The All India United Democratic Front (AIDUF) of Badruddin Ajmal was a long-time ally of the Congress Party in Assam and was included in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). However, while Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has invited all the UPA alliance partners and some like-minded parties for the conclusion of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar on 30 January, Badruddin Ajmal’s AIUDF and Asauddin Owaisi’s AIMIM have not been invited. Both of these organisations, according to the Congress party, are indirectly working in favour of the BJP. Last year, Badruddin Ajmal made sensitive comments about the BJP, which created a huge uproar in the state. Even the State Congress party criticised his remark and distanced itself from Ajmal’s party. Since the Congress President has not invited him for the Bharat Jodo Yatra, it is now final that he is no longer with the UPA.
RAILWAY MINISTRY SAVES IMAGE
The Railway Ministry recently introduced a new Vande Bharat superfast train in West Bengal, which was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. But shortly after it began service, a stone-pelting incident occurred on the train. This prompted the state BJP leaders to launch an antiTMC campaign and claim that TMC leaders were envious of their success and instructed to throw stones at the running train. When Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw ordered an inquiry on these incidents, it was found that the stones originated from a region of Bihar rather than West Bengal. This gave a great deal of relief to the Chief Minister, who was on the receiving end of these incidents.
SPECULATION ON INCOME TAX RELIEF
A lot of expectations have arisen ahead of the upcoming General Budget of 2023–24, which is scheduled to be tabled on 1 February. In the last two budgets, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman could not give any relief to the salaried class because of Covid pandemic. This year will be the last full budget of the present NDA government since there will be a Lok Sabha election next year. A partial budget vote will be recorded instead of a full budget vote on account, as is customary in election years. As a result, among the government salaried class, speculation about direct tax relief has already begun. They are hoping for at least a standard deduction reduction during the budget. It is also learnt that the Finance Minister has locked herself away for budget preparation, and no one can meet with her except those involved in the budget-making process.