English हिन्दी
Connect with us

Latest Politics News

Five states Assembly Polls: Far cry from BJP dream of ‘Congress-mukt Bharat’

Published

on

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While the final results would come in, in an hour or so, the trends are clear and some broad conclusions can be drawn from the available facts.

First and foremost, the BJP is nowhere near achieving Amit Shah’s declared aim of a ‘Congress-mukt Bharat’ (Congress-less Bharat). Rather, in a belt cutting across the middle of India’s map, it is the BJP that got a bloody nose and lost out to the grand old party in a direct contest. The Congress is, thus, very much in the game.

The elections also signify the erosion of ‘Modi magic’ and the halt of the ‘wave’ that BJP has been raucously shouting about.

These were state elections, and local factors – especially the fact that BJP had been in power in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, three terms in a row in the latter two – mattered heavily. However, Prime Minster Narendra Modi’s hectic campaigning in all these states put his own status at stake. Not only was he projected as the ‘winning factor’ by the BJP, he himself went around declaring that it was a contest between ‘naamdar’ (referring to Rahul Gandhi, implying he owes his status to his family’s name) and ‘kaamdaar’ (Modi himself).

Taking him at his own word, Modi has been made to bite the dust.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi has reasons to be happy. His critics had often mocked that the Congress under him has never won any election. These results have wiped out that ‘stigma, and how!

The results boost the Congress morale but, going by the nature of the party, that is about all. It is not likely to learn any lessons. Rather, the results may also boost the ‘negatives’ in the party. Essentially – and increasingly – opportunist now, it could become more convinced about going the ‘Hindutva’ way.

The Congress may also become less accommodating to allies and hamper the formation of an alliance against the BJP for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Chhattisgarh

Belying every analyst and pollster’s prediction, the Congress is way ahead of BJP in Chhattisgarh, with a 10 per cent lead over BJP in vote share (43% against 33%).The biggest casualty in this tribal state is Ajit Jogi, whose Janta Congress Chhattisgarh failed miserably in making an impact and didn’t even get into double digits in an assembly of 90.

   

(Source: Election Commission website at 5:15pm)

 Rajasthan

In Rajasthan, again, the trends do not match the forecasts. While the Congress is ahead, the BJP has not done very badly – despite palpable anti-incumbency factor against the Vasundhara Raje government. The Congress managed a slender majority rather than the landslide win many had expected. The Congress vote share was 39.1% against BJP’s 38.6% – a margin of only 0.5%.

(Source: Election Commission website at 5:15pm)

Madhya Pradesh

In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress edged ahead of BJP in a close, see-saw contest and was past the midway mark of 115 – with leads in 117 seats at 5pm. A party needs 116 seats for a majority in the 230-member assembly. In terms of vote share, the BJP and Congress were tied at 41.4% each.

(Source: Election Commission website at 5:15pm)

Telangana

In Telangana, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s (KCR) Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) was headed for a thumping majority. KCR’s gamble to call for early elections has paid off and the state has stayed with the party credited for its formation. TRS has its candidates ahead in nearly 90 constituencies with a vote share of 47.1%.

The state witnessed a two-way fight between TRS and Praja Kutami, or the grand alliance, which includes Congress, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Telangana Jan Samithi (TJS) and CPI.

The BJP contested the state alone with the TDP walking out of National Democratic Alliance earlier this year. People’s Front ally TDP is heading in one and Owaisi’s AIMIM that backed TRS in five.

(Source: Election Commission website at 5:15pm)

Mizoram

In Mizoram, the regional Mizo National Front has dislodged the Congress government.

MNF president and former Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga, who ran the state between 1998 and 2008, was reported by NDTV as saying, “I have a strong belief that I don’t need any other party and particularly the BJP to form government.”

Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, who contested from Champhai South and Serchhip, has lost both the seats. He lost Champhai to Mizo National Front’s (MNF) TJ Lalnuntluanga, while Serchhip was snatched by Zoram People’s Movement’s (ZPM) chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma.

The 76-year-old Congress leader has been the chief minister since December 2008. In the 2013 assembly elections, he became the chief minister for the fifth time, a record in Mizoram.

The state with a population of about 10 lakh is seen by the BJP as the “final frontier” in the northeast as it is in power in all other states of the region — either by winning polls or aligning with regional parties.

The MNF, which has been out of power for 10 years, has been optimistic about the win. Their hope is hinged on the history of the state where governments change every 10 years.

(Source: Election Commission website at 5:15pm)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Mallikarjun Kharge writes to PM Modi seeks time to explain Congress’s Nyay Patra

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge wrote an open letter to PM Modi and said the Prime Minister is being misinformed by his advisors

Published

on

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote Prime Minister Narendra Modi a letter on Thursday, requesting an explanation of the ancient party’s Nyay Patra.

In support of the Congress manifesto, Kharge said that the Nyay Patra aims to give justice to marginalised people from all castes and communities, including women, children, farmers, and labourers.

The Congrss president said, PM’s  advisors are misrepresenting things to him that aren’t even included in our manifesto. Kharge said, he would be more than happy to meet with him in person to explain thehir Nyay Patra’ so that, as prime minister of the country, he dosen’t make any statements that are false.

It has become his  habit to seize on a few words taken out of context, create communal divide, Kharge added.

The Congress leader said that he is neither shocked nor surprised by the language used by the prime minister, in reference to Modi’s recent addresses.

It was expected that the PM and other leaders from his party would start speaking in this manner after he saw the dismal performance of the BJP in the first phase of the elections, he continued.

The impoverished and their rights have been a topic of discussion in Congress (nyay). We know that you and your administration do not care about the underprivileged and destitute, he remarked.

Continuing his attack on the prime minister, Kharge said, PM’s ‘suit-boot ki sarkar’ works for the corporates whose taxes you reduced while the salaried class pays higher taxes. The poor pay GST even on food and salt and the rich corporate claim GST refunds. That is why, when we talk of inequality between the rich and the poor, you are purposely equating it with Hindu and Muslim.

Following the criticisms made by the prime ministers in their recent election speeches, Kharge has responded. Modi has not held back when criticizing the main opposition party at his rallies, accusing them of scheming to redistributing assets and referring to the Congress manifesto as a “imprint of the Muslim League.

Continue Reading

2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Bollywood actor Neha Sharma campaigns for her father Ajit Sharma in Bhagalpur, Bihar

The Bollywood actor posted a video on her Instagram handle which showed her journey through various districts of Bihar, including Kishanganj, Banka, Purnea and Katihar. She was dressed in a traditional salwar kameez and was seen greeting and encouraging the public to cast their votes.

Published

on

Bollywood actor Neha Sharma’s recent participation in a roadshow in Bihar has taken the internet by storm. Sharma, known for her roles in films like Tum Bin 2 and Crook, was seen supporting her father, Ajit Sharma, who is contesting from Bhagalpur Lok Sabha seat on a Congress ticket. The roadshow came amid speculations that the actor might enter politics. But, it is now clear that she was just campaigning for her father.

neha sharma

The Bollywood actor posted a video on her Instagram handle which showed her journey through various districts of Bihar, including Kishanganj, Banka, Purnea and Katihar. She was dressed in a traditional salwar kameez and was seen greeting and encouraging the public to cast their votes.

The actor received a warm reception and love from a large crowd in Pirpainti and Kahalgaon during her roadshow. She wrote on Instagram that it is said when someone gives one a place in their heart, then they live there forever. She said her heart is full of all the love and support she was receiving from the people. She thanked the people for the warm welcome she got in Pirpainti and Kahalgaon. Aapka pyar sar ankhon par.

Another video, circulating on social media showed the actor actively participating in her father’s election campaign in Bhagalpur. The election to the Bhagalpur Lok Sabha seat is set to take place in the 2nd phase on April 26. Ajit Sharma is representing the Congress and is up against JDU’s Ajay Kumar Mandal in this seat.

Earlier, there had been rumours and speculations that Neha Sharma might join politics. But many reports have clarified that she is not making her political debut yet. The Bollywood actor had been offered the opportunity to join politics by her father Ajjit Sharma but she is currently focusing on her acting career.

Continue Reading

2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Mallikarjun Kharge vows to continue politics till his last breath to defeat BJP

The 81-year-old Congress leader was speaking at a election rally in Afzalpur and said that if the people did not vote for the Congress candidate, he would think that he did not have any place in Kalaburagi anymore.

Published

on

Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday appealed to the people of Kalaburagi to at least attend his funeral if they thought he worked for them even though they do not wish to vote for Congress in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

The 81-year-old Congress leader was speaking at a election rally in Afzalpur and said that if the people did not vote for the Congress candidate, he would think that he did not have any place in Kalaburagi anymore. The Congress President sought an emotional chord with the people of his home district of Kalaburagi, Karnataka

The grand old party has fielded Kharge’s son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani from Kalaburagi, against BJP’s sitting MP Umesh Jadhav. Kharge had won the Lok Sabha elections from Kalaburagi in 2009 and 2014, but lost in 2019. He appealed to the voters to vote for Congress but at least come to his funeral if they thought that he had done some work in Kalaburagi. Kharge added that he would continue in politics till his last breath to defeat the BJP and RSS ideology.

The Congress leader said he is born for politics and whether or not he contests the election, he will continue to strive till his last breath to save the Constitution and democracy of the country. He asserted that he will not retire from politics. Kharge said that retirement happens from a position but one should not retire from his/her principles. He said he is born to defeat the ideology of the BJP and RSS and not to surrender before them.

He advised Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who shared the stage with him, to follow his principles. He said he had told Siddaramaiah many times that he may retire as CM or MLA, but he cannot retire from politics till he defeats the ideology of the BJP and RSS.

Continue Reading

Trending

-->

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com