Regional

Mumbai, March 16 (IANS) The Shiv Sena (UBT) is rattled as its senior functionary and Leader of Opposition (Council) Ambadas E. Danve is reportedly peeved at being ignored for a Lok Sabha nomination from the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar constituency, here on Saturday.

He admitted that he had been yearning for a LS nomination since 2014, then 2019, but was allegedly denied the opportunity owing to the local strongman and five-time MP, Chandrakant Khaire.

A Member of Legislative Council Danve accused Chandrakant Khaire of constantly trying to politically browbeat him, but categorically stated he (Danve) would continue working under the leadership of SS-UBT President and ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray.

He also assured that he is not planning to join hands with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, while shrugging that nobody can predict what would happen in future.

Chandrakant Khaire, who lost the prestigious Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar seat to the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen's Syed Imtiaz Jaleel in 2019, is likely to be renominated from there as a Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidate, creating heartburns for Danve and his supporters.

The statements by Ambadas Danve have created ripples in the MVA as just a couple of days back, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat set the cat among the pigeons by claiming that "a big leader from the MVA" would switch over by Monday.

The Leader of Opposition in the Upper House also urged that new faces must be given a chance for the Lok Sabha and said he had apprised the party leadership of his keen desire to contest it.

"I am a loyal Shiv Sainik and struggles are nothing new for me... But it is not possible to forecast what can happen in the coming times," said Ambadas Danve, dropping broad hints.

Meanwhile, efforts are on to mollify Ambadas Danve by Thackeray and party MP Sanjay Raut and deploy his oratorical skills for the campaign of the Lok Sabha elections, the schedule of which will be announced this afternoon.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed the enthusiastic response to the rooftop solar scheme as the number of households opting for the plan has already surpassed the 1 crore mark within the first month of its launch.

PM Modi said on X: “In about a month since it was launched, over 1 crore households have already registered themselves for the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. Registrations have been pouring in from all parts of the nation. Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have seen over 5 lakh registrations. Those who haven’t registered yet should also do so at the earliest.

"This initiative promises substantial reductions in electricity expenses for households, along with ensuring energy production. It's poised to encourage Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) on a grand scale, contributing to a better planet," the Prime Minister added.

The Prime Minister launched the Rs 75,000 crore rooftop solar scheme on February 13 under which consumers will get free electricity of up to 300 units a month.

"From substantive subsidies, which will be given directly to people’s bank accounts, to heavily concessional bank loans, the Central Government will ensure that there is no cost burden on the people. All stakeholders will be integrated to a National Online Portal for further convenience," PM Modi announced.

The Union Cabinet approved the scheme on February 29 under to provide Central financial assistance of 60 per cent of system cost for 2 kW systems and 40 per cent of additional system cost for systems between 2 to 3 kW capacity.

The financial assistance will be capped at 3 kW. At current benchmark prices, this will mean Rs 30,000 subsidy for 1 kW system, Rs 60,000 for 2 kW systems and Rs 78,000 for 3 kW systems or higher.

The households will apply for subsidy through the National Portal and will be able to select a suitable vendor for installing rooftop solar.

The National Portal will assist the households in their decision-making process by providing relevant information such as appropriate system sizes, benefits calculator, vendor rating etc.

Households will be able to access collateral-free low-interest loan products of around 7 per cent at present for installation of residential RTS systems up to 3 kW.

--IANS

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Jaipur, March 16 (IANS) With a total of more than 5.32 crore people, including 15 lakh voting for the first time, have registered across Rajasthan for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the state is all set to participate in the biggest-ever festival of democracy, a top electoral officer said.

This time the percentage of female voters' registration has been more than that of males, which indicates the growing role of women in shaping democracy, said Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta, adding, "More than 22.54 lakh female voters have been included in the voter lists since 2019. This is an increase of 9.7 per cent as compared to the 9.27 per cent increase in registration of male voters."

He also said that due to intensive efforts towards gender parity, the electoral roll gender ratio, too, has surged positively.

The gender ratio increases from 919 in 2019 to 923 in 2024, Gupta added.

Speaking on participation of youth in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in the state, the Chief Electoral Officer said, "More than 15 lakh youth, between the age of 18-19 years, have been added to the electoral rolls.

In 2019, total number of people between the age of 18-19 years were 12,82,118 while in 2024 they increased to 15,70,490.

The number of people belonging to the third gender has increased from 265 in 2019 to 616 in 2024.

There has been a 31.3 per cent increase in the number of differently-abled people voting since 2019, Gupta added.

A thorough house-to-house verification has been made and names of deceased, permanently shifted, and duplicate voters have been deleted from the electoral rolls. This comprehensive cleanup ensures the integrity and purity of the electoral process. It resulted in deletion of 2,65,707 voters due to death, duplicate names, shifting or absent voters during the last quarter of registrations since 2023 state Assembly elections, the Chief Electoral Officer said.

--IANS

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Kolkata, March 16 (IANS) Uncertainties over the bill proposing enhancement of salaries for the minister and MLAs in West Bengal finally got over on Saturday after Governor C.V. Ananda Bose finally gave clearance to the bill.

“Hon’ble Governor C. V. Ananda Bose has assented to the following Bills: The Bengal Legislative Assembly (Members’ Emoluments) (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and The West Bengal Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2023,” a statement issued by the office of Governor said.

The bill was passed in the Assembly in September last year but it could not be implemented as the Governor did not give his consent.

The BJP raised strong objections to the proposal, calling the hike unethical considering that the state government is unable to pay enhanced dearness allowances to the state government employees at par with their counterparts in the Central government.

The government is expecting to officially execute the enhanced pay with effect from April 1, 2024.

The legislators will now be entitled to a monthly salary of Rs 50,000 a month, as against the existing amount of Rs 10,000. The monthly salaries of the ministers of the state have been increased from Rs 10,900 to Rs 50,900. For the cabinet ministers, the amount has been increased from Rs 11,000 to Rs 51,000.

The other additional perks and allowances that cabinet ministers, ministers of state and MLAs are entitled to in addition to monthly salaries will remain the same.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) Security was stepped up at the Enforcement Directorate office on Saturday morning, a day after Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K. Kavitha was arrested and brought to Delhi in connection with the excise policy case.

"We have deployed additional police personnel to maintain law and order situation in the area," said a senior police official.

At the Rouse Avenue court, the probe agency will be seeking her remand for custodial interrogation.

It is anticipated that the BRS leader may be confronted with senior members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), such as Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia, who are currently under judicial custody in this matter.

Additionally, Amit Arora, a witness who purportedly confessed to the ED regarding the alleged bribery scheme related to the liquor policy, might also be brought into direct confrontation with K. Kavitha, according to sources.

K. Kavitha, the daughter of party President and former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, was arrested on Friday in a money-laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy case after searches at her residence in Hyderabad.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, March 15 (IANS) Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, K.S. Eshwarappa, announced on Friday that he will contest as an Independent candidate from Shivamogga in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Eshwarappa announced this after a meeting with his supporters in Shivamogga on Friday.

B.Y. Raghavendra, the son of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, is the BJP candidate from Shivamogga, while the Congress has fielded Geetha Shivarajkumar as its candidate from the seat.

Geetha Shivarajkumar is the daughter of late former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa, and the sister of state Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa. She is married to Kannada superstar Shivarajkumar.

Meanwhile, Eshwarappa said on Friday that he will contest the polls as an Independent nominee to highlight how the state BJP is under the clutches of Yediyurappa's family.

"The Hindutva activists are pained over family politics in the state," he said.

Reacting to the development, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that he never 'cheated' Eshwarappa, adding that he had even told the party high command to give ticket to Eshwarappa's son K.E. Kantesh based on social justice.

Talking to reporters in Haveri, from where he is contesting, Bommai said he was not aware of the meeting convened by Eshwarappa.

"I had requested to consider Kantesh for Gadag-Haveri based on social justice. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President J.P. Nadda asked me to contest from the seat. That is why I am contesting from Haveri," Bommai said.

The senior BJP leader also said that Eshwarappa has built the party in the state of which he is a loyal soldier.

Bommai also said that he along with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi will speak to Eshwarappa.

--IANS

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Agartala, March 7 (IANS) Tripura Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu on Thursday administered the oath of office and secrecy to the two new ministers -- Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma, both from Tipra Motha Party (TMP), at a simple ceremony at the Raj Bhavan.

Chief Minister Manik Saha, his council of ministers, and senior civil and security officials were present at the swearing-in ceremony, held at the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan.

After year-long hectic parlays and six days after signing of a tripartite agreement with the Centre and the Tripura government, the opposition and the tribal-based TMP decided to join the BJP-led coalition government in Tripura adding a new twist to Tripura politics.

TMP legislator Animesh Debbarma, who was the opposition leader before becoming a cabinet minister, and lawyer turned politician Brishaketu Debbarma, took oath as minister of state and both are the new entrants in the council of ministers in Tripura.

Both the tribal leaders, who took the oath in tribal ‘Kokborok’ language, were elected to the state assembly twice.

Before taking the oath, Animesh Debbarma resigned from the post of Opposition Leader in the state assembly.

Since the BJP-led alliance assumed charge for the second consecutive term on March 8 last year, three ministerial berths are lying vacant as the total strength of the cabinet is 12.

After Wednesday’s expansion of the cabinet, one ministerial berth will remain vacant.

Another tribal-based party, the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), is also an ally of the BJP-led government, and its lone MLA Sukla Charan Noatia is a Cabinet minister in charge of Cooperation, Tribal Welfare (TRP and PTG) and Welfare of Minorities Departments.

The TMP, in its maiden electoral battle in the February 16 Assembly polls held last year, had fielded 42 candidates, including 20 on the tribal reserved seats. The party had won 13 seats with a vote share of 19.69 per cent, as it highlighted its demand for 'Greater Tipraland' or a separate state for the tribals under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution.

After the Assembly polls, the TMP with overwhelming dominance among the tribals, became the second-largest party in the state to secure the main opposition party status.

After wresting power in the politically important Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) in April 2021, the TMP intensified its agitation in support of its ‘Greater Tipraland’ demand, which has been strongly opposed by the ruling BJP, Left Front, Congress, Trinamool Congress and other parties.

The TTAADC, which has jurisdiction over two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km area, and is home to over 12,16,000 people, of which around 84 per cent are tribals, is, in terms of its political significance, the second most important constitutional body in the state after the Tripura Assembly.

On March 2, the TMP signed a tripartite agreement with the Center and the Tripura government 2 in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and others.

According to the agreement, a Joint Working Group/Committee would be formed to work out and implement the mutually agreed issues in a time-bound manner to ensure an 'honourable' solution to tribals' demands.

“The agreement was signed amicably to resolve all the issues of the indigenous people of Tripura relating to their history, land rights, political rights, economic development, identity, culture, language etc.,” the agreement said.

--IANS

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Guwahati, March 7 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the BJP-led NDA will win at least 22 out of total 25 seats in the northeast.

He said, “We will win at least 22 seats. It may go up to 23 as well. In Assam, we will win 11 or 12 seats.”

According to the Chief Minister, there is no contest left in the election. The BJP is set to get 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

“When I visit the rural areas, nobody is talking about the elections. Everybody is talking about the development. I am also busy with developmental works and everyday new projects are being launched at different corners of Assam,” he said.

CM Sarma argued that the winning margin for BJP candidates in Assam will be huge this time.

He said, “Earlier, candidates used to win MP seats by 25,000 votes but this time it will go past two or three lakh votes.”

The Assam Chief Minister also said that he has been looking at the election as an opportunity for the people of Assam to shower their blessings on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the development work of the state to continue at a more rapid pace in the coming years.

He also mentioned that PM Modi will launch several projects in his upcoming schedule to the state. The Prime Minister will unveil the 84-feet long statue of 16th century Ahom general Lachit Borphukan.

--IANS

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Kanpur (UP), March 7 (IANS) A team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday began conducting raids at the residence of jailed Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Irfan Solanki in Kanpur district.

According to reports, the probe agency team is currently present at Solanki's Jajmau residence.

The residence of his brother, Arshad, is also being raided under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The ED is conducting search operations at builder Haji Wasi's residence. Wasi, closely associated with Irfan Solanki, is accused in the arson attack in Kanpur in 2022, along with several other individuals of Bangladeshi origin.

Irfan Solanki has been lodged in Maharajganj jail for the past one year after being accused of land encroachment by a woman. More than a dozen cases have been filed against him.

--IANS

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Patna, March 7 (IANS) Bihar Police on Thursday said that they have arrested two shooters of the dreaded Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

The police said that the operation was jointly carried out by Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi Police late on Wednesday night.

The police have identified the shooters as Sunil Karolia, a native of Jaipur and Shahnawaz Sahil, a resident of Mehsol block in Sitamarhi district of Bihar.

The police said a trap was laid at Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi border area at Runni Saidpur toll plaza.

Police said that learnt that two shooters were coming from Nepal and accordingly a trap was laid and arrested the accused while contrabands were also recovered from their possession.

Police said that the preliminary investigation revealed that the two shooters were involved in several murders in Rajasthan, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.

--IANS

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