Union minister Danve says he wishes to see a 'Brahmin' as Maharashtra CM
Aurangabad/Mumbai (PTI): Union minister Raosaheb Danve has said he wishes to see a Brahmin community member as the chief minister of Maharashtra.
Reacting to it, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said a transgender or an individual belonging to any caste can become the state's CM if he/she has the backing of 145 MLAs (out of 288 Assembly seats in the state).
Danve made the comment on Tuesday night in Jalna while addressing a rally organised by some Brahmin community members on the occasion of Parshuram Jayanti celebration.
A dignitary present in the rally demanded that Brahmins be given more representation in local governing bodies. In response, senior BJP leader Danve said "I just don't want to see Brahmins as corporators or civic body heads, I wish to see a Brahmin as the chief minister of this state."
Danve said he had campaigned in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh for the Assembly elections held in those states (earlier this year).
"So much of casteism has come into politics that it cannot be ignored. But, there should be a leader who can keep communities together," he said.
On Thursday, when a reporter asked Ajit Pawar in Mumbai about Danve's remarks, the deputy CM said, "Anyone can become a chief minister. A tritiyapanthi (transgender) or a person from any caste/religion or any woman can be a chief minister by securing majority of 145 MLAs."
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DK Shivakumar rejects reports about meeting Obama, Kamala Harris, says US visit is purely personal
Bengaluru, Sep 8: Rejecting reports that he was travelling to the United States of America to meet some top leaders there, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday clarified that it was purely a personal visit with the family.
The DCM has also released to the media a letter that he wrote to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, regarding his visit to the USA.
"I am travelling to the USA (from today) along with my family till September 15. The media reports that I am meeting former US President Barack Obama and US Vice-President Kamala Harris (who is also contesting upcoming Presidential polls there) are incorrect. It is a personal visit," he clarified in a press statement.
"As I have already informed (you), I will be proceeding to Washington on 8th September 2024 evening on a private visit and I will be back on 16th September 2024. This is for your kind information," Shivakumar said in the letter to Kharge.
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Earlier in the day, Shivakumar speaking to reporters here said he will be abroad for a week on a personal visit.
To a question about the agenda of his trip to the US and whether he will be meeting any big personalities there, he said, "it is a personal family trip....(meeting) no one, I'm going on a personal basis."
Shivakumar also met Chief Minister Siddramaiah at his residence earlier in the day, official sources said.
