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Blow for BJP as Congress, Trinamool sweep by-polls in Rajasthan, WB

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Blow for BJP as Congress, Trinamool sweep by-polls in Rajasthan, WB

Congress won Alwar, Ajmer Lok Sabha seats and Mandalgarh assembly seat in Rajasthan, Trinamool bags Uluberia and Noapara in Bengal

On a day when the entire BJP brass was busy hailing finance minister’s Arun Jaitley’s Union Budget 2018 as “historic”, the saffron party received a major setback from Rajasthan and West Bengal, where it was comprehensively defeated by the Congress and Trinamool Congress in by-polls for both Lok Sabha and Assembly seats.

The result of the by-polls, overshadowed predictably by the brouhaha over the Union Budget, come at a time when the corridors of power in New Delhi are abuzz with speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government could advance the General elections scheduled for April-May 2019 to later this year. Such a move, if indeed implemented, could make the Lok Sabha elections coincide with the assembly polls due for the BJP-ruled Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and also pave the way for the first steps towards realising Modi’s ambitious plan of simultaneous Assembly and Parliamentary elections.

However, if the result of the by-polls is anything to go by, the electorate seems to be fast getting disenchanted with the saffron party four years after Modi propelled it to a landslide victory in the May 2014 general elections and then continued the victory march in over two dozen provincial assemblies that went to polls in subsequent years. That the by-poll embarrassment for the BJP comes months after its narrow victory in Gujarat – the home state of Modi and BJP president Amit Shah where the party has been in power for over two decades – is another fact that points towards a slump in the popularity of saffron brigade.

In Rajasthan, where the Congress had been wiped out in the last general elections, the Grand Old Party made a stunning comeback by winning by-elections to the Alwar and Ajmer Lok Sabha seats as well as the one for the Mandalgarh Assembly segment. The election result would come as a major shot in the arm for Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot and would undoubtedly strengthen his claim to be the party’s chief ministerial candidate in the Rajasthan assembly elections that are due in November this year.

Rajasthan by-poll (Trends at 5.30 pm):

Lok Sabha seats

Constituency Winner/Party Runner-up/ Party Trend/Victory margin
Ajmer Raghu Sharma /Congress Ramswaroop Lamba/ BJP 80316
Alwar Karan Singh Yadav/ Congress Jaswant Singh Yadav/ BJP 194905

Assembly constituency

Constituency Winner/Party Runner-up/ Party Victory margin
Mandalgarh Vivek Dhakar/ Congress Shakti Singh Hada/ BJP 12976

 

Pilot has been relentlessly working to boost his party’s electoral prospects in Rajasthan where the incumbent BJP government under chief minister Vasundhara Raje is facing heavy anti-incumbency. He had failed to retain his Ajmer Lok Sabha seat in the 2014 general elections. Political observers feel that Pilot’s decision to not contest the Ajmer by-poll and instead have the Congress field his confidante Raghu Sharma was a clever move. Pilot minutely manoeuvred Sharma’s election campaign, leading to Thursday’s victory, and in the process made it evident that as Rajasthan Congress president, he had succeeded in reviving the party’s prospects in the state. Coupled with the victory in Alwar Lok Sabha seat and Mandalgarh assembly segment, the Ajmer win would help Pilot severely dent an attempt by former chief minister Ashok Gehlot – who was incidentally the Congress’ in-charge for the Gujarat assembly polls – to be named as the party’s chief ministerial candidate in the upcoming assembly elections.

The victory in Alwar, Ajmer and Mandalgarh will, of course, also be projected by the Congress as a major endorsement by the voters of newly-elevated party president Rahul Gandhi although he didn’t campaign for the candidates and left the ground-work to regional satraps like Pilot and Gehlot.

West Bengal by-polls (final result)

Lok Sabha

Constituency Winner/Party Runner-up/ Party Victory margin
Uluberia Sajda Ahmed/ Trinamool Congress Anupam Mallik/ BJP 474510

Assembly

Constituency Winner/Party Runner-up/Party Victory margin
Noapara Sunil Singh/ Trinamool Congress Sandip Banerjee/ BJP 63,018

 

In West Bengal, the by-polls to the Uluberia Lok Sabha seat and the Noapara assembly constituency reinstated the position of chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress as the continuing political favourite of the state’s electorate. The Trinamool managed to retain both these seats while her principal rival – the CPI (M) as well as the Congress were decimated, finishing at a distant third and fourth spot respectively in both the seats. However, Banerjee would want to assess how the BJP, which had very limited electoral presence in Bengal till a few years ago, managed to finish second in both these seats where the Muslims comprise a substantial voting bloc. With the CPI (M)- led Left Front in complete disarray in a state that it ruled for over three decades till Banerjee’s romp to power and the Congress long reduced to a minor player, the BJP has been aggressively working to emerge as the main political challenger to the Trinamool in Bengal. The by-poll result in Uluberia and Noapara show that the BJP has had some success in making in-roads in the state’s politics. The Trinamool’s continued policy of appealing to the minorities while alienating the majority community could boost the saffron party’s efforts of consolidating an electoral base in Bengal in the near future.

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Delhi CM Atishi accuses BJP’s Parvesh Verma of distributing cash to voters in Kejriwal’s constituency

Kejriwal also hinted that the BJP might declare Parvesh Verma as their chief ministerial candidate, questioning whether the people of Delhi would want such a leader.

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Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Wednesday accused BJP leader Parvesh Verma of handing out cash to women in New Delhi, the constituency represented by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

During a press conference, Atishi claimed that Rs 1,100 was distributed to women from slum areas at Verma’s residence in Windsor Place, with their voter ID details being recorded. She stated, “The BJP is distributing money and checking voter cards in the New Delhi assembly constituency, where Arvind Kejriwal is a candidate.

Today, Parvesh Verma was caught red-handed giving out money at his official residence, money he received as an MP. Women from various slums in the New Delhi area were called there and handed Rs 1,100 in an envelope,” ANI reported her as saying.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal had alleged that women voters in his constituency were being paid Rs 1,100 for their votes. “I have just returned from several areas in my New Delhi Vidhan Sabha constituency, and everywhere I went, people told me that these individuals are openly buying votes, paying Rs 1,100 for each vote. People said they would take the money but wouldn’t vote for them,” he posted on X.

Kejriwal also hinted that the BJP might declare Parvesh Verma as their chief ministerial candidate, questioning whether the people of Delhi would want such a leader.

In response to the accusations, Parvesh Verma stated that the money was distributed as part of a campaign by ‘Rashtriya Swabhiman’, an NGO founded by his late father, former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma.

“I see the struggles faced by women that Arvind Kejriwal has ignored for 11 years. They have been suffering, so I decided to support them with Rs 1,100 per month. Unlike Arvind Kejriwal, I am not distributing liquor; I am glad to be able to help people,” he said.

Verma added that the Rashtriya Swabhiman has been actively involved in community support, including redevelopment efforts in villages affected by disasters. Elections for the 70-member Delhi Assembly are scheduled for February next year.

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Yogi Adityanath says Congress insulting Ambedkar since Nehru days

Adityanath pointed to examples of Congress’ alleged negligence, including its initial hesitance to include Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly and the Drafting Committee, crediting Mahatma Gandhi for securing Ambedkar’s position.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday hit out at the Congress, accusing it of disrespecting B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, both during his life and after his death.

During a press conference held at his official residence at 5 Kalidas Marg, he also claimed that Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, opposed Ambedkar’s inclusion in the Constitution Drafting Committee.

Adityanath’s comments came in the wake of a controversy sparked by Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks about Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha last week. Surrounded by ministers Swatantra Dev Singh and Asim Arun, the Chief Minister emphasised that the purpose of the press conference was to reveal what he called the unethical and unconstitutional actions of Congress and other opposition parties against Ambedkar.

“Dr. B.R. Ambedkar played a pivotal role in India’s freedom struggle, the formulation of the Constitution, and the foundational years of an independent India. Despite facing numerous societal challenges, he achieved the highest accolades in law, finance, and economics. His contributions to the nation are unmatched, and he is deeply revered by every Indian,” Adityanath stated.

He contrasted the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) respect for Ambedkar with the Congress party’s history of disrespect. Adityanath highlighted the BJP’s initiatives to honor Ambedkar’s legacy, including memorials in significant locations like Mhow, Nagpur, Mumbai, and London, where Ambedkar pursued his studies.

“Under BJP leadership, from Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s time to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure, we have made every effort to uphold Ambedkar’s ideals. In stark contrast, the Congress has consistently insulted him and minimised his contributions,” he asserted.

Adityanath pointed to examples of Congress’ alleged negligence, including its initial hesitance to include Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly and the Drafting Committee, crediting Mahatma Gandhi for securing Ambedkar’s position.

He also recalled an incident during the UPA regime when a textbook depicted a derogatory cartoon of Ambedkar being prodded by Nehru, which was withdrawn only after widespread protests, leading to an apology from then HRD Minister Kapil Sibal.

The Chief Minister claimed that the Congress worked to defeat Ambedkar in elections, including the 1952 general elections for the Mumbai North constituency and the 1954 by-elections.

He alleged that even Nehru campaigned against Ambedkar to ensure his loss, asserting that the Congress consistently aimed to silence the voices of Dalits and marginalized communities.

Adityanath also criticised the Congress for not granting national honors to Ambedkar during his lifetime, stating, “It was only when a government supported by the BJP came to power that Ambedkar was finally awarded the Bharat Ratna.”

He further emphasised the BJP’s commitment to realizing Ambedkar’s vision through programs aimed at benefiting Dalits and marginalized groups, reiterating the party’s dedication to preserving Ambedkar’s legacy while accusing the Congress of ongoing disrespect and divisive politics.

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Government set to table One Nation, One Election bill in Lok Sabha on December 16

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Parliament Winter Session: Lok Sabha speaker warns opposition, No-Confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman

The stage is set for a major legislative push by the central government as two bills related to the ambitious “One Nation, One Election” initiative are scheduled for introduction in the Lok Sabha on Monday, December 16.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is expected to present The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, marking a significant step towards implementing simultaneous Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly elections.

On Thursday, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its nod to the constitutional amendment bill that seeks to align elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. This decision underscores the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s commitment to its long-standing agenda of electoral synchronization, aimed at reducing the frequency of polls and associated costs.

The Cabinet also approved a supplementary bill to amend specific provisions related to three Union territories with legislative assemblies—Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir. This aligns their governance framework with the overarching constitutional amendments proposed under the “One Nation, One Election” initiative.

The constitutional amendment bill aims to streamline the electoral calendar by establishing a legal framework for conducting Lok Sabha and state assembly elections simultaneously. However, the government has, for now, opted to exclude local body polls, such as those for municipalities and panchayats, from this framework. A high-level committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind had earlier suggested a phased approach to include local elections in the future.

The concept of “One Nation, One Election” has been a focal point in political discourse, with proponents arguing it will enhance governance by reducing electoral disruptions and fostering policy stability. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the logistical and constitutional challenges of synchronizing diverse electoral cycles across India’s federal structure.

This legislative development will undoubtedly dominate parliamentary discussions as political parties prepare to deliberate on the feasibility and implications of reshaping India’s electoral landscape.

The introduction of these bills is expected to spark robust debate, with the government emphasizing the potential benefits of reduced administrative burdens and streamlined governance, while opposition parties scrutinize its impact on India’s democratic fabric.

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