News Analysis India

Tag: Lok Sabha polls

  • AAP to attend opposition meet after Congress backs fight against Centre’s services ordinance

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will attend a meeting of opposition parties in Bengaluru to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, party leader Raghav Chadha announced on Sunday.

    After a meeting of the AAP’s highest decision-making body — political affairs committee (PAC) — at the party’s national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence here, Chadha also welcomed the Congress’ decision to oppose in Parliament the Centre’s ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi.

    The AAP had earlier said it would join the meeting in Bengaluru only if the Congress extended its support to the AAP in opposing the Delhi ordinance in Parliament.

    After the PAC deliberations, Chadha announced that the AAP under the leadership of Kejriwal will participate in the opposition meeting in Bengaluru, beginning with a dinner on Monday.

    This will be the second meeting of more than a dozen opposition parties as they seek to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    In their first meeting in Patna, they resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will attend a meeting of opposition parties in Bengaluru to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, party leader Raghav Chadha announced on Sunday.

    After a meeting of the AAP’s highest decision-making body — political affairs committee (PAC) — at the party’s national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence here, Chadha also welcomed the Congress’ decision to oppose in Parliament the Centre’s ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi.

    The AAP had earlier said it would join the meeting in Bengaluru only if the Congress extended its support to the AAP in opposing the Delhi ordinance in Parliament.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    After the PAC deliberations, Chadha announced that the AAP under the leadership of Kejriwal will participate in the opposition meeting in Bengaluru, beginning with a dinner on Monday.

    This will be the second meeting of more than a dozen opposition parties as they seek to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    In their first meeting in Patna, they resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

  • Power games: Naveen may go for early state polls in Odisha

    Express News Service

    Winning StrategyNaveen may go for early state polls in Odisha

    Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik is likely to dissolve the state assembly and seek a fresh mandate along with five other states scheduled for fresh elections in November this year. The term of the current assembly expires next May and elections are to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls. Sources said that Patnaik is keen on decoupling the two elections. He plans to dissolve the state assembly well in time for the elections to be held in December along with five other states namely Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. According to sources, Patnaik feels that simultaneous elections for the assembly and Lok Sabha might prove disadvantageous for his party. He feels the MLAs get engaged in their electioneering and find little time to mobilise voters for the party’s Lok Sabha candidates.  In the last assembly elections, Patnaik’s party, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) won a landslide by bagging 112 out of the total 147 seats, while the main opposition party, BJP, could win only 23 seats. Congress came a distant third with nine seats. But in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, which were held along with the assembly elections, the BJD could win only 13 out of 21 seats, while the BJP took away eight. Patnaik feels the focus of the party apparatus on winning state elections has hurt the chances in Lok Sabha polls. The BJD chief is not only keen on retaining power in the state but also plans to increase his tally in the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.

    Media OutreachPM to restart off-record meetings with scribes

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to start meeting editors and bureau chiefs of media platforms in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. Sources said the Prime Minister’s Office as well as the media department at the BJP’s central headquarters are busy preparing a list of invitees for these interactions. The Prime Minister will meet the journalists in batches of eight to ten to discuss governance and politics. Sources said that, unlike similar interactions in his first term where he mostly answered questions, the Prime Minister plans to make this round more interactive. The Chatham House rule is followed in these interactions which allows the attendees to use the information received at the meetings without identifying who said what. Journalists who attended the previous round of interaction spoke about the Prime Minister’s frank and detailed answers to all questions. They said the interactions helped them understand the Prime Minister’s views on crucial issues. The discussions were freewheeling, with no bar on asking any questions. Sources said this time around the Prime Minister will also be asking questions. He would like to know about the effectiveness of his government’s schemes and gaps in policy-making, if any, sources said. The interactions are likely to start next month and the journalists in the national capital have quite a repository of questions for the Prime Minister.

    Winning Strategy
    Naveen may go for early state polls in Odisha

    Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik is likely to dissolve the state assembly and seek a fresh mandate along with five other states scheduled for fresh elections in November this year. The term of the current assembly expires next May and elections are to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls. Sources said that Patnaik is keen on decoupling the two elections. He plans to dissolve the state assembly well in time for the elections to be held in December along with five other states namely Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. According to sources, Patnaik feels that simultaneous elections for the assembly and Lok Sabha might prove disadvantageous for his party. He feels the MLAs get engaged in their electioneering and find little time to mobilise voters for the party’s Lok Sabha candidates.  In the last assembly elections, Patnaik’s party, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) won a landslide by bagging 112 out of the total 147 seats, while the main opposition party, BJP, could win only 23 seats. Congress came a distant third with nine seats. But in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, which were held along with the assembly elections, the BJD could win only 13 out of 21 seats, while the BJP took away eight. Patnaik feels the focus of the party apparatus on winning state elections has hurt the chances in Lok Sabha polls. The BJD chief is not only keen on retaining power in the state but also plans to increase his tally in the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Media Outreach
    PM to restart off-record meetings with scribes

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to start meeting editors and bureau chiefs of media platforms in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. Sources said the Prime Minister’s Office as well as the media department at the BJP’s central headquarters are busy preparing a list of invitees for these interactions. The Prime Minister will meet the journalists in batches of eight to ten to discuss governance and politics. Sources said that, unlike similar interactions in his first term where he mostly answered questions, the Prime Minister plans to make this round more interactive. The Chatham House rule is followed in these interactions which allows the attendees to use the information received at the meetings without identifying who said what. Journalists who attended the previous round of interaction spoke about the Prime Minister’s frank and detailed answers to all questions. They said the interactions helped them understand the Prime Minister’s views on crucial issues. The discussions were freewheeling, with no bar on asking any questions. Sources said this time around the Prime Minister will also be asking questions. He would like to know about the effectiveness of his government’s schemes and gaps in policy-making, if any, sources said. The interactions are likely to start next month and the journalists in the national capital have quite a repository of questions for the Prime Minister.

  • Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad to meet Sonia Gandhi in Delhi today after 5 years

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: With an aim to unite the entire Opposition to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad will meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the national capital on Sunday.

    It is pertinent to mention that it will be the first meeting between the three parties in more than five years.

    Both the leaders are arriving in Delhi to attend a rally to be held in Fatehabad district on the birth anniversary of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) founder late Chaudhary Devi Lal by INLD leader OP Chautala.

    Earlier on Tuesday, Lalu had said he, along with Nitish Kumar, will meet Sonia in Delhi.

    “Everyone needs to be alert, BJP needs to be uprooted in 2024. I will go to Delhi and meet Sonia Gandhi soon. I will also meet Rahul Gandhi after the completion of his padyatra,” said the RJD supremo.

    However, Poll strategist Prashant Kishor said there is a need for a “credible face” and mass movement to seek people’s vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and opined that meeting leaders of various political parties “would not make much of a difference”.

    He said such meetings cannot be seen as Opposition unity or political development.

    He further said, “Those who don’t believe this need to wait and watch. It will certainly happen. I won’t comment on whatever someone says”.

    During his last visit to Delhi, Nitish Kumar met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

    Kumar met with the Opposition leaders after he broke his alliance with the BJP and joined hands with Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress and other parties to form a ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government in Bihar.

    Earlier Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had also visited Bihar and met Nitish Kumar, and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as part of efforts toward forging opposition unity.

    Meanwhile, various posters of Nitish Kumar projecting him as a prime ministerial candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha election were seen in Patna last month.

    The posters put up by JD(U) promised good governance, and gave the slogan ‘Pradesh mein dikha, desh mein dikhega’.

    Taking a swipe at BJP, another poster carried the caption, “Jumla Nahi Haqiqat Hai” (No lies only reality).

    Additionally, Tejashwi Yadav had earlier stated that Kumar could be a “strong candidate” for the Prime Minister’s post in the 2024 elections.

    In 2020, the BJP-JD(U) fought election in an alliance and went on to form the government with Nitish Kumar being given the Chief Minister’s post.

    In less than two years’ time, Nitish Kumar flipped his choices and in a surprise move went on to stitch an alliance with RJD and Congress to form a ‘Grand Alliance’ government in Bihar.

    NEW DELHI: With an aim to unite the entire Opposition to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad will meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the national capital on Sunday.

    It is pertinent to mention that it will be the first meeting between the three parties in more than five years.

    Both the leaders are arriving in Delhi to attend a rally to be held in Fatehabad district on the birth anniversary of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) founder late Chaudhary Devi Lal by INLD leader OP Chautala.

    Earlier on Tuesday, Lalu had said he, along with Nitish Kumar, will meet Sonia in Delhi.

    “Everyone needs to be alert, BJP needs to be uprooted in 2024. I will go to Delhi and meet Sonia Gandhi soon. I will also meet Rahul Gandhi after the completion of his padyatra,” said the RJD supremo.

    However, Poll strategist Prashant Kishor said there is a need for a “credible face” and mass movement to seek people’s vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and opined that meeting leaders of various political parties “would not make much of a difference”.

    He said such meetings cannot be seen as Opposition unity or political development.

    He further said, “Those who don’t believe this need to wait and watch. It will certainly happen. I won’t comment on whatever someone says”.

    During his last visit to Delhi, Nitish Kumar met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

    Kumar met with the Opposition leaders after he broke his alliance with the BJP and joined hands with Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress and other parties to form a ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government in Bihar.

    Earlier Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had also visited Bihar and met Nitish Kumar, and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as part of efforts toward forging opposition unity.

    Meanwhile, various posters of Nitish Kumar projecting him as a prime ministerial candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha election were seen in Patna last month.

    The posters put up by JD(U) promised good governance, and gave the slogan ‘Pradesh mein dikha, desh mein dikhega’.

    Taking a swipe at BJP, another poster carried the caption, “Jumla Nahi Haqiqat Hai” (No lies only reality).

    Additionally, Tejashwi Yadav had earlier stated that Kumar could be a “strong candidate” for the Prime Minister’s post in the 2024 elections.

    In 2020, the BJP-JD(U) fought election in an alliance and went on to form the government with Nitish Kumar being given the Chief Minister’s post.

    In less than two years’ time, Nitish Kumar flipped his choices and in a surprise move went on to stitch an alliance with RJD and Congress to form a ‘Grand Alliance’ government in Bihar.

  • BJP’s OBC outreach for six poll-bound states

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  With an eye on garnering the support of OBCs in six states where assembly elections will be held over the next year and the Lok Sabha polls in 2024, the BJP will deliberate on electoral strategies at its two-day National Working Committee (NWC) beginning September 9 at Jodhpur in Rajasthan.

    The BJP’s national office bearers will hold intensive discussions with the heads of the party’s OBC front in these states, including Rajasthan, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, during the Jodhpur conclave. The objective would be to hold elaborate and threadbare discussions on ways to bring the OBCs into the BJP’s mainstream politics.

    This would be the second such meeting after the BJP’s National Executive Committee of all party fronts held recently in Patna. Union Home Minister and the BJP’s principal election strategist Amit Shah will attend the party’s OBC Morcha NWC on September 10. He will also address a separate conference of OBC booth-level committees following the NWC meeting.

    Since the Mandal Commission recommendations, OBCs constitute 54% of the Indian population and play a decisive role in elections. Since assuming power at the Centre in 2014, the BJP has inducted 27 ministers belonging to different castes within the OBC category.

    A day before the NWC kicks off on September 9, all party office bearers and senior leaders associated with the front will meet a cross-section of OBCs in different parts of Jodhpur and take stock of the problems they face and invite feedback. BJP OBC Morcha National General Secretary Dr Nikhil Anand said, “the front takes pride that PM Modi has emerged as a champion of OBCs after granting constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Castes”.

    NEW DELHI:  With an eye on garnering the support of OBCs in six states where assembly elections will be held over the next year and the Lok Sabha polls in 2024, the BJP will deliberate on electoral strategies at its two-day National Working Committee (NWC) beginning September 9 at Jodhpur in Rajasthan.

    The BJP’s national office bearers will hold intensive discussions with the heads of the party’s OBC front in these states, including Rajasthan, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, during the Jodhpur conclave. The objective would be to hold elaborate and threadbare discussions on ways to bring the OBCs into the BJP’s mainstream politics.

    This would be the second such meeting after the BJP’s National Executive Committee of all party fronts held recently in Patna. Union Home Minister and the BJP’s principal election strategist Amit Shah will attend the party’s OBC Morcha NWC on September 10. He will also address a separate conference of OBC booth-level committees following the NWC meeting.

    Since the Mandal Commission recommendations, OBCs constitute 54% of the Indian population and play a decisive role in elections. Since assuming power at the Centre in 2014, the BJP has inducted 27 ministers belonging to different castes within the OBC category.

    A day before the NWC kicks off on September 9, all party office bearers and senior leaders associated with the front will meet a cross-section of OBCs in different parts of Jodhpur and take stock of the problems they face and invite feedback. BJP OBC Morcha National General Secretary Dr Nikhil Anand said, “the front takes pride that PM Modi has emerged as a champion of OBCs after granting constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Castes”.

  • ‘Uddhav not a face for 2024 Lok Sabha polls’: Shiv Sena rebel MP Rahul Shewale

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Rebel Shiv Sena leader Rahul Shewale on Thursday said Uddhav Thackeray was not a “winnable” face for the 2024 Lok Sabha election and it was imperative for them to tie up with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

    The issue of leadership for the next Lok Sabha polls came up during several meetings the now-rebel leaders had with Thackeray in the run-up to a split in the Shiv Sena, Shewale, who was named as the leader of the party in the Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday, told PTI.

    “I raised the issue of leadership for the Lok Sabha election during a meeting with Thackeray. Sanjay Raut, who was also present, gestured towards Thackeray as the face for the election. I told him that we respect Thackeray but we have to be realistic. He cannot be the face for the Lok Sabha polls,” he said.

    Shewale said the Shiv Sena’s alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress had further complicated matters as the parties were rivals in several constituencies.

    “Furthermore, the UPA would contest elections under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, which will not be acceptable for our cadre,” Shewale said.

    Shewale and 11 other Lok Sabha members have shifted their allegiance to Sena rebel Eknath Shinde, who was appointed the Maharashtra chief minister on June 30, after Thackeray quit the post due to a large-scale rebellion in the Shiv Sena ranks.

    Shewale insisted that a large number of Sena leaders were in favour of an alliance with the BJP and keen to contest the next Lok Sabha polls under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    He said Shiv Sena leaders began to feel insecure within the party when the leadership offered key Lok Sabha constituencies to the NCP during discussions for the general election.

    “Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil, who lost to the NCP’s Amol Kolhe from Shirur, was asked to shift to the Pune Lok Sabha seat, while the Maval seat, won by the Sena’s Shrirang Appa Barne, was offered to Parth Pawar, the son of former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar,” Shewale said.

    He reiterated the claims that Thackeray was keen on reviving the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition and had discussed the issue with Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Delhi in June last year.

    Shewale did not rule out a patch up between the two rival factions of the Shiv Sena should some incident, such as the Balakot airstrikes, takes place in the future, which could lead to an upsurge of nationalism.

    “There was also a proposal of Thackeray leading the party and Shinde as the leader of the government. But it did not work out,” he said.

    NEW DELHI: Rebel Shiv Sena leader Rahul Shewale on Thursday said Uddhav Thackeray was not a “winnable” face for the 2024 Lok Sabha election and it was imperative for them to tie up with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

    The issue of leadership for the next Lok Sabha polls came up during several meetings the now-rebel leaders had with Thackeray in the run-up to a split in the Shiv Sena, Shewale, who was named as the leader of the party in the Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday, told PTI.

    “I raised the issue of leadership for the Lok Sabha election during a meeting with Thackeray. Sanjay Raut, who was also present, gestured towards Thackeray as the face for the election. I told him that we respect Thackeray but we have to be realistic. He cannot be the face for the Lok Sabha polls,” he said.

    Shewale said the Shiv Sena’s alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress had further complicated matters as the parties were rivals in several constituencies.

    “Furthermore, the UPA would contest elections under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, which will not be acceptable for our cadre,” Shewale said.

    Shewale and 11 other Lok Sabha members have shifted their allegiance to Sena rebel Eknath Shinde, who was appointed the Maharashtra chief minister on June 30, after Thackeray quit the post due to a large-scale rebellion in the Shiv Sena ranks.

    Shewale insisted that a large number of Sena leaders were in favour of an alliance with the BJP and keen to contest the next Lok Sabha polls under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    He said Shiv Sena leaders began to feel insecure within the party when the leadership offered key Lok Sabha constituencies to the NCP during discussions for the general election.

    “Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil, who lost to the NCP’s Amol Kolhe from Shirur, was asked to shift to the Pune Lok Sabha seat, while the Maval seat, won by the Sena’s Shrirang Appa Barne, was offered to Parth Pawar, the son of former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar,” Shewale said.

    He reiterated the claims that Thackeray was keen on reviving the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition and had discussed the issue with Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Delhi in June last year.

    Shewale did not rule out a patch up between the two rival factions of the Shiv Sena should some incident, such as the Balakot airstrikes, takes place in the future, which could lead to an upsurge of nationalism.

    “There was also a proposal of Thackeray leading the party and Shinde as the leader of the government. But it did not work out,” he said.

  • 2024 Lok Sabha polls: UP BJP MPs entrusted with 100 weak booths each for fortifying them to accomplish Mission 75

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: With an intent to accomplish ‘Mission 75’ in 2024 General elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party  (BJP)  has drawn a strategy to entrust its UP MPs – both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha– with the responsibility of strengthening 100 booths each.

    As per the party sources, each MP has been directed to reach out to the beneficiaries of the central and state welfare schemes in their respective constituencies. They would have to be in constant touch and dialogue with the beneficiaries.

    Moreover, a campaign would be launched to extend the benefit of the schemes to those families which remained deprived of it.

    The ‘Vijay Mantra’ was imparted to party MPs at a workshop in Lucknow on late Friday night.

    The workshop was presided over by BJP state chief and state Jal Shakti minister Swatantra Dev Singh and the main speaker on the occasion was Baijayant Panda, the party’s vice-president and in-charge of BJP’s booth strengthening campaign. Panda claimed that the party had registered victory on 1.25 lakh of total of 1.63 lakh booths in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in UP.

    As per the sources, the party has divided the booths into three categories—A, B and C – as per the results of 2019. While addressing the MPs, Panda said that each parliamentary constituency had an average of 4-5 Assembly segments so each MP would focus on 25 weak booths of each of the assembly segments falling in his/her constituency by staying there.

    In the first phase of the booths fortifying campaign, which is set to take off from July 18, each MP would be expected to visit and stay at 100 weak booths to hold dialogue with the electorate in order to find out the prevailing issues and ensure their redressal, said the sources.

    The MPs were also asked to concentrate on those 16 of the 80 parliamentary seats which the BJP and its allies had lost in 2019. BJP and allies had won 64 of the 80 seats. The SP and BSP were tied in a grand alliance and had won five and 10 seats respectively. The Congress could win just Rea Bareli.

    The sources claimed that the BJP has been chalking out a different strategy to win the seats held by the BSP and also the constituencies won by the SP.

    “After winning Amethi in 2019, we will now try to wrest Rea Bareli from Congress,” said Dr Chandra Mohan, a senior BJP leader.

    However, some of the party MPs including Varun Gandhi, MP from Pilibhit and his mother Maneka Gandhi, MP from Sultanpur, were conspicuous by their absence in the Friday workshop.  

    Some more MPs, including Smriti Z Irani, Sanjeev Balyan, Pankaj Chaudhury, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vijay Sonkar, could not attend the workshop.

    Meanwhile, the participation of  Sanghmitra Maurya, daughter of Swami Prasad Muarya, who had left the BJP ahead of 2022 assembly elections, was the talk of the town.

  • BJP to play big role in Punjab politics, will emerge as largest party in state in 2024 Lok Sabha polls: Amit Shah

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will play a big role in the politics of Punjab and will emerge as the largest party in the state in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

    He was addressing state BJP leaders, including core group members, office-bearers and district presidents.

    “BJP will play a big role in the state politics…Whosoever wants to join hands with us will have to be a small partner and we will also welcome those who want to come into the BJP fold,” he said.

    Shah also recalled the historic sacrifices of the people of Punjab for the protection of religion and rights of the people.

    “I want to assure the people of Punjab that the Centre and the country stand with every citizen of Punjab and this crisis situation in Punjab will not be allowed to worsen,” he said.

    Shah also hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab and said that in just three months, its face of “deceit and deception has been exposed”.

    “One shudders to think what will it (AAP) do in five years,” he said as he was apparently hitting out at the AAP government over the law and order situation.

    Shah assured his party workers that the BJP will emerge as the largest political party during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as people are “dissatisfied” with the AAP and they are waiting to root them out in the next elections.

    Shah, while putting all political rumours to rest, said the BJP will contest elections on its own and whosoever wanted to join it will have to contest on its ‘lotus’ symbol.

    “We are here to win and bring prosperity to the state,” he said.

    Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma said the party is committed to safeguarding the interest of Punjab and will not allow anyone to disturb peace.

    Sharma said the BJP will contest the June 23 Sangrur Lok Sabha bypoll in alliance with the Amarinder Singh-led Punjab Lok Congress and the Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt).

  • Congress will win Goa elections first before LS polls in 2024: P Chidambaram 

    Chidambaram on Thursday expressed confidence that his party will win the Goa Assembly elections due next year and also the next Lok Sabha polls in 2024.

  • INTERVIEW | Congress will be a pillar of Opposition unity, says NCP MP Supriya Sule

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: After two major defeats in Lok Sabha polls against BJP, the Opposition has started preparing early for 2024. Several meetings have taken place, including Friday’s virtual one called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. 

    Lok Sabha MP and daughter of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule has been part of core discussions. She thinks there is a lot of vendetta politics and misuse of central probe agencies.Excerpts from an interview.

    The Opposition’s efforts to fight BJP together have not borne fruit yet. For example, there was no electoral unity in West Bengal. Unless that happens, won’t it be tough to halt the BJP juggernaut?

    The first big achievement of the Opposition is that like-minded parties have decided to come together for the larger cause of saving the country and democracy. Earlier, the Opposition was fragmented. Now, they are talking to each other, meeting over breakfast and dinner. This is a good sign. Defeating the BJP is another thing, but coming together is an important thing. We should not worry about futuristic electoral success at this juncture. We have to live in the present and strategize for the future. We have shown unity in the monsoon session of Parliament. The Opposition was united on Pegasus and farm bill issues. More meetings will happen. The process has started. Well begun is half the job done.

    What are the main challenges? How are you going to counter BJP’s well-oiled machinery and round the clock politics?

    There are several challenges. We and the ruling party should understand that our fight is not against any individual. We want to see both Houses of Parliament function, more discussions, thought-provoking and enriching debates. Everyone should join the debate and be a part of the policy-making process. These policies have a long-lasting impact on society. Therefore, healthy discussion is the hallmark of democracy. There should also be some banter. Such things help break the ice between the ruling party and the Opposition. Nowadays, the fun is missing in House debates. Everything is politicised and follows a ‘you versus me’ line. We are missing the soul of democracy. The ruling party should understand we are not against the government. Opposition is a part of Parliamentary democracy. We want to table suggestions on various bills. We do not want to change the entire bill, but a little tweak here and there that makes a difference. But the government is not ready for that. They want to bulldoze everything by trampling over democratic procedures.

    If positive changes are made to the bills and in the long run if that particular act becomes successful, then the credit will go to the government only. For example, in this session, the ruling party brought and passed the bill restoring the rights of the state governments to give reservations. When the ruling party had earlier brought the bill to snatch the state government’s rights over reservations, we vehemently opposed and said this is an attack on the federal structure of India. But our demands fell on deaf ears. Now, the same restoration bill was brought and passed. Therefore, we need debate and discussion in the House.

    With regards to Opposition unity, what about the morally-down Congress? Isn’t there this ‘old versus young’ going on in the party?

    Interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi is a graceful and dignified personality. She has been working hard for her party and Opposition unity as well. UPA I and II was a better government. We may have missed out on certain issues but the fruits we reap today are the work of the Manmohan Singh government. He was a visionary prime minister who took along all parties and all schools of thought. The UPA I and II started several good policies and programmes which were later renamed by the BJP government. Everyone is doing something or the other to strengthen the Opposition. I am confident Congress will once again emerge as a force and will be the main pillar among the Opposition. Everyone is comfortable working with Congress because of its inclusive and liberal approach.

    What about Rahul Gandhi? Will other Opposition parties accept him as their leader in 2024?

    I personally share a good rapprochement with Rahul Gandhi. We both got elected to Lok Sabha in 2009. We have been working together and exchanging thoughts for the betterment of society. He is a genuine and empathetic person. He is sincere in his thoughts and decisions. He brings in-depth perspectives and dimensions to the table when we discuss policies and political issues. He is well-read and ideologically committed. No one has issues with him. Whether to accept him as Opposition leader, is the later part. First, we have to come together and fight against the BJP. Accepting his leadership is not a key issue at this juncture.

    NCP chief Sharad Pawar met celebrated political strategist Prashant Kishor a couple of times in Mumbai and Delhi. You were part of those confidential meetings. What is cooking?

    Apart from politics, we have a huge circle of friends and well-wishers. Prashant Kishor is one of our close family friends. My husband and even my daughter know him. This was not the first time we met him. We also feel happy and proud that one of our friends is getting huge electoral success for his strategy and planning. People should not read much in these meetings.

    There was talk that Sharad Pawar would be fielded as a presidential candidate from a united face of Opposition? Any comments?

    These are nothing but speculations. It has no truth and base. NCP chief Sharad Pawar has clarified his stand over it. We cannot stop people from speculating. We sometimes laugh and enjoy this kind of speculative news.

    Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh is facing ED summons in connection with a money laundering case. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s name was also linked with a private sugar factory case. What do you think of these?

    This is nothing but vendetta politics. Can you imagine how many times ED conducted raids at Anil Deshmukhji’s residence? Five times. If probe agencies do not find anything in the first raid, a second or third raid can be understood. But ED has been raiding his premises multiple times without getting anything against him. It shows the intention of the agencies. If he is ready to cooperate with the probe, then why are they harassing him? It shows there is something fishy behind these raids. Ajit Dada was also targeted in a private sugar factory deal. They are digging out old cases and harassing our people. We believe law should take its own course. At least investigative agencies should not be politicised and misused. Due to this, the institutions are losing the public’s trust. No one will remain in power forever, but we have to safeguard our intuitions, their credibility and reputation. It takes years to reach this stage. The institutions should remain sacrosanct and not become a puppet in anyone’s hand.

    How do you review the Uddhav Thackeray government’s performance in two years?

    In the true sense, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray has emerged a real, administrative leader. He worked hard to earn this reputation as an efficient administrator and leader. Earlier, everyone knew him as Shiv Sena president, but not as an administrator. The way he worked and handled the pandemic pleasantly surprised everyone including me. His team including Deputy CM Ajit Dada was working hard to meet the people’s expectations. The good part of his leadership is he does not take unilateral decisions. If there are issues, he always calls and consults Ajit Dada and Congress minister Balasaheb Thorat. This is the beauty of inclusive and good leadership. We are confident Maha Vikas Aghadi will complete its full five years.

  • ‘We need someone like…’: Sanjay Raut on ‘big task’ of finding face to take on BJP in 2024 polls

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Amid speculation over the likely formation of a third front, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said bringing all the opposition parties together and forming a consensus on a face to take on the BJP in the 2024 general elections is a huge task given that every regional party considers itself a king and tries to “dictate terms”.

    When queried if that probable face would be Sharad Pawar, Raut said the NCP chief is a senior national leader but at the same time, some people are thinking about West Bengal chief minister and TMC president Mamata Banerjee.

    “It is a huge task to bring all the Opposition parties together and form a consensus on a face to take on the BJP in the 2024 general elections. Every opposition party equates itself with a king and tries to dictate terms,” he told a regional news channel in Delhi.

    “We need a face to counter the Union government like Jayprakash Narayan against then PM Indira Gandhi in post-emergency polls, V P Singh against Rajiv Gandhi. Later, (then prime minister) Manmohan Singh and (Congress president) Sonia Gandhi duo were challenged by Narendra Modi in the 2014 general elections,” Raut said.

    When asked who could emerge as a probable face to take on the BJP, Raut said, “Sharad Pawar has been a national leader for a long time. Some people think of Mamata Bannerjee after her spectacular performance in recent West Bengal polls. In such scenario, if (poll strategist) Prashant Kishor can do some magic, I will be happy”.

    Kishor had separately met Banerjee and Pawar in the recent past.

    Kishor called on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at the latter’s residence in Delhi on Tuesday.

    Raut said he shared good relations with Kishor and his meeting with Congress leadership is entirely his own business.

    Reacting to Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole’s comments on expanding the party’s base in the state, Raut said, “There is nothing to talk about it anymore. Every party leader speaks about his party’s expansion in party-level gatherings and rallies. The actual decision-makers are Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar and (Shiv Sena president and Maharashtra CM) Uddhav Thackeray”.