Sanjay Raut cautions Congress over 2024 Lok Sabha polls
Mumbai, Dec 10: The Congress would face more difficulties in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls if there are people around the Gandhi family who do politics that is favourable for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said on Sunday.
In his weekly column Rokhthok in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana', Raut also sought to raise doubt over the electronic voting machines (EVMS).
He claimed that during the counting of ballot papers (postal ballots), the Congress was ahead in 199 seats in Madhya Pradesh, but the situation changed when votes in the EVMs were counted.
The BJP swept the polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, while the Congress won in Telangana. The results of assembly polls held in these states last month were declared on December 3.
"If there are people around the Gandhis who do politics that is favourable for Modi and Shah (Union minister Amit Shah), then there will be more danger in 2024," Raut said, referring to Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath who led the party campaign in the state.
He said Modi's victory "magic" worked in three states, but not in Telangana.
It is also a myth that the Congress cannot defeat Modi, the Rajya Sabha member said.
The party has defeated the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan in the past, he said, referring to polls in these states in 2018.
Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel, the outgoing chief ministers of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, put up a fight, yet the Congress lost in these two states, the Sena (UBT) leader said.
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Family of injured driver in murder of Suvendu's aide seeks exemplary punishment
Kolkata (PTI): The family of Buddhabeb Bera, the driver injured in the shooting that killed BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's close aide Chandranath Rath, demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible and urged the new government to ensure such incidents do not happen in West Bengal.
Rath was shot dead in Madhyamgram near Kolkata on Wednesday night, triggering a political storm in the state. Bera, who was driving the vehicle at the time of the attack, sustained gunshot wounds and is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
Family members said they learned about the incident through television and immediately left for Kolkata.
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"We came to know from TV reports that my nephew had been shot. We still do not know who carried out the attack or why it happened," Buddhabeb's uncle Biswajit Bera said.
"Our only wish now is that he recovers and returns home safely," he added.
Buddhabeb, 25, hails from Majnaberia village in the Chandipur police station area in Purba Medinipur district.
According to family members, he mostly stays in Kolkata for work and visits home occasionally during weekends.
Besides his parents, his younger brother, sister-in-law and several relatives have also travelled to Kolkata following the incident.
Demanding strict action against the perpetrators, the uncle said, "We want the government to conduct a proper investigation and identify those directly involved in the crime. They should be given exemplary punishment so that such incidents do not happen again in West Bengal and no other family has to go through this grief."
A neighbour, Ranjana Ghorai, also sought stringent punishment for those behind the attack.
"In our neighbourhood, we call him Sona. We want exemplary punishment for the people responsible for this incident," she said.
Rath's family members have demanded life imprisonment for the accused, while Adhikari has called for capital punishment for those involved in the killing.
