Mumbai: Speculation has intensified that Bhaskar Jadhav, the aggressive leader of the Shiv Sena Thackeray faction and the only MLA from Konkan, will leave the Shiv Sena Thackeray faction and join the Shinde faction. After the failure of the Mahavikas Aghadi in the assembly elections, Bhaskar Jadhav indirectly expressed his displeasure over the leadership of the Thackeray faction.

Recently, Jadhav had said, “Shiv Sena Thackeray faction has now almost become Congress,” and through this statement he had given a sharp message to Uddhav Thackeray. After his statement, discontent within the Thackeray faction has emerged further. There is a discussion in political circles that the Thackeray faction in the Konkan region may suffer a major setback due to Bhaskar Jadhav.

Shinde faction claims: Big entry will happen soon

Shinde faction leader and minister Uday Samant gave a big statement in this context and said, “There will be a big entry from the Thackeray faction to the Shinde faction in the next 8 days.” Samant also said, “The political equations will change by January 24. The position of the Thackeray faction in Ratnagiri has become as weak as that of the Congress, and now their leaders are joining the Shinde faction.”

Will Bhaskar Jadhav join the Shinde faction?

When asked about Bhaskar Jadhav, Uday Samant said, “Jadhav himself described the Thackeray faction as similar to the Congress. If he joins the Shinde faction, it will strengthen the legacy of Bala Saheb Thackeray’s ideas. His guidance will be very beneficial for us.” This statement of Samant has brought Bhaskar Jadhav’s political activities into further discussion.

Discussion intensifies in political circles

Bhaskar Jadhav’s recent activities indicate that he is dissatisfied with the Thackeray faction. Dissatisfaction with the leadership is also being seen among other leaders of the Shiv Sena Thackeray faction. If Jadhav joins the Shinde faction, it can have a big impact on the politics of the Konkan region and the organizational structure of the Shiv Sena Thackeray faction.

Bhaskar Jadhav’s next move can create new equations in Maharashtra politics, and the whole state is keeping an eye on it.

Kolkata, Jan 18: With just a few hours left for a special court in Kolkata to deliver its verdict on the rape and murder of a woman doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in August last year, the entire court premises have been wrapped under a blanket of security since early Saturday morning, even as her parents issued a last-moment appeal to the public not to end the fight for justice.

The cops of Kolkata Police have raised layers of barricades within the entire court premises apprehending that there will be a major gathering of common people, representatives of the civil society as well the state’s medical fraternity.

On Saturday morning, the mother of the victim issued a last-minute appeal through social media to the common people not to end the movement with the verdict being pronounced later in the day by the special court.

“If the dreams of our deceased daughter do not get justice, her life-long achievements would become fruitless. We pray that no girl faces such pain which my daughter faced. All those who are responsible should not be spared at any cost. They should be punished so that no other daughter faces the same pain like ours,” the appeal from the victim’s mother read.

According to them, Saturday’s verdict will be the first step in this direction.

“The real justice will be achieved only when all the masterminds behind the crime are brought within the ambit of the investigation and punished. We all should raise the demand not for just the sake of my daughter but for the sake of security of all the daughters,” her appeal read.

“As a mother all I can say is that I have lost everything. But I will continue my fight for other daughters till justice is achieved,” her appeal concluded.

On Friday evening, the parents of the victim expressed apprehension that their quest for justice for their daughter would be limited to conviction and sentencing of the “sole prime accused” in the case Sanjay Ray, an erstwhile civic volunteer attached to Kolkata Police, thus allowing the “suspected” conspirators involved in “tampering” and “altering” with the evidences in the matter, of remaining behind the curtains forever.

Patna, Jan 18: Even as Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha has a packed schedule during his visit to Patna on Saturday, political circles are abuzz with speculation whether Rahul Gandhi will meet the RJD supremo during this trip.

LoP Gandhi is scheduled to participate in two key events on Saturday, the Constitution Security Conference at the Bapu Auditorium and an address to party workers at the Congress headquarters, Sadakat Ashram.

His visit comes after the 2024 Lok Sabha election results, making it notable for its timing and political implications. For political observers, the central question revolves around whether the two leaders will meet.

Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rahul Gandhi have shared a close political alliance, especially in the context of the Opposition coalition formed to counter the BJP at the national level.

LoP Rahul Gandhi’s last visit to Patna on June 23, 2023, was instrumental in solidifying the Opposition’s joint strategy, alongside Lalu Prasad and other prominent leaders.

This makes any potential meeting between the two during this tour a matter of political curiosity and significance.

The Congress MP’s visit to Patna is taking place at a politically dynamic moment, coinciding with the National Executive meeting of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) at Hotel Maurya, where key decisions, including contesting the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections under Tejashwi Yadav’s leadership, may be announced.

This convergence of major events highlights the delicate interplay of relationships within the Opposition’s coalition politics.

The Congress-RJD relationship has traversed a bitter-sweet journey since 1998.

While Lalu Prasad initially emerged as a staunch critic of the Congress, the two parties formed an enduring partnership after the 2000 Bihar Assembly elections, eventually strengthening their alliance in the UPA-1 government, where Lalu Yadav was one of the most influential ministers.

Over the years, despite occasional tensions, the bond between the Congress and RJD has been characterised by moments of mutual trust and collaboration.

Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Prasad Yadav, in particular, have shared a cordial and often warm relationship.

Notable examples include the first meeting of the INDIA bloc in Patna on June 23, 2023, where Lalu offered to “attend Rahul Gandhi’s wedding procession,” humorously emphasising their camaraderie.

On September 2, 2023, the viral image of Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Yadav cooking Champaran Mutton at Misa Bharti’s residence in Delhi showcased their informal rapport.

Despite the foundation of the INDIA bloc being laid in Patna as a united Opposition to the NDA, the 2024 Lok Sabha election results exposed cracks within the alliance.

Rhetoric among member parties, including the RJD and Congress, has highlighted differences.

Tejashwi Yadav’s statement that the INDIA bloc was only formed for the Lok Sabha elections raised doubts about its future in Bihar.

The RJD’s support for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Delhi Assembly elections further signaled fissures within the coalition.

As a result, questions about the durability of the Opposition alliance in Bihar and at the national level are now at the forefront.

Rahul Gandhi’s official itinerary suggests that his visit is primarily focussed on addressing the Constitution Security Conference at Bapu Auditorium and meeting Congress workers at Sadakat Ashram. However, what will happen on the sidelines, remains to be seen.