Join us after 2029 if you want: Devendra Fadnavis' offer to Uddhav Thackeray
"Let it go. Some things should be taken on lighter note," said Uddhav when asked to comment on Fadnavis's offer by reporters.Adding to the buzz, a video surfaced showing Fadnavis and Thackeray greeting each other cordially ahead of the session, with both leaders briefly shaking hands and exchanging smiles - a rare public moment between two former allies now on opposite sides of the aisle.The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) - comprising the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP - secured a decisive victory in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, effectively ruling out the possibility of Fadnavis finding himself in the opposition any time soon.As NDA members burst into laughter at the remark, Fadnavis, adding to the moment, said, "Ambadas Danve may be anywhere (party or opposition) but his real thoughts are right wing."- EndsTune InMust Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Panchayats have developed only after NDA came to power: Anitha
Anakapalli: Home minister Vangalapudi Anitha said that it is only after the NDA government came to power the gram panchayats are witnessing development in the state. Visiting Payakaraopeta here on Wednesday as part of the 'Suparipalanalo tholi adugu' campaign, the home minister reiterated that the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government failed to allocate funds to gram panchayats where they did not have money even to buy bleaching powders. 'It took five years for the YSRCP government to increase pensions by Rs 1,000 per beneficiary. But the NDA government did it in a year. Next, free bus service will be provided to women across the state from August 15. Once the toy industry is set up in Payakaraopeta, 25,000 women will be employed,' she assured. Further, the home minister inaugurated newly-constructed CC roads built at a cost Rs 16 lakh in the constituency. Criticising the previous government, Anitha criticised that Jagan lacks humanity. 'It is very unfortunate that Jagan could not correct his party men's attitude towards women. It is unacceptable to see how they make offensive remarks against MLA V Prashanthi Reddy,' Anitha said, referring to former MLA N Prasanna Kumar Reddy's derogatory comments against the Kovur MLA. She said that Prasanna Kumar Reddy has to face the consequences. Coming down heavily on the former chief minister, Anitha said, 'It is shocking how Jagan is giving confidence to rowdy-sheeters, gamblers and murderers.' Interacting with handloom artisans, the home minister told them that the state government is working towards bringing national recognition to AP handlooms. At Satyavaram village, a physically-challenged person S Anand appealed to the home minister to extend support to him as he lost both the legs. Responding to him, she assured to provide a tri-motor cycle.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Eye on BMC polls, Shinde Sena ties up with Republican Sena in Dalit outreach
Grappling with various challenges from within and outside the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti in Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Eknath Shinde has joined hands with the Republican Sena led by Anandraj Ambedkar, grandson of B R Ambedkar, ahead of the state's local body elections slated later this year. Both Shinde and Anandraj together made this announcement at a press conference in Mumbai Wednesday. The Shinde Sena seems to have forged this alliance with a view to boosting its prospects in the upcoming local body elections, especially the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. It indicated Shinde's bid to expand the Sena's support base beyond Marathis to include Dalits. Republican Sena is known for having a base among Dalits and the poor and downtrodden, especially in pockets of Mumbai and some places in the Vidarbha region. The tie-up has come amid growing buzz of an alliance between Shinde's arch rival and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin and MNS chief Raj Thackeray as part of their attempts to consolidate the Marathi votes for the local body polls. The Uddhav-led Sena had earlier dominated the BMC. Besides this formidable challenge, Shinde is facing a friction in his relations with the state BJP leadership over power sharing, even as the Shiv Sena is also reeling from various rows involving some of his MLAs and ministers. While addressing the press conference along with Anandraj, Shinde said, 'I have always upheld my identity as someone who is dedicated to common man. The alliance with Anandraj Ambedkar is a step forward to reach out and accommodate those segments who are poor, needy and backward.' Noting that the strength of any organisation is dependent on its workers, Shinde said the leaders should always stand by their workers during crises. He said common people also expect their leaders to give them a helping hand in times of hardship. On his part, Anandraj said their ideological differences would not come in the way of their tie-up. 'Both Shiv Sena and Republican Sena follow Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution. There are no ideological differences as we are both committed to welfare of the poor, oppressed and backward,' he said. When Shinde was the CM during the previous Mahayuti regime, he had hosted several Buddhist monks and their followers at his then official residence 'Varsha', Anandraj said. 'Today, we pledge unconditional support to Shiv Sena. All we expect is our workers' concerns should be accommodated and that they get a participatory role in the local bodies polls,' he said. Who is Anandraj Ambedkar? Anandraj is the younger brother of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar. They had earlier been part of the Republican Party of India (RPI). In 1998, Anandraj founded the Republican Sena. Although based on Ambedkar's philosophy like other RPI factions, the Republican Sena has a limited presence in the state. In contrast, Prakash Ambedkar has been rooted in state politics for several decades, and has a wider acceptance and larger socio-political network across Maharashtra. Anandraj was in the limelight in 2011 when he led a protest and occupied the Indu Mill land at Dadar in Mumbai. They were protesting against the government's failure to implement its proposal to set up a B R Ambedkar memorial complex with his statue there. Anandraj also made headlines in 2012 when he started an agitation seeking the removal of encroachments from the Buddhist caves and monuments in different parts of Maharashtra. B R Ambedkar along with lakhs of his followers had converted to Buddhism at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur in 1956. By launching a stir over the Buddhist monuments, Anandraj had sought to connect with a larger section of Dalits and Ambedkarites. Over the last five decades, the RPI has been split into various breakaway outfits, which include the RPI (A) led by Union minister Ramdas Athawale, the RPI (Kawade) and the RPI (Gawai), among others. The alliance between the Shiv Sena and the Republican Sena is not likely to make any significant electoral impact in the state, with the move seen in political circles as a Shinde bid to mobilise smaller outfits to strengthen his own party. The RPI (A) is part of the BJP-led NDA in the state and at the Centre. It is said to have the support of a significant percentage of Dalit voters. The Athawale-led party had allied with the then undivided Sena led by late Bal Thackeray in the 1990s, which was dubbed an 'alliance of Shiv Shakti and Bhim Shakti'. This pitch was again made in November 2022, when Sena UBT chief Uddhav, son of Bal Thackeray, joined hands with Prakash Ambedkar. They asserted that they came together to save the Constitution and democracy, which had been facing a 'threat', they alleged, from the BJP dispensation. Both even recalled how their grandfathers had unitedly fought against various social evils including caste discrimination. In the 1950s, two political stalwarts, B R Ambedkar and Prabodhankar Thackeray, Bal Thackeray's father, had come together to fight against untouchability, dowry and casteism. A key constituent of the Opposition Maha Vikash Aghadi (MVA), Uddhav's alliance with Prakash Ambedkar however fell through ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The VBA contested in these polls alone, failing to open its account.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Haven't learned their lesson': MAGA rift deepens as Trump lashes out at ‘past supporters' over Epstein case, calls them ‘weaklings'
A growing split is emerging in the Republican ranks as US President Donald Trump lashes out at some GOP allies, accusing them of succumbing to Democratic 'propaganda' surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. The controversy began after Trump criticised lawmakers who want to release justice department files on Epstein, a pedophile who died by suicide in 2019 and has been at the centre of many conspiracy theories. Trump lashes out at 'weaklings' in his own party In a post on Truth Social, Trump called these critics 'weaklings' and said they had fallen 'hook, line, and sinker' for a Democratic-orchestrated scam. He wrote: 'Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bull***t', hook, line, and sinker.' He added: 'Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work … I don't want their support anymore!' Trump argued that the focus on Epstein distracts from his achievements. 'I have had more success in 6 months than perhaps any President in our Country's history,' he wrote. 'All these people want to talk about… is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax.' Later, speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said that Attorney General Pam Bondi could release credible files but criticised 'some stupid and foolish Republicans' for pushing too hard. He said: 'They only want to talk about that 'hoax'. Don't give me their support.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Republicans divide over document release The demand for transparency has gained traction in Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson, alongside influence from former vice president Mike Pence and other Republicans such as Senators Anna Paulina Luna and Lauren Boebert, have urged the administration to publish the relevant documents. Pence told CBS News: 'The time has come for the administration to release all of the files regarding Jeffrey Epstein's investigation and prosecution. … Anyone who participated or was associated with this despicable man ought to be held up to public scrutiny.' In the House, Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie are pushing a discharge petition to compel a vote on releasing the files. This effort requires 218 signatures and is unlikely to proceed before Congress reconvenes in September. Trump links Epstein probe to broader grievances In a recent interview, Trump equated the Epstein investigation with other probes he views as politically motivated. 'It's all the same scam. They could look at this Jeffrey Epstein hoax also,' he said. He insisted the material only needed to be credible to be released. 'In the case of Epstein, they've already looked at it and they are looking at it, and I think all they have to do is put out anything credible.' Trump aide and Attorney General Pam Bondi had said that there was no 'client list' and also declined to comment on releasing additional files. Trump has urged her to exercise discretion in making any more documents public.
