- 5 months ago
The DMK has declined to attend the INDIA bloc meeting on June 8, citing a rift with Congress and demanding separate seating in the Lok Sabha.
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00:02Hello and welcome. You're watching Super 6 with me, Sueisha Savantar. Focus this evening.
00:07Anna Malai is all set to resign. Yes, that is what sources are saying. In fact, today is his birthday
00:11and tomorrow is when he will put down his resignation. Now, point also is what will he
00:17do after this? Will he float a solo party? Will this be a successful experiment? We'll get you
00:23all the details on Super 6 this evening. First, a quick check of the headlines we're tracking for
00:28you at this time. Delhi fire tragedy villain Lafkesh Bajaj sent to four-day remand. Court
00:38says Lafkesh's arrest lawful and justified. Cops highlight gross negligence by accused in the
00:44court. Rekha government swings into action. Properties violating norms to be sealed. 18
00:55properties already identified. Rekha Gupta visits Max Hospital, announces 10 lakh extra share for the
01:01kin of deceased.
01:09Delimitation push 2.0 in Parliament. Sources say government is in talks with TMC and DMK MPs
01:15for building consensus and may bring the delimitation bill back during monsoon session.
01:27Another TMC, Neta, dumps party. Bidana Mayer resigns from her post. Earlier, 60 TMC MLAs opened
01:36rebellion against Didi and Abhishek. Rebel Camp claims more TMC MLAs will soon dump Didi.
01:44There are more MLAs who are contacting us. They are also wanting to join this block which
01:50is recognised as the Thinamul block in the legislative assembly. Past one month, we have
01:56not seen a direction which should come from a leader.
02:02Neat aspirin dies by suicide after depression over paper. Leak leaves behind heart-breaking
02:07suicide note. Says don't have courage to take knee exams again.
02:19Kerala Islamist Jim Sparks Outreach. Shocking regressive diktat for Palakar Jim. Women must wear hijab.
02:26Men and women cannot work out together. Separate timings for women.
02:54And first up, we cut across to breaking news coming in on how the DMK has refused to attend the
02:59Indie
03:00block party meeting that is to happen on the 8th of June. This is the latest that has just come
03:05in
03:05after the DMK has miffed with the Congress. DMK has refused to attend the meeting that is to happen
03:12on the 8th of June because the Congress will be in attendance. The DMK making it amply clear that
03:20they are not okay with the Congress and for the very reason they have backed out on the Indie meeting
03:26that is to happen on the 8th of June. Cutting across to Pramod Madhav, joining us on the broadcast
03:30with further details on what the DMK has said on this issue. Whether any of the other parties trying
03:36to convince the DMK to come for this meeting and they could change their mind. What more are you
03:40picking up from your sources?
03:44Suisha, one thing is very clear. Until now, DMK considers Congress as betrayers and backstabbers
03:49because it has been made very clear by the leader of the opposition, Rudi Stalin, and even also
03:53the former chief minister and DMK president, M.K. Stalin. In fact, it was us, India, today
03:57to the home, TK Sulangoon, the organization secretary, during the first meeting of the MLAs
04:01very clearly said that there is not going to be any kind of Indie alliance anymore. And
04:05right now, that seems to be the reflection from the statement where it very clearly says
04:09that Congress is going to participate on this June 8th Indie alliance. DMK, whose cadres
04:15are completely hurt by what Congress has done. DMK will not participate. Even though DMK has
04:20been the flag bearer of Indie alliance, this is how the statement actually gives a clarification
04:24on this particular matter. But it looks like, Suisha, there are high chances of TVK to participate
04:28in this particular Indie alliance with an invitation from Congress party. So that could be also
04:33a probable reason that DMK want to stay away from this particular meeting.
04:37That will be a very interesting turn of events, Pramodh, given the fact that DMK backing out,
04:44but TVK may just participate in this meeting. But with regards to the DMK, where do they stand
04:49even when it comes to the Indie alliance? Because they are an important part of this grouping.
04:54And the fact that they are backing out, probably the other regional leaders who can convince
05:00the DMK to come back.
05:03Suisha, one thing is very certain. DMK says that whatever the issues that has been discussed
05:08for the national matters and all the kind of issues that is being raised by other parties
05:12in the Indie alliance, DMK will support it. But for a very particular reason, especially
05:17about not hurting the DMK cadres about what Congress has done, that seems to be the only reason.
05:23For now, DMK is giving as a reason for not participating in this Indie alliance, Suisha.
05:29Oh yes, absolutely, Pramodh. And the DMK saying that they will not be a part of this meeting,
05:35but would be even more interesting to watch whether it is just about this meeting, or
05:40is the DMK sending out a straight up message that they are backing out of the Indie alliance?
05:45Very unlikely chances that that may happen. But of course, you never know what tomorrow
05:50is, if you can throw light on that.
05:56Well, Suisha, if you have to make it very clear, DMK is not at all happy with what Congress
06:01has done, even though Congress time and again has said that they have only tried to support
06:04the people's mandate and such. Like earlier, DMK said that be it CPI, CPM, VCK or IUML,
06:10they actually went ahead and discussed with DMK's leader, MK Stalin, and only then decided
06:15to give external support and such. Even in his recent speech, DMK Stalin said that while all these parties
06:20did so, it was the Congress, which did not even have the courtesy to come and meet them.
06:25And until now, no nethers from Congress have met them. However, Manikam Thakur tried to give
06:29a different explanation stating that on 4th itself, when the results were being announced,
06:33DMK and AIDMK were holding talks apparently to go ahead and form a government. And that is the reason
06:38Congress did not meet with the leaders of DMK. So is it fair kind of explanation or such?
06:43Because very clearly, a lot of things had to be made clear on this particular matter. But that seems to
06:48be one
06:49reason given by Congress. Yesterday, during the birthday of, birth anniversary of
06:53Karuna Nidhi, actually Rahul Gandhi went ahead and he put a tweet on, a post on X app,
06:59actually praising Karuna Nidhi. So it looks like in one way or the other, Congress definitely
07:03wants DMK to be a part of the Indy Alliance. However, it looks like DMK wants to stay back
07:09considering the present situation for Asia. Exactly what I was just about to mention, Pramod,
07:13that Rahul Gandhi and Malika Arjun Kharge really in that move to try and better ties with the DMK. And
07:21that
07:21is exactly how it is being projected. But the DMK sending out that message there that we are not
07:25okay with what the Congress has done. And we will not attend that meeting on the 8th of June. I
07:30request
07:30you to stay on with us as we cut across to more news coming in.
07:37Yes, the DMK's big decision. The DMK's clear message. The DMK mincing no words there. But the DMK
07:45saying it out that they are not okay with what the Congress has done as far as their alliance was
07:51concerned. The Congress went on to join hands with the DMK. The TVK, I beg your pardon. And that is
07:56something that has miffed the DMK. Mr. Sarwanan is with us on the phone line. Very good evening to you,
08:00Mr. Sarwanan. What's the message that you're trying to put out by not being a part of the
08:07Indy meeting on the 8th of June?
08:11We are saying that the Congress cannot be believed. Congress are not trustworthy partners. They are
08:17backstabbers. That is the message we want to send out. But still, still, our leader has made it very,
08:23very clear that we will take into account what the other leaders are saying, what is the view of the
08:32other leaders with regard to the future conduct and future course of action. This is the message our leader
08:39wants to send. And it is the DMK, which was the fulcrum of this alliance. And it is our leader.
08:47It is the
08:47DMK party, which fought cases, which was spearheading all the issues, which was concerning the entire
08:56country. And that is what it is. But Mr. Sarwanan, is it only about this particular meeting? Or is the
09:02DMK trying to say that you will not be a part of the Indy bloc at all? That's what we'll
09:08have to wait. We'll
09:09have to wait and see how things pan out. This is with regard to the report or the statement is
09:16very,
09:16very clear. This is about the meeting on the 8th.
09:19What if the Congress reaches out and tries to mend ties with you and says that, okay, what
09:23has happened has happened. Please leave it in the past. But that does not mean that the India
09:27bloc on the whole is impacted.
09:31Can we speak on hypothetical issues? We will cross the bridge.
09:38I'm just saying that if that happens, what will the DMK's position be if the other regional
09:42leaders reach out to you to say that do not impact the India bloc because of this?
09:48See, see, see, see, in politics, we should never speak on hypothetical issues. Politics is
09:55about reality. So let's concentrate on reality. This is the reality. We are not there on the
10:018th. So we will stop it there.
10:04All right, sir. I just want to get your response on what happened when Rahul Gandhi and Malik
10:08Arjun Kharge also were part of Karna Nidhi's anniversary, birth anniversary. And that's the
10:13clear message that the Congress is trying to send out because that's the way it is being
10:16looked at, that they are trying to mend ties with you. What has happened is certainly not
10:21gone down well with the DMK, but the Congress may be trying to mend ties.
10:25See, see, that's what our leader, Dr. Kalanger, has a great personality, if not for him. Congress
10:34could not have even imagined coming to power in 2004. He was the chief architect of the
10:42UPA, probably because of that. And the great leader Kalanger is, they have paid tributes. We
10:49should stop it there. We should not further speculate on that.
10:55All right. All right. I take your word on that. I want to thank you for speaking to India today
10:58this evening. And we got across to more breaking news coming in, in fact, in this connection,
11:05where the DMK has not just made this decision as far as the India block meeting is concerned. But
11:12according to sources, DMK has also requested for a separate seating block in the Lok Sabha,
11:17distinct from that of the Congress, so that they are not seated next to the Congress. And this has been
11:23approved. On behalf of the DMK, Kani Moe had written to the Congress regarding the seating
11:28arrangements within the Lok Sabha block. And according to sources, the Ministry of Parliamentary
11:32Affairs has apprised the Lok Sabha Speaker of the DMK's sentiments and demands. The final
11:37decision regarding the proposed changes to the seating arrangement will be taken by the Lok Sabha
11:42Speaker, of course. But according to sources, DMK may be shifted to the third block. And that is where the
11:51Trinamul Congress MPs sit under the proposed reshuffle. Front row seat number 354, that is
11:57currently allotted to Abhishek Banerjee, could be assigned to DMK leader TR Balu. Meanwhile,
12:02TMC is likely to be relocated to the section where the DMK MPs currently sit. So let me take this
12:09back
12:09to my colleague, Pramod Madhav, who is with us on the broadcast. Pramod, so it is not just about the
12:15India block meeting, but it is also about making it fair and square for the DMK where they say that
12:22we will not even sit with the Congress MPs in the Lok Sabha. We want a different seating and sources
12:28saying that that demand has been accepted.
12:33Actually, almost two weeks ago, it was actually the DMK MP and Deputy General Secretary of the
12:36Party, Kani Mari, who went and wrote this particular letter, sequesting a different seating from there.
12:40And it looks like it has been now uprooted. It actually very clearly shows the kind of, you know,
12:44it should be called as enmity or kind of bitterness between the two parties right now, especially while
12:50Congress has not strongly reacted to this matter. In fact, even Girish Chodhanka, while speaking to us,
12:54he very clearly said that they have only accepted the mandate of the people and nothing else. But
12:58DMK is not letting it go that easy. DMK has very clearly is now painting Congress as backstabbers
13:03and betrayers. And that's how that that's what you could see reflecting even in the parliament
13:08right now, Suisha.
13:09All right, Pramod, I request you to stay on with us. Back to back news coming in from the state
13:14of
13:14Tamil Nadu. In fact, BJP leader Anna Malai, who's back in the spotlight amid fresh political
13:19speculation. It's a big India Today news break because sources say that Anna Malai is set to quit the
13:24BJP tomorrow. Earlier, there were reports that he could announce his decision on his birthday,
13:29which is today. However, top sources now indicate that the former Tamil Nadu BJP chief may formally
13:35resign tomorrow. Anna Malai is expected to breathe the media tomorrow. This is just two days after
13:41the meeting that had happened with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, where he had said that he would
13:46take a decision soon. Now, the big question also is, will Anna Malai go solo? Will he launch a new
13:52political venture? And if that happens, is it a big risk? Will this experiment succeed? There have been
13:58persistent reports that Anna Malai is planning to float his own political party, though there has been no
14:04official confirmation so far on it.
14:08And in fact, why does Anna Malai matter to the BJP so much? Will it be a sort of the
14:14setback? Because BJP had
14:16certainly seen greater visibility in the state of Tamil Nadu thanks to Anna Malai. There was grassroots
14:23mobilization in Tamil Nadu. In fact, the padhiyatra that was led by Anna Malai had hugely helped the BJP
14:30make inroads in the state of Tamil Nadu. First, BJP leader that Anna Malai was with such cult following
14:37because BJP had not seen this kind of a presence before Anna Malai so much so that he had even
14:43taken on the
14:43AIDMK. But later, of course, things changed. Anna Malai, who had also held the BJP's base in Kongu Belt. And
14:51remember, that was certainly not an easy challenge. Anna Malai, who is the gateway for the BJP to South India
14:57expansion. And if he does sever ties, if he does change his path from the BJP, then how is it
15:05to impact the BJP will be
15:07interesting to watch? Let me take this back to my colleague, Pramod, who continues to stay with us on the
15:11broadcast.
15:12Pramod, is it confirmed? Will Anna Malai finally put down his papers tomorrow? Because he's saying that he will
15:18brief the media. He will let everyone know of his plans.
15:23So, Isha, let me put it this way. When he left from Chennai to Delhi, we put forward this particular
15:27question and
15:28all he said that I will respond in two days. It's been more than two days right now. And it
15:32looks like all
15:32kind of efforts have been taken by the BJP to retain Anna Malai. The important aspect here is that, like,
15:37even
15:37before this could happen, post the elections, there were two Central Committee meetings that were conducted in
15:41Tamil Nadu, especially one at Coimbatore. And being from Coimbatore, the belt, Anna Malai did not attend it. He was
15:47in
15:47different, you know, different nations at that point. And then later, there was a kind of a rumour about him
15:51starting his own party and even, kind of, like, work initiated to actually get office bearers, including
15:57General Secretary, Treasurer and such. We also have that pamphlet with us. And then there was posters about a kind
16:01of
16:01like fan club that's coming up for Anna Malai, called as Anna Malai Anbukutam. Even amidst all these developments,
16:07Anna Malai did not respond to any of this particular, you know, be it rumours or be it, like, reality
16:11and such. He only said that he's
16:13going to go to Delhi and in two days, he will respond. And that is why this particular issue came
16:17up really
16:18big. And even now, as we speak, clarity will be only provided by either tonight or tomorrow. We are
16:23expecting Anna Malai to return tomorrow to Chennai and probably give us proper details about it. However,
16:28the State President, Naina Nagantan, very clearly says that he has not spoken about starting his own party
16:33with anybody, nor he has given any kind of resignation to him so far.
16:38So, it will be interesting to watch what really happens tomorrow. Pramod, I request you to stay
16:42on with us because a lot of incidents that miffed Anna Malai that is probably driving him to this
16:50decision. Now, you would remember how he was removed as the Tamil Nadu BJP President and that certainly was
16:55a setback for him. The role of him that was reduced in favour of EPS because there was a point
17:03when he had
17:03even raised his voice against the AIDMK. And while the BJP had sort of sidelined the AIDMK for a while
17:10in order to favour Anna Malai, but eventually things changed and that did not go down well with him.
17:15Also, he was unhappy with the AIDMK realignment. He did raise that internally, but not much happened on
17:22that front because the BJP realised that they do need the AIDMK as their ally. And Anna Malai's limited role
17:30after his exit as State Chief. As much as he kept on putting up a strong face to say that
17:36he is very
17:36much a BJP man, but certainly did not go down well with him. And all these reasons that may just
17:43lead
17:43to his exit from the BJP. Let me also take this to my colleague Piyush Mishra, who's joining us on
17:50the
17:50broadcast. Piyush, important to see what happens next because as far as Anna Malai is concerned, the BJP did
17:57see inroads in the state of Tamil Nadu. Thanks to him, he has been their star person, but he has
18:02also
18:02been sidelined at the same time. Tomorrow is when sources say he will put down his papers.
18:07Will he float his own party? What more are you picking up?
18:11Well, that's right. So, Asha, sources have confirmed to us that Anna Malai is likely to, you know,
18:17put down his papers tomorrow from the BJP. Remember that he has had multiple rounds of
18:22discussions with the top leadership of BJP, with the B.L. Sato, Shomrastamit Shah, with the BJP's
18:28international president, Nitin Nabeen. And after these discussions, Anna Malai is most likely going to reach
18:35Tamil Nadu tomorrow. And he is also likely to hold a press conference where he will be announcing his
18:41next course of action. And during that press conference, what we're told is that he is going
18:45to resign as a BJP leader. As of now, he has not submitted a resignation letter to any BJP leader.
18:52He is still a BJP leader from the state of Tamil Nadu. Yes, he had some sort of reservations over
18:59aligning with AIA-DMK. In fact, AIA-DMK was also not happy with Anna Malai because he was making
19:06personal comments against Jayarita, following which we also saw the kind of tassel which, you know,
19:11grew up there in Tamil Nadu between BJP and AIA-DMK. And after that, Anna Malai was removed from the
19:17post
19:17of the state president. In the last one year, he was also given a major responsibility in campaigning,
19:23in the seat alignment, and also the decision of candidates. So now, Anna Malai feels that if he
19:30throws his own party, then he will be able to make inroads into the state politics. And he will also
19:37have an edge in the state. And that's why he wants to part his ways with BJP. Sources are also
19:42telling us
19:43that BJP did try to pacify Anna Malai and sources. Top leadership within the BJP are also telling us
19:50that, you know, the leaders tried to speak to him and tried to, you know, request him to hold a
19:58few
19:58more days. But now it seems like Anna Malai has decided to go on his own way to part ways
20:05with BJP.
20:05And that's why most likely he's going to do a press conference tomorrow and resign from
20:09Bharatiya in the party.
20:11Oh, yes, absolutely. And we wait and watch. And what happens on that front, Piyush,
20:14would also be important to see whether he's settled his terms with the BJP or there's
20:18any bad blood if he does put down his papers. I want to thank you for getting us those details.
20:23We now cut across to more breaking news coming in.
20:28Yes, this is over the Mekatatu issue where the Congress has now taken on the Karnataka leaders.
20:37In fact, Manikam Tagore, who said that Karnataka politicians are using this whenever they face a water
20:44problem in the state, they go on to target Tamil Nadu, be it Yaira Rapa, be it Shiv Kumar.
20:51He's saying that for us, let them talk to their politics, but Congress party will never give up on their
20:57rights of Tamil Nadu.
20:58We are ready to pay any price. That's the word coming in from Manikam Tagore, where it is clearly the
21:04Congress
21:04versus Congress on the issue of Mekatatu. Let's listen in to that statement.
21:13We are on the—
21:17We come to each other's members of the Congress, so we are on the machine.
21:32We are all the people who are here.
21:35We are one of the most important people in Tamil Nadu.
21:39It's important to know that these people are coming from the Karnawada.
21:41They are coming from the Karnawada.
21:44It's about their graduation and the Kshwakumar.
21:49They are all the best decisions for the Karnawada.
21:54If you have any foreign people in Bengal,
21:57if you are not a foreign person,
21:58we will just put them in the first place.
22:02The majority of them will not talk about the people,
22:07but they will not talk about the people.
22:08But the Tamil Nadu and the Tamil Nadu
22:10will be a congressman for the whole time.
22:12So, they will be prepared for this.
22:16Cutting across to my colleague, Pramod Madhar,
22:18who continues to stay with us on the broadcast.
22:20Pramod, you know, for many, this can also be confusing.
22:22Why is it that Manikam Tagovar is taking on his own people
22:25in the state of Karnadaka,
22:26given that this is the first day of DKS as Chief Minister,
22:29and he has literally categorized them,
22:31saying that be it Yarurapa or D.K. Shivkumar,
22:34but, you know, Karnadaka politicians just use that as an excuse,
22:38and we are not going to give up on our rights in Tamil Nadu.
22:42Actually, yes, Svesha, because Megatada is close to 100 kilometres
22:45from Bangalore district and Bangalore city,
22:48and, you know, every time there is an issue of water shortage over there,
22:51that particular issue is raised,
22:52and close to 47 TMC water, that could be actually stored from there,
22:55could be brought in.
22:56That was the earlier plan, and this is where Manikam Tagovar is very clearly saying
22:59that, like, that water belongs to the state of Tamil Nadu,
23:01and without the permission of Tamil Nadu, it cannot be done.
23:03The important issue here is that, be it BJP or DMK,
23:06these parties started targeting TBK over this particular issue,
23:10and now it looks like Manikam Tagovar has come for the defence,
23:13very clearly stating that, like, no matter what the price is,
23:16they are ready to pay, but not even a brick could be kept in this Megatada issue.
23:21That's how he wants to make it very clear, and it is very strange,
23:24just like you very clearly said, he is actually equating Yedirapa and D.K. Shukmar claiming
23:28that whenever there is an issue of water shortage in Bengaluru,
23:31to divert the situation, Megatada is being used, Svesha.
23:35Very interesting, Pramod, and we will watch on the other responses
23:39that come in from the Congress on this one,
23:41whether D.K. Shukmar actually responds to what Manikam Tagovar has said.
23:45I want to thank you for getting us those details,
23:47because in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, this becomes a big issue,
23:52especially after the new leaderships that have taken place,
23:55the heat over the Megatada project that has reignited.
23:58Now, TVK has come to power, promising to its people
24:01that they will stand for the Megatada issue.
24:04This is one of the key commitments that has been made
24:07to protect the interests of Tamil Nadu farmers.
24:10D.K. Shukummar, on the other hand, a strong supporter of the Megatada project,
24:14is now at the helm in Karnataka.
24:16Vijay, remember, is still new to governance,
24:18and that is where people have their doubts,
24:20because they say, will Vijay really fight for this issue?
24:23Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu that fear that TVK government
24:26may struggle to take on Karnataka over this issue,
24:29especially the DMK that has already targeted Vijay for not speaking up on this matter.
24:34The party has said that it has always been clear in its opposition to the Megatada project
24:38and alleged that Vijay may eventually give in to Karnataka's demands.
24:42The BJP has notched up this attack.
24:45They have attacked Vijay, saying that Vijay is friendly with Rahul Gandhi.
24:50They have also referred to the selfie that he took with Rahul Gandhi,
24:52and the party is claiming that Rahul Gandhi is more likely to side with Karnataka,
24:56because that is where their government is than Tamil Nadu on this issue.
25:00BJP has said that Vijay must act to protect the interests of the people of Tamil Nadu or step down.
25:07I have one question about this Megatada issue right now.
25:10It is once again growing up.
25:11What is DMK going to do about this?
25:12DMK is very clear on Megatada's issue.
25:14Our incoming Chief Minister has cleverly said that.
25:17DMK is a strong party.
25:18We were quite decisive that our Megatadas were in power.
25:21Now they are not in power, so it's easy for us.
25:23So our neighbouring Chief Minister is a Congress alliance partner with TVK.
25:27I think this alliance partner, Congress, incoming Chief Minister has to reply to the Honourable Chief Minister.
25:34You are calling us as baggage.
25:35Yeah, dead baggage.
25:36You are calling Congress as a dead baggage.
25:38I think now TVK leader and the present Chief Minister will understand that.
25:42After hugging Rahul Gandhi and adorning him on stage in your swearing and ceremony,
25:47it is ridiculous or even people, you can't take people for granted.
25:51You know, people are watching, people do come to understand that you are in alliance with the Congress,
25:55which is in power, which is fighting for its Chief Minister's post in Karnataka,
26:00how to make the CM and all.
26:01The Chief Minister who is supposed to be coming and seems to be very adamant on Megatada being built.
26:05Now you should be visiting Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi and talking to them and telling them,
26:10Listen, I have given your party a life in Tamil Nadu.
26:12For the first time in almost decades, your party has been given a ministerial birth by me.
26:17So you better make sure that there is no dam being built across Megatada affecting the farmers of Tamil Nadu.
26:23If you do not even have the guts to do that,
26:25I think it is time Vijay steps down and gives the position to someone else in his party who is
26:30capable.
26:37And we cut across to more breaking news coming in.
26:39The first day of DKS Sarkara and trouble has already begun as part of his cabinet where Ramalinga Reddy has
26:46put his foot down.
26:47He said that he will not accept any other ministry except for the Bangalore Development Ministry.
26:53Now remember, he was being offered the Irrigation Ministry.
26:56But he has said that come what may, he will not budge from his demand.
27:00He will only go in for the Bangalore Development Ministry.
27:04Now, whether DKS will concede into his demand would be interesting to watch.
27:08But remember, today being the first day of DKS government where he has made a slew of promises to people
27:13to say that he will better their lives.
27:16And while the BJP has taken on DKS, but here as far as his cabinet is concerned, as far as
27:23his close aides and his key team is concerned,
27:26Ramalinga Reddy, who has said that he will not budge from his demand.
27:30He has demanded the post of, or rather the Ministry of Bangalore Development.
27:36And this as he was being offered the Irrigation Ministry in the state of Karnataka.
27:40Let me take this to my colleague Apoorva, joining us on the broadcast with further details of what Ramalinga Reddy
27:46is demanding
27:46and how likely it is that his demand will be accepted.
27:56Well, in fact, Suresha, we had gone ahead and also questioned Ramalinga Reddy on what his thoughts were,
28:02given that there has been an allocation that was tentative for him for irrigation.
28:07And now what we are getting to learn is that sources do tell us Ramalinga Reddy does not want to
28:13budge on his demands there.
28:16He has, in fact, gone ahead and also directly informed the Karnataka chief minister putting his foot down,
28:21saying he will not go ahead and accept any other ministry other than the Bangalore Development Ministry.
28:27That's what we are getting to learn.
28:29Earlier this morning, when we questioned Ramalinga Reddy, he had very categorically stated no comments.
28:35I am not going to speak anything on this, but now sources do tell us later by this evening there
28:40has been a development
28:41wherein now Ramalinga Reddy has put his foot down, saying he will want no other portfolio other than that of
28:48Bangalore Development.
29:00And we are now shifting our focus to the state of West Bengal where more breaking news coming in.
29:05Trouble that is mounting for Mamata Banerjee with every passing day.
29:09While her team is on damage control mode when it comes to the implosion within the TNC.
29:14And they had also gone on to say that Rita Brata will be expelled from the TNC.
29:21Seems like that is not a possibility now.
29:23So much so that Mamata Banerjee along with her key aides is trying to explore the legal route to have
29:30Rita Brata expelled from the party.
29:34As he has said that he is the new LOP, he has said that he has 60 signatures with him.
29:39He has said that while he is not against Mamata Banerjee and he would want her to continue as the
29:44chief advisor of the party.
29:46But he claims that he is the new boss of TNC.
29:49And while Mamata Banerjee and her key aides are trying that this should not happen, they are now resorting to
29:55the legal route.
29:55Let me take this to my colleague Inrajeet Kundu joining us on the broadcast with further details of what the
30:01TNC is trying to do.
30:02And is it legally possible to have him expelled? Because it seems like it is not.
30:10Well, you know, as far as the Bengal speaker is concerned, he has now spoken out for the very first
30:15time since the dramatic development that took place in the West Bengal Assembly yesterday.
30:19Speaker Ratindra Bose is currently in Delhi and he has spoken out there and he was specifically asked about the
30:26entire fiasco because the Trinamul Congress claims that Rito Brata Banerjee and Sandeepan Sahab, both of them have been expelled
30:33from the party.
30:33So, therefore, they cannot be Rito Brata Banerjee cannot claim to be the LOP of the Trinamul Congress.
30:42This question was asked to the speaker today and the speaker has clarified.
30:46He said that the process in which Rito Brata Banerjee was expelled from the Trinamul Congress is not valid.
30:53It's not legal because he says that according to the constitution of the Trinamul Congress, the rule is that first
31:00there has to be a show course notice that has to be issued to a person.
31:04And then once that reply comes, only then, then the party can take a decision to expel someone.
31:10Here, in this case, that was not followed.
31:13Now, there's no clarity on part from the Trinamul Congress.
31:16We'll have to wait and see what kind of reaction comes in, whether they buy this argument.
31:21But speaker has made it clear why he took the decision, the one that he took yesterday,
31:27that unprecedented decision in which the speaker rejected the nomination of Shobun Dev Chatterjee,
31:34who was nominated by Mamata Banerjee's party and Amishek Banerjee had signed that letter.
31:39Instead, there were these rebel MLAs together regrouped in the assembly floor
31:44and they have sent out a letter to the speaker saying that we've got support of two-thirds of the
31:5080 MLAs,
31:52newly inducted Trinamul Congress MLAs, and we have chosen Rito Brata Banerjee.
31:56So, he would be our leader of the opposition and the speaker accepted it.
32:00And therefore, Rito Brata Banerjee was, you know, he takes over, he took over officially
32:06as the leader of the opposition in West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
32:11Right.
32:11So, the speaker has now clarified that is the speaker's position.
32:15Oh yes, absolutely. And trouble certainly mounting for Mamata Banerjee,
32:19who is already battling an unprecedented revolt within the TMC
32:23after the party's electoral drubbing in West Bengal.
32:26After 58 of the TMC's 80 MLAs broke ranks and formed a separate camp,
32:31fresh concerns are now emerging for the party leadership in Delhi.
32:34There is growing buzz that a section of TMC MPs could be looking for the exit door.
32:39Among them is Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, a veteran TMC leader,
32:43Rajya Sabha MP and one of the most trusted aides of Didi.
32:47In an exclusive conversation with India today,
32:50Roy claimed that several TMC MPs were considering switching to the BJP.
32:54He has also openly said that there is growing discontent within the party
32:59and he explained why many leaders are now feeling increasingly alienated from both Didi and Bhaipo.
33:11In a few days, in a few days, in a few days,
33:13the people and the people have been saying that they have opened the gate
33:13and they have opened the gate.
33:15They have been lined up here.
33:18They have made separate blocks.
33:20So is this happening in the sun?
33:24Tell us about the people and the king.
33:25This is now the time I've heard.
33:31In a few days, the situation is going to be repeated in the Bengal situation.
33:40In a few days, you have to wait a few days.
33:45I said before that the party is over.
33:48The party will be disintegrated like a house of cards.
33:53And that's the same thing. That's the same thing.
33:57So how much time will this happen?
34:00You have 29 seconds. What are you listening to?
34:03How much time will this happen?
34:0428 seconds.
34:0528 seconds.
34:09What's going to happen? What are you listening to?
34:11Do you still have a majority in the party?
34:14Majority is going to happen.
34:20This is a big assumption.
34:21Is that the majority will happen?
34:23Majority will happen.
34:25And in the Raja Sabha?
34:26In the Raja Sabha, there is no relationship to the Raja Sabha.
34:30There is no relationship to the Raja Sabha.
34:41So you can have a question on the Raja Sabha.
34:42Then there is a question on your too.
34:43What will your future happen?
34:45What are you going to do?
34:46Look, I'm not with mentally with the party.
34:50You are not with mentally with the party?
34:51Yes, I am with mentally with the party.
34:53I am physically.
34:56I am physically.
34:56In the Raja Sabha, I am mentally.
34:58I am physically not.
35:00I am emotionally grateful to people.
35:08But our government,
35:13either of us could understand or not understand.
35:17Or understand or not understand.
35:22Whether our government could understand,
35:24neither understand, but understand.
35:28Why do you need to be with the nutridium?
35:58You know, the Tribunal Congress is literally imploding and it is imploding at a super fast pace.
36:05Nobody could have imagined this coming.
36:07But, you know, the party MPs themselves, party leaders, MLAs, MPs themselves are coming out and speaking out.
36:15Because for long, it seems, it was a pressure cooker situation.
36:19There was no internal democracy.
36:21They are saying that they had no access to the party's top leadership, that they could not voice their opinion,
36:26their dissent, their, you know, what they felt was going wrong with the party.
36:30There was no discussion that was going on in the party.
36:33These are serious allegations that are mounting with each passing hour, not a day, each passing hour.
36:39One after the other, the Tribunal Congress leaders are coming out, speaking and vetoing the leadership of Mamata Banaj.
36:45And this doesn't all go well.
36:46And Shukendu Shekhar Roy, mind you, is a very veteran Tribunal Congress leader.
36:51And he has got specific points.
36:53He's saying that in Lok Sabha, the party is staring at another, you know, breakup.
36:58There are a lot of Lok Sabha MPs, he's saying, whom, you know, he has been able to gather, that
37:03they might resign.
37:04They might switch sides, you know, whatever might happen.
37:07He himself, when I asked him, he said that he's introspecting at this point in time, whether to resign as
37:14MP first, resign from the Tribunal Congress second.
37:17And then when I did ask him that, is he planning to join the BJP, is there a proposal, is
37:22he in touch, he said he was evasive.
37:24But it is clear from what we have been picking up from a lot of other MLAs and leaders, that
37:32feelers are being sent to the BJP.
37:34And therefore, even this Bengal BJP is a little apprehensive.
37:37I spoke to Swapandas Gupta, Bengal minister, this morning, and he has said that, you know, the floodgates cannot be
37:42opened, because the BJP itself will get contaminated.
37:45So it's in BJP's favour that the Tribunal Congress implodes, and all these things happen within the party, and the
37:52Tribunal Congress remains embroiled in this continuous power tussle.
37:56That augurs well for the BJP politically, but the BJP is treading very, very cautiously, because they don't want the
38:01floodgates to open, and all these rebel TMC leaders, MPs and MLAs, to join the party instantly.
38:07Because that, that, in a sense, would be to just, you know, borrow the anti-incumbency from the Trinamul Congress.
38:14Because Swapandas Gupta clearly has said that a lot of these people are...
38:17But, you know, her loyalists, who are still standing by her, Mahua Moitra, for example, who released this video,
38:24and she said that, don't forget that whatever win that the TMC saw, this time in the state of West
38:30Bengal, of whatever votes, whatever seats that they won,
38:33it was in the name of TMC, in the name of Mamata Banerjee.
38:37So don't forget that, just because you now want to quit the party, just because you now want to jump
38:42ship,
38:42or even have separate plans, turn into a rebel group.
38:46But don't forget that it is actually all Mamata's following to whatever it is, not you.
38:53Well, that's right, and at least one MP, Suvesha, Mahua Moitra has cleared the air about the speculation and the
39:00buzz
39:00that's rife in Bengal political circles.
39:04She has played her cards, and she's standing by Mamata Banerjee's clear from the statement.
39:09You know, there are others, of course, like Shukindu Shekharra, as I said,
39:12he's saying that I'm mentally off the Trinamul Congress.
39:15I may be officially, physically a part of the Trinamul Congress, I'm a Rajya Sabha MP,
39:20but I'm mentally off, and I'm really contemplating whether or not to continue as MP,
39:24continue as, you know, member of the Trinamul Congress.
39:27There's another one, Snihashi Chakraborty, he was a Bengal minister, the transport minister,
39:31just a few weeks back.
39:32He's lost the election, and today he has said that he's taking a sabbatical from politics.
39:37So, you know, some are quitting politics, some are quitting the party, some are jumping ship.
39:42So, the Trinamul Congress, complete disarray, and it does not look like Mamata Banerjee
39:46has any semblance of control on her party right now.
39:50No, because Indrajeet, it's not a small number, it's 58 or 60 of 80,
39:54that's literally three-fourth of the whole strength.
39:57It's not like it's one-fourth or half, or even a little more than that.
40:01It's three-fourth of the whole strength.
40:03So, it is obviously for Mamata Banerjee and her close aides to understand
40:06that the situation is really out of hand.
40:09Now, how much they'll explore the legal route, how much of it is possible,
40:13remains remote at this point.
40:15They're obviously trying everything possible.
40:17But so far, the reality is that their pack is falling apart.
40:24Well, that is the reality.
40:26That is a, you know, a shocking reality.
40:28May not be surprising for a lot, like Shukendu Shekhar Roy, as he said,
40:32because Shukendu Shekhar Roy told me, and he said this earlier also,
40:36and he was, in fact, one of those leaders from the Trinimal Congress,
40:40you know, veteran MP, who actually protested during the Arjikar movement.
40:43I remember clearly I had interacted with him then,
40:46and he had the police, the Kolkata police at his doorstep.
40:49He was summoned by the Kolkata police to the police headquarters
40:52for his tweet condemning the incident at that point in time
40:55and the mishandling by the government.
40:57Right, and we need to ask you to stay on with us.
40:59Sorry, I'm interrupting you here, but let's cut across to Preethi,
41:02who's also joined by Mahua Moitra at this point.
41:04Over to you, Preethi.
41:12All right, viewers, let's cut across right now to senior TMC leader,
41:16Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra, who's joining us live right now.
41:19Miss Moitra, thank you for taking out the time.
41:22Your party is clearly imploding where West Bengal is concerned.
41:26Out of 80 MLAs on paper, 59 have moved away.
41:32You have an LOP, which as per Mamata Banerjee, who has been sacked.
41:37What's your take, ma'am?
41:40It would be incorrect to say the party is imploding.
41:44What is happening, actually, if you take a step back, is a welcome development
41:48because everybody can see the way the BJP is now choosing even the leader of the opposition.
41:56The BJP now wants to do even that.
41:59The mandate was very clear, Preethi.
42:02Three things happened during this election.
42:05One, the election commission operated as an arm of the BJP.
42:09Two, they used the central police, which is the CISF, the CRPF,
42:13and all the police forces to conduct the election very unfairly.
42:16And the third is between 27 and 30 lakh valid voters
42:20were kept under adjudication and not allowed to vote.
42:23With that, what was the total number of votes that the BJP got?
42:272 crore 90 lakhs.
42:29What? 45% of the vote.
42:31What was the vote share of the TMC?
42:332 crore 60 lakhs, 40.9% of the vote.
42:37The vote difference is only between 4.5 to 5%.
42:41That's it.
42:42So the Trinamool Congress still got, under even all these adverse circumstances,
42:48got 2.6 crore votes.
42:51Now, who got these votes?
42:53These votes were got on Mamata Banerjee's name,
42:57under the Trinamool Congress's name,
42:59under the symbol of Mamata Banerjee,
43:01the two flowers and the green symbol,
43:04which she had drawn herself.
43:06Let's be very clear.
43:07All these 80 MLAs who have won on our ticket,
43:11ought to get their tickets,
43:13competed with other people to get the tickets,
43:16were only too happy to get the tickets,
43:18and went and won in Mamata Banerjee's name.
43:21It would not be incorrect for me to say that none of them,
43:25none of them, plus not me, nor any MP,
43:28nobody today in Bengal has the power to stand independent and win.
43:33None of these 59 so-called rebels,
43:36who are today going and forming some other party,
43:39could have stood and won on their own.
43:42So, let's be very clear about that.
43:44They have won only because of Mamata Banerjee.
43:46The 2 crore, 60 lakh votes were in Mamata Banerjee's name.
43:51Now, what has happened since?
43:53The BJP, and don't forget the current chief minister,
43:57is an ex-Trinamool member.
43:58He has been a long days he has spent in the Trinamool trenches.
44:03He knows our party,
44:04but perhaps better than many people in our own party.
44:07He's been a minister in our party,
44:08he's been an MP,
44:09he's been an MLA,
44:10he's been head of the youth,
44:12he was head of Mushirabad.
44:13He knows everybody in the party,
44:15and he knows the game better than anybody else.
44:18What he wants to do,
44:19and hear me out carefully,
44:21he knows that the BJP is not like the Trinamool.
44:25The BJP can change your chief minister at any time.
44:28So, what does he want to do?
44:30He wants to make sure he has,
44:32apart from the BJP MLAs,
44:34a tranche of 50 to 60 MLAs who will be loyal to him.
44:39He can go tell the BJP high command,
44:42look, I can get you another Rajya Sabha now.
44:44Look, I have these MLAs loyal to me.
44:47So, that's the game he's played.
44:49What he's done is,
44:50he has each and every one of these 58 MLAs
44:54has some pressure point being applied to them.
44:57So, somebody has been summoned by the police,
44:59somebody has been harassed by the police,
45:01somebody has been arrested,
45:03somebody has had the NIA at the doorstep
45:05over the Mothabadi Malda violence.
45:08Some of them have been,
45:08who, like,
45:12for example, I'm naming it.
45:19Ms. Moitra, we are having a bit of a problem
45:22with your video connect.
45:23We're going to try and re-establish that.
45:26Mahua Moitra there,
45:27we're going to try and re-establish that video connect,
45:29but clearly stating that what is happening right now is,
45:33well, it's happened before,
45:34the fact is very clear, viewers,
45:36it's happened in the state of Maharashtra.
45:38We saw what went down with Shiv Sena.
45:40We saw what went down with NCP.
45:41We're going to try and,
45:42NCP,
45:43we're going to try and connect to Mahua Moitra
45:44in just about a minute,
45:45but let's cut across,
45:47back to the studio.
45:51And that is what is happening inside the TMC.
45:55They are hearing different versions coming in.
45:57Remember, all of these voices that you're hearing from
46:00have been close,
46:01trusted loyalists of Mamata Banerjee,
46:04but everyone speaking in a different voice right now.
46:09At one end,
46:10you heard from Mahua Moitra,
46:13who is reminding the others
46:14who are now planning to jump ship
46:17some who are saying that we are the real TMC,
46:20but she says that Mahua,
46:21Mamata Banerjee has always been our leader.
46:24And while she exhibits the sign of loyalty,
46:27the others would not think the same.
46:29We are getting you the latest from Delhi,
46:32where Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta,
46:33who held a high-level meeting
46:35with all the Cabinet Ministers
46:37and senior officials on the Delhi fire.
46:41She is very clear,
46:42this cannot happen again,
46:43as she's issued directives to her team
46:46to say that crackdown on all the illegal structures.
46:50Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta,
46:52who held a high-level meeting today
46:53with Cabinet Ministers and senior officials
46:55after the Delhi Malibya Nagar fire.
46:58During the meeting,
46:58directors were issued to prevent the recordance
47:00of these tragic incidents,
47:02such as the one that happened in Malibya Nagar.
47:04And she's also asked them
47:05to take strict action across the entire city
47:07against unauthorised constructions,
47:09illegal operations,
47:10violation of fire safety norms.
47:12In Delhi, strict legal action
47:13will be initiated against any building owner,
47:16concerned official,
47:16or any other guilty individual
47:18found responsible
47:19for any unauthorised construction.
47:21Negligence at any level
47:22will not be tolerated, she said.
47:24Chief Minister has convened
47:25a high-level meeting
47:26at the Delhi Secretariat
47:27on the 5th of June,
47:28wherein senior officials
47:29from the Delhi Police,
47:30Revenue Department,
47:31Municipal Corporation of Delhi,
47:33Municipal Council,
47:34DDA, Fire Department,
47:36Delhi Jalboard,
47:37all the concerned departments
47:39that were present for this meeting,
47:40they have been directed.
47:42No lapses will be tolerated.
47:44Get your act together.
47:46She has vowed action
47:47against all the illegal structures
47:50that have been functioning
47:51out of Delhi.
47:53And there she says
47:55that no sort of laxity
47:58will be tolerated anymore.
48:00Let's come across to my colleague
48:01Anshul Singh,
48:02joining us on the broadcast
48:03with latest details
48:03on what happened
48:04as part of this meeting
48:06and the message
48:06that the Delhi Chief Minister
48:08has put out
48:08to her entire team
48:09to say that
48:10this sort of laxity
48:12will not be tolerated.
48:15Well, this meeting
48:16actually happened
48:17at the Delhi Secretariat
48:18and the top brass
48:21of all the departments
48:22including that of
48:24the NKT
48:24and the Delhi
48:25Tourism Department as well
48:27and in that
48:27this very strong messaging
48:28has been given
48:29from the side
48:29of the Chief Minister
48:30where she has
48:31not minced a word
48:32in saying that
48:34there should be
48:35a strong audit
48:36that should be done
48:36on the ground
48:37and each and every
48:37legislature
48:38that is operating
48:39across the national capital
48:40action should be taken
48:41against them.
48:41But remember
48:42this is not
48:43for the first time
48:44that we are hearing
48:44the Chief Minister
48:46of the National Capital
48:47saying these words
48:47previously as well
48:49when incidents like
48:49these have happened.
48:50How can the National Capital?
48:52Repetitive Chief Ministers
48:53have said the same thing.
48:54So it remains to be seen
48:55if at this time around
48:56the manner in which
48:58the Delhi Chief Minister
48:59has come down
48:59strongly on the officers
49:01will that actually
49:02have an impact
49:02on the ground
49:03and all these illegal
49:04structures that are
49:05operating in different
49:06parts of the National Capital
49:07not only in Saakit
49:09but in places like
49:11Pahar Gang
49:11in places like
49:14Rajinder Nagar
49:14Mukherjee Nagar
49:16all these places
49:16several quoting
49:17institutes, hotels
49:18lodges are running
49:20in a very very
49:21illegal manner
49:21will action be taken
49:22against them
49:23that is something
49:24that only time will tell.
49:29A day after the fire
49:32amid the flames
49:32amid the chaos
49:33when systems appeared
49:34overwhelmed
49:35and questions were
49:36being raised
49:36over preparedness
49:37it were the ordinary
49:39citizens who stepped
49:40forward
49:41restored faith
49:42when it was needed
49:43the most
49:43residents, traders
49:44labourers
49:45who rushed to the scene
49:46even before
49:47emergency teams could
49:48they took control
49:49some smashed windows
49:51with their bare hands
49:52used bricks
49:53to create escape routes
49:54while others threw
49:55ropes towards upper
49:56floors to help
49:57remove those
49:58who were trapped
49:58inside on the top
49:59floors
50:00mattresses were
50:01spread on the road
50:02below to provide
50:03a cushion so that
50:04people who were
50:05jumping did not
50:06land hard on the
50:07surface
50:07others who performed
50:08CPR moved the
50:09injured to safer
50:10locations and helped
50:11transport survivors
50:12to nearby hospitals
50:13when disaster strikes
50:15courage does not
50:16arrive in uniform
50:17alone
50:17it emerges from
50:18ordinary citizens
50:19who refuse to
50:20stand by while
50:21others are in danger
50:22and perhaps that
50:24is humanity
50:24at its finest
50:25strangers risking
50:27their own safety
50:28to save lives
50:29expecting nothing
50:30in return
50:30and that is what
50:31Delhi witnessed
50:32yesterday
51:00see how the locals
51:02stepped in
51:03stepped in how they
51:03helped those in
51:04distress how they
51:05helped the victims
51:07in the most crucial
51:08moments those who
51:10were losing their
51:11lives 21 people
51:12remember who've lost
51:13their lives but let
51:14me also tell you that
51:15it was thanks to
51:16these locals it was
51:17thanks to the owner
51:19of that mattress
51:20shop that 12 lives
51:22could be saved
51:2712 lives that we
51:30managed to see that
51:31managed to survive
51:32this in the most
51:33horrific situation
51:34when people were
51:35dying the rescue
51:37teams that were on
51:38route they were on
51:39their way they had
51:40not reached but the
51:41locals would jump to
51:42their rescue and in
51:43every possible manner
51:44that they helped they
51:45could help from
51:47providing CPR to be
51:48able to throw ropes
51:49onto the top floors
51:51laying down those
51:52mattresses on the
51:53roads they helped
51:54in every manner
51:55that they could
52:22and the bigger
52:25question that is being
52:26asked what had
52:27happened that the
52:28Delhi government acted
52:29so late why were
52:30these lapses not
52:32looked into earlier
52:33but most importantly
52:34changes that were
52:35made to the rule of
52:37licensing yes exactly
52:39this happened in
52:402025 where the Delhi
52:42licensing rule was
52:44changed in June 2025
52:45now what happened as
52:47part of it certain
52:48businesses seven to be
52:49specific that were
52:50exempted from getting
52:52an NOC so Delhi had
52:54scrapped the police
52:55NOC rule for these
52:57seven businesses and
52:58unfortunately the
52:59businesses that came in
53:00this category also
53:02included that of
53:03hotels bed and
53:05breakfast facility like
53:06the one that caught
53:07fire yesterday even
53:09guest houses and
53:11others including
53:12restaurants that did
53:14not need to take a
53:15police NOC according
53:17to this change rule in
53:19June 2025 that may have
53:21just become a license to
53:23kill that probably
53:24helped these
53:25establishments swerve
53:27from taking to the
53:28safety rules and while
53:30they got away remember
53:31seven businesses on the
53:33whole that managed to
53:35get away from ensuring
53:37that no lapses should
53:38occur
53:43with that it is time for
53:44us to slip into a very
53:46short commercial break
53:47that's all that we could
53:48pack for you on super
53:48six this evening