NEWS

The Congress, which has been out of power for decades in Uttar Pradesh, is set to launch its election campaign for the next year Assembly elections in the state from Varanasi — the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi — with a grand rally after “pitrapaksha”.

Pitrpaksha is a period in the Hindu calendar when people pay homage to their ancestors, and it is considered inauspicious for starting new things.

A senior Congress leader said that if things go as planned then the Varanasi rally would take place on October 9 which is likely to be addressed by senior Congress leaders, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is camping in the state at present.

“The Sun rises from the east. Therefore, our election campaign will be launched from east UP. And what could be better than the holy city of Varanasi,” said a senior Congress leader.

During his three-day visit to the US last week, PM Narendra Modi addressed the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. In his 22-minute long address, the Prime Minister spoke on a number of key issues, including the production of Covid-19 vaccines in India and the global fight against extremism.

Citing the video of his address, the Congress on Monday said in a tweet that many seats were visibly empty at the UNGA during PM Modi's speech. The Opposition party went on to claim that "no one even clapped".

"It seems that the popularity of the self-proclaimed leader has ended," read the tweet posted by Congress party's official handle.

The emergency use authorisation (EUA) for Bharat Biotech`s COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin has once again been delayed by the World Health Organisation. But the Bharat Biotech has said that it is 'working diligently with the WHO to obtain EUL at the earliest.'

The EUA is important because without it Covaxin will not be accepted by most countries. The Strategic Advisory Group of Expert on Immunization (SAGE) will be meeting on October 5 on EUA to Covaxin.

Earlier in an exclusive interview to ANI Dr Pravin Bharati Pawar, Minister of State for Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said, "There is the procedure of submitting the documents for approval. WHO`s emergency use authorisation is expected soon."

The situation in Rajasthan is very different from the power tussle in Punjab, asserted state revenue minister Harish Chaudhary, who was appointed as an observer by the Congress high command during the recent leadership change in Chandigarh.

Claiming that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has the backing of more than hundred MLAs, Harish Chaudhary virtually ruled out a change in the leadership of the Congress in the desert state.

"The decision to change Chief Minister in Punjab was a historic one. A man from humble origins rose to assume the office of the Chief Minister in Punjab but the situation in Rajasthan is very different. Here, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has the support of more than 100 MLAs," he said.