News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Congress releases party manifesto for HP assembly polls

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: The Congress on Saturday released its manifesto for the November 12 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections in the presence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

    The party has promised to implement the old pension scheme, 30 units of free power and Rs 10 crore ‘StartUp fund’ in each constituency.

    Others present at the party’s poll manifesto release included AICC in-charge for Himachal Rajeev Shukla, former PCC chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and AICC secretaries Tejinder Pal Bittu and Manish Chatrath.

    Party’s poll manifesto committee chairman Dhani Ram Shandil said the BJP has failed to live up to the expectations of people and has not fulfilled the promises made five years ago.

    “This is not just a poll manifesto but a document prepared for the development and welfare of the people of Himachal Pradesh,” Shandil said.

    The Congress is banking on the anti-incumbency factor and urging voters not to reelect the BJP in the state.

    SHIMLA: The Congress on Saturday released its manifesto for the November 12 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections in the presence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

    The party has promised to implement the old pension scheme, 30 units of free power and Rs 10 crore ‘StartUp fund’ in each constituency.

    Others present at the party’s poll manifesto release included AICC in-charge for Himachal Rajeev Shukla, former PCC chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and AICC secretaries Tejinder Pal Bittu and Manish Chatrath.

    Party’s poll manifesto committee chairman Dhani Ram Shandil said the BJP has failed to live up to the expectations of people and has not fulfilled the promises made five years ago.

    “This is not just a poll manifesto but a document prepared for the development and welfare of the people of Himachal Pradesh,” Shandil said.

    The Congress is banking on the anti-incumbency factor and urging voters not to reelect the BJP in the state.

  • Guwahati Diary

    Express News Service

    Congress Yatra route upsets AIUDF’s Ajmal Assam MP Maulana Badruddin Ajmal said the Congress’ state leaders cannot speak up against the BJP as they regularly receive money from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He said only a united Opposition can defeat BJP, but none in Assam Congress has the gut to raise their voice against the ruling party. “They are all paid leaders. They get money on a monthly basis from the CM. Therefore, it is obvious that they will not speak up against the BJP,” Ajmal, chief of minority-based All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), said. He was livid that Congress launched the state version of its “Bharat Jodo Yatra” from his Dhubri constituency and not upper Assam, the BJP’s stronghold.

    Gharial sightings in Brahmaputra thrill CMGharial (Gavialis gangeticus) has not disappeared from the waters of Assam as thought. Two sightings this year have got Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma thrilled. Sharing a video, he tweeted, “Great news for all wildlifers: Gharial was thought to be extinct in the waters of Assam, especially river Brahmaputra. This new sighting becomes important in view of another sighting in March this year in Kaziranga at Silghat.” Listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 as critically endangered, this reptile species is also known as gavial or the fish-eating crocodile. It is among the longest of all living crocodilians. 

    Rs 5,000 cr for facelift of 1,000 schoolsState-run schools in Assam will soon get a facelift. After a recent visit to five such schools in Guwahati, including one where he studied, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said the government would spend Rs 5,000 crore over the next few years to improve the infrastructure of 1,000 state-run schools. The state’s government schools had started in small buildings and later additional classrooms were added. The chief minister wants classrooms in one building so that the remaining areas can be used for other activities. Recently, he had a Twitter war with his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal over the quality of education. 

    prasanta mazumdarOur correspondent in [email protected]

    Congress Yatra route upsets AIUDF’s Ajmal 
    Assam MP Maulana Badruddin Ajmal said the Congress’ state leaders cannot speak up against the BJP as they regularly receive money from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He said only a united Opposition can defeat BJP, but none in Assam Congress has the gut to raise their voice against the ruling party. “They are all paid leaders. They get money on a monthly basis from the CM. Therefore, it is obvious that they will not speak up against the BJP,” Ajmal, chief of minority-based All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), said. He was livid that Congress launched the state version of its “Bharat Jodo Yatra” from his Dhubri constituency and not upper Assam, the BJP’s stronghold.

    Gharial sightings in Brahmaputra thrill CM
    Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) has not disappeared from the waters of Assam as thought. Two sightings this year have got Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma thrilled. Sharing a video, he tweeted, “Great news for all wildlifers: Gharial was thought to be extinct in the waters of Assam, especially river Brahmaputra. This new sighting becomes important in view of another sighting in March this year in Kaziranga at Silghat.” Listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 as critically endangered, this reptile species is also known as gavial or the fish-eating crocodile. It is among the longest of all living crocodilians. 

    Rs 5,000 cr for facelift of 1,000 schools
    State-run schools in Assam will soon get a facelift. After a recent visit to five such schools in Guwahati, including one where he studied, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said the government would spend Rs 5,000 crore over the next few years to improve the infrastructure of 1,000 state-run schools. The state’s government schools had started in small buildings and later additional classrooms were added. The chief minister wants classrooms in one building so that the remaining areas can be used for other activities. Recently, he had a Twitter war with his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal over the quality of education. 

    prasanta mazumdar
    Our correspondent in Guwahati
    [email protected]

  • BJP expects to win more seats in Gujarat than forecast in opinion poll

    By IANS

    AHMEDABAD: The ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) looks all set to sweep the forthcoming Assembly elections in Gujarat scheduled to be held in two phases on December 1 and 5, according to an exclusive CVoter-ABP Gujarat Opinion Poll conducted to gauge popular perceptions and voting intent of adult citizens in the state.

    According to the opinion poll, the BJP is projected to win between 131 and 139 seats in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly. In the previous Assembly polls in 2017, the BJP had won 99 seats. The Congress’ tally is expected to drop precipitously from 77 seats in 2017 to between 31 and 39 seats this time.

    The surprise package is the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which is projected to win between 7 and 15 seats. As a party, AAP was non-existent in Gujarat in the 2017 elections. The survey hinted that AAP is going to eat a large share of Congress votes in the upcoming elections.

    Commenting on the opinion poll, Gujarat BJP chief spokesperson Yamal Vyas told IANS, “We are expecting even more seats than what has been projected in the survey. And as far as the AAP is concerned, it will draw a blank in Gujarat.”

    On the other, Congress and AAP dismissed the opinion poll, claiming that it is only meant to mislead the voters.

    Congress spokesman Amit Nayak told IANS, “Opinion polls have proven to be wrong a number of times in the past. BJP has brought AAP and AIMIM to Gujarat to divide anti-incumbency votes. But this time its strategy will fail, as people have started realising that AAP is the ‘B’ team of BJP. Contrary to the opinion poll, Congress will come to power in Gujarat by winning at least 125 seats.”

    AAP spokesman Yogesh Jadvani told IANS, “Thrice in Delhi and once in Punjab, people have proved that these surveys can be completely wrong, and this will be repeated in Gujarat elections too, as people have decided to change the state government.”

    If AAP is getting 20 per cent vote share, as predicted by the opinion poll, there is every possibility that it will dent the ruling party’s (BJP) vote share too, said political analyst Dilip Gohil.

    While early indications are that BJP is benefitting a lot from AAP’s presence, things can change, he added.

    AHMEDABAD: The ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) looks all set to sweep the forthcoming Assembly elections in Gujarat scheduled to be held in two phases on December 1 and 5, according to an exclusive CVoter-ABP Gujarat Opinion Poll conducted to gauge popular perceptions and voting intent of adult citizens in the state.

    According to the opinion poll, the BJP is projected to win between 131 and 139 seats in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly. In the previous Assembly polls in 2017, the BJP had won 99 seats. The Congress’ tally is expected to drop precipitously from 77 seats in 2017 to between 31 and 39 seats this time.

    The surprise package is the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which is projected to win between 7 and 15 seats. As a party, AAP was non-existent in Gujarat in the 2017 elections. The survey hinted that AAP is going to eat a large share of Congress votes in the upcoming elections.

    Commenting on the opinion poll, Gujarat BJP chief spokesperson Yamal Vyas told IANS, “We are expecting even more seats than what has been projected in the survey. And as far as the AAP is concerned, it will draw a blank in Gujarat.”

    On the other, Congress and AAP dismissed the opinion poll, claiming that it is only meant to mislead the voters.

    Congress spokesman Amit Nayak told IANS, “Opinion polls have proven to be wrong a number of times in the past. BJP has brought AAP and AIMIM to Gujarat to divide anti-incumbency votes. But this time its strategy will fail, as people have started realising that AAP is the ‘B’ team of BJP. Contrary to the opinion poll, Congress will come to power in Gujarat by winning at least 125 seats.”

    AAP spokesman Yogesh Jadvani told IANS, “Thrice in Delhi and once in Punjab, people have proved that these surveys can be completely wrong, and this will be repeated in Gujarat elections too, as people have decided to change the state government.”

    If AAP is getting 20 per cent vote share, as predicted by the opinion poll, there is every possibility that it will dent the ruling party’s (BJP) vote share too, said political analyst Dilip Gohil.

    While early indications are that BJP is benefitting a lot from AAP’s presence, things can change, he added.

  • Gujarat polls 2022: AAP looks to give sleepless nights to the BJP and the Congress

    By Online Desk

    A day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the Gujarat Assembly election dates, political activities have started picking up pace in the State.

    The ECI has announced that elections for the 182 assembly seats in Gujarat will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8.

    Close on the heels of the announcement of dates for the assembly polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal announced a former TV journalist, Isudan Gadhvi, an OBC, as the CM face of his party. Gadhvi was chosen through public opinion in which 73 percent supported him to be the CM face. Gadhvi is the national general secretary of AAP.

    Kejriwal has asserted that AAP will certainly win the Gujarat assembly elections. AAP has already released the list of 118 candidates for the polls. The party is poised to play a crucial role in the polls giving sleepless nights to both the BJP and the Congress.

    Meanwhile, upset reportedly over not being made AAP’s chief ministerial candidate, former legislature Indranil Rajguru on Friday quit the party and joined Congress. He alleged that the Kejriwal-led party has been functioning as a “B-team” of the BJP in the state.

    Also on Friday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge chaired a meeting of the party’s central election committee (CEC) during which several candidates for the Gujarat polls were finalised. Subsequently, the party released the first list of 43 candidates. The Congress has fielded former Gujarat Congress chief Arjun Modhwadiya from Porbandar, Himanshu Patel from Gandhinagar South and Hiteshbhai Vora from Rajkot South. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi joined the meeting online, while the rest of the participants attended it physically at the AICC headquarters in Delhi.

    For the BJP, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday chaired a meeting of top Gujarat BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, to deliberate on the potential candidates for the polls.

    The BJP has been ruling the state since 1995. Though the party has an anti-incumbency factor working against it, the absence of a solid, united opposition can be counted as one of the advantages for the saffron party. A report however points out that the BJP’s seat tally has been declining in each election since 2002. The Deccan Herald reports that BJP’s seat tally has gradually come down to 99 in 2017 from 127 seats in 2002. In 2007, the party won 117 seats while in 2012 it won 116 seats. Between 1962 and 1985, Gujarat remained with the Congress.

    (With inputs from PTI)

    A day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the Gujarat Assembly election dates, political activities have started picking up pace in the State.

    The ECI has announced that elections for the 182 assembly seats in Gujarat will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8.

    Close on the heels of the announcement of dates for the assembly polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal announced a former TV journalist, Isudan Gadhvi, an OBC, as the CM face of his party. Gadhvi was chosen through public opinion in which 73 percent supported him to be the CM face. Gadhvi is the national general secretary of AAP.

    Kejriwal has asserted that AAP will certainly win the Gujarat assembly elections. AAP has already released the list of 118 candidates for the polls. The party is poised to play a crucial role in the polls giving sleepless nights to both the BJP and the Congress.

    Meanwhile, upset reportedly over not being made AAP’s chief ministerial candidate, former legislature Indranil Rajguru on Friday quit the party and joined Congress. He alleged that the Kejriwal-led party has been functioning as a “B-team” of the BJP in the state.

    Also on Friday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge chaired a meeting of the party’s central election committee (CEC) during which several candidates for the Gujarat polls were finalised. Subsequently, the party released the first list of 43 candidates. The Congress has fielded former Gujarat Congress chief Arjun Modhwadiya from Porbandar, Himanshu Patel from Gandhinagar South and Hiteshbhai Vora from Rajkot South. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi joined the meeting online, while the rest of the participants attended it physically at the AICC headquarters in Delhi.

    For the BJP, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday chaired a meeting of top Gujarat BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, to deliberate on the potential candidates for the polls.

    The BJP has been ruling the state since 1995. Though the party has an anti-incumbency factor working against it, the absence of a solid, united opposition can be counted as one of the advantages for the saffron party. A report however points out that the BJP’s seat tally has been declining in each election since 2002. The Deccan Herald reports that BJP’s seat tally has gradually come down to 99 in 2017 from 127 seats in 2002. In 2007, the party won 117 seats while in 2012 it won 116 seats. Between 1962 and 1985, Gujarat remained with the Congress.

    (With inputs from PTI)

  • Pressure on BJP to better its 2017 Gujarat scorecard

    By Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD: The BJP is under pressure to do better than its 2017 performance when the party got a simple majority with an increase in the vote share. Despite a decrease in the number of seats, the party retained a simple majority in the 182-member House.

    The vote share and the number of seats of Congress increased from the previous election in 2012. This was the highest number of seats won by Congress in last 32 years (after the 1985 election, in which Congress won 149 seats).

    The BJP, which has been in power in Gujarat for 27 years, still got nearly 50% of the votes, while the Congress got 41.44%. In 2012, the BJP won 115 seats and 47.85% votes. 

    The Congress tally was 61 seats and 38.93% votes. In 2017, except the BJP and the Congress, there was virtually no other party in the race.

    AHMEDABAD: The BJP is under pressure to do better than its 2017 performance when the party got a simple majority with an increase in the vote share. Despite a decrease in the number of seats, the party retained a simple majority in the 182-member House.

    The vote share and the number of seats of Congress increased from the previous election in 2012. This was the highest number of seats won by Congress in last 32 years (after the 1985 election, in which Congress won 149 seats).

    The BJP, which has been in power in Gujarat for 27 years, still got nearly 50% of the votes, while the Congress got 41.44%. In 2012, the BJP won 115 seats and 47.85% votes. 

    The Congress tally was 61 seats and 38.93% votes. In 2017, except the BJP and the Congress, there was virtually no other party in the race.

  • SWOT analysis: BJP eyeing seventh straight win in Gujarat

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: The Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) will battle anti-incumbency and slug it out with traditional rival Congress and aggressive new player Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) in the next month’s high-octane Assembly elections in Gujarat.

    After winning Gujarat for a record six times in a row since 1995, here is a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the BJP in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

    STRENGTHS:

    *The mass appeal of Prime Minister Modi who remains BJP’s trump card.

    *BJP is banking on its outreach to the Patidars after facing the community’s ire in the 2017 polls over the quota agitation.

    Its decision to make Bhupendra Patel chief minister in September last year and bring the quota stir spearhead Hardik Patel into its fold may work in the party’s favour.

    *The Gujarat unit of the BJP has a formidable organisational setup till the booth level.

    *The ruling party is counting on the plank of Hindutva, development and ‘double engine’ growth.

    Home Minister Shah, considered a master strategist, has been overseeing the preparations.

    READ HERE | Bridge collapse to Bilkis Bano convicts’ remission: Top issues in Gujarat Assembly elections

    WEAKNESSES:

    *The BJP lacks a strong local leader who can fill Prime Minister Modi’s shoes.

    Gujarat had three chief ministers including the incumbent Bhupendra Patel since 2014 after Modi became prime minister.

    Modi was chief minister for 13 years.

    *Besides facing allegations of corruption in the state levelled by the AAP and Congress, the party may face heat on issues like inflation, unemployment and economic distress.

    *AAP’s aggressive campaign has sought to pick holes in the state’s education system and health infrastructure.

    OPPORTUNITIES:

    *A weak opposition could present the BJP with a chance to win seven Assembly elections in a row and match the CPI-M-led Left Front’s feat in West Bengal.

    *The main opposition Congress appears to be missing from the campaign with party leaders apparently preoccupied with Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    *If the BJP is able to halt AAP’s march in Gujarat by restricting it to less than five seats in the 182-member Assembly, it has a chance to limit the Arvind Kejriwal-led party’s ambitions to emerge as the main challenger at the national level.

    THREATS:

    *The recent bridge collapse in Morbi in which 135 people were killed may have an impact on BJP’s electoral fortunes.

    *Infighting within BJP has largely been kept under wraps due to strong central leadership, but a defeat may see the fissures come out in the open.

    *In the event of a hung Assembly, the ruling party may find it difficult to find an ally to cobble a majority.

    *If the AAP manages to win in some places, it could pose a challenge to the BJP.

    The saffron party’s seat tally has been declining in each election since 2002.

    It won 127 seats in 2002, 117 in 2007, 116 in 2012 and 99 in 2017.

    AHMEDABAD: The Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) will battle anti-incumbency and slug it out with traditional rival Congress and aggressive new player Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) in the next month’s high-octane Assembly elections in Gujarat.

    After winning Gujarat for a record six times in a row since 1995, here is a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the BJP in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

    STRENGTHS:

    *The mass appeal of Prime Minister Modi who remains BJP’s trump card.

    *BJP is banking on its outreach to the Patidars after facing the community’s ire in the 2017 polls over the quota agitation.

    Its decision to make Bhupendra Patel chief minister in September last year and bring the quota stir spearhead Hardik Patel into its fold may work in the party’s favour.

    *The Gujarat unit of the BJP has a formidable organisational setup till the booth level.

    *The ruling party is counting on the plank of Hindutva, development and ‘double engine’ growth.

    Home Minister Shah, considered a master strategist, has been overseeing the preparations.

    READ HERE | Bridge collapse to Bilkis Bano convicts’ remission: Top issues in Gujarat Assembly elections

    WEAKNESSES:

    *The BJP lacks a strong local leader who can fill Prime Minister Modi’s shoes.

    Gujarat had three chief ministers including the incumbent Bhupendra Patel since 2014 after Modi became prime minister.

    Modi was chief minister for 13 years.

    *Besides facing allegations of corruption in the state levelled by the AAP and Congress, the party may face heat on issues like inflation, unemployment and economic distress.

    *AAP’s aggressive campaign has sought to pick holes in the state’s education system and health infrastructure.

    OPPORTUNITIES:

    *A weak opposition could present the BJP with a chance to win seven Assembly elections in a row and match the CPI-M-led Left Front’s feat in West Bengal.

    *The main opposition Congress appears to be missing from the campaign with party leaders apparently preoccupied with Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    *If the BJP is able to halt AAP’s march in Gujarat by restricting it to less than five seats in the 182-member Assembly, it has a chance to limit the Arvind Kejriwal-led party’s ambitions to emerge as the main challenger at the national level.

    THREATS:

    *The recent bridge collapse in Morbi in which 135 people were killed may have an impact on BJP’s electoral fortunes.

    *Infighting within BJP has largely been kept under wraps due to strong central leadership, but a defeat may see the fissures come out in the open.

    *In the event of a hung Assembly, the ruling party may find it difficult to find an ally to cobble a majority.

    *If the AAP manages to win in some places, it could pose a challenge to the BJP.

    The saffron party’s seat tally has been declining in each election since 2002.

    It won 127 seats in 2002, 117 in 2007, 116 in 2012 and 99 in 2017.

  • Amit Shah targets Congress with ‘ma-beta party’ barb in Himachal rally

    By PTI

    CHAMBA, HIMACHAL PRADESH: Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah launched an attack on Tuesday calling the Congress as “ma-beta” party both in Himachal Pradesh and in Delhi, wondering how can those facing a chargesheet provide a good government in the hill state.

    Shah also said that gone are the days of “raja-rani” and it is the “time of common people” in a democracy like India.

    Addressing a public rally here in favour of the BJP candidate in the November 12 Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls and Bhattiyat MLA Bikram Singh Jaryal, Shah urged the voters to re-elect the saffron party to power in the state by breaking the tradition of not repeating a government.

    The Home Minister said he had heard the speeches of Congress leaders and they had nothing to say apart from banking on the tradition of alternative governments in the hill state.

    “Change this tradition of alternative governments and repeat the BJP in the state. Form a BJP government for the second time by breaking this tradition and we will ensure a drugs-free Himachal by putting an end to the business of narcotics here. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji has taken a pledge for a drugs-free India in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,” the home minister said to a roaring audience.

    “I have heard the speeches of Congress leaders. They have nothing to say except stressing on the ‘riwaz’ (tradition),” he said, coining a new slogan — “Ek bar BJP, bar bar BJP”.

    Accusing the Congress of trying to create divisions between upper and lower Himachal, Shah said, “But Rahul baba, upper Himachal and lower Himachal both belong to the BJP and so does every nook and corner of the state.”

    Alleging that the Congress was responsible for “scams” involving a total amount of Rs 12 lakh crore during its government at the Centre, the home minister said, “Still not satiated, they have now come to Himachal Pradesh. How can those facing a chargesheet give a good government in the state?”

    “There is democracy in the country and gone are the days of raja-rani. It is the time of common people. We have to elect a government that works for the development of the state,” he quipped.

    Noting that there is nothing in the name of development in the speeches of the Congress leaders, Shah said, “In Delhi, it is a ma-beta party and here too, it is a ma-beta party, where there is no place for youngsters. Youngsters have a place only in the BJP.”

    His remarks came in an apparent reference to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and Pratibha Singh and her son Vikramaditya Singh in Himachal Pradesh.

    Stressing on Modi’s development plank and his fondness for Himachal Pradesh, he said the prime minister has worked here for years and that is why he is familiar with every corner of the state. Shah also recalled that the BJP has laid a web of roads in the state and that a medical college is coming up in Chamba.

    “When there is a double-engine government, it has its own strength. If anyone has benefitted the most during the Modi government, it is the 80 crore poor people of the country,” he said enumerating a number of central schemes.

    Shah alleged that during the previous UPA rule in the country, terrorists used to behead Indian soldiers every now and then but the Congress leaders would not even say a word as they feared losing their vote bank. “But now, it is the Modi government and not that of mauni baba Manmohan Singh,” he said, referring to the surgical strikes inside Pakistan.

    Shah also reminded people of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying it was Modi who made these things possible.

    “You will see a magnificent, sky-touching Ram temple after 2024 and you should book your tickets,” he said while also highlighting the construction of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi. “The Congress was trying to insult our heritage, our religious sites and icons, but Modiji, without worrying about vote banks, made these possible,” Shah said.

    The home minister paid homage to the jawans from Himachal Pradesh who laid down their lives for the nation and said the state sends the highest number of soldiers to the armed forces.

    Shah is scheduled to address a series of rallies in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh during his two-day tour of the hill state. Polling will be held in Himachal Pradesh on November 12 and the counting of votes taken up on December 8.

    The BJP is seeking re-election in the state, while the Congress is eyeing to wrest power from the saffron party, even as new entrant Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is looking to capture new political space.

    CHAMBA, HIMACHAL PRADESH: Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah launched an attack on Tuesday calling the Congress as “ma-beta” party both in Himachal Pradesh and in Delhi, wondering how can those facing a chargesheet provide a good government in the hill state.

    Shah also said that gone are the days of “raja-rani” and it is the “time of common people” in a democracy like India.

    Addressing a public rally here in favour of the BJP candidate in the November 12 Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls and Bhattiyat MLA Bikram Singh Jaryal, Shah urged the voters to re-elect the saffron party to power in the state by breaking the tradition of not repeating a government.

    The Home Minister said he had heard the speeches of Congress leaders and they had nothing to say apart from banking on the tradition of alternative governments in the hill state.

    “Change this tradition of alternative governments and repeat the BJP in the state. Form a BJP government for the second time by breaking this tradition and we will ensure a drugs-free Himachal by putting an end to the business of narcotics here. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji has taken a pledge for a drugs-free India in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,” the home minister said to a roaring audience.

    “I have heard the speeches of Congress leaders. They have nothing to say except stressing on the ‘riwaz’ (tradition),” he said, coining a new slogan — “Ek bar BJP, bar bar BJP”.

    Accusing the Congress of trying to create divisions between upper and lower Himachal, Shah said, “But Rahul baba, upper Himachal and lower Himachal both belong to the BJP and so does every nook and corner of the state.”

    Alleging that the Congress was responsible for “scams” involving a total amount of Rs 12 lakh crore during its government at the Centre, the home minister said, “Still not satiated, they have now come to Himachal Pradesh. How can those facing a chargesheet give a good government in the state?”

    “There is democracy in the country and gone are the days of raja-rani. It is the time of common people. We have to elect a government that works for the development of the state,” he quipped.

    Noting that there is nothing in the name of development in the speeches of the Congress leaders, Shah said, “In Delhi, it is a ma-beta party and here too, it is a ma-beta party, where there is no place for youngsters. Youngsters have a place only in the BJP.”

    His remarks came in an apparent reference to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and Pratibha Singh and her son Vikramaditya Singh in Himachal Pradesh.

    Stressing on Modi’s development plank and his fondness for Himachal Pradesh, he said the prime minister has worked here for years and that is why he is familiar with every corner of the state. Shah also recalled that the BJP has laid a web of roads in the state and that a medical college is coming up in Chamba.

    “When there is a double-engine government, it has its own strength. If anyone has benefitted the most during the Modi government, it is the 80 crore poor people of the country,” he said enumerating a number of central schemes.

    Shah alleged that during the previous UPA rule in the country, terrorists used to behead Indian soldiers every now and then but the Congress leaders would not even say a word as they feared losing their vote bank. “But now, it is the Modi government and not that of mauni baba Manmohan Singh,” he said, referring to the surgical strikes inside Pakistan.

    Shah also reminded people of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying it was Modi who made these things possible.

    “You will see a magnificent, sky-touching Ram temple after 2024 and you should book your tickets,” he said while also highlighting the construction of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi. “The Congress was trying to insult our heritage, our religious sites and icons, but Modiji, without worrying about vote banks, made these possible,” Shah said.

    The home minister paid homage to the jawans from Himachal Pradesh who laid down their lives for the nation and said the state sends the highest number of soldiers to the armed forces.

    Shah is scheduled to address a series of rallies in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh during his two-day tour of the hill state. Polling will be held in Himachal Pradesh on November 12 and the counting of votes taken up on December 8.

    The BJP is seeking re-election in the state, while the Congress is eyeing to wrest power from the saffron party, even as new entrant Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is looking to capture new political space.

  • Nitish-Tejashwi bonhomie reaches next level as Chirag makes entry

    By Express News Service

    PATNA: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar who is not campaigning in favour of RJD candidates in the state’s by-elections on Monday sought to clear all doubts ahead of the poll date by promising his full support to deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav for his rise even as LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan to begin campaigning for BJP candidates.

    “I will now promote him”, remarked Nitish during his interaction with media while pointing towards Tejashwi even as he launched a blistering attack on another young leader Chirag by calling him ‘baccha’ (child) in politics. Tejashwi equally reciprocated Nitish’s gesture by modestly smiling when the CM was making a generous remark about him. He also posted a video clip in social media, showing how Nitish was promising to lend his support for his growth in politics.

    Nitish is not campaigning in favour of RJD candidates in Mokama and Gopalganj after he was hurt when his boat hit a pillar of JP Setu while he was inspecting Chhath ghats in the state capital. Nitish, however, was unsparing in his criticism of Chirag, who will be campaigning in favour of BJP candidates in Mokama and Gopalganj by-elections, scheduled on November 3.

    Chirag is likely to campaign in favour of BJP candidate Kusum Devi in Gopalganj on Tuesday. “It is fine that Chirag will campaign for BJP candidates, people will know his strength,” he remarked. Continuing his diatribe against Chirag, Nitish said, “Chirag was already in BJP. He had contested the last state assembly election against my party as he fielded his candidates where my candidates were in fray.” Before JD (U) had snapped ties with NDA, it had accused Chirag of fielding its candidates against JD(U) candidates at the behest of BJP to damage their electoral prospects in the last assembly election.

    Nitish said that his relationship with Chirag`s father late Ram Vilas Paswan was very good and old.“I did not only support him but also gave him respect,” he added. This boy (Chirag Paswan) is a ‘bachha’, what he knows,” he remarked. Nitish said that as per inputs received from people, RJD was going to win both seats.

    Meanwhile, Tejashwi said that JD (U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, JD(U) parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha and several other senior leaders were campaigning on behalf of the grand alliance in both constituencies. He said that the video message from Nitish would be played before the electorate in both seats. BJP`s condition is bad without Nitish, he added.

    PATNA: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar who is not campaigning in favour of RJD candidates in the state’s by-elections on Monday sought to clear all doubts ahead of the poll date by promising his full support to deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav for his rise even as LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan to begin campaigning for BJP candidates.

    “I will now promote him”, remarked Nitish during his interaction with media while pointing towards Tejashwi even as he launched a blistering attack on another young leader Chirag by calling him ‘baccha’ (child) in politics. Tejashwi equally reciprocated Nitish’s gesture by modestly smiling when the CM was making a generous remark about him. He also posted a video clip in social media, showing how Nitish was promising to lend his support for his growth in politics.

    Nitish is not campaigning in favour of RJD candidates in Mokama and Gopalganj after he was hurt when his boat hit a pillar of JP Setu while he was inspecting Chhath ghats in the state capital. Nitish, however, was unsparing in his criticism of Chirag, who will be campaigning in favour of BJP candidates in Mokama and Gopalganj by-elections, scheduled on November 3.

    Chirag is likely to campaign in favour of BJP candidate Kusum Devi in Gopalganj on Tuesday. “It is fine that Chirag will campaign for BJP candidates, people will know his strength,” he remarked. Continuing his diatribe against Chirag, Nitish said, “Chirag was already in BJP. He had contested the last state assembly election against my party as he fielded his candidates where my candidates were in fray.” Before JD (U) had snapped ties with NDA, it had accused Chirag of fielding its candidates against JD(U) candidates at the behest of BJP to damage their electoral prospects in the last assembly election.

    Nitish said that his relationship with Chirag`s father late Ram Vilas Paswan was very good and old.
    “I did not only support him but also gave him respect,” he added. This boy (Chirag Paswan) is a ‘bachha’, what he knows,” he remarked. Nitish said that as per inputs received from people, RJD was going to win both seats.

    Meanwhile, Tejashwi said that JD (U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, JD(U) parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha and several other senior leaders were campaigning on behalf of the grand alliance in both constituencies. He said that the video message from Nitish would be played before the electorate in both seats. BJP`s condition is bad without Nitish, he added.

  • Will win Gujarat polls; AAP only in air, not on ground: Rahul

    The Congress MP said there was a massive anti-incumbency against the BJP government in Gujarat and that his party will win the upcoming election in the state.

  • Ahead of Gujarat polls, Kejriwal questions BJP’s resolve to implement Uniform Civil Code

    By PTI

    BHAVNAGAR: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday questioned the intention of the Bharatiya Janata Party government in poll-bound Gujarat behind its move to constitute a committee to implement the Uniform Civil Code and said if the BJP wants to do so, it should do it across the country.

    Kejriwal asked whether the BJP-led central government was waiting for the Lok Sabha elections to make a move in this direction.

    The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) national convener was addressing a press conference in Bhavnagar on the third day of his visit to Gujarat where the Assembly polls are due this year-end.

    The Election Commission is likely to announce schedule for the Gujarat Assembly polls this week.

    The Gujarat government on Saturday said it has decided to form a committee headed by a retired High Court judge to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

    Union minister Parshottam Rupala had said the committee will be formed before the model code of conduct for elections comes into force.

    Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi had said the decision was taken as per the provisions of Article 44 of Part 4 of the Constitution which expects the state government to apply common law for all citizens.

    To a question on the Gujarat government’s decision, Kejriwal claimed “their intention is bad”.

    “In Article 44 of the Constitution, it is clearly written that it is the responsibility of the government to frame the Uniform Civil Code. So, the government should frame a Uniform Civil Code with the consent of all communities and by taking them together,” he said.

    Kejriwal said the BJP had formed a similar committee before the Uttarakhand election.

    “After winning the election, the committee went back home. Now, a few days before the Gujarat election, they have formed another committee. This committee (members) will also go back home after the election,” he claimed.

    Kejriwal also sought to know why no such committee was formed in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

    ALSO READ: Experts warn against rush for ‘complex’ Uniform Civil Code

    “If their intention is to implement the Uniform Civil Code, then why don’t they frame it nationally and implement it across the country? Are they waiting for the Lok Sabha elections?” he asked.

    “So first ask them that Kejriwal is saying you do not want to implement the Uniform Civil Code, your intention is bad,” he said.

    On the third day of his visit to poll-bound Gujarat, Kejriwal welcomed local Koli community leader and social worker Raju Solanki into the AAP, who joined the party along with his son Brijrajsinh Solanki.

    Kejriwal claimed ever since the AAP has started working in Gujarat, people see a new ray of hope in his party.

    The Koli community comes under the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) category with numerically significant presence in different parts of Gujarat.

    Kejriwal described Raju Solanki as a prominent social worker who had helped in the marriage of more than 1,000 orphaned women and worked in the areas of prohibition and education.

    The social worker said he was glad to be a part of the new politics of Kejriwal.

    BHAVNAGAR: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday questioned the intention of the Bharatiya Janata Party government in poll-bound Gujarat behind its move to constitute a committee to implement the Uniform Civil Code and said if the BJP wants to do so, it should do it across the country.

    Kejriwal asked whether the BJP-led central government was waiting for the Lok Sabha elections to make a move in this direction.

    The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) national convener was addressing a press conference in Bhavnagar on the third day of his visit to Gujarat where the Assembly polls are due this year-end.

    The Election Commission is likely to announce schedule for the Gujarat Assembly polls this week.

    The Gujarat government on Saturday said it has decided to form a committee headed by a retired High Court judge to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

    Union minister Parshottam Rupala had said the committee will be formed before the model code of conduct for elections comes into force.

    Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi had said the decision was taken as per the provisions of Article 44 of Part 4 of the Constitution which expects the state government to apply common law for all citizens.

    To a question on the Gujarat government’s decision, Kejriwal claimed “their intention is bad”.

    “In Article 44 of the Constitution, it is clearly written that it is the responsibility of the government to frame the Uniform Civil Code. So, the government should frame a Uniform Civil Code with the consent of all communities and by taking them together,” he said.

    Kejriwal said the BJP had formed a similar committee before the Uttarakhand election.

    “After winning the election, the committee went back home. Now, a few days before the Gujarat election, they have formed another committee. This committee (members) will also go back home after the election,” he claimed.

    Kejriwal also sought to know why no such committee was formed in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

    ALSO READ: Experts warn against rush for ‘complex’ Uniform Civil Code

    “If their intention is to implement the Uniform Civil Code, then why don’t they frame it nationally and implement it across the country? Are they waiting for the Lok Sabha elections?” he asked.

    “So first ask them that Kejriwal is saying you do not want to implement the Uniform Civil Code, your intention is bad,” he said.

    On the third day of his visit to poll-bound Gujarat, Kejriwal welcomed local Koli community leader and social worker Raju Solanki into the AAP, who joined the party along with his son Brijrajsinh Solanki.

    Kejriwal claimed ever since the AAP has started working in Gujarat, people see a new ray of hope in his party.

    The Koli community comes under the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) category with numerically significant presence in different parts of Gujarat.

    Kejriwal described Raju Solanki as a prominent social worker who had helped in the marriage of more than 1,000 orphaned women and worked in the areas of prohibition and education.

    The social worker said he was glad to be a part of the new politics of Kejriwal.