Haryana voted en masse for the BJP in the recent Lok Sabha election and gave Narendra Modi all 10 Lok Sabha seats. But that's just that. The BJP found itself unable to convert the widespread support for the Prime Minister into a mandate for its government led by Manohar Lal Khattar. This, despite the fact that the party managed to increase its vote share over its 2014 performance.

The BJP won 40 of the 90 constituencies in the Haryana Assembly, which means it is six seats short of the simple majority needed to form a government on its own. It scored 36.45 per cent of the votes, which was an increase of 3.25 percentage points over its 2014 performance of 33.2 per cent, which had give it 47 seats in the Assembly.

However, the sticking point that led most observers to expect a massive electoral sweep for the BJP in the 2019 Assembly election was the fact that the party had received a mind-boggling 58 per cent of the votes. This was an extremely steep increase from the 34.84 per cent the party had scored in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

However, this very real Modi wave doesn't seem to have translated to the Assembly elections for the BJP.

The Congress managed to hold on to its vote share in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and notched an increase of eight percentage points over its score in the 2014 Assembly elections. This gave the party victories in 31 seats, up from 15 seats in 2014.

But, if the BJP's vote share increased and the Congress's vote share increased, where did these votes come from? The likely answer to that is that they came from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), which crashed from an inelastic and steady vote share between 22 and 24 percentage points over the past few elections to a mere 2.45 per cent.

The Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), which broke away from the INLD in a family feud, seemed to be the biggest beneficiary of the INLD's decimation. The fledgeling party managed to score victories in 10 seats. The JJP's vote share was not presented separately by the Election Commission of India since it is not yet recognised. Whether the votes that abandoned the INLD vote shifted in totality to the JJP remains to be seen.

Simply put, this many not exactly have been a vote against the government of ML Khattar. It is just that vote bloc migrations as a result of the collapse of the INLD put in place a situation where the increases in vote share just didn't convert into seats for the BJP. Only one thing is certain, there was a massive Modi wave in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, and the Prime Minister's popularity need not necessarily translate to victories for the Chief Ministers he put in place over the past five years. 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-haryana-election-result-shows-pm-modi-s-popularity-does-not-automatically-assure-bjp-victory-2798544">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Haryana voted en masse for the BJP in the recent Lok Sabha election and gave Narendra Modi all 10 Lok Sabha seats. But that's just that. The BJP found itself unable to convert the widespread support for the Prime Minister into a mandate for its government led by Manohar Lal Khattar.

Haryana voted en masse for the BJP in the recent Lok Sabha election and gave Narendra Modi all 10 Lok Sabha seats. But that's just that. The BJP found itself unable to convert the widespread support for the Prime Minister into a mandate for its government led by Manohar Lal Khattar. This, despite the fact that the party managed to increase its vote share over its 2014 performance. The BJP won 40 of the 90 constituencies in the Haryana Assembly, which means it is six seats short of the simple majority needed to form a government on its own. It scored 36.45 per cent of the votes, which was an increase of 3.25 percentage points over its 2014 performance of 33.2 per cent, which had give it 47 seats in the Assembly. However, the sticking point that led most observers to expect a massive electoral sweep for the BJP in the 2019 Assembly election was the fact that the party had received a mind-boggling 58 per cent of the votes. This was an extremely steep increase from the 34.84 per cent the party had scored in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. However, this very real Modi wave doesn't seem to have translated to the Assembly elections for the BJP. The Congress managed to hold on to its vote share in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and notched an increase of eight percentage points over its score in the 2014 Assembly elections. This gave the party victories in 31 seats, up from 15 seats in 2014. But, if the BJP's vote share increased and the Congress's vote share increased, where did these votes come from? The likely answer to that is that they came from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), which crashed from an inelastic and steady vote share between 22 and 24 percentage points over the past few elections to a mere 2.45 per cent. The Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), which broke away from the INLD in a family feud, seemed to be the biggest beneficiary of the INLD's decimation. The fledgeling party managed to score victories in 10 seats. The JJP's vote share was not presented separately by the Election Commission of India since it is not yet recognised. Whether the votes that abandoned the INLD vote shifted in totality to the JJP remains to be seen. Simply put, this many not exactly have been a vote against the government of ML Khattar. It is just that vote bloc migrations as a result of the collapse of the INLD put in place a situation where the increases in vote share just didn't convert into seats for the BJP. Only one thing is certain, there was a massive Modi wave in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, and the Prime Minister's popularity need not necessarily translate to victories for the Chief Ministers he put in place over the past five years. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Haryana election result shows PM Modi's popularity does not automatically assure BJP victory

Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Wednesday said some people in the party are true "Congressi" and that they won't leave the party whatsoever.

"The kind of situation is prevailing in the nation and the kind of situation our party is in following the Lok Sabha elections... in these circumstances, some of us in Congress wont quit, we are an integral part of the Congress party (jee jaan se Congressi hain), he told reporters here.

"No matter what happens we won't leave the party. We aren't like those who got everything from the party and when the chips were down, things were difficult they left the party and walked away," he added.

Khurshid's remarks came after a controversy over his comments broke out wherein he reportedly termed Rahul Gandhi's resignation from the post of party president "walking away" following defeat.&nbsp;

Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Wednesday said some people in the party are true "Congressi" and that they won't leave the party whatsoever. "The kind of situation is prevailing in the nation and the kind of situation our party is in following the Lok Sabha elections.

Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Wednesday said some people in the party are true "Congressi" and that they won't leave the party whatsoever. "The kind of situation is prevailing in the nation and the kind of situation our party is in following the Lok Sabha elections... in these circumstances, some of us in Congress wont quit, we are an integral part of the Congress party (jee jaan se Congressi hain), he told reporters here. "No matter what happens we won't leave the party. We aren't like those who got everything from the party and when the chips were down, things were difficult they left the party and walked away," he added. Khurshid's remarks came after a controversy over his comments broke out wherein he reportedly termed Rahul Gandhi's resignation from the post of party president "walking away" following defeat.

Won't leave party, not like people who quit when chips are down: Salman Khurshid

West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee faced double blow when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) not only returned to power with a thumping majority in Lok Sabha elections, but also made inroads in the state by winning 18 seats out of 42 Lok Sabha seats.

This holds significance here because the BJP had won just two seats in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.&nbsp;

She ran from pillar to post to unite all like-minded parties against the BJP. Mamata had declared that TMC will lead in throwing out the NDA government from power and forming the new government at the Centre, and thus, BJP's spectacular performance was a huge setback to didi.

This is when poll strategist Prashant Kishor came to her rescue for her image makeover and to prepare the battlefield for 2021 Assembly elections. &nbsp;

Banerjee's recent campaign - 'Didi Ke Bolo' (Talk to didi) attracted over 10 lakh responses in 30 days. The campaign was launched for the aggrieved people to reach out to the state government with their grievances.&nbsp;

Another campaign was launched by the TMC to connect with the masses - 'Grame Chalo' wherein the party functionaries visit homes in villages to speak to common people.&nbsp;

The party also came out with a Twitter page - "Aamar Gorbo Mamata' (Mamata My Pride) where netizens were asked to share why they are proud of Mamata Banerjee and post appreciation for development work done by her government.

The campaigns have been devised by Prashant Kishor to help Mamata regain her grassroots connect in West Bengal and let people know that their chief minister is accessible and approachable.&nbsp;

TMC also wants to overhaul its image of being a party which indulges in minority appeasement. Mamata, accused of dividing people of the state on the religious lines to secure its vote bank, is trying to balance it out after the Lok Sabha election results.

Earlier, Prashant Kishor helped Narendra Modi become Gujarat chief minister for the third time in 2012. Following which, he was roped in by the BJP for 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

His campaigns for Nitish Kumar in 2015 Bihar Assembly elections, Amarinder Singh in 2017 Punjab Assembly elections and Jagan Mohan Reddy in 2019 generated positive results.

With the increased use of social media and a strategy to build a direct connect with the electorate, Mamata intends to prepare a firm ground to take on the BJP in 2021 Assembly elections.&nbsp;

An image makeover is need of the hour for Mamata Banerjee, who must appear more temperate and gentler to counter organised and ideology-driven BJP.&nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee faced double blow when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) not only returned to power with a thumping majority in Lok Sabha elections, but also made inroads in the state by winning 18 seats out of 42 Lok Sabha seats.

West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee faced double blow when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) not only returned to power with a thumping majority in Lok Sabha elections, but also made inroads in the state by winning 18 seats out of 42 Lok Sabha seats. This holds significance here because the BJP had won just two seats in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. She ran from pillar to post to unite all like-minded parties against the BJP. Mamata had declared that TMC will lead in throwing out the NDA government from power and forming the new government at the Centre, and thus, BJP's spectacular performance was a huge setback to didi. This is when poll strategist Prashant Kishor came to her rescue for her image makeover and to prepare the battlefield for 2021 Assembly elections. Banerjee's recent campaign - 'Didi Ke Bolo' (Talk to didi) attracted over 10 lakh responses in 30 days. The campaign was launched for the aggrieved people to reach out to the state government with their grievances. Another campaign was launched by the TMC to connect with the masses - 'Grame Chalo' wherein the party functionaries visit homes in villages to speak to common people. The party also came out with a Twitter page - "Aamar Gorbo Mamata' (Mamata My Pride) where netizens were asked to share why they are proud of Mamata Banerjee and post appreciation for development work done by her government. The campaigns have been devised by Prashant Kishor to help Mamata regain her grassroots connect in West Bengal and let people know that their chief minister is accessible and approachable. TMC also wants to overhaul its image of being a party which indulges in minority appeasement. Mamata, accused of dividing people of the state on the religious lines to secure its vote bank, is trying to balance it out after the Lok Sabha election results. Earlier, Prashant Kishor helped Narendra Modi become Gujarat chief minister for the third time in 2012. Following which, he was roped in by the BJP for 2014 Lok Sabha elections. His campaigns for Nitish Kumar in 2015 Bihar Assembly elections, Amarinder Singh in 2017 Punjab Assembly elections and Jagan Mohan Reddy in 2019 generated positive results. With the increased use of social media and a strategy to build a direct connect with the electorate, Mamata intends to prepare a firm ground to take on the BJP in 2021 Assembly elections. An image makeover is need of the hour for Mamata Banerjee, who must appear more temperate and gentler to counter organised and ideology-driven BJP. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Mamata Banerjee trying hard for image makeover

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bahrain-honours-pm-modi-with-king-hamad-order-of-the-renaissance-245393">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a>'s monthly radio broadcast "Mann Ki Baat" will be aired today at 11 am. This will be his third radio programme since he was re-elected for a second term in May.

The radio address can be heard live on All India Radio, DD National, DD News and DD Bharti.

In his first episode of "Mann Ki Baat" programme, after Lok Sabha elections, on June 30, Modi discussed various topics like emergency, water crisis and International Yoga Day. He had also urged people to inculcate a habit of reading books regularly.

He had said that he felt "empty" without addressing countrymen on the last Sunday of every month.

In the second episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' which was aired a week before the abrogation of Article 370, the Prime Minister had discussed Kashmir, saying that "those who spread hatred will never succeed in their nefarious plans".

He had also asserted that the power of development was stronger than the might of "bullets and bombs".

Modi had spoken in the last episode of the radio programme in February this year. He had expressed confidence of the BJP-led NDA's victory in the Lok Sabha elections and said that the programme will return after the polls.

The programme is broadcast on the last Sunday of the month and suggestions, stories and ideas are invited from people for it.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio broadcast "Mann Ki Baat" will be aired today at 11 am. This will be his third radio programme since he was re-elected for a second term in May.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio broadcast "Mann Ki Baat" will be aired today at 11 am. This will be his third radio programme since he was re-elected for a second term in May. The radio address can be heard live on All India Radio, DD National, DD News and DD Bharti. In his first episode of "Mann Ki Baat" programme, after Lok Sabha elections, on June 30, Modi discussed various topics like emergency, water crisis and International Yoga Day. He had also urged people to inculcate a habit of reading books regularly. He had said that he felt "empty" without addressing countrymen on the last Sunday of every month. In the second episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' which was aired a week before the abrogation of Article 370, the Prime Minister had discussed Kashmir, saying that "those who spread hatred will never succeed in their nefarious plans". He had also asserted that the power of development was stronger than the might of "bullets and bombs". Modi had spoken in the last episode of the radio programme in February this year. He had expressed confidence of the BJP-led NDA's victory in the Lok Sabha elections and said that the programme will return after the polls. The programme is broadcast on the last Sunday of the month and suggestions, stories and ideas are invited from people for it.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' to air today

On day two of 'Abhyas Varga', a training programme which is being organised by the BJP for all its parliamentarians, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-asks-party-mps-to-take-government-work-to-grassroots-240429">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> urged the lawmakers to focus on winning 2024 elections from now on.

"Be positive and don't let any negative thoughts hit you. Keep striving hard to win all that you've lost. Win over your opponents and focus on winning 2024 election from now on," Modi said.

Urging legislators to contribute towards nation-building, the Prime Minister said,&nbsp;"You should all work for nation-building. Along with focusing on your own health, you should also devote some time to take care of your family."

On day one of the exercise, the Prime Minister gave lessons to the newly-elected BJP MPs on how to become a successful public representative.

According to those who attended the training being held in the Parliament premises, Modi asked the MPs to remain connected with their well-wishers who had worked for their success in their respective constituencies.

The agenda of the two-day 'Abhyas Varga'&nbsp;training programme is a focused group discussion on 'Situation in West Bengal'&nbsp;and a session that imparts NaMo App training to parliamentarians among other things.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

On day two of 'Abhyas Varga', a training programme which is being organised by the BJP for all its parliamentarians, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the lawmakers to focus on winning 2024 elections from now on.

On day two of 'Abhyas Varga', a training programme which is being organised by the BJP for all its parliamentarians, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the lawmakers to focus on winning 2024 elections from now on. "Be positive and don't let any negative thoughts hit you. Keep striving hard to win all that you've lost. Win over your opponents and focus on winning 2024 election from now on," Modi said. Urging legislators to contribute towards nation-building, the Prime Minister said, "You should all work for nation-building. Along with focusing on your own health, you should also devote some time to take care of your family." On day one of the exercise, the Prime Minister gave lessons to the newly-elected BJP MPs on how to become a successful public representative. According to those who attended the training being held in the Parliament premises, Modi asked the MPs to remain connected with their well-wishers who had worked for their success in their respective constituencies. The agenda of the two-day 'Abhyas Varga' training programme is a focused group discussion on 'Situation in West Bengal' and a session that imparts NaMo App training to parliamentarians among other things.

'Focus on winning 2024 election now,' PM Modi tells MPs

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supremo Raj Thackeray on Wednesday meet West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee in a bid to discuss electoral reforms and the current political situation in the country.

Thackeray arrived&nbsp;in Kolkata on Tuesday.

According to reports, Thackeray had called up Mamata Banerjee and expressed his desire to meet her and discuss the issue.&nbsp;

Opposition parties had accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of winning the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by tampering EVM machines. 
 
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had rejected opposition's accusation, saying that EVMs are tamper-proof and can't be hacked. 
 
Mamata Banerjee was one of the earliest interlocutors of the united opposition, wherein all like-minded anti-BJP parties had come under one umbrella to take on the saffron party in the Lok Sabha polls.

In June, Mamata had asked all the Opposition parties to come together and demand the return of ballot papers. "I ask all the 23 political parties in the opposition to come together and demand the return of ballot papers. We must raise our voices. Even a country like the US has banned EVMs," Banerjee said.&nbsp;

BJP returned to power with a thumping majority securing 303 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supremo Raj Thackeray on Wednesday meet West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee in a bid to discuss electoral reforms and the current political situation in the country.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supremo Raj Thackeray on Wednesday meet West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee in a bid to discuss electoral reforms and the current political situation in the country. Thackeray arrived in Kolkata on Tuesday. According to reports, Thackeray had called up Mamata Banerjee and expressed his desire to meet her and discuss the issue. Opposition parties had accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of winning the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by tampering EVM machines. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had rejected opposition's accusation, saying that EVMs are tamper-proof and can't be hacked. Mamata Banerjee was one of the earliest interlocutors of the united opposition, wherein all like-minded anti-BJP parties had come under one umbrella to take on the saffron party in the Lok Sabha polls. In June, Mamata had asked all the Opposition parties to come together and demand the return of ballot papers. "I ask all the 23 political parties in the opposition to come together and demand the return of ballot papers. We must raise our voices. Even a country like the US has banned EVMs," Banerjee said. BJP returned to power with a thumping majority securing 303 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. (With inputs from agencies)

Raj Thackeray to meet Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday, discuss electoral reforms

The Congress on Saturday said the resignation of Milind Deora as Mumbai Congress president has not been accepted.

The party on Friday appointed Eknath Gaikwad, a two-time Lok Sabha MP, as the working president of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC).

"We have appointed a working president for Mumbai (Eknath Gaikwad). He and Milind Deora ji will work together. There was a confusion ever since Milind Deora ji submitted his resignation. His resignation has not been accepted," Congress' Maharashtra in-charge Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters here.

Gaikwad is a three-time MLA from Dharavi Assembly seat and has been an MP from Mumbai North Central and Mumbai South Central parliamentary constituencies.

The appointment of Gaikwad has come as the party is planning to begin its preparations for the state Assembly elections which are due later this year in Maharashtra.

Sources in MRCC had said that with the decision on Deora's resignation from the top leadership still not being accepted, he is likely to lead the party in the elections in the city.

On July 7, Deora had submitted his resignation after the Congress put up a poor show in the Lok Sabha elections.&nbsp;

The Congress on Saturday said the resignation of Milind Deora as Mumbai Congress president has not been accepted. The party on Friday appointed Eknath Gaikwad, a two-time Lok Sabha MP, as the working president of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC).

The Congress on Saturday said the resignation of Milind Deora as Mumbai Congress president has not been accepted. The party on Friday appointed Eknath Gaikwad, a two-time Lok Sabha MP, as the working president of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC). "We have appointed a working president for Mumbai (Eknath Gaikwad). He and Milind Deora ji will work together. There was a confusion ever since Milind Deora ji submitted his resignation. His resignation has not been accepted," Congress' Maharashtra in-charge Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters here. Gaikwad is a three-time MLA from Dharavi Assembly seat and has been an MP from Mumbai North Central and Mumbai South Central parliamentary constituencies. The appointment of Gaikwad has come as the party is planning to begin its preparations for the state Assembly elections which are due later this year in Maharashtra. Sources in MRCC had said that with the decision on Deora's resignation from the top leadership still not being accepted, he is likely to lead the party in the elections in the city. On July 7, Deora had submitted his resignation after the Congress put up a poor show in the Lok Sabha elections.

Milind Deora's resignation not yet accepted:  Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who recently stepped down as the party president, visited Amethi on Wednesday and met the party workers.

"I very happy after coming to Amethi. It feels like coming home," he tweeted in Hindi soon after reaching his erstwhile Lok Sabha constituency. 
&nbsp;

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अमेठी आकर बहुत खुश हूँ। अमेठी आना घर आने जैसा लगता है। <a href="https://t.co/B6YW2f7aLg">pic.twitter.com/B6YW2f7aLg</a>
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1148896960339795968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
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He chaired a review meeting attended by party workers and office-bearers to access the reason behind Congress's debacle in Lok Sabha elections. He asked them&nbsp;to remain prepared for a long battle to resurrect the Congress.

&nbsp;"Some mistakes have been made by you people also," he told the party workers.

This was&nbsp;his first visit to Amethi after Congress's debacle in just-concluded Lok Sabha elections.&nbsp;

Rahul had lost Amethi seat to BJP leader Smriti Irani in the Lok Sabha elections. Rahul held the seat for the last 15 years.&nbsp;

On July 3, Rahul Gandhi had made his resignation letter public. "It is an honour for me to serve the Congress Party, whose values and ideals have served as the lifeblood of our beautiful nation. I owe the country and my organisation a debt of tremendous gratitude and love, " he had tweeted. 
&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
It is an honour for me to serve the Congress Party, whose values and ideals have served as the lifeblood of our beautiful nation. 
 
I owe the country and my organisation a debt of tremendous gratitude and love. 
 
Jai Hind 🇮🇳 <a href="https://t.co/WWGYt5YG4V">pic.twitter.com/WWGYt5YG4V</a>
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1146359704815194112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Rahul Gandhi had first offered to step down on May 25 at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee after party's debacle in the Lok Sabha elections.

However, his offer of resignation was unanimously rejected by the CWC.

The Congress won 52 seats in the recent general elections, which is just eight more than 2014 in the outgoing Lok Sabha.&nbsp;

 
(With inputs from agencies)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who recently stepped down as the party president, visited Amethi on Wednesday and met the party workers. "I very happy after coming to Amethi.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who recently stepped down as the party president, visited Amethi on Wednesday and met the party workers. "I very happy after coming to Amethi. It feels like coming home," he tweeted in Hindi soon after reaching his erstwhile Lok Sabha constituency. अमेठी आकर बहुत खुश हूँ। अमेठी आना घर आने जैसा लगता है। pic.twitter.com/B6YW2f7aLg — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 10, 2019 × He chaired a review meeting attended by party workers and office-bearers to access the reason behind Congress's debacle in Lok Sabha elections. He asked them to remain prepared for a long battle to resurrect the Congress. "Some mistakes have been made by you people also," he told the party workers. This was his first visit to Amethi after Congress's debacle in just-concluded Lok Sabha elections. Rahul had lost Amethi seat to BJP leader Smriti Irani in the Lok Sabha elections. Rahul held the seat for the last 15 years. On July 3, Rahul Gandhi had made his resignation letter public. "It is an honour for me to serve the Congress Party, whose values and ideals have served as the lifeblood of our beautiful nation. I owe the country and my organisation a debt of tremendous gratitude and love, " he had tweeted. It is an honour for me to serve the Congress Party, whose values and ideals have served as the lifeblood of our beautiful nation. I owe the country and my organisation a debt of tremendous gratitude and love. Jai Hind 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/WWGYt5YG4V — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 3, 2019 × Rahul Gandhi had first offered to step down on May 25 at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee after party's debacle in the Lok Sabha elections. However, his offer of resignation was unanimously rejected by the CWC. The Congress won 52 seats in the recent general elections, which is just eight more than 2014 in the outgoing Lok Sabha. (With inputs from agencies)

'It feels like coming home,' says Rahul Gandhi on his first visit to Amethi after Lok Sabha elections

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who recently stepped down as the party president, will visit Amethi on Wednesday and hold meetings with party workers.

This will be his first visit to Amethi after Congress's debacle in just-concluded Lok Sabha elections. He will also take feedback from Congress workers to assess the reason behind his party's humiliating defeat.

Rahul had lost Amethi seat to BJP leader Smriti Irani in the Lok Sabha elections. Rahul held the seat for the last 15 years.&nbsp;

The Gandhi scion has made his resignation letter public last week. "It is an honour for me to serve the Congress Party, whose values and ideals have served as the lifeblood of our beautiful nation. I owe the country and my organisation a debt of tremendous gratitude and love, " he had tweeted. 
&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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It is an honour for me to serve the Congress Party, whose values and ideals have served as the lifeblood of our beautiful nation. 
 
I owe the country and my organisation a debt of tremendous gratitude and love. 
 
Jai Hind 🇮🇳 <a href="https://t.co/WWGYt5YG4V">pic.twitter.com/WWGYt5YG4V</a>
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1146359704815194112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Rahul Gandhi had also said that his party should elect a new Congress president without any further delay.&nbsp;

"Party should decide on the new president quickly without further delay, I'm nowhere in this process. I have already submitted my resignation and I am no longer the party president. CWC should convene a meeting at the earliest and decide," he said.

 
Rahul Gandhi had offered to step down on May 25 at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee after party's debacle in the Lok Sabha elections. However, his offer of resignation was unanimously rejected by the CWC.

Despite senior members making serious attempts to convince Rahul Gandhi to reconsider his decision to quit as the party chief, he remained unfazed.

The Congress won 52 seats in the recent general elections, which is just eight more than 2014 in the outgoing Lok Sabha.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who recently stepped down as the party president, will visit Amethi on Wednesday and hold meetings with party workers. This will be his first visit to Amethi after Congress's debacle in just-concluded Lok Sabha elections.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who recently stepped down as the party president, will visit Amethi on Wednesday and hold meetings with party workers. This will be his first visit to Amethi after Congress's debacle in just-concluded Lok Sabha elections. He will also take feedback from Congress workers to assess the reason behind his party's humiliating defeat. Rahul had lost Amethi seat to BJP leader Smriti Irani in the Lok Sabha elections. Rahul held the seat for the last 15 years. The Gandhi scion has made his resignation letter public last week. "It is an honour for me to serve the Congress Party, whose values and ideals have served as the lifeblood of our beautiful nation. I owe the country and my organisation a debt of tremendous gratitude and love, " he had tweeted. It is an honour for me to serve the Congress Party, whose values and ideals have served as the lifeblood of our beautiful nation. I owe the country and my organisation a debt of tremendous gratitude and love. Jai Hind 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/WWGYt5YG4V — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 3, 2019 × Rahul Gandhi had also said that his party should elect a new Congress president without any further delay. "Party should decide on the new president quickly without further delay, I'm nowhere in this process. I have already submitted my resignation and I am no longer the party president. CWC should convene a meeting at the earliest and decide," he said. Rahul Gandhi had offered to step down on May 25 at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee after party's debacle in the Lok Sabha elections. However, his offer of resignation was unanimously rejected by the CWC. Despite senior members making serious attempts to convince Rahul Gandhi to reconsider his decision to quit as the party chief, he remained unfazed. The Congress won 52 seats in the recent general elections, which is just eight more than 2014 in the outgoing Lok Sabha. (With inputs from agencies)

Rahul Gandhi to visit Amethi for first time after Congress's debacle in Lok Sabha elections

The Supreme Court on Friday turned down a public interest litigation (PIL) which questioned the use of electronic voting machines (EVM) in Lok Sabha elections 2019.

The PIL filed by advocate Manohar Lal Sharma also sought cancellation of elections.

A Bench headed by Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman heard the PIL ."What are you asking for Mr Sharma? You want us to set aside the entire Lok Sabha elections?" said Justice Nariman refusing to interfere with the petition, terming it "devoid of merits".

In his petition, Sharma, citing provisions under 61 A of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951, contended that the Election Commission should not have replaced ballot papers with EVMs since the RPA specifically mentions ballot paper.

The apex court had earlier declined an urgent hearing to his plea on June 17.&nbsp;

The opposition has alleged irregularities in the working of electronic voting machine (EVM) during the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. However, maintaining that no substance was found in past complaints regarding the EVM, the Election Commission has asserted that they are tamper-proof and cannot be hacked.

In May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed concern over the "needless controversy" created by the Opposition over EVMs. 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
 
 
&nbsp;

The Supreme Court on Friday turned down a public interest litigation (PIL) which questioned the use of electronic voting machines (EVM) in Lok Sabha elections 2019.

The Supreme Court on Friday turned down a public interest litigation (PIL) which questioned the use of electronic voting machines (EVM) in Lok Sabha elections 2019. The PIL filed by advocate Manohar Lal Sharma also sought cancellation of elections. A Bench headed by Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman heard the PIL ."What are you asking for Mr Sharma? You want us to set aside the entire Lok Sabha elections?" said Justice Nariman refusing to interfere with the petition, terming it "devoid of merits". In his petition, Sharma, citing provisions under 61 A of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951, contended that the Election Commission should not have replaced ballot papers with EVMs since the RPA specifically mentions ballot paper. The apex court had earlier declined an urgent hearing to his plea on June 17. The opposition has alleged irregularities in the working of electronic voting machine (EVM) during the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. However, maintaining that no substance was found in past complaints regarding the EVM, the Election Commission has asserted that they are tamper-proof and cannot be hacked. In May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed concern over the "needless controversy" created by the Opposition over EVMs. (With inputs from agencies)

Supreme Court refuses to entertain PIL seeking cancellation of Lok Sabha elections 2019

Congress workers in Kanpur are set to go on a hunger strike on Saturday to urge party president Rahul Gandhi to not resign from the post.

"The local Congress unit will undertake 'sadbhavan anshan' on June 29 at 11 am to press upon <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/resignations-pour-in-in-support-of-rahul-gandhi-pressure-on-senior-congress-leaders-to-resign-231254">Rahul Gandhi to take back his decision</a> to resign from the post of Congress chief," a press note by Congress committee in Kanpur said.

Meanwhile, a flurry of resignations has emerged within the Congress after Gandhi said he will not reconsider resigning from his post after facing a humiliating defeat in the general elections.

As many as 145 office bearers tendered a mass resignation earlier in the day during a meeting conducted in the Congress office and set an example for the senior members of the party to follow the suit of taking the moral responsibility behind dismal performance in the 17th Lok Sabha elections.

Gandhi, who became the party president in 2017, offered to step down from his post at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on May 25, taking moral responsibility for Congress' dismal performance in the 17th general elections.

However, his offer of resignation offer was unanimously rejected by the CWC.

So far, several top leaders have met Gandhi and urged him to continue to lead the party.

Despite senior members making serious attempts to convince the 49-year-old party chief to rethink his decision, he remains unfazed.

The Congress won 52 seats in the recent general elections, which is just eight more than 2014 in the outgoing Lok Sabha.

&nbsp;

Congress workers in Kanpur are set to go on a hunger strike on Saturday to urge party president Rahul Gandhi to not resign from the post. "The local Congress unit will undertake 'sadbhavan anshan' on June 29 at 11 am to press upon Rahul Gandhi to take back his decision to resign from the post of Congress chief," a press note by Congress committee in Kanpur said.

Congress workers in Kanpur are set to go on a hunger strike on Saturday to urge party president Rahul Gandhi to not resign from the post. "The local Congress unit will undertake 'sadbhavan anshan' on June 29 at 11 am to press upon Rahul Gandhi to take back his decision to resign from the post of Congress chief," a press note by Congress committee in Kanpur said. Meanwhile, a flurry of resignations has emerged within the Congress after Gandhi said he will not reconsider resigning from his post after facing a humiliating defeat in the general elections. As many as 145 office bearers tendered a mass resignation earlier in the day during a meeting conducted in the Congress office and set an example for the senior members of the party to follow the suit of taking the moral responsibility behind dismal performance in the 17th Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi, who became the party president in 2017, offered to step down from his post at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on May 25, taking moral responsibility for Congress' dismal performance in the 17th general elections. However, his offer of resignation offer was unanimously rejected by the CWC. So far, several top leaders have met Gandhi and urged him to continue to lead the party. Despite senior members making serious attempts to convince the 49-year-old party chief to rethink his decision, he remains unfazed. The Congress won 52 seats in the recent general elections, which is just eight more than 2014 in the outgoing Lok Sabha.

Kanpur Congress workers to go on hunger strike urging Rahul Gandhi to not resign as party chief

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday refused to reconsider his decision to resign as the party president, saying he has taken full responsibility of party's debacle in the Lok Sabha elections.

"I have resigned after taking full responsibility and ensuring accountability for the party's defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. I cannot ask others to resign too. It is up to them if they want to take responsibility," he told the Congress leaders in Haryana. 
 
He made the comments during a meeting with leaders from Haryana state coordination committee who urged him to continue to lead the party and take back his resignation.

Earlier, in a meeting of Congress Parliamentary party chaired by UPA chief Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday, &nbsp;Gandhi told his party's Lok Sabha members that he was no longer the Congress president as he had resigned.

Rahul had offered to resign as the party chief at the May 25 meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) after the Lok Sabha elections. While the CWC had rejected his resignation and asked him to restructure the party at all levels. Since then party leaders have been trying to convince the Gandhi scion to reconsider his decision.

Last week, Gandhi had said the party would decide his successor. “I am not the right person to make a decision and will not get involved in that process,” he had said.

According to reports, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot is likely to be appointed as the next Congress president. Sources in the Delhi unit of the party say that a large chunk of Congress is in favour of Gehlot's elevation as the party chief.

Congress put a poor show in the Lok Sabha polls by winning just 52 seats, while the ruling BJP stormed back to power with 303 seats.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday refused to reconsider his decision to resign as the party president, saying he has taken full responsibility of party's debacle in the Lok Sabha elections.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday refused to reconsider his decision to resign as the party president, saying he has taken full responsibility of party's debacle in the Lok Sabha elections. "I have resigned after taking full responsibility and ensuring accountability for the party's defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. I cannot ask others to resign too. It is up to them if they want to take responsibility," he told the Congress leaders in Haryana. He made the comments during a meeting with leaders from Haryana state coordination committee who urged him to continue to lead the party and take back his resignation. Earlier, in a meeting of Congress Parliamentary party chaired by UPA chief Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday, Gandhi told his party's Lok Sabha members that he was no longer the Congress president as he had resigned. Rahul had offered to resign as the party chief at the May 25 meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) after the Lok Sabha elections. While the CWC had rejected his resignation and asked him to restructure the party at all levels. Since then party leaders have been trying to convince the Gandhi scion to reconsider his decision. Last week, Gandhi had said the party would decide his successor. “I am not the right person to make a decision and will not get involved in that process,” he had said. According to reports, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot is likely to be appointed as the next Congress president. Sources in the Delhi unit of the party say that a large chunk of Congress is in favour of Gehlot's elevation as the party chief. Congress put a poor show in the Lok Sabha polls by winning just 52 seats, while the ruling BJP stormed back to power with 303 seats. (With inputs from agencies)

I have resigned after taking full responsibility of Congress's defeat, says Rahul Gandhi

Enthused by stunning performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is planning to take Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' to more people this time by making special arrangements and utilising all possible means.

'Mann Ki Baat' programme is resuming from June 30 at 11 am.

In order to ensure that more and more people listen to Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio programme, the party cadres at all levels have been directed to ensure better facilities like big screens and better radio sets so that more people get attracted to the programme.

Many BJP leaders have also planned to listen to 'Mann Ki Baat' programme by sitting with the people and party workers.

BJP national secretary Tarun Chugh said: "Mann Ki Baat' programme is a part of BJP's annual event. On the direction of the party's national president Amit Shah, we are taking this programme to all booths in an effective manner."

PM Modi is also looking forward to discussing public insights in his upcoming episode of 'Mann Ki Baat.' He has asked everyone to share his thoughts on themes and issues that matter to the public.

This will be the first episode of 'Mann ki Baat' after PM Modi assumed office for the second time.

The final episode of the last season was aired on February 24 and the programme was later discontinued during the Lok Sabha elections.

Enthused by stunning performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is planning to take Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' to more people this time by making special arrangements and utilising all possible means.

Enthused by stunning performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is planning to take Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' to more people this time by making special arrangements and utilising all possible means. 'Mann Ki Baat' programme is resuming from June 30 at 11 am. In order to ensure that more and more people listen to Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio programme, the party cadres at all levels have been directed to ensure better facilities like big screens and better radio sets so that more people get attracted to the programme. Many BJP leaders have also planned to listen to 'Mann Ki Baat' programme by sitting with the people and party workers. BJP national secretary Tarun Chugh said: "Mann Ki Baat' programme is a part of BJP's annual event. On the direction of the party's national president Amit Shah, we are taking this programme to all booths in an effective manner." PM Modi is also looking forward to discussing public insights in his upcoming episode of 'Mann Ki Baat.' He has asked everyone to share his thoughts on themes and issues that matter to the public. This will be the first episode of 'Mann ki Baat' after PM Modi assumed office for the second time. The final episode of the last season was aired on February 24 and the programme was later discontinued during the Lok Sabha elections.

BJP plans to take PM Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' programme to more people

Those writing the political epitaph of the Gandhi family, particularly that of Rahul, would be well advised to hold their horses. Sure, at the moment, the situation looks grim for the Congress, particularly for its first family that has led India’s 134-year-old party up the garden path, potentially up to a point of no-return.

But the obvious weakness of the Congress — mainly its discredited leadership, or joint family leadership — is also its asset. The rest of the party, with its multi-faceted talents, even if somewhat short on mass appeal, may not be able to stick around for too long without a member of the Gandhi family at the helm.

Those suggesting that the Congress may break after a heavy second Lok Sabha drubbing, are daydreaming. A party that did not split with a rock-bottom 43 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 is unlikely to splinter at an improved 52 Lok Sabha seats in 2019.

Please note that not a single discordant note has been sounded in the Congress, despite another pathetic electoral performance. In any other party, including the BJP, such heavy reverses would have caused sufficient ripples within the leadership, party rank and file.

The reasons are not far to seek. Old timers in the party remember the PV Narasimha Rao era with some trepidation. The Congress suffered a series of splits during the 1990s. Rao faced difficulties right after taking over, in running the government as well as the party. There was mistrust between him and veterans such as Arjun Singh and ND Tiwari. At the Tirupati AICC session in April 1992, Singh won the Congress Working Committee (CWC) polls with the highest margin; Sharad Pawar too was victorious. Rao asked the entire newly-elected CWC to resign on the pretext that there was not enough representation of women and Dalits. He then reconstituted the CWC and included Singh in the nominated category.

But the trouble was far from over. After the demolition of Babri Masjid, Singh started spreading the view that Rao was not secular enough. A power struggle ensued in which Rao lost Sonia Gandhi’s support because he was not seen as active enough on the question of Rajiv’s assassination.

In 1994, the Congress lost in Rao’s home state Andhra Pradesh, which emboldened his critics. The feud resulted in Arjun Singh’s ouster from the Cabinet and suspension from the party, resulting in another split. A breakaway faction was formed with ND Tiwari as president and Arjun Singh as working president. After running a minority government for five years, the Congress lost power in 1996. It would take them another eight years to come back. Rao resigned and AICC treasurer Sitaram Kesri took over, but he too was challenged by other senior leaders. The two years following the 1996 defeat saw backroom manoeuvring and intrigue. In the 1997 Congress presidential election, Kesri defeated Pawar and Pilot. Two years later, he was thrown out of the party after Sonia indicated a willingness to take over.

The broader point, however, is that in the absence of a Gandhi family member at the helm of the party, notably Sonia who had decided to lie low for several years after Rajiv’s assassination, the Congress was in a state of flux with periodic exodus of leaders big and small.

For the Congress to be revived from its comatose stage, it took a Sonia to get all factional leaders and party satraps under one roof by the time she took over in 1998. A year later, she had countered a rebellion from senior leader Sharad Pawar. But what had become clear in this turbulent decade was that the party could not survive without a Gandhi at the helm.

Even more stark was the realisation that the perpetually warring Congress leaders and factions, only listen to their first family, as there remains little scope of reconciliation among themselves.

Once again, politics is running true to form. A party that has been vanquished at the hustings, is pleading with the party president — who himself has been humbled in his bailiff Amethi — to kindly assume leadership of the party, indeed salvage the grand old party from distress and demoralisation. One senior leader after the other is making a case as strongly as possible for Rahul to shed his diffidence and take the bull by the horns, with the latter barely willing to demur.

Comically — if the situation was not so tragic — state Congress leaders have been asked to put in their papers and scapegoats are being pulled out of broom closets, without any responsibility being placed at the door of the top leadership.

One of the main reasons for the Congress to have reached this stage is its inability to introspect. There has been no inner-reflection — as a Gandhi or Nehru would have done — on where and how things have gone wrong and the remedies thereof. Instead, there is this touch of arrogance, with the BJP victory being attributed to fudged EVMs, smart marketing and even the devil’s luck. Not a word about the fading appeal of the once-mighty party, pushed further down the drain by a listless Gandhi family, whose stories of political planning for the polls, post the defeat, are too shocking to be true.

There is no candid admission that for a man who made his political debut in 2004, Rahul has not only not influenced any electoral outcome till 2019, but unbelievably, there is no known plan of action ahead. In fact, there appears little clarity on whether Congress even has a party president or not! 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-dynasty-glue-that-won-t-let-go-2765313">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Those writing the political epitaph of the Gandhi family, particularly that of Rahul, would be well advised to hold their horses. Sure, at the moment, the situation looks grim for the Congress, particularly for its first family that has led India’s 134-year-old party up the garden path, potentially up to a point of no-return.

Those writing the political epitaph of the Gandhi family, particularly that of Rahul, would be well advised to hold their horses. Sure, at the moment, the situation looks grim for the Congress, particularly for its first family that has led India’s 134-year-old party up the garden path, potentially up to a point of no-return. But the obvious weakness of the Congress — mainly its discredited leadership, or joint family leadership — is also its asset. The rest of the party, with its multi-faceted talents, even if somewhat short on mass appeal, may not be able to stick around for too long without a member of the Gandhi family at the helm. Those suggesting that the Congress may break after a heavy second Lok Sabha drubbing, are daydreaming. A party that did not split with a rock-bottom 43 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 is unlikely to splinter at an improved 52 Lok Sabha seats in 2019. Please note that not a single discordant note has been sounded in the Congress, despite another pathetic electoral performance. In any other party, including the BJP, such heavy reverses would have caused sufficient ripples within the leadership, party rank and file. The reasons are not far to seek. Old timers in the party remember the PV Narasimha Rao era with some trepidation. The Congress suffered a series of splits during the 1990s. Rao faced difficulties right after taking over, in running the government as well as the party. There was mistrust between him and veterans such as Arjun Singh and ND Tiwari. At the Tirupati AICC session in April 1992, Singh won the Congress Working Committee (CWC) polls with the highest margin; Sharad Pawar too was victorious. Rao asked the entire newly-elected CWC to resign on the pretext that there was not enough representation of women and Dalits. He then reconstituted the CWC and included Singh in the nominated category. But the trouble was far from over. After the demolition of Babri Masjid, Singh started spreading the view that Rao was not secular enough. A power struggle ensued in which Rao lost Sonia Gandhi’s support because he was not seen as active enough on the question of Rajiv’s assassination. In 1994, the Congress lost in Rao’s home state Andhra Pradesh, which emboldened his critics. The feud resulted in Arjun Singh’s ouster from the Cabinet and suspension from the party, resulting in another split. A breakaway faction was formed with ND Tiwari as president and Arjun Singh as working president. After running a minority government for five years, the Congress lost power in 1996. It would take them another eight years to come back. Rao resigned and AICC treasurer Sitaram Kesri took over, but he too was challenged by other senior leaders. The two years following the 1996 defeat saw backroom manoeuvring and intrigue. In the 1997 Congress presidential election, Kesri defeated Pawar and Pilot. Two years later, he was thrown out of the party after Sonia indicated a willingness to take over. The broader point, however, is that in the absence of a Gandhi family member at the helm of the party, notably Sonia who had decided to lie low for several years after Rajiv’s assassination, the Congress was in a state of flux with periodic exodus of leaders big and small. For the Congress to be revived from its comatose stage, it took a Sonia to get all factional leaders and party satraps under one roof by the time she took over in 1998. A year later, she had countered a rebellion from senior leader Sharad Pawar. But what had become clear in this turbulent decade was that the party could not survive without a Gandhi at the helm. Even more stark was the realisation that the perpetually warring Congress leaders and factions, only listen to their first family, as there remains little scope of reconciliation among themselves. Once again, politics is running true to form. A party that has been vanquished at the hustings, is pleading with the party president — who himself has been humbled in his bailiff Amethi — to kindly assume leadership of the party, indeed salvage the grand old party from distress and demoralisation. One senior leader after the other is making a case as strongly as possible for Rahul to shed his diffidence and take the bull by the horns, with the latter barely willing to demur. Comically — if the situation was not so tragic — state Congress leaders have been asked to put in their papers and scapegoats are being pulled out of broom closets, without any responsibility being placed at the door of the top leadership. One of the main reasons for the Congress to have reached this stage is its inability to introspect. There has been no inner-reflection — as a Gandhi or Nehru would have done — on where and how things have gone wrong and the remedies thereof. Instead, there is this touch of arrogance, with the BJP victory being attributed to fudged EVMs, smart marketing and even the devil’s luck. Not a word about the fading appeal of the once-mighty party, pushed further down the drain by a listless Gandhi family, whose stories of political planning for the polls, post the defeat, are too shocking to be true. There is no candid admission that for a man who made his political debut in 2004, Rahul has not only not influenced any electoral outcome till 2019, but unbelievably, there is no known plan of action ahead. In fact, there appears little clarity on whether Congress even has a party president or not! (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Congress culture: Dynasty glue that won’t let go

There are&nbsp;no discrepancies regarding the voter turnout/and votes counted on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Lok Sabha polls, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. 
 
Replying to supplementaries during Question hour, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Election Commission has not received any complaint regarding defects in EVM manufacture and the issue does not concern its operations. 
 
The Law Minister was replying to a specific question from Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut who said there have been complaints about operations of EVMs and differences in counting between EVMs and VVPATs in the just-concluded elections. 
 
"This is a question about manufacturing of EVMs and not its operations. The EC has said there is no manufacturing defect in EVMs. If there is any specific complaint, I will get the information from the EC," he told the member. 
 
Specifically asked about problems in EVM functioning during polling, the minister said, "speaking on behalf of the EC, there is no complaint as far as counting of VVPATs is concerned. If there were any complaints, the same have been monitored and redressed by the Returning Officers at the spot where the candidates are also present."&nbsp;

There are no discrepancies regarding the voter turnout/and votes counted on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Lok Sabha polls, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

There are no discrepancies regarding the voter turnout/and votes counted on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Lok Sabha polls, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. Replying to supplementaries during Question hour, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Election Commission has not received any complaint regarding defects in EVM manufacture and the issue does not concern its operations. The Law Minister was replying to a specific question from Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut who said there have been complaints about operations of EVMs and differences in counting between EVMs and VVPATs in the just-concluded elections. "This is a question about manufacturing of EVMs and not its operations. The EC has said there is no manufacturing defect in EVMs. If there is any specific complaint, I will get the information from the EC," he told the member. Specifically asked about problems in EVM functioning during polling, the minister said, "speaking on behalf of the EC, there is no complaint as far as counting of VVPATs is concerned. If there were any complaints, the same have been monitored and redressed by the Returning Officers at the spot where the candidates are also present."

Election Commission didn't receive any complaints on EVM defects: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, once again, reiterated his stance to quit as the party chief.&nbsp;

In a meeting of Congress Parliamentary party chaired by UPA chief Sonia Gandhi, Congress leaders urged him to continue as the party president, however, Rahul stuck to his decision to step down from the post.

Gandhi had offered to resign as the party chief at the May 25 meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) after the Lok Sabha elections. While the CWC had rejected his resignation and asked him to restructure the party at all levels. Since then party leaders have been trying to convince the Gandhi scion to reconsider his decision. 
 
Members of Youth Congress also staged a demonstration outside Rahul's residence urging him to continue as the party chief.

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Delhi: Members of Youth Congress and workers of the party demonstrate outside the residence of Congress President Rahul Gandhi urging him to take back his resignation and continue as the party President. <a href="https://t.co/KIMvCKuS11">pic.twitter.com/KIMvCKuS11</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1143766728121319424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Last week, Gandhi had said the party would decide his successor. “I am not the right person to make a decision and will not get involved in that process,” he had said. 
 
According to reports, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot is likely to be appointed as the next Congress president. Sources in the Delhi unit of the party say that a large chunk of Congress is in favour of Gehlot's elevation as the party chief.

Furthermore, the party had dissolved its units in Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh earlier this month&nbsp;and similar decisions are likely to come for some other states too.

Congress put a poor show in the Lok Sabha polls by winning just 52 seats, while the ruling BJP stormed back to power with 303 seats. 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, once again, reiterated his stance to quit as the party chief. In a meeting of Congress Parliamentary party chaired by UPA chief Sonia Gandhi, Congress leaders urged him to continue as the party president, however, Rahul stuck to his decision to step down from the post.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, once again, reiterated his stance to quit as the party chief. In a meeting of Congress Parliamentary party chaired by UPA chief Sonia Gandhi, Congress leaders urged him to continue as the party president, however, Rahul stuck to his decision to step down from the post. Gandhi had offered to resign as the party chief at the May 25 meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) after the Lok Sabha elections. While the CWC had rejected his resignation and asked him to restructure the party at all levels. Since then party leaders have been trying to convince the Gandhi scion to reconsider his decision. Members of Youth Congress also staged a demonstration outside Rahul's residence urging him to continue as the party chief. Delhi: Members of Youth Congress and workers of the party demonstrate outside the residence of Congress President Rahul Gandhi urging him to take back his resignation and continue as the party President. pic.twitter.com/KIMvCKuS11 — ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2019 × Last week, Gandhi had said the party would decide his successor. “I am not the right person to make a decision and will not get involved in that process,” he had said. According to reports, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot is likely to be appointed as the next Congress president. Sources in the Delhi unit of the party say that a large chunk of Congress is in favour of Gehlot's elevation as the party chief. Furthermore, the party had dissolved its units in Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh earlier this month and similar decisions are likely to come for some other states too. Congress put a poor show in the Lok Sabha polls by winning just 52 seats, while the ruling BJP stormed back to power with 303 seats. (With inputs from agencies)

Rahul Gandhi adamant to quit as Congress president

On the eve of the 2019 Lok Sabha results, the New York Times published an article titled “How Narendra Modi Seduced India with Envy and Hate”. A little before the election, Time magazine featured NaMo on their cover and in bold letters labelled him as the “Divider in Chief”. Kapil Komireddi’s analysis of the Indian political landscape for The Guardian went on to call Indians “intellectually vacant” and the country a “make believe land of fudge and fakery”.&nbsp;

These scathing remarks from the international community crystallised national support for Modi and May 23, 2019 put the debate to rest, telling the world what India really is – an exemplary democracy that does not seek validation from a few writers in Manhattan or London to create the ideological roadmap for our future.&nbsp;

However, it is imperative to discuss a political narrative that goes beyond cow lynchings and hate speech, as some leading Western publications have been trying to propagate. Modi’s victory is unfazed by this empty outrage because it represents what India has always stood for – inclusion, development and progress.

The people of India have faith in their PM not simply because of his superstar appeal, but because of the way he has addressed the needs of different segments of Indian society through various developmental schemes. Some of the key initiatives by Modi such as Jan Dhan Yojna and Swachh Bharat have been praised by global organisations such as the World Bank. The Jan Dhan initiative has been lauded by the Bank as one of the most successful financial inclusion initiatives. Over 344 million bank accounts have been opened and to the critics who thrive on cynicism, only 16.3 per cent of these accounts were inoperative.&nbsp;

According to the World Health Organisation, Swachh Bharat’s cleanliness drive has been estimated to avert hygiene and food conditions-related deaths of over 3,00,000 children by October 2019.&nbsp;

Just before the 2014 electoral upset, only under 40 per cent of Indian households had access to toilets. By 2018, this number increased to 89 per cent under Modi. A rock star appeal doesn’t push the country to set electoral precedents - the provision of basic necessities does.&nbsp;

Making toilets and providing electricity to every village might not be consequential to the average New York Times subscriber, but it is what created the bond of trust between Modi and the woman who is no longer eve-teased as she tries to use the restroom in the morning.&nbsp;

A one-Dimensional analysis of any issue, let alone the Indian economy, is problematic. The 2014 Indian economy that was handed to Modi as a welcome package by the Gandhi family, was in a shambles with double-digit inflation, investors withdrawing funds from India and the country being included on the list of the “fragile five economies”.&nbsp;

The Modi government (despite certain mishaps) has in the past five years taken serious measures to change things around. Beyond focusing on better infrastructure, the transparency brought into the system through structural reforms such as GST, the Bankruptcy &amp; Insolvency Code Bill and FDI in selective sectors, among others, has made India the favourite FDI destination in 2018, ahead of US and China.

Communal violence is unfortunately not new. It is a systemic product of the post-Independence social and religious fragility in India. However, fortunately, there hasn’t been a single case of large-scale communal riots since Modi came to power in 2014. Compare that with the UPA government, which failed to manage communal violence - the 2006 Aligarh riots, 2008 Dhule riots, 2010 Deganga, 2011 Bharatpur, 2012 Assam riots and most famously, 2013 Muzaffarnagar, are just a few examples that come to mind.

Indian voters recognise that the UPA government not just failed to maintain peace on a domestic level, but also on the international level, costing the country over 800 civilians between 2004 and 2014 at the hands of terrorism funded by neighbouring countries. Modi has denied India the chance to become a victim yet again and gave Parliament a culture shock when he pivoted from the meekish approach it has usually adopted in the past.&nbsp;

While it is satisfying for some to demonise Modi in the short run, it is much more difficult to come up with a clear and inclusive roadmap, rally the troops in a country with 100+ languages and six major religions and influence people in a unified manner and inspire meaningful change.&nbsp;

The truth is we don’t have the time or the bandwidth for despair anymore as we grow desperate to see India evolve into a global leader. The road is long and uphill, but empty criticism will not be carried as excess baggage by the citizens who are determined to rise.&nbsp;

&nbsp; 
(Mansi Sharma contributed to this article) 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-empty-outrage-will-not-do-2764306">original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

On the eve of the 2019 Lok Sabha results, the New York Times published an article titled “How Narendra Modi Seduced India with Envy and Hate”. A little before the election, Time magazine featured NaMo on their cover and in bold letters labelled him as the “Divider in Chief”.

On the eve of the 2019 Lok Sabha results, the New York Times published an article titled “How Narendra Modi Seduced India with Envy and Hate”. A little before the election, Time magazine featured NaMo on their cover and in bold letters labelled him as the “Divider in Chief”. Kapil Komireddi’s analysis of the Indian political landscape for The Guardian went on to call Indians “intellectually vacant” and the country a “make believe land of fudge and fakery”. These scathing remarks from the international community crystallised national support for Modi and May 23, 2019 put the debate to rest, telling the world what India really is – an exemplary democracy that does not seek validation from a few writers in Manhattan or London to create the ideological roadmap for our future. However, it is imperative to discuss a political narrative that goes beyond cow lynchings and hate speech, as some leading Western publications have been trying to propagate. Modi’s victory is unfazed by this empty outrage because it represents what India has always stood for – inclusion, development and progress. The people of India have faith in their PM not simply because of his superstar appeal, but because of the way he has addressed the needs of different segments of Indian society through various developmental schemes. Some of the key initiatives by Modi such as Jan Dhan Yojna and Swachh Bharat have been praised by global organisations such as the World Bank. The Jan Dhan initiative has been lauded by the Bank as one of the most successful financial inclusion initiatives. Over 344 million bank accounts have been opened and to the critics who thrive on cynicism, only 16.3 per cent of these accounts were inoperative. According to the World Health Organisation, Swachh Bharat’s cleanliness drive has been estimated to avert hygiene and food conditions-related deaths of over 3,00,000 children by October 2019. Just before the 2014 electoral upset, only under 40 per cent of Indian households had access to toilets. By 2018, this number increased to 89 per cent under Modi. A rock star appeal doesn’t push the country to set electoral precedents - the provision of basic necessities does. Making toilets and providing electricity to every village might not be consequential to the average New York Times subscriber, but it is what created the bond of trust between Modi and the woman who is no longer eve-teased as she tries to use the restroom in the morning. A one-Dimensional analysis of any issue, let alone the Indian economy, is problematic. The 2014 Indian economy that was handed to Modi as a welcome package by the Gandhi family, was in a shambles with double-digit inflation, investors withdrawing funds from India and the country being included on the list of the “fragile five economies”. The Modi government (despite certain mishaps) has in the past five years taken serious measures to change things around. Beyond focusing on better infrastructure, the transparency brought into the system through structural reforms such as GST, the Bankruptcy & Insolvency Code Bill and FDI in selective sectors, among others, has made India the favourite FDI destination in 2018, ahead of US and China. Communal violence is unfortunately not new. It is a systemic product of the post-Independence social and religious fragility in India. However, fortunately, there hasn’t been a single case of large-scale communal riots since Modi came to power in 2014. Compare that with the UPA government, which failed to manage communal violence - the 2006 Aligarh riots, 2008 Dhule riots, 2010 Deganga, 2011 Bharatpur, 2012 Assam riots and most famously, 2013 Muzaffarnagar, are just a few examples that come to mind. Indian voters recognise that the UPA government not just failed to maintain peace on a domestic level, but also on the international level, costing the country over 800 civilians between 2004 and 2014 at the hands of terrorism funded by neighbouring countries. Modi has denied India the chance to become a victim yet again and gave Parliament a culture shock when he pivoted from the meekish approach it has usually adopted in the past. While it is satisfying for some to demonise Modi in the short run, it is much more difficult to come up with a clear and inclusive roadmap, rally the troops in a country with 100+ languages and six major religions and influence people in a unified manner and inspire meaningful change. The truth is we don’t have the time or the bandwidth for despair anymore as we grow desperate to see India evolve into a global leader. The road is long and uphill, but empty criticism will not be carried as excess baggage by the citizens who are determined to rise. (Mansi Sharma contributed to this article) (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Narendra Modi’s victory is unfazed by empty outrages

After a record performance in Lok Sabha elections (18 seats / 40 per cent vote share), BJP has set an ambitious target of dislodging Mamata Banerjee from power in 2021 state elections. A weakened Left, a charged-up cadre, poor law and order situation and perceived excessive minority appeasement provide an opportunity for BJP.&nbsp;

Critics who were giving BJP not more than 8-10 seats in Lok Sabha were shocked at its tally of 18 seats (+16 vs 2014). It recorded a vote share jump of 23 per cent clearly emerging as the main opposition to Mamata overtaking the Left and benefitting from its collapse. Even if TMC and Congress would have contested together BJP would have still won 12 seats. TMC was leading in 161 Assembly seats, 16 more than majority and BJP in 123 as per trends.&nbsp;

The BJP did to TMC, what it did to Congress in 2014, successfully managing to brand Mamata as anti-Hindu and pro-minority community. It led to a sort of Hindu awakening in the state. BJP’s support among STs increased by 42 per cent (TMC -6 per cent), SCs by 37 per cent (TMC -11 per cent) and Gen / OBCs by 31 per cent (TMC -8 per cent). TMC, on the other hand, consolidated its supports among Muslims (+25 per cent) due to reverse polarisation.&nbsp;

After a record performance in Lok Sabha elections (18 seats / 40 per cent&nbsp;vote share), BJP has set an ambitious target of dislodging Mamata Banerjee from power in 2021 state elections. A weakened Left, a charged-up cadre, poor law and order situation and perceived excessive minority appeasement provide an opportunity for BJP.&nbsp;

Critics who were giving BJP not more than 8-10 seats in Lok Sabha were shocked at its tally of 18 seats (+16 vs 2014). It recorded a vote share jump of 23 per cent&nbsp;clearly emerging as the main opposition to Mamata overtaking the Left and benefitting from its collapse. Even if TMC and Congress would have contested together BJP would have still won 12 seats. TMC was leading in 161 Assembly seats, 16 more than majority and BJP in 123 as per trends.&nbsp;

The BJP did to TMC, what it did to Congress in 2014, successfully managing to brand Mamata as anti-Hindu and pro-minority community. It led to a sort of Hindu awakening in the state. BJP’s support among STs increased by 42 per cent (TMC -6 per cent), SCs by 37 per cent (TMC -11 per cent) and Gen / OBCs by 31 per cent (TMC -8 per cent). TMC, on the other hand, consolidated its supports among Muslims (+25 per cent) due to reverse polarisation.&nbsp; 
 
The BJP checkmated Mamata in her own brand of politics. Bengal has been a hotbed of class politics with not much role in caste politics. Left positioned itself as the champion of poor, downtrodden and minorities, though it was Bhadralok which held majority cabinet positions and power.&nbsp;

In 2009, for the first time, Mamata flirted with caste politics. A strategy was put in place by Mukul Roy (now in BJP) to divide the SC vote (19 per cent of the population) by wooing the influential Matua community. 55-60 per cent of the SC population used to vote for Left Front. Mamata became a lifetime member of Matua Mahasangha in December 2009.&nbsp;

The TMC received 48 per cent of Matua and 46 per cent of other SC votes in 2011 state elections in which Mamata displaced the 34-year rule of Left. Modi-Shah duo also set their eyes on this vote bank. The community’s spiritual family split into two groups, one backing the BJP and other the TMC after the death of its leader. BJP received strong support from SC voters in Lok Sabha.&nbsp;

Ten years is a good enough time to develop anti-incumbency against any government. Mamata’s constant conflicts with the central government are also impacting state government’s performance. Many voters could be swayed, thinking that same government in the Centre and the state is good for development. Mamata is seen as doing minority appeasement. This has upset even the educated Hindus who do not believe in caste/religion politics.&nbsp;

She has lost her cool on many occasions and pressure is clearly visible on her face. The BJP is enjoying all this tamasha. Recently, a video of Mamata was doing the rounds wherein she stopped her vehicle after hearing ‘Jai Shree Ram’ chants and was seen asking officials to take action.&nbsp;

Her handling of the doctors’ strike which has paralysed the health facilities in the state, with 700 doctors resigning at last count, has evoked nation-wide rage among the medical fraternity. Mamata’s statement that ‘outsiders’ had entered medical colleges to create disturbances and the agitation was a conspiracy by the CPM and the BJP has added fuel to the fire. Mamata has accepted all demands of the doctors requesting them to return to the office which they have rejected.

Her statement that if you are in Bengal you have to speak Bangla is an attempt to create a wedge between locals (Bengalis) and outsiders (non-Bengalis) and brand BJP as a party of Hindi speaking North Indians. She is trying to invoke the Bengali pride. As per estimates, 15 per cent&nbsp;of the population of Bengal consists of non-Bengalis which are likely to further consolidate behind the BJP.

The BJP enjoys the support of half of the Hindu population which translates into 35 per cent vote share, its core vote now. Many cadres of Left have switched over to BJP, demoralized by their existential crisis, and have given the much-needed last mile connectivity which it was missing earlier. The deaths of workers (which are highly condemnable) after elections shows that damage has been inflicted on both sides and BJP workers are not taking it lying down like earlier. The organizational structure has been emboldened. &nbsp;

However, challenges remain. PM Modi factor played a big role in the BJP’s performance in Lok Sabha. About one-third of the votes received by BJP were due to PM Modi. In state elections, this factor may not hold to be that strong like it was seen in Delhi and Bihar state elections in 2015. PM Modi held 17 rallies and road-shows in Bengal. He may not be able to campaign with same vigour in state elections due to Prime Ministerial duties.

The elections are increasingly becoming personality oriented and BJP lacks a state level leader who can match Mamata. It needs to project a CM face soon and develop it over the next two years. Voters are also increasingly differentiating between state and national elections as witnessed in Rajasthan, Odisha, MP and Chhattisgarh.&nbsp;

In Lok Sabha, people voted to elect a PM, which gave BJP a boost. In Vidhan Sabha people will be voting to elect a CM, thus negating this boost factor. In 2016 state polls, BJP’s vote share declined by 7 per cent in absolute terms and 40 per cent in relative terms which it has to be wary of.&nbsp;

An alliance between Left and Congress could be potentially damaging as this combine could appeal to a section of voters. Mamata has appointed political strategist Prashant Kishore as her campaign manager exhibiting her first sign of weakness. The BJP has to refrain from pressures to invoke President’s Rule in the state which will act as a sympathy factor for Mamata. It needs to keep up the ante, manage defections and wait for Mamata to commit errors under pressure.&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-bjp-s-audacious-target-2763265">original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

After a record performance in Lok Sabha elections (18 seats / 40 per cent vote share), BJP has set an ambitious target of dislodging Mamata Banerjee from power in 2021 state elections.

After a record performance in Lok Sabha elections (18 seats / 40 per cent vote share), BJP has set an ambitious target of dislodging Mamata Banerjee from power in 2021 state elections. A weakened Left, a charged-up cadre, poor law and order situation and perceived excessive minority appeasement provide an opportunity for BJP. Critics who were giving BJP not more than 8-10 seats in Lok Sabha were shocked at its tally of 18 seats (+16 vs 2014). It recorded a vote share jump of 23 per cent clearly emerging as the main opposition to Mamata overtaking the Left and benefitting from its collapse. Even if TMC and Congress would have contested together BJP would have still won 12 seats. TMC was leading in 161 Assembly seats, 16 more than majority and BJP in 123 as per trends. The BJP did to TMC, what it did to Congress in 2014, successfully managing to brand Mamata as anti-Hindu and pro-minority community. It led to a sort of Hindu awakening in the state. BJP’s support among STs increased by 42 per cent (TMC -6 per cent), SCs by 37 per cent (TMC -11 per cent) and Gen / OBCs by 31 per cent (TMC -8 per cent). TMC, on the other hand, consolidated its supports among Muslims (+25 per cent) due to reverse polarisation. After a record performance in Lok Sabha elections (18 seats / 40 per cent vote share), BJP has set an ambitious target of dislodging Mamata Banerjee from power in 2021 state elections. A weakened Left, a charged-up cadre, poor law and order situation and perceived excessive minority appeasement provide an opportunity for BJP. Critics who were giving BJP not more than 8-10 seats in Lok Sabha were shocked at its tally of 18 seats (+16 vs 2014). It recorded a vote share jump of 23 per cent clearly emerging as the main opposition to Mamata overtaking the Left and benefitting from its collapse. Even if TMC and Congress would have contested together BJP would have still won 12 seats. TMC was leading in 161 Assembly seats, 16 more than majority and BJP in 123 as per trends. The BJP did to TMC, what it did to Congress in 2014, successfully managing to brand Mamata as anti-Hindu and pro-minority community. It led to a sort of Hindu awakening in the state. BJP’s support among STs increased by 42 per cent (TMC -6 per cent), SCs by 37 per cent (TMC -11 per cent) and Gen / OBCs by 31 per cent (TMC -8 per cent). TMC, on the other hand, consolidated its supports among Muslims (+25 per cent) due to reverse polarisation. The BJP checkmated Mamata in her own brand of politics. Bengal has been a hotbed of class politics with not much role in caste politics. Left positioned itself as the champion of poor, downtrodden and minorities, though it was Bhadralok which held majority cabinet positions and power. In 2009, for the first time, Mamata flirted with caste politics. A strategy was put in place by Mukul Roy (now in BJP) to divide the SC vote (19 per cent of the population) by wooing the influential Matua community. 55-60 per cent of the SC population used to vote for Left Front. Mamata became a lifetime member of Matua Mahasangha in December 2009. The TMC received 48 per cent of Matua and 46 per cent of other SC votes in 2011 state elections in which Mamata displaced the 34-year rule of Left. Modi-Shah duo also set their eyes on this vote bank. The community’s spiritual family split into two groups, one backing the BJP and other the TMC after the death of its leader. BJP received strong support from SC voters in Lok Sabha. Ten years is a good enough time to develop anti-incumbency against any government. Mamata’s constant conflicts with the central government are also impacting state government’s performance. Many voters could be swayed, thinking that same government in the Centre and the state is good for development. Mamata is seen as doing minority appeasement. This has upset even the educated Hindus who do not believe in caste/religion politics. She has lost her cool on many occasions and pressure is clearly visible on her face. The BJP is enjoying all this tamasha. Recently, a video of Mamata was doing the rounds wherein she stopped her vehicle after hearing ‘Jai Shree Ram’ chants and was seen asking officials to take action. Her handling of the doctors’ strike which has paralysed the health facilities in the state, with 700 doctors resigning at last count, has evoked nation-wide rage among the medical fraternity. Mamata’s statement that ‘outsiders’ had entered medical colleges to create disturbances and the agitation was a conspiracy by the CPM and the BJP has added fuel to the fire. Mamata has accepted all demands of the doctors requesting them to return to the office which they have rejected. Her statement that if you are in Bengal you have to speak Bangla is an attempt to create a wedge between locals (Bengalis) and outsiders (non-Bengalis) and brand BJP as a party of Hindi speaking North Indians. She is trying to invoke the Bengali pride. As per estimates, 15 per cent of the population of Bengal consists of non-Bengalis which are likely to further consolidate behind the BJP. The BJP enjoys the support of half of the Hindu population which translates into 35 per cent vote share, its core vote now. Many cadres of Left have switched over to BJP, demoralized by their existential crisis, and have given the much-needed last mile connectivity which it was missing earlier. The deaths of workers (which are highly condemnable) after elections shows that damage has been inflicted on both sides and BJP workers are not taking it lying down like earlier. The organizational structure has been emboldened. However, challenges remain. PM Modi factor played a big role in the BJP’s performance in Lok Sabha. About one-third of the votes received by BJP were due to PM Modi. In state elections, this factor may not hold to be that strong like it was seen in Delhi and Bihar state elections in 2015. PM Modi held 17 rallies and road-shows in Bengal. He may not be able to campaign with same vigour in state elections due to Prime Ministerial duties. The elections are increasingly becoming personality oriented and BJP lacks a state level leader who can match Mamata. It needs to project a CM face soon and develop it over the next two years. Voters are also increasingly differentiating between state and national elections as witnessed in Rajasthan, Odisha, MP and Chhattisgarh. In Lok Sabha, people voted to elect a PM, which gave BJP a boost. In Vidhan Sabha people will be voting to elect a CM, thus negating this boost factor. In 2016 state polls, BJP’s vote share declined by 7 per cent in absolute terms and 40 per cent in relative terms which it has to be wary of. An alliance between Left and Congress could be potentially damaging as this combine could appeal to a section of voters. Mamata has appointed political strategist Prashant Kishore as her campaign manager exhibiting her first sign of weakness. The BJP has to refrain from pressures to invoke President’s Rule in the state which will act as a sympathy factor for Mamata. It needs to keep up the ante, manage defections and wait for Mamata to commit errors under pressure. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

BJP has set an ambitious goal of dislodging Mamata Banerjee from power

Political capital is not eternal, and Sonia Gandhi is one such example in Indian politics. Once a saviour, a person who renounced the position of the Prime Minister plainly and simply, today comes across as a dynast who has failed to gauge the change in society and decline of her organisation simultaneously.&nbsp;

A lot of blame has been heaped on Rahul Gandhi who has already conceded defeat but in essence, today's Congress is in shambles&nbsp;because Sonia Gandhi’s model of politics has collapsed with the generational shift in&nbsp;its core leadership.

When Sonia Gandhi, took charge of the Congress, the organisation was demoralised but existed in many states with plenty of leaders. Her work was primarily focused on getting the Congress families together all across India.&nbsp;

She did not overhaul the organisation. She only ensured that state satraps are aligned to the leadership who otherwise were not interested in listening to each other. The politics of regional satraps also worked because of mystique surrounding Sonia Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi had the deep sympathy of people because of the tragic circumstance in which Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated.

This model worked well till Sonia Gandhi was around and actively ensuring that satraps were allowed to perpetuate little dynasties at the regional and local level.

Ironically, the weakness lied at the heart of the 'Satrap system'. Unlike BJP, all of them could chart an independent journey outside the Congress fold, taking workers in lock stock and barrel with them.

Secondly, all the leaders pre-existed who were principally spawned by Indira and Sanjay Gandhi. I would say, primarily Sanjay Gandhi. Lastly, the only glue which kept the satraps together was power and not ideology. It is for this reason, Congress today witnesses exodus of leaders at an alarming level, emptying the party at district levels as workers never belonged to the organisation but to a set of local leaders.&nbsp;

Her lack of work on organisation and focus on individual-family connection politics not only added to the downfall in 2014 but also repeat defeat in 2019. The Congress calculation was again hinged on a number of regional and local dynasts who would be able to retain their seats. In 2019, the only party won and individual candidates barring odd few lost. It is only for the party work and smart alliance, Congress won seats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and for lack of organisation, all-star candidates lost to BJP which enjoys a heady combination of strong organisation married to charismatic leadership.&nbsp;

In a way, 2019 has ended Sonia Gandhi’s model of politics completely. Many would say as to where does Rahul Gandhi stand in all this? I would say that his tinkering with NSUI and Youth Congress acted as a catalyst for the demise of the system which was already rotting from within. Instead of picking and pushing fresh talent, elections made the process expensive, casting out poorer and not so rich aspirants.

He could also not organise the satraps on non-dynastic lines because he himself is a dynast and could not convince anybody of sacrifice their own children for the party’s health. In fact, he added to the dynasty by inducting his sister directly as a General Secretary. With no political equity, no organisation and incoherent ideology, it was a lost cause already.

Today, Sonia Gandhi only comes across as a dynast dressed up Nehruvian socialism which has been resoundingly defeated. 2019 also marks the coming of age for the national middle class which can make or break Indian elections.&nbsp;

There is a piece of advice which Congress can use.&nbsp;“Pehle Vichaar Hota hai, Vichaar Kee Neev Par Sangathan Banta hai Aur Sangathan ki Buniyad par Satta Miltee Hai."

The process seems to be in a reverse mode in Congress. The best example is&nbsp;that of Rahul Gandhi who in 2005 at Hyderabad Plenary said that national flag is his religion. The same man by 2017 became a Janeu Dhari Shiv Bhakta begging the question, which is the real Congress and what does it stands for today. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

Political capital is not eternal, and Sonia Gandhi is one such example in Indian politics. Once a saviour, a person who renounced the position of the Prime Minister plainly and simply, today comes across as a dynast who has failed to gauge the change in society and decline of her organisation simultaneously.

Political capital is not eternal, and Sonia Gandhi is one such example in Indian politics. Once a saviour, a person who renounced the position of the Prime Minister plainly and simply, today comes across as a dynast who has failed to gauge the change in society and decline of her organisation simultaneously. A lot of blame has been heaped on Rahul Gandhi who has already conceded defeat but in essence, today's Congress is in shambles because Sonia Gandhi’s model of politics has collapsed with the generational shift in its core leadership. When Sonia Gandhi, took charge of the Congress, the organisation was demoralised but existed in many states with plenty of leaders. Her work was primarily focused on getting the Congress families together all across India. She did not overhaul the organisation. She only ensured that state satraps are aligned to the leadership who otherwise were not interested in listening to each other. The politics of regional satraps also worked because of mystique surrounding Sonia Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi had the deep sympathy of people because of the tragic circumstance in which Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated. This model worked well till Sonia Gandhi was around and actively ensuring that satraps were allowed to perpetuate little dynasties at the regional and local level. Ironically, the weakness lied at the heart of the 'Satrap system'. Unlike BJP, all of them could chart an independent journey outside the Congress fold, taking workers in lock stock and barrel with them. Secondly, all the leaders pre-existed who were principally spawned by Indira and Sanjay Gandhi. I would say, primarily Sanjay Gandhi. Lastly, the only glue which kept the satraps together was power and not ideology. It is for this reason, Congress today witnesses exodus of leaders at an alarming level, emptying the party at district levels as workers never belonged to the organisation but to a set of local leaders. Her lack of work on organisation and focus on individual-family connection politics not only added to the downfall in 2014 but also repeat defeat in 2019. The Congress calculation was again hinged on a number of regional and local dynasts who would be able to retain their seats. In 2019, the only party won and individual candidates barring odd few lost. It is only for the party work and smart alliance, Congress won seats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and for lack of organisation, all-star candidates lost to BJP which enjoys a heady combination of strong organisation married to charismatic leadership. In a way, 2019 has ended Sonia Gandhi’s model of politics completely. Many would say as to where does Rahul Gandhi stand in all this? I would say that his tinkering with NSUI and Youth Congress acted as a catalyst for the demise of the system which was already rotting from within. Instead of picking and pushing fresh talent, elections made the process expensive, casting out poorer and not so rich aspirants. He could also not organise the satraps on non-dynastic lines because he himself is a dynast and could not convince anybody of sacrifice their own children for the party’s health. In fact, he added to the dynasty by inducting his sister directly as a General Secretary. With no political equity, no organisation and incoherent ideology, it was a lost cause already. Today, Sonia Gandhi only comes across as a dynast dressed up Nehruvian socialism which has been resoundingly defeated. 2019 also marks the coming of age for the national middle class which can make or break Indian elections. There is a piece of advice which Congress can use. “Pehle Vichaar Hota hai, Vichaar Kee Neev Par Sangathan Banta hai Aur Sangathan ki Buniyad par Satta Miltee Hai." The process seems to be in a reverse mode in Congress. The best example is that of Rahul Gandhi who in 2005 at Hyderabad Plenary said that national flag is his religion. The same man by 2017 became a Janeu Dhari Shiv Bhakta begging the question, which is the real Congress and what does it stands for today. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Rise and fall of Sonia Gandhi

There is an existential crisis brewing in the Congress at the moment. It’s not just about the grand old party’s loss in the general election; the problem with the Congress runs deeper than victory and defeats, or even the policies of the party — the problem is the collapse of the party brand. &nbsp;

The grand old party, which had global ambassadors like Gandhi and Nehru, strong national icons like Patel and Indira Gandhi, modern faces like Rajiv Gandhi and world-renowned economic stalwarts like Manmohan Singh, is today reduced to an outdated Leftist, anti-national, Muslim-appeasing outfit

The Congress of today is like an old man, living in a bygone era, &nbsp;throwing tantrums, angry, bitter at everything, but with no solutions to offer.&nbsp;

The same Congress that gave India her maximum number of Prime Ministers, does not have a name deserving of the seat. This is ironical because the party is lead by a young and fit Rahul Gandhi, who is very well-read, well-travelled, well-educated, and hails from an illustrious lineage. &nbsp;

So, exactly who are the leaders responsible for completely ruining brand Congress and brand Gandhi, reducing the party with a national footprint to a fringe player?&nbsp;

Mani Shankar Aiyar: He is uncouth, extremely arrogant, has a huge ego and is stubborn as a mule. His perverse “chaiwalla” barb created massive sympathy for Modi in 2014 and his “neech” remarks turned the fortunes of the BJP in the Gujarat elections.&nbsp; 
 
What many don’t know is that Mani Shankar as a minister in UPA-2, got along with very few Congress leaders. In the 2009 elections, which the DMK and Congress swept in Tamil Nadu, Mani lost his seat! Yet, when he was made a Union Minister, Mani fought with everyone. &nbsp;

It was he, who first alleged wasteful expenditure in the CWG games, much before the BJP could seize upon the chance that led to an avalanche of corruption charges against the Congress, something the party has not been able to get rid off. &nbsp;

Jairam Ramesh: Another Left-leaning, so-called leader, with zero mass base. He is singularly responsible for getting down UPA government’s GDP numbers. He was an obstructionist in all infrastructure and development work conceived by the UPA and he created the perception of policy paralysis.&nbsp;

Disliked by an aspirational young India, his bookish knowledge just does not translate into practical solutions. &nbsp;

Madhusudan Mistry and Mohan Prakash: The two other Left Socialists in the Congress, both outsiders with no mass base, have been given a lot of importance from Rahul Gandhi’s office. These two featherlight gems have not just hurt brand Congress, but have damaged the foundation of the party whenever an assignment has been given to them. &nbsp;

Many believe the Left socialists in the party are a major cause of the Congress debacle in 2014 and this has hurt brand Gandhi, as they are considered to be closest to Rahul Gandhi.

If Left-leaning Socialism was one major cause for the defeat of the Congress, the electronic media was the other reason for the brand being sullied. People in charge of the media department continue to be protected and promoted by the office of Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;

Ajay Maken: He loves bhatura, a deep fried puri, that is tempting from the outside, but hollow inside and very unhealthy. Maken was made the party’s media in-charge during UPA -2 and since then, the Congress’ relationship with the media, particularly the electronic media, has been on a downhill. &nbsp;

Instead of focussing on how to improve the party’s battered image, an incompetent Maken was busy settling petty personal scores from his student days with Manish Tewari, the then I&amp;B minister. He was neck-deep in checkmating the I&amp;B ministry run by his own government and this short-sightedness resulted in the electronic media turning totally anti- Congress. 
 
It is no rocket science that the reason why the Congress was reduced to its lowest-ever total of 44 seats in 2014, is the hammering the Congress and the Gandhis got at the hands of the electronic media. Ajay Maken as in-charge was a complete failure. &nbsp;

Despite this, he was promoted as Delhi Congress president, where he had petty problems with three-time chief minister Sheila Dikshit. &nbsp;

The Congress was reduced to zero in the Delhi Assembly elections under his leadership and when Maken was caught on camera stuffing himself with his favourite bhatura before going on a “hunger fast”, he reduced Nehru’s party to a joke. &nbsp;

Randeep Singh Surjewala, the face of the Congress on TV, came third in an election and lost his deposit. As in-charge of the Haryana MLAs, whose job was to ensure that the Congress-backed candidate is elected to the Rajya Sabha from state, the Congress-backed candidate lost because the voting pen was changed! Yet, far from being pulled up, Surjewala, like Ajay Maken, continued to be patronised by the office of Rahul Gandhi.

Surjewala never spoils his personal equation with several news channels that the Congress boycotts and instead of being the bad guy, he maintains excellent relations with owners and editors of these channels. &nbsp;

Surjewala will do nothing about how brand Congress suffers or the Gandhis are made targets because all he cares about is his own face on the television. Therefore, there is an anti-Gandhi sentiment in newsrooms. &nbsp;

The only thing that happens efficiently from the Congress communications department, which Surjewala heads, is stories are planted against rivals in the Congress party itself! This is not to say that Congress cannot come back to power, but for that to happen, these generals need to be given the golden handshake. 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the<a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-congress-existential-crisis-2762065"> original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

There is an existential crisis brewing in the Congress at the moment. It’s not just about the grand old party’s loss in the general election; the problem with the Congress runs deeper than victory and defeats, or even the policies of the party — the problem is the collapse of the party brand.

There is an existential crisis brewing in the Congress at the moment. It’s not just about the grand old party’s loss in the general election; the problem with the Congress runs deeper than victory and defeats, or even the policies of the party — the problem is the collapse of the party brand. The grand old party, which had global ambassadors like Gandhi and Nehru, strong national icons like Patel and Indira Gandhi, modern faces like Rajiv Gandhi and world-renowned economic stalwarts like Manmohan Singh, is today reduced to an outdated Leftist, anti-national, Muslim-appeasing outfit The Congress of today is like an old man, living in a bygone era, throwing tantrums, angry, bitter at everything, but with no solutions to offer. The same Congress that gave India her maximum number of Prime Ministers, does not have a name deserving of the seat. This is ironical because the party is lead by a young and fit Rahul Gandhi, who is very well-read, well-travelled, well-educated, and hails from an illustrious lineage. So, exactly who are the leaders responsible for completely ruining brand Congress and brand Gandhi, reducing the party with a national footprint to a fringe player? Mani Shankar Aiyar: He is uncouth, extremely arrogant, has a huge ego and is stubborn as a mule. His perverse “chaiwalla” barb created massive sympathy for Modi in 2014 and his “neech” remarks turned the fortunes of the BJP in the Gujarat elections. What many don’t know is that Mani Shankar as a minister in UPA-2, got along with very few Congress leaders. In the 2009 elections, which the DMK and Congress swept in Tamil Nadu, Mani lost his seat! Yet, when he was made a Union Minister, Mani fought with everyone. It was he, who first alleged wasteful expenditure in the CWG games, much before the BJP could seize upon the chance that led to an avalanche of corruption charges against the Congress, something the party has not been able to get rid off. Jairam Ramesh: Another Left-leaning, so-called leader, with zero mass base. He is singularly responsible for getting down UPA government’s GDP numbers. He was an obstructionist in all infrastructure and development work conceived by the UPA and he created the perception of policy paralysis. Disliked by an aspirational young India, his bookish knowledge just does not translate into practical solutions. Madhusudan Mistry and Mohan Prakash: The two other Left Socialists in the Congress, both outsiders with no mass base, have been given a lot of importance from Rahul Gandhi’s office. These two featherlight gems have not just hurt brand Congress, but have damaged the foundation of the party whenever an assignment has been given to them. Many believe the Left socialists in the party are a major cause of the Congress debacle in 2014 and this has hurt brand Gandhi, as they are considered to be closest to Rahul Gandhi. If Left-leaning Socialism was one major cause for the defeat of the Congress, the electronic media was the other reason for the brand being sullied. People in charge of the media department continue to be protected and promoted by the office of Rahul Gandhi. Ajay Maken: He loves bhatura, a deep fried puri, that is tempting from the outside, but hollow inside and very unhealthy. Maken was made the party’s media in-charge during UPA -2 and since then, the Congress’ relationship with the media, particularly the electronic media, has been on a downhill. Instead of focussing on how to improve the party’s battered image, an incompetent Maken was busy settling petty personal scores from his student days with Manish Tewari, the then I&B minister. He was neck-deep in checkmating the I&B ministry run by his own government and this short-sightedness resulted in the electronic media turning totally anti- Congress. It is no rocket science that the reason why the Congress was reduced to its lowest-ever total of 44 seats in 2014, is the hammering the Congress and the Gandhis got at the hands of the electronic media. Ajay Maken as in-charge was a complete failure. Despite this, he was promoted as Delhi Congress president, where he had petty problems with three-time chief minister Sheila Dikshit. The Congress was reduced to zero in the Delhi Assembly elections under his leadership and when Maken was caught on camera stuffing himself with his favourite bhatura before going on a “hunger fast”, he reduced Nehru’s party to a joke. Randeep Singh Surjewala, the face of the Congress on TV, came third in an election and lost his deposit. As in-charge of the Haryana MLAs, whose job was to ensure that the Congress-backed candidate is elected to the Rajya Sabha from state, the Congress-backed candidate lost because the voting pen was changed! Yet, far from being pulled up, Surjewala, like Ajay Maken, continued to be patronised by the office of Rahul Gandhi. Surjewala never spoils his personal equation with several news channels that the Congress boycotts and instead of being the bad guy, he maintains excellent relations with owners and editors of these channels. Surjewala will do nothing about how brand Congress suffers or the Gandhis are made targets because all he cares about is his own face on the television. Therefore, there is an anti-Gandhi sentiment in newsrooms. The only thing that happens efficiently from the Congress communications department, which Surjewala heads, is stories are planted against rivals in the Congress party itself! This is not to say that Congress cannot come back to power, but for that to happen, these generals need to be given the golden handshake. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

There is an existential crisis brewing in the Congress at the moment

With just a day left for the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/union-budget-2019-bjps-vijay-goel-urges-opposition-not-to-stall-bills-during-budget-session-194036"> Budget Session of Parliament</a> to begin, Congress party has yet to appoint its Leader in the Lok Sabha.

Earlier there were talks that Rahul Gandhi, who is <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/with-rahul-gandhi-firm-on-quitting-as-party-chief-congress-working-committee-to-meet-again-this-week-222138">reluctant to continue as Congress president </a>after the party's drubbing the polls, will be taking charge of the grand old party's attack on the government in the lower House.

&nbsp;With the party ruling out his discontinuation from his post, the speculations have died down creating further suspense on who would be the new leader.

With the defeat in the Lok Sabha elections of senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge's, who led Congress in the 16th Lok Sabha, the party is looking for a leader with excellent command over Hindi and English language, besides being loyal to the Gandhi family.

Sources in the party said former Union Ministers Manish Tewari, Shashi Tharoor, West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary and Kerala unit working president K Suresh are among the front runners for the job.

Chances run high for Shashi Tharoor (Thiruvananthapuram MP), K Suresh (Mavelikkara) and Manish Tewari (Anandpur Sahib) since the Congress has secured most of the seats in Kerala, Punjab and Tamil Nadu, the states this leader hail from.

While Tharoor's impeccable English and a mild command over Hindi goes in his favour, his name in the Sunanda Pushkar case creates a hurdle in his path.

&nbsp;K Suresh, another figure from Kerala, is a Dalit and a long-time party loyal but his inability to speak Hindi and poor English speaking skill is somewhere he lacks behind.

Manish Tewari is leading the race with his equal authority over Hindi and English and his image as an excellent spokesperson. "Tewari" title tagged to his name may also help him get the job. Tewari, a product of student politics, was made Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology during the second term of UPA rule.

Congress' top leadership was reportedly unhappy for some time after he refused to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections but he made a comeback as a spokesman. Meanwhile, Chaudhary and K Suresh have been instructed to attend the all-party meet on Sunday.

India's oldest party has to appoint leader and deputy leader of the party, main whip along with two other whips in the Lok Sabha in a period of 24 hours.

Congress has so far maintained that it will appoint the leader with time. The party faces an uphill task of balancing north-south mathematics in these appointments.

With just a day left for the Budget Session of Parliament to begin, Congress party has yet to appoint its Leader in the Lok Sabha. Earlier there were talks that Rahul Gandhi, who is reluctant to continue as Congress president after the party's drubbing the polls, will be taking charge of the grand old party's attack on the government in the lower House.

With just a day left for the Budget Session of Parliament to begin, Congress party has yet to appoint its Leader in the Lok Sabha. Earlier there were talks that Rahul Gandhi, who is reluctant to continue as Congress president after the party's drubbing the polls, will be taking charge of the grand old party's attack on the government in the lower House. With the party ruling out his discontinuation from his post, the speculations have died down creating further suspense on who would be the new leader. With the defeat in the Lok Sabha elections of senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge's, who led Congress in the 16th Lok Sabha, the party is looking for a leader with excellent command over Hindi and English language, besides being loyal to the Gandhi family. Sources in the party said former Union Ministers Manish Tewari, Shashi Tharoor, West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary and Kerala unit working president K Suresh are among the front runners for the job. Chances run high for Shashi Tharoor (Thiruvananthapuram MP), K Suresh (Mavelikkara) and Manish Tewari (Anandpur Sahib) since the Congress has secured most of the seats in Kerala, Punjab and Tamil Nadu, the states this leader hail from. While Tharoor's impeccable English and a mild command over Hindi goes in his favour, his name in the Sunanda Pushkar case creates a hurdle in his path. K Suresh, another figure from Kerala, is a Dalit and a long-time party loyal but his inability to speak Hindi and poor English speaking skill is somewhere he lacks behind. Manish Tewari is leading the race with his equal authority over Hindi and English and his image as an excellent spokesperson. "Tewari" title tagged to his name may also help him get the job. Tewari, a product of student politics, was made Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology during the second term of UPA rule. Congress' top leadership was reportedly unhappy for some time after he refused to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections but he made a comeback as a spokesman. Meanwhile, Chaudhary and K Suresh have been instructed to attend the all-party meet on Sunday. India's oldest party has to appoint leader and deputy leader of the party, main whip along with two other whips in the Lok Sabha in a period of 24 hours. Congress has so far maintained that it will appoint the leader with time. The party faces an uphill task of balancing north-south mathematics in these appointments.

A day left to Budget session, Congress inconclusive of its Lok Sabha leader

After the SP-BSP Gathbandhan faced a massive rout in the Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha elections, both BSP Supremo Mayawati and SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav Tuesday announced to contest the upcoming bypolls alone.

Mayawati and Akhilesh part ways after Lok Sabha rout

Once television's favourite bahu, BJP leader Smriti Irani has proved her mettle in politics too. She fought the 2014 Lok Sabha elections against Congress president Rahul Gandhi from the Gandhi family pocketborough Amethi and lost by a narrow margin of over a lakh vote.

In 2019, the fortunes reversed and she emerge victorious against Gandhi, hence earning the moniker 'giant slayer'.

The win was rewarded by her party with a ministerial berth. She took oath as a minister on Thursday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan&nbsp;where <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/live-updates-prime-minister-narendra-modi-swearing-in-ceremony-222770">Narendra Modi took an oath for the second inning</a>s as Prime Minister.

Her portfolio has not yet been decided. In the last tenure of Modi government, Irani served as Information and&nbsp;Broadcasting, Textiles and HRD minister.

From being one of the most popular faces on the small screen to taking on Rahul Gandhi in a high-profile Lok Sabha poll battle in Amethi, Smriti Irani has come a long way. She was inducted in the Narendra Modi ministry in 2014 too representing a crowning glory in her political career.

Having acquired fame as a TV actress in “saas-bahu" soap opera, Irani continued to under spotlight after she switched over from TV to politics and fought two tough electoral battles - against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi in 2014 and Congress heavyweight Kapil Sibal from Chandni Chowk in Delhi in 2004.

Irani has earlier served as national president of Bharatiya Janata Party's women's wing.

She was born in Delhi and had her education in New Delhi before shifting to Mumbai wher she became a household name because of her role in the TV serial Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Married to businessman Zubin Irani and having one son and a daughter, Smriti Irani lists reading as her past-time.

Once television's favourite bahu, BJP leader Smriti Irani has proved her mettle in politics too. She fought the 2014 Lok Sabha elections against Congress president Rahul Gandhi from the Gandhi family pocketborough Amethi and lost by a narrow margin of over a lakh vote.

Once television's favourite bahu, BJP leader Smriti Irani has proved her mettle in politics too. She fought the 2014 Lok Sabha elections against Congress president Rahul Gandhi from the Gandhi family pocketborough Amethi and lost by a narrow margin of over a lakh vote. In 2019, the fortunes reversed and she emerge victorious against Gandhi, hence earning the moniker 'giant slayer'. The win was rewarded by her party with a ministerial berth. She took oath as a minister on Thursday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan where Narendra Modi took an oath for the second innings as Prime Minister. Her portfolio has not yet been decided. In the last tenure of Modi government, Irani served as Information and Broadcasting, Textiles and HRD minister. From being one of the most popular faces on the small screen to taking on Rahul Gandhi in a high-profile Lok Sabha poll battle in Amethi, Smriti Irani has come a long way. She was inducted in the Narendra Modi ministry in 2014 too representing a crowning glory in her political career. Having acquired fame as a TV actress in “saas-bahu" soap opera, Irani continued to under spotlight after she switched over from TV to politics and fought two tough electoral battles - against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi in 2014 and Congress heavyweight Kapil Sibal from Chandni Chowk in Delhi in 2004. Irani has earlier served as national president of Bharatiya Janata Party's women's wing. She was born in Delhi and had her education in New Delhi before shifting to Mumbai wher she became a household name because of her role in the TV serial Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Married to businessman Zubin Irani and having one son and a daughter, Smriti Irani lists reading as her past-time.

Smriti Irani becomes part of Team Modi 2.0, takes oath as minister

Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi on Tuesday met former president Pranab Mukherjee after a landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections.

Modi termed the meeting as an enriching experience.

''Meeting Pranab Da is always an enriching experience. His knowledge and insights are unparalleled. He is a statesman who has made an indelible contribution to our nation. Sought his blessings during our meeting today,'' Modi tweeted.

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Meeting Pranab Da is always an enriching experience. His knowledge and insights are unparalleled. He is a statesman who has made an indelible contribution to our nation. 
 
Sought his blessings during our meeting today. <a href="https://t.co/dxFj6NPNd5">pic.twitter.com/dxFj6NPNd5</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1133263427500105728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)&nbsp;secured a clear majority with 303 seats, which is 22 more than its 2014 tally. Along with its allies, the NDA stands at 352 in the 17th Lok Sabha.

Earlier on Saturday, Modi was elected as leader of the NDA in a ceremony at Parliament's Central Hall. Later, he met President Ram Nath Kovind and staked claim to form government at the centre.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pm-modi-meets-former-president-pranab-mukherjee-222225/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Narendra Modi will take oath as the Prime Minister for a second term on May 30.

Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi on Tuesday met former president Pranab Mukherjee after a landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections. Modi termed the meeting as an enriching experience.

Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi on Tuesday met former president Pranab Mukherjee after a landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections. Modi termed the meeting as an enriching experience. ''Meeting Pranab Da is always an enriching experience. His knowledge and insights are unparalleled. He is a statesman who has made an indelible contribution to our nation. Sought his blessings during our meeting today,'' Modi tweeted. Meeting Pranab Da is always an enriching experience. His knowledge and insights are unparalleled. He is a statesman who has made an indelible contribution to our nation. Sought his blessings during our meeting today. pic.twitter.com/dxFj6NPNd5 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 28, 2019 × Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a clear majority with 303 seats, which is 22 more than its 2014 tally. Along with its allies, the NDA stands at 352 in the 17th Lok Sabha. Earlier on Saturday, Modi was elected as leader of the NDA in a ceremony at Parliament's Central Hall. Later, he met President Ram Nath Kovind and staked claim to form government at the centre. Narendra Modi will take oath as the Prime Minister for a second term on May 30.

Meeting Pranab Da is always an enriching experience: Narendra Modi

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday called PM Narendra Modi to congratulate him on his re-election in the landslide victory last week during which the latter called for creating an "environment free of terrorism." &nbsp;

Government sources have told WION, the purpose of the telephone call by Imran Khan was to congratulate Modi but clarified no invitation was extended&nbsp;for the swearing in of the new government.&nbsp;

President Ram Nath Kovind will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the Prime Minister and other members of the Union Council of Ministers at 7 pm on May 30, at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

While thanking him for the call and greetings, PM Modi referred "to his earlier suggestion to the Prime Minister of Pakistan to fight poverty jointly."

But the focus was also on terror during the call that lasted for 3 minutes 12 seconds.&nbsp;

The Ministry of external affairs said PM Modi, "Stressed that creating trust and an environment free of violence and terrorism which is essential for fostering cooperation for peace, progress and prosperity in our region."

The Pakistani foreign office said, Imran Khan, "Expressed his desire for both countries to work together for the betterment of their peoples and looks forward to working with PM Modi for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia."

This is the first conversation between the two leaders after the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 in which over 40 Indian security personnel died. Pakistan based and United Nations listed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed took responsibility for the attack.

On the day of the results May 23, Imran Khan has tweeted congratulating PM Modi, "I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP and allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia."

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I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP and allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1131526476828893184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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PM responded, tweeting, "Thank you PM @ImranKhanPTI. I warmly express my gratitude for your good wishes. I have always given primacy to peace and development in our region."

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Thank you PM <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImranKhanPTI</a>. 
 
I warmly express my gratitude for your good wishes. I have always given primacy to peace and development in our region. <a href="https://t.co/b01EjbcEAw">https://t.co/b01EjbcEAw</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1131605203789082629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Modi had also called Imran Khan after his victory last year in which he expressed "hope that democracy will take deeper roots in Pakistan" and reiterated "his vision of peace and development in the entire neighbourhood", according to a MEA readout.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday called PM Narendra Modi to congratulate him on his re-election in the landslide victory last week during which the latter called for creating an "environment free of terrorism.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday called PM Narendra Modi to congratulate him on his re-election in the landslide victory last week during which the latter called for creating an "environment free of terrorism." Government sources have told WION, the purpose of the telephone call by Imran Khan was to congratulate Modi but clarified no invitation was extended for the swearing in of the new government. President Ram Nath Kovind will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the Prime Minister and other members of the Union Council of Ministers at 7 pm on May 30, at Rashtrapati Bhavan. While thanking him for the call and greetings, PM Modi referred "to his earlier suggestion to the Prime Minister of Pakistan to fight poverty jointly." But the focus was also on terror during the call that lasted for 3 minutes 12 seconds. The Ministry of external affairs said PM Modi, "Stressed that creating trust and an environment free of violence and terrorism which is essential for fostering cooperation for peace, progress and prosperity in our region." The Pakistani foreign office said, Imran Khan, "Expressed his desire for both countries to work together for the betterment of their peoples and looks forward to working with PM Modi for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia." This is the first conversation between the two leaders after the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 in which over 40 Indian security personnel died. Pakistan based and United Nations listed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed took responsibility for the attack. On the day of the results May 23, Imran Khan has tweeted congratulating PM Modi, "I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP and allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia." I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP and allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 23, 2019 × PM responded, tweeting, "Thank you PM @ImranKhanPTI. I warmly express my gratitude for your good wishes. I have always given primacy to peace and development in our region." Thank you PM @ImranKhanPTI. I warmly express my gratitude for your good wishes. I have always given primacy to peace and development in our region. https://t.co/b01EjbcEAw — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2019 × Modi had also called Imran Khan after his victory last year in which he expressed "hope that democracy will take deeper roots in Pakistan" and reiterated "his vision of peace and development in the entire neighbourhood", according to a MEA readout.

Create an 'environment free of terrorism', says Modi to Pakistan PM Imran Khan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to take oath for the second term in office on May 30, according to a media report. Watch this video to know more.

PM Modi may take oath of office on May 30

Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi addresses press. Listen in...

India Votes: Murli Manohar Joshi addresses press

Prime Minister Modi visited veteran senior BJP leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi's at their residence in New Delhi. PM Modi was also accompanied by party president Amit Shah. Watch this video to know more.

India Votes: PM Modi, Amit Shah visits senior BJP leaders

Watch PM Modi's 1st speech since poll victory. PM Modi said that this was a historic election. He said, ''I'm grateful to India.'' Watch this video to know more.

PM Modi: I am grateful to people of India

Counting for 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar concluded on Thursday with the BJP-led NDA winning 39 out of 40 seats at stake in the stake. It was a disastrous show from Congress and its allies RJD, RLSP, HAM and VIP as they managed to win just one seat. Watch this video to know more.

India Votes: Welcome Modi 2.0!

All eyes are on the economic performance of India as NDA 2.0 is on power, country is also poised to be the 5th largest economy of the world this year. Watch this video to know more.

WION Wallet: India hopes for economic revival under NDA 2.0