Latest news with #Assembly
Hans India
an hour ago
- Business
- Hans India
Welfare, development two eyes for me: Naidu
Kuppam (Chittoor dist): Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday termed development and welfare as two eyes for him, saying he would continue both in equal measure. Speaking at a public meeting during his two-day visit to Kuppam, his longtime Assembly constituency in Chittoor district, on Wednesday, the CM spoke about his government's balanced approach to welfare and development. 'Development and welfare are two eyes for me. Revenue must be used for the benefit of the poor, but without neglecting development which will in turn enhance the state's revenues,' he said. Naidu strongly criticised the previous administration for what he described as severe financial mismanagement, claiming it had left the state burdened with Rs 10 lakh crore in debt and had misused central funds, disrupting important welfare schemes. He stated that his government was working to lead Andhra Pradesh from a state of ruin toward meaningful development. 'We are guiding the state, which was driven into ruin, towards development. I have come to you as part of the first step in good governance,' he added. The Chief Minister reaffirmed his commitment to transform Kuppam into a model constituency for the entire nation. He outlined key projects and developmental initiatives underway in the area. He pointed out at the completion of the Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project, which was undertaken at a cost of Rs.3,890 crore, and assured the gathering that water would reach the last ayacut in Kuppam by the end of the year. The Chief Minister further said: 'In Kuppam alone, we are carrying out works worth Rs.1,292 crore, and projects worth Rs.125 crore have already been completed'. He also noted that ensuring pothole-free roads across the state remains a top priority. Naidu added that under the 'Swarna Kuppam' project, infrastructure in the constituency is being upgraded with the construction of concrete and bitumen roads. He highlighted efforts to boost local industry and market connectivity through the promotion of 'Brand Kuppam' and said that plans for a new airport, with Rs.850 crore allocated, were underway. Assuring the public that land acquisition would be fair and transparent, he promised generous compensation packages for those who part with their land. Pushing forward his green energy agenda, Naidu said rooftop solar panels would be installed on every house in Kuppam under the PM Suryaghar Yojana. 'I will stand by you until every household has solar power, which would drastically reduce electricity costs and improve energy independence', he said. Naidu urged the people to support leaders who truly stand by them, not those who engage in political violence. 'I don't believe in the politics of murder or death. I believe in politics of public good,' he said, defending himself against what he claimed were baseless allegations and politically motivated attacks. On this occasion, Naidu launched various development projects while four MoUs with Aditya Birla Group, eRoyce motors, ACE International Limited and SVF Soya Pvt Ltd were signed in his presence. Also, he distributed welfare payments to the beneficiaries. Chittoor MP D Prasada Rao, MLC K Srikanth, Collector Sumit Kumar, KADA Project Director Vikas Marmat were also present.
NDTV
6 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Tripura Chief Minister To Expand Cabinet Tomorrow: Report
Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha would expand his council of ministers on July 3, sources said on Wednesday. Sources said that on the advice of the Chief Minister, Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu would administer the oath of office and secrecy to the new minister at the Raj Bhavan. One probable name -- Kishore Barman -- is doing the rounds about the possible minister. BJP MLA Barman was elected in the 2023 Assembly polls from Nalchar constituency in Sepahijala district. As per the constitutional mandate, the size of the council of ministers is 12, including the Chief Minister. One ministerial berth has been lying vacant. The sources said that at least five BJP MLAs are the contenders for the ministerial berths. On March 8, 2023, the BJP and Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) coalition government led by Saha came to power for the second consecutive term. The Tipra Motha Party (TMP), headed by former royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, contested the 2023 Assembly polls separately but in March last year, after signing a tripartite agreement with the Centre and the Tripura government, joined the BJP-IPFT coalition government, adding a new twist to Tripura politics. Accordingly, two TMP MLAs -- Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma -- were inducted into the ministry. The IPFT currently has one minister -- Sukla Charan Noatia -- in the 11-member council of the ministry. The BJP-IPFT alliance had retained power in Tripura by winning 33 seats in the 60-member Assembly. The TMP, which contested the Assembly elections in 2023 for the first time, won 13 seats of the 42 seats it contested, emerging as the second largest party after the BJP. The CPI-M won 11 seats in the elections while the Congress bagged three. The CPI-M-led Left Front and the Congress had a seat-sharing arrangement for the elections. The TMP became a political force in April 2021 after it wrested power in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council. The politically important TTAADC has jurisdiction over two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km area, and is home to over 1,21,6000 people, of which around 84 per cent are tribals.
Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
State govt withdraws amendment bill on tree felling, passes Nashik Kumbh Mela bill
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday withdrew a proposed amendment to the Maharashtra Felling of Trees (Regulation) Act, 1964, that sought to impose a penalty of ₹50,000 for illegal tree cutting and treat the cutting of its branches as an offence. The amendment bill, introduced in 2024, had proposed increasing the penalty for tree felling without permission from the existing Rs 1,000 to Rs 50,000—a 50-fold hike. It also granted the state the power to confiscate tools, vehicles and other equipment used in the act. The provisions were to apply across the state, barring urban areas. Forest Minister Ganesh Naik moved the motion to withdraw the bill in the Assembly, stating that the government would consult tree experts and bring back a revised version after a cabinet-level discussion. The withdrawal was passed in the assembly. 'The intention is not to dilute environmental concerns. We will introduce a better version after addressing practical issues and stakeholder concerns,' Naik said, clarifying that the withdrawal was temporary. The proposed law had drawn criticism from environmentalists and legislators alike, with concerns over its implementation, especially in rural areas. Many argued that the bill failed to distinguish between forest and private land and did not account for the difference between urban and rural geographies. Senior BJP leader and former Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, under whose tenure the amendment was first framed, questioned the rationale behind the withdrawal from the government and opposed the move seeking clarification. 'Global warming is a real threat, and illegal tree cutting is rampant. The current law only requires prior permission to cut trees. Then why is the government stepping back? I don't know the reason behind withdrawing it,' he said during the session. 'Is the government going to increase the fine further or what? If it is that the fine will be increased to Rs 1 lakh then I will support it surely. But tell the reason for withdrawing it. Otherwise on my personal capacity at least I do not support the withdrawal of this bill,' he said. Naik, however, defended the move. 'There is no doubt about Mungantiwar's intent. But we want to ensure the law is both effective and fair. Even unintentional acts by farmers were liable for a hefty fine. That needs review,' he said. Supporting the government's decision, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav pointed out the lack of clarity in the bill. 'The draft did not differentiate between trees on forest and private land, nor did it account for rural versus urban implementation. These issues must be addressed,' he said. The state legislative assembly on Wednesday passed a bill seeking to establish the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority for the mega congregation set to begin on October 31 next year. The bill which was tabled in the Assembly on the first day of the monsoon session, provides for the establishment of an Authority for organisation and management of the Kumbh Mela and allied activities in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar as well as other areas in the vicinity. As per the bill, the 22-member Authority will be headed by the Nashik division commissioner, and will also include Nashik collector and Nashik Range inspector general of police as vice chairpersons. The chairperson will have powers to direct government departments and other authorities to requisition services, facilities, premises, vehicles etc for the Kumbh Mela. A committee of ministers will also be set up to review the work of the Authority from time to time. The Simhastha Kumbh Mela will begin on October 31 next year with 'Dhwajarohan' (flag hoisting) at Trimbakeshwar and Ramkund in Nashik. The flag will be taken down on July 24, 2028 marking the conclusion of the mega event held once every 12 years.
The Hill
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
DeSantis: Mamdani makes de Blasio look like Reagan
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Tuesday tried to spotlight the democratic-socialist leanings of Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor in New York City, by comparing him to a past liberal mayor. 'This guy makes de Blasio look like Ronald Reagan,' DeSantis said of former Mayor Bill de Blasio, a progressive, in an interview on Fox News's 'Hannity.' 'And I remember when de Blasio was mayor, particularly during Covid, it sparked a[n] absolute flow out of New York City, and yes, many into Florida,' DeSantis added. The Florida governor attacked the 33-year-old state Assembly member for his policy positions, including his past support for the 'defund the police' movement and what DeSantis deemed his 'crazy economics' and tax proposals. 'I think this guy's policies, soup to nuts, are probably the most radical left that I've ever seen of a major party candidate in a big jurisdiction,' DeSantis said. 'This is something above and beyond the destruction that New York City has already seen,' he added. DeSantis said Florida has 'absorbed a lot of people over the years,' but he expects that number to go up if Mamdani is elected mayor in November. 'I'm telling you, I think I'm going to have to charge an entry tax or something because of this guy,' DeSantis quipped, 'because I don't know if we're going to be able to absorb everyone that's going to flee his poor rule if he gets in.' Mamdani on Tuesday formally secured the Democratic nomination for New York City's mayoral election in November, after the city finished its ranked-choice tabulation. Mamdani's stunning upset win over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and numerous other candidates in the field seemed all but certain following the primary last week, as he led comfortably in the first round of counting by about 7 points. He also declared victory as Cuomo, who placed second in the first round, conceded defeat in the Democratic primary and congratulated Mamdani.
Winnipeg Free Press
9 hours ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Wisconsin Republicans look to Democrats to pass the state budget deal
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Legislature pushed to pass a compromise state budget Wednesday, with Democratic votes expected to be needed to approve the deal reached between Gov. Tony Evers and majority Republicans. The two-year spending plan would affect nearly every person in the battleground state. Income taxes would be cut for working people and retirees, sales taxes would be eliminated on residential electric bills and it would cost more to get a driver's license, buy license plates and title a vehicle. Evers, who has broad partial veto powers, has promised not to kill any portions of the budget he agreed to with Republicans. In a concession to the Democratic governor, Republicans also agreed to spend more money on special education services in K-12 schools, subsidize child care costs and give the Universities of Wisconsin its biggest increase in nearly two decades. The plan would also likely result in higher property taxes in many school districts due to no increase in general aid to pay for operations. The budget also calls for closing a troubled aging prison in Green Bay by 2029, but stops short of enacting a more broad prison overhaul plan put forward by Evers. Fast-moving plan Key details of the proposal were not released until early Tuesday morning, giving lawmakers and the public just over a day to understand the massive deal before the Legislature votes on it. Republicans planned to vote on it in both the Senate and Assembly on the same day. In at least the past 50 years, the budget has never passed both houses on the same day. There was urgency to pass the plan because of one part that increases an assessment on hospitals to help fund the state's Medicaid program and hospital provider payments. Changes being discussed in Congress could prohibit or limit the state's ability to do this in the future, Evers warned. 'That's why we're working so fast to get it done,' Republican Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said Wednesday. The new state budget was supposed to begin on Tuesday but under Wisconsin law — even though it's late — the current spending plan continues and there is no government shutdown. Evers, who is midway through his second term, said he would announce his decision on seeking a third term after he has signed the budget. He has 10 working days after the Legislature passes the budget to take action on it. Republicans need Democratic votes Democrats said newly drawn legislative maps, which helped them pick up seats in November and narrow the Republican majorities, led to greater compromise this year. Republican Sen. Patrick Testin, a member of the budget committee, said the plan was far from perfect, but 'this is where we're at with divided government.' While Republicans still hold majorities in the Senate and Assembly, they were expected to need Democratic votes to pass it in the Senate. Republicans have a narrow 18-15 majority there, and two Republicans have publicly said they planned to vote against the deal. LeMahieu, the Republican Senate leader, said more GOP lawmakers planned to vote for the budget than against it, but declined to give exact numbers. Democratic senators were brought into budget negotiations in the final days to secure enough votes to pass it. 'It's a bipartisan deal,' Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein said before the vote. 'I think everybody left the table wishing it was different, but this is something everyone has agreed on.' Democratic criticism But that didn't stop some of the most liberal Democrats in the Legislature from speaking out against the plan on Tuesday, calling for more changes before a vote. Democratic state Sen. Chris Larson, of Milwaukee, pledged to vote against the plan, noting that property taxes would go up and nearly two-thirds of K-12 school districts would see a drop in state aid. In a social media post, Democratic state Rep. Francesca Hong, of Madison, urged voters to contact Evers and lawmakers to pressure them to reject the plan, which she said 'fails to meet the needs of our children and working-class families.' Democratic Sen. Kelda Roys, a member of the budget committee, said she was leaning toward voting against the plan. But fellow Democratic budget committee member Sen. LaTonya Johnson signaled that she would back it. 'It should be a bipartisan document of our values and of our priorities,' Johnson said. 'And it was a bipartisan effort, not necessarily by choice, but by force, and that's OK. We'll take it any way we can get it.' Democratic senators refused to say how they planned to vote at a news conference prior to debate starting.
