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Tag: Priyanka Gandhi

  • ‘50% under 50 from block to CWC’ set to result in main management revamp in Congress

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: With the Congress 50 per cent of office-bearers, together with the Congress Working Committee (CWC), being under the age group of fifty years, a serious overhaul within the get together’s highest decision-making physique and AICC committees and departments appears to be within the offing. The current common age of CWC members is 68 years with not even one particular person being under 50 years.  

    The present CWC headed by Congress President Sonia Gandhi has 55 members – 21 essential members, 25 everlasting invitees and 9 particular invitees. Among the 21 essential members, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (50 years) is the youngest whereas Manmohan Singh (89) is the oldest.

    Several younger get together leaders, who have been as soon as near Rahul Gandhi, have joined different events citing higher prospects. The outstanding ones embody Sushmita Dev, Jitin Prasada, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Pradyot Deb Barman amongst others. During his tenure as get together chief from December 2017-August 2019, Rahul had inducted younger leaders into varied committees and departments to make sure a youthful management profile.   

    But now, amongst 25 everlasting invitees to the CWC, solely Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore (47 years) is under 50, and amongst particular invitees, solely three — Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Hooda (43 years), National Students Union of India (NSUI) head Neeraj Kundan and Indian Youth Congress chief BV Srinivas (41 years) — are within the under-50 bracket.

    ALSO READ | One slogan for Udaipur: Carpe Diem

    As the get together began the three-day ‘Chintan Shivir’ in Udaipur, get together normal secretary Ajay Maken introduced that the get together is contemplating guaranteeing that fifty per cent of all office-bearers from the highest to backside shall be under 50 years of the age, protecting in thoughts the nation’s youths.

    ’50 under 50 from block to CWC’ is the time period coined by the committee on youth.  

    An evaluation of different key committees and posts within the get together’s central workplace reveals {that a} main revamp must be carried out to implement this aim. The get together’s five-member Central Election Authority has just one particular person under the age of fifty – Kerala MP S Jothimani (47 years).

    Among 9 normal secretaries within the Congress, none is under 50 years. Among state in-charges, there may be simply Telangana in-charge, Manickam Tagore (47), who falls on this class.

    ALSO READ | Rahul Gandhi takes practice to Udaipur to attend Congress’s three-day Chintan Shivir

    In a number of AICC committees, the get together has constituted, former Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot (44 years) is a part of the group to look into future challenges whereas the publicity and publication wing has Milind Deora  (45 years). The information cell chief Parveen Chakravarty  (49 years), get together spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill (38 years) and social media cell head Rohan Gupta  (44 years) are different notable under-50-year-olds. There can also be former MP Meenakshi Natarajn (48 years) within the manifesto committee.

  • Priyanka attracts up three choices for Congress revival in UP, seeks approval from Sonia

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: After tasting a crushing defeat within the not too long ago concluded meeting elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress is weighing three choices to make sure the social gathering’s revival and strengthen the organisation from the grassroots within the nation’s politically most vital state.

    As per extremely positioned sources of the social gathering unit in UP, AICC common secretary and social gathering’s UP in-charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in session with state management, has thrashed out the three choices for the revival of the grand previous social gathering in
    UP. She has put the three solutions earlier than the social gathering nationwide president Sonia Gandhi for her perusal and obligatory motion.

    Significantly, the social gathering which dominated Uttar Pradesh until 1989, might win simply two seats within the state meeting polls of 2022. In reality, the Congress efficiency has been on a downward trajectory for the reason that 2012 Assembly elections when the social gathering had received 28 seats with 11.63 per cent vote share.

    Its tally got here all the way down to seven seats with 6.56 per cent vote share in 2017 when it fought the meeting polls in alliance with the Samajwadi Party. However, within the not too long ago concluded polls, the Congress tally of seats and vote share each dwindled drastically. While the social gathering tally of seats got here down to 2, its vote share additionally fell to 2.33 per cent.

    In order to breathe a brand new lease of life into the social gathering unit in UP, the primary choice, as per the sources, into account is the re-constitution of the Congress Committee below the stewardship of some senior chief as has been the follow thus far.

    The second choice, which Priyanka is believed to have thrashed out, is the appointment of four-five working presidents below the management of the state president who can take care of the revival of the social gathering organisation from the grassroots. Meanwhile, as per the third choice, the social gathering would divided the state into 4 main impartial zones — Western UP, Eastern UP, Awadh and Bundelkhand — and arrange impartial committees for all 4 zones.

    “Priyankaji has discussed these options with state leaders and office bearers and has sent all the three suggestions for Sonia Gandhi’s perusal. It is to be seen which of the three options the party high command goes with in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections,” mentioned a senior Congress chief in search of anonymity. He added {that a} resolution on these choices is anticipated within the coming month.

    It could also be recalled that after the decimation of 2022, the then UP Congress Committee chief Ajay Kumar Lallu had give up from his submit proudly owning up social gathering’s dismal efficiency as its candidates misplaced their deposits in over 399 seats. Even Lallu failed to save lots of his pleasure on his conventional Tamkuhiraj seat in Kushinagar and remained at quantity three place.

    In the meantime, the names of some senior state-based leaders together with former UPCC president Nirmal Khatri, former Rajya Sabha MPs and senior leaders Pramod Tiwari and PL Punia, social gathering’s communication cell head Nasimuddin Siddiqui, Acharya Pramod Krishnam and Nadeem Javed are doing the rounds because the attainable contenders for the UPCC chief’s submit.

    However, the political actions of the UP Congress had come to a standstill for the reason that resignation of Lallu. Now, the day-to-day actions of the social gathering are being sorted by senior common secretary Dinesh Singh.

  • Was compelled to purchase MF Husain portray for Rs 2 crore from Gandhis: Rana Kapoor in ED chargesheet

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Yes Bank co-founder Rana Kapoor has advised the Enforcement Directorate that he was “forced” to purchase an MF Husain portray from Congress’ Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the sale proceeds have been utilised by the Gandhi household for the medical therapy of Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New York, as per the chargesheet filed by the federal anti-money laundering company in a particular courtroom right here.

    Kapoor additionally advised the ED that he was advised by the then petroleum minister Murli Deora that the refusal to purchase the MF Husain portray is not going to solely forestall him from constructing a relationship with the Gandhi household but additionally forestall him from getting the ‘Padma Bhushan’ award.

    ALSO READ| Yes Bank-DHFL case: Rana Kapoor, Wadhawans laundered cash price Rs 5,050 crore, says ED

    The statements of Rana Kapoor are a part of the second supplementary chargesheet (general third) filed within the particular courtroom right here not too long ago in opposition to the Yes Bank co-founder, his household, Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL) promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan, and others in a cash laundering case.

    Stating that he had paid a cheque of Rs 2 crore, Kapoor claimed that “Milind Deora (son of the late Murli Deora and former Congress MP) later conveyed to him confidentially that the sale proceeds were utilised by the Gandhi family for the medical treatment of Sonia Gandhi in New York”.

    Kapoor additionally advised the ED that Ahmed Patel, an in depth confidante of Sonia Gandhi, had advised him that by supporting the Gandhi household at an opportune time for medical therapy of Sonia Gandhi, I (Kapoor) had carried out deed for the household and it could be duly thought of for the ‘Padma Bhushan’ award.

    Murli Deora had tried to persuade Rana Kapoor that the refusal to buy the portray may even not allow him ever to construct a relationship with the Gandhi household. It may even forestall him from getting the ‘Padma Bhushan award, as per the chargesheet.

    The late Deora had advised Kapoor at dinner that the failure to buy the portray might have “adverse repercussions” on him and Yes Bank, Kapoor has claimed in his assertion to the ED. The banker is at the moment in judicial custody following his arrest within the case in March 2020. “First of all I wish to state that it was a forced sale for which I was never ready,” the chargesheet mentioned concerning the portray Kapoor allegedly bought from Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

    Milind Deora had made a number of visits to his (Rana Kapoor’s) home and workplace to steer him for buying an MF Husain portray from Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. “He had even made me several calls and messages also in this regard from multiple mobile numbers. In fact, I was very much reluctant to go for this deal and I had tried also to avoid this deal several times by ignoring his calls/messages and personal meetings,” Kapoor advised the ED, as per the chargesheet.

    “Despite my best efforts to avoid this deal they were exceptionally persistent to finalise the deal rapidly,” Kapoor claimed. He additional acknowledged that later, within the yr 2010, Murli Deora compelled him to satisfy him for a vegetarian dinner (Marwari dinner) at his Lodhi Estate Bungalow in New Delhi.

    He was Petroleum Minister at the moment and had been allotted this bungalow in that capability, Kapoor mentioned, as per the chargesheet.

    “During the meeting, the late Murli Deora told me in no uncertain terms that any further delay in purchasing the above-said painting could have adverse repercussions on me and my Yes Bank and it could jeopardise my relationship with the Deora family,” Kapoor mentioned. “Simultaneously, he had tried to convince me that it will also not permit me ever to build me a relationship with the Gandhi family,” the banker added.

    Further, within the assertion, Kapoor claimed, “He (Murli Deora) had also told me that any deviation on my part for the lack of closure of the deal will definitely prevent me from getting awarded the ‘Padma Bhushan’ for which, according to him, I was highly deserving at that time”.

    “Under this threat and against my family’s wishes, since we are not high-value Art Collectors, I could not afford to invite any form of enmity with the two powerful families involved and thus I had to hesitatingly proceed given the looming and overhanging threat involved,” Kapoor advised ED, as per the chargesheet.

    Kapoor advised the ED that formalities for closing the deal have been held at Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s workplace. “Milind Deora had actively coordinated this final closing meeting. I wish to state that for this deal, I had made a payment of Rs 2 crore through a cheque of my personal account in HSBC Bank,” he added.

    Kapoor mentioned just a few weeks after the deal, Milind Deora conveyed to him confidentially that the sale proceeds have been utilized by the Gandhi household for the medical therapy of Sonia Gandhi in New York. “After a few months, while I (Kapoor) was visiting the residence of (late) Ahmed Patel, a close confidante of Sonia Gandhi, I was informed independently by him that by supporting the Gandhi family at an opportune time for medical treatment of Sonia Gandhi I had performed a good deed for the family and it would be duly considered for the ‘Padma Bhushan’ to me,” the chargesheet mentioned.

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that Rana Kapoor and Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL) promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan had siphoned off funds price Rs 5,050 crore by means of suspicious transactions.

    The ED had began its investigation after recording ECIR on March 3, 2020, and after the probe started, Rana Kapoor aggressively tried to eliminate his abroad properties to save lots of them from being attachment by the ED underneath PMLA, the cost sheet mentioned.

    The POC concerned on this case is Rs 5,050 crore. While Rana Kapoor is the founding father of the mentioned firm particularly DUVPL, his three daughters are 100 per cent shareholders therein. Rana Kapoor is at the moment in judicial custody following his arrest within the case in March 2020.

    The Wadhwans too are in jail custody after their arrest in one other case.

  • Ready to take a plunge into politics, if folks need and consider in me: Robert Vadra

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: Robert Vadra, the businessman husband of Congress chief Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, mentioned on Sunday that he was prepared to affix politics, if folks needed him to.

    “With great power comes great responsibility, I’ve learnt a lot from difficulties in my life. I understand politics, if people want me to represent them and believe that I can usher positive change for them, then I’ll definitely take the plunge,” Vadra informed journalists in a brief chat with journalists in Indore, earlier than flying to Delhi.

    Vadra was in Indore to fly to Delhi, after providing prayers on the world-famous Mahakal Temple in neighbouring Ujjain.

    When questioned concerning the current BJP rule within the nation, Vadra mentioned, “both, politics and country are changing. But the way the country is changing, makes you feel nervous. The media is afraid of telling the truth…this isn’t true democracy.”

    Not dissatisfied with Congress’s present within the latest UP Assembly polls, the place the celebration was spearheaded by his spouse, Vadra, mentioned he wasn’t in any respect dissatisfied and would give 10/10 to her for the efforts.

    Earlier, after providing prayers in Ujjain, Vadra mentioned that the erstwhile Congress authorities led by Kamal Nath in MP did work in Ujjain for Mahakal Temple, however the BJP authorities has accomplished nothing. “Change is coming here due to the work started by our government,” he mentioned.

  • Uttar Pradesh: The classes of loss

    Defeat is an absolute truth, it appears, and leaves no room for grace marks. Akhilesh Yadav might have given the battle of his life within the current Uttar Pradesh meeting election, on no account humiliated by a loss that noticed his Samajwadi Party (SP) notch up its highest vote share ever. But the mixed Opposition did crumble, and it was not going to move with out remark. The efficiency by Akhilesh’s foremost ally, the Jayant Chaudhary-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), was certainly underwhelming—for all the fireplace and brimstone from Jat quarters prior to now two years, the group largely favoured the BJP. As for the Congress, even obituary writers are tiring by now. And so, the inevitable is going on. It’s the season for Cassandras—all events are going through a flurry of criticism from inside, from insiders who see no hope if the current patterns persist.

    Defeat is an absolute truth, it appears, and leaves no room for grace marks. Akhilesh Yadav might have given the battle of his life within the current Uttar Pradesh meeting election, on no account humiliated by a loss that noticed his Samajwadi Party (SP) notch up its highest vote share ever. But the mixed Opposition did crumble, and it was not going to move with out remark. The efficiency by Akhilesh’s foremost ally, the Jayant Chaudhary-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), was certainly underwhelming—for all the fireplace and brimstone from Jat quarters prior to now two years, the group largely favoured the BJP. As for the Congress, even obituary writers are tiring by now. And so, the inevitable is going on. It’s the season for Cassandras—all events are going through a flurry of criticism from inside, from insiders who see no hope if the current patterns persist.

    The first indicators of inside combustion got here from the RLD. Soon after the outcomes, senior chief Masood Ahmad resigned from the publish of state president after alleging that tickets have been “sold” to undeserving candidates, whereas Muslims and Dalits have been sidelined. In an open letter to Chaudhary, Ahmad additionally requested why the highest management was quiet on points in regards to the two communities. Blaming each Chaudhary and Akhilesh for the ballot debacle, he alleged the alliance couldn’t beat the BJP due to “internal dictatorship”. Taking a jibe at Akhilesh, he wrote: “The key to Mulayam Singh Yadav’s politics was that he stayed among the people. People don’t like it if their leader becomes active only during election time.”

    Even within the SP and the Congress, voices questioning those that dealt with the ballot marketing campaign and demanding a relook at political and organisational technique are getting louder. Where this goes within the days forward might considerably affect the way forward for Akhilesh and Chaudhary in addition to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who led the Congress marketing campaign within the state.

    In the preliminary disappointment with the election outcomes, regardless of the SP growing its seat tally by two-and-a-half instances, a lot of its leaders had put the blame on EVM tampering. But Akhilesh’s previously estranged uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, who gained the Jaswantnagar seat with a margin of 90,979 votes, struck a unique notice—he made it some extent to say that the presence of VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail) makes such tampering unlikely. He additionally mentioned that opposition events ought to focus as a substitute on organisation-building, in addition to well-planned ticket distribution, in the event that they wish to defeat the BJP—a not-so-veiled critique of his nephew’s perceived aloofness throughout peacetime.

    Some SP leaders fear about what being out of energy for an additional 5 years might do to the morale of get together employees. Another key concern being mentioned—and nobody will miss the importance—is the necessity to put together a second rung of management. “That’s what we should focus on now,” says a senior chief who didn’t wish to be recognized. “Most of us were expecting victory in this election, but somewhere we are lagging behind. We should understand where we went wrong.” According to this chief, it’s excessive time the SP went past its picture of being a Muslim-Yadav get together. “We must rework our strategy,” he says.

    Agreeing on the necessity for a second line of leaders, one other senior functionary says, “As a star campaigner, we have only Akhileshji. He has to handle the whole party and also ticket distribution. He is our face in the media and also represents the party in the Lok Sabha. How much can one leader do?” The senior functionary provides that Shivpal and different skilled leaders should have a higher position. “Shivpal floated his own party, but he is still an asset for us,” he says.

    But putting somebody who’s down is an previous recreation in politics, and Akhilesh could possibly tide over issues with sufficient ease. With SP’s vote share rising to 32.06 per cent on this election from 21.8 per cent in 2017, and its seat tally going as much as 111 from 47, spokesperson Ashutosh Verma says the get together plans to construct on it and transfer ahead.

    The RLD, in the meantime, might have the doubtful distinction of witnessing the largest hole between expectation and efficiency. Its leaders had moved with a level of certitude earlier than the election, driving as they have been on the farmers’ agitation, however the get together ended up with simply eight seats out of the 33 it contested, with a vote share of two.85 per cent. But the loyalists are holding on for now. Dismissing Masood’s allegations towards the get together management as “baseless and false”, RLD spokesperson Anupam Mishra says, “He resigned because he did not get a ticket. We have full respect for Jayantji, and we will continue to support him in his decisions.”

    Photo: ANI

    But introspection is carrying on apace. “The results were disappointing. We were expecting at least 20 seats. We need to relook at our strategy. The party needs to figure out why only about 40 per cent of the Jats voted for us even though we were hoping to bag at least 70 per cent of their votes,” says a senior functionary of the RLD. He provides that the get together also needs to suppose past the Jats and discover methods to cease being seen as only a ‘Jat party’. In the advanced caste matrix of western UP, being related to a politically dominant however numerically modest group maybe has its draw back. Not solely does the remainder of the panorama unite towards you, the Jats themselves have typically proved to be not a rock-solid catchment for the RLD, just like the Yadavs are for the SP. It could also be time to maneuver in direction of a extra pan-community strategy.

    For the Congress, the UP outcomes not solely introduced intense disappointment, in addition they raised a disturbing query mark over get together basic secretary Priyanka Gandhi’s model worth in politics. This was to be her first severe solo plunge into electoral politics. And even when battling the BJP of the Modi-Yogi period is tantamount to leaping off the deep finish, the get together’s worst efficiency ever within the state’s 70-year electoral historical past is a bitter reality to swallow. Just two seats, down from seven, and a vote share of two.33 per cent, down from 6.25 per cent—the place do you go from right here?

    While Priyanka’s ‘Ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon’ experiment of giving 40 per cent tickets to ladies made headlines, it flopped on the bottom with a lot of the 159 feminine candidates dropping their deposit. This made many within the get together query the marketing campaign strategists. However, ladies weren’t the one ones who misplaced their deposit—it was a destiny 387 out of the entire 399 Congress candidates met.

    Photo: Chandradeep Kumar

    Party spokesperson Zishan Haider blamed individuals near Priyanka for the poor efficiency. He was expelled after his assertion went viral. “These people have not done anything on the ground and all the leaders who left the party in the recent past did so because of them. I had not said anything against Priyanka, but had blamed a handful of people for misleading her and selling tickets,” says Haider.

    “The opposition should learn from the BJP’s style of booth-level organisation building,” says former Lucknow University professor S.Ok. Dwivedi

    According to a senior get together functionary, the Congress must make severe organisational adjustments in UP whether it is eager to outlive the 2024 Lok Sabha election. “Otherwise, we will be finished here,” he says, including that the get together also needs to have a look at forging some form of tactical understanding with the SP and the RLD forward of the final election to keep away from the splitting of opposition votes.

    S.Ok. Dwivedi, a former professor of political science at Lucknow University, says the Opposition ought to be taught from its errors in addition to from the BJP’s fashion of booth-level organisation-building. “Opposition leaders should focus on developing a second-line leadership and reworking their strategy to challenge the BJP in the state,” he provides. Taking a leaf out of the BJP playbook could also be a superb place to start out.

  • Our struggle has simply begun: Priyanka Gandhi to Congress staff in Uttar Pradesh

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: On the eve of counting of votes for the Uttar Pradesh meeting polls, Congress chief Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday urged the celebration staff to be prepared for maintaining their wrestle for folks’s trigger, saying “our fight has just begun” and “we have to move forward with new energy”.

    In a message to the Congress candidates, workplace bearers and leaders from Uttar Pradesh, the AICC normal secretary in-charge of the state stated the celebration fought the 2022 UP meeting elections with full power.

    “Despite the absence of a Congress government in the state for a long time, the way you all fought for the people of the state and remained committed to public service which is the real purpose of politics, I am very proud of this,” Priyanka Gandhi stated in her message in Hindi posted on Twitter.

    Noting that the premise of democracy is the vote of the folks, Priyanka Gandhi stated regardless of the outcome could also be tomorrow, it is going to be based on the knowledge and understanding of the folks, and that’s paramount.

    “Therefore, while respecting the mandate, all of us will have to prepare for continuing our struggle with the spirit of loyalty and dedication towards our country and state. Our fight has just begun, we have to move forward with courage and new energy,” she asserted.

    Priyanka Gandhi stated that with the power and perseverance of the Congress staff and candidates, the celebration’s marketing campaign in these elections was constructive and confirmed the way in which for the progress of the state.

    The efforts of the Congress carried ahead issue-based politics on this election, she stated.

    “Just as democracy gives you the responsibility to raise the issues of the people, in the same way it is your responsibility to protect every single vote given by the people in the election. Tomorrow, on the day of counting, you have to be alert and protect every vote as a true democracy watchdog,” Priyanka Gandhi stated.

    Counting of votes polled within the essential Uttar Pradesh elections will happen on Thursday, the result of which can resolve whether or not the BJP returns to energy for the second consecutive time period.

    Almost all of the exit polls have predicted that the BJP will return to energy.

    They have forecast a rise in Samajwadi Party’s tally however not sufficient to kind the federal government.

    The exit polls have predicted a poor exhibiting by the Congress within the election.

  • UP polls: With heavyweights conducting rallies, Varanasi turns into final massive battleground

    Express News Service

    VARANASI: With the lengthy drawn, seven part meeting polls in Uttar Pradesh set to finish with voting for 54 seats of 9 japanese districts on March 7, Varanasi — one of many oldest dwelling cities of the world – turned out to be the final massive battleground of all main political events and their prime management on Friday.

    While BJP’s prime chief within the nation, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi (who can also be the two-time sitting MP from Varanasi) launched into an extended highway present by way of the primary metropolis areas, BJP’s prime opponent, the Samajwadi Party chief and ex-UP CM Akhilesh Yadav too carried out a road-show in one other a part of the identical non secular metropolis.

    And if that wasn’t all, the Congress occasion, which is eyeing a revival in its fortunes in these polls, had its two most charismatic leaders, the siblings Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, holding public rallies in rural space, the place their candidates have turned the to date direct contest between BJP alliance and SP alliance into multi-cornered battle.

    The prime attraction of the day, nevertheless, was PM Modi’s large road-show, which waded by way of an endless crowd of metropolis residents and BJP supporters, whereas overlaying a distance of 8-odd km, from Maldahiya crossing to Lanka-BHU Gate.

    After reiterating at a public rally in Mirzapur district, the dedication of his authorities to securely evacuate each Indian stranded in conflict torn Ukraine at a time when the complete world was going by way of a really important, the PM flew to his parliamentary constituency Varanasi at round 4 pm and launched into the road-show round an hour and 45 minutes delay.

    After garlanding the statue of Sardar Patel, the PM’s road-show travelled to the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor, traversing by way of varied areas of Varanasi North, Varanasi South and Varanasi Cantt meeting segments, amid endless crowds of native residents and supporters, elevating slogans in assist of their two-time MP.

    The road-show which was dotted with floral welcome at varied factors by senior BJP leaders, took virtually three hours in travelling 3 kms to achieve the KV Dham Corridor, the place the PM provided prayers on the world well-known Kashi Vishwanath Temple, after enjoying the king dimension dumroo amid reverberating chants of Kashi’s signature slogan Har Har Mahadev.

    He subsequently travelled by way of the additional crowded areas between Godowlia Crossing and Lanka-BHU Gate (overlaying main a part of Varanasi South and Varanasi Cantt seats), however stopped in between to relish kulhad tea with BJP rank and file on the well-known Pappu Tea Shop at Assi Crossing, which for lengthy has been essentially the most talked about political gossip level of the traditional metropolis.        

    This was the PM’s fifth poll-related road-show in Varanasi since 2014, when he first received the LS polls, defeating AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. The Friday’s roadshow was a re-run of the 2017 polls campaigning, when Modi had carried out two back-to-back road-shows in response to UP Ke Ladke Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi’s road-shows. It was largely geared toward galvanizing the occasion’s rank and file and interesting the citizens in three city seats, Varanasi South, Varanasi North and Varanasi Cantt, to vote for sitting BJP MLAs (together with two ministers) who’re dealing with excessive anti-incumbency.

    The PM, who would camp in Varanasi for 2 days, will tackle a rally at Khajuri (situated on the junction of two rural Pindra and Sewapuri seats) the place each the BJP candidates are having a tricky time in opposition to excessive anti-incumbency.

    The BJP is pinning excessive hopes on the PM’s two day keep in Varanasi, as an analogous marketing campaign by him within the metropolis in 2017, had helped the occasion not solely win all eight seats of Varanasi district, however a number of seats of adjoining districts additionally.

    Meanwhile, the Congress chief siblings Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, addressed ballot rally in Pindra meeting constituency, the place the occasion’s ex-MLA Ajay Rai (who was a minister in erstwhile BJP authorities prior to now) is strongly contesting in opposition to sitting BJP MLA Avdhesh Singh and BSP candidate Babulal Patel.

    Knowing properly that the BSP candidate may gain advantage from division in higher caste votes between the BJP and Congress candidate, Rahul was extremely important of the BSP, terming the elephant image occasion the B Team of the BJP. He additionally lashed out on the Samajwadi Party for fostering an environment of violence and anarchy throughout its previous rule in UP.

     The final massive ticket marketing campaign of the day was a road-show by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who needed to journey 1.5 km between Rathyatra Crossing and Girjaghar Crossing, overlaying components of Varanasi Cantt and Varanasi South seats. The road-show was on on the time of submitting this information report.

  • BJP not towards any dynasty however my household: Priyanka Gandhi

    By PTI

    KUSHINAGAR: On a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi focused political “dynasts” throughout electioneering in Uttar Pradesh, Congress chief Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday mentioned the BJP was solely towards her household, which has not bowed right down to it.

    The Congress basic secretary’s sharp rebuttal got here throughout an election programme within the Tamkuhi Raj space of Kushinagar district the place she campaigned for her celebration candidates forward of the March 3 meeting polls.

    In his speech in Maharajganj, PM Modi had known as out “ghor pariwarvadis” (staunch dynasts) in an assault aimed on the Samajwadi Party.

    In the identical speech, Modi gave a number of examples to emphasize “how dynasts cared only for their family interests” whereas the BJP labored for the welfare of the poor and disadvantaged sections of the society.

    While addressing an election rally in Kushinagar, Priyanka Gandhi mentioned, “They talk of the dynasty when all the children of politicians have moved to their own party! Which dynasty were they against or abstaining from?” 

    “They were against only my family because my family will never bow down to them. They know this that even if they kill us, we are neither going to compromise with the BJP nor bow down to them,” she added.

    Her comment comes within the wake of a number of distinguished second-generation politicians like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada, R P N Singh switching over to the BJP from the Congress in current instances.

    During her speech, Priyanka Gandhi additionally mentioned she was being focused with allegations of being linked to terrorism regardless of her father Rajiv Gandhi and grandmother Indira Gandhi, each former prime ministers, sacrificing their lives for the nation.

    “Identify the leaders who laid their lives for the country. The leaders whom these people call terrorists. Fingers are raised at my family, they say we are connected with terrorism,” she rued.

    And then she asserted, “I said yes, I am linked with terrorism because my father was shot dead by terrorists, my grandmother was assassinated by terrorists.”

    “My father and grandmother lost their lives for this country and they, who are selling all public properties and running a government for big industrialists, today they are pointing fingers at them,” she added.

    Priyanka Gandhi, who’s main the electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh for the Congress, which is contesting the state polls solo after three many years, mentioned her celebration was involved in regards to the UP and the nation.

    “This is why when we come to the people, we speak the truth and say it from our hearts. I say from the heart because I care about you, I am worried for this state and the country,” she mentioned.

    “My ancestors and your ancestors, the forefathers of the people of this state got India her freedom. Was the freedom earned, development done, institutions raised so that one day these people could sell the country? So that the youth of the country would be jobless and without any support,” she mentioned.

    Citing examples of freebies doled out by the BJP-led governments within the state and within the Centre, the Congress chief claimed it was a deliberate effort to maintain the individuals disempowered and depending on the federal government.

    She mentioned voting is a proper granted to individuals by the Constitution and a way to convey a few change in political discourse.

    Kushinagar goes to the polls on March 3 together with 9 extra districts of jap UP.

    The election outcomes shall be declared on March 10.

  • People have made all three Congress rivals indolent in UP: Priyanka Gandhi

    By PTI

    BALRAMPUR: Congress normal secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday accused the individuals of Uttar Pradesh of creating all three rivals of her occasion ineffective by their overindulgence of their whims.

    She additionally accused BSP chief Mayawati of by no means popping out of her home within the final 5 years, the Samajwadi Party of lacking from UP as girls confronted atrocities there and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being unaware of woes of UP individuals regardless of being omniscient .

    Addressing an election assembly right here, Vadra additionally accused the three events of solely being serious about taking individuals’s votes on the idea of caste and faith whereas caring little for them and their welfare.

    Priyanka Gandhi hurled the allegation towards the individuals of UP citing the instance of kids rendered indolent because of the individuals’s overindulgence of their whims.

    “At the time of elections, anyone will speak about bulldozers, anyone about terror, anyone about Pakistan, anyone of faith and caste. Why are they doing it? Gandhi requested.

    Holding individuals chargeable for allegedly making political events discuss of issues devoid of their curiosity, Priyanka Gandhi stated, Sorry to say however the politics which has been occurring within the state for the previous 30 years, is due to your encouragement.

    Gandhi attacked the BSP chief accusing her of by no means popping out of her house over the last 5 years.

    “The BSP chief by no means got here out of her home prior to now 5 years. I assumed she would come out in the course of the elections however she didn’t do even that, she stated.

    She additionally attacked Prime Minister Modi, accusing him of being unaware of the issue of stary cattle in Uttar Pradesh regardless of being antaryami and sarvgyani (omniscient) andbeo remaining conscious of worldwide conditions.

    “People say the Prime Minister is ‘antaryami’ (omniscient) and ‘sarvagyani’. If you converse towards him in a room, he’ll come to know of it. He has details about every little thing, she stated.

    But final week, he advised you that he doesn’t find out about the issue of the stray cattle after which he stated as the issue has come to his discover, it is going to be resolved,” Priyanka Gandhi stated.

    She scoffed on the PM’s alleged ignorance concerning the woes of individuals in UP regardless of understanding what’s taking place within the United States and Russia and elsewhere on this planet.

    Targeting Samajwadi Party, Priyanka Gandhi requested, Did the SP struggle for the farmers who died (in Lakhimpur Kheri violence)?

    These three events aren’t involved about your issues, and they don’t perceive it. They are solely serious about taking your vote on the idea of caste and faith. They will enter into settlement with one another whether or not they’re in authorities or the opposition. Only the Congress won’t ever do any pact with the BJP,” she asserted.

  • UP polls: Smriti Irani rakes up Sidhu’s ‘Pakistan Link’, lashes out at Congress

    By PTI

    KUSHINAGAR: Union minister Smriti Irani accused the Congress on Sunday of colluding with those that had killed harmless folks.

    Addressing an election assembly in Kushinagar, Irani hit out at Congress chief Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, saying she made Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had embraced Pakistan’s military chief and mentioned Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is his brother, the president of the Punjab Congress.

    “If the Gandhi family has the courage, it should refute my allegations,” she added.

    In an obvious reference to Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik, who has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in reference to a money-laundering case, Irani alleged that the Congress is shielding an individual who has hyperlinks with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who was concerned within the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts.

    Taking a jibe on the “ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon” (I’m a lady and I can battle) slogan of the Congress for the continued Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the Union minister for ladies and youngster growth mentioned the boat of the grand previous occasion is sinking and it has handed over the cost of the sinking boat to girls.

    “They emerge as chunavjeevi at the time of elections and come up with a new formula, some times in the name of caste, some times in the name of religion,” she mentioned.

    Irani alleged that through the COVID-19 disaster, the Congress, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have been nowhere to be seen.

    “It was the BJP that went from house to house distributing masks and ration. Priyanka is sad over the fact that ration was distributed among poor people. Had there been an SP-BSP government, would the poor have got the ration?” she requested the gathering.

    Taking a jibe on the SP, the Union minister mentioned, “Those who had once fired bullets on the devotees of Lord Ram are telling people that Lord Krishna comes in their dreams. I would like to tell them that in kalyug, Lord Krishna will never come to save criminals. God never sides with those who give shelter to people insulting women.”

    Referring to the Gandhis, she mentioned a member of a household that had as soon as mentioned there was no Ram is transferring from one temple to a different sporting the sacred thread.

    Kushinagar is scheduled to go to polls within the sixth spherical of the seven-phase Uttar Pradesh election on March 3.