Delhi is headed for repolls.
No party has received a clear mandate in the recently concluded state elections in Delhi. BJP bagged 32 seats while the new party on the block the Aam Admi Party, AAP won 28 seats. BJP has already turned down the Lt. Governor's invitation to form a government. The second biggest party AAP has already made it clear that it will not form a government without a clear majority.It is also expected to submit its refusal to the Lt. Governor by Saturday.
If the new government is not formed by 18 Dec 2013, Delhi state may under the President's rule, thereafter, the state will have to go to polls within 6 months.
In the recent state elections of 2013, BJP has won in 3 states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, while Congress has retained Mizoram.
Delhi is the only state that faces fresh polls.
Meanwhile, the new party on the block has really shaken the national political scene.
Encouraged by the results in Delhi - AAP has already started planning its venture into the next General Elections and also the State Elections of Haryana and Maharashtra. One spirited faction of the party has even expressed its desire to face Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at Amethi in the forth coming General Elections.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Anna Hazare starts indefinite fast for Jan Lokpal Bill
Amidst all the political activity of the recent days, Anna Hazare has started his indefinite hunger strike demanding the government to fulfill its promise to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament.
This time Anna Hazare has chosen his home town, Ralegan Siddhi, as the venue for his fast.
More than a year has passed since the Prime Minister had personally written to the veteran social activist last year requesting him to end his fast after the parliament had passed a resolution to the effect.
Some political observers are advising the Congress-led UPA government at Delhi to take cognizance of the huge defeat the Congress party has faced in the recently concluded elections and that it had better pay heed to the long pending demand of the people for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill, or be ready for an even worse fate in the forth-coming general elections.
This time Anna Hazare has chosen his home town, Ralegan Siddhi, as the venue for his fast.
More than a year has passed since the Prime Minister had personally written to the veteran social activist last year requesting him to end his fast after the parliament had passed a resolution to the effect.
Some political observers are advising the Congress-led UPA government at Delhi to take cognizance of the huge defeat the Congress party has faced in the recently concluded elections and that it had better pay heed to the long pending demand of the people for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill, or be ready for an even worse fate in the forth-coming general elections.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
State Election Results 2013 - the run up to Lok Sabha Elections in 2014
08-Dec-2013 - A big day in the history of Indian politics.
5 states had gone to polls during November 2013 and first week of December 2013 in the country and today, results were announced for 4 of these state elections - Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. The counting and results for Mizoram the 5th state is expected tomorrow.
The take aways from these are...
After today, AAP has been established as a formidable which no one will take lightly anymore.
Congress is the oldest political party of the country and it really needs to get its act together, the national elections are round the corner.
5 states had gone to polls during November 2013 and first week of December 2013 in the country and today, results were announced for 4 of these state elections - Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. The counting and results for Mizoram the 5th state is expected tomorrow.
The take aways from these are...
- BJP has emerged as the clear winner of the polls - It is going ahead to form government in 3 of these states.
- In Delhi, BJP is the largest party in the assembly but lacks the clear majority.
- Congress has become the biggest loser.
- It has been reduced to a very small party in states where it was in power i.e. in Delhi and in Rajasthan.
- Congress has won only 8 seats in the 70 seater Delhi Assembly.
- Congress has won only 21 seats in the 200 seater Rajasthan Assembly.
- In Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, things were not that bad for the Congress. May be the incumbency factor helped the party a little in these two states.
- In fact, there were occasions during the day as the results were being announced, that the Congress Party might actually form the government in Chhattisgarh.
After today, AAP has been established as a formidable which no one will take lightly anymore.
Congress is the oldest political party of the country and it really needs to get its act together, the national elections are round the corner.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Rahul Gandhi speaks against the Government's ordiance on convicted lawmakers
Things are really not right for the Congress led UPA Government at Delhi.
For long, the decisions taken by the Indian Government have been disapproved. Allies, Opposition, common public and sometimes even party colleagues. In fact, the government had gained reputation as the roll-back government that has had to go back on many of its decisions in the recent past.
Taking this reputation one notch up, the Congress led ruling coalition has approved an ordinance that even the Congress party's most powerful leader Rahul Gandhi has criticized.
The government has approved and forwarded, to the President of India, an ordinance on convicted politicians. This ordinance received widespread criticism both from within the and outside the Congress. Even a minister in the government - Milind Deora - has publicly spoken against it.
The latest addition to this brigade was Rahul Gandhi, when he spoke in the media about his opinion which was totally against the ordinance.
It seems that the Congress party has mastered the art of acting against public sentiment and attracting receiving criticism at almost every step.
For long, the decisions taken by the Indian Government have been disapproved. Allies, Opposition, common public and sometimes even party colleagues. In fact, the government had gained reputation as the roll-back government that has had to go back on many of its decisions in the recent past.
Taking this reputation one notch up, the Congress led ruling coalition has approved an ordinance that even the Congress party's most powerful leader Rahul Gandhi has criticized.
The government has approved and forwarded, to the President of India, an ordinance on convicted politicians. This ordinance received widespread criticism both from within the and outside the Congress. Even a minister in the government - Milind Deora - has publicly spoken against it.
The latest addition to this brigade was Rahul Gandhi, when he spoke in the media about his opinion which was totally against the ordinance.
It seems that the Congress party has mastered the art of acting against public sentiment and attracting receiving criticism at almost every step.
Supreme Court's Landmark Decision - voters get the RIGHT TO REJECT
Yes finally it is here... - The Right to Reject
Even as the Union Cabinet has prepared an ordinance against Supreme Court's decision to immediately disqualify convicted politician.
The bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and Justice Ranjan Gogoi has delivered what can be easily classified as the most revolutionary, path-breaking decision.
The honourable justices have directed the election commission to implement a NOTA (none-of-the-above) button in all EVMs and Ballot Papers in a phased manner and directed the center to provide support.
I personally welcome the decision and agree that this will force the political parties to nominate popular candidates.
Even as the Union Cabinet has prepared an ordinance against Supreme Court's decision to immediately disqualify convicted politician.
The bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and Justice Ranjan Gogoi has delivered what can be easily classified as the most revolutionary, path-breaking decision.
The honourable justices have directed the election commission to implement a NOTA (none-of-the-above) button in all EVMs and Ballot Papers in a phased manner and directed the center to provide support.
I personally welcome the decision and agree that this will force the political parties to nominate popular candidates.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
General Elections 2014: BJP has started drawing its guns, Congress needs to wake up
General Election 2014 is less than one year away.
Today, BJP President Rajnath Singh has formally launched BJP's election preparations by announcing Narendra Modi's name as the Chairman of the party's Election Campaign. This decision was taken at the BJP conclave at Goa, where most senior BJP leaders where present, except BJP veteran L. K. Advani.
The way things are evolving It is being (safely) assumed that Narendra Modi will be the next Prime Ministerial candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is also being popularly assumed that his Congress rival in the race to PM house will be Rahul Gandhi.
One thing is obvious that the amount of media time and attention Narendra Modi is getting is much much more than what Rahul Gandhi is getting. Let us see how the media and voters perceive these two.
On the other hand, most media reporting about Rahul Gandhi is not so positive. Most of the discussion about Congress is about whether the Congress will be able to complete its current tenure. Sometimes these media discussions are to the tune of how badly Rahul Gandhi will lose.
Media coverage being received by the Congress party is not going in favor of Rahul Gandhi, especially looking at the way things have developed around the Congress led UPA government at the helm of India, the scams, denial to enact strict anti-corruption laws, policy and decision paralysis, et al
The way some senior Congress leaders react in front of the camera makes me feel that the party has accepted that it will not be returning to power in the 2014.
Whereas Rahul Gandhi, I feel, has made a conscious effort to keep himself away from the media and limelight. Rahul Gandhi is seldom seen in the media, and further he seldom addresses the people (via the media cameras and pens).
In short, I think that BJP is way ahead in the preparedness for General Election 2014. The Congress party has tighten its belt and change the negative perception that is filtering through to the voters.
Today, BJP President Rajnath Singh has formally launched BJP's election preparations by announcing Narendra Modi's name as the Chairman of the party's Election Campaign. This decision was taken at the BJP conclave at Goa, where most senior BJP leaders where present, except BJP veteran L. K. Advani.
The way things are evolving It is being (safely) assumed that Narendra Modi will be the next Prime Ministerial candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is also being popularly assumed that his Congress rival in the race to PM house will be Rahul Gandhi.
One thing is obvious that the amount of media time and attention Narendra Modi is getting is much much more than what Rahul Gandhi is getting. Let us see how the media and voters perceive these two.
Media Presentation of Narendra Modi
Most of the time when the media talks of Narendra Modi, he generally gets a positive reference as next Prime Minister of India -- whether the NDA alliance partners will accept him as the NDA candidate for Prime Minister,
- whether he will be a good prime minister,
- what his agenda will be as a prime minister,
Media Presentation of Rahul Gandhi
On the other hand, most media reporting about Rahul Gandhi is not so positive. Most of the discussion about Congress is about whether the Congress will be able to complete its current tenure. Sometimes these media discussions are to the tune of how badly Rahul Gandhi will lose.
Media coverage being received by the Congress party is not going in favor of Rahul Gandhi, especially looking at the way things have developed around the Congress led UPA government at the helm of India, the scams, denial to enact strict anti-corruption laws, policy and decision paralysis, et al
The way some senior Congress leaders react in front of the camera makes me feel that the party has accepted that it will not be returning to power in the 2014.
The Candidates and The Media
Besides this, Narendra Modi has himself ensured that he gets regular media coverage - be it his speech in front of student in some college, be it his video address to American student, be his visits to Delhi, Bihar, the coverage of the BJP conclave at Goa, etc.Whereas Rahul Gandhi, I feel, has made a conscious effort to keep himself away from the media and limelight. Rahul Gandhi is seldom seen in the media, and further he seldom addresses the people (via the media cameras and pens).
In short, I think that BJP is way ahead in the preparedness for General Election 2014. The Congress party has tighten its belt and change the negative perception that is filtering through to the voters.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Corruption, corruption and more corruption - even Cricket is not untouched
Now-a-days, the news channels and news papers are busy exposing some corruption, scam, scandal or the other. Most of the time, the ruling UPA Government at New Delhi has been at the target of these agencies, but this time the focus has shifted.
After being in the negative-light for Lokpal, Black Money, 2G, CWG, Coalgate scandals, it must be taking a breath of relief that this it is Cricket that has hit the media.
This time the focus has shifted to Cricket and the scandal of spot fixing in the IPL matches. The media reporters are busy working overtime trying to keep up pace with the revelations that are coming out from the various investigating agencies and the subsequent reactions and developments after each exposure.
There is so much money around the Indian Premier League from its very inception, in fact I was surprised to know that people were willing to pay so much money for owning teams and then again were still ready to shell out more for "buying" players for their teams.
I think it was only a matter of time before some controversy, the underworld and the betting industry stepped in.
And not surprisingly, in the second year itself it was forced to shift the tournament to South Africa due to some controversy. Then next season (in 2010) the first IPL commissioner and the "father" of IPL Lalit Modi was removed from his chair following allegations of corruption and irregularities amidst other charges.
The matches of IPL 2012 were also stained with reports of spot fixing, but this year (2013) the spot fixing scandal is promising to be the murkiest of it all. This time celebrities - cricket players, a film star and allegedly a team owner - are involved. The cops have already taken some of these celebrities into custody alongwith several bookies from different cities.
So much so, the controversy still appears to only be bloating and expanding. Time alone will tell whether the it will burst or fizzle out.
All things said - one thing is certain - the Congress led UPA government must be considering it a relief that this time it is not at the receiving end of the bad news and publicity - for a change.
After being in the negative-light for Lokpal, Black Money, 2G, CWG, Coalgate scandals, it must be taking a breath of relief that this it is Cricket that has hit the media.
This time the focus has shifted to Cricket and the scandal of spot fixing in the IPL matches. The media reporters are busy working overtime trying to keep up pace with the revelations that are coming out from the various investigating agencies and the subsequent reactions and developments after each exposure.
There is so much money around the Indian Premier League from its very inception, in fact I was surprised to know that people were willing to pay so much money for owning teams and then again were still ready to shell out more for "buying" players for their teams.
I think it was only a matter of time before some controversy, the underworld and the betting industry stepped in.
And not surprisingly, in the second year itself it was forced to shift the tournament to South Africa due to some controversy. Then next season (in 2010) the first IPL commissioner and the "father" of IPL Lalit Modi was removed from his chair following allegations of corruption and irregularities amidst other charges.
The matches of IPL 2012 were also stained with reports of spot fixing, but this year (2013) the spot fixing scandal is promising to be the murkiest of it all. This time celebrities - cricket players, a film star and allegedly a team owner - are involved. The cops have already taken some of these celebrities into custody alongwith several bookies from different cities.
So much so, the controversy still appears to only be bloating and expanding. Time alone will tell whether the it will burst or fizzle out.
All things said - one thing is certain - the Congress led UPA government must be considering it a relief that this time it is not at the receiving end of the bad news and publicity - for a change.
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