By Tridib Raman
The opposition alliance, INDIA bloc, has kept Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on edge. In political circles, the answer to the looming question remains a mystery: Is the opposition so aggrieved by Dhankhar’s conduct that they are preparing to bring impeachment proceedings under Article 67(b) against him? While the opposition may lack sufficient numbers to carry out such a move, 87 members of Parliament have already signed the notice.
The opposition’s strategy is clear: “Even if the motion fails in the House, when the debate takes place, the entire country will be watching, and the truth will become apparent.” This would impose moral accountability on the ruling party, and Dhankhar himself may be forced to reflect on his actions.
Under Article 67(b), if an impeachment proposal is passed by a majority of the current members of the Rajya Sabha and then approved by the Lok Sabha, the Vice President can be removed from office. However, a 14-day notice is required before presenting such a motion in the House. Given the current strength of the opposition in both houses, the likelihood of this proposal passing seems slim. Nonetheless, the opposition aims to keep the issue alive, as they view the Chairman’s conduct in the House as biased.
Sources suggest that sensing the gravity of the situation, the Vice President has reached out to key opposition leaders, making efforts to smooth things over. For BJP leadership, this entire episode has turned into a major headache. Dhankhar was brought to Delhi from Bengal with the expectation that he would bolster the BJP’s standing among the Jats in Western UP, Rajasthan, and Haryana. However, the ongoing disconnect between the Jats and BJP in recent elections suggests that the party’s hopes in bringing Dhankhar on board have largely crumbled.
Congress’s ‘Vibhishanas’
By Tridib Raman
In the Haryana Assembly elections, BJP has announced only 67 tickets so far, but the party’s disciplined image and its claims of moral integrity have taken a hit. Discontent over the distribution of tickets is widespread, and every day, disgruntled leaders are leaving the saffron party in droves.
Even before the elections, BJP’s internal surveys had indicated that securing a third consecutive term in power was unlikely. As a result, party strategists began courting two prominent Congress leaders from the state, one of whom is a well-known female politician who, despite being from Haryana, has always maintained a strong presence in Delhi. These leaders were offered the incentive that if BJP formed a government in Haryana for the third time, they could stake a claim to the Chief Minister’s post. Reportedly, there was also a promise of financial incentives.
However, Congress leadership got wind of this deal, and in a swift move, curtailed the role of both leaders in the ticket distribution process. The party made some tough decisions, announcing that “candidates who have lost two elections will not be given tickets, sitting MPs will not contest assembly elections, and those with criminal cases will also be barred from receiving tickets.”
Despite this, the BJP held on to hope that these two leaders would eventually switch to their camp. Even though the Election Commission postponed the Haryana elections citing the Bishnoi community’s festival, the BJP waited until the last moment, expecting these two leaders to say “yes.”
Netaji Beaten with a Sandal at a Goa Hotel
By Tridib Raman
This senior BJP leader, long-standing in the party, has held prestigious positions within the organization, served as a state minister, and is considered a master of election management. So, to escape the monotony of election season, Netaji, along with a few of his close lackeys, took a direct flight to Goa, booking a room in a luxurious hotel. His associates stayed on another floor of the same hotel.
Netaji had already built a reputation for his controversial actions. As prearranged, when he checked into the hotel, two young women from Mumbai were waiting for him in the lobby. After arriving in his room, Netaji was “fortunate” to be in their company. Once the rendezvous was over, the women demanded payment. Netaji responded by saying that he would pay their intermediary (who was seated in the lobby at the time). However, the women weren’t having it and retorted, “There’s no credit in this business.” Netaji, claiming he didn’t have enough cash, tried to dismiss them.
This led to a commotion, and the middleman soon came up to Netaji’s room. In this digital age, the middleman suggested that Netaji make the payment via UPI. But, wary of taking such a “recorded” risk—especially as his party was promoting a cleaner political image—Netaji refused. As the situation intensified, the girls began to vandalize Netaji’s room. They then proceeded to hit him with sandals, hurling insults at him as well. Hotel staff rushed in, calming the women and escorting them back to the lobby. The hotel manager then paid the women in cash.
The hotel, trying to avoid further damage to its reputation (as the local media had already caught wind of the incident and was on its way), requested Netaji to leave immediately. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Netaji quickly paid his hotel bill and left. Interestingly, the hotel had added the payment made to the women to his final bill.
Later, this news found its way into a few local newspapers, although the mainstream Delhi media remained conspicuously unaware.
When Will Bihar Congress Get a New President?
By Tridib Raman
Efforts to remove the current president of the Bihar Congress, who is considered a close disciple of Lalu Yadav, have been ongoing for several months, but the outcome remains fruitless. Recently, a delegation from the Bihar Congress went to Delhi to meet Mallikarjun Kharge, pleading with him, “If Akhilesh Prasad Singh is not immediately removed from the position of state president, then only God alone can save Congress in Bihar.”
Meanwhile, Akhilesh Prasad seems to be oblivious to these issues and is focused on settling scores with some Bihar Congress leaders. For instance, he recently wrote to the high command, demanding immediate action against Saran district president Ajay Singh, citing that “Ajay Singh has caused significant damage to the party.” It is worth noting that Ajay Singh, who belongs to the Rajput community, has previously served as the president of the Bihar Congress Seva Dal and Kisan Congress. He even contested an election against Rabri Devi at one point.
Akhilesh suspects that Ajay Singh is responsible for his son Akash losing the Maharajganj seat in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Ajay Singh had sought the Maharajganj seat for his son, Shri Krishna Hari, who has been active in the region for the past two years. Shri Krishna Hari is the All India Youth Congress Secretary and also oversees the Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress. He had organized a protest in Patna against the NEET exam scam, during which the Youth Congress president Srinivas was injured by police batons.
Akhilesh’s son Akash, who previously belonged to Upendra Kushwaha’s party, had once contested an election from there. It remains unclear when Akash joined Congress and how he secured the party ticket for Maharajganj.
Haryana’s Saffron Lesson for Delhi
By Tridib Raman
Having burnt its fingers in the Haryana elections, the BJP leadership is now cautiously preparing for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. Following the recent jail stints of AAP leaders, BJP sees better prospects for its own resurgence in Delhi. As a result, the party leadership has asked three major BJP figures in Delhi—Meenakshi Lekhi, Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, and Ramesh Bidhuri—to prepare to contest in the Assembly elections.
BJP has also directed its seven sitting MPs from Delhi to strengthen their hold on their respective constituencies and periodically submit reports to the high command, ensuring that any shortcomings are addressed. Additionally, the MPs have been asked to submit lists of their preferred and most electable candidates for each Assembly constituency, which will be assessed through ground-level surveys. The party has emphasized to its MPs that it is their moral responsibility to ensure the victory of BJP candidates in the Assembly constituencies that fall under their respective Lok Sabha seats.
The Fading Influence of Modi
By Tridib Raman
Is the influence of BJP’s top leader beginning to fade within the saffron ranks? Otherwise, who in the party would dare defy his words? Before leaving for his Brunei and Singapore trip, PM Modi had approved 67 party tickets for the Haryana elections during a core group meeting. However, after his departure, when a meeting was held between Khattar and the party’s second-in-command, seven of those tickets were changed—without informing the top leader.
BJP Eyeing Nitish’s JDU
Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is fighting the toughest battle of his political career. This time, the threat of betrayal is more from within than from outside, more from friends than from enemies. Sources say that Nitish is well aware that his coalition partner BJP wants to swallow his entire party. It is also possible that in the coming days, he may have to leave the CM post because the BJP wants its own party’s CM in the state before the 2025 assembly elections. It is also said that all of Nitish’s dozen MPs are in constant contact with BJP strategists, and leaders like Sanjay Jha, Lallan Singh, Harivansh, Prashant Kishor, and RCP Singh are working day and night to execute this saffron plan. According to sources, the BJP leadership is quite upset with the ‘land survey’ being conducted by Nitish Kumar in Bihar. The BJP argues that ‘about one-third of the state’s land is already disputed, and after the land survey, this figure could reach two-thirds, leading to an increase in disputes, lawsuits, and violence over land among families there. The biggest impact of this land survey could be on the upper castes of the state, who are essentially BJP’s core voters.’ Sensing the changing political winds, Nitish first met RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav in his office, and the two leaders had a long conversation behind closed doors. A few days later, Nitish went to meet Lalu-Rabri at their home, to show his coalition partner BJP that he is not naive in politics.
