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DMK Allots 2 Seats to Allies

An agreement was signed with DMK’s long-time ally, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi…reports Asian Lite News

The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu on Saturday sealed the seat-sharing agreement with its two alliance partners.

Weeks after initiating seat-sharing talks with allies for the Lok Sabha elections, an agreement was signed by the Chief Minister and Party president, MK Stalin.

DMK’s long-time ally, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has been allotted the Ramanathapuram Parliament Constituency.

The Namakkal Parliament constituency has been given to Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi.

This marks the first announcement from DMK to its allies.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday issued a stern warning to political parties, emphasizing a “zero-tolerance policy” towards the “misuse of money” during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

CEC chief accompanied by senior officials of the Election Commission of India, on Friday commenced his two-day review of Tamil Nadu’s preparedness for the Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing a press conference CEC chief on Saturday asserted that the Election Commission determines to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.

“The Commission is extremely determined and all the collectors, all the enforcement agencies have been told about this that we want an inducement free elections. Free, fair, and transparent elections,” CEC Rajiv Kumar said.

CEC Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioner Arun Goel and other key officials, arrived in Chennai to oversee the preparatory activities. Their visit was part of the Election Commission’s effort to ensure the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.

The delegation met representatives from various recognised political parties. The discussions encompassed crucial aspects such as polling station arrangements, and the implementation of the electoral code of conduct.

Annamalai stresses anger against DMK

Hitting out at the DMK government a day after a prominent leader from the ruling ally Congress switched sides, the BJP’s Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai on Sunday said the MK Stalin-led regime was facing public ire with each passing day.

Speaking to ANI on Sunday, the BJP leader, who is the party’s poster boy in a state where it has yet to make any electoral inroads, said, “The public anger against the DMK government is on the rise every single day.”

“As we speak, the Delhi Police Narcotics Cell has busted a Rs 2,000 crore drug smuggling attempt. The kingpin is a member of the DMK’s NRI cell. The main accused in drug smuggling appears in photographs with CM MK Stalin, Udayanidhi Stalin and the first family,” he added.

Annamalai was referring to the international drug trafficking gang that was busted in a joint operation conducted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Delhi Police’s Special Cell.

According to NCB, the mastermind of the international drug trafficking gang was identified as a Tamil film producer who is on the run.

Annamalai alleged that ever since DMK formed the government, drug abuse has been on the rise in the state.

“We are demanding a thorough probe into this and the CM should direct the state police to fully cooperate with the Delhi Police in this probe and issue a white paper after the probe, about the connection of the accused with the first family,” he said.

On his ‘En Maan En Makkal’ padayatra, Annamalai said every BJP worker is looking forward to the concluding function of the padayatra in Palladam, which is likely to be graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The ‘En Maan En Makkal’ padayatra reached the 232nd constituency today and two more constituencies will be covered by the day after tomorrow. Each of us is looking forward to the concluding function in Palladam where PM Narendra Modi is expected to participate. We believe this is going to be a turning point in Tamil Nadu politics,” he said. (ANI)

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BJP Focuses on Key Seats in 5 States

Given the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, the core group meeting of five states was called at the BJP headquarters…reports Asian Lite News

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held the core group meeting of five states on Saturday at the party headquarters in New Delhi.

Given the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, the core group meeting of five states was called at the BJP headquarters.

The meeting was led by BJP National President JP Nadda in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah and Organization General Secretary BL Santosh.

First of all, the meeting of the Uttar Pradesh Core Group was organized. During this meeting, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President JP Nadda and Organization General Secretary BL Santosh, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Brijesh Pathak, UP Organization Minister Dharampal Singh and others were present.

According to sources, in the meeting held regarding UP, there was a discussion regarding the lost seats. A special strategy was made for the Rae Bareli and Mainpuri seats. There was also a discussion regarding MLC elections.

In the second phase, the West Bengal Core Group meeting was organized. State President Sukanta Majumdar, Suvendu Adhikari and others were present at this meeting.

According to sources, 42 Lok Sabha seats were specifically discussed in the meeting. The vandalism that took place in Sandesh Khali was also specifically discussed with Home Minister Amit Shah and other core group members who were present in the meeting.

West Bengal BJP president Sukant Majumdar said, “PM’s proposed rally is scheduled to be held in Arambag district on March 1. His rally on March 2 is proposed in Krishnanagar. He will address both rallies and dedicate several schemes to the public.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will trumpet the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 from West Bengal, where the BJP is keeping a close eye on 35 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal.

In the third phase, a meeting of the Telangana Core Group was called. In this meeting, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, D.K. Aruna, Dr K. Lakshan, Bandi Sanjay and Atla Rajendra were present.

The Bharatiya Janata Party will contest alone for 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana. It has four MPs in Telangana. The strategy to win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with a majority and review the lost seats were discussed.

In the fourth phase, a meeting of the Chhattisgarh Core Group was called. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo and other leaders were present at this meeting. There was a discussion about new faces in the meeting.

The BJP discussed fielding Schedule Tribes (ST) in four seats. Separate discussions were held on Korba and Bastar (seats the BJP lost in 2019), and discussions were held on new faces in Janjgir, Mahasamund, Raipur, Kanker and Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seats.

The core group meeting may be held again on February 27-28.

In the fifth phase, a meeting of the Rajasthan Core Group was called. The meeting took place at the Delhi BJP headquarters for more than an hour. The meeting was held in the presence of JP Nadda and Amit Shah.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Deputy Chief Ministers Diyakumari and Premchand Bairwa, state in-charge Arun Singh, co-in-charge Vijay Rahatkar, and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, leaders Rajendra Rathod, and Satish Poonia were present in the meeting.

A discussion was held in the meeting regarding all 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Candidates can be declared for 7-9 seats in the first list by the party. (ANI)

Shah Calls for 400+ Seats

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during a gathering of BJP workers in Khajuraho, rallied support for the Narendra Modi government’s third term bid, urging the party faithful to secure over 400 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Shah emphasised the transformative agenda, framing the polls as critical for propelling India towards superpower status and the global economic elite.

In a fervent address to approximately 23,000 booth-level workers, Shah reiterated the BJP’s stance on corruption, equating the Congress with malfeasance and asserting that the party’s tenure was marred by scandalous misappropriation of funds totaling Rs 12 lakh crore.

Notably, the opposition landscape in Madhya Pradesh has shifted, with the Samajwadi Party and Congress forming an alliance for the polls. The Akhilesh Yadav-led party is slated to contest in Khajuraho and extend support to the Congress in the state’s remaining 28 constituencies.

Shah’s call to action underscored the BJP’s ambition to secure a resounding victory under Modi’s leadership, with aspirations to steer India towards unprecedented growth and global prominence.

Meanwhile, Shah hit out at INDIA bloc and referred to them as ‘Kauravas’, saying all the seven political parties are contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections only to launch their next generations.

Referring to the opposition alliance as ‘Kauravas’, the Home Minister said that the difference is very clear as on one side are Pandavas, who are fighting to make India a superpower, and the other side are Kauravas, who have always played politics of appeasement.

“The leaders of all these seven parties (INDIA bloc) have nothing to do with the people of the country but their family comes first for them, and they are making all efforts to launch their new generations,” the Home Minister said while addressing a gathering prominent citizens, experts and families that have benefited from schemes of the state and Central governments at Bhopal’s Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre in Bhopal.

He said that the upcoming Lok Sabha election will be between ‘pariwarvaad’ and the vision and progress of the BJP.

“This upcoming election will not only be to elect a new government but to hand over the country’s future in safer hands,” the Home Minister said.

He was on a day-long tour to Madhya Pradesh where he visited Gwalior, Khajuraho and Bhopal.

Earlier in the day, addressing BJP workers in Khajuraho, Shah urged them to aim for an increase of 370 additional votes in each booth compared to the last general polls.

“This initiative is part of the party’s strategy to secure more than 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections,” he said.

The Home Minister also pointed out the difference between the 10 years of UPA regime and the years of PM Modi’s government.

He also counted a series of scams which unfolded during the UPA government, and claimed not a single scam has been reported in the last 10 years of the PM Modi’s government.

During his visit to Gwalior, the Home Minister conducted individual meetings with selected party leaders and activists to assess the ground situation.

During these sessions, strategies were discussed on how to secure victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The Home Minister encouraged BJP workers to aim for a significant increase of 10 per cent in the party’s vote share during the elections and also highlighted the importance of broadening support and strengthening the party’s electoral position.

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Biden Summons Congressional Leaders

President to discuss “urgency” of passing the aid package as well as legislation to keep the federal government operating through the end of September

President Joe Biden will convene the top four congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday to press lawmakers on passing an emergency aid package for Ukraine and Israel, as well as averting a looming government shutdown next month, according to a White House official.

The top four leaders include House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

During the meeting, the president will discuss the “urgency” of passing the aid package, which has bipartisan support, as well as legislation to keep the federal government operating through the end of September, said the White House official, who was granted anonymity to discuss a meeting not yet publicly confirmed.

The Republican-led House is under pressure to pass the $95 billion national security package that bolsters aid for Ukraine, Israel as well as the Indo-Pacific. That legislation cleared the Senate on a 70-29 vote earlier this month, but Johnson has been resistant to putting up the aid bill for a vote in the House.

“This is one of those instances where one person can bend the course of history. Speaker Johnson, if he put this bill on the floor, would produce a strong, bipartisan majority vote in favor of the aid to Ukraine,” Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”

Sullivan stressed that Ukrainians need weapons and ammunition to fend off Russian forces, and that in his personal conversations with the speaker, he “has indicated that he would like to get the funding for Ukraine.”

Separate from the national security package, the first tranche of government funding is due to expire Friday. The rest of the federal government, including agencies such as the Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, expires on March 8.

In a letter to his colleagues sent Sunday, Schumer said there was not yet an agreement to avoid a partial shutdown of the agencies whose funding expires this week. That includes the departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture and Veterans Affairs.

“While we had hoped to have legislation ready this weekend that would give ample time for members to review the text, it is clear now that House Republicans need more time to sort themselves out,” Schumer wrote in the letter. The Senate majority leader called on Johnson to “step up to once again buck the extremists in his caucus and do the right thing” by greenlighting funding to keep the government open.

Johnson said Schumer’s letter was “counterproductive” and said Democrats were pushing their own unrealistic policy demands.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., the United States, Feb. 2, 2021. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

“This is not a time for petty politics,” Johnson said in a statement. “House Republicans will continue to work in good faith and hope to reach an outcome as soon as possible, even as we continue to insist that our own border security must be addressed immediately.”

Last week, Biden signed a short-term spending bill that keeps the federal government operating until early March.

The bill averts what would’ve been a partial government shutdown starting Saturday. It does not address additional aid for Ukraine, which remains in limbo as key legislators continue to negotiate a border security measure that would go in tandem with more support for Kyiv.

Congress, ahead of the winter snowstorm that struck Washington, D.C., on Friday, passed the short-term bill with large bipartisan majorities on Thursday. The vote was 77-18 in the Senate and 314-108 in the House.

Under the bill, funding for agencies overseeing agriculture, veterans affairs, energy, transportation and housing runs through March 1. Funding for the rest of the federal government now runs through March 8. It’s meant to buy lawmakers extra time to draft full-year spending bills through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., will continue to face pressure from House conservatives who want him to abandon a bipartisan agreement that sets overall spending levels for those full-year bills at $1.66 trillion. Those conservatives say that is too much money, but Democrats and moderate Republicans say Congress must abide by that deal and avoid legislative dysfunction during an election year.

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Haley Staying in Race Despite Loss in Her Home State

Nikki Haley said, “I’m a woman of my word,” referring to her earlier remarks about staying in the presidential race until Super Tuesday.

Former US President came another step closer to getting the Republican presidential nomination by registering a landslide victory in the South Carolina primary on Saturday and defeating GOP rival Nikki Haley at her home turf and casting grave doubt on her long-term viability.

According to CNN, Trump’s dominance in South Carolina was ‘hardly surprising’, as the state is considered among the “most conservative” in the country and has backed the former president every time he’s been on the ballot.

In the primary held on Saturday, Trump secured 59.8 per cent of the GOP votes and 44 delegates, lying at a wide margin from Nikki Haley who got 39.5 per cent votes and only three delegates, as per the data projected by CNN.

According to a CNN exit poll of primary voters in the state, more than 4 in 10 described themselves as being affiliated with the MAGA movement, while roughly 8 in 10 described themselves as conservative. Only a third of respondents acknowledged President Joe Biden as the “rightful winner” of the 2020 election.

There was not much doubt about the final result in South Carolina, as most polls already showed Trump with a 25-30 points lead.

Even after the results, Trump exuded confidence in getting into a 2020 rematch with incumbent Joe Biden.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Trump said he is not sure Nikki Haley is “even really in the race” adding that he is focused on beating President Biden in the general election in November.

“I was honoured that I received the largest vote in the history of the state — I’m with Senator Lindsey Graham right now and he just told me we received the largest vote by double — we beat the last record,” Trump said. “So that’s a great compliment to all of the people and to making America great again.”

On being asked whether he wanted Nikki Haley to drop out of the race, Trump said that he’s “really not thinking about that… I’m not thinking about it.”

“I’m really thinking about we have to beat Joe Biden,” he told Fox News Digital. “I don’t know if she’s in the race at all, because, you know, I have set records in every single state. I’m not sure that she’s really in the race.”

Meanwhile, Nikki Haley has maintained that she is not quitting the race and will continue her White House bid claiming that a significant disapprove of both Biden and Trump.

Speaking in Charleston, Haley said, “I’m a woman of my word,” referring to her earlier remarks about staying in the presidential race until Super Tuesday. “I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.”

Haley admitted that she lost by a wide margin. However, she highlighted “40 per cent is not some tiny group.” She stated that even though she has lost four states to Trump. However, there are many more states where people have not still voted, CNN reported.

She said, “In the next 10 days, another 21 states and territories will speak. They have the right to a real choice, not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate.” She added, “And I have a duty to give them that choice”.

“I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.” (Credit X@NikkiHaley)

After the South Carolina results, the contest now shifts into a new gear starting now. The slow march through the early voting states is over and the primary is now a national one

By March 12, 56 per cent of the delegates to the Republican National Convention will have been awarded. In most states, Republicans’ delegates are ‘winner-take-all’ — which means Haley gets no credit for strong second-place showings, as reported by CNN.

As Haley has remained winless so far, the finish line — 1,215 delegates necessary to clinch the nomination — could be in sight for Trump within weeks.

The next test comes Tuesday in Michigan’s primary, though state Republicans have opted to award their delegates partially through the primary and partially through a caucus convention days later. It will be followed by caucuses in Idaho and Missouri, along with primaries in North Dakota. Then, on Super Tuesday, 36 per cent of the party’s delegates are at stake.

Trump won the GOP nomination in 2016, went on to become the President and ran all but a select few Republican critics out of office or the party, then stormed into the 2024 race despite facing multiple indictments

Trump’s success in Haley’s home state, underscores the dominance and command Trump holds within his party. Most Republican voters are all in on Trump.

The results have raised serious concerns over the future of Nikki Haley’s campaign.

It was considered that Haley’s voters consist of a ‘theoretical coalition’ This includes moderate Republicans, particularly suburban, college-educated voters who have fled the party since Trump’s ascension in 2016. It also consists of independents allowed to vote in Republican primaries in some states, such as New Hampshire and South Carolina, as per CNN.

But, the results have again shown that coalition isn’t showing up for Haley, at least not in enough force to bring any substantial effect.

Meanwhile, Haley’s campaign has announced a ‘swing’ through Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado and Utah starting Sunday. She’s also spending money on television and digital advertising targeting the states that vote on Super Tuesday on March 5.

“In the next 10 days, another 21 states and territories will speak. They have the right to a real choice, not a Soviet-style election with only one candidate,” Haley said in her concession speech.

But, whether the former UN Ambassador will actually be able to notch any wins and emerge as a serious challenge to Trump in the delegate race, is a tougher question.

Another important result of South Carolina’s primary might be the relationship between Trump and his onetime 2024 GOP primary rival, Senator Tim Scott, who is speculated to be in consideration for the vice presidential nomination, CNN reported.

He campaigned with Trump, appeared alongside him in a Fox News town hall and other interviews, and urged Haley — who appointed him to his Senate seat when she was governor — to get out of the race. (ANI)

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Sunak warns of “toxic” politics 

The row follows an article by former home secretary Suella Braverman over the weekend that claimed Islamists and extremists were taking charge in all walks of life in Britain, attacked as “extreme rhetoric” by the Opposition parties…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has warned against a growing toxic culture in politics amid reports of members of Parliament facing security threats over their voting intentions in the House of Commons related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The 43-year-old British Indian leader issued a statement on Saturday to condemn the hijacking of protests on the streets of the country by extremists to glorify terrorism. It came as a report in ‘The Sunday Times’ newspaper claims that three unnamed female MPs have been sanctioned additional security after concerns about their safety.

“The explosion in prejudice and antisemitism since the Hamas attacks on the 7 October [2023] are as unacceptable as they are un-British. Simply put antisemitism is racism,” said Sunak in his statement.

“Legitimate protests hijacked by extremists to promote and glorify terrorism, elected representatives verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted and antisemitic tropes beamed onto our own Parliament building,” he said, with reference to an offensive projection on the Palace of Westminster recently.

“And in Parliament this week a very dangerous signal was sent that this sort of intimidation works. It is toxic for our society and our politics and is an affront to the liberties and values we hold dear here in Britain,” he said of the scenes of chaos in the Commons last week over a Gaza ceasefire vote.

While he did not make a reference to it specifically, his intervention came soon after the governing Conservatives suspended party MP Lee Anderson after he claimed during an interview that Pakistani-origin London Mayor Sadiq Khan was under the control of “Islamists”.

The Opposition had demanded action over the remarks, which Labour Leader Keir Starmer branded as a “racist and Islamophobic outburst”. “This isn’t just embarrassing for the Conservative Party, it emboldens the worst forces in our politics,” said Starmer.

The row follows an article by former home secretary Suella Braverman over the weekend that claimed Islamists and extremists were taking charge in all walks of life in Britain, attacked as “extreme rhetoric” by the Opposition parties.

Braverman, sacked from the Cabinet by Sunak last year, was reacting to Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle saying that he had selected certain amendments to a motion related to ceasefire in Gaza in a bid to ensure all options were on the table for MPs to vote on and to protect MPs’ safety.

According to ‘The Sunday Times’ report, UK Security Minister Tom Tugendhat has been working with the Home Office, the police and the parliamentary authorities to significantly enhance the safety and security of MPs. As part of the overhaul, the royal and VIP executive committee (RAVEC), which is responsible for the security of the royal family as well as senior politicians including the prime minister and home secretary, has been brought in to help assess the threat to MPs.

“Many MPs are petrified by the abuse they are facing,” a senior security source was quoted as saying.

It is understood that the female MPs requiring additional security have been provided with close protection by private companies, along with chauffeur-driven cars, which are normally provided only to senior members of the Cabinet and the Leader of the Opposition.

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Rahul assures farmers on MSP law

Congress leader resumed the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Agra which was attended by Akhilesh Yadav and party General Secretary Priyanka…reports Asian Lite News

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday assured the farmers that if the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc comes into power at the Centre after the Lok Sabha elections this year, then it won’t take “more than a minute” to implement legislation on the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Rahul Gandhi on Sunday resumed the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Agra which was also attended by Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi.

Addressing the public, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said,” Farmers in the country want legal MSP. Modi government says that it is not ready to give them legal MSP. Whenever the government of the INDIA bloc, Congress comes at the Centre we will give them (farmers) the legal MSP. We won’t take more than a minute to implement it.”

Amid a deadlock in talks between farmers and the central government, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda appealed to the citizens to maintain peace and has invited suggestions.

The protesting farmers, whose demands include a legal guarantee for minimum support price, had earlier rejected the government’s offer after the fourth round of talks. The Centre however expressed readiness for the fifth round of talks with the farmers while urging them to find a solution through ‘dialogue’.

Rahul Gandhi said that the word ‘Nyay’ was added in the Yatra because people are massively facing injustice in society.

“If you are poor then you will face injustice in this country 24 hours. If you are women you will face injustice. Hatred is being spread in the society. The reason for hatred is injustice, so we have added the word Nyay (justice) in our journey,” he said.

Priyanka raises issue of unemployment

Earlier, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned the BJP’s decade-long rule, highlighting concerns over youth unemployment, farmer protests, and inflation in the country.

“BJP has been in power for 10 years. Many big events such as the G20 Summit took place, everyone said that the respect of the country is increasing due to such events, even we agree to it, but I want to ask, is the respect of the country not connected with the young, our policemen, and students? There are no jobs for the youth, farmers are still sitting on roads, inflation is a burden for the people of the country,” said Priyanka Gandhi.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined the Yatra in Aligarh on Sunday morning. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered Uttar Pradesh via Chandauli district last week.

Farmers unhappy in BJP, says Akhilesh

Hitting out the BJP government at the Centre, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused it of trying to influence institutions and said farmers are forced to resort to agitation for measures to increase their income.

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister expressed solidarity with the protesting farmers over their demands. Some farmer organisations in Punjab had announced a ‘Delhi chalo’ protest demanding a law on MSP.

“Our party is a party of farmers, we stand with their demand. When it comes to the respect and rights of our farmer brothers, we stood with them earlier as well and will continue to do so,” Yadav said here.

“People who had raised the slogan of ‘Jai Kisan, Jai Jawan, Jai Vigyan’, farmers are unhappy in their rule and are resorting to agitation for steps to increase their income. Unemployed are not getting jobs and if they are writing exams (for jobs), the papers are getting leaked,” he added.

Akhilesh Yadav had earlier condemned the use of tear gas on protesting farmers at the Delhi-Haryana border and questioned the ‘Amritkaal’ under BJP rule.

To press the Centre to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm debt waiver, the farmers have been camping at the Punjab-Haryana border since February 13.

During the last round of talks, which ended past midnight on February 18, the panel of three Union ministers had proposed buying five crops — moong dal, urad dal, tur dal, maize and cotton — from farmers at MSP for five years through central agencies. The government has said it is ready for further discussions with protesting farmers.

Cong veteran unhappy

After Congress leader Salman Khurshid expressed his dissatisfaction after the Farrukhabad Lok Sabha seat went to the Samajwadi Party (SP), Uttar Pradesh party in-charge Avinash Pande on Saturday said that the grand old party respect his “emotions” but when alliance happens, they have to let go of certain things for better and “greater things.”

“Salman Khurshid himself is a member of the high power committee formed for the alliance. He might have said that for the people of Farrukhabad…we respect his emotions but when alliance happens, you have to let go of certain things for better and greater things,” Avinash Pande said. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Rahul Gandhi granted bail in 2018 defamation case

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Trump notches easy win over Haley in South Carolina

Trump had already won Iowa by 30 points and New Hampshire by 10, while a dispute in Nevada led to the real estate tycoon running unopposed in the official contest….reports Asian Lite News

Donald Trump cruised to a decisive victory Saturday in the South Carolina Republican primary, blitzing rival Nikki Haley in her home state and continuing his march to the nomination and a White House rematch with Joe Biden.

Nonetheless, Haley vowed to fight on Trump may have strong support for the Republican nomination, she has better chances of winning in the presidential race than Trump.

“I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run… I’m a woman of my word. I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden,” she said.

Trump completed a sweep of the first four major nominating contests, converting a year of blockbuster polls into a likely insurmountable lead going into the “Super Tuesday” 15-state voting bonanza in 10 days.

While Haley repeatedly questioned the 77-year-old former president’s mental fitness and warned another Trump presidency would bring “chaos,” her efforts appeared to do little to damage his standing among Republicans.

The margin of victory was not immediately clear but it was expected to be significant, with major US networks calling the race within seconds of the polls closing.

Haley, a popular governor of South Carolina in the 2010s and the only woman to have entered the Republican contest, was looking to outperform expectations in her own backyard and ride into Super Tuesday with wind her sails.

But she was never able to compete in a battleground that preferred Trump’s brand of right-wing “America first” populism and personal grievance over the four indictments and multiple civil lawsuits he faces.

Meanwhile, some 32 percent of voters in South Carolina’s Republican presidential primary contest think Trump would not be fit for the presidency if he were convicted of a crime, according to the preliminary results of an exit poll conducted on Saturday by Edison Research.

The poll gathered responses from 1,508 voters in the Republican contest. Updated results will be available as more responses are gathered.

Trump had already won Iowa by 30 points and New Hampshire by 10, while a dispute in Nevada led to the real estate tycoon running unopposed in the official contest.

The margin of Trump’s victory was always the main question in South Carolina, with analysts arguing that Haley managing to whittle the gap to 15 points or less would have counted as a good night.

Trump aides have been clear however that they want to see off Haley long before the Republican National Convention in July — and are expecting the party to coalesce around the front-runner ahead of the first of his criminal trials on March 25.

Trump made clear Saturday that he is looking beyond Haley to a likely November contest against Biden.

Speaking ahead of voting booths closing to the Conservative Political Action Committee conference — a must-stop for Republican politicians — Trump spent much of his time bashing Biden, not Haley.

Haley — a traditional conservative who espouses limited government and a muscular foreign policy — has argued that a Trump presidency would be mired in scandal from day one.

The 52-year-old former UN ambassador underscored the point Saturday by describing as “disgusting” comments Trump had made to Black conservatives on the campaign trail.

“It’s disgusting. But that’s what happens when he goes off the teleprompter. That’s the chaos that comes with Donald Trump,” Haley said at a polling station in her home state.

“That’s the offensiveness that’s going to happen every day between now and the general election, which is why I continue to say Donald Trump cannot win a general election,” she added.

Trump made the comments Friday evening in a speech to Black conservatives.

Nodding to his multiple indictments, Trump said that “Black people like me because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against, and they actually viewed me as I’m being discriminated against.”

Haley has also blasted Trump’s reaction to the death of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny — he avoided criticizing President Vladimir Putin — and his threat to encourage Moscow to attack NATO nations not meeting their financial obligations.

Her central argument — that polling shows her performing better than Trump in hypothetical matchups with Biden — may have fallen on deaf ears but she has vowed to stay in the race through Super Tuesday.

Analysts say she is building her profile for a potential 2028 run — and is poised to step in should legal or health problems knock Trump out of the race.

“Nikki Haley’s an incredible role model,” said one Republican voter, Julie Taylor. “She’s not giving up, she’s showing strength and grace and courage.”

One third of South Carolina Republicans would spurn Trump if he were convicted-exit poll. Some 32 percent of voters in South Carolina’s Republican presidential primary contest think Donald Trump would not be fit for the presidency if he were convicted of a crime, according to the preliminary results of an exit poll conducted on Saturday by Edison Research.

The poll gathered responses from 1,508 voters in the Republican contest. Updated results will be available as more responses are gathered.

Republican seeks to bar party from paying Trump’s legal bills

A Republican National Committee member has submitted resolutions that would prohibit the party from paying presidential candidate Donald Trump’s legal bills, according to a draft, but the measures must get more backers soon to move forward.

Mississippi RNC committeeman Henry Barbor drafted the resolution on Trump’s legal expenses and another requiring the party committee to stay neutral in the presidential race until he receives enough delegates to secure the nomination.

“The RNC’s job is to win elections. It’s not to pay the legal bills for any leading candidate. He’s got to fight his own legal fight,” Barbor told Reuters on Saturday.

Barbor needs to get two cosponsors from 10 states to join the effort by Tuesday for the resolutions to proceed to a full vote by the RNC’s 168 committee members. That vote could come in March and would require a simple majority to pass. But Barbor predicted they would be defeated if they reach that point.

Former President Trump, who denies all wrongdoing, faces four criminal trials and was recently ordered to pay about $540 million in judgments in two civil cases.

A Trump super PAC reported paying more than $47 million in legal expenses for him in 2023.

Trump is seeking to cement his status as Republican presidential nominee and gain more control over the RNC, including by nominating daughter-in-law Lara Trump as co-chair.

Lara Trump has said it is “a big interest to people” to pay fees for her father-in-law’s criminal and civil cases.

Barbor said pro-Trump forces were “jumping the gun” by seeking to declare Trump the party’s presidential nominee while longshot challenger Nikki Haley remains in the race for the Republican nomination to face Democratic President Joe Biden in the November election. Trump is on course for another easy win in South Carolina’s primary on Saturday.

The resolutions were first reported by The Dispatch. Trump campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita, who Trump has proposed serve as the RNC’s chief operating officer, on Saturday said in a statement that it is “the RNC’s sole responsibility to defeat Joe Biden and win back the White House.”

On Friday, he said the RNC would not use raised funds to pay for Trump’s legal bills.

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AIADMK releases AI-generated clip of Jayalalithaa

Palaniswami also released the party’s election slogan: “Let’s reclaim Tamil rights, Let’s save Tamil Nadu,” on the occasion….reports Asian Lite News

An Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated audio clip of AIADMK’s iconic leader and late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa seeking support to party General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami for the upcoming Lok Sabha election was released by the party on Saturday.

In the AI voice clip, released on her 76th birth anniversary, the former party supremo could be heard recalling the AIADMK government’s welfare initiatives and appealed to the members of the public to strengthen Edappadi K Palaniswami’s hands in establishing “people’s rule.” She repeated her popular catchphrase: “I am because of the people, I am for the people” (Makkalal naan, makkalukkagave naan).

Palaniswami also released the party’s election slogan: “Let’s reclaim Tamil rights, Let’s save Tamil Nadu,” on the occasion.

Annamalai hails Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Saturday remembered former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on her 76th birth anniversary.

“It is former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalitha’s birthday today. The welfare programs implemented by her for the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu and for the welfare of the society shouts out her fame,” Annamalai said in a post on X.

Earlier AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswamy paid tributes to the former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

“Today is the 76th birthday of the Guardian of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Whether in government or in politics she served without any compromise, without doing any harm to anyone, with balance, equality and social justice. ..Let us pledge to continue on the path of success shown by her. All of us will pledge that the leaders of our association and the brothers and sisters of the association will work day and night for the election and get a great victory in the coming parliamentary general election and present that victory to the leader of the revolution” Palaniswamy said in his post on X.

“She embraced us all with love, taught us political lessons and guided us. On the birthday of our beloved mother, may we all work tirelessly to achieve great success! Let’s work!. The year 2026 will also be the year of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the state” he added.

Jayalalithaa, fondly called ‘Amma’ by the people of Tamil Nadu, served the state for three terms, 1991-96, 2002-06 and 2011-14 as chief minister.

She had acted in around 130 films. She joined All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in 1982.

She was made the propaganda secretary of the party in 1983, and a year later she won a seat in the Rajya Sabha. In 1989 Jayalalitha was elected to the state legislative assembly.

She was even imprisoned for a month in 1996 after a raid by authorities seized a large quantity of jewellery, clothing, and shoes from her home.

In 1998, Jayalalithaa brought the AIADMK into the national coalition government of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with which the party has now severed ties.

In September 2014 she was convicted on corruption charges and sentenced to four years in prison. She relinquished her post to O Panneerselvam, who had served as chief minister in 2001-02 when Jayalalitha was not able to hold the office. (ANI)

Three-term TN Cong MLA joins BJP

Ahead of Lok Sabha elections, a three-time Congress MLA from Tamil Nadu, S Vijayadharani on Saturday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party’s headquarters in the national capital.

Union Minister of State L Murugan, BJP in charge, who has been given the responsibility of overseeing preparations for Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu and party leader Arvind Menon were present. The party’s co-incharge for the state Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy was also present.

Earlier in the day, Vijayadharani informed that she resigned from the primary membership of Congress through a post on X.

“I am resigning from the primary membership and related posts held by me in the Congress party,” she said.

She shared her resignation letter addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Vijayadharani, a three-time legislator, was elected from the Vilavancode Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari District.

The development is being seen as a blow to Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls expected to be held in April-May this year.

The BJP is seeking to strengthen its base in states where it is relatively weak. Congress is part of the ruling DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu. (ANI)

ALSO READ: BJP core group meeting focuses on prominent seats in 5 states for LS polls

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BJP is scared of INDIA bloc, says AAP leader

The partners in the INDIA bloc, Congress and the AAP, announced a seat-sharing pact for Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Chandigarh and Goa….reports Asian Lite News

AAP Haryana president Sushil Gupta on Saturday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party is scared of the INDIA bloc and wants to get Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrested.

Highlighting that the INDIA bloc is a “strong one”, he said, “The alliance formula made in Haryana, Delhi, Gujarat, Goa, and Chandigarh, has scared the BJP.”

Asserting that the INDIA bloc will register a major victory in the Lok Sabha elections 2024, he said, “We will win on all the 10 seats in Haryana and seven seats in Delhi.”

Elaborating on the objective of why securing a win in the upcoming general elections is crucial for the INDIA bloc, he said, “This is an election to restore democracy, to save the constitutional bodies of the country and to develop the nation.”

Stating that the Modi government is scared of the AAP-Congress alliance, he concluded, “We are going to fight strongly on all the ten seats in Haryana. It is not about which party of the INDIA bloc is going to get what. The only thing is our alliance will strongly fight for all the seats and will win them all.”

Earlier in the day, terming the seat-sharing pact between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the Lok Sabha polls as “bizarre”, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the path to ‘hell’ is paved with ‘skewed’ alliances.

Notably, the partners in the INDIA bloc, Congress and the AAP, announced a seat-sharing pact for Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Chandigarh and Goa.

ALSO READ: BJP core group meeting focuses on prominent seats in 5 states for LS polls

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BJP core group meeting focuses on prominent seats in 5 states for LS polls

According to sources, in the meeting held regarding UP, there was a discussion regarding the lost seats….reports Asian Lite News

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held the core group meeting of five states on Saturday at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Given the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, the core group meeting of five states was called at the BJP headquarters.

The meeting was led by BJP National President JP Nadda in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah and Organization General Secretary BL Santosh.

First of all, the meeting of the Uttar Pradesh Core Group was organized. During this meeting, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President JP Nadda and Organization General Secretary BL Santosh, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Brijesh Pathak, UP Organization Minister Dharampal Singh and others were present.

According to sources, in the meeting held regarding UP, there was a discussion regarding the lost seats. A special strategy was made for the Rae Bareli and Mainpuri seats. There was also a discussion regarding MLC elections.

In the second phase, the West Bengal Core Group meeting was organized. State President Sukanta Majumdar, Suvendu Adhikari and others were present at this meeting.

According to sources, 42 Lok Sabha seats were specifically discussed in the meeting. The vandalism that took place in Sandesh Khali was also specifically discussed with Home Minister Amit Shah and other core group members who were present in the meeting.

West Bengal BJP president Sukant Majumdar said, “PM’s proposed rally is scheduled to be held in Arambag district on March 1. His rally on March 2 is proposed in Krishnanagar. He will address both rallies and dedicate several schemes to the public.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will trumpet the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 from West Bengal, where the BJP is keeping a close eye on 35 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal.

In the third phase, a meeting of the Telangana Core Group was called. In this meeting, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, D.K. Aruna, Dr K. Lakshan, Bandi Sanjay and Atla Rajendra were present.

The Bharatiya Janata Party will contest alone for 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana. It has four MPs in Telangana. The strategy to win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with a majority and review the lost seats were discussed.

In the fourth phase, a meeting of the Chhattisgarh Core Group was called. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo and other leaders were present at this meeting. There was a discussion about new faces in the meeting.

The BJP discussed fielding Schedule Tribes (ST) in four seats. Separate discussions were held on Korba and Bastar (seats the BJP lost in 2019), and discussions were held on new faces in Janjgir, Mahasamund, Raipur, Kanker and Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seats.

The core group meeting may be held again on February 27-28.

In the fifth phase, a meeting of the Rajasthan Core Group was called. The meeting took place at the Delhi BJP headquarters for more than an hour. The meeting was held in the presence of JP Nadda and Amit Shah.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Deputy Chief Ministers Diyakumari and Premchand Bairwa, state in-charge Arun Singh, co-in-charge Vijay Rahatkar, and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, leaders Rajendra Rathod, and Satish Poonia were present in the meeting.

A discussion was held in the meeting regarding all 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Candidates can be declared for 7-9 seats in the first list by the party.

55 Nanded ex-corporators join BJP

Dealing another hit at the Congress, 55 ex-corporators of the Nanded-Waghala City Municipal Corporation here joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of two-time ex-Chief Minister Ashok S. Chavan, here on Saturday.

The Congress strongman of Nanded, Chavan joined the BJP just 10 days ago, was rewarded with a Rajya Sabha ticket and declared elected unopposed.

The NWCMC elections of 2017, held under Chavan’s stewardship, saw the Congress make a clean sweep by bagging 73 of the 81 seats to control this important civic body.

In his brief address to 55 ex-municipal corporators, Chavan said that they have chosen the BJP for their faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and vision for development.

“They also want to be a part of the political mainstream and contribute towards progress,” said Chavan. Local party leaders hinted that besides the lot of 55 which quit Congress, many other important district leaders are likely to throw their lot with BJP in the coming weeks.

The Congress suffered three big ‘leaks’ in the past couple of months starting with Milind S. Deora who joined the ruling Shiv Sena, ex-Mumbai MLA Baba Z. Siddique quitting for the ruling ally Nationalist Congress Party, and Chavan who entered the ruling ally BJP, with speculation of more switch-overs in the near future.

Sharad Pawar attacks PM

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congres Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday claimed that the central government consistently makes promises but never fulfills them and said that there is a ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ but his ‘Guarantee card’ lacks specific dates.

Sharad Pawar was addressing the Party workers of Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) in Pune.

The meeting was organized at the congress Headquarters in Pune, NCP (Sharad Pawar) MP Supriya Sule, State Congress Cheif Nana Patole, and Sachin Ahir from Uddhav-led Shiv Sena attended the party worker’s public meeting.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray skipped the meeting.

While addressing the gathering of the MVA party workers Sharad Said, “If we want to bring change then our party workers have to get united, since the last 60-70 years we have seen many politicians from the Congress, but never felt that we needed to worry about the Constitution and social unity…but in the last 10 years after Modi came into power we have seen a strange PM who had a single point agenda to take a different stand which was taken by the earlier leaders and how to create hate among the people against earlier leaders.” (ANI)

ALSO READ: AAP, Congress Clinch Seat-Sharing Deal in Gujarat, Stirs A Row