New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government will have to face a floor test in the Assembly scheduled on Thursday.A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and J.B. Pardiwala refused to interfere with Governor's direction to the MVA government to prove its majority in the Assembly on June 30."We are not staying the floor test. We are issuing notice... you can file counter," it said.The top court also said it will hear the matter on merits along with other cases on July 11, and the result of Thursday's test will depend on the final outcome of this petition. After a marathon hearing of more than 3 hours, the bench had reserved its order on the plea by Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu, challenging the Maharashtra Governor's direction to prove its majority in the House on Thursday. In a related development, the top court also allowed Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik and former Anil minister Deshmukh, who are imprisoned in money laundering cases, to be escorted by the CBI/ED to the Assembly to cast their votes in the floor test. During the hearing on Prabhu's plea, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing him, contended that it won't be proper to have a floor test while tying the Speaker's hands and urged the court to either allow the Speaker to decide the disqualification proceedings or defer the floor test.He urged the top court to balance the equities and defer the floor test by a week, seeking either the Speaker be allowed to decide the disqualification proceedings, or to advance the hearing in the matter. Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, representing the rebel MLAs, submitted that the top court, in its judgments, had said the disqualification proceedings against the MLAs have no bearing on the floor test in the House. "We are the Shiv Sena and we represent the Shiv Sena (not the other minority)," he said, telling the court that there are 39 dissident MLAs, out of which 16 have been served with disqualification notices as he emphasised that "the dance of democracy takes place on the floor of the house". He said that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena is in a "hopeless minority within the party itself, forget the house" and submitted that the best way to prevent horse-trading is to conduct the floor test. Senior advocates Kaul and Siddharth Bhatnagar, assisted by advocates Abhikalp Pratap Singh and Utsav Trivedi, appeared for 16 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs. Senior advocate Maninder Singh represented Eknath Shinde.—IANS

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government will have to face a floor test in the Assembly scheduled on Thursday.

Maharashtra Floor Test To Go Ahead June 30, Rules SC

New Delhi (The Hawk): A meeting of the Government with Floor Leaders of all parties was held here today, a day before the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, 2022. In his opening address, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Pralhad Joshi informed that the Monsoon Session of Parliament, 2022 will commence on Monday, the 18th July, 2022 and subject to exigencies of Government Business, the session may conclude on Friday, the 12th August, 2022. The Session will provide a total of 18 sittings spread over a period of 26 days. He also informed that for this session, tentatively 32 legislative items have been identified for being taken up out of which 14 items have already been finalized.&nbsp;The Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs said that the Government is always ready to discuss on the floor of the House, any issue as permitted under Rules of Procedure by respective Presiding Officers. He also requested all party leaders for active cooperation and support for the smooth functioning of the two Houses of Parliament.&nbsp;The&nbsp;meeting was also attended by Union Minister for Commerce &amp; Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution &amp; Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal, who is also Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs &amp; Ministry of Culture Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs &amp; Ministry of External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan.Addressing the meeting, after listening to the points raised by the leaders of all parties attending, Shri Rajnath Singh, Union Minister for Defence, thanked leaders for their active and effective participation in the meeting and also expressed his appreciation that the discussion had been very healthy and that important issues had been flagged. He also stated that necessary efforts will be made by the Government to discuss the matters of urgent public importance besides the usual legislative business in Parliament.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thirty five parties which were present in the meeting, besides the BJP, were INC, DMK, AITC, YSRCP, SS, JD(U), BJD, BSP, TRS, LJSP, NCP, SP, CPI(M), IUML, TDP, Apna Dal, CPI, NPF, SAD, RLD, AAP, AJSU, AIADMK, KC(M), MNF, NDPP, RSP, VCK, RPI(A), RJD, NPP, MDMK, UPP(L), AGP and RLP.

A meeting of the Government with Floor Leaders of all parties was held here today, a day before the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, 2022. In his opening address, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Pralhad Joshi informed that the Monsoon Session of Parliament, 2022 will commence on Monday, the 18th July, 2022 and subject to exigencies of Government Business, the session may conclude on Friday, the 12th August, 2022.

Meeting Of Govt With Floor Leaders Of Political Parties Held

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Department has ordered a probe after a video clip went viral on the social media, showing chapattis meant for mid-day meal strewn on the floor and being transferred to a plastic bag.
A video is of primary school Goyla in Bakshi Ka Talab area of Lucknow.
Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Arun Kumar said he had seen the video and ordered probe. He said as per rules, the entire mid-day meal distribution was to be done under the watchful eyes of the headmaster and teachers.
The video exposes the tall claim of state basic education department of hygiene in distribution of mid-day meal in schools.
School headmistress Babita Kumari said Akshay Patra served the mid-day meal in the school.
She said there were 293 students in the school and 181 were present on Saturday and on Monday, only 169 students had turned up.
"Due to Navratri fasting, a few Class 5 students did not have meal. Also, every student does not like chapatis. They prefer tehri, vegetables, rice and pulses. So, there were excess chapatis. After mid-day meal was served, these surplus chapatis were bundled in a plastic bag to be disposed of," she said.
Block education officer Preeti Shukla who is investigating the case, said she went to the school and according to her findings, the video was of Monday.
She said it was true that the chapatis should not have been kept on the floor but they were not served to the students.
She said, "Surplus chapatis were being put in a plastic bag to be disposed of. There are complaints against the cook and her behaviour is not good. Notice has been served to her."&nbsp;
—IANS

The Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Department has ordered a probe after a video clip went viral on the social media, showing chapattis meant for mid-day meal strewn on the floor and being transferred to a plastic bag.

 Probe ordered after chapattis found strewn on floor in UP school

Lucknow (The Hawk): Lucknow police have no idea where a man who allegedly pushed a girl out of a fourth-floor apartment because she refused to convert and marry him is hiding.The police have offered a reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to the capture of Sufiyan, two days after the incident.According to Chiranjeev Nath Sinha, Additional Deputy Commissioner of the West Zone, the police have dispatched a team to New Delhi after learning that the 22-year-old accused was in contact with some businessmen there due to his occupation as a "dyer" in the textile industry."A police team also visited the home of Sufiyan's relative in Gudamba, where his father and younger brother were asked about all possible whereabouts and also for a list of their relatives living across the country," Sinha said.According to police sources, they are currently interviewing witnesses who knew both the victim and Sufiyan.However, the police have already contacted the forensics team, which will visit the scene and recreate it.Family members of the victim claimed that Sufiyan exerted intense pressure on her to convert so that the two could get married.According to police, the couple had an extramarital affair.(Inputs from Agencies)

Lucknow police have no idea where a man who allegedly pushed a girl out of a fourth-floor apartment because she refused to convert and marry him is hiding.

Absconding "love jihad" suspect has a reward out for his capture

Barcelona (US): The historical evolution of this pollution source in the sediment compartment, and particularly the sequestration and burial rate of smaller plastics"&gt;microplastics on the ocean floor, are unknown, despite the fact that the seafloor is thought to be the final sink for plastics"&gt;microplastics floating on the water's surface.
This new study, which was published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology (ES&amp;T), demonstrates that plastics"&gt;microplastics are retained unaltered in marine sediments and that the mass of plastics"&gt;microplastics trapped in the seafloor reflects the total amount of plastic produced globally between 1965 and 2016. "Specifically, the results show that, since 2000, the amount of plastic particles deposited on the seafloor has tripled and that, far from decreasing, the accumulation has not stopped growing mimicking the production and global use of these materials," explains ICTA-UAB researcher Laura Simon-Sanchez.
Researchers explain that the sediments analysed have remained unaltered on the seafloor since they were deposited decades ago. "This has allowed us to see how, since the 1980s, but especially in the past two decades, the accumulation of polyethylene and polypropylene particles from packaging, bottles and food films has increased, as well as polyester from synthetic fibres in clothing fabrics," explains Michael Grelaud, ICTA-UAB researcher.
The amount of these three types of particles reaches 1.5mg per kilogram of sediment collected, with polypropylene being the most abundant, followed by polyethylene and polyester. Despite awareness campaigns on the need to reduce single-use plastic, data from annual marine sediment records show that we are still far from achieving this. Policies at the global level in this regard could contribute to improving this serious problem.
Although smaller plastics"&gt;microplastics are very abundant in the environment, constraints in analytical methods have limited robust evidence on the levels of small plastics"&gt;microplastics in previous studies targeting marine sediment. In this study, they were characterised by applying state-of-the-art imaging to quantify particles down to 11 um in size.
The degradation status of the buried particles was investigated, and it was found that once trapped in the seafloor, they no longer degrade, either due to lack of erosion, oxygen, or light. "The process of fragmentation takes place mostly in the beach sediments, on the sea surface or in the water column. Once deposited, degradation is minimal, so plastics from the 1960s remain on the seabed, leaving the signature of human pollution there," says Patrizia Ziveri, ICREA professor at ICTA-UAB.
The investigated sediment core was collected in November 2019, on board the oceanographic vessel Sarmiento de Gamboa, in an expedition that went from Barcelona to the coast of the Ebro Delta, in Tarragona, Spain. The research group selected the western Mediterranean Sea as a study area, in particular the Ebro Delta, because rivers are recognized as hotspots for several pollutants, including plastics"&gt;microplastics. In addition, the influx of sediment from the Ebro River provides higher sedimentation rates than in the open ocean. —ANI

The historical evolution of this pollution source in the sediment compartment, and particularly the sequestration and burial rate of smaller plastics">microplastics on the ocean floor, are unknown, despite the fact that the seafloor is thought to be the final sink for plastics">microplastics floating on the water's surface.

Microplastics Deposited On Seafloor Triple In 20 Years: Research

Pilibhit: A 37-year-old man allegedly hurled his two-day-old girl child on the floor at a private maternity clinic.
The baby died instantly. The man was reportedly upset as he wanted a son after two daughters.
His wife, Shabbo Begum, filed an oral police complaint, in which she claimed that her husband used to curse her for giving birth to two daughters earlier and subjected her to cruelty. "After I gave birth to another girl child on Monday, my husband took the infant on his lap and then hurled her on the floor on Wednesday. The baby died," the wife said in her complaint.
She said the infant had some health issues and doctors advised them to shift the baby to a hospital with better medical facility, but her husband refused. Shabbo Begum, 28, had got married to Mohammad Farhan, 32, a marginal farmer, about five years ago, and stayed with their two daughters in Sirsa village under Puranpur Kotwali police station.
She alleged that when she was pregnant, her husband hit her on the abdomen several times, threatening to give her 'talaq' if she gave birth to a girl again.
Though Shabbo's mother filed a written police complaint, no FIR has been registered so far.
"The police are putting pressure on me to compromise with my husband and settle the matter," Shabbo said.
Meanwhile, Puranpur Kotwali SHO Ashutosh Raghuvanshi said the couple has settled the matter amicably, and that the wife did not want any police action in the matter.
The wife, however, refuted the SHO's claim and said she wanted her husband punished. CO Sunil Dutt said on Friday, "I will look into the matter and probe allegations levelled against the SHO. If the victim wants an FIR registered, it will be lodged." —IANS

 A 37-year-old man allegedly hurled his two-day-old girl child on the floor at a private maternity clinic

Man Kills New-Born Girl By Flinging Her On Floor

Ahmedabad: Ahmedabad, a city where time seems to stand still, boasts of rich history, culture, and architecture. Cross the Sabarmati River, and you find yourself in old Amdavad, a place where every lane whispers tales of the past. In old Amdavad more than 360 pols (housing clusters) emerge, each a unique blend of religious and caste diversity, showcasing a kaleidoscope of architectural styles. Ahmedabad's journey to UNESCO World Heritage Site status was a carefully curated process. The selection criteria for a World Heritage Site are stringent and demand exceptional cultural or natural significance. In Ahmedabad's case, it was the city's rich Indo-Islamic heritage, dating back to the 15th-17th centuries that caught the UNESCO's attention. Tombs, temples, gates, and exquisite monuments were among the treasures recognised. However, Ahmedabad's journey has not been without hurdles. Maintaining its World Heritage City status has been an ongoing challenge. UNESCO experts were initially skeptical, as the city lacked a comprehensive plan to safeguard its ancient citadels, mosques, and tombs. The city received a warning and now faces a potential review of its World Heritage status. A 2019 survey revealed that 30 per cent of the heritage properties in Ahmedabad were compromised or vulnerable. The Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC), an independent body overseeing conservation measures, raised concerns. Buildings were demolished, spots lay vacant, modern structures merged with heritage buildings, and many structures were in a poor condition. The battle to preserve this heritage is real. “Many heritage houses are in dire need of renovation, and homeowners often find themselves struggling to navigate the complexities of heritage conservation. Water leakages, crumbling walls, and sanitation issues are common problems.” said a local who has lived in old Amdavad all his life. Madhish Parikh, founder, Elixir Foundation and a dedicated advocate for Ahmedabad's heritage, expressed, "The local residents lack the necessary financial resources to undertake property restoration. The current process mandates that they initiate restoration, incur the expenses, and subsequently apply for Floor Space Index (FSI) bonds from the AMC for cost reimbursement. Individuals possessing Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) certificates receive a 20 per cent refund initially and the remaining 80 per cent upon completion of the restoration project. This intricate cycle poses a significant challenge to the preservation of Ahmedabad's precious heritage." One resident, Ramesh Shah, shares his experience: "Heritage houses demand renovation as they are old. When I wanted to renovate my house, I had no idea whom to approach. After I identified the AMC’s heritage department, I went there for over 15 days. Forget about funds for renovation, they wouldn’t even listen to me. It is my house, it demanded renovation, and so I went ahead on my own and got the repairs done." —IANS

Ahmedabad, a city where time seems to stand still, boasts of rich history, culture, and architecture. Cross the Sabarmati River

Old Amdavad: From UNESCO Recognition To Preservation Struggles

New Delhi: The chairman of the temple construction committee, Nripendra Mishra, has announced that the first floor of the three-story Ram temple in Ayodhya will be finished by the end of December and that the consecration ceremony will take place on January 22.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anticipated to attend a 'pran pratishtha'-related function on any day between January 20 and 24, he added in an interview . He claimed the Prime Minister's Office has not yet announced the final date.
Mishra added that plans call for an instrument to be built atop the temple's'shikhar' so that, once a year, on the day of Ram Navami, sunlight will shine briefly on the forehead of the god inside the sanctum sanctorum.—Inputs from Agencies

The chairman of the temple construction committee, Nripendra Mishra, has announced that the first floor of the three-story Ram temple in Ayodhya will be finished by the end of December and that the consecration ceremony will take place on January 22.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anticipated to attend a 'pran pratishtha'-related function on any day between January 20 and 24, he added in an interview . He claimed the Prime Minister's Office has not yet announced the final date.  Mishra added that plans call for an instrument to be built atop the temple's'shikhar' so that, once a year, on the day of Ram Navami, sunlight will shine briefly on the forehead of the god inside the sanctum sanctorum.

Ram temple ground floor to be completed by December-end, 'pran pratishtha' on Jan 22: Nripendra Mishra

The chairman of the temple construction committee, Nripendra Mishra, has announced that the first floor of the three-story Ram temple in Ayodhya will be finished by the end of December and that the consecration ceremony will take place on January 22.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anticipated to attend a 'pran pratishtha'-related function on any day between January 20 and 24, he added in an interview . He claimed the Prime Minister's Office has not yet announced the final date.

Mishra added that plans call for an instrument to be built atop the temple's'shikhar' so that, once a year, on the day of Ram Navami, sunlight will shine briefly on the forehead of the god inside the sanctum sanctorum.


Shamshabad: In preparation for the floor test of the Champai Soren led coalition government in Jharkhand, which is scheduled for Monday legislators from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress parties have arrived at Shamshabad airport. They have relocated from their residence in Hyderabad.  The Soren government is planning to seek a vote of confidence on February 5 at the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. This comes three days after Champai Soren took office as Chief Minister. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha holds 29 seats while its ally Congress has 17 seats. The RJD and CPI (ML) together contribute 1 seat in the 81 member Jharkhand Assembly. With a combined strength of 43 MLAs the INDIA bloc seems positioned to navigate through the upcoming floor test successfully.  In addition Congress leader Pranav Jha made allegations on Sunday claiming that the BJP has been consistently trying to destabilize their party in Jharkhand. "The Chief Minister has been given voting rights. We have than enough numbers to secure a majority. Our presence here is a measure against BJPs persistent attempts to disrupt our unity. There are threats from enforcement agencies, like ED, CBI and IT; it appears they are making efforts to disturb every opposition state " Pranav Jha informed reporters in Hyderabad. The Jharkhand governments floor test is scheduled to take place in the Assembly on Monday. This strategic move is seen as an attempt by the ruling coalition to strengthen their position and counter any attempts by the opposition party, BJP to lure away their members. The Assembly session will begin on February 5. Last for two days.  Earlier former Chief Minister Hemant Soren approached the Supreme Court to challenge his arrest. However the apex court refused to consider his plea and directed him to approach the high court instead. Soren was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Wednesday night after being questioned for six hours in connection, with a money laundering case related to a land scam. The investigation focuses on illegal funds generated through the manipulation of official records involving fraudulent sellers and buyers who used fake or forged documents to acquire valuable plots of land worth crores of rupees.
—Input from Agencies

JMM and Congress MLAs arrive at Shamshabad airport ahead of Jharkhand's critical floor test. Updates on Champai Soren's government and BJP's alleged interference.

JMM and Congress Legislators Touch Down at Shamshabad Airport Before Crucial Floor Test for Champai Soren-led Government

Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India]: Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday reached the state Assembly here to participate in the floor test of his successor Champai Soren-led government to prove their majority. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president, who was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement in an alleged land scam, has been granted permission to attend the floor test in the Assembly.
Hemant, who represents the Barhait Assembly constituency in Sahibganj district, was brought by ED to the state Assembly. The two-day special Jharkhand Assembly session begins today. The newly formed Champai Soren-led coalition government is scheduled to seek a trust vote. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has 29 seats, its ally Congress has 17 and the RJD and the CPI (ML) have 1 seat in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly. With the support of 43 MLAs, the INDIA bloc has the numbers to sail through the floor test. The legislators in the ruling alliance, who were camping at a private resort in Hyderabad after the swearing-in, also arrived at the state Assembly for the floor test. Earlier in the day, JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya expressed confidence in winning the floor test by Champai Soren-led government, and claimed that his party will get a minimum of 47 MLAs' support.
"The floor test will be done. We have, not less than 47," said JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said flashing a victory sign. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also appeared confident of the alliance securing majority on the floor of the house. Ramesh and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi are in Jharkhand as part of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. "On 28th January, Nitish Kumar resigns as CM of Bihar. On 28th January, Nitish Kumar is sworn in as CM of Bihar and given time till Feb 12 for proving his alliance's majority on the floor of the Assembly. On 31st January, Hemant Soren resigns as CM of Jharkhand. On 2nd February, Champai Soren is sworn in as CM of Jharkhand and given time till Feb 5th to prove his alliance's majority on the floor of the Jharkhand Assembly. Clearly the G-2, the PM and HM, are thinking that 'horse-trading' will be quicker in Jharkhand than in Bihar. They are in for a big shock. The INDIA group will easily win the vote of confidence today in Jharkhand and the BJP's attempts at breaking RJD and INC in Bihar will also fail miserably" Jairam Ramesh said.&nbsp;
—ANI

Former CM Hemant Soren joins floor test as Champai Soren-led government seeks trust vote.

In ED custody, former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren arrives at state Assembly for new government's floor test

Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India]: Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren moved the confidence motion in the state Assembly on Monday. Former Jharkhand Chief Minister, who was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement in the alleged land scam, Hemant Soren was also present in the Assembly to attend the floor test.
Setting off the debate on the trust motion in the 81-member Assembly, which began today, the state Chief Minister said that the Centre is misusing the agencies. "The one who is ruling the Central government misused agencies. In 2019, Hemant got the mandate. Such a Chief Minister is arrested in a land scam case," the Chief Minister said supporting his predecessor. He said in Jharkhand's history, whenever the tribals try to increase their capacity, an attempt is made to suppress their leadership.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/in-ed-custody-former-jharkhand-cm-hemant-soren-arrives-at-state-assembly-for-new-government's-floor-test" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/in-ed-custody-former-jharkhand-cm-hemant-soren-arrives-at-state-assembly-for-new-government's-floor-test</a> "Today the whole country is seeing how injustice is being done to Hemant Soren. If you go to any village, you will find Hemant Soren's schemes in every house," he added. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has 29 seats, its ally Congress has 17 and the RJD and the CPI (ML) have 1 seat in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly. With the support of 43 MLAs, the INDIA bloc has the numbers to sail through the floor test. The legislators in the ruling alliance, who were camping at a private resort in Hyderabad after the swearing-in, also arrived at the state Assembly for the floor test. Earlier in the day, during the address of the Governor CP Radhakrishnan, the MLAs of the ruling alliance shouted 'Hemant Soren Zindabad' slogans inside the House, raising the issue of the arrest of the former state Chief Minister. On the behaviour of the MLAs, the Governor after coming out of the Assembly said, "The Governor's address is prepared by the ruling side and they are shouting." Earlier in the day, JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya expressed confidence in winning the floor test by Champai Soren-led government, and claimed that his party will get a minimum of 47 MLAs' support. "The floor test will be done. We have, not less than 47," JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said flashing a victory sign.
—ANI

Jharkhand CM Champai Soren's confidence motion unfolds amid controversies. Hemant Soren's arrest, tribal issues, and political dynamics shape the intense Assembly floor test.

Jharkhand CM Champai Soren moves trust motion in Assembly, alleges Centre 'misusing' agencies

Ranchi : The Jharkhand High Court on Monday sought a reply from the Enforcement Directorate on a petition filed by former Chief Minister Hemant Soren challenging his arrest by the probe agency earlier this month in an alleged land "scam". The Court has asked the ED to file the reply by February 9. The next hearing has been put up on February 12.  The court was hearing a petition by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren who was arrested following seven hours of grilling on Wednesday evening triggering a political crisis in the state. He has been facing questions by the probe agency in a money laundering case. He has been facing questions from the probe agency in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land "scam" Following his arrest, senior JMM leader Champai Soren took oath as the Chief Minister on Friday afternoon. 
"Jharkhand High Court has sought a reply from ED on the petition filed by Hemant Soren against the arrest. HC has asked to file the reply by February 9. The next hearing is on February 12," They said. Meanwhile, Hemant Soren on Monday reached the state Assembly here to participate in the floor test of his successor Champai Soren-led government to prove their majority. Hemant, who represents the Barhait Assembly constituency in Sahibganj district, was brought by ED to the state Assembly. The two-day special Jharkhand Assembly session begins today. The newly formed Champai Soren-led coalition government is scheduled to seek a trust vote. In the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has 29 seats, its ally Congress has 17 and the RJD and the CPI (ML) have 1 seat each. With the support of 43 MLAs, the INDIA bloc has the numbers to sail through the floor test. The majority mark is 41. The INDIA bloc MLAs who were shifted to Telangana fearing alleged poaching by the BJP arrived on Sunday evening for the floor test.&nbsp;
—ANI

Jharkhand High Court queries ED on Hemant Soren's arrest in land scam. 

Jharkhand High Court seeks ED reply on Hemant Soren's plea challenging arrest; next hearing on Feb 12

Patna: Legislators have reached the Bihar Assembly ahead of the critical floor test of the Nitish Kumar government. JDU legislators were seen sporting the victory sign as they entered the house. The JDU is confident of scoring the numbers to ensure the government's survival. Amid huddles and shifting of MLAs to secure locations in the state or beyond ahead of the crucial trust vote, both the JDU-NDA alliance and the RJD party claimed to have the majority.JDU leader Neeraj Kumar said, "Majority will be in favour of NDA. No-confidence motion will be brought against the Speaker and he will have to leave the chair and the Deputy Speaker will preside over it..." Launching a veiled attack on RJD, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said, "Under the leadership of Nitish Kumar, the JDU-NDA government will prove its majority on the floor. Our numbers are going to increase. Nothing will happen no matter what the opposition does. Jungle Raj will not return to Bihar." Ahead of the Bihar floor test, RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari claimed that all the MLAs have resolved to save Bihar. "Satya pareshan ho sakta hai lekin parajit nahi...In a few hours, everything will be known...Democracy will triumph. All the MLAs have made a resolution to save Bihar and its future and for that, the current government needs to be removed from power," the RJD leader said. RJD MLA Bhai Virendra said, "Yes, we have (majority mark). I have all the numbers...We will be ahead in the floor test..." The trust vote follows after Nitish took the oath as the chief minister of Bihar for the record ninth time after ditching its alliance with the RJD and forming a government with the BJP. Meanwhile, a heavy security cordon was thrown around the Bihar Vidhan Sabha, ahead of the floor test of the NDA government on Monday led by CM Nitish Kumar. Rajeev Mishra, SSP Patna said, "Security arrangements have been made in view of the assembly session today. Today is the first day of the session. Whatever happens inside the House, we have nothing to do with it, they have their personnel who make the arrangements for the security inside the House." Earlier in January, Nitish, who had reportedly gone into a sulk after not being named the convenor of INDIA, the Opposition bloc that took shape through his efforts, dumped the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in Bihar and the national coalition to form a new government with the support of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Putting to rest frenzied speculations around his future and that of the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, Nitish resigned as chief minister on January 28, his second volte face in less than 18 months. The JD(U) has 45 MLAs in the House of 243 while its partners, the BJP and the Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S), have 79 and 4 sitting legislators respectively. With the support of another Independent MLA, the NDA has 128 MLAs in the House against 115 of the Mahagathbandhan. To go past the majority mark in the House, the ruling alliance needs 122 votes.
—ANI

Bihar Assembly braces for a crucial floor test. JDU-NDA alliance confident, RJD asserts majority. Security beefed up. Latest updates on political developments.

Legislators reach Bihar Vidhan Sabha ahead of trust vote of Nitish government

Patna: The NDA government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday won the Bihar floor test after it secured the support of 129 MLAs who voted in favour of the NDA alliance. The vote of confidence took place amid a walk out staged by the Opposition as cross voting happened when three Rashtriya Janata Dal MLAs also voted in support of Nitish Kumar. The coalition government won the floor test with a 129 majority. The Deputy Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly Maheshwar Hazari asked the members of the House who were in favour of the motion to stand at their places. "(A total of) 129 votes have been received in favour of the motion. There were zero votes against the motion. Thus, this House passes the trust vote," the Speaker said on Monday. Three Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLAs -Chetan Anand, Neelam Devi, and Prahlad Yadav went and joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the State Assembly. On three RJD MLAs moving to the NDA side, RJD leader Bhai Virendra said that the public will not make them MLAs again. While addressing the Assembly, Nitish Kumar took a swipe at his former Mahagathbandhan ally Rashtriya Janata Dal and said that the latter indulged in "corrupt practices" during its rule in the eastern state. He also said that the current NDA government would initiate a probe into these practices. Earlier, the Bihar assembly passed the no-confidence motion against Bihar Assembly Speaker and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Awadh Bihari Choudhary ahead of the floor test of the Nitish Kumar government to prove its majority. During the no-confidence motion, 125 members voted in favour of the resolution brought by the ruling alliance and 112 against. RJD MLAs Chetan Anand, Neelam Devi and Prahlad Yadav were seen sitting on the treasury benches in the Bihar Assembly causing a jolt to the Opposition. Reacting to this, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said "MLAs should sit on their respective seats till the end of voting, otherwise voting will be considered invalid." Nitish Kumar had reportedly gone into a sulk after not being named the convenor of INDIA, the Opposition bloc that took shape through his efforts. He resigned as chief minister on January 28, his second volte face in less than 18 months. The JD(U) has 45 MLAs in the House of 243 while its partners, the BJP and the Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S), have 79 and four legislators respectively. The NDA has the support of 128 MLAs and the majority mark in the state assembly is 122.
—ANI

 Bihar floor test where NDA secured 129 votes, including support from RJD MLAs, ensuring Nitish Kumar's government's victory.

Nitish Kumar wins floor test with support from 129 MLAs; opposition walks out

New York Republican George Santos announced Thursday that he would make another run for a New York House seat after being expelled by his colleagues in December.
The indicted former congressman, who attended Thursday’s State of the Union address, plans to run against Nick LaLota for New York’s 1st District. He had previously represented the 3rd District.  “After a lot of prayer and conversation with my friends and family, I have made a very important decision that will shake things up,” Santos said on the social media site X. “Tonight, I want to announce that I will be returning to the arena of politics and challenging Nick.”  Santos posted the news during President Joe Biden’s speech.  LaLota, sitting on the House floor with other New York Republicans, looked at his phone at one point during the speech and then looked to the back of the room where Santos was standing. LaLota and fellow Republican Mike Lawler shared a laugh.
The House in December voted 311-114 to remove Santos, surpassing the two-thirds majority required by the Constitution to oust a member of Congress. It was his critics’ third try to expel him, with many Republicans who had previously blocked the move switching sides after an Ethics Committee investigation substantiated new allegations of theft and deceit.  Santos’ expulsion marked the climax of a political saga that raised questions about how a serial fabricator of tall tales could get elected to federal office with little vetting by political parties or the media.  “To raise the standard in Congress, and to hold a pathological liar who stole an election accountable, I led the charge to expel George Santos,” LaLota said in a statement shortly after Santos’s announcement. “If finishing the job requires beating him in a primary, count me in.”  LaLota, who was first elected in 2022, became one of Santos’ fiercest detractors and helped introduce an expulsion resolution.  The 1st District on eastern Long Island includes the wealthy summer resorts of the Hamptons and Shelter Island. It’s unclear if Santos has moved to the area, but one of his former Republican colleagues, Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado, has switched districts for the 2024 election.
—Bloomberg

Expelled NY congressman George Santos announces a political comeback, challenging Nick LaLota for the 1st District.

The Hawk

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