SP leader spits venom
It appears the poll season brings the worst in politicians. Making an incendiary remark, Samajwadi Party national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav likened UP CM Yogi Adityanath to a “sadak ka gunda (roadside ruffian)” at a rally during the civic poll campaign. “When the CM speaks, he sounds like a hoodlum,” Yadav said, alleging that Muslims were unsafe and law and order was at its lowest under the Yogi regime.
Mumbai’s pride
MNS chief Raj Thackeray is harping on ‘Marathi pride’ once again to revive his party’s prospects. But unlike in the past, he is now facing opposition. BJP MP Poonam Mahajan recently took on Raj and called North Indians “the real pride of Mumbai” at a recent function. She is believed to have made the statement with an eye on Hindi heartland voters in the city. With Shiv Sena and Congress also competing to woo North Indians voters in the city, it seems the BJP is trying to come one-up on them.
Rival co-passengers
NCP leader Ajit Pawar leaves no oppor-tunity to lash out at CM Devendra Fad-navis. At a party meeting, he went to the extent of calling for CM’s public boycott. So, his party colleagues were shocked when, just days later, Pawar chose to travel with him while going to Auran-gabad to attend a wedding. He not only accompanied Fadnavis on the flight but also travelled with him in the same car.
Nagas unimpressed
Contrary to speculations, people in Nagaland do not believe the Naga political problem will be resolved before the 2018 Assembly polls. Recently, the state Cabinet had met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and demanded settle-ment of the problem. A minister even demanded that the polls should be deferred. But locals are not impressed and dismiss these assertions as “drama”.