Rahul Gandhi says Dalits will have central role in Congress party
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stated that Dalits will now play a central role within the party, attributing the emergence of caste-based regional parties to the Congress’s own policies in previous decades. Addressing a meeting of the party’s Scheduled Castes Department at Congress headquarters on January 26, Rahul Gandhi said that if the Congress had taken appropriate measures for Dalits during the 1980s and 90s, caste-based regional parties would not have emerged nor would Dalits have gravitated towards them. Sources present at the meeting reported that Rahul Gandhi praised BSP founder Kanshi Ram for uniting the Dalit community and instilling self-confidence within them. He remarked that the BJP is simultaneously seeking to dismantle regional parties and stripping Dalits of their rights, leading to an increase in atrocities against Dalits. Rahul Gandhi affirmed that the Congress will champion Dalit rights and fulfil the dreams of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, asserting that Dalits will occupy a pivotal position in the party. Just a year ago, Rahul Gandhi had publicly acknowledged that the Congress had neglected the OBC community, offering an apology. Now, he has expressed a similar sentiment concerning the Dalit community. Through these efforts, Rahul Gandhi appears to be strengthening Congress’s position among Dalit and backward communities. During the recent Lok Sabha elections, he held rallies displaying the Constitution, alleging it was under threat during the Modi government’s tenure. This strategy is widely believed to have contributed to electoral gains for the Congress and the INDIA alliance among Dalit voters. Rahul Gandhi has also advocated for a caste census regarding the OBC category. Collectively, these initiatives helped double the Congress party’s seat count in the Lok Sabha. With the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi is intensifying outreach towards Dalit and backward classes. Last week, in his Raebareli constituency, he unveiled a statue of Dalit freedom fighter Veera Pasi and addressed a Bahujan Sabha. The previous day, Rajendra Pal Gautam, Chairman of the Congress party’s Scheduled Castes Department, unsuccessfully attempted to meet Mayawati at her residence in Lucknow. It remains to be seen how effective Rahul Gandhi’s strategy of acknowledging past Congress shortcomings on Dalit issues and assigning Dalits a central role will be, with results expected to emerge during the elections. Courtesy : The News Mill Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewsmill.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Congress govt accommodated Dalits in key posts: TPCC chief B Mahesh Kumar Goud
Mahesh Goud said the Chevella Declaration was fully implemented, adding that Dalit leaders were given the Speaker’s post and four Cabinet berths. KAMAREDDY: Hitting back at BRS leader T Harish Rao for claiming injustice was being done to Dalits, TPCC chief B Mahesh Kumar Goud on Tuesday said that the Congress has accommodated leaders from those communities in key posts, including as the Assembly Speaker. Responding to Harish’s statement made earlier in the day that the Congress had deceived the SC and ST communities by failing to fulfil the promises mentioned in its Chevella Declaration, Mahesh Goud said: “It was fully implemented. Besides the Speaker’s post, four Cabinet berths were also allotted to Dalit leaders.” Speaking at a dharna organised by the Lambada Hakkula Porata Samithi (LHPS) at Indira Park in Hyderabad, Harish said that the protest was not just a demonstration but a battle for the self-respect of Lambada and other tribal communities. “Successive Congress governments ignored the demands of Lambadas,” he said. Reacting to this, the TPCC chief said: “It was the previous BRS government which removed a Dalit deputy CM from the state Cabinet. The BRS speaking about Dalits is like the devil preaching gospel.” Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
CM Siddaramaiah convenes Cabinet breakfast amid speculation over Karnataka leadership change
Meeting comes after Delhi talks with Congress leadership and reports of a possible transition in Karnataka. Amid mounting speculation over a possible leadership change in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is likely to convene a breakfast meeting of his Cabinet colleagues at his official residence in Bengaluru on Thursday morning, official sources said. The meeting assumes significance amid reports that Siddaramaiah could step down from the Chief Minister’s post, paving the way for Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to take over. Shivakumar reportedly altered his travel plans and is expected to return early from Delhi on Thursday morning to attend the meeting. He had earlier been scheduled to return to Bengaluru on Wednesday afternoon. Speculation over a leadership transition gathered pace following reports that the Congress high command had urged a change in leadership in the State and offered Mr. Siddaramaiah a role at the Centre in the party organisation along with a Rajya Sabha berth. Reports suggested that the Chief Minister had not immediately accepted the proposal. According to sources, Siddaramaiah may have decided to step down after receiving a message directly from Rahul Gandhi. The Chief Minister had repeatedly stated that he would relinquish office if asked to do so by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. However, the Congress on Tuesday dismissed reports of a leadership change as “mere speculation” and maintained that discussions between the party’s central and State leadership in Delhi had focused solely on the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had been summoned to Delhi on Tuesday, where they participated in a series of meetings at the Congress headquarters with Mallikarjun Kharge, KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala. The Chief Minister returned to Bengaluru late on Tuesday night along with some Cabinet colleagues and is learnt to have held closed-door meetings with Ministers after his arrival. Siddaramaiah is scheduled to attend events in Bengaluru on Wednesday to mark the death anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, including a programme at the State Congress office and a tribute at his statue near Vidhana Soudha. No other official engagements are listed in his schedule for the day. There are also reports that Venugopal and Surjewala may travel to Bengaluru shortly. Supporters of Shivakumar have renewed demands for his elevation, citing a reported power-sharing arrangement reached after the Congress secured victory in the 2023 Assembly elections. The leadership question within the ruling party has intensified since the government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term in November 2025. Following the Congress victory in May 2023, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were contenders for the Chief Minister’s post before the party leadership named the former as Chief Minister and the latter as Deputy Chief Minister. Though reports at the time suggested a “rotational chief minister formula” under which Shivakumar would assume office after two-and-a-half years, the arrangement has never been officially confirmed by the party. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Jana Nayagan’ in capital to meet PM Modi, FM Sitaraman today
Vijay is scheduled to meet PM Narendra Modi at 4.30 pm to discuss a range of issues concerning the state. NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will come to New Delhi on Wednesday in his first trip to the national capital since assuming office earlier this month. Vijay is scheduled to meet PM Narendra Modi at 4.30 pm to discuss a range of issues concerning the state. During the meeting, Vijay is likely to submit a memorandum outlining the state’s demands, including allocation of funds for welfare and infrastructure projects, clearances for developmental initiatives, the Mekedatu issue and implementation of PM Shri scheme. He is also likely to meet Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and seek financial support for ongoing projects and key inter-state issues affecting the state. Vijay is also expected to meet Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. According to the tentative schedule, the CM will return to Chennai on May 28. Vijay, founder of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), took oath as CM on May 10 after leading his party to victory in the TN polls held on April 23. Satheesan meets Modi in Delhi, seeks package Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Karnataka power tussle: Siddaramaiah agrees to quit
Siddaramaiah seeks Governor’s appointment at 2 pm on Thursday, calls CLP meeting the following day; no clarity yet on successor though Deputy CM Shivakumar is the front-runner. NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah late on Tuesday night agreed to step down, confirmed sources privy to the marathon meetings held earlier in the day in New Delhi. Although Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is the front-runner for the CM’s post, no decision has been taken on who would succeed him nor on when Siddaramaiah would tender his resignation as chief minister. But sources said Siddaramaiah has sought time to meet Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot at Lok Bhavan on May 28 at 2 pm, and called for the Congress Legislature Party the following day. AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal and AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, are scheduled to arrive in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Sources informed this newspaper that senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked Siddaramaiah to step down to resolve the prolonged tussle between him and Shivakumar. They said the CM agreed after a late evening huddle with MLAs supporting him. Shivakumar had been insisting that the high command hand over the CM’s post to him, based on an agreement of sharing two-and-a-half years that he is said to have struck with Siddaramaiah after the party came to power in the 2023 Assembly polls. The half-way mark arrived in November last year, but Siddaramaiah refused to yield. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were summoned to Delhi on Monday, where Rahul is said to have told the CM that the party wanted the transition to take place smoothly. However, Siddaramaiah sought time to respond to the high command’s suggestion that he move to the Rajya Sabha to play a “larger role” at the national level, according to sources. After marathon meetings — from 11.35 am to 6 pm — a visibly upset Siddaramaiah huddled with his coterie of cabinet colleagues at Karnataka Energy Minister K J George’s New Delhi residence and conveyed the message of the high command to them. He agreed to step down after this meeting, sources said. No wonder, Shivakumar and his supporters looked upbeat. Siddaramaiah was carrying a letter of support by 100 party MLAs (Congress has 134 of 224 seats in the assembly) to convince the high command about his support. Sources said he will hold a meeting with all these MLAs at George’s Bengaluru residence on Wednesday. The day saw a series of meetings attended by Rahul, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Venugopal and Surjewala. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were consulted separately at the party headquarters. Following the discussions, Rahul and Venugopal are said to have briefed senior leader Sonia Gandhi on the meetings, before having a closed-door meeting with Siddaramaiah where he offered the latter a larger role at the national level, while asking him to step down as CM. For the record, Venugopal dismissed all talk on change in leadership as mere speculation. Asked if there was any discussion on leadership change, Siddaramaiah, too, said “No”. On a possible cabinet reshuffle, the CM said, “It did not come up for discussion.” If not DKS: Who’s in race “The Congress high command could go in for a complete makeover of the party in the state and appoint a young, dynamic leader with a clean image to lead the party in the 2028 assembly elections,” sources said Byre Gowda: Chart topper The name of Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda is on the top, besides Minister for Large & Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development MB Patil. Both have a clean image and are known for their good work Preetha Nair, Bala Chauhan, Naushad Bijapur, Devaraj B Hirehalli Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
TN CM Vijay to visit Delhi tomorrow; likely to meet PM, Congress leaders
The Tamil Nadu chief minister is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at around 4.30 pm and is also expected to meet Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will visit New Delhi on Wednesday. This will be his first visit to the national capital after becoming the CM. He is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at around 4.30 pm. During the meeting, the Chief Minister is expected to submit a detailed memorandum on Tamil Nadu’s requirements, including allocation of funds for various schemes, pending clearances for developmental projects, the Mekedatu issue, and the PM Shri scheme, among others. The Chief Minister is also likely to meet Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. According to the tentative schedule, he is expected to return to Chennai on May 28. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Congress dismisses Karnataka leadership change buzz after high-level Delhi meeting
Senior leaders insist Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council polls were the only issues discussed during the high level Delhi meeting attended by Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar. NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday dismissed speculation over a possible leadership change in Karnataka, asserting that discussions between the party’s central leadership and state leaders were focused solely on the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections. The issue gained attention amid the continuing leadership tussle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar, both of whom were summoned to Delhi along with supporting MLAs, triggering speculation over a possible power sharing arrangement in the state. Though Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had convened a meeting to decide party candidates for the two elections, the point of interest remained the protracted leadership tussle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar, who were summoned to Delhi, and whether there would be any resolution. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had arrived in the national capital accompanied by the MLAs supporting them. At the core of the leadership tangle in the southern state is Shivakumar’s demand that he be elevated to the chief minister’s post in accordance with a “promise” which his supporters claim was made to him during state assembly elections in 2023. The Congress’s central leadership held deliberations for several hours with its Karnataka state leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, who is also the state party chief, at the Indira Bhawan headquarters. The party leaders, however, insisted that the issue of any leadership change was not discussed at the meeting attended by Congress president Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretary, Organisation, K C Venugopal and AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala, among others. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, left, with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar at Indira Bhavan ahead of consultations with the Congress leadership. “Today, the entire discussion was only concentrated on the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and (Legislative) Council elections of Karnataka. Whatever speculation you people are doing, that is only speculation, no reality at all. Today we discussed about the Rajya Sabha seats and the Council seats of Karnataka,” Venugopal told the media after the meeting. He was flanked by Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. He said the candidates of the Rajya Sabha and Council seats of Karnataka will be announced along with the other seats like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. “This is what we have decided today, and nothing else was discussed,” he asserted. Asked about any leadership change, Siddaramaiah also said, “It is only a speculation”. Asked if there was any discussion on leadership change, he replied emphatically with “No”. On a possible cabinet reshuffle, the chief minister said, “It did not come up for discussion. Of the four Rajya Sabha seats getting vacant in Karnataka, the Congress can win three seats and the BJP one. Kharge’s Rajya Sabha seat is getting vacant in June and he is likely to be re-elected from Karnataka.” The party may also field Shivakumar’s brother D K Suresh as one of the Rajya Sabha candidates, as well as a woman or an OBC nominee. Suresh has been a former Rajya Sabha member from the state. Besides, the Congress leaders are also learnt to have discussed the party candidates for the legislative council seats. The Congress is likely to get four seats in the legislative council out of the seven vacancies, going by its present strength in the state assembly. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Congress to put Dalits at centre of party politics, says Rahul Gandhi
In what appeared to be a significant political signal ahead of key state elections, he asserted that Dalits would now occupy a central role within the Congress organisation. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday acknowledged that the party’s failure to adequately address Dalit concerns in the 1980s and 1990s contributed to the rise of regional parties built around Dalit politics and support bases. Addressing a meeting of the Congress Scheduled Castes Department at the party headquarters, Rahul Gandhi said that had the Congress acted decisively for Dalit communities during that period, caste-based regional formations may not have emerged, nor would Dalit voters have shifted away from the party. In what appeared to be a significant political signal ahead of key state elections, he asserted that Dalits would now occupy a central role within the Congress organisation. According to sources present at the meeting, Rahul Gandhi also praised Kanshi Ram for uniting Dalits politically and instilling self-confidence within the community. He further alleged that the BJP was simultaneously attempting to weaken regional parties while undermining the rights of Dalits, claiming that atrocities against the community were increasing. In response, he said, the Congress would position itself as a defender of Dalit rights and work toward fulfilling the vision of B R Ambedkar. The remarks mirror Rahul Gandhi’s earlier outreach to Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Last year, he publicly admitted that the Congress had failed to adequately represent OBC interests and even expressed regret over the party’s past approach. More recently, he has intensified demands for a nationwide caste census as part of the Congress party’s broader social justice plank. Political observers believe the Congress benefited electorally from this strategy during the Lok Sabha elections, particularly among Dalit and backward-class voters. Rahul Gandhi repeatedly campaigned with a copy of the Constitution in hand, accusing the Modi government of threatening constitutional values — a message that appeared to resonate with sections of marginalised communities. With the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections approaching, Rahul Gandhi has stepped up his outreach efforts in the state. Last week, during a visit to his parliamentary constituency of Raebareli, he unveiled a statue of Dalit freedom fighter Veera Pasi and addressed a Bahujan community gathering. Meanwhile, a recent attempt by Rajendra Pal Gautam, the Chairman of the Congress party’s Scheduled Castes Department, to meet Mayawati at her residence in Lucknow did not materialise. Whether Rahul Gandhi’s renewed emphasis on Dalit and backward-class politics — coupled with an acknowledgment of the Congress party’s past shortcomings — translates into electoral gains will become clear only in the coming elections. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Why did petrol, diesel become costlier despite fall in crude oil prices in last 12 years, asks Kharge
While crude oil has become cheaper, petrol has become approximately 42.8% more expensive, and diesel about 67.9% more expensive, Kharge said. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday slammed the central government over the increase in fuel prices and asked why relief was not provided to people when crude oil prices fell during the last 12 years. Kharge cited an official statement by the PIB to state that exactly 12 years ago today — on May 26, 2014 — when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office, the price of crude oil in the Indian basket stood at USD 108.05 per barrel, and the Dollar-Rupee exchange rate was Rs 58.59. At that time, petrol was available at Rs 71.51 per litre, and diesel at Rs 56.71 per liter, he said in his post in Hindi on X. Today, the price of crude oil is below USD 99 per barrel; yet, the prices of petrol and diesel have surged to Rs 102.12 and Rs 95.20 per litre, respectively, Kharge said. In other words, while crude oil has become cheaper, petrol has become approximately 42.8% more expensive, and diesel about 67.9% more expensive, he said. “Every economist knows that the rising cost of petrol and diesel impacts every sector. From transportation to food commodities, the burden of inflation on the common man continues to intensify. Despite this, the government’s profiteering continues unabated,” Kharge said. “The question is straightforward: When crude oil prices have fallen, why have petrol and diesel become more expensive?” he said. Why is there no relief for the public, Kharge asked. The Congress on Monday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latest fuel hike, with Rahul Gandhi alleging that the “mehangai manav” has struck again and he has just one job of making promises during elections and attacking people’s pockets at other times. Kharge also lashed out at the Modi government over the issue and asked who is benefitting from this “daily robbery”. Petrol and diesel prices were raised by Rs 2.61-2.71 per litre on Monday, marking the fourth increase in less than two weeks as state-owned fuel retailers continued to pass on rising international oil prices to consumers. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
“…then Dalits don’t go away,” Why is Rahul blaming the Congress for the rise of caste-based regional parties?
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi blamed his own party’s policies regarding Dalit politics. He said that if Congress had taken the right steps earlier, Dalits wouldn’t have gone away. New Delhi: Without naming names, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi blamed Congress’s policies for the rise and strengthening of parties associated with the Dalit vote bank, including the Bahujan Samaj Party. Addressing the party’s Scheduled Castes Department meeting at Congress headquarters on Monday, Rahul Gandhi said that if Congress had taken the right steps for Dalits in the 1980s and 1990s, caste-based regional parties would not have formed, nor would the Dalit community have turned to them. Promoting a message of change, Rahul Gandhi further stated that Dalits will now play a key role in the Congress party. Sources present at the meeting revealed that Rahul Gandhi praised BSP founder Kanshi Ram, saying that he united the Dalit community and instilled self-confidence in them. According to sources, Rahul Gandhi stated in the meeting that the BJP is, on the one hand, eliminating regional parties and, on the other, snatching away the rights of Dalits. Atrocities against Dalits are increasing. In such a situation, Congress will fight for the rights of Dalits, and Dalits will play a key role in the party. Congress will fulfill the dreams of Baba Saheb Ambedkar. Why is Rahul saying this? A year ago, Rahul Gandhi publicly stated that Congress neglected the OBC community. He apologized for this. Now, Rahul has made similar statements about the Dalit community. Indeed, through this, Rahul is trying to gain influence among the Dalit and backward communities. During the last Lok Sabha elections, he held rallies holding a copy of the Constitution and claimed that the Constitution is in danger under the Modi government. It is believed that this benefited the Congress and India alliance among the Dalit community. Rahul Gandhi demanded a caste census for the OBC community. This doubled the Congress’s seat count in the Lok Sabha. Also read: Controversy erupts over the appointment of the Kerala CM’s secretary; the opposition claims Rahul Gandhi would have protested if this had happened in Bengal. There’s a connection to the UP elections! With the UP Assembly elections in mind, Rahul Gandhi appears to be intensifying his campaign for Dalits and backward classes. Last week, he unveiled a statue of freedom fighter Veera Pasi, a Dalit, in his constituency of Rae Bareli and addressed a Bahujan Sabha. A day earlier, Congress Scheduled Caste Department President Rajendra Pal Gautam of Lucknow unsuccessfully attempted to meet Mayawati at her home. How successful Rahul Gandhi’s move to admit his past mistakes regarding Dalits and now give them a key role in the party will be will only be clear in the elections. Reported by: Jainendra Kumar, Edited by: Priyank Dwivedi Courtesy: Hindi News