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  • BJP announces candidates for 3 Assembly bypolls

    BJP announces candidates for 3 Assembly bypolls

    The BJP’s Central Election Committee released the names of the candidates for three states…reports Asian Lite News

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its candidates for next month’s assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

    In a press release on Thursday, the BJP’s Central Election Committee released the names of the candidates for three states.

    From Himachal Pradesh, the party has announced the names of Hoshiyar Singh Chambyal from Dehar, Ashish Sharma from Hamirpur, and Krishan Lal Thakur from Nalagarh.

    From Madhya Pradesh, the BJP named Kamlesh Shah from Amarwara, the release said.

    From Uttarakhand, Rajendra Singh Bhandari from Badrinath and Kartar Singh Bhadana from Manglaur have been fielded by the party.

    On June 10, the Election Commission of India announced that by-elections to fill vacancies in 13 assembly constituencies of seven states will be held on July 10 and the counting of the votes will be done on July 13.

    The commission to hold by-elections on one seat of Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh, two seats of Uttarakhand, three seats of Himachal Pradesh, and four seats of West Bengal.

    The last date to file nominations is June 21 and candidates can withdraw their candidature till June 26.

    These seats were vacant due to the resignations or deaths of the sitting MLAs.

    Will BJP go solo in Maha polls?

    The BJP in Maharashtra, according to sources, has been conducting an internal survey to assess the possibilities of contesting the upcoming Assembly elections alone, in the aftermath of a disappointing performance in the Lok Sabha polls along with its alliance partners in the state that sends second-highest representatives to the Lok Sabha – 48 – only next to Uttar Pradesh’s 80.

    In fact, a senior RSS leader has questioned the J.P. Nadda-led party’s move to enter an alliance with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, terming the move “ill advised”.

    Sources, however, submitted that the BJP, which won only 9 out of the 28 Lok Sabha seats it contested, has not yet made up its mind to ‘dump’ the Ajit Pawar-led NCP ahead of the Assembly elections slated for September-October this year.

    Instead, in the wake of a dismal performance in the general elections, the BJP, which is the “big brother” in the MahaYuti government in Maharashtra, has launched an internal survey in the state’s 106 Assembly constituencies which it had won in 2019 to assess the prevailing mood and challenges to retain the seats going solo.

    Similar surveys will soon be launched in the remaining 182 Assembly segments to study the ground reality if the party decides to go solo in the Assembly polls.

    A BJP source said: “These surveys have been launched to find out how the party will get the simple majority going solo. Besides, the surveys will also show how the BJP will perform in an alliance with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. It will also gauge the mood about whether to continue its alliance with the NCP.”

    While the BJP’s tally dipped to 9 against 23 in the 2019 general elections, Shiv Sena won 7 and NCP one, taking the MahaYuti’s total strength to 17 seats against 31 by Maha Vikas Aghadi.

    Sources said that these surveys had been kicked off much before the RSS magazine, The Organiser, suggested that the BJP’s move to induct Ajit Pawar into the NDA had affected the party’s performance. (ANI/IANS)

    ALSO READ: Lok Sabha speaker election on June 26, BJP may retain post

  • Lok Sabha speaker election on June 26, BJP may retain post

    Lok Sabha speaker election on June 26, BJP may retain post

    In the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, Birla was fielded from Kota by the BJP, and he bagged the Parliamentary seat with a margin of over 41,139 votes…reports Asian Lite News

    The election for the post of Lok Sabha speaker is to be held on June 26, an official statement from the Lok Sabha said on Thursday.

    “In pursuance of sub-rule (1) of Rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure and conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, the President has been pleased to fix Wednesday, the 26th June, 2024, for holding the election to the office of speaker, Lok Sabha”, read the official release.

    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Om Birla presently holds the post of LS speaker.

    He was elected as the speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha in June 2019, following a motion for election moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    In the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, Birla was fielded from Kota by the BJP, and he bagged the Parliamentary seat with a margin of over 41,139 votes.

    Meanwhile, the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will be held from June 24 and conclude on July 3 for oath/affirmation of newly elected Members, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday.

    The 264th Session of Rajya Sabha will also commence on June 27 and conclude on July 3, the minister said.

    “First Session of 18th Lok Sabha is being summoned from 24.6.24 to 3.7.24 for oath/affirmation of newly elected Members, Election of Speaker, President’s Address and discussion thereon. 264th Session of Rajya Sabha will commence on 27.6.24 and conclude on 3.7.24.”

    President Droupadi Murmu will address a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on June 27.

    The last session of the 17th Lok Sabha (Budget session) was held between January 31 and February 10, 2024.

    BJP to ‘retain’ post

    The BJP is set to “retain” the post of Speaker for the 18th Lok Sabha, with a BJP MP expected to be elected for the role, sources said. 

    Dismissing media reports suggesting that BJP’s allies had demanded the Lok Sabha Speaker’s post, a senior party leader said that the matter would be first considered internally before discussing it with NDA allies to reach a consensus.

    In the Modi government’s first term, Sumitra Mahajan, a BJP MP from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, served as Lok Sabha Speaker, while in the second term, Om Birla, a BJP MP from Kota, Rajasthan, held the position.

    Although the BJP does not hold a majority as it did in 2014 and 2019, speculation was rife that the TDP and a JD(U) MP were vying for the Speaker’s post.

    Sources indicate that the name of the new Lok Sabha Speaker will be deliberated upon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from Italy.

    If any suggestions or demands regarding the position arise from allies, the BJP will consider a new formula.

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  • Yechury: BJP can’t bulldoze Parliament anymore

    Yechury: BJP can’t bulldoze Parliament anymore

    Yechury highlighted the significance of the BJP’s setback, noting that Modi was sworn in as an NDA Prime Minister, not solely as a BJP Prime Minister…reports Asian Lite News

    Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury remarked that the reduced numbers of the BJP in the Lok Sabha mean Parliament can no longer be bulldozed. In an interview with PTI, Yechury noted that most opposition leaders from the INDIA bloc, except Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, did not attend the swearing-in ceremony as they did not receive invitations.

    Yechury highlighted the significance of the BJP’s setback, noting that Modi was sworn in as an NDA Prime Minister, not solely as a BJP Prime Minister. He emphasized the BJP’s failure to achieve its campaign goal of securing over 400 seats, instead winning 240 seats—63 less than their previous tally.

    Yechury compared Modi’s third-term swearing-in unfavorably to Nehru’s, stating that unlike Nehru, Modi’s position relies on an alliance rather than a single party. He criticized Modi’s moral authority to claim the Prime Ministership for a third term, citing the BJP’s diminished mandate and the strengthened opposition.

    Regarding the opposition INDIA bloc, Yechury observed that their substantial gains mean Parliament will now see more robust debate and defense of public interests, contrasting with the previous ten years under Modi. He attributed the election results partly to significant public protests, such as the farmers’ agitation and anti-CAA-NRC demonstrations.

    Yechury mentioned that there is a sentiment among the INDIA bloc and the public that Modi does not deserve to be Prime Minister. However, he acknowledged that Modi, as the leader of the single largest party and the largest pre-poll alliance, was naturally called by the President to form the government. The true test of the government’s majority will come during confidence votes in Parliament.

    In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured 240 seats, and with allies, totaled 293 seats. The INDIA bloc holds 234 seats. Modi was sworn in for his third term as Prime Minister on Sunday after being chosen as the Leader of the NDA.

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    ALSO READ: Majhi to be CM of first BJP govt in Odisha

  • Majhi to be CM of first BJP govt in Odisha

    Majhi to be CM of first BJP govt in Odisha

    Mohan Majhi, who started his career as a Sarpanch from 1997-2000, was elected to the state assembly for the first time in 2000 from Keonjhar with the BJD-BJP alliance. He was re-elected in 2004…reports Asian Lite News

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Odisha CM-designate Mohan Charan Majhi. The BJP has dethroned the Biju Janata Dal in Odisha after 24-year-old reign of Naveen Patnaik.

    Majhi is the four-time MLA and party’s tribal face after senior state leaders Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram were pulled into the Union government. The party has also picked two Deputy Chief Ministers from the state, KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida. The swearing-in ceremony of Odisha’s new Chief Minister will take place on June 12, Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal had said.

    “PM Modi will reach on 12th June by 2:30 pm for the oath-taking ceremony. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at 5:00 pm,” he added. Majhi was elected leader of the BJP legislature party in Odisha at a meeting held on Tuesday.

    Mohan Majhi, who started his career as a Sarpanch from 1997-2000, was elected to the state assembly for the first time in 2000 from Keonjhar with the BJD-BJP alliance. He was re-elected in 2004.

    From 2005 to 09, he was the government deputy chief whip in the BJD-BJP coalition government. He was again elected as an MLA in 2019. In the recent polls, Majhi retained the seat by defeating BJD’s Mina Majhi by 11,577 votes.

    In the previous assembly, Majhi was the opposition chief whip. He will be the first from the tribal-dominated Keonjhar district to become the CM. The appointment of a tribal is crucial since the state has 23 per cent of tribal population.

    Deo who has been chosen as the Deputy CM of the state is a six-time MLA from Patnagarh of Balanagir District and belongs to the royal family of Patnagarh, a prominent place in western Odisha. He lost the election in 2019 but won in 2024.

    He had also served as a minister in the erstwhile BJD-BJP coalition government. Singh Deo’s grandfather Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo is a former CM of Odisha. His wife Sangeeta Singh Deo is now the MP from Balangir.

    Pravati Parida who has also been chosen as the Deputy CM of the state is a first-time MLA from Nimapada of Puri District in coastal Odisha. She had earlier served as the president of the party’s women’s wing in Odisha.

    After being elected as the CM, Majhi on Tuesday said that he would be sworn in as the Chief Minister tomorrow and then go to Puri for the darshan of Lord Jagannath.

    “Tomorrow, after the swearing-in ceremony, I will come to the Secretariat and then go to Puri for the darshan of Lord Jagannath,” he said.

    Manjhi’s son Premananda Majhi said that they were speechless adding that they had a feeling that his father would become the Chief Minister.

    “We are happy. We are speechless… we are so happy that we are unable to say anything. We had a 50 per cent feeling that he (Mohan Charan Majhi) would become the Chief Minister,” he said.

    Majhi’s wife Priyanka Marandi expressed her happiness and said, “I never thought this would happen I was sitting in front of the TV when I got this news. We are very happy.”

    Deputy CM designate Parida said that the government will work one by one on everything the Prime Minister told the Odia people, regarding Odia pride, Lord Jagannath, regarding Jagannath temple.

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  • BJP leader Malviya accused of sexual exploitation

    BJP leader Malviya accused of sexual exploitation

    Congress has sought the removal of Malviya from his position following Sinha’s allegations…reports Asian Lite News

    BJP leader Amit Malviya has filed a defamation suit of Rs 10 crore against RSS activist Santanu Sinha who alleged that he had “indulged” in sexual exploitation of women.

    The BJP IT cell chief on Monday sued Santanu Sinha, who claimed that he was an RSS activist, for Rs 10 crore over defamation. In the legal notice, Malviya sought the removal of Sinha’s “false and derogatory” post from social media.

    The nature of allegations are extremely offensive in as much as they falsely allege sexual misconduct purportedly committed by my client. The same is fatally injurious to the dignity and reputation of my client who, by virtue of his professional profile, is a public figure,” the notice reads.

    Meanwhile, RSS sources have said that Santanu Sinha is not and has never been associated with the organisation in any official capacity.

    In a social media post, Sinha accused Malviya of sexually harassing women while he was staying in West Bengal.

    “I am not saying Amit Malviya did misconduct with women or exploited them. I have just raised the question- will the Bengal leaders keep their posts by supplying women to leaders like Amit Malviya or other? We did see such things happen in Bengal earlier.”

    “In 2021, we had cinema actors having no relation with politics and they were given tickets. But I will stick to my allegations that there are some men in Bengal BJP, who are enjoying posts by supplying women to leaders,” said Sinha.

    Through a legal notice, Malviya demanded an unconditional apology from Sinha and the removal of the post within three days. Failure to comply may result in further legal measures, including civil and criminal defamation proceedings, along with a request for Rs 10 crore in damages.

    Meanwhile, Congress has sought the removal of Malviya from his position following Sinha’s allegations.

    Addressing a press conference on Monday, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said, “An RSS member, Santanu Sinha, related to BJP leader Rahul Sinha, has said that the BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya has indulged in nefarious activities.

    He indulges in the sexual exploitation of women. Not just in 5-star hotels but in BJP offices in West Bengal. The only thing that we seek from the BJP is justice for women.”

    Shrinate also added that an independent probe into the incident is only possible if Malviya is removed from his position.”

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  • Modi 3.0

    Modi 3.0

    BJP leaders Nirmala Sitharaman, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hardeep Singh Puri, Dr S Jaishankar and Giriraj Singh are also present here…reports Asian Lite News

    The stage is set for the oath ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the national capital today.
    Meanwhile, guests have started to arrive to attend the oath-taking ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
    BJP MP-elect Amit Shah and BJP MP-elect Nitin Gadkari, and Rajnath Singh, were sitting at the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan for the oath ceremony.

    Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also arrived at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan for the oath ceremony. Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi, RLD Chief Jayant Singh Chaudhary and BJP MP-elect Shobha Karandlaje were seated on the stage at the oath ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.

    BJP leaders Nirmala Sitharaman, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hardeep Singh Puri, Dr S Jaishankar and Giriraj Singh are also present here. Shivraj Singh Chouhan was seen along with his wife at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Manipur CM N Biren Singh, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini and Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP chief Ajit Pawar arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Moreover, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and BJP leader Jitendra Singh arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
    Kerala BJP MP-elect Suresh Gopi also arrived to attend the oath ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Two guests at the oath ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan were seen with a picture of PM-designate Narendra Modi with his mother Heeraben Modi printed on a cloth piece.
    Actor Shah Rukh Khan and Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani along with his son Anant Ambani are present at the oath ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi. Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and actor Akshay Kumar at the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan for the oath ceremony.

    PM-designate Narendra Modi is set to take oath for the third term at 7.15 pm at the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan today.
    These leaders include heads of Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Nepal and Bhutan. President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe; President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu; Vice-President of Seychelles, Ahmed Afif; Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina; Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth; Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’; and Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, have also arrived to attend the oath ceremony. (ANI)

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  • Message of elections is against BJP, NDA: Sachin Pilot

    Message of elections is against BJP, NDA: Sachin Pilot

    Pilot said that the electorate’s mandate was not in favour of any single party or coalition, signifying a shift towards coalition or mixed governments in the future…reports Asian Lite News

    Congress leader Sachin Pilot analyzed the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections and said that the electorate rejected the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition in this election.

    “People didn’t accept BJP’s campaign of ‘Mandir Masjid’, Hindu Muslim and ‘Mangalsutra’. The central government adopted an attitude, especially against the opposition, such as targeting them, imprisoning elected Chief Ministers, and misusing agencies like the ED and CBI. All these actions have been rejected by the people,” Pilot said.

    Pilot emphasized that the electorate dismissed such polarizing tactics and instead inclined towards the Congress’ inclusive manifesto and narrative.

    “On the other hand, the Congress, whose numbers have now doubled, was better understood by the public in terms of our manifesto, our narrative, and our campaign. Double-engine has failed in Lucknow (UP), Jaipur (Rajasthan) and Haryana. I am thankful to the workers, leaders and candidates of Congress,” Pilot said.

    “The message of this election is definitely against the BJP and NDA,” he added

    “If we look at the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, what message do they convey? Before the elections, the BJP went into the elections with 303 seats and claimed in the House that they would win 370 seats and the coalition would secure 400 seats. But when the results came in, BJP ended up with 60-70 fewer seats, stopping at 240, and the coalition’s tally also fell short,” Pilot said.

    Pilot said that the electorate’s mandate was not in favour of any single party or coalition, signifying a shift towards coalition or mixed governments in the future.

    “The public’s mandate was against both the coalition and the BJP. I believe that the politics and governance the BJP offered and the issues they campaigned on were directly rejected by the people, and all their claims were proven wrong. Today, no party has been given a clear mandate by the people to form the government. Any government that will be formed will be a coalition or a mixed government,” Pilot said.

    He also said that the process of government formation is underway, with the President actively involved in nominating candidates and the final outcome will soon become clear.

    In Rajasthan, the BJP won 14 out of 25 seats while the Congress managed to secure eight seats. The CPI (M), Rashtriya Loktantrik Party and Bharat Adivasi Party managed to clinch one seat each.

    The BJP had secured a majority in Rajasthan in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections getting 24 seats while the Congress which got zero seats in 2019 managed to notch up 8 seats this time.

    Voting for Rajasthan’s 25 seats was concluded in the first and second phases on April 19 and 26 respectively.

    Meanwhile, according to the Election Commission of India, the BJP won 240 seats, much lower than its 2019 tally of 303. The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong improvement, winning 99 seats. While the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 292 seats, the INDIA bloc crossed the 230 mark, posing stiff competition, and defying all predictions.

    PM Modi has secured a third term, but the BJP needed the support of other parties in his coalition, primarily JD (U) chief Nitish Kumar and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu. (ANI)

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  • Chandrababu Naidu: Kingmaker again after two decades

    Chandrababu Naidu: Kingmaker again after two decades

    The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief is likely to push for some key ministerial berths and also Special Category Status (SCS) for his state as committed in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014., writes Mohammed Shafeeq

    Nara Chandrababu Naidu is back to playing the role he always relished – the kingmaker in national politics. 

    After a gap of two decades, the seasoned politician is basking in the glory of media arc lights as support of his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has become crucial for a third term in power for the BJP.

    Five years after losing power to YSR Congress Party with a crushing defeat and facing the biggest crisis of his political career, Naidu rose like a phoenix.

    The 74-year-old is now gearing up to play the kingmaker, a role which he missed in 2014 as the BJP had secured a comfortable majority on its own.

    Set to become the chief minister for a fourth time following the landslide victory in Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, the shrewd politician is also looking forward to playing a crucial role in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

    With 16 MPs, the TDP along with Janata Dal (United) are propping up the coalition government.

    Known for his hard bargaining skills, the TDP chief is likely to push for some key ministerial berths and also Special Category Status (SCS) for his state as committed in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

    Political analysts say this role for Naidu may not have come at a better time as the cash-strapped state desperately needs the handholding by the Centre to put its finances back on rails; implement a plethora of poll promises made by the TDP; realise the unfinished goal of building Amaravati as the state capital and to complete the Polavaram project, considered the lifeline of the state.

    It’s also crucial that with 135 seats in the 175-member state Assembly, Naidu is not dependent on his allies Jana Sena and BJP for the survival of his government in the state.

    This will give him ample room to put pressure on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government on state-specific issues.

    After the worst-ever electoral defeat in 2019, Naidu had lost relevance in national politics. Though he was subsequently eager to mend fences with the BJP, the latter was reluctant to trust him and re-open the doors which it had ‘permanently’ closed.

    However, Jana Sena leader and actor Pawan Kalyan’s alliance with the TDP and the changing political dynamics in Andhra Pradesh forced the BJP to join them at the last minute.

    Riding the anti-incumbency wave the alliance virtually decimated YSRCP, whose tally in the Assembly plummeted to 11 from a whopping 151.

    The alliance bagged 164 Assembly and 21 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats.

    This was a dramatic upswing for Naidu, who was facing political uncertainty a few months after being arrested and jailed in the Skill Development Corporation scam.

    He spent 52 days in jail, during which the CID filed more cases against him on allegations of corruption during the TDP’s rule between 2014 and 2019.

    Six months after walking out of Rajahmundry Jail, Naidu stormed to power, handing a humiliating defeat to Jagan Mohan Reddy.

    Ever since he became chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh in 1995 after leading a revolt against his father-in-law and TDP founder NT Rama Rao (NTR), Naidu remained in the political limelight.

    After NTR’s sudden demise in January 1996, Naidu consolidated his position and successfully inherited NTR’s political legacy.

    Known as the poster boy of new economic reforms, a reformist and a tech-savvy leader, he mastered the skills of doing business with any formation at the Centre, irrespective of its ideology.

    His role in national politics began in 1996 as the convenor of the United Front when he brought together regional parties to prop up the government of a third alternative.

    In 1999, he donned a similar role for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

    Many saw in him a shrewd politician and few branded him a rank opportunist as he aligned with the BJP, apparently to ride on the ‘Vajpayee wave’.

    After losing power to his bête noire YS Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) in 2004 following a record nine-year stint as the chief minister, Naidu admitted his priorities were lopsided which led to the neglect of agriculture.

    The TDP supremo failed to make a comeback in 2009 as Congress retained power.

    The emergence of Narendra Modi as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate in 2014 offered Naidu a chance to revive his political fortunes.

    He not only joined the NDA, but by campaigning with Narendra Modi and supported by Pawan Kalyan, he succeeded in storming to power in the truncated state of Andhra Pradesh.

    People preferred him as he was widely credited with putting Hyderabad on the global IT map.

    As a leader who always enjoyed the role of kingmaker, Naidu was uncomfortable in the new dispensation where PM Modi had absolute majority.

    Though facing post-bifurcation challenges like lack of state capital and poor finances, he had no option but to quietly accept whatever was doled out to the state.

    He embarked on the grandiose plan of developing Amaravati as a world-class city and the state capital but the support from the Centre for the Rs.1 lakh-crore project, was not forthcoming.

    As YSRCP started targeting him for his compromise over Special Category Status (SCS), Naidu realised that he was losing ground to the Opposition.

    In 2018, he pulled out of NDA, accusing PM Modi of ‘betrayal’.

    From a great admirer of PM Modi, Naidu turned his worst critic and even joined hands with the Congress, his party’s sworn enemy of 35 years.

    He even joined hands with the Congress in the Telangana Assembly elections of 2018 but the experiment ended in a disaster, with the Congress-led People’s Alliance biting the dust.

    This was perhaps the biggest political misadventure of Naidu as alliance with a party blamed for the division of Andhra Pradesh did not go down well with the people.

    The flip-flops continued as he decided not to have an alliance with the Congress in Andhra Pradesh even as he continued his efforts for the anti-BJP front at the Centre led by the Congress.

    The allegations of corruption and casteism also dented Naidu’s image and ultimately led to his worst-ever poll defeat in 2019.

    Absolute majority for the BJP at the Centre also dashed Naidu’s hopes of salvaging some pride with a role at the Centre.

    Five years later, the wait is finally over as he is all set to play ball once again with the NDA.

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  • Fadnavis offers to resign as Maharashtra Deputy CM

    Fadnavis offers to resign as Maharashtra Deputy CM

    The BJP dipped to nine seats in Maharashtra against 23 in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls….reports Asian Lite News

    As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saw a massive decline in its seat share in the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, state deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday took the responsibility for party’s abysmal performance and urged the top leadership to relieve him of ministerial duties so that he could work for the party.

    “Whatever loss we suffered in the LS polls in Maharashtra, I take full responsibility for it. Therefore, I urge the top leadership to relieve me of my ministerial duties for I need to work for the party and contribute my time to the preparations of the state assembly polls”, Fadnavis said while addressing the media in Maharashtra’s Mumbai.

    “Farmers’ issues played a dominant role in some seats. Also, the false propaganda that the constitution would be altered impacted some voters. The outright votes of the Muslims and the Maratha movement has an impact”, he added.

    The BJP dipped to nine seats in Maharashtra against 23 in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The vote share stood at 26.18%. The Congress, on the other hand, marginally improved its seat share by securing 13 seats in the state.

    Meanwhile, the state deputy CM also expressed gratitude towards the people of the country.

    “I thank the people of the country who allowed Modiji (PM Narendra Modi) to take oath as the Prime Minister for the third time. The NDA performed well in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh as well. I thank people for that”, he said.

    Taking a swipe at the INDIA bloc, Fadnavis added, “The BJP alone has gained more seats than the INDIA bloc. The propaganda that the constitution would be changed was disseminated by them. We needed to curb it which we couldn’t”.

    The BJP victory tally was much lower than its 2019 tally of 303 and the 282 seats it had won in 2014. The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong growth, winning 99 seats compared to 52 that it had won in 2019 and 44 seats in 2014. The INDIA bloc crossed the 230 mark, posing stiff competition, and defying all predictions from exit polls.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi has secured a third term, along with the support of other parties in the coalition, primarily — the Nitish Kumar led JD(U) and the Chandrababu Naidu led TDP.

    The BJP fell 32 seats short of the 272 majority mark after votes polled in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were counted. For the first time, since the Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power in 2014, it did not secure a majority on its own. (ANI)

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  • What Went Wrong For BJP?

    What Went Wrong For BJP?

    BJP’s reduced margin of victory indicates that the party may need to recalibrate its approach, particularly concerning its Hindu nationalist, or “Hindutva” policies, writes Dr Thankom Arun

    Narendra Modi may have led his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to a historic third term, but the landslide victory that many had expected failed to materialise. With half of the 640 million votes counted, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its political allies were on course to win 290 seats. It’s enough to form a coalition government – but is 60 fewer seats than it won in the 2019 election.

    Despite being fragmented and perceived as weak on a national level, the Congress Party-led opposition, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (or India), managed to gain traction in regional strongholds such as Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Maharastra, creating a more competitive electoral landscape.

    In 2019, the BJP secured a majority in its own right. This time it will need to rely on its electoral alliances to maintain power. Nonetheless, Modi’s victory holds significant implications for India’s political landscape and future direction.

    The BJP has employed a nuanced strategy over its ten-year tenure in office. It has tried to tailor its agenda to resonate with the diverse priorities and concerns of different regions across India. This approach has involved emphasising specific local issues, cultural narratives and economic needs that vary from one state to another.

    In India’s northern states, such as Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has focused on national security and Hindu nationalism. In the south, meanwhile, it has prioritised economic development and infrastructure projects. This approach resonated with voters in the south who were frustrated with the status quo and sought better governance and economic progress.

    The BJP won its first ever seat in Kerala in the south-west, traditionally a stronghold for the Congress Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Local movie star, Suresh Gopi, won a big majority in the temple city of Thrissur. He campaigned on development issues, while avoiding any talk of Hindu nationalism, despite this being a theme which has played well for the BJP elsewhere.

    Interestingly, religious nationalism did not resonate as strongly with the electorate in general. This was even the case in Uttar Pradesh in the north-east, despite the huge publicity coup afforded Modi in January when he inaugurated a temple to Ram at Ayodhya on the site of a former mosque. The Socialist party and Congress alliance won 42 of 80 seats, five more than the BJP. This is a blow for the BJP, and particularly for Yogi Adityanath, the state’s chief minister, a strong contender as Modi’s successor.

    This reduced margin of victory indicates that the BJP may need to recalibrate its approach, particularly concerning its Hindu nationalist, or “Hindutva” policies. While religious nationalism has been a powerful tool in mobilising support during the BJP’s first two terms, the recent election results suggest that it might not always be sufficient to secure widespread victories.

    But, as you’d expect in such a massive and populous country, there have been other factors at play. Extensive welfare measures introduced by the Modi government have significantly bolstered his support.

    But despite the resilience and buoyancy of the Indian economy under Modi’s leadership, challenges remain. Stagnation in the manufacturing sector and the government’s poor performance on job creation have cast shadows over Modi’s growth narrative. While digital advancements and welfare initiatives have been successful, addressing these economic concerns is crucial for sustaining long-term growth and stability.

    Diversity is strength

    The strength of India’s democracy lies in its vibrant political discourse and the celebrated concept of the “argumentative Indian”. This culture of debate and dissent is vital for a healthy democracy, as it ensures that multiple voices and perspectives are heard and considered.

    Instances such as the BJP government’s delayed response to the farmers’ protests underscore the importance of addressing public grievances and adapting policies based on feedback. The government’s eventual willingness to engage in dialogue and retract controversial agricultural laws demonstrated a responsiveness that can strengthen democracy by showing a commitment to listening and adjusting to the populace’s concerns.

    Many people, meanwhile, expressed discomfort with the Modi government’s extreme positions on privacy and diverse beliefs. For instance, watering down the Information (RTI) Act of 2005, which was intended as a powerful tool for exposing corruption and ensuring good governance. India has fallen 11 places in the World Press Freedom Index to 161 out of 180 countries as freedom of expression has come under strain.

    The BJP must now ensure that its third term does not lead to the marginalisation of minority voices or the erosion of democratic norms. Instead, it should use this period to foster a more inclusive political environment that encourages healthy debate and innovation.

    Meanwhile, despite being formed relatively recently, in July 2023, the opposition India coalition put on an impressive performance. The coalition must now develop a sustained and coherent platform that resonates with a broader population segment.

    By promoting a political landscape that values diverse perspectives and robust debate, India can continue to build a dynamic and inclusive democracy. This balance is essential for addressing the nation’s complex challenges and ensuring that democratic principles are upheld for future generations.

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