German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann has noted that Berlin has always said India is in a "very good position" to listen to both the sides when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Though he does not know what New Delhi is intending to do, but Berlin would "welcome any engagement", he added. Ambassador Ackermann interacted with media on Wednesday, October 23, at his residence in the national capital, ahead of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to India, news agency PTI reported. On Friday, October 25, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Chancellor Scholz will co-chair the seventh Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC). According to PTI, IGC is a whole-of-government framework under which ministers from both the sides hold discussions in their respective areas of responsibility and report on the outcome of their deliberations to the prime minister and the chancellor. In response to a query on India's potential role towards seeking a resolution of the over two-year-long Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ackermann said, "We all know that Prime Minister [Modi] is coming back from Kazan (Russia)... the BRICS Summit. He has been talking to a lot of leaders, including the Russian president, and without being privy to know the agenda of the bilateral talks, I am sure it will be on the agenda, and the chancellor will be very curious what the PM has to say after this meeting". "We have always said that India is in a very good position to basically listen to both sides, and to have both sides in mind. We have seen the PM going to (Ukrainian capital) Kyiv, we have seen a renewed interest in the conflict. I don't know what India is intending to do, but we would welcome any engagement," he added. Later an interaction with PTI Videos after his briefing, the German envoy said he was convinced that Modi and Scholz "will discuss geopolitics". "I am very convinced that they will discuss geopolitics, although I don't know the agenda of the bilateral meeting. It will always be good to listen to India's perspective on things. We have a Euro-centric perspective on things, India can add to this view a lot. I know that the chancellor and the PM have a very good communication on these questions, and I am sure these will be tackled [during the meeting]," he said, when asked if the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and war in West Asia will figure in talks of the two leaders. PM Modi at BRICS Summit On Tuesday, PM Modi held bilateral talks with Putin, hours after arriving in the central Russian city of Kazan to attend the 16th BRICS Summit, PTI reported. India supports dialogue and diplomacy and not war, PM Modi said at BRICS Summit on Wednesday, in an unambiguous message calling for resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict through peaceful negotiations. In his address, the PM also flagged concerns over pressing challenges such as wars, economic uncertainty, climate change and terrorism and said BRICS can play a positive role to take the world in the right path. PM Modi had visited Russia in July, marking his first visit since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In August he undertook a visit to Ukraine at the invitation of Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In a joint statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on this visit, the Indian side had reiterated its principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, as part of which, India attended the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in June. The Ukrainian side had welcomed such participation by India and highlighted the importance of high-level participation by New Delhi in the next Peace Summit. Last month, PM Modi had met Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. The leaders had exchanged views on bilateral ties and also discussed the situation in Ukraine. Modi had reiterated India's willingness to play a constructive role in the quest for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. (With PTI inputs)
23 October,2024 06:37 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAmid growing cyber threats, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday issued an advisory to all states regarding the establishment of a Special Wing of Cyber Commandos. In the past week, Indian airlines have received more than 100 hoax bomb threats resulting in inconvenience to passengers and monetary loss to the airlines. Most of the threats were posted on accounts on X and the accounts were created by using a virtual private network (VPN) or dark web browser that investigative agencies have been unable to detect. The decision has been taken by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) after witnessing growing cyber threats and to enhance cyber defence capabilities. In the order copy accessed by the ANI reads that during the DGPs, lGPs Conference held in the month of January 2023 and 2024, the Prime Minister recommended that a Special Wing of suitably trained 'Cyber Commandos' should be established within a police organization to counter threats of cyber security from cyberspace. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) plans to raise 5,000 Cyber Commandos over the next five years. The Cyber Commando Wing would be an integral part of the police organization and would be deemed to be a national resource. Prospective Cyber Commandos will be identified from among serving personnel (all ranks) in the various police organizations of the States/UTs and Central Police Organizations having basic knowledge of computer networks and operating systems, reads the order. Trained Commandos will work for their parent organization and will be expected to be assigned roles according to the expertise they had developed during training in Digital forensics, Incident Response and Securing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Infrastructure. They shall not be utilized for roles not related to duties as a cyber-commando and may be utilized by MHA to respond to or mitigate any cyber-attacks and training for a short duration. I4C-MHA will maintain close liaison with the cyber commandos for continuous learning, knowledge upgradation and utilization, it further reads. The first batch of 246 Cyber commandos are undergoing six months of intensive hands-on training at the following institutions; IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIIT Kottayam, IIIT Naya Raipur, Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) Gandhinagar, Defence Institute of Advance Technology (DIAT) Pune, National Forensic Science University (NFSU) Gandhinagar, and Delhi. The duration of training is six months, including hands-on training, industry exposure, and field visits to equip trainees to handle cybersecurity exigencies. These trainees were selected on the basis of a screening test held on 24 Feb 2024 at 32 test centres across the country. I4C Plans to conduct the second screening test on 8th December 2024 to select the next set of Cyber Commandos. The Guidelines for the Cyber Commando Training Programme, including complete details and the syllabus for the screening test. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 October,2024 06:34 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIThe Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea moved by a man, seeking a court order for a medical check up to determine the gender of his wife, amid allegations that she is a transgender person, reported news agency ANI. Justice Sanjiv Narula rejected the man's plea, and stated that writ petitions are not applicable in this case as it is against a private individual, and that matrimonial disputes are not suitable for such legal petitions. He further expressed concern that ordering a medical examination in such cases could set a troubling precedent with broader implications. On Tuesday, the man had approached the Delhi High Court, requesting that the police conduct a medical examination of his wife at a Central Government hospital to establish her gender, stated ANI. The petitioner alleged that his wife is a "transgender individual," a fact he claims was fraudulently hidden from him before their marriage. He further claimed that his wife’s gender caused him significant mental trauma and hindered the consummation of their marriage. The petitioner said that this concealment led to various legal challenges against him, including false allegations under domestic violence and dowry laws. In his petition, submitted by Advocate Abhishek Kumar Choudhary, the man acknowledged that an individual's gender identity is a private matter. However, he emphasised the interconnected rights of both spouses within the context of marriage, arguing that it is essential to balance and respect the fundamental rights to life of both individuals as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The man contended that he has a fundamental right to a fair investigation into the facts of his case before facing legal proceedings designed for women. He argued that if his wife does not qualify as a "woman" under relevant laws, he should not be subjected to maintenance obligations or accusations under domestic violence and dowry legislation. Prior to approaching the Delhi High Court, the petitioner had sought a medical examination through a trial court application under Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), which was dismissed. The Delhi High Court advised him to seek resolution through appropriate legal channels rather than pursuing this route. (With inputs from ANI)
23 October,2024 05:44 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentIndia supports dialogue and diplomacy and not war, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the BRICS Summit here on Wednesday, in an unambiguous message calling for resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict through peaceful negotiations. In his address, Modi flagged concerns over pressing challenges such as wars, economic uncertainty, climate change and terrorism and said the BRICS can play a positive role to take the world in the right path. "We support dialogue and diplomacy, not war. And just as we were able to overcome a challenge like COVID together, we are certainly able to create new opportunities to ensure a secure, strong and prosperous future for future generations," he said. The summit was attended by top leaders of BRICS nations, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. The prime minister also batted for concerted global efforts to deal with terrorism and that there must not be any "double standards" in fighting the menace. "In order to counter terrorism and terror financing, we need the single-minded, firm support of all. There is no place for double standards on this serious matter. "We need to take active steps to stop the radicalisation of youth in our countries. We must work together on the long pending matter in the UN of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism," he said. "The same way, we need to work on global regulations for cyber security and for safe and secure AI," he added. Modi said India is ready to welcome new countries into BRICS as partner countries. "In this regard, all decisions should be taken by consensus, and the views of BRICS founding members should be respected," he said. "The guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures adopted during the Johannesburg summit, should be complied with by all members and partner countries," Modi noted. The prime minister also pitched for reform of the UN Security Council and other global bodies. "We must move forward in a time-bound manner on reforms in global institutions such as the UN Security Council, Multilateral development banks, and the WTO," he said. "As we take our efforts forward in BRICS, we must be careful to ensure that this organisation does not acquire the image of one that is trying to replace global institutions, instead of being perceived as one that wishes to reform them," he said. Modi also argued that the hopes, aspirations and expectations of the countries of the Global South must also be kept in mind. "The BRICS grouping, created by the confluence of different viewpoints and ideologies, is a source of inspiration for the world, fostering positive cooperation," he said. "Our diversity, respect for each other and our tradition of moving forward on the basis of consensus are the basis for our cooperation," he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 October,2024 05:20 PM IST | Kazan | PTICongress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday marked her electoral debut by filing her nomination for the upcoming Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll, saying that she has 35 years of experience in the political arena beginning from the age of 17 years when she campaigned for her late father Rajiv Gandhi in 1989. Addressing a massive gathering at Kalpetta ahead of filing nominations for the November 13 bypoll, she said that in the 35 years since then, she has campaigned for her mother, Sonia Gandhi, her brother Rahul Gandhi and other party colleagues. Her statement comes a day after BJP's Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll candidate Navya Haridas said she was more experienced in representing people than Priyanka. Congress Parliamentary party president Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and other senior party leaders were present on the dais during Priyanka's speech. During her public address, Priyanka also said that she considers it an honour to be chosen to represent the people of Wayanad. She also said that she was deeply touched by the courage shown by people of Wayanad at the time of landslides that hit the district. Rahul Gandhi also spoke at the event where he said that once his sister wins, the people of Wayanad will have two MPs, including himself, to represent them in Parliament. "I will be the unofficial MP of the people of Wayanad," said Rahul, who represented the Wayanad LS constituency from 2019 to 2024. The by-election for Wayanad LS seat became necessary after Rahul Gandhi, who won the Lok Sabha polls from there and Rae Bareli constituency this year, decided to vacate Wayanad. He urged the people of Wayanad to take care of his sister Priyanka and vote her for Parliament. Kharge, who also spoke at the event, said that Priyanka is in Wayanad not just to file her nomination, but as a relentless champion for the people of the hill district. "Bless her, and she will deliver the results," he said. After their public address, Priyanka left for the collectorate where she filed her nomination papers in the presence of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Kharge and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal. Priyanka would be contesting against LDF's Sathyan Mokeri and BJP's Navya Haridas. Voting in Wayanad will be held on November 13. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 October,2024 04:07 PM IST | Wayanad | PTIThe Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing on a series of petitions related to the issue of marital rape, with Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, who is due to retire next month, stating that his bench would not be able to conclude the matter in the near future.According to ANI, CJI Chandrachud, heading the bench, announced that the case would be reheard in four weeks. The postponement occurred after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, along with other counsels, requested more time to present their arguments. "In view of the time estimate, we are of the view that it would not be possible to complete the hearings in the foreseeable future," remarked CJI Chandrachud, noting that the case will be reassigned to another bench for the rehearing.Senior Advocate Karuna Nundy, representing one of the petitioners, urged CJI Chandrachud to personally hear the case, stressing that it concerns justice for millions of women. Nundy emphasised the importance of the matter and called for a timely resolution.ANI reported that the petitions challenge the constitutional validity of Exception 2 to Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which exempts husbands from being prosecuted for rape if the victim is their wife, unless the wife is below 15 years of age. The petitioners argue that this exemption is unconstitutional, as it violates the fundamental rights of married women.In the previous hearing, Senior Advocate Nundy argued that rape is already an offence in India, but the current law unjustly excludes husbands from the definition. Nundy contended that declaring the exception unconstitutional would not create a separate offence but rather extend protection to all women, including those in marriages.As per ANI, the Centre recently filed an affidavit cautioning against striking down the exception, warning that criminalising marital rape could destabilise the institution of marriage and have far-reaching socio-legal consequences. The government also expressed concern that such a move could lead to misuse of the law, given the evolving social and familial structures in the country. The Centre maintained that Section 375 of the IPC is a well-considered provision that addresses a wide spectrum of sexual abuse, and that any changes should come through comprehensive legislative action rather than judicial intervention.Several petitions have been submitted to the court, including one challenging a Karnataka High Court ruling that upheld charges of rape against a man accused of treating his wife as a sex slave. Another petition contests a split decision by the Delhi High Court in May 2022, where one judge ruled in favour of criminalising marital rape, while the other upheld the constitutionality of Exception 2 to Section 375.The All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) has also moved the Supreme Court, arguing that the marital rape exemption undermines the purpose of rape laws, which are designed to protect against non-consensual sexual activity. AIDWA's plea asserts that the exemption violates constitutional rights to equality, freedom of speech, and life, under Articles 14, 19(1)(a), and 21.The Supreme Court is expected to revisit the matter in four weeks, ANI reported. (With inputs from ANI)
23 October,2024 03:39 PM IST | New DelhiThe Eastern Railway will not operate any local train from Sealdah station from 8 pm on Thursday till 10 am on Friday in view of the Cyclone Dana, an official said, the PTI reported on Wednesday. He said that the announcement comes as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of train passengers in the Sealdah division that serves six districts of West Bengal - North 24 Praganas, South 24 Praganas, Nadia, Murshidabad, Kolkata and Howrah. The storm which is likely to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra port in Odisha early Friday with wind speeds of up to 120 kmph, will bring heavy rain in several south Bengal districts on October 24 and 25, the Met office said. "From 8 pm onwards on October 24, no local train will start from Sealdah station to ensure that no train is on the tracks during the time when the cyclone is apprehended to make landfall," the Eastern Railway official said, according to the PTI. He said that local train services in the Sealdah division will remain suspended till 10 am on October 25, he said. The official said that the last train from Hasnabad and Namkhana stations, which are close to the coastal areas in North and South 24 Parganas districts respectively, will depart towards Sealdah by 7 pm on October 24. South Eastern Railway on Tuesday announced that more than 150 express and passenger trains running through its jurisdiction were cancelled in view of the cyclone. The East Coast Railways on Tuesday also cancelled as many as 198 trains passing through and originating from Odisha. Rain begins in Odisha as Cyclone Dana's outer band touches land mass: IMD Meanwhile, parts of Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts in Odisha experienced rain and adverse weather conditions on Wednesday afternoon with the Indian Meterological Centre (IMD) saying that the outer bands of Cyclone 'Dana' has begun to affect the eastern coastline, according to the PTI. Senior IMD scientist Umashankar Das posted on X, "According to radar data from Paradip, the outer band of Cyclone 'Dana' has touched the land mass in Bhadrak and Kendrapara districts." He clarified that while the cyclone is around 500 km offshore, its outer bands, composed of clouds, can influence local weather conditions. The IMD said Cyclone 'Dana' is likely to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra port, a distance of around 70km, early Friday. In response to the cyclone's movement, the Odisha government has expedited evacuation efforts in the coastal districts of Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Balasore, Puri and Jagatsinghpur. The latest IMD bulletin forecast light to moderate rainfall¿between 7 cm and 11 cm¿at isolated locations in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Puri, Jajpur and Cuttack, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
23 October,2024 03:11 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra CM Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said that 'we are a common man's government' and that he was confident of Mahayuti returning to power after Maharashtra Assembly election 2024. CM Shinde visited the Kamakya temple in Guwahati, Assam on Wednesday to pay obeisance before the Maharashtra Assembly polls. He said that it is regular thing for him to visit the temple, as he had come here before the last election and after forming the government in 2022. "I had come to Kamakhya temple before the last election too, and after being elected too. Blessing of Maa Kamakhya is enough. Now the darshan is done, I liked it a lot, it was a visit filled with reverence and I am very happy with it," he said, reported the ANI. Exuding confidence in winning the elections, CM Shinde said, "I am more than a hundred per cent confident, because people will work in favour of the work Mahayuti government has done in two years, when compared with Maha Vikas Aghadi work in two and a half years and people can see development happening at a fast pace," the news agency reported. Calling the Mahayuti alliance a 'common man's government' he further highlighted that the government has done a lot of developmental work. "Our government is a common man's government, and that is why there should be a change and improvement in the common man's life too. We have worked on improving the lives of the people," he added, as per the ANI. CM Shinde further spoke about the Maratha reservation. "In our state, whether it is a Maratha or an OBC, we want it that there is no discrimination between each other," he said, the news agency reported on Wednesday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will contest from the Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly constituency. The party has pushed for CM Shinde to be presented as the face for the chief ministerial position in its recent meeting held on October 18. Maharashtra Assembly election 2024 are scheduled for November 20, with the counting for all 288 assembly constituencies to be held on November 23. (with ANI inputs)
23 October,2024 02:51 PM IST | Guwahati | mid-day online correspondentPriyanka Gandhi's nomination filing for the upcoming by-election in Wayanad has sparked enthusiasm within the Congress party in Kerala. Party leaders expressed their excitement, calling this moment a historic one for both Wayanad and Kerala.Jebi Mather, a Congress MP, shared her joy, saying the entire state is filled with energy. "The whole energy that you see is something we all have been waiting for. We always wanted Priyanka Gandhi to contest and be in the Lok Sabha, but we never expected it would happen here. There’s enthusiasm all over, with energy reverberating across Wayanad," she stated. Mather also said, "It’s double luck for Wayanad and Kerala, as it will be written in golden letters—Priyanka Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha, Wayanad."Congress MP Kishori Lal Sharma echoed the excitement. He described it as a significant moment for the Congress party, likening the atmosphere in Wayanad to what was seen in Amethi and Rae Bareli, strongholds of the Gandhi family. Sharma said, “Priyanka ji is not new to politics; she’s been active for a long time. When a big leader arrives in a state, it always has an impact.”Pramod Tiwari, another Congress leader, lauded Priyanka Gandhi's talent, describing her as an "extraordinary" individual. "Today is an important day for Priyanka Ji, but it’s an even bigger day for the Parliament of India. I have worked with her in Uttar Pradesh and witnessed her courage, bravery, and her ability to speak truthfully in parliamentary language,” said Tiwari.According to ANI, the Wayanad seat was vacated by Rahul Gandhi, who retained his Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency. Priyanka Gandhi will face off against Navya Haridas from the BJP, a two-time councillor from Kozhikode, and the Left Democratic Front’s candidate, Sathyan Mokeri. If Priyanka wins, she will become the third member of the Gandhi family to enter Parliament.Priyanka Gandhi previously managed the political affairs of Amethi and Rae Bareli, traditional Gandhi family strongholds, before officially entering active politics. Her role as a strategist has been significant for the Congress party, and her candidacy in Wayanad is seen as a major political development.The Wayanad by-election is scheduled for November 13. If elected, Priyanka Gandhi will be expected to bring her political acumen and leadership to the Parliament, marking another chapter in the legacy of the Gandhi family in Indian politics. (With inputs from ANI)
23 October,2024 01:49 PM IST | WayanadBJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari has condemned the Congress-led Karnataka government in light of a tragic building collapse in Bengaluru that claimed several lives on Wednesday, reported news agency ANI. Bhandari remarked, "It is unfortunate that the corrupt Karnataka government did not know that unauthorised building construction was taking place in Bengaluru. The Karnataka government of the Congress party, which is neck deep in corruption, has caused a bad name to Silicon Valley. It is unfortunate that the only focus of the Karnataka government, including Siddaramaiah, D.K. Shivakumar, and Kharge, is to loot the land of the poor, rather than to take care of the common man." He emphasised that Bengaluru is experiencing unprecedented misgovernance, which has resulted in innocent lives being lost. "This is not merely an accident. This is akin to murder, and the state is accountable for it. The Karnataka Congress government needs to answer for that," he said Bhandari questioned how such unauthorised construction could occur in a central area of the city without government oversight, particularly following the loss of three lives. "If the Karnataka government is so cognizant of looting the land of the poor, how is it possible that an unauthorised construction came up in the heart of the city?" he said. He further noted that, "Silicon Valley (Bengaluru), at a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party was in power, was known for good governance. Unfortunately, the Congress leaders are only focused on filling their coffers." Bhandari called for accountability from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar regarding the ongoing issues plaguing the city. Earlier today, reports indicated that five bodies had been recovered and five individuals injured after an under-construction building collapsed in Horamavu Agara amid heavy rainfall. The deceased have been identified as Harman (26), Tripal (35), Mohd Sahil (19), Sathya Raju (25), and Shankar. The injured include Jagadevi (45), Rasheed (28), Nagaraju (25), Ramesh Kumar (28), Harman (22), and Ayaj. Five of them are receiving treatment at Bengaluru North Hospital, while one is at Hosmat Hospital. A total of 13 individuals have been rescued so far. Search operations are ongoing at the site, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force deployed, along with dog squads to assist in locating any remaining individuals trapped under the debris. (With Inputs from ANI)
23 October,2024 01:27 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentNCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule has taken a jibe at her cousin and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar over his frequent visits to Delhi, saying she remembers her brother who did not like to go to the national capital, reported news agency ANI. NCP head Ajit Pawar and his party leader Praful Patel visited New Delhi on Tuesday, ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections 2024 scheduled on November 20, reported ANI. Asked about it, Sule, the daughter of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, said, "I remember only one Ajit dada who never liked to go to Delhi," reported ANI. "I do not know why he went to Delhi because I have not been in touch with him for months now and I would not be able to give an answer why he visited Delhi," the Lok Sabha member told reporters in Baramati on Tuesday, reported ANI. Ajit Pawar on Tuesday said the ruling Mahayuti alliance, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has almost finalised its seat-sharing deal for the Maharashtra assembly elections 2024. On his absence at the talks between leaders of BJP and Shiv Sena in Mumbai on Monday, he said, "There is no reason for me to be present at the meeting when the decision on some seats is to be taken between the BJP and Shiv Sena," reported ANI. There has been no confirmation so far from any of the ruling alliance leaders on media reports that the BJP may contest 156 of the 288 seats, while Shiv Sena may fight on 78 seats and the NCP may get 54 seats to contest. NCP (SP)'s parliamentary board meets in Mumbai Earlier, the parliamentary board of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) met here on Saturday to discuss prospective candidates for the next month's Maharashtra assembly elections 2024, sources said. Besides Pawar, the party's Maharashtra president Jayant Patil, working president Supriya Sule and Harshvardhan Patil were among those present, they added. Patil joined the NCP (SP) earlier this month after quitting the BJP. The Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance of the Opposition which comprises the Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) is yet to finalise its seat-sharing arrangement. The Maharashtra assembly elections 2024 will held on November 20. (With inputs from ANI)
23 October,2024 12:52 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
