New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati is known for her no-nonsense approach and has little tolerance for laxity. The latest example came recently when she expelled senior leader Shamsuddin Raine on the charges of indiscipline and promoting factionalism.
Raine, however, denied the allegations, claiming his removal was the result of a misunderstanding. He said that after breakfast, he went back to sleep for an hour due to a headache and had kept his phone on silent. During that time he missed several calls from Mayawati.
Later she sent a district president to Raine’s house to find out why he was unreachable. When that leader arrived, the BSP leader was still asleep. By the time he returned her call, he was reportedly told that it was ‘too late’ and that Behanji was upset with him.
Raine, who was in charge of the Lucknow, Kanpur, and Prayagraj zone units, was considered part of the BSP’s core organisational team. Not anymore.
Allavaru’s detractors have a field day
The Congress ticket distribution process in Bihar has been marred by dissent, with several aspirants accusing the party’s state in-charge Krishna Allavaru, Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Rajesh Ram, and Congress Legislative Party leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan of extorting money in exchange for nominations.
Last week, Allavaru, known to be close to Rahul Gandhi, was relieved of his role as the All India Congress Committee’s Youth Congress in-charge. While the party high command sought to downplay the move, describing it as a routine reassignment, his detractors celebrated. Among them was Aakash Kumar Singh, the son of former Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh.
Aakash posted a scathing message on Facebook alongside the press note announcing Allavaru’s replacement by Manish Sharma.
“Good to see Krishna Allavaru removed as Incharge of all India Youth Congress. This corrupt man makes money out of Congress Programs and surveys. High command should never make him in charge of any state if they want Congress to prosper,” he posted.
“Bihar Congress workers have removed him as in charge of Bihar from their hearts. After elections, the high command must remove him immediately. He ruined Gujrat, then Punjab, and now Bihar. However, Bihar Congress glory will be restored soon.”
Tripura minister candid about commission
How do politicians manage to raise the money that helps them fund those in need—like the poor families seeking medical assistance or students struggling to pay their fees? Tripura cabinet minister Sudhangshu Das believes it’s an “open secret” that their “source” of income is essentially commissions paid by contractors executing government projects.
His recent candid admission during an interview with a local social media outlet has now landed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a soup. Das’s statement has triggered a storm in the state’s political circles, with many interpreting it as a tacit acknowledgement of systemic corruption.
The minister, who comes from a modest background, has seen a remarkable rise in wealth since the BJP first formed government in the state in 2018, as have several of his cabinet colleagues
This sudden prosperity has now become a major talking point in Tripura’s political landscape. The opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Congress are having a field day, accusing the BJP of institutionalising kickbacks and legitimising the use of public funds for personal and political gains.
The Congress filed a police complaint Saturday, demanding that a case be registered against Das under the Prevention of Corruption Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. While Das has threatened legal action against the social media outlet, accusing it of portraying his remarks out of context, clips from the interview continue to circulate widely on social media, adding to the government’s discomfort
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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