Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday reiterated that her party will "not have any alliance with Congress party in any state". Her remarks came just a couple of days after the Election Commission of India announced dates for the Lok Sabha polls next month.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
"It has been reiterated once again that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will not have any alliance with Congress party in any state, to contest the upcoming elections," Mayawati said.&nbsp;

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BSP Chief Mayawati: It has been reiterated once again that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will not have any alliance with Congress party in any state, to contest the upcoming elections. (file pic) <a href="https://t.co/JgPzgrED1c">pic.twitter.com/JgPzgrED1c</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1105394979583811584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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It also means that Mayawati will tie-up with smaller parties in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chattisgarh.&nbsp;

Congress wanted 15 seats from Uttar Pradesh and was open to the idea of giving seats to the BSP in north Indian states and in Maharashtra.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said that the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sp-bsp-give-rld-three-lok-sabha-seats-in-up-akhilesh-says-congress-part-of-mahagatbandhan-201321">Congress was very much part of the '</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sp-bsp-give-rld-three-lok-sabha-seats-in-up-akhilesh-says-congress-part-of-mahagatbandhan-201321">mahagatbandhan</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sp-bsp-give-rld-three-lok-sabha-seats-in-up-akhilesh-says-congress-part-of-mahagatbandhan-201321">'</a>.

"We have left two seats (Amethi and Rae Bareli) for the party," he added.

Yadav also stated that the Rashtriya Lok Dal will contest three Lok Sabha seats as part of an alliance with the SP and the BSP, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday reiterated that her party will "not have any alliance with Congress party in any state". Her remarks came just a couple of days after the Election Commission of India announced dates for the Lok Sabha polls next month.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday reiterated that her party will "not have any alliance with Congress party in any state". Her remarks came just a couple of days after the Election Commission of India announced dates for the Lok Sabha polls next month. "It has been reiterated once again that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will not have any alliance with Congress party in any state, to contest the upcoming elections," Mayawati said. BSP Chief Mayawati: It has been reiterated once again that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will not have any alliance with Congress party in any state, to contest the upcoming elections. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/JgPzgrED1c — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 12, 2019 × It also means that Mayawati will tie-up with smaller parties in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chattisgarh. Congress wanted 15 seats from Uttar Pradesh and was open to the idea of giving seats to the BSP in north Indian states and in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said that the Congress was very much part of the 'mahagatbandhan'. "We have left two seats (Amethi and Rae Bareli) for the party," he added. Yadav also stated that the Rashtriya Lok Dal will contest three Lok Sabha seats as part of an alliance with the SP and the BSP, news agency PTI reported. (With inputs from agencies)

Lok Sabha polls: No 'grand alliance' in Uttar Pradesh as Mayawati rules out tie-up with Congress in any state

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday slammed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/is-it-going-to-be-rahul-gandhi-vs-narendra-modi-in-2019-185056">Congress president Rahul Gandhi</a> for referring to terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed chief as Masood Azhar "ji" during his public address.&nbsp;

Gandhi, in his address, said that "You would remember that during their (NDA) last government, current National Security Advisor Ajit Doval went to Kandahar to hand over Masood Azhar ji."

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Rahul Gandhi in Delhi: You would remember that during their(NDA) last Govt, current National Security Advisor Ajit Doval went to Kandahar to hand over Masood Azhar. <a href="https://t.co/xTErFR6rjV">pic.twitter.com/xTErFR6rjV</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1105082740712660992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The BJP did not bat an eye in attacking Gandhi with scores of party leaders joining in, including Union ministers, who took to Twitter and trolled the Congress chief.&nbsp;

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Come on “Rahul Gandhi Ji”! 
 
Earlier it were the likes of Digvijay Ji who called “Osama Ji” and “Hafiz Saeed Sahab”. 
 
Now you are saying “Masood Azhar Ji”. 
 
What is happening to Congress Party? <a href="https://t.co/fIB4FoOFOh">pic.twitter.com/fIB4FoOFOh</a>
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) <a href="https://twitter.com/rsprasad/status/1105102694891601920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"Come on “Rahul Gandhi Ji”! Earlier it were the likes of Digvijay Ji who called “Osama Ji” and “Hafiz Saeed Sahab”. Now you are saying “Masood Azhar Ji”. What is happening to Congress Party?" Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted.&nbsp;

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What is common between Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan? 
 
Their love for terrorists. 
 
Please note Rahul ji’s reverence for terrorist Masood Azhar - a testimony to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RahulLovesTerrorists?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RahulLovesTerrorists</a> <a href="https://t.co/CyqoZ7b9CF">pic.twitter.com/CyqoZ7b9CF</a>
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) <a href="https://twitter.com/smritiirani/status/1105097551039082497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"What is common between Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan? Their love for terrorists. Please note Rahul ji’s reverence for terrorist Masood Azhar - a testimony to," read Smriti Irani's tweet.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for referring to terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed chief as Masood Azhar "ji" during his public address.

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for referring to terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed chief as Masood Azhar "ji" during his public address. Gandhi, in his address, said that "You would remember that during their (NDA) last government, current National Security Advisor Ajit Doval went to Kandahar to hand over Masood Azhar ji." #WATCH Rahul Gandhi in Delhi: You would remember that during their(NDA) last Govt, current National Security Advisor Ajit Doval went to Kandahar to hand over Masood Azhar. pic.twitter.com/xTErFR6rjV — ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2019 × The BJP did not bat an eye in attacking Gandhi with scores of party leaders joining in, including Union ministers, who took to Twitter and trolled the Congress chief. Come on “Rahul Gandhi Ji”! Earlier it were the likes of Digvijay Ji who called “Osama Ji” and “Hafiz Saeed Sahab”. Now you are saying “Masood Azhar Ji”. What is happening to Congress Party? pic.twitter.com/fIB4FoOFOh — Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) March 11, 2019 × "Come on “Rahul Gandhi Ji”! Earlier it were the likes of Digvijay Ji who called “Osama Ji” and “Hafiz Saeed Sahab”. Now you are saying “Masood Azhar Ji”. What is happening to Congress Party?" Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted. What is common between Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan? Their love for terrorists. Please note Rahul ji’s reverence for terrorist Masood Azhar - a testimony to #RahulLovesTerrorists pic.twitter.com/CyqoZ7b9CF — Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) March 11, 2019 × "What is common between Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan? Their love for terrorists. Please note Rahul ji’s reverence for terrorist Masood Azhar - a testimony to," read Smriti Irani's tweet.

'What's happening to Congress?' asks BJP after Rahul says 'Masood Azhar ji'

Lok Sabha elections will begin on April 11 and continue for over a month till May 19 across seven phases, followed by counting of votes on May 23, the Election Commission announced Sunday, kick-starting the countdown for a mega electoral battle where the BJP will pitch for a re-election of the Modi government amid the Opposition's efforts for a united fight to unseat it.

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/2019-lok-sabha-elections-check-when-your-state-ut-goes-to-the-polls-202410">polling will be held on</a> April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19 for 543 Lok Sabha seats across the country in which nearly 90 crore voters would be eligible to vote, the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said at a packed press conference here.

Assembly elections will also be held in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Odisha simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls, the CEC said.&nbsp;

However, elections for Jammu and Kashmir assembly will not to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls, the EC said citing security reasons. The state has been under Governor's rule after the ruling alliance between the BJP and People's Democratic Party fell apart last year.&nbsp;

National Conference, Congress and other opposition parties slammed the decision to not hold assembly polls in J&amp;K, while opposition leaders elsewhere including in West Bengal also latched onto the EC decision to hold multi-phase elections in their states to slam the government on law and order situation.

Arora said the model code of conduct would come into immediate effect from Sunday and 10 lakhs polling stations would be set up this time as against about nine lakhs in 2014.

Among other restrictions, the model code bars the government from announcing any policy move that may impact voters' decision.

The EC said the 'voter verifiable paper audit trail' (VVPAT) will be used in all polling stations this time.

Counting of votes for all seven phases would be done on May 23, Arora said. 
 
In 2014, BJP had won 282 seats out of 543 constituencies in Lok Sabha handing a crushing defeat to the 10-year-rule of the United Progressive Alliance led by Congress.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek to retain power, the opposition is seeking to put up a spirited fight to defeat the ruling BJP.

"Best wishes to the Election Commission, all those officials and security personnel who will be on the field, across the length and breadth of India assuring smooth elections. India is very proud of the EC for assiduously organising elections for several years," Modi tweeted.

In the press briefing, Arora also reassured the nation of the EC's "solemn resolve and deep commitment to fulfil its constitutional mandate to conduct free, fair and credible elections."

He said all political advertisements on social media will need pre-certification and that the candidates will have to give details of their social media accounts to the election commission.

The CEC said 91 constituencies will go for polls in first phase, 97 in second phase, 115 in third phase, 71 in fourth, 51 in fifth, 59 in sixth and 59 in the seventh phase.&nbsp;

The election will pit the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance against mostly different opposition groupings in various states, including of Congress, Left and regional forces who are continuing to work out a grand alliance to minimise a division of votes against the Modi government.

The BJP has worked out a seat-sharing formula with some new allies and several old partners, by even making concessions in states like Bihar. However, opposition parties are yet to do so in several states.

While the NDA hopes to make history by coming back to power for a second full term, the Opposition wants to unseat the Modi government by raising questions on its performance on a host of issues, including economic growth, employment, corruption and social harmony.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee had led the NDA to back-to-back wins in 1998 and 1999 general elections but he was at the helm for only one full term.&nbsp;

After losing three assemblies last year, the BJP believes its Lok Sabha campaign is back on track following decisions like 10 per cent quota for the general category poor, money transfer to farmers and a populist budget.&nbsp;

What has injected further confidence into the NDA fold is the fronting of the nationalist plank in the poll campaign after the Indian Air Force' strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan after Pulwama terror attack, which killed 40 CRPF personnel.

The BJP has been citing 2016 surgical strikes on terror launch pads and the Balakot air strikes to assert that only a government headed by Modi will be capable of taking on Pakistan over terrorism.

Modi has already launched an aggressive campaign accusing opposition parties of coming together for the sole purpose of removing him when he is working to "remove poverty, corruption and terrorism".

He had led the NDA to a sweeping victory in 2014 as it won 336 of 543 Lok Sabha seats, reducing the incumbent Congress to its lowest total of 44 seats.

In 2014, the Lok Sabha elections were held across nine phases beginning April 7 and ending May 9. Votes were counted on May 16.

The total contestants in fray were 8,251, with an average of 15 candidates in each constituency, though deposits got forfeited for 7,000 contestants.

A total of over 55 crore voters (66.3 per cent) exercised their vote, while there were nearly 60 lakh 'NOTA' votes. A total of 668 women candidates contested, out of which 62 won.&nbsp;

Lok Sabha elections will begin on April 11 and continue for over a month till May 19 across seven phases, followed by counting of votes on May 23, the Election Commission announced Sunday, kick-starting the countdown for a mega electoral battle where the BJP will pitch for a re-election of the Modi government amid the Opposition's efforts for a united fight to unseat it.

Lok Sabha elections will begin on April 11 and continue for over a month till May 19 across seven phases, followed by counting of votes on May 23, the Election Commission announced Sunday, kick-starting the countdown for a mega electoral battle where the BJP will pitch for a re-election of the Modi government amid the Opposition's efforts for a united fight to unseat it. The polling will be held on April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19 for 543 Lok Sabha seats across the country in which nearly 90 crore voters would be eligible to vote, the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said at a packed press conference here. Assembly elections will also be held in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Odisha simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls, the CEC said. However, elections for Jammu and Kashmir assembly will not to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls, the EC said citing security reasons. The state has been under Governor's rule after the ruling alliance between the BJP and People's Democratic Party fell apart last year. National Conference, Congress and other opposition parties slammed the decision to not hold assembly polls in J&K, while opposition leaders elsewhere including in West Bengal also latched onto the EC decision to hold multi-phase elections in their states to slam the government on law and order situation. Arora said the model code of conduct would come into immediate effect from Sunday and 10 lakhs polling stations would be set up this time as against about nine lakhs in 2014. Among other restrictions, the model code bars the government from announcing any policy move that may impact voters' decision. The EC said the 'voter verifiable paper audit trail' (VVPAT) will be used in all polling stations this time. Counting of votes for all seven phases would be done on May 23, Arora said. In 2014, BJP had won 282 seats out of 543 constituencies in Lok Sabha handing a crushing defeat to the 10-year-rule of the United Progressive Alliance led by Congress. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek to retain power, the opposition is seeking to put up a spirited fight to defeat the ruling BJP. "Best wishes to the Election Commission, all those officials and security personnel who will be on the field, across the length and breadth of India assuring smooth elections. India is very proud of the EC for assiduously organising elections for several years," Modi tweeted. In the press briefing, Arora also reassured the nation of the EC's "solemn resolve and deep commitment to fulfil its constitutional mandate to conduct free, fair and credible elections." He said all political advertisements on social media will need pre-certification and that the candidates will have to give details of their social media accounts to the election commission. The CEC said 91 constituencies will go for polls in first phase, 97 in second phase, 115 in third phase, 71 in fourth, 51 in fifth, 59 in sixth and 59 in the seventh phase. The election will pit the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance against mostly different opposition groupings in various states, including of Congress, Left and regional forces who are continuing to work out a grand alliance to minimise a division of votes against the Modi government. The BJP has worked out a seat-sharing formula with some new allies and several old partners, by even making concessions in states like Bihar. However, opposition parties are yet to do so in several states. While the NDA hopes to make history by coming back to power for a second full term, the Opposition wants to unseat the Modi government by raising questions on its performance on a host of issues, including economic growth, employment, corruption and social harmony. Atal Bihari Vajpayee had led the NDA to back-to-back wins in 1998 and 1999 general elections but he was at the helm for only one full term. After losing three assemblies last year, the BJP believes its Lok Sabha campaign is back on track following decisions like 10 per cent quota for the general category poor, money transfer to farmers and a populist budget. What has injected further confidence into the NDA fold is the fronting of the nationalist plank in the poll campaign after the Indian Air Force' strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan after Pulwama terror attack, which killed 40 CRPF personnel. The BJP has been citing 2016 surgical strikes on terror launch pads and the Balakot air strikes to assert that only a government headed by Modi will be capable of taking on Pakistan over terrorism. Modi has already launched an aggressive campaign accusing opposition parties of coming together for the sole purpose of removing him when he is working to "remove poverty, corruption and terrorism". He had led the NDA to a sweeping victory in 2014 as it won 336 of 543 Lok Sabha seats, reducing the incumbent Congress to its lowest total of 44 seats. In 2014, the Lok Sabha elections were held across nine phases beginning April 7 and ending May 9. Votes were counted on May 16. The total contestants in fray were 8,251, with an average of 15 candidates in each constituency, though deposits got forfeited for 7,000 contestants. A total of over 55 crore voters (66.3 per cent) exercised their vote, while there were nearly 60 lakh 'NOTA' votes. A total of 668 women candidates contested, out of which 62 won.

Lok Sabha polls to stretch out for over a month from April 11 to May 19, results on May 23

Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) chief Shivpal Yadav on Saturday claimed that he has the support of Samajwadi Party veteran Mulayam Singh Yadav and that he is keen to stitch an alliance with the Congress party for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. &nbsp;

He told the media, "I know Neta Ji is with me. I have made this party with his permission. But he is attached to the party that he founded. I had requested to be included in the alliance of secular party. I had requested Akhilesh also. We want an alliance with Congress and have spoken to some leaders of the party as well."

This comes after the Samajwadi Party on Friday announced its first batch of six candidates for Uttar Pradesh. The party has fielded Mulayam Singh Yadav from Mainpuri parliamentary constituency.

The Congress released its first list for Lok Sabha polls on Thursday that included contenders for 11 seats in UP, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi from their respective constituencies of Rae Bareli and Amethi.

Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) chief Shivpal Yadav on Saturday claimed that he has the support of Samajwadi Party veteran Mulayam Singh Yadav and that he is keen to stitch an alliance with the Congress party for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) chief Shivpal Yadav on Saturday claimed that he has the support of Samajwadi Party veteran Mulayam Singh Yadav and that he is keen to stitch an alliance with the Congress party for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He told the media, "I know Neta Ji is with me. I have made this party with his permission. But he is attached to the party that he founded. I had requested to be included in the alliance of secular party. I had requested Akhilesh also. We want an alliance with Congress and have spoken to some leaders of the party as well." This comes after the Samajwadi Party on Friday announced its first batch of six candidates for Uttar Pradesh. The party has fielded Mulayam Singh Yadav from Mainpuri parliamentary constituency. The Congress released its first list for Lok Sabha polls on Thursday that included contenders for 11 seats in UP, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi from their respective constituencies of Rae Bareli and Amethi.

Mulayam Singh with me, want to form alliance with Congress: Shivapal Yadav

The BJP will use leaflets to ask people whether they would vote for parties that questioned the valour of the country's armed forces in&nbsp;the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/up-to-50-killed-in-indian-air-strike-on-pakistans-balakot-italian-journalist-quoting-eyewitness-200787">February 26 air strike </a>and the aerial engagement with Pakistan fighter jets the next day.

Speaking at a gathering of the BJP's women workers in Mumbai on Sunday, senior leader and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj signalled that the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/oppositions-proof-probe-talk-on-air-strike-made-pakistan-smile-claims-amit-shah-200957">military action against Pakistan</a> after the February 14 Pulwama attack would be a poll issue for the ruling party.

"We should ask questions about whether our jawans should count the dead bodies (after dropping bombs on terror camps) or return safely after carrying out the air strike. BJP workers should ask counter-questions to those who raise doubts about the impact of our air strike," Swaraj said.

The February 26 airstrike is at the centre of a political slugfest with some opposition parties demanding that the Narendra Modi government furnish proof of its efficacy in terms of terrorist casualties at the Jaish-e-Mohammed camp that was bombed.

"We (BJP) should ask questions like whether you (voter) will support parties that side with separatists. We should ask people whether they want to vote for those who question the valour of our jawans," she said.

"We will have two leaflets of which one will be about these logical counter statements. BJP workers should use it during the poll campaign. The other leaflet will be about government welfare schemes for women. The two leaflets will be made available soon," Swaraj said.

The BJP will use leaflets to ask people whether they would vote for parties that questioned the valour of the country's armed forces in the February 26 air strike and the aerial engagement with Pakistan fighter jets the next day.

The BJP will use leaflets to ask people whether they would vote for parties that questioned the valour of the country's armed forces in the February 26 air strike and the aerial engagement with Pakistan fighter jets the next day. Speaking at a gathering of the BJP's women workers in Mumbai on Sunday, senior leader and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj signalled that the military action against Pakistan after the February 14 Pulwama attack would be a poll issue for the ruling party. "We should ask questions about whether our jawans should count the dead bodies (after dropping bombs on terror camps) or return safely after carrying out the air strike. BJP workers should ask counter-questions to those who raise doubts about the impact of our air strike," Swaraj said. The February 26 airstrike is at the centre of a political slugfest with some opposition parties demanding that the Narendra Modi government furnish proof of its efficacy in terms of terrorist casualties at the Jaish-e-Mohammed camp that was bombed. "We (BJP) should ask questions like whether you (voter) will support parties that side with separatists. We should ask people whether they want to vote for those who question the valour of our jawans," she said. "We will have two leaflets of which one will be about these logical counter statements. BJP workers should use it during the poll campaign. The other leaflet will be about government welfare schemes for women. The two leaflets will be made available soon," Swaraj said.

'Jawans should count dead bodies after air strike or return safely?' asks Sushma Swaraj

The elections to legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha will be held simultaneously along with the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Sunday.

The counting of votes will be done on May 23.

Announcing the poll schedule in New Delhi at a press conference at Vigyan Bhawan, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora said, “There will be no state Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. Only parliamentary elections will take place in the state.”

With the formal announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into force with immediate effect, which debars the use of state machinery, public platforms and any such things for canvassing purposes.

With the MCC in force, the ministers and governments are not allowed to announce any financial grants in any form or promises or lay foundation stones of projects or schemes of any kind; or make any ad-hoc appointments in government, public undertakings, which may influence voters in favour of the party in power.

The term of Sikkim Vidhan Sabha ends on May 27 while that of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Odisha on June 18, June 1 and June 11 respectively.

BJD is in power in Odisha under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, while in Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu leads the TDP government.

Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling leads the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government in Sikkim. &nbsp;

Last year in June, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pulled out of its alliance with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir, following which Mehbooba Mufti resigned as the Chief Minister of the state.

This led to the imposition of President’s Rule in the state. The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s six-year term was scheduled to end on March 16, 2021, but the House was dissolved after the coalition between the PDP and the BJP fell apart.&nbsp;

The elections to legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha will be held simultaneously along with the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Sunday.

The elections to legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha will be held simultaneously along with the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Sunday. The counting of votes will be done on May 23. Announcing the poll schedule in New Delhi at a press conference at Vigyan Bhawan, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora said, “There will be no state Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. Only parliamentary elections will take place in the state.” With the formal announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into force with immediate effect, which debars the use of state machinery, public platforms and any such things for canvassing purposes. With the MCC in force, the ministers and governments are not allowed to announce any financial grants in any form or promises or lay foundation stones of projects or schemes of any kind; or make any ad-hoc appointments in government, public undertakings, which may influence voters in favour of the party in power. The term of Sikkim Vidhan Sabha ends on May 27 while that of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Odisha on June 18, June 1 and June 11 respectively. BJD is in power in Odisha under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, while in Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu leads the TDP government. Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling leads the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government in Sikkim. Last year in June, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pulled out of its alliance with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir, following which Mehbooba Mufti resigned as the Chief Minister of the state. This led to the imposition of President’s Rule in the state. The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s six-year term was scheduled to end on March 16, 2021, but the House was dissolved after the coalition between the PDP and the BJP fell apart.

Arunachal, AP, Sikkim, Odisha Assembly polls to be held along with Lok Sabha election

India's national election is the biggest democratic undertaking on Earth, with hundreds of millions of voters from the Himalayas to the tropics casting their ballot in the world's second-most populous country.

Pulling off a vote of this size is no mean feat. Here are some of the bewildering numbers behind polls of this scale from the Election Commission of India:

900 million 
The number of Indians eligible to vote. At the last election in 2014 there were roughly 815 million, but just 550 million exercised their franchise.&nbsp;In India's first election in 1951 there were 173 million eligible voters.&nbsp;

85 million 
The increase in eligible voters across India in this election compared to 2014 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party stormed to power in a landslide.&nbsp;

15 million 
The number of eligible voters aged 18 to 19 in this election. Two-thirds of Indians are under 35.

38,325 
Voters identifying as transgender, recognised by India's Supreme Court as a distinct third gender in 2014.

1.1 million 
The number of electronic voting machines required for all the ballots to be cast in the mega-election.

1 million 
Polling stations to be erected for the election.

8,251 
The number of candidates across India who contested the elections in 2014.

3,626 
The number of political parties -- though only 1,841 are recognised by the Election Commission.

545 
Seats in the lower house of India's parliament, the Lok Sabha. Only 543 are up for grabs in this election -- two are reserved for members of the country's tiny Anglo-Indian community.

186 
The number of lawmakers elected to parliament in 2014 with criminal records.

42 million 
The amount of dollars seized by election officials from politicians and their supporters for misuse -- including vote buying -- during the last poll. Candidates are only allowed to spend $100,000.

6 million 
Litres of alcohol confiscated by authorities during the 2014 campaign. Booze is often used to buy votes from poorer communities.

17,000 
Kilograms of illegal drugs seized during the same period in 2014.

India's national election is the biggest democratic undertaking on Earth, with hundreds of millions of voters from the Himalayas to the tropics casting their ballot in the world's second-most populous country.

India's national election is the biggest democratic undertaking on Earth, with hundreds of millions of voters from the Himalayas to the tropics casting their ballot in the world's second-most populous country. Pulling off a vote of this size is no mean feat. Here are some of the bewildering numbers behind polls of this scale from the Election Commission of India: 900 million The number of Indians eligible to vote. At the last election in 2014 there were roughly 815 million, but just 550 million exercised their franchise. In India's first election in 1951 there were 173 million eligible voters. 85 million The increase in eligible voters across India in this election compared to 2014 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party stormed to power in a landslide. 15 million The number of eligible voters aged 18 to 19 in this election. Two-thirds of Indians are under 35. 38,325 Voters identifying as transgender, recognised by India's Supreme Court as a distinct third gender in 2014. 1.1 million The number of electronic voting machines required for all the ballots to be cast in the mega-election. 1 million Polling stations to be erected for the election. 8,251 The number of candidates across India who contested the elections in 2014. 3,626 The number of political parties -- though only 1,841 are recognised by the Election Commission. 545 Seats in the lower house of India's parliament, the Lok Sabha. Only 543 are up for grabs in this election -- two are reserved for members of the country's tiny Anglo-Indian community. 186 The number of lawmakers elected to parliament in 2014 with criminal records. 42 million The amount of dollars seized by election officials from politicians and their supporters for misuse -- including vote buying -- during the last poll. Candidates are only allowed to spend $100,000. 6 million Litres of alcohol confiscated by authorities during the 2014 campaign. Booze is often used to buy votes from poorer communities. 17,000 Kilograms of illegal drugs seized during the same period in 2014.

The biggest election on Earth: India's giant poll in numbers

Union minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Goel on Sunday said his party had a direct fight with the Congress in the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and the AAP will bag the third place in the national capital in the upcoming general election.

"People will vote to form a government at the Centre, so our fight in Delhi is with the Congress. Who will vote for Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP, which has no say in the formation of the next government in the country," Goel told PTI in an interview.

The former Delhi BJP chief, who was termed by party president Amit Shah as the "eighth" Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, is a probable from the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat, currently held by Union minister Harsh Vardhan.

Goel is currently a Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan.

"In the coming Lok Sabha election, the BJP will have a direct contest with the Congress. The people of Delhi are disenchanted with (Chief Minister) Arvind Kejriwal. The BJP will again win all the seven seats in the national capital," the Union minister claimed.

His comments assume significance as the speculation on a pre-poll alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress in Delhi for the upcoming polls refuses to die down.

Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit, after a meeting with party president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, had said there was unanimity in her party against an alliance with the AAP for the Lok Sabha election.

Later, Gandhi had also said the Delhi unit of his party was against such an alliance.

Goel said the AAP had conceded that the Congress was ahead of it in the coming polls and that his why party supremo Kejriwal was "pleading" to it for an alliance. "He (Kejriwal) has no option but to go it alone in the polls now as the Congress has refused to ally with his party," he added.

"The refusal of the Congress to go for an alliance with the AAP shows its confidence to take on the BJP. But the AAP, which rules Delhi, lacks even that confidence," Goel said.

An old-timer in the Delhi BJP, Goel was its president in 2013. He was the BJP MP from Delhi Sadar (1996) and Chandni Chowk (1998 and 1999), before being sent to the Rajya Sabha and given a cabinet berth in the Narendra Modi government.

The Union minister claimed that the AAP had "failed" to live up to the expectations of the people after its massive victory in the 2015 Delhi Assembly polls, adding that its leaders had also been accused of corruption.

"The AAP learnt no lessons from its defeat in the municipal corporation election in 2017. People have made up their mind to vote against the party in the Lok Sabha polls, because it has failed them," he said.

The BJP holds all the seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital. Uncertainty prevails over an alliance between the AAP and the Congress for the Lok Sabha polls, but if it comes about, the saffron party will face an uphill task to retain its 2014 tally.

Union minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Goel on Sunday said his party had a direct fight with the Congress in the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and the AAP will bag the third place in the national capital in the upcoming general election.

Union minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Goel on Sunday said his party had a direct fight with the Congress in the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and the AAP will bag the third place in the national capital in the upcoming general election. "People will vote to form a government at the Centre, so our fight in Delhi is with the Congress. Who will vote for Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP, which has no say in the formation of the next government in the country," Goel told PTI in an interview. The former Delhi BJP chief, who was termed by party president Amit Shah as the "eighth" Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, is a probable from the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat, currently held by Union minister Harsh Vardhan. Goel is currently a Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan. "In the coming Lok Sabha election, the BJP will have a direct contest with the Congress. The people of Delhi are disenchanted with (Chief Minister) Arvind Kejriwal. The BJP will again win all the seven seats in the national capital," the Union minister claimed. His comments assume significance as the speculation on a pre-poll alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress in Delhi for the upcoming polls refuses to die down. Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit, after a meeting with party president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, had said there was unanimity in her party against an alliance with the AAP for the Lok Sabha election. Later, Gandhi had also said the Delhi unit of his party was against such an alliance. Goel said the AAP had conceded that the Congress was ahead of it in the coming polls and that his why party supremo Kejriwal was "pleading" to it for an alliance. "He (Kejriwal) has no option but to go it alone in the polls now as the Congress has refused to ally with his party," he added. "The refusal of the Congress to go for an alliance with the AAP shows its confidence to take on the BJP. But the AAP, which rules Delhi, lacks even that confidence," Goel said. An old-timer in the Delhi BJP, Goel was its president in 2013. He was the BJP MP from Delhi Sadar (1996) and Chandni Chowk (1998 and 1999), before being sent to the Rajya Sabha and given a cabinet berth in the Narendra Modi government. The Union minister claimed that the AAP had "failed" to live up to the expectations of the people after its massive victory in the 2015 Delhi Assembly polls, adding that its leaders had also been accused of corruption. "The AAP learnt no lessons from its defeat in the municipal corporation election in 2017. People have made up their mind to vote against the party in the Lok Sabha polls, because it has failed them," he said. The BJP holds all the seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital. Uncertainty prevails over an alliance between the AAP and the Congress for the Lok Sabha polls, but if it comes about, the saffron party will face an uphill task to retain its 2014 tally.

BJP has a direct fight with Congress in all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi: Vijay Goel

Days after the Congress said it would go it alone in the general elections, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal Saturday termed the party "arrogant" and claimed that its candidates would lose their deposits in the polls.

At a public meeting in the Mustafabad area, Kejriwal claimed his party tried persuading the Congress to forge an alliance, but "it did not understand".

Recently, Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit had said there's unanimity in the party against an alliance with the AAP for Lok Sabha polls in Delhi. 
"Congress (candidates) will lose their deposits in Delhi in Lok Sabha elections," Kejriwal claimed.

The Delhi CM, while addressing the gathering in minority-dominated Mustafabad, requested people to make sure that votes don't get split between the Congress and the AAP.

"Vote for the AAP in Delhi because only it can defeat the BJP in Lok Sabha elections," he said.

Speculation over a pre-poll alliance between the Congress and the AAP still persists, even as Rahul Gandhi has already said the Delhi unit of his party is against it.

Days after the Congress said it would go it alone in the general elections, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal Saturday termed the party "arrogant" and claimed that its candidates would lose their deposits in the polls.

Days after the Congress said it would go it alone in the general elections, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal Saturday termed the party "arrogant" and claimed that its candidates would lose their deposits in the polls. At a public meeting in the Mustafabad area, Kejriwal claimed his party tried persuading the Congress to forge an alliance, but "it did not understand". Recently, Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit had said there's unanimity in the party against an alliance with the AAP for Lok Sabha polls in Delhi. "Congress (candidates) will lose their deposits in Delhi in Lok Sabha elections," Kejriwal claimed. The Delhi CM, while addressing the gathering in minority-dominated Mustafabad, requested people to make sure that votes don't get split between the Congress and the AAP. "Vote for the AAP in Delhi because only it can defeat the BJP in Lok Sabha elections," he said. Speculation over a pre-poll alliance between the Congress and the AAP still persists, even as Rahul Gandhi has already said the Delhi unit of his party is against it.

Congress being arrogant, its candidates will lose deposits: Arvind Kejriwal

India Election Watch: Congress releases first list of candidates for 2019 poll

Rahul Gandhi-led Congress party on Thursday released its first official list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.&nbsp;

In the list of 15 candidates, 11 have been named from Uttar Pradesh and 4 from Gujarat.&nbsp;

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Congress releases first list of 15 candidates for Lok Sabha elections. 11 from Uttar Pradesh and 4 from Gujarat. Sonia Gandhi to contest from Rae Bareli and Rahul Gandhi to contest from Amethi. <a href="https://t.co/PZI4TlJfC6">pic.twitter.com/PZI4TlJfC6</a>
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UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will contest from Rae Bareli while party president Rahul Gandhi will contest from Amethi.

The list, however, does not name Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who was named the party's General Secretary for UP East and made her political debut earlier this year.&nbsp;

Former Union ministers Salman Khursheed, RPN Singh and Jitin Prasad will be contesting from Farrukhabad, Kushi Nagar and Dhaurahra in Uttar Pradesh respectively, news agency ANI reported.

Imran Masood will contest from Saharanpur (UP), Saleem Iqbal Shervani from Badaun(UP), Annu Tandon from Unnao (UP), Rajaram Pal from Akbarpur (UP), Brij Lal Khabri from Jalaun - SC (UP), Nirmal Khatri from Faizabad (UP).

While, Raju Parmar will contest from Ahmedabad West - SC (Gujarat), BharatSinh M Solanki from Anand (Gujarat), Prashant Patel from Vadodara (Gujarat) and Ranjit MohanSinh Rathwa from Chhota Udaipur - ST (Gujarat).&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Election Commission is expected to announce its <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/election-commission-to-announce-lok-sabha-elections-soon-logistic-preparations-almost-over-201813">schedule for the high-voltage Lok Sabha elections</a> soon, sources said on Thursday. The polls are likely to be&nbsp;spread over 7-8 phases in April-May, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

Sources said the poll panel is in final stages of completing its logistical preparations to hold elections for the 17th Lok Sabha and a detailed polling schedule could be announced as early this weekend or by early next week.

The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 3.

The announcement of dates for the elections, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his bid to return to power amid hectic parleys by several political parties to put a united fight against the ruling BJP, would be followed by a meeting of election observers next week for the first and second phase of polling.

A senior Election Commission functionary said the poll panel is now prepared to announce the dates "any day" and it could happen over the weekend or at most by Tuesday, PTI reported.&nbsp;

Notification for the first phase could be issued by the end of March for voting sometime in early April, sources suggested.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Rahul Gandhi-led Congress party on Thursday released its first official list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. In the list of 15 candidates, 11 have been named from Uttar Pradesh and 4 from Gujarat.

Rahul Gandhi-led Congress party on Thursday released its first official list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. In the list of 15 candidates, 11 have been named from Uttar Pradesh and 4 from Gujarat. Congress releases first list of 15 candidates for Lok Sabha elections. 11 from Uttar Pradesh and 4 from Gujarat. Sonia Gandhi to contest from Rae Bareli and Rahul Gandhi to contest from Amethi. pic.twitter.com/PZI4TlJfC6 — ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2019 × UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will contest from Rae Bareli while party president Rahul Gandhi will contest from Amethi. The list, however, does not name Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who was named the party's General Secretary for UP East and made her political debut earlier this year. Former Union ministers Salman Khursheed, RPN Singh and Jitin Prasad will be contesting from Farrukhabad, Kushi Nagar and Dhaurahra in Uttar Pradesh respectively, news agency ANI reported. Imran Masood will contest from Saharanpur (UP), Saleem Iqbal Shervani from Badaun(UP), Annu Tandon from Unnao (UP), Rajaram Pal from Akbarpur (UP), Brij Lal Khabri from Jalaun - SC (UP), Nirmal Khatri from Faizabad (UP). While, Raju Parmar will contest from Ahmedabad West - SC (Gujarat), BharatSinh M Solanki from Anand (Gujarat), Prashant Patel from Vadodara (Gujarat) and Ranjit MohanSinh Rathwa from Chhota Udaipur - ST (Gujarat). Meanwhile, the Election Commission is expected to announce its schedule for the high-voltage Lok Sabha elections soon, sources said on Thursday. The polls are likely to be spread over 7-8 phases in April-May, news agency PTI reported. Sources said the poll panel is in final stages of completing its logistical preparations to hold elections for the 17th Lok Sabha and a detailed polling schedule could be announced as early this weekend or by early next week. The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 3. The announcement of dates for the elections, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his bid to return to power amid hectic parleys by several political parties to put a united fight against the ruling BJP, would be followed by a meeting of election observers next week for the first and second phase of polling. A senior Election Commission functionary said the poll panel is now prepared to announce the dates "any day" and it could happen over the weekend or at most by Tuesday, PTI reported. Notification for the first phase could be issued by the end of March for voting sometime in early April, sources suggested. (With inputs from agencies)

Lok Sabha 2019: No mention of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as Congress releases first list of candidates

Asserting that the Congress has boxed itself into a corner on the issue of national security, the BJP Thursday dubbed its president Rahul Gandhi's attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Rafale issue an attempt to shift the focus due to people's "revulsion" against it.

At a Cabinet briefing, Union minister Arun Jaitley told reporters that every falsehood the Congress and Rahul Gandhi have spoken on the Rafale issue has been "exposed", adding that no dynast can claim that he is above the Supreme Court and the CAG.

"Words were very few, facts were completely wrong and the motivation was also collateral," Jaitley said of Gandhi's press conference.

He claimed that the facts which have emerged about the matter so far have "proved" that the Congress and its leader have spoken "lies" on every issue.&nbsp;

"The Congress has in the last few days through statements of its senior leaders has boxed itself into a corner. They are getting high TRP on Pakistan television but there is revulsion as far as domestic opinion in India is concerned," he said.

Therefore, the motivation today was collateral, to shift the focus and take up an issue which is "false" and whose every "falsehood" has been exposed, he added.

He also defended the government's stand in the Supreme Court over publication of critical media reports that they were based the Rafale documents "stolen" from the defence ministry and that they violated Official Secrets Act.

"It is obvious that defence notings of an issue of sensitive interest to the country have been leaked... We have a very free press and we respect it. Even framers of the Constitution said national security is an exception and that has never been challenged in last 72 years," he said.

On Gandhi's criticism of the government on the Rafale issue, the senior BJP leader said the government has repeatedly made its position clear on the issue.

The Supreme Court has spoken on it and the petitioners are taking one more chance, he said, adding that the CAG has already analysed it.&nbsp;

Earlier in the day, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Gandhi neither believes the Indian Air Force nor the Supreme Court verdict and asked if he needed a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/does-rahul-gandhi-need-certificate-from-pakistan-on-rafale-bjp-201717">certificate from Pakistan about the fighter aircraft</a>.

The Congress president believes Pakistan more than Indian forces and its leaders, Prasad said.&nbsp;

"I totally condemn blatant lies of Rahul Gandhi. He does not believe the Indian Air Force, does not trust the Supreme Court verdict that clearly said there is no commercial impropriety in the (Rafale) procurement process. He does not believe the CAG," Prasad said.

"Will Rahul Gandhi need a certificate about Rafale from Pakistan. In that we cannot help. Of late he believes Pakistan more than Indian forces and its leaders," the senior BJP leader added.&nbsp;

Addressing a press conference in the morning, Gandhi asked why a probe cannot be ordered against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a "Rs 30,000-crore scam" when an investigation has been initiated into the theft of official documents related to the fighter jet deal.

He accused the prime minister of conducting parallel negotiations on the fighter jet deal and the government of manipulating institutions to "save" him.

The parallel negotiations "retarded" the delivery of Rafale, he claimed.&nbsp;

Asserting that the Congress has boxed itself into a corner on the issue of national security, the BJP Thursday dubbed its president Rahul Gandhi's attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Rafale issue an attempt to shift the focus due to people's "revulsion" against it.

Asserting that the Congress has boxed itself into a corner on the issue of national security, the BJP Thursday dubbed its president Rahul Gandhi's attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Rafale issue an attempt to shift the focus due to people's "revulsion" against it. At a Cabinet briefing, Union minister Arun Jaitley told reporters that every falsehood the Congress and Rahul Gandhi have spoken on the Rafale issue has been "exposed", adding that no dynast can claim that he is above the Supreme Court and the CAG. "Words were very few, facts were completely wrong and the motivation was also collateral," Jaitley said of Gandhi's press conference. He claimed that the facts which have emerged about the matter so far have "proved" that the Congress and its leader have spoken "lies" on every issue. "The Congress has in the last few days through statements of its senior leaders has boxed itself into a corner. They are getting high TRP on Pakistan television but there is revulsion as far as domestic opinion in India is concerned," he said. Therefore, the motivation today was collateral, to shift the focus and take up an issue which is "false" and whose every "falsehood" has been exposed, he added. He also defended the government's stand in the Supreme Court over publication of critical media reports that they were based the Rafale documents "stolen" from the defence ministry and that they violated Official Secrets Act. "It is obvious that defence notings of an issue of sensitive interest to the country have been leaked... We have a very free press and we respect it. Even framers of the Constitution said national security is an exception and that has never been challenged in last 72 years," he said. On Gandhi's criticism of the government on the Rafale issue, the senior BJP leader said the government has repeatedly made its position clear on the issue. The Supreme Court has spoken on it and the petitioners are taking one more chance, he said, adding that the CAG has already analysed it. Earlier in the day, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Gandhi neither believes the Indian Air Force nor the Supreme Court verdict and asked if he needed a certificate from Pakistan about the fighter aircraft. The Congress president believes Pakistan more than Indian forces and its leaders, Prasad said. "I totally condemn blatant lies of Rahul Gandhi. He does not believe the Indian Air Force, does not trust the Supreme Court verdict that clearly said there is no commercial impropriety in the (Rafale) procurement process. He does not believe the CAG," Prasad said. "Will Rahul Gandhi need a certificate about Rafale from Pakistan. In that we cannot help. Of late he believes Pakistan more than Indian forces and its leaders," the senior BJP leader added. Addressing a press conference in the morning, Gandhi asked why a probe cannot be ordered against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a "Rs 30,000-crore scam" when an investigation has been initiated into the theft of official documents related to the fighter jet deal. He accused the prime minister of conducting parallel negotiations on the fighter jet deal and the government of manipulating institutions to "save" him. The parallel negotiations "retarded" the delivery of Rafale, he claimed.

Rahul trying to divert attention by attacking Modi on Rafale issue: BJP

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday claimed there are "rumours" that the Congress has a "secret understanding" with the BJP and asserted that his <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/will-support-congress-if-next-prime-minister-is-from-their-party-aap-leader-192364">Aam Aadmi Party</a> is ready to fight the "unholy alliance".

Kejriwal's comments came in response to the Congress' announcement that it will not form an alliance with the AAP in Delhi for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

"At a time when the whole country wants to defeat Modi-Shah duo, Cong is helping BJP by splitting anti-BJP vote. Rumours r that Cong has some secret understanding wid BJP," he tweeted.

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At a time when the whole country wants to defeat Modi- Shah duo, Cong is helping BJP by splitting anti-BJP vote. Rumours r that Cong has some secret understanding wid BJP. Delhi is ready to fight against Cong-BJP alliance. People will defeat this unholy alliance. <a href="https://t.co/JUsYMjxCxy">https://t.co/JUsYMjxCxy</a>
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal/status/1102872779597189120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"Delhi is ready to fight against Cong-BJP alliance. People will defeat this unholy alliance," he added.

Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit announced on Tuesday that they will not form an alliance with AAP in the national capital for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

"A unanimous decision has been taken that there will be no alliance in Delhi," Dikshit said.

The announcement by the former Delhi chief minister came following a meeting with Congress president Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday claimed there are "rumours" that the Congress has a "secret understanding" with the BJP and asserted that his Aam Aadmi Party is ready to fight the "unholy alliance".

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday claimed there are "rumours" that the Congress has a "secret understanding" with the BJP and asserted that his Aam Aadmi Party is ready to fight the "unholy alliance". Kejriwal's comments came in response to the Congress' announcement that it will not form an alliance with the AAP in Delhi for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. "At a time when the whole country wants to defeat Modi-Shah duo, Cong is helping BJP by splitting anti-BJP vote. Rumours r that Cong has some secret understanding wid BJP," he tweeted. At a time when the whole country wants to defeat Modi- Shah duo, Cong is helping BJP by splitting anti-BJP vote. Rumours r that Cong has some secret understanding wid BJP. Delhi is ready to fight against Cong-BJP alliance. People will defeat this unholy alliance. https://t.co/JUsYMjxCxy — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 5, 2019 × "Delhi is ready to fight against Cong-BJP alliance. People will defeat this unholy alliance," he added. Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit announced on Tuesday that they will not form an alliance with AAP in the national capital for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. "A unanimous decision has been taken that there will be no alliance in Delhi," Dikshit said. The announcement by the former Delhi chief minister came following a meeting with Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

AAP ready to fight Congress-BJP 'unholy alliance': Arvind Kejriwal

Congress leader Salman Khurshid faced extreme criticism over his post on Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman where he tried to take credit over the IAF pilot's confidence and valour exhibited during his captivity in Pakistan.

In a Twitter post on Saturday Khurshid wrote, "Many kudos for Wing Commander abhi Varthaman the face of India’s resistance to enemy aggression. Great poise and confidence in face of adversity. We are proud that he received his wings in 2004 and matured as fighter pilot during UPA".

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Many kudos for Wing Commander abhi Varthaman the face of India’s resistance to enemy aggression. Great poise and confidence in face of adversity. We are proud that he received his wings in 2004 and matured as fighter pilot during UPA
— Salman Khurshid (@salman7khurshid) <a href="https://twitter.com/salman7khurshid/status/1101855994148204544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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His post received massive criticism from people on social media.

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Sure :) ! Let me tell u what else happened under UPA😡 
BOMB BLASTS IN :- 
Delhi 2005 
Varanasi &amp; MumbaiTrains 2006 
Lucknow Varanasi Faizabad Triple Strikes + Hyderabad 2007 
Jaipur Blore Ahdbad Delhi Two Blasts Agartala Imphal Assam 2008 
Assam 2009 
Pune Varanasi 2010 
Contd....
— India 🇮🇳 First (@SeCoolar_Right) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeCoolar_Right/status/1101915009053908994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Mumbai Delhi 2011 
Pune 2012 
Hyderabad Blore BodhGaya Patna Jalpaiguri 2013 
 
TERROR ATTACKS IN :- 
Bangalore Instt of Science 2005 LeT 
Rampur CRPF camp 2008 LeT 
Mumbai 26/11 2008 LeT 
Delhi on Israeli Diplomats 2012 
Srinagar 2013 
 
If u have the guts <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TakeTheBlame?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TakeTheBlame</a> For this😡 
contd..
— India 🇮🇳 First (@SeCoolar_Right) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeCoolar_Right/status/1101916979827359744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Compare this with Terror Incidents under <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> Govt from 2014-till date :- 
Only Kashmir is affected while the rest of India has not seen a single terror incident &amp; we all know why-bcoz UPA = <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnitedPakistaniAlliance?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnitedPakistaniAlliance</a> !<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ModiFor2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ModiFor2019</a> for a TERROR FREE INDIA<a href="https://twitter.com/TajinderBagga?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TajinderBagga</a>
— India 🇮🇳 First (@SeCoolar_Right) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeCoolar_Right/status/1101917700404600837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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You should have also said that this enemy was created by Great Nehru in 1947 so that Abhinandan could fight with them in 2019....😂 
 
What a farsightedness he had....
— मेरा नाम 🤡 (@uZruuDohin5gTKW) <a href="https://twitter.com/uZruuDohin5gTKW/status/1101882999145029632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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What next? Wing Cmdr Abhinandan was born in 1983, so all credit to Indira Gandhi for his birth?
— Shefali Vaidya ஷெஃபாலி வைத்யா शेफाली वैद्य (@ShefVaidya) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShefVaidya/status/1102051906975723521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Thanks to rahulji (pilot wale) who taught him to fly the planes. 👏👏👏👏
— abhishek mishra (@indabhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/indabhi/status/1101878385888907264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Wah!! Chacha, only Rahul Gandhi failed to mature during UPA regime!!
— Ashish Patil (@imashpatil) <a href="https://twitter.com/imashpatil/status/1101879487153745923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Maybe you forgot to add that he was flying an outdated MiG also because of UPA
— Iswaran N.P. 🇮🇳 (@NPIswaran) <a href="https://twitter.com/NPIswaran/status/1101889488026886144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"...Also I must add, I'm forever indebted to UPA" He said this in that video which the Pakistanis made. They had to edit it out due to time constraints
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/GabbbarSingh/status/1101886564357959682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Thanks to UPA I completed my engineering in 2006. 🙄<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thinklikecongressmoron?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#thinklikecongressmoron</a>
— lalit mohan (@vlalit) <a href="https://twitter.com/vlalit/status/1101996667862048770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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After attracting criticism on the social media for "taking credit", Khurshid Sunday said that he had only "stated the truth".

"I had said that he (the pilot) joined the IAF during our tenure. I had only stated the truth," he told reporters.

Wing Commander Abhinandan was captured on February 27 by Pakistan following a dogfight between the two air forces in which his MIG-21 was shot down.&nbsp;

He was released from Pakistani custody on Friday night and was shifted to&nbsp;the Air Force Central Medical Establishment in Delhi.&nbsp;

Abhinandan is currently undergoing a series of medical tests.

(With inputs from PTI)

Congress leader Salman Khurshid faced extreme criticism over his post on Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman where he tried to take credit over the IAF pilot's confidence and valour exhibited during his captivity in Pakistan.

Congress leader Salman Khurshid faced extreme criticism over his post on Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman where he tried to take credit over the IAF pilot's confidence and valour exhibited during his captivity in Pakistan. In a Twitter post on Saturday Khurshid wrote, "Many kudos for Wing Commander abhi Varthaman the face of India’s resistance to enemy aggression. Great poise and confidence in face of adversity. We are proud that he received his wings in 2004 and matured as fighter pilot during UPA". Many kudos for Wing Commander abhi Varthaman the face of India’s resistance to enemy aggression. Great poise and confidence in face of adversity. We are proud that he received his wings in 2004 and matured as fighter pilot during UPA — Salman Khurshid (@salman7khurshid) March 2, 2019 × His post received massive criticism from people on social media. Sure :) ! Let me tell u what else happened under UPA😡 BOMB BLASTS IN :- Delhi 2005 Varanasi & MumbaiTrains 2006 Lucknow Varanasi Faizabad Triple Strikes + Hyderabad 2007 Jaipur Blore Ahdbad Delhi Two Blasts Agartala Imphal Assam 2008 Assam 2009 Pune Varanasi 2010 Contd.... — India 🇮🇳 First (@SeCoolar_Right) March 2, 2019 × Mumbai Delhi 2011 Pune 2012 Hyderabad Blore BodhGaya Patna Jalpaiguri 2013 TERROR ATTACKS IN :- Bangalore Instt of Science 2005 LeT Rampur CRPF camp 2008 LeT Mumbai 26/11 2008 LeT Delhi on Israeli Diplomats 2012 Srinagar 2013 If u have the guts #TakeTheBlame For this😡 contd.. — India 🇮🇳 First (@SeCoolar_Right) March 2, 2019 × Compare this with Terror Incidents under @narendramodi Govt from 2014-till date :- Only Kashmir is affected while the rest of India has not seen a single terror incident & we all know why-bcoz UPA = #UnitedPakistaniAlliance !#ModiFor2019 for a TERROR FREE INDIA@TajinderBagga — India 🇮🇳 First (@SeCoolar_Right) March 2, 2019 × pic.twitter.com/VJZfAiyzOt — shilpi tewari (@shilpitewari) March 2, 2019 × You should have also said that this enemy was created by Great Nehru in 1947 so that Abhinandan could fight with them in 2019....😂 What a farsightedness he had.... — मेरा नाम 🤡 (@uZruuDohin5gTKW) March 2, 2019 × What next? Wing Cmdr Abhinandan was born in 1983, so all credit to Indira Gandhi for his birth? — Shefali Vaidya ஷெஃபாலி வைத்யா शेफाली वैद्य (@ShefVaidya) March 3, 2019 × Thanks to rahulji (pilot wale) who taught him to fly the planes. 👏👏👏👏 — abhishek mishra (@indabhi) March 2, 2019 × Wah!! Chacha, only Rahul Gandhi failed to mature during UPA regime!! — Ashish Patil (@imashpatil) March 2, 2019 × Maybe you forgot to add that he was flying an outdated MiG also because of UPA — Iswaran N.P. 🇮🇳 (@NPIswaran) March 2, 2019 × "...Also I must add, I'm forever indebted to UPA" He said this in that video which the Pakistanis made. They had to edit it out due to time constraints — Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) March 2, 2019 × Thanks to UPA I completed my engineering in 2006. 🙄#thinklikecongressmoron — lalit mohan (@vlalit) March 3, 2019 × After attracting criticism on the social media for "taking credit", Khurshid Sunday said that he had only "stated the truth". "I had said that he (the pilot) joined the IAF during our tenure. I had only stated the truth," he told reporters. Wing Commander Abhinandan was captured on February 27 by Pakistan following a dogfight between the two air forces in which his MIG-21 was shot down. He was released from Pakistani custody on Friday night and was shifted to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment in Delhi. Abhinandan is currently undergoing a series of medical tests. (With inputs from PTI)

Twitter blasts Salman Khurshid after he says Abhinandan 'matured as fighter pilot during UPA'

PM Modi in Patna: Now they have even started asking for proof of the Air Strike

Scores of posters were spotted in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad saying businessman Robert Vadra is "welcome" to contest upcoming Lok Sabha polls from the constituency. The posters were put up by Moradabad Youth Congress.&nbsp;

Robert Vadra is married to AICC general secretary in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Vadra on Sunday said he may play "a larger role in serving the people" after the ongoing cases against him are over, sparking speculation that he could join politics.&nbsp;

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Posters saying 'Robert Vadra ji you are welcome to contest elections from Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency' seen in Moradabad. <a href="https://t.co/cK1feeRIfN">pic.twitter.com/cK1feeRIfN</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1099863292179345409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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In a Facebook post on Sunday, Vadra wrote about years and months he spent campaigning and working in different parts of the country, mainly in Uttar Pradesh, and claimed that it gave him a feeling to do more for the people.

"All these years of experience and learning cannot be just wasted and should be put to better use... Once all these accusations and allegations are over, I feel I should dedicate a larger role in serving the people," Vadra noted.&nbsp;

Congress party, however, played down the suggestion that Vadra wanted to join politics, saying he has long been associated with NGOs and worked for the society and that it is everyone's duty to use their qualities to serve the people, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

"Will he need Modi ji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) permission to do work related to people?" Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said at a press conference when asked about Vadra's "hint" that he may join politics.&nbsp;

(With inputs from PTI)&nbsp;

Scores of posters were spotted in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad saying businessman Robert Vadra is "welcome" to contest upcoming Lok Sabha polls from the constituency.

Scores of posters were spotted in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad saying businessman Robert Vadra is "welcome" to contest upcoming Lok Sabha polls from the constituency. The posters were put up by Moradabad Youth Congress. Robert Vadra is married to AICC general secretary in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Meanwhile, Vadra on Sunday said he may play "a larger role in serving the people" after the ongoing cases against him are over, sparking speculation that he could join politics. Posters saying 'Robert Vadra ji you are welcome to contest elections from Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency' seen in Moradabad. pic.twitter.com/cK1feeRIfN — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 25, 2019 × In a Facebook post on Sunday, Vadra wrote about years and months he spent campaigning and working in different parts of the country, mainly in Uttar Pradesh, and claimed that it gave him a feeling to do more for the people. "All these years of experience and learning cannot be just wasted and should be put to better use... Once all these accusations and allegations are over, I feel I should dedicate a larger role in serving the people," Vadra noted. Congress party, however, played down the suggestion that Vadra wanted to join politics, saying he has long been associated with NGOs and worked for the society and that it is everyone's duty to use their qualities to serve the people, news agency PTI reported. "Will he need Modi ji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) permission to do work related to people?" Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said at a press conference when asked about Vadra's "hint" that he may join politics. (With inputs from PTI)

Uttar Pradesh: Posters in Moradabad read Robert Vadra is 'welcome' to contest Lok Sabha polls 

A day after the AIADMK formally announced its alliance and the seat-sharing pact with the BJP and PMK in Tamil Nadu, the DMK also made an official announcement of its alliance, a seat-sharing pact with the Congress.

DMK President MK Stalin’s proposal of Rahul Gandhi as Prime Ministerial candidate at the Karunanidhi statue unveiling in Chennai was seen as a clear indication of the reunion of the UPA allies. However, an official announcement had been pending.

The announcement was made at the DMK Headquarters in the presence of the DMK high command and Congress leaders. The DMK has allocated nine seats in Tamil Nadu and one seat in Puducherry for the Congress. However, no specific details were shared regarding the allocation of constituencies and the parties that are expected to join the alliance in the days to come.

While making the alliance announcement DMK president MK Stalin took a dig at the manner in which the AIADMK-BJP-PMK alliance was finalized in a star hotel. Speaking to reporters Stalin said, “Our announcement has been made formally from the party headquarters and not stealthily from a star hotel like the AIADMK-BJP alliance”.&nbsp;

The coming together of the DMK and Congress is happening after a brief hiatus, as they went it alone in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The DMK suffered one of its worst defeats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu, when they contested 35 seats on their own, with the remaining five being given to regional allies. The DMK had refused to have an alliance with the Congress due to the contentious Sri-Lankan Tamils issue.&nbsp;

In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, both DMK and Congress candidates drew a blank in Tamil Nadu. It was a sweep for the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK which swept 37 seats, and one seat each for the BJP, PMK and NR Congress. However, this election will be different for both the AIADMK and the DMK, in the absence of their respective veteran leaders Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi.

Parties including CPI, CPI(M), IUML, VCK are also expected to be a part of the DMK-Congress alliance. Be it the 2011 and 2016 assembly election or the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, it was the AIADMK that emerged triumphantly. Hence, this time the DMK has an opportunity to ride on the anti-incumbency wave.&nbsp;

The Lok Sabha election dates haven’t been announced, but the battle has begun in Tamil Nadu. In the days to come, smaller parties will also finalize their negotiations and joins hands with one of the groupings.

A day after the AIADMK formally announced its alliance and the seat-sharing pact with the BJP and PMK in Tamil Nadu, the DMK also made an official announcement of its alliance, a seat-sharing pact with the Congress.

A day after the AIADMK formally announced its alliance and the seat-sharing pact with the BJP and PMK in Tamil Nadu, the DMK also made an official announcement of its alliance, a seat-sharing pact with the Congress. DMK President MK Stalin’s proposal of Rahul Gandhi as Prime Ministerial candidate at the Karunanidhi statue unveiling in Chennai was seen as a clear indication of the reunion of the UPA allies. However, an official announcement had been pending. The announcement was made at the DMK Headquarters in the presence of the DMK high command and Congress leaders. The DMK has allocated nine seats in Tamil Nadu and one seat in Puducherry for the Congress. However, no specific details were shared regarding the allocation of constituencies and the parties that are expected to join the alliance in the days to come. While making the alliance announcement DMK president MK Stalin took a dig at the manner in which the AIADMK-BJP-PMK alliance was finalized in a star hotel. Speaking to reporters Stalin said, “Our announcement has been made formally from the party headquarters and not stealthily from a star hotel like the AIADMK-BJP alliance”. The coming together of the DMK and Congress is happening after a brief hiatus, as they went it alone in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The DMK suffered one of its worst defeats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu, when they contested 35 seats on their own, with the remaining five being given to regional allies. The DMK had refused to have an alliance with the Congress due to the contentious Sri-Lankan Tamils issue. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, both DMK and Congress candidates drew a blank in Tamil Nadu. It was a sweep for the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK which swept 37 seats, and one seat each for the BJP, PMK and NR Congress. However, this election will be different for both the AIADMK and the DMK, in the absence of their respective veteran leaders Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi. Parties including CPI, CPI(M), IUML, VCK are also expected to be a part of the DMK-Congress alliance. Be it the 2011 and 2016 assembly election or the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, it was the AIADMK that emerged triumphantly. Hence, this time the DMK has an opportunity to ride on the anti-incumbency wave. The Lok Sabha election dates haven’t been announced, but the battle has begun in Tamil Nadu. In the days to come, smaller parties will also finalize their negotiations and joins hands with one of the groupings.

Lok Sabha 2019: Congress seals alliance with DMK, to contest 9 seats in Tamil Nadu

A small group of demonstrators rallied outside the White House Monday to protest President Donald <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-declares-us-mexico-border-emergency-democrats-protest-197678">Trump's declaration of a national emergency</a> to fund a wall on the US-Mexico border.

The declaration allows Trump to bypass Congress, which approved only a quarter of the $5.6 billion he wanted for the wall.

"Donald Trump is trying to subvert our democracy," said Sam Crook, 65, a Green Party activist, holding a sign that reads: "Trump is a two-bit tin-pot wannabe dictator."

Although presidents have declared national emergencies before, Friday's action is believed to be the first time one has been used to raise funds that were specifically rejected by Congress.

The action will be fought in court, with California's attorney general already warning that his state will file suit.

The declaration enables him to divert funds from the Pentagon's military construction budget and other sources.

A small group of demonstrators rallied outside the White House Monday to protest President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency to fund a wall on the US-Mexico border.

A small group of demonstrators rallied outside the White House Monday to protest President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency to fund a wall on the US-Mexico border. The declaration allows Trump to bypass Congress, which approved only a quarter of the $5.6 billion he wanted for the wall. "Donald Trump is trying to subvert our democracy," said Sam Crook, 65, a Green Party activist, holding a sign that reads: "Trump is a two-bit tin-pot wannabe dictator." Although presidents have declared national emergencies before, Friday's action is believed to be the first time one has been used to raise funds that were specifically rejected by Congress. The action will be fought in court, with California's attorney general already warning that his state will file suit. The declaration enables him to divert funds from the Pentagon's military construction budget and other sources.

Trump's emergency declaration sparks protests outside White House

By Chris Edelson

President Donald Trump declared a national emergency to pay for the construction of a wall along the US-Mexico border, after Congress, in its new spending bill, denied him the full money to build it.

“We’re talking about an invasion of our country with drugs, with human traffickers, with all types of criminals and gangs,” Trump said in a speech on February 15 before signing the declaration.

Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi warned Trump against declaring a national emergency, saying that it set a precedent for future Democratic presidents to use that power. A number of liberal organizations have threatened to file challenges in court on the grounds that Trump’s move is an abuse of power.

But will the courts step in? What is Congress’s role in this situation?

As I explain in my book “Emergency Presidential Power,” presidents generally claim emergency power two ways: through inherent or implied authority under the US Constitution or under statutory authority granted by Congress.

Relying on the Constitution as a basis for emergency power is controversial, and less likely to stand up to meaningful congressional or judicial review. The US Constitution says nothing specific about presidential emergency power: Presidents can only claim such authority is implied or inherent.

The emergency powers the Constitution does describe are actually assigned to Congress. Congress has delegated some emergency powers to the president through statutes, including the National Emergencies Act. But Congress retains the power to reject a president’s declaration of a national emergency.

Now the question is: Will Congress use the power available to it, or will it play the role of passive spectator?

Gaining congressional approval

Since presidents lack any specific constitutional emergency power, they often find it necessary to gain congressional authorization. For instance, at the start of the Civil War, with Congress out of session, President Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus and took other unilateral actions. He later sought and gained retroactive approval from Congress for these actions.

This precedent of gaining congressional approval was put to the test nearly 100 years later. In 1952, President Harry Truman claimed emergency power to take control of steel factories during the Korean War in response to a labor strike. He invoked a “very great inherent power to meet great national emergencies.” Congress took no specific action to approve or disapprove, though a preexisting statute on the books weighed against Truman.

When factory owners sued the administration, the Supreme Court, by a 6-3 vote, ruled against Truman in the famous Youngstown Sheet decision. Justice Robert H. Jackson’s concurring opinion, in that case, has been especially influential and is often cited by legal scholars and judges. He outlined a three-part test to be used as a starting point in determining when presidential action is constitutionally permissible.

Under Jackson’s test, presidents are on the strongest possible footing when acting with congressional approval. In this case, Jackson said, Truman’s position was weak since he was taking action that did not comply with the relevant legislative framework. In Jackson’s view, Truman’s reliance on inherent emergency power under the Constitution would dangerously concentrate power in the president’s hands, something the framers would not have wanted.

Congress’s role

Jackson’s opinion in Youngstown suggested that emergency power could be defined by Congress in statutes.

Congress took up that suggestion with the National Emergencies Act of 1976. Though the act was designed to set limits on presidential power to declare national emergencies of indefinite length, it has ended up providing a largely unregulated way for presidents to take unilateral action. Congress has failed to fulfill its responsibilities under the law.

The National Emergencies Act permits the president to declare a national emergency without congressional approval, triggering specific statutory powers that the president can use. For instance, presidents have used this law to impose economic sanctions against terrorists after 9/11 or regulate foreign ships in US waters. Thirty-one emergency declarations are currently in effect under the statute.

Congress can vote at any time to terminate a state of emergency, and is required by the statute to meet every six months while an emergency is in effect to consider whether it should continue. However, it has never voted on an emergency declared by a president or held meetings as required by the statute.

Perhaps most importantly for Trump, the National Emergencies Act provides no criteria for deciding whether a national emergency exists. We know from history that presidents can contrive emergencies as a pretext for action.

For example, in 1846 President James Polk falsely claimed that Mexico had spilled American blood on US soil as a pretext for gaining a declaration of war from Congress.

In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt justified the decision to intern 110,000 Japanese-Americans without trial based on false claims that time was of the essence, and at least some Japanese-Americans were known to be disloyal.

Although both of these examples pre-date the 1976 Act, they serve as cautionary tales about the wisdom of accepting at face value a president’s claim that an emergency exists. However, because the law now in effect provides no specific standards to define the existence of an emergency, courts might be inclined to defer to presidential discretion. It is far from clear that courts will strike down Trump’s national emergency.

By contrast, it would be straightforward for Congress to reverse a declaration of national emergency. The National Emergencies Act gives legislators authority to reject a presidential declaration of national emergency through simple legislation that would require majorities in the House and Senate. President Trump would presumably veto such action. Legislators would have the opportunity to override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote.

That, of course, would be no easy task in the current Congress.

Because of the way the National Emergencies Act was drafted, Congress is better positioned to take action than the courts – assuming enough members are moved to act. If Congress does nothing, then the law could become a vehicle for presidential abuse, especially because the act’s language seems to grant the president broad discretion that could insulate an emergency declaration from legal challenge.

All eyes should be on Congress.

(Chris Edelson is&nbsp;Assistant Professor of Government, American University School of Public Affairs.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

By Chris Edelson President Donald Trump declared a national emergency to pay for the construction of a wall along the US-Mexico border, after Congress, in its new spending bill, denied him the full money to build it.

By Chris Edelson President Donald Trump declared a national emergency to pay for the construction of a wall along the US-Mexico border, after Congress, in its new spending bill, denied him the full money to build it. “We’re talking about an invasion of our country with drugs, with human traffickers, with all types of criminals and gangs,” Trump said in a speech on February 15 before signing the declaration. Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi warned Trump against declaring a national emergency, saying that it set a precedent for future Democratic presidents to use that power. A number of liberal organizations have threatened to file challenges in court on the grounds that Trump’s move is an abuse of power. But will the courts step in? What is Congress’s role in this situation? As I explain in my book “Emergency Presidential Power,” presidents generally claim emergency power two ways: through inherent or implied authority under the US Constitution or under statutory authority granted by Congress. Relying on the Constitution as a basis for emergency power is controversial, and less likely to stand up to meaningful congressional or judicial review. The US Constitution says nothing specific about presidential emergency power: Presidents can only claim such authority is implied or inherent. The emergency powers the Constitution does describe are actually assigned to Congress. Congress has delegated some emergency powers to the president through statutes, including the National Emergencies Act. But Congress retains the power to reject a president’s declaration of a national emergency. Now the question is: Will Congress use the power available to it, or will it play the role of passive spectator? Gaining congressional approval Since presidents lack any specific constitutional emergency power, they often find it necessary to gain congressional authorization. For instance, at the start of the Civil War, with Congress out of session, President Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus and took other unilateral actions. He later sought and gained retroactive approval from Congress for these actions. This precedent of gaining congressional approval was put to the test nearly 100 years later. In 1952, President Harry Truman claimed emergency power to take control of steel factories during the Korean War in response to a labor strike. He invoked a “very great inherent power to meet great national emergencies.” Congress took no specific action to approve or disapprove, though a preexisting statute on the books weighed against Truman. When factory owners sued the administration, the Supreme Court, by a 6-3 vote, ruled against Truman in the famous Youngstown Sheet decision. Justice Robert H. Jackson’s concurring opinion, in that case, has been especially influential and is often cited by legal scholars and judges. He outlined a three-part test to be used as a starting point in determining when presidential action is constitutionally permissible. Under Jackson’s test, presidents are on the strongest possible footing when acting with congressional approval. In this case, Jackson said, Truman’s position was weak since he was taking action that did not comply with the relevant legislative framework. In Jackson’s view, Truman’s reliance on inherent emergency power under the Constitution would dangerously concentrate power in the president’s hands, something the framers would not have wanted. Congress’s role Jackson’s opinion in Youngstown suggested that emergency power could be defined by Congress in statutes. Congress took up that suggestion with the National Emergencies Act of 1976. Though the act was designed to set limits on presidential power to declare national emergencies of indefinite length, it has ended up providing a largely unregulated way for presidents to take unilateral action. Congress has failed to fulfill its responsibilities under the law. The National Emergencies Act permits the president to declare a national emergency without congressional approval, triggering specific statutory powers that the president can use. For instance, presidents have used this law to impose economic sanctions against terrorists after 9/11 or regulate foreign ships in US waters. Thirty-one emergency declarations are currently in effect under the statute. Congress can vote at any time to terminate a state of emergency, and is required by the statute to meet every six months while an emergency is in effect to consider whether it should continue. However, it has never voted on an emergency declared by a president or held meetings as required by the statute. Perhaps most importantly for Trump, the National Emergencies Act provides no criteria for deciding whether a national emergency exists. We know from history that presidents can contrive emergencies as a pretext for action. For example, in 1846 President James Polk falsely claimed that Mexico had spilled American blood on US soil as a pretext for gaining a declaration of war from Congress. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt justified the decision to intern 110,000 Japanese-Americans without trial based on false claims that time was of the essence, and at least some Japanese-Americans were known to be disloyal. Although both of these examples pre-date the 1976 Act, they serve as cautionary tales about the wisdom of accepting at face value a president’s claim that an emergency exists. However, because the law now in effect provides no specific standards to define the existence of an emergency, courts might be inclined to defer to presidential discretion. It is far from clear that courts will strike down Trump’s national emergency. By contrast, it would be straightforward for Congress to reverse a declaration of national emergency. The National Emergencies Act gives legislators authority to reject a presidential declaration of national emergency through simple legislation that would require majorities in the House and Senate. President Trump would presumably veto such action. Legislators would have the opportunity to override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote. That, of course, would be no easy task in the current Congress. Because of the way the National Emergencies Act was drafted, Congress is better positioned to take action than the courts – assuming enough members are moved to act. If Congress does nothing, then the law could become a vehicle for presidential abuse, especially because the act’s language seems to grant the president broad discretion that could insulate an emergency declaration from legal challenge. All eyes should be on Congress. (Chris Edelson is Assistant Professor of Government, American University School of Public Affairs.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Can Congress or the courts reverse Trump’s national emergency?

An all-party meeting called by Centre to deliberate upon the situations arising out of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pulwama-attack-india-slams-pakistan-yet-again-says-islamabad-cannot-claim-its-unaware-of-jem-presence-197702">Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir</a>&nbsp;passed a resolution strongly condemning the ''dastardly terror act''.&nbsp;

The meeting chaired&nbsp;by&nbsp;Home Minister Rajnath Singh released the resolution which read, "We strongly condemn the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/army-deploys-9-security-columns-in-jammu-197709">dastardly terror</a> act of 14th February at Pulwama in J&amp;K in which lives of 40 brave jawans of CRPF were lost".

The resolution did not name Pakistan but asserted that India has been facing the menace of the cross-border terrorism which of late, it added, is being actively encouraged by forces from the neighbouring country.

"India has displayed both firmness and resilience in dealing with these challenges. The entire nation speaks in one voice to express its determination to fight these challenges. Today, we stand united in solidarity with our security forces in fighting terrorism and in defending the unity and integrity of India," it said.

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The resolution passed at the all-party meeting: We strongly condemn the dastardly terror act of 14th February at Pulwama in J&amp;K in which lives of 40 brave jawans of CRPF were lost. <a href="https://t.co/0OjGkgS6He">pic.twitter.com/0OjGkgS6He</a>
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Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that they had requested Rajnath Singh to request the prime minister to convene a meeting of presidents of all national and regional parties.&nbsp;

Azad said his view was supported by other parties too.

Leaders from different political parties including&nbsp;Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Narendra Singh Tomar among many leaders attended the meeting.

Nearly 40 CRPF personnel were killed when a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist rammed a vehicle carrying over massive explosives into their bus on Srinagar-Jammu national highway on Thursday at around 3.15 pm at Ladhu Modi Lethpora. The convoy consisted of 78 buses in which around 2,500 CRPF personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar.

Following the attack, India on Friday&nbsp;announced the withdrawal of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan. New Delhi had granted MFN status to Pakistan in 1996, a year after the formation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), but Pakistan never reciprocated.

The Central government has also stepped up diplomatic efforts to mount pressure on the Government of Pakistan to take action against those who have been indulging in exporting terror to India.

For long, India has sought the help of the global community in fighting against Pakistan sponsored terrorism.

(With inputs from agencies)

An all-party meeting called by Centre to deliberate upon the situations arising out of Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir passed a resolution strongly condemning the ''dastardly terror act''.

An all-party meeting called by Centre to deliberate upon the situations arising out of Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir passed a resolution strongly condemning the ''dastardly terror act''. The meeting chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh released the resolution which read, "We strongly condemn the dastardly terror act of 14th February at Pulwama in J&K in which lives of 40 brave jawans of CRPF were lost". The resolution did not name Pakistan but asserted that India has been facing the menace of the cross-border terrorism which of late, it added, is being actively encouraged by forces from the neighbouring country. "India has displayed both firmness and resilience in dealing with these challenges. The entire nation speaks in one voice to express its determination to fight these challenges. Today, we stand united in solidarity with our security forces in fighting terrorism and in defending the unity and integrity of India," it said. The resolution passed at the all-party meeting: We strongly condemn the dastardly terror act of 14th February at Pulwama in J&K in which lives of 40 brave jawans of CRPF were lost. pic.twitter.com/0OjGkgS6He — ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2019 × Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that they had requested Rajnath Singh to request the prime minister to convene a meeting of presidents of all national and regional parties. Azad said his view was supported by other parties too. Leaders from different political parties including Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Narendra Singh Tomar among many leaders attended the meeting. Nearly 40 CRPF personnel were killed when a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist rammed a vehicle carrying over massive explosives into their bus on Srinagar-Jammu national highway on Thursday at around 3.15 pm at Ladhu Modi Lethpora. The convoy consisted of 78 buses in which around 2,500 CRPF personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar. Following the attack, India on Friday announced the withdrawal of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan. New Delhi had granted MFN status to Pakistan in 1996, a year after the formation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), but Pakistan never reciprocated. The Central government has also stepped up diplomatic efforts to mount pressure on the Government of Pakistan to take action against those who have been indulging in exporting terror to India. For long, India has sought the help of the global community in fighting against Pakistan sponsored terrorism. (With inputs from agencies)

Pulwama attack: All-party meet chaired by Rajnath Singh strongly condemns 'dastardly terror act'

Chit fund scams in West Bengal echoed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with Left and Congress members accusing the Trinamool Congress of looting money of investors.&nbsp;

Members from the Trinamool Congress, which is in power in West Bengal, were protesting in the Well when the discussion on ‘The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018’ was taken up.&nbsp;

Participating in the discussion, Congress member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the Trinamool Congress, which is in power in West Bengal, looted the people of the state.&nbsp;

He also said that lakhs of people were looted and that their money should be returned.

CPI-M member Mohammed Salim alleged that TMC has come up due to corruption and even remarked that some members of the party in the House should go to jail.&nbsp;

On both occasions, members from the BJP, which is engaged in a political slugfest with the TMC over Saradha scam and other issues, were seen thumping their desks.&nbsp;

Later, TMC members were seen shouting slogans against Salim. Some members of the TMC are under the lens for their alleged role in chit fund scams.

TMC leader Saugata Roy said chief minister Mamata Banerjee took the trouble of getting arrested the main person in Saradha scam and wanted to know from the central government as what they were doing in the last five years with respect to the scam.&nbsp;

BJD leader B Mahtab said there should be a regulatory mechanism for the state and central governments to work against illegal deposit-taking activities.&nbsp;

While replying to the discussion, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal wondered what message would the school children sitting here take back amid continued slogan shouting by TMC members in the Well. School children were among those sitting in the visitor’s gallery.

Chit fund scams in West Bengal echoed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with Left and Congress members accusing the Trinamool Congress of looting money of investors.

Chit fund scams in West Bengal echoed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with Left and Congress members accusing the Trinamool Congress of looting money of investors. Members from the Trinamool Congress, which is in power in West Bengal, were protesting in the Well when the discussion on ‘The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018’ was taken up. Participating in the discussion, Congress member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the Trinamool Congress, which is in power in West Bengal, looted the people of the state. He also said that lakhs of people were looted and that their money should be returned. CPI-M member Mohammed Salim alleged that TMC has come up due to corruption and even remarked that some members of the party in the House should go to jail. On both occasions, members from the BJP, which is engaged in a political slugfest with the TMC over Saradha scam and other issues, were seen thumping their desks. Later, TMC members were seen shouting slogans against Salim. Some members of the TMC are under the lens for their alleged role in chit fund scams. TMC leader Saugata Roy said chief minister Mamata Banerjee took the trouble of getting arrested the main person in Saradha scam and wanted to know from the central government as what they were doing in the last five years with respect to the scam. BJD leader B Mahtab said there should be a regulatory mechanism for the state and central governments to work against illegal deposit-taking activities. While replying to the discussion, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal wondered what message would the school children sitting here take back amid continued slogan shouting by TMC members in the Well. School children were among those sitting in the visitor’s gallery.

West Bengal’s chit fund scams expose fault lines in Grand Alliance, Congress, Left spar with TMC in Parliament

JD(U) leader and election strategist Prashant Kishor said that Priyanka Gandhi's highly anticipated <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/i-hope-we-can-together-start-a-new-kind-of-politics-priyanka-gandhi-says-on-lucknow-road-show-196688">induction in the Congress</a> will not impact the forthcoming general elections.

He said Priyanka Gandhi is not a big challenge while adding that to create an impact one needs time and that nobody had a "magic wand" which could perform a miracle for the Congress party.

Addressing the media here, Kishor said, “She is just starting, nobody has a magic wand. I don't see her as a big challenge in the short run, not because she lacks capability but because it's hard to make an impact in a short time. In long run, she is a big face and name.”

The newly-appointed Congress general secretary for East Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka on Monday, made her much-awaited political debut by holding a mega road show along with brother and party president Rahul Gandhi in Lucknow. Her fellow UP in-charge Jyotiraditya Scindia was also present at the event.

Priyanka was given charge of Uttar Pradesh east as Congress party’s general secretary on January 23.

JD(U) leader and election strategist Prashant Kishor said that Priyanka Gandhi's highly anticipated induction in the Congress will not impact the forthcoming general elections.

JD(U) leader and election strategist Prashant Kishor said that Priyanka Gandhi's highly anticipated induction in the Congress will not impact the forthcoming general elections. He said Priyanka Gandhi is not a big challenge while adding that to create an impact one needs time and that nobody had a "magic wand" which could perform a miracle for the Congress party. Addressing the media here, Kishor said, “She is just starting, nobody has a magic wand. I don't see her as a big challenge in the short run, not because she lacks capability but because it's hard to make an impact in a short time. In long run, she is a big face and name.” The newly-appointed Congress general secretary for East Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka on Monday, made her much-awaited political debut by holding a mega road show along with brother and party president Rahul Gandhi in Lucknow. Her fellow UP in-charge Jyotiraditya Scindia was also present at the event. Priyanka was given charge of Uttar Pradesh east as Congress party’s general secretary on January 23.

Nobody has a magic wand: Prashant Kishor on Priyanka Gandhi's impact on Lok Sabha polls

The Congress launched Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's political career on Monday <a href="Priyanka's political career was launched with great fanfare on Monday in Lucknow but by no means is UP 2019 going to be a cakewalk for the Congress party. ">with great fanfare in Lucknow</a>. The 15-km roadshow in the Uttar Pradesh capital was organised to create the right buzz around her induction and send the right signals to a disheartened organisation.&nbsp;

All of that happened.&nbsp;

Congress president Rahul Gandhi accompanied his sister Priyanka through the day. Jyotiraditya Scindia and other Congress leaders were also accommodated on the open-top bus which took the Congress team around town.&nbsp;

When the show came to an end, only Rahul Gandhi spoke. Priyanka did not, disappointing the audience. It looked odd, keeping in mind the publicity her induction and roadshow had generated.&nbsp;

People expect politicians to speak. They should not speak only when it suits them.&nbsp;

They should speak when it is required of them since modern politics has become so much more democratic and participative. Priyanka Gandhi will need to speak more, even if it comes at the cost of the evergreen comparison between her and Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;

By no means is UP 2019 going to be a cakewalk for the Congress party.&nbsp;

Jind is an example. Even if you are a high-profile candidate, that does not mean you will win the election. And in UP, the Congress should be happy if it is able to find even 20 candidates who put up a good fight.&nbsp;

There were other disconcerting indicators on Monday. The turnout for Priyanka's roadshow was not as large as it should have been, and it was poorly organised.&nbsp;

The elephant in the room remains the problem of stray cattle in UP. This problem affects large parts of northern India — a direct result of the fundamentalist cow politics practised by the BJP, and which has killed the cow-related economy.&nbsp;

Ultimately, in the absence of culling, cattle end up grazing on farmlands, creating havoc in rural areas. The cost of fencing continues to remain high and after a hard day's work, farmers have been forced to keep watch over their fields at night.&nbsp;

The gaushala programmes are a failure.&nbsp;

The BJP used the cattle issue to construct a "Hindu" sentiment. Modi, during the 2014 elections, even referred to the issue as a "pink" revolution.&nbsp;

After coming to power, violence by the gau rakshaks has replaced riots as low-level violence against the minority community.&nbsp;

There was no constructive criticism from the Congress.&nbsp;

Instead of standing its ground, it indulged in competitive communalism, the end result being the Congress government recently arresting three people under the dreaded National Security Act in Madhya Pradesh.&nbsp;

So the issue remains alive on the ground but political parties, apart from the BJP, are yet to take a clear stand on it. The issue will have a decisive impact in UP and the Congress has yet to forge its stand on it.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Congress neither enjoys a caste equation nor fresh faces for the Lok Sabha polls. It does not even have a state-level political slogan. In 2014, the Congress polled seven per cent of the votes in UP in the Lok Sabha elections, which was further pared down to six per cent in the assembly elections which were swept by Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;

The decision to go with the SP was taken when Priyanka was informally handling Uttar Pradesh for Rahul Gandhi. The mystery remains but the "27 saal, UP behaal" campaign was abruptly dumped for the "UP ke ladke" campaign which bombed.&nbsp;

Priyanka will have to balance the role of Priyanka as campaigner with Priyanka as organizer. Very few politicians are able to combine both traits. As a general secretary of the Congress, she will have to behave like an organiser but as a Gandhi, she will also have to bear the burden of campaigning and trying to dominate the news space against a very aggressive BJP.&nbsp;

She will have to fish for candidates for the Lok Sabha elections and tackle both Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati with wit, aggression and politeness.

&nbsp;The BJP, despite its problem, enjoys substantial support in UP from non-Jatav backwards and non-Yadav OBCs.&nbsp;

Mayawati on the other hand still controls the non-Jatav backwards. Akhilesh Yadav too retains the support of Yadavs and Muslims in the state. Both of them have also accommodated Ajit Singh’s RLD which in a few constituencies in western Uttar Pradesh will damage the BJP.&nbsp;

In this equation, the Congress stands nowhere. No state leader has undertaken a pan-state programme in the last six months. On top of it, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/robert-vadra-questioned-by-ed-in-money-laundering-probe-wife-priyanka-says-i-support-my-family-195658">Robert Vadra is being </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/robert-vadra-questioned-by-ed-in-money-laundering-probe-wife-priyanka-says-i-support-my-family-195658">grilled</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/robert-vadra-questioned-by-ed-in-money-laundering-probe-wife-priyanka-says-i-support-my-family-195658"> daily</a>. Though she has taken a position and backed her husband, the issue of corruption will dog Priyanka.&nbsp;

Priyanka Gandhi will get the publicity and Twitter traction. She will also be adored by Congress workers but the question is whether she will be able to salvage the party in the upcoming Lok Sabha election? Will she be able to resurrect the Congress as a pan-UP party which can stake claim to the position of CM?&nbsp;

These are the challenges for Priyanka, and I’m sure she must have gone over them a thousand times.&nbsp;

And lastly, in our dynastic politics, her ultimate challenge will remain her formidable grandmother Indira Gandhi. The comparison between them remains eternal. Will she be remembered as her grandmother, or as her granddaughter?&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

The Congress launched Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's political career on Monday with great fanfare in Lucknow. The 15-km roadshow in the Uttar Pradesh capital was organised to create the right buzz around her induction and send the right signals to a disheartened organisation.

The Congress launched Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's political career on Monday with great fanfare in Lucknow. The 15-km roadshow in the Uttar Pradesh capital was organised to create the right buzz around her induction and send the right signals to a disheartened organisation. All of that happened. Congress president Rahul Gandhi accompanied his sister Priyanka through the day. Jyotiraditya Scindia and other Congress leaders were also accommodated on the open-top bus which took the Congress team around town. When the show came to an end, only Rahul Gandhi spoke. Priyanka did not, disappointing the audience. It looked odd, keeping in mind the publicity her induction and roadshow had generated. People expect politicians to speak. They should not speak only when it suits them. They should speak when it is required of them since modern politics has become so much more democratic and participative. Priyanka Gandhi will need to speak more, even if it comes at the cost of the evergreen comparison between her and Rahul Gandhi. By no means is UP 2019 going to be a cakewalk for the Congress party. Jind is an example. Even if you are a high-profile candidate, that does not mean you will win the election. And in UP, the Congress should be happy if it is able to find even 20 candidates who put up a good fight. There were other disconcerting indicators on Monday. The turnout for Priyanka's roadshow was not as large as it should have been, and it was poorly organised. The elephant in the room remains the problem of stray cattle in UP. This problem affects large parts of northern India — a direct result of the fundamentalist cow politics practised by the BJP, and which has killed the cow-related economy. Ultimately, in the absence of culling, cattle end up grazing on farmlands, creating havoc in rural areas. The cost of fencing continues to remain high and after a hard day's work, farmers have been forced to keep watch over their fields at night. The gaushala programmes are a failure. The BJP used the cattle issue to construct a "Hindu" sentiment. Modi, during the 2014 elections, even referred to the issue as a "pink" revolution. After coming to power, violence by the gau rakshaks has replaced riots as low-level violence against the minority community. There was no constructive criticism from the Congress. Instead of standing its ground, it indulged in competitive communalism, the end result being the Congress government recently arresting three people under the dreaded National Security Act in Madhya Pradesh. So the issue remains alive on the ground but political parties, apart from the BJP, are yet to take a clear stand on it. The issue will have a decisive impact in UP and the Congress has yet to forge its stand on it. In Uttar Pradesh, the Congress neither enjoys a caste equation nor fresh faces for the Lok Sabha polls. It does not even have a state-level political slogan. In 2014, the Congress polled seven per cent of the votes in UP in the Lok Sabha elections, which was further pared down to six per cent in the assembly elections which were swept by Uttar Pradesh. The decision to go with the SP was taken when Priyanka was informally handling Uttar Pradesh for Rahul Gandhi. The mystery remains but the "27 saal, UP behaal" campaign was abruptly dumped for the "UP ke ladke" campaign which bombed. Priyanka will have to balance the role of Priyanka as campaigner with Priyanka as organizer. Very few politicians are able to combine both traits. As a general secretary of the Congress, she will have to behave like an organiser but as a Gandhi, she will also have to bear the burden of campaigning and trying to dominate the news space against a very aggressive BJP. She will have to fish for candidates for the Lok Sabha elections and tackle both Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati with wit, aggression and politeness. The BJP, despite its problem, enjoys substantial support in UP from non-Jatav backwards and non-Yadav OBCs. Mayawati on the other hand still controls the non-Jatav backwards. Akhilesh Yadav too retains the support of Yadavs and Muslims in the state. Both of them have also accommodated Ajit Singh’s RLD which in a few constituencies in western Uttar Pradesh will damage the BJP. In this equation, the Congress stands nowhere. No state leader has undertaken a pan-state programme in the last six months. On top of it, Robert Vadra is being grilled daily. Though she has taken a position and backed her husband, the issue of corruption will dog Priyanka. Priyanka Gandhi will get the publicity and Twitter traction. She will also be adored by Congress workers but the question is whether she will be able to salvage the party in the upcoming Lok Sabha election? Will she be able to resurrect the Congress as a pan-UP party which can stake claim to the position of CM? These are the challenges for Priyanka, and I’m sure she must have gone over them a thousand times. And lastly, in our dynastic politics, her ultimate challenge will remain her formidable grandmother Indira Gandhi. The comparison between them remains eternal. Will she be remembered as her grandmother, or as her granddaughter? (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

With Congress in a shambles in UP, a long and hard road ahead for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

On day one, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/with-congress-in-a-shambles-in-up-a-long-and-hard-road-for-priyanka-gandhi-vadra-196746">Priyanka Gandhi Vadra talked about her commitment to Uttar Pradesh</a>. (She was interacting with Congress office bearers in Lucknow.) She told the Congressmen and women that the party needs to take immediate and tough decisions for the Lok Sabha elections so that it remains in the fight, but that her real work in the state will begin only after the Lok Sabha elections.&nbsp;

Priyanka added that she had enjoyed organisational work since childhood since she had been involved with Amethi and Rai Bareilly for a long time and would now bring that experience to reviving the party in the state. By saying this, Priyanka sent out the clear signal to party leaders that she is here to stay in Uttar Pradesh, which Rahul Gandhi could not do despite his intense engagement with UP politics both in the 2007 and 2012 assembly elections.&nbsp;

Rahul Gandhi had mentioned this in his speech on Monday, which Priyanka vociferously emphasised during the closed-door interaction.&nbsp;

This becomes important in the context of the statement by former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. He categorically denied the possibility of giving the Congress any more seats in Uttar Pradesh, saying, "Congress is part of SP-BSP alliance as we have already left Rai Bareilly and Amethi to them.”

Priyanka also told party workers that once she takes a call on the Congress' Lok Sabha candidates, factional fights should not break out in the unit.&nbsp;

She also took suggestions as to who should be the party's state president. (Raj Babbar currently holds the post.) She also enquired into the office bearers' knowledge of their constituencies. They were asked about the number of booths in their area; some of them could not answer the question.&nbsp;

Priyanka also sought opinions on issues that she should raise before the elections, and on probable candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. She also enquired into programmes that Congress units had organised last year and what more needs to be done at the local level.

People who attended the meeting told WION that Priyanka took copious notes and entertained group photographs after each session.&nbsp;

Jyotiraditya Scindia met separately with office bearers in the same building. He is in charge of 38 Lok Sabha seats while Priyanka is overseeing 42. The closed meetings are expected to last till the evening of February 14 after which Priyanka will close the first leg of her Uttar Pradesh tour.&nbsp;

The biggest challenge for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is the shortlisting of candidates for the upcoming general elections. On the other hand, there exists a possibility of the Congress accommodating smaller parties to strengthen its position in certain constituencies. A proposal has been sent to Priyanka but she has not taken a call to proceed on the offer.&nbsp;

The Congress has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for the past 30 years.

On day one, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra talked about her commitment to Uttar Pradesh. (She was interacting with Congress office bearers in Lucknow.) She told the Congressmen and women that the party needs to take immediate and tough decisions for the Lok Sabha elections so that it remains in the fight, but that her real work in the state will begin only after the Lok Sabha elections.

On day one, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra talked about her commitment to Uttar Pradesh. (She was interacting with Congress office bearers in Lucknow.) She told the Congressmen and women that the party needs to take immediate and tough decisions for the Lok Sabha elections so that it remains in the fight, but that her real work in the state will begin only after the Lok Sabha elections. Priyanka added that she had enjoyed organisational work since childhood since she had been involved with Amethi and Rai Bareilly for a long time and would now bring that experience to reviving the party in the state. By saying this, Priyanka sent out the clear signal to party leaders that she is here to stay in Uttar Pradesh, which Rahul Gandhi could not do despite his intense engagement with UP politics both in the 2007 and 2012 assembly elections. Rahul Gandhi had mentioned this in his speech on Monday, which Priyanka vociferously emphasised during the closed-door interaction. This becomes important in the context of the statement by former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. He categorically denied the possibility of giving the Congress any more seats in Uttar Pradesh, saying, "Congress is part of SP-BSP alliance as we have already left Rai Bareilly and Amethi to them.” Priyanka also told party workers that once she takes a call on the Congress' Lok Sabha candidates, factional fights should not break out in the unit. She also took suggestions as to who should be the party's state president. (Raj Babbar currently holds the post.) She also enquired into the office bearers' knowledge of their constituencies. They were asked about the number of booths in their area; some of them could not answer the question. Priyanka also sought opinions on issues that she should raise before the elections, and on probable candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. She also enquired into programmes that Congress units had organised last year and what more needs to be done at the local level. People who attended the meeting told WION that Priyanka took copious notes and entertained group photographs after each session. Jyotiraditya Scindia met separately with office bearers in the same building. He is in charge of 38 Lok Sabha seats while Priyanka is overseeing 42. The closed meetings are expected to last till the evening of February 14 after which Priyanka will close the first leg of her Uttar Pradesh tour. The biggest challenge for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is the shortlisting of candidates for the upcoming general elections. On the other hand, there exists a possibility of the Congress accommodating smaller parties to strengthen its position in certain constituencies. A proposal has been sent to Priyanka but she has not taken a call to proceed on the offer. The Congress has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for the past 30 years.

My final goal is the 2022 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took Lucknow by storm Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/priyanka-gandhi-enters-active-politics-congress-plays-its-last-trump-card-192277">The recently-appointed Congress general secretary of eastern Uttar Pradesh</a>, accompanied by her brother and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, and Congress leaders Jyotiraditya Scindia and Raj Babbar, held a 20-kilometre roadshow in the Uttar Pradesh capital on Monday.&nbsp;

UP is the country's most important state politically — sending 80 members to the Lok Sabha.&nbsp;

On Monday, Priyanka and the other Congress leaders rode out of the Lucknow airport on an open-top bus.&nbsp;

"It's like Indira Gandhi has come back," Reuters reported Fuzail Ahmed Khan, 45, a Congress supporter as saying. "The state's farmers want Rahul Gandhi to be prime minister, Priyanka to be chief minister."

As Priyanka's cavalcade rolled through the streets of Lucknow, Congress workers showered rose petals and threw marigold garlands at her.&nbsp;

Some posters showed Priyanka Gandhi as Goddess Durga on a lion.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Visuals</a> from Congress' roadshow in Lucknow. General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh West Jyotiraditya Scindia and party President Rahul Gandhi are crossing Transport Nagar <a href="https://t.co/MbKZc4fNnF">pic.twitter.com/MbKZc4fNnF</a>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia sit down to avoid overhanging electrical wires during their roadshow in Lucknow. <a href="https://t.co/1lVmDMOyrV">pic.twitter.com/1lVmDMOyrV</a>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Visuals</a> from the roadshow of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia in Lucknow <a href="https://t.co/J7aZUJc5Dw">pic.twitter.com/J7aZUJc5Dw</a>
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"Maa Durga ka roop behen Priyankaji (Sister Priyanka is Maa Durga's incarnation)," read a poster. Another highlighted her resemblance with her grandmother Indira Gandhi.&nbsp;

"I hope that we can together start a new kind of politics," Priyanka said in an audio message shared by Congress.

Priyanka has helped manage elections for her brother Rahul and her mother, former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, but has never held an official party post up until now.&nbsp;

"We'll play on front foot. Scindia ji, Priyanka ji and I won't rest until a government of Congress' ideology is formed here," Rahul said addressing the crowd.&nbsp;

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Lucknow: Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra &amp; Congress President Rahul Gandhi pay floral tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel <a href="https://t.co/limlEr4kMF">pic.twitter.com/limlEr4kMF</a>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Visuals</a>: Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra interacts with a child during the roadshow in Lucknow. The girl says, "I gave her a garland &amp; she gave me a chocolate. Later, she returned the garland to me &amp; said, 'Stay happy'. <a href="https://t.co/0h9PPYCiCm">pic.twitter.com/0h9PPYCiCm</a>
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The siblings later paid tribute to former Congressman and independent India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Priyanka did not speak.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took Lucknow by storm Monday afternoon. The recently-appointed Congress general secretary of eastern Uttar Pradesh, accompanied by her brother and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, and Congress leaders Jyotiraditya Scindia and Raj Babbar, held a 20-kilometre roadshow in the Uttar Pradesh capital on Monday.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took Lucknow by storm Monday afternoon. The recently-appointed Congress general secretary of eastern Uttar Pradesh, accompanied by her brother and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, and Congress leaders Jyotiraditya Scindia and Raj Babbar, held a 20-kilometre roadshow in the Uttar Pradesh capital on Monday. UP is the country's most important state politically — sending 80 members to the Lok Sabha. On Monday, Priyanka and the other Congress leaders rode out of the Lucknow airport on an open-top bus. "It's like Indira Gandhi has come back," Reuters reported Fuzail Ahmed Khan, 45, a Congress supporter as saying. "The state's farmers want Rahul Gandhi to be prime minister, Priyanka to be chief minister." As Priyanka's cavalcade rolled through the streets of Lucknow, Congress workers showered rose petals and threw marigold garlands at her. Some posters showed Priyanka Gandhi as Goddess Durga on a lion. #Visuals from Congress' roadshow in Lucknow. General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh West Jyotiraditya Scindia and party President Rahul Gandhi are crossing Transport Nagar pic.twitter.com/MbKZc4fNnF — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 11, 2019 × #WATCH: Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia sit down to avoid overhanging electrical wires during their roadshow in Lucknow. pic.twitter.com/1lVmDMOyrV — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 11, 2019 × #Visuals from the roadshow of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia in Lucknow pic.twitter.com/J7aZUJc5Dw — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 11, 2019 × "Maa Durga ka roop behen Priyankaji (Sister Priyanka is Maa Durga's incarnation)," read a poster. Another highlighted her resemblance with her grandmother Indira Gandhi. "I hope that we can together start a new kind of politics," Priyanka said in an audio message shared by Congress. Priyanka has helped manage elections for her brother Rahul and her mother, former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, but has never held an official party post up until now. "We'll play on front foot. Scindia ji, Priyanka ji and I won't rest until a government of Congress' ideology is formed here," Rahul said addressing the crowd. Lucknow: Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra & Congress President Rahul Gandhi pay floral tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel pic.twitter.com/limlEr4kMF — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 11, 2019 × #Visuals: Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra interacts with a child during the roadshow in Lucknow. The girl says, "I gave her a garland & she gave me a chocolate. Later, she returned the garland to me & said, 'Stay happy'. pic.twitter.com/0h9PPYCiCm — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 11, 2019 × The siblings later paid tribute to former Congressman and independent India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Priyanka did not speak. (With inputs from agencies)

'I hope we can together start a new kind of politics,' Priyanka Gandhi says on Lucknow roadshow

Preparations are underway in the Congress office in Lucknow to welcome their newly-appointed General Secretary for Eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh West Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday.

&nbsp;Congress President Rahul Gandhi is slated to accompany Priyanka and Scindia.

Ahead of her first visit after being appointed as General Secretary for Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka said, "I am coming to Lucknow tomorrow and I wish that together we will begin a new politics and you be a part of it. Youth, women and marginalised, everyone's voices will be heard. Let's establish a new future and politics."

UP Congress Committee (UPCC) president Raj Babbar said, "From February 18 onwards, Priyanka and Scindia will start public interactions in their respective areas."

Priyanka and Scindia would stay till February 14, while Rahul is expected to return on the same day.

Since the announcement of SP-BSP alliance for the coming Lok Sabha polls in the state where two parties will contest on 38 seats each, the Congress leadership has been leaving nothing unturned to retain the party’s lost ground in the state, where they won only two seats—Rae Bareli and Amethi—in the last Lok Sabha polls.&nbsp;

Preparations are underway in the Congress office in Lucknow to welcome their newly-appointed General Secretary for Eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh West Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday.

Preparations are underway in the Congress office in Lucknow to welcome their newly-appointed General Secretary for Eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh West Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday. Congress President Rahul Gandhi is slated to accompany Priyanka and Scindia. Ahead of her first visit after being appointed as General Secretary for Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka said, "I am coming to Lucknow tomorrow and I wish that together we will begin a new politics and you be a part of it. Youth, women and marginalised, everyone's voices will be heard. Let's establish a new future and politics." UP Congress Committee (UPCC) president Raj Babbar said, "From February 18 onwards, Priyanka and Scindia will start public interactions in their respective areas." Priyanka and Scindia would stay till February 14, while Rahul is expected to return on the same day. Since the announcement of SP-BSP alliance for the coming Lok Sabha polls in the state where two parties will contest on 38 seats each, the Congress leadership has been leaving nothing unturned to retain the party’s lost ground in the state, where they won only two seats—Rae Bareli and Amethi—in the last Lok Sabha polls.

Lucknow: Stage set to welcome Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jyotiraditya Scindia

Congress general secretary <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/priyanka-gandhi-assumes-charge-as-aicc-general-secretary-195665">Priyanka Gandhi Vadra</a> on Sunday released an audio message requesting people to join her in creating a new culture of politics in the country.&nbsp;

In the audio message, she said that she would be visiting Lucknow on Monday and would appreciate if people could join her in this process. A similar 30-second-long audio recording was released for Jyotiraditya Scindia in Western Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;

The audio clip for both the leaders targeted around 60 lakh voters in Uttar Pradesh. The outreach was divided into 30 lakh messages in Western and Eastern Uttar Pradesh respectively.

Praveen Chakravarthy, an economist by profession,&nbsp;who heads Congress' data department said, "Congress has done multiple surveys in Uttar Pradesh and found joblessness as a major issue in the context of elections and quota for the economically weaker sections amongst the upper castes. BJP is facing double anti-incumbency in Uttar Pradesh”.&nbsp;

Chakravarthy also said that both Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have come on top of the anger index in the context of expectation from the government. He also confirmed that the Congress has already done a survey across Uttar Pradesh on who deserves to get a ticket from the party in the state.

Priyanka Gandhi would kickstart her day on Monday with a massive roadshow which would take her from the Lucknow airport to areas like Hazratganj, Alam Bagh, Lal Bagh, ultimately concluding at Nehru Bhawan.&nbsp;

Officially, the roadshow is expected to last 6 hours in the city but can extend due to the presence of workers who have poured into the state capital from all across. It is expected that Priyanka Gandhi would give a maiden speech at Lal Bagh.

Such is the enthusiasm for the preparations for Priyanka Gandhi's Lucknow show, it has already generated a lot of excitement in the party local unit as well.

What Priyanka Gandhi intends to do in the next four days is also very unique in the context of the finalization of the tickets for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.&nbsp;

Priyanka Gandhi has decided to conduct closed-door meetings for three days with former MPS, MLAs, city presidents, party office bearers, district heads and panchayat chairmen. Interestingly, she has divided all her meetings as per the Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. The closed-door meetings will allow no coverage. Priyanka would take feedback on the right candidate&nbsp;for the Lok Sabha constituency.

Sources in the party said that Priyanka Gandhi would select Lok Sabha candidates across Uttar Pradesh on the basis of the feedback received from the meetings. Priyanka Gandhi is expected to launch a district-wise exercise any day after February 18.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be accompanied by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary in-charge of Western UP, Jyotiraditya Scindia. Rahul Gandhi will leave for Delhi on February 11 while Priyanka Gandhi would stay put till February 14.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday released an audio message requesting people to join her in creating a new culture of politics in the country.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday released an audio message requesting people to join her in creating a new culture of politics in the country. In the audio message, she said that she would be visiting Lucknow on Monday and would appreciate if people could join her in this process. A similar 30-second-long audio recording was released for Jyotiraditya Scindia in Western Uttar Pradesh. The audio clip for both the leaders targeted around 60 lakh voters in Uttar Pradesh. The outreach was divided into 30 lakh messages in Western and Eastern Uttar Pradesh respectively. Praveen Chakravarthy, an economist by profession, who heads Congress' data department said, "Congress has done multiple surveys in Uttar Pradesh and found joblessness as a major issue in the context of elections and quota for the economically weaker sections amongst the upper castes. BJP is facing double anti-incumbency in Uttar Pradesh”. Chakravarthy also said that both Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have come on top of the anger index in the context of expectation from the government. He also confirmed that the Congress has already done a survey across Uttar Pradesh on who deserves to get a ticket from the party in the state. Priyanka Gandhi would kickstart her day on Monday with a massive roadshow which would take her from the Lucknow airport to areas like Hazratganj, Alam Bagh, Lal Bagh, ultimately concluding at Nehru Bhawan. Officially, the roadshow is expected to last 6 hours in the city but can extend due to the presence of workers who have poured into the state capital from all across. It is expected that Priyanka Gandhi would give a maiden speech at Lal Bagh. Such is the enthusiasm for the preparations for Priyanka Gandhi's Lucknow show, it has already generated a lot of excitement in the party local unit as well. What Priyanka Gandhi intends to do in the next four days is also very unique in the context of the finalization of the tickets for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Priyanka Gandhi has decided to conduct closed-door meetings for three days with former MPS, MLAs, city presidents, party office bearers, district heads and panchayat chairmen. Interestingly, she has divided all her meetings as per the Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. The closed-door meetings will allow no coverage. Priyanka would take feedback on the right candidate for the Lok Sabha constituency. Sources in the party said that Priyanka Gandhi would select Lok Sabha candidates across Uttar Pradesh on the basis of the feedback received from the meetings. Priyanka Gandhi is expected to launch a district-wise exercise any day after February 18. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be accompanied by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary in-charge of Western UP, Jyotiraditya Scindia. Rahul Gandhi will leave for Delhi on February 11 while Priyanka Gandhi would stay put till February 14.

Priyanka Gandhi appeals via audio message, Congress reaches out to 60 lakh voters

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday charged Congress president Rahul Gandhi of being a ‘king of lies.’

“He has become a king of lies. He has got Rafael-iya, and he cannot see anything beyond Rafael. The kind of allegations he makes is unacceptable. He is using foul language and repeating lies. His allegations against us regarding Rafael get scrapped automatically,” he reportedly&nbsp;said in an event in Vadodara.&nbsp;

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls public will give a treatment of his Rafael-iya and the BJP will come in power, he added.

Accusing the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh of not fulfilling its promise, he said&nbsp;Rahul Gandhi had said if farm loans are not waived off he will change the chief minister. Till date, no farm loan has been waived off. They are just making the procedure more complex,&nbsp;he said.

Commenting on Priyanka Gandhi’s entry in politics, Chouhan said that her entry will not do any miracle.

“I welcome Priyanka`s entry in politics; anybody is free to join this field. But, people elect those who work. Someone`s entry cannot do any miracle,” added Chouhan.

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday charged Congress president Rahul Gandhi of being a ‘king of lies.’ “He has become a king of lies.

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday charged Congress president Rahul Gandhi of being a ‘king of lies.’ “He has become a king of lies. He has got Rafael-iya, and he cannot see anything beyond Rafael. The kind of allegations he makes is unacceptable. He is using foul language and repeating lies. His allegations against us regarding Rafael get scrapped automatically,” he reportedly said in an event in Vadodara. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls public will give a treatment of his Rafael-iya and the BJP will come in power, he added. Accusing the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh of not fulfilling its promise, he said Rahul Gandhi had said if farm loans are not waived off he will change the chief minister. Till date, no farm loan has been waived off. They are just making the procedure more complex, he said. Commenting on Priyanka Gandhi’s entry in politics, Chouhan said that her entry will not do any miracle. “I welcome Priyanka`s entry in politics; anybody is free to join this field. But, people elect those who work. Someone`s entry cannot do any miracle,” added Chouhan.

Rahul Gandhi has become 'king of lies': Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday attacked the Congress for using farm loan waivers as a gimmick ahead of the election to win votes and said the party's previous such initiative benefitted only middlemen and select farmers.

He listed out various measures, including direct income support of Rs 6,000 to farmers cultivating on up to five acres of land, being taken by the central government to ensure welfare of the peasants neglected by the "previous governments".&nbsp;

"Congress always left out 70-80 per cent poor farmers from the benefit of their farm loan waiver scheme. What about these people?" he asked.

Modi laid foundation stones of various development projects worth Rs 6,000 crore which include setting up of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Vijaypur, a bridge over river Chenab, pollution abatement project on rivers Devika and Tawi, a campus of Northern Regional Centre of Indian Institute of Mass Communication and University Institute of Engineering and Technology in Kathua.&nbsp;

Addressing a public rally in Vijaypur, the prime minister cited proposed amendments in the Citizenship Bill saying the country stands with those who faced persecution on the basis of their faith.

"We have brought the matter of change in Citizenship Bill with a commitment. Those (people) who had to part with India due to some condition in 1947, if they face persecution on the basis of their faith then the country has to stand with them," he said.&nbsp;

The Citizenship Bill seeks to grant nationality to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution from three neighbouring countries -- Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh and entered India before December 31, 2014.

Protests were witnessed in different parts of the country over the Bill which has been passed by Lok Sabha.&nbsp;

Modi also talked about a "very emotional issue" of Kashmiri Pandits, saying he has been bearing the pain of their exodus.

He said the central government is committed to ensuring respect and dignity of the displaced community.

"The pain that they had to undergo. That they had to leave their homeland. I have never said this before but I have been feeling this pain of their within me," the prime minister said.

Modi said the government is going to build 14,000 bunkers in border areas of Jammu to ensure safety of people.

"The government is dealing strictly with the terrorism (being faced by the state)," he said.

He accused the Congress of lying on the issue of 'one rank, one pension' (OROP) to retired defence personnel.

"How much they (Congress) lie? They talked big on the issue of welfare of ex-servicemen and allocated a meagre Rs 500 crore whereas this government has allocated over Rs 35,000 crore which included arrears worth Rs 11,000 crore," he said.

Modi said that if required attention had been given to the issue of Kartarpur corridor, then the pious land of Guru Nanak Dev would have been part of India.

The corridor, whose foundation stone was laid late last year, will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur - the final resting place of the Sikhism founder Guru Nanak - with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims, who will only have to obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib, established in 1522 by Guru Nanak.&nbsp;

During the address, the prime minister hit out at so-called "wise and big people" in the opposition parties for ridiculing his government's Jan Dhan scheme of financial inclusion, saying the bank accounts opened under it will help in ensuring that the benefits of recently-announced PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi programme reach its right beneficiary.&nbsp;

"Those ridiculing me have now realised what these accounts will be used for," he said.

Referring to upcoming general elections, the Prime Minister said the 'jung (war)' of 2019 is for taking country ahead.&nbsp;

He said the PM-Kisan scheme has been allocated Rs 75,000 crore annually which will mean Rs 7.5 lakh crore will be deposited in farmers' account in the next 10 years.

The scheme aims to cover 90 per cent of farmers who have less than five acres of land and Rs 6,000 will be transferred to their accounts annually in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000, Modi said, adding that efforts were being made to ensure the release of the first instalment at the earliest.&nbsp;

Attacking the Congress for promising farm loan waivers, he said that it is a temporary solution for the problem which the Congress uses to win elections only.

The Congress had promised to waive loans of farmers in 2008-09 which were in the range of Rs 6 lakh crore but when it came to power it only gave relief in loans worth Rs 52,000 crore, he said.&nbsp;

"CAG report found that about 30-35 lakh people who received these waivers were not even eligible to get it," Modi said at the rally in Vijaypur near Jammu.

Ridiculing the loan waiver scheme announced by the new Congress dispensation in Madhya Pradesh, the prime minister said some beneficiaries have been given cheques of Rs 13 only.

"People know the track record of country's 'naamdar'. They get 'fever' of loan waivers just before elections...They try to act as 'messiah' of farmers by announcing farm loan waivers once in 10 years," he said referring to the UPA's 10-year rule between 2004 and 2014.&nbsp;

Ironically, the BJP had also announced loan waivers for farmers in Uttar Pradesh ahead of assembly elections in 2017.

After assuming power, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had announced loan waivers of up to Rs 1 lakh for small and marginal farmers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday attacked the Congress for using farm loan waivers as a gimmick ahead of the election to win votes and said the party's previous such initiative benefitted only middlemen and select farmers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday attacked the Congress for using farm loan waivers as a gimmick ahead of the election to win votes and said the party's previous such initiative benefitted only middlemen and select farmers. He listed out various measures, including direct income support of Rs 6,000 to farmers cultivating on up to five acres of land, being taken by the central government to ensure welfare of the peasants neglected by the "previous governments". "Congress always left out 70-80 per cent poor farmers from the benefit of their farm loan waiver scheme. What about these people?" he asked. Modi laid foundation stones of various development projects worth Rs 6,000 crore which include setting up of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Vijaypur, a bridge over river Chenab, pollution abatement project on rivers Devika and Tawi, a campus of Northern Regional Centre of Indian Institute of Mass Communication and University Institute of Engineering and Technology in Kathua. Addressing a public rally in Vijaypur, the prime minister cited proposed amendments in the Citizenship Bill saying the country stands with those who faced persecution on the basis of their faith. "We have brought the matter of change in Citizenship Bill with a commitment. Those (people) who had to part with India due to some condition in 1947, if they face persecution on the basis of their faith then the country has to stand with them," he said. The Citizenship Bill seeks to grant nationality to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution from three neighbouring countries -- Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh and entered India before December 31, 2014. Protests were witnessed in different parts of the country over the Bill which has been passed by Lok Sabha. Modi also talked about a "very emotional issue" of Kashmiri Pandits, saying he has been bearing the pain of their exodus. He said the central government is committed to ensuring respect and dignity of the displaced community. "The pain that they had to undergo. That they had to leave their homeland. I have never said this before but I have been feeling this pain of their within me," the prime minister said. Modi said the government is going to build 14,000 bunkers in border areas of Jammu to ensure safety of people. "The government is dealing strictly with the terrorism (being faced by the state)," he said. He accused the Congress of lying on the issue of 'one rank, one pension' (OROP) to retired defence personnel. "How much they (Congress) lie? They talked big on the issue of welfare of ex-servicemen and allocated a meagre Rs 500 crore whereas this government has allocated over Rs 35,000 crore which included arrears worth Rs 11,000 crore," he said. Modi said that if required attention had been given to the issue of Kartarpur corridor, then the pious land of Guru Nanak Dev would have been part of India. The corridor, whose foundation stone was laid late last year, will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur - the final resting place of the Sikhism founder Guru Nanak - with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims, who will only have to obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib, established in 1522 by Guru Nanak. During the address, the prime minister hit out at so-called "wise and big people" in the opposition parties for ridiculing his government's Jan Dhan scheme of financial inclusion, saying the bank accounts opened under it will help in ensuring that the benefits of recently-announced PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi programme reach its right beneficiary. "Those ridiculing me have now realised what these accounts will be used for," he said. Referring to upcoming general elections, the Prime Minister said the 'jung (war)' of 2019 is for taking country ahead. He said the PM-Kisan scheme has been allocated Rs 75,000 crore annually which will mean Rs 7.5 lakh crore will be deposited in farmers' account in the next 10 years. The scheme aims to cover 90 per cent of farmers who have less than five acres of land and Rs 6,000 will be transferred to their accounts annually in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000, Modi said, adding that efforts were being made to ensure the release of the first instalment at the earliest. Attacking the Congress for promising farm loan waivers, he said that it is a temporary solution for the problem which the Congress uses to win elections only. The Congress had promised to waive loans of farmers in 2008-09 which were in the range of Rs 6 lakh crore but when it came to power it only gave relief in loans worth Rs 52,000 crore, he said. "CAG report found that about 30-35 lakh people who received these waivers were not even eligible to get it," Modi said at the rally in Vijaypur near Jammu. Ridiculing the loan waiver scheme announced by the new Congress dispensation in Madhya Pradesh, the prime minister said some beneficiaries have been given cheques of Rs 13 only. "People know the track record of country's 'naamdar'. They get 'fever' of loan waivers just before elections...They try to act as 'messiah' of farmers by announcing farm loan waivers once in 10 years," he said referring to the UPA's 10-year rule between 2004 and 2014. Ironically, the BJP had also announced loan waivers for farmers in Uttar Pradesh ahead of assembly elections in 2017. After assuming power, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had announced loan waivers of up to Rs 1 lakh for small and marginal farmers.

PM Modi attacks Congress for farm loan waiver 'gimmick'

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/arun-jaitley-indicates-wont-be-back-in-india-to-reply-to-budget-debate-194768">Union Minister Arun Jaitley</a> Sunday hinted that the Rs 500 a month cash dole to small farmers may be increased in the future as the government's resources grow and said states can top up this amount with their own income support schemes.

He also slammed Congress President Rahul Gandhi for ridiculing the scheme announced in the Interim Budget for 2019-20 by equating it to Rs 17 a day dole, saying the opposition leader must "grow up" and realise that he is contesting a national election and not a college union poll.

The plan to give Rs 6,000 cash to 12 crore small and marginal farmers every year together with government schemes for giving them a house, subsidised food, free healthcare and hospitalisation, free sanitation, electricity, roads, gas connections, twice the amount of credit at very cheap rate are all aimed at addressing farm distress, Jaitley told PTI in an interview here.

"This is the first year where it (farmer income support scheme) has begun. I am sure as the government resources improve, this can be increased," he said.

On nearly 15 crore landless farmers being left out of the scheme, he said they have rural employment guarantee scheme MNREGA plus other benefits for the rural population.

"What is the biggest thing that the Congress claims that they ever did? (UPA regime Finance Minister) P Chidambaram announced a Rs 70,000 crore farm loan waiver... (but) actual distributed was only Rs 52,000 crore. (Also), CAG said a large part of that money went to traders and businessmen and converted itself into a fraud," he said.

The present government, he said, is "starting off over and above the lakhs of crores we are putting into rural areas."

"We are starting off with Rs 75,000 crore a year and I foresee this amount increasing in the years to come. And if the states top it up, some states have already started with the scheme, I think the others must emulate them, it will increase," he added.

Jaitley, who is in New York for medical treatment, said the state governments too have a responsibility to address farm distress by bringing their own income support schemes.

"Some state governments have started it," he said. "So my advise to what I call the 'Nawabs of Negativity' is ask your own state governments to top it off with their own income support schemes. Ideally, like the GST, this is a case where all political parties must defy party lines and in the spirit of cooperative federalism, have a Centre plus state scheme."

He said most of the central schemes are divided into 60:40 ratio, so "let us enhance this to 60:40 in the spirit of cooperative federalism" and instead of "giving criticism, let the states give 40 (per cent)."

"In addition to the fertiliser subsidy - another big amount, the healthcare, cheap ration, over a dozen other things you are spending on. This is just an add-on, this (income support) is not something being thrown in the air. The Congress doesn't understand it because it did nothing," he said.

On Gandhi's criticism of the Budget proposal, he said, "I think he needs to grow up. He must realise that he is contesting a national election not a college union one."

On his predecessor P Chidambaram's criticism that the interim budget was an "account for vote" and not a 'Vote on Account', he said, "I have no problem with monies being spent on either of these two accounts. But I have a serious problem when monies go into personal accounts."

Taking on the Congress, he said the comments by the leaders of the principal opposition party and "some other compulsive contrarians" indicate that they have a complete lack of understanding of the subject.

"Others have been in power much longer than we have been and did nothing. There is a real problem in India, both with regard to the urban-rural divide, which is reflective of the quality of life available in rural areas, and the state of agriculture. You have to look at both these issues compositely," he said.

Jaitley, who had to give up charge of the finance ministry to undergo medical treatment just weeks before the budget was presented, said the Congress gave just slogans like 'Garibi Hatao' (remove poverty) but delivered very little.

Dwelling on the steps taken by the BJP-led NDA government since coming to power in 2014 to address farm sector distress, he said the Centre adopted a two-pronged approach of raising rural infrastructure spend and raising farm incomes.&nbsp;

Union Minister Arun Jaitley Sunday hinted that the Rs 500 a month cash dole to small farmers may be increased in the future as the government's resources grow and said states can top up this amount with their own income support schemes.

Union Minister Arun Jaitley Sunday hinted that the Rs 500 a month cash dole to small farmers may be increased in the future as the government's resources grow and said states can top up this amount with their own income support schemes. He also slammed Congress President Rahul Gandhi for ridiculing the scheme announced in the Interim Budget for 2019-20 by equating it to Rs 17 a day dole, saying the opposition leader must "grow up" and realise that he is contesting a national election and not a college union poll. The plan to give Rs 6,000 cash to 12 crore small and marginal farmers every year together with government schemes for giving them a house, subsidised food, free healthcare and hospitalisation, free sanitation, electricity, roads, gas connections, twice the amount of credit at very cheap rate are all aimed at addressing farm distress, Jaitley told PTI in an interview here. "This is the first year where it (farmer income support scheme) has begun. I am sure as the government resources improve, this can be increased," he said. On nearly 15 crore landless farmers being left out of the scheme, he said they have rural employment guarantee scheme MNREGA plus other benefits for the rural population. "What is the biggest thing that the Congress claims that they ever did? (UPA regime Finance Minister) P Chidambaram announced a Rs 70,000 crore farm loan waiver... (but) actual distributed was only Rs 52,000 crore. (Also), CAG said a large part of that money went to traders and businessmen and converted itself into a fraud," he said. The present government, he said, is "starting off over and above the lakhs of crores we are putting into rural areas." "We are starting off with Rs 75,000 crore a year and I foresee this amount increasing in the years to come. And if the states top it up, some states have already started with the scheme, I think the others must emulate them, it will increase," he added. Jaitley, who is in New York for medical treatment, said the state governments too have a responsibility to address farm distress by bringing their own income support schemes. "Some state governments have started it," he said. "So my advise to what I call the 'Nawabs of Negativity' is ask your own state governments to top it off with their own income support schemes. Ideally, like the GST, this is a case where all political parties must defy party lines and in the spirit of cooperative federalism, have a Centre plus state scheme." He said most of the central schemes are divided into 60:40 ratio, so "let us enhance this to 60:40 in the spirit of cooperative federalism" and instead of "giving criticism, let the states give 40 (per cent)." "In addition to the fertiliser subsidy - another big amount, the healthcare, cheap ration, over a dozen other things you are spending on. This is just an add-on, this (income support) is not something being thrown in the air. The Congress doesn't understand it because it did nothing," he said. On Gandhi's criticism of the Budget proposal, he said, "I think he needs to grow up. He must realise that he is contesting a national election not a college union one." On his predecessor P Chidambaram's criticism that the interim budget was an "account for vote" and not a 'Vote on Account', he said, "I have no problem with monies being spent on either of these two accounts. But I have a serious problem when monies go into personal accounts." Taking on the Congress, he said the comments by the leaders of the principal opposition party and "some other compulsive contrarians" indicate that they have a complete lack of understanding of the subject. "Others have been in power much longer than we have been and did nothing. There is a real problem in India, both with regard to the urban-rural divide, which is reflective of the quality of life available in rural areas, and the state of agriculture. You have to look at both these issues compositely," he said. Jaitley, who had to give up charge of the finance ministry to undergo medical treatment just weeks before the budget was presented, said the Congress gave just slogans like 'Garibi Hatao' (remove poverty) but delivered very little. Dwelling on the steps taken by the BJP-led NDA government since coming to power in 2014 to address farm sector distress, he said the Centre adopted a two-pronged approach of raising rural infrastructure spend and raising farm incomes.

Arun Jaitley hints at raising Rs 500 a month cash support to farmers in future

The Bharatiya Janata Party has said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's "<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/leaders-who-dont-keep-promise-get-beaten-up-by-people-nitin-gadkari-193233">sapne</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/leaders-who-dont-keep-promise-get-beaten-up-by-people-nitin-gadkari-193233"> </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/leaders-who-dont-keep-promise-get-beaten-up-by-people-nitin-gadkari-193233">dikhaane</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/leaders-who-dont-keep-promise-get-beaten-up-by-people-nitin-gadkari-193233"> </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/leaders-who-dont-keep-promise-get-beaten-up-by-people-nitin-gadkari-193233">waale</a>" comment was aimed at the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi, and not Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;

The BJP's GVL Narasimha Rao said Gadkari's comments were being "twisted and political benefit being taken out of it".&nbsp;

"He (Gadkari) was hinting towards Congress that only gave slogans of 'Garibi Hatao' but didn't do anything for poverty alleviation and towards Rahul Gandhi who makes empty promises," Rao said.&nbsp;

“Sapne dikhane waale neta logon ko acche lagte hain, par dikhaye hue sapne agar pure nahi kiye to janta unki pitayi bhi karti hai (People like politicians who show them dreams. But if those dreams are not fulfilled, then the people also thrash those politicians),” Gadkari had said on Sunday.&nbsp;

“Isliye sapne wahi dikhao jo pure ho sakein. Main sapne dikhane waale mein se nahi hu. Main jo bolta hu, woh 100 per cent danke ki chot par pura hota hai (That is why you must only show those dreams that can be fulfilled. I am not among those who show dreams. Whatever I say, I fulfill it 100 per cent),” Gadkari had added.&nbsp;

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N Gadkari: Sapne dikhane waale neta logon ko acche lagte hain,par dikhaye hue sapne agar pure nahi kiye to janta unki pitayi bhi karti hai.Isliye sapne wahi dikhao jo pure ho sakein....Mai sapne dikhane waale mein se nahi hu.Mai jo bolta hu wo 100% danke ki chot par pura hota hai <a href="https://t.co/SRISZyCffS">pic.twitter.com/SRISZyCffS</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1089502342460915714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2019</a></blockquote>
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GVL Narasimha Rao, BJP: Nitin Gadkari's comments are now being twisted&amp;political benefit being taken out of it. He was hinting towards Congress that only gave slogans of 'Garibi Hatao' but didn't do anything for poverty alleviation &amp; towards Rahul Gandhi who makes empty promises <a href="https://t.co/KcGdeI2RN1">pic.twitter.com/KcGdeI2RN1</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1089760431554613249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Gadkari made his comments in Mumbai while addressing a gathering to launch a new BJP-affiliated transport outfit — the Navbhartiya Shiv Vahatuk Sanghathana (NSVS).&nbsp;

Speculation has been rife ever since that he was talking about Modi. Most commentators agree that Modi has been able to deliver less in his four-and-a-half years in power than he promised before the 2014 elections.&nbsp;

Gadkari, who is a Sangh favourite, is often seen as a potential successor to Modi.&nbsp;

This is not the first time Gadkari — he is minister of road transport and highways, shipping and water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation — has made "uncomfortable" statements.&nbsp;

He had also said the BJP leadership should own up to the defeats in the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh state elections. That was thought to be a barb aimed at Prime Minister Modi again and BJP president Amit Shah.&nbsp;

The Bharatiya Janata Party has said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's "sapne dikhaane waale" comment was aimed at the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi, and not Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's "sapne dikhaane waale" comment was aimed at the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi, and not Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP's GVL Narasimha Rao said Gadkari's comments were being "twisted and political benefit being taken out of it". "He (Gadkari) was hinting towards Congress that only gave slogans of 'Garibi Hatao' but didn't do anything for poverty alleviation and towards Rahul Gandhi who makes empty promises," Rao said. “Sapne dikhane waale neta logon ko acche lagte hain, par dikhaye hue sapne agar pure nahi kiye to janta unki pitayi bhi karti hai (People like politicians who show them dreams. But if those dreams are not fulfilled, then the people also thrash those politicians),” Gadkari had said on Sunday. “Isliye sapne wahi dikhao jo pure ho sakein. Main sapne dikhane waale mein se nahi hu. Main jo bolta hu, woh 100 per cent danke ki chot par pura hota hai (That is why you must only show those dreams that can be fulfilled. I am not among those who show dreams. Whatever I say, I fulfill it 100 per cent),” Gadkari had added. N Gadkari: Sapne dikhane waale neta logon ko acche lagte hain,par dikhaye hue sapne agar pure nahi kiye to janta unki pitayi bhi karti hai.Isliye sapne wahi dikhao jo pure ho sakein....Mai sapne dikhane waale mein se nahi hu.Mai jo bolta hu wo 100% danke ki chot par pura hota hai pic.twitter.com/SRISZyCffS — ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2019 × GVL Narasimha Rao, BJP: Nitin Gadkari's comments are now being twisted&political benefit being taken out of it. He was hinting towards Congress that only gave slogans of 'Garibi Hatao' but didn't do anything for poverty alleviation & towards Rahul Gandhi who makes empty promises pic.twitter.com/KcGdeI2RN1 — ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2019 × Gadkari made his comments in Mumbai while addressing a gathering to launch a new BJP-affiliated transport outfit — the Navbhartiya Shiv Vahatuk Sanghathana (NSVS). Speculation has been rife ever since that he was talking about Modi. Most commentators agree that Modi has been able to deliver less in his four-and-a-half years in power than he promised before the 2014 elections. Gadkari, who is a Sangh favourite, is often seen as a potential successor to Modi. This is not the first time Gadkari — he is minister of road transport and highways, shipping and water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation — has made "uncomfortable" statements. He had also said the BJP leadership should own up to the defeats in the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh state elections. That was thought to be a barb aimed at Prime Minister Modi again and BJP president Amit Shah.

Nitin Gadkari's 'sapne dikhane waale' comment: BJP says he was talking about Congress

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