LIVE NEWS and UPDATES
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13:48 (IST)
Jaitley’s health was bothering him since last year; outgoing FM was suffering from renal ailment
Arun Jaitley’s health has been on a decline ever since he underwent a kidney transplant in May last year, PTI said. He has not attended office for the last three weeks and has rarely been seen in public. He, however, has been writing blogs and tweeted on Modi’s victory Thursday. He neither attended the Cabinet meeting called Friday that recommended dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha, nor the Saturday meeting of the BJP parliamentary party that elected Modi as its leader.
He had undergone surgery in the US on 22 January for a reported soft tissue cancer in his left leg, an illness that deprived him from presenting the Modi government’s sixth and final budget of its current term. Railway and Coal minister Piyush Goyal was the stand-in finance minister who presented the interim budget for 2019-20.
Jaitley had returned to India on 9 February after undergoing skin grafting. He is believed to have undergone some kind of a medical procedure again when he last month visited the US to attend the IMF-World Bank Group Spring Meetings.
Jaitley had undergone renal transplant on 14 May last year at AIIMS, New Delhi, with Goyal filling in for him at that time too. Jaitley, who had stopped attending office since early April 2018, was back in the finance ministry on 23 August, 2018. Earlier in September 2014, he underwent bariatric surgery to correct the weight he had gained because of a long-standing diabetic condition.
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13:44 (IST)
After winning Lok Sabha polls, Amit Shah, Ravi Shankar Prasad resign as members of Rajya Sabha
BJP president Amit Shah and outgoing minister of law Ravi Shankar Prasad have resigned from the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Shah was elected to the Lok Sabha from Gandhinagar in Gujarat while Prasad won the Patna Sahib seat in the recently concluded polls.
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13:42 (IST)
Speculations around Jaitley’s health were doing rounds for a long time
Speculations around Jaitley’s health were doing rounds for a long time. The speculative reports reched a point where the government had to respond and say reports on the deteriorating health of Jaitley are false and baseless, and media should stay clear of rumour mongering. Amid speculations on the state of Jaitley’s health, government spokesperson Sitanshu Kar took to Twitter to clear the air.
Jaitley’s college friend and media baron Rajat Sharma took to Twitter to dispel rumours. “Everyone is discussing my friend @arunjaitley’s health, some out of genuine concern and some for loose talk. Let me share with you that I met him last evening, he is recovering well and is working behind the scenes. Friends and family have convinced him to stay away from public interaction to avoid infection. I am glad he has finally agreed.”
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13:33 (IST)
Would like to keep away for some time: Arun Jaitley opts out of Cabinet citing health reasons
“… Though I was able to discharge the duties assigned to me during the campaign, I would in future, for some time, like to keep away from any responsibility. This will enable me to concentrate on my treatment and health… I am writing to you to formally request you that I should be allowed a reasonable time for myself, my treatment and my health, and, therefore, not be a part of any responsibility, for the present, in the new Government,” Jaitley wrote.
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13:28 (IST)
Nitish Kumar meets Amit Shah at his residence
Chief Minister of Bihar and key NDA ally Nitish Kumar visited BJP President Amit Shah at his residence on Wednesday.
Sources in the BJP said JD(U) is likely to get two ministerial berths in the Modi government, one Cabinet berth and one minister of state (MoS) position, IANS reported The JD-U is the third largest party in the National Democratic Alliance, after the BJP and Shiv Sena. The BJP has 303 MPs while Shiv Sena has 18 MPs.
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13:24 (IST)
Arun Jaitley asks Narendra Modi to relieve him of ministerial posts in new Cabinet, releases letter on Twitter
BJP leader Arun Jaitley who had held key portfolios in the Union Cabinet including the finance ministry has asked to be relieved of any ministerial responsibilities for the second term. Jaitley has written a letter to Modi, stating that he would like to focus on his treatment and health for some time.
I have today written a letter to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, a copy of which I am releasing: pic.twitter.com/8GyVNDcpU7
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) May 29, 2019
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13:04 (IST)
Narendra Modi, Amit Shah hold marathon meetings ahead of swearing-in to finalise Cabinet
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah held a marathon meeting on Tuesday to discuss crucial aspects of the new government and the likely allocation of ministerial berths. On Wednesday too, the duo are expected to hold consultations to finalise the Union Cabinet head of the swaering-in tomorrow.
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12:55 (IST)
Modi’s invite to Mamata and the piercing message hidden in it
Narendra Modi’s invite to Mamata Banerjee — along with all key Opposition leaders — and her graciousness in accepting the invite gave the impression that election-time animosity aside, the two leaders steering the Central and state governments respectively were ready to work together for the development of West Bengal.
However, the families of over 50 BJP workers, who allegedly were killed in political violence in West Bengal, have also been invited to the oath-taking ceremony on 30 May. The decision was taken in a marathon five-hour meeting between Modi and BJP president Amit Shah at the prime minister-elect’s residence in Delhi on Tuesday night.
NDTV quoted BJP leaders as saying that the gesture is meant to convey to the party’s cadre in Bengal that the central leadership cares for them and stands by them against “violence by Trinamool Congress workers”.
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12:53 (IST)
Arvind Kejriwal writes open letter to AAP workers
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal addressed a letter to the party workers, post the Lok Sabha elections, expressing appreciation and gratitude for their hardwork and efforts.
AAP National Convenor @ArvindKejriwal writes letter to all volunteers. 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/KI0twBr9YX
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) May 29, 2019
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12:40 (IST)
Congress workers in Bengaluru hold protests urging Rahul Gandhi to continue as Congress chief
Congress workers in Bengaluru held demonstrations outside party office urging Rahul Gandhi to continue as Congress president. Rahul is reportedly adamant at quitting the post and installing a non-Gandhi for the forst time in decades at the helm of party affairs.
Bengaluru: Congress workers demonstrate outside party office urging Rahul Gandhi to continue as Congress President #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/uRcjlL8eG0
— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2019
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12:29 (IST)
Venugopal to meet party leaders, MLAs in K’taka amid reports of rift between JD(S), Congress
Amid reports that a cabinet expansion or reshuffle is on the cards in a bid to save the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal will hold a series of meetings with party leaders and legislators in the city on Wednesday.
Venugopal, who reached Bengaluru late Tuesday night, will meet Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Congress Legislative Party leader and Coordination Committee chief Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and Pradesh Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao, sources said.
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12:28 (IST)
Fasting Congress workers sit-in protest outside 12 Tughlaq Road to placate Rahul Gandhi from calling it quits
A group of Congress workers sat on an indefinite fast outside Rahul Gandhi’s residence after the news of him being adamant on resigning as Congress chief leaked out. Media reports claimed that the workers are demanding that Rahul continues as Congress chief and reorganize the party to fight back.
Election 2019 Latest Updates: BJP leader Arun Jaitley who had held key portfolios in the Union Cabinet including the finance ministry has asked to be relieved of any ministerial responsibilities for the second term. Jaitley has written a letter to Modi, stating that he would like to focus on his treatment and health for some time. Speculations around Jaitley’s health were doing rounds for a long time. Government officials responded and said that reports on the deteriorating health of Jaitley are false and baseless, and media should stay clear of rumour mongering. Amid speculations on the state of Jaitley’s health, government spokesperson Sitanshu Kar took to Twitter to clear the air.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah held a marathon meeting on Tuesday to discuss crucial aspects of the new government and the likely allocation of ministerial berths. On Wednesday too, the duo are expected to hold consultations to finalise the Union Cabinet head of the swearing-in tomorrow.
A group of Congress workers sat on an indefinite fast outside Rahul Gandhi’s residence after the news of him being adamant on resigning as Congress chief leaked out. Media reports claimed that the workers are demanding that Rahul continues as Congress chief and reorganise the party to fight back.
The crisis in the Congress showed no signs of easing on Tuesday with Rahul Gandhi sticking to his decision to resign as party chief after its Lok Sabha poll debacle and staying way from meeting party leaders, except a few including his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Sources said Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot went to meet Gandhi at his Tughlaq lane residence, but they only managed to meet Priyanka there.
With senior Congress leaders pressing upon Rahul Gandhi to take back his resignation and revamp the party at all levels in these challenging times, a number of allies stood by him and urged him not to quit, describing him as the “best and competent” person to pull the party out of the abyss.
The sources said Gandhi is not meeting anyone and remains incommunicado. He met only Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi during the day, besides party leaders K C Venugopal and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.
Asked about the meeting, Gehlot and Pilot said that they did go to Rahul Gandhi’s residence separately and spent some 20 minutes each there.
Gehlot was reportedly ticked off by Gandhi at the CWC meeting on May 25 for giving priority to campaigning for his son in Jodhpur and neglecting other parts of the state.
Rahul Gandhi met Sonia Gandhi in the evening and the two spent some time together. Sonia Gandhi came along with Rahul to drop him at his residence and spent some time there too.
The sources indicate that the state executive of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee will be meeting on Wednesday in Jaipur and would endorse the CWC resolution urging Rahul Gandhi to continue as party chief and steer the party out of its current state. The state co-ordination committee of Haryana is also meeting tomorrow.
The sources said more PCCs are likely to endorse the CWC resolution, as Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit also appealed to Rahul to withdraw his decision to step down, saying the party has bounced back in the past from challenging circumstances to triumph.
The chorus of voices urging Rahul Gandhi not to quit grew as DMK chief M K Stalin told the Congress president that he has won the hearts of the people, while RJD supremo Lalu Prasad termed the offer to quit as “suicidal”, asserting it would amount to “falling into the BJP’s trap”.
Tamil superstar Rajinikanth also said the Congress chief should stay on as he was a “youngster” and perhaps not got the cooperation of senior party leaders.
Rahul Gandhi offered to quit as party chief at the CWC meeting on 25 May that unanimously rejected his offer and authorised him to overhaul and restructure the party at all levels. He is reported to be insisting on his resignation and adamant on having a non-Gandhi installed as the party head.
As senior Congress leaders made a determined bid to convince Gandhi to withdraw his resignation, Shashi Tharoor, who scored an electoral hat-trick by winning from the Thiruvanathapuram Lok Sabha seat, said Gandhi has led the party from the front and still has far more to offer to it.
The Congress bagged 52 seats, marginally up from 44 secured in 2014. Another Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said, “Instead of resigning, he should seek resignations of leaders at all levels and restructure the party.”
M Veerappa Moily, also of the Congress, termed the poll setback as a “passing phase”.
Describing Gandhi as an “inspiration” for the party, Moily said it was not appropriate for him to quit his post.
“Just because (Narendra) Modi has won…that is not a criteria to leave the presidentship. After all, ups and downs are common for the Congress party. We have seen them many a time,” he said.
Gandhi should not insist on his resignation and should “continue to guide the destiny of the party and the nation”, he said.
“Apart from legacy, on his own personality, he is the most competent person to lead the party,” Moily said.
During his telephonic conversation with Gandhi, Stalin told him though the Congress party has suffered defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, “you have won the hearts of the people”.
The DMK-led front in Tamil Nadu won 37 of the 38 LS seats to which election was held in the state.
Lalu Prasad tweeted: “Rahul’s offer to resign suicidal. Opposition parties had the common goal to dislodge BJP but failed to build a national narrative. The result in a particular election can never alter the reality in as diverse and plural a country as India.”
Asked by reporters in Chennai about Gandhi’s offer to resign, Rajnikanth said, “He should not resign.”
Leaders are pointing out that the CWC, which is the highest decision-making body of the party, has already put down in writing its decision at the meeting on May 25.
Asked at the AICC briefing, party spokesperson Pawan Khera said, “Let us not indulge in any speculation. The resolution of CWC stands and that is where we are.”
Asked whether Rahul Gandhi has taken back his resignation, Khera said, “The CWC is the most important decision making body of our Party. The CWC had rejected the resignation. What else do you want me to say? The CWC has rejected his offer to resign, has rejected his resignation.”
Faced with a colossal electoral defeat, the Congress has been riven by internal turmoil. As the party grapples with a severe existential crisis, its governments in Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh teeter on the brink with reports suggesting the BJP may try to wrest power in these states.
Updated Date: May 29, 2019 14:10:10 IST
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