The BJP will end its Jan Ashirwad Yatra in Madhya Pradesh with an address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the week ahead. Meanwhile, the Tipra Motha, in its bid to intensify its demand for a 'Greater Tipraland', has called for a 12-hour strike in Tripura.
Stay with ABP Live as we try to cut the clutter around the latest news from the political arena and help you understand what is likely to happen in The Week Ahead. Here are the biggest political developments expected to play out this week.
PM Modi To Address BJP Supporters At Jan Ashirwad Yatra Conclusion
On the Madhya Pradesh election campaign trail, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address BJP workers in Bhopal on Monday. The public meeting, 'Karyakarta Mahakumbh', will be organised on the birth anniversary of Deendayal Upadhyay, one of the co-founders of the Jana Sangh, to mark the end of the BJP's statewide 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra'.
This will be PM Modi's third visit to Madhya Pradesh in the past 45 days, as the ruling BJP faces a closely contested election battle against the Congress. Sources said that the BJP has set an ambitious target of gathering 10 lakh people for Monday's event.
The BJP began five rallies to connect with the masses earlier this month, with party president JP Nadda inaugurating the first Jan Ashirwad Yatra from Chitrakoot in Satna on September 3. These rallies covered 223 out of the total 230 assembly segments in Madhya Pradesh. The end of these yatras will be marked by the grand workers' gathering in Bhopal on September 25.
Leading up to the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, the BJP has coined the slogan "abki bar 150 par" (victory with more than 150 seats). Bhopal is currently adorned with large cut-outs of Prime Minister Modi, and posters featuring senior BJP leaders have been prominently displayed in various locations.
The BJP has highlighted the development and welfare schemes under the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government during the Jan Ashirwad Yatras. As the narrative battle intensifies ahead of the upcoming elections, the Congress launched its own mass outreach campaign, 'Jan Akrosh Yatra', to point to the "failures" of the BJP government.
In the 2018 assembly elections, the BJP narrowly missed returning to power as the Congress won 114 out of 230 seats, while the BJP secured 109. The Congress, under Kamal Nath's leadership, formed a coalition government with the support of Independents, BSP, and SP. However, this alliance collapsed after 15 months when a group of Congress MLAs, led by Jyotiraditya Scindia (now a Union minister), joined the BJP, paving the way for Shivraj Singh Chouhan's return as Chief Minister.
AIADMK To Hold Key Meet Amid Rift With BJP
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami will hold a crucial meeting with party leaders, including district secretaries and MLAs, on September 25. The meeting comes amid strained relations with its former ally, the BJP.
The recent dispute was sparked by remarks made by the BJP state chief K Annamalai about the late Dravidian stalwart CN Annadurai. Senior AIADMK leader D Jayakumar confirmed that the party's position remains unchanged and there is no talk of alliance with the BJP.
The meeting is slated to take place at the party's headquarters, the Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. MGR Maaligai, in Chennai. All headquarters secretaries, district secretaries, as well as the party's MPs and MLAs have been asked to attend the meeting without fail.
The AIADMK delegation, which visited New Delhi last week, to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah could only meet party president J P Nadda and Union Minister Piyush Goyal. During the meeting, they appealed to the leadership to intervene and persuade Annamalai to apologize for his remarks. Failing that, they suggested considering the appointment of a non-controversial leader to work closely with the AIADMK during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections next year.
Karnataka Opposition Backs Bengaluru Bandh On September 30
Pro-Kannada outfits, backed by Opposition parties BJP and JD(S), have called for a 'Bengaluru Bandh' on September 26 in protest against the release of 5,000 cusecs of Cauvery river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu. The protest is being supported by farmers' groups, the state transport workers' body, autorickshaw and cab drivers' associations, and the Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka.
The protesters urged schools, colleges, shops, factories, companies, and transporters, to support the bandh. In response to the bandh announcement, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar remarked on Tuesday, "The state government is firmly committed to safeguarding the state's interests. However, Opposition parties are attempting to politicize the Cauvery issue." He informed reporters that the state government had submitted a representation to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) regarding the water release to Tamil Nadu. The Deputy CM also said that the bandh would not serve any meaningful purpose.
The official call for a shutdown in Bengaluru was made on Saturday by farmers and pro-Kannada groups during the 'Mandya Bandh'. The CWMA, on Monday, instructed Karnataka to continue releasing 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for an additional 15 days, following a similar recommendation by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) the previous week.
The Supreme Court also declined to intervene in the orders issued by the CWMA and CWRC instructing Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu, leading to protests in various parts of the state.
Karnataka has consistently said that it cannot release water, taking into account its own requirements for drinking water and irrigation in the Cauvery basin areas, given the water scarcity caused by deficient monsoon rains.
Tipra Motha Calls For 12-Hour Strike To Push For Greater Tipraland Demand In Tripura
The primary opposition party in Tripura, the Tipra Motha, has called for a 12-hour strike in the tribal regions of the state on September 30, to push for an "early constitutional resolution" regarding the demand for 'Greater Tipraland' statehood. The Tipra Motha secured 13 out of the 42 seats it contested in the recent assembly elections riding on the 'Greater Tipraland' demand.
Tipra Motha's leader, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, conveyed to reporters on Saturday, "This marks the commencement of the Tiprasa people's movement for their constitutional rights and sends a message to the Central government for the speedy resolution of their issues." Debbarma specified that the strike would be observed exclusively in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) regions, urging Tiprasa people to actively participate.
The TTAADC, administered by Tipra Motha, governs the tribal regions, which constitute approximately 70% of the state's land area and house about 30% of its population. "Tripura is a relatively small state, and the Central government has numerous responsibilities. We are seeking a prompt solution from the Centre to safeguard and preserve our community," he said.
When asked whether Tipra Motha would consider an alternative proposal from the Centre instead of 'Greater Tipraland', Debbarma replied, "Once the Centre officially presents a proposal, we will make a decision after consulting with party leaders." He expressed confidence that the Centre would not act against the interests of indigenous people, citing constitutional guarantees provided to the Bodo and Dimassa communities as precedents, and questioned why the Tiprasa people should be excluded.
Stay tuned to ABP Live as we track the updates on these stories and more.
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