The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday filed a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday against Congress leader Raj Babbar.

According to reports, the complaint has been filed as Babbar allegedly made derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.

The BJP also accused Raj Babbar of violating the Model Code of Conduct for the elections.&nbsp;

According to news agency ANI, Babbar, during a rally in Udaipur on Friday, reportedly said that two people from Gujarat were running a "gang" in Delhi.&nbsp;

Raj Babbar had <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/he-doesnt-have-real-issues-to-talk-about-pm-modi-on-babbars-remark-for-his-mother-179136">previously compared the rupee&nbsp;slide</a> with the age of PM Modi's mother.

The Prime Minister retorted, "When one doesn't have real issues to talk about, he resorts to abusing somebody else's mother."

Rajasthan is slated to go to polls on Friday. The result for the 200-member Rajasthan assembly will be announced on December 11.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday filed a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday against Congress leader Raj Babbar. According to reports, the complaint has been filed as Babbar allegedly made derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday filed a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday against Congress leader Raj Babbar. According to reports, the complaint has been filed as Babbar allegedly made derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. The BJP also accused Raj Babbar of violating the Model Code of Conduct for the elections. According to news agency ANI, Babbar, during a rally in Udaipur on Friday, reportedly said that two people from Gujarat were running a "gang" in Delhi. Raj Babbar had previously compared the rupee slide with the age of PM Modi's mother. The Prime Minister retorted, "When one doesn't have real issues to talk about, he resorts to abusing somebody else's mother." Rajasthan is slated to go to polls on Friday. The result for the 200-member Rajasthan assembly will be announced on December 11.

Rajasthan: BJP files plaint against Raj Babbar with EC for derogatory comments against PM Modi

Former Union Minister and Congress leader Jitin Prasad on Saturday said that Congress party will reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products if it comes to power in Telangana.&nbsp;

Outlining that he has previously served as petroleum minister in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Prasad while addressing the media said, "The crude oil prices internationally have reached the rock bottom during the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government but the petroleum prices have reached highest ever since Independence in the BJP government. During the Congress government, the petrol prices were lower as compared to the present prices in the country. Congress ensured that the upstream companies of oil and the Finance Ministry reduced the burden on the common man and did not let oil prices go beyond a certain point. But the central government doesn't believe in all that. The state government in Telangana has earned huge money by collecting VAT prices on petrol."

He also attacked the state government for charging high VAT on petroleum products and said that Congress will reduce the same, "The state government under Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) is charging the highest VAT charges on petroleum. The VAT charges in Karnataka, where &nbsp;Congress is in power are very less compared to Telangana. The burden should be reduced on common man but it has been increased by the TRS government."

He also alleged that caretaker Chief Minister of Telangana, K Chandrashekar Rao is anti-farmer and has not done enough to improve literacy rates of the state.&nbsp;

Former Union Minister and Congress leader Jitin Prasad on Saturday said that Congress party will reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products if it comes to power in Telangana.

Former Union Minister and Congress leader Jitin Prasad on Saturday said that Congress party will reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products if it comes to power in Telangana. Outlining that he has previously served as petroleum minister in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Prasad while addressing the media said, "The crude oil prices internationally have reached the rock bottom during the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government but the petroleum prices have reached highest ever since Independence in the BJP government. During the Congress government, the petrol prices were lower as compared to the present prices in the country. Congress ensured that the upstream companies of oil and the Finance Ministry reduced the burden on the common man and did not let oil prices go beyond a certain point. But the central government doesn't believe in all that. The state government in Telangana has earned huge money by collecting VAT prices on petrol." He also attacked the state government for charging high VAT on petroleum products and said that Congress will reduce the same, "The state government under Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) is charging the highest VAT charges on petroleum. The VAT charges in Karnataka, where Congress is in power are very less compared to Telangana. The burden should be reduced on common man but it has been increased by the TRS government." He also alleged that caretaker Chief Minister of Telangana, K Chandrashekar Rao is anti-farmer and has not done enough to improve literacy rates of the state.

Congress will reduce VAT if voted to power in Telangana: Jitin Prasad

Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu on Sunday spoke in defence of her husband and politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, stating that Sidhu's statements should be "read as a whole and not in incomplete bits." Navjot Kaur referred to her husband's 'Captain' remark.

"Navjot ji has repeatedly said that Captain Sahab is like his father. We have always made it clear that Capt Sahab's respect and honour is above everything. Sidhu's statements should be read as a whole and not in incomplete bits," she said.

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Navjot Kaur Sidhu: Navjot ji has repeatedly said that Captain Sahab is like his father. We have always made it clear that Capt Sahab's respect and honour is above everything. Sidhu's statements should be read as a whole and not in incomplete bits. <a href="https://t.co/rVpCsOCQ0Z">pic.twitter.com/rVpCsOCQ0Z</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1069130238637064192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, three Punjab ministers on Saturday called for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sidhu-faces-flak-over-jibe-at-punjab-cm-ministers-call-for-his-resignation-180815">Navjot Singh Sidhu's resignation</a> from the state cabinet over his jibe at Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, a fallout of the controversial politician's recent trip to Kartarpur in Pakistan, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

Sidhu had mocked Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh when reporters asked him about going to Pakistan despite his disapproval.

"Rahul Gandhi is my captain. It is he who sent me to Pakistan. Rahul Gandhi is the captain of the captain (Amarinder Singh) also," Sidhu had said.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu on Sunday spoke in defence of her husband and politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, stating that Sidhu's statements should be "read as a whole and not in incomplete bits.

Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu on Sunday spoke in defence of her husband and politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, stating that Sidhu's statements should be "read as a whole and not in incomplete bits." Navjot Kaur referred to her husband's 'Captain' remark. "Navjot ji has repeatedly said that Captain Sahab is like his father. We have always made it clear that Capt Sahab's respect and honour is above everything. Sidhu's statements should be read as a whole and not in incomplete bits," she said. Navjot Kaur Sidhu: Navjot ji has repeatedly said that Captain Sahab is like his father. We have always made it clear that Capt Sahab's respect and honour is above everything. Sidhu's statements should be read as a whole and not in incomplete bits. pic.twitter.com/rVpCsOCQ0Z — ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2018 × Meanwhile, three Punjab ministers on Saturday called for Navjot Singh Sidhu's resignation from the state cabinet over his jibe at Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, a fallout of the controversial politician's recent trip to Kartarpur in Pakistan, news agency PTI reported. Sidhu had mocked Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh when reporters asked him about going to Pakistan despite his disapproval. "Rahul Gandhi is my captain. It is he who sent me to Pakistan. Rahul Gandhi is the captain of the captain (Amarinder Singh) also," Sidhu had said. (With inputs from agencies)

Sidhu's statements should be read as whole, not in incomplete bits: Navjot Kaur Sidhu

Senior Congress leader and former Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cornered India's moral position in the world, adding that the Prime Minister also does consult Opposition leaders before taking 'far-reaching decisions'.

Questioning the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government's foreign policies, Khurshid said, "The distressing and disturbing part is that there is no exchange between leaders of the BJP associated with Foreign Affairs and those who have been concerned about Foreign Affairs in the past. There is no consultation at all. After laying down office I had offered that whenever we are required we would come back and talk."

"In many far-reaching decisions that the Prime Minister has taken, including an unannounced visit to Pakistan and embracing the (former) Pakistan Prime Minister (Nawaz Sharif) and so on, I don't think that he has ever consulted the Opposition parties, certainly not the Congress party," Khurshid added.

He further stated that this was not the case when the Congress was in Centre."We are creating divisions abroad as well. The manner in which the Prime Minister speaks to the Indian diaspora in various countries is creating a political speech made to a political party and the supporters. We were careful when we were talking about dual citizenship. Yet for him, it doesn't matter," Khurshid said.

"I believe, he (Prime Minister Modi) is doing us a great disservice by creating a message in those countries that the people he addresses are different from the rest of those countries. We were supposed to be independent and that was the consensus. That consensus has broken down. We are now willing to take sides. We are not willing to stand up for morality. I know that enlightened self-interest is the ultimate test as far as foreign policy is concerned, but I think we have given up the idea of taking a moral position. India had a remarkable moral position in the world and I do believe that this Prime Minister has cornered that," he added.

Khurshid was speaking at an interactive session titled 'Is India being redefined?'&nbsp;organised by All India Professionals Congress (AIPC) here.

Speaking about the Minority groups, Khurshid said, "The Minority has to be equally vigilant and careful because their aspirations are being misused and misrepresented by the BJP. I must acknowledge that India is secular largely because Indian majority has ensured that India is secular. This is something that cannot be forgotten. Minority contribute a valuable dimension to Indian secularism and its richness. But the Minority must understand that the Majority is trying to help them and it must not make life more difficult."

Also present on the occasion were P Chidambaram, Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi.

Senior Congress leader and former Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cornered India's moral position in the world, adding that the Prime Minister also does consult Opposition leaders before taking 'far-reaching decisions'.

Senior Congress leader and former Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cornered India's moral position in the world, adding that the Prime Minister also does consult Opposition leaders before taking 'far-reaching decisions'. Questioning the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government's foreign policies, Khurshid said, "The distressing and disturbing part is that there is no exchange between leaders of the BJP associated with Foreign Affairs and those who have been concerned about Foreign Affairs in the past. There is no consultation at all. After laying down office I had offered that whenever we are required we would come back and talk." "In many far-reaching decisions that the Prime Minister has taken, including an unannounced visit to Pakistan and embracing the (former) Pakistan Prime Minister (Nawaz Sharif) and so on, I don't think that he has ever consulted the Opposition parties, certainly not the Congress party," Khurshid added. He further stated that this was not the case when the Congress was in Centre."We are creating divisions abroad as well. The manner in which the Prime Minister speaks to the Indian diaspora in various countries is creating a political speech made to a political party and the supporters. We were careful when we were talking about dual citizenship. Yet for him, it doesn't matter," Khurshid said. "I believe, he (Prime Minister Modi) is doing us a great disservice by creating a message in those countries that the people he addresses are different from the rest of those countries. We were supposed to be independent and that was the consensus. That consensus has broken down. We are now willing to take sides. We are not willing to stand up for morality. I know that enlightened self-interest is the ultimate test as far as foreign policy is concerned, but I think we have given up the idea of taking a moral position. India had a remarkable moral position in the world and I do believe that this Prime Minister has cornered that," he added. Khurshid was speaking at an interactive session titled 'Is India being redefined?' organised by All India Professionals Congress (AIPC) here. Speaking about the Minority groups, Khurshid said, "The Minority has to be equally vigilant and careful because their aspirations are being misused and misrepresented by the BJP. I must acknowledge that India is secular largely because Indian majority has ensured that India is secular. This is something that cannot be forgotten. Minority contribute a valuable dimension to Indian secularism and its richness. But the Minority must understand that the Majority is trying to help them and it must not make life more difficult." Also present on the occasion were P Chidambaram, Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi.

PM Modi cornered India's moral position in world: Salman Khurshid

The BJP accused the Congress Thursday of copying its manifesto for the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajasthan-polls-in-bjp-vs-congress-fight-a-third-front-takes-shape-180025">Rajasthan Assembly polls</a> scheduled to be held on December 7.

While talking to reporters in Rajasthan, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said most of the public welfare issues in the Congress's manifesto were already raised by the BJP.

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-promises-farm-loan-waiver-unemployment-allowance-to-youths-in-rajasthan-180149">Congress in its election manifesto </a>released Thursday made promises like loan waiver to farmers, free education to girls and women, unemployment allowance of up to Rs 3,500 to educated youth and pension to elderly farmers, among others.

"The Congress has released its manifesto four days after the BJP did so. But surprisingly, no mind was applied by the Congress in drafting it, which contained most of the issues mentioned by the BJP in its manifesto," Shekhawat claimed.

He said the Congress has misled the people by producing a "tampered version" of the BJP's announcements ahead of the elections.

Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal also slammed the Congress, saying the party was deceiving the people of Rajasthan with the announcements ahead of the elections.&nbsp;

"The Congress has talked about waiving-off loans of farmers. They had made a similar promise in Punjab and Karnataka before election, but did not waive-off loans worth a single penny," Meghwal said in a statement.

While referring to the Right to Health announcement made by the Congress in its election manifesto, the Union Water Resources minister said the scheme was a replica of the BJP's Ayushman Bharat.&nbsp;

Briefing about electioneering in the poll-bound state, he said the BJP will run a 'Kamal Diya' campaign across the state on Friday during which the party workers will contact 51 lakh beneficiaries of various government schemes.&nbsp;

The BJP accused the Congress Thursday of copying its manifesto for the Rajasthan Assembly polls scheduled to be held on December 7. While talking to reporters in Rajasthan, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said most of the public welfare issues in the Congress's manifesto were already raised by the BJP.

The BJP accused the Congress Thursday of copying its manifesto for the Rajasthan Assembly polls scheduled to be held on December 7. While talking to reporters in Rajasthan, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said most of the public welfare issues in the Congress's manifesto were already raised by the BJP. The Congress in its election manifesto released Thursday made promises like loan waiver to farmers, free education to girls and women, unemployment allowance of up to Rs 3,500 to educated youth and pension to elderly farmers, among others. "The Congress has released its manifesto four days after the BJP did so. But surprisingly, no mind was applied by the Congress in drafting it, which contained most of the issues mentioned by the BJP in its manifesto," Shekhawat claimed. He said the Congress has misled the people by producing a "tampered version" of the BJP's announcements ahead of the elections. Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal also slammed the Congress, saying the party was deceiving the people of Rajasthan with the announcements ahead of the elections. "The Congress has talked about waiving-off loans of farmers. They had made a similar promise in Punjab and Karnataka before election, but did not waive-off loans worth a single penny," Meghwal said in a statement. While referring to the Right to Health announcement made by the Congress in its election manifesto, the Union Water Resources minister said the scheme was a replica of the BJP's Ayushman Bharat. Briefing about electioneering in the poll-bound state, he said the BJP will run a 'Kamal Diya' campaign across the state on Friday during which the party workers will contact 51 lakh beneficiaries of various government schemes.

BJP accuses Congress of copying manifesto for Rajasthan Assembly polls

Hopeful that its 'grand alliance' against the ruling TRS will succeed in Telangana polls, the Congress expects a big jump in its tally by winning at least 75 seats in the 119-member assembly.

The Congress state unit working president Ponnam Prabhakar Goud said there is a direct fight between the Congress and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the BJP is nowhere in the picture for December 7 polls.

The Congress, which had won just 22 seats in 2014 state polls, is part of a grand alliance this time along with Telugu Desam Party (TDP), CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS).&nbsp;

"The grand alliance is not an experiment and we are hopeful it will succeed. Our party will win at least 75 seats," Goud told PTI in an interview. 
The 52-year-old leader called this election a "do or die" situation for the Congress, saying its fight is not only against the TRS candidates but also against the "money power of KCR" and communal forces led by the BJP at the Centre.

TRS chief and caretaker chief minister K Chandrashekar's party has fielded candidates in 107 seats, while Congress is contesting in 94 seats as part of the grand alliance.&nbsp;

Asserting that the TRS is "scared" of the grand alliance, the Congress leader said, "Instead of talking about their achievements, the TRS is attacking us and our leader Rahul Gandhi."

The TRS is not even giving reasons for advancing polls by eight months, he added.&nbsp;

While the Telangana assembly polls would have otherwise happened along with Lok Sabha elections in 2019, KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known as, dissolved the assembly ahead of time and the state elections, therefore, got clubbed with four other states -- Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Rajasthan.

Out of these five states, voting will take place in Rajasthan and Telangana on December 7, while other three states have already voted. Counting of votes for all five states is scheduled for December 11.

Goud, an OBC leader, is contesting from the Karimnagar constituency, which is 160 km from Telangana's capital Hyderabad. In his fight against the TRS and the BJP in the assembly election, Goud is banking heavily on his "good work" done during his term as an MP from 2009 to 2014.

While the TRS has renominated G Kamalakar, who won both the 2009 and 2014 elections, the BJP has fielded B Sanjay Kumar, who lost to the TRS candidate in the last election.

Asked about the TRS's performance in the constituency, the Congress leader said there has not been any development but the incumbent chief minister claims that it has been developed like New York.&nbsp;

"The CM thinks Karimnagar has been developed like New York. I challenge him to go around the constituency and see the plight of roads. There is no development at all. I will withdraw my candidature (if proven wrong)," he said.&nbsp;

The Karimnagar constituency was one of the hotbeds for the separate Telangana statehood agitation.

"TRS won on the basis of the Telangana pride. People voted them after getting attracted to their welfare schemes, but not all promises have been fulfilled," Goud said.&nbsp;

He claimed the TRS activists are now joining the Congress as they are unable to bear the "torture and monarchism" of some TRS leaders. 
Senior TRS leaders, however, rubbished these claims.

In Karimnagar assembly constituency, there are 2,77,236 voters including 1,39,065 men, 1,38,135 women and 36 others.

Hopeful that its 'grand alliance' against the ruling TRS will succeed in Telangana polls, the Congress expects a big jump in its tally by winning at least 75 seats in the 119-member assembly.

Hopeful that its 'grand alliance' against the ruling TRS will succeed in Telangana polls, the Congress expects a big jump in its tally by winning at least 75 seats in the 119-member assembly. The Congress state unit working president Ponnam Prabhakar Goud said there is a direct fight between the Congress and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the BJP is nowhere in the picture for December 7 polls. The Congress, which had won just 22 seats in 2014 state polls, is part of a grand alliance this time along with Telugu Desam Party (TDP), CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS). "The grand alliance is not an experiment and we are hopeful it will succeed. Our party will win at least 75 seats," Goud told PTI in an interview. The 52-year-old leader called this election a "do or die" situation for the Congress, saying its fight is not only against the TRS candidates but also against the "money power of KCR" and communal forces led by the BJP at the Centre. TRS chief and caretaker chief minister K Chandrashekar's party has fielded candidates in 107 seats, while Congress is contesting in 94 seats as part of the grand alliance. Asserting that the TRS is "scared" of the grand alliance, the Congress leader said, "Instead of talking about their achievements, the TRS is attacking us and our leader Rahul Gandhi." The TRS is not even giving reasons for advancing polls by eight months, he added. While the Telangana assembly polls would have otherwise happened along with Lok Sabha elections in 2019, KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known as, dissolved the assembly ahead of time and the state elections, therefore, got clubbed with four other states -- Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Rajasthan. Out of these five states, voting will take place in Rajasthan and Telangana on December 7, while other three states have already voted. Counting of votes for all five states is scheduled for December 11. Goud, an OBC leader, is contesting from the Karimnagar constituency, which is 160 km from Telangana's capital Hyderabad. In his fight against the TRS and the BJP in the assembly election, Goud is banking heavily on his "good work" done during his term as an MP from 2009 to 2014. While the TRS has renominated G Kamalakar, who won both the 2009 and 2014 elections, the BJP has fielded B Sanjay Kumar, who lost to the TRS candidate in the last election. Asked about the TRS's performance in the constituency, the Congress leader said there has not been any development but the incumbent chief minister claims that it has been developed like New York. "The CM thinks Karimnagar has been developed like New York. I challenge him to go around the constituency and see the plight of roads. There is no development at all. I will withdraw my candidature (if proven wrong)," he said. The Karimnagar constituency was one of the hotbeds for the separate Telangana statehood agitation. "TRS won on the basis of the Telangana pride. People voted them after getting attracted to their welfare schemes, but not all promises have been fulfilled," Goud said. He claimed the TRS activists are now joining the Congress as they are unable to bear the "torture and monarchism" of some TRS leaders. Senior TRS leaders, however, rubbished these claims. In Karimnagar assembly constituency, there are 2,77,236 voters including 1,39,065 men, 1,38,135 women and 36 others.

Congress hopeful of winning 75 seats in Telangana: Working state chief Goud

The stakes are too high for both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the main Opposition Congress in the central Indian state&nbsp;of Madhya Pradesh where polling for the general election to the state Assembly is being held today.

The BJP has remained in power continuously for fifteen years in Madhya Pradesh. After the Congress party’s defeat that brought to an end 10 years of Digvijaya Singh rule in 2003, the BJP has seen three chief ministers in the state – Uma Bharati (8 December 2003 – 22 August 2004), Babulal Gaur (23 August 2004 – 29 November 2005), and Shivraj Singh Chouhan (29 November 2005 till now).

In the Madhya Pradesh Assembly election, while the BJP is not leaving a single stone unturned to return to power for the fourth time in a row, the Congress also is using every tactic to turn the tables on the BJP. In this state, where electoral politics continues to remain highly polarised between the BJP and Congress, the present election is being treated by them not merely as the means to form a government in MP but also as the road to power at the Centre as victory in this election will come as a shot in the arm and pave the way for bigger success in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

In Madhya Pradesh, there are more than 50 million voters, who have the right to elect their MLAs from among 2,907 candidates in the fray for 230 Assembly seats. In a large number of constituencies, there are anywhere between 10 to 20 candidates pitted against each other, but in 8 constituencies, the total number of candidates is more than 20. The constituencies with maximum contestants, shown in brackets, are Ater, Bhind district (33), Narela, Bhopal district (31), Satna (30), Khurai, Sagar district (27), Rampur Baghelan, Satna district, &nbsp;Deotalab, Rewa district (both 23), Patharia, Damoh district (21) and Sausar, Chhindwara (20).

A large number of candidates in most constituencies notwithstanding, a close analysis of the candidates’ list shows that there is a straight contest between the Congress and the BJP for about 150 of the total 230 seats in the state Assembly. There are a few dozen seats, mostly in districts adjoining Uttar Pradesh, where the contest would be triangular due to the presence of candidates belonging to the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party. People had started looking forward to the third force playing a crucial role in the Madhya Pradesh election keeping in view the highly successful people’s Movement against the caste-based quota system led by “Samanya Pichda Alpsankhyak Kalyan Samaj Sanstha” (popularly called Sapaks Samaj), a citizens’ organisation. This Movement has got divided and fragmented after a group of retired government officers, who joined Sapaks Samaj only a few months ago cobbled up a disparate group and got a party registered by the name of Sapaks Party. It has entered the election arena blowing aloud the “third force” trumpet but on the ground, its presence is hardly visible.

In many constituencies, the BJP has been struck hard by the presence of rebel candidates, who chose to revolt after they were denied tickets. Along with anti-incumbency, BJP is finding itself against the wall on issues like corruption charges, lop-sided development – especially in far-flung rural areas, and poor implementation of welfare schemes, including the ambitious Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (price difference payment scheme) launched recently by the Madhya Pradesh government to pay the farmers the difference between official minimum support price (MSP) and the price at which they sell their crops. Besides raking up these issues, the Congress Party led by party president Rahul Gandhi, who has addressed several election rallies in the state, has also taken Prime Minister Narendra Modi head on over issues like corruption and the harsh impact of demonetisation. The Prime Minister, during his rallies in the state, also has hit the Congress hard. His reply to the Congress on salvos fired at him on the issue of demonetisation is that the hard step had to be taken to combat the scourge of black money generated due to rampant corruption during the earlier Congress regime.

Media, in general, has refrained from projecting the poll outcome in MP. There has been a lot of talk of Congress frittering away its advantage arising from the anti-incumbent sentiment as a result of inner-party rivalry. Congress leaders have dismissed this charge and their argument is that the regional satraps are doing their best to ensure the victory of Congress candidates in their respective areas of influence. In the past, Congress has always emerged victorious when it has followed this strategy.

Although, there is no wave in Madhya Pradesh,&nbsp;but the undercurrents for change are being felt across the State. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The stakes are too high for both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the main Opposition Congress in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh where polling for the general election to the state Assembly is being held today.

The stakes are too high for both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the main Opposition Congress in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh where polling for the general election to the state Assembly is being held today. The BJP has remained in power continuously for fifteen years in Madhya Pradesh. After the Congress party’s defeat that brought to an end 10 years of Digvijaya Singh rule in 2003, the BJP has seen three chief ministers in the state – Uma Bharati (8 December 2003 – 22 August 2004), Babulal Gaur (23 August 2004 – 29 November 2005), and Shivraj Singh Chouhan (29 November 2005 till now). In the Madhya Pradesh Assembly election, while the BJP is not leaving a single stone unturned to return to power for the fourth time in a row, the Congress also is using every tactic to turn the tables on the BJP. In this state, where electoral politics continues to remain highly polarised between the BJP and Congress, the present election is being treated by them not merely as the means to form a government in MP but also as the road to power at the Centre as victory in this election will come as a shot in the arm and pave the way for bigger success in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. In Madhya Pradesh, there are more than 50 million voters, who have the right to elect their MLAs from among 2,907 candidates in the fray for 230 Assembly seats. In a large number of constituencies, there are anywhere between 10 to 20 candidates pitted against each other, but in 8 constituencies, the total number of candidates is more than 20. The constituencies with maximum contestants, shown in brackets, are Ater, Bhind district (33), Narela, Bhopal district (31), Satna (30), Khurai, Sagar district (27), Rampur Baghelan, Satna district, Deotalab, Rewa district (both 23), Patharia, Damoh district (21) and Sausar, Chhindwara (20). A large number of candidates in most constituencies notwithstanding, a close analysis of the candidates’ list shows that there is a straight contest between the Congress and the BJP for about 150 of the total 230 seats in the state Assembly. There are a few dozen seats, mostly in districts adjoining Uttar Pradesh, where the contest would be triangular due to the presence of candidates belonging to the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party. People had started looking forward to the third force playing a crucial role in the Madhya Pradesh election keeping in view the highly successful people’s Movement against the caste-based quota system led by “Samanya Pichda Alpsankhyak Kalyan Samaj Sanstha” (popularly called Sapaks Samaj), a citizens’ organisation. This Movement has got divided and fragmented after a group of retired government officers, who joined Sapaks Samaj only a few months ago cobbled up a disparate group and got a party registered by the name of Sapaks Party. It has entered the election arena blowing aloud the “third force” trumpet but on the ground, its presence is hardly visible. In many constituencies, the BJP has been struck hard by the presence of rebel candidates, who chose to revolt after they were denied tickets. Along with anti-incumbency, BJP is finding itself against the wall on issues like corruption charges, lop-sided development – especially in far-flung rural areas, and poor implementation of welfare schemes, including the ambitious Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (price difference payment scheme) launched recently by the Madhya Pradesh government to pay the farmers the difference between official minimum support price (MSP) and the price at which they sell their crops. Besides raking up these issues, the Congress Party led by party president Rahul Gandhi, who has addressed several election rallies in the state, has also taken Prime Minister Narendra Modi head on over issues like corruption and the harsh impact of demonetisation. The Prime Minister, during his rallies in the state, also has hit the Congress hard. His reply to the Congress on salvos fired at him on the issue of demonetisation is that the hard step had to be taken to combat the scourge of black money generated due to rampant corruption during the earlier Congress regime. Media, in general, has refrained from projecting the poll outcome in MP. There has been a lot of talk of Congress frittering away its advantage arising from the anti-incumbent sentiment as a result of inner-party rivalry. Congress leaders have dismissed this charge and their argument is that the regional satraps are doing their best to ensure the victory of Congress candidates in their respective areas of influence. In the past, Congress has always emerged victorious when it has followed this strategy. Although, there is no wave in Madhya Pradesh, but the undercurrents for change are being felt across the State. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Assembly elections 2018: Congress banking on anti-incumbent sentiment in Madhya Pradesh

Realising that middle class opinion matters most in the age of social media, Congress has formed Political Action Group (PAG) in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.&nbsp;

The PAG is a body which works under the parental body, the Professional Congress headed Dr Shashi Tharoor. The idea is to organise contacts across the country in middle and upper middle class who are pre-disposed towards Congress. The membership can be taken online and chapters automatically close once membership touches 100.

Every chapter of Professional Congress has a president and a vice-president and they are allowed to take up issues of their choice. They are also allowed to pick and organize there out-reach programme.&nbsp;

The PAG also remains in touch with the overseas Congress and lastly, it wants these cells to be the networking platforms across the country.&nbsp;

The idea is to curate debates and narratives which are close to Congress or independent and popular with the middle class. Congress feels that professionals can also be an independent feedback system to the party on the work which the ruling government is doing.

It is also expected to work as a platform for knowledge sharing whereby the expertise of the professionals can be shared, the party, in turn, can provide insight into the political process and functioning to the professionals.

WION spoke with Amita Singh who is part of the Political Action Group, she said that Professional Congress will be a platform for the middle class.&nbsp;

“Educated professionals should start feeling that they can also contribute to the idea of India and that their opinion matters,” said Amita Singh. The AIPC will also curate discussions both nationally and regionally and one such discussion is being organized in Delhi on November 30th which is being moderated by Shashi Tharoor. The topic is, “Is India being redefined.”

Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Shashi Tharoor and P Chidambaram will be part of the discussion.

BJP shot to power in 2014 on the shoulder of an anti-corruption campaign headed by independent actors throughout the country. With social media, middle class opinion has become loud and influential. After the economic reforms, the Indian middle class has become larger and metamorphosed into a strong political constituency.&nbsp;

Congress has a lot of catching up to do but feels that if it can organize the middle class to its advantage then it will have a fighting chance in urban areas during Lok Sabha elections. 
&nbsp;

Realising that middle class opinion matters most in the age of social media, Congress has formed Political Action Group (PAG) in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

Realising that middle class opinion matters most in the age of social media, Congress has formed Political Action Group (PAG) in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. The PAG is a body which works under the parental body, the Professional Congress headed Dr Shashi Tharoor. The idea is to organise contacts across the country in middle and upper middle class who are pre-disposed towards Congress. The membership can be taken online and chapters automatically close once membership touches 100. Every chapter of Professional Congress has a president and a vice-president and they are allowed to take up issues of their choice. They are also allowed to pick and organize there out-reach programme. The PAG also remains in touch with the overseas Congress and lastly, it wants these cells to be the networking platforms across the country. The idea is to curate debates and narratives which are close to Congress or independent and popular with the middle class. Congress feels that professionals can also be an independent feedback system to the party on the work which the ruling government is doing. It is also expected to work as a platform for knowledge sharing whereby the expertise of the professionals can be shared, the party, in turn, can provide insight into the political process and functioning to the professionals. WION spoke with Amita Singh who is part of the Political Action Group, she said that Professional Congress will be a platform for the middle class. “Educated professionals should start feeling that they can also contribute to the idea of India and that their opinion matters,” said Amita Singh. The AIPC will also curate discussions both nationally and regionally and one such discussion is being organized in Delhi on November 30th which is being moderated by Shashi Tharoor. The topic is, “Is India being redefined.” Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Shashi Tharoor and P Chidambaram will be part of the discussion. BJP shot to power in 2014 on the shoulder of an anti-corruption campaign headed by independent actors throughout the country. With social media, middle class opinion has become loud and influential. After the economic reforms, the Indian middle class has become larger and metamorphosed into a strong political constituency. Congress has a lot of catching up to do but feels that if it can organize the middle class to its advantage then it will have a fighting chance in urban areas during Lok Sabha elections.

Congress targets middle class for 2019 elections

Going all out to woo farmers and the youth in poll-bound Rajasthan, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Monday promised to waive farm loans within 10 days if his party was voted to power in the state and said the Congress chief minister would work 18 hours a day to help youngsters get jobs.

Speaking at election rallies in different parts of the state, he also described the Congress workers as "sher" (tiger) and "babbar sher" (lion) and said they had to fight at the polling booth, but gently, unlike the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers.

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Gandhi, who began his day by visiting the Ajmer dargah, the Pushkar lake and the Brahma temple, said the two leaders had become arrogant after winning elections, did not hear the voice of the people, made false promises and broke people's trust, adding that now they were left with nothing and therefore, spreading hatred and anger.

"You (people) are going to make the Congress party's government in the state. Within 10 days of government formation, the Congress will waive farm loans in the state. You can call and ask any farmer in Punjab and Karnataka, where I made the same promise and our governments fulfilled that," he said, addressing the first rally in Jaisalmer's Pokhran area.

Gandhi asserted that he and other Congress leaders like Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot will speak the truth and make promises only if they could fulfil those.

"The bond between you and me should be that of transparency. Many things can be done by being truthful," he said.

"The chief minister of the Congress will work for 18 hours a day and will be engaged in getting the youth jobs. We will put public money in improving the facilities in government hospitals, schools and setting up universities. The vacant posts will be filled and the youth will be given loans to start their own business, factories," he said, while alleging that the Modi government only worked for the top 15 industrialists in the country.

Gandhi said the free medicines scheme introduced by the previous Congress government in the state will be restarted after his party formed the government.

He also attacked the prime minister over the Rafale deal, demonetisation, GST and other issues.

Gandhi said when demonetisation destroyed the informal sector, those who had to stand in queues in front of banks were farmers, labourers, small-scale businessmen etc., but those who had black money got it changed to white in the air-conditioned chambers of the banks with the help of Modi.

He said Modi was left with nothing to speak and thus, he was lying, but the people had understood him well.

Gandhi also accused the prime minister of insulting the youth, farmers, labourers of the country as well as their parents and grandparents with his statement from the Red Fort that the "elephant was sleeping".

"He meant that the country was sleeping before he became the prime minister. This is an insult to your parents and grandparents, who put their efforts and labour and contributed in taking the country to the present stage," he said in Jodhpur.

Targeting Raje, Gandhi said in an advertisement, she had talked about a school in Bharatpur and said it had fans, furniture, drinking water, playground etc., but when journalists went there, they found that the school had nothing -- no fan, no drinking water.

The Congress chief told the party workers not to speak ill about the prime minister or the chief minister.

"You are the soldiers of the Congress and not RSS or BJP workers. Fight with manners. Do not use any bad word for anyone, be it the PM or the CM. It is their work to abuse, not ours. We will speak good of them," he said.

"You hear their speeches and compare with ours. Listen to the way Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot are addressing them. They are addressing them as Modiji, Vasundharaji with manners. On the other hand, they are spreading hatred and anger," Gandhi said.

In Jalore, the Congress chief said the December 7 Assembly election was a fight for the future of the people of Rajasthan.

"This is the fight for your future. You will not get false promises from this stage," he said.

"They (BJP) took people's money and gave it to the top 15 industrialists, which should have gone to hospitals, schools, for employment etc. Tell me one thing, why all these names are Modi -- Neerav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi -- all are one. Wherever you see, they are the same names. Someone took Rs 10,000 crore, someone Rs 35,000 crore and one gave Rs 30,000 crore to his friend," Gandhi alleged. He also raised questions on the bullet train project.

Gandhi also accused the BJP of practising divisive politics by alleging that Modi had created two India -- one for the rich and the other for the poor -- and added that the Congress wanted one India.

Gandhi began his election meetings after offering prayers at the Ajmer dargah, the Pushkar lake and the Brahma temple.

He presented a "chadar", along with state Congress chief Pilot and former chief minister Gehlot, at the dargah, where the traditional "khadim" of his family made him perform the "ziyarat".

Gandhi was honoured by the president of the Anjuman committee, Moin Chisty. The Nazim of the Dargah committee, Shakil Ahmed, also honoured the Congress chief.

Gandhi then visited the Pushkar sarovar and the Brahma temple and offered prayers there.

Going all out to woo farmers and the youth in poll-bound Rajasthan, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Monday promised to waive farm loans within 10 days if his party was voted to power in the state and said the Congress chief minister would work 18 hours a day to help youngsters get jobs.

Going all out to woo farmers and the youth in poll-bound Rajasthan, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Monday promised to waive farm loans within 10 days if his party was voted to power in the state and said the Congress chief minister would work 18 hours a day to help youngsters get jobs. Speaking at election rallies in different parts of the state, he also described the Congress workers as "sher" (tiger) and "babbar sher" (lion) and said they had to fight at the polling booth, but gently, unlike the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers. Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Gandhi, who began his day by visiting the Ajmer dargah, the Pushkar lake and the Brahma temple, said the two leaders had become arrogant after winning elections, did not hear the voice of the people, made false promises and broke people's trust, adding that now they were left with nothing and therefore, spreading hatred and anger. "You (people) are going to make the Congress party's government in the state. Within 10 days of government formation, the Congress will waive farm loans in the state. You can call and ask any farmer in Punjab and Karnataka, where I made the same promise and our governments fulfilled that," he said, addressing the first rally in Jaisalmer's Pokhran area. Gandhi asserted that he and other Congress leaders like Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot will speak the truth and make promises only if they could fulfil those. "The bond between you and me should be that of transparency. Many things can be done by being truthful," he said. "The chief minister of the Congress will work for 18 hours a day and will be engaged in getting the youth jobs. We will put public money in improving the facilities in government hospitals, schools and setting up universities. The vacant posts will be filled and the youth will be given loans to start their own business, factories," he said, while alleging that the Modi government only worked for the top 15 industrialists in the country. Gandhi said the free medicines scheme introduced by the previous Congress government in the state will be restarted after his party formed the government. He also attacked the prime minister over the Rafale deal, demonetisation, GST and other issues. Gandhi said when demonetisation destroyed the informal sector, those who had to stand in queues in front of banks were farmers, labourers, small-scale businessmen etc., but those who had black money got it changed to white in the air-conditioned chambers of the banks with the help of Modi. He said Modi was left with nothing to speak and thus, he was lying, but the people had understood him well. Gandhi also accused the prime minister of insulting the youth, farmers, labourers of the country as well as their parents and grandparents with his statement from the Red Fort that the "elephant was sleeping". "He meant that the country was sleeping before he became the prime minister. This is an insult to your parents and grandparents, who put their efforts and labour and contributed in taking the country to the present stage," he said in Jodhpur. Targeting Raje, Gandhi said in an advertisement, she had talked about a school in Bharatpur and said it had fans, furniture, drinking water, playground etc., but when journalists went there, they found that the school had nothing -- no fan, no drinking water. The Congress chief told the party workers not to speak ill about the prime minister or the chief minister. "You are the soldiers of the Congress and not RSS or BJP workers. Fight with manners. Do not use any bad word for anyone, be it the PM or the CM. It is their work to abuse, not ours. We will speak good of them," he said. "You hear their speeches and compare with ours. Listen to the way Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot are addressing them. They are addressing them as Modiji, Vasundharaji with manners. On the other hand, they are spreading hatred and anger," Gandhi said. In Jalore, the Congress chief said the December 7 Assembly election was a fight for the future of the people of Rajasthan. "This is the fight for your future. You will not get false promises from this stage," he said. "They (BJP) took people's money and gave it to the top 15 industrialists, which should have gone to hospitals, schools, for employment etc. Tell me one thing, why all these names are Modi -- Neerav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi -- all are one. Wherever you see, they are the same names. Someone took Rs 10,000 crore, someone Rs 35,000 crore and one gave Rs 30,000 crore to his friend," Gandhi alleged. He also raised questions on the bullet train project. Gandhi also accused the BJP of practising divisive politics by alleging that Modi had created two India -- one for the rich and the other for the poor -- and added that the Congress wanted one India. Gandhi began his election meetings after offering prayers at the Ajmer dargah, the Pushkar lake and the Brahma temple. He presented a "chadar", along with state Congress chief Pilot and former chief minister Gehlot, at the dargah, where the traditional "khadim" of his family made him perform the "ziyarat". Gandhi was honoured by the president of the Anjuman committee, Moin Chisty. The Nazim of the Dargah committee, Shakil Ahmed, also honoured the Congress chief. Gandhi then visited the Pushkar sarovar and the Brahma temple and offered prayers there.

Rahul promises farm loan waiver, jobs to youth in Rajasthan

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday lashed out at Rahul Gandhi-led Congress, saying that the day the Congress announces their chief ministerial candidate for Rajasthan, it will have a breakdown.

"Kyunki jis din neta ke naam ki ghosna kar denge yahan par Congress party khand khand ho jayegi," Singh stated during a rally in poll-bound Rajasthan's Dholpur.&nbsp;

He further added that the Congress is not able to muster the courage to announce the name of their leader or the chief ministerial candidate.&nbsp;

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Kyunki jis din neta ke naam ki ghosna kar denge yahan par Congress party khand khand ho jayegi. Sahas nahi juta pa rahe hai ki woh apne neta ya mukhya mantri ki ghosna kar de. Yani baarat to unhone nikal di lekin dulhe ka koi pata nahi hai: Home Minister Rajnath Singh (26.11) <a href="https://t.co/ABFSPW9wSF">pic.twitter.com/ABFSPW9wSF</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1067169372681236482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"The Congress has entered into the electoral battle, but they can't answer if you ask them about their leader," he said.

The Congress has many chief ministerial aspirants in Rajasthan, former CM Ashok Gehlot and young leader Sachin Pilot are in the fight for the top office. The BJP was quick to announce Vasundhara Raje as its leader and chief ministerial candidate for the state much ahead of this year's election season.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-runs-government-comparatively-better-than-congress-rajnath-singh-in-madhya-pradesh-178639">Last week, Rajnath Singh claimed</a> that the BJP has run the government "comparatively better" than the Congress and blamed the opposition party for a "credibility crisis" in politics after Independence.

Talking to reporters in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Singh asserted that the country was currently witnessing "acche din" (good days) and it was a matter of perception of how people saw it.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday lashed out at Rahul Gandhi-led Congress, saying that the day the Congress announces their chief ministerial candidate for Rajasthan, it will have a breakdown.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday lashed out at Rahul Gandhi-led Congress, saying that the day the Congress announces their chief ministerial candidate for Rajasthan, it will have a breakdown. "Kyunki jis din neta ke naam ki ghosna kar denge yahan par Congress party khand khand ho jayegi," Singh stated during a rally in poll-bound Rajasthan's Dholpur. He further added that the Congress is not able to muster the courage to announce the name of their leader or the chief ministerial candidate. Kyunki jis din neta ke naam ki ghosna kar denge yahan par Congress party khand khand ho jayegi. Sahas nahi juta pa rahe hai ki woh apne neta ya mukhya mantri ki ghosna kar de. Yani baarat to unhone nikal di lekin dulhe ka koi pata nahi hai: Home Minister Rajnath Singh (26.11) pic.twitter.com/ABFSPW9wSF — ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2018 × "The Congress has entered into the electoral battle, but they can't answer if you ask them about their leader," he said. The Congress has many chief ministerial aspirants in Rajasthan, former CM Ashok Gehlot and young leader Sachin Pilot are in the fight for the top office. The BJP was quick to announce Vasundhara Raje as its leader and chief ministerial candidate for the state much ahead of this year's election season. Last week, Rajnath Singh claimed that the BJP has run the government "comparatively better" than the Congress and blamed the opposition party for a "credibility crisis" in politics after Independence. Talking to reporters in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Singh asserted that the country was currently witnessing "acche din" (good days) and it was a matter of perception of how people saw it.

Congress will have a breakdown once it announces CM candidate for Rajasthan: Rajnath Singh 

Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Monday hit out at the Congress party for not conferring former prime minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee with the Bharat Ratna.

Former PM Vajpayee was presented the country's highest civilian award at his residence in 2015, few months after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government came to power.

"Vajpayee ji told me that when he made his 1st speech, Nehru went to him and said Atal you will be the PM of this nation one day. He coming from an RSS background realised that this nation can't be built by one, but by all. Those who built this in the past can`t be forgotten. The point I have against Congress is that they should have given him the Bharat Ratna when he was in alive and in good health," Abdullah said at a book launch event in the capital.

Abdullah also accused PM Narendra Modi of not maintaining the dignity of the Prime Minister's Office and credited former prime ministers Rajiv and Indira Gandhi for where the country stands today.

"I think it is the quality of the people in the government. It is nothing else. The quality goes down to the level of forgetting what Nehru contributed to this country, what Indira Gandhi gave to this country. She gave her life. Rajiv Gandhi and other Prime Ministers- did they not give their entire time to build this nation? If we are sitting here, it is because of them. But what is he talking about? That his father and mother were abused? Is that the level of the Prime Minister? I have never used my father and my mother in my language. As Prime Minister of this nation, he has to think in a bigger way," he stated.

On Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had approached the Election Commission to lodge a complaint against former Union Minister and Congress leader Vilasrao Muttemwar for his remark on Prime Minister Modi's father, and Congress leader Raj Babbar's comparison of the Indian Rupee's devaluation to Prime Minister Modi's 96-year-old mother.

Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Monday hit out at the Congress party for not conferring former prime minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee with the Bharat Ratna.

Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Monday hit out at the Congress party for not conferring former prime minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee with the Bharat Ratna. Former PM Vajpayee was presented the country's highest civilian award at his residence in 2015, few months after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government came to power. "Vajpayee ji told me that when he made his 1st speech, Nehru went to him and said Atal you will be the PM of this nation one day. He coming from an RSS background realised that this nation can't be built by one, but by all. Those who built this in the past can`t be forgotten. The point I have against Congress is that they should have given him the Bharat Ratna when he was in alive and in good health," Abdullah said at a book launch event in the capital. Abdullah also accused PM Narendra Modi of not maintaining the dignity of the Prime Minister's Office and credited former prime ministers Rajiv and Indira Gandhi for where the country stands today. "I think it is the quality of the people in the government. It is nothing else. The quality goes down to the level of forgetting what Nehru contributed to this country, what Indira Gandhi gave to this country. She gave her life. Rajiv Gandhi and other Prime Ministers- did they not give their entire time to build this nation? If we are sitting here, it is because of them. But what is he talking about? That his father and mother were abused? Is that the level of the Prime Minister? I have never used my father and my mother in my language. As Prime Minister of this nation, he has to think in a bigger way," he stated. On Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had approached the Election Commission to lodge a complaint against former Union Minister and Congress leader Vilasrao Muttemwar for his remark on Prime Minister Modi's father, and Congress leader Raj Babbar's comparison of the Indian Rupee's devaluation to Prime Minister Modi's 96-year-old mother.

Congress should've given Bharat Ratna to former PM Vajpayee: Farooq Abdullah

The ruling TRS Saturday slammed the Congress over UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi's attack on it for allegedly failing to meet people's aspirations.

Telangana became a reality not because somebody gave it, Telangana Rashtra Samithi MP B Vinod Kumar said.

"When KCR (TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao) undertook fast unto death, (then UPA government) announced on December 9, 2009 (about the formation of Telangana). It would have been better had you implemented properly. But, you withdrew due to pressure from Seemandhra and some influential people. Because of that, hundreds of youths committed suicide in the state (in support of Telangana)," he told reporters.

The congress party would realise on December 11 (the day of counting in the coming Assembly polls) what Telangana people are thinking, he said.

TRS leader and minister in the caretaker government T Harish Rao asked why Sonia Gandhi made no mention of industrial incentives that were reportedly promised (at the time of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh) to Telangana on par with Andhra Pradesh.

Meanwhile, BJP state unit president K Laxman alleged that Sonia Gandhi's visit lacked sincerity towards Telangana.

"Is Congress not responsible for the death of 1400 people (in support of separate Telangana)," he told reporters.

The BJP leader also attacked the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM), alleging that the party has been arrogant. 
AIMIM'S only agenda is to stop BJP, Laxman said.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday attacked TRS chief and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for running a "family rule" in Telangana and "failing" to respond to the aspirations of people of the state.

Sonia Gandhi, on her maiden visit to Telangana after the formation of the state in June 2014, recalled the problems the Congress party faced due to its decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.

She said despite being aware of adverse political consequences, the Congress went ahead and created Telangana, and paid the price in the elections that followed.

"It (carving out Telangana) was not an easy task. It was no small decision. But former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party decided to form Telangana state," she told the rally.&nbsp;

The ruling TRS Saturday slammed the Congress over UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi's attack on it for allegedly failing to meet people's aspirations.

The ruling TRS Saturday slammed the Congress over UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi's attack on it for allegedly failing to meet people's aspirations. Telangana became a reality not because somebody gave it, Telangana Rashtra Samithi MP B Vinod Kumar said. "When KCR (TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao) undertook fast unto death, (then UPA government) announced on December 9, 2009 (about the formation of Telangana). It would have been better had you implemented properly. But, you withdrew due to pressure from Seemandhra and some influential people. Because of that, hundreds of youths committed suicide in the state (in support of Telangana)," he told reporters. The congress party would realise on December 11 (the day of counting in the coming Assembly polls) what Telangana people are thinking, he said. TRS leader and minister in the caretaker government T Harish Rao asked why Sonia Gandhi made no mention of industrial incentives that were reportedly promised (at the time of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh) to Telangana on par with Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, BJP state unit president K Laxman alleged that Sonia Gandhi's visit lacked sincerity towards Telangana. "Is Congress not responsible for the death of 1400 people (in support of separate Telangana)," he told reporters. The BJP leader also attacked the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM), alleging that the party has been arrogant. AIMIM'S only agenda is to stop BJP, Laxman said. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday attacked TRS chief and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for running a "family rule" in Telangana and "failing" to respond to the aspirations of people of the state. Sonia Gandhi, on her maiden visit to Telangana after the formation of the state in June 2014, recalled the problems the Congress party faced due to its decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh. She said despite being aware of adverse political consequences, the Congress went ahead and created Telangana, and paid the price in the elections that followed. "It (carving out Telangana) was not an easy task. It was no small decision. But former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party decided to form Telangana state," she told the rally.

On December 11, Congress will realise what people of Telangana are thinking: TRS

Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday tore into Congress party and asserted that it lacks both leadership and policy-making ability.

Invoking the example of an alleged video from the state of Rajasthan, where the sloganeering of Bharat Mata ki Jai was stopped by a Congress leader only to replace it with slogans hailing Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders, Goyal said,

"The incident uncovered the real face of Congress's dynastic politics. The Congress has become a directionless party which has no leadership and policy but also lack good intentions. They have become a party gripped with dynasty, communalism and obstructive politics. Owing to these factors it has now reduced to governing two states- Mizoram and Punjab and one Union Territory- Pondicherry. However, in these elections, they will also lose Mizoram."

He further stressed and said that the BJP government both in Centre and the state have meticulously worked in coordination to develop Rajasthan.

He said, "As the minister for the railway, I take the example of the railways and want to say that the way in which for last 4.5 year, Rajasthan has developed at a rapid pace is similar to a double engine rail which offers more safety and increases the speed. This has become possible because of the Central government and state government both belonging to the BJP."

Blaming Congress for indulging in divisive politics, Goyal said, "The kind of politics that Congress is indulging into, it has become necessary that Bharatiya Janata Party government is formed with the motto of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'.

"The Union Minister further exuded confidence and said that he sure of the fact that the BJP would again form the government in Rajasthan under the leadership of Vasundhara Raje.

The Assembly elections in the state will take place in a single phase for all 200 seats on December 7 while the counting of votes will take place on December 11.

Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday tore into Congress party and asserted that it lacks both leadership and policy-making ability. Invoking the example of an alleged video from the state of Rajasthan, where the sloganeering of Bharat Mata ki Jai was stopped by a Congress leader only to replace it with slogans hailing Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders, Goyal said, "The incident uncovered the real face of Congress's dynastic politics.

Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday tore into Congress party and asserted that it lacks both leadership and policy-making ability. Invoking the example of an alleged video from the state of Rajasthan, where the sloganeering of Bharat Mata ki Jai was stopped by a Congress leader only to replace it with slogans hailing Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders, Goyal said, "The incident uncovered the real face of Congress's dynastic politics. The Congress has become a directionless party which has no leadership and policy but also lack good intentions. They have become a party gripped with dynasty, communalism and obstructive politics. Owing to these factors it has now reduced to governing two states- Mizoram and Punjab and one Union Territory- Pondicherry. However, in these elections, they will also lose Mizoram." He further stressed and said that the BJP government both in Centre and the state have meticulously worked in coordination to develop Rajasthan. He said, "As the minister for the railway, I take the example of the railways and want to say that the way in which for last 4.5 year, Rajasthan has developed at a rapid pace is similar to a double engine rail which offers more safety and increases the speed. This has become possible because of the Central government and state government both belonging to the BJP." Blaming Congress for indulging in divisive politics, Goyal said, "The kind of politics that Congress is indulging into, it has become necessary that Bharatiya Janata Party government is formed with the motto of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. "The Union Minister further exuded confidence and said that he sure of the fact that the BJP would again form the government in Rajasthan under the leadership of Vasundhara Raje. The Assembly elections in the state will take place in a single phase for all 200 seats on December 7 while the counting of votes will take place on December 11.

Congress directionless, lacks leadership, policy making skills: Piyush Goyal

This generation of farmers are suffering due to the wrongdoings and wrong policies of the Congress, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a public rally in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh on Saturday.&nbsp;

Modi said that his government is bearing the brunt of Congress misrule.&nbsp;

''If Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel would had become the first prime minister of India, the condition of farmers that have deteriorated due to the misrule of Congress in 55-60 years wouldn't have happened. The farmers of our country would have been strong,'' Modi said.&nbsp;

Congress is dividing the people, Modi alleged and said recently, videos of a senior Congress leader has surfaced on social media wherein he was seeking votes from particular groups. Such a thing is not acceptable. It is a disrespect of democracy, Modi said.&nbsp;

Congress manufactures and spreads lies, Modi alleged and added Indira Gandhi Ji gave the slogan of 'Garibi Hatao' but could not eliminate poverty.&nbsp;

She nationalised banks and said the poor would benefit from it, but what happened? So many people did not even have accounts, Modi said.&nbsp;

This generation of farmers are suffering due to the wrongdoings and wrong policies of the Congress, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a public rally in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh on Saturday.

This generation of farmers are suffering due to the wrongdoings and wrong policies of the Congress, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a public rally in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. Modi said that his government is bearing the brunt of Congress misrule. ''If Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel would had become the first prime minister of India, the condition of farmers that have deteriorated due to the misrule of Congress in 55-60 years wouldn't have happened. The farmers of our country would have been strong,'' Modi said. Congress is dividing the people, Modi alleged and said recently, videos of a senior Congress leader has surfaced on social media wherein he was seeking votes from particular groups. Such a thing is not acceptable. It is a disrespect of democracy, Modi said. Congress manufactures and spreads lies, Modi alleged and added Indira Gandhi Ji gave the slogan of 'Garibi Hatao' but could not eliminate poverty. She nationalised banks and said the poor would benefit from it, but what happened? So many people did not even have accounts, Modi said.

Modi linkens farmers' woes to 55-60 years of Congress misrule 

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik dissolved the state assembly Wednesday evening even as former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and People's Conference chairman Sajjad Lone staked rival claims to form a government in the state.&nbsp;

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Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik has passed an order dissolving the state Legislative Assembly. <a href="https://t.co/TirFfZfTCs">pic.twitter.com/TirFfZfTCs</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1065269143497261062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
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''You might have gathered from media reports that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pdp-nc-congress-join-hands-in-jammu-kashmir-will-try-and-form-government-178613">Congress and NC have decided to extend support to our party</a> to form the government in the state. National Conference has a strength of 15 and the Congress 12. That takes our collective strength to 56,'' Mufti wrote to Malik.&nbsp;

The PDP has 29 MLAs in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly — the halfway mark in the 87-member house is 44.&nbsp;

Mufti wrote that she was tweeting her letter since the fax would not go through to the Raj Bhavan. She added that she had tried to reach Malik on the phone but that he was "not available".&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Have been trying to send this letter to Rajbhavan. Strangely the fax is not received. Tried to contact HE Governor on phone. Not available. Hope you see it <a href="https://twitter.com/jandkgovernor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jandkgovernor</a> <a href="https://t.co/wpsMx6HTa8">pic.twitter.com/wpsMx6HTa8</a>
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) <a href="https://twitter.com/MehboobaMufti/status/1065255025297911808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
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J&amp;K Raj Bhavan needs a new fax machine urgently.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) <a href="https://twitter.com/OmarAbdullah/status/1065267785725558784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Former J&amp;K CM and President of PDP Mehbooba Mufti writes to J&amp;K Governor Satya Pal Malik to stake the claim for forming govt in the state. The letter reads, "You might have gathered from media reports that Congress and NC have decided to extend support to our party to form govt." <a href="https://t.co/F7coNfKO44">pic.twitter.com/F7coNfKO44</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1065258133625421824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
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JKNC has been pressing for assembly dissolution for 5 months now. It can’t be a coincidence that within minutes of Mehbooba Mufti Sahiba letter staking claim the order to dissolve the assembly suddenly appears.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) <a href="https://twitter.com/OmarAbdullah/status/1065268875514789895?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
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News reports meanwhile said Lone wrote in his letter to the governor that he was staking his claim after having spoken to the governor over the phone.&nbsp;

Lone's People Conference has 2 MLAs in the J&amp;K house including himself. He said in his letter that he had the support of the BJP's 26 MLAs and 18 other lawmakers. (It is not known who the other 18 MLAs are.)&nbsp;

Wednesday was a day of hectic developments in Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

After senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig said Tuesday that he was willing to join the Third Front — led by Lone and backed by the BJP — the PDP, the National Conference, and the Congress announced Wednesday that they&nbsp;were coming together in a grand alliance and would stake their claim to form a government in the state.&nbsp;

The alliance was also expected to have stopped the PDP from splintering. (If the other 18 MLAs did exist, that is one area they may have come from.) A number of the party's senior leaders had been rebelling against the party leadership and were thought to have joined the Third Front.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The dissolution of the assembly by Governor Malik now means the state will head to the polls within six months.&nbsp;

Malik had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and BJP President Amit Shah on Tuesday. News reports earlier on Wednesday said the Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary had been summoned to Delhi and was likely to meet officials in PM Modi's office.&nbsp;

Jammu and Kashmir has been under Governor's Rule since June 19 when the BJP walked out of its alliance with the PDP in the state. Governor's Rule would have come to an end next month on December 19, after which the state would have come under President's Rule.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik dissolved the state assembly Wednesday evening even as former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and People's Conference chairman Sajjad Lone staked rival claims to form a government in the state.

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik dissolved the state assembly Wednesday evening even as former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and People's Conference chairman Sajjad Lone staked rival claims to form a government in the state. Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik has passed an order dissolving the state Legislative Assembly. pic.twitter.com/TirFfZfTCs — ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2018 × ''You might have gathered from media reports that Congress and NC have decided to extend support to our party to form the government in the state. National Conference has a strength of 15 and the Congress 12. That takes our collective strength to 56,'' Mufti wrote to Malik. The PDP has 29 MLAs in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly — the halfway mark in the 87-member house is 44. Mufti wrote that she was tweeting her letter since the fax would not go through to the Raj Bhavan. She added that she had tried to reach Malik on the phone but that he was "not available". Have been trying to send this letter to Rajbhavan. Strangely the fax is not received. Tried to contact HE Governor on phone. Not available. Hope you see it @jandkgovernor pic.twitter.com/wpsMx6HTa8 — Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) November 21, 2018 × J&K Raj Bhavan needs a new fax machine urgently. — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 21, 2018 × Former J&K CM and President of PDP Mehbooba Mufti writes to J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik to stake the claim for forming govt in the state. The letter reads, "You might have gathered from media reports that Congress and NC have decided to extend support to our party to form govt." pic.twitter.com/F7coNfKO44 — ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2018 × JKNC has been pressing for assembly dissolution for 5 months now. It can’t be a coincidence that within minutes of Mehbooba Mufti Sahiba letter staking claim the order to dissolve the assembly suddenly appears. — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 21, 2018 × News reports meanwhile said Lone wrote in his letter to the governor that he was staking his claim after having spoken to the governor over the phone. Lone's People Conference has 2 MLAs in the J&K house including himself. He said in his letter that he had the support of the BJP's 26 MLAs and 18 other lawmakers. (It is not known who the other 18 MLAs are.) Wednesday was a day of hectic developments in Jammu and Kashmir. After senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig said Tuesday that he was willing to join the Third Front — led by Lone and backed by the BJP — the PDP, the National Conference, and the Congress announced Wednesday that they were coming together in a grand alliance and would stake their claim to form a government in the state. The alliance was also expected to have stopped the PDP from splintering. (If the other 18 MLAs did exist, that is one area they may have come from.) A number of the party's senior leaders had been rebelling against the party leadership and were thought to have joined the Third Front. The dissolution of the assembly by Governor Malik now means the state will head to the polls within six months. Malik had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and BJP President Amit Shah on Tuesday. News reports earlier on Wednesday said the Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary had been summoned to Delhi and was likely to meet officials in PM Modi's office. Jammu and Kashmir has been under Governor's Rule since June 19 when the BJP walked out of its alliance with the PDP in the state. Governor's Rule would have come to an end next month on December 19, after which the state would have come under President's Rule.

J&K Governor dissolves assembly as Mehbooba Mufti, Sajjad Lone stake rival claims to form govt

TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu will not share the stage with Congress leader Sonia Gandhi at her November 23 election rally in Telangana, state AICC in-charge R C Khuntia said Wednesday.

This ends speculation over whether the Andhra Pradesh chief minister would join Gandhi at her public meeting in Medchal after the two parties, along with others, forged an alliance for the upcoming Telangana Assembly polls.

Last month, the Congress forged the alliance, 'Prajakutami' (People's Alliance), with the TDP, the Telangana Jana Samithi and the Communist Party of India to take on the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) in the December 7 elections.

But Naidu would campaign with Congress president Rahul Gandhi at some places during the latter's visit to the state on November 28 and 29 and December 3, Khuntia told PTI.

"Not all but (at) some meetings (Naidu and Rahul Gandhi will share stage)," he said.

Khuntia said the Congress is planning to release its election manifesto on November 23.

TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu will not share the stage with Congress leader Sonia Gandhi at her November 23 election rally in Telangana, state AICC in-charge R C Khuntia said Wednesday.

TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu will not share the stage with Congress leader Sonia Gandhi at her November 23 election rally in Telangana, state AICC in-charge R C Khuntia said Wednesday. This ends speculation over whether the Andhra Pradesh chief minister would join Gandhi at her public meeting in Medchal after the two parties, along with others, forged an alliance for the upcoming Telangana Assembly polls. Last month, the Congress forged the alliance, 'Prajakutami' (People's Alliance), with the TDP, the Telangana Jana Samithi and the Communist Party of India to take on the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) in the December 7 elections. But Naidu would campaign with Congress president Rahul Gandhi at some places during the latter's visit to the state on November 28 and 29 and December 3, Khuntia told PTI. "Not all but (at) some meetings (Naidu and Rahul Gandhi will share stage)," he said. Khuntia said the Congress is planning to release its election manifesto on November 23.

Chandrababu Naidu will not share stage with Sonia at Telangana rally: Congress

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has alleged that the Congress candidate in Nirmal constituency in poll-bound Telangana attempted to bribe him by offering Rs 25 lakh to cancel his rally in support of the TRS in the town, a charge denied by the latter.

Addressing a public meeting organised by his party in Nirmal on Monday night, Owaisi alleged that A Maheshwar Reddy called a MIM leader on phone and offered to pay Rs 25 lakh as bribe to stop him from holding the meeting. He also claimed to have recorded the conversation.

Rejecting the charge, Reddy termed it as baseless and false and said he would quit politics if Owaisi proved it.

MIM, which is on friendly terms with the TRS, has not fielded its candidate in Nirmal Assembly seat, and organised the meeting in support of the ruling party candidate though there was no formal electoral tie-up between the two parties for the December 7 Assembly elections.

The MIM is contesting eight seats -- all in Hyderabad -- while the TRS is going it alone in the polls to the 119-member assembly. Congress heading a 'grand alliance' of TDP, CPI and TJS has announced candidates for 94 segments.

"Now when this jalsa (meeting) is happening the Congress people tried to buy Asaduddin Owaisi. Maheshwar (Reddy) phoned a MIM leader telling him to stop Owaisi Saheb, (and) will give Rs 25 lakh party fund. I have the recording (of that phone conversation)," Owaisi said at the meeting.

This Congress candidate wants to buy my party for Rs 25 lakh. "Ye log samajthe hain ham apni jamat ka sauda karenge" (these people think we do deal for our party) Rs 25 lakh that is the sign of their arrogance," the Hyderabad MP alleged.&nbsp;

Strongly refuting Owaisis allegations, Reddy dared Owaisi to prove the charge with evidence.

"Why should somebody stop someone's rally. Owaisi has already started campaigning for TRS party and now this man says that he is being stopped with an offer of Rs 25 lakh. Why somebody will offer him Rs 25 lakh and why he will stop," he told PTI.

"I want to make it very clear if really somebody had called him or met him or if he has any evidence let him show the evidences. I am ready to take it as a challenge and I am ready to quit politics if it is proved. Is he ready to quit politics, if it is untrue? he asked.

They were talking of something which was "baseless and false", he added.&nbsp;

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has alleged that the Congress candidate in Nirmal constituency in poll-bound Telangana attempted to bribe him by offering Rs 25 lakh to cancel his rally in support of the TRS in the town, a charge denied by the latter.

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has alleged that the Congress candidate in Nirmal constituency in poll-bound Telangana attempted to bribe him by offering Rs 25 lakh to cancel his rally in support of the TRS in the town, a charge denied by the latter. Addressing a public meeting organised by his party in Nirmal on Monday night, Owaisi alleged that A Maheshwar Reddy called a MIM leader on phone and offered to pay Rs 25 lakh as bribe to stop him from holding the meeting. He also claimed to have recorded the conversation. Rejecting the charge, Reddy termed it as baseless and false and said he would quit politics if Owaisi proved it. MIM, which is on friendly terms with the TRS, has not fielded its candidate in Nirmal Assembly seat, and organised the meeting in support of the ruling party candidate though there was no formal electoral tie-up between the two parties for the December 7 Assembly elections. The MIM is contesting eight seats -- all in Hyderabad -- while the TRS is going it alone in the polls to the 119-member assembly. Congress heading a 'grand alliance' of TDP, CPI and TJS has announced candidates for 94 segments. "Now when this jalsa (meeting) is happening the Congress people tried to buy Asaduddin Owaisi. Maheshwar (Reddy) phoned a MIM leader telling him to stop Owaisi Saheb, (and) will give Rs 25 lakh party fund. I have the recording (of that phone conversation)," Owaisi said at the meeting. This Congress candidate wants to buy my party for Rs 25 lakh. "Ye log samajthe hain ham apni jamat ka sauda karenge" (these people think we do deal for our party) Rs 25 lakh that is the sign of their arrogance," the Hyderabad MP alleged. Strongly refuting Owaisis allegations, Reddy dared Owaisi to prove the charge with evidence. "Why should somebody stop someone's rally. Owaisi has already started campaigning for TRS party and now this man says that he is being stopped with an offer of Rs 25 lakh. Why somebody will offer him Rs 25 lakh and why he will stop," he told PTI. "I want to make it very clear if really somebody had called him or met him or if he has any evidence let him show the evidences. I am ready to take it as a challenge and I am ready to quit politics if it is proved. Is he ready to quit politics, if it is untrue? he asked. They were talking of something which was "baseless and false", he added.

Owaisi hurls bribe charge, Congress candidate rejects allegation

India's former information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari is currently the general secretary of the foreign affairs department of the Congress. He spoke to WION on the current foreign policy initiative of the BJP government.

Q: How will you evaluate PM Modi’s foreign policy initiative?

A: PM has done something unique. He has turned diplomacy and mass outreach into a spectacle which has not yielded any dividends for India.

Q: Why have our relationships deteriorated in South Asia?

A: India today stands very isolated in its neighbourhood. This government over the past four years has had no policy towards Pakistan. The blockade of Nepal was absolutely ill-conceived.

In so far as Sri Lanka is concerned, the government is not on top of the rapid developments which are taking place on the island. There has been a genuine growing Chinese influence in South Asia which the government has not been able to push back.

Q: Is India safer today?

A: If the question is that if India’s security concerns are being&nbsp;better taken care of then in the past, then the answer is no. It is because at the moment India has unsettled strategic situation in both the eastern and western borders.

Q: Does India require a new strategic framework with China?

A: India requires a new strategic framework so far as its foreign policy is concerned. The UPA government and those that&nbsp;preceded it understood the global power dynamic and were successful in balancing competing world powers like US, Russia, China or even Japan.

Q: Prime Minister Modi conducted meetings with his Chinese and Russian counterparts which had no structured agendas. Do such meetings work?

A: If PM believes that non-structured summit review of global events and developments helps to enhance his personal understanding as to how leadership in China and Russia view regional and other developments then it is entirely within his purview.&nbsp;

However, the point is India’s strategic objectives cannot be served by such opaque conversations in which the establishment or other stakeholders of Indian foreign policy do not find a place or are not even given a readout on what has actually transpired.

Q: Did the Indian engagement with China substantially change under Narendra Modi?

A: There has been a substantial deterioration and Doklam was the high point of that deterioration.

In the past three decades there had not been stand-off of that dimension with China. After the breakthrough in relations with China under Rajiv Gandhi, successive prime minister’s like PV Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh took the relationship forward.

There was an anticipation that this relationship would actually consolidate and grow from strength to strength but what you really see is an estrangement of another dimension which is being played out.

Q: Has "cultural diplomacy" worked which has been the hallmark of this administration?

A: Soft power can only complement hard power. India has been a soft power in terms of its music, films and traditional arts and culture but that has not been utilised in an optimal manner.

The reason is that when you have reports on social divisiveness splashed across papers in the western world, whatever soft power you may try would falter. People understand that there is a huge difference between what is your intent back at home and what you want to project as India’s image abroad.

Q:&nbsp;Is&nbsp;our foreign policy becoming hostage to domestic politics?

A: Unfortunately, yes. Our&nbsp;foreign policy initiatives and strategic initiatives are being used to score domestic brownie points and both have become a casualty.

Q: Did surgical strikes restore deterrence with Pakistan?

A: Many surgical strikes took place before the much publicised surgical strike two year ago. The intention was to change the behaviour of Pakistan. Post-Uri, the cross-border operation seemed to be aimed at domestic audiences rather than at Pakistan and that is why nothing much altered including incursions from across the border.

Q: &nbsp;Has Indian QUAD and South East Asian initiative worked?

A: To be fair to this government, they have tried to reach out to various governments with similar concerns on the&nbsp;South China Sea which is witnessing aggressive manifestation of the Chinese state. How far we have been able to secure the concerns is an open issue.

&nbsp;

India's former information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari is currently the general secretary of the foreign affairs department of the Congress. He spoke to WION on the current foreign policy initiative of the BJP government.

India's former information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari is currently the general secretary of the foreign affairs department of the Congress. He spoke to WION on the current foreign policy initiative of the BJP government. Q: How will you evaluate PM Modi’s foreign policy initiative? A: PM has done something unique. He has turned diplomacy and mass outreach into a spectacle which has not yielded any dividends for India. Q: Why have our relationships deteriorated in South Asia? A: India today stands very isolated in its neighbourhood. This government over the past four years has had no policy towards Pakistan. The blockade of Nepal was absolutely ill-conceived. In so far as Sri Lanka is concerned, the government is not on top of the rapid developments which are taking place on the island. There has been a genuine growing Chinese influence in South Asia which the government has not been able to push back. Q: Is India safer today? A: If the question is that if India’s security concerns are being better taken care of then in the past, then the answer is no. It is because at the moment India has unsettled strategic situation in both the eastern and western borders. Q: Does India require a new strategic framework with China? A: India requires a new strategic framework so far as its foreign policy is concerned. The UPA government and those that preceded it understood the global power dynamic and were successful in balancing competing world powers like US, Russia, China or even Japan. Q: Prime Minister Modi conducted meetings with his Chinese and Russian counterparts which had no structured agendas. Do such meetings work? A: If PM believes that non-structured summit review of global events and developments helps to enhance his personal understanding as to how leadership in China and Russia view regional and other developments then it is entirely within his purview. However, the point is India’s strategic objectives cannot be served by such opaque conversations in which the establishment or other stakeholders of Indian foreign policy do not find a place or are not even given a readout on what has actually transpired. Q: Did the Indian engagement with China substantially change under Narendra Modi? A: There has been a substantial deterioration and Doklam was the high point of that deterioration. In the past three decades there had not been stand-off of that dimension with China. After the breakthrough in relations with China under Rajiv Gandhi, successive prime minister’s like PV Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh took the relationship forward. There was an anticipation that this relationship would actually consolidate and grow from strength to strength but what you really see is an estrangement of another dimension which is being played out. Q: Has "cultural diplomacy" worked which has been the hallmark of this administration? A: Soft power can only complement hard power. India has been a soft power in terms of its music, films and traditional arts and culture but that has not been utilised in an optimal manner. The reason is that when you have reports on social divisiveness splashed across papers in the western world, whatever soft power you may try would falter. People understand that there is a huge difference between what is your intent back at home and what you want to project as India’s image abroad. Q: Is our foreign policy becoming hostage to domestic politics? A: Unfortunately, yes. Our foreign policy initiatives and strategic initiatives are being used to score domestic brownie points and both have become a casualty. Q: Did surgical strikes restore deterrence with Pakistan? A: Many surgical strikes took place before the much publicised surgical strike two year ago. The intention was to change the behaviour of Pakistan. Post-Uri, the cross-border operation seemed to be aimed at domestic audiences rather than at Pakistan and that is why nothing much altered including incursions from across the border. Q: Has Indian QUAD and South East Asian initiative worked? A: To be fair to this government, they have tried to reach out to various governments with similar concerns on the South China Sea which is witnessing aggressive manifestation of the Chinese state. How far we have been able to secure the concerns is an open issue.

Government has no policy towards Pak, India isloated in its neighbourhood: Congress leader Manish Tewari to WION

CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Thursday accused the BJP and the Congress of "duplicity" on the Sabarimala issue, saying their "opportunistic" stand was only whipping up communal polarisation.

The CPM leader also alleged that by boycotting an all-party meeting called by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday, the two parties have shown that they do want a solution to the issue.

"They want to topple the (state) government ... That is the sense," he told reporters in Delhi.

He said it is the constitutional obligation of any state government to implement the verdict of the Supreme Court.

"There was no stay on the entry of women today. The state government has to implement the verdict. The meeting was convened as part of the government's desire to find a solution," he said.

The stand-off over the entry of women of menstruating age to the temple continued Thursday, as consensus eluded a crucial all-party meeting called to resolve the issue.

At the meeting, the Kerala government said it would implement the September 28 Supreme Court order, allowing women of all ages to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple, prompting the opposition to walk out in protest.&nbsp;

CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Thursday accused the BJP and the Congress of "duplicity" on the Sabarimala issue, saying their "opportunistic" stand was only whipping up communal polarisation.

CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Thursday accused the BJP and the Congress of "duplicity" on the Sabarimala issue, saying their "opportunistic" stand was only whipping up communal polarisation. The CPM leader also alleged that by boycotting an all-party meeting called by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday, the two parties have shown that they do want a solution to the issue. "They want to topple the (state) government ... That is the sense," he told reporters in Delhi. He said it is the constitutional obligation of any state government to implement the verdict of the Supreme Court. "There was no stay on the entry of women today. The state government has to implement the verdict. The meeting was convened as part of the government's desire to find a solution," he said. The stand-off over the entry of women of menstruating age to the temple continued Thursday, as consensus eluded a crucial all-party meeting called to resolve the issue. At the meeting, the Kerala government said it would implement the September 28 Supreme Court order, allowing women of all ages to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple, prompting the opposition to walk out in protest.

Sabarimala row: Opportunistic stand of BJP, Congress whipping up communal polarisation, says Yechury

In a setback to Rajasthan's ruling BJP ahead of the December 7 Assembly elections, the party's Nagaur MLA Habibur Rahman on Wednesday returned to the Congress after a decade.

Rahman joined the Congress at the party's office in Jaipur in presence of Ajmer MP Raghu Sharma and other leaders, the same day BJP's Dausa MP Harish Chandra Meena joined the grand old party in New Delhi.

Rahman was initially a member of the Congress and was a state minister between 2001 and 2003 during the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government. He joined the BJP in 2008 after he was denied a ticket by the Congress.&nbsp;

He won the 2008 and the 2013 Assembly elections as BJP candidate. But when the BJP denied him poll ticket this time and gave a nomination to Mohan Ram Choudhary from Nagaur, Rahman left the ruling party.

"I have returned home today. There is no condition for joining the party," he said at a press conference.

On whether he will contest the Assembly elections, Rahman rhetorically asked, "Who does not want to contest elections?"

However, Congress MP Raghu Sharma said the party will release its list of candidates for the Rajasthan polls only after the final approval of party president Rahul Gandhi.

Meanwhile, slamming Harish Chandra Meena for joining the Congress, BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kirori Meena termed the former "an opportunist" and claimed that this would not have any impact of the saffron party's performance in the state election.

"There will be no impact. People know who is an opportunist and opportunists can go anywhere," Kirori Meena said.

Hitting back, Congress' Raghu Sharma said, "Kirori Meena's wife Golma Devi was a minister in the previous Congress government. He contested the 2013 assembly polls as the candidate of National People's party and then joined the BJP. He became Rajya Sabha MP and now his wife was given ticket by BJP in its first list. He is the finest example of an opportunist."

Harish Chandra Meena joined the Congress in the national capital in presence of former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, the party's state unit chief Sachin Pilot and AICC's state in-charge Avinash Pande.

A former IPS officer, who headed state police during the Ashok Gehlot government, Harish Chandra Meena had joined the BJP in March 2014 ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and was pitted against his brother Namonarain who was then a Union minister.

He had won the Dausa seat by defeating his nearest rival Kirori Lal Meena, who was then a candidate of National People's Party by a margin of 45,404 votes while Namonarain Meena had stood third.

In a setback to Rajasthan's ruling BJP ahead of the December 7 Assembly elections, the party's Nagaur MLA Habibur Rahman on Wednesday returned to the Congress after a decade.

In a setback to Rajasthan's ruling BJP ahead of the December 7 Assembly elections, the party's Nagaur MLA Habibur Rahman on Wednesday returned to the Congress after a decade. Rahman joined the Congress at the party's office in Jaipur in presence of Ajmer MP Raghu Sharma and other leaders, the same day BJP's Dausa MP Harish Chandra Meena joined the grand old party in New Delhi. Rahman was initially a member of the Congress and was a state minister between 2001 and 2003 during the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government. He joined the BJP in 2008 after he was denied a ticket by the Congress. He won the 2008 and the 2013 Assembly elections as BJP candidate. But when the BJP denied him poll ticket this time and gave a nomination to Mohan Ram Choudhary from Nagaur, Rahman left the ruling party. "I have returned home today. There is no condition for joining the party," he said at a press conference. On whether he will contest the Assembly elections, Rahman rhetorically asked, "Who does not want to contest elections?" However, Congress MP Raghu Sharma said the party will release its list of candidates for the Rajasthan polls only after the final approval of party president Rahul Gandhi. Meanwhile, slamming Harish Chandra Meena for joining the Congress, BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kirori Meena termed the former "an opportunist" and claimed that this would not have any impact of the saffron party's performance in the state election. "There will be no impact. People know who is an opportunist and opportunists can go anywhere," Kirori Meena said. Hitting back, Congress' Raghu Sharma said, "Kirori Meena's wife Golma Devi was a minister in the previous Congress government. He contested the 2013 assembly polls as the candidate of National People's party and then joined the BJP. He became Rajya Sabha MP and now his wife was given ticket by BJP in its first list. He is the finest example of an opportunist." Harish Chandra Meena joined the Congress in the national capital in presence of former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, the party's state unit chief Sachin Pilot and AICC's state in-charge Avinash Pande. A former IPS officer, who headed state police during the Ashok Gehlot government, Harish Chandra Meena had joined the BJP in March 2014 ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and was pitted against his brother Namonarain who was then a Union minister. He had won the Dausa seat by defeating his nearest rival Kirori Lal Meena, who was then a candidate of National People's Party by a margin of 45,404 votes while Namonarain Meena had stood third.

Rajasthan BJP MLA Habibur Rahman joins Congress

The sensitive pricing details of the 36 Rafale fighter jets, submitted by the Centre in a sealed cover, is scheduled to be examined by the Supreme Court Wednesday.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph will hold a crucial hearing in the case during which the petitioners, who have sought a court-monitored investigation into the deal, will also make submissions.

The Centre had on Monday handed over a 14-page document titled "Details of the steps in the decision-making process leading to the award of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft order" to the petitioners in the case.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

The government had also filed in the court in a sealed cover the pricing details of the Rafale jets.&nbsp;

The petitioners are likely to respond to the contents of the documents in which it has been stated by the government that the deal for 36 Rafale jets was negotiated on "better terms" and the Defence Procurement Procedure laid out in 2013 were "completely followed".

The Centre has also said the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approval was secured before the deal was inked with France.

The details of the decision-making process and pricing were placed in the court in compliance with its October 31 order.&nbsp;

India signed an agreement with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of the Indian Air Force equipment. The estimated cost of the deal is Rs 58,000 crore.

The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.

The petitions seeking the probe in the Rafale deal were first filed by advocates Manohar Lal Sharma and Vineet Dhanda. Later, AAP MP Sanjay Singh had also filed a petition.

Former union ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan had also filed a joint petition in the apex court

The sensitive pricing details of the 36 Rafale fighter jets, submitted by the Centre in a sealed cover, is scheduled to be examined by the Supreme Court Wednesday.

The sensitive pricing details of the 36 Rafale fighter jets, submitted by the Centre in a sealed cover, is scheduled to be examined by the Supreme Court Wednesday. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph will hold a crucial hearing in the case during which the petitioners, who have sought a court-monitored investigation into the deal, will also make submissions. The Centre had on Monday handed over a 14-page document titled "Details of the steps in the decision-making process leading to the award of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft order" to the petitioners in the case. The government had also filed in the court in a sealed cover the pricing details of the Rafale jets. The petitioners are likely to respond to the contents of the documents in which it has been stated by the government that the deal for 36 Rafale jets was negotiated on "better terms" and the Defence Procurement Procedure laid out in 2013 were "completely followed". The Centre has also said the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approval was secured before the deal was inked with France. The details of the decision-making process and pricing were placed in the court in compliance with its October 31 order. India signed an agreement with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of the Indian Air Force equipment. The estimated cost of the deal is Rs 58,000 crore. The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation. The petitions seeking the probe in the Rafale deal were first filed by advocates Manohar Lal Sharma and Vineet Dhanda. Later, AAP MP Sanjay Singh had also filed a petition. Former union ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan had also filed a joint petition in the apex court

Rafale deal: Crucial hearing in Supreme Court on Wednesday 

Days after a senior BJP leader from Uttrakahand raised an objection to Abhishek Kapoor's next film 'Kedarnath' and accused the makers of promoting 'love jihad', the Congress party too has now stated that the film violates the beliefs of the people.&nbsp;

"Inviting Bollywood stars to shoot here is a great way of tourism, but also the government should put all the norms in front of them and tell them about the do`s and don`t`s. No one has the right to violate our beliefs. Chardham, especially Kedarnath, is the most important and people believe in it," Garima Dasauni, an AICC member, told a news agency.

While objecting a kissing scene between the lead pair in the movie, she said that a warning should be issued to the makers that they could not play with our beliefs."We will send a letter to the Prime Minister and the board to find a solution to the problem," she added.

Earlier, a senior BJP leader on Saturday demanded a ban on the movie, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/kedarnath-bjp-leader-demands-ban-on-film-accuses-makers-of-promoting-love-jihad-176760">alleging that it hurts the sentiments of Hindus and promotes love jihad</a>.Ajendra Ajay, who is part of the state BJP`s media relations team, wrote to Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairman Prasoon Joshi that despite being set against the backdrop of one of the worst human tragedies, the film directed by Abhishek Kapoor makes fun of Hindu sentiments.

'Kedarnath', which marks the Bollywood debut of Sara, is set against the backdrop of a catastrophic deluge that hit the Himalayan shrine in 2013.

Meanwhile, in Mumbai, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/kedarnath-trailer-sushant-singh-rajput-sara-ali-khans-love-story-is-high-on-emotions-and-visuals-176828">the cast and crew came together at an event to launch the film's trailer.</a> Speaking at the event, the film's director said, "When people will watch the movie they will know that there is nothing controversial in it. We have made it with a lot of love and it is about love."`

In the film, Sushant plays the role of a Muslim `Pithu` named Mansoor, who carries luggage, old and ill people on his back, while Sara plays the role of a Hindu tourist pilgrimage, Mukku.&nbsp;

Showcasing the power of love, the duo can be seen withstanding the wrath of nature as flash floods wreck havoc in Kedarnath.

The flick, which is slated to release on December 7, also stars Nitish Bharadwaj, Alka Amin, Sonali Sachdev, Pooja Gor, and Nishant Dahiya.

Days after a senior BJP leader from Uttrakahand raised an objection to Abhishek Kapoor's next film 'Kedarnath' and accused the makers of promoting 'love jihad', the Congress party too has now stated that the film violates the beliefs of the people.

Days after a senior BJP leader from Uttrakahand raised an objection to Abhishek Kapoor's next film 'Kedarnath' and accused the makers of promoting 'love jihad', the Congress party too has now stated that the film violates the beliefs of the people. "Inviting Bollywood stars to shoot here is a great way of tourism, but also the government should put all the norms in front of them and tell them about the do`s and don`t`s. No one has the right to violate our beliefs. Chardham, especially Kedarnath, is the most important and people believe in it," Garima Dasauni, an AICC member, told a news agency. While objecting a kissing scene between the lead pair in the movie, she said that a warning should be issued to the makers that they could not play with our beliefs."We will send a letter to the Prime Minister and the board to find a solution to the problem," she added. Earlier, a senior BJP leader on Saturday demanded a ban on the movie, alleging that it hurts the sentiments of Hindus and promotes love jihad.Ajendra Ajay, who is part of the state BJP`s media relations team, wrote to Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairman Prasoon Joshi that despite being set against the backdrop of one of the worst human tragedies, the film directed by Abhishek Kapoor makes fun of Hindu sentiments. 'Kedarnath', which marks the Bollywood debut of Sara, is set against the backdrop of a catastrophic deluge that hit the Himalayan shrine in 2013. Meanwhile, in Mumbai, the cast and crew came together at an event to launch the film's trailer. Speaking at the event, the film's director said, "When people will watch the movie they will know that there is nothing controversial in it. We have made it with a lot of love and it is about love."` In the film, Sushant plays the role of a Muslim `Pithu` named Mansoor, who carries luggage, old and ill people on his back, while Sara plays the role of a Hindu tourist pilgrimage, Mukku. Showcasing the power of love, the duo can be seen withstanding the wrath of nature as flash floods wreck havoc in Kedarnath. The flick, which is slated to release on December 7, also stars Nitish Bharadwaj, Alka Amin, Sonali Sachdev, Pooja Gor, and Nishant Dahiya.

Kedarnath: After BJP, Congress now objects to Sushant Singh Rajput, Sara Ali Khan's film

It's not only the geographical and social features that sets the Bundelkhand region apart from the rest of Madhya Pradesh, leaders believe the electoral politics is also much different here with the fight not being limited to the arch-rivals BJP and Congress.&nbsp;

Just like its treacherous hill roads, the region is expected to see an interesting poll battle.

Some leaders claim that non-BJP parties have even resorted to 'friendly fights' on some seats to stop the saffron party from taking advantage of non-consolidation of votes for a joint opposition candidate due to complex caste equations in the area dominated by Dalits and other backward castes.

Given the geographical and cultural proximity of over two dozen assembly seats in this area to the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, two key political parties with a strong presence in the state across the border -- Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party -- are leaving no stones unturned in challenging the ruling BJP.

The four bordering districts of Bundelkhand region -- Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh and Panna -- and two districts of Chambal Zone -- Datia and Shivpuri -- together send 30 MLAs to the Madhya Pradesh assembly. Out of this, the BJP has got 22 and the Congress has 8 seats in the outgoing assembly.

As the election campaign heats up for the November 28 elections across 230 assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, where BJP has been in power for 15 years thwarting every challenge so far from the Congress, the observers feel it may not be a traditional direct fight between these two parties in the areas along the UP border.

The reasons cited by poll pundits range from caste equations to cultural and social influence of the neighbouring areas from Uttar Pradesh, as also a strong campaign being mounted by the SP and the BSP and what many political leaders call an 'undeclared understanding' these two parties have reached with the Congress to take on the saffron party unitedly without forging a "visible alliance".

The opposition leaders insist that the anti-incumbency factor against the 15-year BJP rule is much more prominent in the Bundelkhand region, as compared to the rest of Madhya Pradesh, being far off from the state capital Bhopal. Also, the region has larger dominance of the SC/ST and other backward classes.

Datia MLA Narottam Mishra, a prominent minister in the Shivraj Singh government, however, rejected the anti-incumbency factor, citing the development work done by the BJP Government.&nbsp;

Mishra said the election is going to be rather easy this time, compared to the last three assembly polls, as "historical development work" has been done by the state government in the Bundelkhand region.

He also dismissed any challenge from the 'joint' opposition challenge and said none of these parties would be visible after elections.

Mishra said these parties tried a similar strategy in last elections but voters rejected their "gimmicks" and voted for development schemes of the BJP government that helps all sections of the society.&nbsp;

He further said people in the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh are also praising the developmental work done in Bundelkhand and it is the rejected leaders of the SP and the BSP from Uttar Pradesh who are looking for a political future in Madhya Pradesh through this region.&nbsp;

The SP is focussing on all six districts of Bundelkhand in Madhya Pradesh (which include Damoh and Datia also) and the BSP has fielded candidates in the Chambal and Vindhya regions also, along with the Bundelkhand region.&nbsp;

The BSP has four MLAs in the outgoing assembly -- two from Satna district in Vindhya area and two from Morena district of Chambal area.&nbsp;

The party has given a ticket to all four sitting MLAs and two former MLAs too. The SP has fielded a former MLA from Niwari constituency in the Tikamgarh district.&nbsp;

BSP's Bundelkhand in-charge Mukesh Ahirwar said the party is contesting all 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh.&nbsp;

He said the party is in a strong position in Bundelkhand, therefore, a key focus area.

BSP president Mayawati will start a poll campaign on November 21 from Morena and will address public rallies over two days in Bundelkhand, Chambal and Vindhya region, Ahirwar said.

A senior SP leader said the party's main focus is to defeat the BJP, for which it has an understanding with the Congress and BSP for some seats, asserting a formal alliance was not preferable due to complex caste equations of the area.&nbsp;

He said a joint candidate against the BJP on all seats would have actually benefited the saffron party and therefore they have opted for a "friendly fight".

Balakram Yadav, a senior leader of Congress party's Bundelkhand unit, said he is confident of a "strategic success" in these elections.&nbsp;

He said the over-confidence of the ruling BJP would prove to be detrimental for the saffron party and the people's anger will reflect in their votes.

Rejecting the BJP's claims of development works in the region, Yadav said they were limited to a few cities and the farmers are facing a major crisis in the agriculture-dominated rural areas of Bundelkhand region due to drought and fuel price hike while youths are being compelled to migrate because of unemployment.

It's not only the geographical and social features that sets the Bundelkhand region apart from the rest of Madhya Pradesh, leaders believe the electoral politics is also much different here with the fight not being limited to the arch-rivals BJP and Congress.

It's not only the geographical and social features that sets the Bundelkhand region apart from the rest of Madhya Pradesh, leaders believe the electoral politics is also much different here with the fight not being limited to the arch-rivals BJP and Congress. Just like its treacherous hill roads, the region is expected to see an interesting poll battle. Some leaders claim that non-BJP parties have even resorted to 'friendly fights' on some seats to stop the saffron party from taking advantage of non-consolidation of votes for a joint opposition candidate due to complex caste equations in the area dominated by Dalits and other backward castes. Given the geographical and cultural proximity of over two dozen assembly seats in this area to the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, two key political parties with a strong presence in the state across the border -- Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party -- are leaving no stones unturned in challenging the ruling BJP. The four bordering districts of Bundelkhand region -- Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh and Panna -- and two districts of Chambal Zone -- Datia and Shivpuri -- together send 30 MLAs to the Madhya Pradesh assembly. Out of this, the BJP has got 22 and the Congress has 8 seats in the outgoing assembly. As the election campaign heats up for the November 28 elections across 230 assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, where BJP has been in power for 15 years thwarting every challenge so far from the Congress, the observers feel it may not be a traditional direct fight between these two parties in the areas along the UP border. The reasons cited by poll pundits range from caste equations to cultural and social influence of the neighbouring areas from Uttar Pradesh, as also a strong campaign being mounted by the SP and the BSP and what many political leaders call an 'undeclared understanding' these two parties have reached with the Congress to take on the saffron party unitedly without forging a "visible alliance". The opposition leaders insist that the anti-incumbency factor against the 15-year BJP rule is much more prominent in the Bundelkhand region, as compared to the rest of Madhya Pradesh, being far off from the state capital Bhopal. Also, the region has larger dominance of the SC/ST and other backward classes. Datia MLA Narottam Mishra, a prominent minister in the Shivraj Singh government, however, rejected the anti-incumbency factor, citing the development work done by the BJP Government. Mishra said the election is going to be rather easy this time, compared to the last three assembly polls, as "historical development work" has been done by the state government in the Bundelkhand region. He also dismissed any challenge from the 'joint' opposition challenge and said none of these parties would be visible after elections. Mishra said these parties tried a similar strategy in last elections but voters rejected their "gimmicks" and voted for development schemes of the BJP government that helps all sections of the society. He further said people in the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh are also praising the developmental work done in Bundelkhand and it is the rejected leaders of the SP and the BSP from Uttar Pradesh who are looking for a political future in Madhya Pradesh through this region. The SP is focussing on all six districts of Bundelkhand in Madhya Pradesh (which include Damoh and Datia also) and the BSP has fielded candidates in the Chambal and Vindhya regions also, along with the Bundelkhand region. The BSP has four MLAs in the outgoing assembly -- two from Satna district in Vindhya area and two from Morena district of Chambal area. The party has given a ticket to all four sitting MLAs and two former MLAs too. The SP has fielded a former MLA from Niwari constituency in the Tikamgarh district. BSP's Bundelkhand in-charge Mukesh Ahirwar said the party is contesting all 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh. He said the party is in a strong position in Bundelkhand, therefore, a key focus area. BSP president Mayawati will start a poll campaign on November 21 from Morena and will address public rallies over two days in Bundelkhand, Chambal and Vindhya region, Ahirwar said. A senior SP leader said the party's main focus is to defeat the BJP, for which it has an understanding with the Congress and BSP for some seats, asserting a formal alliance was not preferable due to complex caste equations of the area. He said a joint candidate against the BJP on all seats would have actually benefited the saffron party and therefore they have opted for a "friendly fight". Balakram Yadav, a senior leader of Congress party's Bundelkhand unit, said he is confident of a "strategic success" in these elections. He said the over-confidence of the ruling BJP would prove to be detrimental for the saffron party and the people's anger will reflect in their votes. Rejecting the BJP's claims of development works in the region, Yadav said they were limited to a few cities and the farmers are facing a major crisis in the agriculture-dominated rural areas of Bundelkhand region due to drought and fuel price hike while youths are being compelled to migrate because of unemployment.

Madhya Pradesh: No straight fight for Cong, BJP in Bundelkhand; SP, BSP add new twists and turns

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday attacked the Congress, targeting its president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia, saying the party's "politics begins and ends with one family".

Addressing a poll rally here ahead of the second phase polling in the state on November 20, PM Modi also made a strong pitch for development, saying the pace of development under the Congress regime in the state was "far slow" than the one under the BJP-led government.

Singling out the Gandhis, PM Modi said the "mother-son duo" was out on bail and hit out at them for questioning the government's demonetisation move. "They forget it was due to demonetisation that they had to seek bail," PM Modi said, adding "those seeking bail are giving a certificate to PM Modi".

PM Modi asserted the BJP was for development and that it was due to this commitment that the opposition was unable to understand how to compete with the ruling party in elections.

He also targeted the Congress president, saying when Congress released its 36-point manifesto for Chhattisgarh polls, Naamdaar (Rahul Gandhi) was referred to as Sir 150 times which shows he is more important for them (Congress) than Chhattisgarh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday attacked the Congress, targeting its president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia, saying the party's "politics begins and ends with one family".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday attacked the Congress, targeting its president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia, saying the party's "politics begins and ends with one family". Addressing a poll rally here ahead of the second phase polling in the state on November 20, PM Modi also made a strong pitch for development, saying the pace of development under the Congress regime in the state was "far slow" than the one under the BJP-led government. Singling out the Gandhis, PM Modi said the "mother-son duo" was out on bail and hit out at them for questioning the government's demonetisation move. "They forget it was due to demonetisation that they had to seek bail," PM Modi said, adding "those seeking bail are giving a certificate to PM Modi". PM Modi asserted the BJP was for development and that it was due to this commitment that the opposition was unable to understand how to compete with the ruling party in elections. He also targeted the Congress president, saying when Congress released its 36-point manifesto for Chhattisgarh polls, Naamdaar (Rahul Gandhi) was referred to as Sir 150 times which shows he is more important for them (Congress) than Chhattisgarh.

Congress politics begins and ends with one family: PM Modi in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh's Congress vice president Ghanaram Sahu resigned from the party on Sunday, a day ahead of the first phase of polling in the state.

In his resignation letter addressed to the state's party president Bhupesh Baghel, Sahu has alleged that he was mentally harassed by Baghel due to personal grudges.

The first phase of elections comprises 18 seats distributed in eight Naxal-affected districts of the state.

Of these, 12 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes, while one is Scheduled Caste reserved seat.The polling for remaining 72 seats will take place on November 20.

The counting of votes will take place on December 11. A total of 1,291 candidates are in the fray for the two-phased state polls.&nbsp;

Chhattisgarh's Congress vice president Ghanaram Sahu resigned from the party on Sunday, a day ahead of the first phase of polling in the state. In his resignation letter addressed to the state's party president Bhupesh Baghel, Sahu has alleged that he was mentally harassed by Baghel due to personal grudges.

Chhattisgarh's Congress vice president Ghanaram Sahu resigned from the party on Sunday, a day ahead of the first phase of polling in the state. In his resignation letter addressed to the state's party president Bhupesh Baghel, Sahu has alleged that he was mentally harassed by Baghel due to personal grudges. The first phase of elections comprises 18 seats distributed in eight Naxal-affected districts of the state. Of these, 12 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes, while one is Scheduled Caste reserved seat.The polling for remaining 72 seats will take place on November 20. The counting of votes will take place on December 11. A total of 1,291 candidates are in the fray for the two-phased state polls.

Ahead of polls, Chhattisgarh's Congress VP Ghanaram Sahu resigns

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday launched an attack on the Congress stating that the party only releases manifestos but never fulfils its promises, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

CM Chouhan's comments came shortly after the Congress released its manifesto for the poll-bound state.&nbsp;

"Congress today released its election manifesto, they only release manifestos but never fulfils them," the Chief Minister said.&nbsp;

He added that former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had promised to alleviate poverty but didn't do it.&nbsp;

"Even Indira ji and Rajiv ji had promised to remove poverty but didn't do it. Their promise was fulfilled by Shivraj Singh Chouhan PM Modi that is why Congress is angry," Chouhan noted during his address in Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Congress today released its election manifesto,they only release manifestos but never fulfil them. Even Indira ji&amp;Rajiv ji had promised to remove poverty but didn't do it. Their promise was fulfilled by Shivraj Singh Chouhan&amp;PM Modi that is why Congress is angry: MP CM in Anuppur <a href="https://t.co/a91WfauTen">pic.twitter.com/a91WfauTen</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1061196955592867840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Rahul Gandhi-led <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-releases-manifesto-for-mp-polls-woos-farmers-youth-176551">Congress party on Saturday released its manifesto</a> for the upcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh. The party promised to write off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh and provide a "salary grant" for five years to industries offering jobs to the youth if elected to power in Madhya Pradesh.

The main opposition party also promised a host of benefits for other sections of the society in the state where it is eyeing a renewed bid to dislodge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from power, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

Releasing the 112-page manifesto at a press meet here, state Congress chief Kamal Nath described it as the "voice of the people of Madhya Pradesh."

The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 28, the results will be announced on December 11.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday launched an attack on the Congress stating that the party only releases manifestos but never fulfils its promises, news agency ANI reported.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday launched an attack on the Congress stating that the party only releases manifestos but never fulfils its promises, news agency ANI reported. CM Chouhan's comments came shortly after the Congress released its manifesto for the poll-bound state. "Congress today released its election manifesto, they only release manifestos but never fulfils them," the Chief Minister said. He added that former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had promised to alleviate poverty but didn't do it. "Even Indira ji and Rajiv ji had promised to remove poverty but didn't do it. Their promise was fulfilled by Shivraj Singh Chouhan PM Modi that is why Congress is angry," Chouhan noted during his address in Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh. Congress today released its election manifesto,they only release manifestos but never fulfil them. Even Indira ji&Rajiv ji had promised to remove poverty but didn't do it. Their promise was fulfilled by Shivraj Singh Chouhan&PM Modi that is why Congress is angry: MP CM in Anuppur pic.twitter.com/a91WfauTen — ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2018 × Rahul Gandhi-led Congress party on Saturday released its manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh. The party promised to write off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh and provide a "salary grant" for five years to industries offering jobs to the youth if elected to power in Madhya Pradesh. The main opposition party also promised a host of benefits for other sections of the society in the state where it is eyeing a renewed bid to dislodge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from power, news agency PTI reported. Releasing the 112-page manifesto at a press meet here, state Congress chief Kamal Nath described it as the "voice of the people of Madhya Pradesh." The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 28, the results will be announced on December 11. (With inputs from agencies)

Congress only releases manifestos, never fulfils them: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Congress leader and MLA K Muraleedharan Saturday asked Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to convene an all-party meeting before the Mandala- Makaravilikku pilgrimage season at Sabarimala, beginning November 17, to sort out 'infrastructure bottlenecks.'

He alleged that even basic infrastructure like toilets and drinking water for pilgrims were yet to be readied at Sabarimala.

"Though the pilgrim season is just a week away, basic amenities such as drinking water and toilets for thousands of of pilgrims who are expected to visit the place are yet to be arranged.

The Chief Minister must shed his arrogance and call an all-party meeting," he said at a press meet here.

Lakhs of pilgrims from the country and abroad visit the Lord Ayyappa Temple every year during the annual Mandala-Makaravilikku pilgrimage season every year.

The Congress MLA also sought a judicial probe into the death of a man who was pushed in front of a moving car, allegedly by a police official.

He said the Chief Minister was yet to visit the grieving family of Sanal.

32-year-old Sanal was killed after being pushed in front of a moving car, allegedly by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) (Neyyatinkara) B Harikumar at Neyyatinkara near here.

Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor also demanded Rs 50 lakh compensation and a government job for Sanal's widow.&nbsp;

Congress leader and MLA K Muraleedharan Saturday asked Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to convene an all-party meeting before the Mandala- Makaravilikku pilgrimage season at Sabarimala, beginning November 17, to sort out 'infrastructure bottlenecks.

Congress leader and MLA K Muraleedharan Saturday asked Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to convene an all-party meeting before the Mandala- Makaravilikku pilgrimage season at Sabarimala, beginning November 17, to sort out 'infrastructure bottlenecks.' He alleged that even basic infrastructure like toilets and drinking water for pilgrims were yet to be readied at Sabarimala. "Though the pilgrim season is just a week away, basic amenities such as drinking water and toilets for thousands of of pilgrims who are expected to visit the place are yet to be arranged. The Chief Minister must shed his arrogance and call an all-party meeting," he said at a press meet here. Lakhs of pilgrims from the country and abroad visit the Lord Ayyappa Temple every year during the annual Mandala-Makaravilikku pilgrimage season every year. The Congress MLA also sought a judicial probe into the death of a man who was pushed in front of a moving car, allegedly by a police official. He said the Chief Minister was yet to visit the grieving family of Sanal. 32-year-old Sanal was killed after being pushed in front of a moving car, allegedly by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) (Neyyatinkara) B Harikumar at Neyyatinkara near here. Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor also demanded Rs 50 lakh compensation and a government job for Sanal's widow.

Congress MLA urges CM Vijayan to call all-party meeting on Sabarimala

The Congress Saturday promised to write off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh and provide a "salary grant" for five years to industries offering jobs to the youth if elected to power in Madhya Pradesh.

Releasing its manifesto for the November 28 Assembly polls, the main opposition party also promised a slew of benefits for other sections of the society in the state where it is making a renewed bid to dislodge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from power.

Aggressively wooing farmers, who had launched a statewide protest last year, the party promised a social security pension to them and a rebate in the registration fee of land documents, besides a financial help of Rs 51,000 for the marriage of daughters of small cultivators.

In its manifesto titled "Vachan Patra" (document of promises), the Rahul Gandhi-led party, out of power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003, also promised a minimum support price (MSP) for crops in accordance with the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations.

Releasing the 112-page manifesto at a press meet here, state Congress chief Kamal Nath described it as the "voice of the people of Madhya Pradesh", saying the document was prepared after consultations with every section of the society.

The manifesto offers sops to every section of the society, including government employees, homemakers, the common people, women and journalists, but the focus is largely on farmers and young people.

Among the plethora of measures for farmers mentioned in the document, the Congress has promised a social security pension of Rs 1,000 per month to farmers who attain the age of 60 and whose land holding is below 2.5 acres, besides writing off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh.

Other sops promised to farmers include a 50-per cent subsidy on loans for agriculture equipment, halving the power bill rates for them, a bonus on the MSP of some crops and a subsidy of Rs 5 per litre on milk procurement among others.

The opposition party also promised a re-investigation into the Mandsaur police firing incident, in which six farmers were killed in June, 2017. 
It also promised a rebate in diesel and petrol prices.

Professionals like tourist guides and lawyers would be provided an "encouragement fee" of Rs 4,000 per month for five years for settling down in their respective professions.

The Congress also promised a "salary grant" of Rs 10,000 per job to the industries offering employment to the youth of the state.

It promised the constitution of a Yuva Aayog (Commission for the Youth) to look into the problems of young men and women.

The Congress also promised several sops, including a rebate in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and subsidised loans for setting up industries with an investment of at least Rs 100 crore.

Those covered under the existing social security pension scheme would get Rs 1,000 per month, instead of Rs 300 now, if the Congress was elected to power in the state, according to the document.

A subsidy of Rs 100 on gas cylinders to poor families and free education to girls up to the post-graduation level were also promised by the party.

In a bid to appease the agitating general category people, the opposition party promised the constitution of a Samanya Varg Ayog (General Category Commission) to look into their issues.

The state recently saw a series of protests by people from the unreserved (general) category communities.

Besides, the Congress promised regularisation of daily wagers, 30 per cent government contracts to tribals, setting up of a Senior Citizen Board, a law to protect journalists and lawyers, honorarium to journalists above 60 years of age, tele-medicine facility in rural areas and four new medical colleges.

Nath said a Jan Aayog (People's Commission) would be constituted for investigations into scams like Vyapam.

A "jan jababdeh kanoon (public accountability law) would be enacted to hold the government departments responsible for providing public amenities, he added. The manifesto has 973 points on 50 subjects.

State Congress Campaign Committee chief Jyotiraditya Scindia and former chief minister Digvijay Singh were also present at the press meet.

Taking potshots at the BJP, Scindia said the Congress's manifesto was not like the saffron outfit's "jumla patra" (document of rhetoric) as the party would honour every promise made in the document.

"We are bringing a vachan patra and not a jumla patra like the BJP. Our document of promises has something for everybody," the former Union minister said.

The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 28 and the results will be announced on December 11.

The Congress Saturday promised to write off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh and provide a "salary grant" for five years to industries offering jobs to the youth if elected to power in Madhya Pradesh.

The Congress Saturday promised to write off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh and provide a "salary grant" for five years to industries offering jobs to the youth if elected to power in Madhya Pradesh. Releasing its manifesto for the November 28 Assembly polls, the main opposition party also promised a slew of benefits for other sections of the society in the state where it is making a renewed bid to dislodge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from power. Aggressively wooing farmers, who had launched a statewide protest last year, the party promised a social security pension to them and a rebate in the registration fee of land documents, besides a financial help of Rs 51,000 for the marriage of daughters of small cultivators. In its manifesto titled "Vachan Patra" (document of promises), the Rahul Gandhi-led party, out of power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003, also promised a minimum support price (MSP) for crops in accordance with the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations. Releasing the 112-page manifesto at a press meet here, state Congress chief Kamal Nath described it as the "voice of the people of Madhya Pradesh", saying the document was prepared after consultations with every section of the society. The manifesto offers sops to every section of the society, including government employees, homemakers, the common people, women and journalists, but the focus is largely on farmers and young people. Among the plethora of measures for farmers mentioned in the document, the Congress has promised a social security pension of Rs 1,000 per month to farmers who attain the age of 60 and whose land holding is below 2.5 acres, besides writing off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh. Other sops promised to farmers include a 50-per cent subsidy on loans for agriculture equipment, halving the power bill rates for them, a bonus on the MSP of some crops and a subsidy of Rs 5 per litre on milk procurement among others. The opposition party also promised a re-investigation into the Mandsaur police firing incident, in which six farmers were killed in June, 2017. It also promised a rebate in diesel and petrol prices. Professionals like tourist guides and lawyers would be provided an "encouragement fee" of Rs 4,000 per month for five years for settling down in their respective professions. The Congress also promised a "salary grant" of Rs 10,000 per job to the industries offering employment to the youth of the state. It promised the constitution of a Yuva Aayog (Commission for the Youth) to look into the problems of young men and women. The Congress also promised several sops, including a rebate in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and subsidised loans for setting up industries with an investment of at least Rs 100 crore. Those covered under the existing social security pension scheme would get Rs 1,000 per month, instead of Rs 300 now, if the Congress was elected to power in the state, according to the document. A subsidy of Rs 100 on gas cylinders to poor families and free education to girls up to the post-graduation level were also promised by the party. In a bid to appease the agitating general category people, the opposition party promised the constitution of a Samanya Varg Ayog (General Category Commission) to look into their issues. The state recently saw a series of protests by people from the unreserved (general) category communities. Besides, the Congress promised regularisation of daily wagers, 30 per cent government contracts to tribals, setting up of a Senior Citizen Board, a law to protect journalists and lawyers, honorarium to journalists above 60 years of age, tele-medicine facility in rural areas and four new medical colleges. Nath said a Jan Aayog (People's Commission) would be constituted for investigations into scams like Vyapam. A "jan jababdeh kanoon (public accountability law) would be enacted to hold the government departments responsible for providing public amenities, he added. The manifesto has 973 points on 50 subjects. State Congress Campaign Committee chief Jyotiraditya Scindia and former chief minister Digvijay Singh were also present at the press meet. Taking potshots at the BJP, Scindia said the Congress's manifesto was not like the saffron outfit's "jumla patra" (document of rhetoric) as the party would honour every promise made in the document. "We are bringing a vachan patra and not a jumla patra like the BJP. Our document of promises has something for everybody," the former Union minister said. The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 28 and the results will be announced on December 11.

Congress releases manifesto for MP polls; woos farmers, youth

Janata Dal (Secular) chief and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda of Thursday slammed BJP government for creating many problems "including destabilising constitutionally created institutes," news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

He added that secular parties, including the Congress, must come together to replace the NDA government.&nbsp;

Gowda's comments came shortly after a meeting with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu earlier in the day.

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AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu has taken the lead and met several leaders to consolidate all secular parties to remove NDA govt in 2019. He met me &amp; HD Kumaraswamy today to work out further strategy: JDS leader &amp; Former PM Deve Gowda <a href="https://t.co/ujOUK0f7L2">pic.twitter.com/ujOUK0f7L2</a>
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"Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu has taken the lead and met several leaders to consolidate all secular parties to remove NDA government in 2019. He met me and HD Kumaraswamy today to work out further strategy," Gowda noted.&nbsp;

TDP supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is trying to unite opposition parties to take on BJP in the Lok Sabha elections next year, met former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday.

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu meets former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru <a href="https://t.co/HCrWHB41BH">pic.twitter.com/HCrWHB41BH</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1060491916456927232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Interestingly, Naidu's meeting with the JD(S) supremo comes in the backdrop of Congress-JD(S) coalition resolving to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections together against the BJP, buoyed by the victory in the bypolls.

The Congress-JD(S)coalition in Karnataka on Tuesday won two of the three Lok Sabha seats and both assembly constituencies in the fiercely fought by-polls, giving a shot in the arm to the ruling combine that faces frequent questions about its longevity.

BJP had managed to hold on to the Shivamogga Lok Sabha seat.

The electoral sweep by the ruling coalition comes as a boost to it as the by-polls were seen as a barometer of the public mood ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Janata Dal (Secular) chief and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda of Thursday slammed BJP government for creating many problems "including destabilising constitutionally created institutes," news agency ANI reported.

Janata Dal (Secular) chief and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda of Thursday slammed BJP government for creating many problems "including destabilising constitutionally created institutes," news agency ANI reported. He added that secular parties, including the Congress, must come together to replace the NDA government. Gowda's comments came shortly after a meeting with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu earlier in the day. AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu has taken the lead and met several leaders to consolidate all secular parties to remove NDA govt in 2019. He met me & HD Kumaraswamy today to work out further strategy: JDS leader & Former PM Deve Gowda pic.twitter.com/ujOUK0f7L2 — ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2018 × "Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu has taken the lead and met several leaders to consolidate all secular parties to remove NDA government in 2019. He met me and HD Kumaraswamy today to work out further strategy," Gowda noted. TDP supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is trying to unite opposition parties to take on BJP in the Lok Sabha elections next year, met former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu meets former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/HCrWHB41BH — ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2018 × Interestingly, Naidu's meeting with the JD(S) supremo comes in the backdrop of Congress-JD(S) coalition resolving to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections together against the BJP, buoyed by the victory in the bypolls. The Congress-JD(S)coalition in Karnataka on Tuesday won two of the three Lok Sabha seats and both assembly constituencies in the fiercely fought by-polls, giving a shot in the arm to the ruling combine that faces frequent questions about its longevity. BJP had managed to hold on to the Shivamogga Lok Sabha seat. The electoral sweep by the ruling coalition comes as a boost to it as the by-polls were seen as a barometer of the public mood ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. (With inputs from agencies)

Secular parties, including Congress, must come together to remove BJP: Deve Gowda

Taking a dig at its ally BJP over the recent debacle in Karnataka bypolls, the Shiv Sena Thursday said the poll outcome indicates that "acche din" (good days) will return for the Congress in 2019, when general elections are due.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party also said the BJP's defeat in a string of Lok Sabha and assembly bypolls in the country would infuse a "fresh lease of life" in the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

In an editorial laced with sarcasm in the party mouthpiece "Saamana", the Sena also said the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) probably lost in Karnataka for ignoring poll promises like the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and for "imposing some other agenda".

Mocking the BJP, the edit said the party should think why its "losing streak" is continuing unabated even as some "revolutionary changes" are taking place in the country under the BJP-led government by its own admission.

In a major setback to the BJP, the JD(S)-Congress coalition candidates Tuesday won four of five constituencies--three Lok Sabha and two assembly seats--that went to polls last week.

The defeat was more stinging for the BJP as the party lost its bastion Ballari Lok Sabha seat to the Congress.

"The BJP would study and introspect its losses in the bypolls, starting from Uttar Pradesh, in its own way. But, when so much good is happening in the country and revolutionary changes are taking place according to the ruling party, then why its losing streak is not stopping? The defeat of the BJP (in various bypolls) would give a fresh lease of life to the Congress," the Sena said.

The BJP had suffered a stunning electoral upset in the bypolls for Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh earlier this year, months after it lost bypolls for Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha seats, also in UP.

While Rashtriya Lok Dal's Tabassum Hasan won the Kairana seat, Naeemul Hasan of the Samajwadi Party bagged the Noorpur Assembly seat.

The Sena, which is a constituent of the BJP-led coalition governments in Centre and Maharashtra, also questioned why the "jod-tod (make-break) mathematics of the BJP is not working now".

The allies of the ruling party must be wondering now about what happened to the 'Modi-wave' prevailing in 2014, it said.

The Sena said the BJP's announcement for "Congress-mukt Bharat" seems to have fallen flat on face.

"The BJP had spoken about a Congress-free India in 2014 and promised to usher in 'acche din'. However, in a span of just four years, the 'Congress-mukt Bharat' slogan seems to be falling flat. At the same time, the results of Karnataka by-polls indicate that 'Acche din' are returning for the Congress," it said.

From clinching 282 seats in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP has lost 10 seats in the subsequent bypolls, and that the recent poll outcome should ring alarm bells for the party, the edit said.

"This (poll) outcome may be the result of the BJP keeping its promises of Ram temple, abolishing article 370 and Uniform Civil Code at the side and imposing some other agenda," the Sena said sarcastically in its edit.

The Karnataka BJP had said the Congress and the JD(S) won the elections by "misusing money and power".&nbsp;

Taking a dig at its ally BJP over the recent debacle in Karnataka bypolls, the Shiv Sena Thursday said the poll outcome indicates that "acche din" (good days) will return for the Congress in 2019, when general elections are due.

Taking a dig at its ally BJP over the recent debacle in Karnataka bypolls, the Shiv Sena Thursday said the poll outcome indicates that "acche din" (good days) will return for the Congress in 2019, when general elections are due. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party also said the BJP's defeat in a string of Lok Sabha and assembly bypolls in the country would infuse a "fresh lease of life" in the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. In an editorial laced with sarcasm in the party mouthpiece "Saamana", the Sena also said the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) probably lost in Karnataka for ignoring poll promises like the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and for "imposing some other agenda". Mocking the BJP, the edit said the party should think why its "losing streak" is continuing unabated even as some "revolutionary changes" are taking place in the country under the BJP-led government by its own admission. In a major setback to the BJP, the JD(S)-Congress coalition candidates Tuesday won four of five constituencies--three Lok Sabha and two assembly seats--that went to polls last week. The defeat was more stinging for the BJP as the party lost its bastion Ballari Lok Sabha seat to the Congress. "The BJP would study and introspect its losses in the bypolls, starting from Uttar Pradesh, in its own way. But, when so much good is happening in the country and revolutionary changes are taking place according to the ruling party, then why its losing streak is not stopping? The defeat of the BJP (in various bypolls) would give a fresh lease of life to the Congress," the Sena said. The BJP had suffered a stunning electoral upset in the bypolls for Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh earlier this year, months after it lost bypolls for Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha seats, also in UP. While Rashtriya Lok Dal's Tabassum Hasan won the Kairana seat, Naeemul Hasan of the Samajwadi Party bagged the Noorpur Assembly seat. The Sena, which is a constituent of the BJP-led coalition governments in Centre and Maharashtra, also questioned why the "jod-tod (make-break) mathematics of the BJP is not working now". The allies of the ruling party must be wondering now about what happened to the 'Modi-wave' prevailing in 2014, it said. The Sena said the BJP's announcement for "Congress-mukt Bharat" seems to have fallen flat on face. "The BJP had spoken about a Congress-free India in 2014 and promised to usher in 'acche din'. However, in a span of just four years, the 'Congress-mukt Bharat' slogan seems to be falling flat. At the same time, the results of Karnataka by-polls indicate that 'Acche din' are returning for the Congress," it said. From clinching 282 seats in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP has lost 10 seats in the subsequent bypolls, and that the recent poll outcome should ring alarm bells for the party, the edit said. "This (poll) outcome may be the result of the BJP keeping its promises of Ram temple, abolishing article 370 and Uniform Civil Code at the side and imposing some other agenda," the Sena said sarcastically in its edit. The Karnataka BJP had said the Congress and the JD(S) won the elections by "misusing money and power".

BJP's defeat in Karnataka bypolls signals 'acche din' for Congress: Shiv Sena

The Congress has identified 5 major issues in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on which Congress President Rahul Gandhi will build a stark contrast between the Congress and the BJP.&nbsp;

Sources said that it will take an anti-Modi campaign to the next level. As of now a large part of Congress' campaign has been against the stated policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;

The present attempt is limited to chiselling away the halo around him built on his key decision like demonetisation, surgical strikes, GST, muscular foreign policy and anti-corruption image. But as of now, the criticism has not addressed the issue of alternative vision. Come December and it will happen.

The Congress has identified agriculture, jobs, education, health care and foreign policy as key areas. The party steps up campaigns on these keys areas once assembly elections in five states conclude. The campaign will include interviews by Rahul Gandhi apart from massive social media interface. These subjects have been identified as areas which require massive transformation and through them, the Congress will give an alternative to Narendra Modi’s vision on these subjects.

Sources say that the work on these five areas has already started and meetings with stakeholders are being done in a phased manner. The party has also decided to focus more on smaller target groups like colleges and create mini-events that are more intimate and conversational. To put forward these views, the party is also in the exercise to identify strong credible voices for the national campaign in run up to the Lok Sabha elections. “Everything cannot depend on Rahul Gandhi and he cannot be everywhere,” said a person involved in the project.

&nbsp;This focus has been accompanied by a vibrant social media strategy. The Congress is also working to target new voters and women as specific constituencies. To this effect, Rahul Gandhi’s team has utilized both Facebook and Twitter intensively. It was for this reason that Rahul Gandhi’s Facebook engagement has increased dramatically and his recent outing at 66 Bhog in Madhya Pradesh registered 3.2 million views.

The Congress has identified 5 major issues in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on which Congress President Rahul Gandhi will build a stark contrast between the Congress and the BJP.

The Congress has identified 5 major issues in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on which Congress President Rahul Gandhi will build a stark contrast between the Congress and the BJP. Sources said that it will take an anti-Modi campaign to the next level. As of now a large part of Congress' campaign has been against the stated policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The present attempt is limited to chiselling away the halo around him built on his key decision like demonetisation, surgical strikes, GST, muscular foreign policy and anti-corruption image. But as of now, the criticism has not addressed the issue of alternative vision. Come December and it will happen. The Congress has identified agriculture, jobs, education, health care and foreign policy as key areas. The party steps up campaigns on these keys areas once assembly elections in five states conclude. The campaign will include interviews by Rahul Gandhi apart from massive social media interface. These subjects have been identified as areas which require massive transformation and through them, the Congress will give an alternative to Narendra Modi’s vision on these subjects. Sources say that the work on these five areas has already started and meetings with stakeholders are being done in a phased manner. The party has also decided to focus more on smaller target groups like colleges and create mini-events that are more intimate and conversational. To put forward these views, the party is also in the exercise to identify strong credible voices for the national campaign in run up to the Lok Sabha elections. “Everything cannot depend on Rahul Gandhi and he cannot be everywhere,” said a person involved in the project. This focus has been accompanied by a vibrant social media strategy. The Congress is also working to target new voters and women as specific constituencies. To this effect, Rahul Gandhi’s team has utilized both Facebook and Twitter intensively. It was for this reason that Rahul Gandhi’s Facebook engagement has increased dramatically and his recent outing at 66 Bhog in Madhya Pradesh registered 3.2 million views.

Come December and Congress to go into campaign overdrive

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