Latest news with #anti-BJP
India Today
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
DMK casts Kamal Haasan in a Rajya Sabha MP role. Aim to undercut Vijay's political debut?
In 2018, a campaign video in which Kamal Haasan was seen smashing the TV screen with a torch went viral. That was just after the actor had stepped into politics, floating the Makkal Needhi Maiyam (MNM). He had made the torch his party symbol and gone around Tamil Nadu criticising every political party, including the DMK and its dynastic rule. Much water has flowed down the Cooum and the Cauvery since then, and now Kamal Haasan will be a Rajya Sabha MP, courtesy of the same DMK. Haasan has been accused of political hypocrisy, and he explained the U-turn as being driven by appreciation for some of the policies of the fact is, Kamal Haasan is an ambitious actor and filmmaker known for venturing into unexplored creative zones. But in his role as a politician, he has proved to be a more practical persona, reconciling with what he can and what he cannot. Kamal Haasan is a product of cinema and, not surprisingly, the joint political production with the DMK happened, courtesy of cinema. Haasan bankrolled his last hit, 'Vikram', in 2022 and the film was distributed by Red Giant Movies of Udhayanidhi Stalin. It started an association that finally resulted in Haasan saying 'Ek duje ke liye' to the DMK and becoming a part of the DMK-led alliance in the 2024 election. At that stage, he was given the option of either contesting the Lok Sabha elections or getting a Rajya Sabha seat a year later. Since Haasan chose the latter, the commitment is being honoured beyond being a big name in the world of cinema, unarguably one of the finest actors India has seen, what does Kamal Haasan bring to the table? In the past, the DMK's choice of names for a Rajya Sabha seat has either been staunch Dravidians, party loyalists or alliance partners. The decision to send Haasan as an Independent backed by the DMK to the House of Elders is to hit two birds with one stone. In Parliament, the DMK expects Kamal Haasan to mince no words when it comes to taking an anti-BJP stance on issues like language, culture and alleged discrimination against states in south India not ruled by the BJP. The DMK has always taken a hard position when it comes to a perceived imposition of Hindi and Haasan with his ability to communicate in different languages, including Hindi, will be able to present the DMK's is also in sync with the Dravidian ideology on most issues and therefore there aren't likely to be any fault lines emerging when he is sent to the Upper House with help from the more importantly, from a Tamil Nadu point of view, the NDA has extended an invitation to actor Vijay to join the alliance ahead of the assembly elections in 2026 and though it won't admit it, the DMK would be a trifle worried. For one, the ruling party may find itself short of starpower on the campaign trail and that is where Kamal Haasan comes in. Although the veteran actor is no longer in the same league as Vijay in terms of street popularity, especially among the youth and women, speaks with gravitas and is considered more intellectual, he is still a big name to present as a counter campaigner to party realises that if the AIADMK and BJP are able to ensure the differences at the constituency and cadre level are addressed, they would be able to give the DMK alliance a good fight. But Edappadi Palaniswami is aware of how his late leader Jayalalithaa won the 2016 battle. At that time, a Third Front called the People's Welfare Front led by the likes of Vaiko, Vijaykanth and GK Vasan contributed to the DMK defeat by splitting the anti-AIADMK votes. There is a real threat to Vijay and his TVK doing a Third Front now. Hence, the wooing of the 'Ilayathalapathy' Vijay, despite the many anti-Vijay comments made by Tamil Nadu BJP leaders in the one of the options reportedly on the table is to offer one of the two Rajya Sabha seats which the AIADMK can win in the elections in June to Vijay or one of his TVK nominees. But for someone who aims to be chief minister of the state, taking a Rajya Sabha seat would adversely affect Vijay's carefully cultivated larger-than-life image. However, if such an option is being seriously discussed by people who matter, it indicates the intense desire of the BJP to get Vijay into the NDA choice of Haasan and three others for the four Rajya Sabha seats the DMK can win has also put the spotlight on the DMK's alliance politics. MK Stalin chose not to renominate Vaiko despite the seasoned political voice he has been and known to pack a punch in his speeches in the Rajya Sabha. That makes it evident that the DMK wants Haasan to do much of the heavy lifting during the election campaign, appealing to the educated and urban constituency voter in Tamil will be music to Haasan's ears would also be the fact that he would now find himself rubbing shoulders with his favourite music composer and colleague from the Tamil film industry, Ilaiyaraaja in the Rajya Sabha. The musical genius is a nominated member of the House and, though the duo agree on most things musical, the political twain shall not meet.(Views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author)Tune InTrending Reel
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
2026 Assembly polls will be a Gogoi versus Saikia contest, says Assam BJP chief
GUWAHATI: Assam Bharatiya Janata Party president and MP Dilip Saikia's reaction to Gaurav Gogoi's appointment as his Congress counterpart has set tongues wagging. Congratulating Mr. Gogoi for following in the footsteps of his father and former Chief Minister, the late Tarun Gogoi, Mr Saikia said the 2026 Assembly elections would be a 'Gogoi versus Saikia' contest. 'I wish Gogoi well. If we have the people's blessings, Saikia can fulfil his wishes of making the BJP a stronger party in Assam,' he said Monday (May 26, 2025) night. Mr. Saikia said that he felt bad for Bhupen Kumar Borah, who Mr. Gogoi replaced. The State BJP chief said Mr. Borah had steered Congress through a difficult phase for almost four years. 'Gaurav Gogoi will now have to brave all conditions to visit all parts of Assam, not only Dhubri and Goalpara,' he said. Dhubri and Goalpara are districts dominated by Bengali-speaking Muslims. The Congress party is often accused of appeasing them. BJP downplays Saikia's remarks, says polls are fought between parties The State BJP leadership said one should not 'over-analyse' Mr. Saikia's view that the 2026 polls would be a contest between him and Mr. Gogoi. 'Elections are fought between parties represented by their respective presidents,' a spokesperson said. The comment, however, has stoked speculations that the BJP may be looking beyond Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in its bid to expand the party base. A section of BJP leaders with roots in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is unhappy with the 'style of functioning' of the Chief Minister and 'other imports' from Congress. Meanwhile, the regional Assam Jatiya Parishad hoped appointment as the State Congress chief would give the United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA) a fresh lease of life. The Congress had forged the UOFA as a 16-party alliance to take on the BJP and its allies during the 2021 Assembly polls. The Grand Old Party walked out of the forum a few months ago. 'We extend our best wishes to Gaurav Gogoi for the new responsibility. We hope that the collective anti-BJP movement we have been carrying forward will now gain renewed momentum,' AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi and general secretary Jagadish Bhuyan said. The duo said Mr Gogoi's appointment came at a crucial juncture, requiring a strong and united front to counter the 'authoritarian and undemocratic' governance by the BJP.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Mamata skips Niti meet to protest Centre's ‘withholding of Bengal's dues'
Kolkata: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and state finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya skipped the 10th governing council meeting of Niti Aayog in Delhi on Saturday "as a mark of protest against the deprivation of Bengal", Trinamool said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Former Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra, now a special adviser to the CM on finance, was also absent. He had previously represented Bengal at such meetings. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, pointing to "the central govt's withholding of funds owed to Bengal", said the dues had been kept pending for the past couple of years. The PM "speaks about working in unison but when it comes to Bengal, Centre does not provide the dues", he added. Ghosh was speaking at a presser at Trinamool Bhavan. The CM had written "innumerable letters to the PM for the release of funds", Ghosh said, adding that "it is time to release Bengal's dues", which stood at over Rs 1.7 lakh crore. Highlighting the "central govt's neglect towards Bengal" as one of the reasons for Banerjee's absence at the Niti meet, Ghosh said: "The PM talks about working together with all states… taxes are collected from Bengal but the state's dues for 100-days' work are not released." He said the Bengal CM had provided Rs 37,000 crore to 5.9 million job card holders entirely from the state's coffers. "The central govt hasn't released funds for 1.2 million housing units, which Mamata Banerjee is also funding from Bengal's exchequer," he said. Last July, CM Banerjee had staged a walkout from the Niti meeting, alleging she was "humiliated" and that her "microphone was disconnected" after she slammed Union Budget 2024 about five minutes into her address. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The CM had said that even after being allowed to speak for 5 minutes, "there was a constant ringing sound, asking me to stop midway, and I had to stop". It stirred a nationwide anti-BJP issue, which was supported by other opposition leaders. Meanwhile, state minister for social welfare, industries and commerce and women and child welfare, Shashi Panja, demanded that Centre clear Bengal's dues immediately. "BJP should say why Bengal is deprived. They have no contribution to the development of Bengal. They are always neglecting Bengal and insulting Bengal. BJP MLAs are not even present during assembly sessions; they only boycott discussions. From Awas Yojana to rural roads, all funds have been blocked by Centre, and the state is now funding the housing scheme. " Panja also targeted Centre over the lack of security for tourists in Pahalgam even as she branded BJP for promoting hate politics. "BJP should stop spreading fake narratives," she said.
The Print
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Rajasthan CM faces ire of Congress workers in Bikaner
Holding placards with slogans like 'Tirange aur sena ka apman, nahi sahega hindustan' written on them, the Congress workers gathered at the Suraj Talkies area. As the chief minister arrived, the protesters indulged in anti-BJP sloganeering. The protesters cited Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah's comments on Col Sofiya Qureshi and the alleged disrespect of the tricolour by Rajasthan BJP legislator Balmukund Acharya. Jaipur, May 17 (PTI) Rajasthan Congress workers on Saturday staged a protest during Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma's visit to Bikaner over the alleged insult of security forces by some BJP leaders. While Shah came under fire for his alleged objectionable remarks on Qureshi, who was a prominent face of the armed forces during media briefings on Operation Sindoor, Acharya faced flak after he was seen using the tricolour to wipe his face during a Tiranga Yatra in Jaipur. The Madhya Pradesh minister later apologised for his remarks. During his visit, the chief minister held a meeting of the party office bearers and leaders from the Bikaner division. He also visited the Karni Mata temple in Deshnok. Union Minister and Bikaner MP Arjun Ram Meghwal and other leaders accompanied the chief minister. PTI SDA RHL This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
INDIA bloc ‘frayed', says Chidambaram, calls for coordination
P Chidambaram (File photo) NEW DELHI: Congress veteran P Chidambaram has expressed concern that opposition INDIA bloc was no longer intact while stressing that an alliance was required to take on the 'formidable' BJP machinery that 'controls from Election Commission to the lowest police station' — echoing concerns among many players in the anti-BJP grouping amid growing dissonance and lack of active coordination. 'If INDIA bloc is totally intact, I am very, very happy. But it shows at the seams that it is frayed. It can be put together, there is still time,' Chidambaram said at a function to release a book on 2024 elections , 'Contesting Democratic Deficit', by Congress' Salman Khurshid and Mrityunjay Yadav. A gleeful BJP latched on to the comments to state that successive defeats had left Congress scarred. 'Chidambaram used the word 'formidable' six times to describe BJP and its election machinery in a speech that lasted less than three minutes. Successive defeats have left Congress scarred, much like Pakistan after its bases were destroyed by the IAF,' BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya posted on X. Chidambaram's remarks struck a chord with many politicians who have raised alarm that INDIA bloc has stopped having meetings and players like NCP of Sharad Pawar are seen to be toying with options outside. But the widespread lament in the bloc may not yield much result as electoral compulsions of partners are, in any case, likely to keep them away for many months. Four key allies — TMC, Congress, AAP and the Left parties — will be taking on each other in West Bengal, Kerala and Punjab in 2025 and 2026, and party leaders are loath to be seen together. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Want Lower Bills Without Changing a Thing? elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo That is the reason, sources said, the alliance partners have joined hands for coordination in Parliament but have not held meetings outside in recent months. In the most recent instance, Pawar has expressed disagreement with Congress's demand for a special session of Parliament to discuss Operation Sindoor. TMC has not supported it either. However, Congress argues that alliances in key states are intact, citing examples of Bihar, Jharkhand, Kerala, UP, J&K, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, which retains the INDIA flavour to a large extent. But Chidambaram's alarm appeared to emphasise that the parties could not just cobble an alliance during LS polls and needed to strengthen it during the interim period. 'In my reading of history, there has been no political party that has been so formidably organised as BJP. In every department, it is formidable. It's not another political party. It's a machine behind which is another machine. And, the two machines control all of the machinery of India — from ECI to the lowest police station in India. They are able to control and sometimes capture these institutions,' he said. 'We are still an electoral democracy. We are not a full-fledged democracy no more, we are an electoral democracy ,' he added.
