Rahul Gandhi's Vanishing Team: 12 Big Leaders Who Quit Congress Since 2019

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 14, 2024 | top-stories

New Delhi:

The Congress suffered a big jolt today ahead of its mega yatra that aims to boost workers’ morale ahead of the upcoming national elections. Senior leader Milind Deora’s resignation marks the end of his family’s 55-year relationship with the party, he said in an online post.

Here are some of the biggest Congress exits in the past few years:

Milind Deora

Former Union Minister Milind Deora, son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, resigned from the Congress on Sunday. He is expected to join the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde later in the day. He had recently expressed displeasure over the Uddhav Thackeray faction, a part of the opposition alliance, claiming to contest from the Mumbai South seat.

Kapil Sibal

Former Union minister Kapil Sibal resigned from the Congress on May 16, 2022, but made the announcement over a week later, moments after filing his nomination for Rajya Sabha as an independent supported by Samajwadi Party. He had later told NDTV that his decision was not sudden and he will not join any party.

Ghulam Nabi Azad

Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad’s resignations was among the biggest exits the party suffered in 2022. The former chief minister of undivided Jammu and Kashmir, who was also party of the G-23 dissident group, called out Rahul Gandhi for “immaturity” in the party, in his bombshell resignation letter. He has now floated his regional party in J&K – Democratic Progressive Azad Party.

Hardik Patel

Gujarat Patidar leader Hardik Patel quit the Congress in May 2022 with his resignation letter pummelling Rahul Gandhi, who had brought him into the party in 2019. Top leaders, he wrote in his letter, “were distracted by their mobile phones” and the Gujarat Congress was more interested in ensuring “chicken sandwiches” for them. He joined the BJP a month later.

Ashwani Kumar

Ashwani Kumar, a former Union minister, resigned from the Congress in February 2022, just days before Punjab went to polls. A party veteran, he was the first senior UPA cabinet minister to quit the party following their drubbing in the 2019 elections.

Sunil Jakhar

Sunil Jakhar, who had headed the Punjab Congress unit, quit the party in 2022 after the leadership showcaused him for criticising then chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi. He joined the BJP in May and was named its Punjab unit chief in July that year.

RPN Singh

Former Union minister RPN Singh quit the Congress and joined the BJP on January 2022, becoming the most prominent leader to do so just before Uttar Pradesh elections. Mr Singh, a key backward caste leader, had reportedly been upset over being sidelined in the UP campaign led by Priyanka Gandhi.

Jyotiraditya Scindia

Jyotiraditya Scindia, now a Union minister, quit the Congress and joined the BJP in 2020, engineering a mass defection that brought down the Kamal Nath government and helped Shivraj Singh Chouhan get back at the helm in Madhya Pradesh. The royal scion is the son of Madhavrao Scindia, a former Union Minister.

Amarinder Singh

Amarinder Singh resigned as Punjab Chief Minister in September 2021, months before the state elections, saying he had been “humiliated thrice” and that the Congress is free to “appoint whoever they trust”. He had also floated his party Punjab Lok Congress party and tied up with the BJP for the Punjab elections. In 2022, nearly a year after quitting the Congress, he joined the saffron party and merged his own outfit with it.

Jitin Prasada

Jitin Prasada, a former Union minister who was once close to Rahul Gandhi, crossed over to the BJP in 2021, a year before the Uttar Pradesh elections. He was the Congress’s top Brahmin face in UP. “BJP is the only real political party. It’s the only national party. The rest are regional,” he had said defending his decision.

Alpesh Thakor

Alpesh Thakor, a former Congress MLA, quit the party in July 2019 after voting against the party candidate in bypolls to two Rajya Sabha seats. He joined the BJP days later and was fielded for the bypoll from Radhapur, but lost the seat. He won from Gandhinagar South in last year’s elections.

Anil Antony

Anil Antony, son of Congress veteran AK Antony, quit the party in January last year and joined the BJP next month, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for having a very clear vision of putting India in a leading place. AK Antony, a former defence minister, had expressed anguish and disappointment over his son’s decision.

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Not Sanju Samson Or Jitesh Sharma, Ex-India Star Names Rohit Sharma's 'First Choice' Wicket-Keeper | Cricket News

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 13, 2024 | top-stories

Former India batter Suresh Raina believes that the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter for Rohit Sharma would be Rishabh Pant. The 26-year-old southpaw is not a part of India’s ongoing three-match T20I series against Afghanistan but he is gearing up for a comeback to competitive cricket. Pant, who has started training after recovering from a car accident he met with in December 2022, is expected to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. With the Afghanistan series being India’s last T20I assignment before the T20 World Cup, the performance of players in IPL is definitely going to have a say in the selection of the squad for the world event.

“I feel Sanju Samson can be a weapon as he can bat anywhere. Jitesh is also there but I feel Rohit Sharma’s first choice will be Rishabh Pant, depending on what he does in the two months (of the IPL), because he keeps well, and will be making a comeback,” said Raina on Colors Cineplex as quoted by Sportskeeda.

“Ishan Kishan is another option. Jitesh Sharma is keeping exceptionally well and has done well in batting whenever he has got a chance. However, Sanju Samson brings impact. He plays big knocks. He thinks like a captain and captains the Rajasthan Royals as well. I have great confidence in him,” Raina added.

The Rohit-led Indian cricket team went ahead with Jitesh Sharma in the first T20I against Afghanistan, benching Sanju Samson.

Ishan Kishan is not a part of the series as he has asked for rest while the team management has given no explanation on why KL Rahul — another wicketkeeper-batter in contention — has not been picked for the series.

Have a look at India’s playing XI vs Afghanistan in 1st T20I: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar

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No Mohammed Shami And Ishan Kishan As India Name Squad For 1st Two Tests vs England. Dhruv Jurel Gets Maiden Call-Up | Cricket News

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 12, 2024 | top-stories

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday announced Team India’s squad for the first two Tests against England. Among notable absentees, pacer Mohammed Shami, wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan and all-rounder Shardul Thakur are not part of the 17-man squad. The first two Test matches will be played in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, respectively. Shami has been out of action due to an ankle injury, while Kishan had asked for rest. Meanwhile, young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has received a maiden call-up for the series starting January 25. Rohit Sharma will lead the side, while star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been named vice-captain.

“The Men’s Selection Committee announced India’s squad for the first two Tests against England. India are set to play a 5-match Test series, the first of which will be held in Hyderabad from January 25, 2024,” the BCCI said in a statement on Friday.

Pacer Avesh Khan has also been added to the squad, having been part of the group for the second and final Test against South Africa earlier this month. Pacer Prasidh Krishna will also take no part in the first two Tests.

As per a report in news agency Press Trust of India, Krishna is doubtful for the upcoming series, having picked up an injury during Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy match between Gujarat.

The report also added his availability for the last three Tests will be assessed following an MRI scan.

“PTI understands while his MRI scans results are awaited, Prasidh is all set to miss the match against Gujarat. However, his availability for the five-match home Test series against England, staring later this month, is yet to be ascertained,” the report read.

Jurel inclusion in the squad as third-choice keeper comes following Kishan’s absence. He had pulled out of the Test series against South Africa, and was not included in squad for the ongoing T20I series against Afghanistan.

Jurel, who had made his First-Class debut last year, has so far made 790 runs from 15 matches at an average of 46 with a hundred and five fifties in the domestic circuit.

Meanwhile, India named four spinners–Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav–in their Test squad for the first two matches.

In addition to having a formidable pace attack, India included Avesh Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mukesh Kumar in the strong 16-member squad.

The first Test will be played in Hyderabad from January 25-29 while Vizag will host the second game between February 2-6.

The remaining Tests will be played in Rajkot, Ranchi and Dharamsala, respectively.

Squad for first 2 Tests vs England: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Avesh Khan

(With ANI Inputs)

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In National Polls Plan, Congress Loses 2nd Strategist After Prashant Kishor

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 12, 2024 | top-stories

New Delhi:

Sunil Kanugolu – the strategist credited with orchestrating the Congress’ wins in Karnataka and Telangana – will not be part of its campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Earlier part of the Congress’ ‘Task Force 2024’, he will now focus on its Haryana and Maharashtra campaigns, sources told NDTV Friday.

Mr Kanugolu is the second high-profile poll mastermind who will not be associated with the party’s general election prep, after Prashant Kishor, two years, ago, walked out of negotiations.

Mr Kanugolu’s redeployment has been attributed to the fact he already has teams in place in those two states – both of which vote this year – and to a Congress keen to build on last year’s victories in the Karnataka and Telangana, recording big wins over the ruling BJP and BRS, respectively.

However, news the Congress’ key poll tactician will not be on hand to guide the party in the April/May national election has raised eyebrows. A senior leader, holding the rank of General Secretary, acknowledged his absence on the Lok Sabha campaign is a “slight setback”, but told NDTV the Congress believes there is greater long-term benefit if he can use his ‘Midas touch’, to win key states from the BJP.

Mr Kanugolu, sources added, will also continue to work with the Congress’ governments in Karnataka, where he his now Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s primary advisor, with a cabinet rank, and Telangana, where he ousted ex-Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and the BRS that has ruled since 2014.

READ | Congress’ Poll Planner Now Chief Advisor To Karnataka Chief Minister

The importance of Mr Kanugolu to the Congress’ election machinery is perhaps best illustrated by the party’s dismal performances in last year’s Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan elections.

READ | Sunil Kanugolu, Data-Driven Strategist Behind Congress’ Karnataka Win

Mr Kanugolu held initial talks with leaders in those states, but neither Kamal Nath nor Ashok Gehlot, the party’s oldest and de facto bosses in each, agreed to his demands.

READ | Congress’ Telangana Strategist Snubbed In Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh

The Congress lost badly in each state. Sources later told NDTV the wins in Karnataka and Telangana were the result of Mr Kanugolu being given a free hand in each.

Sunil Kanugolu is widely seen as the key behind the Congress’ recent election wins (File).

The math behind the Congress’ Lok Sabha election campaign is much more complicated, particularly with the party juggling multiple allies, and seat-sharing demands, as part of the INDIA opposition bloc.

READ | INDIA Bloc Seat Sharing Talks In Progress For Maharashtra, UP Next

In that context, Mr Kanugolu, hailed as a “man of ideas, with a handle on the big picture”, would have been a valuable asset, particularly since he has experience with INDIA allies, having worked with the DMK for the 2019 general election and winning Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s party 38 of the state’s 39 Lok Sabha seats. He has also worked with the BJP; he was part of its 2014 campaign.

For Congress, No Kanugolu, No Kishor

Mr Kanugolu is the second big poll strategist to step back from the Congress’ national poll plans, after master tactician Prashant Kishor confirmed, in 2022, he would not work with the party.

READ | 5 Reasons Why Prashant Kishor’s Talks With Congress Fell Through

Prashant Kishor, who worked with the BJP’s winning campaigns and then turned around to guide Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to a statement win over his former employers, wanted wholesale reforms within the party, something with which it was not comfortable.

Congress Has Long-Term Plan?

The Congress, though, is likely thinking (very) long-term. Wins in Karnataka and Telangana (and Himachal Pradesh, another state where Mr Kanugolu aided the party) must be balanced against major losses, such as those in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh this year, and Punjab in 2022.

The Congress was the ruling party in three of these four states before disjointed campaigns gave the BJP and the AAP (which picked up Punjab) wins they should not have had. The party now has governments (of its own) in just three states compared to the BJP’s 12. It is likely it is banking on Mr Kanugolu, and his field surveys, to win over and strengthen its position in key states as it looks to build a strong base.

Haryana, where the BJP is not in a strong position despite holding the chief minister’s post, and Maharashtra, a state in turmoil since last year’s split in the Shiv Sena, which dumped the Congress out of power (it was part of the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi government), seem good places to start.

Andhra Pradesh, which is also scheduled to vote this year, will likely be passed over by Mr Kanugolu given the Congress doesn’t really have a presence there, despite the recent entrance of YS Sharmila.

Among the other states heading for Assembly elections in 2024 are Odisha, where Chief Minister Naveen Patna’s BJD has a stranglehold, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. Jharkhand will also vote but the Congress is already part of the government there, having allied with Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s JMM.

The big test will be Jammu and Kashmir, which, if the Supreme Court’s order is followed, will hold a first election since the controversial scrapping of special status under Article 370. The last Assembly poll in J&K was in 2014.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

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India vs Afghanistan Live Score, 1st T20I: Rohit Sharma Fumes At Shubman Gill After Run Out; India One Down vs AFG | Cricket News

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 11, 2024 | top-stories

India vs Afghanistan Live: A look at squads –

India Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson(w), Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi

Afghanistan Squad: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran(c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Qais Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Karim Janat, Ikram Alikhil, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Rahmat Shah, Gulbadin Naib

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“Didn't Disqualify Team Thackeray MLAs As…”: Maharashtra Speaker Explains

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jan 10, 2024 | top-stories

New Delhi:

Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar today explained his decision not to disqualify the members of the Uddhav Thackeray camp — a question the Shiv Sena UBT chief had pointedly asked. While the naming of Bharat Gogawale as whip “proper”, it is not certain that the whip to attend the party meeting was “adequately and properly served” to Thackeray faction MLAs, he said.

“It appears that this service is not complete. There was no evidence to show this whip was properly served upon the MLAs belonging to the Thackeray faction. Since this filter was not cleared, it was not appropriate for me, under the principles of natural justice, to hold them disqualified,” Mr Narwekar told NDTV in an exclusive interview, declaring all the details are mentioned in the written version of his order.

Mr Thackray had raised the point today while talking to the media, questioning why, if their version of the constitution was not valid, they were not disqualified.

Mr Narwekar — while delivering his verdict on disqualification petitions pending for since June 2022 — had named Mr Shinde’s faction as the “real Shiv Sena”, basing his decision on a 1999 version of the party constitution that is with the Election Commission.

The version of the constitution given by Mr Thackeray in 2018 is “not on record”, Mr Narwekar had said. Going by that constitution, Uddhav Thackeray did not have the power to remove Eknath Shinde from Shiv Sena, he had added.

He had also dismissed the petitions to disqualify MLAs from both camps — a move that was strongly questioned by critics.

“You can awaken a person who is sleeping but it is rather impossible to wake up a person who is pretending to sleep,” was Mr Narwekar’s response.

He added that skipping a party meeting is more about dissent than violation of rules and so does not call for disqualification. The right to dissent is included in the constitutional right of freedom of speech, he added.

After splitting in June 2022, the two Sena factions had served disqualification notices against each other. The list of the Eknath Shinde faction had 14 of the 16 MLAs supporting Uddhav Thackeray.

The Thackeray faction had filed disqualification petitions against 40 MLAs from Team Shinde.

Mr Narwekar also answered the criticism that he had violated Supreme Court orders, failing to understand its brief — a point that was also voiced by Mr Thackeray.

“The courts had asked me to say which is the real political party, because the whip of the original political party would be applicable and should be recognised. That’s what the court said,” Mr Narwekar said. So after recognising Bharat Gogawale as the whip, it was also his job to ensure that the whip was properly served, he added.

Earlier this evening, Mr Thackeray had launched an all-out attack on Mr Narwekar.

“He (the Speaker) has made a thief the master of the House,” Mr Thackeray said, voicing doubts that Mr Narwekar had any idea of what he was tasked with by the Supreme Court.

“He has given a decision that exceeds the brief of the Supreme Court. The court had given a framework, but he distorted it into something else… He should have made laws against party hopping stricter. Instead, he was busy clearing a path for himself,” he had added.

Rubbishing the criticism directed at him as “baseless allegations”, Mr Narwekar said if someone believes his order is untenable in law or unjustified, they should explain their reasoning. “Kindly bring out the shortcomings in that order,” he said.

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