Maharashtra’s political triumvirate takes oath; Bhagwat pushes for 'Hum do hamare teen'

Greetings readers,

Another week has ended with a lot of new political drama to unpack.

Parliaments took the centre stage of this week’s political landscape with the Indian Parliament managing to function a bit in addition to adjournments. Meanwhile, far east in South Korea, lawmakers were seen climbing the walls of the national assembly to vote against the “short-lived” martial law imposed by President Yoon Suk Yeol.

In Maharashtra, the new Maha Yuti dispensation finally took oath after more than a week since the announcement of the assembly election results, a lot of meetings, bargainings as well as compromises.

So, hold onto your seats and keep your wits about you as the spectacle begins in 3, 2, 1...

Comeback, compromise and consistency: Maharashtra’s political triumvirate takes oath

After a lot of sulking and reconciliations, in a new chapter of coalition politics in Maharashtra, BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the 31st chief minister of the state on Thursday.

Fadnavis is being hailed as the “comeback man” for his smooth transition from being out of the frame in 2019—after the fall of BJP-Shiv Sena government—to side of the frame (deputy CM), and finally to the centre.

Former CM Eknath Shinde, meanwhile, fell sick—hopefully not at the thought of stepping down as the chief minister—just days before accepting the portfolio of deputy CM.

Fadnavis, Shinde and all of us can learn a lesson or two from Ajit Pawar on consistency as the NCP chief took oath as the Maharashtra deputy CM for the sixth time.

“Dada”, as Pawar is fondly known as among his supporters, seems to have a strong affinity towards the “deputy” prefix as he has worked as the deputy CM under four chief ministers-Prithviraj Chavan (Congress), Devendra Fadnavis (BJP), Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena UBT), and Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) from four different political parties, which is a record of sorts in its own right.

Mohan Bhagwat concerned about India’s population

After being concerned about rising Muslim population for most of his life, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat went out of his way on Sunday and expressed uneasiness over India’s population but, with a different approach.

The head of the Hindu nationalist organisation, which has close ties to the Bajrang Dal—infamous for making couples celebrate Rakshabandhan on Valentine’s Day—has appealed to the people to have at least three children.

Bhagwat said that India’s fertility rate should be at least 3, well above the replacement rate of 2.1, as the declining population growth would lead to “extinction” of the society.

The statement of the RSS chief went viral on social media, inviting both positive and negative reactions.

AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said PM Modi had earlier said that Muslim women produced more children. “Bhagwat says produce more children. Now those in the RSS should start marrying,” Owaisi said.

Adani issue casts shadow over Parliament winter session

The winter session of the Parliament has been ongoing since November 25. However, protests from opposition parties over a slew of topics including Gautam Adani’s US indictment has led to washout of several sessions.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Narendra Modi watched the movie The Sabarmati Report on Monday along with several members of his Cabinet besides MPs from the ruling alliance at the Balyogi Auditorium in the Parliament library building.

Finally, after six days of impasse, the Parliament returned to normal functioning on Tuesday with the passing of Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024 in Lok Sabha and The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill 2024 in Rajya Sabha.

The winter session has also highlighted some fissures among the I.N.D.I.A. bloc parties as both SP and TMC distanced themselves from Congress’ protests outside the Parliament premises with stickers ‘Modi Adani Ek Hai, Adani Safe Hai’ (Modi and Adani are One, Adani is Safe)

While SP is focussing more on the Sambhal violence, TMC’s priorities include Manipur violence and the atrocities against Hindus in neighbouring Bangladesh.

While the opposition and the government are yet to reach an agreement to discuss the Adani issue, a new matter, a bundle of cash to be precise, popped up in the Rajya Sabha on Friday leading to its adjournment.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said security staff had recovered a wad of Rs 500 notes from the seat allotted to Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

The chairman said the wad has Rs 500 notes and there appeared to be 100 notes.

An investigation has been ordered in accordance with practice, Dhankhar said, adding that it was not clear if the currency notes were real or fake. Singhvi, on the other hand said it was bizarre that politics were being raised on issues such as this and clarified that he carries only one Rs 500 note when he comes to the Rajya Sabha.

Farmers’ protest over MSP enters another year

"Agriculture minister, I request you to please tell me, what was promised to the farmer? Why was the promise not fulfilled? What should we do to fulfil the promise? There was a movement last year, there is a movement this year, too," asked Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar during a recent ceremony to mark the centenary of ICAR-CIRCOT in Mumbai.

The question has been lingering over since 2020-2021 farmers’ protests against the three contentious farm acts passed by the Parliament. The acts have since been repealed by the government, however the question of minimum support price (MSP) for crops is still pending which has led to another agitation in 2024.

A 'jatha' of 101 farmers on Friday began its foot march to Delhi from their protest site at Shambhu border, but was stopped a few metres away by a multilayered barricading.

The security personnel used teargas as some farmers reached near the barricades put up on the Haryana side of the Shambhu border leading to the protestors suspending their march for a day as a few of them suffered injuries.

The opposition Congress party has declared “full support” to the protesting farmers.

South Korea’s political turmoil: President to be impeached?

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shook the nation as well as members of his own party late on Tuesday night when he imposed martial law in order to root out what he called "anti-state forces" and overcome obstructionist political opponents.

The martial law was short-lived and was lifted within six hours after lawmakers from the main opposition party raced special forces soldiers to the parliament building to hold a vote against the measures.

60-year-old Lee Jae-myung, head of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), climbed the compound's walls to vote against the motion. Jae-myung was also able to live stream the act on YouTube as internet ban is perhaps not a “security measure” in the east Asian country unlike India.

190 of the National Assembly's 300 members present voted to lift martial law, including 18 from Yoon's own party.

President Yoon has a lot to learn from this episode in South Korean politics, like taking at least your own party members into confidence before taking such a bold step.

Though brief, the emergency motion still caused a panic within and even outside the country with teenage K-pop fans from across the globe ready to fly to South Korea to the rescue of their “Oppas.”

A parliamentary vote on impeaching President Yoon will be held on Saturday at 5 pm.

That sums up the political advancements of this week. DH Political Theatre will be back again next week with more zesty developments from around the globe.

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DH Newsletters Team