior JMM leader Champai Soren as the new CM," state Congress president Rajesh Thakur said. Earlier, the legislators gathered at the CM residence elected Champai Soren as the leader of the JMM legislative party. Party spokesperson Vinod Pandey said a general consensus was reached on Champai Soren. Earlier, there were speculations that Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana's name could be proposed as the new CM.

RBI action against Paytm will hit ordinary Indians most: Cong slams govt

Hitting out at the government after the RBI action against Paytm Payments Bank, the Congress on Thursday said the order will hit ordinary Indians the most and asked why the firm with Chinese links had not been kept under stricter monitoring. In a major action against Paytm Payments Bank (PPBL), the Reserve Bank on Wednesday directed the lender to stop accepting deposits or top-ups in any customer accounts, wallets, FASTags and other instruments after February 29. However, any interest, cashbacks, or refunds may be credited back to customers anytime. "No other banking services, other than those...like fund transfers (irrespective of name and nature of services like AEPS, IMPS, etc), BBPOU and UPI facility should be provided by the bank after February 29, 2024," the RBI added. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "The last 10 years under PM Modi have brought only chaos to the banking system." "First, the disastrous demonetisation decision, taken without any

AAP to move Supreme Court for early hearing on Chandigarh mayoral election

The Aam Aadmi Party will move the Supreme Court seeking an early hearing of its plea on Chandigarh mayoral polls, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Wednesday. His statement came hours after the Punjab and Haryana High Court fused to grant any interim relief on the AAP's petition for setting aside Tuesday's mayoral election and seeking fresh mayoral polls. The HC also asked the Chandigarh administration to file its reply within three weeks and has adjourned the matter till February 26. The AAP-Congress alliance has alleged tampering with ballot papers by the presiding officer Anil Masih, a charge rejected by him and the BJP which won the election to all three posts. "We will move Supreme Court. We will seek an early hearing in the matter. There is a video of the whole thing," Mann said and questioned why the Chandigarh administration required three weeks to prepare a report. The chief minister was replying to queries at a news conference here on the sidelines of chairing

Imran Khan challenges rejection of his nomination papers for Feb 8 polls

In his plea, Khan urged the apex court to declare him eligible to contest the elections from the two constituencies, Geo News reported

Mahagathbandhan will fight for justice in Bihar, no need for Nitish: Rahul

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday asserted that the Mahagathbandhan' will continue fighting for social justice in Bihar, and the alliance does not need Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the cause. Speaking at a rally in Purnea district, where his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' entered during the day, Gandhi also took a swipe at Kumar for switching sides frequently. "He (Kumar) cannot exert pressure... he immediately takes a U-turn, the former Congress president said. Kumar on Sunday took oath as the chief minister of Bihar for a record ninth time after a dramatic volte-face, ditching the 'Mahagathbandhan' and the opposition bloc INDIA and forming a new government with the BJP, which he had dumped less than 18 months ago. The Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) will fight for social justice in Bihar; we don't require Nitish Kumar for that purpose, we don't require him at all, Gandhi said. Congress is a part of the Mahagathbandhan', which also comprises the RJD and Left parties. Gandhi also

Lone seat vacant on Nadda's term expiry can go to Sonia or Priyanka: Cong

Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Pratibha Singh on Tuesday said the lone Rajya Sabha seat falling vacant on expiry of six-year term of BJP national president JP Nadda on April 2 can go to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. "We would discuss the matter with senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the seat could go to them if they are willing," Singh said when asked about sending their names from the state. Sonia Gandhi contested from the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency in the 2019 general election. Priyanka Gandhi is neither a member of the Lok Sabha nor the Rajya Sabha at present. "The names of Sonia Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra can be considered if they so desire," she told mediapersons here in reply to a question on the sidelines of a function to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 76th death anniversary. Following declaration of schedule for the elections to 56 Rajya Sabha seats, including one in Himachal Pradesh, search has be

India's human capital systematically decimated under Modi govt: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said that the state of India's human capital is being "systematically decimated" by the Modi government by lowering the spending on the social sector. "The Modi Government's 'anyay kaal' spends less on education and healthcare," he said in a post on X while tagging a report that the government's expenditure on health and education has remained low in the last five years. "The state of India's human capital is being systematically decimated by lowering social spending. Crores thrown on publicity cannot ensure 'Viksit Bharat'. 2024 is the year to reclaim welfare and justice. We shall ensure Nyay," Kharge said. The Congress has been targeting the Modi government on social sector spending and have accused the government of reducing their budgets.

The politics of food

Written with wry humour and sharp insights into Indian society, James Staples' book is a fascinating social anthropology of food and politics in India

Maldives President Muizzu's impeachment looms day after Parliament clashes

The development followed a day after clashes broke out in the Maldives Parliament over the approval of four members of the pro-China President's cabinet on Sunday

Oppn party of Maldives to move impeachment motion against President Muizzu

The Maldives' Parliament on Monday approved only one of the four members of pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu's cabinet against whom the main opposition MDP has issued a three-line red whip. While Parliament voted to deny approval to Housing Minister Ali Haidar Ahmed, Islamic Minister Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and Attorney General Ahmed Usham, Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed narrowly survived the same fate, according to local media reports. President Muizzu, 45, had made a formal request for the approval of his cabinet on November 20, two days after the new administration took office. The Parliament was scheduled to vote on the Cabinet on December 18, but the original report by the Government Oversight Committee was rejected. The Parliament held an extraordinary sitting on Sunday to take the vote on the committee's new report, which was passed on December 30, news website sun.com.mv reported. But just ahead of the voting on Sunday, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party ..

Amara Raja chief Galla takes break from politics to focus on business

Galla is one of the richest MPs with a declared asset of around Rs 683 crore. Amara Raja is moving from being a battery manufacturer to a comprehensive provider of energy and mobility solutions

Rahul Gandhi urges West Bengal to lead fight against injustice nationwide

Amidst differences in opposition bloc INDIA over seat sharing with TMC in Bengal for Lok sabha polls, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday called on the Bengal and Bengalis to spearhead the battle against prevailing injustices in the nation. Gandhi's statement, delivered during the ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in North Bengal, followed closely after Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee's announcement that her party would contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections independently in the state. Expressing gratitude for the warm reception in West Bengal, Gandhi remarked, "Bengal holds a special place. Bengal led the ideological fight during the Independence struggle. It is the duty of Bengal and Bengalis to lead from the front to combat injustice, foster unity, and curb hatred in the present circumstances." He emphasised, "If you don't rise to the occasion, people will never forgive you. It is not about any single individual; it is about Bengal showing the way and leadin

Nitish Kumar takes oath as Bihar chief minister for record ninth time

BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary, Vijay Kumar Sinha take oath as ministers in Nitish Kumar-led government