In a surprising move, the BJP has decided to drop Poonam Mahajan, their sitting MP, for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Mumbai North Central constituency. The party has instead chosen to field Ujjwal Nikam, a prominent special public prosecutor, sparking controversy and speculation over the decision. Some cite anti-incumbency as the reason for the change, while others point to the need for a Marathi candidate to balance out the non-Marathi contenders fielded by the party. This decision by the BJP comes just 48 hours after the Congress announced their candidate for the constituency.
BJP Drops Poonam Mahajan, Fields Ujjwal Nikam in Mumbai North Central
In a dramatic turn of events, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dropped its sitting Member of Parliament (MP) from Mumbai North Central constituency, Poonam Mahajan, who is the daughter of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan. The party has instead chosen to field Ujjwal Nikam, a renowned special public prosecutor, as its candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Background
Poonam Mahajan has been the MP from Mumbai North Central since 2014. She had a comfortable victory in the last elections, defeating Congress candidate Priya Dutt by a margin of over 1.5 lakh votes. However, recent opinion polls and surveys had indicated a decline in her popularity due to anti-incumbency and dissatisfaction among voters.
The BJP is also facing a challenge in the constituency due to the presence of non-Marathi candidates from both the Congress and the Shiv Sena. The party's decision to field Nikam, a Marathi candidate, is seen as an attempt to balance out the ethnicity factor. Nikam is a high-profile name, known for his role as the special public prosecutor in the high-profile Mumbai terrorist attacks case. His popularity and reputation could potentially sway the Marathi vote bank in favor of the BJP.
Controversy and Speculation
The BJP's decision has sparked controversy and speculation. Some party insiders have expressed concerns about Mahajan's dropping, citing her strong electoral record and her father's legacy. Others have defended the decision, arguing that it was necessary to prevent anti-incumbency from affecting the party's chances in the constituency.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. Why did the BJP drop Poonam Mahajan?
2. Who is Ujjwal Nikam?
3. What are the challenges facing the BJP in Mumbai North Central?
4. How strong is Nikam's candidacy?
5. What is the significance of Nikam's selection?
The Indian government has released the initial report of the investigation into the Air India-171 crash, which killed 241 passengers on June 12. The report, released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), cites a dual-engine shutdown just seconds after take-off as the cause of the tragedy. The data recovered from the cockpit voice recording reveals a conversation between the two pilots discussing the sudden engine failure. While the report does not assign any blame, its main purpose is to prevent future accidents and incidents.
On Day 2 of the second Test between India and England at Lord's, Jasprit Bumrah picked up his 13th five-wicket haul in away Tests, becoming the most prolific Indian bowler in this regard. However, England fought back through half-centuries from Brydon Carse and Jamie Smith, who helped them reach a respectable total of 387 in their first innings. India's openers, KL Rahul and Karun Nair, showed resilience and took their team to Tea at 44 for 1, trailing by 343 runs.
In a recent defamation lawsuit, Dominion Voting Systems revealed that top executives and talent at Fox News were in agreement that claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election were "ludicrous" and "bs," despite allowing those claims to be spread on their airwaves. This is a striking contrast to the network's defense, which argues that they were simply covering news from the then-president. As the battle between Dominion and Fox intensifies, it shines a light on the inner workings of the conservative news channel.
Joseph Fitzgerald, a conservative member of the Middletown Board of Education in New Jersey, was arrested after being found with an unregistered gun during a traffic stop. It was revealed during a detention hearing that Fitzgerald may have been involved in an affair, which led him to confront the husband of his alleged paramour. The incident has caused controversy as Fitzgerald campaigned on a platform of family values and is seeking reelection this year.
Actor and activist Gaurav Bakshi has been booked by Goa police for posting a video on social media where he accuses the state government and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant of destroying the forest cover in Goa. The FIR was filed by the Forest Department, and Bakshi claims it is an attempt to stop him from highlighting issues of economy and ecology. The police have attempted to serve him a notice, but he has not complied.
A comment by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat suggesting that leaders should step down at 75 years of age has sparked intense speculation about its implications for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress party has wasted no time in seizing on the statement, interpreting it as a veiled message aimed at PM Modi and the beginning of the end of his era. Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera has even speculated on what career path PM Modi may have taken had he not entered politics, while also criticizing his leadership.
Union Minister of Fertilizers and Chemicals JP Nadda has expressed concern over the excessive consumption of urea in Telangana and has agreed to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's request for additional supplies. The minister highlighted the uptick in urea sales and emphasized the need to regulate chemical fertilizers and promote organic farming. A delegation led by the CM met the union minister and briefed him on the shortage of urea, to which Nadda assured full support and instructed for adequate supply to be provided.
MP CM Mohan Yadav highlighted the significance of education in the growth and progress of India during the Guru Purnima Mahotsav. He also announced plans for providing financial support and resources to schools and students, including laptops and electric scooties. With these initiatives, the state government aims to promote quality education and help students achieve academic success.
The Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has proposed amendments to their 2014 policy guidelines for television rating agencies, with the aim of allowing more players into the television ratings business. The proposed draft aims to end the monopoly of current ratings provider BARC and bridge gaps in measuring streaming and mobile viewership. With the increasing adoption of smart TVs, streaming devices, and mobile applications, the government hopes to generate more accurate and representative data to ensure fair competition and accurate ratings.
On World Population Day, Union Health Minister JP Nadda highlighted the crucial role that planned parenthood plays in promoting healthy outcomes for both mothers and children. Through this year's theme, "Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancy for the Health and Well-being of Mother and Child," Nadda called for renewed commitment to addressing population-related challenges. He also stressed the slogan, "माँ बनने की उम्र वही, जब तन और मन की तैयारी सही," underscoring the importance of being mentally and physically prepared to become a mother.