Bihar: Paswan rules out running for CM
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday launched schemes worth over Rs 19,000 crore, claiming that the projects would allow the state to “touch new heights of development”. The Janata Dal (United) leader criticised the Narendra Modi-led government for announcing a package worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore for the state, saying that several of the schemes announced by the prime minister were simply a “repackaging of old projects”. Meanwhile, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan ruled himself out of the race to be nominated as the National Democratic Alliance’s chief ministerial candidate, saying that he preferred to remain in national politics. He added that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance was unlikely to announce a candidate for Bihar’s top post ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
Assam: Rebel Congress leader to join BJP
Rebel Assam Congress leader Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that he would formally join the Bharatiya Janata Party within the next few days. Sarma, who met BJP President Amit Shah in New Delhi, claimed that the Congress did not believe in internal democracy. He also accused party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi of not making him state chief minister last year despite allegedly having the support of 52 party MLAs. He indicated that some of his supporters were ready to join the BJP as well. However, a senior Congress leader later said that Sarma was “under pressure” to join the BJP as he was being investigated by Central agencies for his alleged role in the multi-crore-rupee Saradha scam. Sarma led an unsuccessful rebellion against state Chief Minsiter Tarun Gogoi after the Congress won only three out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Tamil Nadu: NCW issues notice to Congress chief
The National Commission for Women on Sunday issued a notice to Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President EVKS Elangovan for his alleged remarks about state Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa after a meeting between her and Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month. NCW Chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam said that Elangovan would have to reply to the notice within five days, failing which he would have to appear before the Commission. However, the Congress leader later said that he had not received any notice from the NCW. Workers from Jayalalithaa’s All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam have been conducting protests against Elangovan across the state after his alleged remarks about the chief minister.
Punjab: Police issues notice to Radhe Maa
The Punjab Police on Sunday issued a notice to self-styled god-woman Radhe Maa, asking her to join the investigation into a complaint against her by a resident of the state's Phagwara district. Surinder Mittal, a former district president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, alleged that Radhe Maa hurt his religious sentiments. He claimed that she also tried to bribe and threaten him. Police officials said that Mittal had submitted recordings of his conversations with Radhe Maa as well printouts of text messages between the two.
Delhi: Speaker sets up panel on MLAs’ salaries
Delhi Assembly Speaker RN Goel on Friday set up an independent committee to look into revising the salaries and perks of MLAs. The committee is expected to recommend a salary and allowance revision for state legislators after undertaking a comprehensive study of the existing payment structure. Goel said that the panel would submit its report in a month.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday launched schemes worth over Rs 19,000 crore, claiming that the projects would allow the state to “touch new heights of development”. The Janata Dal (United) leader criticised the Narendra Modi-led government for announcing a package worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore for the state, saying that several of the schemes announced by the prime minister were simply a “repackaging of old projects”. Meanwhile, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan ruled himself out of the race to be nominated as the National Democratic Alliance’s chief ministerial candidate, saying that he preferred to remain in national politics. He added that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance was unlikely to announce a candidate for Bihar’s top post ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
Assam: Rebel Congress leader to join BJP
Rebel Assam Congress leader Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that he would formally join the Bharatiya Janata Party within the next few days. Sarma, who met BJP President Amit Shah in New Delhi, claimed that the Congress did not believe in internal democracy. He also accused party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi of not making him state chief minister last year despite allegedly having the support of 52 party MLAs. He indicated that some of his supporters were ready to join the BJP as well. However, a senior Congress leader later said that Sarma was “under pressure” to join the BJP as he was being investigated by Central agencies for his alleged role in the multi-crore-rupee Saradha scam. Sarma led an unsuccessful rebellion against state Chief Minsiter Tarun Gogoi after the Congress won only three out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Tamil Nadu: NCW issues notice to Congress chief
The National Commission for Women on Sunday issued a notice to Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President EVKS Elangovan for his alleged remarks about state Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa after a meeting between her and Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month. NCW Chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam said that Elangovan would have to reply to the notice within five days, failing which he would have to appear before the Commission. However, the Congress leader later said that he had not received any notice from the NCW. Workers from Jayalalithaa’s All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam have been conducting protests against Elangovan across the state after his alleged remarks about the chief minister.
Punjab: Police issues notice to Radhe Maa
The Punjab Police on Sunday issued a notice to self-styled god-woman Radhe Maa, asking her to join the investigation into a complaint against her by a resident of the state's Phagwara district. Surinder Mittal, a former district president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, alleged that Radhe Maa hurt his religious sentiments. He claimed that she also tried to bribe and threaten him. Police officials said that Mittal had submitted recordings of his conversations with Radhe Maa as well printouts of text messages between the two.
Delhi: Speaker sets up panel on MLAs’ salaries
Delhi Assembly Speaker RN Goel on Friday set up an independent committee to look into revising the salaries and perks of MLAs. The committee is expected to recommend a salary and allowance revision for state legislators after undertaking a comprehensive study of the existing payment structure. Goel said that the panel would submit its report in a month.
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