News Analysis India

Tag: NDA

  • Presidential polls: Cross-voting fears in Maharashtra Congress, NCP

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: As lawmakers from Maharashtra gear up to vote on Monday to elect the country’s next president, there are concerns among the opposition parties over the possibility of cross-voting.

    MLAs and MPs form the electoral college to elect the President of India.

    The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress – the two main opposition parties in Maharashtra – have already held meetings with their legislators to ensure there is no any cross-voting in favour of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance’s candidate Droupadi Murmu.

    The opposition is concerned as Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday claimed that Murmu would get the support of 200 MLAs from the state.

    “We will manage to get the votes of 200 MLAs for Droupadi Murmu. We want a very comfortable win for her,”” he said.

    Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha is the candidate of the Opposition.

    Notably, cross-voting was held during the Rajya Sabha elections and the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls last month.

    All five candidates of the BJP had won the Legislative Council polls held for 10 seats, while with its own numbers the BJP could have won only four seats.

    The Shiv Sena and the NCP won two seats each, while the Congress could only bag one seat.

    “There are some concerns in the NCP and Congress over guarding their votes.

    “The Congress already faced an embarrassment in the Legislative Council election when one of its candidate lost against the BJP. We do not want it to happen again,”” a senior Congress leader said.

    The BJP currently has 106 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly along with 40 MLAs belonging to the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena, besides 10 independents who support the BJP.

    ““Without cross-voting, Murmu cannot get the votes of 200 MLAs, as claimed by CM Shinde. If Murmu gets 200 votes, it will be a further setback for the Congress, NCP and the Shiv Sena,” a political analyst said.

    The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena with 15 MLAs has announced support for Murmu.

    The NCP and Congress have 53 and 44 MLAs, respectively.

    Of the total 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, 23 MPs belong to the BJP, 18 to Shiv Sena, four to NCP, and one to Congress.

    Of the rest two MPs, one belongs to the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and another is Independent.

    Various political parties in the state are also taking extra efforts to ensure none of the votes cast by their MLAs and MPs turn invalid in the presidential election.

    MUMBAI: As lawmakers from Maharashtra gear up to vote on Monday to elect the country’s next president, there are concerns among the opposition parties over the possibility of cross-voting.

    MLAs and MPs form the electoral college to elect the President of India.

    The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress – the two main opposition parties in Maharashtra – have already held meetings with their legislators to ensure there is no any cross-voting in favour of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance’s candidate Droupadi Murmu.

    The opposition is concerned as Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday claimed that Murmu would get the support of 200 MLAs from the state.

    “We will manage to get the votes of 200 MLAs for Droupadi Murmu. We want a very comfortable win for her,”” he said.

    Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha is the candidate of the Opposition.

    Notably, cross-voting was held during the Rajya Sabha elections and the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls last month.

    All five candidates of the BJP had won the Legislative Council polls held for 10 seats, while with its own numbers the BJP could have won only four seats.

    The Shiv Sena and the NCP won two seats each, while the Congress could only bag one seat.

    “There are some concerns in the NCP and Congress over guarding their votes.

    “The Congress already faced an embarrassment in the Legislative Council election when one of its candidate lost against the BJP. We do not want it to happen again,”” a senior Congress leader said.

    The BJP currently has 106 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly along with 40 MLAs belonging to the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena, besides 10 independents who support the BJP.

    ““Without cross-voting, Murmu cannot get the votes of 200 MLAs, as claimed by CM Shinde. If Murmu gets 200 votes, it will be a further setback for the Congress, NCP and the Shiv Sena,” a political analyst said.

    The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena with 15 MLAs has announced support for Murmu.

    The NCP and Congress have 53 and 44 MLAs, respectively.

    Of the total 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, 23 MPs belong to the BJP, 18 to Shiv Sena, four to NCP, and one to Congress.

    Of the rest two MPs, one belongs to the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and another is Independent.

    Various political parties in the state are also taking extra efforts to ensure none of the votes cast by their MLAs and MPs turn invalid in the presidential election.

  • Chirag in NDA meet on presidential poll preparation, says his presence due to support to Murmu

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan on Sunday attended a meeting of the BJP-led NDA on the presidential poll preparation, a significant development as he had kept away from the ruling alliance’s gatherings after walking out of the coalition during the 2020 Bihar assembly polls.

    Paswan, however, told PTI that attending the meeting did not mean he was again a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

    The second-term Lok Sabha MP walked into the venue of the meeting along with several other MPs, mostly from the BJP, where a demonstration on the voting for the presidential poll was given on the eve of the election.

    The Jamui MP, however, said later that his presence at the meeting was because of his support to the ruling alliance’s presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu.

    She also joined the MPs later.

    Paswan said he was invited to attend the meeting.

    “It does not mean that I am part of the NDA,” he told PTI.

    Paswan had quit the NDA in Bihar due to his opposition to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), the biggest alliance member after the BJP.

    He had then claimed that he remained a BJP ally at the national level and had quit the grouping in Bihar for state-specific reasons.

    However, the JD(U)’s stiff resistance ensured that he did not attend NDA meetings.

    The BJP’s invitation to him to attend a ruling alliance’s meeting ahead of Parliament’s budget session had invited a sharp reaction from Kumar’s party, leading to Paswan skipping it.

    JD(U) MPs, including its president Lalan Singh, also attended the meeting held in the Parliament complex on Sunday.

    Paswan’s relations with the BJP had also soured after his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras split the Lok Janshakti Party and was joined by all other party MPs.

    The Paras faction was recognised as the real LJP in Lok Sabha, and he was sworn in as a minister in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.

    Chirag Paswan had also taken swipes at the BJP following his eviction from a government bungalow, first allotted to his father and stalwart Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan.

    NEW DELHI: Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan on Sunday attended a meeting of the BJP-led NDA on the presidential poll preparation, a significant development as he had kept away from the ruling alliance’s gatherings after walking out of the coalition during the 2020 Bihar assembly polls.

    Paswan, however, told PTI that attending the meeting did not mean he was again a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

    The second-term Lok Sabha MP walked into the venue of the meeting along with several other MPs, mostly from the BJP, where a demonstration on the voting for the presidential poll was given on the eve of the election.

    The Jamui MP, however, said later that his presence at the meeting was because of his support to the ruling alliance’s presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu.

    She also joined the MPs later.

    Paswan said he was invited to attend the meeting.

    “It does not mean that I am part of the NDA,” he told PTI.

    Paswan had quit the NDA in Bihar due to his opposition to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), the biggest alliance member after the BJP.

    He had then claimed that he remained a BJP ally at the national level and had quit the grouping in Bihar for state-specific reasons.

    However, the JD(U)’s stiff resistance ensured that he did not attend NDA meetings.

    The BJP’s invitation to him to attend a ruling alliance’s meeting ahead of Parliament’s budget session had invited a sharp reaction from Kumar’s party, leading to Paswan skipping it.

    JD(U) MPs, including its president Lalan Singh, also attended the meeting held in the Parliament complex on Sunday.

    Paswan’s relations with the BJP had also soured after his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras split the Lok Janshakti Party and was joined by all other party MPs.

    The Paras faction was recognised as the real LJP in Lok Sabha, and he was sworn in as a minister in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.

    Chirag Paswan had also taken swipes at the BJP following his eviction from a government bungalow, first allotted to his father and stalwart Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan.

  • Presidential polls: Political parties in Maharashtra take precautions to ensure votes do not become invalid

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Various political parties in Maharashtra are taking extra efforts to ensure none of the votes cast by their MLAs and MPs turn invalid in Monday’s presidential election.

    MLAs and MPs form the electoral college to elect the President of India.

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has fielded Droupadi Murmu for the Presidential election.

    Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha is the candidate of the Opposition.

    A Maharashtra BJP leader said on Sunday that the party has taken extra efforts to educate each of its MLAs and MPs on voting for the Presidential polls to avoid their ballots getting invalidated for any lacunae.

    The BJP had conducted mock voting sessions for the MLAs and MPs.

    “In 2017 (Presidential election), of the total votes cast, 77 were invalidated at the national level. We do not know how many invalidated votes were from Maharashtra but we want to avoid any such embarrassment this time,” said the BJP leader.

    The BJP has 106 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly along with 40 MLAs belonging to the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena besides ten independents who support the BJP.

    The Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray with 15 MLAs has supported Murmu.

    The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress have 53 and 44 MLAs, respectively.

    Of the total 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, 23 MPs belong to the BJP, 18 to Shiv Sena, four to NCP, and one to Congress.

    Of the rest two MPs, one belongs to the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and another is Independent.

    The Congress and the NCP had organised meetings with their MLAs and MPs to ensure that they vote for the Opposition candidate Sinha and that cross-voting is avoided.

    MUMBAI: Various political parties in Maharashtra are taking extra efforts to ensure none of the votes cast by their MLAs and MPs turn invalid in Monday’s presidential election.

    MLAs and MPs form the electoral college to elect the President of India.

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has fielded Droupadi Murmu for the Presidential election.

    Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha is the candidate of the Opposition.

    A Maharashtra BJP leader said on Sunday that the party has taken extra efforts to educate each of its MLAs and MPs on voting for the Presidential polls to avoid their ballots getting invalidated for any lacunae.

    The BJP had conducted mock voting sessions for the MLAs and MPs.

    “In 2017 (Presidential election), of the total votes cast, 77 were invalidated at the national level. We do not know how many invalidated votes were from Maharashtra but we want to avoid any such embarrassment this time,” said the BJP leader.

    The BJP has 106 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly along with 40 MLAs belonging to the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena besides ten independents who support the BJP.

    The Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray with 15 MLAs has supported Murmu.

    The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress have 53 and 44 MLAs, respectively.

    Of the total 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, 23 MPs belong to the BJP, 18 to Shiv Sena, four to NCP, and one to Congress.

    Of the rest two MPs, one belongs to the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and another is Independent.

    The Congress and the NCP had organised meetings with their MLAs and MPs to ensure that they vote for the Opposition candidate Sinha and that cross-voting is avoided.

  • If elected as VP, Dhankhar will be the second Jat leader: Facts to know

    Dhankhar's election as the vice president is almost a certainty as the BJP has a majority in the electoral college comprising the members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

  • BJP worker moves Mumbai court over Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘uncharitable’ remarks on Droupadi Murmu

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: A man claiming to be a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker has moved a court in Mumbai against filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma alleging he had passed “uncharitable” remarks about National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Presidential nominee Droupadi Murmu.

    The complaint seeking action against Varma for offences under sections 499 and 500 (defamation), 504 (intentionally insulting a person), and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was filed by Subhas Rajora before the metropolitan magistrate court in suburban Bandra on July 14, the complainant’s lawyer D V Saroj said on Saturday.

    The magistrate has adjourned the matter to October 11 for taking cognisance of the complaint, he added.

    The complaint stated that Varma had made “derogatory” statements through his Twitter handle which outraged the respect of women on social media. His tweets are tantamount to disrespecting the scheduled caste (SC) people.

    MUMBAI: A man claiming to be a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker has moved a court in Mumbai against filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma alleging he had passed “uncharitable” remarks about National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Presidential nominee Droupadi Murmu.

    The complaint seeking action against Varma for offences under sections 499 and 500 (defamation), 504 (intentionally insulting a person), and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was filed by Subhas Rajora before the metropolitan magistrate court in suburban Bandra on July 14, the complainant’s lawyer D V Saroj said on Saturday.

    The magistrate has adjourned the matter to October 11 for taking cognisance of the complaint, he added.

    The complaint stated that Varma had made “derogatory” statements through his Twitter handle which outraged the respect of women on social media. His tweets are tantamount to disrespecting the scheduled caste (SC) people.

  • Uttar Pradesh: Murmu seeks support for July 18 presidential polls

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: NDA’s candidate Droupadi Murmu on Friday sought the support of BJP legislators and its alliance partners for the July 18 presidential elections citing her humble background and the work for weaker sections.

    “A woman born in a tribal society has come to you to seek your support. Despite odds, I got higher education on the strength of my strong will power. I have worked lifelong for the deprived sections and tribal society. I am sure that I will get the support of all of you,” she said, according to a BJP release.

    Addressing legislators of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the CM’s residence here, she said, “I call upon every MP and MLA of the state for positive cooperation.”

    Welcoming her, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said they are grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for nominating Murmu for the highest constitutional post of the country.

    This decision has not only been accepted by the NDA constituents with a positive spirit but also seems to be breaking boundaries between parties, he said.

    Appreciating Murmu, he said the commitment with which she has discharged her duties as an MLA and a minister in the past has been appreciated everywhere.

    She never deviated from her values and her dedication for the uplift of the tribal society has been exemplary, the CM said.

    Murmu has been pitted against Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha in the elections.

    Murmu, who arrived in Lucknow to ramp up support for herself for the July 18 elections, was earlier accorded a warm welcome at Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport in Amausi here by senior BJP leaders.

    The meeting was attended by NDA allies Apna Dal (S) and the Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal, sources said.

    The Opposition Samajwadi Party’s ally Om Prakash Rajbhar and Shivpal Singh Yadav attended a dinner hosted by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the honour of Murmu, a development showing chink in the opposition camp that is backing Yashwant Sinha for the post.

  • Murmu to meet NDA MPs, MLAs in Assam to seek support for presidential poll

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: NDA presidential nominee Droupadi Murmu arrived here late on Tuesday night to seek support for the July 18 poll and will meet MPs and legislators of the ruling BJP and its allies the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United Peoples’ Party Liberal (UPPL).

    Accompanied by Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Murmu arrived here from Manipur’s capital Imphal and was received at the airport by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

    The NDA presidential candidate’s visit to Assam is part of her campaign for the election. She will have a meeting with MPs and MLAs of the BJP and its allies at a city hotel here on Wednesday to seek votes, party sources here said.

    The BJP has nine Lok Sabha MPs and four parliamentarians in the Upper house while the AGP and the UPPL have one each in Rajya Sabha.

    The 126-member legislative assembly currently comprises 78 MLAs of the ruling NDA with the BJP having 62 legislators, while its allies AGP and UPPL have nine and seven respectively.

    AIUDF Chief Badruddin Ajmal said that his party will also support Murmu. The party has Ajmal as the lone MP in the Lok Sabha besides 15 MLAs in the state legislature.

    Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha is the joint opposition candidate for the upcoming presidential poll and is also scheduled to visit Assam to seek votes from members of parties supporting him.

  • Droupadi Murmu gets emotional, says she is connected to Jharkhand by blood

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: NDA presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu after getting emotional said that she is connected to Jharkhand by blood as her grandmother belonged to the state.

    While addressing the MLAs and MPs belonging to the NDA fold in Ranchi, Murmu also recalled how after the announcement of her candidature, she expressed her apprehension before Prime Minister Narendra Modi that whether she will be able to do justice to the responsibilities of the first woman of this country, to which, Modi responded, “The Constitution will guide and show you the right path.”

    “Prime Minister told me that the way you groomed Jharkhand while being Governor of the state, I am confident that you will also be able to fulfil this responsibility quite efficiently,” Murmu said, adding, “He also assured me that I need not worry as the entire country is with me.”

    Appealing to the NDA legislators and parliamentarians to support her candidature in presidential polls, Murmu doubted whether she could do justice for Jharkhand as she did while being the Governor.

    Later, Murmu surprised everyone by meeting JMM Chief Shibu Soren and his son Chief Minister Hemant Soren seeking support for her. She was also welcomed by the Soren duo at Chief Minister’s residence.

    Though the JMM is yet to decide on supporting Murmu or Yashwant Sinha, the delay in its decision despite showing its inclination is a matter of speculation.

    Reacting to the meeting of Droupadi Murmu with the Soren duo, state Congress chief Rajesh Thakur said that if the JMM keeps away with the UPA candidate in presidential polls, it would not give a good message to the people of Jharkhand. He, however, said that everyone is free to make their own decision as the alliance was formed only for the contesting elections and not for voting in presidential polls.

    Notably, Murmu was sworn in as Governor of Jharkhand in 2015 and has the credit of becoming the first Governor to complete full-term (2015-2021) in the state. Murmu’s term as Governor remained uncontroversial and it was she who refused to give assent to a bill approved by the Assembly seeking amendments to the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act (CNT), 1908, and the Santhal argana Tenancy Act (SPT), 1949 in the wake of widespread agitation by tribals all over the state.

    Not only that, she questioned decisions’ of the state governments on several occasions, but always with constitutional dignity and decency.

  • NDA govt striving to bring positive change to every Indian: PM Modi

    By PTI

    HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the NDA government at the Centre has been trying to bring positive change in every Indian’s life and make people’s life easier during the past eight years.

    Addressing a massive public meeting titled ‘Vijay Sankalp Sabha’ at Parade Grounds here, he said the people of Telangana yearn for a ‘double engine growth’ and asserted this will be fulfilled when the BJP comes to power in the state. Elections are due in Telangana next year.

    ‘Double engine’ government or growth is a reference made by Modi and BJP of progress in party-ruled states with the aid of the NDA government at the Centre.

    “During the past eight years we tried to bring positive change in every Indian’s life. We are working tirelessly on how to make people’s lives easier, and how to take the fruits of development to every person and region,” Modi said.

    Once the BJP government comes to power in the southern state, being ruled by the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) since 2014, the pace of development will be faster, Modi said.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, a disaster after 100 years, his government tried to support every family in Telangana, the PM added.

    Modi further said the BJP held its two-day national executive meeting on July 2 and 3 here keeping in mind the love of people of Telangana for the party.

  • Tejashwi makes fresh bid to fish in NDA’s troubled waters as he questions ramped up security in state BJP offices

    By PTI

    PATNA: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday made a fresh attempt at fishing in the NDA’s troubled waters in Bihar by questioning the manner in which security for the BJP’s leaders and offices were ramped up in the state in the wake of violent protests against ‘Agnipath’ scheme.

    The leader of the opposition came out with a series of tweets accusing BJP leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi, MPs and MLAs, who have been given “Y” category security, of having no faith in their “own double engine government” but staying in a coalition with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) “just for the sake of power”.

    Yadav also alleged that deployment of central paramilitary forces at BJP offices was made “without taking the state government into confidence” and was tantamount to “assault on the federal structure”.

    BJP offices were torched in more than one districts and houses and cars of Renu Devi, besides party’s state unit president Sanjay Jaiswal and a couple of other MLAs were vandalised during the protests against ‘Agnipath’, the new scheme of recruitment in the armed forces.

    The BJP was obviously flabbergasted by the scale and intensity of the protests and contention of the JD(U) that these were “spontaneous” and not part of a “planned conspiracy” as suggested by the saffron party, had placed the ties between the two parties under strain.

    There have been rumours, neither confirmed nor denied by leaders of the JD(U) or the administration, that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre decided to give “Y” category security to 10 Bihar leaders and deploy personnel of central paramilitary forces at party offices, including the state headquarters here, without consulting the chief minister who also holds the home portfolio.

    Notably, Kumar himself has so far not spoken about ‘Agnipath’, which has come in for criticism by his close aides like JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Prasad Singh and parliamentary board chief Upendra Kushwaha.

    However, a visit to his residence recently by Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who later also declared that the chief minister was NDA’s undisputed leader in Bihar and will complete his five-year-term, was seen as an assuaging tactic by the central BJP leadership which may not like the JD(U), currently its largest ally in the country, to be estranged at this point.

    A softening of stance on part of the JD(U) was apparent during the recently concluded monsoon session of the assembly and ministers belonging to the party criticised, in unison with their BJP colleagues, the opposition’s ruckus over ‘Agnipath’.

    Nonetheless, Yadav, who has been buoyant over his party becoming the single largest group with four MLAs of the AIMIM joining the RJD, has indicated that he will not be sitting on his laurels and continue to keep the ruling NDA, whom he has repeatedly accused of achieving power “through backdoor”, on its toes.

    “The Bihar government should tell us whether the police is so incompetent so as to warrant deployment of central forces at BJP offices?”, tweeted Yadav, in a deft attempt to provoke the JD(U).

    “Did the Centre not attack the federal structure by deploying central forces without taking the state government into confidence,” he asked.

    “BJP leaders in Bihar have taken ‘Y’ category security because they do not trust their own double engine government in the state, the home department here and the police.

    Are these shameless (begairat) and corrupt (bhrasht) people in power just to loot the people?”, asked the former Deputy CM in yet another tweet.

    The term “double engine” is used by BJP leaders to refer to the party being in power at the Centre as well as in a state.

    PTI NAC BDC BDC 07021712 NNNN