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By Insaf<\/strong><\/p>\n \n The bugle for Maharashtra Assembly elections having been sounded, seat-sharing arrangement has been troublesome for both the warring sides. Interestingly, the Shiv Sena breakaway factions led by Eknath Shinde or Uddhav Thackeray want to hold on to their seats. On the other hand, breakaway groups in NCP aren\u2019t that vocal. The MVA coalition has allocated 85 seats each to Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) while disputes linger over 33 contested seats. Apparently, both Congress and NCP (SP) are at loggerheads with Sena (UBT), which doesn\u2019t want to give up some seats. This apart, while 10 seats have been left to smaller parties, the SP and PWP want five seats each, while CPI (Maoist) has sought four. Sharad Pawar is trying to clinch matters. Likewise, the ruling Mahayuti camp has settled 270 seats, but disputes remain on over 15 seats. The BJP aims to contest over 150 seats, Shinde insists on 90 seats, leaving less than 50 seats for Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Leaders of all three rushed to Delhi for the second time on Thursday last for consultations with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to rule out the differences. Both SS (Shinde) and BJP are claiming some seats in Mumbai and Vidarbha,\u00a0but Shah has asked them to put up a united front and ensure there are no rebels. While the race is on to firm up the seats and soon, time will tell which of the two sides were wiser in the distribution of tickets. And while the contest promises to be thrilling, what\u2019s most importantly on test is whether the chemistry between the allies works post the break-ups?<\/p>\n \n UP Opposition United<\/p>\n For starters, it\u2019s a thumbs up for Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. Not only has the Congress ruled out putting up any candidates in the bypolls for the nine Assembly seats in its favour, but INDIA bloc candidates (if any) will contest on SP\u2019s election symbol, the \u2018cycle\u2019. In a post on X, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said \u2018the alliance\u2019s decision was not informed by any seat-sharing math but its pursuit of victory. Congress and SP are united and stand shoulder to shoulder for a big victory. India bloc is going to write a new chapter of victory in this by-election.\u201d Likewise, Congress said \u2018party workers and leaders would unconditionally work to ensure victory of SP candidates or that of other INDIA bloc parties\u2026With this unprecedented cooperation, every worker is filled with new energy with the resolve to win.\u201d However, doubts emerge as some local Congress leaders feel the decision is \u2018suicidal\u2019 for the grand old party! Well, it shall be known only on November 23, when results are out, till then it\u2019 a direct contest between Adityanath Yogi and Akhilesh. In 2022 Assembly polls, both had won four seats each. Predictably, it\u2019s a big test for Yogi as these will tell whether BJP\u2019s fortunes have come down as seen in Lok Sabha elections. And for Akhilesh whether the party\u2019s good run shall last?<\/p>\n \n Wayanad Seat For Priyanka?<\/p>\n Wayanad in God\u2019s own country is in the political spotlight. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is to make her Parliament debut from there, following her bother Rahul deciding to choose retaining Raebareli over it. As Priyanka said at a massive rally after filing of her nominations on Wednesday last, \u2018For past 35 years, I have been campaigning for my mother Sonia Gandhi and brother and for your support, I do so for myself.\u2019 Indeed, the plunge comes after decades, since she used to campaign for her father Rajiv Gandhi, when she \u2018was just 17\u2019. Now at age 52, she hopes to have a landslide victory. Among the contenders is BJP\u2019s Navya Haridas, a two-time councillor, BJP\u2019s Mahila Morcha\u2019s State General Secretary, and previously represented NDA in Kozhikode South. She claims \u2018the people are disappointed with Rahul as he had promised he would remain with them for full five years. They require a change, and this time shall favour the BJP.\u2019 For now, all eyes would be on the campaign trail. Will Wayanad oblige Priyanka, is anybody\u2019s guess.<\/p>\n \n Cyclone Dana Dented<\/p>\n Both Odisha and West Bengal have done well to remember the idiom: a stich in time saves nine. With cyclone Dana red-flagged, the BJP-ruled government in Odisha made extensive preparations to tackle its impact, by setting up 5209 cyclone shelters and evacuating over 3,62,000 people from vulnerable areas, including 3654 pregnant women who were relocated to nearby hospitals. Train services in the coastal region were either suspended or diverted. In TMC-ruled West Bengal, nearly 2,43,374 people were given shelter in relief camps. Flights were suspended in both states for 15-16 hours. Ferry services in Sunderbans area in North and South 24 Parganas districts and across river Hooghly in Kolkata were too cancelled. What emerges is that despite heavy rains packed with gusty winds lashing Odisha and parts of southern West Bengal and the landfall process of cyclonic storm Dana complete on Friday morning there was \u2018no loss of life\u2019! Other states must take a cue.<\/p>\n \n Uttarkashi Mosque<\/p>\n The tragic targeting of mosques or say anti-mosque protests now reach Uttarakhand. On Thursday last, right-wing groups took out a protest rally in Uttarkashi district of the Himalayan state, demanding demolishing of a mosque. Five police personnel and over 30 people were injured after it turned violent. The Jan Akrosh Rally was organised under banner of Sanyukt Sanatan Dharma Rakshak Dal, in which members of Bajrang Dal, Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan (DRA), and local traders participated, among others. The protestors claim the mosque, near Kashi Vishwanath temple, was illegally built on government land and it must be removed at the earliest. The organisers had taken permission for the rally, and the police has chalked out a route for them given that Char Dham Yatra was taking place, but protestors turned belligerent and therefore the clash. The DRA claims the mosque, built on land belonging to a Hindu family, initially functioned out of a room, but kept growing bigger over the years. It further claimed that the administration had in a reply to an RTI said the mosque authorities did not possess \u2018necessary documents\u2019, and therefore the demand to demolish it. However, the Uttarkashi District Magistrate earlier this month had clarified at a press conference that the mosque \u2018had all the necessary documents and was also registered by the Waqf Board.\u2019 Clearly, the protests are uncalled for as the matter was settled. It is now for the state government to rein in the right-wing groups. Sooner the better. \u2014 INFA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Maharashtra Crucial Polls By Insaf The bugle for Maharashtra Assembly elections having been sounded, seat-sharing arrangement has been troublesome for both the warring sides. Interestingly, the Shiv Sena breakaway factions led by Eknath Shinde or Uddhav Thackeray want to hold on to their seats. On the other hand, breakaway groups in NCP aren\u2019t that vocal. 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