Discussion in the West about arming Ukraine with nuclear weapons is “absolutely irresponsible”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on November 26.The New York Times reported last week that some unidentified Western officials had suggested that U.S. President Joe Biden could give Ukraine nuclear weapons, though there were fears such a step would have serious implications.Peskov said the comments were only attributed to anonymous sources, and those making them do not feel “a shred of responsibility”. The West should listen carefully to Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said.Earlier, senior Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev said that if the West supplied nuclear weapons to Ukraine then Moscow could consider such a transfer to be tantamount to an attack on Russia, providing grounds for a nuclear response. n18oc_world n18oc_crux

The decision on the question of Maharashtra Chief Minister is taking time, but it will happen without dispute, top BJP sources told NDTV today. It will also be a process where the sentiments of the BJP’s party state workers will be taken into consideration, sources said in a big hint about who would be the successful candidate. 

The rank and file of the party have been demanding the top post for Devendra Fadnavis since 2022. But Eknath Shinde was given the role by the top leadership as reward for his role in making the alliance government possible. 

This time, given the BJP’s numbers, the demand from the party workers has gained in volume. But the Sena is pitching for a second innings for its chief, Mr Shinde. Some in his party have questioned why Maharashtra cannot be another Bihar, where Nitish Kumar plays a dominant role despite better performance by the BJP in elections.

Ajit Pawar, party sources have indicated, is amenable to the idea of the top post going to Mr Fadnavis. 

The BJP has 132 MLAs, the Sena has 57 and the NCP 41 — so the BJP needs only one of its two allies to reach the majority mark of 145 in the 288-member Assembly. That leaves Mr Shinde with very few bargaining chips.

Sources said the names of the observers, who would oversee the Chief Minister selection process, will be decided in the next one or two days. 

In view of the massive mandate, senior ministers and party leaders will be made observers so that a big political message can be given.

After that, there will be a meeting of the BJP Legislature Party in Mumbai in presence of observers, where the leader will be selected after discussing the matter with the MLAs.

Before the meeting of the BJP Legislature Party, a decision will be made regarding the top job after discussion with the allies.

Earlier today Eknath Shinde resigned as Chief Minister as the tenure of the 14th state Assembly came to an end. 

The simmering feud between rival royal factions spilled over to Tuesday. This time, by way of warning.

Police officers surrounded the 450-year-old City Palace in Udaipur after the unrest on Monday night when Vishvaraj Singh, the new Maharana of Mewar, was blocked from entering by his uncle, Arvind Singh, and his son, Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar.

“People in political positions should not misuse their position and power with the government to enter our home,” said Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, warning his cousin Vishvaraj Singh, a BJP MLA.

“People cannot force themselves into our home. Legal options are open,” he added.

Vishvaraj Singh — the BJP MLA from Rajsamand from where his wife Mahima Kumari is the sitting MP — was formally declared the heir to the Mewar dynasty at a traditional coronation ceremony in the historic Chittorgarh fort 12 days after the death of his father Mahendra Singh Mewar. To take up his post, Vishvaraj needed to pray at a family shrine inside the City Palace fort and then to Eklingnath Ji temple to finish the ritual.

City palace and Eklingnathji temple are under the control of Arvind Singh.

However, after violent protests outside the city palace erupted on Monday night, district administration has appointed a receiver for the controversial portion of city palace and now the decision regarding entry will be taken by the administrator.

“I want to clarify that Eklingji Mandir is open for all. Mandir is not for a show of strength. It’s open for all. Please go for worship,” said Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar.

“We will go by rule of law. We cannot take law in our hands. Let’s not vitiate the atmosphere,” he added.

The dispute between two factions of this family dates back to the eighties when Vishwaraj and Lakshay Raj’s grandfather, the late Maharana Bhagwat Singh handed over all the trusts that administer forts palaces and temples of the royals to his younger son Arvind Singh Mewar.

Since then the family has been divided into two factions and Vishwendra and his late father Mahendra Singh have been kept out of the city palace.