Congress revamps Manipur unit, appoints 33 office-bearers ahead of polls

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi/Imphal, July 9 (IANS) Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday appointed eight additional General Secretaries and 25 Secretaries for the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) as part of the party’s organisational revamp ahead of the Assembly elections due early next year, party leaders said.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, in a statement, said that the Congress President has approved the proposal to appoint eight additional General Secretaries and 25 Secretaries to the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee.

Among the new appointees are two women leaders – G. Thiampunia, who has been appointed as an additional General Secretary, and Cosmic Jajo, who has been named a Secretary of the state unit.

The appointments came soon after Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee President and former three-time Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, along with Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Keisham Meghachandra Singh, visited New Delhi on July 7 to discuss the party’s preparations for the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Venugopal, in an earlier post on his X handle, said that during the meeting with the Manipur leaders in New Delhi, detailed discussions were held on the party’s strategy and organisational preparedness for the Assembly elections scheduled for early 2027.

“Since 2023, the state has been engulfed in a civil war sparked by the BJP’s politics of hatred. The people of Manipur know that the only way to restore peace is to oust the BJP. For this, they gave a clear indication in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by electing Congress MPs from both parliamentary constituencies with thumping margins,” the AICC General Secretary had said.

He further claimed that the people of Manipur are eagerly awaiting the Assembly elections to remove what he termed the “divisive and dangerous BJP”, which, according to him, has destroyed the state, and to bring back “a government that heals, listens and builds bridges.”

AICC in-charge for Manipur, Saptagiri Ulaka, was also present at the meeting with the state leaders.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Congress Legislature Party leader Keisham Meghachandra Singh, who earlier served as the state Congress President, launched a fresh attack on the BJP-led government over the prevailing situation in Manipur.

Taking to his official X account, Meghachandra Singh wrote: “It is time to open our eyes. The Government has chosen to remain asleep while Manipur continues to suffer. Every passing day brings fresh incidents, growing insecurity, and deepening uncertainty about our future. Instead of restoring normalcy and rebuilding public confidence, the Government appears indifferent to the pain and concerns of the people.”

He further said: “Our youth are growing increasingly frustrated. Unemployment is rising, opportunities are shrinking, and many are losing hope for the future. A generation that should be building Manipur is being forced to struggle for survival. A government that fails to ensure peace, security and livelihoods loses the trust of its people. Manipur deserves better. The people deserve answers, accountability and decisive action. How long must the people wait? How many more lives and dreams must be sacrificed before the Government finally wakes up?” the Congress leader said.

–IANS

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Malegaon verdict: Will Maha govt challenge NIA court order in SC as done in 2006 Mumbai train blasts case, asks Congress

Mumbai, July 31 (IANS) Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal said on Thursday that the court has acquitted all the accused in the 2008 Malegaon bast case, the query of who carried out the bomb blast remains unanswered.

The government’s stand must be against terrorism, Sapkal said, adding that if the state government is willing to move the Supreme Court in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case, then it must do the same for the Malegaon blast case as well.

“The Congress has always stood firmly against terrorism. Through the sacrifices of Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi, the party has paid the ultimate price in the fight against terrorism. Terrorism has no religion or colour and a terrorist must be punished,” the State Congress President said.

He asked whether the state government, which has decided to approach the Supreme Court over the Mumbai railway blasts judgment, will also do the same in the Malegaon bomb blast judgment.

Sapkal said, “The 2008 Malegaon blast led to the death of six people and injured more 100 — this is a matter of fact. The then Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Home Minister R.R. Patil, and Hemant Karkare, the Investigating Officer in the case, had followed up on the matter rigorously. We remember them today. Also relevant today is the statement made by Special Public Prosecutor Rohini Salian, who had said that after the change in government at the Centre, NIA officials asked her to adopt a lenient stand towards the accused in the Malegaon blast case.”

The Congress leader added: “The state government cannot adopt double standards. Just as the accused have been acquitted today, let’s not forget that the first terrorist in Independent India, Nathuram Godse, assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. Out of the seven accused in that case, six were convicted, while Savarkar was acquitted. However, the Kapoor Commission report had pointed fingers at Savarkar.”

Former Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan alleged that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) did not submit evidence in the court.

“NIA works under the Union Home Ministry’s jurisdiction. Until NIA works under the supervision of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, there will be similar rulings in future too.”

Leader of Opposition in State Council and Shiv Sena-UBT leader Ambadas Danve said, “We (Shiv Sena-UBT) hold you (Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis) in high regard. However, I just heard your (CM Fadnavis) statement. It is indeed a good thing that the accused in the Malegaon blast case have been acquitted. But you didn’t mention that the real masterminds behind it should also be traced. If you look a little into history, you will realise what kind of support (undivided Balasaheb Thackeray-led) Shiv Sena provided to the people, who have been acquitted today after that incident. We’ve been taught not to boast about the support we’ve given. That’s all for now.”

NCP Working President, Praful Patel, welcomed the NIA court judgement.

“All had condemned what happened in Malegaon, but the court’s verdict in the Malegaon blast should be welcomed by all. We consider citizens of our country as ‘Bharatiya’. Hindus were killed in the Pahalgam attack. We will only call this a terrorist attack.”

–IANS

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BJP leader urges party to deny BMC tickets to family members of senior leaders

Mumbai, Dec 19 (IANS) BJP leader and advocate Vivekanand Gupta has formally petitioned the party’s Mumbai leadership to end the practice of awarding election tickets to family members of established party leaders in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections slated for December 15.

In a letter addressed to Mumbai BJP President Ameet Satam, Gupta strongly backed the slogan “BMC election is not a family business” and called for merit-based ticket distribution.

Gupta said his appeal reflects the growing frustration among grassroots party workers who dedicate years of service at the organisational level with the hope of eventually being given an opportunity to contest elections. He noted that loyal workers often invest their time, resources and energy in strengthening the party at the division and booth levels.

“A party worker gives his heart and soul to his division, often sacrificing everything for the party’s cause,” Gupta wrote in the letter.

He warned that such workers experience “deep disappointment and alienation” when they are overlooked in favour of the wife, son, daughter or other relatives of senior leaders while distributing election tickets.

The letter emphasised that the BJP has long projected itself as a “worker-centric organisation” and argued that this principle must be upheld, particularly in civic elections like the BMC polls.

Gupta urged the city unit leadership to resist internal pressure and nepotistic demands from influential leaders. He appealed to Ameet Satam to ignore personal requests or directives related to family appointments, and instead award tickets based strictly on merit, commitment and years of service at the grassroots.

He stressed that party workers who have consistently laboured for the BJP’s growth deserve “justice and honour” in the candidate selection process.

“I hope that in this election, it is the common party worker — and only the worker — who is given the opportunity to contest,” Gupta said.

Gupta sent the letter at a time when the BJP is preparing its electoral blueprint for the BMC elections and is engaged in seat-sharing negotiations with the Shiv Sena.

The internal call for merit-based ticket allocation comes amid the party’s efforts to expand its reach among traditional Marathi-speaking communities and consolidate its urban voter base.

Meanwhile, BJP Mumbai president Ameet Satam, after meeting Shiv Sena minister Uday Samant on Thursday, said the two allies have reached a consensus on 150 of the total 227 BMC wards, adding that discussions would continue to finalise seat-sharing arrangements for the remaining 77 wards.

–IANS

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BJP’s 1st list for Bengal Assembly polls features candidates from diverse professions

Kolkata, March 16 (IANS) The first list of 144 candidates announced on Monday by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the forthcoming two-phase Assembly elections to 294 constituencies in West Bengal next month reflects representation from a wide range of professions.

However, unlike the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, representation from the film and glamour industry in the list has been limited to just two candidates — actor-turned-politician Rudranil Ghosh from Shibpur in Howrah district and fashion designer-turned-politician Agnimitra Paul from Asansol (Dakshin) in West Burdwan district.

Paul is the sitting BJP legislator from the Asansol (Dakshin) constituency.

Candidates from the academic field have received significant representation, with 32 of the 144 nominees being teachers.

Other professions represented in the list include eight social workers, six advocates, five doctors, three former journalists — including current state BJP vice-president Jagannath Chattopadhyay — three spiritual leaders and three retired defence personnel.

The list also includes a former cricketer who is currently a sitting legislator, and a retired administrative official, Sumitra Chattopadhyay, a fifth-generation descendant of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the author of India’s national song ‘Vande Mataram’.

Among the candidates announced, 41 are sitting BJP legislators, three are former MLAs and two are former Members of Parliament.

Women candidates account for 11 of the 144 nominees.

Younger candidates have also been included in the list, with 36 nominees below the age of 40.

In addition, 72 candidates fall in the 41–55 age group, 32 candidates are in the 56–70 age bracket and four candidates are above the age of 70.

One of the most notable features of the BJP’s first list is the nomination of Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari from two constituencies — his current seat Nandigram in East Midnapore district and Bhabanipur in south Kolkata.

Bhabanipur is currently represented by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

If CM Banerjee contests from Bhabanipur again, it will mark the second direct electoral contest between her and Adhikari after the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections.

Adhikari was elected from Nandigram for the second consecutive term in 2021, defeating the then Trinamool Congress candidate Mamata Banerjee.

Banerjee later won the Bhabanipur seat in a by-election and continued as Chief Minister for the third consecutive term.

–IANS

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