News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Gujarat landslide, himachal stunner

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Brand Modi registered a historic victory in the Gujarat elections where it shattered all previous records and confined the opposition Congress to its worst ever tally, which is insufficient to even claim the post of leader of opposition in the state Assembly. To get the post, the Congress needs a minimum of 19 seats in the 182-member House, but has only 17.

    The other state that went to polls Himachal Pradesh saw the Congress wresting power from the BJP. The grand old party won 40 seats against the BJP’s 25. Unpopularity of Chief Minister Jairam Thakur and the Congress party’s election promises of restoring the old pension scheme, free 300 units of power and `1,500 allowance to women saw the state continuing the decades old tradition of not re-electing a sitting government. 

    The BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed 31 rallies in Gujarat, won 156 seats and is set to form a government for the seventh consecutive term, equaling the Left Front record in West Bengal. The party also surpassed its previous best performance of winning 127 seats in the state in 2002, and bettered Madhavsinh Solanki’s all-time record of winning 149 seats for the Congress in 1985. 

    Such was the popularity of the BJP in this election that it swept the tribal and minority seats, which were considered Congress strongholds before this election. The Congress citadel of Saurashtra, which helped bring the party within striking distance of power in the 2017 election, also came crumbling down under the BJP’s onslaught.

    As celebrations broke out, the party’s Gujarat president C R Patil announced that Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will take his oath of office on December 12. The ceremony will be attended by the prime minister, home minister Amit Shah and national president J P Nadda, besides a number of Union ministers and chief ministers. 

    Addressing party workers at the BJP’s Delhi headquarters, Modi termed the Gujarat victory as the beginning of the golden period for new India. He said the BJP will deliver a developed India to the youth of the country by 2047. Nadda attributed the landslide to the prime minister’s credibility and people’s trust in his leadership. Amit Shah termed the victory as a rejection of those who do politics of hollow promises, freebies and appeasement. He said it shows the “unwavering faith of the public in Narendra Modi’s development model”.

    As for the AAP, it garnered nearly 13% votes in Gujarat, bringing down the Congress share from 40% in the last election to 27%. The AAP’s vote share catapulted it to the status of a national party. In Himachal, the Congress frontrunner for the post of chief minister, Kaul Singh Thakur, lost the election just like BJP’s Prem Kumar Dhumal did while his party won the last election.

    Another senior Congress leader, Asha Kumari, who was also in the running for CM-ship, lost. The top contenders for the post now are state party president Pratibha Singh, senior MLA Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, state working president Rajendra Rana, who had defeated Dhumal in the last election, former state president Kuldip Rathore, and leader of opposition in the outgoing House Mukesh Agnihotri.

    NEW DELHI:  Brand Modi registered a historic victory in the Gujarat elections where it shattered all previous records and confined the opposition Congress to its worst ever tally, which is insufficient to even claim the post of leader of opposition in the state Assembly. To get the post, the Congress needs a minimum of 19 seats in the 182-member House, but has only 17.

    The other state that went to polls Himachal Pradesh saw the Congress wresting power from the BJP. The grand old party won 40 seats against the BJP’s 25. Unpopularity of Chief Minister Jairam Thakur and the Congress party’s election promises of restoring the old pension scheme, free 300 units of power and `1,500 allowance to women saw the state continuing the decades old tradition of not re-electing a sitting government. 

    The BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed 31 rallies in Gujarat, won 156 seats and is set to form a government for the seventh consecutive term, equaling the Left Front record in West Bengal. The party also surpassed its previous best performance of winning 127 seats in the state in 2002, and bettered Madhavsinh Solanki’s all-time record of winning 149 seats for the Congress in 1985. 

    Such was the popularity of the BJP in this election that it swept the tribal and minority seats, which were considered Congress strongholds before this election. The Congress citadel of Saurashtra, which helped bring the party within striking distance of power in the 2017 election, also came crumbling down under the BJP’s onslaught.

    As celebrations broke out, the party’s Gujarat president C R Patil announced that Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will take his oath of office on December 12. The ceremony will be attended by the prime minister, home minister Amit Shah and national president J P Nadda, besides a number of Union ministers and chief ministers. 

    Addressing party workers at the BJP’s Delhi headquarters, Modi termed the Gujarat victory as the beginning of the golden period for new India. He said the BJP will deliver a developed India to the youth of the country by 2047. Nadda attributed the landslide to the prime minister’s credibility and people’s trust in his leadership. Amit Shah termed the victory as a rejection of those who do politics of hollow promises, freebies and appeasement. He said it shows the “unwavering faith of the public in Narendra Modi’s development model”.

    As for the AAP, it garnered nearly 13% votes in Gujarat, bringing down the Congress share from 40% in the last election to 27%. The AAP’s vote share catapulted it to the status of a national party. 
    In Himachal, the Congress frontrunner for the post of chief minister, Kaul Singh Thakur, lost the election just like BJP’s Prem Kumar Dhumal did while his party won the last election.

    Another senior Congress leader, Asha Kumari, who was also in the running for CM-ship, lost. The top contenders for the post now are state party president Pratibha Singh, senior MLA Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, state working president Rajendra Rana, who had defeated Dhumal in the last election, former state president Kuldip Rathore, and leader of opposition in the outgoing House Mukesh Agnihotri.

  • Bhupendra Patel to continue as Gujarat CM, oath-taking ceremony to be attended by PM: Paatil

    The BJP is set for a landslide victory in Gujarat to retain power for a seventh straight term and is likely to break previous records by winning the highest number of seats in any assembly election in

  • Respect mandate, going to hand over my resignation to governor: Himachal CM

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: With the Congress set to cross the majority mark in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur Thursday said he respects the mandate and was going to hand over his resignation to the governor.

    “I respect the mandate. In a short while, I am going to hand over my resignation to the governor,” Thakur told reporters here.

    The Congress on Thursday appeared to be heading to achieve a majority in Himachal Pradesh as it surged ahead of the BJP, winning 16 seats and leading in 23 others.

    According to the latest results and trends, the ruling BJP had registered a win on 13 seats and was leading in as many others. Three Independents have also emerged victorious.

    Himachal Pradesh has not voted any incumbent government to power since 1985.

    SHIMLA: With the Congress set to cross the majority mark in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur Thursday said he respects the mandate and was going to hand over his resignation to the governor.

    “I respect the mandate. In a short while, I am going to hand over my resignation to the governor,” Thakur told reporters here.

    The Congress on Thursday appeared to be heading to achieve a majority in Himachal Pradesh as it surged ahead of the BJP, winning 16 seats and leading in 23 others.

    According to the latest results and trends, the ruling BJP had registered a win on 13 seats and was leading in as many others. Three Independents have also emerged victorious.

    Himachal Pradesh has not voted any incumbent government to power since 1985.

  • Gujarat poll does not reflect nation’s mood: Sharad Pawar

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the verdict of the Gujarat Assembly election was on expected lines, but it doesn’t reflect the mood of the nation.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday appeared headed for a record victory in Gujarat as trends available after five rounds of voting showed the party was leading in 155 of the state’s 182 assembly seats that went to polls earlier this month.

    Addressing the NCP’s state executive meeting, Pawar said, “The Gujarat verdict is on expected lines as the entire power machinery was used for the benefit of one particular state and projects were shifted there.”

    ALSO READ | Gujarat results on expected lines, says Raut

    “The Gujarat results don’t reflect the mood of the country. The results of the civic polls in Delhi and Himachal Pradesh Assembly, where the BJP has been defeated prove that,” the former Union minister said.

    The Congress is leading in Himachal Pradesh on 39 seats, while the BJP was leading on 25 and had won one seat. The majority mark is 35 in the 68-member assembly.

    MUMBAI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the verdict of the Gujarat Assembly election was on expected lines, but it doesn’t reflect the mood of the nation.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday appeared headed for a record victory in Gujarat as trends available after five rounds of voting showed the party was leading in 155 of the state’s 182 assembly seats that went to polls earlier this month.

    Addressing the NCP’s state executive meeting, Pawar said, “The Gujarat verdict is on expected lines as the entire power machinery was used for the benefit of one particular state and projects were shifted there.”

    ALSO READ | Gujarat results on expected lines, says Raut

    “The Gujarat results don’t reflect the mood of the country. The results of the civic polls in Delhi and Himachal Pradesh Assembly, where the BJP has been defeated prove that,” the former Union minister said.

    The Congress is leading in Himachal Pradesh on 39 seats, while the BJP was leading on 25 and had won one seat. The majority mark is 35 in the 68-member assembly.

  • Gujarat results on expected lines, says Raut; wonders if BJP, AAP had tacit understanding

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday said the Gujarat Assembly election results, wherein the ruling BJP has put up an impressive performance, was on expected lines, and added that people suspect whether there was a tacit understanding between the saffron party and the AAP.

    Counting of votes for a new assembly in Gujarat got underway on Thursday morning, with early trends pointing to a sweeping victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that has not lost an election in the state since 1995.

    As per the latest trends of the Gujarat Assembly elections, the BJP is seen inching towards an all-time high tally of 149 seats in 182-member House; Congress ahead in 19, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 9 seats.

    Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Raut said had the AAP and other parties come together, formed an alliance or reached an understanding, then it would have been a tough battle for the BJP.

    “Gujarat results are on expected lines,” he said.

    LIVE | Assembly elections results: BJP sweeping Gujarat, in close race with Congress in Himachal

    “People have a suspicion that it must have happened that you (the AAP) take Delhi and leave Gujarat to us (the BJP),” Raut added, alluding to a tacit understanding between the two parties.

    He was referring to AAP’s victory in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls on its home turf in the national capital.

    The Rajya Sabha member also said the AAP’s victory in the MCD is “commendable”.

    “It is not easy to snatch Delhi from a party like the BJP,” he added.

    Raut, a key leader of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, also defended Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who was virtually absent from his party’s campaign in the state.

    He said Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra had nothing to do with politics.

    Raut said in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress was giving a tough fight as per expectations, which he termed as positive.

    The BJP bagged Gujarat, lost Delhi and has to struggle in Himachal Pradesh, where the Congress would win, he claimed.

    “This is optimistic from the point of view of future polls, but only the opposition has to come together to avoid division of votes. If, by keeping aside differences, egos, the battle is contested together then the country will definitely see 2024 a change in 2024,” he said.

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday said the Gujarat Assembly election results, wherein the ruling BJP has put up an impressive performance, was on expected lines, and added that people suspect whether there was a tacit understanding between the saffron party and the AAP.

    Counting of votes for a new assembly in Gujarat got underway on Thursday morning, with early trends pointing to a sweeping victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that has not lost an election in the state since 1995.

    As per the latest trends of the Gujarat Assembly elections, the BJP is seen inching towards an all-time high tally of 149 seats in 182-member House; Congress ahead in 19, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 9 seats.

    Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Raut said had the AAP and other parties come together, formed an alliance or reached an understanding, then it would have been a tough battle for the BJP.

    “Gujarat results are on expected lines,” he said.

    LIVE | Assembly elections results: BJP sweeping Gujarat, in close race with Congress in Himachal

    “People have a suspicion that it must have happened that you (the AAP) take Delhi and leave Gujarat to us (the BJP),” Raut added, alluding to a tacit understanding between the two parties.

    He was referring to AAP’s victory in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls on its home turf in the national capital.

    The Rajya Sabha member also said the AAP’s victory in the MCD is “commendable”.

    “It is not easy to snatch Delhi from a party like the BJP,” he added.

    Raut, a key leader of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, also defended Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who was virtually absent from his party’s campaign in the state.

    He said Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra had nothing to do with politics.

    Raut said in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress was giving a tough fight as per expectations, which he termed as positive.

    The BJP bagged Gujarat, lost Delhi and has to struggle in Himachal Pradesh, where the Congress would win, he claimed.

    “This is optimistic from the point of view of future polls, but only the opposition has to come together to avoid division of votes. If, by keeping aside differences, egos, the battle is contested together then the country will definitely see 2024 a change in 2024,” he said.

  • HC declares 2018 MP Assembly election of Uma Bharti’s nephew Rahul Lodhi as void

    By PTI

    JABALPUR: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has set aside and declared void the 2018 election of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Rahul Singh Lodhi as Member of Legislative Assembly from Khargapur constituency after finding him at fault for furnishing wrong information in his nomination papers.

    Strict action must be taken against the Returning Officer who went “out of her way to accept the nomination paper to favour Lodhi,” a single bench of Justice Nandita Dubey said in its last month’s order which was made available on Wednesday.

    Rahul Singh Lodhi is the son of former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti’s elder brother Harval Lodhi.

    Chanda Singh Gour, the Congress candidate who lost the 2018 poll to Lodhi, had filed an election petition under relevant provisions of the Representation of the People (RP) Act, challenging the BJP leader’s election from Kharagpur Assembly seat in MP’s Tikamgarh district.

    The high court in its order said the election of respondent Rahul Singh Lodhi as Member of the Legislative Assembly from Khargapur Assembly constituency is “set aside and declared void”.

    As the election of the respondent is being declared void, he, therefore, must not be allowed any benefits of this election, the court said.

    Clearly there is a failure of duty and violation of statutory provisions under the RP Act by the Returning Officer, who “went out of her way to accept the nomination paper to favour Rahul Singh Lodhi,” the HC said.

    For non-compliance and violation of the procedure and rules, strict action must be taken against the Returning Officer and in future she must not be assigned any duty of similar nature, it said.

    Resultantly, this petition is allowed, the court said.

    According to the petitioner, the respondent suppressed in his nomination paper the fact that the HC had earlier imposed a cost of Rs 10,000 on him and further not given the cost to the petitioner and thus, guilty of non-compliance of the court order.

    The petitioner further alleged the respondent’s nomination papers were improperly accepted, which materially affected the result of the election.

    It is alleged that the respondent submitted two nomination forms, with different information regarding his status as partner in the firm M/s R S Constructions, Tikamgarh, having contract with MPRRDA, which amounts to corrupt practices as enumerated under provisions of the RP Act, the court said.

    The petitioner’s counsel, Rajmani Mishra, said the court has allowed both the issues in favour of the petitioner.

    He said the order was issued on November 9.

    JABALPUR: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has set aside and declared void the 2018 election of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Rahul Singh Lodhi as Member of Legislative Assembly from Khargapur constituency after finding him at fault for furnishing wrong information in his nomination papers.

    Strict action must be taken against the Returning Officer who went “out of her way to accept the nomination paper to favour Lodhi,” a single bench of Justice Nandita Dubey said in its last month’s order which was made available on Wednesday.

    Rahul Singh Lodhi is the son of former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti’s elder brother Harval Lodhi.

    Chanda Singh Gour, the Congress candidate who lost the 2018 poll to Lodhi, had filed an election petition under relevant provisions of the Representation of the People (RP) Act, challenging the BJP leader’s election from Kharagpur Assembly seat in MP’s Tikamgarh district.

    The high court in its order said the election of respondent Rahul Singh Lodhi as Member of the Legislative Assembly from Khargapur Assembly constituency is “set aside and declared void”.

    As the election of the respondent is being declared void, he, therefore, must not be allowed any benefits of this election, the court said.

    Clearly there is a failure of duty and violation of statutory provisions under the RP Act by the Returning Officer, who “went out of her way to accept the nomination paper to favour Rahul Singh Lodhi,” the HC said.

    For non-compliance and violation of the procedure and rules, strict action must be taken against the Returning Officer and in future she must not be assigned any duty of similar nature, it said.

    Resultantly, this petition is allowed, the court said.

    According to the petitioner, the respondent suppressed in his nomination paper the fact that the HC had earlier imposed a cost of Rs 10,000 on him and further not given the cost to the petitioner and thus, guilty of non-compliance of the court order.

    The petitioner further alleged the respondent’s nomination papers were improperly accepted, which materially affected the result of the election.

    It is alleged that the respondent submitted two nomination forms, with different information regarding his status as partner in the firm M/s R S Constructions, Tikamgarh, having contract with MPRRDA, which amounts to corrupt practices as enumerated under provisions of the RP Act, the court said.

    The petitioner’s counsel, Rajmani Mishra, said the court has allowed both the issues in favour of the petitioner.

    He said the order was issued on November 9.

  • ‘Janata Malik hai’: Nitish Kumar on exit polls predicting BJP win in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh

    By PTI

    PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday ducked queries about exit polls predicting wins, in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly polls, for his former ally BJP which he has vowed to defeat with the help of a united opposition in the next general elections.

    Most exit polls have predicted a huge victory for the BJP in Gujarat, the home turf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while the party has been shown to have a slight edge over the Congress in Himachal Pradesh.

    “Janata Malik hai” (the people are our master), said Kumar, trying to ward off the queries of journalists.

    When pressed further, he quipped “do I ever say anything in such matters” even as he insisted that all should wait for the final results to be announced on Thursday.

    The JD(U) leader was talking to reporters after paying tributes to Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar at a statue installed near the Patna High Court.

    He also expressed deep reverence for the Father of the Indian Constitution, especially for the thrust on the uplift of underdogs.

    Replying to another query, Kumar expressed happiness that his rival turned alliance partner Lalu Prasad, the RJD president, was doing fine after a successful kidney transplant operation on Monday in Singapore.

    “I spoke to people there over the phone. I am very happy that Lalu ji is in good shape”, said Kumar.

    PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday ducked queries about exit polls predicting wins, in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly polls, for his former ally BJP which he has vowed to defeat with the help of a united opposition in the next general elections.

    Most exit polls have predicted a huge victory for the BJP in Gujarat, the home turf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while the party has been shown to have a slight edge over the Congress in Himachal Pradesh.

    “Janata Malik hai” (the people are our master), said Kumar, trying to ward off the queries of journalists.

    When pressed further, he quipped “do I ever say anything in such matters” even as he insisted that all should wait for the final results to be announced on Thursday.

    The JD(U) leader was talking to reporters after paying tributes to Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar at a statue installed near the Patna High Court.

    He also expressed deep reverence for the Father of the Indian Constitution, especially for the thrust on the uplift of underdogs.

    Replying to another query, Kumar expressed happiness that his rival turned alliance partner Lalu Prasad, the RJD president, was doing fine after a successful kidney transplant operation on Monday in Singapore.

    “I spoke to people there over the phone. I am very happy that Lalu ji is in good shape”, said Kumar.

  • Possibility of India’s division increased due to PM Modi’s policies: Jairam Ramesh

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday charged that the possibility of India’s division has increased due to his policies and that “political dictatorship” is becoming a reality.

    Ramesh made these comments at a press conference on the sidelines of the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

    “There are three challenges before the country which need to be fought. The possibility of division in India has increased due to the intention and policies of the prime minister. Economic disparity is rising and divisive ideology are the two other challenges,” he told reporters at Bali Borda village of Jhalawar district.

    The former Union minister alleged, “Political dictatorship is becoming a reality, which has resulted in One Nation-One Man. One individual is being given all political rights… Constitution is being ignored and constitutional bodies are being weakened.”

    Ramesh said the Bharat Jodo Yatra was planned to raise various issues facing the people. The yatra entered Rajasthan on Sunday.

    It started from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7 and has so far covered the five southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana, and then traversed through Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

    It will conclude in Jammu and Kashmir in early February next year, covering 3,570 km in 150 days.

    Ramesh said the yatra is not for winning elections and it is expected that it will activate and strengthen the party organisation.

    “We may get the benefit of the yatra in the election. I feel that the yatra will not make a major difference in the election (outcome). But, it will make a difference if we take serious follow-up actions,” he said.

    Replying to a question, he said that in politics there are several other things than elections.

    He also added that ideology has its place in politics. “Elections will be won and lost but it is important to fight ideological battles,” he said.

    Ramesh said the Congress had lagged in giving priority to ideological battles and gave priority to elections in the past 35-40 years.

    On the BJP accusing the Congress of dividing India, he said the BJP doesn’t deserve to raise such allegations as those who follow the ideology never played a role in the freedom struggle and in the making of the Constitution.

    He said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has a divisive ideology and the BJP is expert in giving slogans and event management.

    “Our republic’s basic principle is unity in diversity and BJY (yatra) not only believes in unity in diversity but also unity in plurality. If you suppress plurality then unity will be in danger,” he said.

    He further said, “BJP wants uniformity and we want unity. This is the basic difference between BJP-RSS and Congress. We have not divided (India) but we have divided Pakistan in 1971.”

    Ramesh said the Congress party will start the ‘Hath-Se-Hath Jodo’ campaign from January 26 to March 26. It will be a three-level campaign in which yatras will be taken out from the booth, block, district and state levels.

    He said that several organisations have joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    “Many of these organisations had taken part in the movement led by Anna Hazare in 2012, but they have now realised that there is no other option than Congress.”

    JAIPUR: Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday charged that the possibility of India’s division has increased due to his policies and that “political dictatorship” is becoming a reality.

    Ramesh made these comments at a press conference on the sidelines of the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

    “There are three challenges before the country which need to be fought. The possibility of division in India has increased due to the intention and policies of the prime minister. Economic disparity is rising and divisive ideology are the two other challenges,” he told reporters at Bali Borda village of Jhalawar district.

    The former Union minister alleged, “Political dictatorship is becoming a reality, which has resulted in One Nation-One Man. One individual is being given all political rights… Constitution is being ignored and constitutional bodies are being weakened.”

    Ramesh said the Bharat Jodo Yatra was planned to raise various issues facing the people. The yatra entered Rajasthan on Sunday.

    It started from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7 and has so far covered the five southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana, and then traversed through Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

    It will conclude in Jammu and Kashmir in early February next year, covering 3,570 km in 150 days.

    Ramesh said the yatra is not for winning elections and it is expected that it will activate and strengthen the party organisation.

    “We may get the benefit of the yatra in the election. I feel that the yatra will not make a major difference in the election (outcome). But, it will make a difference if we take serious follow-up actions,” he said.

    Replying to a question, he said that in politics there are several other things than elections.

    He also added that ideology has its place in politics. “Elections will be won and lost but it is important to fight ideological battles,” he said.

    Ramesh said the Congress had lagged in giving priority to ideological battles and gave priority to elections in the past 35-40 years.

    On the BJP accusing the Congress of dividing India, he said the BJP doesn’t deserve to raise such allegations as those who follow the ideology never played a role in the freedom struggle and in the making of the Constitution.

    He said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has a divisive ideology and the BJP is expert in giving slogans and event management.

    “Our republic’s basic principle is unity in diversity and BJY (yatra) not only believes in unity in diversity but also unity in plurality. If you suppress plurality then unity will be in danger,” he said.

    He further said, “BJP wants uniformity and we want unity. This is the basic difference between BJP-RSS and Congress. We have not divided (India) but we have divided Pakistan in 1971.”

    Ramesh said the Congress party will start the ‘Hath-Se-Hath Jodo’ campaign from January 26 to March 26. It will be a three-level campaign in which yatras will be taken out from the booth, block, district and state levels.

    He said that several organisations have joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    “Many of these organisations had taken part in the movement led by Anna Hazare in 2012, but they have now realised that there is no other option than Congress.”

  • Bihar bypoll: 53 per cent votes cast till 5 pm in Kurhani assembly seat 

    By PTI

    PATNA: A total of 53 per cent of  3.11 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 5 pm in the by-election to the Kurhani assembly seat in Bihar, officials said.

    Polling began at 7 am across 320 booths in the constituency. Tight security arrangements are in place across all the booths, which are manned by central paramilitary forces besides the local police, and the casting of votes will continue till 6 pm.

    “Polling has been peaceful and no untoward incident has been reported so far,” the official said.

    By-poll to the assembly segment in Muzaffarpur district has been necessitated due to the disqualification of RJD MLA Anil Kumar Sahani.

    Altogether 13 candidates, including five Independents, are in the fray.

    The main contenders are former MLAs Kedar Gupta and Manoj Singh Kushwaha, fielded by the BJP and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), respectively.

    Gupta had lost to Sahani in the 2020 assembly polls by a slender margin of about 700 votes.

    The RJD is backing the JD(U) in this by-election. The counting of votes will take place on Thursday.

    PATNA: A total of 53 per cent of  3.11 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 5 pm in the by-election to the Kurhani assembly seat in Bihar, officials said.

    Polling began at 7 am across 320 booths in the constituency. Tight security arrangements are in place across all the booths, which are manned by central paramilitary forces besides the local police, and the casting of votes will continue till 6 pm.

    “Polling has been peaceful and no untoward incident has been reported so far,” the official said.

    By-poll to the assembly segment in Muzaffarpur district has been necessitated due to the disqualification of RJD MLA Anil Kumar Sahani.

    Altogether 13 candidates, including five Independents, are in the fray.

    The main contenders are former MLAs Kedar Gupta and Manoj Singh Kushwaha, fielded by the BJP and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), respectively.

    Gupta had lost to Sahani in the 2020 assembly polls by a slender margin of about 700 votes.

    The RJD is backing the JD(U) in this by-election. The counting of votes will take place on Thursday.

  • BJP OBC Morcha slams Nitish-led Bihar government over Bhagalpur murder

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Going ballistic against the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, BJP OBC Morcha’s national general secretary Dr Nikhil Anand asked the Bihar Chief Minister not to protect, but to hang the culprit of the gruesome Bhagalpur woman killing.

    “Nitish Kumar should hang the culprit instead of giving protection. Bihar government must take moral responsibility for this communal incident and give one crore compensation to the victim’s family”, said Dr Nikhil Anand, speaking to The New Indian Express on Monday.

    In Pirpainti of Bhagalpur, a woman belonging to the OBC Yadav community was assailed by a Muslim man and her hands, feet and breasts were chopped off.

    He questioned whether such medieval, barbaric, shameful and heart-wrenching incidents be considered a normal crime or a communal frenzy.

    “Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav must answer to the people of Bihar,” he said, demanding immediate arrest of the culprit of this dastardly incident in Bhagalpur as well as speedy trial ensuring a death sentence. 

    Putting the Bihar government in the dock for politics of appeasement on this heinous incident in Bhagalpur, he alleged that the PFI has spread its wings across Bihar under the nose of Nitish Kumar.

    “This is an incident similar to the Shraddha murder case in Delhi, but the police administration is giving it a different colour by covering it up. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is giving protection to involved criminals,” he alleged further.

    NEW DELHI: Going ballistic against the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, BJP OBC Morcha’s national general secretary Dr Nikhil Anand asked the Bihar Chief Minister not to protect, but to hang the culprit of the gruesome Bhagalpur woman killing.

    “Nitish Kumar should hang the culprit instead of giving protection. Bihar government must take moral responsibility for this communal incident and give one crore compensation to the victim’s family”, said Dr Nikhil Anand, speaking to The New Indian Express on Monday.

    In Pirpainti of Bhagalpur, a woman belonging to the OBC Yadav community was assailed by a Muslim man and her hands, feet and breasts were chopped off.

    He questioned whether such medieval, barbaric, shameful and heart-wrenching incidents be considered a normal crime or a communal frenzy.

    “Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav must answer to the people of Bihar,” he said, demanding immediate arrest of the culprit of this dastardly incident in Bhagalpur as well as speedy trial ensuring a death sentence. 

    Putting the Bihar government in the dock for politics of appeasement on this heinous incident in Bhagalpur, he alleged that the PFI has spread its wings across Bihar under the nose of Nitish Kumar.

    “This is an incident similar to the Shraddha murder case in Delhi, but the police administration is giving it a different colour by covering it up. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is giving protection to involved criminals,” he alleged further.