Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Friday demanded action against former JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav for body shaming her during an election rally, saying she felt insulted by his comments and the Election Commission must take cognizance.

Yadav made the personal comments, calling Raje fat and asking people to give her rest, while addressing a rally in Alwar on the last day of campaigning in Rajasthan on Wednesday.

"I feel insulted. This is the insult of women," Raje told reporters in Jhalawar, adding that she was "absolutely shocked" and did not expect such a comment from an experienced leader.

Raje, who is fighting for another term in office, said the leader who had close relations with her family could not control his language.

"It is important," the chief minister asserted, "that the Election Commission takes cognizance of this and sets an example so people don't repeat such a thing in future."

A video of Yadav was circulated on social media, with many labelling his comments crass and misogynistic.

Yadav was campaigning for the Loktantrik Janata Dal in Alwar district's Mundwar constituency, one of the five seats where the Congress has entered into an alliance with various parties.

Raje's sharp response to Yadav's remarks came on a day the state is voting for a new assembly. The votes will be counted on December 11.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Friday demanded action against former JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav for body shaming her during an election rally, saying she felt insulted by his comments and the Election Commission must take cognizance.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Friday demanded action against former JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav for body shaming her during an election rally, saying she felt insulted by his comments and the Election Commission must take cognizance. Yadav made the personal comments, calling Raje fat and asking people to give her rest, while addressing a rally in Alwar on the last day of campaigning in Rajasthan on Wednesday. "I feel insulted. This is the insult of women," Raje told reporters in Jhalawar, adding that she was "absolutely shocked" and did not expect such a comment from an experienced leader. Raje, who is fighting for another term in office, said the leader who had close relations with her family could not control his language. "It is important," the chief minister asserted, "that the Election Commission takes cognizance of this and sets an example so people don't repeat such a thing in future." A video of Yadav was circulated on social media, with many labelling his comments crass and misogynistic. Yadav was campaigning for the Loktantrik Janata Dal in Alwar district's Mundwar constituency, one of the five seats where the Congress has entered into an alliance with various parties. Raje's sharp response to Yadav's remarks came on a day the state is voting for a new assembly. The votes will be counted on December 11.

Vasundhara Raje slams Sharad Yadav for body shaming her, says Election Commission must take cognizance

Selfies of people proudly showing off inked fingers flooded social media as Rajasthan went to polls Friday in 199 out of the 200 Assembly constituencies.

Voters, particularly youngsters, took to platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook to post their pictures after exercising their franchise.

"Having voted is also a source of pride in the democracy. Therefore, I put a status (on social media about having voted) as soon as I came out of the polling station," a voter Girish Sharma said.

"Have chosen my future, you too show up," read the status of Deepesh Goyal, who voted in Ajmer.

CA students Nikita Sharma and Ankita Sharma also showed excitement after casting their votes in Malvia Nagar constituency in Jaipur.

"Yes we are flaunting this mark of using our democratic right and we are happy after voting," they said.

Engineering student Avi Srivatava only posted a picture of his finger and said the focus was on the ink mark and it was a sign that he had voted.

Selfies of people proudly showing off inked fingers flooded social media as Rajasthan went to polls Friday in 199 out of the 200 Assembly constituencies. Voters, particularly youngsters, took to platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook to post their pictures after exercising their franchise.

Selfies of people proudly showing off inked fingers flooded social media as Rajasthan went to polls Friday in 199 out of the 200 Assembly constituencies. Voters, particularly youngsters, took to platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook to post their pictures after exercising their franchise. "Having voted is also a source of pride in the democracy. Therefore, I put a status (on social media about having voted) as soon as I came out of the polling station," a voter Girish Sharma said. "Have chosen my future, you too show up," read the status of Deepesh Goyal, who voted in Ajmer. CA students Nikita Sharma and Ankita Sharma also showed excitement after casting their votes in Malvia Nagar constituency in Jaipur. "Yes we are flaunting this mark of using our democratic right and we are happy after voting," they said. Engineering student Avi Srivatava only posted a picture of his finger and said the focus was on the ink mark and it was a sign that he had voted.

Rajasthan polls: Selfies with inked fingers swamp social media

Her back bent over with age, nonagenarian Rama Devi, with the support of his family members, walked to a polling booth in a village in Rajasthan's Jodhpur and exercised her franchise.

"There must be peace and prosperity in the country," the 96-year-old said as her wrinkled face gleamed with a smile when asked what encouraged her to vote.

In Rajasthan, more than 56 per cent votes were cast till 3pm.

Waiting in a queue to cast his vote in Sanganer Assembly constituency of Jaipur, Mohan Singh said, "I have come with my grandchildren who are minors, but it is good for them to see the polling process. It makes them aware."

It is not just the elders, youths too were excited about casting votes.

"Quality education and employment are the main issue for youngsters. There is a need to improve education infrastructure in the state, because many of us have to go out of the state for higher studies," Utkarsh Agnihotri, a first-time voter, who is preparing for NEET said in Jaipur.

He said all his friends cast their votes soon after the polling started.

In Dholpur, however, the picture was just the opposite. Residents of Chhemar Ka Pura village under Rajakhera Assembly constituency have decided to not cast votes alleging that their long-pending demand of a proper approach road to their village is yet to be met.

"Candidates seek votes, they win but do not address our long-pending demand of a proper approach road to the village. We have largely decided to boycott polling," Gendalal Kushwah, a local, said.

Polling for 199 of the 200 Assembly seats in Rajasthan began at 8am on Friday and is going on at a brisk pace. The election in Ramgarh constituency of Alwar district was put off following the death of Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Laxman Singh.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, state Congress chief Sachin Pilot and other leaders were among those who exercised their franchise. The results will be out on December 11, along with those from the other four states which saw Assembly elections in the past few weeks.

Her back bent over with age, nonagenarian Rama Devi, with the support of his family members, walked to a polling booth in a village in Rajasthan's Jodhpur and exercised her franchise.

Her back bent over with age, nonagenarian Rama Devi, with the support of his family members, walked to a polling booth in a village in Rajasthan's Jodhpur and exercised her franchise. "There must be peace and prosperity in the country," the 96-year-old said as her wrinkled face gleamed with a smile when asked what encouraged her to vote. In Rajasthan, more than 56 per cent votes were cast till 3pm. Waiting in a queue to cast his vote in Sanganer Assembly constituency of Jaipur, Mohan Singh said, "I have come with my grandchildren who are minors, but it is good for them to see the polling process. It makes them aware." It is not just the elders, youths too were excited about casting votes. "Quality education and employment are the main issue for youngsters. There is a need to improve education infrastructure in the state, because many of us have to go out of the state for higher studies," Utkarsh Agnihotri, a first-time voter, who is preparing for NEET said in Jaipur. He said all his friends cast their votes soon after the polling started. In Dholpur, however, the picture was just the opposite. Residents of Chhemar Ka Pura village under Rajakhera Assembly constituency have decided to not cast votes alleging that their long-pending demand of a proper approach road to their village is yet to be met. "Candidates seek votes, they win but do not address our long-pending demand of a proper approach road to the village. We have largely decided to boycott polling," Gendalal Kushwah, a local, said. Polling for 199 of the 200 Assembly seats in Rajasthan began at 8am on Friday and is going on at a brisk pace. The election in Ramgarh constituency of Alwar district was put off following the death of Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Laxman Singh. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, state Congress chief Sachin Pilot and other leaders were among those who exercised their franchise. The results will be out on December 11, along with those from the other four states which saw Assembly elections in the past few weeks.

Young and old queue up in booths in Rajasthan for peace, prosperity and employment

The election season is reaching its climax. Today, the power corridors and media fraternity are busy discussing the fortunes of BJP and Congress in the assembly elections ahead of the results.

The common theme interwoven in almost every discussion is whether the BJP will lose, will be 'taught' a lesson and so on and so forth. The BJP, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being judged for every decision the government has taken in states ruled by it.

These discussions evoke a lot of interest among people because it entails the fall of a leader.

Everyone who has read comics, seen superhero movies and watched a system at its pinnacle, loves the fall of the leader. It's an emotion which generates a lot of interest among the section of people who follow politics and is astonishing for others to see someone they look up to, fall.

Leaders often take a decision or a series of decisions which lead to a downward spiral and cause reverse momentum. This is not a piece where I will be dissecting the good and bad of Narendra Modi government. This is about leadership.

Watching a big leader fall also gives a&nbsp;certain kind of pleasure to people who for decades have been suppressed. Social evils exist in every society - India is no different - and certain practices (I will call them mistakes) followed by socially elevated sections of society create and propagate these feelings.

Among the various reasons given for the failure of a leader is not giving himself/herself enough time to process things which leads to a lack of discernment and sometimes disastrous decisions. Other reasons can include immaturity, lack of knowledge, less awareness etc.

There is a streak in people who rejoice when Humpty Dumpty has a great fall, but insist that rise and fall are the part and parcel of leadership. In the end, it's history that judges better because it sees things with deeper perspective and greater hindsight. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

The election season is reaching its climax. Today, the power corridors and media fraternity are busy discussing the fortunes of BJP and Congress in the assembly elections ahead of the results.

The election season is reaching its climax. Today, the power corridors and media fraternity are busy discussing the fortunes of BJP and Congress in the assembly elections ahead of the results. The common theme interwoven in almost every discussion is whether the BJP will lose, will be 'taught' a lesson and so on and so forth. The BJP, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being judged for every decision the government has taken in states ruled by it. These discussions evoke a lot of interest among people because it entails the fall of a leader. Everyone who has read comics, seen superhero movies and watched a system at its pinnacle, loves the fall of the leader. It's an emotion which generates a lot of interest among the section of people who follow politics and is astonishing for others to see someone they look up to, fall. Leaders often take a decision or a series of decisions which lead to a downward spiral and cause reverse momentum. This is not a piece where I will be dissecting the good and bad of Narendra Modi government. This is about leadership. Watching a big leader fall also gives a certain kind of pleasure to people who for decades have been suppressed. Social evils exist in every society - India is no different - and certain practices (I will call them mistakes) followed by socially elevated sections of society create and propagate these feelings. Among the various reasons given for the failure of a leader is not giving himself/herself enough time to process things which leads to a lack of discernment and sometimes disastrous decisions. Other reasons can include immaturity, lack of knowledge, less awareness etc. There is a streak in people who rejoice when Humpty Dumpty has a great fall, but insist that rise and fall are the part and parcel of leadership. In the end, it's history that judges better because it sees things with deeper perspective and greater hindsight. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Assembly elections 2018: Ah! To comment on fluctuating fortunes

The voter turnout for the assembly elections till 1 pm was recorded as 49.15&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/telangana-polls-crucial-test-for-bjp-to-gain-foothold-in-the-state-181950">Telangana</a>&nbsp;and 41.53&nbsp;per cent in Rajasthan.

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Voter turnout recorded till 1 PM in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanElections2018</a> is 41.53%
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1070948445446463488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Voter turnout recorded till 1 PM in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TelanganaElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TelanganaElections2018</a> is 49.15%
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1070952818599583744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The turnout till 11 am was&nbsp;23.4 per cent in Telangana and 21.89 per cent in Rajasthan.

While nearly 9 per cent&nbsp;voters had cast their votes in Telangana by 9 am and&nbsp;6.11 per cent in Rajasthan.

Telangana and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajasthan-set-for-polling-in-a-bipolar-contest-between-bjp-and-congress-181969">Rajasthan</a> are undergoing elections today to elect their&nbsp;legislative assembly members.

While the polling in Telangana started at 7 am, voting in Rajasthan began at 8 am.

The polling in Telangana will end at 5 pm&nbsp;while in 13 constituencies classified as Left Wing Extremist-affected, polling ends an hour before at 4 pm.

Election Commission is using Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in Telangana for the first time.

Telangana leaders Kadiyam Srihari, Harihs Rao, Pocharama Srinivas Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao and Jagadish Reddy were among those who cast their vote.

Former Union Minister Chiranjeevi and cine actors Nagarjuna cast their vote in Jubilee Hills in the city.

Legislative Assembly elections are being held for the first time in Telangana after its formation as the 2014 Assembly polls were held in undivided Andhra Pradesh.

<img alt="Caretaker CM of Telangana" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9b750858-32a1-4bb5-a276-c7907a9ac6d1" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/telanganaa.JPG" />

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<img alt="Asaduddin Owaisi casts his vote at polling booth." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cb4e6f19-b6a2-47e6-9de1-f99e998899f0" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Tel.JPG" />

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In Rajasthan 199 out of 200 assembly seats are contesting for the legislative assembly. Polling has been cancelled in&nbsp;Alwar district’s Ramgarh constituency following the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Laxman Singh.

<img alt="Vasundhara Raje " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="90f20b61-be94-42ce-944a-bbdcafa03105" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/raja%203.JPG" />

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A total of 2, 274 candidates in the fray in Rajasthan. As many as 4,74,79,402 people are eligible to&nbsp;cast their vote at 51,667 polling stations across the state.&nbsp;

With 32,815 polling stations across Telangana, around 1,821 candidates including a transgender are in the fray in the election.

The Congress-led alliance is challenging the ruling TRS in Telangana with the BJP seeking to make it a triangular contest. In Rajasthan, BJP will try to retain its&nbsp;power in the state assembly.

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Jalore: Voting is yet to begin in polling booth no. 253 and 254 in Ahor following EVM malfunction. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanElections2018</a>
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&nbsp;

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Rajasthan: EVM is being replaced at polling booth no. 172 in Bikaner's Kisamidesar following a technical issue. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/0JnXXALwuE">pic.twitter.com/0JnXXALwuE</a>
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Counting of votes will take place on&nbsp;December 11.

(With inputs from agencies)

The voter turnout for the assembly elections till 1 pm was recorded as 49.15 per cent in Telangana and 41.53 per cent in Rajasthan. Voter turnout recorded till 1 PM in #RajasthanElections2018 is 41.

The voter turnout for the assembly elections till 1 pm was recorded as 49.15 per cent in Telangana and 41.53 per cent in Rajasthan. Voter turnout recorded till 1 PM in #RajasthanElections2018 is 41.53% — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × Voter turnout recorded till 1 PM in #TelanganaElections2018 is 49.15% — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × The turnout till 11 am was 23.4 per cent in Telangana and 21.89 per cent in Rajasthan. While nearly 9 per cent voters had cast their votes in Telangana by 9 am and 6.11 per cent in Rajasthan. Telangana and Rajasthan are undergoing elections today to elect their legislative assembly members. While the polling in Telangana started at 7 am, voting in Rajasthan began at 8 am. The polling in Telangana will end at 5 pm while in 13 constituencies classified as Left Wing Extremist-affected, polling ends an hour before at 4 pm. Election Commission is using Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in Telangana for the first time. Telangana leaders Kadiyam Srihari, Harihs Rao, Pocharama Srinivas Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao and Jagadish Reddy were among those who cast their vote. Former Union Minister Chiranjeevi and cine actors Nagarjuna cast their vote in Jubilee Hills in the city. Legislative Assembly elections are being held for the first time in Telangana after its formation as the 2014 Assembly polls were held in undivided Andhra Pradesh. In Rajasthan 199 out of 200 assembly seats are contesting for the legislative assembly. Polling has been cancelled in Alwar district’s Ramgarh constituency following the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Laxman Singh. A total of 2, 274 candidates in the fray in Rajasthan. As many as 4,74,79,402 people are eligible to cast their vote at 51,667 polling stations across the state. With 32,815 polling stations across Telangana, around 1,821 candidates including a transgender are in the fray in the election. The Congress-led alliance is challenging the ruling TRS in Telangana with the BJP seeking to make it a triangular contest. In Rajasthan, BJP will try to retain its power in the state assembly. Jalore: Voting is yet to begin in polling booth no. 253 and 254 in Ahor following EVM malfunction. #RajasthanElections2018 — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × Rajasthan: EVM is being replaced at polling booth no. 172 in Bikaner's Kisamidesar following a technical issue. #RajasthanElections2018 pic.twitter.com/0JnXXALwuE — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × Counting of votes will take place on December 11. (With inputs from agencies)

Assembly elections 2018: Telangana registers 49% voter turnout, Rajasthan 41% till 1pm

Adding a dash of glamour to the Poll process in Telangana, Telugu film bigwigs turned up in good numbers to cast their ballot Friday.

Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, popular Telugu hero Nagarjuna and director of 'Baahubali' S S Rajamouli were among the early voters in the election to the 119-member Telangana Assembly.

Another leading Telugu film star "Junior" NTR, grandson of TDP founder N T Rama Rao, also queued up to vote.

Film personalities cast their votes in polling stations mainly in the posh Jubilee Hills locality of Hyderabad.

Junior NTR's sister N Suhasini is the TDP candidate in Kukatpalle Assembly constituency here.

Counting of votes would be taken up on December 11.

Assembly polls in Telangana were originally scheduled to be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls next year.

However, the Legislative Assembly was dissolved prematurely on September 6 following a recommendation made by the TRS government.

The ruling TRS is going alone in the polls and so is the BJP.

The Congress, TDP, CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) have formed the 'People's Front' for the election.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Adding a dash of glamour to the Poll process in Telangana, Telugu film bigwigs turned up in good numbers to cast their ballot Friday. Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, popular Telugu hero Nagarjuna and director of 'Baahubali' S S Rajamouli were among the early voters in the election to the 119-member Telangana Assembly.

Adding a dash of glamour to the Poll process in Telangana, Telugu film bigwigs turned up in good numbers to cast their ballot Friday. Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, popular Telugu hero Nagarjuna and director of 'Baahubali' S S Rajamouli were among the early voters in the election to the 119-member Telangana Assembly. Another leading Telugu film star "Junior" NTR, grandson of TDP founder N T Rama Rao, also queued up to vote. Film personalities cast their votes in polling stations mainly in the posh Jubilee Hills locality of Hyderabad. Junior NTR's sister N Suhasini is the TDP candidate in Kukatpalle Assembly constituency here. Counting of votes would be taken up on December 11. Assembly polls in Telangana were originally scheduled to be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls next year. However, the Legislative Assembly was dissolved prematurely on September 6 following a recommendation made by the TRS government. The ruling TRS is going alone in the polls and so is the BJP. The Congress, TDP, CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) have formed the 'People's Front' for the election.

Assembly elections 2018: Film personalities add glitz to Telangana polls

In the wake of the assembly elections in Rajasthan and Telangana on Friday, PM Modi urged the people of the two states to come out in large numbers and cast their votes.

In a tweet in Hindi and Telugu, PM Modi asked the people to exercise their votes and participate in "Mahaparv" of democracy.

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राजस्थान में आज मतदान का दिन है। राज्य के सभी मतदाताओं से मेरा आग्रह है कि वे पूरे उत्साह के साथ लोकतंत्र के महापर्व में अवश्य भाग लें और भारी संख्या में मतदान करें।
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ఇవాళ ఎన్నికల రోజు! తెలంగాణలో ఉన్న నా సోదర సోదరీమణులందరూ పెద్ద సంఖ్యలో వచ్చి ఓటు వెయ్యమని కోరుతున్నాను.... ప్రత్యేకించి నా యువ మిత్రులందరూ తమ ఓటు హక్కును వినియోగించుకొని ప్రజాస్వామ్యాన్ని మరింత సుసంపన్నం చేయమని ప్రార్థిస్తున్నాను...
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Five states including Rajasthan and Telangana went to polls in November and December to elect the members of the legislative assembly.

The results of elections in the five states will be declared on December 11.&nbsp;

In Telangana,&nbsp;the Congress-led alliance is challenging the ruling TRS with the BJP seeking to make it a triangular contest. In Rajasthan, BJP will try to retain its&nbsp;power in the state assembly.

On voting days, the PM usually takes to Twitter urging people to exercise their franchise.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In the wake of the assembly elections in Rajasthan and Telangana on Friday, PM Modi urged the people of the two states to come out in large numbers and cast their votes.

In the wake of the assembly elections in Rajasthan and Telangana on Friday, PM Modi urged the people of the two states to come out in large numbers and cast their votes. In a tweet in Hindi and Telugu, PM Modi asked the people to exercise their votes and participate in "Mahaparv" of democracy. राजस्थान में आज मतदान का दिन है। राज्य के सभी मतदाताओं से मेरा आग्रह है कि वे पूरे उत्साह के साथ लोकतंत्र के महापर्व में अवश्य भाग लें और भारी संख्या में मतदान करें। — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 7, 2018 × ఇవాళ ఎన్నికల రోజు! తెలంగాణలో ఉన్న నా సోదర సోదరీమణులందరూ పెద్ద సంఖ్యలో వచ్చి ఓటు వెయ్యమని కోరుతున్నాను.... ప్రత్యేకించి నా యువ మిత్రులందరూ తమ ఓటు హక్కును వినియోగించుకొని ప్రజాస్వామ్యాన్ని మరింత సుసంపన్నం చేయమని ప్రార్థిస్తున్నాను... — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 7, 2018 × Five states including Rajasthan and Telangana went to polls in November and December to elect the members of the legislative assembly. The results of elections in the five states will be declared on December 11. In Telangana, the Congress-led alliance is challenging the ruling TRS with the BJP seeking to make it a triangular contest. In Rajasthan, BJP will try to retain its power in the state assembly. On voting days, the PM usually takes to Twitter urging people to exercise their franchise. (With inputs from agencies)

PM Modi asks Rajasthan, Telangana voters to exercise franchise in large numbers

As campaigning in the five state assembly elections winds down, the day of reckoning, December 11, looms. We will have a good idea of winners and losers by early afternoon, next Tuesday.

The results in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are especially crucial. A Congress victory in Rajasthan seems near certain, but Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are too close to call.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invested personal political capital in both states. Though he has addressed fewer rallies than he did in Gujarat and Karnataka, the proximity of these assembly elections to the 2019 Lok Sabha poll gives their outcome a sharp edge.

Beyond the results though lies another critical question: has Prime Minister Narendra Modi over-extended himself? Few prime ministers after Indira Gandhi have campaigned as extensively as Modi. Rajiv Gandhi was not as enthusiastic a campaigner as his mother. Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh too were not their parties’ star electoral campaigners.

Modi was nominated as head of the BJP’s campaign committee at the controversial national executive council meeting in Goa in June 2013 which LK Advani boycotted. It was only three months later, in September 2013, that then party president Rajnath Singh succeeded in nominating Modi, against fierce opposition from the Advani camp, as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. As late as August 2013, it was not certain Modi would, in fact, be declared the party’s prime ministerial candidate.

As campaign chief, Modi was then barnstorming across India ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election. Meeting him in his chief minister’s office in Gandhinagar, I told him bluntly that if the party did not declare him the prime ministerial candidate, he should ease up on his relentless, bone-crushing campaign and let other senior leaders, including those in the Advani camp opposing him, share the burden. Weeks later, Modi was officially declared the party’s PM candidate.

That though raises a question few have asked: has being the party’s chief electoral campaigner in multiple state polls over the past five election-heavy years cut into his role as prime minister? Modi already functions as the de facto foreign minister. He holds several cabinet portfolios. He travels abroad extensively, including last week’s G20 summit in Argentina. Is even the 18-hour workday that Modi puts in seven days a week enough to do justice to all the roles he has taken upon himself?

In a recently published book (Making of New India: Transformation Under Modi Government) to which I contributed a chapter, I wrote: “One of the challenges the prime minister has faced is fulfilling his multiple roles. Modi is the BJP’s most charismatic electoral asset. He leads the country’s global diplomatic outreach. And he oversees the work of a large Union Cabinet as well as a vast bureaucracy. These roles require sharply different approaches. Election campaigning needs exceptional oratory and the ability to connect with the masses. Global diplomacy requires the ability to present India’s case to world leaders with brevity, clarity and a natural, earthy self-confidence. But the most taxing is dealing with issues at home through the cabinet, the amorphous prime minister’s office (PMO) and a swathe of department officials.”

Over the past two weeks, Modi has travelled to Buenos Aires to meet world leaders at the G20 summit, campaigned in Rajasthan, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh and reviewed progress on dozens of welfare schemes monitored by groups of ministers and secretaries.

Campaigning takes the most toll. In the absence of other vote-catchers, the onus falls on Modi. Party president Amit Shah, rather than any senior minister, takes on a supplementary role. Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh and Nirmala Sitharaman, who form the inner core of the cabinet and are members of the cabinet committee on security (CCS), have played a minimal role in campaigning for the five state assembly elections.

They are, due to health and other reasons, unlikely to campaign actively for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. It is for this reason that Modi has called for simultaneous parliamentary and assembly elections. Almost year-around campaigning takes away far too much time and energy.

Constitutional and logistical reasons, however, make simultaneous elections virtually impossible. Modi is thus left with the prospect of dividing his time between domestic governance, foreign affairs and electioneering. As a result, much of policymaking that should belong to the cabinet is delegated to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and then farmed out to groups of ministers and secretaries.

In Gujarat, relying on a tightly monitored bureaucracy worked well. In labyrinthic Delhi, where intrigue lurks around every corner, it hasn’t. The contretemps in the CBI, the dissonance with the RBI and the continuing slugfest over the Rafale deal underscore how a government can be undermined.

Modi at 67 is remarkably fit but the burden of carrying so many responsibilities will eventually tell on him. If the BJP-led NDA manage to form the government in 2019, he will need to change his strategy: bring more lateral talent into the cabinet, allow younger ministers to campaign across states and impose stronger control over the bureaucracy, especially in the ministries of finance, defence and civil aviation.

In May 2014, the question was: would Modi reform intrigue-plagued Delhi or would Delhi co-opt him? That question will be answered in May 2019. 
 
(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-onerous-art-of-multi-tasking-2692659">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

As campaigning in the five state assembly elections winds down, the day of reckoning, December 11, looms. We will have a good idea of winners and losers by early afternoon, next Tuesday.

As campaigning in the five state assembly elections winds down, the day of reckoning, December 11, looms. We will have a good idea of winners and losers by early afternoon, next Tuesday. The results in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are especially crucial. A Congress victory in Rajasthan seems near certain, but Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are too close to call. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invested personal political capital in both states. Though he has addressed fewer rallies than he did in Gujarat and Karnataka, the proximity of these assembly elections to the 2019 Lok Sabha poll gives their outcome a sharp edge. Beyond the results though lies another critical question: has Prime Minister Narendra Modi over-extended himself? Few prime ministers after Indira Gandhi have campaigned as extensively as Modi. Rajiv Gandhi was not as enthusiastic a campaigner as his mother. Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh too were not their parties’ star electoral campaigners. Modi was nominated as head of the BJP’s campaign committee at the controversial national executive council meeting in Goa in June 2013 which LK Advani boycotted. It was only three months later, in September 2013, that then party president Rajnath Singh succeeded in nominating Modi, against fierce opposition from the Advani camp, as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. As late as August 2013, it was not certain Modi would, in fact, be declared the party’s prime ministerial candidate. As campaign chief, Modi was then barnstorming across India ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election. Meeting him in his chief minister’s office in Gandhinagar, I told him bluntly that if the party did not declare him the prime ministerial candidate, he should ease up on his relentless, bone-crushing campaign and let other senior leaders, including those in the Advani camp opposing him, share the burden. Weeks later, Modi was officially declared the party’s PM candidate. That though raises a question few have asked: has being the party’s chief electoral campaigner in multiple state polls over the past five election-heavy years cut into his role as prime minister? Modi already functions as the de facto foreign minister. He holds several cabinet portfolios. He travels abroad extensively, including last week’s G20 summit in Argentina. Is even the 18-hour workday that Modi puts in seven days a week enough to do justice to all the roles he has taken upon himself? In a recently published book (Making of New India: Transformation Under Modi Government) to which I contributed a chapter, I wrote: “One of the challenges the prime minister has faced is fulfilling his multiple roles. Modi is the BJP’s most charismatic electoral asset. He leads the country’s global diplomatic outreach. And he oversees the work of a large Union Cabinet as well as a vast bureaucracy. These roles require sharply different approaches. Election campaigning needs exceptional oratory and the ability to connect with the masses. Global diplomacy requires the ability to present India’s case to world leaders with brevity, clarity and a natural, earthy self-confidence. But the most taxing is dealing with issues at home through the cabinet, the amorphous prime minister’s office (PMO) and a swathe of department officials.” Over the past two weeks, Modi has travelled to Buenos Aires to meet world leaders at the G20 summit, campaigned in Rajasthan, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh and reviewed progress on dozens of welfare schemes monitored by groups of ministers and secretaries. Campaigning takes the most toll. In the absence of other vote-catchers, the onus falls on Modi. Party president Amit Shah, rather than any senior minister, takes on a supplementary role. Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh and Nirmala Sitharaman, who form the inner core of the cabinet and are members of the cabinet committee on security (CCS), have played a minimal role in campaigning for the five state assembly elections. They are, due to health and other reasons, unlikely to campaign actively for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. It is for this reason that Modi has called for simultaneous parliamentary and assembly elections. Almost year-around campaigning takes away far too much time and energy. Constitutional and logistical reasons, however, make simultaneous elections virtually impossible. Modi is thus left with the prospect of dividing his time between domestic governance, foreign affairs and electioneering. As a result, much of policymaking that should belong to the cabinet is delegated to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and then farmed out to groups of ministers and secretaries. In Gujarat, relying on a tightly monitored bureaucracy worked well. In labyrinthic Delhi, where intrigue lurks around every corner, it hasn’t. The contretemps in the CBI, the dissonance with the RBI and the continuing slugfest over the Rafale deal underscore how a government can be undermined. Modi at 67 is remarkably fit but the burden of carrying so many responsibilities will eventually tell on him. If the BJP-led NDA manage to form the government in 2019, he will need to change his strategy: bring more lateral talent into the cabinet, allow younger ministers to campaign across states and impose stronger control over the bureaucracy, especially in the ministries of finance, defence and civil aviation. In May 2014, the question was: would Modi reform intrigue-plagued Delhi or would Delhi co-opt him? That question will be answered in May 2019. (This article was originally published on 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)

Onerous art of multi-tasking

&nbsp;

After a high-voltage campaign that saw war of words among contending parties, Rajasthan and Telangana are set for assembly polls on Friday.

In Telangana&nbsp;the Congress-led alliance challenging the ruling TRS, and the BJP seeking to make it a triangular contest.

More than 1.50 lakh polling officials including reserve staff are in the process of giving final touches Thursday to make the election to the 119-member House a smooth affair.

Over 2.80 crore electorate are eligible to exercise their franchise in the State, which has a total of 32,815 polling stations across.

Polling will start at 7 am and end at 5 pm, while in 13 constituencies which were classified as Left Wing Extremist-affected, polling ends one hour before (4 pm).

As many as 446 flying squads are in operation in the state to swing into action if any irregularity is reported during the elections and 448 static surveillance teams would also keep a watch on the situation and would wait in wings to take action, Kumar said.

Besides, 224 video-surveillance teams and 133 video-viewing teams have been pressed into service.

There are 126 assistant expenditure observers and 123 accounting teams.

For the first time, Election Commission is using Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in Telangana.

As many as 1,821 candidates including a transgender are in the fray in the election.

Counting of votes would be taken up on December 11.

Rajasthan

Rajasthan, the land of deserts, is all geared up for the poll to the 199 assembly seats out of 200 with a major battle in the show between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress.

The tug of war with a total of 2, 274 candidates in the fray will begin at 8 am and continue till 5 pm. Elections will take place at 51,667 polling stations where 4,74,79,402 people are eligible to cast vote. Alwar constituency polling has been countermanded following the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate.

The fight is to win a target of at least 101 seats to achieve majority mark in the intense polling between the two national parties.&nbsp;

In 2013 assembly elections, BJP won the mandate with 163 seats while Congress was reduced to 21 seats.&nbsp;

Contrast it to 2008 elections, when the Congress won 96 seats, a gain of 40 seats over 2003 polls and the BJP plummeted to 78, down by 42 seats from the previous assembly polls.

After a high-voltage campaign that saw war of words among contending parties, Rajasthan and Telangana are set for assembly polls on Friday. In Telangana the Congress-led alliance challenging the ruling TRS, and the BJP seeking to make it a triangular contest.

After a high-voltage campaign that saw war of words among contending parties, Rajasthan and Telangana are set for assembly polls on Friday. In Telangana the Congress-led alliance challenging the ruling TRS, and the BJP seeking to make it a triangular contest. More than 1.50 lakh polling officials including reserve staff are in the process of giving final touches Thursday to make the election to the 119-member House a smooth affair. Over 2.80 crore electorate are eligible to exercise their franchise in the State, which has a total of 32,815 polling stations across. Polling will start at 7 am and end at 5 pm, while in 13 constituencies which were classified as Left Wing Extremist-affected, polling ends one hour before (4 pm). As many as 446 flying squads are in operation in the state to swing into action if any irregularity is reported during the elections and 448 static surveillance teams would also keep a watch on the situation and would wait in wings to take action, Kumar said. Besides, 224 video-surveillance teams and 133 video-viewing teams have been pressed into service. There are 126 assistant expenditure observers and 123 accounting teams. For the first time, Election Commission is using Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in Telangana. As many as 1,821 candidates including a transgender are in the fray in the election. Counting of votes would be taken up on December 11. Rajasthan Rajasthan, the land of deserts, is all geared up for the poll to the 199 assembly seats out of 200 with a major battle in the show between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress. The tug of war with a total of 2, 274 candidates in the fray will begin at 8 am and continue till 5 pm. Elections will take place at 51,667 polling stations where 4,74,79,402 people are eligible to cast vote. Alwar constituency polling has been countermanded following the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate. The fight is to win a target of at least 101 seats to achieve majority mark in the intense polling between the two national parties. In 2013 assembly elections, BJP won the mandate with 163 seats while Congress was reduced to 21 seats. Contrast it to 2008 elections, when the Congress won 96 seats, a gain of 40 seats over 2003 polls and the BJP plummeted to 78, down by 42 seats from the previous assembly polls.

Rajasthan, Telangana set for date with democracy

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday claimed that he has no intentions to rule Telangana and said that a Congress candidate will become the Chief Minister of Telangana if the grand alliance comes to power in the state after the forthcoming elections.

All set to go for polls in Friday, Telangana has 119 Assembly seats, and 1,821 candidates are in fray. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi is facing the grand alliance of the Congress, Telugu Desam Party, Communist Party of India and the Telangana Jana Samithi.

"Chandrashekar Rao is making false propaganda that I will take hold in Telangana. I am not here for that. Only Congress candidate will become the Chief Minister," Naidu said while addressing a rally here along with Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Kodada town of Telangana's Khammam district.

"I appeal to all to show exit to TRS in the polling to be held on December 7. Make KCR former Chief Minister. Let us defeat TRS and KCR in the elections with huge margins. TDP joined hands with Congress for the sake of nation and democracy," he added.

Naidu later went on to add that KCR in Telangana and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Centre are 'dictators.

"They must be eliminated from power," he said and added, "KCR is so afraid of defeat. That's why he is losing cool and temper. He is scolding one and all. There is no response to KCR meetings, but for our meetings, people are coming in huge numbers. KCR and Modi have colluded. Both are dictators. KCR is 'small Modi'. KCR shakes hand with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen in the morning and with BJP in the night".

Talking about Prime Minister Modi, Naidu said, "Modi is a dictator. His policies are anti-people. Demonetisation, Goods and Services Tax are failures, caused people to suffer.&nbsp;

Asaduddin Owaisi is indirectly supporting BJP. Congress president also criticised KCR and said, "During KCR's regime, more than 4000 farmers committed suicides. 35 lakhs youth are jobless. You supported only the rich contractors, but not the poor and the needy. KCR changed the names of projects, redesigned them, and escalated project costs. You have stolen 40,000 crores from people and gave to the contractors.

He added, "Telangana people have given KCR a new name - KCR means 'Khao Commission Rao'. His son's income increased 400 times. When Telangana was formed, it was a surplus state. But now the state is in 2.5 lakh crore debt."

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday claimed that he has no intentions to rule Telangana and said that a Congress candidate will become the Chief Minister of Telangana if the grand alliance comes to power in the state after the forthcoming elections.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday claimed that he has no intentions to rule Telangana and said that a Congress candidate will become the Chief Minister of Telangana if the grand alliance comes to power in the state after the forthcoming elections. All set to go for polls in Friday, Telangana has 119 Assembly seats, and 1,821 candidates are in fray. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi is facing the grand alliance of the Congress, Telugu Desam Party, Communist Party of India and the Telangana Jana Samithi. "Chandrashekar Rao is making false propaganda that I will take hold in Telangana. I am not here for that. Only Congress candidate will become the Chief Minister," Naidu said while addressing a rally here along with Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Kodada town of Telangana's Khammam district. "I appeal to all to show exit to TRS in the polling to be held on December 7. Make KCR former Chief Minister. Let us defeat TRS and KCR in the elections with huge margins. TDP joined hands with Congress for the sake of nation and democracy," he added. Naidu later went on to add that KCR in Telangana and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Centre are 'dictators. "They must be eliminated from power," he said and added, "KCR is so afraid of defeat. That's why he is losing cool and temper. He is scolding one and all. There is no response to KCR meetings, but for our meetings, people are coming in huge numbers. KCR and Modi have colluded. Both are dictators. KCR is 'small Modi'. KCR shakes hand with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen in the morning and with BJP in the night". Talking about Prime Minister Modi, Naidu said, "Modi is a dictator. His policies are anti-people. Demonetisation, Goods and Services Tax are failures, caused people to suffer. Asaduddin Owaisi is indirectly supporting BJP. Congress president also criticised KCR and said, "During KCR's regime, more than 4000 farmers committed suicides. 35 lakhs youth are jobless. You supported only the rich contractors, but not the poor and the needy. KCR changed the names of projects, redesigned them, and escalated project costs. You have stolen 40,000 crores from people and gave to the contractors. He added, "Telangana people have given KCR a new name - KCR means 'Khao Commission Rao'. His son's income increased 400 times. When Telangana was formed, it was a surplus state. But now the state is in 2.5 lakh crore debt."

Telangana polls: Congress candidate to be CM, says Naidu

With just a day left before Rajasthan goes to assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a scathing attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Dausa said that he was born with a "golden spoon in his mouth" and thus he will never understand the essence of `Bharat Mata ki jai`.

Prime Minister Modi, giving a different touch to a campaign, began the Dausa rally by playing a traditional drum.

He said, "Naamdaar issues a fatwa saying that I should not say Bharat Mata ki jai. When we say it we remember our soldiers who are guarding our borders, the soldiers who are in Siachen braving minus 40 degree Celsius temperature. Chanting Bharat Mata ki jai fills us with an intense passion but Naamdar is born with golden spoon in his mouth and will never understand it".

He accused the Congress president of being a "confused" person who doesn`t know what he is doing and for what purpose.

"The Congress president is a confused man. He always remains in confusion and he doesn`t even know in which state he is working in the elections and for whom," said the Prime Minister."

He failed to differentiate between his leader Kumbha Ram and Kumbhakaran of Ramayan as he referred him as Kumbhakaran. How will he take decisions? The people of Rajasthan cannot hand over their state in hands of such confused leadership," said Prime Minister Modi.

Congress party doesn`t have strong leadership, no vision and no will, he said adding, "It is really unfortunate that Mahatama Gandhi want self-dependence based on Khadi but this fake Gandhi family erased the existence of that Khadi. Did you ever hear any Congress government say anything about Khadi?"

"Today, Khadi jacket has become popular; people call it Modi jacket and they (Congress) don`t like it. They say how did Khadi of Gandhi become Modi jacket?" he added.

The state will go for polls on December 7, while the counting will take place on December 11.&nbsp;

With just a day left before Rajasthan goes to assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a scathing attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Dausa said that he was born with a "golden spoon in his mouth" and thus he will never understand the essence of `Bharat Mata ki jai`.

With just a day left before Rajasthan goes to assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a scathing attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Dausa said that he was born with a "golden spoon in his mouth" and thus he will never understand the essence of `Bharat Mata ki jai`. Prime Minister Modi, giving a different touch to a campaign, began the Dausa rally by playing a traditional drum. He said, "Naamdaar issues a fatwa saying that I should not say Bharat Mata ki jai. When we say it we remember our soldiers who are guarding our borders, the soldiers who are in Siachen braving minus 40 degree Celsius temperature. Chanting Bharat Mata ki jai fills us with an intense passion but Naamdar is born with golden spoon in his mouth and will never understand it". He accused the Congress president of being a "confused" person who doesn`t know what he is doing and for what purpose. "The Congress president is a confused man. He always remains in confusion and he doesn`t even know in which state he is working in the elections and for whom," said the Prime Minister." He failed to differentiate between his leader Kumbha Ram and Kumbhakaran of Ramayan as he referred him as Kumbhakaran. How will he take decisions? The people of Rajasthan cannot hand over their state in hands of such confused leadership," said Prime Minister Modi. Congress party doesn`t have strong leadership, no vision and no will, he said adding, "It is really unfortunate that Mahatama Gandhi want self-dependence based on Khadi but this fake Gandhi family erased the existence of that Khadi. Did you ever hear any Congress government say anything about Khadi?" "Today, Khadi jacket has become popular; people call it Modi jacket and they (Congress) don`t like it. They say how did Khadi of Gandhi become Modi jacket?" he added. The state will go for polls on December 7, while the counting will take place on December 11.

'Naamdar' is born with a golden spoon in his mouth: PM Modi

Telangana State Police on Wednesday seized Rs 86.5 crore cash, four lakh litres of liquor, and more than 8400 arms have been deposited till now as part of preparations ahead of the Assembly elections in the state.

Moreover, special arrangements have been made in Naxal-affected areas to avoid untoward incidents ahead of polls, scheduled to be held on December 7 (Friday).

Speaking to the media, ADG law and order Jitender said, "Polls are going to be held on December 7. During the last three months, we have executed more than 11,000 non-bailable warrants. We have also asked the armed licensees to deposit their licensed arms and till now, we have received more than 8400 arms."

Elaborating upon the security arrangements for conducting fair and peaceful elections, Jitender said that security forces will be present at over 32,000 polling stations.

"We have provided security to 32,574 polling stations in more than 18,000 locations. Around 4,000 locations have been identified as critical, in which extra security will be provided. We are conducting combing operations in Naxal-affected areas. All candidates have been given sufficient security for their campaigning," he said.

Results of the Telangana Assembly elections will be announced on December 11.&nbsp;

Telangana State Police on Wednesday seized Rs 86.5 crore cash, four lakh litres of liquor, and more than 8400 arms have been deposited till now as part of preparations ahead of the Assembly elections in the state.

Telangana State Police on Wednesday seized Rs 86.5 crore cash, four lakh litres of liquor, and more than 8400 arms have been deposited till now as part of preparations ahead of the Assembly elections in the state. Moreover, special arrangements have been made in Naxal-affected areas to avoid untoward incidents ahead of polls, scheduled to be held on December 7 (Friday). Speaking to the media, ADG law and order Jitender said, "Polls are going to be held on December 7. During the last three months, we have executed more than 11,000 non-bailable warrants. We have also asked the armed licensees to deposit their licensed arms and till now, we have received more than 8400 arms." Elaborating upon the security arrangements for conducting fair and peaceful elections, Jitender said that security forces will be present at over 32,000 polling stations. "We have provided security to 32,574 polling stations in more than 18,000 locations. Around 4,000 locations have been identified as critical, in which extra security will be provided. We are conducting combing operations in Naxal-affected areas. All candidates have been given sufficient security for their campaigning," he said. Results of the Telangana Assembly elections will be announced on December 11.

Rs 86.5 crore cash, 4 lakh litres of liquor seized in poll-bound Telangana

After a high-voltage campaign that saw war of words among contending parties, Telangana is set for Assembly polls on Friday with the Congress-led alliance challenging the ruling TRS, and the BJP seeking to make it a triangular contest.

More than 1.50 lakh polling officials including reserve staff are in the process of giving final touches Thursday to make the election to the 119-member House a smooth affair.

Over 2.80 crore electorate are eligible to exercise their franchise in the State, which has a total of 32,815 polling stations across.Campaigning by political parties came to an end at 5 pm Wednesday.

Additional DG ( Law and order) Jitender Thursday told PTI that about one lakh police personnel including 25,000 central paramilitary forces and 20,000 from other states are engaged in poll duties.

A senior police official said security was beefed up at bordering areas which were identified as Left Wing Extremist-affected regions.

The assembly polls in Telangana were originally scheduled to be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections next year, but the House was dissolved on September 6 as per a recommendation by the state cabinet.

It is to be seen if KCR's gamble to opt for early elections pays off.

The Congress has stitched together "Prajakutami" (People's Front) along with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) and the CPI to take on the ruling TRS, led by caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR).

The TRS, seeking a second term in office, is going alone, as also the BJP. 
While KCR was, without doubt, the star campaigner for TRS, the Congress and the BJP fielded their bigwigs for campaigning which turned out to be a shrill one.

For the Congress, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the party President Rahul Gandhi addressed election rallies.

The BJP relied on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party President Amit Shah.

Gandhi also addressed a joint meeting with TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

"We will win 100 seats", KCR repeatedly said in campaign meetings. 
Rahul Gandhi said Wednesday the Congress-led alliance is confident of winning the elections "hands-down" and claimed that KCR was showing "signs of nervousness and insecurity" in recent campaign meetings he addressed.

The BJP, which won five seats in alliance with the TDP in the last elections in 2014, said it ensured that there is a triangular fight in Telangana this time.

"Earlier, when the election season began, it was projected by both the Congress and TRS as if the fight is between them but it was a propaganda," Telangana BJP spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao told PTI.

Vigorous campaign by BJP's national and state leaders ensured that it has become a "triangular contest where nobody can actually say who is winning and how many seats," Rao said.

Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar in a press conference said, "Some political parties expressed apprehensions that there was the distribution of liquor and money in some places.

We gave strict instructions to police and other officials to deal with such incidents sternly."

"Distribution of voters' slips was done 100 per cent," he said.Polling will start at 7 am and end at 5 pm, while in 13 constituencies which were classified as Left Wing Extremist-affected, polling ends one hour before (4 pm).

As many as 446 flying squads are in operation in the state to swing into action if any irregularity is reported during the elections and 448 static surveillance teams would also keep a watch on the situation and would wait in wings to take action, Kumar said.

Besides, 224 video-surveillance teams and 133 video-viewing teams have been pressed into service.

There are 126 assistant expenditure observers and 123 accounting teams.For the first time, Election Commission is using Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in Telangana.

As many as 1,821 candidates including a transgender are in the fray in the election.

Counting of votes would be taken up on December 11.

Huge sums of unaccounted cash and illegal liquor and other goods were seized since the Model Code of Conduct came into effect on September 27.

As per the last count, the total seizures stood at nearly Rs 135 crore including unaccounted cash, illegal liquor and other goods, Rajat Kumar said adding that the total seizures were 90 per cent more than that of during 2014 polls.

After a high-voltage campaign that saw war of words among contending parties, Telangana is set for Assembly polls on Friday with the Congress-led alliance challenging the ruling TRS, and the BJP seeking to make it a triangular contest.

After a high-voltage campaign that saw war of words among contending parties, Telangana is set for Assembly polls on Friday with the Congress-led alliance challenging the ruling TRS, and the BJP seeking to make it a triangular contest. More than 1.50 lakh polling officials including reserve staff are in the process of giving final touches Thursday to make the election to the 119-member House a smooth affair. Over 2.80 crore electorate are eligible to exercise their franchise in the State, which has a total of 32,815 polling stations across.Campaigning by political parties came to an end at 5 pm Wednesday. Additional DG ( Law and order) Jitender Thursday told PTI that about one lakh police personnel including 25,000 central paramilitary forces and 20,000 from other states are engaged in poll duties. A senior police official said security was beefed up at bordering areas which were identified as Left Wing Extremist-affected regions. The assembly polls in Telangana were originally scheduled to be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections next year, but the House was dissolved on September 6 as per a recommendation by the state cabinet. It is to be seen if KCR's gamble to opt for early elections pays off. The Congress has stitched together "Prajakutami" (People's Front) along with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) and the CPI to take on the ruling TRS, led by caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR). The TRS, seeking a second term in office, is going alone, as also the BJP. While KCR was, without doubt, the star campaigner for TRS, the Congress and the BJP fielded their bigwigs for campaigning which turned out to be a shrill one. For the Congress, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the party President Rahul Gandhi addressed election rallies. The BJP relied on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party President Amit Shah. Gandhi also addressed a joint meeting with TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. "We will win 100 seats", KCR repeatedly said in campaign meetings. Rahul Gandhi said Wednesday the Congress-led alliance is confident of winning the elections "hands-down" and claimed that KCR was showing "signs of nervousness and insecurity" in recent campaign meetings he addressed. The BJP, which won five seats in alliance with the TDP in the last elections in 2014, said it ensured that there is a triangular fight in Telangana this time. "Earlier, when the election season began, it was projected by both the Congress and TRS as if the fight is between them but it was a propaganda," Telangana BJP spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao told PTI. Vigorous campaign by BJP's national and state leaders ensured that it has become a "triangular contest where nobody can actually say who is winning and how many seats," Rao said. Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar in a press conference said, "Some political parties expressed apprehensions that there was the distribution of liquor and money in some places. We gave strict instructions to police and other officials to deal with such incidents sternly." "Distribution of voters' slips was done 100 per cent," he said.Polling will start at 7 am and end at 5 pm, while in 13 constituencies which were classified as Left Wing Extremist-affected, polling ends one hour before (4 pm). As many as 446 flying squads are in operation in the state to swing into action if any irregularity is reported during the elections and 448 static surveillance teams would also keep a watch on the situation and would wait in wings to take action, Kumar said. Besides, 224 video-surveillance teams and 133 video-viewing teams have been pressed into service. There are 126 assistant expenditure observers and 123 accounting teams.For the first time, Election Commission is using Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in Telangana. As many as 1,821 candidates including a transgender are in the fray in the election. Counting of votes would be taken up on December 11. Huge sums of unaccounted cash and illegal liquor and other goods were seized since the Model Code of Conduct came into effect on September 27. As per the last count, the total seizures stood at nearly Rs 135 crore including unaccounted cash, illegal liquor and other goods, Rajat Kumar said adding that the total seizures were 90 per cent more than that of during 2014 polls.

After high-voltage campaign, Telangana set for Assembly poll

All arrangements related to voting and security have been put in place for Assembly elections in Rajasthan as the state goes to polls on Friday, December 7.

A high-decibel campaign that witnessed several of election rallies and road shows across Rajasthan ended on Wednesday evening.

Political pundits say that the battle for the Rajasthan assembly elections to be held on Friday is a close contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress.

Voting will take place from 8 am to 5 pm on December 7 in 199 constituencies.&nbsp;

52,000 polling booths, including at least one all-women booth in each constituency, have been set up.

A total of around 4.77 crore voters will exercise their right to vote to decide the fortune of 2,274 candidates who are in the fray.

The campaigning in the largest state was highly occupied with the farmer issues, corruption, and the youth.

The campaign also raised issues related to Hindutva, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi sparred over ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ slogans, and there was a row over the caste of Lord Hanuman.

Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and several other Union ministers campaigned in the state, which the Bharatiya Janata Party is fighting to retain.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje also crisscrossed the state, travelling by road and by air and addressing at least five meetings a day.

The Congress fielded Rahul Gandhi, party’s state unit chief Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot in the campaign for the closely contested elections.

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati also campaigned in the state. The contest is mainly between the BJP and the Congress candidates in about 130 seats.

About 50 other seats will see contests in which rebel candidates from both major parties are in the fray, refusing to step down in favour of the official nominees.

Counting will take place on December 11.

(With inputs from agencies)

All arrangements related to voting and security have been put in place for Assembly elections in Rajasthan as the state goes to polls on Friday, December 7. A high-decibel campaign that witnessed several of election rallies and road shows across Rajasthan ended on Wednesday evening.

All arrangements related to voting and security have been put in place for Assembly elections in Rajasthan as the state goes to polls on Friday, December 7. A high-decibel campaign that witnessed several of election rallies and road shows across Rajasthan ended on Wednesday evening. Political pundits say that the battle for the Rajasthan assembly elections to be held on Friday is a close contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress. Voting will take place from 8 am to 5 pm on December 7 in 199 constituencies. 52,000 polling booths, including at least one all-women booth in each constituency, have been set up. A total of around 4.77 crore voters will exercise their right to vote to decide the fortune of 2,274 candidates who are in the fray. The campaigning in the largest state was highly occupied with the farmer issues, corruption, and the youth. The campaign also raised issues related to Hindutva, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi sparred over ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ slogans, and there was a row over the caste of Lord Hanuman. Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and several other Union ministers campaigned in the state, which the Bharatiya Janata Party is fighting to retain. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje also crisscrossed the state, travelling by road and by air and addressing at least five meetings a day. The Congress fielded Rahul Gandhi, party’s state unit chief Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot in the campaign for the closely contested elections. Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati also campaigned in the state. The contest is mainly between the BJP and the Congress candidates in about 130 seats. About 50 other seats will see contests in which rebel candidates from both major parties are in the fray, refusing to step down in favour of the official nominees. Counting will take place on December 11. (With inputs from agencies)

Rajasthan set for polling in a bipolar contest between BJP and Congress

The Telangana assembly polls on December 7 will be a crucial test for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is contesting alone unlike in 2014, to gain a foothold in the southern state ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.&nbsp;

In 2014, the BJP fought the polls along with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and won five seats out of the 119 at stake. All the five–Uppal, Musheerabad, Amberpet, Goshamahal and LB Nagar constituencies–were in Hyderabad.

Although the ruling TRS and the Congress-led grand alliance ‘Praja Kutami’ which also comprised the TDP, the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and the CPI appear to be the main rivals in most of the assembly seats, the BJP is making a determined bid to make its presence felt and increase the seat tally in the country’s newest state formed in 2014.&nbsp;

Poll analysts said the BJP could also hurt the prospects of the Congress in a few assembly segments.

The elections are being mainly fought on local issues with the performance of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government coming under intense scrutiny. TRS got a majority in 2014 riding on the wave of the emotional Telangana sentiment.

“BJP has a stronghold in Telangana. Traditionally, our voter share has been high in the Hyderabad region. Definitely, our percentage of votes will increase this time,” BJP national general secretary P Muralidhar Rao told PTI.

People of Telangana will look to the BJP as a “real alternative” to the TRS both in ideological and political terms, he said, adding any “anti-TRS space” will not be occupied by the Congress.

According to a senior BJP functionary, there will be a direct fight between the party and the TRS in constituencies such as Nizamabad (urban), Kalwakurty (Mahabubnagar district), Bhuvanagiri (Nalgonda district) and Mahbubabad (Warangal district).

The functionary also said the BJP is making all-out efforts to woo the “fence sitters” who may not be inclined to go with the TRS or the Congress-led alliance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were among the top BJP leaders who had campaigned in the state.

In the 2014 assembly polls, the BJP and the TDP had a pre-poll alliance and the former contested in 45 seats, out of which it won five.

The TDP won 15 seats out of the 72 it fought.(12 of its MLAs, however, switched over to the TRS and one to the Congress later). The TRS came to power winning 63 seats.

In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the TRS won 11 of the 17 seats.

The Telangana assembly polls on December 7 will be a crucial test for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is contesting alone unlike in 2014, to gain a foothold in the southern state ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The Telangana assembly polls on December 7 will be a crucial test for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is contesting alone unlike in 2014, to gain a foothold in the southern state ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In 2014, the BJP fought the polls along with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and won five seats out of the 119 at stake. All the five–Uppal, Musheerabad, Amberpet, Goshamahal and LB Nagar constituencies–were in Hyderabad. Although the ruling TRS and the Congress-led grand alliance ‘Praja Kutami’ which also comprised the TDP, the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and the CPI appear to be the main rivals in most of the assembly seats, the BJP is making a determined bid to make its presence felt and increase the seat tally in the country’s newest state formed in 2014. Poll analysts said the BJP could also hurt the prospects of the Congress in a few assembly segments. The elections are being mainly fought on local issues with the performance of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government coming under intense scrutiny. TRS got a majority in 2014 riding on the wave of the emotional Telangana sentiment. “BJP has a stronghold in Telangana. Traditionally, our voter share has been high in the Hyderabad region. Definitely, our percentage of votes will increase this time,” BJP national general secretary P Muralidhar Rao told PTI. People of Telangana will look to the BJP as a “real alternative” to the TRS both in ideological and political terms, he said, adding any “anti-TRS space” will not be occupied by the Congress. According to a senior BJP functionary, there will be a direct fight between the party and the TRS in constituencies such as Nizamabad (urban), Kalwakurty (Mahabubnagar district), Bhuvanagiri (Nalgonda district) and Mahbubabad (Warangal district). The functionary also said the BJP is making all-out efforts to woo the “fence sitters” who may not be inclined to go with the TRS or the Congress-led alliance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were among the top BJP leaders who had campaigned in the state. In the 2014 assembly polls, the BJP and the TDP had a pre-poll alliance and the former contested in 45 seats, out of which it won five. The TDP won 15 seats out of the 72 it fought.(12 of its MLAs, however, switched over to the TRS and one to the Congress later). The TRS came to power winning 63 seats. In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the TRS won 11 of the 17 seats.

Telangana polls crucial test for BJP to gain foothold in the state

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Wednesday said the Congress is running a campaign of EVM tampering as it has sensed defeat in the assembly polls and asserted there is no reason to doubt the integrity of the Election Commission (EC).

The main opposition party has repeatedly raised concerns over the security of EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) inside strongrooms and their handling during the counting process in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Its leaders have also taken up the issue with the EC.

Chouhan said the Congress' concerns have no ground and claimed the EC has been harsher with the BJP.

"The Congress has been raising baseless hue and cry (over EVM security issue). On the day of voting (November 28) Jyotiraditya ji (Congress campaign committee chief Jyotiraditya Scindia) wrote letter to EC.

"Congress (is) running a campaign of EVM tempering. There is no reason to doubt EC, which is a constitutional body," Chouhan told reporters here.

The chief minister said Rahul Gandhi-led party is not ready to trust anyone.

"A desperate Congress (is) trying to find excuse for its (imminent) defeat. For Congress, everybody including EC, officials, employees and police, is dishonest. Whom Congress will trust? It is trying to create an atmosphere of doubt," he said.

"On the contrary, the EC was more stern against the BJP. At times, it has acted inhumanly while implementing the model code of conduct," the CM said, claiming that the EC even did not allow him to attend last rites of a friend.

"My friend and (BJP) worker Raghuvir Dangi died in Vidisha on November 27 (a day before voting in MP). I wanted to go in his last rites, but I was not given the permission by the EC," Chouhan said.

The CM said tampering EVMs is not a child's play.

"There is media...People are aware nobody can tamper with (an) EVM. Ye koi gudde-gudiya ka khel hai, koi bhi bula kar chhedchhad kar dega? (It is not a child's play).

This is technically impossible," he said.

About the number of assembly seats the BJP expects to win in Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan, seeking a straight fourth term in office, said the ruling party will get "spectacular" majority.

Chouhan also said the BJP will retain Rajasthan (where voting is due on December 7). He had addressed several election rallies there.

Asked about the drop in prices of onion and garlic, Chouhan said the affected farmers will be compensated, but he is not able to take a decision in this regard as the model code of conduct is in force.

Asked about the Cabinet meeting held earlier in the day, the CM said some routine issues were discussed.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Ajay Singh sought to know why Chouhan and the BJP were maintaining "silence" over the "irregularities" occurred during the November 28 polling.

"About 4,000 machines, including EVMs and VVPATs, were changed during the polling. EVMs were deposited at some places as late as 48 hours. CCTVs installed for the security of strongrooms not worked for hours at several places," he claimed.

"Why Chouhan and his party didn't come up with complaints on this issue," the Leader of Opposition in the assembly asked.

Singh alleged strongrooms housing EVMs were not sealed properly at several places.

The counting of votes for Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh elections will take place on December 11.&nbsp;

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Wednesday said the Congress is running a campaign of EVM tampering as it has sensed defeat in the assembly polls and asserted there is no reason to doubt the integrity of the Election Commission (EC).

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Wednesday said the Congress is running a campaign of EVM tampering as it has sensed defeat in the assembly polls and asserted there is no reason to doubt the integrity of the Election Commission (EC). The main opposition party has repeatedly raised concerns over the security of EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) inside strongrooms and their handling during the counting process in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Its leaders have also taken up the issue with the EC. Chouhan said the Congress' concerns have no ground and claimed the EC has been harsher with the BJP. "The Congress has been raising baseless hue and cry (over EVM security issue). On the day of voting (November 28) Jyotiraditya ji (Congress campaign committee chief Jyotiraditya Scindia) wrote letter to EC. "Congress (is) running a campaign of EVM tempering. There is no reason to doubt EC, which is a constitutional body," Chouhan told reporters here. The chief minister said Rahul Gandhi-led party is not ready to trust anyone. "A desperate Congress (is) trying to find excuse for its (imminent) defeat. For Congress, everybody including EC, officials, employees and police, is dishonest. Whom Congress will trust? It is trying to create an atmosphere of doubt," he said. "On the contrary, the EC was more stern against the BJP. At times, it has acted inhumanly while implementing the model code of conduct," the CM said, claiming that the EC even did not allow him to attend last rites of a friend. "My friend and (BJP) worker Raghuvir Dangi died in Vidisha on November 27 (a day before voting in MP). I wanted to go in his last rites, but I was not given the permission by the EC," Chouhan said. The CM said tampering EVMs is not a child's play. "There is media...People are aware nobody can tamper with (an) EVM. Ye koi gudde-gudiya ka khel hai, koi bhi bula kar chhedchhad kar dega? (It is not a child's play). This is technically impossible," he said. About the number of assembly seats the BJP expects to win in Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan, seeking a straight fourth term in office, said the ruling party will get "spectacular" majority. Chouhan also said the BJP will retain Rajasthan (where voting is due on December 7). He had addressed several election rallies there. Asked about the drop in prices of onion and garlic, Chouhan said the affected farmers will be compensated, but he is not able to take a decision in this regard as the model code of conduct is in force. Asked about the Cabinet meeting held earlier in the day, the CM said some routine issues were discussed. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Ajay Singh sought to know why Chouhan and the BJP were maintaining "silence" over the "irregularities" occurred during the November 28 polling. "About 4,000 machines, including EVMs and VVPATs, were changed during the polling. EVMs were deposited at some places as late as 48 hours. CCTVs installed for the security of strongrooms not worked for hours at several places," he claimed. "Why Chouhan and his party didn't come up with complaints on this issue," the Leader of Opposition in the assembly asked. Singh alleged strongrooms housing EVMs were not sealed properly at several places. The counting of votes for Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh elections will take place on December 11.

Sensing poll rout, Cong raising EVM tampering issue: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Telangana caretaker chief minister and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao stormed to power in 2014 -- albeit with a simple majority -- riding on the back of strong &nbsp;Telangana statehood emotion.

Four years after the bifurcation that sentiment has waned. KCR's attempt to rake up the Telangana sentiment by calling TDP an "Andhra party" and its chief&nbsp; "Telangana drohi"&nbsp;in the run-up to this election has failed to strike a chord with the voters who expected him to seek vote based on his record as chief minister of the state.&nbsp;

In the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/from-strong-to-sticky-wicket-why-retaining-power-in-telangana-wont-be-a-cakewalk-for-kcr-179734">first part of the article</a>, we discussed about how KCR was caught off guard by the coming together of arch rivals Congress and TDP in the state while in this part, let's look at how strong the leadership of KCR is and how several welfare schemes implemented by him such as round-the-clock power supply to households, free power to farmers, financial support schemes such as Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bhima for farmers, KCR Kits and increased pensions for old age, widows, single women and toddy tappers, weavers would work in his favour and spur the voters to rally behind him.

The aforementioned and several other welfare schemes which covered almost each and every community and household in the state may give an edge to TRS over Congress-TDP alliance.&nbsp;

The TRS chief has sweating it out on the electoral battleground and has been attending four to eight meetings every day since Election Commission declared polls.&nbsp;

However, the lofty promises he made in 2014 and his failure to deliver on those promises may come back to haunt him as he seeks reelection.&nbsp;

Incomplete irrigation projects, reneging on his promise to make a Dalit the first CM of Telangana state, failure to sanction and construct 1 lakh 2BHK houses for homeless people, failure to meet the deadline of piped drinking water supply to every household through Mission Bhagiratha project, alleged corruption in thousands of crores in Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya projects and the&nbsp;unviability of Kaleshwaram irrigation project in the name of redesigning are some of the things may work against KCR who also so far failed to convince the people why he dissolved the assembly six months prior to the end of his term.&nbsp;

The TRS chief, who a journalist friend in Telangana calls a modern Hitler, &nbsp;has also been often accused of nepotism and promoting ''family rule'' where five members -- KCR, his son and IT Minister KTR, daughter and Nizamabad MP Kavitha, nephew and Irrigation Minister Harish Rao and another nephew Santhosh Kumar -- called the shots.&nbsp;

Even Congress president Rahul Gandhi attacked KCR on ''family rule'' by saying that the TRS Government is working for realising the dreams of one person by trampling on the rights of all other people on land, waters and other resources.&nbsp;

While KCR poured crores on sops but failed to create jobs for the unemployed youth, says another journalist friend from the state. KCR also did not induct any woman legislator into his cabinet.

In the ongoing campaign, TRS MLAs are questioned by people on their failure to deliver on promises made in 2014. According to the vox populi, lions' share of the electorate is not happy with the TRS rule, especially in rural Telangana.&nbsp;

KCR also failed on his 12 per cent reservation to the Muslims.

Strong believer of numerology and superstitions, KCR also ignored families of true statehood martyrs and soldiers. Brazen dereliction on the part of KCR on building the memorials to honour the martyrs and statehood fighters as he promised during the last polls has angered several people in the state.&nbsp;

Several strong leaders from TRS including the sitting MLAs like BC leader Konda Sureka, SC leader Bodige Shobha who were denied the tickets, defected to the Congress. There is a potential splitting of the pro-TRS vote bank by rebels and dissidents who sought tickets but were denied. &nbsp;There is also a strong anti-incumbency wave among farmers due to forceful land acquisition.&nbsp;

A win in his own constituency, Gajwel, may not be a cakewalk for the TRS chief who won the seat in 2014 from Vanteru Pratap Reddy of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), who has since joined the Congress, by about 20,000 votes. 
 
(This is the second part of the three-part analysis on Telangana election. The final part will be published on December 12)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

Telangana caretaker chief minister and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao stormed to power in 2014 -- albeit with a simple majority -- riding on the back of strong Telangana statehood emotion.

Telangana caretaker chief minister and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao stormed to power in 2014 -- albeit with a simple majority -- riding on the back of strong Telangana statehood emotion. Four years after the bifurcation that sentiment has waned. KCR's attempt to rake up the Telangana sentiment by calling TDP an "Andhra party" and its chief "Telangana drohi" in the run-up to this election has failed to strike a chord with the voters who expected him to seek vote based on his record as chief minister of the state. In the first part of the article, we discussed about how KCR was caught off guard by the coming together of arch rivals Congress and TDP in the state while in this part, let's look at how strong the leadership of KCR is and how several welfare schemes implemented by him such as round-the-clock power supply to households, free power to farmers, financial support schemes such as Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bhima for farmers, KCR Kits and increased pensions for old age, widows, single women and toddy tappers, weavers would work in his favour and spur the voters to rally behind him. The aforementioned and several other welfare schemes which covered almost each and every community and household in the state may give an edge to TRS over Congress-TDP alliance. The TRS chief has sweating it out on the electoral battleground and has been attending four to eight meetings every day since Election Commission declared polls. However, the lofty promises he made in 2014 and his failure to deliver on those promises may come back to haunt him as he seeks reelection. Incomplete irrigation projects, reneging on his promise to make a Dalit the first CM of Telangana state, failure to sanction and construct 1 lakh 2BHK houses for homeless people, failure to meet the deadline of piped drinking water supply to every household through Mission Bhagiratha project, alleged corruption in thousands of crores in Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya projects and the unviability of Kaleshwaram irrigation project in the name of redesigning are some of the things may work against KCR who also so far failed to convince the people why he dissolved the assembly six months prior to the end of his term. The TRS chief, who a journalist friend in Telangana calls a modern Hitler, has also been often accused of nepotism and promoting ''family rule'' where five members -- KCR, his son and IT Minister KTR, daughter and Nizamabad MP Kavitha, nephew and Irrigation Minister Harish Rao and another nephew Santhosh Kumar -- called the shots. Even Congress president Rahul Gandhi attacked KCR on ''family rule'' by saying that the TRS Government is working for realising the dreams of one person by trampling on the rights of all other people on land, waters and other resources. While KCR poured crores on sops but failed to create jobs for the unemployed youth, says another journalist friend from the state. KCR also did not induct any woman legislator into his cabinet. In the ongoing campaign, TRS MLAs are questioned by people on their failure to deliver on promises made in 2014. According to the vox populi, lions' share of the electorate is not happy with the TRS rule, especially in rural Telangana. KCR also failed on his 12 per cent reservation to the Muslims. Strong believer of numerology and superstitions, KCR also ignored families of true statehood martyrs and soldiers. Brazen dereliction on the part of KCR on building the memorials to honour the martyrs and statehood fighters as he promised during the last polls has angered several people in the state. Several strong leaders from TRS including the sitting MLAs like BC leader Konda Sureka, SC leader Bodige Shobha who were denied the tickets, defected to the Congress. There is a potential splitting of the pro-TRS vote bank by rebels and dissidents who sought tickets but were denied. There is also a strong anti-incumbency wave among farmers due to forceful land acquisition. A win in his own constituency, Gajwel, may not be a cakewalk for the TRS chief who won the seat in 2014 from Vanteru Pratap Reddy of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), who has since joined the Congress, by about 20,000 votes. (This is the second part of the three-part analysis on Telangana election. The final part will be published on December 12) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Assembly elections 2018: KCR's failure to honour his promises could prove costly

A day after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/agustawestland-chopper-case-christian-michel-appears-in-delhi-court-security-tightened-181662">Christian Michel, the alleged middleman</a> in Rs 3600 cr &nbsp;Agusta Westland chopper scam was extradited to India, it was a day of many developments from the courts, to CBI headquarters to the poll-bound state of Rajasthan.&nbsp;

Lashing out at Congress in the poll-bound state of Rajasthan Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a rally in Dausa said, "We've caught a 'raazdaar' of chopper scam and brought him here. The entire family(Gandhi family) is now scared of the things which will be revealed. They are scared as to whose name will he take if he opens his mouth".

In another rally at Sumerpur, launching a scathing attack on Congress, PM Modi said; "Helicopter kaand ke raazdar aur dalal ko sarkar Dubai se pakad ke layi hai. Ab raazdar raaz kholega, pata nahi baat kahan tak jayegi, kitni duur tak jayegi" (Govt has got the man who gave bribes in Agusta Westland chopper scam from Dubai. If he opens his mouth, he can speak a lot and this might go very far.)

The extradition of Michel is being considered a shot in the arm for Modi Govt just before the elections in states like Telangana, Rajasthan and general elections of 2019.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, in Delhi's Patiala house court, a CBI Special Court sent Michel to 5-day CBI custody and has allowed his counsel one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening for consultancy. Michel has also sought bail hearing which the court will hear in next hearing. &nbsp;

The British high commission has also reacted to the development. Remember Michel is a British national who has been extradited from a 3rd country, that is UAE.&nbsp;

The British High Commission spokesperson said, "Our staff continue to support the family of a British man following his detention in UAE. We're in contact with his family and Emirati authorities regarding his case and are urgently seeking info from Indian authorities on his circumstances.”&nbsp;

Government sources have said India is willing to provide consular access to UK High Commission for Christian Michel and due process will be followed.

India has sent extradition request last year to UAE and after a lengthy legal battle in UAE's courts, he was extradited on 4th December to India.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, it seems Michel's extradition has sent messages to many including Vijay Mallya in London who tweeted, "I have offered to repay 100 % of the Principal amount to them( banks). Please take it."

A London court will announce the judgement on extradition of Vijay Mallya on 10th December.

A day after Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in Rs 3600 cr Agusta Westland chopper scam was extradited to India, it was a day of many developments from the courts, to CBI headquarters to the poll-bound state of Rajasthan.

A day after Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in Rs 3600 cr Agusta Westland chopper scam was extradited to India, it was a day of many developments from the courts, to CBI headquarters to the poll-bound state of Rajasthan. Lashing out at Congress in the poll-bound state of Rajasthan Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a rally in Dausa said, "We've caught a 'raazdaar' of chopper scam and brought him here. The entire family(Gandhi family) is now scared of the things which will be revealed. They are scared as to whose name will he take if he opens his mouth". In another rally at Sumerpur, launching a scathing attack on Congress, PM Modi said; "Helicopter kaand ke raazdar aur dalal ko sarkar Dubai se pakad ke layi hai. Ab raazdar raaz kholega, pata nahi baat kahan tak jayegi, kitni duur tak jayegi" (Govt has got the man who gave bribes in Agusta Westland chopper scam from Dubai. If he opens his mouth, he can speak a lot and this might go very far.) The extradition of Michel is being considered a shot in the arm for Modi Govt just before the elections in states like Telangana, Rajasthan and general elections of 2019. Meanwhile, in Delhi's Patiala house court, a CBI Special Court sent Michel to 5-day CBI custody and has allowed his counsel one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening for consultancy. Michel has also sought bail hearing which the court will hear in next hearing. The British high commission has also reacted to the development. Remember Michel is a British national who has been extradited from a 3rd country, that is UAE. The British High Commission spokesperson said, "Our staff continue to support the family of a British man following his detention in UAE. We're in contact with his family and Emirati authorities regarding his case and are urgently seeking info from Indian authorities on his circumstances.” Government sources have said India is willing to provide consular access to UK High Commission for Christian Michel and due process will be followed. India has sent extradition request last year to UAE and after a lengthy legal battle in UAE's courts, he was extradited on 4th December to India. Meanwhile, it seems Michel's extradition has sent messages to many including Vijay Mallya in London who tweeted, "I have offered to repay 100 % of the Principal amount to them( banks). Please take it." A London court will announce the judgement on extradition of Vijay Mallya on 10th December.

Christian Michel's extradition: Entire Gandhi family scared as 'raazdaar' caught, says PM Modi in Rajasthan

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Wednesday said only the BJP could firmly deal with the Naxal problem and ISI activities in the country and ensure security for every citizen.&nbsp;

Addressing a rally in poll-bound Telangana, he said, “The BJP will resolve the Naxal issue and act sternly against the anti-India activities of the ISI (Pakistan’s spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence) to ensure security for every citizen.”&nbsp;

Adityanath said thousands of years ago, Lord Ram had carried out the same work and ensured a secure society, free from the threat of “rakshashi atank” (demonic threat) and one which did not discriminate against anyone, everyone felt secure, and “only the BJP can do this today”.

He accused the K Chandrashekar Rao-led government of betraying the people of Telangana for the last four-and-a-half years and alleged that prior to this (in undivided Andhra Pradesh), the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had “exploited” them. “KCR and the TRS did nothing for Telangana and similarly, the Congress-TDP alliance is coming only to exploit you, the only option left with you is the BJP,” Adityanath told the crowd.

“Had these people (Congress, TDP, TRS) taken the development works forward, provided employment to the youth, worked for farmers’ welfare and put elaborate security arrangements in place, then Karimnagar would not have marched towards becoming a hub of ISI activities.

“I have come here to tell you to that only the BJP can effectively tackle Naxals and deal with ISI activities with an iron hand and ensure security for every citizen of the country and hence, I have come to seek your support for the BJP,” he said. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister alleged that the Congress, TDP and TRS were still lying under the “slavery of Nizamshahi” and practising family rule.

The Congress, despite ruling the country for the maximum period of time, had failed to come out with any comprehensive development scheme in public interest, he alleged, adding that the N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP had also failed do so and the KCR-led Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) had only made big announcements. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government built crores of houses and toilets, gave LPG connections to crores of poor people, opened 32 crore Jan Dhan bank accounts and also brought the PMJAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana) health insurance scheme, Adityanath said.

The schemes of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) covered every section of the society and did not discriminate, but those of the Congress, TDP and TRS “divided the society”, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, adding that until one got rid of “Nizamshahi”, development could not be achieved. He claimed that the poll manifestos of the Congress, TDP and TRS talked about carrying out development work in Muslim areas if they came to power.

“The Indian Constitution does not allow divisions in the society in the name of religion. Every section of the society should have the right over the resources and not just the Muslims…the BJP works to unite people, alongside ushering in development,” Adityanath said. He described the TDP, TRS and the Congress as dynastic parties and claimed that the BJP did not work that way. It was only in the saffron party that a small-time worker could become the prime minister, vice-president or the party’s national president, Adityanath said, adding that the BJP was “India’s party” and the party of the common public, which undertook programmes without any discrimination.

“Those who support ‘Nizamshahi’ are anti-democracy…do not believe the parties promoting family rule. Believe in the BJP, Modiji, Amit Shah and all the party workers who work for your security, development and good governance and who will take you to the path of development,” he said. The 119-member Telangana Assembly will go to polls on December 7 and the results will be announced on December 11.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Wednesday said only the BJP could firmly deal with the Naxal problem and ISI activities in the country and ensure security for every citizen.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Wednesday said only the BJP could firmly deal with the Naxal problem and ISI activities in the country and ensure security for every citizen. Addressing a rally in poll-bound Telangana, he said, “The BJP will resolve the Naxal issue and act sternly against the anti-India activities of the ISI (Pakistan’s spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence) to ensure security for every citizen.” Adityanath said thousands of years ago, Lord Ram had carried out the same work and ensured a secure society, free from the threat of “rakshashi atank” (demonic threat) and one which did not discriminate against anyone, everyone felt secure, and “only the BJP can do this today”. He accused the K Chandrashekar Rao-led government of betraying the people of Telangana for the last four-and-a-half years and alleged that prior to this (in undivided Andhra Pradesh), the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had “exploited” them. “KCR and the TRS did nothing for Telangana and similarly, the Congress-TDP alliance is coming only to exploit you, the only option left with you is the BJP,” Adityanath told the crowd. “Had these people (Congress, TDP, TRS) taken the development works forward, provided employment to the youth, worked for farmers’ welfare and put elaborate security arrangements in place, then Karimnagar would not have marched towards becoming a hub of ISI activities. “I have come here to tell you to that only the BJP can effectively tackle Naxals and deal with ISI activities with an iron hand and ensure security for every citizen of the country and hence, I have come to seek your support for the BJP,” he said. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister alleged that the Congress, TDP and TRS were still lying under the “slavery of Nizamshahi” and practising family rule. The Congress, despite ruling the country for the maximum period of time, had failed to come out with any comprehensive development scheme in public interest, he alleged, adding that the N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP had also failed do so and the KCR-led Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) had only made big announcements. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government built crores of houses and toilets, gave LPG connections to crores of poor people, opened 32 crore Jan Dhan bank accounts and also brought the PMJAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana) health insurance scheme, Adityanath said. The schemes of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) covered every section of the society and did not discriminate, but those of the Congress, TDP and TRS “divided the society”, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, adding that until one got rid of “Nizamshahi”, development could not be achieved. He claimed that the poll manifestos of the Congress, TDP and TRS talked about carrying out development work in Muslim areas if they came to power. “The Indian Constitution does not allow divisions in the society in the name of religion. Every section of the society should have the right over the resources and not just the Muslims…the BJP works to unite people, alongside ushering in development,” Adityanath said. He described the TDP, TRS and the Congress as dynastic parties and claimed that the BJP did not work that way. It was only in the saffron party that a small-time worker could become the prime minister, vice-president or the party’s national president, Adityanath said, adding that the BJP was “India’s party” and the party of the common public, which undertook programmes without any discrimination. “Those who support ‘Nizamshahi’ are anti-democracy…do not believe the parties promoting family rule. Believe in the BJP, Modiji, Amit Shah and all the party workers who work for your security, development and good governance and who will take you to the path of development,” he said. The 119-member Telangana Assembly will go to polls on December 7 and the results will be announced on December 11.

Only BJP can firmly deal with Naxals, ISI activities: Yogi Adityanath in Telangana

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday lashed out at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath again over his “Nizam” barb at him, saying Indian Muslims had rejected Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s two-nation theory and he is a citizen of this country “by choice”.&nbsp;

The Hyderabad MP was responding to Adityanath’s recent remarks at a rally in poll-bound Telangana that Owaisi would have to “run away” from Hyderabad, just like the Nizam, if the BJP came to power in the state.

“I am number one citizen of India, an equal citizen and I am not a tenant,” Owaisi told reporters at Hyderabad Press Club.

Unlike Yogi, he said, he is an Indian “by choice”.

“We (Indian Muslims) rejected Jinnah’s theory. We always accept that India is our homeland. You cannot treat us as second-class citizens. The BJP’s ideology is to treat Muslims not as equal citizens but as unequal citizens,” the AIMIM chief said.

In an attack on Adityanath on Sunday, Owaisi had said India is his father’s country and no one is running away. Addressing a poll rally here, he had also said Adityanath was speaking the language of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP and that he was ignorant about history.

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday lashed out at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath again over his “Nizam” barb at him, saying Indian Muslims had rejected Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s two-nation theory and he is a citizen of this country “by choice”.

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday lashed out at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath again over his “Nizam” barb at him, saying Indian Muslims had rejected Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s two-nation theory and he is a citizen of this country “by choice”. The Hyderabad MP was responding to Adityanath’s recent remarks at a rally in poll-bound Telangana that Owaisi would have to “run away” from Hyderabad, just like the Nizam, if the BJP came to power in the state. “I am number one citizen of India, an equal citizen and I am not a tenant,” Owaisi told reporters at Hyderabad Press Club. Unlike Yogi, he said, he is an Indian “by choice”. “We (Indian Muslims) rejected Jinnah’s theory. We always accept that India is our homeland. You cannot treat us as second-class citizens. The BJP’s ideology is to treat Muslims not as equal citizens but as unequal citizens,” the AIMIM chief said. In an attack on Adityanath on Sunday, Owaisi had said India is his father’s country and no one is running away. Addressing a poll rally here, he had also said Adityanath was speaking the language of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP and that he was ignorant about history.

Owaisi hits out at Adityanath’s ‘Nizam’ barb, says Indian by choice

"We got him from Dubai," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Wednesday of Christian Michel's extradition. Modi was speaking at an election rally in Sumerpur in Rajasthan's Pali district.&nbsp;

Michel, a UK national, is an accused in the alleged Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestand VVIP chopper scam. He was <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/vvip-chopper-case-middleman-christian-michel-extradited-to-india-181534">extradited to India from Dubai on </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/vvip-chopper-case-middleman-christian-michel-extradited-to-india-181534">Tuesday</a>, and will be produced in court on Wednesday.&nbsp;

"Helicopter kaand ke raazdar aur dalal ko sarkar Dubai se pakad ke layi hai. Ab raazdar raaz kholega, pata nahi baat kahan tak jayegi, kitni duur tak jayegi," Modi said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The BJP had on Tuesday said Michel's extradition could spell "serious trouble" for the Congress's "first family" since the alleged scam dates back to the UPA era.&nbsp;

Modi on Wednesday took another swipe at the Gandhis, saying the Supreme Court had said the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/national-herald-case-income-tax-re-assessment-of-sonia-gandhi-rahul-gandhi-for-2011-12-can-continue-says-supreme-court-181427">Indian government had the right to </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/national-herald-case-income-tax-re-assessment-of-sonia-gandhi-rahul-gandhi-for-2011-12-can-continue-says-supreme-court-181427">reasses</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/national-herald-case-income-tax-re-assessment-of-sonia-gandhi-rahul-gandhi-for-2011-12-can-continue-says-supreme-court-181427"> Sonia and Rahul Gandhi's income tax returns</a>.&nbsp;

"Ab dekhta hoon kaise bach ke nikalte ho," he added.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> PM Modi in Sumerpur: Yesterday we won in Supreme Court, the court said Indian Govt has the right to reasses their(Sonia and Rahul Gandhi) income tax returns. Ab dekhta hoon kaise bach ke nikalte ho <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanElections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanElections</a> <a href="https://t.co/PwmgVJh0GM">pic.twitter.com/PwmgVJh0GM</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1070215850270097409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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He took another swipe at the Congress president:&nbsp;

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PM Narendra Modi: Congress President does not even know the names of his own party leaders. He did not even know the name of a very popular farmer and jat leader in Congress, late Kumbharam ji. He called him 'Kumbhakaran'. You can imagine what such people will do when in power <a href="https://t.co/Bp52VwSoag">pic.twitter.com/Bp52VwSoag</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1070218852422819840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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And he mentioned Sonia Gandhi son-in-law Robert Vadra, whom the Enforcement Directorate has been <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/govt-depts-operating-on-agenda-to-besmirch-my-reputation-robert-vadra-181608">questioning in connection with an alleged land scam in Bikaner</a>.&nbsp;

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PM Narendra Modi in Sumerpur, Rajasthan: They knew that the govt of India was bringing huge projects in Barmer, the prices of land were about to rise and the farmers were set to gain from it. So, the relatives of 'naamdar' snatched the land from farmers at throw away prices. <a href="https://t.co/O48q8KNv83">pic.twitter.com/O48q8KNv83</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1070219562761613312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Rajasthan will go to the polls on December 7. The results will be out on December 11.&nbsp;

"We got him from Dubai," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Wednesday of Christian Michel's extradition. Modi was speaking at an election rally in Sumerpur in Rajasthan's Pali district.

"We got him from Dubai," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Wednesday of Christian Michel's extradition. Modi was speaking at an election rally in Sumerpur in Rajasthan's Pali district. Michel, a UK national, is an accused in the alleged Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestand VVIP chopper scam. He was extradited to India from Dubai on Tuesday, and will be produced in court on Wednesday. "Helicopter kaand ke raazdar aur dalal ko sarkar Dubai se pakad ke layi hai. Ab raazdar raaz kholega, pata nahi baat kahan tak jayegi, kitni duur tak jayegi," Modi said on Wednesday. The BJP had on Tuesday said Michel's extradition could spell "serious trouble" for the Congress's "first family" since the alleged scam dates back to the UPA era. Modi on Wednesday took another swipe at the Gandhis, saying the Supreme Court had said the Indian government had the right to reasses Sonia and Rahul Gandhi's income tax returns. "Ab dekhta hoon kaise bach ke nikalte ho," he added. #WATCH PM Modi in Sumerpur: Yesterday we won in Supreme Court, the court said Indian Govt has the right to reasses their(Sonia and Rahul Gandhi) income tax returns. Ab dekhta hoon kaise bach ke nikalte ho #RajasthanElections pic.twitter.com/PwmgVJh0GM — ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2018 × He took another swipe at the Congress president: PM Narendra Modi: Congress President does not even know the names of his own party leaders. He did not even know the name of a very popular farmer and jat leader in Congress, late Kumbharam ji. He called him 'Kumbhakaran'. You can imagine what such people will do when in power pic.twitter.com/Bp52VwSoag — ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2018 × And he mentioned Sonia Gandhi son-in-law Robert Vadra, whom the Enforcement Directorate has been questioning in connection with an alleged land scam in Bikaner. PM Narendra Modi in Sumerpur, Rajasthan: They knew that the govt of India was bringing huge projects in Barmer, the prices of land were about to rise and the farmers were set to gain from it. So, the relatives of 'naamdar' snatched the land from farmers at throw away prices. pic.twitter.com/O48q8KNv83 — ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2018 × Rajasthan will go to the polls on December 7. The results will be out on December 11.

We got him from Dubai: PM Modi on Christian Michel's extradition

The winter chill has not yet peaked in Bhopal but the politicians belonging to the two major claimants for power in Madhya Pradesh – the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress – are feeling the shivers down their spine, with December 11, the day for counting of votes, just round the corner.

There were undercurrents but as the voters had chosen to remain silent, there was no wave in favour of either the BJP or Congress during the campaigning for the election to the state Assembly. Obviously, therefore, the BJP seniors are on tenterhooks as they wait for the poll outcome.&nbsp;

The only question occupying their mind at present is whether or not they will be able to return to power in MP for the fourth time in a row. Congressmen on the other side, after three consecutive defeats in 2003, 2008 and 2013, are spending sleepless nights craving for victory in this election.

Before polling on November 28, reports citing the “Satta Market”, had tilted the balance in favour of Congress and it was projected that the BJP was heading for defeat in Madhya Pradesh. This was widely covered by the media. Two days after polling, posts on social media cited an alleged police intelligence survey conducted before the casting of votes. It gave 90 seats to the BJP, 128 to the Congress and 7 to independents and others. &nbsp;

A “tentative list” that went viral on December 3, flashes the fate of each BJP candidate versus the main opponent from the Congress side and predicts that the BJP would win 123 seats and lose 105 to the Congress.

The "Satta Market" is also hovering over the poll related forecasts these days. The other day, someone was sitting with a prominent businessman in his office. As the conversation veered round to the outcome of polls, he was quick in lifting the phone and asking one of his subordinates at the other end to check the latest “Satta trend”. Pat came the reply that the trend was now favouring the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. &nbsp;

The role of the "Satta market" can also be gauged from BJP’s latest charge that the Congress was influencing the bookies and fixing the Satta rates keeping in view Rajasthan, where polling will be held on December 7.&nbsp;

It’s a matter of serious concern&nbsp;that how everyone is willing to connect with the illegal "Satta Market". There is also an indication that it could leave an impact on the voting pattern.

In the midst of speculations about the people’s verdict, the Congress party has slammed the ruling BJP and raised the issue of alleged tampering with EVM machines. Videos showing gaping gaps in transporting EVM machines and the management of strongrooms meant for keeping these machines have gone viral. Charges are flying freely over the delay in transporting the EVMs from Khurai constituency to the Sagar district headquarters. A junior level revenue officer has been suspended as it took about 48 hours for the EVMs kept as reserve in the Khurai constituency to reach Sagar. &nbsp;There was a huge protest on this issue and angry Congressmen even did a “gherao" of the district collectorate.

Another video doing the rounds on social media shows the Rewa collector interacting with a Congress candidate, who was complaining about the strongroom arrangements. From what is audible, the collector is heard giving the “shoot at sight” orders against anyone going near the strong room. She also conveyed in clear terms that the election was a minor event and she meant business as her goal was to rise and become the Chief Secretary and a principle Secretary. &nbsp;The authenticity of what has been said in this video remains to be verified.

On Tuesday, Madhya Pradesh Congress unit President Kamal Nath met the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora in New Delhi to demand necessary action to prevent manipulation, distortion and interference in the counting of votes.&nbsp;

The BJP leaders on their part, are pointing out that the Congressmen are raising a hue and cry about the EVMs as they are sensing defeat and want to pick an excuse for their defeat.&nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The winter chill has not yet peaked in Bhopal but the politicians belonging to the two major claimants for power in Madhya Pradesh – the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress – are feeling the shivers down their spine, with December 11, the day for counting of votes, just round the corner.

The winter chill has not yet peaked in Bhopal but the politicians belonging to the two major claimants for power in Madhya Pradesh – the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress – are feeling the shivers down their spine, with December 11, the day for counting of votes, just round the corner. There were undercurrents but as the voters had chosen to remain silent, there was no wave in favour of either the BJP or Congress during the campaigning for the election to the state Assembly. Obviously, therefore, the BJP seniors are on tenterhooks as they wait for the poll outcome. The only question occupying their mind at present is whether or not they will be able to return to power in MP for the fourth time in a row. Congressmen on the other side, after three consecutive defeats in 2003, 2008 and 2013, are spending sleepless nights craving for victory in this election. Before polling on November 28, reports citing the “Satta Market”, had tilted the balance in favour of Congress and it was projected that the BJP was heading for defeat in Madhya Pradesh. This was widely covered by the media. Two days after polling, posts on social media cited an alleged police intelligence survey conducted before the casting of votes. It gave 90 seats to the BJP, 128 to the Congress and 7 to independents and others. A “tentative list” that went viral on December 3, flashes the fate of each BJP candidate versus the main opponent from the Congress side and predicts that the BJP would win 123 seats and lose 105 to the Congress. The "Satta Market" is also hovering over the poll related forecasts these days. The other day, someone was sitting with a prominent businessman in his office. As the conversation veered round to the outcome of polls, he was quick in lifting the phone and asking one of his subordinates at the other end to check the latest “Satta trend”. Pat came the reply that the trend was now favouring the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. The role of the "Satta market" can also be gauged from BJP’s latest charge that the Congress was influencing the bookies and fixing the Satta rates keeping in view Rajasthan, where polling will be held on December 7. It’s a matter of serious concern that how everyone is willing to connect with the illegal "Satta Market". There is also an indication that it could leave an impact on the voting pattern. In the midst of speculations about the people’s verdict, the Congress party has slammed the ruling BJP and raised the issue of alleged tampering with EVM machines. Videos showing gaping gaps in transporting EVM machines and the management of strongrooms meant for keeping these machines have gone viral. Charges are flying freely over the delay in transporting the EVMs from Khurai constituency to the Sagar district headquarters. A junior level revenue officer has been suspended as it took about 48 hours for the EVMs kept as reserve in the Khurai constituency to reach Sagar. There was a huge protest on this issue and angry Congressmen even did a “gherao" of the district collectorate. Another video doing the rounds on social media shows the Rewa collector interacting with a Congress candidate, who was complaining about the strongroom arrangements. From what is audible, the collector is heard giving the “shoot at sight” orders against anyone going near the strong room. She also conveyed in clear terms that the election was a minor event and she meant business as her goal was to rise and become the Chief Secretary and a principle Secretary. The authenticity of what has been said in this video remains to be verified. On Tuesday, Madhya Pradesh Congress unit President Kamal Nath met the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora in New Delhi to demand necessary action to prevent manipulation, distortion and interference in the counting of votes. The BJP leaders on their part, are pointing out that the Congressmen are raising a hue and cry about the EVMs as they are sensing defeat and want to pick an excuse for their defeat. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections 2018: Poll results fairly unpredictable

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today blasted the Congress for giving away Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/all-you-need-to-know-about-kartarpur-corridor-project-180005">Kartarpur</a> to Pakistan.

"The lust for power led to Partition in 1947, the division was also on lines of religion. Congress made these mistakes for the sake of power and their impatience led to this situation. And one of the results of this led to Kartarpur being given to Pakistan. The lack of vision and sensitivity on part of Congress led to this situation. Had they shown a little bit of prudence and maturity, a place just 3km from the border would not have gone to Pakistan," PM Modi said while addressing a rally in Hanumangarh, in poll-bound Rajasthan.

Then Congress leaders had no idea about importance of Guru Nanak Dev, therefore Kartarpur is in Pakistan today, the prime minister added.

He also said, "Even after 70 years, they (Congress) still ignored this. What they ignored for 70 years, we did it in our term and now every pilgrim will be able to visit the gurudwara. Congress should be as asked and be held accountable for this. It is my fate to rectify their mistakes. And my fate was made by the citizens of this country. If we can now go to Kartarpur today - who should be credited for this? Your vote.

Recently, both India and Pakistan announced the construction of the Kartarpur Corridor to connect the Sikh holy shrine in Pakistan to India On November 26, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu had laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Corridor at Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan last week held the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/big-hearted-friend-imran-kept-his-promise-sidhu-at-kartarpur-corridor-ceremony-in-pakistan-180010">groundbreaking ceremony</a> for the corridor, after his government reciprocated India's efforts to open the corridor.

The much-awaited corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur - the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev - with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district.

The corridor is expected to be ready before Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary next year.

Captain Amarinder Singh government in Punjab has already announced a slew of development projects to upgrade infrastructure and other facilities for the pilgrims expected to visit the area to mark the Guru Nanak's birth anniversary. The state government has already kicked off year-long celebrations on November 23.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today blasted the Congress for giving away Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur to Pakistan. "The lust for power led to Partition in 1947, the division was also on lines of religion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today blasted the Congress for giving away Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur to Pakistan. "The lust for power led to Partition in 1947, the division was also on lines of religion. Congress made these mistakes for the sake of power and their impatience led to this situation. And one of the results of this led to Kartarpur being given to Pakistan. The lack of vision and sensitivity on part of Congress led to this situation. Had they shown a little bit of prudence and maturity, a place just 3km from the border would not have gone to Pakistan," PM Modi said while addressing a rally in Hanumangarh, in poll-bound Rajasthan. Then Congress leaders had no idea about importance of Guru Nanak Dev, therefore Kartarpur is in Pakistan today, the prime minister added. He also said, "Even after 70 years, they (Congress) still ignored this. What they ignored for 70 years, we did it in our term and now every pilgrim will be able to visit the gurudwara. Congress should be as asked and be held accountable for this. It is my fate to rectify their mistakes. And my fate was made by the citizens of this country. If we can now go to Kartarpur today - who should be credited for this? Your vote. Recently, both India and Pakistan announced the construction of the Kartarpur Corridor to connect the Sikh holy shrine in Pakistan to India On November 26, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu had laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Corridor at Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan last week held the groundbreaking ceremony for the corridor, after his government reciprocated India's efforts to open the corridor. The much-awaited corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur - the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev - with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district. The corridor is expected to be ready before Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary next year. Captain Amarinder Singh government in Punjab has already announced a slew of development projects to upgrade infrastructure and other facilities for the pilgrims expected to visit the area to mark the Guru Nanak's birth anniversary. The state government has already kicked off year-long celebrations on November 23.

Kartarpur went to Pakistan due to lack of vision of Congress leaders: PM Modi

With campaigning for the assembly election in Rajasthan at its peak, the skies over the desert state appears virtually owned by choppers ferrying political leaders.

Not only the BJP and the Congress but also regional parties such as Hanuman Beniwal's Rastriya Loktantrik Party and Ghanshyam Tiwari's Bharat Vahini are making use of choppers to cover maximum areas in the last days of campaigning.

"On an average, five to seven helicopters are taking off from Sanganer airport in Jaipur for political rallies daily. We submit report of helicopter movement to the election commission," the airport's director, J S Balhara, said.

Besides Jaipur, helipads and airstrips across Rajasthan are busy with movements of political leaders. According to the aviation department, the state has 32 airports and airstrips and over 40 permanent helipads.

"We have hired helicopters so that we can cover maximum number of constituencies before the polling," state Congress chief Sachin Pilot, who is contesting the election from Tonk, said.

Jat leader and independent legislator Beniwal said people get excited on seeing choppers.

"People in large numbers are attending my rallies. To cover areas where our candidates are contesting, I need the helicopter so that I can reach out to maximum people and this is delivering positive results," he said.

Beniwal, who has fielded candidates on 57 seats, has addressed more than a dozen rallies in Jaipur, Ajmer, Alwar, Bharatpur, Barmer, Ajmer, Bhilwara and Nagaur districts.

"The number of people coming to my rallies is higher than the chief minister's," he claimed.

Vibhuti Singh Deora, owner of Go Fly Zone private airfield near Jaipur, said both twin and single engine helicopters with different seating capacities are being hired ahead of the December 7 election. He said he has leased out three of them.

Deora said chartering a helicopter costs Rs 80,000 to 2.5 lakh per hour depending on the chopper hired. "Elections are the peak season for the business. Twin-engine helicopters are preferred for VIP flying, while single-engine helicopters are used by other leaders," he added.

Among the choppers being used are Agusta AW109, Bell 407 and Robison R66.

Senior political leaders, including BSP chief Mayawati, BJP president Amit Shah, Congress's Ashok Gehlot, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Home Minister Rajnath Singh are among the top political leaders flying for campaigning.

Rajasthan will vote for 199 seats of the 200-member Assembly on December 7 and results will be declared on December 11.

With campaigning for the assembly election in Rajasthan at its peak, the skies over the desert state appears virtually owned by choppers ferrying political leaders.

With campaigning for the assembly election in Rajasthan at its peak, the skies over the desert state appears virtually owned by choppers ferrying political leaders. Not only the BJP and the Congress but also regional parties such as Hanuman Beniwal's Rastriya Loktantrik Party and Ghanshyam Tiwari's Bharat Vahini are making use of choppers to cover maximum areas in the last days of campaigning. "On an average, five to seven helicopters are taking off from Sanganer airport in Jaipur for political rallies daily. We submit report of helicopter movement to the election commission," the airport's director, J S Balhara, said. Besides Jaipur, helipads and airstrips across Rajasthan are busy with movements of political leaders. According to the aviation department, the state has 32 airports and airstrips and over 40 permanent helipads. "We have hired helicopters so that we can cover maximum number of constituencies before the polling," state Congress chief Sachin Pilot, who is contesting the election from Tonk, said. Jat leader and independent legislator Beniwal said people get excited on seeing choppers. "People in large numbers are attending my rallies. To cover areas where our candidates are contesting, I need the helicopter so that I can reach out to maximum people and this is delivering positive results," he said. Beniwal, who has fielded candidates on 57 seats, has addressed more than a dozen rallies in Jaipur, Ajmer, Alwar, Bharatpur, Barmer, Ajmer, Bhilwara and Nagaur districts. "The number of people coming to my rallies is higher than the chief minister's," he claimed. Vibhuti Singh Deora, owner of Go Fly Zone private airfield near Jaipur, said both twin and single engine helicopters with different seating capacities are being hired ahead of the December 7 election. He said he has leased out three of them. Deora said chartering a helicopter costs Rs 80,000 to 2.5 lakh per hour depending on the chopper hired. "Elections are the peak season for the business. Twin-engine helicopters are preferred for VIP flying, while single-engine helicopters are used by other leaders," he added. Among the choppers being used are Agusta AW109, Bell 407 and Robison R66. Senior political leaders, including BSP chief Mayawati, BJP president Amit Shah, Congress's Ashok Gehlot, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Home Minister Rajnath Singh are among the top political leaders flying for campaigning. Rajasthan will vote for 199 seats of the 200-member Assembly on December 7 and results will be declared on December 11.

As campaigning peaks, choppers a favourite among political heavyweights in Rajasthan

Mounting a blistering attack on Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the prime minister and the BJP of posing a threat to the country, claiming that they "spread hatred and anger".

Reacting to Gandhi's remark, BJP spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member GVL Narasimha Rao said, "It is the Congress that has resorted to caste and communal politics. The BJP has spoken on issues of development and people's welfare. The Congress, in its desperation to come back to the electoral race, has been appealing to caste and communal considerations."

Addressing rallies in poll-bound Telangana, Gandhi also lambasted caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, calling him "Khao Commission Rao" for alleged corruption and accusing his Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) of being the "B team" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"Wherever I go, I speak against Narendra Modi, because I know there is a threat to the country from Modi and the BJP. They spread hatred and anger," he said at a rally in Tandur.

The Congress, he asserted, would stand up to it, continue to fight against it and never compromise.

"...In 2019 (Lok Sabha polls), we will see to it that the BJP is defeated and Modi is removed," Gandhi said.

Hitting out at Rao, who is popularly called KCR, he asked the TRS chief why he supported the BJP and wanted to become the "B team" of the saffron party.

"You (KCR) have done so much of corruption that your name is changed. Today, your name KCR stands for 'Khao Commission Rao'.

"Because of this, Modi ran Telangana through a remote control. The fact is that due to your (KCR) corruption, you are not able to stand up to Modi," Gandhi alleged. 
Rao feared Modi as he indulged in corruption, Gandhi claimed, speaking at a rally in Hyderabad in the evening.

"I will tell you the reason. You listen to the speeches of KCRji. In the last five years, (he) did not hurt Narendra Modi, supported him in the Lok Sabha...KCR has indulged in corruption. Modiji has the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate. Because of corruption, KCRji fears Modi," he said.

Telangana's "remote control" was in the hands of Modi, he added.

The Congress chief said in every speech, the prime minister attacked him, made fun of him, talked about his family, but never criticised KCR, adding that the real name of KCR's party (TRS) was "T-RSS".

The TRS and the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) were actually the "B" and "C" teams of the BJP, he alleged.

Modi and the TRS had struck a "partnership" to ensure the continuation of the BJP and TRS rule at the Centre and in the state respectively, Gandhi said.

"In this election, we will break this partnership. We will defeat the TRS and the AIMIM...We will ensure the defeat of the TRS in Telangana and Modi's BJP in Delhi (in the 2019 Lok Sabha election)," he said at his first rally of the day in Gadwal.

Gandhi also accused KCR of redesigning the Rs 10,000-crore Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme into a Rs 60,000-crore project to benefit his friends and family, adding that the people of the state did not get water.

"Thousands of crores of rupees went to his contractor friends and his family," he alleged.

"KCR has been redesigning one project after another in the last five years and the people have given him a new name...Every child knows his new name. It is Khao Commission Rao," the Congress chief said.

When the state was formed five years ago, people had a dream of a new Telangana and a brighter future - of "neelu" (water), "nidhulu" (funds) and "niyamakalu" (appointments) and of a "Bangaru Telangana" (Golden Telangana) - he said.

"KCR became the chief minister and only one family ruled the state...Your dreams were shattered. KCR betrayed you on (the promise of) water," he said, adding that under the TRS rule, the dream of a "Golden Telangana" had led to a "golden kutumbam" (golden family).

The Congress is contesting the Telangana Assembly polls, leading a four-party People's Front, while the TRS and the BJP are going it alone.

The 119-member Telangana Assembly will go to polls on December 7 and the results will be announced on December 11.

Mounting a blistering attack on Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the prime minister and the BJP of posing a threat to the country, claiming that they "spread hatred and anger".

Mounting a blistering attack on Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the prime minister and the BJP of posing a threat to the country, claiming that they "spread hatred and anger". Reacting to Gandhi's remark, BJP spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member GVL Narasimha Rao said, "It is the Congress that has resorted to caste and communal politics. The BJP has spoken on issues of development and people's welfare. The Congress, in its desperation to come back to the electoral race, has been appealing to caste and communal considerations." Addressing rallies in poll-bound Telangana, Gandhi also lambasted caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, calling him "Khao Commission Rao" for alleged corruption and accusing his Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) of being the "B team" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "Wherever I go, I speak against Narendra Modi, because I know there is a threat to the country from Modi and the BJP. They spread hatred and anger," he said at a rally in Tandur. The Congress, he asserted, would stand up to it, continue to fight against it and never compromise. "...In 2019 (Lok Sabha polls), we will see to it that the BJP is defeated and Modi is removed," Gandhi said. Hitting out at Rao, who is popularly called KCR, he asked the TRS chief why he supported the BJP and wanted to become the "B team" of the saffron party. "You (KCR) have done so much of corruption that your name is changed. Today, your name KCR stands for 'Khao Commission Rao'. "Because of this, Modi ran Telangana through a remote control. The fact is that due to your (KCR) corruption, you are not able to stand up to Modi," Gandhi alleged. Rao feared Modi as he indulged in corruption, Gandhi claimed, speaking at a rally in Hyderabad in the evening. "I will tell you the reason. You listen to the speeches of KCRji. In the last five years, (he) did not hurt Narendra Modi, supported him in the Lok Sabha...KCR has indulged in corruption. Modiji has the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate. Because of corruption, KCRji fears Modi," he said. Telangana's "remote control" was in the hands of Modi, he added. The Congress chief said in every speech, the prime minister attacked him, made fun of him, talked about his family, but never criticised KCR, adding that the real name of KCR's party (TRS) was "T-RSS". The TRS and the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) were actually the "B" and "C" teams of the BJP, he alleged. Modi and the TRS had struck a "partnership" to ensure the continuation of the BJP and TRS rule at the Centre and in the state respectively, Gandhi said. "In this election, we will break this partnership. We will defeat the TRS and the AIMIM...We will ensure the defeat of the TRS in Telangana and Modi's BJP in Delhi (in the 2019 Lok Sabha election)," he said at his first rally of the day in Gadwal. Gandhi also accused KCR of redesigning the Rs 10,000-crore Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme into a Rs 60,000-crore project to benefit his friends and family, adding that the people of the state did not get water. "Thousands of crores of rupees went to his contractor friends and his family," he alleged. "KCR has been redesigning one project after another in the last five years and the people have given him a new name...Every child knows his new name. It is Khao Commission Rao," the Congress chief said. When the state was formed five years ago, people had a dream of a new Telangana and a brighter future - of "neelu" (water), "nidhulu" (funds) and "niyamakalu" (appointments) and of a "Bangaru Telangana" (Golden Telangana) - he said. "KCR became the chief minister and only one family ruled the state...Your dreams were shattered. KCR betrayed you on (the promise of) water," he said, adding that under the TRS rule, the dream of a "Golden Telangana" had led to a "golden kutumbam" (golden family). The Congress is contesting the Telangana Assembly polls, leading a four-party People's Front, while the TRS and the BJP are going it alone. The 119-member Telangana Assembly will go to polls on December 7 and the results will be announced on December 11.

Modi, BJP posing threat to country, Rahul alleges in poll-bound Telangana

Blaming the previous Congress rules for bank defaults, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday alleged the defaulters used to carry the party's name as "taveej" (amulet) as a shield but his government has acted strongly against such people and even "big crorepatis" have been forced to pay up.

Modi alleged that banks were "looted" by "naamdaar" who used to make telephone calls to the lenders to sanction loans.

Addressing an election rally here, he said those shedding "crocodile tears" for farmers should come to Rajasthan "to see" whether lands of farmers were purchased at a throw away price or not by people allegedly close to the Congress party in Delhi.

"Had the farmers known about the future and potential of solar power park, would they have sold their lands," the prime minister said.

Talking about the 'amulet', Modi said it saved people who looted government money.

"Main aapko samjhana chahta hun. Unhone Congress ke naam ka taveej bana rakha tha. Jo log galat kaam karte hai, bura kaam karte hai, sarkaari khajaane se lootte hai, bankon se paise maar lete hai, unkon kuch karne ki jarurat nahin thi. Congress ka taveej bandhon to unkon ek raksha kawach mil jaata tha (I want to make you (people) understand. They had made an 'amulet' in the name of Congress, which saved the people doing wrong deeds, looted government funds, take huge bank loans. They had to do nothing but to tie Congress amulet which acted as a shield.)," he said.

The prime minister said the credit given to people by banks between 2006 and 2014, when Congress was in power at the Centre, was more than the money given to people since Independence.

"Telephone karke bankon ko loota gaya. Naamdaar ke phone jaate the aur bank se paise diye jaate the. (Banks were looted by making phone calls. Banks used to lend money after calls from 'naamdaar'," Modi said.

The prime minister said the BJP government, which came to power in 2014, enacted a law to recover money from defaulters. He said his government made stringent laws such as the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, under which Rs 3 lakh crore were recovered from loan defaulters.

"We brought big crorepatis on roads and recovered money," he said.

The opposition parties have been accusing the government of being soft on big corporates and of doing nothing to recover unpaid loans.

Modi also targeted the Congress for allegedly spreading lies.

"Those travelling with a rose on their shirt had knowledge about parks but not farming. Those who are not able to differentiate between mustard and sesame are giving lessons. Had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been the first prime minister,farmers of the country would not have faced misery," Modi said.

He also talked about the Swaminathan Commission, saying the final volume of its report came in 2007 but UPA government did not act on its recommendations on the Minimum Support Price to farmers.

Citing contribution of the Bishnoi community, he said members of the community laid their lives to protect the environment and India received the accolade of 'Champions of Earth' due to their efforts.

Blaming the previous Congress rules for bank defaults, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday alleged the defaulters used to carry the party's name as "taveej" (amulet) as a shield but his government has acted strongly against such people and even "big crorepatis" have been forced to pay up.

Blaming the previous Congress rules for bank defaults, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday alleged the defaulters used to carry the party's name as "taveej" (amulet) as a shield but his government has acted strongly against such people and even "big crorepatis" have been forced to pay up. Modi alleged that banks were "looted" by "naamdaar" who used to make telephone calls to the lenders to sanction loans. Addressing an election rally here, he said those shedding "crocodile tears" for farmers should come to Rajasthan "to see" whether lands of farmers were purchased at a throw away price or not by people allegedly close to the Congress party in Delhi. "Had the farmers known about the future and potential of solar power park, would they have sold their lands," the prime minister said. Talking about the 'amulet', Modi said it saved people who looted government money. "Main aapko samjhana chahta hun. Unhone Congress ke naam ka taveej bana rakha tha. Jo log galat kaam karte hai, bura kaam karte hai, sarkaari khajaane se lootte hai, bankon se paise maar lete hai, unkon kuch karne ki jarurat nahin thi. Congress ka taveej bandhon to unkon ek raksha kawach mil jaata tha (I want to make you (people) understand. They had made an 'amulet' in the name of Congress, which saved the people doing wrong deeds, looted government funds, take huge bank loans. They had to do nothing but to tie Congress amulet which acted as a shield.)," he said. The prime minister said the credit given to people by banks between 2006 and 2014, when Congress was in power at the Centre, was more than the money given to people since Independence. "Telephone karke bankon ko loota gaya. Naamdaar ke phone jaate the aur bank se paise diye jaate the. (Banks were looted by making phone calls. Banks used to lend money after calls from 'naamdaar'," Modi said. The prime minister said the BJP government, which came to power in 2014, enacted a law to recover money from defaulters. He said his government made stringent laws such as the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, under which Rs 3 lakh crore were recovered from loan defaulters. "We brought big crorepatis on roads and recovered money," he said. The opposition parties have been accusing the government of being soft on big corporates and of doing nothing to recover unpaid loans. Modi also targeted the Congress for allegedly spreading lies. "Those travelling with a rose on their shirt had knowledge about parks but not farming. Those who are not able to differentiate between mustard and sesame are giving lessons. Had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been the first prime minister,farmers of the country would not have faced misery," Modi said. He also talked about the Swaminathan Commission, saying the final volume of its report came in 2007 but UPA government did not act on its recommendations on the Minimum Support Price to farmers. Citing contribution of the Bishnoi community, he said members of the community laid their lives to protect the environment and India received the accolade of 'Champions of Earth' due to their efforts.

Loan defaulters used to carry Congress amulet as shield against law: Modi in Rajasthan

Madhya Pradesh's top election officer has sought a report over a purported video in which Rewa District Collector is heard asking a security official posted outside a strongroom where EVMs are kept to "shoot" anyone who doesn't listen to him and tries to breach the safety ring.

The video, which has gone viral on social media, comes amid the opposition Congress raising doubts over the security arrangement of Electronic Voting Machines used in the November 28 election and kept in strongrooms across the state.

Asked about the controversial video featuring Rewa District Collector Preeti Maithil, Chief Electoral Officer V L Kantha Rao told reporters Monday, "We have sought a report in this regard. On receiving, this report would be forwarded to the Election Commission of India."

During elections, District Collectors function as returning officers in their respective districts and supervise the polling process.

The video appears to have been shot when Maithil was inspecting the security of strongrooms along with candidates.

In the video, Maithil is heard saying she has had a long career and would not spoil it for polls or over some petty issue.

"I will not put my career at stake... You trust him (turning to a security man moving with them)...Shoot if someone doesn't listen to you (and tries to breach the security of the strongroom)," she says in the clip.

In reply to another question, Rao said the candidates would be handed over the tabulation sheet after every round of counting, which will take place on December 11, to dispel any doubt related to vote count.

Madhya Pradesh's top election officer has sought a report over a purported video in which Rewa District Collector is heard asking a security official posted outside a strongroom where EVMs are kept to "shoot" anyone who doesn't listen to him and tries to breach the safety ring.

Madhya Pradesh's top election officer has sought a report over a purported video in which Rewa District Collector is heard asking a security official posted outside a strongroom where EVMs are kept to "shoot" anyone who doesn't listen to him and tries to breach the safety ring. The video, which has gone viral on social media, comes amid the opposition Congress raising doubts over the security arrangement of Electronic Voting Machines used in the November 28 election and kept in strongrooms across the state. Asked about the controversial video featuring Rewa District Collector Preeti Maithil, Chief Electoral Officer V L Kantha Rao told reporters Monday, "We have sought a report in this regard. On receiving, this report would be forwarded to the Election Commission of India." During elections, District Collectors function as returning officers in their respective districts and supervise the polling process. The video appears to have been shot when Maithil was inspecting the security of strongrooms along with candidates. In the video, Maithil is heard saying she has had a long career and would not spoil it for polls or over some petty issue. "I will not put my career at stake... You trust him (turning to a security man moving with them)...Shoot if someone doesn't listen to you (and tries to breach the security of the strongroom)," she says in the clip. In reply to another question, Rao said the candidates would be handed over the tabulation sheet after every round of counting, which will take place on December 11, to dispel any doubt related to vote count.

Rewa Collector's order to shoot EVM intruders: Madhya Pradesh CEO seeks report over video

Muslims and the “settlers” from the coastal and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh are likely to play a crucial role in the electoral fortunes of the candidates in 24 constituencies falling under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

In the 2014 Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had won nine seats, Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) seven, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) five and Telangana’s ruling party Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) had won three seats.

The TDP and the BJP were in an alliance in 2014. For the upcoming Telangana Assembly polls, the N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP has struck an electoral pact with the Congress.

In the December 7 election, all the nine MLAs of the TDP, who had left the party subsequently, are contesting on TRS tickets.

Naidu has been campaigning vigorously in the region for the candidates of the Congress-led “Praja Kutami” or the grand alliance, also comprising the TDP, the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and the Communist Party of India (CPI).

Naidu has also addressed poll meetings along with Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the GHMC areas, which have over 40 lakh voters.

The AIMIM, which counts the old city as its stronghold, has fielded eight candidates in the region and is supporting the TRS in the remaining seats.

The K Chandrasekhar Rao-led TRS has described the AIMIM as a “friendly party” and said it would have “friendly contests” in the seats where the Owaisi-led party has fielded its nominees.

AIMIM MLC Syed Aminul Hasan Jafri said Muslims constituted 12.7 per cent of Telangana’s population and in the 24 constituencies in the GHMC areas, it was 30 per cent.

“The Congress’s tie-up with the TDP, which was a BJP ally until recently, may not gel well with the Muslim voters. Not only that, since the beginning, not many members of the minority community have voted for the TDP.

“Constituencies like Rajendranagar, Maheswaram, Serilingampalli, Kukatpally, Kutbullapur, Malkajgiri, Uppal and LB Nagar have large numbers of minority voters who certainly have a say,” he told PTI.

Most of the constituencies located in the GHMC area have a large number of people from Andhra Pradesh, also called the “settlers”, accounting for about 20 per cent of the total votes.

The TDP, which is being projected by the TRS as an “Andhra party”, is contesting in some of the key constituencies in the area such as Serilingampalli, Kukatpally and Uppal.

Naidu’s party, which largely banks on the votes of the “settlers”, has fielded party founder NT Rama Rao’s granddaughter Nandamuri Suhasini from Kukatpally.

Political analyst and former MLC Nageswar said the “settlers” would certainly play a decisive role in the electoral outcome in these seats, but they might not vote en masse for any particular party, given the “diverse social structure”.

He pointed out that the TRS had won 100 seats in the GHMC polls largely due to the votes of the “settlers”.

“They (settlers) may not vote for the TRS now, unlike the way they had done in the GHMC polls. At the same time, they may also not vote for the TDP en masse. A particular community, which has got the backing of the TDP, may vote for it, but there are other influential communities which may desist it,” Nageswar said.

Telangana will go to polls on December 7 after Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had dissolved the 119-member Assembly in September and the results will be declared on December 11.

Muslims and the “settlers” from the coastal and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh are likely to play a crucial role in the electoral fortunes of the candidates in 24 constituencies falling under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

Muslims and the “settlers” from the coastal and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh are likely to play a crucial role in the electoral fortunes of the candidates in 24 constituencies falling under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). In the 2014 Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had won nine seats, Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) seven, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) five and Telangana’s ruling party Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) had won three seats. The TDP and the BJP were in an alliance in 2014. For the upcoming Telangana Assembly polls, the N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP has struck an electoral pact with the Congress. In the December 7 election, all the nine MLAs of the TDP, who had left the party subsequently, are contesting on TRS tickets. Naidu has been campaigning vigorously in the region for the candidates of the Congress-led “Praja Kutami” or the grand alliance, also comprising the TDP, the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and the Communist Party of India (CPI). Naidu has also addressed poll meetings along with Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the GHMC areas, which have over 40 lakh voters. The AIMIM, which counts the old city as its stronghold, has fielded eight candidates in the region and is supporting the TRS in the remaining seats. The K Chandrasekhar Rao-led TRS has described the AIMIM as a “friendly party” and said it would have “friendly contests” in the seats where the Owaisi-led party has fielded its nominees. AIMIM MLC Syed Aminul Hasan Jafri said Muslims constituted 12.7 per cent of Telangana’s population and in the 24 constituencies in the GHMC areas, it was 30 per cent. “The Congress’s tie-up with the TDP, which was a BJP ally until recently, may not gel well with the Muslim voters. Not only that, since the beginning, not many members of the minority community have voted for the TDP. “Constituencies like Rajendranagar, Maheswaram, Serilingampalli, Kukatpally, Kutbullapur, Malkajgiri, Uppal and LB Nagar have large numbers of minority voters who certainly have a say,” he told PTI. Most of the constituencies located in the GHMC area have a large number of people from Andhra Pradesh, also called the “settlers”, accounting for about 20 per cent of the total votes. The TDP, which is being projected by the TRS as an “Andhra party”, is contesting in some of the key constituencies in the area such as Serilingampalli, Kukatpally and Uppal. Naidu’s party, which largely banks on the votes of the “settlers”, has fielded party founder NT Rama Rao’s granddaughter Nandamuri Suhasini from Kukatpally. Political analyst and former MLC Nageswar said the “settlers” would certainly play a decisive role in the electoral outcome in these seats, but they might not vote en masse for any particular party, given the “diverse social structure”. He pointed out that the TRS had won 100 seats in the GHMC polls largely due to the votes of the “settlers”. “They (settlers) may not vote for the TRS now, unlike the way they had done in the GHMC polls. At the same time, they may also not vote for the TDP en masse. A particular community, which has got the backing of the TDP, may vote for it, but there are other influential communities which may desist it,” Nageswar said. Telangana will go to polls on December 7 after Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had dissolved the 119-member Assembly in September and the results will be declared on December 11.

Telangana elections: ‘Settlers’ and Muslims hold the aces in battle for Hyderabad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday latched onto Congress chief <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/assembly-elections-2018-its-a-tightrope-walk-for-congress-president-rahul-gandhi-180144">Rahul Gandhi</a>'s 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' barb at him, saying he would recite the slogan ten times in the presence of lakhs of people.&nbsp;

"Congress has a 'naamdar'. That naamdar issued a 'fatwa' today that Modiji should not start addressing election rallies with 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. And therefore, I, today in the presence of lakhs of people here, I crushed his fatwa and said Bharat Mata ki Jai ten times," he said at a rally in Sikar district of poll-bound Rajasthan.&nbsp;

"You (Gandhi) should be ashamed for this. Freedom fighters embraced death by saying Bharat Mata ki Jai. Our soldiers carry out surgical strikes and say Bharat Mata ki Jai. You are insulting Bharat Mata," he said.&nbsp;

Earlier in the day, Gandhi during a rally in Alwar district said the prime minister recites Bharat Mata ki Jai in all his election rallies but works for industrialist Anil Ambani.

"In every address, he says Bharat Mata Ki Jai and works for Anil Ambani. He should begin his address by saying 'Anil Ambani ki Jai', 'Mehul Choksi ki Jai', 'Nirav Modi ki Jai' and 'Lalit Modi ki Jai',? he said.&nbsp;

Modi also hit out at former chief minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-not-doing-issue-based-politics-gehlot-180949">Ashok Gehlot</a>'s reported remarks of "who knows who will become crorepati", saying it reflected the real intention of Congress party.

Gehlot made the remarks when media asked him who would be the chief minister if the party won.&nbsp;

Holding Congress responsible for all the problems prevailing in the country, the prime minister said people should not allow the party to enter Rajasthan for centuries.&nbsp;

He also said the Rahul Gandhi-led party gave tickets to family members of those lodged in jail in rape cases and women and girls should not give vote to Congress.&nbsp;

He was apparently referring to Mahipal Maderna, who was the minister in Gehlot cabinet, and former MLA Malkhan Bishnoi. They are facing trial in the notorious Bhanwari Devi abduction and murder case in Jodhpur.

The Congress has given ticket to Maderna's daughter Divya Maderna from Osian and Bishnoi's son Mahendra Bishnoi from Luni seat in Jodhpur in the upcoming state polls.&nbsp;

Cornering the opposition party on the issues of farmers, Modi said the UPA dispensation had promised loan waiver and returned to power in 2009 Lok sabha polls, but only Rs 58,000 crore out of the total loan amount of Rs 6 lakh crore was waived off.&nbsp;

Alleging that the Congress looted and destroyed banks, the PM said a loss-making steel company was given loan after a call by Naamdar and the money went to a fake company which existed only in papers, and that fake company purchased lands in Rajasthan and transferred them to a relative of Naamdar.&nbsp;

"The rates of the land increased seven times in just two years," he said.&nbsp;

The comments apparently hint at the land purchased by the company of Priyanka Gandhi's husband Robert Vadra in Bikaner.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/the-jaipur-electoral-fest-whose-script-will-triumph-181057">Rajasthan </a>goes to polls on December 7.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday latched onto Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' barb at him, saying he would recite the slogan ten times in the presence of lakhs of people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday latched onto Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' barb at him, saying he would recite the slogan ten times in the presence of lakhs of people. "Congress has a 'naamdar'. That naamdar issued a 'fatwa' today that Modiji should not start addressing election rallies with 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. And therefore, I, today in the presence of lakhs of people here, I crushed his fatwa and said Bharat Mata ki Jai ten times," he said at a rally in Sikar district of poll-bound Rajasthan. "You (Gandhi) should be ashamed for this. Freedom fighters embraced death by saying Bharat Mata ki Jai. Our soldiers carry out surgical strikes and say Bharat Mata ki Jai. You are insulting Bharat Mata," he said. Earlier in the day, Gandhi during a rally in Alwar district said the prime minister recites Bharat Mata ki Jai in all his election rallies but works for industrialist Anil Ambani. "In every address, he says Bharat Mata Ki Jai and works for Anil Ambani. He should begin his address by saying 'Anil Ambani ki Jai', 'Mehul Choksi ki Jai', 'Nirav Modi ki Jai' and 'Lalit Modi ki Jai',? he said. Modi also hit out at former chief minister Ashok Gehlot's reported remarks of "who knows who will become crorepati", saying it reflected the real intention of Congress party. Gehlot made the remarks when media asked him who would be the chief minister if the party won. Holding Congress responsible for all the problems prevailing in the country, the prime minister said people should not allow the party to enter Rajasthan for centuries. He also said the Rahul Gandhi-led party gave tickets to family members of those lodged in jail in rape cases and women and girls should not give vote to Congress. He was apparently referring to Mahipal Maderna, who was the minister in Gehlot cabinet, and former MLA Malkhan Bishnoi. They are facing trial in the notorious Bhanwari Devi abduction and murder case in Jodhpur. The Congress has given ticket to Maderna's daughter Divya Maderna from Osian and Bishnoi's son Mahendra Bishnoi from Luni seat in Jodhpur in the upcoming state polls. Cornering the opposition party on the issues of farmers, Modi said the UPA dispensation had promised loan waiver and returned to power in 2009 Lok sabha polls, but only Rs 58,000 crore out of the total loan amount of Rs 6 lakh crore was waived off. Alleging that the Congress looted and destroyed banks, the PM said a loss-making steel company was given loan after a call by Naamdar and the money went to a fake company which existed only in papers, and that fake company purchased lands in Rajasthan and transferred them to a relative of Naamdar. "The rates of the land increased seven times in just two years," he said. The comments apparently hint at the land purchased by the company of Priyanka Gandhi's husband Robert Vadra in Bikaner. Rajasthan goes to polls on December 7.

Will recite 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' 10 times: PM Modi hits back at Rahul Gandhi

Congress chief<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-kcr-diluted-tribal-rights-law-rahul-gandhi-180255"> Rahul Gandhi</a> Tuesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over employment opportunities, farm loan waiver, Rafale deal and demonetisation.&nbsp;

He hit out at Modi over his promise of providing employment to 2 crore youths during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

"Narendra Modi in his election speeches in 2014 had said he would give jobs to 2 crore youths. If you gave employment, why did four youths commit suicide in Alwar?" Gandhi said at a rally in Alwar district's Malakhera town.&nbsp;

Three friends died and another was injured after they allegedly jumped before a moving train in a suspected suicide pact in Alwar district last month. A primary probe revealed that they were depressed due to unemployment, police said.&nbsp;

The Congress leader said the prime minister says the slogan of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' in all his addresses but works for industrialist Anil Ambani.

"In every address, he (PM) says Bharat Mata Ki Jai and works for Anil Ambani. He should begin his address by saying 'Anil Ambani ki Jai', 'Mehul Choksi ki Jai', 'Nirav Modi ki Jai',?Lalit Modi ki Jai'," he said in poll-bound Rajasthan.&nbsp;

Referring to the term 'Bharat Mata', Gandhi said Bharat Mata was the "entire country, farmers, sentiments of crores of youths, women and labourers".

"If you talk about Bharat Mata, how can you forget about farmers?" he said, adding bad debt worth Rs 3.5 lakh crore was written off, but not a single rupee of farmers was waived off by the Modi government.

Exuding confidence of winning the upcoming state Assembly polls, the Gandhi scion said Congress will form the government and waive off farmers loan in ten days, and the chief minister will give 18 hours a day for providing employment to the youths.

Talking about Rafale deal, he said the prime minister would not speak about the matter because if he spoke, "someone from the public would say 'Chowkidar chor hai'".

Gandhi alleged the Modi government worked for top 15 industrialists of the country.&nbsp; 
The BJP has denied all these allegations.&nbsp;

Rajasthan Congress state unit president Sachin Pilot, former chief minister<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-not-doing-issue-based-politics-gehlot-180949"> Ashok Gehlot </a>and party candidates from all assembly constituencies of Alwar and other leaders were present in the meeting.

The state will go to polls on December 7.&nbsp;

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Tuesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over employment opportunities, farm loan waiver, Rafale deal and demonetisation. He hit out at Modi over his promise of providing employment to 2 crore youths during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Tuesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over employment opportunities, farm loan waiver, Rafale deal and demonetisation. He hit out at Modi over his promise of providing employment to 2 crore youths during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. "Narendra Modi in his election speeches in 2014 had said he would give jobs to 2 crore youths. If you gave employment, why did four youths commit suicide in Alwar?" Gandhi said at a rally in Alwar district's Malakhera town. Three friends died and another was injured after they allegedly jumped before a moving train in a suspected suicide pact in Alwar district last month. A primary probe revealed that they were depressed due to unemployment, police said. The Congress leader said the prime minister says the slogan of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' in all his addresses but works for industrialist Anil Ambani. "In every address, he (PM) says Bharat Mata Ki Jai and works for Anil Ambani. He should begin his address by saying 'Anil Ambani ki Jai', 'Mehul Choksi ki Jai', 'Nirav Modi ki Jai',?Lalit Modi ki Jai'," he said in poll-bound Rajasthan. Referring to the term 'Bharat Mata', Gandhi said Bharat Mata was the "entire country, farmers, sentiments of crores of youths, women and labourers". "If you talk about Bharat Mata, how can you forget about farmers?" he said, adding bad debt worth Rs 3.5 lakh crore was written off, but not a single rupee of farmers was waived off by the Modi government. Exuding confidence of winning the upcoming state Assembly polls, the Gandhi scion said Congress will form the government and waive off farmers loan in ten days, and the chief minister will give 18 hours a day for providing employment to the youths. Talking about Rafale deal, he said the prime minister would not speak about the matter because if he spoke, "someone from the public would say 'Chowkidar chor hai'". Gandhi alleged the Modi government worked for top 15 industrialists of the country. The BJP has denied all these allegations. Rajasthan Congress state unit president Sachin Pilot, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and party candidates from all assembly constituencies of Alwar and other leaders were present in the meeting. The state will go to polls on December 7.

If Modi gave jobs, why four youths committed suicide in Alwar: Rahul Gandhi in Rajasthan

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/abki-baar-200-paar-madhya-pradesh-cm-shivraj-singh-chouhan-confident-of-victory-in-assembly-polls-179927"> Shivraj Singh Chouhan </a>on Tuesday exuded confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would get a comfortable majority in the just-concluded Assembly elections in the state.

"We will get a good majority. It's not correct to say a number. I don't lie. You will see on (December) 11th (counting day). The BJP will get a comfortable majority," Chouhan, who is here to campaign for his party in the Telangana Assembly polls, said.

Some individuals might have faced anti-incumbency at some places, but not against the government, the chief minister said, asserting that there was no anti-incumbency.

On the concerns raised by the Congress over<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mp-congress-bsp-protestors-claim-evm-tampering-in-satna-180603"> electronic voting machines </a>in MP, Chouhan said, "The speciality of the Congress is that it starts searching for reasons for loss even before the defeat and prepares a prelude to it. The Election Commission is a constitutional body and we all have faith in it."

"Can it happen in today's age that EVMs changed and the power went off?" he asked.

When it was pointed out that the EC had itself said the electricity went off for two hours in a strongroom in Bhopal, Chouhan said the commission was responsible and it would look into it.

On the mob violence in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district in which a police officer was one of the two persons killed in the incident, Chouhan said the BJP was against violence and action would be taken as per the investigation.

Alleging that the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in Telangana had disappointed people on various fronts, Chouhan said BJP was the alternative. 
Describing the alliance among the Congress, the TDP, CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti for the Telangana polls as "opportunistic", he claimed that it was a failure".&nbsp;

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday exuded confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would get a comfortable majority in the just-concluded Assembly elections in the state.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday exuded confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would get a comfortable majority in the just-concluded Assembly elections in the state. "We will get a good majority. It's not correct to say a number. I don't lie. You will see on (December) 11th (counting day). The BJP will get a comfortable majority," Chouhan, who is here to campaign for his party in the Telangana Assembly polls, said. Some individuals might have faced anti-incumbency at some places, but not against the government, the chief minister said, asserting that there was no anti-incumbency. On the concerns raised by the Congress over electronic voting machines in MP, Chouhan said, "The speciality of the Congress is that it starts searching for reasons for loss even before the defeat and prepares a prelude to it. The Election Commission is a constitutional body and we all have faith in it." "Can it happen in today's age that EVMs changed and the power went off?" he asked. When it was pointed out that the EC had itself said the electricity went off for two hours in a strongroom in Bhopal, Chouhan said the commission was responsible and it would look into it. On the mob violence in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district in which a police officer was one of the two persons killed in the incident, Chouhan said the BJP was against violence and action would be taken as per the investigation. Alleging that the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in Telangana had disappointed people on various fronts, Chouhan said BJP was the alternative. Describing the alliance among the Congress, the TDP, CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti for the Telangana polls as "opportunistic", he claimed that it was a failure".

BJP will get comfortable majority in Madhya Pradesh: Shivraj Singh Chouhan