Tag: Lok Sabha polls

  • RSS leader Indresh Kumar slams BJP, says ‘those who became arrogant were stopped at 241 by Lord Ram’

    Jaipur: In hard-hitting remarks on the outcome of the Lok sabha polls, RSS leader Indresh Kumar on Thursday slammed the ruling BJP for “arrogance” and the opposition INDIA bloc for being “anti-Ram”. Speaking at the ‘Ramrath Ayodhya Yatra Darshan Poojan Samaroh’ at Kanota near Jaipur, the RSS national executive member did not mention the rivals by name but suggested that the poll outcome reflected their attitudes.

    “The party which did the bhakti (of lord Ram) but became arrogant was stopped at 241 but it was made the biggest party,” he said, in an apparent reference to Narendra Modi-led BJP which got 240 seats in the Lok Sabha seats.

    “And those who had no faith in Ram, they together were stopped at 234,” he said, apparently referring to the INDIA bloc. “See the ‘Vidhan’ of Ram Rajya in democracy; those who did ‘Bhakti (worshipped) of Ram but gradually turned arrogant, that party emerged as the biggest party, but the vote and power that should have been given was stopped by God due to their arrogance,” he said.

    “Those who opposed Ram, none of them was given power. Even all of them together were made number two. God’s justice is true and enjoyable,” he said.

    He said lord Ram does not discriminate and does not punish. “Ram does not make anyone lament. Ram gives justice to everyone. He gives and will keep on giving. Lord Ram was always just and will remain so,” he said. Kumar also said Lord Ram protected people and did good to Ravana too.

    The remark came days after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that a true ‘sevak’ does not have arrogance and serves the people by maintaining ‘dignity’.

  • Bengal BJP MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma criticises state leadership

    After BJP’s loss in West Bengal, another MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma has publicly criticised the state leadership, pointing out the party’s weak organisational framework and how opinions of MLAs were not even heard. The BJP got only 12 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, down from 18 in 2019.

    Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress has claimed that three BJP MPs were already in touch with them in the post-election scenario.Sharma, MLA from Kurseong, said, “There were more than 15 virtual meetings. But, we were not even allowed to speak in those meetings.”

  • BJP RSS news: Poll results ‘reality check’ for overconfident BJP workers: RSS affiliated magazine

    The Lok Sabha poll results have come as a reality check for “overconfident” BJP workers and many of its leaders as they were happy in their “bubble” and enjoying the glow of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aura but not listening to the voices on the streets, an RSS affiliated magazine has said. An article in the latest issue of “Organiser” magazine also noted that though the RSS is not a “field force” of the BJP, the party leaders and workers did not reach out to its ‘swayamsevaks’ (volunteers) seeking their cooperation in electoral work. Neglect of older dedicated workers who worked without the urge for recognition by the new age social media-aided selfie powered activists was also evident in the poll results, it said. “Results of 2024 general elections have come as a reality check for overconfident BJP karyakartas and many leaders. They did not realise that Prime Minister Narendra Modiji’s call of 400 plus (seats) was a target for them and a dare to the Opposition,” Ratan Sharda, a life-long member of the RSS, noted in the article. The BJP with 240 seats fell short of a majority but the NDA secured the mandate with 293 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress bagged 99 seats while the INDIA bloc got 234 seats. Following the polls, two Independents who won have also pledged support to the Congress, taking the INDIA bloc tally to 236.

    Sharda said targets are achieved by hard work on the field, not sharing posters and selfies on social media.

    “Since they were happy in their bubble, enjoying the glow reflected from Modiji’s aura, they were not listening to the voices on the streets,” he added. The RSS ideologue also flagged “unnecessary politicking” as one of the many reasons behind the BJP’s underperformance in the Lok Sabha polls. “Maharashtra is a prime example of unnecessary politicking and avoidable manipulations. NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar joined BJP though BJP and split SS (Shiv Sena) had a comfortable majority. Sharad Pawar would have faded away in two-three years as NCP would have lost energy with infighting between cousins,” he said.

    “Why was this ill-advised step taken? BJP supporters were hurt because they had fought against this Congress ideology for years and were persecuted. In a single stroke, BJP reduced its brand value. After years of struggle to become numero uno in Maharashtra, it became just another political party without any difference,” he added.

    The BJP fared poorly in Maharashtra as it could win only nine seats compared to the 2019 tally of 23 constituencies out of the total 48. Shiv Sena led by Shinde faction bagged seven seats and Ajit Pawar-led NCP just one.

    Without naming any leader, Sharda said the induction of Congressmen into the BJP, who had “actively promoted” the bogey of saffron terror and persecuted Hindus and also called 26/11 ‘RSS ki sazish’ and branded RSS as a terrorist organisation, showed the BJP “in poor light” and also hurt the RSS sympathisers “immensely”.

    On the question of whether the RSS worked for the BJP in this election or not, Sharda said, “Let me say bluntly, RSS is not a field force of BJP. In fact, BJP, the biggest party in the world, has its own karyakartas”.

    He said routine electoral work of reaching out to voters, explaining the party’s agenda, distributing literature and voter cards are the responsibility of the party.

    “RSS has been raising awareness among the people about issues that impact them and the nation. Except during the 1973-1977 period, RSS has not taken part directly in politics,” he said.

    “This time, too, it was officially decided that RSS workers will organise small local, mohalla, building, office level meetings of 10-15 to request people to go out and vote as a duty. It also addressed issues of nation building, national integration and support to nationalist forces,” he said.

    In Delhi alone, 1.20 lakh such meetings were held, he added.

    “Beyond this, to seek (RSS) swayamsevaks’ cooperation in electoral work, BJP workers, local leaders need to reach out to their ideological allies. Did they? My experience and interaction tells me, they did not,” Sharda said.

    “Was it lethargy, overconfidence, sense of comfort that ‘Ayega to Modi hi, Abki bar 400 plus’? I do not know,” he said.

    “Showing off is more important by posting selfies with a multiplier effect is the new norm,” he said, adding, “If BJP volunteers don’t reach out to RSS, they have to answer why they thought it was not required?”

  • Rahul Gandhi’s jibe at Modi over his ‘parmatma’ statement, says PM will say the same when ED asks about Adani after LS polls – The Economic Times Video

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  • Third Eye: Kerala leaders’ pain in Delhi, Badruddin Ajmal in sweet mood, and Sanjay Raut’s theory

    From Boiling Point to Rain Relief: Both BJP and Congress leaderships had brought their respective party leaders from Kerala to Delhi to campaign among the Malayalee pockets of the national capital. While these Kerala functionaries did their job, most of them wilted due to Delhi’s unfamiliar simmering summer and heat wave. Done with their job, some of them said the biggest relief was the certain prospect of returning to the torrential downpour lashing across Kerala.

    Already in ‘Sweet Mood’: Looks like AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal believes in early celebrations. Confident of victory, he is preparing a list of people to whom he will send packets of sweets. Seeking re-election from Dhubri, Ajmal is pitted against Congress’ Rakibul Hussain. Ajmal, who is an MP since 2009, said that the largest packets would be sent to MLA and Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi and AJP leader Lurinjyoti Gogoi. Both are Congress allies. He said the packets will also be sent to Assam Congress chief Bhupen Borah.

    Who is Lying? Game on: Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has claimed in his weekly column in ‘Saamana’ that BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, at the behest of the PM and Amit shah, has helped Congress’ Vikas Thakre to defeat Union minister Nitin Gadkari. While BJP leaders and even Thakre have slammed Raut, BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar took on Raut with an interesting word play. He claimed that Raut always had a habit of lying, but it has now become an ‘addiction’. Mungantiwar added that due to his ‘fertile imagination’, Raut was churning out such ‘barren ideas’.

  • Stalin says DMK will dedicate INDIA bloc’s victory in Lok Sabha polls to Karunanidhi

    Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and ruling DMK President M K Stalin on Sunday said his party would dedicate the INDIA bloc’s victory in the Lok Sabha polls to late party patriarch M Karunanidhi and celebrate his centenary at the national level.

    On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Karunanidhi (1924-2018) on June 3, which also marks the culmination of year-long (2023-24) centenary celebrations of the DMK icon, Stalin heaped praise on the leader for his contributions to democracy and the nation. Whenever democracy faced crisis situations, “leaders from North India looked up to Karunanidhi” and it was his “stellar contributions” that ensured the retrieval of democracy and brought stability to the government, and “this cannot be disputed by anybody”, Stalin said.

    “It was Karunanidhi who championed state autonomy at the national level, batting for federalism.” He went on to say, “The Lok Sabha election results will be out on June 4. That day we shall hoist the victory flag and dedicate INDIA’s (bloc) victory to Kalaignar,” he said, adding that the centenary celebrations would be organised at the national level. The DMK has invited INDIA bloc leaders for the centenary celebrations on June 3 at its Delhi party office. The Dravidian party chief said that Karunanidhi, through his actions, has strongly reinforced DMK’s commitment to the ideals of social justice, harmony, state autonomy and protecting the mother tongue. That is why “those doing communal politics” are targeting the DMK “with malice” in poll-bound regions of the country by “spreading rumours”, Stalin said. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther States”Their voice shows they are trembling due to the fear of defeat.” Without naming the BJP, Stalin said it can be understood that such forces are lamenting as they have realised the imminent formation of a ‘new India’ (a new government at the Centre by the INDIA bloc) with the support of the DMK. In a letter to party workers, Stalin exhorted them to celebrate the birth centenary of late party patriarch Karunanidhi on June 3 by organising events around welfare of the people, and said that such events should be adhere to the Model Code of Conduct which is in force. Stalin said the year-long centenary celebrations that commenced on June 3, 2023 and set to conclude on June 3 this year, was marked by DMK regime’s stellar schemes and initiatives that are beneficial to the people. The Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital in Guindy, Chennai, the Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai and the Kalaignar Memorial on the Marina beachfront were inaugurated during 2023-24 to mark the centenary celebrations. Referring to a slew of party events to mark the centenary year, the DMK president said that thanks to the work of all the party’s office-bearers, about one crore new members had been enrolled, which has taken the party’s membership count to 2 crore plus, he said, appreciating the “great work”.

  • Lok Sabha Polls 2024: ‘TMC workers drove BJP polling agent away from booth’, claims BJP’s Agnimitra Paul – The Economic Times Video

    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha candidate from Medinipur Agnimitra Paul on Saturday, accused the West Bengal Police of arresting several of the party’s polling agents and the ruling party driving one of the polling agents away from the booth on voting day. “They (TMC) have removed our polling agent. The TMC kidnapped him and took him away. When I received the information I came here. He was crying here. I have taken him inside and made him sit,” Paul said speaking to on Saturday.

  • Lok Sabha Polls 2024: As Delhi Votes Amid Unprecedented Political Scenario, Both BJP, AAP-Congress Confident Of Win |

    The fate of candidates from the seven Lok Sabha seats of Delhi will be sealed in the EVM today. However, this election is very different from the 2014 and 2019 Parliamentary polls. While the BJP and Congress were locked in a direct fight with the Aam Aadmi Party trying their luck in previous polls, this time, the Congress and AAP have joined hands against the saffron party. While Congress is contesting on three seats in the national capital, AAP is contesting on four. 

    The AAP is being led by Arvind Kejriwal who got interim bail from the Supreme Court for campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls. 

    However, what is confusing to the people is that Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi did not hold a joint rally and thus many are not aware of the AAP and Congress alliance. Though the parties maintained that the two leaders did not do joint rallies due to date mismatch issue, even Sonia Gandhi did not take Aam Aadmi Party’s name in her appeal to voters. She urged people to vote for the INDIA bloc candidate.

    On the other hand, the BJP has changed six out of the seven candidates this time and has given opportunities to long-time party workers, thus trying to boost the morale of grassroots workers. However, the Congress-AAP claimed that the saffron party was forced to change candidates because the outgoing MPs had not worked in the last five years.

    All India Congress Committee in charge of Delhi and Haryana Deepak Babaria has maintained that both AAP and Congress will win all seven seats in Delhi. He further alleged that in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, there was a lot of manipulation in the results. The BJP has also exuded confidence that it will score a Hat-trick of clean sweep in Delhi.

    This is also the first time that Rahul Gandhi will not vote for Congress but for the Aam Aadmi Party. He is a voter from the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. 

  • ED opposes JMM leader Hemant Soren’s interim bail plea in SC

    New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate opposed in the Supreme Court on Monday former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren’s plea seeking interim bail in a money-laundering case linked to an alleged land scam to campaign in the Lok Sabha polls. In its affidavit filed in the top court on Soren’s plea against his arrest and for interim bail, the probe agency said the materials on record establish that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader was involved in the acquisition and possession of properties in an illegal manner which are proceeds of crime. A vacation bench headed by Justice Dipankar Datta is scheduled to hear Soren’s plea against his arrest and interim bail on Tuesday. “Various Statements recorded under section 50 of PMLA, 2002, which establish that property admeasuring 8.86 acres, situated at Shanti Nagar, Near Lalu Khatal, Bariyatu is under illegal acquisition, possession and use of Hemant Soren and the same has been done in a camouflaged and concealed manner,” the agency said. Opposing the interim bail of Soren for campaigning during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, the ED said, “It is relevant to note that the right to campaign for an election is neither a fundamental right nor a constitutional right and not even a legal right.” AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther StatesThe probe agency said that there is an active attempt on Soren’s part to subvert the investigation by misusing state machinery and project the proceeds of crime as “untainted through his stooges”. Soren was arrested on January 31 in the money-laundering case linked to the alleged land scam after he resigned as the Jharkhand chief minister. He has challenged a May 3 order of the Jharkhand High Court that dismissed his petition against his arrest by the ED. He has also sought interim bail for campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls till the court delivers its verdict on his plea against his arrest.

    On May 13, referring to the top court’s recent order in a money-laundering case involving Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Soren sought interim bail for campaigning in the election.

  • ‘Rahul Gandhi Can Become Prime Minister But Of Pakistan’: Himanta Biswa Sarma |

    Assam Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma has been campaigning for the party candidates across states and has been quite vocal about why the NDA is vying for over 400 seats in this Lok Sabha Elections. Addressing a public meeting in Bihar’s Siwan, Sarma said that if the NDA gets 400 seats, it would not only fulfil the promise of the Uniform Civil Code but will also end ‘the business of marrying four times’. Indirectly referring to Madrasas, Sarma said that the NDA government will also ‘shut down shops that produce mullas’. He said that the ‘new India’ led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not need madrassas but modern institutions that produce doctors and engineers.

    The Assam CM also added that there won’t be any reservations based on religion and the NDA government would end Muslim reservations. Sarma also said that grand temples would be built in Varanasi and Mathura if the NDA returns to power by winning over 400 Lok Sabha seats.

    He was indirectly referring to Gyanvapi row in Varanasi and Shahi Idgah row in Mathura. The Assam CM said the NDA, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will ensure that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which is an integral part of India, returns to the country.

    मैं लालू यादव जी से कहना चाहता हूँ कि अब हिंदू जग गया है। आप दलितों, आदिवासियों और पिछड़े वर्गों का आरक्षण छीन कर मुसलमानों को नहीं दे पायेंगे। अगर आपको देना है तो पाकिस्तान में जाके दीजिए#BiharCampaign2024 pic.twitter.com/h9Vu1mduS2
    — Himanta Biswa Sarma (Modi Ka Parivar) (@himantabiswa) May 18, 2024

    Invoking the Ram Temple to slam Congress and RJD, Sarma said, “Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Prasad did not attend the consecration of Ram Mandir. They want to send Ram Lalla back to the tent. We must not let this happen.” 

    Slamming the INDIA bloc over reservations based on religion, Sarma said, “Religion-based reservations should be given to Muslims in Pakistan, not India. Lalu Prasad should go to Pakistan to give reservations to Muslims. The NDA will not allow this at any cost.”

    Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi’s PM ambition, Sarma said that the Congress leader can contest elections in Pakistan and become PM there. Sarma also alleged that besides putting up its own candidates, Congress and RJD are also backing Independent candidates in certain seats against BJP nominees.