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By:

Dr. Abhilash Dawre

19 March 2025 at 10:48:41 pm

Woman dies by suicide

Husband held over alleged dowry harassment, nine-month-old daughter left motherless Ulhasnagar: A 28-year-old highly educated woman allegedly died by suicide at her residence in Ulhasnagar on September 12, following alleged physical and mental harassment by her husband, mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law over dowry, domestic issues and the birth of a daughter, according to a complaint filed by her father. The deceased, identified as Nitya Gaurav Rai, was married to software engineer Gaurav...

Woman dies by suicide

Husband held over alleged dowry harassment, nine-month-old daughter left motherless Ulhasnagar: A 28-year-old highly educated woman allegedly died by suicide at her residence in Ulhasnagar on September 12, following alleged physical and mental harassment by her husband, mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law over dowry, domestic issues and the birth of a daughter, according to a complaint filed by her father. The deceased, identified as Nitya Gaurav Rai, was married to software engineer Gaurav Sanjay Rai in December 2021. Police have registered a case against the husband and two other family members, and Gaurav Rai has been arrested. Their nine-month-old daughter has been left without her mother. According to the complaint, Nitya was an MSc and BEd graduate, while her husband Gaurav is a software engineer. Her father alleged that despite his limited financial means, he had given around Rs 3.75 lakh in cash to Gaurav at the time of marriage, along with household articles and expenses towards the wedding. Nitya’s father alleged that after the marriage, she was repeatedly subjected to harassment over household work and was allegedly pressured to bring additional dowry from her parental home. He further alleged that Nitya’s mother-in-law Madhuri Sanjay Rai and grandmother-in-law Sharda Rai also subjected her to mental and physical harassment. The father further alleged that the situation worsened after Nitya gave birth to a daughter in December 2025. According to him, her grandmother-in-law repeatedly taunted her over the birth of the girl child and allegedly told her that she had increased their troubles by having another child. According to the family, Nitya generally did not disclose the disputes at her matrimonial home to her parents. However, on the night of the incident, she allegedly made a call to her father at around 11.30 pm and told him to come and take her home, stating that otherwise the family members would kill her. Her father said that he asked her what had happened and told her that he would speak to her in-laws. When he subsequently called again, her father-in-law Sanjay Rai allegedly informed him that Nitya had died. Nitya’s father said he then requested her in-laws to immediately take her to a hospital. He has also alleged that his daughter was killed and appealed to the police to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death and ensure justice for his daughter and family.

UP politics heats up

Writer: Akhilesh Sinha
Akhilesh Sinha
May 22
3 min read

Tension in SP-Congress alliance ahead of 2027 elections

New Delhi: As northern India swelters under the relentless heat, Uttar Pradesh is no exception. While the mercury soars, the political temperature in the state is rising just as sharply. With the 2027 Assembly elections on the horizon, the tug-of-war over alliance between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress has given birth to new political equations. Past trends and data suggest that, once again, the electoral battlefield will witness a complex game of alliances and independent strategies.


In fact, Congress is extending a hand of friendship to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to strengthen its presence in Uttar Pradesh. How successful this effort will be remains to be seen.


During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the SP-Congress alliance displayed its strength in certain regions, but in the previous Assembly, Panchayat, and local elections, Congress contested independently. This indicated that the strength of an alliance doesn’t always translate uniformly at the constituency level.


Akhilesh Yadav has made it clear that the I.N.D.I.A. block will remain intact for the 2027 Assembly elections. He stated, “Those who want to join the alliance, can come and those who wish to leave, are free to go.”


This declaration not only underscores the alliance strategy but also sends a strong signal regarding power equations. While this announcement aimed to challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a few days later, some statements hinted at subtle shifts in messaging.


However, recent reports suggest renewed discussions about SP and Congress contesting separately in Uttar Pradesh, assembly, Panchayat and local-level elections, where Congress may prefer to go it alone. Clearly, the alliance’s seat-sharing arrangement is not suitable to congress, but SP has already prepared meticulously at the booth and regional organizational level.

Booth Mobilisation

Akhilesh Yadav has emphasised that SP workers will be fully mobilized at every booth. This strategy is aimed at strengthening the party’s local organizational capabilities. By maintaining a robust presence in every Assembly constituency, the party intends to ensure its influence remains strong on voting day.


Political analysts believe this move could impact both SP and Congress vote banks. When the alliance is unclear and SP is showing its full strength independently, opposition supporter tilted toward Akhilesh Yadav.


According to SP’s strategy, the party aims to maintain influence over 280-300 seats, particularly in northern and western Uttar Pradesh. Congress, on the other hand, is expected to contest 20-30 seats, largely confined to urban and sensitive constituencies. Past Assembly election data sheds light on this strategy. In the previous election, SP contested 347 seats and won around 111, strengthening its position, while Congress contested 399 seats but managed to win just two. This experience taught both parties that alliances combined with active organizational presence at the booth level could yield better outcomes.


Alliance Complexities

Akhilesh Yadav has also signaled to Congress not to underestimate SP. If Congress forges a separate strategy with the BSP, SP is fully prepared to contest independently in Uttar Pradesh. This possibility is already reshaping political calculations in the state.


Yadav views the P.D.A. not as a single-party venture but as a broad “community and movement” encompassing nearly 65% of the population, currently feeling marginalized, insulted, or deprived. According to him, this movement is committed to protecting the Constitution, reservation policies, and social justice.


Thus, SP’s strategy is not merely about electoral victory, but it carries a wider social and political message. The party aims not only to win power but also to establish a lasting organizational foundation for its voter base and supporters in both rural and urban areas.


The ongoing alliance uncertainties demonstrate that the I.N.D.I.A. Alliance’s position in Uttar Pradesh remains far from clear. SP has prioritized organizational preparation and plans to maintain activity at every booth. Congress, meanwhile, is signaling the possibility of contesting independently.


This dynamic will inevitably influence voters. Where alliances appear uncertain, SP’s strong booth-level structure could bolster its electoral grip. Analysts suggest that in the 2027 Assembly elections, SP’s proactive approach at every seat may play a decisive role, potentially posing a significant challenge to the BJP.


Uttar Pradesh’s politics has always been a mix of alliances, seat-sharing negotiations, and caste-religion-based vote-bank strategies. This time, the tussle between SP and Congress, combined with booth-level preparedness and potential alliance complexities, has intensified the pre-election buzz. Akhilesh Yadav’s message is clear that SP will remain strong and active under all circumstances in UP. This makes the upcoming elections not only politically critical but also highly dramatic and exciting for the state’s electorate.

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