Tag: BJP

Congress back in the race, mulls alliance with JD(S)

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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After a dramatic change in leads, the Congress said it will bid for power in Karnataka, said people familiar with the matter.

The initial trend gave the BJP a clear majority, as the party was leading in 115 seats, however, the number slipped to 106 by 2:20 pm.

This came as an opportunity for the Congress to get back in to the race, considering to form an alliance with JD(S).

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has spoken to JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda to explore the possibility of an alliance, said sources.

The BJP has won 43 seats and is leading in 62 others, according to the Election Commission website.

The Congress has won 19 and is leading in 56 seats. JD(S) has truimphed in five seats and is leading in 33.

Assuming these parties win all the seats, they will bag 113 seats pipping the BJP’s 106 seats.

A party or an alliance requires 112 seats for a simple majority to form the government in Karnataka.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

In major boost, BJP seen winning in Karnataka

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was heading for an outright majority on Tuesday in the Karnataka assembly election, the vote count showed, cementing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity ahead of a general election next year.

A BJP-led government in Karnataka would prove a major boost for Modi ahead of the 2019 elections, silencing critics who said his popularity had faded over the rocky adoption of a nationwide sales tax and a sudden ban on high-value notes late in 2016.

Modi’s BJP was leading in 114 seats in the elections to the 225-seat state assembly, the Election Commission of India said. Congress was leading in 55 seats.

Celebrations erupted outside the party headquarters in Bengaluru, with supporters shouting victory slogans and waving the party’s flag as the results trickled in.

“The BJP is winning, which means that Modi magic is still intact,” said Satish Misra, a political analyst at the Observer Research Foundation in the capital, New Delhi.

The Nifty extended gains to more than 1 percent as the BJP improved its tally.

For the BJP, which now rules 21 of India’s 29 states, winning power in Karnataka gives it a southern beachhead in addition to its core base in the country’s north and west.

Currently ruled by the Congress party, Karnataka is home to the technology hub of Bengaluru and is the first major state electing an assembly this year, to be followed by three more.

A BJP win there would also dispel investor worries that a loss might have forced Modi to double down on populist measures, such as extending farm loan waivers a year before the elections.

The result is a setback for Congress President Rahul Gandhi, the fifth-generation scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, who had battled hard to upset Modi’s party in the southern state, where both leaders addressed rallies to whip up support.

Modi still trumps Gandhi in popularity, with nine of 10 Indians expressing a favourable opinion of him and more than two-thirds satisfied with the direction in which he is taking the country, a Pew survey found in November.

“The win definitely enhances the prospect of Prime Minister Modi for another term,” said political commentator N. Ram.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Congress lagged in planning for Karnataka election, says leader

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A Congress leader on Tuesday lamented that the party failed to plan for the Karnataka Assembly election and educate the people about the government’s welfare schemes.

“The party and its leaders, both in Bengaluru and Delhi, should have woken up much earlier and planned much better for the election to educate the people of the state about the Congress government’s welfare schemes,” Congress state unit Vice President B K Chandrashekar told IANS here.

“The good economic policies of the government weren’t communicated effectively to the people of Karnataka.” he added.

Chandrashekar said the party’s set-up was a reason for its defeat in the state election that took place on Saturday. The votes were counted on Tuesday.

“We should have strategized at least two-three years ahead of the elections by setting up a think tank in order to counter (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi’s charm,” Chandrashekar said.

“The Congress failed in communicating to the people of the state that the politics of communalism and nationalism of the BJP must be rejected.” The Congress now needs a structural reconstruction, he added.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Mehbooba congratulates BJP for its “stellar performance”

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today congratulated the BJP for its “stellar performance” in Karnataka assembly elections.

“Hearty congratulations to @BJP4India for their stellar performance in Karnataka,” Mehbooba said in a tweet.

The BJP appeared headed for a simple majority in the Karnataka Assembly, with its candidates leading in 115 constituencies, leaving the ruling Congress way behind, according to the latest trends available for 220 of the state’s 222 seats where polling was held.

Polling for R R Nagar seat was deferred on account of alleged electoral malpractices, while it was countermanded in Jayanagar seat following the death of the BJP candidate.

In the outgoing Assembly, the Congress had 122 seats, BJP and JD(S) 40 each, and smaller parties and independents 22.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

People rejected Congress’ divisive agenda, says Bharatiya Janata Party

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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With the BJP set for an impressive win in the Karnataka assembly poll, its leaders described the victory as an endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development agenda and claimed that people have rejected divisive, toxic and negative agenda of the Congress.

According to the Election Commission figures, the BJP is heading in over 112 seats and appears set for getting a majority.

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also took a swipe at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, saying somebody was dreaming of becoming prime minister, a reference to Gandhi’s statement during the Karnataka poll campaign that he was ready for the job if his party emerged victorious in the next Lok Sabha elections.

His cabinet colleague Nirmala Sitharaman said it is an historic day for the party and the win was an endorsement of Modi’s development agenda.

People have rejected divisive, toxic and negative politics of the Congress, she said.

People, however, went for Modi’s development agenda, she added.

Prakash Javadekar, another Union minister who was also in charge of the state’s election, said the BJP won because it is a party of the masses while the Congress is a party of a dynasty.

“This is a victory of Modi and party president Amit Shah’s strategy,” he said.

Polling in Karnataka was held for 222 of the 224 Assembly seats on May 12.

Polling for R R Nagar seat was deferred on account of alleged electoral malpractices, while it was countermanded in Jayanagar seat following the death of the BJP candidate.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Karnataka state polls most expensive ever in terms of expenditure by parties and candidates says survey

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The just-concluded Karnataka state elections were the “most expensive ever” assembly poll in the country in terms of money spent by political parties and their candidates, according to an analysis by a research organisation.

The Centre for Media Studies, which describes itself as a not-for-profit, multi-disciplinary development research and facilitative think-tank on its website, has described the electoral exercise as “money guzzler”.

According to the CMS, the money spent by various political parties and their candidates in the Karnataka assembly polls is in the range of Rs 9,500-10,500 crore, which is more than twice of what was spent in the previous assembly poll in the state in 2013.

“This does not involve the costs of the prime minister’s campaign,” the survey claimed.

Earlier field studies by the CMS over 20 years had indicated that poll costs in Karnataka were usually higher than assembly elections in most other states.
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, in that order, have been the highest poll-time spenders in the country, it said.

Also read: BJP’s priority is to provide a stable government for Karnataka, says Amit Malviya

“… at this rate, 2019 Lok Sabha poll expenditure estimate is Rs 50,000-60,000 crore against Rs 30,000 crore expenditure involved in 2014,” according to N Bhaskara Rao of the CMS.

The assembly poll in the state was announced by the Election Commission of India on May 2. The voting in the single-phase poll in the state took place on May 12 and the counting of votes is scheduled for Tuesday.

This Karnataka Assembly poll had increased the share of individual candidate’s expenditure to 75 percent of total poll costs involved, the survey finds.

Also read: Ahead of results, Congress rushes top guns to Karnataka to ensure no Goa, Manipur fiasco repeat

“In the case of Lok Sabha poll, the candidate share, however, is expected to be 55-60 percent and what political parties spend will increase to 29-30 percent, which is expected to be Rs 12,000-20,000 crore in 2019,” the organisation said in a statement.

It claimed that half of what parties spend, or little over that, is likely to be that by the ruling party.

“The biggest story of this assembly election is about free and fairness of the poll. Seizer of a hundred crores could only be symbolical. The Election Commission came out helpless in this poll,” the statement said.

It said the estimate of expenditure this time is also based on field reports in the media, feedback of journalists and discussions with key functionaries at different levels in the field.

Also read: Exit polls predict hung assembly in Karnataka

“This poll expenditure methodology is based on using our own past base data state-wise and taking into account the percent of voters paid in different blocks of assembly constituencies and the amount paid on average by different parties, and what was spent on key campaign activities by candidates and parties at different levels. These were tracked and assessed from discussions,” it said.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

BJP will wrest Karnataka from Congress, claims Amit Shah

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Asserting that the BJP will break the “myth” that it cannot return to power at the centre, its president Amit Shah said that the party will emerge stronger in the 2019 polls compared to the last general election and will wrest Karnataka from Congress.

At a meeting of party’s national office-bearers, state presidents and other key leaders from states, Shah set the tone for the next parliamentary election and described the proposed alliance of opposition parties against the BJP as a matter of happiness, saying it underlined his party’s strength.

Party spokespersons Sudhanshu Trivedi and Shahnawaz Hussain briefed reporters on Shah’s speech, which Hussain described as the sounding of bugle for the Lok Sabha polls, a day ahead announcement of the crucial Karnataka assembly election results.

Shah said his party had already belied those who said its massive win in the 2014 poll was a “fluke” by winning 11 state assembly elections and now had over 1800 MLAs and over 11 crore members.

Also read: Ahead of results, Congress rushes top guns to Karnataka to ensure no Goa, Manipur fiasco repeat

Amid claims by opposition parties that the BJP may find the going tough in 2019 if they unite, he said an atmosphere is created before every poll to downplay his party’s chances and some people then look for all kinds of reasons to belittle its victory.

Besides Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity and organisational strength of the BJP had also played a key role in its successes, he said, adding that the Congress’ fall was a result of its arrogance of power and neglect of its organisation, which was destroyed over the years.

With the Modi government set to complete its fourth year this month, Shah said it had served the poor, and party workers can take pride in its performance as they strive to retain power in 2019.

Claiming that the BJP has not formed government merely to be in power but to change the country, he said it will build an India so strong that the rest of the world will look at it in a manner it beholds the United States, according to Hussain.

“It was said about the BJP that it may form government once but does not return to power. We have to break this myth. When we will win the election in 2019, then we will prove that we know how to form, run and return to government,” he said.

Shah might have on his mind the fate of the first BJP-led NDA government which had lost in the 2004 Lok Sabha poll despite being seen as favourites to return to power before the election.

Political pundits have been watching his party’s rise with curiosity, the elite section of society with surprise while its rivals are intrigued, he said, adding that BJP workers are full of self-pride but their satisfaction should not give way to complacency.

“The BJP president has in a way sounded the bugle for the 2019 election. We will win the Karnataka polls tomorrow and have to prepare from today for the 2019 poll,” Hussain said.

The party would not be satisfied till it forms governments in states like Odisha, West Bengal, Kerala, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, he said.

In the meeting, Shah also took stock of the organisational work and various targets the party had set for its state units and MPs and MLAs.

He also voiced his anguish at the loss of lives due to adverse weather in different parts of the country and asked the party’s local units to assist the people in need.

Trivedi said Shah also took feedback from leaders about various programmes the party had organised during its recent ‘gram swaraj’ campaign and also sought suggestions from them on celebrating the fourth anniversary of the Modi government.

The party also condemned the violence during panchayat polls in West Bengal and hit out at the Trinamool Congress government.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Ahead of results, Congress rushes top guns to Karnataka to ensure no Goa, Manipur fiasco repeat

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Once bitten, twice shy! The Congress is taking no chances in Karnataka and has sent in its top guns to avoid a repeat of the Goa and Manipur fiascos in the past, where it failed to form a government despite emerging as the largest party.

The party has sent senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot to the southern state where results of the assembly polls would be out on Tuesday.

The Congress has, however, been ‘bitten’ thrice, as it failed to retain power in Meghalaya recently, despite emerging as the largest party and the leadership rushing Kamal Nath and Ahmed Patel to the state to build on the advantage.

Sources said Azad and Gehlot have reached Bangalore and have met chief minister Siddharamaiah and other party leaders.

They are also likely to meet JD-S leaders, including H D Deve Gowda and his son Kumaraswamy, in case it fails to get a majority of its own.

The sources say that the Congress is in touch with the JD-S leadership too and have met Kumaraswamy before he left for abroad after the polling ended.

Kumaraswamy, who is currently in Singapore, will return tonight.

The two senior leaders, the sources said, have been sent by the party leadership to ensure that no stone is left unturned for formation of the next Congress government in Karnataka.

AICC general secretary incharge of Karnataka K C Venugopal is also present in the state along with party secretaries incharge of the state.

The Congress expressed confidence that the party will get a majority on its own and would repeat its government there.

Asked about the party’s prospects in Karnataka, Congress communication in-charge Randeep Surjewala said it will get over 130 seats in the state as the people of Karnataka have rejected the politics of corruption and mafia.

“The people have rejected the politics of corruption and criminalisation and will not allow the Yeddy-Reddy gang to come to power,” he told reporters, while referring to the Yeddyurappa and Reddy brothers of Bellary.

He claimed that the Congress will come to power again and form its government led by Siddharamaiah as it has taken the state to greater heights by initiating all-round development and creating jobs.

Asked about Siddharamaiah offering the chief minister’s post to a Dalit, he said the sentiment behind his statement was different and asked whether prime minister Narendra Modi would also offer the PM’s post to a Dalit.

“Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi show the courage to hand over the PMship to a Dalit? They will never say so and this can be stated only by the Congress leader who keeps the party above his own self,” he said, while thanking Siddharamaiah for offering his chair to a Dalit leader.

On whether the Congress rules out the possibility of an alignment with the JD(S), Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala said, “It is a hypothetical question that will be rejected at 5 O’clock.”

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Karnataka Elections Live: Supreme Court directs floor test on Saturday

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow