Former CPI(M) MLA Aisha Potty joins Congress in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Senior CPI(M) leader Aisha Potty on Tuesday joined the opposition Congress, ending her more than a decade-long association with the Left party.
Potty, who represented the Kottarakkara Assembly constituency for three consecutive terms, formally took Congress membership after arriving at the venue of a day-and-night protest organised by the party in front of the Lok Bhavan here.
The move came as a surprise as Potty had not been active in electoral politics for the past few years.
Her entry into the Congress assumed added significance as it came hours after the Leader of the Opposition hinted at "political surprises" ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Addressing Congress workers in the presence of senior leaders, including K C Venugopal, V D Satheesan, and Sunny Joseph, Potty said she did not wish to make any negative remarks about the CPI(M).
A lawyer by profession, she said she had always engaged with people irrespective of religion, caste or political affiliation and would continue to do so.
Speaking to reporters later, Potty said she "felt neglected within the CPI(M) and was compelled to quit the party as she found it difficult to align with several of its positions."
She said the party was no longer the same as when she had joined it years ago, though she maintained that she had no grievance against its cadres.
Potty said she was prepared to "face criticism and cyberbullying" following her decision and acknowledged that her move might cause distress to her comrades in the CPI(M).
She added that the party’s problems lay with a few decision-makers and said she did not wish to blame anyone.
"They may call me a traitor, but I will always stand with the people," she said.
Responding to remarks by a senior Congress leader that she would contest the next Assembly elections from Kottarakkara, Potty said she had no information about any such decision and asserted that she was not "power-hungry".
Satheesan and other Congress leaders welcomed Potty’s entry into the party, saying major changes were underway in the Congress following the recent civic polls.
Potty had been keeping a distance from the CPI(M) for some time, leading to speculation about a possible switch to the Congress ahead of the elections.
Her participation in public events, including a recent memorial programme for former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy organised by local Congress leaders, had further fuelled speculation, though she had earlier denied such reports.
Potty entered the Kerala Assembly from Kottarakkara in 2006 by defeating Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai. She increased her winning margin in the 2011 elections and registered a decisive victory in 2016 with a margin of over 40,000 votes.
Meanwhile, Potty’s decision drew sharp reactions from senior CPI(M) leader and former minister J Mercykutty Amma, who said there was no situation that warranted her exit from the party.
Mercykutty Amma said the CPI(M) had given Potty all opportunities, including being elected three times as an MLA and serving as district panchayat president.
She alleged that the move reflected "a craving for positions and status", adding that the Left party was capable of "confronting such betrayals."
"If the aim is to stand with all people, how can one go to the UDF?" she asked.
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India looking at raising 'rocket-cum-missile' force: Army chief
New Delhi (PTI): India is looking at raising a "rocket-cum-missile" force in view of the evolving regional security situation as both China and Pakistan have similar units, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi said on Tuesday.
It is the need of the hour that "we also have such a force", he said addressing a press conference ahead of the Army Day.
Drawing lessons from Operation Sindoor, the India Army has been extensively focusing on enhancing its combat prowess including inducting large numbers of drones, missiles and air defence weapons.
At present, the missiles and rockets in Army's inventory are handled by the Corps of Army Air Defence (AAD) and the Artillery regiments.
"We are looking towards a rocket-missile force. Pakistan has established a rocket force, and China has also created one," he said.
The China's PLA (People's Liberation Army) Rocket Force (PLARF) is considered to be a very potent wing of the country's military. China has been constantly enhancing the combat might of the PLARF since 2016.
In his remarks, Gen Dwivedi also noted that the Indian military has boosted its long-range strike capabilities and cited induction of BrahMos, Pralay, Pinaka and other similar missiles to augment its combat prowess.
"Rockets and missiles have become interdependent to each other in today's time. If we want a major impact, then we need both rockets as well as missiles," he said.
Gen Dwivedi said it will have to decide whether the "rocket-cum-missile" force will be part of the Army or it will be operated directly at a higher level.
"We have to decide whether it will be (operated) at the Army level or it will be directly under the Ministry of Defence or at the level of CDS (Chief of Defence Staff). This is the question which we need to decide," he said.
The Army chief said initially, it will be under the Army's artillery regiments.
"It may see a different look in terms of the size, scope and the command and control in future," he said.
He also said that the Indian Army on Tuesday strongly raised with Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) about sightings of Pakistani drones along the border areas in Jammu Sector in the last three days.
Gen Dwivedi said major reform measures are underway in the Army that included restructuring of the force which is focused on reviewing the organisational structures to enhance multi-domain combat potency and achieve an optimal "teeth-to-tail" balance.
"We have adopted a spiral development approach centred on organisation rather than equipment alone," he said.
"We have re-oriented and created several new structures: Rudra Brigades for high-tempo multi-domain operations and Bhairav Battalions for agility and disruptive effect," he said.
"Similarly Shaktibaan regiments and Divyastra batteries of artillery will use Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and counter-UAS for extended reach and real-time targeting," he said.
The Army chief said Ashni platoons and other units on the design board will enhance precision, surveillance and strike options at the tactical level.
Gen Dwivedi, highlighting the Army's focus on enhancing its combat prowess, said the focus now is to steadily progress towards a "different Indian Army -- capable of thinking smart, seeing all, striking deep, moving fast, connecting domains, standing resilient and most importantly, winning together".
"We are progressing towards integrated structures in the form of theatre commands -- a deliberate, consultative and well-synchronised process to which the Indian Army is fully committed," he said.
Gen Dwivedi said the Army is continuing to refine organisational mechanisms to adopt best practices, improve efficiency, enhance outcomes and gradually reorient manpower.
"Warfighting doctrines are being updated to fine-tune multi-domain operations -- ability to succeed in all four quadrants," he said.
