News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Over 50 AAP, NPP workers as well as social activists join BJP in Jammu

    By PTI

    JAMMU: More than 50 political and social activists, including several workers of the AAP and National Panthers Party, on Monday joined the BJP in the presence of its Jammu and Kashmir president Ravinder Raina here.

    Prominent among those who joined the saffron party were former Chief Vigilance Officer Jeet Raj Kalsi, retired executive engineer R K Gupta, advocate Neeraj Gupta, and AAP’s provincial women wing president Rajni Jamwal, who switched over from the Aam Aadmi Party after being associated with it for the last more than six months.

    “The joining of these prominent political and social activists from different parts of Jammu will strengthen the party’s mission of 50 plus seats in the next assembly elections to have its own government in J&K,” Raina told reporters.

    Prominent personalities joining BJP in presence of J&K BJP President Sh. @ImRavinderRaina at BJP Headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.https://t.co/C3KoabmY1b
    — BJP Jammu & Kashmir (@BJP4JnK) November 7, 2022
    Welcoming the new entrants into the party fold, he credited their joining to the efforts of former MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia who ended his association with the AAP in September before switching over to the BJP.

    He was earlier affiliated with the NPP.

    NPP district president for Kishtwar Rehmat Choudhary, his party colleagues Sham Lal Sharma and Jagdev Singh from Udhampur too joined the BJP.

    “After 30 years of government service, I joined the AAP (in May) but was disappointed on seeing that the party is directionless and its primary aim is to oppose the policies of the BJP even if they is in the interest of the masses,” Kalsi said.

    Taking a dig at the AAP, he said making electricity and water free would not help the development of the country.

    “We will work harder to make the BJP and the country strong,” he said.

    Jamwal said she will work with dedication to reach out to people and highlight the policies of the BJP-led government.

    Mankotia said a large number of political and social activists are joining the BJP on daily basis as they are attracted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’.

    JAMMU: More than 50 political and social activists, including several workers of the AAP and National Panthers Party, on Monday joined the BJP in the presence of its Jammu and Kashmir president Ravinder Raina here.

    Prominent among those who joined the saffron party were former Chief Vigilance Officer Jeet Raj Kalsi, retired executive engineer R K Gupta, advocate Neeraj Gupta, and AAP’s provincial women wing president Rajni Jamwal, who switched over from the Aam Aadmi Party after being associated with it for the last more than six months.

    “The joining of these prominent political and social activists from different parts of Jammu will strengthen the party’s mission of 50 plus seats in the next assembly elections to have its own government in J&K,” Raina told reporters.

    Prominent personalities joining BJP in presence of J&K BJP President Sh. @ImRavinderRaina at BJP Headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.https://t.co/C3KoabmY1b
    — BJP Jammu & Kashmir (@BJP4JnK) November 7, 2022
    Welcoming the new entrants into the party fold, he credited their joining to the efforts of former MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia who ended his association with the AAP in September before switching over to the BJP.

    He was earlier affiliated with the NPP.

    NPP district president for Kishtwar Rehmat Choudhary, his party colleagues Sham Lal Sharma and Jagdev Singh from Udhampur too joined the BJP.

    “After 30 years of government service, I joined the AAP (in May) but was disappointed on seeing that the party is directionless and its primary aim is to oppose the policies of the BJP even if they is in the interest of the masses,” Kalsi said.

    Taking a dig at the AAP, he said making electricity and water free would not help the development of the country.

    “We will work harder to make the BJP and the country strong,” he said.

    Jamwal said she will work with dedication to reach out to people and highlight the policies of the BJP-led government.

    Mankotia said a large number of political and social activists are joining the BJP on daily basis as they are attracted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’.

  • Congress MLA of Dhoraji, Lalit Vasoya stir up hornet’s nest by asking vote for BJP

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD: After the declaration of Gujarat assembly elections, leaders of BJP, Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party are vigorously campaigning in the state. PM Modi started off election campaign from Valsad district. Arvind Kejriwal did road show in Rajkot.

    At that time, Congress took out a ‘Parivartan Sankalp Yatra’ in Dhoraji, Rajkot. Meanwhile, during ‘Parivartan Yatra’ in Dhoraji, Congress MLA of Dhoraji, Lalit Vasoya stir up a hornet’s nest by asking votes for Bhartiya Janta (BJP).

    Congress’ Parivartan Yatra’ started on different routes of Dhoraji city of Rajkot on Sunday. Leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil, MLA Lalit Vasoya, City Congress President Arvindbhai Vora, and former mayors joined the yatra.

    Meanwhile, addressing a public meeting during the Congress’ Parivartan Sankalp Yatra. MLA Lalit Vasoya said, “If someone talks about the Aam Aadmi Party in their area, then I say from the platform that instead of voting for the Aam Aadmi Party, vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party.”

    After his statement, BJP spokesperson Yagnesh Dave tweeted a video of the Congress MLA on social media and said that the Congress MLA is following the voice of his conscience and seeking votes for BJP from the public platform.

    AAP National convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also take Dig at BJP and congress by sharing a video of a Congress leader from his Twitter account.

    He claimed that BJP and Congress are contesting elections together and both them are not against each other but only against AAP. Sharing the video, Arvind Kejriwal wrote, “Watch this. A senior Congress leader is openly saying from the stage that doesn’t vote for Aam Aadmi Party, vote for BJP. Is there still any doubt that these two are contesting elections together? Both are only against ‘AAP’.”

    However, After the controversy escalated, on Monday Lalit Vasoya clarified on a video that Aam Aadmi is BJP’s B team. My intention behind saying that it is better to vote for BJP than to vote for Aam Aadmi was that Aam Aadmi Party is running at the behest of BJP. Why should I appeal to vote for BJP? In 2022, I myself am a candidate for Dhoraji Constituency.

    Dhoraji Constituency:

    In 2017, Lalit Vasoya of the Indian National Congress won the seat by defeating Patel Haribhai of the Bharatiya Janata Party with a margin of 25085 votes.

    Dhoraji Assembly Constituency falls under the Porbandar Lok sabha constituency. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Rameshbhai Lavjibhai Dhaduk won from Porbandar Lok Sabha (MP) Seat with a margin of 229823 votes by defeating Lalit Vasoya of the Indian National Congress. 

    AHMEDABAD: After the declaration of Gujarat assembly elections, leaders of BJP, Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party are vigorously campaigning in the state. PM Modi started off election campaign from Valsad district. Arvind Kejriwal did road show in Rajkot.

    At that time, Congress took out a ‘Parivartan Sankalp Yatra’ in Dhoraji, Rajkot. Meanwhile, during ‘Parivartan Yatra’ in Dhoraji, Congress MLA of Dhoraji, Lalit Vasoya stir up a hornet’s nest by asking votes for Bhartiya Janta (BJP).

    Congress’ Parivartan Yatra’ started on different routes of Dhoraji city of Rajkot on Sunday. Leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil, MLA Lalit Vasoya, City Congress President Arvindbhai Vora, and former mayors joined the yatra.

    Meanwhile, addressing a public meeting during the Congress’ Parivartan Sankalp Yatra. MLA Lalit Vasoya said, “If someone talks about the Aam Aadmi Party in their area, then I say from the platform that instead of voting for the Aam Aadmi Party, vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party.”

    After his statement, BJP spokesperson Yagnesh Dave tweeted a video of the Congress MLA on social media and said that the Congress MLA is following the voice of his conscience and seeking votes for BJP from the public platform.

    AAP National convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also take Dig at BJP and congress by sharing a video of a Congress leader from his Twitter account.

    He claimed that BJP and Congress are contesting elections together and both them are not against each other but only against AAP. Sharing the video, Arvind Kejriwal wrote, “Watch this. A senior Congress leader is openly saying from the stage that doesn’t vote for Aam Aadmi Party, vote for BJP. Is there still any doubt that these two are contesting elections together? Both are only against ‘AAP’.”

    However, After the controversy escalated, on Monday Lalit Vasoya clarified on a video that Aam Aadmi is BJP’s B team. My intention behind saying that it is better to vote for BJP than to vote for Aam Aadmi was that Aam Aadmi Party is running at the behest of BJP. Why should I appeal to vote for BJP? In 2022, I myself am a candidate for Dhoraji Constituency.

    Dhoraji Constituency:

    In 2017, Lalit Vasoya of the Indian National Congress won the seat by defeating Patel Haribhai of the Bharatiya Janata Party with a margin of 25085 votes.

    Dhoraji Assembly Constituency falls under the Porbandar Lok sabha constituency. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Rameshbhai Lavjibhai Dhaduk won from Porbandar Lok Sabha (MP) Seat with a margin of 229823 votes by defeating Lalit Vasoya of the Indian National Congress.
     

  • Congress calls Morbi bridge tragedy an example of ‘BJP-created disaster’

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD: Releasing a 22-point charge sheet against the ruling BJP in Gujarat, Opposition Congress on Sunday alleged that the recent Morbi Bridge tragedy is an example of a “BJP-created disaster”.

    The charge sheet made several allegations against the Gujarat government about the Morbi tragedy.

    “It is amply clear only BJP and its cronies are directly responsible for 136 lives lost in that unfortunate incident, it is amply clear that only BJP and its cronies are directly responsible for 136 lives lost in that unfortunate incident,” stated the charge sheet.

    “The BJP government, adept at shielding the culprits in many such horrible tragedies, is at it again in the Morbi tragedy”, it added.

    According to the charge sheet, “Gujarat was one of the brightest stars of India’s growth story when Congress left office. The state has lost its growth momentum under the successive BJP governments.”

    Reading out the charge sheet allegation, Gujarat Congress former president Arjun Modhvadiya said, “In 2020-21, Gujarat recorded a negative growth rate of 1.35%”. He added that the economic mismanagement by the BJP has led to a loss of confidence amongst investors in the state.

    “In 2016-17, Gujarat accounted for nearly one-fourth of the cost of the projects sanctioned by the banks. In 2021-22, its share had halved, falling to 11.9%,” he said.

    Gujarat’s Economic condition

    The document also underlined the economic stress of households and noted, “Gujarat had the highest food inflation among all states in the month of August 2022”.

    The charge sheet further alleged that “the meagre growth that the BJP government achieved has been fuelled by debt. The government is showcasing growth by mortgaging the state’s future. The state’s total outstanding liabilities have crossed Rs. 4,00,000 crores by the end of March 2022. The outstanding liabilities have increased three-fold in the past fifteen years.”

    Quoting the CAG report for the year ending on March 31, 2021, the charge sheet alleged that “In view of the increasing committed expenditure on one hand and revenue deficit on the other, the State Government would have to work out a well-thought-out borrowing repayment strategy to avoid falling into a debt trap.”

    AHMEDABAD: Releasing a 22-point charge sheet against the ruling BJP in Gujarat, Opposition Congress on Sunday alleged that the recent Morbi Bridge tragedy is an example of a “BJP-created disaster”.

    The charge sheet made several allegations against the Gujarat government about the Morbi tragedy.

    “It is amply clear only BJP and its cronies are directly responsible for 136 lives lost in that unfortunate incident, it is amply clear that only BJP and its cronies are directly responsible for 136 lives lost in that unfortunate incident,” stated the charge sheet.

    “The BJP government, adept at shielding the culprits in many such horrible tragedies, is at it again in the Morbi tragedy”, it added.

    According to the charge sheet, “Gujarat was one of the brightest stars of India’s growth story when Congress left office. The state has lost its growth momentum under the successive BJP governments.”

    Reading out the charge sheet allegation, Gujarat Congress former president Arjun Modhvadiya said, “In 2020-21, Gujarat recorded a negative growth rate of 1.35%”. He added that the economic mismanagement by the BJP has led to a loss of confidence amongst investors in the state.

    “In 2016-17, Gujarat accounted for nearly one-fourth of the cost of the projects sanctioned by the banks. In 2021-22, its share had halved, falling to 11.9%,” he said.

    Gujarat’s Economic condition

    The document also underlined the economic stress of households and noted, “Gujarat had the highest food inflation among all states in the month of August 2022”.

    The charge sheet further alleged that “the meagre growth that the BJP government achieved has been fuelled by debt. The government is showcasing growth by mortgaging the state’s future. The state’s total outstanding liabilities have crossed Rs. 4,00,000 crores by the end of March 2022. The outstanding liabilities have increased three-fold in the past fifteen years.”

    Quoting the CAG report for the year ending on March 31, 2021, the charge sheet alleged that “In view of the increasing committed expenditure on one hand and revenue deficit on the other, the State Government would have to work out a well-thought-out borrowing repayment strategy to avoid falling into a debt trap.”

  • Himachal Pradesh polls: Nadda announces Uniform civil code, quota for women in govt jobs 

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: BJP president JP Nadda on Sunday promised Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and 33 per cent reservation for women in government jobs in Himachal Pradesh while releasing the party’s manifesto for the state Assembly polls.

    With less than a week left for assembly polls in his home state, Nadda announced various soaps, including 8 lakh jobs, scooters for girls pursuing higher education and five new medical colleges.

    Releasing the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’, Nadda promised implementation of UCC in Himachal Pradesh if the party is voted to power and said a committee will be formed for it.

    At the same time, he said the BJP government will also conduct survey of Waqf properties in the state to check their illegal use.

    Focussing on women voters, Nadda released the party’s separate manifesto for them announcing 33 per cent reservation in government jobs. He also announced cycles for girl students in classes 6 to 12.

    Replying to a question, Nadda criticised the Congress manifesto — released on Saturday — saying it lacks both vision and weight.

    The BJP had formed a committee to take suggestions from the general public to draft the manifesto. The BJP is eyeing to change the trend of alternate governments in Himachal Pradesh. Elections for the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly will be held on November 12.

    SHIMLA: BJP president JP Nadda on Sunday promised Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and 33 per cent reservation for women in government jobs in Himachal Pradesh while releasing the party’s manifesto for the state Assembly polls.

    With less than a week left for assembly polls in his home state, Nadda announced various soaps, including 8 lakh jobs, scooters for girls pursuing higher education and five new medical colleges.

    Releasing the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’, Nadda promised implementation of UCC in Himachal Pradesh if the party is voted to power and said a committee will be formed for it.

    At the same time, he said the BJP government will also conduct survey of Waqf properties in the state to check their illegal use.

    Focussing on women voters, Nadda released the party’s separate manifesto for them announcing 33 per cent reservation in government jobs. He also announced cycles for girl students in classes 6 to 12.

    Replying to a question, Nadda criticised the Congress manifesto — released on Saturday — saying it lacks both vision and weight.

    The BJP had formed a committee to take suggestions from the general public to draft the manifesto. The BJP is eyeing to change the trend of alternate governments in Himachal Pradesh. Elections for the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly will be held on November 12.

  • Bonhomie between BJP, Shinde faction, and MNS increases, will it translate into new political alignment in Maha?

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: With altered political equations in the state, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena appears to be gravitating towards the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, a key factor to watch for ahead of the Mumbai civic polls where Marathi votes play a crucial role.

    Ever since the fall of the government led by Raj Thackeray’s estranged cousin and arch-rival Uddhav Thackeray in June, the bonhomie between Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis has led to a buzz of new political alignments.

    Shinde and Fadnavis met Raj Thackeray for MNS’ Deepotsav event in Shivaji Park on the eve of Diwali.

    The brewing chemistry was evident when the trio walked together to the venue in Shivaji Park from the residence of the MNS chief.

    Last month, Raj Thackeray had written a letter to Fadnavis, urging him to withdraw BJP’s candidate from the Andheri East Assembly bypoll in favour of late Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke’s wife.

    The BJP later withdrew its candidate from the race, for which Raj Thackeray thanked Fadnavis.

    In the months leading to the fall of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, Raj Thackeray had raised the issue of loudspeakers at mosques and announced to visit Ayodhya.

    After the change in guard in Maharashtra, leaders of the BJP and the Shinde faction met Raj Thackeray separately on various occasions.

    Both Shinde and Fadnavis had also met the MNS chief separately.

    Raj Thackeray also wrote a letter to his ‘friend’ Fadnavis, hailing him for setting an example of loyalty and commitment to one’s party by taking over as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state.

    Officially, each side has declined to comment on a possible tie-up in the state. After Fadnavis, Shinde met Raj Thackeray at the Deepotsav event, said Raju Patil, MNS’ lone MLA. He said they are closer by heart but will go ahead with whatever the leadership says.

    With the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena aligning with the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the talks of a new political realignment between BJP and MNS are getting louder.

    The possibility of such a scenario comes at a time when civic body polls are around the corner, especially the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections.

    Sujata Anandan, the author of ‘Hindu Hriday Samrat’  How the Shiv Sena changed Mumbai forever, said it is clear that Raj Thackeray’s MNS will go with the BJP as it is not a threat to the party.

    More importantly, Raj Thackeray’s politics since he parted ways with Shiv Sena in 2006 has worked against Uddhav Thackeray, Anandan told PTI.

    Ketan Bhosale, an associate professor at Mumbai University’s Sathaye College, said Raj Thackeray leaned towards Hindutva two years back and shares the same cause with the BJP and the Shinde faction.

    “The MNS chief had done ‘somersaults’ in the past and he is fiercely against Uddhav. This has happened in the past and at every juncture, Raj was always in the camp opposite Uddhav,” Bhosale said, adding the upcoming BMC elections could also be the last chance to consolidate MNS, which is trying to stay relevant politically.

    The MNS was founded in 2006 after Raj Thackeray quit Shiv Sena over who would be Bal Thackeray’s political heir.

    He took up the issue of the sons-of-the-soil, the agenda on which Shiv Sena was built in 1966.

    In 2007, in its debut municipal polls, the MNS won seven seats in Mumbai, followed by 27 in 2012- the highest so far for the party in Mumbai, one of its core base areas. In 2017, it won only seven seats.

    In 2009, riding on the “Marathi manoos” plank, Raj Thackeray ate into the votes of Shiv Sena and BJP in Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nashik.

    In the Assembly elections held that year, MNS bagged 13 of the 288 seats. This paved the way for an easy win for the Congress-NCP combine, mainly at the cost of Shiv Sena.

    “The MNS’ performance in the first assembly election after it was formed far exceeded the Shiv Sena’s historic performance ” the party (the Shiv Sena) crossed single digits only in 1990,— author Dhaval Kulkarni writes in his book ‘The Cousins Thackeray” Uddhav, Raj and the shadow of their Sena’.

    The 2009 Assembly polls remain the best performance of MNS so far. It has been on a rapid slide since.

    In 2014, the MNS contested 219 seats and forfeited its deposit in 209. It won just one seat and bagged 3.15 per cent of the votes.

    In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Raj Thackeray openly advocated the candidature of Narendra Modi for the prime minister’s post and fielded candidates mostly against the Sena.

    More than a year ahead of the polls, he also visited Gujarat and praised Modi. In the 2019 general elections, Raj Thackeray did a U-turn and took up cudgels against Modi. Experts view this as help offered to the Congress-NCP alliance.

    In the Assembly polls held in the same year, the MNS contested 101 seats and forfeited its deposit in 86 segments. It bagged only one seat in the state and garnered 2.25 per cent votes.

    Cut to 2022, Shiv Sena disintegrated by Shinde’s rebellion, it remains interesting to see if MNS fills the void and attracts Marathi votes in alliance with BJP and the Shinde faction.

    MUMBAI: With altered political equations in the state, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena appears to be gravitating towards the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, a key factor to watch for ahead of the Mumbai civic polls where Marathi votes play a crucial role.

    Ever since the fall of the government led by Raj Thackeray’s estranged cousin and arch-rival Uddhav Thackeray in June, the bonhomie between Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis has led to a buzz of new political alignments.

    Shinde and Fadnavis met Raj Thackeray for MNS’ Deepotsav event in Shivaji Park on the eve of Diwali.

    The brewing chemistry was evident when the trio walked together to the venue in Shivaji Park from the residence of the MNS chief.

    Last month, Raj Thackeray had written a letter to Fadnavis, urging him to withdraw BJP’s candidate from the Andheri East Assembly bypoll in favour of late Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke’s wife.

    The BJP later withdrew its candidate from the race, for which Raj Thackeray thanked Fadnavis.

    In the months leading to the fall of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, Raj Thackeray had raised the issue of loudspeakers at mosques and announced to visit Ayodhya.

    After the change in guard in Maharashtra, leaders of the BJP and the Shinde faction met Raj Thackeray separately on various occasions.

    Both Shinde and Fadnavis had also met the MNS chief separately.

    Raj Thackeray also wrote a letter to his ‘friend’ Fadnavis, hailing him for setting an example of loyalty and commitment to one’s party by taking over as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state.

    Officially, each side has declined to comment on a possible tie-up in the state. After Fadnavis, Shinde met Raj Thackeray at the Deepotsav event, said Raju Patil, MNS’ lone MLA. He said they are closer by heart but will go ahead with whatever the leadership says.

    With the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena aligning with the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the talks of a new political realignment between BJP and MNS are getting louder.

    The possibility of such a scenario comes at a time when civic body polls are around the corner, especially the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections.

    Sujata Anandan, the author of ‘Hindu Hriday Samrat’  How the Shiv Sena changed Mumbai forever, said it is clear that Raj Thackeray’s MNS will go with the BJP as it is not a threat to the party.

    More importantly, Raj Thackeray’s politics since he parted ways with Shiv Sena in 2006 has worked against Uddhav Thackeray, Anandan told PTI.

    Ketan Bhosale, an associate professor at Mumbai University’s Sathaye College, said Raj Thackeray leaned towards Hindutva two years back and shares the same cause with the BJP and the Shinde faction.

    “The MNS chief had done ‘somersaults’ in the past and he is fiercely against Uddhav. This has happened in the past and at every juncture, Raj was always in the camp opposite Uddhav,” Bhosale said, adding the upcoming BMC elections could also be the last chance to consolidate MNS, which is trying to stay relevant politically.

    The MNS was founded in 2006 after Raj Thackeray quit Shiv Sena over who would be Bal Thackeray’s political heir.

    He took up the issue of the sons-of-the-soil, the agenda on which Shiv Sena was built in 1966.

    In 2007, in its debut municipal polls, the MNS won seven seats in Mumbai, followed by 27 in 2012- the highest so far for the party in Mumbai, one of its core base areas. In 2017, it won only seven seats.

    In 2009, riding on the “Marathi manoos” plank, Raj Thackeray ate into the votes of Shiv Sena and BJP in Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nashik.

    In the Assembly elections held that year, MNS bagged 13 of the 288 seats. This paved the way for an easy win for the Congress-NCP combine, mainly at the cost of Shiv Sena.

    “The MNS’ performance in the first assembly election after it was formed far exceeded the Shiv Sena’s historic performance ” the party (the Shiv Sena) crossed single digits only in 1990,— author Dhaval Kulkarni writes in his book ‘The Cousins Thackeray” Uddhav, Raj and the shadow of their Sena’.

    The 2009 Assembly polls remain the best performance of MNS so far. It has been on a rapid slide since.

    In 2014, the MNS contested 219 seats and forfeited its deposit in 209. It won just one seat and bagged 3.15 per cent of the votes.

    In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Raj Thackeray openly advocated the candidature of Narendra Modi for the prime minister’s post and fielded candidates mostly against the Sena.

    More than a year ahead of the polls, he also visited Gujarat and praised Modi. In the 2019 general elections, Raj Thackeray did a U-turn and took up cudgels against Modi. Experts view this as help offered to the Congress-NCP alliance.

    In the Assembly polls held in the same year, the MNS contested 101 seats and forfeited its deposit in 86 segments. It bagged only one seat in the state and garnered 2.25 per cent votes.

    Cut to 2022, Shiv Sena disintegrated by Shinde’s rebellion, it remains interesting to see if MNS fills the void and attracts Marathi votes in alliance with BJP and the Shinde faction.

  • Unemployment, price rise rampant since 2014: Rahul Gandhi

    By PTI

    MEDAK: Continuing the tirade against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AICC leader Rahul Gandhi who is leading the over 3,500 KM Bharat Jodo Yatra on Saturday alleged that unemployment and price rise are rampant since 2014 in the country.

    Speaking in a corner meeting at Peddapur village in Medak district, Gandhi alleged that the NDA government is privatising public sector undertakings such as BHEL and Railways.

    “Whenever I meet youth during the foot march they talk about unemployment. You should understand why there is unemployment in the country. You must have observed that unemployment and price rise are rampant since 2014 in the country,” the Congress leader said.

    He further said farmers and small and medium businesses provide more employment and livelihood to people, than big business houses.

    He called a farmer Nagi Reddy on the dais and asked him to explain the situation of farmers in Telangana.

    After Reddy spoke about the indirect impact of GST on agriculture, Gandhi said Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and Agriculture Minister of the state should learn from Nagi Reddy and listen to the problems of farmers across the state.

    He said today, the yatra is aimed to free India from the clutches of unemployment, inflation and “hatred spread by RSS and BJP.”

    Alleging that the TRS and BJP work in tandem, the Gandhi scion said the black farm laws introduced by the NDA government in Parliament were supported by KCR’s party.

    He said people’s support for the Yatra is overwhelming and he is glad to receive the support and love from the public.

    MEDAK: Continuing the tirade against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AICC leader Rahul Gandhi who is leading the over 3,500 KM Bharat Jodo Yatra on Saturday alleged that unemployment and price rise are rampant since 2014 in the country.

    Speaking in a corner meeting at Peddapur village in Medak district, Gandhi alleged that the NDA government is privatising public sector undertakings such as BHEL and Railways.

    “Whenever I meet youth during the foot march they talk about unemployment. You should understand why there is unemployment in the country. You must have observed that unemployment and price rise are rampant since 2014 in the country,” the Congress leader said.

    He further said farmers and small and medium businesses provide more employment and livelihood to people, than big business houses.

    He called a farmer Nagi Reddy on the dais and asked him to explain the situation of farmers in Telangana.

    After Reddy spoke about the indirect impact of GST on agriculture, Gandhi said Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and Agriculture Minister of the state should learn from Nagi Reddy and listen to the problems of farmers across the state.

    He said today, the yatra is aimed to free India from the clutches of unemployment, inflation and “hatred spread by RSS and BJP.”

    Alleging that the TRS and BJP work in tandem, the Gandhi scion said the black farm laws introduced by the NDA government in Parliament were supported by KCR’s party.

    He said people’s support for the Yatra is overwhelming and he is glad to receive the support and love from the public.

  • Bypolls results 2022: Counting of votes for 7 Assembly seats in 6 states today

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: The counting of votes in the by-elections to the seven Assembly constituencies spread across six states will be held on Sunday.

    The fierce battle is between Bharatiya Janata Party and regional parties such as the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Samajwadi Party (SP), and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

    The polling was held on November 3 in Mokama and Gopalganj assembly constituencies of Bihar, Andheri (East) of Maharashtra, Adampur of Haryana, Munugode of Telangana, Gola Gokarannath of Uttar Pradesh, and Dhamnagar of Odisha.

    Among the seven seats where by-polls were held, the BJP held three seats, the Congress two while the Shiv Sena and the RJD had one each.

    In the Assembly bypolls held across six states, the Munugode constituency in Telangana recorded the highest voter turnout, as per Election Commission trends.

    According to EC’s approximate trends, 48.35 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the Gopalganj constituency while 52.47 per cent was recorded in Mokama in Bihar. With 77.55 per cent voting, Telangana’s Munugode recorded the highest voter turnout. Further, the Adampur constituency in Haryana witnessed a 75.25 per cent voter turnout.

    In Odisha, there was 66.63 per cent voter turnout recorded in Dhamnagar Assembly constituency bypolls. Gola Gokrannath constituency in Uttar Pradesh recorded a 55.68 per cent voter turnout. Meanwhile, the high-octane Andheri East constituency in Maharashtra witnessed the lowest voter turnout at 31.74 per cent, as per EC’s approximate trends.

    Haryana’s Adampur seat witnessed the contest between BJP, Congress, Indian National Lok Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

    In Adampur, the by-election was necessitated after former chief minister Bhajan Lal’s son Kuldeep Bishnoi resigned as MLA from the seat and switched from the Congress to the BJP in August. Bishnoi’s son Bhavya contested the bypoll as the BJP candidate.

    The Congress fielded former Union minister Jai Prakash while the INLD picked Congress rebel Kurda Ram Nambardar as its candidate. Satender Singh was AAP’s candidate.

    Notably, the Adampur seat is considered a stronghold of Bishnoi.

    In Andheri East, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena faction’s candidate Rutuja Latke, the wife of incumbent Sena MLA Ramesh Latke whose death in May necessitated the poll, is expected to comfortably win the by-polls as the BJP had decided not to contest.

    This was the first election after the revolt in the Shiv Sena by Eknath Shinde and 39 other legislators which led to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

    The NCP and Congress have also supported the candidature of Rutuja Latke.

    The bypoll Telangana’s Munugode Assembly constituency was necessitated after Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy quit the Congress and also as MLA in August and joined the BJP.

    While 47 candidates are in the fray, the eye is on BJP’s Raj Gopal Reddy, former TRS MLA Kusukuntla Prabhakar Reddy and Congress’ Palvai Sravanthi.

    The bypoll results is a prestige battle for Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is planning for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    In Bihar, this was the first major election after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar parted his ways with BJP and joined hands with RJD and Congress to form a Grand Alliance government.

    The main contest is between the BJP and the RJD in Bihar

    For the Mokama bypolls, the BJP has fielded Sonam Devi against RJD’s Neelam Devi, whose husband Anant Singh’s disqualification has necessitated the by-election.

    Notably, Mokama is said to be the stronghold of Anant Singh since 2005. He won the seat twice on JD(U) tickets.

    BJP has given the ticket to Kusum Devi, the wife of incumbent BJP MLA Subhash Singh while RJD has fielded Mohan Prasad Gupta for Goapalgunj by-election.

    The BJP is seeking to retain the Gola Gokarannath seat in Uttar Pradesh, which fell vacant after the death of BJP MLA Arvind Giri in September.

    With the BSP and the Congress keeping away from the bypolls, the fight is between the BJP’s Aman Giri and the SP candidate and former Gola Gokarannath MLA Vinay Tiwari.

    In Odisha’s Dhamnagar bypoll, there seems to be a tough contest between ruling BJD candidate Abanti Das and BJP candidate Suryabanshi Suraj Sthitaprajana, the son of Bishnu Sethi, BJP MLA after whose death, the assembly seat fell vacant, as its candidate for the by-election. 

    NEW DELHI: The counting of votes in the by-elections to the seven Assembly constituencies spread across six states will be held on Sunday.

    The fierce battle is between Bharatiya Janata Party and regional parties such as the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Samajwadi Party (SP), and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

    The polling was held on November 3 in Mokama and Gopalganj assembly constituencies of Bihar, Andheri (East) of Maharashtra, Adampur of Haryana, Munugode of Telangana, Gola Gokarannath of Uttar Pradesh, and Dhamnagar of Odisha.

    Among the seven seats where by-polls were held, the BJP held three seats, the Congress two while the Shiv Sena and the RJD had one each.

    In the Assembly bypolls held across six states, the Munugode constituency in Telangana recorded the highest voter turnout, as per Election Commission trends.

    According to EC’s approximate trends, 48.35 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the Gopalganj constituency while 52.47 per cent was recorded in Mokama in Bihar. With 77.55 per cent voting, Telangana’s Munugode recorded the highest voter turnout. Further, the Adampur constituency in Haryana witnessed a 75.25 per cent voter turnout.

    In Odisha, there was 66.63 per cent voter turnout recorded in Dhamnagar Assembly constituency bypolls. Gola Gokrannath constituency in Uttar Pradesh recorded a 55.68 per cent voter turnout. Meanwhile, the high-octane Andheri East constituency in Maharashtra witnessed the lowest voter turnout at 31.74 per cent, as per EC’s approximate trends.

    Haryana’s Adampur seat witnessed the contest between BJP, Congress, Indian National Lok Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

    In Adampur, the by-election was necessitated after former chief minister Bhajan Lal’s son Kuldeep Bishnoi resigned as MLA from the seat and switched from the Congress to the BJP in August. Bishnoi’s son Bhavya contested the bypoll as the BJP candidate.

    The Congress fielded former Union minister Jai Prakash while the INLD picked Congress rebel Kurda Ram Nambardar as its candidate. Satender Singh was AAP’s candidate.

    Notably, the Adampur seat is considered a stronghold of Bishnoi.

    In Andheri East, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena faction’s candidate Rutuja Latke, the wife of incumbent Sena MLA Ramesh Latke whose death in May necessitated the poll, is expected to comfortably win the by-polls as the BJP had decided not to contest.

    This was the first election after the revolt in the Shiv Sena by Eknath Shinde and 39 other legislators which led to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

    The NCP and Congress have also supported the candidature of Rutuja Latke.

    The bypoll Telangana’s Munugode Assembly constituency was necessitated after Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy quit the Congress and also as MLA in August and joined the BJP.

    While 47 candidates are in the fray, the eye is on BJP’s Raj Gopal Reddy, former TRS MLA Kusukuntla Prabhakar Reddy and Congress’ Palvai Sravanthi.

    The bypoll results is a prestige battle for Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is planning for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    In Bihar, this was the first major election after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar parted his ways with BJP and joined hands with RJD and Congress to form a Grand Alliance government.

    The main contest is between the BJP and the RJD in Bihar

    For the Mokama bypolls, the BJP has fielded Sonam Devi against RJD’s Neelam Devi, whose husband Anant Singh’s disqualification has necessitated the by-election.

    Notably, Mokama is said to be the stronghold of Anant Singh since 2005. He won the seat twice on JD(U) tickets.

    BJP has given the ticket to Kusum Devi, the wife of incumbent BJP MLA Subhash Singh while RJD has fielded Mohan Prasad Gupta for Goapalgunj by-election.

    The BJP is seeking to retain the Gola Gokarannath seat in Uttar Pradesh, which fell vacant after the death of BJP MLA Arvind Giri in September.

    With the BSP and the Congress keeping away from the bypolls, the fight is between the BJP’s Aman Giri and the SP candidate and former Gola Gokarannath MLA Vinay Tiwari.

    In Odisha’s Dhamnagar bypoll, there seems to be a tough contest between ruling BJD candidate Abanti Das and BJP candidate Suryabanshi Suraj Sthitaprajana, the son of Bishnu Sethi, BJP MLA after whose death, the assembly seat fell vacant, as its candidate for the by-election. 

  • Gujarat assembly polls: Congress leader Himanshu Vyas joins BJP 

    By PTI

    GANDHINAGAR: Senior Congress leader Himanshu Vyas joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Saturday.

    BJP leader and Union home minister Amit Shah welcomed him into the party fold. The development came ahead of the next month’s Assembly elections in Gujarat.

    Vyas, who held the post of secretary in the Congress, blamed the party leadership for his decision to quit, saying those who work for the party are ignored while sycophants get ahead.

    “The Congress leadership has failed in people’s eyes and also failed in communicating with party workers,” he told reporters.

    “The leadership is surrounded by people who do not allow true workers to approach the leadership,” he added.

    He had been sidelined in the Congress for the last two years, Vyas claimed.

    Vyas had fought election twice from Wadhwan Assembly seat in Surendranagar district of the state but lost both times.

    GANDHINAGAR: Senior Congress leader Himanshu Vyas joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Saturday.

    BJP leader and Union home minister Amit Shah welcomed him into the party fold. The development came ahead of the next month’s Assembly elections in Gujarat.

    Vyas, who held the post of secretary in the Congress, blamed the party leadership for his decision to quit, saying those who work for the party are ignored while sycophants get ahead.

    “The Congress leadership has failed in people’s eyes and also failed in communicating with party workers,” he told reporters.

    “The leadership is surrounded by people who do not allow true workers to approach the leadership,” he added.

    He had been sidelined in the Congress for the last two years, Vyas claimed.

    Vyas had fought election twice from Wadhwan Assembly seat in Surendranagar district of the state but lost both times.

  • Assam: BJP gaining from minority-based AIUDF’s existence, says Congress

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The Congress in Assam believes it can regain its lost ground if people start rejecting the minority-based All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).

    The Congress said the AIUDF was largely responsible for the growth of the BJP-RSS in Assam.

    Recently, AIUDF chief and Lok Sabha member Maulana Badruddin Ajmal had sent feelers to the Congress for an alliance but it spurned the offer. The Congress accused the AIUDF of working at the behest of the saffron party.

    Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah said the AIUDF and the BJP were the two sides of the same coin.

    “The Congress will do everything possible to ensure the defeat of the AIUDF in the Dhubri seat in the next Lok Sabha elections. People who participated in the Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra in Dhubri told me they are with us as we rejected Ajmal’s offer to align with the AIUDF,” Borah told journalists. 

    Ajmal, also a perfume baron, is the Dhubri MP.

    “People want us not to align with the AIUDF. The AIUDF is the BJP’s elixir. The growth of the BJP-RSS in Assam started ever since the birth of the AIUDF (in 2005). The BJP will suffer an existential crisis the day people start rejecting the AIUDF,” Borah said.

    Two days ago, Ajmal had made a vitriolic attack on the Congress, claiming that the party’s state leaders do not speak up against the BJP as they regularly receive money from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who also sponsors their foreign trips.

    The BJP pilloried both parties. “They have a tacit understanding but they pretend they are at loggerheads with each other. It was apparent in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when the AIUDF did not set up candidates in certain seats to ensure the Congress gets the minority votes,” BJP spokesperson Rupam Goswami said.

    Ahead of last year’s Assembly elections, the Congress had taken the lead in the formation of a grand alliance of opposition parties. The basic idea was to thwart the division of anti-BJP votes. The AIUDF was a key component of the formation.

    It worked in favour of the AIUDF, which holds sway in the Muslim-majority seats but backfired for the Congress in the Assamese-majority seats. Many in the state, who view the AIUDF as the “protector” of the migrant Muslims, had rejected the Congress.

    After the results were declared, Congress and the AIUDF had fallen apart. They blamed each other for failing to prevent the BJP from retaining power.

    GUWAHATI: The Congress in Assam believes it can regain its lost ground if people start rejecting the minority-based All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).

    The Congress said the AIUDF was largely responsible for the growth of the BJP-RSS in Assam.

    Recently, AIUDF chief and Lok Sabha member Maulana Badruddin Ajmal had sent feelers to the Congress for an alliance but it spurned the offer. The Congress accused the AIUDF of working at the behest of the saffron party.

    Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah said the AIUDF and the BJP were the two sides of the same coin.

    “The Congress will do everything possible to ensure the defeat of the AIUDF in the Dhubri seat in the next Lok Sabha elections. People who participated in the Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra in Dhubri told me they are with us as we rejected Ajmal’s offer to align with the AIUDF,” Borah told journalists. 

    Ajmal, also a perfume baron, is the Dhubri MP.

    “People want us not to align with the AIUDF. The AIUDF is the BJP’s elixir. The growth of the BJP-RSS in Assam started ever since the birth of the AIUDF (in 2005). The BJP will suffer an existential crisis the day people start rejecting the AIUDF,” Borah said.

    Two days ago, Ajmal had made a vitriolic attack on the Congress, claiming that the party’s state leaders do not speak up against the BJP as they regularly receive money from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who also sponsors their foreign trips.

    The BJP pilloried both parties. “They have a tacit understanding but they pretend they are at loggerheads with each other. It was apparent in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when the AIUDF did not set up candidates in certain seats to ensure the Congress gets the minority votes,” BJP spokesperson Rupam Goswami said.

    Ahead of last year’s Assembly elections, the Congress had taken the lead in the formation of a grand alliance of opposition parties. The basic idea was to thwart the division of anti-BJP votes. The AIUDF was a key component of the formation.

    It worked in favour of the AIUDF, which holds sway in the Muslim-majority seats but backfired for the Congress in the Assamese-majority seats. Many in the state, who view the AIUDF as the “protector” of the migrant Muslims, had rejected the Congress.

    After the results were declared, Congress and the AIUDF had fallen apart. They blamed each other for failing to prevent the BJP from retaining power.

  • Gujarat Polls: AAP candidates being decided by BJP, alleges Congress

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress party on Saturday alleged that the AAP was working in collusion with the BJP for the upcoming Gujarat assembly polls and that the candidates of Arvind Kejriwal’s outfit were being decided by the saffron party.

    Former Gujarat MLA Indranil Rajguru, who quit the Aam Aadmi Party to rejoin the Congress on Friday, said he was asking for tickets for 15 AAP leaders who were in a strong position to win but tickets were being given to candidates “who could help the BJP in the polls.”

    “I took a stand against this because I had joined AAP to defeat the BJP, not the Congress. I was told, ‘don’t be stubborn.’ The list comes from Kamalam (BJP office in Gujarat),” Rajguru claimed on Saturday at a press conference at the AICC headquarters here.

    Rajguru, who had joined the AAP after quitting the Congress in April this year, returned to the grand old party, citing that it was the best option for defeating the BJP in Gujarat. Rajguru also alleged that on October 1 when both AAP chief ministers — Delhi’s Arvind’s Kejriwal and Punjab’s Bhagwant Mann — came to Rajkot together in a chartered plane, they brought bags of cash with them.

    He said when he asked where the cash came from, it was gestured to him that it came by plane. Rajguru, however, did not substantiate his allegation.

    AICC in-charge of Gujarat Raghu Sharma alleged collusion between the BJP and AAP for the assembly polls and asked how it is possible to “bring cash in a chartered plane” without the knowledge of the Centre.

    Congress’ media department head Pawan Khera said Rajguru became disillusioned with AAP and rejoined the Congress within months of leaving it.

    “When we call them (AAP) the B-team of the BJP. Why do they get upset?” he said. These are serious charges and need to be answered by AAP and “their masters”, the BJP, Khera said.

    Rajguru had on Friday joined the Congress in the presence of AICC Gujarat in-charge Raghu Sharma, Gujarat Congress chief Jagdish Thakor, Congress legislature party leader Sukhram Rathava and other senior leaders.

    The Congress is seeking to oust the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the government in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where the saffron party has been in power for more than two decades.

    Elections to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases — December 1 and 5 — and the votes will be counted on December 8.READ | Gujarat: AAP to make election fight more difficult in seats won by lowest margin in 2017

    NEW DELHI: The Congress party on Saturday alleged that the AAP was working in collusion with the BJP for the upcoming Gujarat assembly polls and that the candidates of Arvind Kejriwal’s outfit were being decided by the saffron party.

    Former Gujarat MLA Indranil Rajguru, who quit the Aam Aadmi Party to rejoin the Congress on Friday, said he was asking for tickets for 15 AAP leaders who were in a strong position to win but tickets were being given to candidates “who could help the BJP in the polls.”

    “I took a stand against this because I had joined AAP to defeat the BJP, not the Congress. I was told, ‘don’t be stubborn.’ The list comes from Kamalam (BJP office in Gujarat),” Rajguru claimed on Saturday at a press conference at the AICC headquarters here.

    Rajguru, who had joined the AAP after quitting the Congress in April this year, returned to the grand old party, citing that it was the best option for defeating the BJP in Gujarat. Rajguru also alleged that on October 1 when both AAP chief ministers — Delhi’s Arvind’s Kejriwal and Punjab’s Bhagwant Mann — came to Rajkot together in a chartered plane, they brought bags of cash with them.

    He said when he asked where the cash came from, it was gestured to him that it came by plane. Rajguru, however, did not substantiate his allegation.

    AICC in-charge of Gujarat Raghu Sharma alleged collusion between the BJP and AAP for the assembly polls and asked how it is possible to “bring cash in a chartered plane” without the knowledge of the Centre.

    Congress’ media department head Pawan Khera said Rajguru became disillusioned with AAP and rejoined the Congress within months of leaving it.

    “When we call them (AAP) the B-team of the BJP. Why do they get upset?” he said. These are serious charges and need to be answered by AAP and “their masters”, the BJP, Khera said.

    Rajguru had on Friday joined the Congress in the presence of AICC Gujarat in-charge Raghu Sharma, Gujarat Congress chief Jagdish Thakor, Congress legislature party leader Sukhram Rathava and other senior leaders.

    The Congress is seeking to oust the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the government in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where the saffron party has been in power for more than two decades.

    Elections to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases — December 1 and 5 — and the votes will be counted on December 8.READ | Gujarat: AAP to make election fight more difficult in seats won by lowest margin in 2017