In this segment of WION Know, What does high voter turnout mean?

What does high voter turnout mean?

Fiercely violence reported in West Bengal on fourth phase of Lok Sabha Election 2019. Watch this video to know more about Phase 4.

LS Polls 2019: Fiercely violence reported in West Bengal on fourth phase of election

A look at the popular slogans of the Indian elections

Home Ministry sent notice to Rahul Gandhi on his citizenship. Asked for his reply within 15 days. Watch video to know more.

Home Ministry of India issues notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi over citizenship

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning, April 29th 2019

Watch this segment of India Election Watch for latest updates of India Election as on 29th April 2019.

India Election Watch; 29th April 2019

In Lok Sabha Polls 2019, 17 seats of Maharashtra are in the fray in fourth phase.

LS Polls: 17 seats of Maharashtra in the fray in fourth phase of Lok Sabha Polls

The focus of electioneering will shift to the battleground Hindi heartland states in the fifth and sixth phases of the general elections, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi planning saturation campaigning in the region.

IEW: Can Congress gain in the Hindi heartland?

Union minister and BJP candidate from Chandni Chowk Harsh Vardhan hit out at the Congress on Sunday for promising to repeal the sedition law and said the people of Delhi would never forgive such a party.

The Union minister of science and technology, who held ''jan sabhas'' and foot marches in the constituency, said Delhi had always been a bastion of nationalist ideologues and their supporters.&nbsp;

"The citizens of Delhi will never ever tolerate an anti-national element and that is why they are all out to strengthen nationalist elements. The voters of Delhi will never forgive the party promising to repeal the sedition law and those who openly sided with the JNU student leaders associated with the 'tukde, tukde' gang," he said.

The incumbent MP said for the BJP, the country and nationalism were its topmost priority, while personal interests were at the bottom.

He accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government headed by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/how-can-full-statehood-be-given-to-kejriwal-with-dubious-character-says-harsh-vardhan-214051">Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi of sitting over a file</a> that dealt with grant of permission to take the matter to the court of law in respect of the main student leader directly involved in the "tukde-tukde" rhetoric.

"The BJP would never allow such forces to damage the unity and integrity of the country. In case such forces create further trouble, the country will face chaos," the Union minister said.

Vardhan lambasted the Congress for promising to repeal the sedition law in its election manifesto.

"Looks like both the AAP and the Congress are in league on the issue of weakening the country and its unity. Their priority is to safeguard their political interests. These parties will not be able to face the BJP in the current and future elections because Delhiites are fully committed to nationalism," he said.

Vardhan is pitted against the Congress's Jai Prakash Aggarwal and the AAP's Pankaj?Gupta in the Chandni Chowk constituency. Delhi will go to the polls in the sixth phase on May 12.&nbsp;

Union minister and BJP candidate from Chandni Chowk Harsh Vardhan hit out at the Congress on Sunday for promising to repeal the sedition law and said the people of Delhi would never forgive such a party.

Union minister and BJP candidate from Chandni Chowk Harsh Vardhan hit out at the Congress on Sunday for promising to repeal the sedition law and said the people of Delhi would never forgive such a party. The Union minister of science and technology, who held ''jan sabhas'' and foot marches in the constituency, said Delhi had always been a bastion of nationalist ideologues and their supporters. "The citizens of Delhi will never ever tolerate an anti-national element and that is why they are all out to strengthen nationalist elements. The voters of Delhi will never forgive the party promising to repeal the sedition law and those who openly sided with the JNU student leaders associated with the 'tukde, tukde' gang," he said. The incumbent MP said for the BJP, the country and nationalism were its topmost priority, while personal interests were at the bottom. He accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government headed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi of sitting over a file that dealt with grant of permission to take the matter to the court of law in respect of the main student leader directly involved in the "tukde-tukde" rhetoric. "The BJP would never allow such forces to damage the unity and integrity of the country. In case such forces create further trouble, the country will face chaos," the Union minister said. Vardhan lambasted the Congress for promising to repeal the sedition law in its election manifesto. "Looks like both the AAP and the Congress are in league on the issue of weakening the country and its unity. Their priority is to safeguard their political interests. These parties will not be able to face the BJP in the current and future elections because Delhiites are fully committed to nationalism," he said. Vardhan is pitted against the Congress's Jai Prakash Aggarwal and the AAP's Pankaj?Gupta in the Chandni Chowk constituency. Delhi will go to the polls in the sixth phase on May 12.

Union minister Harsh Vardhan hits out at Congress for promising to repeal sedition law

In this video, know which candidates' fate is on claim in Phase 4 of LS Polls 2019.

LS Polls 2019: Know which candidates' fate on claim in Phase 4

Watch WION in an exclusive conversation with Senior journalist KS Dakshinamurthy.

Lok Sabha election 2019: WION in an exclusive conversation with Senior journalist KS Dakshinamurthy

When poll pundits call the ongoing general election presidential, they are missing the woods for the trees. It is one thing for shrill TV channels to split the screen and show PM Narendra Modi in one part and Rahul Gandhi in the other, it is quite another to start believing your own rhetoric and brand the poll presidential, as if two leading political behemoths are stalking the land.

The reality is far from it. The Indian election system is not presidential, constitutionally speaking, and that is the way it stands. The real battle for the hearts and minds of the voters is not just being fought between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, but a clutch of regional parties, that do not necessarily have the same high profile as the two national parties, but whose representatives are scouring the electoral landscape with the same vehemence as anyone else contesting the elections.&nbsp;

In the big states, as is now apparent after three phases of elections, it is by no chance just BJP vs the Congress; remember India is a federal country and the elections, in a larger sense, represent a series of smaller polls - even downright local rivalries - that will determine the kind of government Indians can hope to see after May 23.

As a matter of fact, none of the big poll-bound states pit BJP vs the Congress. In Bengal, it is Trinamool and Mamata Banerjee vs the rest; in the biggest state of them all, Uttar Pradesh, it is mainly BJP vs two regional satraps, SP and the BSP. In Maharashtra, BJP-Sena are battling Congress and NCP while in Bihar, it is JD (U)-BJP against RJD and Congress from the outside. In Tamil Nadu, there is no BJP vs Congress fight, neither is there any Congress vs BJP standoff in Odisha, where again a regional outfit, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has been calling the shots for the last decade-and-a-half.&nbsp;

Neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are once again dominated by regional parties, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) respectively.&nbsp;

If there is a real Congress vs BJP poll battle, it remains confined to MP, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Assam and Gujarat. It is simply too small a base to call an Indian election presidential, given the size of the country. So where pray, is this magnificent, all-consuming presidential elections taking place? Not in India, to be sure.

There is another side to this. The risk of pitting Rahul against Modi is to conjure, farcically, of course, a highly unequal contest. Taken to its logical conclusion, it is a signal to the electorate that if Rahul cannot beat Modi, no one else can, while the reality is that a carefully calibrated opposition plan could have made the BJP’s well oiled electoral machine a little slower in its response time. That it may not happen now, is part of this problem of projecting an excessively presidential style of polling, when none actually exists on the ground.

Even though it can be said that Prime Minister Modi’s campaign style is typically presidential, overflowing with speeches, perhaps more than his own party or even the opposition. In true presidential fashion, the focus remains on the principal contender, who is larger than life, not just for the public, but also for the media.

Modi’s campaign style is excessively personal. There are barely any references to the BJP - in fact the punch line for election 2019 is ‘Phir ek baar Modi sarkar’ (Modi government again); in 2014, it was ‘Abki baar Modi sarkar’ (Modi government this time). Campaign Modi is, therefore, the end product of a complex web of back end outreach initiatives, nearly totally technology driven. &nbsp;&nbsp;

With such an onerous comparison, Rahul Gandhi has had no option but to imitate a presidential style campaign and the jury is still out whether it suits him or not. &nbsp;

However, that is where the comparison ends, because the Constitution of the country dictates the style of government and not the style of the practitioners. Perhaps, more clarity on it would come, once the poll results are known.&nbsp;

Unlike a presidential campaign, there are powerful regional satraps, who dominate India’s political landscape in their own bailiwick, campaigning ceaselessly, against both Modi and occasionally, the Congress.

The BJP’s fight, as the final numbers will bear out, is going to be against the powerful regional satraps, and not the Congress, as is being incorrectly projected. &nbsp;

A presidential election would necessarily mean high-velocity televised debates while in India, such arguments are the prerogative of television studios, where a number of low ranking leaders looking to make a mark, flex their muscles at each other, the higher the decibel level the better the entertainment. Direct polemics between leading political lights is not just uncommon, it is not even heard of. Speeches delivered are extempore at different locations and there is no question of anyone raising any point of order. Everyone on stage is a fellow traveller, so any dissension, as a form of political expression, simply does not exist. &nbsp;

Politically speaking, when and if an alliance is cobbled, then the presidential aspect would not come into the picture. It would not be an alliance between two big parties, but two big political formations. Parties, with wide ideological divergences in the past, would suddenly deem it fit to form a government, once an alliance is put into place. &nbsp;By May 23, India would undoubtedly be as far away from a presidential system as it ever has been.&nbsp; 
 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the<a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-misnomer-of-presidential-polls-2744048"> original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

When poll pundits call the ongoing general election presidential, they are missing the woods for the trees. It is one thing for shrill TV channels to split the screen and show PM Narendra Modi in one part and Rahul Gandhi in the other, it is quite another to start believing your own rhetoric and brand the poll presidential, as if two leading political behemoths are stalking the land.

When poll pundits call the ongoing general election presidential, they are missing the woods for the trees. It is one thing for shrill TV channels to split the screen and show PM Narendra Modi in one part and Rahul Gandhi in the other, it is quite another to start believing your own rhetoric and brand the poll presidential, as if two leading political behemoths are stalking the land. The reality is far from it. The Indian election system is not presidential, constitutionally speaking, and that is the way it stands. The real battle for the hearts and minds of the voters is not just being fought between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, but a clutch of regional parties, that do not necessarily have the same high profile as the two national parties, but whose representatives are scouring the electoral landscape with the same vehemence as anyone else contesting the elections. In the big states, as is now apparent after three phases of elections, it is by no chance just BJP vs the Congress; remember India is a federal country and the elections, in a larger sense, represent a series of smaller polls - even downright local rivalries - that will determine the kind of government Indians can hope to see after May 23. As a matter of fact, none of the big poll-bound states pit BJP vs the Congress. In Bengal, it is Trinamool and Mamata Banerjee vs the rest; in the biggest state of them all, Uttar Pradesh, it is mainly BJP vs two regional satraps, SP and the BSP. In Maharashtra, BJP-Sena are battling Congress and NCP while in Bihar, it is JD (U)-BJP against RJD and Congress from the outside. In Tamil Nadu, there is no BJP vs Congress fight, neither is there any Congress vs BJP standoff in Odisha, where again a regional outfit, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has been calling the shots for the last decade-and-a-half. Neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are once again dominated by regional parties, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) respectively. If there is a real Congress vs BJP poll battle, it remains confined to MP, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Assam and Gujarat. It is simply too small a base to call an Indian election presidential, given the size of the country. So where pray, is this magnificent, all-consuming presidential elections taking place? Not in India, to be sure. There is another side to this. The risk of pitting Rahul against Modi is to conjure, farcically, of course, a highly unequal contest. Taken to its logical conclusion, it is a signal to the electorate that if Rahul cannot beat Modi, no one else can, while the reality is that a carefully calibrated opposition plan could have made the BJP’s well oiled electoral machine a little slower in its response time. That it may not happen now, is part of this problem of projecting an excessively presidential style of polling, when none actually exists on the ground. Even though it can be said that Prime Minister Modi’s campaign style is typically presidential, overflowing with speeches, perhaps more than his own party or even the opposition. In true presidential fashion, the focus remains on the principal contender, who is larger than life, not just for the public, but also for the media. Modi’s campaign style is excessively personal. There are barely any references to the BJP - in fact the punch line for election 2019 is ‘Phir ek baar Modi sarkar’ (Modi government again); in 2014, it was ‘Abki baar Modi sarkar’ (Modi government this time). Campaign Modi is, therefore, the end product of a complex web of back end outreach initiatives, nearly totally technology driven. With such an onerous comparison, Rahul Gandhi has had no option but to imitate a presidential style campaign and the jury is still out whether it suits him or not. However, that is where the comparison ends, because the Constitution of the country dictates the style of government and not the style of the practitioners. Perhaps, more clarity on it would come, once the poll results are known. Unlike a presidential campaign, there are powerful regional satraps, who dominate India’s political landscape in their own bailiwick, campaigning ceaselessly, against both Modi and occasionally, the Congress. The BJP’s fight, as the final numbers will bear out, is going to be against the powerful regional satraps, and not the Congress, as is being incorrectly projected. A presidential election would necessarily mean high-velocity televised debates while in India, such arguments are the prerogative of television studios, where a number of low ranking leaders looking to make a mark, flex their muscles at each other, the higher the decibel level the better the entertainment. Direct polemics between leading political lights is not just uncommon, it is not even heard of. Speeches delivered are extempore at different locations and there is no question of anyone raising any point of order. Everyone on stage is a fellow traveller, so any dissension, as a form of political expression, simply does not exist. Politically speaking, when and if an alliance is cobbled, then the presidential aspect would not come into the picture. It would not be an alliance between two big parties, but two big political formations. Parties, with wide ideological divergences in the past, would suddenly deem it fit to form a government, once an alliance is put into place. By May 23, India would undoubtedly be as far away from a presidential system as it ever has been. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

It's no way just BJP vs Congress as regional satraps dominate India’s political landscape

The 4th phase of the Lok Sabha election 2019 has been summed up. Congress in the assembly elections last year gained momentum upon which they were building their path to win General elections 2019. But is that so?

Lok Sabha election 2019: Will Congress' assembly poll momentum work?

4th phase of The Lok Sabha election 2019 has been summed up. Watch big battles for the 4th phase of polls.

Lok Sabha election 2019: Watch big battles for the 4th phase of polls

Lok Sabha election 2019 reaches its half-way mark with voting in the fourth of seven phases taking place across 72 constituencies where 961 candidates are in the fray. Watch this video to know more.

Lok Sabha Election 2019: Big ticket battles in phase 4

Lok Sabha Polls: India votes in phase 4 of General Polls

Lok Sabha Polls: Voting underway for 6 Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai

A Patna Court on Saturday summoned Congress president Rahul Gandhi to appear before it on May 20, in connection with a defamation suit filed against him by Bihar deputy chief minister and BJP leader Sushil Modi.

The summon was issued to the Congress president in response to the allegations made by the deputy chief minister, who had taken exception to Mr Gandhi's remark "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/criminal-complaint-filed-against-rahul-gandhi-for-making-allegedly-derogatory-remarks-on-pm-modi-211455">all thieves have the surname Modi</a>" at a political rally.

The Congress president had made the remarks in Kollar district of Karnataka seeking to underscore the alleged laxity of the Narendra Modi government in pursuing corruption cases against diamantaire Nirav Modi and former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, both of whom have fled the country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/case-filed-against-rahul-gandhi-tejashwi-yadav-for-asking-crowd-to-raise-chowkidar-chor-hai-slogan-213931">Case filed against Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav for asking crowd to raise 'chowkidar chor hai' slogan</a>

Addressing a rally in Maharashtra's Nanded on April 15, Rahul had again targetted 'Modi ' and said how come all "thieves" have Modi as the common surname.

"But tell me one thing...Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi...how come they all have Modi as a common name. How come all the thieves have Modi as the common name?" Gandhi had said.&nbsp;

The Bihar deputy chief minister on Friday appeared before the court alleging that since he shared the same surname, he felt humiliated and ridiculed by the Congress chief's remark and that it was tantamount to defamation.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Shashikant Roy, while transferring the matter for further hearing to the court of additional CJM Kumar Gunjan, directed Rahul Gandhi to appear in person on the next date of hearing on May 20.

(With inputs from agencies)

A Patna Court on Saturday summoned Congress president Rahul Gandhi to appear before it on May 20, in connection with a defamation suit filed against him by Bihar deputy chief minister and BJP leader Sushil Modi.

A Patna Court on Saturday summoned Congress president Rahul Gandhi to appear before it on May 20, in connection with a defamation suit filed against him by Bihar deputy chief minister and BJP leader Sushil Modi. The summon was issued to the Congress president in response to the allegations made by the deputy chief minister, who had taken exception to Mr Gandhi's remark "all thieves have the surname Modi" at a political rally. The Congress president had made the remarks in Kollar district of Karnataka seeking to underscore the alleged laxity of the Narendra Modi government in pursuing corruption cases against diamantaire Nirav Modi and former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, both of whom have fled the country. Also read: Case filed against Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav for asking crowd to raise 'chowkidar chor hai' slogan Addressing a rally in Maharashtra's Nanded on April 15, Rahul had again targetted 'Modi ' and said how come all "thieves" have Modi as the common surname. "But tell me one thing...Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi...how come they all have Modi as a common name. How come all the thieves have Modi as the common name?" Gandhi had said. The Bihar deputy chief minister on Friday appeared before the court alleging that since he shared the same surname, he felt humiliated and ridiculed by the Congress chief's remark and that it was tantamount to defamation. Chief Judicial Magistrate Shashikant Roy, while transferring the matter for further hearing to the court of additional CJM Kumar Gunjan, directed Rahul Gandhi to appear in person on the next date of hearing on May 20. (With inputs from agencies)

Bihar court issues summons to Rahul Gandhi in defamation case

In this segment, we brings to a survey report that suggests Jobs, health care are the top priorities for voters. Watch full video to know more.

India Election Watch: Jobs, health care top priorities for reveals survey

In this segment, we brings Answers to Frequently Asked Questions in Election season. Watch full video to know more.

India Election Watch: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions in Election season

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been summoned by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court&nbsp;on June 7 for his alleged "scorpion" remark against PM Modi.

Tharoor had <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ravi-shankar-prasad-hits-out-at-shashi-tharoor-over-shiv-linga-remarks-174058">stirred up a controversy</a> in October last year after he had claimed that an unnamed RSS source had told a journalist that Prime Minister Modi was like a scorpion sitting on a Shiv Linga who cannot be removed by hand or hit with a chappal (slipper).

Speaking at the Bengaluru Literature Festival in October, Tharoor had said, "There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, who expressed their frustration to curb Modi - 'Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a 'shivling'. You can't remove him with your hand and you cannot hit it with a 'chappal'&nbsp;(slipper) either."&nbsp;

Tharoor had made the&nbsp;remarks&nbsp;at the launch&nbsp;of his book "The Paradoxical Prime Minister: Narendra Modi And His India" at the Bengaluru Literature Festival.

(With inputs from ANI)

&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been summoned by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on June 7 for his alleged "scorpion" remark against PM Modi. Tharoor had stirred up a controversy in October last year after he had claimed that an unnamed RSS source had told a journalist that Prime Minister Modi was like a scorpion sitting on a Shiv Linga who cannot be removed by hand or hit with a chappal (slipper).

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been summoned by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on June 7 for his alleged "scorpion" remark against PM Modi. Tharoor had stirred up a controversy in October last year after he had claimed that an unnamed RSS source had told a journalist that Prime Minister Modi was like a scorpion sitting on a Shiv Linga who cannot be removed by hand or hit with a chappal (slipper). Speaking at the Bengaluru Literature Festival in October, Tharoor had said, "There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, who expressed their frustration to curb Modi - 'Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a 'shivling'. You can't remove him with your hand and you cannot hit it with a 'chappal' (slipper) either." Tharoor had made the remarks at the launch of his book "The Paradoxical Prime Minister: Narendra Modi And His India" at the Bengaluru Literature Festival. (With inputs from ANI)

Court issues summons to Shashi Tharoor over his 'scorpion' remark on PM Modi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted on Friday morning that his aircraft to Patna was forced to return to Delhi because of engine trouble. Watch full video to know more.

Congress chief tweets of engine trouble on flight to patna; apologises for delay in rallies

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said the Congress game plan was not to stop the BJP from forming the government at the Centre, but to come to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2022.

Akhilesh Yadav also said that his party and the BSP have sacrificed seats in the national interest.

"Our intention is clear right from the word go. We formed an alliance (with BSP and RLD) to stop the communal party and in the process, we in the SP and also the BSP had to sacrifice seats in the national interest," said Akhilesh.

But, the Congress' agenda in the ongoing parliamentary polls is not to stop the BJP from forming the next government at the Centre.

They are working for making the next UP chief minister in 2022 (when the next assembly polls are due), Akhilesh&nbsp;added.

His no holds barred attack came days after he lashed out at the Congress for its "too big ego".

The SP chief's remarks assume significance against the backdrop of Congress president Rahul Gandhi himself asserting that his party will form the government at the Centre and that "after the Lok Sabha polls, the next target was (UP) assembly elections (in 2022) to ensure that the state is at the top in education, health and employment as before."

Maintaining that his alliance with the BSP and the RLD is "strong", Akhilesh said, "Both the parties have sacrificed for the sake of the country.

''We have given up half of our seats only to ensure the communal BJP did not return to power again", Akhilesh said.

When asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's prediction that the SP-BSP alliance will crack the moment election results are out on May 23, Akhilesh said, "What has the BJP got to do with it? Why are they bothered? In UP we are strong and the BJP is nowhere. And this is the ground reality. They are trailing far behind the alliance."

Asked to comment on Modi terming the alliance as "maha milawat", Akhilesh retorted, "What should we call their (BJP) alliance with 38 parties? We are contesting on core issues and people have seen hope in our alliance."

Trashing Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's statement that complaints about EVM malfunctioning across the state by the SP show that it has sensed defeat after the third phase of polls, Akhilesh said, "He could not become CM.

''He is still under training. He did not get a helicopter for campaigning for three days. He is nobody in the party", Akhilesh&nbsp;added.

"There are large scale discrepancies in EVM machines in Rampur, Badaun and Mainpuri too. Hundreds of EVMs malfunctioned. Is this not serious?" the former UP CM shot back.

About BJP's campaign targeting corruption during previous SP and BSP regimes, Akhilesh said, "They (BJP) did not have any development issues to raise. Why are they not taking action if there is an anomaly in previous regime works? Who is stopping them?"

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said the Congress game plan was not to stop the BJP from forming the government at the Centre, but to come to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2022.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said the Congress game plan was not to stop the BJP from forming the government at the Centre, but to come to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2022. Akhilesh Yadav also said that his party and the BSP have sacrificed seats in the national interest. "Our intention is clear right from the word go. We formed an alliance (with BSP and RLD) to stop the communal party and in the process, we in the SP and also the BSP had to sacrifice seats in the national interest," said Akhilesh. But, the Congress' agenda in the ongoing parliamentary polls is not to stop the BJP from forming the next government at the Centre. They are working for making the next UP chief minister in 2022 (when the next assembly polls are due), Akhilesh added. His no holds barred attack came days after he lashed out at the Congress for its "too big ego". The SP chief's remarks assume significance against the backdrop of Congress president Rahul Gandhi himself asserting that his party will form the government at the Centre and that "after the Lok Sabha polls, the next target was (UP) assembly elections (in 2022) to ensure that the state is at the top in education, health and employment as before." Maintaining that his alliance with the BSP and the RLD is "strong", Akhilesh said, "Both the parties have sacrificed for the sake of the country. ''We have given up half of our seats only to ensure the communal BJP did not return to power again", Akhilesh said. When asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's prediction that the SP-BSP alliance will crack the moment election results are out on May 23, Akhilesh said, "What has the BJP got to do with it? Why are they bothered? In UP we are strong and the BJP is nowhere. And this is the ground reality. They are trailing far behind the alliance." Asked to comment on Modi terming the alliance as "maha milawat", Akhilesh retorted, "What should we call their (BJP) alliance with 38 parties? We are contesting on core issues and people have seen hope in our alliance." Trashing Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's statement that complaints about EVM malfunctioning across the state by the SP show that it has sensed defeat after the third phase of polls, Akhilesh said, "He could not become CM. ''He is still under training. He did not get a helicopter for campaigning for three days. He is nobody in the party", Akhilesh added. "There are large scale discrepancies in EVM machines in Rampur, Badaun and Mainpuri too. Hundreds of EVMs malfunctioned. Is this not serious?" the former UP CM shot back. About BJP's campaign targeting corruption during previous SP and BSP regimes, Akhilesh said, "They (BJP) did not have any development issues to raise. Why are they not taking action if there is an anomaly in previous regime works? Who is stopping them?"

Congress more keen on forming government in UP in 2022, rather than halting BJP: Akhilesh Yadav

BJP's Om Birla and Congress' Ramnarayan Meena will be up in the key contest in Kota constituency. In the 4th phase, a total of 71 seats across 8 states will witness Lok Sabha election 2019.

WION Gravitas: Big ticket battles in phase 4

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding a grand roadshow in Varanasi, a day before he files the nomination papers from the Lok Sabha seat. Watch this video to know more.

WION Gravitas: PM Modi holds mega roadshow in Varanasi

India’s grand opposition Congress party seems to be inflicted with conspicuous confusion with very little clarity on the direction it wants to move. Amidst its bid to arrest the sagging fortunes and improve its presence, the party is simultaneously conspiring for the defeat of the National Democratic Alliance government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). There is an old proverb: “One foot cannot stand on two boats.” And that is precisely what the Congress is doing. Can the Congress take on the ruling party when it itself is struggling to regain the space it ceded to the BJP and other regional parties in the last few years?

If the Congress has failed to stitch together an effective counter-alliance to the NDA, it is because of its refusal to give room to smaller but growing parties fearing further erosion in its shrinking base. As a result, not only did it miss the opportunity to be part of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in Uttar Pradesh, it is facing alliance blues in other states as well. The classic case is of Sharad Pawar-led National Congress party (NCP), which has been steadfastly associated with the Congress, has chosen to go it alone in Gujarat even though the two parties have pledged to contest together in Maharashtra. There is no doubt that with NCP choosing to contest all the 26 parliamentary seats in Gujarat, there will be a division of votes, which will ultimately benefit the BJP.

In fact, it was Sharad Pawar who had first taken the initiative to form a “Mahagathbandhan” of opposition parties to take on the ruling alliance. But his idea could not materialise as the Congress was not ready to play second fiddle to some parties which had grown in stature. The Congress, which was wiped out from Delhi in both the assembly and parliamentary elections, lacked maturity in entering into any understanding with the Aam Aadmi Party which also wanted the alliance in both Punjab and Haryana besides Delhi. But the Congress, which snatched power from the BJP-SAD alliance in Punjab and lost ground to the BJP in Haryana, did not want to share space with AAP which was spreading its wings there. As a result, what we see is a loosely-knit alliance led by Congress party with smaller parties in some states.&nbsp;

It reflects very poorly on the leadership of the Congress, which is not sagacious enough to come out of its shadow. Congress president Rahul Gandhi should realise that his party is not in a position to command a premium on its value. Had he been sensible and could see the writing on the wall; he would have gone ahead to accommodate as many parties which still wanted a solid and credible opposition alliance? The problem with the Congress leadership is that it wants to have the cake and eat it too. That’s not only practical but impossible also.

If the NDA alliance has been largely successful, it is due to the open-heartedness of the principal party, the BJP, which has been careful in creating a non-disturbing environment for smaller and regional parties. While continuing to pursue its agenda of maximising its reach in states where it does not have much influence, the BJP has been wise enough to enter into an alliance with regional parties.&nbsp;

With the Congress not having the stomach to accommodate the interests of other parties, it would have been better had it gone alone with an aim to improve its reach and tally. The Congress, which recorded its worst performance in the last general elections bagging just 44 seats, could corner only 19.5 per cent of votes then. Before it recovered some ground by winning state elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh last year, the Congress was only ruling Punjab and sharing power in Karnataka. The party showed some signs of recovery last year when elections to nine states – Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana – were held in 2018. Of the 1082 seats in these states, the Congress won 414 seats whereas the BJP won 355 seats.

The ideal strategy for Congress would have been to recoup and revitalise its organisation before going overboard with the aggressive approach of dislodging the Modi government. It has scored a self-goal by compromising with its prime objective of reviving the almost moribund party and simultaneously working to remove the present government. It is this confusion which has prevented it from allying with potential parties leading to three-cornered contests in several constituencies which is only going to help the BJP. In a nutshell, the present is tense and the future uncertain for the oldest political party.&nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

India’s grand opposition Congress party seems to be inflicted with conspicuous confusion with very little clarity on the direction it wants to move. Amidst its bid to arrest the sagging fortunes and improve its presence, the party is simultaneously conspiring for the defeat of the National Democratic Alliance government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

India’s grand opposition Congress party seems to be inflicted with conspicuous confusion with very little clarity on the direction it wants to move. Amidst its bid to arrest the sagging fortunes and improve its presence, the party is simultaneously conspiring for the defeat of the National Democratic Alliance government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). There is an old proverb: “One foot cannot stand on two boats.” And that is precisely what the Congress is doing. Can the Congress take on the ruling party when it itself is struggling to regain the space it ceded to the BJP and other regional parties in the last few years? If the Congress has failed to stitch together an effective counter-alliance to the NDA, it is because of its refusal to give room to smaller but growing parties fearing further erosion in its shrinking base. As a result, not only did it miss the opportunity to be part of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in Uttar Pradesh, it is facing alliance blues in other states as well. The classic case is of Sharad Pawar-led National Congress party (NCP), which has been steadfastly associated with the Congress, has chosen to go it alone in Gujarat even though the two parties have pledged to contest together in Maharashtra. There is no doubt that with NCP choosing to contest all the 26 parliamentary seats in Gujarat, there will be a division of votes, which will ultimately benefit the BJP. In fact, it was Sharad Pawar who had first taken the initiative to form a “Mahagathbandhan” of opposition parties to take on the ruling alliance. But his idea could not materialise as the Congress was not ready to play second fiddle to some parties which had grown in stature. The Congress, which was wiped out from Delhi in both the assembly and parliamentary elections, lacked maturity in entering into any understanding with the Aam Aadmi Party which also wanted the alliance in both Punjab and Haryana besides Delhi. But the Congress, which snatched power from the BJP-SAD alliance in Punjab and lost ground to the BJP in Haryana, did not want to share space with AAP which was spreading its wings there. As a result, what we see is a loosely-knit alliance led by Congress party with smaller parties in some states. It reflects very poorly on the leadership of the Congress, which is not sagacious enough to come out of its shadow. Congress president Rahul Gandhi should realise that his party is not in a position to command a premium on its value. Had he been sensible and could see the writing on the wall; he would have gone ahead to accommodate as many parties which still wanted a solid and credible opposition alliance? The problem with the Congress leadership is that it wants to have the cake and eat it too. That’s not only practical but impossible also. If the NDA alliance has been largely successful, it is due to the open-heartedness of the principal party, the BJP, which has been careful in creating a non-disturbing environment for smaller and regional parties. While continuing to pursue its agenda of maximising its reach in states where it does not have much influence, the BJP has been wise enough to enter into an alliance with regional parties. With the Congress not having the stomach to accommodate the interests of other parties, it would have been better had it gone alone with an aim to improve its reach and tally. The Congress, which recorded its worst performance in the last general elections bagging just 44 seats, could corner only 19.5 per cent of votes then. Before it recovered some ground by winning state elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh last year, the Congress was only ruling Punjab and sharing power in Karnataka. The party showed some signs of recovery last year when elections to nine states – Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana – were held in 2018. Of the 1082 seats in these states, the Congress won 414 seats whereas the BJP won 355 seats. The ideal strategy for Congress would have been to recoup and revitalise its organisation before going overboard with the aggressive approach of dislodging the Modi government. It has scored a self-goal by compromising with its prime objective of reviving the almost moribund party and simultaneously working to remove the present government. It is this confusion which has prevented it from allying with potential parties leading to three-cornered contests in several constituencies which is only going to help the BJP. In a nutshell, the present is tense and the future uncertain for the oldest political party. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Congress's woes: Present tense and future uncertain

Congress on Thursday ended all speculation around party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contesting Lok Sabha Election from Varanasi constituency. Watch this video to know more.

WION Gravitas: No Modi vs Priyanka in Varanasi as Congress names Ajay Rai as its candidate

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi, where thousands gathered welcomed him wholeheartedly. The Prime Minister first garlanded the statue of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya and has now begun his mega roadshow. Watch this video to know more.

Modi's Mega Roadshow: PM gets rousing welcome in Varanasi

In politics, a strong challenge is never received lightly and if it comes across as a fake call, then the person is not taken seriously thereafter.

Priyanka Gandhi by maintaining the suspense on her candidature from Varanasi’s Lok Sabha seat has made a serious error which she must avoid in future or her image would coalesce into a politician who is all thunder sans rain.&nbsp;

In past, politicians like Arjun Singh and Sharad Pawar suffered the same fate. After a point in time, none of them was taken seriously as contenders in Delhi. Similarly, it may boomerang in the long run for Priyanka Gandhi too.&nbsp;

She allowed Congress to gain space in media but ended up giving a handle to BJP in the last 4 phases of elections.

Henceforth, the attack on Congress would be brutal and direct. Priyanka Gandhi will be attacked for not having a stomach for a strong political fight.&nbsp;

What prompted Priyanka to keep people guessing remains a mystery but even Congress party president Rahul Gandhi did nothing to clear the fog. He participated in it by stating that he would like to keep the suspense on. It did not work. It fuelled the expectations which were not met, eventually, disappointing many.

The issue is as to what was the thinking behind keeping the suspense on? Did Congress develop cold feet in the end? Did &nbsp;Rahul Gandhi overrule her on the ground that she cannot give a fight to Narendra Modi and her loss would affect both party and her career? &nbsp;Lastly, why did it take Congress a month to realise that Modi is unbeatable in Varanasi? Was it not visible right at the start of the election campaign? Did a real possibility exist on the ground to defeat Modi? My take is that no such circumstances ever existed but even then Priyanka Gandhi Vadra sought suggestions from her constituents during her meeting in Amethi and Raebareli on fighting from Varanasi. 
 
Whatever may be the real reason, it is not available to media. In its absence, BJP will make Priyanka’s exit an electoral issue. BJP now can go to town shouting that Priyanka Vadra shied away from the big battle of Uttar Pradesh.

The discourse will be shifted from her charismatic appeal and being natural to her inability to stand up to a strong challenge. This will invite a focus on the top leadership of the Congress and fuel discourse that ‘family’ &nbsp;cannot look beyond safe seats. It will also make Gandhi's look less serious in public discussion. Priyanka in 2012 had once said, "Main Aaun Kya." She did not. It has happened again.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

In politics, a strong challenge is never received lightly and if it comes across as a fake call, then the person is not taken seriously thereafter. Priyanka Gandhi by maintaining the suspense on her candidature from Varanasi’s Lok Sabha seat has made a serious error which she must avoid in future or her image would coalesce into a politician who is all thunder sans rain.

In politics, a strong challenge is never received lightly and if it comes across as a fake call, then the person is not taken seriously thereafter. Priyanka Gandhi by maintaining the suspense on her candidature from Varanasi’s Lok Sabha seat has made a serious error which she must avoid in future or her image would coalesce into a politician who is all thunder sans rain. In past, politicians like Arjun Singh and Sharad Pawar suffered the same fate. After a point in time, none of them was taken seriously as contenders in Delhi. Similarly, it may boomerang in the long run for Priyanka Gandhi too. She allowed Congress to gain space in media but ended up giving a handle to BJP in the last 4 phases of elections. Henceforth, the attack on Congress would be brutal and direct. Priyanka Gandhi will be attacked for not having a stomach for a strong political fight. What prompted Priyanka to keep people guessing remains a mystery but even Congress party president Rahul Gandhi did nothing to clear the fog. He participated in it by stating that he would like to keep the suspense on. It did not work. It fuelled the expectations which were not met, eventually, disappointing many. The issue is as to what was the thinking behind keeping the suspense on? Did Congress develop cold feet in the end? Did Rahul Gandhi overrule her on the ground that she cannot give a fight to Narendra Modi and her loss would affect both party and her career? Lastly, why did it take Congress a month to realise that Modi is unbeatable in Varanasi? Was it not visible right at the start of the election campaign? Did a real possibility exist on the ground to defeat Modi? My take is that no such circumstances ever existed but even then Priyanka Gandhi Vadra sought suggestions from her constituents during her meeting in Amethi and Raebareli on fighting from Varanasi. Whatever may be the real reason, it is not available to media. In its absence, BJP will make Priyanka’s exit an electoral issue. BJP now can go to town shouting that Priyanka Vadra shied away from the big battle of Uttar Pradesh. The discourse will be shifted from her charismatic appeal and being natural to her inability to stand up to a strong challenge. This will invite a focus on the top leadership of the Congress and fuel discourse that ‘family’ cannot look beyond safe seats. It will also make Gandhi's look less serious in public discussion. Priyanka in 2012 had once said, "Main Aaun Kya." She did not. It has happened again. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Disappointing many, Priyanka Gandhi's suspense game gives BJP a political handle

Watch this segment of India Election Watch for latest updates of India Election as on 23rd April 2019.

India Election Watch; 23rd April 2019

Heavy security forces have been deployed in Anantnag of Jammu & Kashmir for peaceful voting of Phase 3 of Lok Sabha Election 2019. There are total 18 candidates in fray for this Lok Sabha seat.

Lok Sabha Election 2019: Heavy security forces in Anantnag of J&K for peaceful voting

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