News Analysis India

Tag: UP Polls 2022

  • Mayawati alleges collusion between SP, BJP over Akhilesh Yadav’s Jinnah remark

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: The BSP hit out at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday for speaking of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru and Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the same breath and alleged that there is a “collusion” between the SP and the BJP.

    In a tweet in Hindi, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati alleged that Yadav’s remarks on Jinnah and the BJP’s response to it are part of a well-thought-out strategy of the two parties to vitiate the atmosphere on Hindu-Muslim lines ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

    “The politics of the SP and the BJP have been complementary to each other. Since the thinking of these two parties is casteist and communal, their existence has been based on each other. That is why when the SP is in power, the BJP becomes strong, whereas when the BSP is in power, the BJP becomes weak,” she added.

    Yadav lavished praise on Patel on his 146th birth anniversary at a public meeting in Hardoi on Sunday, but raised eyebrows when he appeared to equate the four leaders, including Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

    “Sardar Patel, Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Jinnah studied in the same institute and became barristers. They helped (India) get freedom and never backed away from any struggle,” he said.

    The SP chief also referred to the ban imposed on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) by Patel, the then Union home minister, following Gandhi’s assassination in 1948, saying only he could do it.

  • Priyanka Gandhi a ‘storm’ that will help party sweep 2022 polls: UP Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: The Congress would go to the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections without a CM face but will fight under the watch of general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, whom the state party chief Ajay Kumar Lallu described as a “storm” that will help sweep the polls.

    Lallu said the way Priyanka Gandhi is raising various issues in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government is feeling threatened by her.

    However, Lallu refused to predict the number of seats the party is targeting to win, but claimed that they would come to power with full majority.

    Congress had won only seven seats in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh assembly in the 2017 polls.

    ALSO READ | UP polls: Congress prepares separate manifesto for women, promises free LPG cylinders, bus rides

    “There is a current (of the party) on the ground. The way in which organisational work has been done in the party, and the way in which a team built, the result is that today we are capable of doing anything,”  Lallu, president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) said.

    “We are demonstrating this organisational strength again and again. The notion that we are nothing in UP has changed. There is a storm in UP and its name is Priyanka Gandhi,” Lallu said.

    “It will help Congress sweep the upcoming polls,” he added.

    Asked why the party has not declared its chief minister candidate, he said, “The CM face is decided by the party’s national leadership.

    But the in-charge of UP is Priyanka ji and the elections will be contested under her watch”.

    “We are going to form the government with full majority,” he said.

    The AICC general secretary tasked with regaining the party’s lost ground in the political heartland, however, was non-committal about contesting the upcoming state polls herself.

    “It has not been decided as yet,” she said earlier this month in response to a question on the possibility of her contesting the polls.

    ​ALSO READ | Akhilesh decides against contesting UP polls, says alliance with RLD finalised

    Reacting to Priyanka Gandhi being dubbed as a “political tourist” by the BJP, Lallu said, “Be it Priyanka ji or our party workers, everybody is targeted.

    In the last three months, Congress workers have faced lathis and gone to jail.

    The government has adopted a path of oppression against us.

    “But I think that the way in which Priyanka ji has raised the issues of women safety, farmers and unemployment, it has given new energy to the Congress.

    The government is feeling completely afraid, and hence resorting to such acts,” he claimed.

    Attacking the Samajwadi Party for alleging that the BJP was helping Priyanka Gandhi to harm the Akhilesh Yadav-led party, the UP Congress chief said, “The SP is engaged in spreading this propaganda. It has lost the confidence of the public.”

    Referring to the six BSP legislators and a BJP MLA joining the SP, Lallu said no matter how many MLAs the party manages to get in its camp, it is the Congress which will form the next government in the state.

    “It is only the Congress which can give a fight to the BJP because it has an ideology and is a synonym for struggle has people’s trust,” Lallu said.

    The SP cannot challenge the BJP because in the last four-and-a-half years, the people of the state have seen what the SP has done, Lallu said.

    The UP Congress president also said that a person who wishes to “fight” this (BJP) government will stay in the party.

    On being asked as to who is the main challenger to the Congress, Lallu said, “The SP and BSP come to contest polls, while the Congress raises the issues of public interest and struggles for it.”

    “We are confident that the people are going to shower their blessings on the Congress,” he added.

    On the question of electoral alliance, Lallu said, “We will have alliance with villages, poor people, farmers and the common man.”

    On Congress leaders including Priyanka Gandhi going to temples, which the BJP has claimed as its “ideological victory”, Lallu said, “We believe in all religions and have faith in all religions. We do not make an event out of everything like the BJP does.”

    Lallu welcomed political parties like the AAP and AIMIM entering the poll fray in Uttar Pradesh.

  • Akhilesh decides against contesting UP polls, says alliance with RLD finalised

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said he will not be contesting the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls early next year.

    He also said that an alliance between his party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) for the polls has been finalised.

    “Our alliance with RLD is final. Seat sharing is to be finalised,” he told PTI in an interview.

    Yadav, who is also SP MP from Azamgarh and the chief minister face of his party, said he will “not be contesting the assembly polls”.

    On chances of taking uncle Shivpal Yadav’s Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia (PSPL) along in the polls, he said, “I dont have any problem in this. He and his men will be given due honour”.

  • Akhilesh Yadav not to contest Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, announces tie-up with RLD

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said he will not contest the coming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections himself even as he announced that an alliance between his party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal is now final.

    Yadav also said his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, who broke away from the SP to form the Pragatisheel Samajwadi party Lohia (PSPL) will get the due honour from his party.

    “Our alliance with the RLD is final. Seat-sharing is to be finalised,” he told PTI in an interview.

    The RLD enjoys support among farmers of Western Uttar Pradesh and is on the same page with the SP on the issue of opposing the Centre’s three farm laws.

    The SP has already announced an alliance with Om Prakash Rajbhar’s Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SPSP).

    Yadav, who is an SP MP from Azamgarh and regarded as the CM face of his party, said, “I will not be contesting the assembly election myself”.

    The SP supremo, who was a Member of Legislative Council (MLC) when he served as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh from 2012-2017, did not give any reason for the decision.

    However, later Yadav said a final decision on his contesting the polls will be taken by the party.

    On whether he has held any talks with the AIMIM or Mamata Banerjee’s TMC for the state polls, he said there have been no discussions with them.

    Terming his party’s tie up with the SBSP as a natural alliance, Yadav said people in eastern Uttar Pradesh have accepted it and it will ensure the BJP’s defeat.

    On the poll promises made by the SBSP to provide free electricity and RLD of providing over one crore jobs, Yadav said every party has its agenda .

    “We all raise issues of farmers, employment, common man. Everyone is releasing their manifesto. If voted to power, our government will try to accommodate them and prepare a common minimum programme,” he said

    Asked about the joining of Congress leaders and also of a BJP and BSP MLA in his party, he asserted, “The joining will continue. It shows that people are seeing the SP as an alternative to the BJP, which only spread lies and deceit people with promises.”

    He said that people of the state have not forgotten the pain and treatment meted to them during the peak of Covid and added that maximum cases were lodged against his party workers during the pandemic for helping people.

    “SP workers were on the street during Covid peak. We provided all necessary help to people when government was missing from action and left people on their own to survive. Instead of helping, maximum number of cases were lodged against SP workers during the pandemic but it did not deter them,” he said.

    Countering the “tall claims of BJP of helping people”, Yadav said, “Why not a single case was filed against BJP workers during Covid. As our workers were out for help, cases were lodged against them.”

    He was asked about Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent remark as to where was the SP supremo during the Covid period.

    Lashing out at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Yadav accused him of ruining the state.

    “By saying that it has fulfilled 90 per cent promises of its ‘Sankalp Patra’ (manifesto), the BJP is only lying,” he charged.

    About the government’s move to provide tablets or smart phones to students, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, “What it was doing for the past over four-and-a-half years? This shows their intention.”

    The Samajwadi supremo said people are facing inflation and youth are unemployed.

    People faced hardships during Covid peak and lost their near and dear ones for lack of treatment, non availability of beds, and oxygen and now they will think twice before voting for the BJP, he asserted.

    “The SP is the only party that can face BJP and stand tall before them in the interest of people. Farmers are also with the SP. This time there will be a change in the state and people of the state have made up their minds,” he said.

  • UP polls: Congress prepares separate manifesto for women, promises free LPG cylinders, bus rides

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday said her party has prepared a separate manifesto for women for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, and promised them free LPG cylinders and travel in government buses if voted to power.

    Priyanka Gandhi, who is also the Congress’ Uttar Pradesh in-charge, had last month announced that her party will give 40 per cent tickets to women in the polls slated for early next year, saying the decision is aimed at making women, who constitute roughly half the vote bank, a “full-fledged partner in power”.

    “My dear sisters of Uttar Pradesh, your each day is full of struggles. Understanding this, the Congress party has prepared a separate manifesto for women,” Vadra said in a tweet in Hindi.

    “On the formation of the Congress party’s government, three LPG cylinders will be given for free to women annually and women will be able to travel for free in state government buses,” she said.

    Priyanka Gandhi has also tagged a picture along with the tweet listing the Congress’ promises to the women if the party comes to power in the Uttar Pradesh.

    The assurances also included an honorarium of Rs 10,000 per month to ASHA and Anganwadi workers, appointment of women to 40 per cent posts according to the provisions of reservation, giving pension of Rs 1,000 to old widows, and opening of 75 skill schools across the state that will be named after the brave women (veerangnaao) of Uttar Pradesh.

    The Congress is facing an uphill task of consolidating its support base in Uttar Pradesh and Priyanka Gandhi is going all out to woo women in her election campaigns.

    The Congress general secretary had last month said all class 12 pass girls will be given a smartphone while all graduate girls will get an electric scooter if her party forms a government in the state.

  • UP election: RLD promises 50 per cent quota for women in government jobs, scrapping farm laws

    By Express News Service

    LUCKNOW:  Maintaining that seat sharing with the Samajwadi Party will be finalised shortly, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president Jayant Chaudhary released his party’s 22-point sankalp patra (statement of vows) for the Uttar Pradesh polls.

    One crore jobs, 150% of cost as MSP to potato farmers (same MSP to cane farmers in the first season), a three-fold hike in old age pension and Rs 1 crore for every martyr (army and police personnel) formed the mainstays of the Sankalp Patra, which was released in Lucknow on Sunday.

    The payment to cane farmers, which would be equal to 1.5 times of the production cost in the first season would be made in 14 days.

    Another major sop was 50% reservation for women in government jobs.

    The RLD, which has been dominant in western UP but saw its presence shrunk to just one seat in 2017, also announced a sports policy, jobs to one crore youth, Rs 4 lakh assistance to every family ravaged by the pandemic, doctor in every village and medicines for every family and scholarships for the backward castes students.

    The Sankalp Patra also promised to set up separate HC benches in eastern UP, western UP and Bundelkhand, besides the promise of passing resolution against the three new farm laws.

    “We’re in talks with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and very soon the best seat sharing formula will be sorted out unanimously,” Chaudhary said. 

  • Amid turmoil over power-sharing formula for CM post, AICC gives vital role to Bhupendra Baghel

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: Amid the simmering political turmoil over the mid-term change of leadership in the ruling Chhattisgarh Congress, the AICC has given Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel a vital responsibility — that of the senior party observer for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in 2022.

    During the last couple of months, CM Baghel and senior minister TS Singhdeo were seen engaging, individually, with the party leadership in Delhi, reportedly over the 2.5-year power sharing formula in Chhattisgarh. 

    The speculations over the leadership issue in the state re-gained when around 20-odd state Congress legislators and leaders, most of them first time MLAs, camped in Delhi to act as “pressure group” against any change of guard. The act was repeated again, a month after the first one, in the national capital by the Congress leaders.

    Though all the MLAs and political leaders cited their trip to Delhi as “personal” adding confusion and suspense. Even CM Baghel said “political leaders (legislators) keep going to Delhi and everyone has a right to visit”.

    “But Chhattisgarh cannot become a Punjab”, the chief minister affirmed.

    Plausible reasons for appointing Bhupesh Baghel as observer

    A known OBC face of the party
    Led Congress secured a thumping majority in 2018 Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh
    He is a farmer, so might carry an obvious appeal for the Congress party UP polls owing to his pro-farmer policy implemented in the state
    One of the very few senior Congress leaders who aggressively attacks      BJP, RSS

    “Look like the high command is not in a position to give an assurance to Baghel as it might antagonise the TS Singhdeo camp and further might reflect poorly on Rahul Gandhi, who is believed to have given the commitment over 2.5 years power sharing formula on rotation for the chief minister post”, said political analyst Parivesh Mishra.

    Giving commitment to Baghel will also indirectly mean that Rahul Gandhi is going back on his promises. 

    “What if that might lead to Singhdeo’s resignation from the state cabinet. These MLAs cannot go to Delhi without the knowledge of the CM. Why are senior Congress MLAs or leaders not going but mostly the first time legislators are?”, wondered Mishra.

    Apparently the Congress high command is not in a position to give an assurance to both of them on when Baghel will be replaced. 

    “Owing to such a fluid situation we wish to assure the party leadership that CM has all the support from the MLAs and there is good governance prevailing in Chhattisgarh. We are not sure how long the CM will continue”, said a source close to the Bhupesh Baghel camp.

    So far none of the MLAs who are camping in Delhi for the last four days, in support for Baghel, got an audience from the party leadership.

    Since the Congress leadership is facing a crisis in Punjab, it appears to be weak. So Baghel and his supporters want to create an impression before the party high command that with so many leaders with him, there is no point in change of leadership in the state.

    This evidently seems as another attempt of a show of strength.

    Now, appointing Baghel as the AICC observer also hints of a possibility that he might continue as the chief minister at least till the UP elections and the issue of power sharing arrangement remain pending.

    Meanwhile, Singhdeo cited the continuing political situation as an opportunity rather than a tug-of-war within the party as he reiterated that the high command has reserved its decision (on change of leadership).

  • Amid turmoil over power-sharing formula for CM post, AICC gives vital role to Bhupesh Baghel

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: Amid a simmering political turmoil over the mid-term change of leadership in the ruling Chhattisgarh Congress, the AICC has given Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel a vital responsibility — that of the senior party observer for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in 2022.

    During the last couple of months, CM Baghel and senior minister TS Singhdeo were seen engaging, individually, with the party leadership in Delhi, reportedly over the 2.5-year power sharing formula in Chhattisgarh. 

    The speculations over the leadership issue in the state re-gained ground when close to 20 state Congress legislators and leaders, most of them first time MLAs, camped in Delhi to act as “pressure group” against any change of guard. The act was repeated again, a month after the first one, in the national capital by the Congress leaders.

    However, all the MLAs and political leaders cited their trip to Delhi as “personal” adding confusion and suspense. Even CM Baghel said “political leaders keep going to Delhi and everyone has a right to visit”.

    “But Chhattisgarh cannot become Punjab”, the chief minister affirmed.

    Plausible reasons for appointing Bhupesh Baghel as observer:

    A known OBC face of the Congress party
    Led Congress and secured a thumping majority in 2018 Chhattisgarh Assembly polls
    He is a farmer, so might carry an obvious appeal for the Congress party in 2022 UP polls owing to his pro-farmer policy implemented in the state
    One of the very few senior Congress leaders who aggressively attacks  BJP, RSS

    “Looks like the high command is not in a position to give an assurance to Baghel as it might antagonise the TS Singhdeo camp which might reflect poorly on Rahul Gandhi, who is believed to have given the commitment over 2.5 years power sharing formula on rotation for the chief minister post”, said political analyst Parivesh Mishra.

    Giving commitment to Baghel will also indirectly mean that Rahul Gandhi is going back on his promises. 

    “What if that might lead to Singhdeo’s resignation from the state cabinet. These MLAs cannot go to Delhi without the knowledge of the CM. Why are senior Congress MLAs or leaders not going but mostly the first time legislators are?”, wondered Mishra.

    Apparently the Congress high command is not in a position to give an assurance to both of them on when Baghel will be replaced. 

    “Owing to such a fluid situation we wish to assure the party leadership that CM has all the support from the MLAs and there is good governance prevailing in Chhattisgarh. We are not sure how long the CM will continue”, said a source close to the Bhupesh Baghel camp.

    So far none of the MLAs who are camping in Delhi since the last four days, in support for Baghel, got an audience from the party leadership.

    Since the Congress leadership is facing a crisis in Punjab, it appears to be weak. So Baghel and his supporters want to create an impression before the party high command that with so many leaders with him, there is no point in change of leadership in the state.

    This evidently seems as another attempt of a show of strength.

    Now, appointing Baghel as the AICC observer also hints of a possibility that he might continue as the chief minister at least till the UP elections and the issue of power sharing arrangement remain pending.

    Meanwhile, Singhdeo cited the continuing political situation as an opportunity rather than a tug-of-war within the party as he reiterated that the high command has reserved its decision (on change of leadership).

  • Amid buzz of a leadership change, Bhupesh Baghel made poll observer in Uttar Pradesh

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI/RAIPUR:  Amid speculation of a change of guard in Chhattisgarh, the Congress high command on Saturday appointed chief minister Bhupesh Baghel as a senior observer for the upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh. 

    The appointment of Baghel amid persisting infighting in the party has raised further doubts over his continuation as the CM. But talking to reporters in Raipur, he asserted that his state can never become Punjab and that the two states bear only one similarity, of numbers in their names.

    “Chhattisgarh will always remain Chhattisgarh. It cannot become Punjab. The two states have only one similarity that both have numbers in their names,” Baghel told reporters at the helipad here when pointed out that the BJP was equating Chhattisgarh and Punjab over turmoil in the Congress.

    Plausible reasons for appointing Bhupesh Baghel as observer:

    A known OBC face of the Congress party
    Led Congress and secured a thumping majority in 2018 Chhattisgarh Assembly polls
    He is a farmer, so might carry an obvious appeal for the Congress party in 2022 UP polls owing to his pro-farmer policy implemented in the state
    One of the very few senior Congress leaders who aggressively attacks  BJP, RSS

    “Punjab is land of punj (five) aab (water). It is made up of five rivers. Similarly Chhattisgarh has derived its name from ‘chhattis’ (thirty six) ‘garh’ (fort). No other states have numbers in their names. There is no other similarity between the two states,” he added.

    The speculation over a leadership change is also because 20-odd Congress legislators and leaders, most of them first time MLAs and known to close to the CM, are again camping in Delhi. Sources said they have been sent to act as a “pressure group” against any change of guard.

    While the MLAs cited “personal” reasons for their visit to Delhi, Baghel said there was no ban on the legislators from going anywhere they wanted to and they are independent. “It is not a political movement. You ask if it is a political movement. They will visit and return,” he added.

    Sources said the legislators have not been able to meet the party high command to express their support for Baghel. They said the high command appears to be adamant on executing a change of guard in Chhattisgarh.  “Baghel may be replaced by TS Singh Deo. The appointment of Baghel as an observer is the first move before the change,” the sources said. Meanwhile, Singh Deo cited the ongoing political situation as an opportunity rather than a tug-of-war within the party.

    ‘Will do my best for the party in new role’Terming it a big responsibility, Baghel said, “The Congress president has directed me to be a senior observer for UP. I will try my best to live up to the expectations of the leadership.” ‘Parivartan ka sankalp, Congress hi vikalp’ (Resolve is of change, Cong is alternative), he tweeted.

  • CM Yogi Adityanath expands Uttar Pradesh Cabinet ahead of 2022 polls

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Just five months ahead of crucial electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday evening expanded his cabinet for the second time in his 4.5 years of tenure.

    The new cabinet saw seven new ministers taking oath, including one cabinet and six ministers of state. With this expansion, Yogi’s ‘pack of 60’ is now complete.

    The inductees, keeping the poll math in mind, namely are — Jitin Prasada, Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar, Paltu Ram, Sangeeta Balwant Bind, Sanjeev Kumar Gond, Dinesh Khatik, and Dharmaveer Singh Prajapati.

    AK Sharma, PM Narendra Modi’s trusted bureaucrat who had taken voluntary retirement as MSME secretary in Delhi and joined the BJP in Lucknow in Janaury this year, failed to make it to the Yogi cabinet. However, speculations about the possible induction of the ex-IAS officer who has been made MLC in UP, were rife. Sharma was entrusted with organisational responsibility when appointed vice-president of UP BJP in June, this year.

    However, the Sunday expansion is been seen as an exercise by the ruling party to balance various caste equations in the cabinet. Significantly, the Yogi government did not touch any of the sitting ministers to make space for the new ones.

    However, through expansion of Yogi cabinet, the ruling BJP has tried to continue its OBC and scheduled caste (SC) outreach agenda by inducting three OBCs and two SC among seven ministers sworn in on Sunday evening at Raj Bhawan.

    Congress senior and prominent leader Jitin Prasada, a Brahmin, who had joined the BJP in June, this year, was the only one to be sworn-in as the cabinet minister in Yogi government. Rest six took the oath of the office of minister of state.

    As per the poltical pundits, Jitin Prasada got the cabinet rank to placate the allegedly sulking Brahmins in the state.

    The pack of seven newly inducted ministers shows that the BJP has worked out the expansion minutely as it has given space even to its only Scheduled Tribe (ST) MLA Sandeep Kumar Gond from Sonebhadra.

    However, most of the new inductees belong to the castes that had no or very less represention in the state government.

    Moreover, two SC MLAs – Paltu Ram, MLA from Balrampur and Dinesh Khatik, MLA from Hastinapur – have been inducted into Yogi cabinet. While Palturam belongs to Jatav community , Khatik is a Sonker by caste.

    On the other, the party has continued with its OBC outreach strategy by inducting three ministers — Dharmveer Prajapati, Chhatrapal Gangawar and SangeetaBalwant Bind.

    Chhatrapal Gangwar, a Kurmi by caste, was sworn in as Minister of State. He is MLA from Baheri constituency in Bareilly parliamentary segment. Gangwar’s elevation is being seen as a replacement to Santosh Gangwar, an 8-time MP from Bareilly, who was dropped from Modi cabinet recently.

    Similarly, Ghazipur MLA  Sangeeta Balwant Bind’s elevation as minister of state in Yogi Cabinet is also being seen as BJP’s bid to create its own Nishad leadership even after having forged an alliance with NISHAD party, led by Dr Sanjay Nishad.

    So far Yogi cabinet has 23 cabinet ministers, nine Ministers with Independent charge and 21 ministers of state taking the number to 53. The first expansion of the UP cabinet was done in August 2019.