BJP’s PM candidate, Narendra Modi has called for debate on Article 370 that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir. He has accused the Congress Party of not pursuing this issue despite Jawaharlal Nehru’s vision of the Article being eventually repealed.
The Shiv Sena recently expelled Mumbai South MP, Mohan Rawle for meeting MNS leader Raj Thackeray.
The BJP has voiced their opposition of the new draft of the Communcal Violence Bill. The party has called it a ‘pet project’ of Sonia Gandhi and the National Advisory Council. Several Chief Ministers and political parties have opposed this bill calling it discriminatory. AIADMK led by Jayalalitha, Naveen Patnaik’s BJD, the Samajwadi Party and JD(U) are among the several who have expressed opposition.
The Union Cabinet approved the Telangana Bill and have sent it to the President. The President has passed this bill on to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly for review. Though the possibility of including the two districts of Rayalaseema was pondered upon, the cabinet eventually did not include it in the final draft of the bill. YSR Congress leader, Jagan Reddy who opposed the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, visited several political leaders and chief ministers to get their support against this bill. Jayalalitha and Nitish Kumar have expressed support.
In the WTO summit held recently in Bali, India’s lone position for protection of its newly launched Food security act was accepted. Until then the BJP and the left parties had accused the Congress government for not being firm in their stand at Bali.
On December 8th the results of the elections held in four states Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan were declared. Mizoram’s results were declared on the 9th December. Congress who was the incumbent in two of the four states lost decisively. The BJP in a sweeping victory in all four states won maximum number of seats. Mizoram was the only winning state for Congress. Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Raman Singh are going to assume the role of CM for a third consecutive term. Vasundhara Raje saw a sweeping victory in Rajasthan. However in Delhi despite BJP receiving most seats, there was a hung assembly with no clear majority. Aam Aadmi Party made an impressive debut winning 28 seats. After 15 days of speculation, it has assumed power to govern Delhi with outside support from Congress who won only 8 seats. Arvind Kejriwal was sworn in as CM at Ramlila Maidan on December 28th.
The winter session of the Parliament commenced with protests in the house by MPs who opposed the creation of Telangana. These MPs tried to move a no confidence motion in the house; however they were not able to garner any outside support.
On December 10th, Anna Hazare started an indefinite fast in Ralegaan Siddhi for the Jan Lokepal bill to be passed by the Parliament. His fast saw the split between AAP and himself widening and led to a heated argument between AAP MLA Gopal Rai and former Army chief, V.K. Singh. The Bill was passed by the Parliament on December 18th. All major parties voted in favour except the Samajwadi Party.
The Supreme Court repealed Delhi High Court’s decision to remove IPC 377 criminalizing gay sex. Due to massive protest by LGBT activists, the Congress led government has petitioned for the Supreme Court to review its decision. The SC in its ruling indicated that it was the government’s responsibility to change the law.
Union Labour and Employment Minister and Congress heavyweight, Sisram Ola passed away on 14th December.
