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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Thackerays’ ‘Taandav’ for trees, tigers

AI generated image Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the government for the systematic degradation of the state’s environment under the garb of development, even as the climate change poses a direct threat to the environment, economy, agriculture, public health and the future of both rural and urban centres. Questioning the state government’s claims of having planted millions of trees, he rued how the World Environment Day has been...

Thackerays’ ‘Taandav’ for trees, tigers

AI generated image Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the government for the systematic degradation of the state’s environment under the garb of development, even as the climate change poses a direct threat to the environment, economy, agriculture, public health and the future of both rural and urban centres. Questioning the state government’s claims of having planted millions of trees, he rued how the World Environment Day has been reduced to an annual ritual of tree-planting drives and clicking selfies for social media, though 90 pc of the saplings don’t survive even a day. “Only the government knows where those trees really are,” said Raj sternly. He recalled a "Blueprint of Maharashtra’s Development" he had proposed in 2015, in which he advocated how development without environmental sensitivity is hollow. Justifying, he said that the consequences are visible where roads, bridges and infrastructure projects are hailed as achievements, but even a short spell of rainfall can paralyze entire cities. Referring to recent reports on farmers returning from the fields after 10 am due to the scorching heat, Raj said that the worsening climate crisis has become an everyday reality. Citing official statistics, Raj claimed that extreme heat has caused productivity losses of nearly USD 159 billion and slashing of 160 billion work-hours annually in recent years. He mentioned the World Bank estimates that India’s GDP could plummet by 2.5-4.5 pc while 57 pc of the country’s districts sheltering 76 pc of the population stare at serious climate-related crises. Taking a swipe, he said while the governments boast about growth figures and economical rankings, they are silent on the staggering costs of environmental destruction. He questioned the development model “whether flooded cities, washed-away crops and unbearable summers” genuinely indicate progress. Claiming that Maharashtra was increasingly becoming unliveable for upto 8 months in a year, he said excessive monsoon rains disrupt rural life and urban floods cripple cities, while extreme heat make normal life a torture in summers in both urban-rural areas. Targeting the Centre, Raj alleged that nearly 173,984 hectares of forest lands were diverted in the past 11 years for mining and infrastructure projects to benefit the PM’s single favourite Adani Group. He said that these lands amount to 1,730 sqkm, or equivalent to the area of 16 Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) that is spread over barely 104 sqkm. Dissolve state wildlife board: Aaditya Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray has accused the Maharashtra government for issuing a permit to carry out mining activity in the sensitive tiger corridor between the Tadoba-Andhari and Indravati sanctuaries housing the big striped cats. In a strongly-worded letter to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Member-Secretary Sanjay Kumar, Thackeray sought his immediate personal intervention, sacking the Maharashtra State Board for Wild-Life (SBWL), revoking the permit, and probe against the Chief Wildlife Warden & Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) M. Srinivasa Reddy for the alleged lacunae. Aditya’s two-pager says the permit has been granted for “scientific exploration and excavation/systematic recovery of low-grade iron ore in existing mines in villages Hedri, Bande, Parsalgondi and Round Parsalgondi, in the Etapalli taluka of Gadchiroli district”. Last January, Aditya – MLA from Worli – had first raised the issue saying that the proposed mine would create only 120 jobs, including 32 permanent, and the estimated output is pegged at 1.1 million tons in a year. Referring to two letters of Reddy – on April 28 and May 21 – the SS (UBT) leader claimed that in communications to the state government, the PCCF had changed his stance on the issue. Aditya said that in the first letter, Reddy had effectively opposed the government plans for mining activity but in the second letter, he took a somersault, ostensibly due to government pressures or some commercial interests, “the U-turn is disgraceful and detrimental to India’s national interest” – and this abrupt shift in stance must be investigated thoroughly. In view of the contrary stance of the PCCF Reddy, entrusted with protecting the wildlife but failing to defend the NTCA and NBWL, point to serious malfunctioning of the SBWL, and hence it must be dissolved, besides reviewing all its decisions in the past three years, particularly those pertaining to hazardous activities in sensitive areas, demanded Aditya. 444 tigers roam in 11,000 sq.km As per the Status of Tiger Report (2002), and the Maharashtra Economic Survey 2025-2026, the state boasts of 444 tigers prowling in the wild along with other menacing creatures. The state’s total protected wildlife network of 88 Notified Areas of National Parks, Sanctuaries, and Conservation Reserves - including 6 dedicated to the striped big cats – is spread over 11,092 sq. kms as per current data.

UP politics heats up

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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