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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Questions on MVA unity rises

Mumbai: Cracks have surfaced within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) after the Shiv Sena UBT announced the nomination of former leader of opposition Ambadas Danve for the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections slated for May 12. Congress has announced that it will field its nominee in the elections, especially after Shiv Sena UBT president Uddhav Thackeray opted out of the polls after his present term in the Upper House ends on May 13. The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president...

Questions on MVA unity rises

Mumbai: Cracks have surfaced within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) after the Shiv Sena UBT announced the nomination of former leader of opposition Ambadas Danve for the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections slated for May 12. Congress has announced that it will field its nominee in the elections, especially after Shiv Sena UBT president Uddhav Thackeray opted out of the polls after his present term in the Upper House ends on May 13. The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Harshwardhan Sapkal announced that the party will field its candidate in the state council elections, expressing serious displeasure over Shiv Sena UBT’s move to nominate Ambadas Danve and not Uddhav Thackeray. Sapkal and State Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar last week declared that the party will support Uddhav Thackeray in the state council elections and will not put up its own nominee. However, both had hinted that if Uddhav Thackeray decides to opt out, the Congress will enter the electoral fray. For the election of nine seats, the quota is 29 votes. The present strength of MVA is 46, comprising Shiv Sena UBT 20, Congress 16 and NCP SP 10. The last date for filing nominations is April 30. Sapkal last week met Uddhav Thackeray while extending the Congress party’s support to him. Sapkal firmly endorsed Uddhav Thackeray as the key face of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, stating that the alliance will move forward only with him at the forefront. Following a recent meeting, Sapkal emphasised that if Thackeray contests the Legislative Council election, it would be welcomed. Sapkal declared that Uddhav Thackeray is the undisputed face of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra. He stated that it is a point of joy if Thackeray goes to the legislative council, stressing that the alliance will move forward only if he is leading it. Earlier, the BJP had already announced five nominees, while Shiv Sena has yet to declare its candidates. The NCP held a core committee meeting chaired by Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar on Wednesday morning and shortlisted some names. The party is expected to announce its nominee late Wednesday evening. Observers said that if the Congress decides to stick to its stand, the Shiv Sena UBT and NCP SP will have to strive to keep their respective legislators together to avoid cross-voting.

US Vice President JD Vance, his family arrive in Delhi

  • PTI
  • Apr 21, 2025
  • 2 min read


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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