Accusing the Congress party of launching ‘fake campaigns’ against the defence forces, judiciary and Reserve Bank, Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said it is time to protect the country as well as its institutions from ‘institution wreckers’.

In a hard-hitting Facebook post, the minister recalled how the Congress-led governments used to interfere with institutions like the RBI, judiciary and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

“It is about time that India and its institutions are protected from these ‘institution wreckers’,” said Jaitley, who Saturday returned from the US after medical treatment.

In the post titled ‘Institutions Under Attack - The Latest Fabrication’, Jaitley said the past two months have witnessed several “fake campaigns” which failed to cut much ice as falsehood does not have longevity.

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The ‘compulsive contrarians’ continued to jump from one falsehood to another, he said.

Jaitley said in West Bengal, democracy is seriously under peril.

“BJP leaders can’t land, public meetings are being prevented and the Rath Yatra was disallowed. The Congress Party’s stand on multiple issues is self-contradictory. It slaughters a cow before the cameras in Kerala, and invokes the National Security Act against the cow killers in Madhya Pradesh,” he said.

&nbsp;There are two critical features of these new emerging breed of ‘institution protectors’. They criticise the government the maximum and simultaneously argue that the free speech is in danger, Jaitley said.

“They shed crocodile tears for democracy and make every effort to convert the world’s largest democracy into a dynastic one,” he said.

“The Congress aligned with the Maoist in the recent Chhattisgarh elections. Rahul Gandhi stood shoulder to shoulder with the ‘Tukde Tukde’ gang at the Jawaharlal Nehru University. The Congress was in the forefront of defending the urban naxals in court. And yet it claims to be friend of both, the idea of India and its institutions,” Jaitley said.

He said these ‘institution protectors’ support the legitimising of illegal infiltrators into India. They readily jump to the support of those who want to dismember the country, he said.

Accusing Congress President Rahul Gandhi of stalling functioning of Parliament, Jaitley said his two speeches on Rafale are based on a personal hatred for the Prime Minister emanating from envy.

“History will record that Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru’s great grandson has singularly damaged India’s Parliament as an institution more than anyone else,” he said.

The minister said the Congress attempts at 11.00 am every morning to disrupt both houses of Parliament.

&nbsp;“If we analyse Rahul Gandhi’s two speeches on Rafale, they are based on a personal hatred for the Prime Minister emanating from envy. A failed student always hates the class topper. Additionally, the context of the speeches points more to college-level lumpenisation in content.

“It has been left to two opposition members namely Bhartruhari Mahtab of the BJD and N.K. Premachandran of the RSP to fill up the intellectual vacuum that the Congress has created,” he said.

On Rafale, Jaitley said the deal not only strengthens the combat ability of the Indian Air Force but saved thousands of crores for the exchequer.

“When its falsehood collapsed, its creators by producing half a document lost their full credibility. They forgot that truth always prevails,” he said.

Accusing the Congress of organising loot on the banks between 2008-2014, Jaitley said the party is now alleging that industrial loans had been waived. “Not a single rupee was waived. On the contrary, the defaulters have been thrown out of management &amp; Congress’s falsehood was exposed,” he said.

Stating that the government has consistently maintained an arm’s length distance with the Election Commission, he said the attack on the EVMs is not merely to allay defeat, it is an attack on the commission.

&nbsp;He also said it is the Opposition which questioned first the existence of the surgical strike and then played it down as a routine action which has also taken place in the past.

“The Army Chief was described as a ‘Sadak ka Gunda’. Serious doubts have been raised on the Air Force led choice of the combat aircraft Rafale and its negotiation process. In the face of all this, they allege that institutions are under attack by the Government would be a mockery” he said.

On RBI, Jaitley said Congress governments in the past have been liberal in asking governors of the central bank to quit.

“Pt. Nehru, Mrs Indira Gandhi and subsequently Mr Yashwant Sinha had asked Governors to quit. During the UPA Government, two Governors were barely on speaking terms with the Finance Minister. Nothing of this kind has happened in the recent past,” he said.

The government legitimately flags the issues relating to liquidity and credit availability with the RBI, Jaitley said.

“The Government is the principal manager of the nation’s economy. How can raising legitimate issues relating to credit and liquidity availability be an interference with the RBI. The Government consistently maintained communications with the RBI Governors during its tenure,” Jaitley said.

Stating that the government does not interfere in any investigative function of CBI or any other investigative agency, Jaitley said restoring the credibility of an investigative agency is strengthening the institution and not assaulting it.&nbsp;

Accusing the Congress party of launching ‘fake campaigns’ against the defence forces, judiciary and Reserve Bank, Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said it is time to protect the country as well as its institutions from ‘institution wreckers’.

Accusing the Congress party of launching ‘fake campaigns’ against the defence forces, judiciary and Reserve Bank, Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said it is time to protect the country as well as its institutions from ‘institution wreckers’. In a hard-hitting Facebook post, the minister recalled how the Congress-led governments used to interfere with institutions like the RBI, judiciary and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). “It is about time that India and its institutions are protected from these ‘institution wreckers’,” said Jaitley, who Saturday returned from the US after medical treatment. In the post titled ‘Institutions Under Attack - The Latest Fabrication’, Jaitley said the past two months have witnessed several “fake campaigns” which failed to cut much ice as falsehood does not have longevity. × The ‘compulsive contrarians’ continued to jump from one falsehood to another, he said. Jaitley said in West Bengal, democracy is seriously under peril. “BJP leaders can’t land, public meetings are being prevented and the Rath Yatra was disallowed. The Congress Party’s stand on multiple issues is self-contradictory. It slaughters a cow before the cameras in Kerala, and invokes the National Security Act against the cow killers in Madhya Pradesh,” he said. There are two critical features of these new emerging breed of ‘institution protectors’. They criticise the government the maximum and simultaneously argue that the free speech is in danger, Jaitley said. “They shed crocodile tears for democracy and make every effort to convert the world’s largest democracy into a dynastic one,” he said. “The Congress aligned with the Maoist in the recent Chhattisgarh elections. Rahul Gandhi stood shoulder to shoulder with the ‘Tukde Tukde’ gang at the Jawaharlal Nehru University. The Congress was in the forefront of defending the urban naxals in court. And yet it claims to be friend of both, the idea of India and its institutions,” Jaitley said. He said these ‘institution protectors’ support the legitimising of illegal infiltrators into India. They readily jump to the support of those who want to dismember the country, he said. Accusing Congress President Rahul Gandhi of stalling functioning of Parliament, Jaitley said his two speeches on Rafale are based on a personal hatred for the Prime Minister emanating from envy. “History will record that Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru’s great grandson has singularly damaged India’s Parliament as an institution more than anyone else,” he said. The minister said the Congress attempts at 11.00 am every morning to disrupt both houses of Parliament. “If we analyse Rahul Gandhi’s two speeches on Rafale, they are based on a personal hatred for the Prime Minister emanating from envy. A failed student always hates the class topper. Additionally, the context of the speeches points more to college-level lumpenisation in content. “It has been left to two opposition members namely Bhartruhari Mahtab of the BJD and N.K. Premachandran of the RSP to fill up the intellectual vacuum that the Congress has created,” he said. On Rafale, Jaitley said the deal not only strengthens the combat ability of the Indian Air Force but saved thousands of crores for the exchequer. “When its falsehood collapsed, its creators by producing half a document lost their full credibility. They forgot that truth always prevails,” he said. Accusing the Congress of organising loot on the banks between 2008-2014, Jaitley said the party is now alleging that industrial loans had been waived. “Not a single rupee was waived. On the contrary, the defaulters have been thrown out of management & Congress’s falsehood was exposed,” he said. Stating that the government has consistently maintained an arm’s length distance with the Election Commission, he said the attack on the EVMs is not merely to allay defeat, it is an attack on the commission. He also said it is the Opposition which questioned first the existence of the surgical strike and then played it down as a routine action which has also taken place in the past. “The Army Chief was described as a ‘Sadak ka Gunda’. Serious doubts have been raised on the Air Force led choice of the combat aircraft Rafale and its negotiation process. In the face of all this, they allege that institutions are under attack by the Government would be a mockery” he said. On RBI, Jaitley said Congress governments in the past have been liberal in asking governors of the central bank to quit. “Pt. Nehru, Mrs Indira Gandhi and subsequently Mr Yashwant Sinha had asked Governors to quit. During the UPA Government, two Governors were barely on speaking terms with the Finance Minister. Nothing of this kind has happened in the recent past,” he said. The government legitimately flags the issues relating to liquidity and credit availability with the RBI, Jaitley said. “The Government is the principal manager of the nation’s economy. How can raising legitimate issues relating to credit and liquidity availability be an interference with the RBI. The Government consistently maintained communications with the RBI Governors during its tenure,” Jaitley said. Stating that the government does not interfere in any investigative function of CBI or any other investigative agency, Jaitley said restoring the credibility of an investigative agency is strengthening the institution and not assaulting it.

Arun Jaitley attacks Rahul Gandhi, says 'a failed student always hates topper’

A combative Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday termed as “incomplete” and “distorted” the news item published by a newspaper about “parallel negotiations” by the PMO in the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-reaction-nothing-to-worry-said-manohar-parrikar-on-defence-ministrys-dissent-note-on-rafale-deal-196056">Rafale fighter deal </a>and wondered whether “doubts” were being deliberated created in the minds of people because of some “corporate warfare”.

In an exclusive interview to ANI in Delhi, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/opposition-flogging-a-dead-horse-says-sitharaman-after-uproar-in-parliament-over-rafale-196013">Sitharaman slammed Congress</a> President Rahul Gandhi for constantly raising questions over the Rafale deal, equating him to a “parrot” and asked what “moral authority” he has to do so when he, along with his mother Sonia Gandhi and brother-in-law Robert Vadra are on bail.

She asserted that it is the duty of the Prime Minister to monitor progress in any deal or project and if the PMO checks on these, it cannot be termed as “interference”.

Referring to the news item which appeared in a newspaper on Friday, Sitharaman alleged that it was “half truth, with the intention ... to create doubt in the minds of the reader.”

The minister questioned whether it was not the “responsibility” of the journalist to try to get complete details or get response from the ministry before publishing the item. Even if there was no response, an attempt could have been made, she added.

She said that while publishing the file notings of an officer of the Defence Ministry, the journalist should have looked for the response of the Defence Minister “But what they have done in publishing the item is not a complete job,” Sitharaman said.

She said it was her “suspicion and I have reason to suspect” that publication of the news item was “an attempt by some people, either by doing themselves, or whether because of corporate warfare that is going on.”

Rejecting the contention about “interference” by the PMO, the Defence Minister said any PMO, not just under NarendraModi, would “naturally monitor” the progress of any deal or even programmes like AyushmanBharat.

“The Prime Minister is the first among equals (in a Cabinet) and if PMO checks on a ministry, it is not interference.... If the PMO is asking what is the status (of a project), it is not interference,” Sitharaman underlined.

She then went on to attack the Congress, questioning the role of National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi when Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister.

“If this (PMO asking about progress of a project) is seen as interference, I ask the Congress, what was the NAC under Sonia Gandhi.... What was its role? They were not under PMO or Cabinet Secretariat?.. &nbsp;Did it have any statutory status.... It was remote-controlling the PM. Was it not interference?” 
To a question, he equated Gandhi to a “parrot” which keeps repeating something and said “You can wake up someone who is sleeping but not someone who pretends to sleep.”

Targeting Gandhi, she asked, “Why is he on bail? Why is his mother on bail? Why is his brother-in-law on bail? How has he moral authority to question the PM?”

Referring to the Congress President’s press conference held this morning, Sitharaman said, “See how he is provoking the armed forces.... What was his language at the press conference. Nobody asked him what kind of language are you using? ... Are you provoking the armed forces?”

She said Modi monitors projects even at district level, earlier as Gujarat Chief Minister and now as Prime Minister.

“Otherwise, you think progress could have been made at this speed, without corruption, without middlemen? ...He monitors and ensures implementation of decisions,” Sitharaman said.

Asked whether she, as Defence Minister, was worried as letters about Rafale deal were getting leaked.In response, she said, “I am not worried about Rafale or any other decision we have taken, because we have gone on merit... But through selective leaking, distorted versions, false impression is created.”

A combative Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday termed as “incomplete” and “distorted” the news item published by a newspaper about “parallel negotiations” by the PMO in the Rafale fighter deal and wondered whether “doubts” were being deliberated created in the minds of people because of some “corporate warfare”.

A combative Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday termed as “incomplete” and “distorted” the news item published by a newspaper about “parallel negotiations” by the PMO in the Rafale fighter deal and wondered whether “doubts” were being deliberated created in the minds of people because of some “corporate warfare”. In an exclusive interview to ANI in Delhi, Sitharaman slammed Congress President Rahul Gandhi for constantly raising questions over the Rafale deal, equating him to a “parrot” and asked what “moral authority” he has to do so when he, along with his mother Sonia Gandhi and brother-in-law Robert Vadra are on bail. She asserted that it is the duty of the Prime Minister to monitor progress in any deal or project and if the PMO checks on these, it cannot be termed as “interference”. Referring to the news item which appeared in a newspaper on Friday, Sitharaman alleged that it was “half truth, with the intention ... to create doubt in the minds of the reader.” The minister questioned whether it was not the “responsibility” of the journalist to try to get complete details or get response from the ministry before publishing the item. Even if there was no response, an attempt could have been made, she added. She said that while publishing the file notings of an officer of the Defence Ministry, the journalist should have looked for the response of the Defence Minister “But what they have done in publishing the item is not a complete job,” Sitharaman said. She said it was her “suspicion and I have reason to suspect” that publication of the news item was “an attempt by some people, either by doing themselves, or whether because of corporate warfare that is going on.” Rejecting the contention about “interference” by the PMO, the Defence Minister said any PMO, not just under NarendraModi, would “naturally monitor” the progress of any deal or even programmes like AyushmanBharat. “The Prime Minister is the first among equals (in a Cabinet) and if PMO checks on a ministry, it is not interference.... If the PMO is asking what is the status (of a project), it is not interference,” Sitharaman underlined. She then went on to attack the Congress, questioning the role of National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi when Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister. “If this (PMO asking about progress of a project) is seen as interference, I ask the Congress, what was the NAC under Sonia Gandhi.... What was its role? They were not under PMO or Cabinet Secretariat?.. Did it have any statutory status.... It was remote-controlling the PM. Was it not interference?” To a question, he equated Gandhi to a “parrot” which keeps repeating something and said “You can wake up someone who is sleeping but not someone who pretends to sleep.” Targeting Gandhi, she asked, “Why is he on bail? Why is his mother on bail? Why is his brother-in-law on bail? How has he moral authority to question the PM?” Referring to the Congress President’s press conference held this morning, Sitharaman said, “See how he is provoking the armed forces.... What was his language at the press conference. Nobody asked him what kind of language are you using? ... Are you provoking the armed forces?” She said Modi monitors projects even at district level, earlier as Gujarat Chief Minister and now as Prime Minister. “Otherwise, you think progress could have been made at this speed, without corruption, without middlemen? ...He monitors and ensures implementation of decisions,” Sitharaman said. Asked whether she, as Defence Minister, was worried as letters about Rafale deal were getting leaked.In response, she said, “I am not worried about Rafale or any other decision we have taken, because we have gone on merit... But through selective leaking, distorted versions, false impression is created.”

He has no moral authority to question PM while being on bail himself: Sitharaman slams Rahul Gandhi

India's defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman rubbishes newspaper report; hits back at Rahul Gandhi

Nothing is permanent in Indian politics. Right after a triple victory in Assembly elections, Congress lost Jind in Haryana and Mausam Noor shifted her loyalty to TMC from Congress in West Bengal.&nbsp;

In this context, what has happened in Mumbai is also not a small development. It has brought out fissures in the party in open before the Lok Sabha elections.&nbsp;

Senior leaders have addressed internal issues in public drawing strong attention of the ruling dispensation to the state of affairs within the Congress. 
&nbsp; 
Today, Mumbai Congress stands split wide open over the issue of leadership and choice of candidates. Ticket distribution has dominated the reportage but the real reason for the tiff lies elsewhere. The fight also brings out the tussle between who started their political career from Congress and those who joined after having a career in regional parties.&nbsp;

In this case, for Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam - Shiv Sena will always remain a baggage. 
&nbsp; 
A lot of local leaders within the Congress feel that Mumbai Congress is on the verge of becoming a casualty of identity politics. Mumbai’s electorate is primarily divided among Marathi, Gujarati and people from North India.&nbsp;

Leaders like Milind Deora feel that aggressive polarisation between communities has upset Gujarati and Marathi communities in Mumbai. Some local politicians believe that aggressive identity politics done by past party presidents like Kripashankar Singh, Janardan Chandurkar and present chief by Sanjay Nirupam have alienated the Gujarati and Marathi votes from the Congress. This section feels that strong identity politics is Shiv Sena's domain and Congress should not walk the same path as it is a&nbsp;recipient of votes from&nbsp;broad section of the society. 
&nbsp; 
Many leaders in Congress admit that aggressive politics on identity is a departure from the politics of the earlier era. Rajni Patel was a Gujarati who could manage a broad spectrum of communities for the Congress. Murli Deora was a Marwari who stayed as Mumbai Congress president for 22 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gurudas Kamat was a Kannadiga but avoided hard identity politics. The view is that hard identity politics is Shiv Sena’s domain and Congress would not fetch political results if it tries to walk the same route.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
On the other hand, the detractors argue that Marathi votes would get divided between all the parties in the fray in Mumbai, and Gujarati votes are, anyways, predisposed towards Prime minister Narendra Modi, and hence, the strategy to go after the North Indian votes is a good one.&nbsp;

But all these perspectives instead of being discussed behind close room are being debated in public. 
&nbsp; 
Subsequently, the squabble has found expression in ticket distribution in Mumbai. Who gets which seat is a big question. Whether Sanjay Nirupam should get Mumbai North West or Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi or Kripa Shankar Singh is a matter of debate.&nbsp;

Whether Sanjay Nirupam should be replaced and Milind Deora be made the Mumbai Congress chief is again a matter of&nbsp;strategy. 
&nbsp; 
But if Congress does not put its own house in order then it would be in no position to fight BJP-Shiv Sena combine in Maharashtra. It should worry the Congress leadership in Delhi. When Congress beat BJP in 2009 Lok Sabha elections, it did very well in both Mumbai and Delhi. Both cities represent a cosmopolitan idea of India and unfortunately, the party lies in a disarray.&nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Nothing is permanent in Indian politics. Right after a triple victory in Assembly elections, Congress lost Jind in Haryana and Mausam Noor shifted her loyalty to TMC from Congress in West Bengal.

Nothing is permanent in Indian politics. Right after a triple victory in Assembly elections, Congress lost Jind in Haryana and Mausam Noor shifted her loyalty to TMC from Congress in West Bengal. In this context, what has happened in Mumbai is also not a small development. It has brought out fissures in the party in open before the Lok Sabha elections. Senior leaders have addressed internal issues in public drawing strong attention of the ruling dispensation to the state of affairs within the Congress. Today, Mumbai Congress stands split wide open over the issue of leadership and choice of candidates. Ticket distribution has dominated the reportage but the real reason for the tiff lies elsewhere. The fight also brings out the tussle between who started their political career from Congress and those who joined after having a career in regional parties. In this case, for Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam - Shiv Sena will always remain a baggage. A lot of local leaders within the Congress feel that Mumbai Congress is on the verge of becoming a casualty of identity politics. Mumbai’s electorate is primarily divided among Marathi, Gujarati and people from North India. Leaders like Milind Deora feel that aggressive polarisation between communities has upset Gujarati and Marathi communities in Mumbai. Some local politicians believe that aggressive identity politics done by past party presidents like Kripashankar Singh, Janardan Chandurkar and present chief by Sanjay Nirupam have alienated the Gujarati and Marathi votes from the Congress. This section feels that strong identity politics is Shiv Sena's domain and Congress should not walk the same path as it is a recipient of votes from broad section of the society. Many leaders in Congress admit that aggressive politics on identity is a departure from the politics of the earlier era. Rajni Patel was a Gujarati who could manage a broad spectrum of communities for the Congress. Murli Deora was a Marwari who stayed as Mumbai Congress president for 22 years. Gurudas Kamat was a Kannadiga but avoided hard identity politics. The view is that hard identity politics is Shiv Sena’s domain and Congress would not fetch political results if it tries to walk the same route. On the other hand, the detractors argue that Marathi votes would get divided between all the parties in the fray in Mumbai, and Gujarati votes are, anyways, predisposed towards Prime minister Narendra Modi, and hence, the strategy to go after the North Indian votes is a good one. But all these perspectives instead of being discussed behind close room are being debated in public. Subsequently, the squabble has found expression in ticket distribution in Mumbai. Who gets which seat is a big question. Whether Sanjay Nirupam should get Mumbai North West or Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi or Kripa Shankar Singh is a matter of debate. Whether Sanjay Nirupam should be replaced and Milind Deora be made the Mumbai Congress chief is again a matter of strategy. But if Congress does not put its own house in order then it would be in no position to fight BJP-Shiv Sena combine in Maharashtra. It should worry the Congress leadership in Delhi. When Congress beat BJP in 2009 Lok Sabha elections, it did very well in both Mumbai and Delhi. Both cities represent a cosmopolitan idea of India and unfortunately, the party lies in a disarray. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Congress's Mumbai blues: Locals vs outsiders at heart of the debate

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Wednesday took charge as AICC general secretary and will helm the party's affairs in Uttar Pradesh East.

She assumed charge after dropping her husband Robert Vadra at the ED office. She then met party workers.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Congress General Secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrives at Congress Headquarters in Delhi. Earlier today she had accompanied her husband Robert Vadra to Enforcement Directorate Office &amp; left soon after. <a href="https://t.co/2RDbaHG5JV">pic.twitter.com/2RDbaHG5JV</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1093105990340354048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Priyanka was appointed as general secretary and in-charge of Uttar Pradesh east on January 23 by her brother and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.

Her office is adjacent to the room of her brother at the party headquarters at Akbar Road here.

She will attend her first official meeting on Thursday. Rahul has convened the meeting of all general secretaries and in-charges of various states to plan the strategy for the Lok Sabha elections. 
&nbsp;

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Wednesday took charge as AICC general secretary and will helm the party's affairs in Uttar Pradesh East. She assumed charge after dropping her husband Robert Vadra at the ED office.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Wednesday took charge as AICC general secretary and will helm the party's affairs in Uttar Pradesh East. She assumed charge after dropping her husband Robert Vadra at the ED office. She then met party workers. #WATCH: Congress General Secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrives at Congress Headquarters in Delhi. Earlier today she had accompanied her husband Robert Vadra to Enforcement Directorate Office & left soon after. pic.twitter.com/2RDbaHG5JV — ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2019 × Priyanka was appointed as general secretary and in-charge of Uttar Pradesh east on January 23 by her brother and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. Her office is adjacent to the room of her brother at the party headquarters at Akbar Road here. She will attend her first official meeting on Thursday. Rahul has convened the meeting of all general secretaries and in-charges of various states to plan the strategy for the Lok Sabha elections.

Priyanka Gandhi assumes charge as AICC general secretary

Posters outside the AICC office featuring Congress President Rahul Gandhi along with newly inducted party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra were on Wednesday taken down by the NDMC.

Vadra’s photograph was featured along with the two Gandhi siblings in the posters which had “Kattar soch nahi yuva josh” (No extremist thinking but youthful thinking) written on top and along with the tag line of “Jan Jan ki hai Pukar, Rahul Ji Priyank Ji abki baar” (The public wants Rahul and Priyanka this time).

The posters that came up outside the Congress Party’s headquarters office at Akbar Road in Delhi late on Tuesday were removed by workers of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) on Wedesday morning. &nbsp;

BJP leader Sambit Patra said the posters that had come up were of criminals.&nbsp;

“Posters of two criminals have been put in front of Congress office. Both of them are out on bail; Criminal no.1 Rahul Gandhi in connection with National Herald case and criminal number two Robert Vadra who has to appear before ED today in connection with money laundering case.”

Robert Vadra is to appear before the Enforcement Directorate pertaining to a 2009 petroleum deal case.

A Delhi court had given Vadra interim bail till February 16 in connection with a &nbsp;money laundering case.

Jagdish Sharma, who had helped in putting up the posters said, “I put up the posters at 4 am in the morning. Later on, I got the information that NDMC removed all the posters,” Sharma said. &nbsp;

The posters come a day after Priyanka Gandhi returned to the national capital after her trip abroad, Soon after her arrival Priyanka conducted meeting with Rahul and other prominent members of the party to review ongoing preparations for the Lok Sabha polls.&nbsp;

Posters outside the AICC office featuring Congress President Rahul Gandhi along with newly inducted party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra were on Wednesday taken down by the NDMC.

Posters outside the AICC office featuring Congress President Rahul Gandhi along with newly inducted party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra were on Wednesday taken down by the NDMC. Vadra’s photograph was featured along with the two Gandhi siblings in the posters which had “Kattar soch nahi yuva josh” (No extremist thinking but youthful thinking) written on top and along with the tag line of “Jan Jan ki hai Pukar, Rahul Ji Priyank Ji abki baar” (The public wants Rahul and Priyanka this time). The posters that came up outside the Congress Party’s headquarters office at Akbar Road in Delhi late on Tuesday were removed by workers of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) on Wedesday morning. BJP leader Sambit Patra said the posters that had come up were of criminals. “Posters of two criminals have been put in front of Congress office. Both of them are out on bail; Criminal no.1 Rahul Gandhi in connection with National Herald case and criminal number two Robert Vadra who has to appear before ED today in connection with money laundering case.” Robert Vadra is to appear before the Enforcement Directorate pertaining to a 2009 petroleum deal case. A Delhi court had given Vadra interim bail till February 16 in connection with a money laundering case. Jagdish Sharma, who had helped in putting up the posters said, “I put up the posters at 4 am in the morning. Later on, I got the information that NDMC removed all the posters,” Sharma said. The posters come a day after Priyanka Gandhi returned to the national capital after her trip abroad, Soon after her arrival Priyanka conducted meeting with Rahul and other prominent members of the party to review ongoing preparations for the Lok Sabha polls.

NDMC removes posters featuring Rahul-Priyanka-Robert outside AICC headquarters

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday said Congress president Rahul Gandhi was qualified to be the prime minister.

Tejashwi is the second Opposition leader after Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin to propose the Congress chief`s name as the prime ministerial candidate. He stressed that the Gandhi scion was "capable and qualified" for the post.

"You have all the qualifications to become the next Prime Minister. Rahul Gandhi is capable and qualified for the post of Prime Minister. The biggest responsibility for the Congress is to take along all the other parties", Tejashwi said at the 'Jan Akanksha Rally'&nbsp;at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna.

He further said that if Gandhi became the Prime Minister, then he would focus more on Bihar.

The RJD leader said that the Congress` biggest responsibility was to save democracy in the country.

Tejashwi accused the BJP of not fulfilling all promises they made in 2014 and alleged that they were using institutions like CBI and ED to target its political opponents.

Earlier, Stalin, while addressing a rally in Chennai in December last year, said that if Gandhi became the Prime Minister, he could provide a stable government, adding that the Congress chief had the ability to defeat the "fascist" Narendra Modi-led government.

Later, the DMK chief defended his comments saying there was nothing wrong with his suggestion as he was merely expressing the wishes of the people of Tamil Nadu."Yes, I did propose the name of Rahul Gandhi as the next prime ministerial candidate (for Lok Sabha elections) in the DMK rally. What is wrong with it? It was the wishes of the people of Tamil Nadu," Stalin had said.

The comments by both Stalin and Tejashwi assumes significance when all the political parties have come forward ahead of the general elections, just a few months away, to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday said Congress president Rahul Gandhi was qualified to be the prime minister. Tejashwi is the second Opposition leader after Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin to propose the Congress chief`s name as the prime ministerial candidate.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday said Congress president Rahul Gandhi was qualified to be the prime minister. Tejashwi is the second Opposition leader after Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin to propose the Congress chief`s name as the prime ministerial candidate. He stressed that the Gandhi scion was "capable and qualified" for the post. "You have all the qualifications to become the next Prime Minister. Rahul Gandhi is capable and qualified for the post of Prime Minister. The biggest responsibility for the Congress is to take along all the other parties", Tejashwi said at the 'Jan Akanksha Rally' at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna. He further said that if Gandhi became the Prime Minister, then he would focus more on Bihar. The RJD leader said that the Congress` biggest responsibility was to save democracy in the country. Tejashwi accused the BJP of not fulfilling all promises they made in 2014 and alleged that they were using institutions like CBI and ED to target its political opponents. Earlier, Stalin, while addressing a rally in Chennai in December last year, said that if Gandhi became the Prime Minister, he could provide a stable government, adding that the Congress chief had the ability to defeat the "fascist" Narendra Modi-led government. Later, the DMK chief defended his comments saying there was nothing wrong with his suggestion as he was merely expressing the wishes of the people of Tamil Nadu."Yes, I did propose the name of Rahul Gandhi as the next prime ministerial candidate (for Lok Sabha elections) in the DMK rally. What is wrong with it? It was the wishes of the people of Tamil Nadu," Stalin had said. The comments by both Stalin and Tejashwi assumes significance when all the political parties have come forward ahead of the general elections, just a few months away, to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

After Stalin, Tejashwi Yadav backs Rahul Gandhi as PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday attacked the Congress for using farm loan waivers as a gimmick ahead of the election to win votes and said the party's previous such initiative benefitted only middlemen and select farmers.

He listed out various measures, including direct income support of Rs 6,000 to farmers cultivating on up to five acres of land, being taken by the central government to ensure welfare of the peasants neglected by the "previous governments".&nbsp;

"Congress always left out 70-80 per cent poor farmers from the benefit of their farm loan waiver scheme. What about these people?" he asked.

Modi laid foundation stones of various development projects worth Rs 6,000 crore which include setting up of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Vijaypur, a bridge over river Chenab, pollution abatement project on rivers Devika and Tawi, a campus of Northern Regional Centre of Indian Institute of Mass Communication and University Institute of Engineering and Technology in Kathua.&nbsp;

Addressing a public rally in Vijaypur, the prime minister cited proposed amendments in the Citizenship Bill saying the country stands with those who faced persecution on the basis of their faith.

"We have brought the matter of change in Citizenship Bill with a commitment. Those (people) who had to part with India due to some condition in 1947, if they face persecution on the basis of their faith then the country has to stand with them," he said.&nbsp;

The Citizenship Bill seeks to grant nationality to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution from three neighbouring countries -- Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh and entered India before December 31, 2014.

Protests were witnessed in different parts of the country over the Bill which has been passed by Lok Sabha.&nbsp;

Modi also talked about a "very emotional issue" of Kashmiri Pandits, saying he has been bearing the pain of their exodus.

He said the central government is committed to ensuring respect and dignity of the displaced community.

"The pain that they had to undergo. That they had to leave their homeland. I have never said this before but I have been feeling this pain of their within me," the prime minister said.

Modi said the government is going to build 14,000 bunkers in border areas of Jammu to ensure safety of people.

"The government is dealing strictly with the terrorism (being faced by the state)," he said.

He accused the Congress of lying on the issue of 'one rank, one pension' (OROP) to retired defence personnel.

"How much they (Congress) lie? They talked big on the issue of welfare of ex-servicemen and allocated a meagre Rs 500 crore whereas this government has allocated over Rs 35,000 crore which included arrears worth Rs 11,000 crore," he said.

Modi said that if required attention had been given to the issue of Kartarpur corridor, then the pious land of Guru Nanak Dev would have been part of India.

The corridor, whose foundation stone was laid late last year, will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur - the final resting place of the Sikhism founder Guru Nanak - with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims, who will only have to obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib, established in 1522 by Guru Nanak.&nbsp;

During the address, the prime minister hit out at so-called "wise and big people" in the opposition parties for ridiculing his government's Jan Dhan scheme of financial inclusion, saying the bank accounts opened under it will help in ensuring that the benefits of recently-announced PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi programme reach its right beneficiary.&nbsp;

"Those ridiculing me have now realised what these accounts will be used for," he said.

Referring to upcoming general elections, the Prime Minister said the 'jung (war)' of 2019 is for taking country ahead.&nbsp;

He said the PM-Kisan scheme has been allocated Rs 75,000 crore annually which will mean Rs 7.5 lakh crore will be deposited in farmers' account in the next 10 years.

The scheme aims to cover 90 per cent of farmers who have less than five acres of land and Rs 6,000 will be transferred to their accounts annually in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000, Modi said, adding that efforts were being made to ensure the release of the first instalment at the earliest.&nbsp;

Attacking the Congress for promising farm loan waivers, he said that it is a temporary solution for the problem which the Congress uses to win elections only.

The Congress had promised to waive loans of farmers in 2008-09 which were in the range of Rs 6 lakh crore but when it came to power it only gave relief in loans worth Rs 52,000 crore, he said.&nbsp;

"CAG report found that about 30-35 lakh people who received these waivers were not even eligible to get it," Modi said at the rally in Vijaypur near Jammu.

Ridiculing the loan waiver scheme announced by the new Congress dispensation in Madhya Pradesh, the prime minister said some beneficiaries have been given cheques of Rs 13 only.

"People know the track record of country's 'naamdar'. They get 'fever' of loan waivers just before elections...They try to act as 'messiah' of farmers by announcing farm loan waivers once in 10 years," he said referring to the UPA's 10-year rule between 2004 and 2014.&nbsp;

Ironically, the BJP had also announced loan waivers for farmers in Uttar Pradesh ahead of assembly elections in 2017.

After assuming power, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had announced loan waivers of up to Rs 1 lakh for small and marginal farmers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday attacked the Congress for using farm loan waivers as a gimmick ahead of the election to win votes and said the party's previous such initiative benefitted only middlemen and select farmers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday attacked the Congress for using farm loan waivers as a gimmick ahead of the election to win votes and said the party's previous such initiative benefitted only middlemen and select farmers. He listed out various measures, including direct income support of Rs 6,000 to farmers cultivating on up to five acres of land, being taken by the central government to ensure welfare of the peasants neglected by the "previous governments". "Congress always left out 70-80 per cent poor farmers from the benefit of their farm loan waiver scheme. What about these people?" he asked. Modi laid foundation stones of various development projects worth Rs 6,000 crore which include setting up of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Vijaypur, a bridge over river Chenab, pollution abatement project on rivers Devika and Tawi, a campus of Northern Regional Centre of Indian Institute of Mass Communication and University Institute of Engineering and Technology in Kathua. Addressing a public rally in Vijaypur, the prime minister cited proposed amendments in the Citizenship Bill saying the country stands with those who faced persecution on the basis of their faith. "We have brought the matter of change in Citizenship Bill with a commitment. Those (people) who had to part with India due to some condition in 1947, if they face persecution on the basis of their faith then the country has to stand with them," he said. The Citizenship Bill seeks to grant nationality to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution from three neighbouring countries -- Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh and entered India before December 31, 2014. Protests were witnessed in different parts of the country over the Bill which has been passed by Lok Sabha. Modi also talked about a "very emotional issue" of Kashmiri Pandits, saying he has been bearing the pain of their exodus. He said the central government is committed to ensuring respect and dignity of the displaced community. "The pain that they had to undergo. That they had to leave their homeland. I have never said this before but I have been feeling this pain of their within me," the prime minister said. Modi said the government is going to build 14,000 bunkers in border areas of Jammu to ensure safety of people. "The government is dealing strictly with the terrorism (being faced by the state)," he said. He accused the Congress of lying on the issue of 'one rank, one pension' (OROP) to retired defence personnel. "How much they (Congress) lie? They talked big on the issue of welfare of ex-servicemen and allocated a meagre Rs 500 crore whereas this government has allocated over Rs 35,000 crore which included arrears worth Rs 11,000 crore," he said. Modi said that if required attention had been given to the issue of Kartarpur corridor, then the pious land of Guru Nanak Dev would have been part of India. The corridor, whose foundation stone was laid late last year, will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur - the final resting place of the Sikhism founder Guru Nanak - with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims, who will only have to obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib, established in 1522 by Guru Nanak. During the address, the prime minister hit out at so-called "wise and big people" in the opposition parties for ridiculing his government's Jan Dhan scheme of financial inclusion, saying the bank accounts opened under it will help in ensuring that the benefits of recently-announced PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi programme reach its right beneficiary. "Those ridiculing me have now realised what these accounts will be used for," he said. Referring to upcoming general elections, the Prime Minister said the 'jung (war)' of 2019 is for taking country ahead. He said the PM-Kisan scheme has been allocated Rs 75,000 crore annually which will mean Rs 7.5 lakh crore will be deposited in farmers' account in the next 10 years. The scheme aims to cover 90 per cent of farmers who have less than five acres of land and Rs 6,000 will be transferred to their accounts annually in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000, Modi said, adding that efforts were being made to ensure the release of the first instalment at the earliest. Attacking the Congress for promising farm loan waivers, he said that it is a temporary solution for the problem which the Congress uses to win elections only. The Congress had promised to waive loans of farmers in 2008-09 which were in the range of Rs 6 lakh crore but when it came to power it only gave relief in loans worth Rs 52,000 crore, he said. "CAG report found that about 30-35 lakh people who received these waivers were not even eligible to get it," Modi said at the rally in Vijaypur near Jammu. Ridiculing the loan waiver scheme announced by the new Congress dispensation in Madhya Pradesh, the prime minister said some beneficiaries have been given cheques of Rs 13 only. "People know the track record of country's 'naamdar'. They get 'fever' of loan waivers just before elections...They try to act as 'messiah' of farmers by announcing farm loan waivers once in 10 years," he said referring to the UPA's 10-year rule between 2004 and 2014. Ironically, the BJP had also announced loan waivers for farmers in Uttar Pradesh ahead of assembly elections in 2017. After assuming power, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had announced loan waivers of up to Rs 1 lakh for small and marginal farmers.

PM Modi attacks Congress for farm loan waiver 'gimmick'

BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday said a Ram temple should be built in Ayodhya at the earliest and dared the Congress to spell out its own stand on the issue.

"The Kumbh fair is on and it is only natural that the demand for a Ram temple is being raised," he said at a meeting of the party's booth-level workers in Dehradun, virtually launching the BJP's campaign in Uttarakhand for the Lok Sabha polls.

"The BJP's stand has always been clear on the issue and I want to declare today that the Ram Temple in Ayodhya should be built at the earliest. Will Rahul Gandhi too define his stand on the issue?" Mr Shah said to loud cheers of Jai Shri Ram.

At the Parade Ground meeting, the Bharatiya Janata Party chief also hit out at opposition attempts to forge a 'mahagathbandhan', or a grand alliance, for the parliamentary elections just months away.

He accused the Congress of putting up obstacles to the temple's construction through "its lawyers" in the Supreme Court.

Mr Shah was referring to a plea in 2017 by Kapil Sibal, who was representing the Sunni Waqf Board, to postpone hearings in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute till the Lok Sabha elections are over.

"The Congress should come forward and explain why it had sought deferment of the hearing in the country's oldest title suit," Mr Shah said.

The Supreme Court had turned down the plea.

Mr Shah contrasted this with the recent petition by the BJP government in the Supreme Court, seeking to return the land around the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site to its original owners.

His remarks follow increasing demands on the BJP-led government from Hindutva organisations, and seers who held meetings at the Kumbh Mela recently, to ensure an early construction of the temple.

Mr Shah called the 'mahagathbandhan' a desperate coming together of political forces opposed to each other as they cannot think of taking on Narendra Modi alone.

"The bua-bhatija (aunt and nephew) have come together in Uttar Pradesh. Do you think they will stay together?" he said, referring to the alliance between Bahujan Samaj Party's Mayawati and Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav in the state.

"Who is going to listen to a Chandrababu Naidu at a public meeting in Haldwani or a Deve Gowda in Dehradun? They are leaders of regional parties with a limited appeal," the BJP leader said.

"Their only aim is 'Modi Hatao' (Remove Modi) whereas Narendra Modi wants to remove poverty, corruption and diseases," he said.

He said casteism and dynastic politics had no future in the country and urged people to bring back PM Modi with a clear mandate if they wanted a government capable of delivering on its promises.

He asked them to ensure that the party wins all the five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand, as it did in 2014.

"Uttarakhand is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's priority," he said and referred to the makeover of Kedarnath after the 2013 floods.

He praised the interim Budget presented on Friday, saying it took care of all sections of society, particularly farmers, women, the poor and the marginalised.

Highlighting the Budget provisions for the farmers, he mocked the Congress.

"Do you understand the difference between Rabi and Kharif? Do you know the problems of the farmers? Have you really connected with them ever?" he said, without naming anyone.

Mr Shah credited the PM Modi-led government with implementing the One Rank One Pension scheme for military veterans, saying successive Congress governments had failed to achieve this.

He said the booth-level workers are the party's real strength and they alone can steer it to a thumping victory.

Mr Shah said coming to address their meeting reminded him of his initial days in the party.

"This is possible only in a party like BJP which is governed by democratic principles. A small party worker like me who pasted party posters on poles and pillars rose to become its president and a tea seller's son the country's prime minister," he said.

BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday said a Ram temple should be built in Ayodhya at the earliest and dared the Congress to spell out its own stand on the issue. "The Kumbh fair is on and it is only natural that the demand for a Ram temple is being raised," he said at a meeting of the party's booth-level workers in Dehradun, virtually launching the BJP's campaign in Uttarakhand for the Lok Sabha polls.

BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday said a Ram temple should be built in Ayodhya at the earliest and dared the Congress to spell out its own stand on the issue. "The Kumbh fair is on and it is only natural that the demand for a Ram temple is being raised," he said at a meeting of the party's booth-level workers in Dehradun, virtually launching the BJP's campaign in Uttarakhand for the Lok Sabha polls. "The BJP's stand has always been clear on the issue and I want to declare today that the Ram Temple in Ayodhya should be built at the earliest. Will Rahul Gandhi too define his stand on the issue?" Mr Shah said to loud cheers of Jai Shri Ram. At the Parade Ground meeting, the Bharatiya Janata Party chief also hit out at opposition attempts to forge a 'mahagathbandhan', or a grand alliance, for the parliamentary elections just months away. He accused the Congress of putting up obstacles to the temple's construction through "its lawyers" in the Supreme Court. Mr Shah was referring to a plea in 2017 by Kapil Sibal, who was representing the Sunni Waqf Board, to postpone hearings in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute till the Lok Sabha elections are over. "The Congress should come forward and explain why it had sought deferment of the hearing in the country's oldest title suit," Mr Shah said. The Supreme Court had turned down the plea. Mr Shah contrasted this with the recent petition by the BJP government in the Supreme Court, seeking to return the land around the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site to its original owners. His remarks follow increasing demands on the BJP-led government from Hindutva organisations, and seers who held meetings at the Kumbh Mela recently, to ensure an early construction of the temple. Mr Shah called the 'mahagathbandhan' a desperate coming together of political forces opposed to each other as they cannot think of taking on Narendra Modi alone. "The bua-bhatija (aunt and nephew) have come together in Uttar Pradesh. Do you think they will stay together?" he said, referring to the alliance between Bahujan Samaj Party's Mayawati and Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav in the state. "Who is going to listen to a Chandrababu Naidu at a public meeting in Haldwani or a Deve Gowda in Dehradun? They are leaders of regional parties with a limited appeal," the BJP leader said. "Their only aim is 'Modi Hatao' (Remove Modi) whereas Narendra Modi wants to remove poverty, corruption and diseases," he said. He said casteism and dynastic politics had no future in the country and urged people to bring back PM Modi with a clear mandate if they wanted a government capable of delivering on its promises. He asked them to ensure that the party wins all the five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand, as it did in 2014. "Uttarakhand is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's priority," he said and referred to the makeover of Kedarnath after the 2013 floods. He praised the interim Budget presented on Friday, saying it took care of all sections of society, particularly farmers, women, the poor and the marginalised. Highlighting the Budget provisions for the farmers, he mocked the Congress. "Do you understand the difference between Rabi and Kharif? Do you know the problems of the farmers? Have you really connected with them ever?" he said, without naming anyone. Mr Shah credited the PM Modi-led government with implementing the One Rank One Pension scheme for military veterans, saying successive Congress governments had failed to achieve this. He said the booth-level workers are the party's real strength and they alone can steer it to a thumping victory. Mr Shah said coming to address their meeting reminded him of his initial days in the party. "This is possible only in a party like BJP which is governed by democratic principles. A small party worker like me who pasted party posters on poles and pillars rose to become its president and a tea seller's son the country's prime minister," he said.

Rahul Gandhi should explain his stand on Ayodhya issue: Amit Shah

BJP president Amit Shah Saturday gave a new definition to the OROP, which normally refers to 'One Rank, One Pension', saying that in the Congress it translated to "Only Rahul, Only Priyanka".

Addressing booth-level workers in Amroha, he lauded the Union Budget presented in the Lok Sabha on Friday, which had proposed the highest defence budget of Rs 3 lakh crore to ensure the security of country's boundaries.

"The jawans who are deployed on snowy peaks for the defence of the country had been demanding 'One Rank, One Pension', but the Congress did not bring it in 70 years. The government which you made, fulfilled this in just one year and finalised the OROP," Shah said.

Referring to the pension scheme, the BJP chief took a dig at the Congress and said, "For them, OROP is 'Only Rahul, Only Priyanka'. While Narendra Modiji is working for our jawans, they are working for their family. Those who work for their family cannot take the country ahead."

Shah claimed that Congress president Rahul Gandhi was shaken as he listened to the Budget being read out in Parliament.

"It wiped the smile off his face," he claimed.

The BJP chief said Gandhi had felt it would be easy to get into power. "When he heard the Budget speech, he realised his turn will not come," Shah added.

The BJP president Saturday addressed the third meeting of party's booth-level workers in Uttar Pradesh.

"More than one crore workers are spread over all the booths in UP and are ready to go to the polls with the picture of Modiji. I have faith that when the army of patriotic workers of the BJP will go to the electoral battleground, they will pull down the fortress of opponents," he said.

Shah said the upcoming elections are extremely important both for the BJP and the country.

"We are yet to win Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Till the time the BJP does not win in 2019, it will not be able to hoist its flag from Kashmir to Kanyakumari," he said.

BJP president Amit Shah Saturday gave a new definition to the OROP, which normally refers to 'One Rank, One Pension', saying that in the Congress it translated to "Only Rahul, Only Priyanka".

BJP president Amit Shah Saturday gave a new definition to the OROP, which normally refers to 'One Rank, One Pension', saying that in the Congress it translated to "Only Rahul, Only Priyanka". Addressing booth-level workers in Amroha, he lauded the Union Budget presented in the Lok Sabha on Friday, which had proposed the highest defence budget of Rs 3 lakh crore to ensure the security of country's boundaries. "The jawans who are deployed on snowy peaks for the defence of the country had been demanding 'One Rank, One Pension', but the Congress did not bring it in 70 years. The government which you made, fulfilled this in just one year and finalised the OROP," Shah said. Referring to the pension scheme, the BJP chief took a dig at the Congress and said, "For them, OROP is 'Only Rahul, Only Priyanka'. While Narendra Modiji is working for our jawans, they are working for their family. Those who work for their family cannot take the country ahead." Shah claimed that Congress president Rahul Gandhi was shaken as he listened to the Budget being read out in Parliament. "It wiped the smile off his face," he claimed. The BJP chief said Gandhi had felt it would be easy to get into power. "When he heard the Budget speech, he realised his turn will not come," Shah added. The BJP president Saturday addressed the third meeting of party's booth-level workers in Uttar Pradesh. "More than one crore workers are spread over all the booths in UP and are ready to go to the polls with the picture of Modiji. I have faith that when the army of patriotic workers of the BJP will go to the electoral battleground, they will pull down the fortress of opponents," he said. Shah said the upcoming elections are extremely important both for the BJP and the country. "We are yet to win Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Till the time the BJP does not win in 2019, it will not be able to hoist its flag from Kashmir to Kanyakumari," he said.

For Congress, OROP means 'Only Rahul, Only Priyanka': Amit Shah

India Budget 2019: Rahul Gandhi tweets to mock high unemployment rate in India

On an oppressively hot June day in Lucknow 23 years ago, events unfolded that could impact the 2019 Lok Sabha election. &nbsp;Samajwadi Party (SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav was chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. SP had 109 seats in the 425-seat Uttar Pradesh Assembly. It was supported in a tense if outwardly cordial coalition government by Kanshi Ram’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with 67 seats. Mayawati, then 39-year-old and BSP’s general secretary was a rising star of the party.

On the evening of June 2, 1995, fearing that BSP would withdraw support for the SP-led coalition government, several SP MLAs and workers attacked a group of BSP MLAs closeted in a strategy meeting in the Lucknow state guest house.&nbsp;

The SP leaders’ aim was to break the BSP party by intimidating its MLAs. What followed exposed the violent DNA that characterises the SP even today.

As a leading daily reported on June 3, 1995, in an article titled Mulayam’s men attack BSP legislators’ meet: “The Samajwadi Party workers, armed with rifles and weapons, barged into a meeting room of the BSP workers…and assaulted the BSP legislators, ‘kidnapping’ some of them.&nbsp;

Senior BSP leaders, including Mayawati, slipped into a suite reserved for her in the guest house. The Lucknow SSP, OP Singh, as well as his men, were a mute witness as the SP men snapped the telephone and power lines…and started beating (the BSP MLAs) with lathis. About 300 SP miscreants were led by over a dozen party MLAs, mostly with a criminal background.” &nbsp;

The impact on Uttar Pradesh politics was immediate and dramatic. Motilal Vora, the longtime Congress loyalist (and currently in the news as one of those on bail in the National Herald case), was governor of Uttar Pradesh. Acting on Prime Minister Narasimha Rao’s advice, Vora promptly sacked Mulayam’s government on June 3.&nbsp;

The chief minister was not given an opportunity to prove his majority on the floor of the assembly. In an era bereft of television, social media and PIL activists, the Congress action went unchallenged.&nbsp;

But the Narasimha Rao government was in for a surprise. Within hours of Mulayam’s sacking, Mayawati tied up with the BJP and Janata Dal to extend outside support. She was sworn in as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh the same evening.&nbsp;

The ensuing decades-long enmity between the BSP and SP ensured that elections in Uttar Pradesh would henceforth be multi-cornered. The decline of the Congress, which had governed Uttar Pradesh for most of the period from 1950 to 1989, but never after 1989, coincided with the rise of Mayawati and the growing electoral importance of the Dalit vote.&nbsp;

Today Mayawati could prove the biggest obstacle for Congress president Rahul Gandhi in his bid to lead the anti-Narendra Modi mahagathbandhan.

Mayawati takes slights to heart. It took 23 years and an electoral wipeout of the BSP in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, for Mayawati to again collaborate with the SP’s new leadership under Akhilesh Yadav who was 18-year-old when the Lucknow state guest house attack took place.&nbsp;

Mayawati declared at her press conference with Akhilesh after formalising the BSP-SP pact in Uttar Pradesh that BSP would never support the Congress in the state or nationally. Mayawati, not Akhilesh, vetoed inclusion of the Congress in 2019 UP gathbandhan.&nbsp;

Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra’s entry into frontline politics in Uttar Pradesh complicates matters. The battle between Mayawati, guarding her turf in Uttar Pradesh, and Priyanka, seeking to re-establish Congress in the state, could lead to unintended consequences for both.

Sterner tests meanwhile await Mayawati at the national level. Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has thrown her hat into the mahagathbandhan ring. Meanwhile, the YSRCP’s Jaganmohan Reddy, TRS’s K Chandrashekar Rao and BJD’s Naveen Patnaik are manoeuvring to form a non-BJP, non-Congress front.

As Opposition leaders jockey for position, the Congress may be left with the task of being an anti-Modi choreographer, not a principal actor. That task could come down to a contest between Mayawati and Mamata. With each likely to win between 25 and 30 Lok Sabha seats in 2019, they will need to attract the non-BJP, non-Congress Third Front to join them in a coalition government and seek Congress support from within or outside.

Mayawati has a record as a tough administrator, but her government was beset with accusations of corruption, though none have been proved. Mamata too is under a cloud in the Saradha and Rosy Blue probes. Rahul Gandhi could thus end up as queen-maker.&nbsp;

With around 100 seats in 2019, the Congress will be the second largest party after the BJP. Rahul will have to put his prime ministerial ambitions on hold while he decides who between Mayawati and Mamata poses the least potent long-term threat to the Congress.

Watching this drama unfold, Modi and his Svengali Amit Shah will be doing some plotting of their own. As the events of June 3, 1995, demonstrated, the BJP and BSP have done business together. Mayawati is as unpredictable as Modi is imperturbable. Uttar Pradesh lifted him to power in 2014. Five years later, while the 10 per cent quota for economically weaker sections (EWS) may help the BJP arrest the alienation of UP’s upper castes, the Mayawati-Akhilesh gathbandhan could determine his future.&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-mayawati-holds-the-key-to-2019-2714388">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

 
&nbsp;

On an oppressively hot June day in Lucknow 23 years ago, events unfolded that could impact the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Samajwadi Party (SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav was chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

On an oppressively hot June day in Lucknow 23 years ago, events unfolded that could impact the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Samajwadi Party (SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav was chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. SP had 109 seats in the 425-seat Uttar Pradesh Assembly. It was supported in a tense if outwardly cordial coalition government by Kanshi Ram’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with 67 seats. Mayawati, then 39-year-old and BSP’s general secretary was a rising star of the party. On the evening of June 2, 1995, fearing that BSP would withdraw support for the SP-led coalition government, several SP MLAs and workers attacked a group of BSP MLAs closeted in a strategy meeting in the Lucknow state guest house. The SP leaders’ aim was to break the BSP party by intimidating its MLAs. What followed exposed the violent DNA that characterises the SP even today. As a leading daily reported on June 3, 1995, in an article titled Mulayam’s men attack BSP legislators’ meet: “The Samajwadi Party workers, armed with rifles and weapons, barged into a meeting room of the BSP workers…and assaulted the BSP legislators, ‘kidnapping’ some of them. Senior BSP leaders, including Mayawati, slipped into a suite reserved for her in the guest house. The Lucknow SSP, OP Singh, as well as his men, were a mute witness as the SP men snapped the telephone and power lines…and started beating (the BSP MLAs) with lathis. About 300 SP miscreants were led by over a dozen party MLAs, mostly with a criminal background.” The impact on Uttar Pradesh politics was immediate and dramatic. Motilal Vora, the longtime Congress loyalist (and currently in the news as one of those on bail in the National Herald case), was governor of Uttar Pradesh. Acting on Prime Minister Narasimha Rao’s advice, Vora promptly sacked Mulayam’s government on June 3. The chief minister was not given an opportunity to prove his majority on the floor of the assembly. In an era bereft of television, social media and PIL activists, the Congress action went unchallenged. But the Narasimha Rao government was in for a surprise. Within hours of Mulayam’s sacking, Mayawati tied up with the BJP and Janata Dal to extend outside support. She was sworn in as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh the same evening. The ensuing decades-long enmity between the BSP and SP ensured that elections in Uttar Pradesh would henceforth be multi-cornered. The decline of the Congress, which had governed Uttar Pradesh for most of the period from 1950 to 1989, but never after 1989, coincided with the rise of Mayawati and the growing electoral importance of the Dalit vote. Today Mayawati could prove the biggest obstacle for Congress president Rahul Gandhi in his bid to lead the anti-Narendra Modi mahagathbandhan. Mayawati takes slights to heart. It took 23 years and an electoral wipeout of the BSP in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, for Mayawati to again collaborate with the SP’s new leadership under Akhilesh Yadav who was 18-year-old when the Lucknow state guest house attack took place. Mayawati declared at her press conference with Akhilesh after formalising the BSP-SP pact in Uttar Pradesh that BSP would never support the Congress in the state or nationally. Mayawati, not Akhilesh, vetoed inclusion of the Congress in 2019 UP gathbandhan. Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra’s entry into frontline politics in Uttar Pradesh complicates matters. The battle between Mayawati, guarding her turf in Uttar Pradesh, and Priyanka, seeking to re-establish Congress in the state, could lead to unintended consequences for both. Sterner tests meanwhile await Mayawati at the national level. Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has thrown her hat into the mahagathbandhan ring. Meanwhile, the YSRCP’s Jaganmohan Reddy, TRS’s K Chandrashekar Rao and BJD’s Naveen Patnaik are manoeuvring to form a non-BJP, non-Congress front. As Opposition leaders jockey for position, the Congress may be left with the task of being an anti-Modi choreographer, not a principal actor. That task could come down to a contest between Mayawati and Mamata. With each likely to win between 25 and 30 Lok Sabha seats in 2019, they will need to attract the non-BJP, non-Congress Third Front to join them in a coalition government and seek Congress support from within or outside. Mayawati has a record as a tough administrator, but her government was beset with accusations of corruption, though none have been proved. Mamata too is under a cloud in the Saradha and Rosy Blue probes. Rahul Gandhi could thus end up as queen-maker. With around 100 seats in 2019, the Congress will be the second largest party after the BJP. Rahul will have to put his prime ministerial ambitions on hold while he decides who between Mayawati and Mamata poses the least potent long-term threat to the Congress. Watching this drama unfold, Modi and his Svengali Amit Shah will be doing some plotting of their own. As the events of June 3, 1995, demonstrated, the BJP and BSP have done business together. Mayawati is as unpredictable as Modi is imperturbable. Uttar Pradesh lifted him to power in 2014. Five years later, while the 10 per cent quota for economically weaker sections (EWS) may help the BJP arrest the alienation of UP’s upper castes, the Mayawati-Akhilesh gathbandhan could determine his future. (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)

Mayawati holds the key to 2019

The BJP and Congress president Rahul Gandhi engaged in a war of words on Twitter today over a report on country's unemployment rate. The report published in a newspaper on Thursday said that the official survey that has been withheld by the government shows India's unemployment rate rose to a 45-year high during 2017-2018.

The assessment by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) conducted between July 2017-June 2018 showed the unemployment rate stood at 6.1 per cent, the highest since 1972-73, the newspaper reported. The report further said that joblessness stood at 7.8 per cent in urban areas compared with 5.3 parts in the countryside.

The government has so far not confirmed or denied the report.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi drew the first blood with a tweet attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "NoMo Jobs! The Fuhrer promised us 2 Cr jobs a year. 5 years later, his leaked job creation report card reveals a National Disaster. Unemployment is at its highest in 45 yrs. 6.5 Cr youth are jobless in 2017-18 alone. Time for NoMo2Go," Rahul Gandhi said on Twitter.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" data-lang="en">
NoMo Jobs! 
 
The Fuhrer promised us 2 Cr jobs a year. 5 years later, his leaked job creation report card reveals a National Disaster. 
 
Unemployment is at its highest in 45 yrs. 
 
6.5 Cr youth are jobless in 2017-18 alone. 
 
Time for NoMo2Go. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HowsTheJobs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HowsTheJobs</a> <a href="https://t.co/nbX4iYmsiZ">pic.twitter.com/nbX4iYmsiZ</a>
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1090891044361773056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Hitting back, the BJP on Thursday alleged that Congress president has a myopic understanding of issues and said only someone who has never held a proper job "can peddle such fake news".

The BJP tweeted that Rahul Gandhi had inherited shortsightedness of Mussolini, the Italian dictator.

"It's clear that he has inherited Mussolini's shortsightedness and has myopic understanding of issues. EPFO's real data shows sharp increase in jobs, created in just the last 15 months. Only a man who hasn't ever held a proper job and is totally jobless can peddle such #FakeNews!" the party said in a tweet from its official handle.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
It's clear that he has inherited Mussolini's shortsightedness and has myopic understanding of issues. 
 
EPFO's real data shows sharp increase in jobs, created in just the last 15 months. 
 
Only a man who hasn't ever held a proper job &amp; is totally jobless can peddle such <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FakeNews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FakeNews</a>! <a href="https://t.co/T0DHUs7IdZ">https://t.co/T0DHUs7IdZ</a>
— BJP (@BJP4India) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJP4India/status/1090903248997822464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Two independent members of the National Statistical Commission quit on Wednesday over non-release of job figures. Stating that the National Statistical Commission (NSC) had recommended to release the employment report in January 2019, P C Mohanan and J V Meenakshi said the members were sidelined and were "unable to discharge" duties.

The government, however, said the two had not expressed any concern in panel meetings. "These concerns were not expressed by the members in any of the meetings of the Commission in the last few months," Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) said in a statement on Wednesday. The ministry, it further added, values the advice of NSC and takes appropriate action.

The BJP and Congress president Rahul Gandhi engaged in a war of words on Twitter today over a report on country's unemployment rate. The report published in a newspaper on Thursday said that the official survey that has been withheld by the government shows India's unemployment rate rose to a 45-year high during 2017-2018.

The BJP and Congress president Rahul Gandhi engaged in a war of words on Twitter today over a report on country's unemployment rate. The report published in a newspaper on Thursday said that the official survey that has been withheld by the government shows India's unemployment rate rose to a 45-year high during 2017-2018. The assessment by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) conducted between July 2017-June 2018 showed the unemployment rate stood at 6.1 per cent, the highest since 1972-73, the newspaper reported. The report further said that joblessness stood at 7.8 per cent in urban areas compared with 5.3 parts in the countryside. The government has so far not confirmed or denied the report. Congress president Rahul Gandhi drew the first blood with a tweet attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "NoMo Jobs! The Fuhrer promised us 2 Cr jobs a year. 5 years later, his leaked job creation report card reveals a National Disaster. Unemployment is at its highest in 45 yrs. 6.5 Cr youth are jobless in 2017-18 alone. Time for NoMo2Go," Rahul Gandhi said on Twitter. NoMo Jobs! The Fuhrer promised us 2 Cr jobs a year. 5 years later, his leaked job creation report card reveals a National Disaster. Unemployment is at its highest in 45 yrs. 6.5 Cr youth are jobless in 2017-18 alone. Time for NoMo2Go. #HowsTheJobs pic.twitter.com/nbX4iYmsiZ — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 31, 2019 × Hitting back, the BJP on Thursday alleged that Congress president has a myopic understanding of issues and said only someone who has never held a proper job "can peddle such fake news". The BJP tweeted that Rahul Gandhi had inherited shortsightedness of Mussolini, the Italian dictator. "It's clear that he has inherited Mussolini's shortsightedness and has myopic understanding of issues. EPFO's real data shows sharp increase in jobs, created in just the last 15 months. Only a man who hasn't ever held a proper job and is totally jobless can peddle such #FakeNews!" the party said in a tweet from its official handle. It's clear that he has inherited Mussolini's shortsightedness and has myopic understanding of issues. EPFO's real data shows sharp increase in jobs, created in just the last 15 months. Only a man who hasn't ever held a proper job & is totally jobless can peddle such #FakeNews! https://t.co/T0DHUs7IdZ — BJP (@BJP4India) January 31, 2019 × Two independent members of the National Statistical Commission quit on Wednesday over non-release of job figures. Stating that the National Statistical Commission (NSC) had recommended to release the employment report in January 2019, P C Mohanan and J V Meenakshi said the members were sidelined and were "unable to discharge" duties. The government, however, said the two had not expressed any concern in panel meetings. "These concerns were not expressed by the members in any of the meetings of the Commission in the last few months," Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) said in a statement on Wednesday. The ministry, it further added, values the advice of NSC and takes appropriate action.

'Fuhrer', 'Mussolini': Rahul Gandhi, BJP spar over jobs report

The importance of Karnataka government does not lie in unrelenting ambition of former chief minister Yeddyurappa. Its importance lies in the impact it will create nationally, if the JDS-Congress alliance comes apart. Karnataka today sells the idea of coalition being a stable entity which BJP wants to discredit at the national level.

Secondly, if the alliance continues, BJP will find very difficult to retain 17 seats in the state. The matter becomes more acute as SP-BSP alliance has firmed up in Uttar Pradesh which means that BJP’s numbers in the north will also come down substantially. If this is to happen in every state then BJP would lose Lok Sabha elections even before the campaign begins. It is for this reason, BJP wants the Congress-JDS government to fall in Karnataka.

If coalition gets discredited in Karnataka, then&nbsp;the BJP will be able to discredit the idea of a Grand Alliance in the run-up&nbsp;to the Lok Sabha elections. The sudden desperation on part of BJP to topple the government also stems from triple victory of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

If the government in Karnataka falls either from internal sabotage or external pressure, the ultimate benefit would accrue to the BJP and it will be on three counts.

BJP will go to the town saying that Grand Alliance against BJP is a dead idea and squabbling leaders have nothing in common except hatred against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The fall will also impact the ability of the Congress to manage regional satraps and regional players. BJP has been running successful coalition in states like Goa, Meghalaya and Bihar, showcasing its ability to snatch allies and run the government in states where it does not have the number. Lastly, the message would go out that BJP is down but not out and unlike them, Congress cannot manage political contradictions under Rahul Gandhi.

BJP did this with élan in Bihar. When they realised that Nitish Kumar could emerge as a fulcrum around whom the entire Opposition could come together, they ran away with the face itself. In a day, the Opposition lost its most acceptable face.

Such was the situation then that Congress would have found it very difficult not to support Nitish Kumar’s candidature as the Prime Minister in case elections threw a hung Parliament. If Congress does well in the Lok Sabha election, the credibility of Rahul Gandhi will get further solidified and depending on the number, Congress would project him as the Prime Ministerial candidate. Right now, Rahul Gandhi has emerged a challenger but not entirely in an avatar of acceptable Opposition leader.

In case of Karnataka, it will showcase the ability of the Congress to carry regional leaders with them. The occasional outburst of CM Kumarswamy should not be taken lightly. Even if he does not come out the alliance, he would definitely make the government end up looking weak and mismanaged. The only thing Congress can hope for is that prolonged interference results in negative political return where people start to see BJP as a disruptive force in the state.

On the other hand, Congress as an organization is also responsible for the crisis. Some of the MLAs have a running feud with sitting ministers. Local MLA Umesh Jadhav has a running feud with Priyang Kharge, minister in Karnataka government and son of Mallikarjun Kharge.

Similarly, Chikabalapur MLA Dr Sudhakar is also in the list of disgruntled lawmakers as certain of his local demands have not been met. Sum total of the Karnataka affair is that and political development in Karnataka will have a national impact. In Bihar, BJP was able to rob the face of an emerging coalition and in Karnataka they have the chance to discredit the idea of a coalition.

&nbsp;(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The importance of Karnataka government does not lie in unrelenting ambition of former chief minister Yeddyurappa. Its importance lies in the impact it will create nationally, if the JDS-Congress alliance comes apart.

The importance of Karnataka government does not lie in unrelenting ambition of former chief minister Yeddyurappa. Its importance lies in the impact it will create nationally, if the JDS-Congress alliance comes apart. Karnataka today sells the idea of coalition being a stable entity which BJP wants to discredit at the national level. Secondly, if the alliance continues, BJP will find very difficult to retain 17 seats in the state. The matter becomes more acute as SP-BSP alliance has firmed up in Uttar Pradesh which means that BJP’s numbers in the north will also come down substantially. If this is to happen in every state then BJP would lose Lok Sabha elections even before the campaign begins. It is for this reason, BJP wants the Congress-JDS government to fall in Karnataka. If coalition gets discredited in Karnataka, then the BJP will be able to discredit the idea of a Grand Alliance in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. The sudden desperation on part of BJP to topple the government also stems from triple victory of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. If the government in Karnataka falls either from internal sabotage or external pressure, the ultimate benefit would accrue to the BJP and it will be on three counts. BJP will go to the town saying that Grand Alliance against BJP is a dead idea and squabbling leaders have nothing in common except hatred against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The fall will also impact the ability of the Congress to manage regional satraps and regional players. BJP has been running successful coalition in states like Goa, Meghalaya and Bihar, showcasing its ability to snatch allies and run the government in states where it does not have the number. Lastly, the message would go out that BJP is down but not out and unlike them, Congress cannot manage political contradictions under Rahul Gandhi. BJP did this with élan in Bihar. When they realised that Nitish Kumar could emerge as a fulcrum around whom the entire Opposition could come together, they ran away with the face itself. In a day, the Opposition lost its most acceptable face. Such was the situation then that Congress would have found it very difficult not to support Nitish Kumar’s candidature as the Prime Minister in case elections threw a hung Parliament. If Congress does well in the Lok Sabha election, the credibility of Rahul Gandhi will get further solidified and depending on the number, Congress would project him as the Prime Ministerial candidate. Right now, Rahul Gandhi has emerged a challenger but not entirely in an avatar of acceptable Opposition leader. In case of Karnataka, it will showcase the ability of the Congress to carry regional leaders with them. The occasional outburst of CM Kumarswamy should not be taken lightly. Even if he does not come out the alliance, he would definitely make the government end up looking weak and mismanaged. The only thing Congress can hope for is that prolonged interference results in negative political return where people start to see BJP as a disruptive force in the state. On the other hand, Congress as an organization is also responsible for the crisis. Some of the MLAs have a running feud with sitting ministers. Local MLA Umesh Jadhav has a running feud with Priyang Kharge, minister in Karnataka government and son of Mallikarjun Kharge. Similarly, Chikabalapur MLA Dr Sudhakar is also in the list of disgruntled lawmakers as certain of his local demands have not been met. Sum total of the Karnataka affair is that and political development in Karnataka will have a national impact. In Bihar, BJP was able to rob the face of an emerging coalition and in Karnataka they have the chance to discredit the idea of a coalition. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Karnataka grand alliance: BJP's final push

The Hugo Chavez model of politics pivoting around the concept of neopatrimonialism was followed with determined zeal by the previous Manmohan Singh-led UPA government at the Centre, presided over by the then Congress party president Sonia Gandhi.

The drawback of the model that was carved and implemented to the hilt by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez between 2002 and 2013, a period that almost coincided with the Manmohan Singh's rule in India, was more tuned to addressing social inequalities rather than structural inequalities.

The present job crisis in India can be attributed and described as a direct fallout of the politics of populism practiced by the Congress party when it was in power between 2004 and 2014 since equity distribution was lopsided and the growth on economic infrastructure front also was compromised with maximum focus on direct cash transfer to the deprived sections through acts passed by the Indian Parliament to guarantee jobs, food, and education. While doing this, they typically aped the cash transfer policy that was being followed in Brazil and Mexico without bothering about the impact it would leave on the middle class wage earners and the economic growth of the country.

Following on the same footsteps, present Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced at a "Kisan Abhaar Sammelan" at Raipur this Monday that his party would implement a minimum income guarantee scheme for every poor if his party comes to power at the Centre this year.

Former finance minister P Chidambaram has laced the Congress decision regarding "minimum income guarantee" with the assertion that it would "wipe out poverty" and uplift about one-fifth of India's population that lacks the purchasing power to provide itself food, clothing and shelter.

Chidambaram has defended the decision by pointing out that India owes itself the responsibility of mobilising resources to rescue the deprived sections caught in the trap of poverty. For this purpose only 1.5 per cent of the GDP would be required and there should be no difficulty in meeting the target, he adds.

Before the nation goes to polls, the Congress party, through the sop of "minimum income guarantee", has tried to address that section of the Indian population which is suffering the most due to joblessness and poverty. According to basic estimates their number is huge - about 200 million. Obviously, the Congress party would like to use them as a vote bank in the coming parliamentary election.

Scarcity of jobs is a burning problem that is haunting the NDA government led by Narendra Modi at the Centre in a big way as its five year term is nearing completion.

Joblessness in India is an issue that has caught the attention of analysts in neighbouring China. Global Times, published under China's official People's Daily, also points to growing discontent, being faced by Prime Minister Modi. Hu Weijia, a reporter with the Global Times says: "If New Delhi restricts Chinese investment, the move will unavoidably cut job opportunities for young people (In India)."

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) also has expressed concerns about financing and the lending environment in India "due to the collapse of Indian infrastructure development and high rate of non-performing assets among Indian banks" in its inaugural Asian Infrastructure Finance report released in Beijing on Tuesday.

The AIIB report talks of the downward trajectory when it comes to India's infrastructure transaction activity in terms of total completed and ongoing transactions each year from 2014 to 2016.

Economists and analysts of the long-term South Asian scenario, especially in the backdrop of the China-US trade disputes that have got aggravated by the US President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on Chinese imports, have started talking of the advantages of Chinese companies investing in India's labour intensive industries. The Global Times has underscored that the Modi administration needs good news in terms of job growth ahead of the upcoming general election.

The projection by commentators exploring the prospects of mutual gain by both India and China under the current global scenario notwithstanding, what cannot be ignored is that the clock is ticking for Modi. Come elections and the top bulb of the sandglass will soon be empty.

Instead of populism, it is important at this juncture to address the issue of highly unequal levels of development, human development index and lopsided distribution of equity. Seeking investments and channelising resources for the purpose of building the economic infrastructure, so essential for improving the quality of life of the people across the board, should be the priority. Ahead of elections, the Modi government will have to take the Congress head on. Without wasting time, it will have to place on the table a policy design for evolving and creating a vibrant job market in India.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The Hugo Chavez model of politics pivoting around the concept of neopatrimonialism was followed with determined zeal by the previous Manmohan Singh-led UPA government at the Centre, presided over by the then Congress party president Sonia Gandhi.

The Hugo Chavez model of politics pivoting around the concept of neopatrimonialism was followed with determined zeal by the previous Manmohan Singh-led UPA government at the Centre, presided over by the then Congress party president Sonia Gandhi. The drawback of the model that was carved and implemented to the hilt by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez between 2002 and 2013, a period that almost coincided with the Manmohan Singh's rule in India, was more tuned to addressing social inequalities rather than structural inequalities. The present job crisis in India can be attributed and described as a direct fallout of the politics of populism practiced by the Congress party when it was in power between 2004 and 2014 since equity distribution was lopsided and the growth on economic infrastructure front also was compromised with maximum focus on direct cash transfer to the deprived sections through acts passed by the Indian Parliament to guarantee jobs, food, and education. While doing this, they typically aped the cash transfer policy that was being followed in Brazil and Mexico without bothering about the impact it would leave on the middle class wage earners and the economic growth of the country. Following on the same footsteps, present Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced at a "Kisan Abhaar Sammelan" at Raipur this Monday that his party would implement a minimum income guarantee scheme for every poor if his party comes to power at the Centre this year. Former finance minister P Chidambaram has laced the Congress decision regarding "minimum income guarantee" with the assertion that it would "wipe out poverty" and uplift about one-fifth of India's population that lacks the purchasing power to provide itself food, clothing and shelter. Chidambaram has defended the decision by pointing out that India owes itself the responsibility of mobilising resources to rescue the deprived sections caught in the trap of poverty. For this purpose only 1.5 per cent of the GDP would be required and there should be no difficulty in meeting the target, he adds. Before the nation goes to polls, the Congress party, through the sop of "minimum income guarantee", has tried to address that section of the Indian population which is suffering the most due to joblessness and poverty. According to basic estimates their number is huge - about 200 million. Obviously, the Congress party would like to use them as a vote bank in the coming parliamentary election. Scarcity of jobs is a burning problem that is haunting the NDA government led by Narendra Modi at the Centre in a big way as its five year term is nearing completion. Joblessness in India is an issue that has caught the attention of analysts in neighbouring China. Global Times, published under China's official People's Daily, also points to growing discontent, being faced by Prime Minister Modi. Hu Weijia, a reporter with the Global Times says: "If New Delhi restricts Chinese investment, the move will unavoidably cut job opportunities for young people (In India)." Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) also has expressed concerns about financing and the lending environment in India "due to the collapse of Indian infrastructure development and high rate of non-performing assets among Indian banks" in its inaugural Asian Infrastructure Finance report released in Beijing on Tuesday. The AIIB report talks of the downward trajectory when it comes to India's infrastructure transaction activity in terms of total completed and ongoing transactions each year from 2014 to 2016. Economists and analysts of the long-term South Asian scenario, especially in the backdrop of the China-US trade disputes that have got aggravated by the US President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on Chinese imports, have started talking of the advantages of Chinese companies investing in India's labour intensive industries. The Global Times has underscored that the Modi administration needs good news in terms of job growth ahead of the upcoming general election. The projection by commentators exploring the prospects of mutual gain by both India and China under the current global scenario notwithstanding, what cannot be ignored is that the clock is ticking for Modi. Come elections and the top bulb of the sandglass will soon be empty. Instead of populism, it is important at this juncture to address the issue of highly unequal levels of development, human development index and lopsided distribution of equity. Seeking investments and channelising resources for the purpose of building the economic infrastructure, so essential for improving the quality of life of the people across the board, should be the priority. Ahead of elections, the Modi government will have to take the Congress head on. Without wasting time, it will have to place on the table a policy design for evolving and creating a vibrant job market in India. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Minimum income guarantee: Populism versus long-term policy for a vibrant job market

Minimum income guaranteed for all, if voted to power: Rahul Gandhi

The BJP on Monday said Congress president <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-impact-of-priyanka-gandhi-on-lok-sabha-polls-says-bjp-192523">Rahul Gandhi</a>'s claim of ensuring minimum income guarantee if his party was voted to power was like "hundreds of other announcements" of the opposition party that were not meant to be implemented and asserted that people had seen through the opposition party's games.

"The people of India know the reality of the Congress and have seen through its games," Union minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said, following Gandhi's announcement at a public meeting in Chhattisgarh.

He said the Congress governments did not waive farm loans in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, despite promising to do so before the Assembly polls in these states, and added that Gandhi's announcement was a "same kind of sop".

"Gandhi's claim to provide minimum income guarantee for the poor is like hundreds of Congress announcements which are not meant to be implemented. His party remained in power for 58 years at the Centre and made thousands of announcements. If they had been implemented, the face of the country, including that of the poor, would have been different," Prasad said.

He termed the Congress chief's assurance an "off-the-cuff" announcement, made "without any preparation or provision for funding or a proper agenda".

Gandhi had announced that his party would ensure "minimum income guarantee" for every poor person in the country if voted to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The BJP on Monday said Congress president Rahul Gandhi's claim of ensuring minimum income guarantee if his party was voted to power was like "hundreds of other announcements" of the opposition party that were not meant to be implemented and asserted that people had seen through the opposition party's games.

The BJP on Monday said Congress president Rahul Gandhi's claim of ensuring minimum income guarantee if his party was voted to power was like "hundreds of other announcements" of the opposition party that were not meant to be implemented and asserted that people had seen through the opposition party's games. "The people of India know the reality of the Congress and have seen through its games," Union minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said, following Gandhi's announcement at a public meeting in Chhattisgarh. He said the Congress governments did not waive farm loans in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, despite promising to do so before the Assembly polls in these states, and added that Gandhi's announcement was a "same kind of sop". "Gandhi's claim to provide minimum income guarantee for the poor is like hundreds of Congress announcements which are not meant to be implemented. His party remained in power for 58 years at the Centre and made thousands of announcements. If they had been implemented, the face of the country, including that of the poor, would have been different," Prasad said. He termed the Congress chief's assurance an "off-the-cuff" announcement, made "without any preparation or provision for funding or a proper agenda". Gandhi had announced that his party would ensure "minimum income guarantee" for every poor person in the country if voted to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Rahul's minimum income guarantee promise not meant to be implemented: BJP

Pakistan will try to resume peace talks with India only after election results are out as it is "useless" to talk to New Delhi because no big decisions are expected from the present Indian government, a senior minister has said.

Fawad Chaudhry, Minister of Information of Pakistan, said that the time is not right to hold dialogue as the Indian leaders are preparing for the upcoming general elections, Gulf News reported.

"It is useless to talk to them (India) now unless there is some stability. We will move forward once the new government is formed after the elections," he said.

"We have delayed our efforts to hold talks with India because we do not expect any big decision from the present Indian leadership," he said.

He said the Pakistan government would respect any Indian leader and the party elected by the Indian people.&nbsp;

When asked which Indian leader will suit Pakistan more when it comes to peace talks Narendra Modi or Rahul Gandhi, the minister said it does not matter for Pakistan.

"And, we would like to move forward to hold dialogue with whosoever comes into power in India," he said.

The Indo-Pak ties strained after the terror attacks by Pakistan-based terrorists in 2016 and India's surgical strikes inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The ties further nose-dived in 2017 with no bilateral talks taking place between them.&nbsp;

India has been maintaining that terror and talks cannot go together.&nbsp;

Chaudhry said the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor between India and Pakistan in November last year is a remarkable development between the two countries because it will not only help the Sikh community but also benefit the Indo-Pak relations.&nbsp;

On being asked who calls the shots in Pakistan when it comes to foreign policy the army or the civilian government, Chaudhry said, "Of course Prime Minister Imran Khan."

"During the earlier regimes, there had been conflicts between the civilian government and the army on various issues as they were not capable of talking to each other frankly. But this is the not the case anymore since Imran Khan has come into power," he said.&nbsp;

Pakistan will try to resume peace talks with India only after election results are out as it is "useless" to talk to New Delhi because no big decisions are expected from the present Indian government, a senior minister has said.

Pakistan will try to resume peace talks with India only after election results are out as it is "useless" to talk to New Delhi because no big decisions are expected from the present Indian government, a senior minister has said. Fawad Chaudhry, Minister of Information of Pakistan, said that the time is not right to hold dialogue as the Indian leaders are preparing for the upcoming general elections, Gulf News reported. "It is useless to talk to them (India) now unless there is some stability. We will move forward once the new government is formed after the elections," he said. "We have delayed our efforts to hold talks with India because we do not expect any big decision from the present Indian leadership," he said. He said the Pakistan government would respect any Indian leader and the party elected by the Indian people. When asked which Indian leader will suit Pakistan more when it comes to peace talks Narendra Modi or Rahul Gandhi, the minister said it does not matter for Pakistan. "And, we would like to move forward to hold dialogue with whosoever comes into power in India," he said. The Indo-Pak ties strained after the terror attacks by Pakistan-based terrorists in 2016 and India's surgical strikes inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The ties further nose-dived in 2017 with no bilateral talks taking place between them. India has been maintaining that terror and talks cannot go together. Chaudhry said the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor between India and Pakistan in November last year is a remarkable development between the two countries because it will not only help the Sikh community but also benefit the Indo-Pak relations. On being asked who calls the shots in Pakistan when it comes to foreign policy the army or the civilian government, Chaudhry said, "Of course Prime Minister Imran Khan." "During the earlier regimes, there had been conflicts between the civilian government and the army on various issues as they were not capable of talking to each other frankly. But this is the not the case anymore since Imran Khan has come into power," he said.

Pak to resume talks with India only after elections: Information minister Fawad Chaudhry

The Bharatiya Janata Party has said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's "<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/leaders-who-dont-keep-promise-get-beaten-up-by-people-nitin-gadkari-193233">sapne</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/leaders-who-dont-keep-promise-get-beaten-up-by-people-nitin-gadkari-193233"> </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/leaders-who-dont-keep-promise-get-beaten-up-by-people-nitin-gadkari-193233">dikhaane</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/leaders-who-dont-keep-promise-get-beaten-up-by-people-nitin-gadkari-193233"> </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/leaders-who-dont-keep-promise-get-beaten-up-by-people-nitin-gadkari-193233">waale</a>" comment was aimed at the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi, and not Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;

The BJP's GVL Narasimha Rao said Gadkari's comments were being "twisted and political benefit being taken out of it".&nbsp;

"He (Gadkari) was hinting towards Congress that only gave slogans of 'Garibi Hatao' but didn't do anything for poverty alleviation and towards Rahul Gandhi who makes empty promises," Rao said.&nbsp;

“Sapne dikhane waale neta logon ko acche lagte hain, par dikhaye hue sapne agar pure nahi kiye to janta unki pitayi bhi karti hai (People like politicians who show them dreams. But if those dreams are not fulfilled, then the people also thrash those politicians),” Gadkari had said on Sunday.&nbsp;

“Isliye sapne wahi dikhao jo pure ho sakein. Main sapne dikhane waale mein se nahi hu. Main jo bolta hu, woh 100 per cent danke ki chot par pura hota hai (That is why you must only show those dreams that can be fulfilled. I am not among those who show dreams. Whatever I say, I fulfill it 100 per cent),” Gadkari had added.&nbsp;

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N Gadkari: Sapne dikhane waale neta logon ko acche lagte hain,par dikhaye hue sapne agar pure nahi kiye to janta unki pitayi bhi karti hai.Isliye sapne wahi dikhao jo pure ho sakein....Mai sapne dikhane waale mein se nahi hu.Mai jo bolta hu wo 100% danke ki chot par pura hota hai <a href="https://t.co/SRISZyCffS">pic.twitter.com/SRISZyCffS</a>
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GVL Narasimha Rao, BJP: Nitin Gadkari's comments are now being twisted&amp;political benefit being taken out of it. He was hinting towards Congress that only gave slogans of 'Garibi Hatao' but didn't do anything for poverty alleviation &amp; towards Rahul Gandhi who makes empty promises <a href="https://t.co/KcGdeI2RN1">pic.twitter.com/KcGdeI2RN1</a>
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Gadkari made his comments in Mumbai while addressing a gathering to launch a new BJP-affiliated transport outfit — the Navbhartiya Shiv Vahatuk Sanghathana (NSVS).&nbsp;

Speculation has been rife ever since that he was talking about Modi. Most commentators agree that Modi has been able to deliver less in his four-and-a-half years in power than he promised before the 2014 elections.&nbsp;

Gadkari, who is a Sangh favourite, is often seen as a potential successor to Modi.&nbsp;

This is not the first time Gadkari — he is minister of road transport and highways, shipping and water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation — has made "uncomfortable" statements.&nbsp;

He had also said the BJP leadership should own up to the defeats in the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh state elections. That was thought to be a barb aimed at Prime Minister Modi again and BJP president Amit Shah.&nbsp;

The Bharatiya Janata Party has said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's "sapne dikhaane waale" comment was aimed at the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi, and not Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's "sapne dikhaane waale" comment was aimed at the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi, and not Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP's GVL Narasimha Rao said Gadkari's comments were being "twisted and political benefit being taken out of it". "He (Gadkari) was hinting towards Congress that only gave slogans of 'Garibi Hatao' but didn't do anything for poverty alleviation and towards Rahul Gandhi who makes empty promises," Rao said. “Sapne dikhane waale neta logon ko acche lagte hain, par dikhaye hue sapne agar pure nahi kiye to janta unki pitayi bhi karti hai (People like politicians who show them dreams. But if those dreams are not fulfilled, then the people also thrash those politicians),” Gadkari had said on Sunday. “Isliye sapne wahi dikhao jo pure ho sakein. Main sapne dikhane waale mein se nahi hu. Main jo bolta hu, woh 100 per cent danke ki chot par pura hota hai (That is why you must only show those dreams that can be fulfilled. I am not among those who show dreams. Whatever I say, I fulfill it 100 per cent),” Gadkari had added. N Gadkari: Sapne dikhane waale neta logon ko acche lagte hain,par dikhaye hue sapne agar pure nahi kiye to janta unki pitayi bhi karti hai.Isliye sapne wahi dikhao jo pure ho sakein....Mai sapne dikhane waale mein se nahi hu.Mai jo bolta hu wo 100% danke ki chot par pura hota hai pic.twitter.com/SRISZyCffS — ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2019 × GVL Narasimha Rao, BJP: Nitin Gadkari's comments are now being twisted&political benefit being taken out of it. He was hinting towards Congress that only gave slogans of 'Garibi Hatao' but didn't do anything for poverty alleviation & towards Rahul Gandhi who makes empty promises pic.twitter.com/KcGdeI2RN1 — ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2019 × Gadkari made his comments in Mumbai while addressing a gathering to launch a new BJP-affiliated transport outfit — the Navbhartiya Shiv Vahatuk Sanghathana (NSVS). Speculation has been rife ever since that he was talking about Modi. Most commentators agree that Modi has been able to deliver less in his four-and-a-half years in power than he promised before the 2014 elections. Gadkari, who is a Sangh favourite, is often seen as a potential successor to Modi. This is not the first time Gadkari — he is minister of road transport and highways, shipping and water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation — has made "uncomfortable" statements. He had also said the BJP leadership should own up to the defeats in the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh state elections. That was thought to be a barb aimed at Prime Minister Modi again and BJP president Amit Shah.

Nitin Gadkari's 'sapne dikhane waale' comment: BJP says he was talking about Congress

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's political debut as the Congress party's general secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh is, as Prashant Kishor put it, one of the most awaited entries in Indian politics. It has created an unprecedented buzz and was the top trend worldwide on social media. That should make people in the party feel good. The question is what good will it do to the party's fortunes in the coming General Election. Equally important is the question: Why now?

As of now, no one knows whether and how her arrival on the scene will help the Congress party, hurt its principal opponent the BJP or harm the chances of friendly rivals like the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party. If the last of the Gandhis to take the plunge succeeds and the Congress ends up with a score or more Lok Sabha seats in UP besides becoming the main prop of a new government, then pundits and charlatans alike would hold forth on the success formula that did the trick. That is always after the results, never before.

On the other hand are those who believe that Priyanka's entry will wreck the SP-BSP alliance's chances of sweeping UP and boost the BJP's prospects, thereby ensuring the return of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Common to those rooting for her and the Cassandras is their view of Priyanka as a game changer. When, in fact, she may be not the game changer, but the game.

Seeing her as a game changer means speculating on the basis of outcomes which are unknowable at this stage. On the other hand, viewing her as the game could help one understand what considerations may have gone into the family's decision to launch her now.

The Congress party's sole aim is to increase its numbers in the Lok Sabha, regardless of whether this is achieved at the expense of the BJP, the SP-BSP alliance or any other party. Splitting the opposition vote has never held back any non-BJP party in electoral contests – every party is in the election, first and foremost, for itself. Thus, there is no reason for the Congress to give precedence to the interests and prospects of the SP-BSP alliance.

In UP, as elsewhere, the Congress party has hit rock-bottom. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the party won two seats and its vote share was 7.5 per cent. And, Rahul Gandhi did not win by a flattering margin in Amethi. The BJP's vote share was 42 per cent and the SP and BSP together accounted for 41 per cent. The assembly elections of 2017 saw the Congress fare even worse – its vote share fell further to 6.2 per cent whereas the SP-BSP together managed 44.2 per cent against the BJP's 39.47 per cent.&nbsp;

The SP's poor showing in the assembly election was blamed on its alliance with the Congress. This made the SP embrace Mayawati's BSP, leaving the Congress to fend for itself as a bit player in a state that elects 80 members to the Lok Sabha.

In the event, the Congress had little choice but to raise the stakes stupendously and go for broke. Which is exactly what it has done. Electoral necessity requires that it cast the BJP as its main enemy. Survival demands that it take votes from whoever else it can. After its recent victories in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, there is no way the Congress can afford to be on the back foot. Any sign of being marginalised, even if by allies, could weaken its governments in Karnataka, Rajasthan and MP.

Two, Congressmen being what they are have always looked to a vote-getter from the family to get them elected, with the party having no base, grassroots cadres and organisational structures in many parts of the country.

Three, while it is all very well to say that the non-BJP parties would decide their Prime Minister after the elections, the Congress has to project itself as the main challenger to the BJP. As matters stand and it became evident at the opposition's Kolkata rally, Rahul is not accorded any precedence over Mayawati and Mamata Banerjee.

With Sonia Gandhi retiring, the party would be bereft of a woman leader. This is a fraught deficiency in a party where, after Jawaharlal Nehru, it is two women – Sonia and Indira Gandhi – who were its most powerful leaders for long periods in the last 50 years. After Nehru, it is only under Sonia that the Congress got elected for two full terms. And, in history, Indira as a leader who won a war and split an 'enemy country' would occupy more pages than even Nehru.

These, among other considerations, left Priyanka as the only game the Congress could have played in the hope of a hawa turning the electoral tide. 
 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's political debut as the Congress party's general secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh is, as Prashant Kishor put it, one of the most awaited entries in Indian politics.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's political debut as the Congress party's general secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh is, as Prashant Kishor put it, one of the most awaited entries in Indian politics. It has created an unprecedented buzz and was the top trend worldwide on social media. That should make people in the party feel good. The question is what good will it do to the party's fortunes in the coming General Election. Equally important is the question: Why now? As of now, no one knows whether and how her arrival on the scene will help the Congress party, hurt its principal opponent the BJP or harm the chances of friendly rivals like the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party. If the last of the Gandhis to take the plunge succeeds and the Congress ends up with a score or more Lok Sabha seats in UP besides becoming the main prop of a new government, then pundits and charlatans alike would hold forth on the success formula that did the trick. That is always after the results, never before. On the other hand are those who believe that Priyanka's entry will wreck the SP-BSP alliance's chances of sweeping UP and boost the BJP's prospects, thereby ensuring the return of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Common to those rooting for her and the Cassandras is their view of Priyanka as a game changer. When, in fact, she may be not the game changer, but the game. Seeing her as a game changer means speculating on the basis of outcomes which are unknowable at this stage. On the other hand, viewing her as the game could help one understand what considerations may have gone into the family's decision to launch her now. The Congress party's sole aim is to increase its numbers in the Lok Sabha, regardless of whether this is achieved at the expense of the BJP, the SP-BSP alliance or any other party. Splitting the opposition vote has never held back any non-BJP party in electoral contests – every party is in the election, first and foremost, for itself. Thus, there is no reason for the Congress to give precedence to the interests and prospects of the SP-BSP alliance. In UP, as elsewhere, the Congress party has hit rock-bottom. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the party won two seats and its vote share was 7.5 per cent. And, Rahul Gandhi did not win by a flattering margin in Amethi. The BJP's vote share was 42 per cent and the SP and BSP together accounted for 41 per cent. The assembly elections of 2017 saw the Congress fare even worse – its vote share fell further to 6.2 per cent whereas the SP-BSP together managed 44.2 per cent against the BJP's 39.47 per cent. The SP's poor showing in the assembly election was blamed on its alliance with the Congress. This made the SP embrace Mayawati's BSP, leaving the Congress to fend for itself as a bit player in a state that elects 80 members to the Lok Sabha. In the event, the Congress had little choice but to raise the stakes stupendously and go for broke. Which is exactly what it has done. Electoral necessity requires that it cast the BJP as its main enemy. Survival demands that it take votes from whoever else it can. After its recent victories in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, there is no way the Congress can afford to be on the back foot. Any sign of being marginalised, even if by allies, could weaken its governments in Karnataka, Rajasthan and MP. Two, Congressmen being what they are have always looked to a vote-getter from the family to get them elected, with the party having no base, grassroots cadres and organisational structures in many parts of the country. Three, while it is all very well to say that the non-BJP parties would decide their Prime Minister after the elections, the Congress has to project itself as the main challenger to the BJP. As matters stand and it became evident at the opposition's Kolkata rally, Rahul is not accorded any precedence over Mayawati and Mamata Banerjee. With Sonia Gandhi retiring, the party would be bereft of a woman leader. This is a fraught deficiency in a party where, after Jawaharlal Nehru, it is two women – Sonia and Indira Gandhi – who were its most powerful leaders for long periods in the last 50 years. After Nehru, it is only under Sonia that the Congress got elected for two full terms. And, in history, Indira as a leader who won a war and split an 'enemy country' would occupy more pages than even Nehru. These, among other considerations, left Priyanka as the only game the Congress could have played in the hope of a hawa turning the electoral tide. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Priyanka ko Vanakkam

Congress president Rahul Gandhi attacks NDA govt

Farmers staged a protest and raised slogans against Congress president Rahul Gandhi in his parliamentary constituency Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.

The farmers protested in Gauriganj town in Amethi district on Wednesday demanding that either their land that was given to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation should be returned or else they are provided employment.

Rahul yesterday visited Amethi for campaigning for the general elections.

One of the protesters, Sanjay Sing told ANI: "We are very upset with Rahul Gandhi. He should go back to Italy. He does not deserve to be here. Rahul has grabbed our land."

They staged the protest near Samrat Cycle factory, which was inaugurated by former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi when he was the Member of Parliament (MP) from Amethi.

In the 1980s, Jain brothers had taken over 65.57 acres of land in the industrial area of Kausar to run a company but after its failure, a land auction took place in 2014.

According to the records, UPSIDC had leased 65.57 acres of land to the company in 1986 but when the company was closed down, the Debts Recovery Tribunal got it auctioned in 2014 at Rs. 20.10 crore to recover the loan.

The land purchased in the auction was paid by the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust for stamp duty of Rs. 1,50,000.

However, later the land auction process was termed invalid by the UPSIDC following which a Gauriganj SDM Court ordered the return of the land of the Samrat Cycle Factory to UPSIDC.

Since then the land is on papers with UPSIDC but is still occupied by the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust.

Earlier, Union Minister Smriti Irani had also accused Rahul of grabbing the land of farmers through the foundation.

The Congress scion has, however, always pitched for farmers` welfare and even promised to waive their loan in his election speeches.&nbsp;

Farmers staged a protest and raised slogans against Congress president Rahul Gandhi in his parliamentary constituency Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. The farmers protested in Gauriganj town in Amethi district on Wednesday demanding that either their land that was given to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation should be returned or else they are provided employment.

Farmers staged a protest and raised slogans against Congress president Rahul Gandhi in his parliamentary constituency Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. The farmers protested in Gauriganj town in Amethi district on Wednesday demanding that either their land that was given to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation should be returned or else they are provided employment. Rahul yesterday visited Amethi for campaigning for the general elections. One of the protesters, Sanjay Sing told ANI: "We are very upset with Rahul Gandhi. He should go back to Italy. He does not deserve to be here. Rahul has grabbed our land." They staged the protest near Samrat Cycle factory, which was inaugurated by former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi when he was the Member of Parliament (MP) from Amethi. In the 1980s, Jain brothers had taken over 65.57 acres of land in the industrial area of Kausar to run a company but after its failure, a land auction took place in 2014. According to the records, UPSIDC had leased 65.57 acres of land to the company in 1986 but when the company was closed down, the Debts Recovery Tribunal got it auctioned in 2014 at Rs. 20.10 crore to recover the loan. The land purchased in the auction was paid by the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust for stamp duty of Rs. 1,50,000. However, later the land auction process was termed invalid by the UPSIDC following which a Gauriganj SDM Court ordered the return of the land of the Samrat Cycle Factory to UPSIDC. Since then the land is on papers with UPSIDC but is still occupied by the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust. Earlier, Union Minister Smriti Irani had also accused Rahul of grabbing the land of farmers through the foundation. The Congress scion has, however, always pitched for farmers` welfare and even promised to waive their loan in his election speeches.

With Rahul in Amethi, farmers demand back land given to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation

Priyanka Gandhi: Post-Rajiv & Sonia era, the daughter rises

The last trump card of the Congress Party is out in open and has made Lok Sabha elections all the more interesting. It is not that Priyanka Gandhi is a novice in politics but the position of general secretary in charge of Eastern Uttar Pradesh only acknowledges the role she was playing in private in the Congress Party.

It also shows that nothing is cast in stone in politics. In fact, Priyanka Gandhi was already handling Sonia Gandhi’s constituency when Rahul Gandhi was studying abroad in the late 1990s. The code name given to her by the Special Protection Group was Bhaiya ji. It is used even today throughout Raebarelli and Amethi but this time by the party workers. It was only because of Sonia Gandhi’s insistence that baton was passed to Rahul despite the fact that Priyanka was interested in politics.&nbsp;

This decision led to Priyanka Gandhi getting confined to family bastions in Uttar Pradesh. Even then she remained connected with the decision-making process of the party in private.&nbsp;

Throughout she had been in charge of the family burrow and played an important role in 2017 UP Assembly elections which in the end proved to be a disaster as BJP smashed SP-Congress coalition.

So, her entry does not change the caste equations in Uttar Pradesh. Priyanka Gandhi, for now, only changes the mood within the party. Her entry will definitely enthuse workers. She is only in charge of Eastern UP and the Western part will be handled by Jyotiraditya Scindia whose graph continues to rise within the Congress party.

What is important to remember is that Eastern UP is the stronghold of current chief minister Yogi Adityanath who hails from Gorakhpur. Prime Minister Modi’s constituency also falls in this area.

The decision also shows the seriousness with which Congress is going to fight elections in Uttar Pradesh. It should worry the BJP as Priyanka can disrupt upper caste consolidation which, as of now, is standing solidly behind BJP.

There can be criticism too that Congress has become a party of the mother, son and daughter but it will not damage the party as those opposed to them are anyways voting for BJP.

Priyanka, on the other hand, will have to navigate the political space in Congress more carefully. Today, Rahul Gandhi is the party president and decides the policy of Congress. Priyanka Gandhi will have to limit herself to Uttar Pradesh.

She will also have to ensure that a second power centre does not emerge as Congress under Rahul Gandhi has gained stability after Sonia Gandhi reduced her public presence and forced the senior leadership to negotiate decision making with Rahul alone. Priyanka will easily get compared to Indira Gandhi. This will also make her task difficult. It will heighten the expectations within the party despite the fact that ground reality is quite different today.

In 2014, the winning margin of Rahul Gandhi came down by a lakh. In 2017, Congress performed very poorly in the assembly segments. Priyanka Gandhi will add a lot of glamour to the Congress party, but she will have to create a new ground for the party in the state. But the possibility exists. People forget that same Congress got 20+ seats in Lok Sabha after the then PM Manmohan Singh waived off farmers debt.

The enthusiasm generated by debuts is often succeeded by losses. It has been true for both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. Sonia twice failed to get Congress into power. She lost both in 1998 and 1996 to BJP. It was worst for Rahul Gandhi. He lost 2014 elections and subsequently a number of states. The states where Congress won, the credit was given to the chief ministerial candidates.&nbsp;

This long spell of bad performance ended in 2019 when Congress swept the three Hindi heartland states. So, an entry can take place with a grand reception but road to success can be long and tiring. Priyanka Gandhi will have to negotiate the same path. 
&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

The last trump card of the Congress Party is out in open and has made Lok Sabha elections all the more interesting. It is not that Priyanka Gandhi is a novice in politics but the position of general secretary in charge of Eastern Uttar Pradesh only acknowledges the role she was playing in private in the Congress Party.

The last trump card of the Congress Party is out in open and has made Lok Sabha elections all the more interesting. It is not that Priyanka Gandhi is a novice in politics but the position of general secretary in charge of Eastern Uttar Pradesh only acknowledges the role she was playing in private in the Congress Party. It also shows that nothing is cast in stone in politics. In fact, Priyanka Gandhi was already handling Sonia Gandhi’s constituency when Rahul Gandhi was studying abroad in the late 1990s. The code name given to her by the Special Protection Group was Bhaiya ji. It is used even today throughout Raebarelli and Amethi but this time by the party workers. It was only because of Sonia Gandhi’s insistence that baton was passed to Rahul despite the fact that Priyanka was interested in politics. This decision led to Priyanka Gandhi getting confined to family bastions in Uttar Pradesh. Even then she remained connected with the decision-making process of the party in private. Throughout she had been in charge of the family burrow and played an important role in 2017 UP Assembly elections which in the end proved to be a disaster as BJP smashed SP-Congress coalition. So, her entry does not change the caste equations in Uttar Pradesh. Priyanka Gandhi, for now, only changes the mood within the party. Her entry will definitely enthuse workers. She is only in charge of Eastern UP and the Western part will be handled by Jyotiraditya Scindia whose graph continues to rise within the Congress party. What is important to remember is that Eastern UP is the stronghold of current chief minister Yogi Adityanath who hails from Gorakhpur. Prime Minister Modi’s constituency also falls in this area. The decision also shows the seriousness with which Congress is going to fight elections in Uttar Pradesh. It should worry the BJP as Priyanka can disrupt upper caste consolidation which, as of now, is standing solidly behind BJP. There can be criticism too that Congress has become a party of the mother, son and daughter but it will not damage the party as those opposed to them are anyways voting for BJP. Priyanka, on the other hand, will have to navigate the political space in Congress more carefully. Today, Rahul Gandhi is the party president and decides the policy of Congress. Priyanka Gandhi will have to limit herself to Uttar Pradesh. She will also have to ensure that a second power centre does not emerge as Congress under Rahul Gandhi has gained stability after Sonia Gandhi reduced her public presence and forced the senior leadership to negotiate decision making with Rahul alone. Priyanka will easily get compared to Indira Gandhi. This will also make her task difficult. It will heighten the expectations within the party despite the fact that ground reality is quite different today. In 2014, the winning margin of Rahul Gandhi came down by a lakh. In 2017, Congress performed very poorly in the assembly segments. Priyanka Gandhi will add a lot of glamour to the Congress party, but she will have to create a new ground for the party in the state. But the possibility exists. People forget that same Congress got 20+ seats in Lok Sabha after the then PM Manmohan Singh waived off farmers debt. The enthusiasm generated by debuts is often succeeded by losses. It has been true for both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. Sonia twice failed to get Congress into power. She lost both in 1998 and 1996 to BJP. It was worst for Rahul Gandhi. He lost 2014 elections and subsequently a number of states. The states where Congress won, the credit was given to the chief ministerial candidates. This long spell of bad performance ended in 2019 when Congress swept the three Hindi heartland states. So, an entry can take place with a grand reception but road to success can be long and tiring. Priyanka Gandhi will have to negotiate the same path. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Priyanka Gandhi enters active politics: Congress plays its last trump card

The BJP in Uttar Pradesh Wednesday linked Congress president Rahul Gandhi's fall in his party to the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-appoints-priyanka-gandhi-vadra-general-secretary-for-uttar-pradesh-east-192219">rise of Priyanka Gandhi,</a> who has been put in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

"Congratulations to Priyanka Gandhi on her appointment and assignment," senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and UP minister Siddharth Nath Singh said.

"However, it is also an admission that in the Gandhi family, the dependence on Rahul is over," he added.

He said Rahul Gandhi's fall is the rise of Priyanka Gandhi in the Congress.

The minister said Priyanka Gandhi can be judged from her management so far of the Rae Bareli constituency, where he claimed no development has taken place.

Singh, who is also the UP government spokesperson, was commenting on the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi as the Congress general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh East.

Jyotiraditya Scindia was made the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary for UP West.

Amethi and Rae Bareli, the two Gandhi family bastions, fall in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

"It is good that one by one Gandhi family members are being tested in Indian politics and are being rejected. Now is the turn of Priyanka Gandhi," Singh said.

Welcoming his sister's entry into active politics, Rahul Gandhi said he is "very happy" that she will assist him in the Lok Sabha polls.

He also called Jyotiraditya Scindia a dynamic youth leader.

The BJP in Uttar Pradesh Wednesday linked Congress president Rahul Gandhi's fall in his party to the rise of Priyanka Gandhi, who has been put in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP in Uttar Pradesh Wednesday linked Congress president Rahul Gandhi's fall in his party to the rise of Priyanka Gandhi, who has been put in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. "Congratulations to Priyanka Gandhi on her appointment and assignment," senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and UP minister Siddharth Nath Singh said. "However, it is also an admission that in the Gandhi family, the dependence on Rahul is over," he added. He said Rahul Gandhi's fall is the rise of Priyanka Gandhi in the Congress. The minister said Priyanka Gandhi can be judged from her management so far of the Rae Bareli constituency, where he claimed no development has taken place. Singh, who is also the UP government spokesperson, was commenting on the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi as the Congress general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh East. Jyotiraditya Scindia was made the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary for UP West. Amethi and Rae Bareli, the two Gandhi family bastions, fall in eastern Uttar Pradesh. "It is good that one by one Gandhi family members are being tested in Indian politics and are being rejected. Now is the turn of Priyanka Gandhi," Singh said. Welcoming his sister's entry into active politics, Rahul Gandhi said he is "very happy" that she will assist him in the Lok Sabha polls. He also called Jyotiraditya Scindia a dynamic youth leader.

Rahul Gandhi's fall is Priyanka's rise: UP BJP

The Congress on Wednesday appointed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (East). Besides this, Jyotiraditya Scindia has been appointed party general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (West).&nbsp;

KC Venugopal will take over as Congress general secretary (Organisation).

"The party appreciates the contribution of Shri Ashok Gehlot as AICC General Secretary (Organisation)," the letter, signed by Rajasthan chief minister and incumbent party general secretary Ashok Gehlot read.&nbsp;

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will take charge with effect in the first week of February.&nbsp;

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad&nbsp;has been appointed Congress general secretary for Haryana with immediate effect.&nbsp;

"The party appreciates the contribution of Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad as AICC General Secretary of Uttar Pradesh. He will now be AICC General Secretary for Haryana with immediate effect," the letter stated.

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Priyanka Gandhi Vadra appointed Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East. <a href="https://t.co/rkl57AFVzw">pic.twitter.com/rkl57AFVzw</a>
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Congress president Rahul Gandhi reacted to the latest development saying,&nbsp;"Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia are powerful leaders. We wanted the young leaders to change Uttar Pradesh politics."

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Congress President Rahul Gandhi: Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia are powerful leaders. We wanted the young leaders to change Uttar Pradesh politics. <a href="https://t.co/fnMeWLyxIm">pic.twitter.com/fnMeWLyxIm</a>
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The appointment initiates Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's active participation in country's politics right ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.&nbsp;

The decision is seen as significant and pivotal for Congress' electoral plan ahead of this year's general elections.&nbsp;

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Jyotiraditya Scindia appointed Congress General Secretary for 
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The move closely follows the announcement of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bsp-sp-to-contest-38-seats-each-alliance-will-give-sleepless-nights-to-modi-shah-says-mayawati-189793">SP-BSP alliance</a> in Uttar Pradesh earlier this month, leaving Congress out in cold.&nbsp;

Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati to contest 38 each of Uttar Pradesh's 80 seats leaving two seats for other parties in the alliance.&nbsp;

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Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Priyanka Gandhi: Mujhe personally bahut khushi ho rahi hai ki woh ab mere saath kaam karengi, woh bahut karmat hain. Jyotiraditya Scindia bhi bahut dynamic leader hain. BJP wale ghabraaye hue hain. <a href="https://t.co/8QpfJjJdO3">pic.twitter.com/8QpfJjJdO3</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1087993006299533312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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SP-BSP alliance will not field any candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli and will leave both the seats for the Congress, BSP chief Mayawati said earlier this month.&nbsp;

In an interview with news agency PTI, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-kept-out-of-up-alliance-to-correct-poll-arithmetic-akhilesh-yadav-191942">SP chief Akhilesh Yadav</a>&nbsp;said that despite his "immense respect" for Congress President Rahul Gandhi, the grand old party was kept out of the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh to correct "poll arithmetic" in order to defeat the BJP.

Without ruling out the possibility of working with the Congress after polls, Akhilesh said he has good relations with the party and would be "happy" if the next prime minister was from his home state.

Asked if the SP was open to working with Congress after the polls, Akhilesh said, "We can't answer it right now. We will answer it after the elections. But I can say this much that the country wants a new prime minister and it will have one after polls".

Meanwhile, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday clarified that the Congress has no "enmity" with BSP supremo Mayawati and that Congress will "cooperate with them wherever possible."

(With inputs from agencies)

The Congress on Wednesday appointed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (East). Besides this, Jyotiraditya Scindia has been appointed party general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (West).

The Congress on Wednesday appointed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (East). Besides this, Jyotiraditya Scindia has been appointed party general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (West). KC Venugopal will take over as Congress general secretary (Organisation). "The party appreciates the contribution of Shri Ashok Gehlot as AICC General Secretary (Organisation)," the letter, signed by Rajasthan chief minister and incumbent party general secretary Ashok Gehlot read. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will take charge with effect in the first week of February. Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad has been appointed Congress general secretary for Haryana with immediate effect. "The party appreciates the contribution of Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad as AICC General Secretary of Uttar Pradesh. He will now be AICC General Secretary for Haryana with immediate effect," the letter stated. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra appointed Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East. pic.twitter.com/rkl57AFVzw — ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2019 × Congress president Rahul Gandhi reacted to the latest development saying, "Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia are powerful leaders. We wanted the young leaders to change Uttar Pradesh politics." Congress President Rahul Gandhi: Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia are powerful leaders. We wanted the young leaders to change Uttar Pradesh politics. pic.twitter.com/fnMeWLyxIm — ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2019 × The appointment initiates Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's active participation in country's politics right ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The decision is seen as significant and pivotal for Congress' electoral plan ahead of this year's general elections. Jyotiraditya Scindia appointed Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh West. KC Venugopal appointed Congress General Secretary (Organisation). https://t.co/IkrLwCzwLV — ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2019 × The move closely follows the announcement of the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh earlier this month, leaving Congress out in cold. Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati to contest 38 each of Uttar Pradesh's 80 seats leaving two seats for other parties in the alliance. Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Priyanka Gandhi: Mujhe personally bahut khushi ho rahi hai ki woh ab mere saath kaam karengi, woh bahut karmat hain. Jyotiraditya Scindia bhi bahut dynamic leader hain. BJP wale ghabraaye hue hain. pic.twitter.com/8QpfJjJdO3 — ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2019 × SP-BSP alliance will not field any candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli and will leave both the seats for the Congress, BSP chief Mayawati said earlier this month. In an interview with news agency PTI, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said that despite his "immense respect" for Congress President Rahul Gandhi, the grand old party was kept out of the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh to correct "poll arithmetic" in order to defeat the BJP. Without ruling out the possibility of working with the Congress after polls, Akhilesh said he has good relations with the party and would be "happy" if the next prime minister was from his home state. Asked if the SP was open to working with Congress after the polls, Akhilesh said, "We can't answer it right now. We will answer it after the elections. But I can say this much that the country wants a new prime minister and it will have one after polls". Meanwhile, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday clarified that the Congress has no "enmity" with BSP supremo Mayawati and that Congress will "cooperate with them wherever possible." (With inputs from agencies)

Ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Congress appoints Priyanka Gandhi Vadra general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East

Don't think 'mama' has become weak, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who lost power in the recent Assembly elections, asserted Sunday and claimed the BJP will win at least 27 out of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-will-be-second-fight-for-independence-stalin-at-tmcs-opposition-rally-191385">29 Lok Sabha seats in the state</a>.

Congress may have formed a government in the state but it could fall "anytime as it lacks majority", Chouhan, who is also called 'mama' or uncle, said at 'Yuva Vijay Sankalp Maharally' of Delhi BJP's Yuva Morcha.

"Don't think mama has become weak. I promise you that we will win at least 27 seats, as we did in 2014, out of the 29 Lok Sabha seats, in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-136-crore-voters-in-delhi-in-final-electoral-roll-lok-sabha-polls-191350">the coming elections</a>," said the senior BJP leader.

Hitting out at Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan claimed BJP could also have formed a "lame" government too but it decided it would do so only with a grand majority.

Chouhan also mocked the gathering of opposition leaders at Saturday's Kolkata rally as "bhanumati ka kunaba" (marriage of convenience), saying there was no unanimity over a common leader among the parties planning the 'mahagathbandhan'.

"It's like a wedding without a groom. On the other hand, we have a leader in the form of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lead us in the battleground," he said.

The 'Yuva Vijay Sankalp Maharally' was the fifth of a series of big rallies held by the Delhi BJP in the last two months, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

However, the event saw a not so whelming attendance. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari warned from the stage that it would be investigated who were the persons leaving the venue during speeches of the leaders. 
Delhi BJP Yuva Morcha president Sunil Yadav claimed the event was attended by over 20,000 persons.

"People were coming and going but the chairs were full," he said.

The Yuva Morcha had planned to torch 40-feet effigies of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal but the plan was shelved in view of poor air quality in the city, Yadav said.

The rally was attended by many senior BJP leaders including Union minister Vijay Goel who attacked Kejriwal, alleging that his government in Delhi has "destroyed" the city.

Jaibhan Pawaiya, Lok Sabha election co-incharge of Delhi BJP, asked students to sharpen their arguments to face the challenge of being mocked on the slogan of "Achhe Din" by the opponents and counter it with achievements of the Modi government.

Congress may have formed a government in the state but it could fall 'anytime as it lacks majority', Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is also called 'mama' or uncle, said at a rally of Delhi BJP's Yuva Morcha.

Don't think 'mama' has become weak, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who lost power in the recent Assembly elections, asserted Sunday and claimed the BJP will win at least 27 out of the 29 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Congress may have formed a government in the state but it could fall "anytime as it lacks majority", Chouhan, who is also called 'mama' or uncle, said at 'Yuva Vijay Sankalp Maharally' of Delhi BJP's Yuva Morcha. "Don't think mama has become weak. I promise you that we will win at least 27 seats, as we did in 2014, out of the 29 Lok Sabha seats, in the coming elections," said the senior BJP leader. Hitting out at Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan claimed BJP could also have formed a "lame" government too but it decided it would do so only with a grand majority. Chouhan also mocked the gathering of opposition leaders at Saturday's Kolkata rally as "bhanumati ka kunaba" (marriage of convenience), saying there was no unanimity over a common leader among the parties planning the 'mahagathbandhan'. "It's like a wedding without a groom. On the other hand, we have a leader in the form of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lead us in the battleground," he said. The 'Yuva Vijay Sankalp Maharally' was the fifth of a series of big rallies held by the Delhi BJP in the last two months, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. However, the event saw a not so whelming attendance. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari warned from the stage that it would be investigated who were the persons leaving the venue during speeches of the leaders. Delhi BJP Yuva Morcha president Sunil Yadav claimed the event was attended by over 20,000 persons. "People were coming and going but the chairs were full," he said. The Yuva Morcha had planned to torch 40-feet effigies of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal but the plan was shelved in view of poor air quality in the city, Yadav said. The rally was attended by many senior BJP leaders including Union minister Vijay Goel who attacked Kejriwal, alleging that his government in Delhi has "destroyed" the city. Jaibhan Pawaiya, Lok Sabha election co-incharge of Delhi BJP, asked students to sharpen their arguments to face the challenge of being mocked on the slogan of "Achhe Din" by the opponents and counter it with achievements of the Modi government.

Don't think 'mama' has become weak, will win 27 Lok Sabha seats in MP: Shivraj Chouhan

The Samajwadi Party's (SP) alliance with the BSP and the RLD was "final" and there would be no issues as regards seat-sharing in the coming Lok Sabha polls, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sp-bsp-alliance-will-get-its-math-right-in-lok-sabha-polls-akhilesh-yadav-189652&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi1rsP07fbfAhWGdH0KHZRHCAEQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0UdWN6UZbG6_1ecZ1iQ225">party chief Akhilesh Yadav</a> said on Friday, while ruling out any understanding with the Congress.

"Our alliance with the BSP, the RLD and smaller parties like the Nishad Party is final and seat-sharing will not be a problem. It will be worked out soon. We have emerged as a strong force in the state, which has changed the tone and tenor of the BJP, whose leaders have started using foul language against us," the SP national president told PTI.

"Uttar Pradesh has always acted as a catalyst for change. This time, the people of the state will change the prime minister. Our fight is with the BJP and the people are supporting us," Yadav said in an interview at the SP headquarters here.

He, however, ducked the question as to who would be his choice as the next prime minister.

Maintaining that the SP will only "concentrate" in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav ruled out any understanding with the Congress in the state in the Lok Sabha polls.

"How can we have an understanding with it (Congress)? It is a national party. We have given them two seats (Amethi and Raebareli), which the SP had been leaving for them. Presently, my focus is on Uttar Pradesh. In Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand also, the SP will field one or two candidates who are strong and we will explore (the possibility of an) alliance with others," he said.

Reminded about his friendship with Congress president Rahul Gandhi (48), with whom he had given the "UP ke ladke" (boys from UP) slogan in the 2017 state Assembly polls, Yadav, who is three years younger to Gandhi, said, "I will not like to talk about the Congress as of now."

Asked about his recent meeting with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Chowdhury, he said, "Our alliance is final. In Kairana, we had fielded RLD leader Tabassum Hasan on an SP ticket. We will give Mathura and Baghpat to them, which they want. There is no problem in the alliance now."

Asked about Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati's charge that his uncle and Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party chief Shivpal Yadav was being financed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Yadav preferred not to speak.

"I will not say anything on this," he said.

Announcing the SP-BSP tie-up at a press conference last week, Mayawati had claimed that the BJP had funded Shivpal's party and said the entire money would go down the drain as there would be no split in the SP-BSP votes.

On the BJP, Yadav said, "It had promised many things, but those were never met. The common people are fed up with it and are looking at an alternative. They have only hope, which is the SP-BSP alliance."

Attacking the saffron party, he said it had changed its Uttar Pradesh in-charge only to save one seat (of Prime Minister Narendra Modi).

"The BJP MPs did not work on the ground. They never visited their areas. Now it is being said that they are going to change 60 per cent of their candidates. But such tricks will not work now," Yadav said.

In a lighter vein, he added, "If only they can manage to control the stray cattle, they can get some votes of the farmers."

On the claim of JP Nadda, the BJP's poll in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, that the saffron party would win 74 Lok Sabha seats in the state, Yadav said, "They can claim of winning even 82 seats, despite the fact that Uttar Pradesh has only 80 seats."

Nadda, the Union health minister, during his visit here this week had asserted that the BJP and its allies would bag at least 74 Lok Sabha seats -- one more than the NDA tally in 2014 — in Uttar Pradesh.

On reports of a slew of poll sops the Centre was planning to announce in its Budget, Yadav said, "All the major steps of the Centre like demonetisation, GST and claims of good governance have failed. They cannot be trusted. I want to alert my party workers that the BJP cannot be trusted. They can resort to any conspiracy or gimmick for political gains."

On the ongoing Kumbh at Allahabad, the SP chief said, "They (BJP) have renamed the Ardh-Kumbh as Kumbh. At Kumbh, people are not invited. People themselves come to attend it to attain 'Moksha' (salvation). Are they calling people for Moksha?"

Asked about state Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh's claim that the crime rate was witnessing a downward trend in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav questioned the data.

"The Centre's data claims to have given jobs to the youth. Did they get those jobs? The law-and-order situation of the state is known to all. The lie will not work any longer," he said.

On reports that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) might quiz him in connection with a mining scam, Yadav said, "I will answer them. These are the BJP's tactics ahead of the polls."

On the possibility of his wife and Kannauj MP Dimple Yadav contesting the Lok Sabha polls, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, "I do not want her to contest this time. However, the decision is hers. We have to bring up three children. The house is now far from the children's school. How to manage their tuitions etc. Needs to be seen."

"They (the BJP government) have not approved the map for our house construction. They do not understand the responsibilities of a family as they do not have one," Yadav said.

 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The Samajwadi Party's (SP) alliance with the BSP and the RLD was "final" and there would be no issues as regards seat-sharing in the coming Lok Sabha polls, party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Friday, while ruling out any understanding with the Congress.

The Samajwadi Party's (SP) alliance with the BSP and the RLD was "final" and there would be no issues as regards seat-sharing in the coming Lok Sabha polls, party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Friday, while ruling out any understanding with the Congress. "Our alliance with the BSP, the RLD and smaller parties like the Nishad Party is final and seat-sharing will not be a problem. It will be worked out soon. We have emerged as a strong force in the state, which has changed the tone and tenor of the BJP, whose leaders have started using foul language against us," the SP national president told PTI. "Uttar Pradesh has always acted as a catalyst for change. This time, the people of the state will change the prime minister. Our fight is with the BJP and the people are supporting us," Yadav said in an interview at the SP headquarters here. He, however, ducked the question as to who would be his choice as the next prime minister. Maintaining that the SP will only "concentrate" in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav ruled out any understanding with the Congress in the state in the Lok Sabha polls. "How can we have an understanding with it (Congress)? It is a national party. We have given them two seats (Amethi and Raebareli), which the SP had been leaving for them. Presently, my focus is on Uttar Pradesh. In Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand also, the SP will field one or two candidates who are strong and we will explore (the possibility of an) alliance with others," he said. Reminded about his friendship with Congress president Rahul Gandhi (48), with whom he had given the "UP ke ladke" (boys from UP) slogan in the 2017 state Assembly polls, Yadav, who is three years younger to Gandhi, said, "I will not like to talk about the Congress as of now." Asked about his recent meeting with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Chowdhury, he said, "Our alliance is final. In Kairana, we had fielded RLD leader Tabassum Hasan on an SP ticket. We will give Mathura and Baghpat to them, which they want. There is no problem in the alliance now." Asked about Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati's charge that his uncle and Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party chief Shivpal Yadav was being financed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Yadav preferred not to speak. "I will not say anything on this," he said. Announcing the SP-BSP tie-up at a press conference last week, Mayawati had claimed that the BJP had funded Shivpal's party and said the entire money would go down the drain as there would be no split in the SP-BSP votes. On the BJP, Yadav said, "It had promised many things, but those were never met. The common people are fed up with it and are looking at an alternative. They have only hope, which is the SP-BSP alliance." Attacking the saffron party, he said it had changed its Uttar Pradesh in-charge only to save one seat (of Prime Minister Narendra Modi). "The BJP MPs did not work on the ground. They never visited their areas. Now it is being said that they are going to change 60 per cent of their candidates. But such tricks will not work now," Yadav said. In a lighter vein, he added, "If only they can manage to control the stray cattle, they can get some votes of the farmers." On the claim of JP Nadda, the BJP's poll in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, that the saffron party would win 74 Lok Sabha seats in the state, Yadav said, "They can claim of winning even 82 seats, despite the fact that Uttar Pradesh has only 80 seats." Nadda, the Union health minister, during his visit here this week had asserted that the BJP and its allies would bag at least 74 Lok Sabha seats -- one more than the NDA tally in 2014 — in Uttar Pradesh. On reports of a slew of poll sops the Centre was planning to announce in its Budget, Yadav said, "All the major steps of the Centre like demonetisation, GST and claims of good governance have failed. They cannot be trusted. I want to alert my party workers that the BJP cannot be trusted. They can resort to any conspiracy or gimmick for political gains." On the ongoing Kumbh at Allahabad, the SP chief said, "They (BJP) have renamed the Ardh-Kumbh as Kumbh. At Kumbh, people are not invited. People themselves come to attend it to attain 'Moksha' (salvation). Are they calling people for Moksha?" Asked about state Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh's claim that the crime rate was witnessing a downward trend in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav questioned the data. "The Centre's data claims to have given jobs to the youth. Did they get those jobs? The law-and-order situation of the state is known to all. The lie will not work any longer," he said. On reports that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) might quiz him in connection with a mining scam, Yadav said, "I will answer them. These are the BJP's tactics ahead of the polls." On the possibility of his wife and Kannauj MP Dimple Yadav contesting the Lok Sabha polls, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, "I do not want her to contest this time. However, the decision is hers. We have to bring up three children. The house is now far from the children's school. How to manage their tuitions etc. Needs to be seen." "They (the BJP government) have not approved the map for our house construction. They do not understand the responsibilities of a family as they do not have one," Yadav said.

Alliance with BSP, RLD final; seat-sharing no problem: Akhilesh Yadav

Putting all speculations to rest, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee confirmed on Tuesday that Congress will be represented by its senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge in the 'Mahagathbandhan' rally to be held on January 19 at the Brigade Parade Grounds in Kolkata.&nbsp;

"We had extended invites to all leaders and we have been told that senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge will be attending," Banerjee said while leaving Nabanna - the state secretariat.&nbsp;

According to TMC sources, a personal invite was extended to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Congress President Rahul Gandhi was also invited.&nbsp;

Congress insiders said that the high command was miffed with Banerjee as she skipped the swearing-in ceremonies of Congress chief ministers in the recently concluded assembly elections. Banerjee had sent party leaders to represent Trinamool Congress at the events instead.&nbsp;

Sources in the Trinamool Congress said that even Mayawati is to skip the meeting. However, it is yet to be known whether she will be sending a representative from her party.&nbsp;

On the other hand, Banerjee confirmed the names of twenty opposition leaders that are to attend the Brigade Parade Grounds rally.&nbsp;

The leaders include HD Deve Gowda, HD Kumaraswamy, Arvind Kejriwal, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejaswi Yadav, Sharad Pawar, Badrudding Ajmal, MK Stalin, Arun Shorie, Chandrababu Naidu, Ajit Singh, Jayant Choudhary, Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Shatrughan Sinha, Babulal Marandi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Jignesh Mevani, Hardik Patel and Yashwant Sinha.&nbsp;

The meeting is being seen as the next major congregation of opposition leaders ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.&nbsp;

Today, a high-level meeting was held at the state secretariat - Nabanna to discuss the itinerary and security arrangements of the upcoming Brigade rally. The meeting was chaired by CM Banerjee and most senior leaders from the Trinamool Congress. Senior officials from the administration were also present at the meeting.&nbsp;

Putting all speculations to rest, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee confirmed on Tuesday that Congress will be represented by its senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge in the 'Mahagathbandhan' rally to be held on January 19 at the Brigade Parade Grounds in Kolkata.

Putting all speculations to rest, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee confirmed on Tuesday that Congress will be represented by its senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge in the 'Mahagathbandhan' rally to be held on January 19 at the Brigade Parade Grounds in Kolkata. "We had extended invites to all leaders and we have been told that senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge will be attending," Banerjee said while leaving Nabanna - the state secretariat. According to TMC sources, a personal invite was extended to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Congress President Rahul Gandhi was also invited. Congress insiders said that the high command was miffed with Banerjee as she skipped the swearing-in ceremonies of Congress chief ministers in the recently concluded assembly elections. Banerjee had sent party leaders to represent Trinamool Congress at the events instead. Sources in the Trinamool Congress said that even Mayawati is to skip the meeting. However, it is yet to be known whether she will be sending a representative from her party. On the other hand, Banerjee confirmed the names of twenty opposition leaders that are to attend the Brigade Parade Grounds rally. The leaders include HD Deve Gowda, HD Kumaraswamy, Arvind Kejriwal, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejaswi Yadav, Sharad Pawar, Badrudding Ajmal, MK Stalin, Arun Shorie, Chandrababu Naidu, Ajit Singh, Jayant Choudhary, Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Shatrughan Sinha, Babulal Marandi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Jignesh Mevani, Hardik Patel and Yashwant Sinha. The meeting is being seen as the next major congregation of opposition leaders ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Today, a high-level meeting was held at the state secretariat - Nabanna to discuss the itinerary and security arrangements of the upcoming Brigade rally. The meeting was chaired by CM Banerjee and most senior leaders from the Trinamool Congress. Senior officials from the administration were also present at the meeting.

Sonia, Rahul Gandhi and Mayawati to skip Mamata Banerjee's Mahagathbandhan meet on January 19

Intensifying his attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi over their alleged involvement in the National Herald case, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that those who are out on bail do not believe in the law of institution.

Addressing BJP workers on the concluding day of party's two-day national council meeting in Delhi's Ramlila ground, the Prime Minister targeted the Congress, saying, "How can those who do not believe in country's institution, will respect this country? Those who are out on bail do not believe in the law of land or the institution. When I was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, I was called by an agency and questioned for nine hours. They even jailed Amit Shah. But the Congress'&nbsp;first family thinks it is above the law and doesn't appear before courts despite several summons issued to them".

He added, "This example of how the Congress and its 'naamdar'&nbsp;family breaks the system is that Congress President and other leaders are out on bail in the National Herald case. This case shows that the Congress leaders grab the public's land and money too."

Continuing his tirade against the Congress, he said that now it is a fight between a sultanate and the Constitution. "For Congress, every authority such as the RBI, CAG, CBI, Army, Police, SC is incorrect. For them, only they are correct and anyone who opposes their authority is incorrect. It is now a fight between a sultanate and the Constitution," he added.

The Prime Minister further said, "In 2007, they tried to threaten me with a jail sentence," adding that the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) only agenda was to implicate Narendra Modi.

He added that the Government, before the NDA regime, had pushed the country into darkness. "The government before us pushed the country into darkness. It would not be wrong if I say that India lost 10 important years (2004-2014) in scams and corruption," he said.&nbsp;

Intensifying his attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi over their alleged involvement in the National Herald case, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that those who are out on bail do not believe in the law of institution.

Intensifying his attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi over their alleged involvement in the National Herald case, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that those who are out on bail do not believe in the law of institution. Addressing BJP workers on the concluding day of party's two-day national council meeting in Delhi's Ramlila ground, the Prime Minister targeted the Congress, saying, "How can those who do not believe in country's institution, will respect this country? Those who are out on bail do not believe in the law of land or the institution. When I was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, I was called by an agency and questioned for nine hours. They even jailed Amit Shah. But the Congress' first family thinks it is above the law and doesn't appear before courts despite several summons issued to them". He added, "This example of how the Congress and its 'naamdar' family breaks the system is that Congress President and other leaders are out on bail in the National Herald case. This case shows that the Congress leaders grab the public's land and money too." Continuing his tirade against the Congress, he said that now it is a fight between a sultanate and the Constitution. "For Congress, every authority such as the RBI, CAG, CBI, Army, Police, SC is incorrect. For them, only they are correct and anyone who opposes their authority is incorrect. It is now a fight between a sultanate and the Constitution," he added. The Prime Minister further said, "In 2007, they tried to threaten me with a jail sentence," adding that the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) only agenda was to implicate Narendra Modi. He added that the Government, before the NDA regime, had pushed the country into darkness. "The government before us pushed the country into darkness. It would not be wrong if I say that India lost 10 important years (2004-2014) in scams and corruption," he said.

Those out on bail don't believe in law of institution: PM Modi attacks Sonia, Rahul

UPA pushed the country into darkness, we proved govt can run without corruption: PM Modi at BJP meet

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