BJP President JP Nadda on Wednesday issued a notice seeking clarification from West Bengal BJP leader Dilip Ghosh over his controversial remarks on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The party has written a letter stating that Dilip Ghosh comment was indecent, unparliamentary and against the tradition of the BJP.

The party condemned Dilip Ghosh’s remarks and sought an explanation on the issue from him. While reacting to the notice, the BJP leader told reporters that this was not the first time that he had faced a controversy over his statement. He said that this is because he speaks in front of those who commit injustice.

He further asserted that many, including the party, said that he used unparliamentary language. Expressing sadness over the party’s reaction, Dilip Ghosh said that he will furnish an official reply.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress also filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India against Dilip Ghosh for allegedly making controversial remarks against Mamata Banerjee. The ruling party said that Dilip Ghosh violated the Model Code of Conduct by making personal remarks.

While addressing the media in Durgapur, the BJP MP said that wherever Mamata Banerjee goes, she calls herself the daughter of that state, therefore at first, she must identify her own father.

Highlighting the clause under the election code, which states that no political party or candidate should indulge in any activities or make any statements that would amount to an attack on the personal life of any person or statements that may be malicious or offend decency and morality, the Trinamool Congress urged the ECI to immediately take action against Dilip Ghosh.

In the letter to the EC, the TMC mentioned that Dilip Ghosh’s comments not only cross the boundaries of decency but also perpetuate a culture of misogyny and disrespect towards women in positions of power.

Reacting to the BJP leader’s remarks, TMC leader Kirti Azad said that such mentality of BJP leaders humiliates Nari Shakti. Azad added that the BJP leader had earlier made derogatory remarks against Maa Durga. The TMC leader said that he should be arrested under the POCSO Act for what he said about Mamata Banerjee.

Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu on Tuesday switched to BJP ahead of Lok Sabha elections. The Ludhiana MP spoke at a press conference in New Delhi and hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah and said they have a lot of affection for Punjab.

Bittu said in the last 10 years he has seen that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have immense love for Punjab. He said they want to do a lot of developmental work for Punjab. He said the prime minister and the home minster always took it positively whenever he raised the issues of Punjab. He said when the country is benefiting then why should Punjab be left behind?

He recalled the dark days of terrorism in Punjab and praised the role of BJP and RSS in working for peace. BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde said his joining the party will strengthen it. Ravneet Singh Bittu was a part of the 27-member Punjab unit’s Pradesh election committee which was set up in January.

Bittu comes from a political family and is the grandson of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh and the son of former Punjab minister Tej Parkash Singh. The joining comes hours after the BJP announced that it will contest the upcoming Lok sabha election on its own in Punjab. Punjab chief Sunil Jakhar said in a video message and posted on X that the BJP is going to contest the Lok Sabha elections alone.

Jakhar added the decision to contest on its own in Punjab was taken keeping in mind the region’s future, especially that of youngsters and farmers, after consulting workers and local leaders at the grassroots level. He said people aware of the matter said the BJP’s talks with SAD broke down as the BJP failed to ensure an unconditional alliance.

By Neeraj Mishra

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh returns to his old Lok Sabha constituency Rajgarh after 33 years while former union minister Kantilal Bhuria is contesting for the sixth time from Jhabua after having lost it twice earlier. They are part of the Congress push to better its tally from the state from one seat to maybe five. The problem this time is that they are assured of not receiving any central party funding.

PCC president Jitu Patwari has pushed the candidature of Akshay Kanti Jain from Indore in the hope that he will not only finance his own elections but also contribute to depleted party funds. Jain hopes to garner support from the rich Jains in the city as he has become the first candidate from that sect to contest for the Lok Sabha. He faces sitting MP Shankar Lal Lalwani, an unpopular Sindhi candidate of the BJP.

Five sitting MLAs have been nominated by the Congress while the sitting MP from Chhindwara Nakul Nath returns to save his seat. The party has yet to decide on six seats including the crucial ones of Gwalior and Guna. It has offered the Khajuraho seat to the Samajwadi Party. On paper at least, this is the best team the Congress can nominate under the given circumstances. Arun Shrivastav has been nominated from Bhopal as it has the largest number of Kayastha voters in the state. Kayastha and Muslims have lived in harmony for centuries in the city and are expected to vote together. The BJP has denied a ticket to sitting MP Pragya Thakur and shown faith in Bhopal Mayor Alok Sharma.

In the midst of what might turn out to be a compelling election, the IAS community in the state has been split into two over the alleged ill treatment of promoted IAS officers and direct recruits. It started with Lalit Dahima, a secretary-level promoted IAS officer of the state PSC cadre, reaching late for a meeting called by Principal Secretary Manish Rastogi. It appears after some furious exchange of words, Rastogi asked his junior to leave the room in front of other members of the department.

The issue has ballooned into an RR vs PSC officers issue after several junior officers complained of  similar ill treatment. Madhya Pradesh has about 300 IAS officers but the real power is usurped by about a dozen IAS officers close to the chief minister. This has been a tradition since the days of Arjun Singh, which only gained total acceptance under Shivraj Singh Chouhan. How the discontent will affect the working of the Mohan Yadav government remains to be seen but the Congress is not complaining as it plays the field for the Lok Sabha elections.