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  • 4 BRS Leaders, 1 From Congress Join BJP In Telangana Ahead Of Lok Sabha Polls |

    New Delhi: Four leaders from Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and one from Congress joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday in the presence of party's General Secretary Tarun Chugh in New Delhi.

    The four BRS leaders who joined the BJP are former MP Godam Nagesh, former MLA Saidhi Reddy, former MP Sitaram Naik and former MLA Jalagam Venkat Rao. Also, Srinivas Gomase, who resigned as General Secretary from Telangana Congress also joined the BJP on Sunday.

    Welcoming these leaders in the party, BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh said that all these “eminent personalities” have played an important role in the society with their contributions.

    “Four former BRS leaders have joined today. All these are experts in their field. Godam Nagesh is a big voice. Saidhi Reddy is popular among people for providing employment opportunities. Sitaram Naik is a big name in himself, all his life he made contributions. to the society,” Tarun Chugh said.

    “Jalagam Venkat Rao has also played a crucial role in curbing the naxal movement. Srinivas Gomase who has resigned from Congress had also worked a lot for the Scheduled Castes community,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to visit Telangana on March 12 and will hold a meeting with the Bharatiya Janata Party booth committee president and party office bearers to provide guidance to the party's leaders and workers regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

    The meeting will be chaired by the Union Home Minister at the LB Stadium in Hyderabad, where he will likely brief leaders about the strategies to be adopted in the parliamentary elections.

    The Bharatiya Janata Party has already announced candidates for nine out of the 17 parliamentary constituencies in Telangana for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

  • '370 Is Emotional Issue For Us But Political For Prime Minister: Omar Abdullah Hits Out At PM Modi |

    Srinagar: Former PDP MLA Javed Baig joined the National Conference on Friday. While welcoming him, party vice president and former Chief Minister of Jammu And Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in the valley on Thursday.

    Omar said that he had hoped that the PM's visit would signal the restoration of democracy in Jammu, but nothing of that sort was seen. Not a single word regarding the restoration of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir came out of the PM's rally.

    Omar added, “Nothing new came from the PM's visit. There was no mention of the restoration of democracy, statehood, elections, employment, or other local issues. The PM remained silent and continued to speak the same old language of 'Parivarvaad'.”

    Omar further stated, “Article 370 is an emotional issue for us, but for the Prime Minister, it is political. Why is the PM selling movie tickets? I have never been in favor of personal slogans, and such slogans have caused more harm. Voters are interested in issues related to them, not in family or other issues, and Modi has exploited this issue very well.”

    National Conference's Alliance Equation For LS Polls

    Regarding alliance with other parties in the Lok Sabha elections, Omar, on not accommodating PDP in seat sharing, said, “How can we give seats to a party which was in third position in the last elections? Maintaining the alliance is not only the mandate. of the National Conference but also of others.”

    “We did not keep the PDP away from the alliance, but from the ground reality. How can we give the Anantnag seat to the PDP, which stood third in the last elections? PDP has been targeting NC and talking about alliance. We cannot forget that,” he added. “Doors are open for PDP in Assembly elections but there is no scope for Parliament elections,” he concluded.

    Talks have been held with Congress on Lok Sabha seat sharing. “We have reached an agreement with Congress on one seat in Jammu and one seat in Ladakh. And we are also ready to leave the Anantnag seat for Congress, and if Sonia, Rahul, or Priyanka had contested the elections, we would have left that too.”

    However, Omar did not speak openly on whether he would contest the elections or from which seat he would contest. He said, “I have no idea from where I will contest the elections or whether the party will field me or not.”

  • DNA Exclusive: Decoding Congress Party’s Love For Pakistan |

    NEW DELHI: Tonight’s episode of DNA delves into a recent development from Karnataka that has ignited a political firestorm over the last couple of days. Allegations swirl that during the celebrations following the Rajya Sabha election results in Karnataka, chants of “Pakistan Zindabad” reverberated outside the state assembly. Nasir Hussain, the triumphant candidate, stands accused of endorsing these chants during his victory festivities.

    While the BJP has mounted a vigorous offensive on this issue, the Congress government in Karnataka has taken a defensive stand. The pivotal question remains: were pro-Pakistan slogans indeed raised during Nasir Hussain’s celebration? Further complicating matters, Congress leader BK Hariprasad has voiced support for Pakistan, deepening the turmoil within the party.

    DNA: Karnataka heated up over Pakistan-supported slogan. DNA analysis of Congress leader’s love for Pakistan.

    Why is there sympathy in Congress regarding Pakistan? #DNA #DNAWithSourabh #Karnataka #Congress #Pakistan @saurabhraajjain pic.twitter.com/dSIIfG3Wr1 — Zee News (@ZeeNews) February 29, 2024


    In any nation, the euphoria of electoral victory often echoes through celebratory slogans, a manifestation of national pride. However, the recent events in Karnataka have left the Indian populace perturbed. The Rajya Sabha elections held on the 27th in Karnataka saw some MLAs casting their votes, resulting in Nasir Hussain’s ascension as the Congress representative. Nonetheless, the festive atmosphere soured when cries of “Pakistan Zindabad” emerged, sparking investigations into whether these chants stemmed from genuine support or conspiratorial machinations.

    The BJP has vehemently raised objections, prompting police intervention and the initiation of legal proceedings. As the Karnataka police sift through video evidence and endeavor to identify the parties involved, the BJP has amplified the issue across the state. Amidst this tumult, the veracity of a contentious video remains in question. While Nasir Hussain has refuted claims of endorsing pro-Pakistan sentiments, the BJP has sharpened its criticism of the Karnataka government, alleging favouritism towards Hussain.

    Congress’s BK Hariprasad’s recent statement, characterizing Pakistan as a neighbor for Congress and an enemy of the BJP, has further inflamed tensions. This ideological divergence underscores the BJP’s contention that Congress’s stance towards Pakistan elucidates its antipathy towards India’s interests. While India refrains from formally designating Pakistan as an enemy state, widespread acknowledgment exists of Pakistan’s adversarial actions, fueling public ire.

    Given the sensitivity surrounding Pakistan-related sentiments in India, the clamor for a thorough investigation has intensified. Only through meticulous scrutiny of pertinent videos can the truth be unearthed, ensuring accountability for those responsible. Tonight, on DNA, we dissect this unfolding saga, unraveling its implications within the political landscape.

  • Geeta Kora Joins BJP Congress MP from Jharkhand joins BJP

    Ranchi. Congress MP from Jharkhand’s Singhbhum (ST) constituency Geeta Koda joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Monday. Koda joined the party in the presence of party state unit president Babulal Marandi at the BJP headquarters. Geeta Kora Joins BJP

    She has taken this step at a time when Lok Sabha elections are about to be held in the country. She said, “I have joined BJP today. Congress has put the country in trouble by playing appeasement politics. The party says it will take everyone along, but it takes only its family along.” The BJP-AJSU (All Jharkhand Students Union) alliance won 12 of the 14 parliamentary seats in Jharkhand in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. was achieved. Geeta Kora Joins BJP

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  • Himachal Crisis Live Updates: ‘Govt Is Safe…’, Says CM Sukhu After Meeting Congress Observers |

    New Delhi: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday said that they will continue to run the government for five years, amid a political turmoil in Himachal Pradesh after the Congress candidate lost the Rajya Sabha elections. “There is no question of resignation. The high command has not asked me or anyone else to resign,” Sukhu told PTI Videos while answering a question. He said, “The state BJP leaders did a lot of mischief. They did not have faith in their own people. They deployed CRPF and Haryana police. They used a helicopter.” The Congress suffered a shocking defeat in Himachal Pradesh, as the BJP won the state’s only Rajya Sabha seat with its candidate Harsh Mahajan beating Congress heavyweight Abhishek Manu Singhvi and possibly paving the way for a no-confidence motion in the assembly.

    The six Congress MLAs, who were given show-cause notice for violating the whip for Rajya Sabha polls on Tuesday, appeared before the Speaker with their lawyer and claimed that they did not receive all the relevant documents. The petition has been filed by the Congress against the six party MLAs who voted for the BJP in the Rajya Sabha elections.

    8:50 PM: Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh says, “There is a difference between taking back the resignation and not pressing the resignation till the time the dialogue and the action of the observers is not complete… We have talked to the observers. We have informed them about the present situation… I will not press my resignation until a decision is taken. The final decision will be taken in the coming time…”

    08:30 PM: Congress MP Rajeev Shukla says, “Our party observers who have come to Shimla are talking to the party MLAs and taking their opinion. First, they met the PCC Chief and also met Vikramaditya Singh. CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said that he is not going to accept his resignation and he has also agreed not to press on his decision to resign…”

    08:00 PM: Here’s what senior Congress leader Kaul Singh Thakur said after attending a meeting with party observers (Deepender Hooda, Bhupesh Baghel and DK Shivakumar) in Shimla in view of the ongoing political crisis in Himachal Pradesh. “Our government will be safe at all costs. It is unfortunate that despite having a majority, we lost the Rajya Sabha polls (in Himachal Pradesh). Being a senior Congress leader, I appeal my friends who have gone to return to the party fold.”

    07:40 PM: After meeting with party Observers, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says, “…Discussion was held regarding elections. Our govt is safe…”

    06:50 PM: Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda – appointed as the Congress Observers of Himachal Pradesh – meet Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Party incharge for the state Rajeev Shukla and former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel also present.

    06:30 PM: “I am sad over the fact they (rebel MLAs) might be upset with me over a leading advocate like Abhishek Manu Singhvi, but not voting for candidates who should have been sent to Rajya Sabha from Himachal is betrayal with the party,” says Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu amid the ongoing political crisis in the state.

    06:00 PM: Congress observers Bhupendra Singh Hooda and DK Shivakumar will hold meeting with MLAs at 6 pm today.

    05:45 PM: Here’s what Congress MLA Vikramaditya Singh, who resigned from Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu cabinet earlier today, said about the party observers meeting in Shimla. “It is for the party’s high command to decide on the future course of action. I never was in pressure during my ministerial position; I am the one who creates pressure.”

    05:30 PM: Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visits Tara Devi temple in Shimla.

    05:00 PM: Dk Shiv kumar And Bhupinder Hooda reaches Shimla Hotel

    04:30 PM: On notice to 6 Congress MLAs who voted for the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections yesterday, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania says, “The hearing is underway… The Parliamentary Affairs Minister has filed a petition. When the petition came to me, then I, as a Speaker have to function like a Tribunal… The hearing was underway till 2 pm… The hearing will continue again at 4 pm…”

    04:00 PM: Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says “…We’ve brought disqualification motion against them (Congress MLAs who voted for BJP candidate in RS polls) and hearing for the same is underway. The budget was passed today and the conspiracy to topple our govt has been foiled and our govt will complete 5 years…”

    03:45 PM: Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says “One of the MLAs (who voted for BJP candidate in RS polls) has said to forgive him as he has betrayed the party…People of the state will give them an answer…” On Vikramaditya Singh’s resignation, CM says, “I have spoken with Vikramaditya Singh and he is my younger brother. There is no reason to accept his resignation. He has some grievances that will be solved.”

    03:30 PM: Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda leaves for Shimla. He has deployed by the party to address the ongoing political crisis in the hill state.

    03.00 PM: On notice to 6 Congress MLAs who voted for the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections yesterday, Advocate Satya Pal Jain says, “Notice has been served to them (by Speaker) as to why they should not be disqualified under the anti-defection law. I appeared on their behalf and we have said that we have only received the notice, not the copy of the petition, so a copy of the petition should be given to us and after that, we will present our stand. As per Rule 7, a minimum time of 7 days should be given. The hearing will be held again today at 4 pm…”

    2.45 PM: Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday said people became disillusioned with the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government within 14 months as it failed to fulfil the tall promises it made during the election. Speaking to reporters, Thakur said Congress MLAs voted against their own candidate in the Rajya Sabha election as they were angry at a non-Himachali being fielded from the state.

    2.30 PM: On cross-voting, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh says, “Accountability will definitely be fixed. Accountability was fixed in Haryana…There are two parts of this report – first, why did the cross-voting happen here and how was it allowed to happen. Second, what steps should be taken to save the government and uphold the mandate? When the report comes, discussions will be held and decision will be made. Until then, all reports and speculations are baseless.”

    1.45 PM: Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu denies reports of his resignation. “I am not someone who will get scared and I can say this with guarantee, that Congress is going to win when the Budget will be presented. The budget will be passed today. BJP is spreading rumours of my resignation. Congress is united…” he said.

    1.10 PM: Congress observer DK Shivakumar asked people to not believe in hearsay and added that there is no crisis. “As per the directions of the Congress high command, I am reaching Himachal Pradesh. Also there is absolutely no need to indulge in any hearsay, as I am confident that Congress Party legislators will be loyal to the party and stay put with the mandate that has been accorded to them. However, what should be questioned and worrisome is the extremes to which BJP is going in terms of acquiring power, deliberately attempting to crush democracy and public mandate in the process,” said Shivakumar.

    12.50 PM: Six rebel Congress MLAs have extended support to the BJP. On the other hand, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has also resigned from the post. 

    12.15 PM: Rebel Congress MLAs were not being allowed to enter the assembly to attend the budget session.

    – हिमाचल विधानसभा के गेट पर जबरदस्त हंगामा
    – विधानसभा पहुंचे सभी बागी विधायक
    – विधानसभा के गेट से विधायकों को अंदर नहीं आने दिया जा रहा@DDNewslive pic.twitter.com/fFzYnAPIEQ
    — DD News Himachal (@DDNewsHimachal) February 28, 2024

    12.00: BJP Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan said that Congress Government is toppling. “So such attempts are being made – to suspend them. These are delay tactics and are followed in every Vidhan Sabha…Congress has dismantled from here. All the attempts they make now will fail. BJP will form the Government here…Nine MLAs (who cross-voted) are in my support,” said Mahajan.

    11.32 AM: 15 BJP MLAs including LoP Jairam Thakur, Vipin Singh Parmar, Randheer Sharma, Lokender Kumar, Vinod Kumar, Hans Raj, Janak Raj, Balbir Verma, Trilok Jamwal, Surender Shori, Deep Raj, Puran Thakur, Inder Singh Gandhi, Dileep Thakur and Inder Singh Gandhi, have been expelled by the Assembly Speaker for allegedly shouting slogans and misconduct in the Chamber of Speaker today.

    11.15 AM: Himachal Pradesh Assembly speaker today suspended 15 BJP MLAs as they kept on demanding division of votes on the finance bill. Now, by expelling 14 BJP MLAs, the Congress govt has made its path clear for the passage of the budget bill.

    11.05 AM: All I would like to say is that under the current circumstances, it is not correct for me to continue as a part of the government. So, I have decided that I am resigning from the Council of Ministers. I am resigning as a minister. In the time to come, I will have video consultations with my people and then decide about the future course of action, said Vikramaditya Singh.

    10.50 AM: Himachal Pradesh minister and Congress MLA Vikramaditya Singh said, “The chain of events that took place in the last 2-3 days is a matter of concern in a democracy, in Himachal Pradesh. This is concerning because the 70 lakh people of the state elected a government and after that gave the mandate to the Congress party. But such chain of events (cross-voting) occurring after that is a matter of concern.”

    #WATCH | Shimla | Himachal Pradesh minister & Congress MLA Vikramaditya Singh holds a press conference following Himachal Pradesh Rajya Sabha election result.

    He says, “…There is no doubt that former CM Virbhadra Singh’s name was used in the (Assembly) election…This is a… pic.twitter.com/kWDicjg7hW
    — ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2024

    10.30 AM: Himachal Pradesh Budget Session today. BJP demands division of votes.

    10.10 AM: Six Congress Himachal Pradesh’s legislators who cross voted in Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday and were staying at a hotel in Haryana left for Shimla in a helicopter for the Budget Session of the state assembly on Wednesday. Earlier on Tuesday, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had claimed that opposition leaders were obstructing the work of counting officials, and that “5-6 Congress MLAs were taken away in a convoy of the CRPF and Haryana Police.”

    #WATCH | Haryana: Chopper boarded by Himachal Pradesh MLAs, takes off from Panchkula. https://t.co/2R5baFaAbZ pic.twitter.com/IqXBrvhweT
    — ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2024

    9.40 AM: Himachal Pradesh BJP Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan said that the BJP will form a government in the state. “BJP is going to form its government in the state. Some more MLAs of Congress are in touch with us. I got phone calls from some of their MLAs and ministers…The situation is going to change in the next few hours and you will see BJP will form its govt soon…For the next 10-20 years, Congress is not going to come to power here…” he said.

    #WATCH | HP BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan – who won the Rajya Sabha Elections says, “BJP is going to form its government in the state. Some more MLAs of Congress are in touch with us. I got phone calls from some of their MLAs and ministers…The situation is going to change in the… pic.twitter.com/2aPmfIhOrU
    — ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2024

    9.25 AM: Himachal Pradesh BJP Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan said that BJP is the game-changer in the politics. “People are upset with the Sukhu government. All good leaders are joining BJP. It is a future party…There has been cross-voting. On today’s date, Congress has lost its majority in the state. This Govt is not going to last for long…” he said.

    08.50 AM: Watch: BJP Delegation led by LoP Jairam Thakur Meets Himachal Governor

    #WATCH | Shimla: Himachal Pradesh LoP Jairam Thakur along with BJP’s legislative party met Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at Raj Bhawan. pic.twitter.com/ZmnpXI2mxm
    — ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2024

    BJP Meets Governor

    BJP has claimed that the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government in the state has lost its majority. Before meeting the governor today, former CM ahd LoP Jairam Thakur said, “We will apprise the Governor about what happened in the Assembly. We demanded division during the vote on the financial bill, it wasn’t allowed. The House was adjourned twice. This is not right, it has never happened in Himachal Pradesh. The government has lost the moral right to stay in power.”

    Number Game

    In the 2022 Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, the Congress emerged victorious with 40 seats out of the 68-member house. Additionally, the party secured the backing of three independent MLAs.  The majority mark is 35. The BJP, on the other hand, attained 25 seats. There is speculation that if Congress loses the support of nine MLAs, its count would decrease to 31 MLAs.

    Options With Congress

    If the BJP demands a trust vote, the Assembly speaker may disqualify the rebel Congress MLAs as they not only violated party’s whip but also indulged in anti-party activity by cross voting. In that case, the majority mark will come down benefitting the Congress. 

    Congress MLAs In Panchkula

    After yesterday’s cross-voting, many Congress MLAs are in Panchkula along with some BJP MLAs. Zee News TV also reported that many Congress MLAs are upset with CM Sukhu and have urged the party’s high command to change the Chief Minister. However, they left for Shimla in a helicoptre to attend the budget session.

    Congress Rushes Observers

    After the cross-voting led to the defeat of the Congress candidate in the Rajya Sabha, the grand old party rushed two observers – Bhupinder Singh Hooda and DK Shivakumar – to Shimla. They will meet the MLAs and the Chief Minister to bring the situation under control and prevent the collapse of the Sukhu government.

     

  • RS polls expose chinks in Karnataka BJP, raises morale in ruling Congress

    A BJP MLA allegedly voted for a Congress candidate while another party MLA abstained from voting in the polling for four Rajya Sabha seats in Karnataka on Tuesday, catching the saffron party by surprise.

    The outcome of the election was on expected lines with AICC leader Ajay Makan and sitting Congress members GC Chandrashekar and Syed Naseer Hussain, and BJP candidate Narayansa K Bhandage emerging winners.

    The polls, however, exposed the chinks in the BJP ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls months away. The party is now mulling tough action against ST Somashekar, a Bengaluru MLA, on charges of defying the party whip. Shivaram Hebbar (Yellapur) absented himself, and the party has decided to wait and hear him out before taking a call on him.

    The two MLAs were earlier with the Congress and switched over to the BJP in 2019, along with a bunch of others, helping the saffron party unseat the JDSCongress coalition regime and form a government of its own. Speculations swirled around for some time that the two lawmakers would return to Congress.

    The JDS and BJP workers held protest demonstrations and burnt the effigy of Somashekar, while urging him to quit the BJP.The BJP has decided to seek disqualification of Somashekar for crossvoting in the polls, defying the whip, as it amounted to violating the antidefection law, the party legal cell head Vivek Subba Reddy said. He was confident that Somashekar’s membership would get disqualified henceforth. The party would move the Supreme Court if the Speaker delayed a decision, he said.The BJP, which had hoped the two MLAs would not ditch it, has decided to take Somashekar’s case to its logical conclusion. Former BJP minister and mining magnate G Janardhan Reddy (Gangavati) is said to have voted for the Congress. Reddy, against whom Siddaramaiah had waged a war and led a padayatra from Bengaluru to Ballari in 2010, has maintained a cordial relationship with the ruling party.

    The success of all three Congress candidates has raised the morale of Congress workers and is sure to leave Deputy CM Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, with one more feather on his cap. Known for pulling off election winning strategies in the past, Shivakumar managed to keep the Congress MLAs together and ensured the party got votes of independents too.

    The CM attacked the JDS for fielding a candidate though the party lacked the number of votes it needed to win. “The party tried to lure the Congress MLAs..Do they have a conscience,” he posted on X.

    Shivakumar called the act of the two BJP MLAs as their way of casting a “vote of conscience.” He wondered why the BJP candidate got 47 votes while the votes needed to win polls was 45 votes. “The BJP could have transferred surplus votes, but it has shortchanged the JDS by retaining 47 votes for its candidate,” he said, in a bid to pit the JDS against its alliance partner BJP. As for Somashekar, he said it was a vote against the unholy BJPJDS alliance,” Shivakumar, who is also the president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee said.

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  • Rajya Sabha Election: Several SP MLAs In Touch With BJP, Cross-voting Expected, Say Sources.

    New Delhi: A cross-voting is expected in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh as a number of Samajwadi Party MLAs are in touch with the Bharatiya Janata Party, sources have told Zee News TV.

    This development follows the reports of absence from a recent important Samajwadi Party meeting focused on Rajya Sabha voting strategies. Six Samajwadi Party legislators, including Amethi’s Maharaji Devi, Pallavi Patel, Vinod Chaturvedi from Kalpi, and Pooja Pal from Kaushambi, failed to attend the meeting. Their absence has sparked concerns within the SP camp about the potential impact on the party’s performance in the upcoming elections.

    The absence of these key members, and the rumors of cross-voting, suggest a possible significant setback for the Samajwadi Party.

    The voting for the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha elections will be held tomorrow with the BJP making efforts to secure an additional seat. The competition primarily involves the BJP-led NDA and the Samajwadi Party (SP). While ten seats are up for grabs, there are a total of eleven candidates – eight from the BJP and three from the Samajwadi Party. While victory seems assured for seven BJP candidates and two from the Samajwadi Party, the main contest revolves around the tenth candidate, given that the BJP has nominated one additional candidate. Both parties are striving to gather the necessary votes for victory, as a candidate requires 37 votes to emerge as the winner.

    The Number Game

    In the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, there is a total of 403 seats out of which 4 seats are vacant. Thus, the current strength of the assembly is 399 legislators. For the BJP to secure a victory for their eighth candidate, they require the votes of 9 legislators. The NDA has a total of 288 legislators from BJP+ RLD+ Apna Dal(S)+ Nishad Party+ SBSP+ Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik). However, one legislator from the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) is in jail, reducing the BJP’s count to 287 legislators. It is being speculated that BSP MP Ritesh Pandey, who recently joined the BJP, may bring his father Rakesh Pandey’s vote to the BJP. Rakesh Pandey is a Samajwadi Party (SP) legislator. Therefore, the BJP needs the votes of 8 more MLAs.

    On the other hand, for the Samajwadi Party to secure a win for their third candidate, they need just three votes. The SP and Congress together have a total of 110 legislators. Among them, two SP legislators, Ramakant Yadav and Irfan Solanki, are in jail. Thus, the SP requires the votes of 3 more legislators. If SP MLA Rakesh Pandey votes for the BJP candidate, then they will need an additional 4 votes. Cross-voting by the MLAs will play a crucial role in deciding the 10th winner as a victory for both parties without cross-voting will be challenging.

    NDA: 1. BJP- 252 2. Apna Dal (S)- 13 3. Nishad Party- 6 4. SBSP- 6 5. Jansatta Dal- 2 6. RLD- 9

    INDIA: 1. Samajwadi Party- 108 2. Congress- 2

    Others- 1. BSP- 1 2. Vacant- 4

  • Rajya Sabha polls: Congress may sequester its MLAs in resort

    The ruling Congress is said to be planning to sequester its 135 MLAs in a private resort ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls scheduled for February 27 as the party leaders are worried over reports of its MLAs and independent members being approached by the NDA leaders.

    The presence of Kupendra Reddy, a wealthy businessman, as JDS candidate in the electoral fray has disturbed the peace of top Congress leaders, especially, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar.

    He had, on Monday, accused JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy of making “offers” to Congress MLAs to influence them to vote for his party candidate in the February 27 polls. The Congress has even filed a complaint with the Vidhana Soudha police accusing the Opposition parties of trying to lure its MLAs with offers of bribes for voting for the JDS candidate in the RS polls.

    Reddy has emerged as NDA’s surprise fifth candidate. If not for him, the four candidates would have won unopposed.

    The Congress is confident of securing the full support of its 135 MLAs, and three independents to get its three candidates through. There are only four RS vacancies in Karnataka, and the BJP and Congress have fielded one and three candidates, respectively. The JDS has maintained that it has fielded Reddy not to let the NDA’s surplus votes go waste. AICC leader Ajay Maken and sitting Rajya Sabha members GC Chandrashekar and Syed Naseer Hussain are contesting from the Congress while the BJP has fielded former MLC Narayansa Bhandage. A candidate needs 45 votes to win.

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  • Chandigarh Mayor election: Congress leaders accuse BJP of conspiracy to “murder democracy”, hail SC verdict on Chandigarh Mayor election

    Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “dirty election manipulation and “institutional sabotage”, Congress leaders on Tuesday said that the Supreme Court has saved democracy with its verdict in the Chandigarh Mayor election case.

    Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi made a scathing attack on BJP after the Supreme Court verdict which quashed the election result and said that AAP’s Kuldeep Kumar is the winner in the election for Chandigarh Mayor.

    Rahul Gandhi said that Returning Officer Anil Masih, who was the Returning Officer for the election, was just a pawn in the conspiracy. “In the BJP’s conspiracy to murder democracy, Masih is just a pawn, behind it is ‘face’ of Modi,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.

    A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra quashed the decision by Anil Masih by which be declared BJP candidate Manoj Kumar Sonkar as Chandigarh Mayor on January 30.

    The order of the apex court came as it found that the Returning Officer had deliberately defaced eight ballots that were cast in favor of Kuldeep Kumar to make them invalid.The apex court today physically examined the ballot papers and found that they are not defaced. It directed that Kuldeep Kumar be declared as mayor with 20 votes (12 votes which he received and 8 which were for him and were defaced by Masih). Kharge said all Indians must fight the “onslaught on the Constitution” collectively.

    “The Supreme Court has saved Democracy from the fangs of an autocratic BJP, which resorted to dirty election manipulation. The institutional sabotage in the Chandigarh Mayor Polls is only the tip of the iceberg in ModiShah’s devious conspiracy to trample Democracy. All Indians must fight this onslaught on our Constitution, collectively. Never forget. Our Democracy shall be at a crossroads in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections!” Kharge posted on

    Supreme Court further directed the Registrar Judicial to issue notice to Anil Masih for perjury proceedings under Section 340 CrPC for making a false statement before the court that the mark was made on eight ballots as they were defaced.

    The bench slammed Masih saying he had “unlawfully altered the course of the mayoral election”.

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  • ‘This Time They Will Be Wiped Out Of Parliament’: Mallikarjun Kharge On BJP’s ‘400 Seats’ Claim |

    NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday claimed that the Narendra Modi-powered BJP won’t be able to cross 400 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and it will be wiped out of Parliament. Speaking to reporters in Amethi, Kharge said, “I said – they (BJP) keep saying that they will cross 400 (LS seats), but this time they will be out of Parliament.” The Congress president hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his guarantee is not for the farmers, labourers, Dalits, tribal and backward people of the country.

    Denying any rift with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, Kharge said, ‘”Everything will be alright. He has agreed and our people have agreed too. There is no problem.” Kharge on Saturday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and described it as a ‘curse’ for the country’s farmers.


    #WATCH | In UP’s Amethi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge says, “I said – they (BJP) are saying that they will cross 400 (LS seats), but this time they will be out of Parliament.” https://t.co/mr3cU5wfmC — ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2024


    Interestingly, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav today made his participation in the Congress’ Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra conditional to a decision on seat sharing, saying that he will be joining it the moment the seats for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections are distributed between the two parties. . “Right now talks are going on, lists have come from their side and from ours as well, the moment the seats are distributed and decided, the Samajwadi Party will join Congress’s Nyaya Yatra,” Yadav said speaking to reporters on Monday.

    The Congress president accused the Modi government of treating farmers like enemies. Kharge asserted that only the Congress party can provide farmers with the legal right to a Minimum Support Price (MSP).

    “The Modi government is a curse for the country’s food-providing farmers. Due to the continuous false ‘Modi’s Guarantee’, first 750 farmers lost their lives, and now, yesterday, one farmer lost his life and 3 have lost their eyesight due to rubber bullets. The Modi government has treated farmers like enemies, Only Congress will give them the legal right of MSP!” he said in a post on ‘X’.

    Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his poll promises, Kharge said the former is the chief of all liars as he failed to even fulfill what he had promised during his 2014 poll campaign.

    “I want to ask him what happened to the promises he made during 2014–he never fulfilled those. Modiji jhuton ka sardar hai (PM Modi is the chief of liars),” Kharge said addressing party workers at an event hosted by Maharashtra Congress. in Pune.

    The Congress national president said people keep praising PM Modi despite the latter not doing much work in the last 10 years. Kharge cautioned that if such a scenario continues, the Constitution will “vanish”.

    “PM Modi keeps lying…you all know what he did in the last ten years. Still, people praise him…if this continues, then there will soon come a day when the Constitution will vanish. We are waging a fight to protect the Constitution and have to keep fighting,” he said.

    Describing Prime Minister Modi as “individualistic,” Kharge alleged that the former does not even take his party’s name while announcing his “guarantees.” “PM Modi keeps on saying that this is Modi ki Guarantee…he never uses his party name. He is very individualistic and full of himself,” the Congress president said.

    Claiming further that the BJP had no role in the country’s freedom struggle, Kharge added, “We are fighting for the country and its founding ideals all over again. The BJP had no role or contribution to our freedom struggle. We fought for the country. ”

    Taking a dig at the Congress, PM Modi earlier this month said that even Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge has predicted the return of the NDA government with over 400 seats.

    PM Modi made this remark during his response to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in Lok Sabha.

    During a session in the Rajya Sabha on February 2, Kharge inadvertently coined what would become a rallying cry for the BJP, stating “Abki Baar, 400 Paar,” which translates to “This time, over 400 seats.”

    “Our third tenure is not far away, a maximum of 100-125 days are left. The entire nation is saying ‘abki baar, 400 paar’. Even Kharge ji said that,” PM Modi said while replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in Lok Sabha.

    He expressed confidence that the BJP would not only secure a third term but also achieve an impressive victory by winning over 370 seats individually and crossing the 400 mark with the support of the NDA bloc. Modi’s remarks were met with laughter, including his own, as he acknowledged Kharge’s statement, suggesting that even the opposition leader seemed to predict the ruling party’s electoral success.

    Modi further criticized the Congress party, implying that they had become comfortable in their role as the opposition and were preparing to occupy the spectators’ gallery in Parliament. He also took a veiled swipe at Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party’s alleged nepotism, criticizing the repeated promotion of the same leadership without success.

    PM Modi indirectly referenced Rahul Gandhi by stating that the Congress is on the brink of shutting down its shop, emphasizing that they keep trying to relaunch the same product repeatedly.