Latest Politics News
Mayawati opts out of Lok Sabha contest – for now, did not say about top post of PM
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati today (Wednesday, March 20) said that she would not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election to be held April 11-May 19 and would rather campaign for the candidates fielded by her party and the ally Samajwadi Party (SP).
She kept the option open for contesting election at a later date.
“I won’t contest polls. I am confident that my party will completely understand my decision. I can contest later if I wish,” the former chief minister told reporters in Lucknow.
She said it was more important for the party and its allies to win all seats and stop the “arrogant, uncontrolled” rule of the BJP. The BSP is in alliance with the SP and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in Uttar Pradesh.
“I do not want to see the alliance lose at any cost. More than my personal victory it is more important to win each and every seat in Uttar Pradesh,” Mayawati said while expressing confidence that she could get elected to the House any time.
This also means that, at least till the elections are over, she will not be overtly pushing for herself as a prime ministerial candidate, though it is not completely ruled out either – as apparent from her statement that she can contest and win anytime later.
A split Opposition could benefit BJP
The announcement comes amid an ongoing spat between the BSP-SP alliance and the Congress with neither side yielding any quarter to the other to put up a joint fight against the BJP which is expected to gain substantially through the division of opposition votes.
To recall, the SP-BSP alliance had given only two seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, owing to the lacklustre performance of the party in previous election and the sad state the party was in at the time.
The Congress subsequently got a boost with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra formally joining the party as general secretary in charge of eastern UP and launching herself into active politics. But, with SP-BSP not willing to rework the arrangement, the Congress decided to contest all seats in Uttar Pradesh, leaving seven for the SP-BSP alliance.
Efforts for a grand alliance in UP came a cropper, giving BJP much reason to cheer: it was otherwise faced with a dismal prospect in the state that sends 80 members to the Lok Sabha and had given the BJP-led NDA 73 members in 2014 election.
BJP’s gain means opposition’s loss. Mayawati’s decision may be based on this reading. Not contesting will leave her free to campaign all over and consolidate the position of the alliance candidates.
Another argument: Vote split may damage BJP
Besides, while the arithmetic-based calculation at a superficial level may seem to suit the BJP through division of anti-BJP votes, things could work out differently, according to a different arithmetic.
Both Mayawati’s BSP and Akhilesh Yadav’s SP retain their core vote base. It is only the Congress that had lost its support base. The BJP’s massive win in 2014 came from upper castes, non-Yadav backward classes and those lower castes who were not fully with BSP. A resurgent Congress would take away votes of many of these sections who are not committed to BJP’s Hindutva, but this would not dent the core votes of BSP and SP.
Such a division of votes would damage the BJP more than the Opposition parties.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Latest Politics News
Bihar caste census results: Greater population, greater rights is our pledge, says Rahul Gandhi
RJD president Lalu Yadav also issued a statement noting that the exercise will set the tone for nationwide caste census which will be undertaken when they form the next government at the Centre.
Nitish Kumar led Bihar government revealed caste survey results on Monday. The opposition including the Congress welcomed the results and urged the central government to conduct a similar exercise at the national level.
Speaking on the matter, Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is also a vocal supporter of nationwide caste census, stated that Bihar’s survey revealed that 84 percent of the people in the state are Other Backward Classes (OBC’s), Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribe (STs). He added that their rights should be provided based on their population.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote that out of 90 secretaries of the central government, only three are OBCs, who handle only 5 per cent of India’s budget. Therefore, it is important to know the caste statistics of India. He further mentioned that greater the population, the greater the rights and that it is their pledge.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that the caste census results revealed the economic situation of the people belonging to different groups. He added that the census will help the government to take action in order to ascertain social justice and upliftment of all sections.
The Janata Dal (United) leader also called for an all-party meeting on Tuesday to share the details of Bihar caste census report and deliberate what further steps needed to be taken. Reports stated that nine parties are expected to participate in the meeting.
RJD president Lalu Yadav, who is Kumar’s ally also issued a statement noting that the exercise will set the tone for nationwide caste census which will be undertaken when they form the next government at the Centre.
Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh urged the centre to release the results of caste census. He added that holding caste-census has become essential for providing a firmer foundation for social empowerment programmes and for deepening social justice.
Latest Politics News
Madhya Pradesh: PM Modi lays foundation stone for projects worth Rs 19,000 crore in Gwalior
PM Modi underscored that the double engine government brought Madhya Pradesh among the top 10 states in terms of development.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid foundation stones for projects worth more than Rs 19,000 crore in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh on Monday. Addressing a gathering in Gwalior, PM Modi said that their target is to ensure Madhya Pradesh emerges as one of the top three states, adding that the vote of the people of the state will help them achieve this goal.
He claimed that people who had 60 years could not bring development and always played with the sentiments of the poor and divided the society on the basis of caste. Asserting that the opposition have hatred towards growth because of their politics, PM Modi underlined that Madhya Pradesh has faith in the double engine government which means double development of the state.
He further noted that the next five years would be crucial for Madhya Pradesh’s development and that the double engine government is necessary in the state. He mentioned that nearly 2.25 lakh families will enter into their new homes before Dussehra, Dhanteras and Diwali this year in Madhya Pradesh.
The Prime Minister stated that under the government of vikas-virodhi (apparently referring to opposition), law and order collapses. He noted that beheading took place openly in Rajasthan. He asserted that in states ruled by the opposition, crime and corruption have increased.
PM Modi underscored that the double engine government brought Madhya Pradesh among the top 10 states in terms of development. In addition, he hailed that Gwalior-Chambal has given bravehearts for the security of the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi further guaranteed that India will be one of the top three economies in the world in the next few years. The Legislative Assembly election is scheduled to be carried out in Madhya Pradesh in or before November 2023. Earlier in the day, PM Modi addressed a rally in poll bound Rajasthan.
Latest Politics News
Congress left no stone unturned to loot Rajasthan: PM Modi in Chittorgarh rally
PM Modi asserted that the paper leak mafia will be held accountable and will be given harshest punishment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a scathing attack on Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot over the infighting of Congress in the state. He slammed the state government over multiple issues, including crime against women. He claimed that the Congress government in the state has left no stone unturned to loot Rajasthan.
Addressing a public rally in Chittorgarh in poll-bound Rajasthan, PM Narendra Modi stated that the state has decided to save themselves by bringing back the BJP government. He asserted that the Congress formed the government by misleading people but could not run it, adding that CM Gehlot was busy saving his chair, whereas half of the Congress leaders were actively trying to unseat him.
The Prime Minister further claimed that CM Ashok Gehlot has accepted defeat and is requesting BJP to not stop schemes. He assured that on coming to power in Rajasthan, BJP will not stop any public scheme but will try to improve it. He also accused the Ashok Gehlot led Congress government of destroying the state in the last five years by not taking adequate steps to combat crime against women.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed that it pains him that the state tops in the crime list. He continued that he is pained when atrocities take place against daughters anywhere in the country but Congress has made this a tradition in Rajasthan. He added that the message of people of Rajasthan has reached Congress leaders and that the Chief Minister is also aware that the countdown of Congress government’s farewell has begun.
Speaking on the alleged paper leak issue, PM Modi asserted that the paper leak mafia will be held accountable and will be given harshest punishment. He noted that they will go to the bottom of the paper leak matter and actions will be taken against those who have committed corruption and looted money of the poor.
While addressing the gathering in the poll bound Rajasthan, PM Modi underlined that they are witnessing how leaders of Congress alliance are issuing derogatory remarks about women. He claimed that the alliance is very angry with the Women’s Reservation Act and that they don’t want women to get their rights.
He remarked that there is only one face in elections and that is (Kamal) lotus. The 2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election is scheduled to be held in or before November.
