Tag: Congress

Karnataka Elections: Neck and neck in vote share but its the seat win that counts

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

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

As Karnataka Assembly elections results 2018 are progressing, a look at the vote shares of BJP, Congress and JD (S) throw some interesting facts.

The Election Commission’s website at 12:12 PM showed that there was no difference between BJP and Congress vote share, despite the fact that the BJP was leading ahead of Congress in majority of seats.

The BJP was leading in 112 seats with a vote share of 37.5%, while the Congress had a lead in 65 seats with a vote share of 37.5% as the counting progressed.

But if we look at the JD(S), the party has maintained a lead in 40 seats with a vote share of 17.9%.

Considering 2013 Karnataka assembly elections, BJP has seen a huge jump of vote share from 20.2% to 37.5%, but the Congress share has marginally increased from 36.6% to 37.5%.

Even at that peak in 2008, BJP could muster only 34% of the total votes to win 110 seats against the 80 seats won by the Congress with 35% vote share.

Historically, Congress has always got more share of votes than BJP.

The highest BJP got ever was in 2008, when BS Yeddyurappa rode to power, but that share dropped drastically in 2013 when he left the party.

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

People rejected Congress’ divisive agenda, says Bharatiya Janata Party

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

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

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)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

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

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)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

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)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

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 protecting corrupt, silent on Rafale deal, accuse Congress

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

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

The Congress on Sunday hit back at the BJP for “protecting its corrupt leaders and Ministers” and slammed Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her silence on key defence controversies, including the Rafale deal.

It said the Income Tax Department was a “caged bird” of the BJP-led government and action against senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram over a disproportionate assets case was “politically motivated”.

Addressing a press conference here, Congress Spokesperson Pawan Khera said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP had not replied to questions over the Rafale price, Vyapam scam, PDS scam in Chhattisgarh, mining scam in Rajasthan and cases involving Union Minister Piyush Goyal, and BJP chief Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah.

“When will the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister respond to the Rs 58,000 crore Rafale scam? You also snatched offset business of Rs 30,000 cr from HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) in Bengaluru and gave it to your friend, who has no experience in this field. First, you give answers to these questions and then talk about other issues,” Khera said.

In a press conference held earlier in the day over the Income Tax Department’s chargesheet against Chidambaram for alleged non-disclosure of assets held abroad, Defence Minister Sitharaman asked if Congress President Rahul Gandhi will probe the matter against one of his senior colleagues.

Khera said Chidambaram had already clarified his stand on the issue and he would challenge the Income Tax Department’s action in a court of law.

Taking a dig at Sitharaman, Khera said the Minister always took a lead in responding to all issues, except those related to her ministry, the Rafale deal and other defence deals.

“The Defence Minister chooses to defend her party only. Defence of the country is not her priority. She is not interested in even talking about the welfare of Army or providing resources to the Army,” he said.

The Congress leader criticised top BJP leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, including Speaker Nirmal Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta for buying land rights next to the Army’s ammunition depot in Nagrota.

Khera also said that the government should not behave like the opposition and give answers to the questions affecting the common man.

“There is no answer to all these issues in the last four years. And new questions are surfacing every day. These questions are related to the life of a common man. You are mired in corruption from head to toe. Who will answer those questions?” he asked.

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

High-voltage campaign ends for Karnataka Assembly poll

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

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

A high-voltage, high-decibel campaign, often turning bitter and personal, for the May 12 Karnataka Assembly elections, billed as the quarterfinal before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls with huge stakes for both BJP and Congress, ended Thursday evening amidst predictions of a close fight and a hung Assembly.

Leaders of the three main contending parties — ruling Congress, BJP and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) — including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, who had invested heavily in the month-long campaign, held road shows and press conferences to wind up the mass contact programme of wooing the electorate.

Earlier in the day, Modi, who adddressed more than 20 meetings in the last 10 days to boost his party’s campaign, gave a final push by addressing the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Caste (OBC) party cadres from the poll-bound state through his Narendra Modi mobile app.

Braving the summer heat and dust, hundreds of contestants, cadres, supporters of national, regional, state and fringe parties raced against time to reach voters for their valuable ballot on the D-day — Saturday.

Polling will be held in 223 constituencies as election to the Jayanagar constituency in south Bengaluru has been countermanded due to the death of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate BN Vijaya Kumar on May 4.

The Karnataka elections will be followed by polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh this year end in what is expected to be an indicator of the things to come in the parliament election in the summer of 2019.

On the last day of electioneering, Gandhi addressed the media and held road shows at Hubballi, while BJP President Amit Shah campaigned in Badami in Bagalkot district from where Siddaramaiah is contesting from second seat.

The Congress chief toured across the districts of Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru and Bengaluru in his last leg of campaigning over the last three days.

Gandhi’s extensive campaign over the last few months across the state included several corner meetings, public rallies, road shows, dining at public eateries with the locals, visits to prominent religious institutions and riding a busy metro in the capital city etc.

The party’s former president and Gandhi’s mother Sonia Gandhi addressed a lone public meeting in Vijayapura district on Tuesday after Modi addressed a meeting on the same day.

The ruling Congress also flew in the former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram among several other campaigners to further the party’s winning prospects at the hustings.

Since May 1, the Prime Minister addressed a whopping 21 rallies within a span of six days across the districts of Chamarajanagar, Udupi, Ballari, Shivamogga, Raichur, Dharwad, Bengaluru among few others.

During the days that the Prime Minister wasn’t in the southern state, he made use of technology to connect with the party’s cadres through his personal mobile app.

The opposition BJP also brought in a slew of Union Ministers including Smriti Irani (Information and Broadcasting), Nirmala Sitharaman (Defence), Ravi Shankar Prasad (Law and Justice), Piyush Goyal (Railways) to interact with theAsouthern state’s electorate and pitch for the party’s attempt to return to power.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also made several visits to the state.

The BJP, which came to power on its own for the first time in Karnataka in 2008 but lost to the Congress after five years in the May 2013 assembly election, hopes to make a foray into the south again ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The party hopes to make up its possible losses in the north where it had peaked four years ago.

The JD-S cadres led by party leader Deve Gowda and his son and state President H.D. Kumaraswamy held several road shows and rallies across the state since the election was announced on March 27.

The party also had Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati appealing to Karnataka’s electorate to dismiss both Congress and BJP in BSP-JD-S rallies held in Bidar and Bengaluru. Both the parties have tied up for contesting in the southern state’s election.

In all, 2,654 candidates are in fray for the ensuing election on Saturday to elect the state’s 15th Legislative Assembly.

Of the total candidates in fray, including 219 women, 222 are from the ruling Congress, 223 from BJP, 201 from Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S), 1,155 Independents and 800 from other national, regional and fringe parties, according to the poll panel.

The state capital and tech hub Bengaluru, which alone has 28 Assembly segments of the state’s total 224 constituencies, has a total of 449 candidates in the fray. Of them, 37 are women and 412 men. Voting will be held across 27 of the tech hub’s Assembly segments, after the election in Jayanagar was countermanded.

A single phase polling will be held for the 223 constituencies, including 36 reserved for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 15 for Scheduled Tribes (STs). The votes will be counted on May 15.

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