Today in Politics: Rahul Gandhi Visits Gujarat; Andhra and Telangana CMs Meet in Hyderabad
Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat
06.07.2024: Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will visit Gujarat on Saturday, following his recent visit to Hathras where he met the families of stampede victims. During his day-long visit to Ahmedabad, he will engage with Congress party workers and meet families affected by recent tragedies in Gujarat, including the Rajkot game zone fire, the Vadodara boat capsize, and the Morbi bridge collapse.
This visit comes shortly after clashes between BJP and Congress workers outside the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) office in Ahmedabad. On Tuesday morning, members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal vandalized the GPCC office, protesting against Gandhi’s remarks about BJP and Hinduism. The altercation led to the arrest of five Congress workers.
Gandhi’s visit is crucial for the Congress, which has struggled to gain a foothold in Gujarat against the BJP’s dominance. Despite some hope from the 2017 state elections, the BJP’s record victory in last year’s Assembly elections and recent Lok Sabha poll results have dampened Congress’s prospects. Gandhi’s visit aims to rejuvenate the party’s efforts and strategize its future in Gujarat politics.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana CMs to Hold Talks
In Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will meet on Saturday to address unresolved issues from the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, which occurred ten years ago. These issues include the division of assets, state-run institutions, power bill dues, and the transfer of leftover employees to their respective states.
With Hyderabad no longer serving as the common capital for both states since June 2, Andhra Pradesh currently lacks an official capital. Developing Amaravati was a key project for Naidu after taking office in 2014. However, the project stalled in 2019 when Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress Party won the state Assembly elections. Reddy proposed a three-capital plan: Visakhapatnam as the executive capital, Amaravati as the legislative capital, and Kurnool as the judicial capital, halting all construction in Amaravati.
With the TDP’s return to power, Amaravati has seen a resurgence in construction and real estate development. During a recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Naidu sought comprehensive financial support for the capital city. Revanth Reddy, who joined the Congress in 2017 after a long tenure in Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party, maintains a cordial relationship with the Andhra CM.
National Examination Reforms
The Centre’s high-level panel on examination reforms, headed by former ISRO chief R Radhakrishnan, is inviting suggestions and feedback from stakeholders, including students and parents, until Saturday. The panel aims to provide recommendations on reforming the examination process, enhancing data security protocols, and reviewing the structure and operations of the National Testing Agency (NTA). Suggestions can be submitted on the “My Gov” platform.