Telangana cabinet likely to recommend assembly dissolution on Thursday
Hyderabad, Sep 5 : A crucial meeting of the Telangana cabinet is likely to be held on Thursday to recommend dissolution of the state assembly to pave way for early polls.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has asked his cabinet colleagues to be available at 6 a.m. on September 6 for the cabinet meeting, according to sources in the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
The TRS chief considers '6' as his lucky number and that's the reason cited for not taking the decision during the cabinet meeting on September 2, which was held hours before the massive public meeting by the ruling party to sound the poll bugle.
The cabinet is expected to pass a resolution recommending to Governor E. S.L. Narasimhan to dissolve the assembly. The term of the assembly is till May, 2019 and the elections in normal course have to be conducted along with the polls for Lok Sabha.
On the eve of the cabinet meeting, the state capital on Wednesday witnessed hectic activity in the political circle. Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi, Chief Advisor to government Rajiv Sharma, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, S. Narsing Rao and Legislative Assembly Secretary Narasimhacharyulu called on Narasimhan on Wednesday.
KCR also had a series of meetings with top party leaders.
A day after recommending dissolution of assembly, KCR will be launching the election campaign with a public meeting at Husnabad in Siddipet district on September 7.
Christened 'Prajala Aasirwada Sabha', this will be the first of 100 public meetings planned by TRS over next 50 days.
Political observers say TRS is keen for early assembly elections as it believes that simultaneous elections to assembly and Lok Sabha may not help it in properly highlighting the welfare and development works undertaken during last four years.
The political circle has been abuzz with the talks of early polls for the last few weeks with KCR himself giving strong hints with his two meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August, announcement of sops for various sections of people and transfer of top police and civil officials.
There was strong possibility of a decision in the cabinet meeting before September 2 public meeting, attended by lakhs of people and claimed to be mother of all rallies.
While the cabinet took no decision, KCR kept the suspense by telling the party cadres that the party leaders have empowered him to take a decision and that they would soon hear it (decision on early polls).
At the public meeting, the TRS chief highlighted the achievements of his government since it took reins in the newly created state in 2014.
He sought fresh mandate to continue the good work and achieve the goal of 'Bangaru Telangana' or golden Telangana. He urged people to protect their 'self-respect' by rejecting the parties from Delhi who want to make them slaves.
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BJP responsible for Sabarimala women entry verdict, LDF's stand same as 2007 affidavit: Min Vasavan
Kottayam (Kerala) (PTI): Kerala Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan on Saturday blamed the BJP for the 2018 Supreme Court verdict permitting women's entry into Sabarimala and said the LDF government's current stand remains the same as the affidavit filed before the apex court in 2007.
He was responding to reporters' queries regarding the affidavit to be filed by the state government before the nine-member bench of the Supreme Court clarifying its position on the entry of women of menstruating age into the hill shrine.
He said the 2018 verdict came after women lawyers associated with the BJP approached the Supreme Court.
"We had filed an affidavit in 2007 stating that the issue should be decided by experts in ritualistic matters. We are still maintaining that stand," he said.
The Supreme Court has not sought the state government's position on women's entry now, but has asked for clarification on certain constitutional issues, he added.
"We have assigned the Advocate General and constitutional experts in the Supreme Court to give the reply. They will respond accordingly," the minister said.
He added that if the court seeks the state government's stand on the matter, it would be presented, noting that the LDF government had already stated its position in the affidavit filed in 2007.
"The party's (CPI-M) stand is the same as the government's. The government is with the devotees. We have always been with the devotees," he said.
The minister also criticised the opposition, alleging that they repeatedly approach courts on various issues and return with adverse responses.
"They go to court on several matters and come back with adverse responses. Has there been an opposition in Kerala that has faced so many setbacks from courts," he asked.
When asked about the state government’s actions in 2018 following the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to enter Sabarimala, he said no such interpretation should be made as the government had already clarified its stand in the 2007 affidavit.
"If the Supreme Court gives any verdict, can we say anything against it. The women’s entry was the decision of the apex court of the country," he said.
He said the 2018 verdict came after women lawyers associated with the BJP approached the SC.
"They are now hiding. Actually they were standing for it. But here they are taking a different stand," he said.
He further alleged that attempts to facilitate women's entry in 2018 were made by BJP activists.
"It was BJP's young lawyers who filed the case and received the verdict. They then called it a historic judgement. But after some stage, they changed their position," he claimed.
He said the LDF government's position was that it respects the Supreme Court's verdict.
"But in our affidavit filed in 2007 we clearly stated that the entry of women of menstruating age should be decided by experts in ritualistic matters," he said.
He denied allegations that the state government had taken special interest in facilitating the entry of women of menstruating age into Sabarimala in 2018.
The Supreme Court in 2018 permitted women of menstruating age to enter the Sabarimala temple, following which Kerala witnessed widespread protests.
Currently, the Supreme Court is considering appeals against the earlier verdict.
