News Analysis India

Tag: Elections

  • Congress in disarray in poll-bound states

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Not just at the national level, but indecisiveness and delay in organisational revamp in Congress is expected to hamper the party’s electoral prospects in some of the states next year. Elections are scheduled in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Manipur in 2022. Some of the Congress state units in these states are in disarray. This is becoming a worry for the local leadership. Missives have been sent to the party high command for expediting organisational revamp and appointments of key functionaries. These concerns are still to be addressed.

    Congress ran BJP close in Gujarat in 2017. Many MLAs have joined BJP since. After the debacle in local body polls early this year, Gujarat Congress chief Amit Chavda and Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani resigned. There is no new state chief yet. The post of AICC in-charge for Gujarat has been vacant following the demise of Rajeev Satav in May.   

    “The party has recently announced new state units in Assam, Kerala and some other states, where elections have just got over. But there has been inordinate delay in announcing the party chief in Gujarat,” said a senior Gujarat leader. Manipur saw party chief Govindas Konthoujam join BJP. Loken Singh has been appointed interim chief. In UP, Congress made a series of appointments at district and state level but it has created heartburn among senior leaders.    

    “While BJP has already started preparations for polls through Jan Aashirwad Yatra, we don’t even have our organisational set-up in place. How  do we expect to fight them. There seems to be no preparation,” said another leader. With the death of Veer Bhadra Singh, Congress has lost its face in Himachal and there are talks of a reshuffle. And in Punjab, internal conflict hogs limelight more often. The Uttarakhand unit saw key appointments only recently.

  • Election Commission should make cow rearing mandatory for contesting polls: Madhya Pradesh minister

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: A minister in the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh on Monday suggested that the rearing of cows be made mandatory for contesting elections.

    Minister for New and Renewable Energy and Environment Hardeep Singh Dang also proposed a collection of Rs 500 per month from those employees of the state government getting a monthly salary of more than Rs 25,000 for the protection of cows and law to ensure that all the sections of society contribute for protecting cows.

    The minister said he has made all suggestions in his personal capacity.

    Speaking to PTI, Dang said elected representatives are a part of society and they should work for protecting cows.

    “I demand that the Election Commission (EC) make cow rearing mandatory for contesting elections.  Forms of those candidates not involved in cow-rearing should be cancelled. I will write a letter to the EC in this regard,” he said.

    Dang said cow rearing should be made mandatory for people involved in farming or buying and selling agricultural products under a proposed agriculture law.

    “Since cow rearing is practically not possible for the government staffers, so the monthly contribution of Rs 500 should be collected from the employees getting a salary of more than Rs 25,000 a month,” he said.

    Dang said that instead of merely talking about cow protection, meaningful efforts should be made in this direction.

    “All the sections of the society should contribute to the protection of cows.

    “The government should ensure everybody’s contribution in this work (cow protection) by enacting law after consulting all sections of the society,” he said.

    Reacting to the demands raised by Dang, senior Congress MLA and former minister PC Sharma said the previous Kamal Nath government had announced the development of 1,000 smart Gaushalas (cowsheds) in Madhya Pradesh.

    “Had these cowsheds been developed, Dang would not have to worry for the cow protection,” he said.

    Sharma said developing these cowsheds would also have eliminated the problem of stray cattle.

    “I hope Dang will ensure the development of these 1,000 cowsheds as decided by the then Congress government,” he added.

  • Four-member team of Home Ministry arrives in Kolkata, to investigate post-poll violence

    A four-member team of Home Ministry has arrived in Kolkata to investigate the post-poll violence. The team is led by an Additional Secretary level official which has arrive to visit the state and assess the ground situation. The Union Home Ministry deputed a four-member team after taking a serious view of violence in West Bengal after the results of recently conducted Assembly polls came out on Sunday, May 2.

    On Wednesday, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote to West Bengal Chief Secretary reminding him of the letter written on May 3 to check the post-poll violence and also to provide a report on the incidents.

    According to MHA sources, the ministry did not receive any report yet and violence continues as the state government has not taken any step. MHA in its successive letter directed the West Bengal Government to take all necessary measures and submit a detailed report immediately.

    “All necessary measures should be taken and a detailed report to be submitted immediately. If not submitted, it will be viewed seriously,” the sources added.

    Violence has been reported in several parts of West Bengal after the results of the Assembly elections declared on May 2. BJP alleged that nine of its party workers have been killed in the post-poll violence. On Wednesday, it was reported that bombs were hurled at the house of a BJP worker in Kankinara area under the North 24 Parganas districts.

    Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress won 213 seats in the recently conducted West Bengal assembly elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party garnered 77 seats in the 294-seat state assembly.

  • PM Modi icon of our constitutional commitment to secularism: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Alleging that for the Congress secularism is a “vote-hijacking machine”, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday said the BJP is the most secular party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the “icon of our constitutional commitment to secularism”.

    The Minority Affairs Minister also claimed that Muslims’ “strong support” for Prime Minister Modi is visible in the assembly elections and slowly they are aligning with the BJP.

    In an interview with PTI, Naqvi said the Congress’ alliance with Badruddin Ajmal’s All India United Democratic Front in Assam, Indian Secular Front in West Bengal and the Indian Union Muslim League in Kerala has “exposed” the party’s “secular tag on communal bag” policy.

    “For the Congress, secularism is a vote-hijacking machine, while for us it is a commitment to inclusive development. Congress is, therefore, now getting isolated as it neither has anything to say nor any achievement to show,” Naqvi alleged.

    Asserting that there can be no party more secular than the BJP, Naqvi said, “Prime Minister Modi is the icon of our constitutional commitment to secularism.”

    Naqvi said Modi is a PM who after coming to power bowed before the Constitution ahead of taking oath and said that those who voted for us and those who did not are equal for us.

    There cannot be a better example of inclusive mentality and secular thinking, Naqvi added.

    He said secularism for the BJP and the Modi government is a constitutional mission and resolve, while for “pseudo secularists”, it is a means to hijack votes.

    Claiming that the BJP would form the government in West Bengal, return to power in Assam and come up with a strong performance in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Naqvi said that sensing defeat, the Opposition parties have already started making excuses by questioning EVMs and making “attacks” on the Election Commission.

    “They are writing letters for unity, they have tried that earlier also to align but failed miserably,” he said in an obvious reference to TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee’s letter to non-BJP leaders in which she said the time has come for a “united and effective” struggle against the BJP’s alleged attacks on democracy and the Constitution.

    Asked about Badruddin Ajmal’s allegation that the BJP is trying to polarise voters by highlighting his beard and skull cap, Naqvi said in this country nobody needs to fear “topi or tilak”.

    This country is of inclusive thought and its DNA is one of taking every section of the society along, he asserted.

    By saying all this they want to impress their voters and get sympathy, he added.

    “These days it is a trend to seek sympathy, somebody will get their leg broken, somebody will say my ‘dadhi’ (beard), ‘topi’ (cap) is getting affected, somebody will start chanting mantras, someone will wear a topi indoors while sport a tilak outside, this is nothing but ‘electoral buffoonery’,” Naqvi said.

    Asked about the BJP raising the issue of illegal immigrants in the Assam polls, the minister said the issue was not a communal one but a national one.

    The illegal immigrants are the most harmful to the Muslims of that state as they usurp their rights, he argued.

    Naqvi also dismissed suggestions that the BJP was on the back foot on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Assam, saying “we are not on the back foot, our government worked for five years there and we are talking about the work we have done for the people”.

    “Ajmal sahab used to think of himself as a kingmaker and used to say he has the key to power, now he is worried that he has lost that key,” Naqvi said.

    On the BJP giving some tickets to Muslim candidates in the Assembly polls, he said Muslims have always been given tickets by the BJP, but the basis was always winnability.

    “We are a political party and take everyone along, we don’t believe in leaving out any section of the society,” he said.

    Elections in Assam are being conducted in three phases on March 27, April 1 and April 6, while polling in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will take place in a single phase on April 6.

    Elections for the West Bengal assembly are being held in eight phases which began with polling for 30 seats on March 27.

    Counting for all the seats will be held on May 2.

  • Poll results in 4 states to decide course of national politics: Sanjay Raut

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday said the results of Assembly polls in four states, specially Assam and West Bengal, will decide the next course of national politics.

    Talking to reporters here, Raut said the BJP is in power in Assam, but the Congress has put up a tough fight.

    In West Bengal, even though the BJP has put all its might to defeat (Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress head) Mamata Banerjee, she has fought like a tigress and is “sure to emerge the winner”, he claimed.

    “We can also gauge the mood in Kerala and Tamil Nadu,” the Rajya Sabha member said.

    Banerjee on Wednesday wrote a letter to non-BJP leaders, including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, saying time has come for a “united and effective” struggle against the BJP’s alleged attacks on democracy and the Constitution, and that opposition leaders should try present a “credible alternative” to the people of the country.

    When asked about the letter, Raut said, “The results of polls in four states, specially Assam and West Bengal, will decide the next course of national politics. After the elections, the nature of alliances will be discussed and a clarity will be there.” Even Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has received a letter from her, he said.

    Raut also said the “ongoing Mahabharat” in West Bengal is more fierce than the real Mahabharat.

    “Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the battle of Mahabharat was won in 21 days and we will fight the war against coronavirus in 18 days and win.

    But, we haven’t,” the Sena’s chief spokesperson said.

    Raut said the entire country is watching the West Bengal polls and people of that are also intelligent.

    “No doubt the battle is tough, but Mamata Banerjee will win,” he claimed.

    Raut also said the “attack” on democracy in the country is not new.

    “Whenever there is an attack, people and opposition parties have fought back. This is the strength of our democracy,” he said.

    On differences among political parties in Maharashtra over the need for a fresh lockdown in the state, as it has seen a huge surge in coronavirus cases, Raut said there should be no politics over the fight against COVID-19.

    “Whatever steps will be taken, will be in the interest of the state and its people,” he said.

  • COVID-19: EC doubles broadcast time for political parties in five poll-going states, one UT

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Tuesday doubled the broadcast time allotted to recognised political parties in West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Doordarshan and All India Radio during the upcoming assembly polls in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and enhanced relevance of “non-contact based” campaigning.

    It had taken a similar decision for Bihar assembly polls held late last year.

    “Considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and enhanced relevance of non-contact based campaign, Election Commission of India, in consultation with Prasar Bharati Corporation has decided to double the broadcast or telecast time allotted to each national party and recognised state party of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal on Doordarshan and All India Radio” for the assembly polls, the commission said.

    A base time of 90 minutes will be given to each national party and recognised state party of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal uniformly on the regional kendras of Doordarshan and All India Radio network in the poll going states and the UT.

    The additional time to be allotted to the party has been decided on the basis of the poll performance of the party in the last assembly elections held in these states and the UT in 2016.

    At the time of 1998 Lok Sabha elections, a new initiative for state funding of recognised political parties through free use of the state-owned television and radio was introduced.

    The scheme was subsequently extended in all the assembly elections held after 1998 and Lok Sabha polls in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019.

  • Election of Primary Forest Produce Cooperative Societies in three cycles

    Managing Director of District Forest Produce Cooperative Union Baikunthpur told that the election of primary forest produce cooperative societies will be conducted in three cycles by the State Cooperative Election Commission Raipur. Under which the registration list will be published on 11, 13 and 15 February respectively by the Registration Officer for the election of the Board of Primary Forest Produce Cooperative Societies. Claim objections in this regard can be submitted by 19, 21 and 23 February respectively. Claim objections will be resolved and final membership list will be published on February 20, 22 and 24 respectively. The primary forest produce cooperative societies include Sakda, Koda, Chhindand, Akalasarai, Kharagwan, Banjaridand, Sonhat, Kamarji, Jamgahna (Khanda), Pondi, Patna, Goini, Kotadol, Kailashpur, Katgodi, Ramgarh and Baikunthpur.