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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Four MLAs miss Thackeray’s meeting

Mumbai: As the rebel six MPs were proudly showcased before the media in a grand event by Shiv Sena President and Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, ex-CM and Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray summoned his entire flock of lawmakers for a headcount – and discovered that four were allegedly ‘missing’, on Monday. The development came after a similar meeting last week of its nine Lok Sabha MPs saw only three in attendance and the six prospective turncoats proclaimed loyalty in the...

Four MLAs miss Thackeray’s meeting

Mumbai: As the rebel six MPs were proudly showcased before the media in a grand event by Shiv Sena President and Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, ex-CM and Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray summoned his entire flock of lawmakers for a headcount – and discovered that four were allegedly ‘missing’, on Monday. The development came after a similar meeting last week of its nine Lok Sabha MPs saw only three in attendance and the six prospective turncoats proclaimed loyalty in the names of their parents and children or Shirdi Saibaba and Goddess Tulja Bhavani – all came to nought as the subsequent dramatic events that unfolded confirmed. Against the backdrop of that ugly butcher-cut, Thackeray had convened a meeting of all SS (UBT) MLAs and MLCs this afternoon. Out of 20 MLAs, 16 were present on Monday, besides five MLCs, as the party fortified itself to keep the hunting wolf away from its pen. A senior party leader assured that the four MLAs who stayed away had given valid reasons for their absence to the top SS (UBT) brass, which is strategising on how to prevent another assault on its strength – the second brazen one in four years. This time, the SS (UBT) leaders are even more nervous as Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam claimed today that “another MP” is veering towards them. Earlier, other Shiv Sena leaders made the SS (UBT) even more jumpy with dark predictions that “at least 14-15 MLAs” would soon join their camp. In Monday’s meeting, Thackeray and other leaders urged the remaining MLAs and MLCs to put up a united show of strength, fan out into their respective constituencies, connect with their party cadres and public outreach, remain aggressive and try to put the government on the mat with burning issues like farmers distress, unemployment, inflation, water scarcity, etc. While reiterating that those who wanted to leave would not be stopped, the Thackeray father-son duo alleged that the Mahayuti was diverting public funds to ‘buy MPs’ while discarding actual governance or implementing public oriented schemes. SS(UBT) lawmakers’ roll-call The MLAs present at meeting: Aaditya Thackeray, Ajay Chaudhari, Bhaskar Jadhav, Babaji Kale, Bala Nar, Dilip Sopal, Gajanan Lavte, Harun Khan, Kailas Patil, Manoj Jamsutkar, Nitin Deshmukh, Pravin Swami, Sunil Raut, Siddharth Kharat, Sunil Prabhu and Varun Sardesai. The MLCs who attended: Anil Parab, Sachin Ahir, Milind Narvekar, Ambadas Danve and Jagannath Abhyankar. The legislators conspicuous by their absence: Rahul Patil (tied up in the Legislative Council counting); Sanjay Derkar and Sunil Shinde (both in their native places); and Sanjay Potnis whose reasons for keeping away were not immediately clear.

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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