Muslim-Dalit coalition in Aurangabad halts Modi-wave as AIMIM candidate wins at Shiv Sena forte
Aurangabad: Amidst the ‘Tsunamo’ that has swept the Lok Sabha Elections for the BJP across the country, the results at one of the seats in Maharashtra is widely being discussed in the political circles. The seat being talked about is Aurangabad constituency, considered as a stronghold seat of Shiv Sena.
Four time winner and sitting MP of Shiv Sena from the constituency Chandrakant Khaire faced defeat in the constituency when Muslims and Dalit votes led by Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM and Prakash Ambedkar’s Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) came together as an alliance and won the election.
AIMIM candidate backed by VBA, Imtiaz Jaleel Syed bagged 3,89,042 votes against Chandrakant Khaire who got 3,84,550 votes. Both the candidates left the Congress candidate Zambad Manakchand reeling behind with only 91,789 votes.
Out of 48 constituencies of Maharashtra, most of them were swept away by the Modi wave which gave the BJP 23 seats, its coalition partner Shiv Sena 18 seats with Aurangabad’s Muslim-Dalit strong alliance keeping the Modi wave at bay.
Although their partnered candidate won on only one seat in the state, the alliance of AIMIM and VBA proved to be a game changer and dented Congress-NCP coalition’s vote share in key constituencies including Nanded where the Congress’ State President Ashok Chavan was defeated.
(Prakash Ambedkar)
In most the constituencies AIMIM-VBA alliance secured more votes than the margin of losing of the Congress party, sending regressive wave in the party for not forming pre-election alliance with them.
“The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi had evolved its own strategy and agenda that was centred around the oppressed and backward segments of the community. Our fight was against both the BJP-Shiv Sena and the Congress-NCP. I was from the beginning open for alliance with Congress-NCP. They have to explain why it failed.” VBA Chief Prakash Ambedkar said after the Election results.
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Hyderabad retired professor in coma left without pension; family struggles to pay Rs 25 lakh bills
Hyderabad: A 64-year-old retired professor from Osmania University, Mohammad Ansari, is battling for life in a coma while his family struggles to meet mounting medical expenses due to an unresolved pension dispute.
According to The Times of India, Prof. Ansari, a former linguistics teacher, fell critically ill about 10 days ago due to kidney and lung complications and slipped into a coma.
His family has already spent nearly Rs 25 lakh on treatment, with daily hospital expenses ranging between Rs 30,000 and 40,000.
"We have spent about Rs 25 lakh so far. The hospital is charging between Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000 daily. We don't have any money left. We can only afford a rehabilitation centre," said Fayyaz Ansari, brother of the retired Osmania University professor. He said that his brother had been running from pillar to post since 1996 to clear the anomalies in his service, but failed in his efforts.
Though he began working with the university in 1997 as part-time faculty and later became regular staff, the university reportedly agreed to consider his pension eligibility only from 2003, which he contested.
The family claims that despite court directions and intervention by an Assembly committee, the university did not recognise his service from 1996 for pension benefits.
"Despite selection, he was not given joining orders. He was forced to work as a part-time faculty. In 2003, after approaching the minority commission, the HC and the assembly, he finally got orders to join as full-time faculty," Fayyaz said.
Incidentally, even the LIC-linked pension, which was offered to those not eligible under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), was denied to him despite premiums being deducted for close to 15 years on the grounds that he already has OPS. The total amount paid towards the pension was returned in 2018.
Students and well-wishers have begun crowdfunding to support his treatment. Members of the Osmania University Students’ Joint Action (JAC) Committee urged authorities to intervene and release his pending benefits or arrange financial assistance.
The issue was also raised in the Assembly by CPI MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao.
However, university officials maintain that pension from 1996 cannot be granted. Registrar G. Naresh Reddy said, "He was not on the varsity rolls then. How can it be considered? In fact, this issue was placed before the executive council and the govt multiple times and it was rejected."
He said that when it comes to the LIC-linked pension, it is the govt that has kept it in abeyance and that, along with Ansari, 10 other faculty members, who joined between 2001 and 2004, were waiting for it to be resolved.
