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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Congress to go solo in BMC polls; MVA winks

Mumbai: In a dramatic political twist, the Maharashtra Congress will contest the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections solo, AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala announced here on Saturday. The Maharashtra Congress on Saturday released a list of 40 star campaigners for the upcoming municipal and nagar panchayat elections in the state. “We will contest all 227 seats independently in the BMC polls. This is the desire of all our party leaders and workers… to go alone...

Congress to go solo in BMC polls; MVA winks

Mumbai: In a dramatic political twist, the Maharashtra Congress will contest the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections solo, AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala announced here on Saturday. The Maharashtra Congress on Saturday released a list of 40 star campaigners for the upcoming municipal and nagar panchayat elections in the state. “We will contest all 227 seats independently in the BMC polls. This is the desire of all our party leaders and workers… to go alone in the civic elections,” Chennithala said tersely after a meeting of senior state and city leaders. The announcement drew no howls of protest or chest-beating from the other Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners - the NCP (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT) – plus the smaller ones, many of whom watched the unfolding internal dynamics quietly. In what seemed a veiled swipe at Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), MRCC President Prof. Varsha Gaikwad insisted the Congress was a “cultured and respected party” and could not align with any outfit that had previously targeted Bihari and north Indian migrants. She reiterated that the Congress’ alliance with the NCP (SP) remains intact, adding that only Sharad Pawar would comment further on the matter. Chennithala’s ‘ekla chalo re’ move came barely a day after the Congress-RJD-Left-plus Mahagathbandhan secured just 35 seats in Bihar, and was crushed to the political pavement by the NDA bulldozer that bagged 202 seats, and six went to others in the 243-strong Assembly. Sharp criticism That defeat triggered sharp criticism from Shiv Sena (UBT) senior leader Ambadas Danve, who squarely blamed the Congress for dithering on naming the Bihar CM face till the last moments and allegedly bargaining hard to corner maximum seats from the smaller allies. While none of the Congress’ top brass responded to Danve’s outburst, several city, district and state leaders privately – and almost unanimously - urged Chennithala to adopt an ‘akele lado’ (fight solo) stance for the BMC polls in today's meeting. A senior state Congress leader, requesting anonymity, said MVA partners were uneasy over the increasing public bonhomie between the Thackeray cousins - Uddhav and Raj - ahead of the civic polls. “In the current scenario, someone may be a good asset for the family, but could prove a political liability… Congress workers are worried of a negative public reaction in the cosmopolitan Mumbai and the MMR if the MNS ends up contesting on the MVA platform,” he explained. Following Chennithala’s blunt declaration, political circles are abuzz with speculation over whether the Congress will extend its ‘undeclared ban’ on tie-ups with certain parties and its actual repercussions beyond the BMC, as the civic poll schedules draw nearer. Despite the friction, both the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) remain supremely confident that the next BMC Mayor will be from their respective parties.

US Vice President JD Vance, his family arrive in Delhi

  • PTI
  • Apr 21
  • 2 min read

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NEW DELHI: US Vice President J D Vance arrived here on Monday on a four-day visit to India against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement between the two strategic partners to address a variety of issues, including tariff and market access.


Vance is accompanied by his Indian-origin wife Usha Chilukuri and their three children Ewan, Vivek, Mirabel and a delegation of senior US government officials.


The US Vice President and the Second Lady were received at the Palam air base by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.


The American leader was also accorded a ceremonial welcome on his arrival.

In the evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a dinner for the Vances after holding wide-ranging talks with the US Vice President.


External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Indian ambassador to US Vinay Mohan Kwatra are expected to be part of the Indian team to be led by PM Modi at the talks.


The focus of the meeting is likely to be on early finalisation of the proposed bilateral trade pact as well as ways to boost overall trajectory of ties between the two countries.


Besides Delhi, Vance and his family will travel to Jaipur and Agra.

Vance's first visit to India comes weeks after US President Donald Trump imposed and then paused a sweeping tariff regime against around 60 countries, including India.


New Delhi and Washington are now holding negotiations to seal a bilateral trade agreement that is expected to address a variety of issues, including tariff and market access.


Vance and his family are scheduled to leave for Jaipur on Monday night.

In Delhi, the US Vice President and his family are staying at the ITC Maurya Sheraton hotel.


On April 22, the Vances will visit a number of historical sites in Jaipur, including the Amer Fort, also known as Amber Fort. The fort is a UNESCO world heritage site.


In the afternoon, the US Vice President is scheduled to address a gathering at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur.


Vance is expected to delved into broader aspects of India-US relations under the Donald Trump administration during his speech that is expected to be attended by diplomats, foreign policy experts, Indian government officials and academia.


The US Vice President and his family will travel to Agra on the morning of April 23, people familiar with the matter said.


In Agra, they will visit the Taj Mahal and Shilpgram which is an open air emporium showcasing various Indian artefacts, they said.


After concluding their visit to Agra, the Vances will return to Jaipur on the second half of April 23.


The US Vice President and his family will depart for the US from Jaipur on April 24, according to the people cited above.

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