Month after RaGa claims of Maha poll rigging, Wadettiwar blames arrogance, infighting for MVA's debacle
The candid admission comes nine months after the MVA was decimated by the BJP-led Mahayuti, which comprised Eknath Shinde's Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP faction. Mahayuti won 235 seats while MVA managed to secure only 46.
Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, the Congress legislative party leader acknowledged BJP's strategic advantage while admitting everyone in the Opposition was planning to be chief minister.
"That delusion cost us dearly," he said.
"What Uddhav Thackeray said is true and what I am saying is also true," Wadettiwar said, referring to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief's recent criticism of alliance mismanagement. "After our Lok Sabha gains, all three MVA partners became overconfident."
The Bramhapuri MLA revealed that the alliance squandered nearly 40 days in unproductive meetings. "We sat through 28–30 discussions trying to iron out seat-sharing.
No one wanted to compromise. That greed, that delay, allowed BJP to pull ahead," he said. "We didn't lose to the BJP.We lost to ourselves."
Wadettiwar alleged that voter list discrepancies went unnoticed because the alliance was consumed with internal negotiations. "We failed to focus on ground realities. BJP planned, we procrastinated," he said.
Turning his fire on the ruling party, Wadettiwar accused BJP of weaponising central agencies and using cash inducements to engineer defections.
"Let's not pretend, the so-called allies of BJP are not partners but prisoners," he said, referring to Eknath Shinde's Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP faction. "They're yoked to BJP's bullock cart. Fadnavis holds the horn, and they go wherever he steers."
In a veiled dig at alleged horse-trading, he claimed, "Former corporators are being bought for ₹2 crore, bank representatives for ₹1 crore. It's a full-fledged market."
Asked about a potential Uddhav-Raj Thackeray reunion, he called it a "family matter," adding, "They are cousins. If they reunite, we won't interfere." Wadettiwar criticised BJP's handling of linguistic identity politics. "Hindi isn't our enemy, but it's not our mother tongue either. BJP is exploiting this issue to splinter Marathi votes in Mumbai."
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The Wire
3 minutes ago
- The Wire
A Political Soup is on the Boil for Telangana's BJP
Politics Pavan Korada This feud between the two Telangana BJP leaders is the first and most severe test for the new state party president, N. Ramachander Rao, a veteran appointed to quell such factionalism. New Delhi: An uneasy ceasefire holds in Telangana's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but it is a thin veil over a deep schism that has burst into public view. The war of words between Malkajgiri MP Etela Rajender and Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar is more than a clash of personalities. It is the peak of a long-simmering power struggle rooted in ambition and political culture. Critically, it is a conflict between the party's two most prominent Backward Class (OBC) leaders, threatening the BJP's core strategy for social expansion in the state. This feud is the first and most severe test for the new state president, N. Ramachander Rao, a veteran appointed to quell such factionalism. Instead, the conflict has intensified, exposing fault lines that could derail the party's ambitions where it once seemed poised for growth. Anatomy of a public feud The trigger was a visit by Bandi Sanjay to Huzurabad, an assembly segment in his Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat. He questioned the loyalty of unnamed leaders and alleged a conspiracy to cut his vote share in the parliamentary polls. "Should we give the party ticket to such a candidate?" he asked, a clear reference to upcoming local elections. The target was unmistakable. Etela Rajender, who represented Huzurabud for multiple terms and sees it as his bastion, took the remarks as a direct challenge. His response was swift and theatrical. Gathering hundreds of supporters at his home, Rajender launched a furious counter-attack. Without naming Sanjay, he unleashed a personal tirade. "Who is he? Is he a psycho, a sadist, a human or an animal?" he charged. Using familiar Telugu terms, " kodaka" (son) and " ra" (a disrespectful 'you'), he warned, "Be careful, son, be careful." The fallout was immediate. Goutham Reddy, a close Rajender aide and the BJP's in-charge for Huzurabad, resigned from his post and the party. His letter cited the "suppression of Etela's faction", giving an official name to a problem the party's leadership prefers not to acknowledge. The BJP's high command has since imposed a gag order. But the damage was done. The conflict was no longer a backroom whisper; it was a public spectacle. The original sin of removing a president To understand the feud, one must revisit a key moment; the unexpected removal of Bandi Sanjay from the state presidency in mid-2023. At the time, Sanjay was at his peak. His aggressive Praja Sangrama Yatra had electrified the party cadre and positioned him as the main challenger to the ruling BRS and its chief, K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR). Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had praised his efforts. His ouster seemed politically incomprehensible. Many believed it was the result of an internal campaign led by Etela Rajender, who had joined the BJP after his own rebellion against KCR. Rajender's by-election victory in Huzurabad was built on an anti-KCR "victim" narrative and his status as a formidable BC leader who could unite the opposition. Sanjay's removal created a damaging perception; that the BJP had struck a secret deal with the BRS. The narrative proved disastrous. The energised anti-KCR vote, now distrustful of the BJP, swung to the Congress, which swept to power. The BJP's image was shattered and its election results were a deep disappointment. For Sanjay's loyalists, this history is a story of internal betrayal that fuels the current fight. The high stakes of OBC politics This strife comes at a critical time. According to the state's recent caste survey, backward classes (BCs) make up a staggering 56.33% of Telangana's population. This demographic makes the OBC vote the single-most decisive bloc in state politics. The BJP's growth strategy depends on winning a large share of this community, a goal it has stressed by repeatedly promising a "BC chief minister." In fact, it nominated R. Krishnaiah, president of the National BC Welfare Association, to the Rajya Sabha recently. The spectacle of its two top OBC leaders in a public, personal feud shatters this narrative. It projects weakness and disunity to the very community the party is trying to court. The appointment of N. Ramachander Rao, a Brahmin, as state president – bypassing a top BC contender like Rajender – already surprised many observers. While the party called it a move to bring in a "quiet organiser", the decision is now seen through the lens of this conflict, suggesting that internal power balancing came before the broader social project. A collision of cultures The feud represents a clash of political cultures. Bandi Sanjay is a product of the BJP-RSS ecosystem, a homegrown ideologue whose OBC identity is part of the larger Hindutva framework. After being removed as president, he accepted the party's decision and took on a national role. His loyalty was ultimately to the institution. Etela Rajender is a powerful import from a different political world. A former radical Left student leader, his identity is primarily that of a major BC leader and a key figure in the Telangana statehood movement. A seven-time MLA and former finance minister in KCR's cabinet, his career in the BRS was built on a strong personal brand. His style, common in regional parties, sees a loyal faction as a source of strength. Observers suggest his error may be applying these methods within the BJP, a centralised party where open factionalism is anathema. While his Huzurabad win showed his personal appeal, his recent victory in Malkajgiri depended heavily on the BJP's organisation and the 'Modi wave' – a key distinction from the party's perspective. The endgame: pressure, exit or stalemate? With the conflict open, analysts see several outcomes. One view is that this is a high-stakes pressure tactic. Having helped force a leadership change once, Rajender may believe he can create another crisis. He has always aimed to be the party's Chief Ministerial face. He may be angling for a Union Cabinet post or another key role, assuming he is too influential to sideline. A second possibility is an exit. Yet, his options are difficult. A ghar wapsi (homecoming) to the BRS seems unlikely. The ruling Congress is already crowded with ambitious leaders. Launching a new BC-based party is a huge risk in a state where regional identity has proven stronger than caste, at least for now. This leaves the BJP in a dilemma. Punishing a prominent BC leader like Rajender could alienate a crucial vote bank and warn off other potential leaders. But inaction is just as risky. It undermines the new state president, shatters the party's image of discipline, and demoralises the cadre. Worse, it makes a mockery of its own OBC outreach. The future of the Telangana BJP now hinges on resolving this internal war. The choice is not just about managing two ambitious leaders; it is about salvaging its most important political project in the state. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Deccan Herald
3 minutes ago
- Deccan Herald
SIR of Bihar electoral rolls echoed in Parliament as Oppn protests EC's move
New Delhi: The contentious Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar reverberated inside and outside Parliament on Tuesday with both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha failing to transact any business with Opposition MPs vociferously protesting against the Election Commission's MPs also staged a protest at the 'Makar Dwar' of Parliament House with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav among others joining them. .Over 100 MPs have signed notice to bring motion against Justice Varma in Parliament: Sabha and Rajya Sabha erupted into sloganeering as soon as the Houses assembled with Congress-led Opposition MPs shouting slogans against the SIR, ignoring appeals by Speaker Om Birla and Upper House's Deputy Chairman Harivansh. Both the Houses were adjourned for the day at 2 pm after two earlier adjournments during Zero Hour and Question eyes were in Rajya Sabha as it was the first day after Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation. Harivansh chaired the proceedings and informed the House that a vacancy has arisen in the post of Vice President while rejecting notices to suspend business to discuss SIR and inordinate delay by the government in publishing an ASI report Keeladi. CPI's P Sandosh Kumar's notice to immediately discuss the "unexpected and unprecedented" resignation of the Vice President was also rejected. Congress and other Opposition parties protested and demanded an immediate debate on SIR and rushed to the Well of the House, prompting Harivansh to adjourn the House till 12 noon. When the House reconvened for Question Hour, Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was chairing the proceedings, informed the House regarding a notification by the Ministry of Home Affairs conveying Dhankhar's resignation with immediate effect and adjourned the House till 2 business could be transacted at 2 pm also due to Opposition protest even as Harivansh called Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to move a motion for consideration of The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, prompting the Chair to adjourn the House for the Lok Sabha, Opposition refused to heed to the appeals of Birla and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the House till 12 noon. Chouhan appealed to the opposition MPs to go back to their seats so that the House can take up questions related to farmers during the Question Hour while Birla intervened and told them that sloganeering and showing placards lowered the dignity of the House. The Zero Hour at 12 noon also could not function following protest with Jagadambika Pal, who was on the Chair, adjourning the House till 2 pm. When the House reconvened, the protest continued and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "Double standards are wrong, first they ask for debate and then create a ruckus like this." "Only the rule under which discussion will take place will be decided. They come here carrying placards and violate the rules, I condemn this. They are asking for a debate and we are ready for a debate but they are not allowing the House to function," he said.
Indian Express
5 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab demands minister Yogesh Kadam's resignation over ‘Kandivali dance bar run with mother's licence'
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam, alleging that a dance bar in Kandivali was being operated under a licence held by his mother and that firms linked to the minister's family were mining sand illegally in Ratnagiri. Parab said he would submit documents, pen drives, and evidence to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday and warned he would approach the Bombay High Court if Kadam was not removed from his post. 'Devendra Fadnavis should seek Kadam's resignation. (Deputy Chief Minister) Eknath Shinde won't act because of political constraints. If the state doesn't act, I will go to court,' Parab said. Kadam belongs to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Parab's allegations stem from a May 30 raid at Savali Bar and Restaurant in Kandivali (West), following which the Mumbai police booked 22 bar dancers, 22 customers, and four staff members for violations under bar regulations. Citing documents received under the Right to Information Act, Parab said the bar's licence was in the name of Jyoti Kadam, the minister's mother. 'If obscene activities take place in a bar licensed to the minister's family, responsibility lies with the licence holder. Saying it is run by someone else is no defence under the law,' the MLC said at a press conference. Parab alleged that bar rules were violated, with reports of obscene dance and money being thrown—all of which he claimed was documented in an FIR. Former minister Ramdas Kadam, father of Yogesh Kadam, admitted that the licence is in his wife's name but said the bar has been run by a man named Shetty for 30 years. 'There is an orchestra licence and waitress licence. Nothing illegal is happening,' he said, dismissing Parab's claims as politically motivated. Parab also accused Kadam of diverting silt from the Jagbudi river in Ratnagiri, stating that sand meant for farmers was instead sent to a private dental college allegedly linked to Kadam's sister. He named Akil Mukadam, who he claimed works at Kadam's residence, as the one overseeing the illegal sand removal. Kadam, in response, denied all charges, saying he had no involvement in the operation of the bar or in sand removal, and that the allegations were 'baseless and defamatory'. He said the silt removed was not of construction quality. 'If I had any vested interest, no raid would have happened. The police acted under my instructions,' Kadam said on Monday. Kadam has also announced that he will move a breach of privilege motion against Parab in the Legislative Council and write to the chairperson over Parab's remarks.
