Congress MP Hibi Eden has submitted a notice to move a privilege motion against BJP MP Sambit Patra for his remarks calling Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi “traitor of the highest order”, asserting that the usage of “completely defamatory and unparliamentary words” has clearly violated constitutional norms.
In his letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Eden said, “I wish to raise a motion of privilege and bring to your attention the completely unparliamentary conduct of Sambit Patra, MP Lok Sabha, against the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.”
In a press conference held on December 5, Patra has referred to the Leader of Opposition as “traitor of the highest order” while making unfounded allegations against the LoP, he said.
“The usage of such words against the LOP, while being defamatory and unacceptable in public life, is also a complete breach of parliamentary privilege of the LoP,” Eden argued.
“I wish to highlight that the position of the Leader of Opposition is a constitutional position and therefore requisite parliamentary dignity needs to be given to such a post. Patra, by the usage of completely defamatory and unparliamentary words, has clearly violated constitutional norms and should be held in contempt of the same,” the Congress MP from Ernakulam said.
“I further wish to add that it is highly unfortunate and disgraceful that a leader whose family has given so many sacrifices for the country is being subjected to such harsh and socially appalling language by a member of the ruling party,” Eden said in his letter to Birla.
The Congress leader requested Birla to take appropriate and immediate action on this privilege motion, Eden said.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore had on Thursday written to Birla, expressing deep concern over Patra allegedly using “slanderous language” against Gandhi at a media interaction, and sought stringent action against the ruling party leader.
In his letter to Birla, Tagore had alleged that Patra’s conduct was a “clear violation” of the decorum and ethics expected of a member of Parliament.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs K Laxman and Patra cited a report published by French media outlet “Mediapart” to target Gandhi, after the ruling party raised the issue in the Lok Sabha.
Patra claimed that billionaire investor George Soros and some US-based agencies, investigative media platform “Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP)” and Gandhi occupy three sides of a “dangerous” triangle trying to destabilise India and stoke public disaffection for a regime change in the country.
“I have no hesitation in saying that he (Gandhi) is a traitor of the highest order,” Patra had said.
Bangladesh Summons Its Kolkata Mission Head Following Protest Against Attacks on Hindus in Country 3
Bangladesh has summoned Shikder Mohammad Ashrafur Rahman, the Acting Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, for urgent consultations following protests over attacks on Hindu minorities.
Rahman, who is also Minister – Political Affairs, stationed in Kolkata, has returned to Dhaka.
“Ashrafur Rahman was called for urgent consultations following ongoing protests outside our mission in Kolkata. Additionally, he will be part of the delegation during the foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries slated for next week. He will be back by the middle of this month,” a senior official of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata told PTI on condition of anonymity.
The mission in Kolkata has witnessed multiple protests over the past week by political parties and religious groups condemning the reported atrocities against Hindus minorities in Bangladesh.
In a related development, the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, Tripura, suspended all visa and consular services on Tuesday, citing “security reasons”.
The decision followed an incident where protesters breached the mission’s premises on Monday to protest the arrest of Hindu spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in Dhaka.
Amid rising tensions, the Bangladesh foreign ministry summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka to register its protest over the vandalism at the mission in Agartala.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is expected to visit Bangladesh next week for the foreign secretary-level meeting, marking the first high-level interaction between the two nations since the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus assumed office on August 8, following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister.
Relations between the two neighbours have been strained since Hasina fled to India on August 5.
The recent arrest of Das has further intensified the situation, with India expressing concerns over continued attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh.
BJP MLA Kalidas Kolambkar to Take Oath as Pro-Tem Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly 5
BJP MLA Kalidas Kolambkar will take oath as the pro-tem Speaker of the Maharashtra legislative assembly on Friday, a day before the special three-day session of the Lower House of the state legislature begins.
Talking to PTI this morning, Kolambkar, a nine-time MLA, confirmed that he will take oath as the pro-tem speaker at 1 pm at the Raj Bhavan.
Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan will administer the oath to him, he said.
Kolambkar currently represents the Wadala assembly constituency in Mumbai.
As pro-tem speaker, he will administer the oath of office to 288 newly-elected MLAs, conduct the assembly speaker’s election during the three-day special session of the 15th assembly beginning December 7.
The speaker’s election will be held on December 9 followed by a trust vote of the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government.
Fadnavis on Thursday evening took oath as the state chief minister, while leaders of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, were sworn in as deputy chief ministers at a grand ceremony in south Mumbai’s sprawling Azad Maidan.
The BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP Mahayuti coalition won 230 out of the 288 assembly seats in the elections held on November 20.
The winter session of the state legislature will be held in Nagpur from December 16 to 21.
Jharkhand Cabinet: 11 MLAs Take Oath As Ministers; 6 From JMM, 4 From Congress & RJD Get 1 7
Eleven MLAs, including six from JMM, were sworn in as ministers in the Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand on Thursday.
Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar administered the oath to the ministers at Ashok Udyan of the Raj Bhavan.
The six JMM legislators, who took oath as ministers, are Sudivya Kumar, Deepak Birua, Ramdas Soren, Chamra Linda, Yogendra Prasad and Hafijul Hasan.
Congress MLAs Deepika Pandey Singh, Shilpi Neha Tirkey, Irfan Ansari and Radhakrishna Kishore were sworn in as ministers, while RJD’s Sanjay Prasad Yadav also found a berth.
The swearing-in ceremony began with Stephen Marandi taking oath as the pro-tem speaker of the assembly.
JMM leader Hemant Soren took oath as the chief minister on November 28.
The JMM-led alliance, last month, stormed to power in Jharkhand for the second time in a row, securing 56 seats in the 81-member assembly, while the BJP-headed NDA managed 24.
'Modi Adani Ek Hai': INDIA Bloc MPs Protest Over Adani Issue in Parliament 9
In an unusual protest, leaders of several INDIA bloc parties wore black jackets with stickers reading “Modi Adani Ek Hai” and “Adani Safe Hai” on them and raised slogans on the Parliament premises to demand a joint parliamentary probe into the Adani issue.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who put the sticker on his trademark white T-shirt, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot get an investigation done against Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani as it would amount to getting a probe done against himself.
Congress MPs including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and lawmakers of several other opposition parties like RJD and the Left participated in the protest.
Both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi demanded that a discussion on the indictment of Adani in a US court on charges of bribery and fraud must take place in Parliament and Prime Minister Narendra Modi must speak in the House on the issue.
The protest took place in front of the steps of Parliament’s Makar Dwar and not on the steps leading to it as a Lok Sabha Secretariat advisory and Speaker Om Birla had flagged the issue.
A little later, the protesting MPs lined up in front of the Samvidhan Sadan and raised slogans against Modi and Adani there.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat on Tuesday issued an advisory urging the MPs not to hold protests in front of Parliament gates, saying that such obstruction of movement could affect their safety and security.
The opposition MPs had held a protest on the steps of Makar Dwar on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The TMC has stayed away from the protests against Adani.
The Congress and some other opposition parties have been demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe following the indictment of Adani and other company officials in a US court.
The Congress has said that Adani’s indictment “vindicates” its demand for a JPC investigation into the various “scams” involving the billionaire industrialist’s conglomerate.
Gandhi has sought Adani’s immediate arrest.
The Adani Group has dismissed all allegations as “baseless”.
Mahayuti Ministers To Take Oath in One Week: NCP's Chhagan Bhujbal 11
NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Thursday said ministers from the Mahayuti allies in Maharashtra will take oath in a week’s time.
Talking to reporters here, Bhujbal also said that NCP head Ajit Pawar, who will take oath as deputy chief minister for the sixth time on Thursday evening, has a good grasp over the finance department.
Notably, Pawar served as the deputy CM and also held the finance portfolio in the outgoing government.
BJP legislature party leader Devendra Fadnavis will be sworn-in as the new chief minister of Maharashtra on Thursday evening at a grand ceremony in Mumbai to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Fadnavis would be taking oath along with two deputy chief ministers, BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar told reporters earlier in the day.
Bhujbal said after the swearing-in of the chief minister and two deputy CMs, they will sit together and discuss the cabinet formation.
“The cabinet formation modalities will be discussed by the three leaders and the ministry will be formed in a week’s time,” said Bhujbal, who served as a minister in the outgoing government.
The formation of the new government comes after two weeks of intense negotiations following the November 20 state assembly polls and results on November 23.
Together with allies Shiv Sena and NCP, the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition has a commanding majority of 230 seats in the 288-member state assembly.
Fadnavis To Be Sworn In As Maharashtra CM Along With 2 Deputy CMs 13
BJP legislature party leader Devendra Fadnavis will be sworn-in as the new chief minister of Maharashtra on Thursday evening at a grand ceremony here to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other dignitaries.
Fadnavis, who would be occupying the CM’s post for the third time, along with two deputy chief ministers will take the oath of office, BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar told reporters, adding that other members of the cabinet will take oath later.
Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde are expected to take oath as deputy chief ministers, sources said.
While Pawar has said he would take oath on Thursday, there was no confirmation yet from the Shinde camp that he would accept the deputy CM post.
Asked when other ministers would take oath of office, Mungantiwar told reporters, “It is most likely that the council of ministers will be sworn in before the winter session of the assembly starts, so as to avoid administrative disruption.” The swearing-in ceremony will be held at the Azad Maidan ground in south Mumbai. Governor C P Radhakrishnan will administer the oath of office to Fadnavis and his deputies.
The formation of the new government comes after two weeks of intense negotiations following the November 20 state assembly polls and results on November 23.
Fadnavis, 54, who represents Nagpur South West constituency, emerged as the frontrunner for the top post as he was the face of the BJP’s campaign and led the party to victory in 132 seats in the 288-member House.
Together with allies Shiv Sena and NCP, the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition has a commanding majority of 230 seats.
Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, Fadnavis visited the famous Siddhivinayak temple here in the morning and performed a puja.
On Wednesday, Fadnavis, with Shinde and Ajit Pawar, met Governor Radhakrishnan to formally stake claim to form a government, presenting letters of support from the coalition partners.
Before that, Fadnavis was elected as leader of the BJP legislature party at a meeting on Wednesday morning.
The swearing-in ceremony will have 42,000 attendees, BJP leader Prasad Lad had said earlier. Besides PM Modi, several Union ministers and chief ministers and deputy CMs of various states will attend the event, he said.
Special arrangements have been made to accommodate 40,000 BJP supporters and a separate seating arrangement made for 2,000 VVIPs, including leaders from various religions, he said.
More than 4,000 police personnel have been deployed for security, officials said.
Fadnavis has been chief minister twice. He headed the BJP-Shiv Sena government for five years from 2014 to 2019. Amid a deadlock after the 2019 elections as the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena severed its ties with the BJP over the CM post, Fadnavis was sworn in as chief minister with Ajit Pawar as his deputy.
But this government lasted only 72 hours as Pawar could not get the backing of enough NCP MLAs.
When the Mahayuti government came to power under Shinde’s leadership following a split in the Shiv Sena, Fadnavis became a deputy CM. Ajit Pawar too joined this government as a second deputy CM in 2023 after he split the NCP led by Sharad Pawar.
Ajit Pawar, 65 would be taking oath as deputy CM for the sixth time.
Devendra Fadnavis: The Political Chess Grandmaster and Eknath Shinde's Karma Ride 15
Devendra Fadnavis is living proof that political survival is an art form, and Maharashtra is his canvas. With a resume boasting victories, coups, and comebacks, Fadnavis is not just a three-time Chief Minister but a man who could very well headline a Netflix drama titled “Game of Thrones: Mumbai Edition”. If you’re surprised by his rise, you haven’t been paying attention—this man has been maneuvering his way to power with the finesse of a grandmaster playing chess in a storm.
Fadnavis’s clever politicking delivered the BJP its massive 132-seat win, leaving ally-turned-puppets like Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP scrambling for relevance. But make no mistake, this isn’t just a coalition; it’s a cleverly crafted trap. Fadnavis made sure the alliance is structured in such a way that its partners will struggle to exist without the BJP. Shinde might have dreamed of retaining the CM chair, but reality hit harder than a Mumbai monsoon. Once hailed as a rebel who toppled Uddhav Thackeray’s government, Shinde now finds himself clutching at straws—and reportedly frequenting hospitals to recover from the heartbreak of being demoted to Deputy CM.
Let’s not forget the irony of Shinde’s downfall. After staging a dramatic rebellion and breaking the Shiv Sena, karma circled back to remind him that what goes around comes around. The man who once split a party for power is now negotiating his own relevance with Ajit Pawar—a political heavyweight who could teach masterclasses in opportunism. As for Uddhav Thackeray and the Shiv Sena (UBT), they’re gleefully reminding Shinde of his promise to quit politics if even one of his rebel MLAs lost the elections. Spoiler alert: five of them did. Somewhere, Raj Thackeray’s MNS is chuckling from the sidelines, having played spoiler just enough to make Shinde’s night sleepless.
But let’s not miss the real star of this saga: the EVM blame game. Critics cried foul, accusing the BJP of “managing machines,” but since no one took to the streets, it seems even the opposition knows when they’re outplayed. Fadnavis, meanwhile, has moved on—busy orchestrating the grand swearing-in ceremony where he’ll take center stage while Shinde is politely asked to vacate the CM’s house. It’s political theatre at its finest, with Prime Minister Modi himself making an appearance to add gravitas.
As for Shinde’s discomfort? Well, he did betray Uddhav for the top post, only to now find himself downgraded. Sliding from the apex to the second fiddle isn’t easy, but hey, it’s all part of the political karma buffet. Shinde may still be dreaming of portfolios like Home Ministry, but let’s be real: the BJP isn’t in the mood for tantrums this time around. Ajit Pawar is poised for Deputy CM, Shinde for further irrelevance, and the BJP for complete dominance.
Fadnavis, ever gracious, thanked Modi, Amit Shah, Nadda, and even a list of Union Ministers (was that a political Oscar acceptance speech?) while promising a government that works for the people. Meanwhile, Shinde is reportedly isolating himself—strategising, sulking, or both. But as the saying goes, once you dance with the BJP, you don’t call the tunes. For now, the stage is set, the alliances are fragile, and the popcorn is ready. Maharashtra, get ready for another blockbuster season of “As the Assembly Turns.”
Patience, Loyalty to Party Leadership and Strategic Acumen Pay Off for Devendra Fadnavis 17
Devendra Fadnavis, the political stalwart who rose from humble beginnings to become a key figure in Maharashtra politics, is set to become chief minister—a position he has held twice before.
The 54-year-old leader, whose career has been marked by a blend of resilience and strategic manoeuvring, is positioned to lead the state for the third time following a decisive showing of the BJP in the November 20 assembly polls and his election as leader of the state BJP legislature party on Wednesday.
Fadnavis’ political journey has been nothing short of remarkable. From serving as an obscure corporator to becoming the youngest mayor of Nagpur, he has strengthened his status as a prominent leader within his party. Notably, he is only the second Brahmin to serve as Chief Minister of Maharashtra, following the Shiv Sena’s Manohar Joshi.
His ascent began in earnest ahead of the 2014 assembly elections, where he garnered significant support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leader Amit Shah. Modi famously referred to him as “Nagpur’s gift to the country” during a campaign rally, underscoring the confidence placed in Fadnavis.
Though Modi had launched a campaign blitzkrieg in the 2014 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly polls, a portion of the credit also went to Fadnavis, then state BJP president, for the party’s unprecedented victories in the elections.
Son of Jan Sangh and later BJP leader late Gangadhar Fadnavis, whom his fellow Nagpur politician and former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari calls his “political guru,” Devendra cut his teeth in politics at a young age when he joined Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the students wing of the RSS, in 1989.
At 22, he became a corporator in the Nagpur civic body and its youngest Mayor in 1997 at the age of 27.
Fadnavis contested his first assembly election in 1999 and won. There was no looking back for him, as he won three subsequent assembly elections. He retained his Nagpur South West seat comfortably in the last month’s election.
Unlike many leaders across the political spectrum in Maharashtra, Fadnavis has remained untainted by accusations of corruption.
Among the most articulate Maharashtra politicians, Fadnavis is also credited with pushing the previous Congress-NCP government into a corner over the alleged irrigation scam.
Fadnavis experienced a setback in the aftermath of the 2019 assembly elections as the then united Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray pulled out of the pre-poll alliance over sharing of CM’s post, shattering the BJP leader’s much-hyped “mee punha yein (I will come back again) slogan.
Fadnavis was sworn in as the chief minister for the second time on November 23, 2019, and Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the deputy chief minister. However, before a Supreme Court-ordered no confidence motion could take place, Fadnavis quit on November 26, three days after taking oath as the CM.
Uddhav Thackeray, propped up by Sharad Pawar-led NCP, later became the CM, but quit after senior Sena leader Eknath Shinde split the party in June 2022 and later became the CM.
After Thackeray demitted office following the large-scale desertions in the Sena, many political observers thought that Fadnavis, who they knew was behind the episode, would become the CM. However, the BJP leadership had other plans and a reluctant Fadnavis was asked to occupy the deputy CM’s post.
His tenure in the last two-and-a-half years as Deputy Chief Minister saw a marked resurgence, and the assembly elections results of November 23 came as the much-awaited cherry on the cake.
Though he hails from a politically active family, his father and aunt both served in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, and Fadnavis has crafted his own distinct political identity.
Fadnavis’ first tenure as the CM was characterised by a combination of good governance and effective political manoeuvring. He earned praise for his push to expedite infrastructure projects, gaining favour particularly among urban voters.
However, his term was not without challenges. The state suffered significant crop losses due to erratic weather, and his initial rejection of loan waivers for affected farmers sparked widespread protests.
Another major issue during his tenure was the Maratha community’s demand for reservations. Though he passed legislation to meet these demands, the subsequent Supreme Court ruling that overturned the law left many in the Maratha community dissatisfied, blaming Fadnavis for the failure.
The 2019 assembly elections marked a dramatic shift in Fadnavis’ political trajectory. The Shiv Sena’s refusal to join the government unless it shared the Chief Minister’s post led Fadnavis to seek an alternative alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar.
This government, however, was short-lived, collapsing after just 72 hours. Fadnavis then assumed the role of Leader of the Opposition.
In June 2022, following a rebellion within the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, Fadnavis was instructed by the BJP leadership to return to the government as Deputy CM under Shinde.
Although initially reluctant, Fadnavis accepted the role, signalling his loyalty to the party leadership.
Even after a significant loss in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he played a pivotal role in shaping the seat-sharing arrangement between the BJP and Shinde’s faction.
Fadnavis’ career has, thus far, been defined by resilience, adaptability, and strategic insight. His ability to adapt and make tactical decisions could prove crucial for him and his party in the coming days.
South Korean Parliament Votes to Overturn President Yoon's Martial Law Declaration 19
The South Korean parliament has voted to defy the country’s president and immediately lift his martial law declaration.
President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late Tuesday, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against an opposition that controls the country’s parliament and that he accuses of sympathising with communist North Korea.
The surprising move harkened back to an era of authoritarian leaders that the country has not seen since the 1980s, and it was immediately denounced by the opposition and the leader of Yoon’s own conservative party.
