Leaders of BIMSTEC or Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation are set to attend the oath-taking ceremony of prime minister-designate &nbsp;Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhawan on May 30 at 7pm.&nbsp;

The ministry of external affairs in a release said, "Government of India has invited the leaders of the BIMSTEC member states for the Swearing-in ceremony. This is in line with the government's focus on its 'Neighbourhood First' policy."

Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal &amp; Bhutan are the BIMSTEC member states.

Modi had participated in the 4th BIMSTEC summit which took place in Kathmandu last year. India had also called all the BIMSTEC leaders for a retreat in Goa in 2016 when India hosted the BRICS summit.

India's focus has been BIMSTEC since the cancellation of the SAARC summit in 2016. India along with Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives had boycotted the summit in Islamabad in the aftermath of Uri terror attack.&nbsp;

Heads of Bangladesh and&nbsp;Thailand won't be attending the ceremony due to prior engagement of Sheikh Hasina and government&nbsp;formation in Thailand.

Bangladesh will be represented by President Abdul Hamid.

India has also invited President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov, who is the current Chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth, who was the Chief Guest at this year's Pravasi Bhartiya Divas.

PM Modi will be going to Kyrgyzstan in June for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

At his oath-taking ceremony in 2014, Modi had invited all heads of state of SAARC countries. PM of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay, Nepal PM Sushil Koirala, PM of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and speaker of Bangladesh's Jatiyo Sangshad Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury attended the oath-taking ceremony as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was on another planned visit.&nbsp;

Only Bangladesh's PM Hasina remains in office while all other countries have seen a change of guard.&nbsp;

Leaders of BIMSTEC or Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation are set to attend the oath-taking ceremony of prime minister-designate Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhawan on May 30 at 7pm.

Leaders of BIMSTEC or Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation are set to attend the oath-taking ceremony of prime minister-designate Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhawan on May 30 at 7pm. The ministry of external affairs in a release said, "Government of India has invited the leaders of the BIMSTEC member states for the Swearing-in ceremony. This is in line with the government's focus on its 'Neighbourhood First' policy." Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal & Bhutan are the BIMSTEC member states. Modi had participated in the 4th BIMSTEC summit which took place in Kathmandu last year. India had also called all the BIMSTEC leaders for a retreat in Goa in 2016 when India hosted the BRICS summit. India's focus has been BIMSTEC since the cancellation of the SAARC summit in 2016. India along with Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives had boycotted the summit in Islamabad in the aftermath of Uri terror attack. Heads of Bangladesh and Thailand won't be attending the ceremony due to prior engagement of Sheikh Hasina and government formation in Thailand. Bangladesh will be represented by President Abdul Hamid. India has also invited President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov, who is the current Chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth, who was the Chief Guest at this year's Pravasi Bhartiya Divas. PM Modi will be going to Kyrgyzstan in June for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. At his oath-taking ceremony in 2014, Modi had invited all heads of state of SAARC countries. PM of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay, Nepal PM Sushil Koirala, PM of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and speaker of Bangladesh's Jatiyo Sangshad Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury attended the oath-taking ceremony as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was on another planned visit. Only Bangladesh's PM Hasina remains in office while all other countries have seen a change of guard.

BIMSTEC leaders to attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony in Delhi on May 30

Faced with a colossal electoral defeat, the Congress was on Monday riven by internal turmoil with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/dont-want-any-post-want-to-work-for-partys-ideology-rahul-gandhi-221816">Rahul Gandhi insisting on quitting</a> as party president while its governments in Rajasthan and Karnataka teetered on the brink.&nbsp;

In the midst of the disquiet, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/punjab-congress-chief-sunil-jakhar-resigns-after-defeat-221988">several state Congress chiefs</a>, including Punjab's Sunil Jakhar, Jharkhand's Ajoy Kumar and Assam's Ripun Bora, also offered to resign following the party's drubbing in the elections, party insiders said.&nbsp;

Congress sources said Gandhi is insisting on resigning his post and is understood to have conveyed to several leaders that it is time for the grand old party to look for a new chief.&nbsp;

The Congress won only 52 out of 542 parliamentary seats in the Lok Sabha polls, just six more than its 2014 tally. The party could not open its account in 18 states and union territories.

Taking responsibility for the defeat, Gandhi on Saturday offered to resign as party president at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest decision-making body of the party, but it was "unanimously rejected".&nbsp;

At the CWC meeting, Gandhi accused three senior leaders -- Ashok Gehlot, Kamal Nath and P Chidambaram -- of placing their sons above the party.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Rahul adamant on resignation, wants a non-Gandhi as next Congress president

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rahul-adamant-on-resignation-wants-a-non-gandhi-as-next-congress-president-221657/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

His sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the entire top brass of the party left Rahul Gandhi alone to fight it out against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. &nbsp; &nbsp;

As the party grapples with a severe existential crisis, its governments in both Karnataka and Rajasthan face a tough time with reports suggesting the BJP may try to wrest power in both states.

It is learnt that Congress legislators Ramesh Jarkiholi and Dr Sudhakar visited BJP leader S M Krishna's residence in Bengaluru on Sunday along with several other BJP leaders and they are understood to have deliberated on dethroning the incumbent dispensation.

Sources said a number of Congress legislators in Karnataka are understood to be unhappy over the party's electoral loss.

In Rajasthan, there have been reports of internal turmoil with several ministers demanding fixing of accountability and seeking action against those responsible for the poll debacle in the state.

The Congress drew a blank in Rajasthan as the NDA won all 25 seats. In Karnataka, where it formed a government with the JD(S) in May last year, the Congress managed to win only one Lok Sabha seat out of 28.

The party was crushed in most of the 29 states, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, where it had defeated BJP in the assembly polls in December.&nbsp;

As crisis beset the opposition party, its chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Monday urged everyone to respect the sanctity of the CWC meeting and asked the media not to fall into the trap of "conjectures, insinuations, gossip and rumour-mongering".

Surjewala said it is a democratic forum for exchange of ideas and taking corrective action. It was a "closed-door" meeting and any speculation about it was unwarranted and uncalled for, he added.

He was reacting to news reports about happenings at the May 25 meeting, the first of the CWC after the Congress's humiliating defeat in the parliamentary polls.

"The Congress party expects everyone, including the media, to respect the sanctity of a closed-door meeting of the CWC. Various conjectures, speculation, insinuations, assumptions, gossip and rumour-mongering in a section of the media is uncalled for and unwarranted.

"The CWC held a collective deliberation on the performance of the party, the challenges before it as also the way ahead, instead of casting aspersions on the role or conduct of any specific individual. The gist of the deliberations was made public in the CWC resolution of May 25, 2019," the Congress leader said in a statement.

Faced with a colossal electoral defeat, the Congress was on Monday riven by internal turmoil with Rahul Gandhi insisting on quitting as party president while its governments in Rajasthan and Karnataka teetered on the brink.

Faced with a colossal electoral defeat, the Congress was on Monday riven by internal turmoil with Rahul Gandhi insisting on quitting as party president while its governments in Rajasthan and Karnataka teetered on the brink. In the midst of the disquiet, several state Congress chiefs, including Punjab's Sunil Jakhar, Jharkhand's Ajoy Kumar and Assam's Ripun Bora, also offered to resign following the party's drubbing in the elections, party insiders said. Congress sources said Gandhi is insisting on resigning his post and is understood to have conveyed to several leaders that it is time for the grand old party to look for a new chief. The Congress won only 52 out of 542 parliamentary seats in the Lok Sabha polls, just six more than its 2014 tally. The party could not open its account in 18 states and union territories. Taking responsibility for the defeat, Gandhi on Saturday offered to resign as party president at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest decision-making body of the party, but it was "unanimously rejected". At the CWC meeting, Gandhi accused three senior leaders -- Ashok Gehlot, Kamal Nath and P Chidambaram -- of placing their sons above the party. Watch: Rahul adamant on resignation, wants a non-Gandhi as next Congress president His sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the entire top brass of the party left Rahul Gandhi alone to fight it out against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As the party grapples with a severe existential crisis, its governments in both Karnataka and Rajasthan face a tough time with reports suggesting the BJP may try to wrest power in both states. It is learnt that Congress legislators Ramesh Jarkiholi and Dr Sudhakar visited BJP leader S M Krishna's residence in Bengaluru on Sunday along with several other BJP leaders and they are understood to have deliberated on dethroning the incumbent dispensation. Sources said a number of Congress legislators in Karnataka are understood to be unhappy over the party's electoral loss. In Rajasthan, there have been reports of internal turmoil with several ministers demanding fixing of accountability and seeking action against those responsible for the poll debacle in the state. The Congress drew a blank in Rajasthan as the NDA won all 25 seats. In Karnataka, where it formed a government with the JD(S) in May last year, the Congress managed to win only one Lok Sabha seat out of 28. The party was crushed in most of the 29 states, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, where it had defeated BJP in the assembly polls in December. As crisis beset the opposition party, its chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Monday urged everyone to respect the sanctity of the CWC meeting and asked the media not to fall into the trap of "conjectures, insinuations, gossip and rumour-mongering". Surjewala said it is a democratic forum for exchange of ideas and taking corrective action. It was a "closed-door" meeting and any speculation about it was unwarranted and uncalled for, he added. He was reacting to news reports about happenings at the May 25 meeting, the first of the CWC after the Congress's humiliating defeat in the parliamentary polls. "The Congress party expects everyone, including the media, to respect the sanctity of a closed-door meeting of the CWC. Various conjectures, speculation, insinuations, assumptions, gossip and rumour-mongering in a section of the media is uncalled for and unwarranted. "The CWC held a collective deliberation on the performance of the party, the challenges before it as also the way ahead, instead of casting aspersions on the role or conduct of any specific individual. The gist of the deliberations was made public in the CWC resolution of May 25, 2019," the Congress leader said in a statement.

Disquiet in Congress ranks as Rahul Gandhi insists on resigning, fate of Rajasthan and Karnataka governments uncertain

The top stars of Tamil cinema, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, have been invited for the May 30 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/banglas-hasina-wont-be-able-to-attend-modis-inauguration-for-2nd-time-222041">swearing-in of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister</a> for a second term, sources close to the stars said.

While Haasan, whose fledgeling political party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) had made its electoral debut this Lok Sabha polls, Rajinikanth is yet to formalise his December 2017 announcement on taking the political plunge.

Sources close to both actors acknowledged the two being invited to Modi's swearing-in scheduled on Thursday but did not divulge if the veterans would participate.

Incidentally, Haasan has been opposed to the BJP, even expressing joy that the saffron party which swept the Lok Sabha seats in rest of the country, did not win a single seat in Tamil Nadu, saying the state did not toe the national line.

His remarks that free India's first extremist was a Hindu, referring to Nathuram Godse who had gunned down Mahatma Gandhi, had drawn a strong reaction from the state BJP, which even moved the Election Commission, seeking action against him.

Rajinikanth, whom Modi had met in the past during his visit to the city, had in December 2017 announced that he will indeed take the political plunge, by floating a party that would contest from all the 234 Assembly seats in the state in the next general elections.

The next Assembly polls are due in 2021.

Watch:&nbsp;Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena to attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sri-lankan-president-maithripala-sirisena-to-attend-modis-swearing-in-ceremony-221542/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Incidentally, commenting on the opposition uniting against Modi last year, the superstar had said the Prime Minister was 'stronger' than 10 persons aligning against him.

"When 10 persons go against one person, who is stronger? Those 10, or the persons they are aligning against. If 10 persons declare war against one man, who is stronger," he had said then on the possibility of a mega opposition alliance against Modi.

However, the veteran star had earlier questioned the 'flawed' implementation of the Modi government's demonetisation exercise in November 2016.

Modi will be administered the oath of office for his second term along with his new council of ministers on May 30 by President Ram Nath Kovind.

He is the first BJP leader who has been elected for the second time after completion of his five-year tenure, a feat so far achieved only by two Congress leaders--Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.&nbsp;

The top stars of Tamil cinema, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, have been invited for the May 30 swearing-in of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister for a second term, sources close to the stars said.

The top stars of Tamil cinema, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, have been invited for the May 30 swearing-in of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister for a second term, sources close to the stars said. While Haasan, whose fledgeling political party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) had made its electoral debut this Lok Sabha polls, Rajinikanth is yet to formalise his December 2017 announcement on taking the political plunge. Sources close to both actors acknowledged the two being invited to Modi's swearing-in scheduled on Thursday but did not divulge if the veterans would participate. Incidentally, Haasan has been opposed to the BJP, even expressing joy that the saffron party which swept the Lok Sabha seats in rest of the country, did not win a single seat in Tamil Nadu, saying the state did not toe the national line. His remarks that free India's first extremist was a Hindu, referring to Nathuram Godse who had gunned down Mahatma Gandhi, had drawn a strong reaction from the state BJP, which even moved the Election Commission, seeking action against him. Rajinikanth, whom Modi had met in the past during his visit to the city, had in December 2017 announced that he will indeed take the political plunge, by floating a party that would contest from all the 234 Assembly seats in the state in the next general elections. The next Assembly polls are due in 2021. Watch: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena to attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony Incidentally, commenting on the opposition uniting against Modi last year, the superstar had said the Prime Minister was 'stronger' than 10 persons aligning against him. "When 10 persons go against one person, who is stronger? Those 10, or the persons they are aligning against. If 10 persons declare war against one man, who is stronger," he had said then on the possibility of a mega opposition alliance against Modi. However, the veteran star had earlier questioned the 'flawed' implementation of the Modi government's demonetisation exercise in November 2016. Modi will be administered the oath of office for his second term along with his new council of ministers on May 30 by President Ram Nath Kovind. He is the first BJP leader who has been elected for the second time after completion of his five-year tenure, a feat so far achieved only by two Congress leaders--Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.

Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan invited for swearing-in ceremony of Modi

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/your-satisfaction-is-my-lifes-mantra-pm-modi-to-varanasi-bjp-workers-221920">Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday</a> said chemistry has triumphed over poll arithmetic to give the BJP a landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections and also spoke about how his party always faced the dangers of "political untouchability" and political violence.

On a thanksgiving visit to this temple town after his victory from Varanasi parliamentary constituency for the second straight time, Modi decried the misconception that the BJP was a Hindi heartland party.

Calling himself a 'sevak' of Varanasi, Modi offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath temple that was preceded by a roadshow of sorts as his cavalcade traversed through the bylanes of this temple town amid high security with crowds lining the roads and people on rooftops trying to catch a glimpse of the man who will be sworn as prime minister for a second term on May 30.

"Political pundits are not aware that their thinking and logic is meant for the 20th century. Results show that beyond arithmetic there is chemistry and this time chemistry has triumphed over arithmetic," Modi told his electorate while thanking them profusely for their hardwork and dedication, four days after he steered the BJP to power at the Centre with a resounding victory of 303 seats in the Lok Sabha.

Modi, who will be taking oath as the prime minister for the second time on May 30, said the hat trick of victories in 2014, 2017 and 2019 -- vis-a-vis Uttar Pradesh -- is no mean achievement for the BJP.

"For the country, I am the PM, but for you, I am your MP, I am your sevak," he told the Varanasi electorate, wondering how political pundits still consider his party as that of the Hindi heartland. Modi's victory margin was over four lakh votes.

"There is no region where the BJP's poll percentage is not rising. We have government in Assam, getting elected in Ladakh yet political pundits say (our's is) Hindi heartland politics, this is a misconception that has been created," he said at the meeting of BJP workers.

Admitting that politics is about perception, Modi lamented that a wrong impression had been created about his party through lies and wrong logic.

"Because of this wrong awful perception, people do not like standing with us. But those creating bad and wrong perception can be defeated with the help of transparency and hard work. This is the strategy to trounce it," he said.

Modi also dwelled on the dangers faced by the BJP in the form of "political untouchability" and political violence.

"Take the cases of Kerala or Kashmir, Bengal or Tripura (these cases) it will not come in media. Some people have selective sensitivity. Hundreds of workers have been killed only for political ideology. In Tripura workers were hanged, in Bengal murders are still on, in Kerala too... Perhaps in India, only one political party has faced such killings. Violence has been given legitimacy. This is danger before us," he said.

"Babasaheb Bhimrao (Ambedkar) and (Mahatma) Gandhi had shunned untouchability but unfortunately, political untouchability is rising,...BJP workers were murdered," he said.

Amid such hatred, BJP's mantra remains 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' Modi said, adding that unlike others, his party has not come under the pressure of vote bank politics which has "spoiled" democracy.

The prime minister said he was also grateful to his opponents who fought against him.

Stressing on the significance of Opposition in democracy, he said: "When others come to power, there is no sign of opposition".

He cited the example of Tripura where there was no Opposition during the decades of Left rule but "now that we are in government there is a 'jaandar and shandar vipaksh'. This is the spirit of democracy."

Thanking Uttar Pradesh for showing the way for India and strengthening the foundation of a healthy democracy, the prime minister also spoke about his Kedarnath visit after the completion of polling.

"Since the people of Kashi had ordered me not to come here for a month after filing my nomination papers, I thought if not Baba in Kashi then (baba) elsewhere," he said, adding perhaps no other candidate is as satisfied or contended as he was (before the results are announced) and its reason was the confidence of Kashivasis.

Earlier, BJP president Amit Shah said Modi has only shown a glimpse of development and Kashi will turn into an amazing city in the next five years.

In the city along with the prime minister for thanking the electorate and party workers for the landslide win in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the BJP president said what a difference had come in Kashi of 2014 and today.

Watch:&nbsp;'Chemistry defeated arithmetic in 2019 LS polls', says PM Modi

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chesmistry-defeated-arithmetic-in-2019-ls-polls-pm-modi-221971/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Hinting at the SP-BSP-RLD alliance, he said some media was predicting Modi will not get clear majority but the party successfully gave a call for working on achieving 50 per cent vote share.

Both Shah and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in their speeches here, focused on the "gruelling" campaigning Modi undertook in the run-up to the general elections.

Stressing on coordination between the government and party organisation, Modi said, "the perfect synergy between the government and party organisation was a big power and the BJP has realised it."

"The Government makes policies while the organisation makes 'ranniti' (strategy). The synergy of 'niti' (policies) and 'ranniti' (strategy) is the mirror of sarkar and organisation and the country is getting its benefits," he said.

"Work and workers create wonders," he said, giving full credit for his victory to the workers at the grassroots level for creating awareness of his government's policies and programmes for the people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said chemistry has triumphed over poll arithmetic to give the BJP a landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections and also spoke about how his party always faced the dangers of "political untouchability" and political violence.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said chemistry has triumphed over poll arithmetic to give the BJP a landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections and also spoke about how his party always faced the dangers of "political untouchability" and political violence. On a thanksgiving visit to this temple town after his victory from Varanasi parliamentary constituency for the second straight time, Modi decried the misconception that the BJP was a Hindi heartland party. Calling himself a 'sevak' of Varanasi, Modi offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath temple that was preceded by a roadshow of sorts as his cavalcade traversed through the bylanes of this temple town amid high security with crowds lining the roads and people on rooftops trying to catch a glimpse of the man who will be sworn as prime minister for a second term on May 30. "Political pundits are not aware that their thinking and logic is meant for the 20th century. Results show that beyond arithmetic there is chemistry and this time chemistry has triumphed over arithmetic," Modi told his electorate while thanking them profusely for their hardwork and dedication, four days after he steered the BJP to power at the Centre with a resounding victory of 303 seats in the Lok Sabha. Modi, who will be taking oath as the prime minister for the second time on May 30, said the hat trick of victories in 2014, 2017 and 2019 -- vis-a-vis Uttar Pradesh -- is no mean achievement for the BJP. "For the country, I am the PM, but for you, I am your MP, I am your sevak," he told the Varanasi electorate, wondering how political pundits still consider his party as that of the Hindi heartland. Modi's victory margin was over four lakh votes. "There is no region where the BJP's poll percentage is not rising. We have government in Assam, getting elected in Ladakh yet political pundits say (our's is) Hindi heartland politics, this is a misconception that has been created," he said at the meeting of BJP workers. Admitting that politics is about perception, Modi lamented that a wrong impression had been created about his party through lies and wrong logic. "Because of this wrong awful perception, people do not like standing with us. But those creating bad and wrong perception can be defeated with the help of transparency and hard work. This is the strategy to trounce it," he said. Modi also dwelled on the dangers faced by the BJP in the form of "political untouchability" and political violence. "Take the cases of Kerala or Kashmir, Bengal or Tripura (these cases) it will not come in media. Some people have selective sensitivity. Hundreds of workers have been killed only for political ideology. In Tripura workers were hanged, in Bengal murders are still on, in Kerala too... Perhaps in India, only one political party has faced such killings. Violence has been given legitimacy. This is danger before us," he said. "Babasaheb Bhimrao (Ambedkar) and (Mahatma) Gandhi had shunned untouchability but unfortunately, political untouchability is rising,...BJP workers were murdered," he said. Amid such hatred, BJP's mantra remains 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' Modi said, adding that unlike others, his party has not come under the pressure of vote bank politics which has "spoiled" democracy. The prime minister said he was also grateful to his opponents who fought against him. Stressing on the significance of Opposition in democracy, he said: "When others come to power, there is no sign of opposition". He cited the example of Tripura where there was no Opposition during the decades of Left rule but "now that we are in government there is a 'jaandar and shandar vipaksh'. This is the spirit of democracy." Thanking Uttar Pradesh for showing the way for India and strengthening the foundation of a healthy democracy, the prime minister also spoke about his Kedarnath visit after the completion of polling. "Since the people of Kashi had ordered me not to come here for a month after filing my nomination papers, I thought if not Baba in Kashi then (baba) elsewhere," he said, adding perhaps no other candidate is as satisfied or contended as he was (before the results are announced) and its reason was the confidence of Kashivasis. Earlier, BJP president Amit Shah said Modi has only shown a glimpse of development and Kashi will turn into an amazing city in the next five years. In the city along with the prime minister for thanking the electorate and party workers for the landslide win in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the BJP president said what a difference had come in Kashi of 2014 and today. Watch: 'Chemistry defeated arithmetic in 2019 LS polls', says PM Modi Hinting at the SP-BSP-RLD alliance, he said some media was predicting Modi will not get clear majority but the party successfully gave a call for working on achieving 50 per cent vote share. Both Shah and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in their speeches here, focused on the "gruelling" campaigning Modi undertook in the run-up to the general elections. Stressing on coordination between the government and party organisation, Modi said, "the perfect synergy between the government and party organisation was a big power and the BJP has realised it." "The Government makes policies while the organisation makes 'ranniti' (strategy). The synergy of 'niti' (policies) and 'ranniti' (strategy) is the mirror of sarkar and organisation and the country is getting its benefits," he said. "Work and workers create wonders," he said, giving full credit for his victory to the workers at the grassroots level for creating awareness of his government's policies and programmes for the people.

Chemistry triumphed over poll arithmetic: PM Modi on Lok Sabha result

Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar has resigned on Monday after he lost the Gurdaspur seat to Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) actor-turned-politician Sunny Deol.

In his resignation letter, Jakhar took moral responsibility for losing his seat and also party's poor performance in the state.

Jakhar said that he was unable to retain his seat despite the support from the Congress President, General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

Earlier today, the president of Assam unit of the Congress party, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/assam-congress-committee-president-resigns-post-humiliating-defeat-in-lok-sabha-polls-221861">Ripun Bora, also submitted his resignation</a> to party president Rahul Gandhi.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar, party's Odisha unit chief Niranjan Patnaik and Karnataka state unit president HK Patil have already sent their resignations to Gandhi.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Rahul adamant on resignation, wants a non-Gandhi as next Congress president

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rahul-adamant-on-resignation-wants-a-non-gandhi-as-next-congress-president-221657/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Delhi Congress president Shiela Dikshit has also sent her resignation to the party chief.

The Congress is going through a crisis after its humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, where the voters gave a decisive mandate to BJP-led NDA to govern the country for the next five years.&nbsp;

Rahul Gandhi has himself offered to resign as party president, though the proposal was rejected during the party's working committee meeting.

(With inputs from agencies)

Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar has resigned on Monday after he lost the Gurdaspur seat to Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) actor-turned-politician Sunny Deol. In his resignation letter, Jakhar took moral responsibility for losing his seat and also party's poor performance in the state.

Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar has resigned on Monday after he lost the Gurdaspur seat to Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) actor-turned-politician Sunny Deol. In his resignation letter, Jakhar took moral responsibility for losing his seat and also party's poor performance in the state. Jakhar said that he was unable to retain his seat despite the support from the Congress President, General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. Earlier today, the president of Assam unit of the Congress party, Ripun Bora, also submitted his resignation to party president Rahul Gandhi. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar, party's Odisha unit chief Niranjan Patnaik and Karnataka state unit president HK Patil have already sent their resignations to Gandhi. Watch: Rahul adamant on resignation, wants a non-Gandhi as next Congress president Delhi Congress president Shiela Dikshit has also sent her resignation to the party chief. The Congress is going through a crisis after its humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, where the voters gave a decisive mandate to BJP-led NDA to govern the country for the next five years. Rahul Gandhi has himself offered to resign as party president, though the proposal was rejected during the party's working committee meeting. (With inputs from agencies)

Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar resigns after defeat

The BJP's massive win in Uttar Pradesh has paved the way for the first reshuffle of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/ravi-kishan-meets-yogi-adityanath-after-winning-gorakhpur-lok-sabha-seat-221437">Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's council of ministers</a> as three ministers have won the Lok Sabha election creating vacancies in the state Cabinet.

Also, a vacancy was created after the disgruntled minister and SBSP leader O P Rajbhar was sacked by the chief minister for his outburst against his senior NDA partner, the BJP.

The ruling party is likely to reward its leaders for their hard work during the general election campaigning which resulted in it winning 62 seats, BJP sources said.

This would be the first cabinet reshuffle since Adityanath was sworn in as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in March 2017.

Adityanath had indicated during an interview to PTI that a cabinet reshuffling was very much on the cards and he was likely to take a decision soon.

Watch:&nbsp;PM Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and UP's CM Yogi Adityanath together to address BJP workers

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pm-modi-bjp-president-amit-shah-and-ups-cm-yogi-adityanath-together-to-address-bjp-workers-221919/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"We will do it (Cabinet expansion). We will do everything as and when time comes. We will do everything in the interest of the state," he had said.

"Mahendra Singh was the party's in-charge in Assam, where the BJP had won nine out of 14 Lok Sabha seats. After the elections were over in Assam, he was assigned the task of organising the roadshow of BJP chief Amit Shah in Amethi and Gorakhpur. Both the roadshows were highly successful," a senior UP BJP leader told PTI.

Mahendra Singh is the minister of state (independent charge) for Rural Development and Overall Village Development.

Another leader of the BJP state unit said UP minister Swatantradev Singh was made in-charge of the crucial state of Madhya Pradesh, where the party bagged 28 out of 29 Lok Sabha seats.

"The task was indeed very challenging as the BJP had lost in the assembly elections to the Congress. Hence, to boost the morale of the party workers and to ensure that a positive result for the party comes from that state was a tough task. His efforts paid rich dividends for the party, as Congress bigwigs such as Digvijay Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia had to taste defeat," he said.

Swatantradev Singh is the minister of state (independent charge) for Transport and Protocol.

Four cabinet ministers in the UP government were in the poll fray. Of them, three won and one lost.

UP Cabinet Minister for Animal Husbandry, Minor Irrigation and Fisheries S P Singh Baghel registered a win from Agra by a margin of 2,11,546 votes.

Similarly, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who is the minister of women's welfare, family welfare, mother and child welfare, tourism, won from Allahabad, defeating her nearest rival Rajendra Singh Patel by 1,84,275 votes.

Satyadev Pachauri, who holds the portfolio of Khadi Village Industries, Sericulture, Textile, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Export Promotion, won from Kanpur.

However, UP Cooperative Minister Mukut Bihari Verma lost to BSP's Ritesh Pandey by 95,880 votes.

With the monsoon session of the UP Legislative Assembly likely in the next couple of months, it is to be seen whether the reshuffle takes place before or after the session.

The BJP's massive win in Uttar Pradesh has paved the way for the first reshuffle of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's council of ministers as three ministers have won the Lok Sabha election creating vacancies in the state Cabinet.

The BJP's massive win in Uttar Pradesh has paved the way for the first reshuffle of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's council of ministers as three ministers have won the Lok Sabha election creating vacancies in the state Cabinet. Also, a vacancy was created after the disgruntled minister and SBSP leader O P Rajbhar was sacked by the chief minister for his outburst against his senior NDA partner, the BJP. The ruling party is likely to reward its leaders for their hard work during the general election campaigning which resulted in it winning 62 seats, BJP sources said. This would be the first cabinet reshuffle since Adityanath was sworn in as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in March 2017. Adityanath had indicated during an interview to PTI that a cabinet reshuffling was very much on the cards and he was likely to take a decision soon. Watch: PM Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and UP's CM Yogi Adityanath together to address BJP workers "We will do it (Cabinet expansion). We will do everything as and when time comes. We will do everything in the interest of the state," he had said. "Mahendra Singh was the party's in-charge in Assam, where the BJP had won nine out of 14 Lok Sabha seats. After the elections were over in Assam, he was assigned the task of organising the roadshow of BJP chief Amit Shah in Amethi and Gorakhpur. Both the roadshows were highly successful," a senior UP BJP leader told PTI. Mahendra Singh is the minister of state (independent charge) for Rural Development and Overall Village Development. Another leader of the BJP state unit said UP minister Swatantradev Singh was made in-charge of the crucial state of Madhya Pradesh, where the party bagged 28 out of 29 Lok Sabha seats. "The task was indeed very challenging as the BJP had lost in the assembly elections to the Congress. Hence, to boost the morale of the party workers and to ensure that a positive result for the party comes from that state was a tough task. His efforts paid rich dividends for the party, as Congress bigwigs such as Digvijay Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia had to taste defeat," he said. Swatantradev Singh is the minister of state (independent charge) for Transport and Protocol. Four cabinet ministers in the UP government were in the poll fray. Of them, three won and one lost. UP Cabinet Minister for Animal Husbandry, Minor Irrigation and Fisheries S P Singh Baghel registered a win from Agra by a margin of 2,11,546 votes. Similarly, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who is the minister of women's welfare, family welfare, mother and child welfare, tourism, won from Allahabad, defeating her nearest rival Rajendra Singh Patel by 1,84,275 votes. Satyadev Pachauri, who holds the portfolio of Khadi Village Industries, Sericulture, Textile, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Export Promotion, won from Kanpur. However, UP Cooperative Minister Mukut Bihari Verma lost to BSP's Ritesh Pandey by 95,880 votes. With the monsoon session of the UP Legislative Assembly likely in the next couple of months, it is to be seen whether the reshuffle takes place before or after the session.

Lok Sabha results create vacancies in Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, first reshuffle likely soon

In India, one of the most unedifying sights of an early morning rail ride is mass scale defecation along the tracks, in the villages as the train chugs along and in the open fields, where crops provide a cover for concluding one of nature’s most elementary acts.

Of all the flagship programmes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his first term, one that seems to have carried the day is the Swachh Bharat mission. Its impact on the hundreds of millions of Indians, especially women, deprived of basic sanitation facilities, can scarcely be underestimated.&nbsp;

An important part of the Modi persona has been the BJP-led NDA government’s flagship programmes like the Jan Dhan Yojna, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana and Ayushman Bharat, among others. But in terms of impact on the common voter, the Swachh Bharat mission should be considered the high water mark.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Swachh Bharat or cleanliness programme, a nationwide campaign that aims to clean up the streets, roads and infrastructure of India’s cities, towns, and rural areas, can be safely assumed to have impacted BJP’s electoral prospects, ahead of any other public welfare programme launched by the Modi government. Sure, one factor is never enough to tilt the balance in a party’s favour, yet certain facts are worthy of consideration.&nbsp;

On October 2, 2014, Modi launched the nation-wide cleanliness campaign on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. The concept of Swachh Bharat is to provide sanitation facilities to every family, including toilets, solid and liquid waste disposal systems, village cleanliness and safe and adequate drinking water supply. Modi’s pledges to keep the environment clean were met with sniggers from a class of people, who had never faced sanitation issues in their lives. But they, as luck would have it, were not the archetypal Indian voter. &nbsp;

To the professional historian, the prospects of Modi, a former RSS pracharak, invoking Gandhi would be anathema, but the prime minister went ahead nonetheless. In Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s memorable words, “Sanitation is more important than independence”. He made cleanliness and sanitation an integral part of his agitational politics.&nbsp;

In his newspaper Navajivan (November 2, 1919), Gandhi famously wrote: “In some countries spitting on the road is a criminal offence. Those who spit after chewing betel leaves and tobacco have no consideration for the feelings of others. Spittle, mucus from the nose, etc, should also be covered with earth.”&nbsp;

At the official launch of the Swachh Bharat campaign, Modi — who has a way with words — called it ‘Satyagraha se Swachhagrah’ in reference to Gandhi’s Champaran agitation in favour of indigo farmers. &nbsp;The mission had two thrusts: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (rural), which operates under the ministry of drinking water and sanitation and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (urban), which works under the aegis of the ministry of housing and urban affairs. According to the latest data, the government has constructed 86 million toilets since 2014 under the mission, reducing the number of open defecations from 550 million to fewer than 150 million in 2018. &nbsp;

In 2017, the government cited a UNICEF Survey carried out in 10,000 households across the country to claim that the Swachh Bharat Mission was meeting its targets, three years after its launch. The survey, conducted across 12 states, stated that 85 per cent members of the households studied were using toilets.

While government data should rightly be regarded with scepticism, in political terms, an idea had been thrown open in the public domain, coming from the highest office in the country. Somewhere the worm had turned, despite the Congress branding it as a mediocre idea, when it was first announced. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Now, from the benefit of hindsight, one can say that the Prime Minister knew all along what he was doing. As early as March last year, obviously with an eye on the on 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Modi urged chief ministers of BJP-ruled states to expedite implementation of welfare schemes and to take his government’s flagship programmes to the masses.

At this crucial meeting, work done by different states were discussed and deliberations were held on coordination between the Centre and the states for effective implementation of the government’s flagship schemes, in particular, the health insurance scheme. Even though the health scheme, promoted as NaMo Care, has not made as many waves as the party expected, it’s implementation in Modi’s second term, could be a potential winner. &nbsp;

The importance of social welfare programmes seem to have been driven home, even if it was not so evident during the course of political discourse in a virulent campaign. Chief ministers present at this meeting were asked to submit a report on the implementation of the welfare schemes. The support that Modi has got from the country’s 48 per cent women voters makes a good study for researchers. His ambitious social welfare scheme —Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana —with the aim of providing 5 crore LPG connections to women below the poverty line across the country, took a heavy toll on the opposition campaign. It seemed a strategic decision to reach out to women in a scheme aimed at replacing unclean cooking fuels, used mostly in rural India with the clean and more efficient LPG gas.&nbsp;

Election results, particularly in UP where the Prime Minister was able to develop a connection with women at large, seem to reflect in the UP Lok Sabha results.&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-flagship-programme-wonders-2753695">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In India, one of the most unedifying sights of an early morning rail ride is mass scale defecation along the tracks, in the villages as the train chugs along and in the open fields, where crops provide a cover for concluding one of nature’s most elementary acts.

In India, one of the most unedifying sights of an early morning rail ride is mass scale defecation along the tracks, in the villages as the train chugs along and in the open fields, where crops provide a cover for concluding one of nature’s most elementary acts. Of all the flagship programmes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his first term, one that seems to have carried the day is the Swachh Bharat mission. Its impact on the hundreds of millions of Indians, especially women, deprived of basic sanitation facilities, can scarcely be underestimated. An important part of the Modi persona has been the BJP-led NDA government’s flagship programmes like the Jan Dhan Yojna, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana and Ayushman Bharat, among others. But in terms of impact on the common voter, the Swachh Bharat mission should be considered the high water mark. The Swachh Bharat or cleanliness programme, a nationwide campaign that aims to clean up the streets, roads and infrastructure of India’s cities, towns, and rural areas, can be safely assumed to have impacted BJP’s electoral prospects, ahead of any other public welfare programme launched by the Modi government. Sure, one factor is never enough to tilt the balance in a party’s favour, yet certain facts are worthy of consideration. On October 2, 2014, Modi launched the nation-wide cleanliness campaign on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. The concept of Swachh Bharat is to provide sanitation facilities to every family, including toilets, solid and liquid waste disposal systems, village cleanliness and safe and adequate drinking water supply. Modi’s pledges to keep the environment clean were met with sniggers from a class of people, who had never faced sanitation issues in their lives. But they, as luck would have it, were not the archetypal Indian voter. To the professional historian, the prospects of Modi, a former RSS pracharak, invoking Gandhi would be anathema, but the prime minister went ahead nonetheless. In Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s memorable words, “Sanitation is more important than independence”. He made cleanliness and sanitation an integral part of his agitational politics. In his newspaper Navajivan (November 2, 1919), Gandhi famously wrote: “In some countries spitting on the road is a criminal offence. Those who spit after chewing betel leaves and tobacco have no consideration for the feelings of others. Spittle, mucus from the nose, etc, should also be covered with earth.” At the official launch of the Swachh Bharat campaign, Modi — who has a way with words — called it ‘Satyagraha se Swachhagrah’ in reference to Gandhi’s Champaran agitation in favour of indigo farmers. The mission had two thrusts: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (rural), which operates under the ministry of drinking water and sanitation and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (urban), which works under the aegis of the ministry of housing and urban affairs. According to the latest data, the government has constructed 86 million toilets since 2014 under the mission, reducing the number of open defecations from 550 million to fewer than 150 million in 2018. In 2017, the government cited a UNICEF Survey carried out in 10,000 households across the country to claim that the Swachh Bharat Mission was meeting its targets, three years after its launch. The survey, conducted across 12 states, stated that 85 per cent members of the households studied were using toilets. While government data should rightly be regarded with scepticism, in political terms, an idea had been thrown open in the public domain, coming from the highest office in the country. Somewhere the worm had turned, despite the Congress branding it as a mediocre idea, when it was first announced. Now, from the benefit of hindsight, one can say that the Prime Minister knew all along what he was doing. As early as March last year, obviously with an eye on the on 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Modi urged chief ministers of BJP-ruled states to expedite implementation of welfare schemes and to take his government’s flagship programmes to the masses. At this crucial meeting, work done by different states were discussed and deliberations were held on coordination between the Centre and the states for effective implementation of the government’s flagship schemes, in particular, the health insurance scheme. Even though the health scheme, promoted as NaMo Care, has not made as many waves as the party expected, it’s implementation in Modi’s second term, could be a potential winner. The importance of social welfare programmes seem to have been driven home, even if it was not so evident during the course of political discourse in a virulent campaign. Chief ministers present at this meeting were asked to submit a report on the implementation of the welfare schemes. The support that Modi has got from the country’s 48 per cent women voters makes a good study for researchers. His ambitious social welfare scheme —Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana —with the aim of providing 5 crore LPG connections to women below the poverty line across the country, took a heavy toll on the opposition campaign. It seemed a strategic decision to reach out to women in a scheme aimed at replacing unclean cooking fuels, used mostly in rural India with the clean and more efficient LPG gas. Election results, particularly in UP where the Prime Minister was able to develop a connection with women at large, seem to reflect in the UP Lok Sabha results. (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.)

Swachh Bharat campaign had a major role to play in BJP’s spectacular poll success

With the NDA-3 government in the forming, one of the focussed domains of its predecessor NDA-2 comes to mind. Foreign policy was one of the success stories of NDA-2, something not too many people expected at the outset. That is the domain which must not lose focus with the next government because there will be many competing domains of equal significance. The Prime Minister chose to make this the area of his personal focus too in the last government, undertaking long travels to be at the important strategic diplomatic events and meetings with world leaders. However, in strategic leadership, time management is one of the major challenges. It is unlikely that in his next avatar Narendra Modi can devote as much time to foreign policy as he did in the previous. Much depends on the choice of his Cabinet and the identity of the right talent. The economy is going to take up much of his time, especially in view of the escalation in energy prices and the impending continuation of trade wars and agriculture-related problems.&nbsp;

Internal security too will demand much more of his time because, under NDA-2, issues such as J&amp;K at best festered and then stabilised with no transformational outcomes on the horizon. It will need his personal energy if Modi has to convert the situation in J&amp;K to any advantage at a time when Pakistan is on a suspected ‘time out’. Similarly, the National Security Advisor remained most involved with foreign policy to find adequate time for internal security. Under NDA-3, I would expect a foreign policy to be handled far more by the Ministry of External Affairs with ministers and advisors who have the total confidence and the ear of the Prime Minister.&nbsp;

In the foreign policy domain, the prime issues at stake for addressing in the immediate future rotate around the Middle East where war seems imminent on a day and far removed the very next. Considering the strength of India’s relationship with the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Iran, as also the stakes that exist for it in the stability of this crucial region, perhaps the weight of Indian diplomacy could be a few shades higher. Engagement with all of them must be visible beyond just diplomatic niceties. It is accepted that the US-Iran crisis developed rapidly and unexpectedly through the period of India’s high decibel elections when it was difficult for the government to have the time of the Prime Minister to focus on it. However, amends must be made and made quickly. Our stakes in the Gulf region go beyond just energy and relate more importantly to the almost 7.5 million Indian expatriates who earn their living there and remit almost 37 billion US$ every year. The fact that Iran’s foreign minister came calling on India among the important stakeholders conveys Iran’s dependence on India too. The Middle East success of NDA-2 was indeed one of its high marks. Can it be exploited to advantage by NDA-3.

NDA-3 is going to transit through the next US presidential election. The strategic partnership with the US has moved many notches in the last five years but isn’t entirely cast in iron. Clash of interests is expected at times, but this must not lead to a downturn in relations. If India could weather the Trump Administration there should be no problem handling more altruistic ones. The challenge for NDA-3 lies in convincing the US that India’s foreign policy will need to be multilateral in nature without compromising on mutual Indo-US strategic interests. Among the thorny issues will be Russia which for India is a crucial nation. We cannot have threats being posed&nbsp;on the imposition of the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) on India due to irritants caused by the 5 billion US$ S-400 deal. India needs institutional support, technology, and strategic backing from the US in its progress to higher status but it cannot compromise relationships which could be just a couple of notches lower in significance.&nbsp;

More long-term than most other engagements is the domain of Sino-India relations. NDA-2 handled this well considering that in 2017 relations were at nadir due to Doklam. The government walked away with credits for having stood its ground without immediate compromise. That the PLA then, went on to construct state of the art facilities for housing a regiment of the PLA opposite Doklam has received criticism in India. Yet, it is also clear that most of this infrastructure does not relate to warfighting. Where Modi really scored was the follow-up to Doklam which ultimately took him to Wuhan for a dialogue with Xi Jinping. That dialogue has resulted in the current stability of the relationship. Now, with China in a state of worry after the trade war unleashed by the US, it is India which holds much significance for China. Trade stands at 95 billion US$ and volumes can be enhanced to sustain the Chinese GDP growth in an era of high energy prices. &nbsp;This is an issue which will need attention to make the most of.&nbsp;

The domain which is unmistakably going to be challenging is the Indo-Pacific. The US has invested much in India to rake it into a strategic construct which could actively deny China the freedom to muscle its way in the Pacific and feel threatened in the Indian Ocean.&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-nda-3-s-foreign-policy-hurdles-2753404">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

With the NDA-3 government in the forming, one of the focussed domains of its predecessor NDA-2 comes to mind. Foreign policy was one of the success stories of NDA-2, something not too many people expected at the outset.

With the NDA-3 government in the forming, one of the focussed domains of its predecessor NDA-2 comes to mind. Foreign policy was one of the success stories of NDA-2, something not too many people expected at the outset. That is the domain which must not lose focus with the next government because there will be many competing domains of equal significance. The Prime Minister chose to make this the area of his personal focus too in the last government, undertaking long travels to be at the important strategic diplomatic events and meetings with world leaders. However, in strategic leadership, time management is one of the major challenges. It is unlikely that in his next avatar Narendra Modi can devote as much time to foreign policy as he did in the previous. Much depends on the choice of his Cabinet and the identity of the right talent. The economy is going to take up much of his time, especially in view of the escalation in energy prices and the impending continuation of trade wars and agriculture-related problems. Internal security too will demand much more of his time because, under NDA-2, issues such as J&K at best festered and then stabilised with no transformational outcomes on the horizon. It will need his personal energy if Modi has to convert the situation in J&K to any advantage at a time when Pakistan is on a suspected ‘time out’. Similarly, the National Security Advisor remained most involved with foreign policy to find adequate time for internal security. Under NDA-3, I would expect a foreign policy to be handled far more by the Ministry of External Affairs with ministers and advisors who have the total confidence and the ear of the Prime Minister. In the foreign policy domain, the prime issues at stake for addressing in the immediate future rotate around the Middle East where war seems imminent on a day and far removed the very next. Considering the strength of India’s relationship with the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Iran, as also the stakes that exist for it in the stability of this crucial region, perhaps the weight of Indian diplomacy could be a few shades higher. Engagement with all of them must be visible beyond just diplomatic niceties. It is accepted that the US-Iran crisis developed rapidly and unexpectedly through the period of India’s high decibel elections when it was difficult for the government to have the time of the Prime Minister to focus on it. However, amends must be made and made quickly. Our stakes in the Gulf region go beyond just energy and relate more importantly to the almost 7.5 million Indian expatriates who earn their living there and remit almost 37 billion US$ every year. The fact that Iran’s foreign minister came calling on India among the important stakeholders conveys Iran’s dependence on India too. The Middle East success of NDA-2 was indeed one of its high marks. Can it be exploited to advantage by NDA-3. NDA-3 is going to transit through the next US presidential election. The strategic partnership with the US has moved many notches in the last five years but isn’t entirely cast in iron. Clash of interests is expected at times, but this must not lead to a downturn in relations. If India could weather the Trump Administration there should be no problem handling more altruistic ones. The challenge for NDA-3 lies in convincing the US that India’s foreign policy will need to be multilateral in nature without compromising on mutual Indo-US strategic interests. Among the thorny issues will be Russia which for India is a crucial nation. We cannot have threats being posed on the imposition of the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) on India due to irritants caused by the 5 billion US$ S-400 deal. India needs institutional support, technology, and strategic backing from the US in its progress to higher status but it cannot compromise relationships which could be just a couple of notches lower in significance. More long-term than most other engagements is the domain of Sino-India relations. NDA-2 handled this well considering that in 2017 relations were at nadir due to Doklam. The government walked away with credits for having stood its ground without immediate compromise. That the PLA then, went on to construct state of the art facilities for housing a regiment of the PLA opposite Doklam has received criticism in India. Yet, it is also clear that most of this infrastructure does not relate to warfighting. Where Modi really scored was the follow-up to Doklam which ultimately took him to Wuhan for a dialogue with Xi Jinping. That dialogue has resulted in the current stability of the relationship. Now, with China in a state of worry after the trade war unleashed by the US, it is India which holds much significance for China. Trade stands at 95 billion US$ and volumes can be enhanced to sustain the Chinese GDP growth in an era of high energy prices. This is an issue which will need attention to make the most of. The domain which is unmistakably going to be challenging is the Indo-Pacific. The US has invested much in India to rake it into a strategic construct which could actively deny China the freedom to muscle its way in the Pacific and feel threatened in the Indian Ocean. (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.)

NDA-3’s foreign policy hurdles

BJP allies JD(U) and AIADMK are likely to be part of the new government while it will also reflect the BJP's inroads into states like West Bengal and Telangana, sources said Sunday.

A JD(U) leader said the Bihar party expects at least one Cabinet berth in the government which will be sworn in on May 30. The party may also get one more berth in the Council of Ministers.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan said on Sunday that Narendra Modi will be sworn in as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/your-satisfaction-is-my-lifes-mantra-pm-modi-to-varanasi-bjp-workers-221920">Prime Minister</a> on Thursday for his second term.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Though there has been no official word on likely faces in the new government, many leaders are of the view that most key members of the previous dispensation will be retained.

There has been speculation that Arun Jaitley, who held the finance portfolio in the previous government, may opt out due to health reasons but people close to him have insisted that he has been doing well after undergoing treatment.

The government on Sunday stepped in to insist that reports regarding his health condition are false and baseless.

"Reports in a section of media regarding Union Minister Shri Arun Jaitley's health condition are false and baseless. Media is advised to stay clear of rumour mongering," its principal spokesperson Sitanshu Kar tweeted.

Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta, who is associated with the BJP, said Jaitley is off all medication now and is recovering his strength. He is still meeting officials, Dasgupta said.

"Questions about Arun Jaitley health understandable. He is recovering from a bout of heavy medication. But he is still in terrific form and his wit is firmly intact. Needs a little rest to get back his strength. All our good wishes," Dasgupta tweeted.

A number of senior faces from the outgoing Cabinet including Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Piyush Goyal, Narendra Singh Tomar and Prakash Javadekar are expected to figure in the new Cabinet.

Speculation has been rife that BJP president Amit Shah, who won the Lok Sabha election from Gandhinagar with a massive margin, may also join the government. Shah has refrained from commenting on the matter.&nbsp;

Another BJP ally LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan, sources said, has pushed for induction of his MP-son Chirag Paswan in the government.

His party LJP won six seats in the polls. Ram Vilas Paswan, one of the most veteran parliamentarians, was a Cabinet minister in the last government.

Though the AIADMK, which was also not part of the previous government, has won only one seat, it may be given a ministerial berth as it is in power in Tamil Nadu and a key Dravidian ally of the BJP.

The BJP put up its best-ever show in West Bengal and Telangana these elections, winning 18 (from two in 2014) and four seats (from one in 2014) respectively in the two states. This may result in the party giving greater representation to these states in the government.&nbsp;

BJP allies JD(U) and AIADMK are likely to be part of the new government while it will also reflect the BJP's inroads into states like West Bengal and Telangana, sources said Sunday.

BJP allies JD(U) and AIADMK are likely to be part of the new government while it will also reflect the BJP's inroads into states like West Bengal and Telangana, sources said Sunday. A JD(U) leader said the Bihar party expects at least one Cabinet berth in the government which will be sworn in on May 30. The party may also get one more berth in the Council of Ministers. The Rashtrapati Bhavan said on Sunday that Narendra Modi will be sworn in as Prime Minister on Thursday for his second term. Though there has been no official word on likely faces in the new government, many leaders are of the view that most key members of the previous dispensation will be retained. There has been speculation that Arun Jaitley, who held the finance portfolio in the previous government, may opt out due to health reasons but people close to him have insisted that he has been doing well after undergoing treatment. The government on Sunday stepped in to insist that reports regarding his health condition are false and baseless. "Reports in a section of media regarding Union Minister Shri Arun Jaitley's health condition are false and baseless. Media is advised to stay clear of rumour mongering," its principal spokesperson Sitanshu Kar tweeted. Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta, who is associated with the BJP, said Jaitley is off all medication now and is recovering his strength. He is still meeting officials, Dasgupta said. "Questions about Arun Jaitley health understandable. He is recovering from a bout of heavy medication. But he is still in terrific form and his wit is firmly intact. Needs a little rest to get back his strength. All our good wishes," Dasgupta tweeted. A number of senior faces from the outgoing Cabinet including Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Piyush Goyal, Narendra Singh Tomar and Prakash Javadekar are expected to figure in the new Cabinet. Speculation has been rife that BJP president Amit Shah, who won the Lok Sabha election from Gandhinagar with a massive margin, may also join the government. Shah has refrained from commenting on the matter. Another BJP ally LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan, sources said, has pushed for induction of his MP-son Chirag Paswan in the government. His party LJP won six seats in the polls. Ram Vilas Paswan, one of the most veteran parliamentarians, was a Cabinet minister in the last government. Though the AIADMK, which was also not part of the previous government, has won only one seat, it may be given a ministerial berth as it is in power in Tamil Nadu and a key Dravidian ally of the BJP. The BJP put up its best-ever show in West Bengal and Telangana these elections, winning 18 (from two in 2014) and four seats (from one in 2014) respectively in the two states. This may result in the party giving greater representation to these states in the government.

New allies, fresh conquests to find representation in Modi's new Cabinet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/prime-minister-narendra-modi-to-visit-varanasi-today-221858">arrived at his home constituency Varanasi</a> and paid a visit to the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple. After offering prayers and performing rituals at the temple, the prime minister-elect addressed party workers here.

Modi began his speech amid the chants of "Modi-Modi", he thanked BJP chief Amit Shah and the people of Varanasi.&nbsp;

"I am also a BJP worker, therefore, whatever mandate the party and its workers pronounce, I try to follow that," Modi said.&nbsp;

He said that the party's victory was apparent in Varanasi's attitude "that I had witnessed a month back during my visit here".

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PM: After the campaign, I used to think of coming here but I used to recall your orders. Maine socha ye nahi to koi aur baba. Rarely is a candidate so relaxed, as I was, during elections &amp; the results. Your hardwork was the reason for it. I was relaxed so I went to Kedarnath. <a href="https://t.co/WujSBxgkyC">https://t.co/WujSBxgkyC</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1132912695148072963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"Party workers' satisfaction is my goal," he said.&nbsp;

Modi that this election season "saw chemistry taking over arithmetic".&nbsp;

The PM-designate stated that throughout the election season, he was calm and free from any worry as his trust was placed in the hard work of the many BJP 'karyakartas' (workers) you toiled tirelessly and led the party to a grand victory.&nbsp;

Modi was accompanied by BJP chief Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.&nbsp;

He will hold a 5-kilometre-long roadshow later in the day, as a gesture of gratitude toward the people of Varanasi for his Lok Sabha win and as a sign of celebrating BJP's historic success in the Lok Sabha 2019.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath temple. <a href="https://t.co/HbCMaJRqib">pic.twitter.com/HbCMaJRqib</a>
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The visit is significant as Modi registered a landslide win form the parliamentary constituency by a margin of over 4 lakh votes. This is his first domestic visit soon after the general election results were announced last week.&nbsp;

Modi defeated his Samajwadi Party (SP) rival Shalini Yadav by a margin of over 4.80 lakh votes in the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi. The BJP, which had won 282 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, managed to increase its tally and notched up 303 seats in the 2019 elections.

On Sunday, the prime minister-elect visited his home state Gujarat and sought blessings from his mother in Gandhinagar. He also visited Ahmedabad where he paid tributes at the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel near the airport and later addressed a gathering of BJP workers along with party chief Amit Shah and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

PM Modi is set to take oath as the Prime Minister on May 30. Up next on PM Modi's agenda would be to name his Cabinet for the second term.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived at his home constituency Varanasi and paid a visit to the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple. After offering prayers and performing rituals at the temple, the prime minister-elect addressed party workers here.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived at his home constituency Varanasi and paid a visit to the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple. After offering prayers and performing rituals at the temple, the prime minister-elect addressed party workers here. Modi began his speech amid the chants of "Modi-Modi", he thanked BJP chief Amit Shah and the people of Varanasi. "I am also a BJP worker, therefore, whatever mandate the party and its workers pronounce, I try to follow that," Modi said. He said that the party's victory was apparent in Varanasi's attitude "that I had witnessed a month back during my visit here". PM: After the campaign, I used to think of coming here but I used to recall your orders. Maine socha ye nahi to koi aur baba. Rarely is a candidate so relaxed, as I was, during elections & the results. Your hardwork was the reason for it. I was relaxed so I went to Kedarnath. https://t.co/WujSBxgkyC — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 27, 2019 × "Party workers' satisfaction is my goal," he said. Modi that this election season "saw chemistry taking over arithmetic". The PM-designate stated that throughout the election season, he was calm and free from any worry as his trust was placed in the hard work of the many BJP 'karyakartas' (workers) you toiled tirelessly and led the party to a grand victory. Modi was accompanied by BJP chief Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He will hold a 5-kilometre-long roadshow later in the day, as a gesture of gratitude toward the people of Varanasi for his Lok Sabha win and as a sign of celebrating BJP's historic success in the Lok Sabha 2019. #WATCH Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath temple. pic.twitter.com/HbCMaJRqib — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 27, 2019 × The visit is significant as Modi registered a landslide win form the parliamentary constituency by a margin of over 4 lakh votes. This is his first domestic visit soon after the general election results were announced last week. Modi defeated his Samajwadi Party (SP) rival Shalini Yadav by a margin of over 4.80 lakh votes in the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi. The BJP, which had won 282 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, managed to increase its tally and notched up 303 seats in the 2019 elections. On Sunday, the prime minister-elect visited his home state Gujarat and sought blessings from his mother in Gandhinagar. He also visited Ahmedabad where he paid tributes at the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel near the airport and later addressed a gathering of BJP workers along with party chief Amit Shah and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. PM Modi is set to take oath as the Prime Minister on May 30. Up next on PM Modi's agenda would be to name his Cabinet for the second term.

Your satisfaction is my life's mantra: PM Modi thanks BJP workers in Varanasi

BJP president Amit Shah said on Monday that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/your-satisfaction-is-my-lifes-mantra-pm-modi-to-varanasi-bjp-workers-221920">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> has transformed Kashi in the last five years.

He also thanked voters here for supporting Modi and re-electing him to the Lok Sabha for the second term.

Shah, who has won his maiden Lok Sabha election from Gandhinagar, said when Modi visited the party workers on the day he filed his nomination papers, it became clear that he was going to win.

"I thank you&nbsp;all. At the same time you are lucky to have a person like Modi to represent you in Lok Sabha," he said, addressing party workers here.

"Perhaps it is the only election where the candidate has not visited constituency after filing nomination. It reflects the confidence Modi had on his voters," he added.

He accompanied Modi to Varanasi where the prime minister offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath temple soon after his arrival.

Both Shah and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in their speeches here, focused on the "gruelling" campaigning that Modi undertook in the run-up to the general elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived at his home constituency Varanasi and paid a visit to the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple. After offering prayers and performing rituals at the temple, the prime minister-elect addressed party workers here.

Modi defeated his Samajwadi Party (SP) rival Shalini Yadav by a margin of over 4.80 lakh votes in the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi. The BJP, which had won 282 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, managed to increase its tally and notched up 303 seats in the 2019 elections.

BJP president Amit Shah said on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has transformed Kashi in the last five years. He also thanked voters here for supporting Modi and re-electing him to the Lok Sabha for the second term.

BJP president Amit Shah said on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has transformed Kashi in the last five years. He also thanked voters here for supporting Modi and re-electing him to the Lok Sabha for the second term. Shah, who has won his maiden Lok Sabha election from Gandhinagar, said when Modi visited the party workers on the day he filed his nomination papers, it became clear that he was going to win. "I thank you all. At the same time you are lucky to have a person like Modi to represent you in Lok Sabha," he said, addressing party workers here. "Perhaps it is the only election where the candidate has not visited constituency after filing nomination. It reflects the confidence Modi had on his voters," he added. He accompanied Modi to Varanasi where the prime minister offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath temple soon after his arrival. Both Shah and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in their speeches here, focused on the "gruelling" campaigning that Modi undertook in the run-up to the general elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived at his home constituency Varanasi and paid a visit to the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple. After offering prayers and performing rituals at the temple, the prime minister-elect addressed party workers here. Modi defeated his Samajwadi Party (SP) rival Shalini Yadav by a margin of over 4.80 lakh votes in the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi. The BJP, which had won 282 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, managed to increase its tally and notched up 303 seats in the 2019 elections.

PM Modi transformed Kashi in five years: Amit Shah

DMK president M K Stalin Saturday said no single state can be ignored by the government at the Centre and asserted India was not Hindi speaking states alone.

Buoyed by his party's performance in the Lok Sabha election, the Dravidian party chief for the first time said his party would take the initiative to oppose the BJP -albeit without naming it explicitly- in other states by working with outfits in those regions.

"The DMK will take constructive measures to replicate the Tamil Nadu model (of propping up secularism and DMK's victory in polls) in other states as well by coordinating with forces committed to communal harmony," he said in an open letter to party cadres.

On a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was elected leader of the NDA, Stalin said this was the time to support and embrace people of all identities, states, adding "the days that Hindi speaking states alone was India has vanished."

The future was all about "constructive politics that centred around the states," the DMK chief said.

"No single state can be ignored whichever party took over reins of power at the Centre," Stalin asserted.

The DMK's voice will reverberate in Parliament and State Assembly to protect the people's interests, he said.

The DMK has won 23 seats and the front (Secular Progressive Alliance) led by it has won 37 of 38 seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone seat in Puducherry (Congress) as well.

DMK will continue its "journey of victory," to protect people's interests, he said.

The historic win of his party-led front in the Lok Sabha polls showed the "secular approach," of the people which was nurtured by Dravidian stalwarts including reformist leader Periyar E V Ramasamy.

The people's verdict in Tamil Nadu showed that Dravidian movement -a reference to the DMK and a pointer to the Dravidian ideology which includes secularism and social justice- can never be decimated, he said.

As regards AIADMK's jibe that despite a good showing in the polls, DMK's goal has not been realised, he said it was a "reflection of the frustration of the ruling party and political rivals."

The DMK had vowed to return to power in the state by winning the bypolls to all the 22 Assembly seats and strongly pitched for a government led by Congress president Rahul Gandhi at the Centre.

Apart from emerging as the third biggest party in the Lok Sabha, the DMK has wrested 12 seats from the AIADMK pushing its total strength in the Assembly to 101, Stalin said.

The DMK retained Tiruvarur in the by-elections and totally won 13 constituencies in the Assembly bypolls while the ruling AIADMK won 9 segments warding off the probability of threat to its government.

The AIADMK's strength has now risen to 123 while 118 members are enough for a simple majority in the 234-member House.

Stalin credited the DMK's victory to party workers and support of allies including the Congress.

DMK president M K Stalin Saturday said no single state can be ignored by the government at the Centre and asserted India was not Hindi speaking states alone. Buoyed by his party's performance in the Lok Sabha election, the Dravidian party chief for the first time said his party would take the initiative to oppose the BJP -albeit without naming it explicitly- in other states by working with outfits in those regions.

DMK president M K Stalin Saturday said no single state can be ignored by the government at the Centre and asserted India was not Hindi speaking states alone. Buoyed by his party's performance in the Lok Sabha election, the Dravidian party chief for the first time said his party would take the initiative to oppose the BJP -albeit without naming it explicitly- in other states by working with outfits in those regions. "The DMK will take constructive measures to replicate the Tamil Nadu model (of propping up secularism and DMK's victory in polls) in other states as well by coordinating with forces committed to communal harmony," he said in an open letter to party cadres. On a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was elected leader of the NDA, Stalin said this was the time to support and embrace people of all identities, states, adding "the days that Hindi speaking states alone was India has vanished." The future was all about "constructive politics that centred around the states," the DMK chief said. "No single state can be ignored whichever party took over reins of power at the Centre," Stalin asserted. The DMK's voice will reverberate in Parliament and State Assembly to protect the people's interests, he said. The DMK has won 23 seats and the front (Secular Progressive Alliance) led by it has won 37 of 38 seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone seat in Puducherry (Congress) as well. DMK will continue its "journey of victory," to protect people's interests, he said. The historic win of his party-led front in the Lok Sabha polls showed the "secular approach," of the people which was nurtured by Dravidian stalwarts including reformist leader Periyar E V Ramasamy. The people's verdict in Tamil Nadu showed that Dravidian movement -a reference to the DMK and a pointer to the Dravidian ideology which includes secularism and social justice- can never be decimated, he said. As regards AIADMK's jibe that despite a good showing in the polls, DMK's goal has not been realised, he said it was a "reflection of the frustration of the ruling party and political rivals." The DMK had vowed to return to power in the state by winning the bypolls to all the 22 Assembly seats and strongly pitched for a government led by Congress president Rahul Gandhi at the Centre. Apart from emerging as the third biggest party in the Lok Sabha, the DMK has wrested 12 seats from the AIADMK pushing its total strength in the Assembly to 101, Stalin said. The DMK retained Tiruvarur in the by-elections and totally won 13 constituencies in the Assembly bypolls while the ruling AIADMK won 9 segments warding off the probability of threat to its government. The AIADMK's strength has now risen to 123 while 118 members are enough for a simple majority in the 234-member House. Stalin credited the DMK's victory to party workers and support of allies including the Congress.

India is not Hindi speaking states alone: DMK chief MK Stalin

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-election-2019-pm-modi-amit-shah-visits-lk-advani-and-murli-manohar-joshi-after-landslide-victory-221202">Veteran BJP leader L K Advani</a> Saturday expressed his happiness over BJP's massive victory in 2019 general elections and termed it as "historic".

Advani, who attended the NDA meeting in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was elected as the leader of the BJP-led alliance, said all those who participated in the elections are "delighted" by the results.

Talking to reporters outside Parliament building, he said, "I am very happy this is a historic mandate. Everyone (from NDA) who came here participated in this election is really happy."

On Friday, both Modi and BJP president Amit Shah had visited Advani's house to seek his blessings after the party's massive victory in the Lok Sabha election. Modi had touched Advani's feet.

The Modi-led BJP won 303 seats out of 542 in general elections.&nbsp;

Advani had not contested general elections this time after he was not given ticket on the grounds of age limit of 75 years.

The veteran BJP leader, in a statement on Thursday, congratulated Modi for steering the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) towards an "unprecedented victory" in the elections.&nbsp;

Veteran BJP leader L K Advani Saturday expressed his happiness over BJP's massive victory in 2019 general elections and termed it as "historic". Advani, who attended the NDA meeting in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was elected as the leader of the BJP-led alliance, said all those who participated in the elections are "delighted" by the results.

Veteran BJP leader L K Advani Saturday expressed his happiness over BJP's massive victory in 2019 general elections and termed it as "historic". Advani, who attended the NDA meeting in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was elected as the leader of the BJP-led alliance, said all those who participated in the elections are "delighted" by the results. Talking to reporters outside Parliament building, he said, "I am very happy this is a historic mandate. Everyone (from NDA) who came here participated in this election is really happy." On Friday, both Modi and BJP president Amit Shah had visited Advani's house to seek his blessings after the party's massive victory in the Lok Sabha election. Modi had touched Advani's feet. The Modi-led BJP won 303 seats out of 542 in general elections. Advani had not contested general elections this time after he was not given ticket on the grounds of age limit of 75 years. The veteran BJP leader, in a statement on Thursday, congratulated Modi for steering the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) towards an "unprecedented victory" in the elections.

NDA's victory is historic: LK Advani

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said the next five years will be the time to regain the rightful position of India in the world order.

He was speaking at Ahmedabad&nbsp;at a function following the Lok Sabha election victory, which was kept simple and shorn of pomp because of the Surat fire tragedy.

"Next five years will be very important in the history of the country, as was the period between 1942 to 1947," Modi said addressing a huge gathering.

"Next five years will be the time to regain the rightful position of India in the world order. In the past our country had that place. I am sure India will regain its importance in the world order," he said.

Modi also expressed grief over the death of 22 students in Surat building fire tragedy.

"Till yesterday, I was in two minds whether to go for this felicitation function or not as on one hand, there was 'kartvya' (duty) and on the other hand, there was 'karuna' (compassion) for those who died in Surat. No amount of words can reduce the grief of the families who have lost their children in that tragedy," he said.

"On the other hand, I had to thank the people of the state and also take blessings of my mother as my duty," the prime minister added.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said the next five years will be the time to regain the rightful position of India in the world order. He was speaking at Ahmedabad at a function following the Lok Sabha election victory, which was kept simple and shorn of pomp because of the Surat fire tragedy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said the next five years will be the time to regain the rightful position of India in the world order. He was speaking at Ahmedabad at a function following the Lok Sabha election victory, which was kept simple and shorn of pomp because of the Surat fire tragedy. "Next five years will be very important in the history of the country, as was the period between 1942 to 1947," Modi said addressing a huge gathering. "Next five years will be the time to regain the rightful position of India in the world order. In the past our country had that place. I am sure India will regain its importance in the world order," he said. Modi also expressed grief over the death of 22 students in Surat building fire tragedy. "Till yesterday, I was in two minds whether to go for this felicitation function or not as on one hand, there was 'kartvya' (duty) and on the other hand, there was 'karuna' (compassion) for those who died in Surat. No amount of words can reduce the grief of the families who have lost their children in that tragedy," he said. "On the other hand, I had to thank the people of the state and also take blessings of my mother as my duty," the prime minister added.

Next 5 years is time to regain India's lost position in world: PM Modi

Lack of organisational network and a strong disconnect with the rural population led to the fall of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/had-ensured-that-the-mp-from-amethi-would-be-chosen-from-our-party-smriti-irani-to-wion-221599">Congress stronghold Amethi</a>, which has remained loyal to the Gandhi family since 1980.

BJP's Smriti Irani defeated the Congress chief and sitting MP <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-election-result-2019-at-cwc-meet-rahul-gandhi-offers-to-step-down-as-party-chief-committee-rejects-resignation-221506">Rahul Gandhi</a> by a margin of 55,120 votes.

Though the grand old party had been comfortably winning the seat, the victory had all through been thanks to the charisma and name of the Gandhi family without the support of the party organisation, political pundits opined. 
 
In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, Gandhi had defeated Irani by 1,07,903 votes.

On the first real challenge, in the face of concerted campaigning by Irani, the Congress fortress came tumbling down since she had prepared and strengthened her organisation in this dusty constituency, 120 Km from the state capital.

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The constituency also laments that though <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/in-historic-lok-sabha-polls-2019-rahul-gandhi-scripts-two-electoral-records-221043">Rahul Gandhi</a> had been a frequent visitor during this three stints as the MP, he had not reached the remote areas and failed to make a connection with those in the rural areas.

"Rahul used to get down at the Fursatganj airport and drive straight to Amethi and all his activities were confined there only. When he did not give enough time to the people how will he get the votes," said wholesale trader Neel Singh of Salon Navin Mandi area.

Indicating that Rahul's connect with the electorate was superficial, Raju Solanki who runs a tea stall at Salon bus stand, said, "It is his team of advisors that has spoilt his chances.

"His programmes used to be finalised around the main localities and highways but in contrast Smriti Irani reached villages and houses to establish a direct dialogue with the locals, seeking votes for development and change and also benefitted through it," he explained.

The locals feel Priyanka's presence had also failed to make a difference as her programmes too were finalised by those who had little knowledge of the nerve of the constituency.

"You don't get votes merely by waving hands and moving about on the roads in big vehicles," a local, Khilawan Raj, said.

Kishori Lal, a strong Congress supporter said the new generation in the constituency are not aware of the works done by the Congress for the development of the area and so the youth got carried away by the "BJP's selling of their schemes."

"The youth here does not know that this was usar (infertile) land which was got treated during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhiji. They got carried away by the BJP propaganda, and the manner in which they literally sold the central government schemes in the election market," Lal claimed.

Asha Singh of Pipri village said Smriti Irani went to every gram panchayat for canvassing and this appears to have made an impact.

Besides, they feel that local party leadership and staff of Rahul Gandhi had adopted a very high-handed attitude towards the people.

"They seem to have held the MP's office captive... It was easy to meet Rahul Gandhi than to meet his representatives who had to take follow up action of the works assigned by him for completion," Ram Pujan, a small trader said.

Political pundits say that the process of Congress' defeat in Amethi had started with its losses in the Assembly polls.

In the 2017 UP assembly polls, the Congress failed to win even a single seat though the BJP managed to bag four and Samajwadi Party one seat in the Lok Sabha constituency.

In the 2012 Assembly polls too, the Congress had only one seat - Jagdishpur - while rivals had taken up the remaining seats.

"Why the Congress leadership preferred to ignore taking corrective measures despite a poor show in Assembly polls is not understandable," they wonder.

Union minister Irani said on Friday that her win was not a "rocket science" as people of the Lok Sabha constituency wanted a representative who would work for them for the next five years.

Her victory was due to the development agenda of the Modi government, she said, adding that people of Amethi had reposed their trust in her by voting in large numbers for the BJP in 2014 and that she worked in the past five years to keep their faith.&nbsp;

Lack of organisational network and a strong disconnect with the rural population led to the fall of the Congress stronghold Amethi, which has remained loyal to the Gandhi family since 1980.

Lack of organisational network and a strong disconnect with the rural population led to the fall of the Congress stronghold Amethi, which has remained loyal to the Gandhi family since 1980. BJP's Smriti Irani defeated the Congress chief and sitting MP Rahul Gandhi by a margin of 55,120 votes. Though the grand old party had been comfortably winning the seat, the victory had all through been thanks to the charisma and name of the Gandhi family without the support of the party organisation, political pundits opined. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, Gandhi had defeated Irani by 1,07,903 votes. On the first real challenge, in the face of concerted campaigning by Irani, the Congress fortress came tumbling down since she had prepared and strengthened her organisation in this dusty constituency, 120 Km from the state capital. × The constituency also laments that though Rahul Gandhi had been a frequent visitor during this three stints as the MP, he had not reached the remote areas and failed to make a connection with those in the rural areas. "Rahul used to get down at the Fursatganj airport and drive straight to Amethi and all his activities were confined there only. When he did not give enough time to the people how will he get the votes," said wholesale trader Neel Singh of Salon Navin Mandi area. Indicating that Rahul's connect with the electorate was superficial, Raju Solanki who runs a tea stall at Salon bus stand, said, "It is his team of advisors that has spoilt his chances. "His programmes used to be finalised around the main localities and highways but in contrast Smriti Irani reached villages and houses to establish a direct dialogue with the locals, seeking votes for development and change and also benefitted through it," he explained. The locals feel Priyanka's presence had also failed to make a difference as her programmes too were finalised by those who had little knowledge of the nerve of the constituency. "You don't get votes merely by waving hands and moving about on the roads in big vehicles," a local, Khilawan Raj, said. Kishori Lal, a strong Congress supporter said the new generation in the constituency are not aware of the works done by the Congress for the development of the area and so the youth got carried away by the "BJP's selling of their schemes." "The youth here does not know that this was usar (infertile) land which was got treated during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhiji. They got carried away by the BJP propaganda, and the manner in which they literally sold the central government schemes in the election market," Lal claimed. Asha Singh of Pipri village said Smriti Irani went to every gram panchayat for canvassing and this appears to have made an impact. Besides, they feel that local party leadership and staff of Rahul Gandhi had adopted a very high-handed attitude towards the people. "They seem to have held the MP's office captive... It was easy to meet Rahul Gandhi than to meet his representatives who had to take follow up action of the works assigned by him for completion," Ram Pujan, a small trader said. Political pundits say that the process of Congress' defeat in Amethi had started with its losses in the Assembly polls. In the 2017 UP assembly polls, the Congress failed to win even a single seat though the BJP managed to bag four and Samajwadi Party one seat in the Lok Sabha constituency. In the 2012 Assembly polls too, the Congress had only one seat - Jagdishpur - while rivals had taken up the remaining seats. "Why the Congress leadership preferred to ignore taking corrective measures despite a poor show in Assembly polls is not understandable," they wonder. Union minister Irani said on Friday that her win was not a "rocket science" as people of the Lok Sabha constituency wanted a representative who would work for them for the next five years. Her victory was due to the development agenda of the Modi government, she said, adding that people of Amethi had reposed their trust in her by voting in large numbers for the BJP in 2014 and that she worked in the past five years to keep their faith.

The fall of Amethi: Why did Rahul Gandhi lose Congress stronghold?

The Election Commission is yet to receive a final tally of mandatory matching of paper trail machine slips with EVM results of five randomly picked polling booths in each assembly segment across all constituencies.

But a top EC official said Saturday that no discrepancy has been reported from any of the 542 constituencies.

Paper slips of more than 20,600 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines were counted in more than 4,000 assembly segments

After VVPATs were introduced, no discrepancy in the tallying of votes polled through EVMs has been reported in the previous assembly elections.

It is for the first time that the matching of paper trail machines slips with voting machines was held in a Lok Sabha election.

Elections in the Vellore constituency of Tamil Nadu were cancelled by the EC citing excessive use of money power.

No new date has so far been announced by the EC.

The Election Commission is yet to receive a final tally of mandatory matching of paper trail machine slips with EVM results of five randomly picked polling booths in each assembly segment across all constituencies.

The Election Commission is yet to receive a final tally of mandatory matching of paper trail machine slips with EVM results of five randomly picked polling booths in each assembly segment across all constituencies. But a top EC official said Saturday that no discrepancy has been reported from any of the 542 constituencies. Paper slips of more than 20,600 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines were counted in more than 4,000 assembly segments After VVPATs were introduced, no discrepancy in the tallying of votes polled through EVMs has been reported in the previous assembly elections. It is for the first time that the matching of paper trail machines slips with voting machines was held in a Lok Sabha election. Elections in the Vellore constituency of Tamil Nadu were cancelled by the EC citing excessive use of money power. No new date has so far been announced by the EC.

Election Commission yet to receive tally of mandatory matching of paper trail machine slips

Adding<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/the-fall-of-amethi-why-did-rahul-gandhi-lose-congress-stronghold-221658"> insult to injury</a>, Congress candidates lost their deposits in both Allahabad and Phulpur Lok Sabha seats in Prayagraj, a region traditionally considered a Congress fortress.

In Uttar Pradesh - the most politically significant state - the only saving grace for Congress was Raebareli, the seat won by Sonia Gandhi. In most of the other 79 parliamentary constituencies, the grand old party was decimated to humiliating lows.

Particularly in Allahabad and Phulpur, Congress' could not even field candidates from its own cadre for the crucial seats.

Yogesh Shukla, who crossed over from BJP days before filing nomination, was fielded from Allahabad seat. Pankaj Niranjan, the son-in-law of Apna Dal faction's Krishna Patel, was given Congress ticket from Phulpur.

Both leaders failed to make any impact and subsequently lost their deposits.

Shukla got a meagre 3.59 per cent of the total votes polled in Allahabad, Niranjan's vote share stood at a pitiably low of 3.35 per cent in Phulpur.

According to the Election Commission's guidelines, a candidate loses their deposit if they fail to win at least 1/6th (16.67 per cent) of the total votes polled in the constituency. Candidates contesting are required to submit Rs 25,000 as a security deposit.

Analysis: What poll losses in Guna and Amethi mean for Congress

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It is said that the top Congress leadership foresaw the humiliating defeat of their candidates on both seats as neither party president Rahul Gandhi nor his sister and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigned for them.

Both the Lok Sabha seats voted in the penultimate phase of elections on May 12.

Taking moral responsibility of the defeat, party presidents of Prayagraj district and city units have offered their resignations.

"The kind of influence Congress used to enjoy in Allahabad is now vanishing from the hearts of the people. We are trying to find out the reason behind this change. We will try to once again take the party to the people," party's Prayagraj unit president Haseeb Ahmed said.

Phulpur was first represented by India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru after his victory in 1951 Lok Sabha elections, first polls after the nation secured independence. After Nehru's demise, his sister Vijay Laxmi Pandit won two Lok Sabha elections in 1964 (bypoll) and 1967 from the constituency.

In 1969, Janeshwar Mishra of Samyukta Socialist Party won the by-poll in Phulpur sweeping the Congress for the first time.

Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan, who was a good friend of Rajiv Gandhi, won the Allahabad seat for Congress in 1984 Lok polls. Bachchan had defeated former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna.

History took an unprecedented turn after 25 years when Bahuguna's daughter and state cabinet minister, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, also a BJP turncoat, handed a humiliating defeat to the Congress candidate Allahabad.

With the district Congress office bearers taking responsibility and offering to quit, political pundits say, the grand old party's hold will further deteriorate in the holy city.

Getting just one seat out of 80, despite Priyanka Gandhi being in-charge of the party's fortunes in the eastern part, has been a massive blow for the Congress.

Rahul Gandhi losing Amethi to BJP's Smriti Irani was one of the biggest takeaways of the 2019 polls. The seat - considered till now as a Nehru-Gandhi bastion - was represented by Rahul since 2004, however, he managed a massive victory from Kerala's Wayanad.

The national picture was equally dismal for the Congress as they managed to bag just 52 seats, far behind BJP's massive 303.

&nbsp;

Adding insult to injury, Congress candidates lost their deposits in both Allahabad and Phulpur Lok Sabha seats in Prayagraj, a region traditionally considered a Congress fortress.

Adding insult to injury, Congress candidates lost their deposits in both Allahabad and Phulpur Lok Sabha seats in Prayagraj, a region traditionally considered a Congress fortress. In Uttar Pradesh - the most politically significant state - the only saving grace for Congress was Raebareli, the seat won by Sonia Gandhi. In most of the other 79 parliamentary constituencies, the grand old party was decimated to humiliating lows. Particularly in Allahabad and Phulpur, Congress' could not even field candidates from its own cadre for the crucial seats. Yogesh Shukla, who crossed over from BJP days before filing nomination, was fielded from Allahabad seat. Pankaj Niranjan, the son-in-law of Apna Dal faction's Krishna Patel, was given Congress ticket from Phulpur. Both leaders failed to make any impact and subsequently lost their deposits. Shukla got a meagre 3.59 per cent of the total votes polled in Allahabad, Niranjan's vote share stood at a pitiably low of 3.35 per cent in Phulpur. According to the Election Commission's guidelines, a candidate loses their deposit if they fail to win at least 1/6th (16.67 per cent) of the total votes polled in the constituency. Candidates contesting are required to submit Rs 25,000 as a security deposit. Analysis: What poll losses in Guna and Amethi mean for Congress × It is said that the top Congress leadership foresaw the humiliating defeat of their candidates on both seats as neither party president Rahul Gandhi nor his sister and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigned for them. Both the Lok Sabha seats voted in the penultimate phase of elections on May 12. Taking moral responsibility of the defeat, party presidents of Prayagraj district and city units have offered their resignations. "The kind of influence Congress used to enjoy in Allahabad is now vanishing from the hearts of the people. We are trying to find out the reason behind this change. We will try to once again take the party to the people," party's Prayagraj unit president Haseeb Ahmed said. Phulpur was first represented by India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru after his victory in 1951 Lok Sabha elections, first polls after the nation secured independence. After Nehru's demise, his sister Vijay Laxmi Pandit won two Lok Sabha elections in 1964 (bypoll) and 1967 from the constituency. In 1969, Janeshwar Mishra of Samyukta Socialist Party won the by-poll in Phulpur sweeping the Congress for the first time. Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan, who was a good friend of Rajiv Gandhi, won the Allahabad seat for Congress in 1984 Lok polls. Bachchan had defeated former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna. History took an unprecedented turn after 25 years when Bahuguna's daughter and state cabinet minister, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, also a BJP turncoat, handed a humiliating defeat to the Congress candidate Allahabad. With the district Congress office bearers taking responsibility and offering to quit, political pundits say, the grand old party's hold will further deteriorate in the holy city. Getting just one seat out of 80, despite Priyanka Gandhi being in-charge of the party's fortunes in the eastern part, has been a massive blow for the Congress. Rahul Gandhi losing Amethi to BJP's Smriti Irani was one of the biggest takeaways of the 2019 polls. The seat - considered till now as a Nehru-Gandhi bastion - was represented by Rahul since 2004, however, he managed a massive victory from Kerala's Wayanad. The national picture was equally dismal for the Congress as they managed to bag just 52 seats, far behind BJP's massive 303.

Once Congress fortresses, candidates lose deposits in Allahabad, Phulpur

The BJP on Saturday described TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's offer to quit as West Bengal chief minister as "drama" and claimed her government will fall on its own and the saffron party will not need to topple it.

Banerjee offered to quit as chief minister following her party's drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls, but the TMC rejected it.

"It is good that at least she has accepted defeat. But her offer to quit is nothing but a drama to garner sympathy," BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said.

Reacting to Banerjee's comment that BJP will commit a mistake if it tries to topple her government, Vijayvargiya said it will fall on its own.

He said, "We will not topple it. It will fall on its own. TMC leaders have lost confidence in her. They are fed up.

If they come to us and crib about her misrule and authoritarian approach, what can we do?" Bengal witnessed a saffron surge in the Lok Sabha polls as the BJP inflicted a blow to ruling TMC by winning 18 of total 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

The TMC won 22 seats, down from 34 in 2014.

Addressing her first press conference after the election results were declared, she Saturday accused the BJP of polarising people on religious lines to garner votes in West Bengal and wondered if some "sort of setting or foreign power" played a role in such a huge victory of the saffron party.

The BJP on Saturday described TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's offer to quit as West Bengal chief minister as "drama" and claimed her government will fall on its own and the saffron party will not need to topple it.

The BJP on Saturday described TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's offer to quit as West Bengal chief minister as "drama" and claimed her government will fall on its own and the saffron party will not need to topple it. Banerjee offered to quit as chief minister following her party's drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls, but the TMC rejected it. "It is good that at least she has accepted defeat. But her offer to quit is nothing but a drama to garner sympathy," BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said. Reacting to Banerjee's comment that BJP will commit a mistake if it tries to topple her government, Vijayvargiya said it will fall on its own. He said, "We will not topple it. It will fall on its own. TMC leaders have lost confidence in her. They are fed up. If they come to us and crib about her misrule and authoritarian approach, what can we do?" Bengal witnessed a saffron surge in the Lok Sabha polls as the BJP inflicted a blow to ruling TMC by winning 18 of total 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The TMC won 22 seats, down from 34 in 2014. Addressing her first press conference after the election results were declared, she Saturday accused the BJP of polarising people on religious lines to garner votes in West Bengal and wondered if some "sort of setting or foreign power" played a role in such a huge victory of the saffron party.

BJP mocks Mamata Banerjee's offer to quit the chief minister post as 'drama'

The swearing-in ceremony of the new government is scheduled to take place on May 30 when&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/focus-is-now-on-the-next-five-years-team-will-deliver-better-pm-modi-221500">Narendra Modi</a> along with the Members of Union Council of Ministers will take the oath.

The President will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the Prime Minister and other members of the Union Council of Ministers at 7 pm on May 30, 2019, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, a tweet said from President of India official handle.

The oath ceremony will be held at 7pm in&nbsp;Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Modi staked claim to form the government on Saturday after he was unanimously elected as leader of the NDA coalition.&nbsp;

An NDA delegation led by BJP President Amit Shah handed over a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-stakes-claim-to-form-the-government-swearing-in-likely-on-may-30-221611">letter&nbsp;to the President stating&nbsp;</a>that Narendra Modi had been elected as the leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party.&nbsp;

Watch: PM Modi meets President Kovind to stake claim to form govt

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Letters of support from NDA constituent parties were also handed over to the President.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new government is scheduled to take place on May 30 when Narendra Modi along with the Members of Union Council of Ministers will take the oath.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new government is scheduled to take place on May 30 when Narendra Modi along with the Members of Union Council of Ministers will take the oath. The President will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the Prime Minister and other members of the Union Council of Ministers at 7 pm on May 30, 2019, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, a tweet said from President of India official handle. The oath ceremony will be held at 7pm in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Modi staked claim to form the government on Saturday after he was unanimously elected as leader of the NDA coalition. An NDA delegation led by BJP President Amit Shah handed over a letter to the President stating that Narendra Modi had been elected as the leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party. Watch: PM Modi meets President Kovind to stake claim to form govt × Letters of support from NDA constituent parties were also handed over to the President.

Narendra Modi to be sworn in as Prime Minister on May 30 at 7pm

Odisha Chief Minister and BJD leader Naveen Patnaik on Sunday met Governor Professor Ganeshi Lal and staked claim to form a government in the state for a fifth consecutive time.

Patnaik`s meeting with the Governor took place after newly elected BJD MLAs held a meeting in the state capital and elected the former as their leader.

Speaking to media, Patnaik said, "MLAs of BJD have elected me as the leader of their legislature party.

I am very grateful to them and I am now going to see the Governor.

"He also said that party MPs have been told to take "Odisha`s demands forward and work hard for the people".

Earlier in the day, newly elected BJD MPs also met with Patnaik in Bhubaneswar.BJD put up a tough fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections and managed to retain 12 of the 21 seats in the state.

Patnaik won from two Assembly segments, Hinjili under the Aska Lok Sabha seat in southern Odisha and Bijapur in the Bargarh Lok Sabha seat in western Odisha. While BJP won 8 seats in the state, one went to the Indian National Congress (INC).

The parliamentary elections saw stalwarts such as BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra being defeated by BJD`s sitting MP Pinaki Misra from the Puri parliamentary constituency. Patnaik`s party was able to contain the BJP, although it could not stop the national party from making inroads into its bastion.

Elections for the 147 seats in the Odisha Legislative Assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats were held simultaneously in the state.&nbsp;

Odisha Chief Minister and BJD leader Naveen Patnaik on Sunday met Governor Professor Ganeshi Lal and staked claim to form a government in the state for a fifth consecutive time.

Odisha Chief Minister and BJD leader Naveen Patnaik on Sunday met Governor Professor Ganeshi Lal and staked claim to form a government in the state for a fifth consecutive time. Patnaik`s meeting with the Governor took place after newly elected BJD MLAs held a meeting in the state capital and elected the former as their leader. Speaking to media, Patnaik said, "MLAs of BJD have elected me as the leader of their legislature party. I am very grateful to them and I am now going to see the Governor. "He also said that party MPs have been told to take "Odisha`s demands forward and work hard for the people". Earlier in the day, newly elected BJD MPs also met with Patnaik in Bhubaneswar.BJD put up a tough fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections and managed to retain 12 of the 21 seats in the state. Patnaik won from two Assembly segments, Hinjili under the Aska Lok Sabha seat in southern Odisha and Bijapur in the Bargarh Lok Sabha seat in western Odisha. While BJP won 8 seats in the state, one went to the Indian National Congress (INC). The parliamentary elections saw stalwarts such as BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra being defeated by BJD`s sitting MP Pinaki Misra from the Puri parliamentary constituency. Patnaik`s party was able to contain the BJP, although it could not stop the national party from making inroads into its bastion. Elections for the 147 seats in the Odisha Legislative Assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats were held simultaneously in the state.

Odisha: Naveen Patnaik chosen leader of BJD legislative party, meets Governor

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader MP Dayanidhi Maran on Sunday asked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to resign following the defeat of AIADMK in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

"Edappadi K Palaniswami must take moral responsibility for the defeat of AIADMK in Lok Sabha elections. The party managed to win on one seat in general elections because of money power. Palaniswami must tender his resignation," Maran told reporters.

Raveendranath Kumar was the only All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader who managed to win from the Theni seat in Tamil Nadu.23 seats were won by DMK while Indian National Congress (INC) won 8 seats in the state.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) won 2 seats each, while the rest went to Indian Union Muslim League and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi with both winning one seat.

AIADMK which is in power in the state and an ally of the NDA on the national front faced this debacle even while the rest of the country saw BJP and its coalition partners winning 353 out of the total 542 Lok Sabha.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader MP Dayanidhi Maran on Sunday asked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to resign following the defeat of AIADMK in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader MP Dayanidhi Maran on Sunday asked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to resign following the defeat of AIADMK in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. "Edappadi K Palaniswami must take moral responsibility for the defeat of AIADMK in Lok Sabha elections. The party managed to win on one seat in general elections because of money power. Palaniswami must tender his resignation," Maran told reporters. Raveendranath Kumar was the only All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader who managed to win from the Theni seat in Tamil Nadu.23 seats were won by DMK while Indian National Congress (INC) won 8 seats in the state. The Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) won 2 seats each, while the rest went to Indian Union Muslim League and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi with both winning one seat. AIADMK which is in power in the state and an ally of the NDA on the national front faced this debacle even while the rest of the country saw BJP and its coalition partners winning 353 out of the total 542 Lok Sabha.

Palaniswami must tender his resignation: Dayanidhi Maran

YSR Congress Party chief <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jaganmohan-to-meet-modi-tomorrow-likely-discuss-outside-or-issue-based-support-to-modi-govt-221555">Jaganmohan Reddy</a> arrived in the national capital on Sunday. Shortly after his arrival, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

V Vijaya Sai Reddy and other leaders of YSRCP were also present during the meeting. He also met BJP president Amit Shah.&nbsp;

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister designate discussed the issues of special category status to Andhra Pradesh and the state's financial situation.

Reddy also sought central funds during the meeting with PM Modi at his 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence, PTI reported.

Reddy is expected to interact with officials at Andhra Bhawan later in the day.

On Saturday, he was unanimously elected as the leader of YSRC legislature party.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: YSRCP Chief Jaganmohan Reddy arrives in Delhi. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. <a href="https://t.co/ip3nQilyyU">pic.twitter.com/ip3nQilyyU</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1132508483226439680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Time and again, Reddy had said that his party would support whoever promises Andhra Pradesh the Special Category Status.

Reddy's YSRCP registered a mammoth victory in state Assembly elections, ousting TDP supremo out of power in Andhra Pradesh.&nbsp;

The YSRCP bagged 151 Assembly seats out of the total 175 seats and 22 of its 25 Lok Sabha seats. Reddy is likely to take oath as the CM on May 30.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-votes-jagan-reddy-trumps-chandrababu-naidu-221165/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, congratulated Reddy on the "remarkable" win in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls.

"Congratulations on the remarkable win in Andhra Pradesh. Best wishes to you for a successful tenure," Modi tweeted.

YSR Congress Party chief Jaganmohan Reddy arrived in the national capital on Sunday. Shortly after his arrival, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. V Vijaya Sai Reddy and other leaders of YSRCP were also present during the meeting.

YSR Congress Party chief Jaganmohan Reddy arrived in the national capital on Sunday. Shortly after his arrival, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. V Vijaya Sai Reddy and other leaders of YSRCP were also present during the meeting. He also met BJP president Amit Shah. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister designate discussed the issues of special category status to Andhra Pradesh and the state's financial situation. Reddy also sought central funds during the meeting with PM Modi at his 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence, PTI reported. Reddy is expected to interact with officials at Andhra Bhawan later in the day. On Saturday, he was unanimously elected as the leader of YSRC legislature party. #WATCH: YSRCP Chief Jaganmohan Reddy arrives in Delhi. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. pic.twitter.com/ip3nQilyyU — ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2019 × Time and again, Reddy had said that his party would support whoever promises Andhra Pradesh the Special Category Status. Reddy's YSRCP registered a mammoth victory in state Assembly elections, ousting TDP supremo out of power in Andhra Pradesh. The YSRCP bagged 151 Assembly seats out of the total 175 seats and 22 of its 25 Lok Sabha seats. Reddy is likely to take oath as the CM on May 30. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, congratulated Reddy on the "remarkable" win in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls. "Congratulations on the remarkable win in Andhra Pradesh. Best wishes to you for a successful tenure," Modi tweeted.

YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy meets PM Narendra Modi, discusses special status to Andhra

A former village head and close aide of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/had-ensured-that-the-mp-from-amethi-would-be-chosen-from-our-party-smriti-irani-to-wion-221599">Union Minister Smriti Irani</a> was allegedly shot dead by two unidentified men in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/north-remembers-smriti-iranis-dig-at-rahul-gandhi-after-amethi-win-221254">Uttar Pradesh's Amethi district</a> on Saturday, news agency PTI reported. Suspects in connection with the murder have been detained.&nbsp;

The police are looking into all aspects of the killing, including political rivalry. "Since he had been a village chief, it seems to be a fallout of an old rivalry. We are not ruling out a political rivalry and are looking into all aspects of the case," the police said.

Uttar Pradesh DGP, OP Singh said that an intensive investigation is underway.&nbsp;

"We've found vital clues. 7 people detained for questioning. We're confident of solving the case in the next 12 hours. 3 companies of PAC are deputed," Singh stated.

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UP DGP, OP Singh on murder of Surendra Singh,ex-village head of Barauli, Amethi: Intensive investigation underway. We've found vital clues.7 people detained for questioning.We're confident of solving the case in the next 12hrs.3 companies of PAC are deputed,no law&amp;order situation <a href="https://t.co/9ttCr7Pa13">pic.twitter.com/9ttCr7Pa13</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1132546436619546624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Surendra Singh, 50, was the former head of Baraulia village in Uttar Pradesh. According to Additional Superintendent of Police Daya Ram, Singh was shot dead&nbsp;yesterday at his residence.

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Singh was rushed to a hospital in state capital Lucknow in a serious condition where he succumbed to his injuries during the treatment, the police said.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Amethi MP and BJP leader Smriti Irani has left for Barauli to meet with the bereaved family.&nbsp;

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Delhi: Amethi MP &amp; BJP leader Smriti Irani leaves for her constituency, she will meet the family of Surendra Singh, ex-village head of Barauli, Amethi who was shot dead last night. <a href="https://t.co/NnIdRWRjvk">pic.twitter.com/NnIdRWRjvk</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1132522397154861059?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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As per reports, Singh was involved in the shoe-distribution process carried out by Irani in Amethi while campaigning for Lok Sabha polls.&nbsp;

In the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, Smriti Irani scripted history by defeating Congress chief Rahul Gandhi by a margin of over 50,000 votes and clinching party stronghold Amethi.&nbsp;

A former village head and close aide of Union Minister Smriti Irani was allegedly shot dead by two unidentified men in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi district on Saturday, news agency PTI reported.

A former village head and close aide of Union Minister Smriti Irani was allegedly shot dead by two unidentified men in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi district on Saturday, news agency PTI reported. Suspects in connection with the murder have been detained. The police are looking into all aspects of the killing, including political rivalry. "Since he had been a village chief, it seems to be a fallout of an old rivalry. We are not ruling out a political rivalry and are looking into all aspects of the case," the police said. Uttar Pradesh DGP, OP Singh said that an intensive investigation is underway. "We've found vital clues. 7 people detained for questioning. We're confident of solving the case in the next 12 hours. 3 companies of PAC are deputed," Singh stated. UP DGP, OP Singh on murder of Surendra Singh,ex-village head of Barauli, Amethi: Intensive investigation underway. We've found vital clues.7 people detained for questioning.We're confident of solving the case in the next 12hrs.3 companies of PAC are deputed,no law&order situation pic.twitter.com/9ttCr7Pa13 — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 26, 2019 × Surendra Singh, 50, was the former head of Baraulia village in Uttar Pradesh. According to Additional Superintendent of Police Daya Ram, Singh was shot dead yesterday at his residence. × Singh was rushed to a hospital in state capital Lucknow in a serious condition where he succumbed to his injuries during the treatment, the police said. Meanwhile, Amethi MP and BJP leader Smriti Irani has left for Barauli to meet with the bereaved family. Delhi: Amethi MP & BJP leader Smriti Irani leaves for her constituency, she will meet the family of Surendra Singh, ex-village head of Barauli, Amethi who was shot dead last night. pic.twitter.com/NnIdRWRjvk — ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2019 × As per reports, Singh was involved in the shoe-distribution process carried out by Irani in Amethi while campaigning for Lok Sabha polls. In the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, Smriti Irani scripted history by defeating Congress chief Rahul Gandhi by a margin of over 50,000 votes and clinching party stronghold Amethi.

Former village head and Smriti Irani's close aide shot dead in Amethi, suspects detained

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/pm-modi-to-visit-gujarat-on-sunday-to-seek-blessings-of-mother-will-head-to-varanasi-on-monday-221475">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> on Friday evening addressed his Office (PMO) staff at the end of his first term.&nbsp;

Speaking at the lawn of the South Block, the prime minister said that teamwork has led to this historic win, adding that throughout these five years, the party didn't divert its dedication.&nbsp;

PM Modi said that his team is better now and is ready to deliver better.&nbsp;

"The focus is now on the next five years," he said as he interacted with the PMO staff.&nbsp;

Beating the anti-incumbency of his first five years in power, Prime Minister Modi on Thursday secured an even greater mandate for the second straight term.

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Will be going to Gujarat tomorrow evening, to seek blessings of my Mother. Day after tomorrow morning, I will be in Kashi to thank the people of this great land for reposing their faith in me.
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Marking another historic victory, PM Modi-led BJP crossed over 300 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The party had won 282 seats in the 2014 general election.

Prime Minister Modi will in Gujarat Gujarat on Sunday to seek blessings from his mother.&nbsp;

In a tweet posted on Saturday, the prime minister stated that he will be in Gujarat on Sunday after which he will head to his Parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, on Monday "to thank the people of this great land for reposing their faith in me," his tweet read.

"Will be going to Gujarat tomorrow evening, to seek blessings of my Mother. Day after tomorrow morning, I will be in Kashi to thank the people of this great land for reposing their faith in me," PM Modi had tweeted.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday evening addressed his Office (PMO) staff at the end of his first term. Speaking at the lawn of the South Block, the prime minister said that teamwork has led to this historic win, adding that throughout these five years, the party didn't divert its dedication.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday evening addressed his Office (PMO) staff at the end of his first term. Speaking at the lawn of the South Block, the prime minister said that teamwork has led to this historic win, adding that throughout these five years, the party didn't divert its dedication. PM Modi said that his team is better now and is ready to deliver better. "The focus is now on the next five years," he said as he interacted with the PMO staff. Beating the anti-incumbency of his first five years in power, Prime Minister Modi on Thursday secured an even greater mandate for the second straight term. Will be going to Gujarat tomorrow evening, to seek blessings of my Mother. Day after tomorrow morning, I will be in Kashi to thank the people of this great land for reposing their faith in me. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 25, 2019 × Marking another historic victory, PM Modi-led BJP crossed over 300 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The party had won 282 seats in the 2014 general election. Prime Minister Modi will in Gujarat Gujarat on Sunday to seek blessings from his mother. In a tweet posted on Saturday, the prime minister stated that he will be in Gujarat on Sunday after which he will head to his Parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, on Monday "to thank the people of this great land for reposing their faith in me," his tweet read. "Will be going to Gujarat tomorrow evening, to seek blessings of my Mother. Day after tomorrow morning, I will be in Kashi to thank the people of this great land for reposing their faith in me," PM Modi had tweeted.

Focus is now on next five years, team will deliver better: PM Modi 

It would seem that watephors, especially billowy ones, dominate election predictions and analyses in India. But this time no one got it right. Not a single person, commentator, columnist, psephologist, soothsayer, or gossipy socialite even once predicted that there would be a staggering tsunami in favour of the Narendra Modi-led BJP. The usual comment, uttered with unshakeable confidence, was that 2019 was unlike 2014 for one simple reason. There was no NaMo wave. Nobody contested this hydrous assumption.

As we progressed through the campaign season, even completing the first couple of phases of the actual voting, this overwhelmingly accepted trope did get a wee watered down. Ah! the wise wags said, almost in a hushed whisper, sometimes cocking an eye or shaking a finger conspiratorially, "There is no wave, but perhaps there is an undercurrent."&nbsp;I myself, I must confess, was rather taken by the seductive appeal of this breaker. It was as if unbeknownst to the vast armies of Indian electoral observers, there was a definite shift in the leitmotif. This notion or should I say the tension between no-wave and undeniable undercurrent afforded some intellectual refreshment if not libation.

Soon, to continue with our aqueous discernments, the undercurrent actually turned into a groundswell. When did this happen? By most counts, the Balakot surgical strikes did it. Our jets swooped deep into Pakistani territory, crossing not just the current LoC, but the international border. Some cynics immediately dismissed this as another war-mongering political stunt. But, when our fighter pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was taken captive, the whole nation not only turned serious, but furious. His return, calmly walking across from Pakistan to Hindustan, was the most riveting and watched event on live TV. Modi was hailed not only as a decisive Prime Minister, but also an effective commander-in-chief. In his hands, the safety, security, and self-respect of India would be intact.

Yet, no Modi wave.&nbsp;

Instead, all of us calculated the losses in UP and where they would be made-up. No one knew that the “Mahagathbandhan” would flop, getting a measly 15 out of 80 seats. Or that the shortfall for the BJP would only be 9 seats, down from 71 in 2014, to 62 in 2019. No one had noticed the hard work of UP’s much maligned-by-the-LeftLiberals Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, who addressed 137 rallies, 28 in his own home turf of Gorakhpur. It was here, we might remember, that the "gathbandhan"&nbsp;model of defeating the BJP had been hatched in the by-elections.&nbsp;

Then we saw the daily reports of violence in West Bengal, which was the arena of BJP’s impressive eastward push. Only Mamata, it would seem, stood between Modi and the saffron march all the way from Delhi to Arunachal Pradesh. There were pitched battles in Kolkata, the original homeland of Hindu, where stalwart after stalwart of India’s renaissance had emerged. Rammohan Roy, Sri Ramakrishna, Rabindranath Tagore, Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar (he whose bust was destroyed), Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Syama Prasad Mukherji — to name only a few. It was only when Amit Shah pulled off a spectacular roadshow near College Street that the rest of India realised what was really going on.

But, not one person said that whatever was going on was now tantamount to a genuine Modi wave. Rather, the phrase used was somewhat more earthy than soggy—BJP was making inroads in Bengal.

In the meanwhile, the elections themselves, all seven phases of them, were over. Polling had taken place in fairly high numbers in all parts of the country, despite the heat and dust. This was the largest election in human history, and it had been completed without too many unsavoury or untoward events. Even the violence, regrettable as it was, was infrequent and exceptional. Now, came the exit polls and so much loose-talk about EVM tampering and EC-favouritism.&nbsp;

But still no Modi wave.

It was only with the tabulation of the results, with the BJP improving its tally from 282 in 2014 to 303 in 2019 and the NDA matching its previous record by notching up 353 of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha that, almost overnight, we have finally admitted to a NaMo wave this time around too. But, hey, now it’s no longer a wave; it’s a TsuNaMo. All of us were caught sleeping. No amount of catch-up or I-told-you-so can cover-up our metaphorical miscalculation.&nbsp;

Well, what if we did not predict let alone ride this wave? In an act of figurative damage-control if not penitence, we may as well enjoy being swept off our feet as it surges across and inundates the entire length and breadth of the country.

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-tsunamo-how-modi-surge-swept-aside-all-predictions-2753407">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

It would seem that watephors, especially billowy ones, dominate election predictions and analyses in India. But this time no one got it right. Not a single person, commentator, columnist, psephologist, soothsayer, or gossipy socialite even once predicted that there would be a staggering tsunami in favour of the Narendra Modi-led BJP.

It would seem that watephors, especially billowy ones, dominate election predictions and analyses in India. But this time no one got it right. Not a single person, commentator, columnist, psephologist, soothsayer, or gossipy socialite even once predicted that there would be a staggering tsunami in favour of the Narendra Modi-led BJP. The usual comment, uttered with unshakeable confidence, was that 2019 was unlike 2014 for one simple reason. There was no NaMo wave. Nobody contested this hydrous assumption. As we progressed through the campaign season, even completing the first couple of phases of the actual voting, this overwhelmingly accepted trope did get a wee watered down. Ah! the wise wags said, almost in a hushed whisper, sometimes cocking an eye or shaking a finger conspiratorially, "There is no wave, but perhaps there is an undercurrent." I myself, I must confess, was rather taken by the seductive appeal of this breaker. It was as if unbeknownst to the vast armies of Indian electoral observers, there was a definite shift in the leitmotif. This notion or should I say the tension between no-wave and undeniable undercurrent afforded some intellectual refreshment if not libation. Soon, to continue with our aqueous discernments, the undercurrent actually turned into a groundswell. When did this happen? By most counts, the Balakot surgical strikes did it. Our jets swooped deep into Pakistani territory, crossing not just the current LoC, but the international border. Some cynics immediately dismissed this as another war-mongering political stunt. But, when our fighter pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was taken captive, the whole nation not only turned serious, but furious. His return, calmly walking across from Pakistan to Hindustan, was the most riveting and watched event on live TV. Modi was hailed not only as a decisive Prime Minister, but also an effective commander-in-chief. In his hands, the safety, security, and self-respect of India would be intact. Yet, no Modi wave. Instead, all of us calculated the losses in UP and where they would be made-up. No one knew that the “Mahagathbandhan” would flop, getting a measly 15 out of 80 seats. Or that the shortfall for the BJP would only be 9 seats, down from 71 in 2014, to 62 in 2019. No one had noticed the hard work of UP’s much maligned-by-the-LeftLiberals Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, who addressed 137 rallies, 28 in his own home turf of Gorakhpur. It was here, we might remember, that the "gathbandhan" model of defeating the BJP had been hatched in the by-elections. Then we saw the daily reports of violence in West Bengal, which was the arena of BJP’s impressive eastward push. Only Mamata, it would seem, stood between Modi and the saffron march all the way from Delhi to Arunachal Pradesh. There were pitched battles in Kolkata, the original homeland of Hindu, where stalwart after stalwart of India’s renaissance had emerged. Rammohan Roy, Sri Ramakrishna, Rabindranath Tagore, Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar (he whose bust was destroyed), Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Syama Prasad Mukherji — to name only a few. It was only when Amit Shah pulled off a spectacular roadshow near College Street that the rest of India realised what was really going on. But, not one person said that whatever was going on was now tantamount to a genuine Modi wave. Rather, the phrase used was somewhat more earthy than soggy—BJP was making inroads in Bengal. In the meanwhile, the elections themselves, all seven phases of them, were over. Polling had taken place in fairly high numbers in all parts of the country, despite the heat and dust. This was the largest election in human history, and it had been completed without too many unsavoury or untoward events. Even the violence, regrettable as it was, was infrequent and exceptional. Now, came the exit polls and so much loose-talk about EVM tampering and EC-favouritism. But still no Modi wave. It was only with the tabulation of the results, with the BJP improving its tally from 282 in 2014 to 303 in 2019 and the NDA matching its previous record by notching up 353 of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha that, almost overnight, we have finally admitted to a NaMo wave this time around too. But, hey, now it’s no longer a wave; it’s a TsuNaMo. All of us were caught sleeping. No amount of catch-up or I-told-you-so can cover-up our metaphorical miscalculation. Well, what if we did not predict let alone ride this wave? In an act of figurative damage-control if not penitence, we may as well enjoy being swept off our feet as it surges across and inundates the entire length and breadth of the country. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

How Narendra Modi surge swept aside all predictions

After <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-draws-a-blank-in-18-states-and-union-territories-221310">facing a defeat for the second time in the consecutive Lok Sabha elections</a>, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) is meeting today to discuss the reason for party's debacle.

Though there was no official word on the agenda for the meeting, sources said the committee will talk about future strategies.

The CWC is also expected to take stock of the party's loss in Uttar Pradesh.

Congress, despite extensive campaigning by its president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, was decimated to a single seat in Uttar Pradesh - Sonia Gandhi's Raebareli Lok Sabha seat. Rahul Gandhi, who represented the Amethi seat since 2004, lost to BJP's Smriti Irani.

The source also indicated that the committee is likely to discuss the party's complete loss in the states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where it had won the Assembly elections just five months ago.

All members of the committee have been instructed to talk and put their proposal openly in front of the committee in the meeting today, the sources said.

Speculations are that the party president Rahul Gandhi is likely to offer his resignation accepting moral responsibility for the debacle.

However, Gandhi's offer may not be accepted and the party may reaffirm its faith to work under his leadership, said sources. Gandhi apparently wants to send a signal that he was also accountable for the party's performance which was not any better than the 2014 results.

In the last elections, the Congress had won 44 seats, the lowest-score in its history, and improved its tally marginally by 8 to reach 52 seats in the latest elections.

Meanwhile, presidents of the party units in states like Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha have offered to resign from their post accepting responsibility for the poor showing of the party in the just-concluded elections.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

After facing a defeat for the second time in the consecutive Lok Sabha elections, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) is meeting today to discuss the reason for party's debacle.

After facing a defeat for the second time in the consecutive Lok Sabha elections, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) is meeting today to discuss the reason for party's debacle. Though there was no official word on the agenda for the meeting, sources said the committee will talk about future strategies. The CWC is also expected to take stock of the party's loss in Uttar Pradesh. Congress, despite extensive campaigning by its president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, was decimated to a single seat in Uttar Pradesh - Sonia Gandhi's Raebareli Lok Sabha seat. Rahul Gandhi, who represented the Amethi seat since 2004, lost to BJP's Smriti Irani. The source also indicated that the committee is likely to discuss the party's complete loss in the states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where it had won the Assembly elections just five months ago. All members of the committee have been instructed to talk and put their proposal openly in front of the committee in the meeting today, the sources said. Speculations are that the party president Rahul Gandhi is likely to offer his resignation accepting moral responsibility for the debacle. However, Gandhi's offer may not be accepted and the party may reaffirm its faith to work under his leadership, said sources. Gandhi apparently wants to send a signal that he was also accountable for the party's performance which was not any better than the 2014 results. In the last elections, the Congress had won 44 seats, the lowest-score in its history, and improved its tally marginally by 8 to reach 52 seats in the latest elections. Meanwhile, presidents of the party units in states like Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha have offered to resign from their post accepting responsibility for the poor showing of the party in the just-concluded elections.

Lok Sabha elections 2019: Congress may introspect poll debacle in CWC meeting today

After registering <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/after-nehru-and-indira-modi-becomes-third-prime-minister-to-return-to-power-with-huge-mandate-221300">a landslide win in the Lok Sabha polls</a>, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit his home state, Gujarat and seek blessings from his mother.&nbsp;

In a tweet posted on Saturday, the prime minister stated that he will be in Gujarat on Sunday after which he will head to his Parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, on Monday "to thank the people of this great land for reposing their faith in me," his tweet read.

"Will be going to Gujarat tomorrow evening, to seek blessings of my Mother. Day after tomorrow morning, I will be in Kashi to thank the people of this great land for reposing their faith in me," PM Modi had tweeted.&nbsp;

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Will be going to Gujarat tomorrow evening, to seek blessings of my Mother. Day after tomorrow morning, I will be in Kashi to thank the people of this great land for reposing their faith in me.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1132145099767517185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Beating the anti-incumbency of his first five years in power, Prime Minister Modi on Thursday secured an even greater mandate for the second straight term.

Marking another historic victory, PM Modi-led BJP crossed over 300 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The party had won 282 seats in the 2014 general election.

After registering a landslide win in the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit his home state, Gujarat and seek blessings from his mother.

After registering a landslide win in the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit his home state, Gujarat and seek blessings from his mother. In a tweet posted on Saturday, the prime minister stated that he will be in Gujarat on Sunday after which he will head to his Parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, on Monday "to thank the people of this great land for reposing their faith in me," his tweet read. "Will be going to Gujarat tomorrow evening, to seek blessings of my Mother. Day after tomorrow morning, I will be in Kashi to thank the people of this great land for reposing their faith in me," PM Modi had tweeted. Will be going to Gujarat tomorrow evening, to seek blessings of my Mother. Day after tomorrow morning, I will be in Kashi to thank the people of this great land for reposing their faith in me. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 25, 2019 × Beating the anti-incumbency of his first five years in power, Prime Minister Modi on Thursday secured an even greater mandate for the second straight term. Marking another historic victory, PM Modi-led BJP crossed over 300 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The party had won 282 seats in the 2014 general election.

PM Modi to visit Gujarat on Sunday to seek blessings of mother, will head to Varanasi on Monday

With the Congress party staring at a massive loss in the Lok Sabha elections, party chief Rahul Gandhi set a couple of records that are bound to be remembered in the electoral history of India.&nbsp;

Gandhi registered a landslide win from Kerala's Wayanad Parliamentary constituency by a margin of over 4 lakh votes, at the same time he lost Congress stronghold Amethi to BJP opponent and Union minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/in-a-neck-and-neck-battle-smriti-irani-defeats-rahul-gandhi-in-amethi-221025">Smriti Irani by over 50,000 votes</a>.

A win from Wayanad exhibits locals' expectation from the Congress as the area, although being a hub of tourism in the state, is marred by severe infrastructural lapses. Locals here have to travel for kilometres to Calicut or neighbouring cities for medical treatments.&nbsp;

On the other hand, losing Amethi translates into a big blow for the Congress. This could even exhibit the grand old party losing its grip in Uttar Pradesh, moreover on its traditional bastions.&nbsp;

Gandhi, however, gave a tough fight to Irani and the electoral battle for Amethi, which throughout the counting day, was seen as a neck-to-neck one.&nbsp;

It must be noted that the SP-BSP-RLD alliance had refrained from fielding candidates on Congress key seats in Uttar Pradesh, including Amethi and Raebareli, to ensure BJP's defeat - a strategy which hasn't quite seemed to have materialised.&nbsp;

Gandhi on Thursday evening said that he respects people's verdict as he <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-election-results-2019-rahul-gandhi-concedes-defeat-asks-congress-workers-not-to-lose-hope-221026">conceded defeat in the Lok Sabha election</a>.

Addressing a press conference as Modi's government returned to power with a thumping majority, Rahul Gandhi said people of India decided Narendra Modi will be the Prime Minister and ''I respect their verdict''.&nbsp;

''I congratulate PM Modi and the BJP for their win,'' &nbsp;the Congress president said.&nbsp;

''Our fight is ideological, he said and added there are two ideologies - one followed by Mr Narendra Modi and the other one followed by the Congress party.&nbsp;

The Congress president asked the people not to be scared as ''we are there''.

Congratulating BJP's Smriti Irani for her victory in Amethi, he said people of Amethi had given their mandate.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the result for the Lok Sabha polls spelt a massive victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party and another term from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party, along with its allies, maintained a comfortable lead on over 280 seats, which rose up on over 340 seats as the day progressed.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Congress accepts defeat in Lok Sabha Election

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&nbsp;

With the Congress party staring at a massive loss in the Lok Sabha elections, party chief Rahul Gandhi set a couple of records that are bound to be remembered in the electoral history of India.

With the Congress party staring at a massive loss in the Lok Sabha elections, party chief Rahul Gandhi set a couple of records that are bound to be remembered in the electoral history of India. Gandhi registered a landslide win from Kerala's Wayanad Parliamentary constituency by a margin of over 4 lakh votes, at the same time he lost Congress stronghold Amethi to BJP opponent and Union minister Smriti Irani by over 50,000 votes. A win from Wayanad exhibits locals' expectation from the Congress as the area, although being a hub of tourism in the state, is marred by severe infrastructural lapses. Locals here have to travel for kilometres to Calicut or neighbouring cities for medical treatments. On the other hand, losing Amethi translates into a big blow for the Congress. This could even exhibit the grand old party losing its grip in Uttar Pradesh, moreover on its traditional bastions. Gandhi, however, gave a tough fight to Irani and the electoral battle for Amethi, which throughout the counting day, was seen as a neck-to-neck one. It must be noted that the SP-BSP-RLD alliance had refrained from fielding candidates on Congress key seats in Uttar Pradesh, including Amethi and Raebareli, to ensure BJP's defeat - a strategy which hasn't quite seemed to have materialised. Gandhi on Thursday evening said that he respects people's verdict as he conceded defeat in the Lok Sabha election. Addressing a press conference as Modi's government returned to power with a thumping majority, Rahul Gandhi said people of India decided Narendra Modi will be the Prime Minister and ''I respect their verdict''. ''I congratulate PM Modi and the BJP for their win,'' the Congress president said. ''Our fight is ideological, he said and added there are two ideologies - one followed by Mr Narendra Modi and the other one followed by the Congress party. The Congress president asked the people not to be scared as ''we are there''. Congratulating BJP's Smriti Irani for her victory in Amethi, he said people of Amethi had given their mandate. Meanwhile, the result for the Lok Sabha polls spelt a massive victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party and another term from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party, along with its allies, maintained a comfortable lead on over 280 seats, which rose up on over 340 seats as the day progressed. Watch: Congress accepts defeat in Lok Sabha Election ×

In historic Lok Sabha polls, Rahul Gandhi scripts two electoral records

Union Finance Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/election-results-to-be-in-consonance-with-exit-polls-outcome-arun-jaitley-220128">Arun Jaitley</a> is unlikely to continue in his current role due to poor health as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-election-result-2019-pm-modi-thanks-world-leaders-sportspersons-and-celebrities-for-their-wishes-on-twitter-221240">Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his second term,</a> according to four sources with knowledge of the matter.

The sources said that Jaitley, 66, is unlikely to take up any offer to continue in the top job steering Asia's third-largest economy as his health has deteriorated over the past few months.

The Bharatiya Janata Party swept the Indian general election with a historic mandate of about 300 out of 542 parliamentary seats that were contested, results announced by the Election Commission of India on May 23 showed.

"He is definitely not taking the post of the finance minister simply because he is very unwell," one of the sources, who did not want to be named, told Reuters.

"If at all, he might take up a less stressful role."

Jaitley did not return messages. His mobile phone didn't ring.

His officer on special duty, Paras Sankhla, did not respond to calls, mail and messages. Jaitley's personal secretary SD&nbsp;Ranakoti and assistant secretary Padam Singh Jamwal did not immediately respond to an email.

Jaitley, who is one of the top three leaders in the BJP and the government, after PM Modi and party President Amit Shah, was not seen at the celebrations at BJP headquarters on Thursday night. Both Modi and Shah gave victory speeches at the event.

He has not been seen in public for at least two weeks but has been publishing blogs and messages on social media.

Chief troubleshooter

In his latest message on social media, Jaitley congratulated Prime Minister Modi and all the workers of the BJP and its allies on the victory.

"Aspirational India does not accept royalties, dynasties and caste-based parties," he said in an apparent swipe at the opposition Congress party led by Rahul Gandhi, the fourth scion of the Gandhi family.

Jaitley, a lawyer-turned-politician, is one of the most important leaders in the current cabinet. He often acts as a chief troubleshooter.

In the past five years, Jaitley has steered through parliament major economic legislation such as a nationwide goods and services tax - which had languished for nearly two decades - and has defended controversial policies for the government.

Modi had given him the responsibility of three ministries when he first took office in 2014, finance, defence and information and broadcasting ministries.

A diabetic, Jaitley's health issues became worse after he had a kidney transplant in May last year. He also had to skip the interim budget in February when he was in hospital in the United States getting cancer treatment.

Shah, Modi's right-hand man, could be a candidate to take up the finance ministry, according to a senior minister in the current government, who did not want to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

India's economy is showing major signs of a slowdown after three consecutive years of 7% plus growth rates and the next finance minister is expected to seek to provide some economic stimulus without blowing the lid off the nation's fiscal deficit.

Piyush Goyal, 54, current railways and coal minister, also could be considered given that he stepped into the role twice in the Modi government between 2014 and 2019 when Jaitley was out sick.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is unlikely to continue in his current role due to poor health as Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his second term, according to four sources with knowledge of the matter.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is unlikely to continue in his current role due to poor health as Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his second term, according to four sources with knowledge of the matter. The sources said that Jaitley, 66, is unlikely to take up any offer to continue in the top job steering Asia's third-largest economy as his health has deteriorated over the past few months. The Bharatiya Janata Party swept the Indian general election with a historic mandate of about 300 out of 542 parliamentary seats that were contested, results announced by the Election Commission of India on May 23 showed. "He is definitely not taking the post of the finance minister simply because he is very unwell," one of the sources, who did not want to be named, told Reuters. "If at all, he might take up a less stressful role." Jaitley did not return messages. His mobile phone didn't ring. His officer on special duty, Paras Sankhla, did not respond to calls, mail and messages. Jaitley's personal secretary SD Ranakoti and assistant secretary Padam Singh Jamwal did not immediately respond to an email. Jaitley, who is one of the top three leaders in the BJP and the government, after PM Modi and party President Amit Shah, was not seen at the celebrations at BJP headquarters on Thursday night. Both Modi and Shah gave victory speeches at the event. He has not been seen in public for at least two weeks but has been publishing blogs and messages on social media. Chief troubleshooter In his latest message on social media, Jaitley congratulated Prime Minister Modi and all the workers of the BJP and its allies on the victory. "Aspirational India does not accept royalties, dynasties and caste-based parties," he said in an apparent swipe at the opposition Congress party led by Rahul Gandhi, the fourth scion of the Gandhi family. Jaitley, a lawyer-turned-politician, is one of the most important leaders in the current cabinet. He often acts as a chief troubleshooter. In the past five years, Jaitley has steered through parliament major economic legislation such as a nationwide goods and services tax - which had languished for nearly two decades - and has defended controversial policies for the government. Modi had given him the responsibility of three ministries when he first took office in 2014, finance, defence and information and broadcasting ministries. A diabetic, Jaitley's health issues became worse after he had a kidney transplant in May last year. He also had to skip the interim budget in February when he was in hospital in the United States getting cancer treatment. Shah, Modi's right-hand man, could be a candidate to take up the finance ministry, according to a senior minister in the current government, who did not want to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue. India's economy is showing major signs of a slowdown after three consecutive years of 7% plus growth rates and the next finance minister is expected to seek to provide some economic stimulus without blowing the lid off the nation's fiscal deficit. Piyush Goyal, 54, current railways and coal minister, also could be considered given that he stepped into the role twice in the Modi government between 2014 and 2019 when Jaitley was out sick.

Arun Jaitley unlikely to remain finance minister in PM Modi's new term: Report

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-stakes-claim-to-form-the-government-swearing-in-likely-on-may-30-221611">Prime Minister Narendra Modi </a>bowed and respectfully touched the Constitution of India with his forehead, as he walked towards the podium after being elected as the leader of the NDA and BJP parliamentary party on Saturday.

Wearing a white kurta and churidar with a brown checkered half-jacket, Prime Minister Modi humbly greeted the newly elected MPs with folded hands in the Central Hall of the Parliament before walking towards the Constitution, which was placed atop a risen platform with a white cloth.

The gesture reminisced of his action in 2014.&nbsp;

As he stepped into the Parliament for the first time after storming the BJP into power, PM Modi bent down with his forehead touching the stairs, to register his high respect for the "temple of democracy."

In the summer of 2014, soon after arriving for the BJP parliamentary party at the main gate of the Parliament building, Modi was greeted with bouquets by his party leaders, following which he touched the ground of the entrance with folded hands.

Prime Minister Modi, who steered the NDA coalition to a massive victory in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, was on Saturday unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP parliamentary party and the NDA parliament party to head the government once again.

He was elected at a combined meeting of the newly elected MPs of BJP and the NDA coalition by 353 MPs, who raised their hands with slogans of Modi and `Bharat Mata Ki Jai` echoing in the Central Hall of Parliament. 
&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi bowed and respectfully touched the Constitution of India with his forehead, as he walked towards the podium after being elected as the leader of the NDA and BJP parliamentary party on Saturday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi bowed and respectfully touched the Constitution of India with his forehead, as he walked towards the podium after being elected as the leader of the NDA and BJP parliamentary party on Saturday. Wearing a white kurta and churidar with a brown checkered half-jacket, Prime Minister Modi humbly greeted the newly elected MPs with folded hands in the Central Hall of the Parliament before walking towards the Constitution, which was placed atop a risen platform with a white cloth. The gesture reminisced of his action in 2014. As he stepped into the Parliament for the first time after storming the BJP into power, PM Modi bent down with his forehead touching the stairs, to register his high respect for the "temple of democracy." In the summer of 2014, soon after arriving for the BJP parliamentary party at the main gate of the Parliament building, Modi was greeted with bouquets by his party leaders, following which he touched the ground of the entrance with folded hands. Prime Minister Modi, who steered the NDA coalition to a massive victory in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, was on Saturday unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP parliamentary party and the NDA parliament party to head the government once again. He was elected at a combined meeting of the newly elected MPs of BJP and the NDA coalition by 353 MPs, who raised their hands with slogans of Modi and `Bharat Mata Ki Jai` echoing in the Central Hall of Parliament.

PM Modi bows down, this time before Constitution

Disgruntled AAP MLA Alka Lamba launched a veiled attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over AAP's crushing loss in Lok Sabha elections, asking shouldn't the person who took all the decisions in a closed room own the responsibility and quit.

She lashed out at her party after she was again removed from AAP's MLA WhatsApp group, which includes Kejriwal.

Without naming him, Lamba said that at a time when the party came third in the CM's constituency, lost in all 70 assembly segments and lost its security deposit, shouldn't the person, who sat in a closed room and took all decisions on alliance and candidates, quit.

"Kejriwal ji, you are yourself admitting that you made very big mistakes due to which the party fared badly in the Lok Sabha polls. Without looking at the mistakes made by the party you have asked us to apologise to people. We should introspect on the mistakes," she said.

AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said that the party did not want to comment on her.

"She is an attention-seeker. Some MLAs had raised a point that some people are unhappy about a few local works in their area. To that the chief minister had asked them to meet such people with humility, assure them of speedy work and apologise for inconvenience," he said.

Sharing screenshots of the WhatsApp group on Twitter, which purportedly shows that she was removed by AAP's North East Delhi candidate Dilip Pandey, Lamba asked why was she being held responsible for the party's crushing loss in the Lok Sabha elections.

Pandey did not respond on the matter.

"I have always been telling the party what you (Kejriwal) are telling them now. I am sometimes added to the group, sometimes removed. It would have been better if a meeting was held to introspect, look at the shortcomings and move ahead," she said.

Lamba claimed that she had raised questions about the party performance in the Lok Sabha polls which did not go down well with the AAP.

The MLA from Chandni Chowk also claimed that some legislators had told her that her tweet praising Naveen Patnaik, for winning the fifth term as chief minister of Odisha, was not appreciated by party leaders.

The AAP suffered a crushing defeat in the polls and lost on all seven seats in Delhi with a margin of lakhs of votes.

This is the second time that Lamba has been dropped from the group. She was earlier dropped in December last year when she raised objection over the party's resolution to revoke Rajiv Gandhi's Bharat Ratna.

However, she was added before poll campaigning and was expected to campaign for the party. But Lamba refused and even refrained from participating in Kejriwal's roadshow after she was asked to walk behind his car during the show.

In April, Lamba engaged in a bitter Twitter spat with Bharadwaj, who had taunted her to resign from the party.

Following the spat, she addressed a large crowd outside Jama Masjid and said the party was repeatedly demanding her resignation.

She had alleged that the party leadership was "weakening" her and said she was being accused of attempting to switch over to the Congress. 
Before joining the AAP, Lamba was part of the Congress women's wing.

Disgruntled AAP MLA Alka Lamba launched a veiled attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over AAP's crushing loss in Lok Sabha elections, asking shouldn't the person who took all the decisions in a closed room own the responsibility and quit.

Disgruntled AAP MLA Alka Lamba launched a veiled attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over AAP's crushing loss in Lok Sabha elections, asking shouldn't the person who took all the decisions in a closed room own the responsibility and quit. She lashed out at her party after she was again removed from AAP's MLA WhatsApp group, which includes Kejriwal. Without naming him, Lamba said that at a time when the party came third in the CM's constituency, lost in all 70 assembly segments and lost its security deposit, shouldn't the person, who sat in a closed room and took all decisions on alliance and candidates, quit. "Kejriwal ji, you are yourself admitting that you made very big mistakes due to which the party fared badly in the Lok Sabha polls. Without looking at the mistakes made by the party you have asked us to apologise to people. We should introspect on the mistakes," she said. AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said that the party did not want to comment on her. "She is an attention-seeker. Some MLAs had raised a point that some people are unhappy about a few local works in their area. To that the chief minister had asked them to meet such people with humility, assure them of speedy work and apologise for inconvenience," he said. Sharing screenshots of the WhatsApp group on Twitter, which purportedly shows that she was removed by AAP's North East Delhi candidate Dilip Pandey, Lamba asked why was she being held responsible for the party's crushing loss in the Lok Sabha elections. Pandey did not respond on the matter. "I have always been telling the party what you (Kejriwal) are telling them now. I am sometimes added to the group, sometimes removed. It would have been better if a meeting was held to introspect, look at the shortcomings and move ahead," she said. Lamba claimed that she had raised questions about the party performance in the Lok Sabha polls which did not go down well with the AAP. The MLA from Chandni Chowk also claimed that some legislators had told her that her tweet praising Naveen Patnaik, for winning the fifth term as chief minister of Odisha, was not appreciated by party leaders. The AAP suffered a crushing defeat in the polls and lost on all seven seats in Delhi with a margin of lakhs of votes. This is the second time that Lamba has been dropped from the group. She was earlier dropped in December last year when she raised objection over the party's resolution to revoke Rajiv Gandhi's Bharat Ratna. However, she was added before poll campaigning and was expected to campaign for the party. But Lamba refused and even refrained from participating in Kejriwal's roadshow after she was asked to walk behind his car during the show. In April, Lamba engaged in a bitter Twitter spat with Bharadwaj, who had taunted her to resign from the party. Following the spat, she addressed a large crowd outside Jama Masjid and said the party was repeatedly demanding her resignation. She had alleged that the party leadership was "weakening" her and said she was being accused of attempting to switch over to the Congress. Before joining the AAP, Lamba was part of the Congress women's wing.

Disgruntled AAP MLA Alka Lamba seeks accountability from Kejriwal in Lok Sabha polls