As the week starts, begin your Monday morning with ABP Live's dose of the political events expected to take place over the next seven days. The Week Ahead is likely to be full of political drama as the BJP fights on two fronts in the north and in the south. While in Delhi the Opposition has begun targeting BJP over the sexual harassment allegations against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, in Karnataka, the BJP is battling a sense of anti-incumbency ahead of the Karnataka polls. On top of that, the BJP is also trying to corner the AAP government in Delhi over the renovation of CM Arvind Kejriwal's bungalow.
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.
ARENA HEATS UP IN WRESTLERS' SEXUAL ASSAULT CONTROVERSY
The protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is set to intensify in the week ahead. As PM Narendra Modi completed his 100th 'Mann Ki Baat' session, protesting wrestlers on Sunday pleaded with him to listen to their 'mann ki baat [request]'. While the wrestlers accuse Singh of misconduct and sexual harassment, the WFI chief accused the Congress of conspiring against him, along with wrestler Bajrang Punia.
After the wrestlers welcomed political support for their agitation last week, parties — such as the Congress, the AAP, and the RLD — threw their weight behind the protesters. The Congress has demanded BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's resignation over the allegations.
Singh, meanwhile, claimed that the athletes' protest at Jantar Mantar has been been driven by the Opposition from the very first day. The WFI president, who has remained defiant about not quitting his post, said he was ready to resign if it would make the protesters go back home and sleep peacefully.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) will also hold demonstrations across the country on May 3 in support of the wrestlers.
DELHI CM KEJRIWAL'S BUNGALOW RENOVATION ROW
The BJP is trying to push the Aam Admi Party's government in Delhi over alleged corruption while renovating the government bungalow for CM Arvind Kejriwal. The Delhi BJP will stage an indefinite sit-in protest outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's house from Monday in protest against the Rs 45-crore renovation of CM Kejriwal's official residence.
The matter also fuelled the tussle between the Delhi Government and the Liutenant Governor VK Saxena on Saturday when the latter ordered a probe into the alleged irregularities. The AAP said the Lieutenant Governor's letter requesting the seizure of records and directing executive action is entirely outside the Lieutenant Governor's jurisdiction. The matter is certain to snowball into a bigger issue amid the other points of friction between the two.
AFTER A 'POISONOUS' WEEK, KARNATAKA TO SEE HEATED LAST-LEG CAMPAIGNING FOR POLLS
After a heated battle and exhaustive campaigning of over a month, parties contesting the May 10 Karnataka polls are tightening their belts for the final leg of canvassing before the silence period kicks in on May 7.
The previous week had been quite hot in Karnataka, both literally and figuratively. While the temperature in Bengaluru soared up to 38 degrees Celsius, mudslinging between the BJP and the Congress heated up the political arena. As both sides hurled 'poisonous' barbs at each other, the campaigns for shows of strength also intensified last week. While Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge allegedly called PM Modi a "poisonous snake", BJP MLA Basanagouda called Sonia Gandhi a "vishkanya" (venomous maiden).
For the BJP, PM Modi will embark on a marathon state-wide campaign on May 2 along with senior party leaders, while Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Mallikarjun will spearhead the Congress's campaign in Karnataka.
AMID CRYPTIC REMARKS BY NCP LEADERS, MVA's SHOW OF STRENGTH IN MAHARASHTRA
With a little over a year left for the Maharashtra elections, the Maha Vikas Aghadi will attempt to launch a frontal attack on the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis dispensation on Monday.
While Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is still reeling from the June 2022 coup effected by Eknath Shinde, the cloud over NCP leader Ajit Pawar's next political move has had the MVA alliance on the tenterhooks. Sharad Pawar's cryptic remark: "Roti has to be turned at the right time," hasn't made matters any easy either.
The seemingly weakened Maha Vikas Aghadi will hold a 'vajramuth' (iron fist) rally in Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai on Monday in a show of unity. This will be the third 'vajramuth' rally, the first two having been held in Aurangabad and Nagpur.
Stay tuned to ABP Live as we track the updates on these stories and more.