Imphal Times Supplementary issue 2 Editorial National and International News APSFA in the House Gujarat Congress leaders join BJP: Many politicians Once an editor of a popular Imphal based daily have moved to the saffron party since 2014 newspaper – ‘Naharolgee Thoudang’ – a newspaper Courtesy FP petrified Congress has flown over Before Joshi, former Bahujan Sarma became the convener of dedicated to the cause of Human Rights- as written Surat, July 29: With the exception 40 of its MLAs to Bengaluru to Samajwadi Party leader Swami BJP’s Election Management as its slogan; a once upon a time fearless journalist of Navjot Singh Sidhu, many prevent them from being Prasad Maurya had also joined the Committee for the 2016 Assembly ready to take up any atrocities committed by the other politicians seem to be siding “poached” by the BJP. BJP in Uttar Pradesh. Maurya, elections in Assam. He is the face SF under the shadow of the draconian Act Armed with the dominant political tide in Just days before this, Bihar chief Leader of Opposition in the state of the party for the entire North the country. Since 2014, a number minister Nitish Kumar abandoned Assembly before he quit the BSP, East and the convener of the North Forces Special Powers’ Act (AFSPA); a journalist who of leaders have decided to join the the Grand Alliance, which he had joined the BJP in the presence of East Democratic Alliance, the BJP- spent time in jail for the cause of Manipur and now BJP and leave their own parties, formed to defeat the “communal” party president Amit Shah at the led alliance of non-Congress the Chief Minister of Manipur – Nongthombam Biren which are at the losing side of the BJP, to join the saffron party yet BJP headquarters. He even won the parties of the North East. He is Singh had simplified the debate on whether the political battle. again. Padrauna seat with 93,649 also known as the party’s chief The ‘Modi wave’ which was It could have been because of a votes. After him, Brajesh Pathak, a Machiavelli there. controversial AFSPA should be lifted or not. During thought to have captured most fear of being left out with the rising senior BSP leader and a prominent Another prominent entrant has the private member resolution moved by opposition Indians since the 2014 general popularity of the BJP or differences Brahmin face in the party also been V Srinivasa Prasad, a Dalit MLA Joykishan, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said election, has also arrested the with alliance partner and RJD chief decided to join the BJP. leader from Mysuru, who was that the Disturbed Area Status declared by the state attention of other parties’ MLAs. Lalu Prasad Yadav, or both. After winning Uttar Pradesh, the dumped by Siddaramaiah from his government-a precondition on which AFSPA can be They seem to want to share a slice However, with Nitish embracing the BJP started looking south, where ministry. This move was also seen of the winning pie by associating NDA again, the BJP has another its presence is still scant. In as a jolt to the ruling Congress in enforced- can be lifted any time by the state with the saffron party’s mega plan state in its kitty and Nitish got to preparation for Karnataka polls, the the state. government if the law and order situation of coming to power across the keep his post of the chief minister BJP inducted former Karnataka Prasad was BJP’s candidate for the improves. country. of Bihar. chief minister SM Krishna in March Nanjangud by polls. However, Differences in ideology over some issues had However, not all defectors have The other high-profile defection, 2017. after losing the election, he helped the BJP in bringing an which warranted a press Of all the southern states, the BJP announced his retirement from separated him from the Congress; but if one electoral windfall. Nevertheless, conference, was that of former is closest to power in Karnataka. It electoral politics. recalled it was N. Biren Singh, K Ranjit and some they have all added to the Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Rita is now trying to improve its The BJP also came to power earlier other Congress MLAs of the time, when Okram Ibobi demoralisation in their respective Bahuguna Joshi. strength with the induction of this year without contesting any Singh was the Chief Minister, that they threatened parties. It is seen as a symbolic Months before the Uttar Pradesh leaders from other parties, election after chief minister Pema resignation if AFSPA has not been lifted at least defeat of others and a major Assembly election, Joshi, who according to NDTV. Khandu decided to switch (again, symbolic) victory by the after unsuccessfully contesting The departure of a leader as loyalties. He shifted to the BJP from the seven Assembly Segments of greater BJP. parliamentary elections twice experienced as Krishna would have with 33 legislators. It was an easy Imphal area. The threat by those MLAs including The recent incident in a spree of managed to win only an MLA seat also wreaked damage on the win for the BJP, who had the present Chief Minister is one reason that the defections to the BJP were three from Lucknow cantonment, Congress, but in a subtle supported Khandu after the Disturb Area tag has been removed and AFSPA Congress MLAs in Gujarat. On announced her decision to join the psychological way rather than in Peoples’ Party of Arunachal Thursday, Congress chief whip BJP in a press conference with BJP direct electoral terms. The BJP is temporarily suspended him, his automatically could not be implied. As per and MLA from Siddhpur chief Amit Shah. expected to benefit from Krishna’s deputy Chowna Mein, and five provisions of the AFSPA, it is the state cabinet that Balwantsinh Rajput, Tejashree While her exit from the Congress knowledge of the Congress. MLAs for alleged anti-party can make the decision on whether the act is still Patel from Viramgam, and Vijapur wasn’t thought to have either After Krishna, former MP M activities. required or not. legislator PI Patel submitted their gained the BJP significantly or hurt Shivanna also decided to quit Apart from these legislators, who resignations. the already low prospects of the Congress and join the BJP. have benefitted the saffron party So Chief Minister N. Biren had rightly pointed Within minutes of their joining the Congress, it was only a Shivanna decided to join the BJP, in one way or the other, there are out the necessity of the state government to first BJP, Rajput was named the saffron disadvantage to the Grand Old along with his supporters, citing reports of others joining the BJP review the matter and make decisions on what or party’s third Rajya Sabha Party on a psychological level, unhappiness with the Congress soon. what not to do. candidate. BJP chief Amit Shah and according to The Wire. leadership. There are speculations that Nagaland government had once lifted AFSPA from Union minister Smriti Irani are the However by siding with the BJP, While, BJP’s model of poaching Congressman Narayan Rane may other two candidates fielded by Joshi outdid herself in the 2017 leaders of other parties has worked cross over to the BJP after he met the state but was re-imposed. As per the powers the party. Assembly election and defeated well for Uttar Pradesh, it possibly Maharashtra Tourism Minister conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special While it is yet to be seen if Rajput Samajwadi Party’s Aparna Yadav. started with Assam. and BJP MLA Jaykumar Rawal. Powers) Act, 1958 (No. 28 of 1958) the Central wins the Rajya Sabha seat for the She is now a minister in Chief Former health and education While Shankersinh Vaghela Government have the power to declare a State to BJP, the switch has certainly sent Minister Yogi Adityanath’s minister and a close confidant of announced his decision to quit the Congress into flutters. The cabinet. former chief minister Tarun Congress, he also announced that be a ‘Disturbed Area’. gogoi, Himanta Biswa Sarma he doesn’t plan on joining any In case of Tripura it was different; the center joined the BJP in 2015. Sarma’s other political party. However, welcomed the government’s decision to lift AFSPA joining the BJP sent shivers there are speculations that Amit saying there was no need for the state government Movement to demand through the rank and file of the Shah was the mastermind behind to take the consent of the central government while ruling Congress party. his grand exit. taking the move. Bodoland intensified The case of Jammu and Kashmir is different and NENA The ABSU and its allied movement Two SP, one BSP MLCs resign as of now, we are more concerned with our state Guwahati, July 29: With the NDFB-P and PJACBM have been Manipur. continuous movement strategy organizing continuous movement to from UP Legislative Council The three months old N Biren Singh government seeking statehood, the put pressure government for solving All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), the Bodoland issue through political UP, July 29: In a jolt to Samajwadi likely to resign. will surely review the law and order situation as National Democratic Front of dialogue in immediate manner. party two of its MLCs Bukkal SP MLC and Rashtriya Shia Samaj the declaration of the Disturbed Area Status has to Boroland-Progressive(NDFB-P)and This time, the movement groups Nawab and Yashwant Singh today founder Bukkal Nawab praised be reviewed every six months.