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NATIONAL AFFAIRS - July 2016

Jul 2016

Dec 27, 2020

JD (U) Suffers Setback in Arunachal Pradesh, 6 MLAs Switches over to BJP

The Janata Dal (United) received a major jolt in Arunachal Pradesh, with six of its seven MLAs shifting allegiance to the ruling BJP.
The lone MLA from the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA), Kardo Nyigyor from Likabali constituency, has also joined the saffron party. The development comes a day ahead of the announcement of the panchayat and municipal poll results.
The JD (U) MLAs who switched sides are Talem Taboh from Rumgong Assembly Constituency, Hayeng Mangfi (Chayang Tajo), Jikke Tako (Tali), Dorjee Wangdi Kharma (Kalaktang), Dongru Siongju (Bomdila) and Kanggong Taku from Mariyang-Geku constituency.

NGT Extends Term of Oversight Committee to Monitor Pollution of Ganga

The National Green Tribunal has extended the term of an oversight committee to monitor pollution of Ganga River and oversee compliance of environmental norms in Uttar Pradesh.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said that unless the UP government sets up any other effective alternative mechanism, it may not be advisable to close the committee abruptly.
Accordingly, the term of the oversight committee, for the time being, will be extended for six months. If the State of UP has any other suggestion, it will be open to put forward the same.

General Secretary of MNM Joins BJP Ahead of Tamil Nadu Polls

In a setback to Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan, ahead of the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, general-secretary A. Arunachalam joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.
Arunachalam hails from a village in the Tuticorin district. The development came at a time when Haasan is campaigning for the forthcoming state elections.

Dec 26, 2020

Senior UP Cong leader Pandit Vinod Mishraquits

Senior Uttar Pradesh Congress leader and convener of the Brahmin Mahasabha, Pandit Vinod Mishra resigned from the party.
Mishra is a former general secretary of the UP Congress, who also held the charge of Lucknow district during the Raj Babbar tenure.
Mishra blamed party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for his resignation.
He alleged that the Gandhi family was using the party for saving its skin from the CBI and ED and hence, insulting veteran leaders and forcing them to exit.

Little Alliance Chance, SP May Name Candidates by April End

The Samajwadi Party is likely to give the final shape to its list of candidates for the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls by the end of April next year, as it aims to hit the campaign trail early to recapture power it lost to the BJP in 2017.
The party has already started receiving application forms from those who are eager to contest the polls. The last date for submission of application is January 26.
The party is not accepting applications for constituencies where it has its sitting MLAs.
As per reports, the SP is unlikely to enter into poll pacts with big political parties in the state. There are chances of alliance with small parties in different pockets. So, the selection of candidates for the 2022 assembly polls is not a difficult task.

Assam Congress MLA Ajanta Neog Expelled for 'Anti-party' Activities

The Congress expelled former Assam minister and its MLA Ajanta Neog for her "anti- party" activities.
The move came amid speculations that Neog, who was a close confidante of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and part of his cabinet, may join the BJP.
The four-time MLA from Golaghat constituency had recently met Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and North-East Democratic Alliance convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Following her meeting with them, Neog was asked by the party's state unit to show cause why action would not be taken against her.

Dec 25, 2020

NSCN-K Faction to Join Naga Peace Talks

A key faction of Naga insurgent group NSCN-K announced that it would join the peace talks with the Centre and restore the ceasefire agreement that it had unilaterally abrogated in 2015 by killing 18 Indian Army personnel in an ambush. This comes at a time when the talks between NSCN-IM, the largest Naga rebel group, and the Centre have reached a standstill.
NSCN-K was part of the SS Khaplang faction but later split over differences. It claims to have nearly 90 armed cadres near the India-Myanmar border. NSCNK's recently elected leader Niki Sumi is wanted by NIA in connection with the 2015 attack. According to officials, Sumi has been in talks with Indian representatives and may join the Naga National Political Groups, a conglomerate of seven political organisations from Nagaland.

Kerala again Seeks Governor's Nod to Convene Special Assembly Session

The Kerala cabinet again decided to recommend to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan seeking approval for a special Assembly sessionon December 31 to discuss and pass a resolution against the three central farm laws, against which farmers have been protesting near Delhi.
As per Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his government was hopeful that the Governor would accord sanction for the special session.
This comes days after Governor Khan declined consent for the Left government in the southern state to convene a one-day session on December 23 to discuss the central laws and express solidarity with the agitating farmers.

Congress Loses Buffer Role in J&K

Congress' lack-lustre performance in the J&K District Development Council polls has not come as a surprise to its leader. The political and ideological fight between BJP and the Gupkar alliance saw the party's sidelining in the UT. While the main national opposition was at odds with its contradictory position in Jammu and the Kashmir valley, the absence of high-profile AICC campaigners, factional feuds and local leaders' focus on family candidates added to the Congress misery.
The regional Congress leadership had announced that it would have an understanding with the Gupkar alliance, taking into account sentiments in the Kashmir valley but AICC disowned the stand due to BJP pressure at the national stage. This saw BJP run over Congress in Jammu while the main opposition's stand against dilution of Article 370 was not enough to help it electorally in the Kashmir valley, where even the son of PCC chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir lost. While BJP opened its account in the valley, Congress' lost its remaining base to the Gupkar alliance.

Dec 24, 2020

Sonia Excludes Anand Sharma from HP Panel

Barely a week after she met the dissenters who had written to her in August seeking radical organizational changes, Congress president Sonia Gandhi excluded one of them, Anand Sharma, from key committees for Himachal Pradesh.
Sharma, one of the 23 Congress leaders who wrote to Sonia seeking comprehensive elections for party structures, is the only sitting MP of the party to have not found any place in the three committees.
Among 14 members of the Political Affairs Committee Sonia approved today are state unit chief Kuldeep Rathore, CLP leader Mukesh Agnihotri, former CM Virbhadra Singh, former AICC in charge Asha Kumari, Viplove Thakur, Dhaniram Shandil, former state chief Sukhwinder Sukhu, Ramlal Thakur, Rajender Rana, Jagat Singh Negi, Sudhir Sharma and Pawan Kajal.
AICC in charge of the state Rajiv Shukla will chair the meetings of this panel.

16th India- EU Summit Proposed for May 2021 in Portugal

The 16^th India-EU leaders' summit has been proposed to be held in Portugal in May 2021, a summit that comes even as Delhi and several European capitals increase cooperation and convergence.
During the summit, a key focus will be on the India-EU free trade agreement which both sides are keen on.
The 15th India-EU summit took place virtually amidst the Covid pandemic in July 2020. India was led by PM Narendra Modi, while was represented by President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Dec 23, 2020

Bodoland Territorial Council: Guwahati HC Orders Composite Floor Test

Guwahati High Court has ordered a composite floor test in the newly elected sixth schedule Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) on or before December 26. Election to the 40 member council had resulted in fractured mandate with Bodoland People's Front (BPF) emerging single largest party 17 seats. However, BJP and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) supported by Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) formed the government of the council. Lone Congress MLA left the party and joined BJP.
BJP won nine seats and UUPL emerged victorious from 12 seats. For the majority, 21 seats are required. Gana Suraksha Party won one seat. Later a BPF member left the party and joined BJP. Promod Boro was sworn in as the new chief executive member. The Governor nominated members to the council. The council can have six nominated members from unrepresented communities.
Counsel for BPF, Anan Bhuyan said that the court has stayed the appointment of six nominated members besides asking the council cannot take any policy decision. The court has asked the council for a composite floor test wherein anyone who gets the largest votes will be a chief executive member.

J&K DDC Polls

The seven-party People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) led by Farooq Abdullah has won over seats in the maiden District Development Council polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
Till the last reports came, the PAGD had won or was leading in 112 seats out of 280, followed by the BJP which emerged as the single largest party as it won 73 seats including three in the Kashmir Valley for the first time. The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) had bagged 100 seats and was leading in 12 others.
The eight-phase DDC polls, which began on November 28, are the first election after Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 was revoked last year, and it was reorganized into a Union Territory. In the election, 140 seats each in the Jammu and Kashmir regions went to polls.

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