Ready to sacrifice my post for people's benefit: MLA Rajagopal Reddy
Speaking at Samsthan Narayanapuram, Mr. Reddy emphasised that positions are not important to him, but the people are. 'I was promised a ministerial position when I joined the Congress,' he claimed, criticising the Congress leadership for giving ministerial posts to juniors over experienced leaders like him.
Mr. Reddy recalled his decision to resign from his position during the BRS regime, stating that he brought the government closer to the people of Munugode. He reiterated that he is ready to resign again if it benefits the people.
The MLA also criticised those who seek positions for personal gain, saying that they loot thousands of crores. Mr. Reddy emphasised that his priority is the development of Munugode and the welfare of its people.
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Indian Express
41 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Guruji amar rahe: A village in Jharkhand bids farewell to Shibu Soren
Former Jharkhand chief minister and veteran tribal leader Shibu Soren was cremated with full state honours in his village Nemra in Ramgarh district on Tuesday. The JMM patriarch, fondly called 'Dishom Guru' (leader of the land), died on Monday at the age of 81. His eldest son, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, lit the funeral pyre amid chants of 'Guruji amar rahe (Long live Guruji)'. Political leaders from across the country came to Ranchi to pay their last respects. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge could not attend the funeral as their helicopter could not take off from Ranchi but they reached Nemra by road to meet Hemant and console him. Former Bihar deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also reached Nemra, while former Union minister Arjun Munda and AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto came on a motorcycle due to massive traffic jams on the roads. AAP MP Sanjay Singh, TMC MP Shatabdi Roy and Purnea MP Pappu Yadav also paid their last respects to the tribal icon. As the flower-decked open carriage with Soren's mortal remains made its way from Ranchi to Ramgarh, thousands lined the roads, chanting the leader's name, holding posters and flags to bid farewell to the man they knew as their leader and guardian. In Nemra, outside the modest mud house where Soren spent his childhood, a sombre atmosphere prevailed as friends, family, party workers and villagers gathered to bid a final adieu with moist eyes. Lagan Bhai Soren (90), who had travelled from Chandil, Jamshedpur, sat quietly in front of the house, remembering a 'friend' with whom he had participated in many movements. 'We called each other 'Guru' from the heart,' said Lagan Bhai. 'We grew up together. We led a simple, vegetarian life. We stayed away from alcohol, meat and anything excessive. That's what we believed in.' He recalled being by Soren's side in the early days of the Adivasi struggle. 'From the first day of the movement, whether it was for Adivasis' rights or against exploitative moneylenders, we stood together. We were never afraid. Guruji would say, 'we don't take from others. We only accept what's given with respect'.' During one protest, Lagan said he lost all his belongings. 'Only a dhoti and vest remained', but Soren ensured he got slippers and food. 'That was the kind of man he was,' he said. Bhairav Soren, 55, who stays about 200 metres from Soren's house, said the tribal leader was like his 'big brother'. 'We are from the same clan in the Santhal community. He was like a big brother. We didn't speak daily, but we shared roots. He knew everyone's names in the village,' he said. Although Bhairav did not participate in the political movements spearheaded by Soren, his family always supported his work. 'My father died before I was born. The village elders told me how my father was involved in the movements with Guruji. He (soren) brought pensions, electricity to the village. He gave us dignity,' said Bhairav. Many of Soren's followers from Tundi, Dhanbad, were disappointed as they were not allowed to pay their last respects. Bhagwan Murmu (42), one of the supporters from Tundi, said, 'It is a well-known fact that Guruji launched the Dhan Katti Andolan, which was against the Mahajani Pratha (moneylending system), from Tundi. Yet, we were not given a chance to see him one last time.' Soren had been the leader of the JMM for the past 38 years. As a mark of respect, the Jharkhand government declared a three-day state mourning till August 6.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Zohran Mamdani may choose Jamaal Bowman as chancellor for NYC schools: Who is this controversial educator?
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Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Maya reaffirms go-solo strategy for 2027 UP assembly polls
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati reiterated on Tuesday that her party will not ally with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Congress-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) or any other front for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. BSP president Mayawati. (File Photo) In a post on social media platform X, Mayawati said: 'BSP is a party that works independently of casteist alliances. The party follows Ambedkarite principles and policies of 'Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay' (the welfare and happiness of all)'. The BSP president's statement has drawn mixed reactions from party leaders and supporters. While some welcomed her decision, others expressed apprehension that the decision to go solo might pave the way for further decline of the party's support base and defeat in the 2027 assembly elections in UP. 'At a time when political parties across the country are joining NDA or INDIA to retain relevance in the state and national politics, Behenji's decision may prove detrimental for the party which aims for revival in the 2027 elections. To remain relevant, the party will have to choose for an alliance either with the NDA or with INDIA alliance,' said a BSP leader who wished not to be named. However, another BSP leader said that with around two years to go for the assembly elections in UP, the party chief wishes to keep her options open. 'She will take the final call on alliance after the panchayat polls scheduled next year. She is working on strengthening the party organisation from booth level to state level. The party is working on the Dalit-OBC consolidation strategy to strengthen its base,' he said. Professor Vivek Kumar, a political observer, said: 'Mayawati is working on a tested formula to regain the lost ground in UP. Past alliance experiments have largely backfired. The BSP ended up transferring its votes to the alliance partners, but got little in return.' 'When a party goes for an alliance, it has to agree on a seat-sharing deal. In this situation, when the candidates campaigning for the party in the hope of getting a ticket are left in the lurch, they feel cheated. It also leads to rebellion as some contest as independent candidates. The organisation work is also adversely affected,' he added. 'Mayawati knows that the post-poll alliance brings more bargaining power in comparison to the pre-poll alliance. If the BSP manages two win around 30-40 seats in the assembly elections, it will be in a better position to bargain with the party that is vying to form the government,' he insisted. According to Anant Rao Akela, a Dalit ideologue, the support base as well as vote share of the BSP have shrunk in successive elections after the BSP lost power in 2012. 'Mayawati's strategy to regain power has failed. The BJP, SP and Congress have made inroads into its Dalit vote base. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the SP and Congress received a large share of Dalit votes,' he pointed out. 'The rise of Azad Samaj Party (ASP) leader Chandrashekhar is yet another challenge for the BSP to regain its hold over the Dalits. Mayawati's decision to remove her nephew Akash Anand from the post of national coordinator and re-appoint him has damaged his prospects in politics. If Mayawati goes solo in the 2027 assembly elections, Jatav votes will be divided between the BSP and ASP,' Akela said. According to BSP state unit president Vishwanath Pal, the party is organising cadre camps in all the assembly segments to regain its support base. 'The focus is on the youth. Senior party leaders have been directed to attend the camps to make the youth aware of the struggle of party's founder Kanshi Ram and president Mayawati,' he said. The BSP support base and vote share has been declining in the successive elections. In the 2007 assembly elections, the BSP polled 30.43% votes to form the government on its own. In 2012, the BSP polled 25.95% votes to bag 80 seats. In 2017, the BSP secured 22.23% votes to win 19 seats while in 2022, its vote percentage dipped to 12.88% and the BSP won a solitary seat. The story has been no different in the Lok Sabha elections. In 2004, the BSP polled 24.67% votes to bag 19 seats while in 2009, its vote percentage was 27.42% and the seat tally was 20. In 2014, the BSP's vote percentage declined to 19.77% and it failed to open its account. In 2019, the BSP contested in alliance with the SP and bagged 10 seats with a vote share of 19.42%. In 2024, the party failed to open its account with a vote share of 9.35%.
