India Political Highlights: Guv has 'no power to dismiss my ministers', says Stalin in letter to Ravi

In a move that has escalated the confrontation with Chief Minister M K Stalin, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on Thursday dismissed Minister V Senthil Balaji from the state Cabinet days after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a cash-for-jobs scam. The order was, however, taken back within hours, but was enough to spark outrage within the party and from the Opposition. While Stalin said his government will deal with the issue legally, AAP leader Raghav Chadha termed the dismissal as "outrightly unconstitutional". Meanwhile, speculations are rife that Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh may tender his resignation on Friday, amid his alleged failure to stop violence in the northeastern state. Here are today's top political developments.

Guv has 'no power to dismiss my ministers', says Stalin in letter to Ravi

TMC fielding general candidates for reserved seats, alleges Bengal BJP

Denmark ambassador meets Cong chief Kharge in Delhi

'Anti-party activities': Karnataka BJP issues notices to 11

An embattled BJP huddled on Friday asked rabble-rousers to stop “embarrassing” the party by making public statements attacking their colleagues following the Assembly poll debacle.

The BJP roped in its veteran B S Yediyurappa to hold talks with 11 leaders who went public with their grouses.

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Opposition slams TN Guv's move to dismiss Senthil Balaji

The Opposition on Friday demanded the removal of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi over the "outrageous" episode involving the dismissal of Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji, calling it "unconstitutional".

Parties including the Congress, CPI(M), Trinamool Congress and NCP joined the DMK in condemning the Governor's move, which was taken without consulting Chief Minister MK Stalin and later put on hold on the advice of Home Minister Amit Shah.

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UCC will soon be implemented in Uttarakhand, says CM Dhami

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will soon be implemented in Uttarakhand, Chief MinisterPushkar Singh Dhami said on Friday after the expert panel confirmed that the draft was ready. (PTI)

Manipur CM to not resign after supporters tear resignation letter

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has decided not to resign, respecting the sentiments of the people and a large crowd that had blocked his convoy enroute to Raj Bhawan, senior minister Govindas Konthoujam told a crowd on Friday afternoon.

The crowd, including a large number of women, even tore apart the resignation letter which the CM was carrying to Raj Bhawan at around 2.30 pm. The crowd had gathered in front of the CM's official residence at Imphal and had blocked the convoy in which Singh was trying to travel to Raj Bhawan, situated about 200-meters away.

Later, the CM himself announced his decision on Twitter.

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Saket Gokhale on why TN Guv withdrew 'dismissal' order of Senthil Balaji

"(Tamil Nadu) Governor suddenly changed his mind and withdrew the order (on dismissing V Senthil Balaji) after a lot of opposition parties, including the TMC, pointed out how unconstitutional this entire move was,” says TMC national spokesperson Saket Gokhale on 'dismissal' order of Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji.

Rahul Gandhi meets Manipur Governor in Imphal

Stalin to write a reply letter to Tamil Nadu Guv

This government totally disregard the act of the Governor. Today CM M K Stalin would write a reply letter to the Governor. Senthil Balaji is under judiciary custody, how can he, a minister without a portfolio, affect the investigation on him?: Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu

Manipur vs Kashmir: Different strokes for different folks

Since ethnic violence began in Manipur two months ago nearly 50,000 people have been displaced, nearly 130 lives lost, and hundreds injured from both the majority Meitei and the minority Kuki communities. The non-Meitei Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum has claimed that 201 tribal villages have been burnt down, and over 500 houses, 355 churches, and church buildings destroyed.

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Kharge takes 'dictatorship mindset' jibe at BJP over Rahul's Manipur visit

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge says, "They (BJP) always speak with jealousy. If a Congress leader goes there (Manipur) to try and understand the difficulties of the people, they call it a drama. They call the Opposition meeting in Patna, a photo session. They are not of a democratic mindset but of dictatorship...I condemn such a mindset. When Amit Shah can go there, their people can go there, why can't an Opposition leader do the same?..." (ANI)

Rahul Gandhi seeking time to meet Manipur Governor, says K C Venugopal

In Imphal, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal says, "...The sad situation of the state is unfortunate...We are trying to meet the Governor because there are so many deficiencies in the camps. So, Rahul Gandhi is trying to meet the Governor...We are seeking time, it will be around 1-1.30 pm." (ANI)

Tamil Nadu Advocate General reaches State Secretariat, M K Stalin also present

Manipur CM Biren Singh likely to resign as violence continues

A news report published in a prominent English daily in Manipur triggered a buzz about CM Biren Singh's resignation on Friday mainly due to his alleged failure to stop the violence.

The news report published in Sangai Express said that Singh received several calls from New Delhi on Thursday in which he was offered the option to put in his papers or the Centre would take over the administration. The Assembly is likely to be put in Animated suspension, said the report.

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M K Stalin holds discussion with Tamil Nadu minister

Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin holds discussion with Law Minister S Regupathy, DMK Rajya Sabha MP & Senior advocate NR Elango and TN Advocate General R Shunmagasundhram and a few others at Tamil Nadu Secretariat.

The meeting is regarding the ongoing legal tussle between TN Governor RN Ravi and the state government. The Governor had sacked Senthil Balaji from the cabinet and later, after the outburst, took back the decision.

Sanjay Raut attacks BJP on Tamil Nadu guv's move to 'dismiss' Senthil Balaji

This is wrong. Dismissing someone from the government is the prerogative of the CM. In Maharashtra too, there were accusations against Nawab Malik but the govt didn't take his resignation. But the manner in which the Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi acted, seems to be a step ahead of Bhagat Singh Koshyari. BJP is violating Constitution in states not ruled by it: Sanjay Raut

Congress's Manish Tewari calls out govt over Rahul Gandhi's Manipur visit

On Rahul's Manipur visit, Congress MP Manish Tewari says, "It is unfortunate that Rahul Gandhi's tour was subverted in this manner. Except for the Home Minister, no minister in the government has even shown the courtesy to visit Manipur. If a senior leader of the opposition has gone there to provide a healing touch, government should have facilitated his tour"

This Governor has never respected Constitution...: DMK leader on Senthil Balaji's dismissal order

DMK leader TKS Elangovan speaks on Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi dismissing V Senthil Balaji as a minister- the order which was taken back within five hours. Elangovan says, "The Governor has no right, as per the Constitution, to remove any minister without the knowledge of the CM...But this Governor has never respected Constitution. He has violated Constitution continuously...Merely charged with a crime will not make him disqualified as a minister. That is the law of the land...."

TN Governor R N Ravi ‘dismisses’ jailed minister Senthil Balaji; puts decision on hold within hours

In an unprecedented move, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on Thursday “dismissed” V Senthil Balaji from the cabinet citing his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a cash-for-jobs scam, but put the decision in “abeyance” within hours, even as his action stoked a major political row.

The Governor, according to highly-placed sources, wrote a second letter to Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday night to inform that he has put “on abeyance” his decision to “dismiss” Balaji from the Council of Ministers, which was conveyed in the first letter written Thursday evening.

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PM insensitive like Nero as Manipur burns, says Maharashtra Congress

The Congress' Maharashtra unit on Thursday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not uttering a word despite the violence ravaging the north-eastern state of Manipur for 52 days.

In a sharp reaction, state Congress President Nana Patole said that the country is "blessed with an insensitive PM that shames even the legend of ‘Nero playing the fiddle while Rome burnt’".

Your experiment 'failed and backfired': Raut on Fadnavis' claims on 2019 events

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday said the 2019 "experiment" by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis "failed and backfired" when he tried to form a BJP-led government with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar.