News Analysis India

Tag: 2024 elections

  • NDA starts govt formation; Nitish, Tejashwi share flight: Key highlights from day after Lok Sabha election results

    Government formation preparations commenced on Wednesday, as the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) unanimously elected Narendra Modi as its leader. Concurrently, the opposition INDIA bloc indicated its intention to take necessary actions to reflect the people’s desire for a change in governance. Separate meetings were held by both ruling and opposition alliances at the Prime Minister’s residence and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence, respectively, in the evening. These meetings followed the clear majority secured by the BJP-led NDA in the recent election results.Clear majority secured by NDA, INDIA bloc’s notable performanceThe BJP won 240 Lok Sabha seats, contributing to the NDA’s total of 293 seats. This tally comfortably surpasses the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member House, paving the way for Modi to assume office for a third consecutive term—an unprecedented achievement for any ruling alliance since 1962. Similarly, the opposition INDIA bloc is energised by its notable performance, having secured 234 seats. Nitish, Tejashwi on same flight, spark speculationAllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther States

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    Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and former Deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav of RJD were spotted on the same flight from Patna to Delhi on Wednesday, heading to their respective NDA and INDIA bloc meetings. Their presence together on the flight, with Nitish Kumar greeting his former deputy seated behind him, sparked speculation about potential shifts in political alliances. Images of the encounter circulated widely on social media, leading to discussions about Nitish possibly rejoining the INDIA bloc, which he helped form before leaving the JD(U)-RJD-Congress coalition earlier this year to rejoin the BJP-led NDA. While spokespeople for both parties dismissed the encounter as a coincidence, Tejashwi hinted at future developments, urging patience and suggesting that observers wait and see how things unfold.NDA meeting on June 5, 2024Setting the tone for his third straight term as the head of a coalition government, Prime Minister Modi chaired a meeting of the leaders of NDA parties who unanimously elected him as its leader.”Met our valued NDA partners. Ours is an alliance that will further national progress and fulfil regional aspirations. We will serve the 140 crore people of India and work towards building a Viksit Bharat,” Prime Minister Modi said on X after the meeting. At the NDA meeting at PM’s residence, TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, LJP(R) leader Chirag Paswan, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, Jana Sena’s Pawan Kalyan, AGP’s Atul Bora and NCP’s Praful Patel were among the 21 leaders from 16 parties present. The meeting was also attended by BJP’s Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and J P Nadda.

    Asked by a reporter if he is in the NDA, Naidu shot back,”We contested the elections together. Why do you doubt.”

    NDA MPs to formally elect Modi as leader on June 7The NDA MPs will meet on June 7 to formally elect Modi as their leader and the alliance leaders will then meet the President of India to submit their letters of support, HAM (Secular) leader and former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said after attending the meeting.

    Modi’s oath ceremony The new government may be sworn in over the weekend, sources said, adding that there is a view to wrap up the formalities quickly to not allow any mood of uncertainty to build up, something a buoyant opposition may push.

    INDIA bloc in “wait and watch” modeWith the numbers stacked in favour of the ruling NDA, the INDIA bloc indicated a “wait and watch” approach after its old allies Nitish Kumar and N Chandrababu Naidu, who are now in the NDA, did not reciprocate to overtures and threw their weight behind Modi.

    After nearly two-hour deliberations with other INDIA bloc parties, Kharge said the opposition leaders resolved to continue their fight against the “fascist rule of the BJP led by Modi” even as they thanked the people for their overwhelming support to the bloc.

    “We will take appropriate steps at the appropriate time to realise people’s desire not to be ruled by the BJP’s government,” Kharge said while reading out a statement adopted by all the alliance constituents after the deliberations at his residence.

    He said the decision has been taken by all constituents of the INDIA bloc in one voice.

    The joint statement indicated that the alliance is keeping its options open while choosing not to stake a claim at government formation for now.

    The Congress president had convened the meeting to discuss the political situation and the election results, explore any possibility of government formation and whether to reach out to their old partners Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu.

    Kharge said that the opposition would continue to work together and would definitely stand by the promises made to the people and keep them.

    “The constituents of the INDIA bloc thank the people of India for their overwhelming support. The people’s mandate has been a befitting reply to the BJP and their politics of hate, corruption and deprivation,” Kharge said.

    “This is a mandate in defence of the Constitution of India, and against price rise, unemployment and crony capitalism and also to save democracy,” Kharge added while announcing the decision of the alliance partners.

    In his opening remarks, Kharge said the alliance welcomes all parties that share its fundamental commitment to the values enshrined in the Preamble to the Constitution and to its many provisions for economic, social and political justice.

    Kharge, flanked by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, NCP (SCP) president Sharad Pawar, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and other leaders including Sharad Pawar, Sitaram Yechury, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Champai Soren, Raghav Chadha, Sanjay Singh, D Raja and Sanjay Raut, said the grouping will continue to fight against the “fascist rule” of the BJP.

    “The people’s mandate has given a befitting reply to the BJP and their politics of hate, corruption and deprivation. This is a political and moral defeat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Kharge said.

    A resolution was passed at the NDA meeting which said the alliance government will continue working to lift people’s living standards for the country’s all-round development while conserving its heritage.

    “We are all proud that the NDA fought the 2024 Lok Sabha polls unitedly under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and won. We all NDA leaders unanimously elect Narendra Modi as our leader,” it added.

    NDA resolves to continue development agenda under Modi’s leadershipThe resolution also said that people have seen the country being developed in every sector in the last 10 years due to the pro-people policies of the NDA government under Modi.

    Janata Dal (United) leader Sanjay Jha, who was present in the meeting, said the formalities related to the formation of the government at the Centre under Modi are expected to be over soon.

    However, it will be a different act for him this time as the BJP has fallen well short of the majority and depends on allies for the government-formation after enjoying a comfortable majority on its own in the previous two terms of his government.

    Hosting the meeting, the BJP presented a picture of collective partnership with its allies with Naidu, Kumar and Shinde seated to the left of Modi while Nadda, Singh and Shah flanked the prime minister on his right.

    In terms of their parties’ strength, Naidu, Kumar and Shinde are the three biggest NDA constituents in that order after the BJP.

    The parties of Naidu and Kumar, who together command the support of 28 MPs, have rubbished speculation on their future moves.

    Naidu has reiterated his support to the BJP, a view echoed by JD(U)’s Jha as well.

    All leaders congratulated the PM for his leadership and the strides our nation has made under him. They appreciated the PM’s hard work and efforts in nation-building, he said.

    Modi hails historic NDA mandateDuring the meeting, Modi emphasised the significance of the historic mandate for the NDA’s third consecutive government, highlighting that such a mandate hadn’t been seen in the country for over 60 years. His allies commended Modi for his vision of “Viksit Bharat” and affirmed their partnership in this endeavour. Additionally, they praised his efforts in enhancing India’s global stature and tackling poverty, expressing their commitment to sustaining these initiatives.

    Inputs from PTI

  • `Hum Gayab Ho Gaye The…`: Nitish Kumar Swears Allegiance To NDA, PM Modi Breaks Into Laughter | Video

    Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pledged his eternal loyalty to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Saturday during a public meet in Aurangabad.

  • Bharat Ratna For Rao, Charan Singh And Swaminathan: Modi’s Gesture To Woo South, UP Voters? |

    New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday announced that he has conferred the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour of India, to three eminent personalities: former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh, and the father of the Green Revolution M.S. Swaminathan. The decision has triggered political interpretations, as all three names have been long demanded for the prestigious award. One of them is from North India, while the other two are from South India. Recently, Modi had also awarded the Bharat Ratna to L.K. Advani, a veteran BJP leader and a key figure in the Ram Mandir movement.

    Bharat Ratna For Congress’s Narasimha Rao

    PM Modi has decided to award Bharat Ratna to former PM Narasimha Rao. He was a towering leader of the Congress party and the father of economic reforms in India. The BJP leaders often criticized that Congress did not treat him well. It is also interesting that a few days ago, when the announcement was made to give the Bharat Ratna to Lal Krishna Advani, the biggest leader of the Ram Mandir movement and the founding member of the BJP, some people questioned the fact that it is their own government and they are honoring their own people, then what is the difference between Congress and BJP?

    Now, giving the country’s highest civilian award to a leader associated with the opposition party, Congress, can only be called Modi government’s masterstroke. This will send a message to the public and BJP will try to convey that Modi government does not do politics on awards but treats everyone equally. The announcement of the Lok Sabha elections is going to happen soon.

    In such a situation, the impact of this decision is certain. Rao was born in Warangal district of Telangana, which was then part of united Andhra Pradesh. He led the country at a time when India was stuck in the quagmire of poverty and unemployment. The situation of the country had become such that the country’s gold had to be mortgaged to repay the debt. The economy was paralyzed in the 1991 era.

    Rao’s Congress government brought economic reforms in the country. The country progressed on the path of progress by following the same economic policies. He also took India forward in the automobile sector. The way was cleared for many big companies to set up plants. The result was that in the next 2-3 years, the foreign exchange reserves increased by 15 times.

    Congress has always insisted that Rao laid the foundation for strengthening India’s economy in 1991. However, the Bharat Ratna is now being given by the BJP government. Telangana’s demand also fulfilled The Telangana Assembly had passed a resolution in December 2020 to give Rao the Bharat Ratna. He was also the chief minister of Andhra.

    In such a situation, by honoring Rao from the BJP government, the politics of both the southern states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh can go in favor of the BJP. It is also possible that the BJP’s Mission-400 goal may be strengthened by the major party of the state joining the NDA.

    The connection between the three awardees lies in their contributions to the nation. The most surprising name is that of Narasimha Rao, a Congress leader who has often been accused by BJP leaders of being neglected by his own party. Rao was the Prime Minister of India during a critical period when the country was mired in poverty and unemployment.

    He had to mortgage the country’s gold to repay debts, and the economy was in a state of paralysis. Rao’s Congress government initiated economic reforms that paved the way for India’s progress. He also boosted India’s automobile sector by allowing foreign companies to set up plants.

    As a result, the foreign exchange reserves increased by 15 times in the next 2-3 years. Congress has always claimed that Rao laid the foundation for strengthening India’s economy. However, it is the BJP government that is giving him the Bharat Ratna now.

    Some critics had objected to Modi’s decision to award the Bharat Ratna to Advani, saying that it was a case of favouring his own party and allies. Now, by honouring a Congress leader, Modi has delivered a masterstroke. He has sent a message to the public and the BJP that his government does not politicise awards, but treats everyone equally. With the Lok Sabha elections approaching soon, this decision could have an impact on the voters.

    The other two awardees are also well-deserved. Chaudhary Charan Singh was the fifth Prime Minister of India and a prominent leader of the farmers. He is widely respected for his pro-farmer policies and his role in the land reforms. He is also the founder of the Lok Dal party, which later merged with other parties to form the Janata Dal. His son, Ajit Singh, is the chief of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, a regional party in Uttar Pradesh that has allied with the BJP in the past.

    M.S. Swaminathan is a renowned agricultural scientist and a Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan awardee. He is credited with leading the Green Revolution in India, which transformed the country from a food-deficit to a food-surplus nation.

    He has also made significant contributions to the fields of biodiversity, biotechnology, and sustainable development. He is the founder of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, which works for the welfare of farmers and rural communities.

    Modi’s decision to award the Bharat Ratna to these three personalities has also fulfilled the demands of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, two southern states where the BJP is trying to expand its base. The Telangana Assembly had passed a resolution in December 2020, requesting the Centre to confer the Bharat Ratna to Rao, who was born in Warangal district of the then united Andhra Pradesh.

    He was also the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. By honouring Rao, the BJP government could win the favour of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and strengthen its ally, the NDA, in the mission to achieve 400 seats in the Lok Sabha.

    Modi’s Masterstroke For West UP

    The BJP had a reason to worry about West UP, especially the Jat-dominated areas, due to the farmers’ protest and other factors. But that concern may have been largely resolved by the announcement of awarding the Bharat Ratna to former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh. He was a towering leader of the Jat community and the father of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) founder Ajit Singh.

    The RLD is now headed by his grandson Jayant Chaudhary. The decision to honor the grandfather came amid speculations that the grandson’s party RLD was leaving the opposition alliance and joining the BJP. It is likely that the deal was already sealed. The BJP may offer the RLD two seats in the Lok Sabha and one seat in the Rajya Sabha.

    Jayant Chaudhary’s tweet today also hinted at this possibility. He wrote on social media after his grandfather Charan Singh got the Bharat Ratna – You won my heart. It is clear that this could have a similar impact as in Bihar.

    PM Modi highlighted the point that would resonate with this decision while sharing the picture of Chaudhary Charan Singh today. He wrote that this honor is a tribute to his unmatched contribution to the nation. He dedicated his whole life to the rights and welfare of the farmers. He served as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, the home minister of the country, and a parliamentarian, and always propelled the nation-building process. He also stood firm against the Emergency.

    His devotion to our farmer brothers and sisters and his commitment to democracy during the Emergency are inspiring for the entire nation. It is evident that with this decision, the Modi government will present itself as a government that gives priority to the farmers. Charan Singh was also the first non-Congress CM of UP after breaking away from the Congress. There was a long-standing demand to give him the Bharat Ratna. He is remembered as the ‘messiah of the farmers’. It is likely that the BJP will win the hearts of the entire Jatland.

    Swaminathan: The Man Behind Green Revolution

    He may be less known to today’s generation, but Dr. M.S. Swaminathan’s contribution to the agricultural sector is immense. He strengthened agricultural education and research. He believed that the improved varieties of crops would not only benefit the farmers but also solve the food crisis. He was born in Tamil Nadu. He witnessed the Bengal famine and decided to dedicate his life to the improvement of the country’s agricultural sector. He received a special recognition for the Green Revolution. This increased the crop production. In the 1960s and 70s, he introduced high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice. India became self-reliant in food production as a result. He passed away a few months ago.

    Thus, the Modi government has given the Bharat Ratna to two legends associated with the agricultural sector. Chaudhary Charan Singh is a big name from the north, while Dr. Swaminathan is from the south. Another interesting thing is that there was a long-standing demand to give the Bharat Ratna to Swaminathan, the leader of the Green Revolution. Now, even without intending to, the parties of Tamil Nadu will have to appreciate the BJP government’s decision and it may also have an impact on the public.

  • `Mamata Ji Part Of…`: Rahul Gandhi Denies Rift In INDIA Alliance, Claims Seat-Sharing Talks On

    Gandhi’s statement came a week after Banerjee announced that her party Trinamool Congress (TMC) will contest the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal alone.

  • 2024 would be my last election if not voted to power, says Chandrababu Naidu

    By PTI

    KURNOOL: The 2024 elections would be his last if people did not elect the Telugu Desam Party to power, its chief N Chandrababu Naidu has said.

    In an emotion-filled tone at a roadshow in the Kurnool district late on Wednesday night, the former Chief Minister recalled his vow not to step into the Assembly till the TDP returned to power.

    “If I have to go (back) to the Assembly, if I have to stay in politics and if justice is to be done to Andhra Pradesh, unless you ensure our victory in the next election, that could well be my last election,” Naidu said.

    “Will you bless me? Do you trust me,” he asked the people, who responded rapturously.

    Alleging that the ruling YSR Congress insulted his wife on the floor of the House, the Leader of the Opposition had on November 19, 2021, vowed to step into the Andhra Pradesh Assembly again only after returning to power.

    Reminding people at the roadshow of his vow, Naidu said the next election would be his last if he was not voted back to power.

    “I will only set things right and put the state back on the track of progress and hand over the future to others,” he added. This should become a point of debate in each household.”

    “My fight is for the future of children, future of the state. It’s not tall talk. I had done it before and there is a model (to prove it),” the TDP chief noted.

    “Think about it. Weigh the pros and cons. If what I am saying is right, cooperate with me,” he urged the people. Naidu observed that he was “physically very fit. ”

     “Some people are mocking at my age. I and (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi are of the same age. (Biden) became American President at the age of 79,” the 72-year-old TDP leader said.

    Rebutting the YSRC’s claim that Naidu would do away with all the freebie schemes if he was elected again, the TDP supremo asserted that he would in fact do better.

    “I will develop (the state) and create wealth. That will increase the revenue and with that we will implement the welfare schemes. In fact, we will do better but, unlike (Chief Minister) Jagan Mohan Reddy, we will not borrow heavily for that,” the former Chief Minister said.

    He pointed out that the government regime borrowed money indiscriminately and pushed the state into a debt trap.

    “They even mortgaged the state’s assets to raise loans heavily,” Chandrababu added.

    KURNOOL: The 2024 elections would be his last if people did not elect the Telugu Desam Party to power, its chief N Chandrababu Naidu has said.

    In an emotion-filled tone at a roadshow in the Kurnool district late on Wednesday night, the former Chief Minister recalled his vow not to step into the Assembly till the TDP returned to power.

    “If I have to go (back) to the Assembly, if I have to stay in politics and if justice is to be done to Andhra Pradesh, unless you ensure our victory in the next election, that could well be my last election,” Naidu said.

    “Will you bless me? Do you trust me,” he asked the people, who responded rapturously.

    Alleging that the ruling YSR Congress insulted his wife on the floor of the House, the Leader of the Opposition had on November 19, 2021, vowed to step into the Andhra Pradesh Assembly again only after returning to power.

    Reminding people at the roadshow of his vow, Naidu said the next election would be his last if he was not voted back to power.

    “I will only set things right and put the state back on the track of progress and hand over the future to others,” he added. This should become a point of debate in each household.”

    “My fight is for the future of children, future of the state. It’s not tall talk. I had done it before and there is a model (to prove it),” the TDP chief noted.

    “Think about it. Weigh the pros and cons. If what I am saying is right, cooperate with me,” he urged the people. Naidu observed that he was “physically very fit. ”

     “Some people are mocking at my age. I and (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi are of the same age. (Biden) became American President at the age of 79,” the 72-year-old TDP leader said.

    Rebutting the YSRC’s claim that Naidu would do away with all the freebie schemes if he was elected again, the TDP supremo asserted that he would in fact do better.

    “I will develop (the state) and create wealth. That will increase the revenue and with that we will implement the welfare schemes. In fact, we will do better but, unlike (Chief Minister) Jagan Mohan Reddy, we will not borrow heavily for that,” the former Chief Minister said.

    He pointed out that the government regime borrowed money indiscriminately and pushed the state into a debt trap.

    “They even mortgaged the state’s assets to raise loans heavily,” Chandrababu added.

  • Need credible face to seek votes in 2024 LS polls, meeting leaders won’t make difference: Prashant Kishor

    By ANI

    PATNA: Poll strategist Prashant Kishor on Saturday said that there is a need for a “credible face” and mass movement to seek people’s vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and opined that meeting leaders of various political parties “would not make much of a difference”.

    He said such meetings cannot be seen as Opposition unity or political development. Kishor’s remarks came on the backdrop of his former ally Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s visit to the national capital recently to meet Opposition leaders.

    Speaking to ANI, Kishor who was earlier given the post of national president in Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and was later expelled from the party, said, “Such meetings and discussions taking place will not change the political situation on the ground. I do not have such an experience. He is more experienced than me. But I do not see the meeting of some leaders individually or collectively, holding discussions or press conferences, as an Opposition unity or a political development.”

    “Unless you create a people’s movement and generate a popular narrative, form a formidable entity, and a credible face that can make the public believe that he can be a better alternative to the BJP, only then they (people) will vote for you,” he said.

    When asked about the series of meetings undertaken by Kumar recently including with Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao who had visited Bihar recently in his attempt to unite the Opposition, Kishor said that such meetings would not make “much of a difference”.

    “When he was with the BJP, he met the leaders who were with them. Now he is no more with the BJP, so he is meeting the parties and leaders who are in opposition of the BJP. That would not make much of a difference. You need a credible narrative, people’s trust, workers on the ground, and a trustworthy face and people’s movement for doing it,” he said.

    When asked who can be a better face of the Opposition among leaders such as Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and KCR, he said, “Right is the one who can unite everyone and is acceptable to all.”

    The polls strategist further dismissed the speculation of Nitish Kumar being disappointed with his former party leader. “Let him do what he wants to do in Bihar. His statements have no meaning. Does he know ABC of what has been done in the state since 2005?” Nitish Kumar had said.

    “Nitish Kumar is not pissed off with me. It is his way of speaking. I have a kindred relation with him. Who will take Nitish Kumar’s talks seriously? He himself was with the BJP until one month ago. He has been chief minister for more than two-thirds of his tenure as the chief minister in past 17 years. It is hilarious that he talks about who can be with the BJP. There is no need to give importance to it,” Prashant Kishor said.

    Talking about the Bharat Jodo Yatra taken out by Congress, Kishor said its focus is “disproportionately more in those states where the BJP is not a big political power.”He suggested that the yatra should have mostly covered the states where the BJP is a strong political force.

    “Looking at the route of the yatra, it seems that its aim is to unite the people or political activists against the work being done by the BJP or its ideology. The centre of the yatra should have been those states where the BJP is strong. The yatra is being carried out mostly in those states where the BJP is not a very strong political force. The focus of the yatra is disproportionately in those states where the BJP is not a big social and political power. I find there is a contradiction with the said aim of the yatra,” he said.

    Kishor noted that there is discontent among the public in Bihar even after Nitish Kumar parted ways with the BJP last month to rejoin the Mahagathbandhan, and said that this would be “reflected in the next elections”.

    “I see there are two sections in public. One which is furious and the other which is sad. I don’t see a big chunk of society where there is excitement about the work being done by the state government. Wherever I go, I find people complaining. The complaints that I hear about every day are bureaucracy and corruption. I don’t think the people are happy and that would be reflected in the next elections,” he said.The poll strategist predicted that the current formation which consists of seven political parties including Congress, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD, JD(U) and the Left parties, will not remain the same in the next assembly elections.

    “The next assembly elections will not be held in this formation where there are seven parties on one side and there is BJP on the other. A lot of changes are due in it,” Kishor said. 

    PATNA: Poll strategist Prashant Kishor on Saturday said that there is a need for a “credible face” and mass movement to seek people’s vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and opined that meeting leaders of various political parties “would not make much of a difference”.

    He said such meetings cannot be seen as Opposition unity or political development. Kishor’s remarks came on the backdrop of his former ally Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s visit to the national capital recently to meet Opposition leaders.

    Speaking to ANI, Kishor who was earlier given the post of national president in Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and was later expelled from the party, said, “Such meetings and discussions taking place will not change the political situation on the ground. I do not have such an experience. He is more experienced than me. But I do not see the meeting of some leaders individually or collectively, holding discussions or press conferences, as an Opposition unity or a political development.”

    “Unless you create a people’s movement and generate a popular narrative, form a formidable entity, and a credible face that can make the public believe that he can be a better alternative to the BJP, only then they (people) will vote for you,” he said.

    When asked about the series of meetings undertaken by Kumar recently including with Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao who had visited Bihar recently in his attempt to unite the Opposition, Kishor said that such meetings would not make “much of a difference”.

    “When he was with the BJP, he met the leaders who were with them. Now he is no more with the BJP, so he is meeting the parties and leaders who are in opposition of the BJP. That would not make much of a difference. You need a credible narrative, people’s trust, workers on the ground, and a trustworthy face and people’s movement for doing it,” he said.

    When asked who can be a better face of the Opposition among leaders such as Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and KCR, he said, “Right is the one who can unite everyone and is acceptable to all.”

    The polls strategist further dismissed the speculation of Nitish Kumar being disappointed with his former party leader. “Let him do what he wants to do in Bihar. His statements have no meaning. Does he know ABC of what has been done in the state since 2005?” Nitish Kumar had said.

    “Nitish Kumar is not pissed off with me. It is his way of speaking. I have a kindred relation with him. Who will take Nitish Kumar’s talks seriously? He himself was with the BJP until one month ago. He has been chief minister for more than two-thirds of his tenure as the chief minister in past 17 years. It is hilarious that he talks about who can be with the BJP. There is no need to give importance to it,” Prashant Kishor said.

    Talking about the Bharat Jodo Yatra taken out by Congress, Kishor said its focus is “disproportionately more in those states where the BJP is not a big political power.”He suggested that the yatra should have mostly covered the states where the BJP is a strong political force.

    “Looking at the route of the yatra, it seems that its aim is to unite the people or political activists against the work being done by the BJP or its ideology. The centre of the yatra should have been those states where the BJP is strong. The yatra is being carried out mostly in those states where the BJP is not a very strong political force. The focus of the yatra is disproportionately in those states where the BJP is not a big social and political power. I find there is a contradiction with the said aim of the yatra,” he said.

    Kishor noted that there is discontent among the public in Bihar even after Nitish Kumar parted ways with the BJP last month to rejoin the Mahagathbandhan, and said that this would be “reflected in the next elections”.

    “I see there are two sections in public. One which is furious and the other which is sad. I don’t see a big chunk of society where there is excitement about the work being done by the state government. Wherever I go, I find people complaining. The complaints that I hear about every day are bureaucracy and corruption. I don’t think the people are happy and that would be reflected in the next elections,” he said.The poll strategist predicted that the current formation which consists of seven political parties including Congress, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD, JD(U) and the Left parties, will not remain the same in the next assembly elections.

    “The next assembly elections will not be held in this formation where there are seven parties on one side and there is BJP on the other. A lot of changes are due in it,” Kishor said. 

  • Narendra Modi will be prime ministerial candidate for 2024 general elections: JDU leader KC Tyagi

    By ANI

    PATNA: Janata Dal-United party’s general secretary KC Tyagi asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and will be the candidate for the post of Prime Minister in the 2024 general elections.

    “PM Narendra Modi ji is and will be the PM candidate for 2024 general elections,” he said. Tyagi’s comments came after he claimed that “Nitish Kumar has qualities to become PM”

    Moreover, JDU national president Lalan Singh said, “There is a difference between having the qualities to become PM & filing a claiming to be one. PM material means he (Nitish Kumar) has the capabilities and capacity to lead the country. We are a small party, how will we claim for it.”

    JDU and NDA are partners in a coalition government in Bihar. Tyagi also suggested that NDA coordination committees should be set up at the national level to ensure the smooth functioning of NDA. “NDA coordination committees should be set up at the national level, in Bihar, and at other places also, to ensure smooth functioning of NDA,” Tyagi had said.

    Reacting to Tyagi’s comment of coordination committees to be set up, BJP MP Ajay Nishad from Bihar’s Muzaffarpur said, “BJP Government at the Centre is a majority government. BJP has more than 300 MPs. Even if any party wants to leave NDA, it will have no impact on BJP.”

    Tyagi also said that JDU wants to expand the party’s base and therefore, it has decided to contest Manipur and Uttar Pradesh elections.

    In view of the upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh, JDU announced that it will contest the elections alone if no alliance is formed with parties in the state. Notably, BJP is in alliance with JDU in Bihar. However, BJP is contesting alone and is in power currently in Uttar Pradesh.

    On August 8, KC Tyagi said the party’s first priority is to contest Manipur and Uttar Pradesh elections in an alliance with the BJP while adding that JD(U) will contest independently in case there no alliance is formed. Speaking to ANI, Tyagi said, “JD(U) will contest elections in Manipur and Uttar Pradesh. Our first priority is to contest forming an alliance with BJP. We will contest independently in case there no alliance is made.”

    The assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and Manipur are due early next year.

  • National alternative to BJP would not come up before May 2023: Congress leader Manish Tewari

    By Express News Service
    HYDERABAD: Congress MP and Senior National Spokesperson, Manish Tewari on Saturday, said any national alternative to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would not emerge before May 2023.

    Pointing out that various parties in power are busy administering their states, owing to the economic downturn caused by the pandemic , he added that the Presidential election going to be held in July next year would prove an inflection point, for the opposition parties to come together. 

    Tewari made these remarks while he was speaking at a virtual session on the topic ‘Does India lack an effective opposition’, conducted by the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad as part of its ISB Leadership Summit. Hyderabad MP and All Indian Masjlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief, Asaduddin Owaisi also spoke in the session and made some critical remarks against various opposition parties.

    Owaisi accused the opposition parties of siding with the Hindutva agenda and gave example of how West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamta Banerjee, claimed her Brahmin heritage earlier this year and how the DMK in Tamil Nadu promised funds for Hindu pilgrimages.

    Targeting the Congress, Owaisi said that the party supported the anti-cow slaughter bill in Haryana and the Shiv Sena supported passing of the bill resulting in Citizenship Ammendment Act. Owaisi accused ‘secular parties’ of not giving enough number of tickets to Muslim candidates and giving them to Muslim candidates only in such constituencies where they constituted at least 35 percent of the electorate. 

    He said thet the people in India are disillusioned and there exists no difference between the BJP and non-BJP parties. Political commentator and analyst, Sanjaya Baru and Shiv Sena, Deputy Leader and RS MP, Priyanka Chaturvedi were also panel members for the session. 

  • Farmers prepared to protest till May 2024: Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait

    By PTI
    NAGPUR: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Sunday said farmers are prepared to protest against the Centre’s new farm laws “till May 2024”, and termed the ongoing agitation by peasants at Delhi borders as an “ideological revolution”.

    Addressing a press conference in Nagpur, Tikait said they want a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP).

    Farmers have been protesting near Delhi since November 26, 2020, demanding scrapping of the three new farm laws, which have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country.

    However, the protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of the MSP and do away with the mandi system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

    The Supreme Court last Tuesday stayed the implementation of the three new farm laws till further orders and decided to set up a four-member committee to resolve the impasse over them between the Centre and farmers’ unions protesting at Delhi borders.

    ALSO READ| SC to hear pleas on farm laws after recusal of member from panel set up to resolve impasse

    Asked how long will farmers will sit in protest, Tikait said, “We are prepared to sit in protest till May 2024…our demand is that the three laws be taken back and the government provide a legal guarantee on the MSP.”

    The next Lok Sabha elections in the country will be due around April-May 2024. Dismissed allegations that the protest was being fuelled by “rich farmers”, Tikait said people from villages and various outfits have joined the protest.

    “This is an ideological revolution of farmers started from Delhi and will not fail. Farmers from villages do not want us come back until the three farm bills are taken back. The government is adamant on its stance of not withdrawing the bills and this agitation will continue for long,” Tikait added.

    He welcomed the SC’s decision on staying the implementation of the farm laws, but said the committee formed by the apex court has members who “supported” the farm bills. “We do not want to go before the committee formed by the court. The government has also said that the government and farmers will find solution on this issue,” he said.

    ALSO READ| SC-appointed panel on farm laws to hold first meeting on January 19

    Tikait also said the opposition parties in the country were weak and that is why farmers had to start this agitation against the Centre’s new laws.

    On National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) notices to some people supporting the farmers’ protest, he said, “Those who want to be part of the agitation must be ready for court cases, imprisonment and sealing of property.”