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Rahul Gandhi Behind NCP Split? Here’s What We Know

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While the opposition parties across the country were trying to form a united front to defeat the Narendra Modi-led BJP, a big blow was dealt to the opposition in Western State of Maharashtra. NCP leader Ajit Pawar has made a significant move in Mumbai as he moved to support the Shinde-Fadnavis government along with at least 30 MLAs of the NCP.

Ajit Pawar on Sunday afternoon took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Valse-Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, DharmaraoBaba Atram, Aditi Tatkare, Sanjay Bansode and Anil Patil took oath as ministers in Shinde cabinet.

Rahul Gandhi becoming face of opposition major issue for rebel NCP leaders: Sources

After the big turmoil in the Maharashtra politics, reasons for the sudden split in NCP are being analysed.

As per sources, Supporters of Ajit Pawar were upset after Supriya Sule and Sharad Pawar went to Patna to attend the meeting of opposition leaders and shared the stage with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. It is also being suggested that NCP leaders were not in favour of Rahul Gandhi becoming the face of opposition and a potential candidate for the Prime Minister’s position in the upcoming general elections. This factor is being cited as a major reason for the NCP’s internal division.

Speculations were rife about Ajit Pawar switching sides for a year

In the NCP, tensions have been brewing for almost a year. Ajit Pawar was reportedly willing to support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), deviating from the party’s official stance and defying the position of Sharad Pawar. Adding to the turmoil, the party has faced scrutiny from central investigation agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), prompting other NCP leaders to raise the issue of aligning with the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition government. However, recent attempts by Sharad Pawar to salvage the situation through his retirement announcement seem to have backfired. This turn of events has inadvertently favored the ruling party, as opposition unity appears to have been impacted.

Lalu Yadav had hinted at Gandhi becoming opposition’s ‘Dulha’

During a recent opposition party meeting in Patna, it is noteworthy that Lalu Yadav had praised Rahul Gandhi and said, “Get ready soon become a Dulha (groom), your mother also desires the same.” Lalu also remarked at that time, “You get on the horse, and we will all become the part if your wedding procession.”

Lalu Yadav’s statement has been interpreted in various political contexts. It is believed that Lalu Yadav has extended his support to Rahul Gandhi in leading the opposition. Consequently, in the upcoming general elections, Rahul Gandhi may not only be the face of the opposition but also a potential candidate for the position of Prime Minister.

Majority of NCP leaders averse to alliance with Congress: Sources

In Maharashtra, the leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have also drawn the same meaning from Lalu’s statement. Party sources reveal that a majority of NCP leaders are averse to forging an alliance with the Congress for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Consequently, with the slightest hint from Ajit Pawar, the party leaders swiftly aligned themselves to support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), seeing it as a force capable of impeding the Congress’s rise. This development unfolded so rapidly that even Sharad Pawar, the party’s stalwart, was unable to halt its momentum.

International News

Bangladesh High Court orders high-level probe into power deals with Adani group amid supply cuts

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Bangladesh’s High Court ordered the formation of a high-level enquiry committee comprising international energy and law experts to reevaluate all electricity-related agreements with the Adani group, The Business Standard, a local news portal, reported on Tuesday, November 19.

The bench of Justices Farah Mahbub and Debasish Roy Chowdhury has reportedly ordered the cabinet secretary to form the committee within a month and submit the report to the court in the next two months. 

Adani Power shares closed 0.47 per cent lower at ₹524.10 on Tuesday’, compared to ₹526.60 at the previous market close. 

The court, while hearing a petition, asked why instructions should not be given to cancel the uneven agreements made with the Adani group. It also asked for the documents related to the signing of the deal within a month.

Barrister M Abdul Qayyum, representing the petitioner, filed the writ in the High Court asking for the cancellation of all electricity deals with Adani group. Adani signed the 25-year power purchase agreement in 2017; at that time, no imported coal-based power plants were operational in Bangladesh, as per the report.

Adani’s Bangladesh power supply

Adani group’s Bangladesh power is supplied from Jharkhand’s 1,600 MW power plant. The cost of power is $0.1008 per unit or Tk12 per unit, a Bangladesh Power Development Board official was quoted as saying in the report.

This rate is 27 per cent higher than the rate of India’s other private producers and as much as 63 per cent more than the Indian state-owned plants. 

After Adani Power cut the Bangladesh power supply by half over the unpaid dues, the company also set a deadline of November 7 to switch off the flow of electricity if there was no clarity on the settlement of the outstanding amount.

Bangladesh reportedly owes Adani almost $850 million. Adani group later clarified that it had not demanded the full payment in seven days, as per the report.

Shortage of Power

Bangladesh continues to face a shortage of electricity, increasing the risk of blackouts, even after making a partial payment to Adani group, according to a Bloomberg report on Tuesday. 

Adani Power has received a letter of credit for $170 million, easing pressures from lenders, reported the agency, citing two people aware of the development. The partial payment doesn’t resolve the crisis, but the company won’t halt supplies for now, pending talks with the lenders of the Godda thermal plant in Jharkhand, the officials said. 

“Payments should have been made by this time,” Ahsan H Mansur, governor of Bangladesh Bank, said in a phone interview on Friday as per the report. The central bank “issued an instruction for the payment”, Mansur had said earlier this week.

The Adani electric supply accounts for nearly 10 per cent of Bengladesh’s total supply. The power company reduced its supply further to 500 megawatts on Thursday after cutting it to 700 megawatts earlier, as per the data collected from Power Grid Bangladesh cited in the news report.

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National News

Chhattisgarh: 5 Maoists Killed, 2 Jawans Injured In Narayanpur Encounter; Visuals Surface

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Narayanpur: In a major anti-Maoist operation, at least five Maoists were killed during a fierce encounter with security forces in the dense forests of the Abujhmad region in Chhattisgarh Narayanpur district on Saturday.

The gunfight took place after security personnel received reports about the presence of Maoists in the area.

According to officials, a joint team of security forces launched a search operation early Saturday morning. Around 6 a.m., the forces came under heavy fire, leading to an intense gunfight that lasted nearly five hours.

Statement Of One Of The Jawans

One of the jawan, part of the searching team, said that approximately 20 Maoists were present there, with at least five of them killed during the encounter.

“We were a team of 1,439 personnel deployed in the search operation. The encounter lasted until around 11 a.m., during which several Maoists were also injured. I came back but the search operation is still going on to capture the remaining Maoists,” he said.

2 Security Personnel Injured

During the operation, two security personnel sustained injuries. One of them, identified as Khileshwar Gawade, suffered bullet wounds in the head and right hand, while the other, Hiraman Yadav, was hit in the thigh. Both injured personnel were immediately evacuated and airlifted to Raipur for further medical treatment. Officials have assured that their condition is stable.

Security personnel have so far recovered the bodies of five Maoists, along with some weapons. The process of identifying the dead Maoists is underway.

About Abujhmad Region

The Abujhmad region, which borders Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, is known for being a hotbed of Maoist activity. Just last month, security forces achieved an important victory by neutralising 31 Maoists in one of the most successful operations in Chhattisgarh’s history.

On the rising success of such operations, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj P., had, last week said that a total of 192 Maoists have been killed this year alone. Authorities believe that sustained pressure from security forces is gradually weakening the insurgents’ grip in the region.

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National News

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Slams BJP Over Infiltrator Issue In Jharkhand, Says ‘Ghuspetiya Andar Aa Rahe Aur Shah Sahab So Rahe’

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Jamtara (Jharkhand): As the BJP constantly evoked the issue of infiltration in Jharkhand, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Saturday that the BJP is scaring everyone in the name of infiltrators and when there is their government in the Centre, why can’t they stop it?

Addressing a public rally in Jharkhand’s Jamtara, Kharge said, “They (BJP) are scaring us in the name of infiltrators. You are in the central government, you are the Prime Minister, you are the home minister, then from where did the infiltrators enter?”

“Ghuspetiya andar aa rahe aur Shah Sahab so rahe,” he added.

He further said that the BJP only knows how to divide.

“When you can stop our helicopters, why can’t you stop infiltrators? They don’t know how to run the government. They only know how to divide. They have raised the matter of infiltrators in the elections and they are making people afraid of this. People are being incited in this way. This won’t work. Now people have understood you,” Kharge added.

About The Chopper Issue

The Congress Chief further targeted the BJP after party MP Rahul Gandhi’s chopper was delayed on Friday and said that today, his chopper was also delayed.

“Rahul Gandhi also did meetings here. We don’t know what problem does BJP has with us. When we want to come our helicopter gets stopped. Yesterday Rahul Gandh’s helicopter was denied permission to fly. Today Shah was coming here so I was stopped today for 20 minutes. His path was different and my path was different. Modiji comes in every way of ours,” Mallikarjun Kharge said.

Congress President Targets BJP Star Campaigners In Jharkhand

Sharpening his attacks further, Kharge targeted BJP star campaigners in Jharkhand and said that they all have gathered like a “war” is going on.

“In Jharkhand helicopters are flying like vultures. Did they come when anyone was in need here.? Some Chief Minister from Assam, Madhya Pradesh, all have gathered like a war is going on. This is battle of democracy where people participate and leaders have no role,” he said.

Voting for the first phase of the Jharkhand assembly elections concluded on November 13, with voting taking place in 43 out of the state’s 81 seats.

Elections on the remaining 38 seats will be conducted on November 20. The counting will be held on November 23.

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