BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday said that holding simultaneous national and state elections "appears to be an undemocratic and unconstitutional" idea for a vast country like India as she declined to attend an all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

She said that elections in any democracy can never be a problem "nor elections should be weighed from the point of view of expenditure and extravagance".

'One nation, one election' is not an issue before the country, she said. "Elections through ballot papers are actually the national issue and our party will continue its struggle for it."

The BSP president said it was a new drama of the BJP to divert attention from the concerns over "attempts to hijack" democracy through alleged irregularities in the working of electronic voting machine (EVMs).

"Even the idea of one nation, one election for the world's biggest democracy like India, prima facie, appears to be undemocratic and unconstitutional," she said in a party release issued here, asking the BJP to desist from works and mentality that harm constitution and democracy.

Mayawati said she would have attended the all-party meeting called by the prime minister if it was to address a "national concern" over EVMs. She described the idea of simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls as a ploy to divert attention from issues like poverty.

Mayawati's comments come on the day an all-party meeting has been convened by Modi to discuss several issues, including the idea of "one nation, one election", the celebration of 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary this year and 75 years of Independence in 2022.

The BSP chief alleged that the people's faith in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) had dwindled to a "worrisome level". 
 
"The stubbornness of conducting elections through electronic voting machines instead of the ballot paper is the real threat to the democracy and Constitution of the country.

"The 'one nation, one election' is, in fact, an attempt to divert the attention from burning national issues such as poverty, inflation, unemployment and increase in violence, and is simply an illusion."

The "one nation, one election", a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Lok Sabha election manifesto, has made the Opposition wary of the prospects.

In August last year, the Law Commission had recommended holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies to save public money.&nbsp;

In its draft recommendations, the commission had said simultaneous polls, with an exception of Jammu and Kashmir, would help the government of the day focus on "developmental activities rather than electioneering".

It, however, cautioned that holding simultaneous elections was not possible within the existing framework of the Constitution. 
 
After Modi addressed a NITI Aayog meeting last week, an official release said, "The Prime Minister called for widespread debate and consultations on simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas, keeping in view various aspects such as the resulting financial savings and consequent better utilisation of resources."

The Niti Aayog had last year suggested synchronised two-phase Lok Sabha and Assembly polls from 2024 to ensure minimum campaign-mode disruption to governance.&nbsp;

BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday said that holding simultaneous national and state elections "appears to be an undemocratic and unconstitutional" idea for a vast country like India as she declined to attend an all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday said that holding simultaneous national and state elections "appears to be an undemocratic and unconstitutional" idea for a vast country like India as she declined to attend an all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue. She said that elections in any democracy can never be a problem "nor elections should be weighed from the point of view of expenditure and extravagance". 'One nation, one election' is not an issue before the country, she said. "Elections through ballot papers are actually the national issue and our party will continue its struggle for it." The BSP president said it was a new drama of the BJP to divert attention from the concerns over "attempts to hijack" democracy through alleged irregularities in the working of electronic voting machine (EVMs). "Even the idea of one nation, one election for the world's biggest democracy like India, prima facie, appears to be undemocratic and unconstitutional," she said in a party release issued here, asking the BJP to desist from works and mentality that harm constitution and democracy. Mayawati said she would have attended the all-party meeting called by the prime minister if it was to address a "national concern" over EVMs. She described the idea of simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls as a ploy to divert attention from issues like poverty. Mayawati's comments come on the day an all-party meeting has been convened by Modi to discuss several issues, including the idea of "one nation, one election", the celebration of 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary this year and 75 years of Independence in 2022. The BSP chief alleged that the people's faith in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) had dwindled to a "worrisome level". "The stubbornness of conducting elections through electronic voting machines instead of the ballot paper is the real threat to the democracy and Constitution of the country. "The 'one nation, one election' is, in fact, an attempt to divert the attention from burning national issues such as poverty, inflation, unemployment and increase in violence, and is simply an illusion." The "one nation, one election", a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Lok Sabha election manifesto, has made the Opposition wary of the prospects. In August last year, the Law Commission had recommended holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies to save public money. In its draft recommendations, the commission had said simultaneous polls, with an exception of Jammu and Kashmir, would help the government of the day focus on "developmental activities rather than electioneering". It, however, cautioned that holding simultaneous elections was not possible within the existing framework of the Constitution. After Modi addressed a NITI Aayog meeting last week, an official release said, "The Prime Minister called for widespread debate and consultations on simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas, keeping in view various aspects such as the resulting financial savings and consequent better utilisation of resources." The Niti Aayog had last year suggested synchronised two-phase Lok Sabha and Assembly polls from 2024 to ensure minimum campaign-mode disruption to governance.

'Would've attended all-party meet if it was about EVMs,' says Mayawati

BJP MP from Kota, Om Birla has been elected as the Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi a while ago had moved motion to choose Om Birla as Lok Sabha speaker. Watch this video to know more.

Lok Sabha: Om Birla takes over as speaker

When our strong, able and visionary Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Digital India initiative in 2015, it wasn't totally new. National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) was launched in 2006, but went unnoticed without proper internet penetration to every corner of the country.

India Watch: Push of government's digital push

There is an existential crisis brewing in the Congress at the moment. It’s not just about the grand old party’s loss in the general election; the problem with the Congress runs deeper than victory and defeats, or even the policies of the party — the problem is the collapse of the party brand. &nbsp;

The grand old party, which had global ambassadors like Gandhi and Nehru, strong national icons like Patel and Indira Gandhi, modern faces like Rajiv Gandhi and world-renowned economic stalwarts like Manmohan Singh, is today reduced to an outdated Leftist, anti-national, Muslim-appeasing outfit

The Congress of today is like an old man, living in a bygone era, &nbsp;throwing tantrums, angry, bitter at everything, but with no solutions to offer.&nbsp;

The same Congress that gave India her maximum number of Prime Ministers, does not have a name deserving of the seat. This is ironical because the party is lead by a young and fit Rahul Gandhi, who is very well-read, well-travelled, well-educated, and hails from an illustrious lineage. &nbsp;

So, exactly who are the leaders responsible for completely ruining brand Congress and brand Gandhi, reducing the party with a national footprint to a fringe player?&nbsp;

Mani Shankar Aiyar: He is uncouth, extremely arrogant, has a huge ego and is stubborn as a mule. His perverse “chaiwalla” barb created massive sympathy for Modi in 2014 and his “neech” remarks turned the fortunes of the BJP in the Gujarat elections.&nbsp; 
 
What many don’t know is that Mani Shankar as a minister in UPA-2, got along with very few Congress leaders. In the 2009 elections, which the DMK and Congress swept in Tamil Nadu, Mani lost his seat! Yet, when he was made a Union Minister, Mani fought with everyone. &nbsp;

It was he, who first alleged wasteful expenditure in the CWG games, much before the BJP could seize upon the chance that led to an avalanche of corruption charges against the Congress, something the party has not been able to get rid off. &nbsp;

Jairam Ramesh: Another Left-leaning, so-called leader, with zero mass base. He is singularly responsible for getting down UPA government’s GDP numbers. He was an obstructionist in all infrastructure and development work conceived by the UPA and he created the perception of policy paralysis.&nbsp;

Disliked by an aspirational young India, his bookish knowledge just does not translate into practical solutions. &nbsp;

Madhusudan Mistry and Mohan Prakash: The two other Left Socialists in the Congress, both outsiders with no mass base, have been given a lot of importance from Rahul Gandhi’s office. These two featherlight gems have not just hurt brand Congress, but have damaged the foundation of the party whenever an assignment has been given to them. &nbsp;

Many believe the Left socialists in the party are a major cause of the Congress debacle in 2014 and this has hurt brand Gandhi, as they are considered to be closest to Rahul Gandhi.

If Left-leaning Socialism was one major cause for the defeat of the Congress, the electronic media was the other reason for the brand being sullied. People in charge of the media department continue to be protected and promoted by the office of Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;

Ajay Maken: He loves bhatura, a deep fried puri, that is tempting from the outside, but hollow inside and very unhealthy. Maken was made the party’s media in-charge during UPA -2 and since then, the Congress’ relationship with the media, particularly the electronic media, has been on a downhill. &nbsp;

Instead of focussing on how to improve the party’s battered image, an incompetent Maken was busy settling petty personal scores from his student days with Manish Tewari, the then I&amp;B minister. He was neck-deep in checkmating the I&amp;B ministry run by his own government and this short-sightedness resulted in the electronic media turning totally anti- Congress. 
 
It is no rocket science that the reason why the Congress was reduced to its lowest-ever total of 44 seats in 2014, is the hammering the Congress and the Gandhis got at the hands of the electronic media. Ajay Maken as in-charge was a complete failure. &nbsp;

Despite this, he was promoted as Delhi Congress president, where he had petty problems with three-time chief minister Sheila Dikshit. &nbsp;

The Congress was reduced to zero in the Delhi Assembly elections under his leadership and when Maken was caught on camera stuffing himself with his favourite bhatura before going on a “hunger fast”, he reduced Nehru’s party to a joke. &nbsp;

Randeep Singh Surjewala, the face of the Congress on TV, came third in an election and lost his deposit. As in-charge of the Haryana MLAs, whose job was to ensure that the Congress-backed candidate is elected to the Rajya Sabha from state, the Congress-backed candidate lost because the voting pen was changed! Yet, far from being pulled up, Surjewala, like Ajay Maken, continued to be patronised by the office of Rahul Gandhi.

Surjewala never spoils his personal equation with several news channels that the Congress boycotts and instead of being the bad guy, he maintains excellent relations with owners and editors of these channels. &nbsp;

Surjewala will do nothing about how brand Congress suffers or the Gandhis are made targets because all he cares about is his own face on the television. Therefore, there is an anti-Gandhi sentiment in newsrooms. &nbsp;

The only thing that happens efficiently from the Congress communications department, which Surjewala heads, is stories are planted against rivals in the Congress party itself! This is not to say that Congress cannot come back to power, but for that to happen, these generals need to be given the golden handshake. 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the<a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-congress-existential-crisis-2762065"> original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

There is an existential crisis brewing in the Congress at the moment. It’s not just about the grand old party’s loss in the general election; the problem with the Congress runs deeper than victory and defeats, or even the policies of the party — the problem is the collapse of the party brand.

There is an existential crisis brewing in the Congress at the moment. It’s not just about the grand old party’s loss in the general election; the problem with the Congress runs deeper than victory and defeats, or even the policies of the party — the problem is the collapse of the party brand. The grand old party, which had global ambassadors like Gandhi and Nehru, strong national icons like Patel and Indira Gandhi, modern faces like Rajiv Gandhi and world-renowned economic stalwarts like Manmohan Singh, is today reduced to an outdated Leftist, anti-national, Muslim-appeasing outfit The Congress of today is like an old man, living in a bygone era, throwing tantrums, angry, bitter at everything, but with no solutions to offer. The same Congress that gave India her maximum number of Prime Ministers, does not have a name deserving of the seat. This is ironical because the party is lead by a young and fit Rahul Gandhi, who is very well-read, well-travelled, well-educated, and hails from an illustrious lineage. So, exactly who are the leaders responsible for completely ruining brand Congress and brand Gandhi, reducing the party with a national footprint to a fringe player? Mani Shankar Aiyar: He is uncouth, extremely arrogant, has a huge ego and is stubborn as a mule. His perverse “chaiwalla” barb created massive sympathy for Modi in 2014 and his “neech” remarks turned the fortunes of the BJP in the Gujarat elections. What many don’t know is that Mani Shankar as a minister in UPA-2, got along with very few Congress leaders. In the 2009 elections, which the DMK and Congress swept in Tamil Nadu, Mani lost his seat! Yet, when he was made a Union Minister, Mani fought with everyone. It was he, who first alleged wasteful expenditure in the CWG games, much before the BJP could seize upon the chance that led to an avalanche of corruption charges against the Congress, something the party has not been able to get rid off. Jairam Ramesh: Another Left-leaning, so-called leader, with zero mass base. He is singularly responsible for getting down UPA government’s GDP numbers. He was an obstructionist in all infrastructure and development work conceived by the UPA and he created the perception of policy paralysis. Disliked by an aspirational young India, his bookish knowledge just does not translate into practical solutions. Madhusudan Mistry and Mohan Prakash: The two other Left Socialists in the Congress, both outsiders with no mass base, have been given a lot of importance from Rahul Gandhi’s office. These two featherlight gems have not just hurt brand Congress, but have damaged the foundation of the party whenever an assignment has been given to them. Many believe the Left socialists in the party are a major cause of the Congress debacle in 2014 and this has hurt brand Gandhi, as they are considered to be closest to Rahul Gandhi. If Left-leaning Socialism was one major cause for the defeat of the Congress, the electronic media was the other reason for the brand being sullied. People in charge of the media department continue to be protected and promoted by the office of Rahul Gandhi. Ajay Maken: He loves bhatura, a deep fried puri, that is tempting from the outside, but hollow inside and very unhealthy. Maken was made the party’s media in-charge during UPA -2 and since then, the Congress’ relationship with the media, particularly the electronic media, has been on a downhill. Instead of focussing on how to improve the party’s battered image, an incompetent Maken was busy settling petty personal scores from his student days with Manish Tewari, the then I&B minister. He was neck-deep in checkmating the I&B ministry run by his own government and this short-sightedness resulted in the electronic media turning totally anti- Congress. It is no rocket science that the reason why the Congress was reduced to its lowest-ever total of 44 seats in 2014, is the hammering the Congress and the Gandhis got at the hands of the electronic media. Ajay Maken as in-charge was a complete failure. Despite this, he was promoted as Delhi Congress president, where he had petty problems with three-time chief minister Sheila Dikshit. The Congress was reduced to zero in the Delhi Assembly elections under his leadership and when Maken was caught on camera stuffing himself with his favourite bhatura before going on a “hunger fast”, he reduced Nehru’s party to a joke. Randeep Singh Surjewala, the face of the Congress on TV, came third in an election and lost his deposit. As in-charge of the Haryana MLAs, whose job was to ensure that the Congress-backed candidate is elected to the Rajya Sabha from state, the Congress-backed candidate lost because the voting pen was changed! Yet, far from being pulled up, Surjewala, like Ajay Maken, continued to be patronised by the office of Rahul Gandhi. Surjewala never spoils his personal equation with several news channels that the Congress boycotts and instead of being the bad guy, he maintains excellent relations with owners and editors of these channels. Surjewala will do nothing about how brand Congress suffers or the Gandhis are made targets because all he cares about is his own face on the television. Therefore, there is an anti-Gandhi sentiment in newsrooms. The only thing that happens efficiently from the Congress communications department, which Surjewala heads, is stories are planted against rivals in the Congress party itself! This is not to say that Congress cannot come back to power, but for that to happen, these generals need to be given the golden handshake. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

There is an existential crisis brewing in the Congress at the moment

A day after a Trinamool Congress legislator and 15 councillors of the party in West Bengal joined the BJP, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she doesn't want thieves in the party. 
 
Furthermore, she also wrote a letter to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and informed him that she will be unable to attend the meeting of Presidents of all political parties, called by the Prime Minister, tomorrow.

"TMC is not a weak party. I don't care if 15-20 councillors leave the party after accepting cash. If party MLAs want to leave they can. We don't want thieves in our party. If one person leaves I will prepare 500 more," said Mamata.

Last month, three MLAs from West Bengal, including Trinamool Congress-turned-BJP leader Mukul Roy's son Subhrangshu Roy, along with more than 50 councillors had joined the Saffron party.&nbsp;

In Lok Sabha polls 2019, BJP inflicted a massive blow to the ruling TMC by winning 18 of the 42 parliamentary constituencies, in contrast with the figure of 2 seats in the 2014 general elections.

The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC although retained the state, it won just 22 seats, as against 34 in 2014.

(With inputs from agencies)

A day after a Trinamool Congress legislator and 15 councillors of the party in West Bengal joined the BJP, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she doesn't want thieves in the party.

A day after a Trinamool Congress legislator and 15 councillors of the party in West Bengal joined the BJP, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she doesn't want thieves in the party. Furthermore, she also wrote a letter to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and informed him that she will be unable to attend the meeting of Presidents of all political parties, called by the Prime Minister, tomorrow. "TMC is not a weak party. I don't care if 15-20 councillors leave the party after accepting cash. If party MLAs want to leave they can. We don't want thieves in our party. If one person leaves I will prepare 500 more," said Mamata. Last month, three MLAs from West Bengal, including Trinamool Congress-turned-BJP leader Mukul Roy's son Subhrangshu Roy, along with more than 50 councillors had joined the Saffron party. In Lok Sabha polls 2019, BJP inflicted a massive blow to the ruling TMC by winning 18 of the 42 parliamentary constituencies, in contrast with the figure of 2 seats in the 2014 general elections. The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC although retained the state, it won just 22 seats, as against 34 in 2014. (With inputs from agencies)

'I don't care if 15-20 leave the party after accepting cash,' says Mamata Banerjee

First session of Parliament to commence from today.This is 17th Lok Sabha and it has a record of 78 MPs. BJP has a majority of 303 seats in the lower house. Shortly PM Modi and other MPs to take oath. Watch this video to know more. Protem speaker Virender Kumar also to take oath.

First Day of Parliament After Polls 2019, 542 Members Of Lok Sabha To Take Oath

Watch 'India Watch.' This is the show which brings you the latest headlines from India. Latest, Verified updates & Unbiased analysis as the World watches this Country. So, It's important to bring the right narrative to bring you the right stories.

Watch: India Watch, 17th June 2019

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) spectacular triumph in Karnataka in last month’s Lok Sabha elections has triggered a political turmoil in the state.&nbsp;

With the state Assembly in session, the JD(S)-Congress government in Karnataka is facing its biggest challenge ever. Both have come to realise the futility of trying to keep its folks under check. The faction-ridden Congress and the Janata Dal (S) have become sitting ducks for an aggressive BJP planning to expand its turf all over South India.

In Karnataka and Telangana, the BJP is on the ascendant. The Karnataka victory has exceeded the BJP’s own expectations. Improvement upon its 2014 tally of 17 by winning 26 out of a total of 28 Lok Sabha seats, has galvanised the party.

In 2018, Karnataka was the first state to be projected as a laboratory of the Stop Modi campaign. As part of that strategy, although the BJP had emerged as the largest single party with 105 seats, the Congress and JD (S) joined hands, with the chief ministership going to the decidedly junior JD (S) with 42 seats. HD Kumar Swamy was made chief minister with great fanfare with all top anti-BJP opposition leaders in attendance at the swearing-in ceremony, in Bangalore.&nbsp;

Naturally, the BJP is now looking at Karnataka as the springboard of its southward march. It would be interesting to examine how the Karnataka poll outcome is changing the face of politics in South India.

While in most states, the BJP and the NDA have maintained its tally of 2014, the one state – other than West Bengal – which has proven political pundits wrong is Karnataka, where the party has effectively won all but two Lok Sabha seats. &nbsp;Of these two, one is a BJP-backed independent. &nbsp;&nbsp;

BJP has witnessed a whirlwind journey in the Kannada-speaking state in the last two decades. From winning four seats in 1989, the party started growing in Karnataka in the early 1090s. In 2008, the BJP formed a government on its own, but lost power in 2013. In the May 2018 state Assembly elections, the party missed the half-way mark by a few seats, but it was enough for two arch rivals, Congress and JD(S), to join hands showing scant respect for the people’s mandate.&nbsp;

The fight for Karnataka in 2019 was unique. The party organisation, which saw a low in the 2013 state Assembly elections, was energised in the last four years. By 2018, it was ready for battle. &nbsp;

The BJP, which had witnessed splits when senior leaders like BS Yeddyurappa and B Sreeramulu had left in 2011-2012, succeeded in reviving a strong organisation.&nbsp;

The return of leaders like Yeddyurappa and Sreeramulu to the party and integration with the team was a huge challenge. However, the task was undertaken efficiently right up to the grassroot level, without compromising on the core integrity of the organisation. The credit for this goes to the party’s national president Amit Shah and Karnataka general secretary incharge P Muralidhar Rao.

The measures envisioned by Amit Shah were meticulously implemented. This included creating and strengthening booth committees, adding new members and their training, deploying vistaraks and reaching out to the beneficiaries of Modi government’s policies.

All organisation-strengthening programmes were undertaken sincerely by karyakartas from top to bottom. The BJP plans to replicate this experience in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala as part of its southward march.&nbsp;

The party also benefitted from the entry of new leaders and people from different organisations outside its immediate fold like the JD(S), Congress and some social outfits.&nbsp;

This was part of the expansion plan of the party, which is still underway. These include the defeat of veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge by Umesh Jadhav, who joined BJP from Congress just before the election. Former Congress MLA, Raja Amresh Nayak, was another leader, who joined BJP and won from Raichur. Principally, it was the spirit of converting challenges to opportunities that helped the party in all these instances.

The formation of Congress-JD(S) alliance was touted as an invincible combination expected to win a majority of seats in Karnataka. But, the BJP diligently identified the fault lines of that flawed partnership and managed to exploit the gaps therein effectively. This was the primary reason for BJP’s unprecedented victories in opposition strongholds like Tumkur and Chitradurga.

Reaching the message of how the Congress-JD (U) alliance is failing inch-by-inch to every nook and corner was initiated. News of the internal squabbles in the partnership and its failure in function as a coherent government was communicated precisely and effectively.

In democratic polity, it is continuous and uninterrupted communication between the political leadership and the people that prevents democracy from becoming sterile and stagnant. Realising this, BJP leadership ensured continuity in its public connect.

There was a huge Modi appeal, but to convert it into political victories, both in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections was the result of a structured organisational work, decisive strategies and innovation.&nbsp;

The last five years of the BJP in Karnataka is the best example of how continuous innovation and pathbreaking approaches can raise the quality of political functioning, creating energy and synergy.&nbsp;

Amit Shah played the most crucial role in driving the party in this direction. His leadership boosted the morale of state leadership, which toiled day and night under party president and popular leader B S Yeddyurappa. State prabhari Muralidhar Rao worked more than a full-timer, building trust and comradeship among state leaders.&nbsp;

The Karnataka experience has given BJP the confidence to expand into new territories. It will be interesting to watch how the saffron saga unfolds in South India.&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-bjp-s-southern-springboard-2761672">original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) spectacular triumph in Karnataka in last month’s Lok Sabha elections has triggered a political turmoil in the state. With the state Assembly in session, the JD(S)-Congress government in Karnataka is facing its biggest challenge ever.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) spectacular triumph in Karnataka in last month’s Lok Sabha elections has triggered a political turmoil in the state. With the state Assembly in session, the JD(S)-Congress government in Karnataka is facing its biggest challenge ever. Both have come to realise the futility of trying to keep its folks under check. The faction-ridden Congress and the Janata Dal (S) have become sitting ducks for an aggressive BJP planning to expand its turf all over South India. In Karnataka and Telangana, the BJP is on the ascendant. The Karnataka victory has exceeded the BJP’s own expectations. Improvement upon its 2014 tally of 17 by winning 26 out of a total of 28 Lok Sabha seats, has galvanised the party. In 2018, Karnataka was the first state to be projected as a laboratory of the Stop Modi campaign. As part of that strategy, although the BJP had emerged as the largest single party with 105 seats, the Congress and JD (S) joined hands, with the chief ministership going to the decidedly junior JD (S) with 42 seats. HD Kumar Swamy was made chief minister with great fanfare with all top anti-BJP opposition leaders in attendance at the swearing-in ceremony, in Bangalore. Naturally, the BJP is now looking at Karnataka as the springboard of its southward march. It would be interesting to examine how the Karnataka poll outcome is changing the face of politics in South India. While in most states, the BJP and the NDA have maintained its tally of 2014, the one state – other than West Bengal – which has proven political pundits wrong is Karnataka, where the party has effectively won all but two Lok Sabha seats. Of these two, one is a BJP-backed independent. BJP has witnessed a whirlwind journey in the Kannada-speaking state in the last two decades. From winning four seats in 1989, the party started growing in Karnataka in the early 1090s. In 2008, the BJP formed a government on its own, but lost power in 2013. In the May 2018 state Assembly elections, the party missed the half-way mark by a few seats, but it was enough for two arch rivals, Congress and JD(S), to join hands showing scant respect for the people’s mandate. The fight for Karnataka in 2019 was unique. The party organisation, which saw a low in the 2013 state Assembly elections, was energised in the last four years. By 2018, it was ready for battle. The BJP, which had witnessed splits when senior leaders like BS Yeddyurappa and B Sreeramulu had left in 2011-2012, succeeded in reviving a strong organisation. The return of leaders like Yeddyurappa and Sreeramulu to the party and integration with the team was a huge challenge. However, the task was undertaken efficiently right up to the grassroot level, without compromising on the core integrity of the organisation. The credit for this goes to the party’s national president Amit Shah and Karnataka general secretary incharge P Muralidhar Rao. The measures envisioned by Amit Shah were meticulously implemented. This included creating and strengthening booth committees, adding new members and their training, deploying vistaraks and reaching out to the beneficiaries of Modi government’s policies. All organisation-strengthening programmes were undertaken sincerely by karyakartas from top to bottom. The BJP plans to replicate this experience in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala as part of its southward march. The party also benefitted from the entry of new leaders and people from different organisations outside its immediate fold like the JD(S), Congress and some social outfits. This was part of the expansion plan of the party, which is still underway. These include the defeat of veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge by Umesh Jadhav, who joined BJP from Congress just before the election. Former Congress MLA, Raja Amresh Nayak, was another leader, who joined BJP and won from Raichur. Principally, it was the spirit of converting challenges to opportunities that helped the party in all these instances. The formation of Congress-JD(S) alliance was touted as an invincible combination expected to win a majority of seats in Karnataka. But, the BJP diligently identified the fault lines of that flawed partnership and managed to exploit the gaps therein effectively. This was the primary reason for BJP’s unprecedented victories in opposition strongholds like Tumkur and Chitradurga. Reaching the message of how the Congress-JD (U) alliance is failing inch-by-inch to every nook and corner was initiated. News of the internal squabbles in the partnership and its failure in function as a coherent government was communicated precisely and effectively. In democratic polity, it is continuous and uninterrupted communication between the political leadership and the people that prevents democracy from becoming sterile and stagnant. Realising this, BJP leadership ensured continuity in its public connect. There was a huge Modi appeal, but to convert it into political victories, both in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections was the result of a structured organisational work, decisive strategies and innovation. The last five years of the BJP in Karnataka is the best example of how continuous innovation and pathbreaking approaches can raise the quality of political functioning, creating energy and synergy. Amit Shah played the most crucial role in driving the party in this direction. His leadership boosted the morale of state leadership, which toiled day and night under party president and popular leader B S Yeddyurappa. State prabhari Muralidhar Rao worked more than a full-timer, building trust and comradeship among state leaders. The Karnataka experience has given BJP the confidence to expand into new territories. It will be interesting to watch how the saffron saga unfolds in South India. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

How the Karnataka poll outcome is changing the face of politics in South India

Former Union minister J P Nadda was appointed as BJP's working president during the party's parliamentary board meeting on Monday.

The decision by BJP's highest decision-making body was announced by former party president and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after the meeting, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

Shah will remain the party's national president. "J P Nadda will be party's working president," Singh told reporters.

According to sources, the board requested Shah to continue till the party's membership drive and organisational elections were completed but he pointed out that being the Union Home Minister he would be engaged in so many other matters.&nbsp;

This is for the first time the party has appointed a working president.

Shah's tenure ends in December 2019 and he may not like to get an extension as the party has principal of 'one man, one post', sources said.

Nadda, currently BJP's parliamentary board secretary, will continue as working president till BJP's organisational election are over, sources said and indicated that he may succeed Shah.

Nadda, 58, was given the responsibility of Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in which the BJP bagged 62 out of the 80 seats in the politically-critical state.&nbsp;

A three-time MLA, Nadda represents Himachal Pradesh in Rajya Sabha and enjoys the confidence of the party's top brass. He was the health minister in the Modi government in the previous term.

The decision to appoint Nadda came days after the BJP at a meeting of its national office bearers decided to carry out a membership drive to increase its members by 20 per cent followed by the party's organisational polls.

The party will start the drive from July 6, birth anniversary of its founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

The entire exercise may take several months to be concluded, which means that the party may fight assembly elections in three states - Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra - later this year under Shah and Nadda.&nbsp;

Former Union minister J P Nadda was appointed as BJP's working president during the party's parliamentary board meeting on Monday. The decision by BJP's highest decision-making body was announced by former party president and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after the meeting, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

Former Union minister J P Nadda was appointed as BJP's working president during the party's parliamentary board meeting on Monday. The decision by BJP's highest decision-making body was announced by former party president and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after the meeting, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. Shah will remain the party's national president. "J P Nadda will be party's working president," Singh told reporters. According to sources, the board requested Shah to continue till the party's membership drive and organisational elections were completed but he pointed out that being the Union Home Minister he would be engaged in so many other matters. This is for the first time the party has appointed a working president. Shah's tenure ends in December 2019 and he may not like to get an extension as the party has principal of 'one man, one post', sources said. Nadda, currently BJP's parliamentary board secretary, will continue as working president till BJP's organisational election are over, sources said and indicated that he may succeed Shah. Nadda, 58, was given the responsibility of Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in which the BJP bagged 62 out of the 80 seats in the politically-critical state. A three-time MLA, Nadda represents Himachal Pradesh in Rajya Sabha and enjoys the confidence of the party's top brass. He was the health minister in the Modi government in the previous term. The decision to appoint Nadda came days after the BJP at a meeting of its national office bearers decided to carry out a membership drive to increase its members by 20 per cent followed by the party's organisational polls. The party will start the drive from July 6, birth anniversary of its founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The entire exercise may take several months to be concluded, which means that the party may fight assembly elections in three states - Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra - later this year under Shah and Nadda.

JP Nadda appointed BJP's working president, Amit Shah to remain party chief

Juniors Doctors in West Bengal refuse to end their strike. Doctors raise demands after Didi's ultimatum. Mamata Banerjee calls protest a conspiracy. West Bengal CM blames BJP, CPI(M) for this.

India Watch: Chaos In West Bengal

Union Home Minister&nbsp;Amit Shah held a meeting with the party`s national office bearers and state presidents in New Delhi on Thursday.

The meeting organised at the Bharatiya Janata Party's national headquarter is likely to decide the party president for the BJP.

This happens to be the first meeting of all state chiefs with BJP president after a euphoric win in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

The meeting is&nbsp;attended by&nbsp;state in-charges and other senior states functionaries.

The BJP on Wednesday reconstituted its Parliamentary Party Executive Committee with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah as its members.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has been appointed as the deputy leader of the party in Lok Sabha. Thawar Chand Gehlot has been appointed as the leader of the party in Rajya Sabha with Piyush Goyal as his deputy, according to a statement released by the party.

The Committee was constituted on Tuesday, the party said.

Prahlad Joshi has been appointed the government`s Chief Whip while Arjun Ram Meghwal and V Murleedharan will be the Deputy Chief Whip of the government in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively.

Dr Sanjay Jaiswal has been appointed party`s Chief Whip in Lok Sabha and Narayan Lal Panchariya has been appointed the party`s Chief Whip in Upper House of Parliament. Gopal Shetty will be the new Treasurer.

The other leaders who have been appointed as the whips in Lok Sabha are - Pratima Bhaumik, Sunil Singh, Parvesh Verma, Kirit Bhai Solanki, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Nalin Kumar Kateel, Sudhir Gupta, Santosh Pandey, Kapil Moreshwar Patil, Suresh Pujari, Kanalmal Katara, Ajay Mishra, Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Pankaj Chaudhary, Khagen Murmu, Ranjanaben Bhatt, Shobha Karandlaje, Locket Chatterjee.

Amar Sanker Sable, Shamsher Singh Manhas, Shwait Malik, Chunnibhai Patel, Ajay Pratap Singh, and Ashok Bajpai have been appointed as whips in Rajya Sabha.

According to the statement released by the BJP -- Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Arjun Munda, Narendra Singh Tomar, Smriti Irani, Jual Oram are the special invitees for Lok Sabha.

For Rajya Sabha, the special invitees include - JP Nadda, Om Prakash Mathur, Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Prakash Javadekar.

&nbsp;

Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with the party`s national office bearers and state presidents in New Delhi on Thursday. The meeting organised at the Bharatiya Janata Party's national headquarter is likely to decide the party president for the BJP.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with the party`s national office bearers and state presidents in New Delhi on Thursday. The meeting organised at the Bharatiya Janata Party's national headquarter is likely to decide the party president for the BJP. This happens to be the first meeting of all state chiefs with BJP president after a euphoric win in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. The meeting is attended by state in-charges and other senior states functionaries. The BJP on Wednesday reconstituted its Parliamentary Party Executive Committee with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah as its members. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has been appointed as the deputy leader of the party in Lok Sabha. Thawar Chand Gehlot has been appointed as the leader of the party in Rajya Sabha with Piyush Goyal as his deputy, according to a statement released by the party. The Committee was constituted on Tuesday, the party said. Prahlad Joshi has been appointed the government`s Chief Whip while Arjun Ram Meghwal and V Murleedharan will be the Deputy Chief Whip of the government in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively. Dr Sanjay Jaiswal has been appointed party`s Chief Whip in Lok Sabha and Narayan Lal Panchariya has been appointed the party`s Chief Whip in Upper House of Parliament. Gopal Shetty will be the new Treasurer. The other leaders who have been appointed as the whips in Lok Sabha are - Pratima Bhaumik, Sunil Singh, Parvesh Verma, Kirit Bhai Solanki, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Nalin Kumar Kateel, Sudhir Gupta, Santosh Pandey, Kapil Moreshwar Patil, Suresh Pujari, Kanalmal Katara, Ajay Mishra, Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Pankaj Chaudhary, Khagen Murmu, Ranjanaben Bhatt, Shobha Karandlaje, Locket Chatterjee. Amar Sanker Sable, Shamsher Singh Manhas, Shwait Malik, Chunnibhai Patel, Ajay Pratap Singh, and Ashok Bajpai have been appointed as whips in Rajya Sabha. According to the statement released by the BJP -- Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Arjun Munda, Narendra Singh Tomar, Smriti Irani, Jual Oram are the special invitees for Lok Sabha. For Rajya Sabha, the special invitees include - JP Nadda, Om Prakash Mathur, Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Prakash Javadekar.

Amit Shah holds meeting with key BJP leaders

Properties belonging to All India Waqf Board will be geo-tagged and facilities like school, college, hospital, community centre, common centre and hostel will be constructed on them, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has announced.

"All Waqf properties will be geo-tagged and digitised. Schools, colleges, hospitals, community centres, common centres and hostels will be built on them," Naqvi told the media reporters on Wednesday.

He said that funds to construct these facilities will be provided under Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram.

The minister also said that the Centre will extend free coaching to Muslim girls for UPSC, banking and state services exams.

"Muslim girls will be given free coaching for UPSC, state services and banking services entrance exams preparation. We have talked to a few institutes and the process will begin this year after talking to all of them," Naqvi said.

On Tuesday, Naqvi had announced to connect Madrasas with the formal education system of the country in order to enable the students of these seminaries to "contribute to the development of the society".

The government has recently announced its decision to provided scholarship to five crore students belonging to the minority community in the next five years.

The announcements are considered as Bharatiya Janata Party`s outreach to the Muslim community to gain their faith.

Modernisation of Madrasas is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s plan that he laid out in the run-up to Lok Sabha elections in 2014.

"Hold Quran in one hand and computer in other," Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said.&nbsp;

Properties belonging to All India Waqf Board will be geo-tagged and facilities like school, college, hospital, community centre, common centre and hostel will be constructed on them, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has announced.

Properties belonging to All India Waqf Board will be geo-tagged and facilities like school, college, hospital, community centre, common centre and hostel will be constructed on them, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has announced. "All Waqf properties will be geo-tagged and digitised. Schools, colleges, hospitals, community centres, common centres and hostels will be built on them," Naqvi told the media reporters on Wednesday. He said that funds to construct these facilities will be provided under Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram. The minister also said that the Centre will extend free coaching to Muslim girls for UPSC, banking and state services exams. "Muslim girls will be given free coaching for UPSC, state services and banking services entrance exams preparation. We have talked to a few institutes and the process will begin this year after talking to all of them," Naqvi said. On Tuesday, Naqvi had announced to connect Madrasas with the formal education system of the country in order to enable the students of these seminaries to "contribute to the development of the society". The government has recently announced its decision to provided scholarship to five crore students belonging to the minority community in the next five years. The announcements are considered as Bharatiya Janata Party`s outreach to the Muslim community to gain their faith. Modernisation of Madrasas is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s plan that he laid out in the run-up to Lok Sabha elections in 2014. "Hold Quran in one hand and computer in other," Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said.

All Waqf properties will be geo-tagged and digitised: Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

Watch 'India Watch.' This is the show that brings you the latest on the world's biggest democratic nation's exercise, Verified updates & Unbiased analysis.

Watch: India Watch, 13th June 2019

Ahead of his planned trip to India, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for close partnership between the two countries, saying the "two nations have an incredibly unique opportunity to move forward together for the good of both of our peoples." Pompeo spoke at an "India Ideas Summit" at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.

Mike Pompeo lauds U.S.-India relations

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-clashes-erupt-between-bjp-workers-police-in-kolkata-226477">West Bengal</a> Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asked the agitating junior doctors across the state to resume work by 2 pm and warned of action if the order was not followed.

Banerjee, who reached the state-run SSKM hospital around 12.10 pm in the wake of disruption of medical services in several parts of the state over the past three days, directed the police to clear the hospital premises, asserting that no one apart from patients should be allowed on the campus.

She had given the doctors a four-hour deadline to rejoin service but later revised it to 2 pm.

The chief minister claimed that the agitation was part of a conspiracy of her political rivals.

"I condemn the agitation. The junior doctors' strike is a conspiracy by the CPI(M) and the BJP," Banerjee, who also holds the health and family welfare portfolio, said.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief alleged that outsiders had entered medical colleges and hospitals to create disturbances. She also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to give the strike a communal colour.

"The BJP, with help from the CPI(M), is indulging in Hindu-Muslim politics. I am shocked to see their love affair," Banerjee said. "BJP chief Amit Shah is encouraging his party cadre to create communal tension and run propaganda on Facebook."

Senior BJP leader Mukul Roy had alleged that members of a particular community had carried out the attack on doctors and that the perpetrators belonged to the TMC.

The doctors, who have been agitating since Tuesday after two of their colleagues were attacked and seriously injured at the NRS medical college and hospital in Kolkata, raised "we want justice" slogans before the chief minister.

Despite the warning, the protesters were seen continuing with their agitation at the SSKM hospital.

Sources said a joint platform of doctors would be meeting the governor shortly to submit a deputation in connection with the ongoing agitation.

Emergency wards, outdoor facilities, pathological units of many state-run medical colleges and hospitals and a number of private medical facilities in the state have remained closed over the past two days in the wake of the protest.&nbsp;

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asked the agitating junior doctors across the state to resume work by 2 pm and warned of action if the order was not followed.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asked the agitating junior doctors across the state to resume work by 2 pm and warned of action if the order was not followed. Banerjee, who reached the state-run SSKM hospital around 12.10 pm in the wake of disruption of medical services in several parts of the state over the past three days, directed the police to clear the hospital premises, asserting that no one apart from patients should be allowed on the campus. She had given the doctors a four-hour deadline to rejoin service but later revised it to 2 pm. The chief minister claimed that the agitation was part of a conspiracy of her political rivals. "I condemn the agitation. The junior doctors' strike is a conspiracy by the CPI(M) and the BJP," Banerjee, who also holds the health and family welfare portfolio, said. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief alleged that outsiders had entered medical colleges and hospitals to create disturbances. She also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to give the strike a communal colour. "The BJP, with help from the CPI(M), is indulging in Hindu-Muslim politics. I am shocked to see their love affair," Banerjee said. "BJP chief Amit Shah is encouraging his party cadre to create communal tension and run propaganda on Facebook." Senior BJP leader Mukul Roy had alleged that members of a particular community had carried out the attack on doctors and that the perpetrators belonged to the TMC. The doctors, who have been agitating since Tuesday after two of their colleagues were attacked and seriously injured at the NRS medical college and hospital in Kolkata, raised "we want justice" slogans before the chief minister. Despite the warning, the protesters were seen continuing with their agitation at the SSKM hospital. Sources said a joint platform of doctors would be meeting the governor shortly to submit a deputation in connection with the ongoing agitation. Emergency wards, outdoor facilities, pathological units of many state-run medical colleges and hospitals and a number of private medical facilities in the state have remained closed over the past two days in the wake of the protest.

Mamata Banerjee asks junior doctors to resume work; blames BJP, CPI(M) for strike

Union Home Minister and party president Amit Shah is expected to continue as the party chief till December this year, a&nbsp;report stated.

Shah will remain the party president to oversee important state elections in Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, the report added.

Amit Shah' s three-year term as BJP chief ended earlier this year, but he was asked to continue&nbsp;till the completion of party&nbsp;engineering.

Shah on Thursday held the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amit-shah-holds-meeting-with-key-bjp-leaders-may-decide-next-party-president-226755"> first meeting of all state chiefs </a>after the historic victory of BJP in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

The meeting was organised at the BJP headquarters in Delhi and was attended by state in-charges and other senior states functionaries.

&nbsp;

Union Home Minister and party president Amit Shah is expected to continue as the party chief till December this year, a report stated. Shah will remain the party president to oversee important state elections in Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, the report added.

Union Home Minister and party president Amit Shah is expected to continue as the party chief till December this year, a report stated. Shah will remain the party president to oversee important state elections in Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, the report added. Amit Shah' s three-year term as BJP chief ended earlier this year, but he was asked to continue till the completion of party engineering. Shah on Thursday held the first meeting of all state chiefs after the historic victory of BJP in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. The meeting was organised at the BJP headquarters in Delhi and was attended by state in-charges and other senior states functionaries.

Amit Shah likely to remain party president till December: Report

Govt adapts 'Horses For Courses'approach. Modi Govt seems to be intrested in lateral entry.Lateral entry is a good way to acquire talent. Modi govt to expand pool of lateral entrants. Watch this video to know more.

India Watch: Significance Of Lateral Entrants In Modi Cabinet

Watch: India Watch, 12th June 2019

The BJP Wednesday announced its parliamentary party executive committee with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its leader in Lok Sabha and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the deputy leader.

In Rajya Sabha, Union minister Thaawarchand Gehlot, a veteran dalit face of the BJP, has been appointed as leader of the house and his cabinet colleague Piyush Goyal as the deputy leader.

Gehlot replaced senior BJP leader and former Union minister Arun Jaitley as leader of the house in Rajya Sabha. Jaitley had requested the leadership to relieve him from key positions in view of his poor health.

Union minister Smriti Irani's induction as a special invitee in the BJP's parliamentary party executive committee underscores elevation in her stature within the party after she defeated Congress president Rahul Gandhi from the Amethi parliamentary constituency.

The party has appointed Sanjay Jaiswal as its chief whip. It also appointed for the first time three women MPs as its whips for women parliamentarians.

Besides these three women whips, 15 other whips for Lok Sabha have also been appointed for parliamentarians from different states. In Lok Sabha, the BJP's strength has increased to 303.

Other special invitees from Lok Sabha to the BJP's parliamentary party executive are Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Arjun Munda, Narendra Singh Tomar and Jual Oram.

The BJP has also appointed six whips for the upper house, where it is the single largest party with 70 members.

Special invitees to the committee from Rajya Sabha are J P Nadda, Om Prakash Mathur, Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmedndra Pradhan and Prakash Javadekar.

BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya has been reappointed as in-charge of the party's parliamentary office and Balasubrahmanyam Kumarsu as secretary.

The newly constituted BJP parliamentary party executive committee marks a generational shift in the party as party veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, who have been its members for a long time, are not part of it, as both are not MPs.&nbsp;

Besides them, senior leaders Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj are also not its members.

The first meeting of the executive will be held on June 16 at 3:30 pm, a day before the commencement of Parliament session. The government has also called an all-party meeting in the morning of June 16 which will be chaired by the prime minister.&nbsp;

The BJP Wednesday announced its parliamentary party executive committee with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its leader in Lok Sabha and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the deputy leader.

The BJP Wednesday announced its parliamentary party executive committee with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its leader in Lok Sabha and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the deputy leader. In Rajya Sabha, Union minister Thaawarchand Gehlot, a veteran dalit face of the BJP, has been appointed as leader of the house and his cabinet colleague Piyush Goyal as the deputy leader. Gehlot replaced senior BJP leader and former Union minister Arun Jaitley as leader of the house in Rajya Sabha. Jaitley had requested the leadership to relieve him from key positions in view of his poor health. Union minister Smriti Irani's induction as a special invitee in the BJP's parliamentary party executive committee underscores elevation in her stature within the party after she defeated Congress president Rahul Gandhi from the Amethi parliamentary constituency. The party has appointed Sanjay Jaiswal as its chief whip. It also appointed for the first time three women MPs as its whips for women parliamentarians. Besides these three women whips, 15 other whips for Lok Sabha have also been appointed for parliamentarians from different states. In Lok Sabha, the BJP's strength has increased to 303. Other special invitees from Lok Sabha to the BJP's parliamentary party executive are Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Arjun Munda, Narendra Singh Tomar and Jual Oram. The BJP has also appointed six whips for the upper house, where it is the single largest party with 70 members. Special invitees to the committee from Rajya Sabha are J P Nadda, Om Prakash Mathur, Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmedndra Pradhan and Prakash Javadekar. BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya has been reappointed as in-charge of the party's parliamentary office and Balasubrahmanyam Kumarsu as secretary. The newly constituted BJP parliamentary party executive committee marks a generational shift in the party as party veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, who have been its members for a long time, are not part of it, as both are not MPs. Besides them, senior leaders Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj are also not its members. The first meeting of the executive will be held on June 16 at 3:30 pm, a day before the commencement of Parliament session. The government has also called an all-party meeting in the morning of June 16 which will be chaired by the prime minister.

BJP forms new parliamentary party executive; PM Modi leader in Lok Sabha, Rajnath Singh his deputy 

BJP workers clash with state police in Kolkata. Police used bastons, teargas and water cannons to control that. Governor calls for all party meeting tomorrow. BJP's Protest against killing of workers.

India Watch: Clashes At BJP's Kolkata Rally

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday installed a new statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar at the Vidyasagar college premises — the place where a similar statue was vandalised a month ago during a clash between the BJP and TMC workers.

India Watch: War between TMC & BJP heats up

Clashes broke out between BJP workers and police personnel in Kolkata on Wednesday during a massive rally organised by the party in protest against post-poll violence and an alleged attack on its workers and supporters.

As the BJP activists jostled to reach the Bowbazar crossing in the city, police resorted to firing tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse them. 
In retaliation, the saffron party workers raised slogans and hurled stones and bottles at the officers.

Some of the party workers were seen holding a sit-in demonstration in the area in protest.&nbsp;

BJP party workers, along with 18 newly elected MPs in the state, including BJP state president Dilip Ghosh, were marching towards the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar from the Wellington area of the city.

Bengal's BJP minder Kailash Vijayvargiya and senior party leader Mukul Roy also joined the march.

Post-poll violence has been reported from various places of West Bengal after the BJP secured 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state, just four less than that of the TMC.

Roy Tuesday blamed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the clashes in North 24 Parganas' Sandeshkhali on Saturday that claimed three lives and demanded an investigation into the violence by anti-terror probe agency NIA.

Banerjee had earlier accused the BJP of "spreading false information as part of a game plan to topple her government".&nbsp;

Clashes broke out between BJP workers and police personnel in Kolkata on Wednesday during a massive rally organised by the party in protest against post-poll violence and an alleged attack on its workers and supporters.

Clashes broke out between BJP workers and police personnel in Kolkata on Wednesday during a massive rally organised by the party in protest against post-poll violence and an alleged attack on its workers and supporters. As the BJP activists jostled to reach the Bowbazar crossing in the city, police resorted to firing tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse them. In retaliation, the saffron party workers raised slogans and hurled stones and bottles at the officers. Some of the party workers were seen holding a sit-in demonstration in the area in protest. BJP party workers, along with 18 newly elected MPs in the state, including BJP state president Dilip Ghosh, were marching towards the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar from the Wellington area of the city. Bengal's BJP minder Kailash Vijayvargiya and senior party leader Mukul Roy also joined the march. Post-poll violence has been reported from various places of West Bengal after the BJP secured 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state, just four less than that of the TMC. Roy Tuesday blamed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the clashes in North 24 Parganas' Sandeshkhali on Saturday that claimed three lives and demanded an investigation into the violence by anti-terror probe agency NIA. Banerjee had earlier accused the BJP of "spreading false information as part of a game plan to topple her government".

West Bengal: Clashes erupt between BJP workers, police in Kolkata

BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh&nbsp;Dr Virendra Kumar has been announced as the Protem Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha.

Kumar, 65,&nbsp;who hails from a Dalit family has earlier served as the Member of Parliament six times.

As protem speaker, Kumar&nbsp;will preside over the first sitting of the Lok Sabha and administer the oath of office to the newly elected MPs. He will also oversee the election of the Lok Sabha speaker.&nbsp;

He was a minister of state in the previous Modi government and won the 2019&nbsp;Lok Sabha polls from Tikamgarh.

The first session of the 17th Lok Sabha will start from June 17 and will continue till July 26.&nbsp;

Kumar, who holds a Ph 0D in Child Labor, had started his political career in 1977 when he became the Convener of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (A.B.V.P.), District Sagar, Madhya Pradesh.

He was also associated with RSS since childhood and served a prison sentence of 16 months under Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) in protest against the imposition of Emergency.

He was elected to 11th Lok Sabha for the first time in 1996 and became the member of Standing Committee on Labour and Welfare.

Consecutively he was re-elected to the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th Lok Sabha continuously and served as the Member as well chairpersons of different committees.

Kumar was also the Union Minister of State, Ministry of Women and Child Development; and Ministry of Minority Affairs between September 2017 to May 2019.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh Dr Virendra Kumar has been announced as the Protem Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha. Kumar, 65, who hails from a Dalit family has earlier served as the Member of Parliament six times.

BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh Dr Virendra Kumar has been announced as the Protem Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha. Kumar, 65, who hails from a Dalit family has earlier served as the Member of Parliament six times. As protem speaker, Kumar will preside over the first sitting of the Lok Sabha and administer the oath of office to the newly elected MPs. He will also oversee the election of the Lok Sabha speaker. He was a minister of state in the previous Modi government and won the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Tikamgarh. The first session of the 17th Lok Sabha will start from June 17 and will continue till July 26. Kumar, who holds a Ph 0D in Child Labor, had started his political career in 1977 when he became the Convener of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (A.B.V.P.), District Sagar, Madhya Pradesh. He was also associated with RSS since childhood and served a prison sentence of 16 months under Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) in protest against the imposition of Emergency. He was elected to 11th Lok Sabha for the first time in 1996 and became the member of Standing Committee on Labour and Welfare. Consecutively he was re-elected to the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th Lok Sabha continuously and served as the Member as well chairpersons of different committees. Kumar was also the Union Minister of State, Ministry of Women and Child Development; and Ministry of Minority Affairs between September 2017 to May 2019. (With inputs from agencies)

BJP MP Dr Virendra Kumar to be Protem Speaker of 17th Lok Sabha

Four workers of the BJP were shot dead by members of the TMC in Basirhat's Sandeshkhali, BJP leader Mukul Roy has alleged.Reportedly, one TMC workers has also been killed.

The deaths took place on Saturday during a clash between workers of the two parties in the city of North 24 Parganas. Removal of party flags had triggered the fight.

BJP's Mukul Roy alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has unleashed a "reign of terror" in West Bengal.

"TMC goons attacked BJP workers and 4 of our workers were shot dead in Sandeshkhali, Basirhat. Their leader and Chief Minister is indulging in a reign of terror, we have sent a message to Home Minister Amit Shah ji, Kailash Vijayvargiya ji, and our state leaders," said Roy.

He said that a team of MPs will visit Sandeshkhali, Basirhat on Sunday to take stock of the situation and will send a report to the Home Minister Amit Shah.Widespread violence involving the BJP and the TMC was witnessed during Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, with both parties trading blame over the issue.

The polls have come to a close, but the two parties are still at loggerheads.In an election that was marred by violence, BJP made deep inroads into the Trinamool Congress territory by winning 18 seats in Lok Sabha and restricting the TMC to only 22 seats against 34 it had won in 2014 national polls.&nbsp;

Four workers of the BJP were shot dead by members of the TMC in Basirhat's Sandeshkhali, BJP leader Mukul Roy has alleged.Reportedly, one TMC workers has also been killed.

Four workers of the BJP were shot dead by members of the TMC in Basirhat's Sandeshkhali, BJP leader Mukul Roy has alleged.Reportedly, one TMC workers has also been killed. The deaths took place on Saturday during a clash between workers of the two parties in the city of North 24 Parganas. Removal of party flags had triggered the fight. BJP's Mukul Roy alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has unleashed a "reign of terror" in West Bengal. "TMC goons attacked BJP workers and 4 of our workers were shot dead in Sandeshkhali, Basirhat. Their leader and Chief Minister is indulging in a reign of terror, we have sent a message to Home Minister Amit Shah ji, Kailash Vijayvargiya ji, and our state leaders," said Roy. He said that a team of MPs will visit Sandeshkhali, Basirhat on Sunday to take stock of the situation and will send a report to the Home Minister Amit Shah.Widespread violence involving the BJP and the TMC was witnessed during Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, with both parties trading blame over the issue. The polls have come to a close, but the two parties are still at loggerheads.In an election that was marred by violence, BJP made deep inroads into the Trinamool Congress territory by winning 18 seats in Lok Sabha and restricting the TMC to only 22 seats against 34 it had won in 2014 national polls.

West Bengal: 5 dead as BJP, Trinamool Congress workers clash in Basirhat

The Union Home Minister Amit Shah sought a report from the West Bengal government on the incident of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-5-dead-as-bjp-trinamool-congress-clash-in-basirhat-225589">violence between the BJP and TMC workers</a> at North 24 Parganas district on Saturday in which reportedly 5 BJP and 1 TMC worker lost their lives.

"Union Home Minister has asked for a report from the state government and I am sure Centre will take this up seriously. There is a lot of anger among the people over the incident," said Kailash Vijayvargiya, BJP National General Secretary.

Four workers of the BJP were shot dead by members of the TMC in Basirhat's Sandeshkhali, BJP leader Mukul Roy has alleged.

The deaths took place on Saturday during a clash between workers of the two parties in the city of North 24 Parganas.

The removal of party flags had triggered the fight. "TMC goons attacked BJP workers and 4 of our workers were shot dead in Sandeshkhali, Basirhat. Their leader and Chief Minister is indulging in a reign of terror, we have sent a message to Home Minister Amit Shah ji, Kailash Vijayvargiya ji, and our state leaders," said Roy.

He said that a team of MPs will visit Sandeshkhali, Basirhat on Sunday to take stock of the situation and will send a report to the Home Minister Amit Shah.

Widespread violence involving the BJP and the TMC was witnessed during Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, with both parties trading blame over the issue.

The polls have come to a close, but the two parties are still at loggerheads.In an election that was marred by violence, BJP made deep inroads into the Trinamool Congress territory by winning 18 seats in Lok Sabha and restricting the TMC to only 22 seats against 34 it had won in 2014 national polls.

The Union Home Minister Amit Shah sought a report from the West Bengal government on the incident of violence between the BJP and TMC workers at North 24 Parganas district on Saturday in which reportedly 5 BJP and 1 TMC worker lost their lives.

The Union Home Minister Amit Shah sought a report from the West Bengal government on the incident of violence between the BJP and TMC workers at North 24 Parganas district on Saturday in which reportedly 5 BJP and 1 TMC worker lost their lives. "Union Home Minister has asked for a report from the state government and I am sure Centre will take this up seriously. There is a lot of anger among the people over the incident," said Kailash Vijayvargiya, BJP National General Secretary. Four workers of the BJP were shot dead by members of the TMC in Basirhat's Sandeshkhali, BJP leader Mukul Roy has alleged. The deaths took place on Saturday during a clash between workers of the two parties in the city of North 24 Parganas. The removal of party flags had triggered the fight. "TMC goons attacked BJP workers and 4 of our workers were shot dead in Sandeshkhali, Basirhat. Their leader and Chief Minister is indulging in a reign of terror, we have sent a message to Home Minister Amit Shah ji, Kailash Vijayvargiya ji, and our state leaders," said Roy. He said that a team of MPs will visit Sandeshkhali, Basirhat on Sunday to take stock of the situation and will send a report to the Home Minister Amit Shah. Widespread violence involving the BJP and the TMC was witnessed during Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, with both parties trading blame over the issue. The polls have come to a close, but the two parties are still at loggerheads.In an election that was marred by violence, BJP made deep inroads into the Trinamool Congress territory by winning 18 seats in Lok Sabha and restricting the TMC to only 22 seats against 34 it had won in 2014 national polls.

Amit Shah seeks report on West Bengal violence

A day after massive clashes between Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) workers in Sandeshkhali in Basirhat located in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, claiming as many as three lives, a daylong drama prevailed in the area.

On Sunday, a five-member BJP delegation led by Bengal BJP President and MP from Midnapore constituency Dilip Ghosh met the family members of the two deceased BJP workers while&nbsp;a delegation comprising TMC leaders met the family members of the deceased party worker. &nbsp;

In view of tension prevailing in the area, the district administration shut down internet services for an indefinite period in Basirhat.

Police carried out massive searches for the missing party workers who remained untraceable. Police also deployed reserve force besides deploying armed personnel and Rapid Action Force (RAF) to maintain the law and order in the area.

However, the situation turned volatile when the BJP delegation leading the hearse carrying the two deceased BJP workers were stopped by the police from taking the dead bodies to Kolkata.

According to sources in the district police, they had prevented the delegation from taking the dead bodies in anticipation that the party might take out a procession despite assurances from the BJP that they will not do so.

The party had planned last rites of the two BJP workers in Kolkata after allowing the party workers to pay their last respects at the party headquarters.

Eventually, the party had to drop that idea and returned to their village in Sandeshkhali.

The Central government has taken cognisance of the situation and sought a report from the state government.

The Governor expressed his concern over the prevailing situation in the state. “Governor Tripathi is very sad at the unfortunate loss of lives and properties of the citizens. He extends his heartfelt sympathy for the families and near and dear ones of the deceased. He appeals to all concerned to see to it that no violent incidents take place and peace and harmony prevail in the state,” read a release from Governor’s House.

Meanwhile, the BJP has called a 12-hour bandh tomorrow in Basirhat and said the party will be observing a black day.

A day after massive clashes between Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) workers in Sandeshkhali in Basirhat located in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, claiming as many as three lives, a daylong drama prevailed in the area.

A day after massive clashes between Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) workers in Sandeshkhali in Basirhat located in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, claiming as many as three lives, a daylong drama prevailed in the area. On Sunday, a five-member BJP delegation led by Bengal BJP President and MP from Midnapore constituency Dilip Ghosh met the family members of the two deceased BJP workers while a delegation comprising TMC leaders met the family members of the deceased party worker. In view of tension prevailing in the area, the district administration shut down internet services for an indefinite period in Basirhat. Police carried out massive searches for the missing party workers who remained untraceable. Police also deployed reserve force besides deploying armed personnel and Rapid Action Force (RAF) to maintain the law and order in the area. However, the situation turned volatile when the BJP delegation leading the hearse carrying the two deceased BJP workers were stopped by the police from taking the dead bodies to Kolkata. According to sources in the district police, they had prevented the delegation from taking the dead bodies in anticipation that the party might take out a procession despite assurances from the BJP that they will not do so. The party had planned last rites of the two BJP workers in Kolkata after allowing the party workers to pay their last respects at the party headquarters. Eventually, the party had to drop that idea and returned to their village in Sandeshkhali. The Central government has taken cognisance of the situation and sought a report from the state government. The Governor expressed his concern over the prevailing situation in the state. “Governor Tripathi is very sad at the unfortunate loss of lives and properties of the citizens. He extends his heartfelt sympathy for the families and near and dear ones of the deceased. He appeals to all concerned to see to it that no violent incidents take place and peace and harmony prevail in the state,” read a release from Governor’s House. Meanwhile, the BJP has called a 12-hour bandh tomorrow in Basirhat and said the party will be observing a black day.

BJP calls for 12-hour bandh in Basirhat, West Bengal over death of 3 party workers  

BJP president Amit Shah Sunday held deliberations with the party's core group leaders from three Assembly poll-bound states.

Party sources said Shah held separate meetings with leaders from Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Haryana, all of which would go to polls later this year, at the BJP headquarters here.

The deliberations among the party leaders are believed to have focussed on the preparation for the polls, with Shah taking stock of the prevailing political situation and discussing the BJP's strategy.

The BJP is in power in all the three states and their chief ministers also attended the exercise.

The BJP's main rival in all three states is either the Congress, as in Haryana, or an opposition alliance in which it is a major presence, as in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

The saffron party decimated its rivals in these states in the recent Lok Sabha polls but Assembly elections will be fought on state-specific issues, with the performance of the respective state governments likely to be central planks.&nbsp;

BJP president Amit Shah Sunday held deliberations with the party's core group leaders from three Assembly poll-bound states. Party sources said Shah held separate meetings with leaders from Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Haryana, all of which would go to polls later this year, at the BJP headquarters here.

BJP president Amit Shah Sunday held deliberations with the party's core group leaders from three Assembly poll-bound states. Party sources said Shah held separate meetings with leaders from Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Haryana, all of which would go to polls later this year, at the BJP headquarters here. The deliberations among the party leaders are believed to have focussed on the preparation for the polls, with Shah taking stock of the prevailing political situation and discussing the BJP's strategy. The BJP is in power in all the three states and their chief ministers also attended the exercise. The BJP's main rival in all three states is either the Congress, as in Haryana, or an opposition alliance in which it is a major presence, as in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The saffron party decimated its rivals in these states in the recent Lok Sabha polls but Assembly elections will be fought on state-specific issues, with the performance of the respective state governments likely to be central planks.

Amit Shah holds meetings with BJP leaders from 3 Assembly poll-bound states

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asserted on Saturday that his JD(U) stayed out of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre since it felt there was no need for a "symbolic representation" in the Union cabinet and that the decision must not be construed as a result of any disaffection with its ally BJP.

"We are fully with the Modi government. I had made it clear after returning from New Delhi (after the swearing-in). Their party (BJP) has full majority. It has received the mandate to form government on its own and is not dependent on allies. Yet they expressed the view that there should be a symbolic representation of all alliance partners. We thought it was not needed," Kumar told reporters here.

Kumar was replying to queries on the sidelines of a function where he launched a nationwide membership drive carried out by the JD(U), of which he is the national president.

"It is wrong to think that we have any disaffection with the BJP which has led to the decision. We have a different style of working and having a minister or two in the Centre does not matter much to us. We had returned to the NDA in the interests of Bihar and to that end our alliance remains firm," Kumar said.

Kumar had snapped 17-year-old ties with the BJP in 2013 in protest against Narendra Modi's appointment as the party's chief for Lok Sabha election campaign which was seen as a precursor to his elevation as the Prime Ministerial candidate.&nbsp;

Kumar had till then maintained a distance from his Gujarat counterpart in view of the latter's alleged role in the post-Godhra communal riots.

He fought the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the CPI, losing badly and resigned as Chief Minister taking moral responsibility for the drubbing. Thereafter he formed a coalition with arch rival Lalu Prasad, who heads the RJD, and their alliance with the Congress handsomely won the 2015 assembly polls and the RJD supremo's sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav were inducted into the new cabinet headed by Kumar.

However, in 2017 a major controversy broke out following lodging of money laundering cases, by central agencies like CBI and ED against Tejashwi who was also the Deputy CM.

This led to Kumar walking out of the Grand Alliance and returning to the NDA as the BJP, now joined by Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP, came with offer of support.

In the recent general elections, the NDA swept Bihar winning 39 out of 40 seats. The JD(U), which had fought 17 seats, won all but one.

Kumar expressed delight over his party earning the status of a "recognized state party" in Arunachal Pradesh.

About reports that his party's unit in the neighbouring Jharkhand wanted to fight the assembly polls early next year on its own which would pit the JD(U) against the BJP, Kumar said, "Our national executive will meet tomorrow. Our Jharkhand unit members will also be present. We will take a decision based on their inputs."

Despite being an NDA constituent, the JD(U) has maintained that its ties with the BJP were limited to Bihar only and it has contested assembly polls in a number of states ruled by its alliance partner, including Gujarat.

Replying to a query about the ghastly killing of a girl child in Aligarh, whose mutilated body was spotted by passersby when it was being dragged by stray dogs, Kumar said, "It is abominable. The guilty must be punished severely."&nbsp;

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asserted on Saturday that his JD(U) stayed out of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre since it felt there was no need for a "symbolic representation" in the Union cabinet and that the decision must not be construed as a result of any disaffection with its ally BJP.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asserted on Saturday that his JD(U) stayed out of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre since it felt there was no need for a "symbolic representation" in the Union cabinet and that the decision must not be construed as a result of any disaffection with its ally BJP. "We are fully with the Modi government. I had made it clear after returning from New Delhi (after the swearing-in). Their party (BJP) has full majority. It has received the mandate to form government on its own and is not dependent on allies. Yet they expressed the view that there should be a symbolic representation of all alliance partners. We thought it was not needed," Kumar told reporters here. Kumar was replying to queries on the sidelines of a function where he launched a nationwide membership drive carried out by the JD(U), of which he is the national president. "It is wrong to think that we have any disaffection with the BJP which has led to the decision. We have a different style of working and having a minister or two in the Centre does not matter much to us. We had returned to the NDA in the interests of Bihar and to that end our alliance remains firm," Kumar said. Kumar had snapped 17-year-old ties with the BJP in 2013 in protest against Narendra Modi's appointment as the party's chief for Lok Sabha election campaign which was seen as a precursor to his elevation as the Prime Ministerial candidate. Kumar had till then maintained a distance from his Gujarat counterpart in view of the latter's alleged role in the post-Godhra communal riots. He fought the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the CPI, losing badly and resigned as Chief Minister taking moral responsibility for the drubbing. Thereafter he formed a coalition with arch rival Lalu Prasad, who heads the RJD, and their alliance with the Congress handsomely won the 2015 assembly polls and the RJD supremo's sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav were inducted into the new cabinet headed by Kumar. However, in 2017 a major controversy broke out following lodging of money laundering cases, by central agencies like CBI and ED against Tejashwi who was also the Deputy CM. This led to Kumar walking out of the Grand Alliance and returning to the NDA as the BJP, now joined by Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP, came with offer of support. In the recent general elections, the NDA swept Bihar winning 39 out of 40 seats. The JD(U), which had fought 17 seats, won all but one. Kumar expressed delight over his party earning the status of a "recognized state party" in Arunachal Pradesh. About reports that his party's unit in the neighbouring Jharkhand wanted to fight the assembly polls early next year on its own which would pit the JD(U) against the BJP, Kumar said, "Our national executive will meet tomorrow. Our Jharkhand unit members will also be present. We will take a decision based on their inputs." Despite being an NDA constituent, the JD(U) has maintained that its ties with the BJP were limited to Bihar only and it has contested assembly polls in a number of states ruled by its alliance partner, including Gujarat. Replying to a query about the ghastly killing of a girl child in Aligarh, whose mutilated body was spotted by passersby when it was being dragged by stray dogs, Kumar said, "It is abominable. The guilty must be punished severely."

JD(U) stayed out of Modi government as we felt there was no need for symbolic representation: Nitish

Tension prevailed on Sunday in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-5-dead-as-bjp-trinamool-congress-clash-in-basirhat-225589">strife-affected Sandeshkhali in West Bengal</a>'s North 24 Parganas, with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Trinamool Congress accusing each other of orchestrating Saturday's violence that allegedly claimed at least four lives.

A huge contingent of police officers has been deployed in the village and its surrounding areas under the Nyajat police station in the district, where the violence broke out in the evening, to prevent the tension from escalating.

While the BJP leadership on Sunday claimed that five of its supporters were killed in the clash, the TMC said that six of its workers were missing. 
The bodies of one TMC worker and two BJP supporters have been identified by family members at a local hospital.

As of Sunday morning, police are carrying out search operations to trace the persons alleged to have gone missing in what has been deemed as the "worst political violence" following the 2019 general election.

State BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu Saturday said three of his party workers -- Sukanta Mondal, Pradip Mondal and Shankar Mondal -- have been shot dead, while state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick maintained that TMC worker Kayoom Mollah has been killed in the clash.

In claims and counter-claims over the political fallout, both the parties have stated that several of their workers have gone missing.

Continuing his tirade against the ruling party, BJP leader Mukul Roy, who is scheduled to lead a seven-member delegation of party MPs to the violence-hit area on Sunday, accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of instigating political strife in Bengal through her speeches and meetings.

He also maintained that "five members of the saffron party were killed and several others went missing" during the clashes at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district.

Speaking to reporters at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport here on his arrival from Delhi, Roy alleged that local TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh has masterminded the attack on BJP workers.

The state Food and Supplies minister, on the other hand, said his party apprehended that the "missing workers" might have been killed.

Mallick, who is also leading a party delegation comprising state ministers to Sandeshkhali, told PTI, "We apprehend that six TMC workers have been killed and their bodies dumped in the water."

He alleged that it was the BJP workers who had attacked TMC supporters during a procession, and accused the saffron party of bringing in outsiders to foment trouble.

The minister also asserted that the BJP workers were killed from bullets fired by their "own people" and denied that TMC men were involved in their deaths.

Contending that his party wants "peace to prevail", Mallick said that he has asked his partymen not to hold any meeting or procession without the district leadership's permission.

Sources in the TMC and the BJP had claimed on Saturday that the clashes broke out over the removal of saffron party flags in the area.

Local people said several shops and houses were vandalised during the violence, which broke out during a TMC procession.

Tension prevailed on Sunday in strife-affected Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas, with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Trinamool Congress accusing each other of orchestrating Saturday's violence that allegedly claimed at least four lives.

Tension prevailed on Sunday in strife-affected Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas, with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Trinamool Congress accusing each other of orchestrating Saturday's violence that allegedly claimed at least four lives. A huge contingent of police officers has been deployed in the village and its surrounding areas under the Nyajat police station in the district, where the violence broke out in the evening, to prevent the tension from escalating. While the BJP leadership on Sunday claimed that five of its supporters were killed in the clash, the TMC said that six of its workers were missing. The bodies of one TMC worker and two BJP supporters have been identified by family members at a local hospital. As of Sunday morning, police are carrying out search operations to trace the persons alleged to have gone missing in what has been deemed as the "worst political violence" following the 2019 general election. State BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu Saturday said three of his party workers -- Sukanta Mondal, Pradip Mondal and Shankar Mondal -- have been shot dead, while state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick maintained that TMC worker Kayoom Mollah has been killed in the clash. In claims and counter-claims over the political fallout, both the parties have stated that several of their workers have gone missing. Continuing his tirade against the ruling party, BJP leader Mukul Roy, who is scheduled to lead a seven-member delegation of party MPs to the violence-hit area on Sunday, accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of instigating political strife in Bengal through her speeches and meetings. He also maintained that "five members of the saffron party were killed and several others went missing" during the clashes at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district. Speaking to reporters at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport here on his arrival from Delhi, Roy alleged that local TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh has masterminded the attack on BJP workers. The state Food and Supplies minister, on the other hand, said his party apprehended that the "missing workers" might have been killed. Mallick, who is also leading a party delegation comprising state ministers to Sandeshkhali, told PTI, "We apprehend that six TMC workers have been killed and their bodies dumped in the water." He alleged that it was the BJP workers who had attacked TMC supporters during a procession, and accused the saffron party of bringing in outsiders to foment trouble. The minister also asserted that the BJP workers were killed from bullets fired by their "own people" and denied that TMC men were involved in their deaths. Contending that his party wants "peace to prevail", Mallick said that he has asked his partymen not to hold any meeting or procession without the district leadership's permission. Sources in the TMC and the BJP had claimed on Saturday that the clashes broke out over the removal of saffron party flags in the area. Local people said several shops and houses were vandalised during the violence, which broke out during a TMC procession.

Tension prevails in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali, police looking for 'missing' persons

Continuing his attack on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-arrives-in-kochi-will-visit-guruvayur-temple-in-thrissur-225348">prime minister</a> on the second day of his visit to Wayanad, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-president-rahul-gandhi-arrives-in-wayanad-for-three-day-visit-225247">Congress president Rahul Gandhi</a> said Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha election campaign was filled with "lies, poison and hatred", but his party stood for truth, love and affection.

On his first visit to his constituency after being elected to Lok Sabha, Gandhi addressed party workers at Kalpetta, Kambalakadu and Panamaram during a roadshow on Saturday.

A large number of Congress-led United Democratic Front workers and women thronged the route.

Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal, Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala, Kerala Congress chief Mullappally Ramachandran were with Gandhi in his special vehicle.

Though it rained heavily in parts of the constituency Friday, the weather did not play spoilsport as it was bright and sunny till this noon. 
Gandhi said Modi "uses hatred, anger and lies" which are his "weapons".

He said his party will continue to fight the "worst sentiments" the prime minister represents.

"At the national level, we are fighting poison. Modi's campaign was filled with lies, poison, hatred and divided the people of the country. He used lies in the election... Congress stood for truth, love and affection," he said addressing the crowd at Kalpetta.

At Kambalakadu, Gandhi said there are big challenges in Wayanad which can be resolved by working together.

"My job is to represent all of Wayanad. People from all parties supported me in the election. There are big challenges and issues in Wayanad. We will work together and solve everything," he said.

Gandhi had contested the Lok Sabha election from Wayanad, in addition to his family bastion of Amethi, but lost to Union minister Smriti Irani in the Uttar Pradesh constituency. He won from Wayanad with a margin of about 4.31 lakh votes.

After the Congress party's poor show in the second consecutive general election, Gandhi had offered to resign as the Congress president, but it was rejected by the party's highest decision-making body.

Congress won 52 seats in the 2019 polls. However in Kerala, the only state besides Punjab and Tamil Nadu where it did well, the party and its allies won 19 out of 20 seats.

On Friday in Malappuram district, Gandhi said his party would emerge as a strong Opposition and defend the poor.

Attacking Modi, he said, "Modi may have money, he may have the media by his side, he may have rich friends. But the Congress will continue to fight against the intolerance created by the BJP".

"The intolerance created by BJP and Modi will be dealt by the Congress party with love and affection," Gandhi added.

The Congress president is on a three-day visit to the constituency.&nbsp;

Continuing his attack on the prime minister on the second day of his visit to Wayanad, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha election campaign was filled with "lies, poison and hatred", but his party stood for truth, love and affection.

Continuing his attack on the prime minister on the second day of his visit to Wayanad, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha election campaign was filled with "lies, poison and hatred", but his party stood for truth, love and affection. On his first visit to his constituency after being elected to Lok Sabha, Gandhi addressed party workers at Kalpetta, Kambalakadu and Panamaram during a roadshow on Saturday. A large number of Congress-led United Democratic Front workers and women thronged the route. Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal, Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala, Kerala Congress chief Mullappally Ramachandran were with Gandhi in his special vehicle. Though it rained heavily in parts of the constituency Friday, the weather did not play spoilsport as it was bright and sunny till this noon. Gandhi said Modi "uses hatred, anger and lies" which are his "weapons". He said his party will continue to fight the "worst sentiments" the prime minister represents. "At the national level, we are fighting poison. Modi's campaign was filled with lies, poison, hatred and divided the people of the country. He used lies in the election... Congress stood for truth, love and affection," he said addressing the crowd at Kalpetta. At Kambalakadu, Gandhi said there are big challenges in Wayanad which can be resolved by working together. "My job is to represent all of Wayanad. People from all parties supported me in the election. There are big challenges and issues in Wayanad. We will work together and solve everything," he said. Gandhi had contested the Lok Sabha election from Wayanad, in addition to his family bastion of Amethi, but lost to Union minister Smriti Irani in the Uttar Pradesh constituency. He won from Wayanad with a margin of about 4.31 lakh votes. After the Congress party's poor show in the second consecutive general election, Gandhi had offered to resign as the Congress president, but it was rejected by the party's highest decision-making body. Congress won 52 seats in the 2019 polls. However in Kerala, the only state besides Punjab and Tamil Nadu where it did well, the party and its allies won 19 out of 20 seats. On Friday in Malappuram district, Gandhi said his party would emerge as a strong Opposition and defend the poor. Attacking Modi, he said, "Modi may have money, he may have the media by his side, he may have rich friends. But the Congress will continue to fight against the intolerance created by the BJP". "The intolerance created by BJP and Modi will be dealt by the Congress party with love and affection," Gandhi added. The Congress president is on a three-day visit to the constituency.

Modi's Lok Sabha poll campaign filled with 'lies, poison and hatred': Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad

BJP`s national general secretary Ram Madhav on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will break the Congress`s record of ruling the country for the longest period and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/narendra-modi-takes-oath-as-prime-minister-for-second-time-222847">BJP will remain in power </a>when the nation would celebrate its 100 years of independence.

"A strong government is formed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second time at the centre. Now, this government will run for a longer duration," said Madhav.

"If there is any party which has been in power for the longest duration it is Congress, it was Congress which ruled the country after Independence from 1950 to 1977. I assure you that Modi ji is going to break that record. There will be BJP in power till the time we enter 100th year of independence in 2047," said Ram Madhav while speaking at a rally in Agartala on Friday.

Hundreds of BJP supporters and leaders took part in a rally that was held in Agartala as they celebrated the victory of the BJP candidates in both the parliamentary constituencies of the state.&nbsp;

Madhav also praised the people of the state for choosing Modi as the Prime Minister for the second term by sending two MPs from the state for the first time.&nbsp;

BJP`s national general secretary Ram Madhav on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will break the Congress`s record of ruling the country for the longest period and the BJP will remain in power when the nation would celebrate its 100 years of independence.

BJP`s national general secretary Ram Madhav on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will break the Congress`s record of ruling the country for the longest period and the BJP will remain in power when the nation would celebrate its 100 years of independence. "A strong government is formed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second time at the centre. Now, this government will run for a longer duration," said Madhav. "If there is any party which has been in power for the longest duration it is Congress, it was Congress which ruled the country after Independence from 1950 to 1977. I assure you that Modi ji is going to break that record. There will be BJP in power till the time we enter 100th year of independence in 2047," said Ram Madhav while speaking at a rally in Agartala on Friday. Hundreds of BJP supporters and leaders took part in a rally that was held in Agartala as they celebrated the victory of the BJP candidates in both the parliamentary constituencies of the state. Madhav also praised the people of the state for choosing Modi as the Prime Minister for the second term by sending two MPs from the state for the first time.

BJP will break Congress' record of ruling country for longest duration: Ram Madhav

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