Ex-President Pranab Mukherjee's son Abhijit rejoins Congress after 4 years in TMC
Kolkata, Feb 12 (PTI): Former President Pranab Mukherjee's son Abhijit Mukherjee rejoined the Congress on Wednesday after a four-year-long stint in the Trinamool Congress.
The former Lok Sabha MP was given the Congress membership at the party's state headquarters here in the presence of AICC general secretary and West Bengal in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir.
Regretting his decision to have joined the TMC in 2021, Mukherjee said, "I apologise for this; it was not right for me to leave the Congress."
"This is my second birthday in the Congress and politics," Mukherjee told reporters after being handed over the party flag by the national and state leadership.
Claiming that there is no alternative to the grand old party in the country's politics, he said, "Only the Congress takes along all people irrespective of their caste, creed and religion."
Mukherjee said that he had expressed his desire to rejoin the Congress in June last year, but owing to different state elections, it could take place now.
He returned to the Congress four years after switching over to the Trinamool Congress in July 2021.
Mukherjee had not been seen in a much active role during his stint in the TMC.
Maintaining that Mukherjee has come back to the "right party," Mir said that his joining will help the Congress in its efforts to strengthen the party's base in West Bengal.
"There are two types of ideologies working in the political arena at present in the country - on one side are the divisive forces and on the other the secular forces who take everyone together," said Mir, an MLA of Jammu and Kashmir.
He claimed that the Congress was working together with all sections of the society.
"While one force is trying to change the Constitution, the Congress is working for the welfare of all within the scope of the Constitution," Mir said.
Stating that several political parties in different parts of the country want to tread the path of secularism, "but some are indirectly playing into the hands of others."
Mukherjee had won a bye-election to the Jangipur Lok Sabha constituency in 2012 on a Congress ticket after his illustrious father, who had helmed several key positions in the Union government as a Congress leader, was elected the President of India.
Mukherjee had also won the 2014 parliamentary elections from the same constituency as a Congress candidate.
He had lost in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Jangipur securing the third position after the candidates of the TMC and the BJP.
He joined the Congress party as a political novice in 2011 and won the 2011 assembly polls as its candidate from the Nalhati segment.
Prior to joining politics in 2011, Mukherjee worked as a corporate executive both in the private and public sectors.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
IPL final shifted for bigger stadium, not ticket issue: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday rubbished allegations that the IPL final venue was shifted from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad due to the distribution of tickets to MLAs.
Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said the reason for the shift could be the availability of a larger stadium in Ahmedabad.
“Ahmedabad has a large stadium and can accommodate more spectators. That must be the reason the IPL final was shifted there. There is no connection between ticket distribution to MLAs and the venue change,” he said.
When asked about reports linking the venue shift to MLAs demanding tickets, he quipped, “In some places, 50 per cent of tickets are reserved.”
When reporters said the BCCI had indicated that the decision was linked to ticket issues, he responded, “Let them make such statements. I will respond appropriately.”
Bengaluru was originally expected to host the final as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru were the defending champions.
Ahmedabad will host the IPL final for a second successive season on May 31, the BCCI announced earlier in the day, while allotting Qualifier 1 to Dharamsala and two other playoff games to New Chandigarh.
The board, however, said the final venue was shifted “owing to certain requirements from the local association and authorities that were beyond the scope of BCCI’s established guidelines and protocols.”
Shivakumar declined to comment on the revocation of the suspension of Muslim leaders in Davanagere, saying it was a party decision.
Regarding the removal of MLC Naseer Ahmed as CM Siddaramaiah’s political secretary, he said the chief minister had already spoken on the matter.
“The CM has his own information. Party office-bearers have provided guidance. He was given certain responsibilities, which he did not handle properly, which is why he was removed,” Shivakumar said.
On MLC Abdul Jabbar, who resigned as the state Congress minority cell chief and was later expelled from the party, he said Jabbar had submitted his resignation, which the party accepted.
The Congress in Karnataka faced internal dissent in April when several Muslim leaders objected to the party fielding Samarth Shamanur as its candidate for the recently held Davanagere South Assembly bypoll.
They demanded that a Muslim candidate be fielded, citing the constituency’s substantial Muslim population. The party subsequently took disciplinary action against three leaders, including Jabbar and MLC Ahmed.
When asked about his and the CM’s visit to Delhi, he said, “We will go when the high command calls us. It is not appropriate to go without being called.”
On Congress supporting TVK in Tamil Nadu, Shivakumar said the decision was taken to keep the "BJP out of power and strengthen secular forces." Elections to the 234 Assembly constituencies were held on April 23, and the results were announced on May 4.
The Congress party, a long-time ally of the DMK, announced its support for TVK to form a government in Tamil Nadu and severed ties with the Dravidian major.
The incumbent DMK was trounced by the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by Vijay, who secured 108 seats. “Despite pressure from the AIADMK and BJP, TVK did not align with them. Our party has taken this decision in the interest of secular forces and the welfare of Tamil Nadu,” Shivakumar said.
