By Kalyani Shankar

The Bihar polls at the end of the year are pretty unpredictable. As of now, there will be no cakewalk for the BJP, RJD, Congress or the JD(U). The churning is quietly taking place in Bihar politics. There could be a potential shift in power dynamics. The BJP, playing second fiddle to the Janata Dal (United) for the past two decades, is eyeing a lead role. The RJD wants to form the head the government.

Two crucial power groups are in the fight. On one side, the NDA and, on the other, the Mahagathbandhan, which comprises the RJD, Congress, and the Left parties. Intra-party and inner-party dynamics are in full swing.

The NDA and Mahagathbandhan are making calculated moves for a high-stake political showdown. Encouraged by consecutive victories in states where the odds were against it, a revitalised BJP has now set its sights on Bihar after winning Delhi assembly polls.

Bihar’s caste politics is interesting. Backward classes comprise 63.13% of the population, and the upper caste is only 15.52%. Other Backward Classes comprise 27.12% of the backward class category, while the Extremely Backward Class population numbered 36%. Dalits comprise almost 19.65% and

Yadavs account for 14.26%. Kurmi, Nitish Kumar’s Kurmi caste, also categorised as OBC, is 2.87% of the population. In the last Assembly polls, upper castes, around 15% of the population, dominated ticket distribution in many parties. BJP gave 47.3% of its tickets to upper caste candidates, whereas Congress gave 40% of its seats to upper castes.

In the 2020 Bihar assembly elections, the Mahagathbandhan did not win a simple majority in the 243-member legislative assembly, missing it by just 12 seats. The RJD was the largest party in the House but could not form the government.

For the 2025 polls, JD(U) has confirmed Nitish Kumar as the chief ministerial face. The well-known poll expert Prashant Kishore predicted that Nitish Kumar would end his political career. The RJD has opted for its leader, Tejashwi Yadav. Congress has not opened its cards yet. A series of meetings between Congress and the RJD, which began this month, continue.

The Janata Dal (United) party and the BJP coalition currently rule Bihar. Nitish Kumar’s deteriorating health, caste balance, and the functioning of the alliance make Bihar politically unpredictable for NDA.. Even if the BJP chooses Nitish, his health issues could significantly impact the election outcome.

The JD(U) wants to bargain for more seats with the BJP. In 2020, the JD(U) fought in 115 seats but only won 43. In contrast, the BJP ran for 110 seats and won 74.

The Mahagathbandhan, which consists of RJD, Congress, and some smaller parties, pose stiff opposition. The RJD and top Congress leaders met in Delhi last week to discuss the alliance.

Political realignments since 2020 – the VIP joining the MGB, the LJP aligning with the NDA and the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party merging into the JD(U) – complicate the poll picture.

A key development since 2020 has been the change in the power equation within the NDA, with the BJP emerging stronger. The BJP has strategically cultivated non-dominant other backward classes (OBCs) and non-dominant Dalit communities.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Bihar for two days. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bihar soon.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav made a surprising announcement, stating that he is open to reconciling with his socialist ally, Nitish Kumar. In response to this statement, Nitish remarked that he had inadvertently aligned with the RJD. Tejashwi Yadav, however, asserted that there is no place for Nitish in the Mahagathbandhan. Many believe that Nitish, known for his U-turns, could switch sides.

The INDIA opposition bloc has appointed Tejashwi Yadav, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister, as head of its coordination committee for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. This decision was made during a meeting of the six alliance partners in Patna on April 17.

The Congress and Left parties in the Mahagathbandhan are worried that the RJD will wait until the last minute to finalise seat-sharing agreements. The Congress party is unhappy with the weak constituencies they were given in 2020. They only won 19 out of the 70 seats they contested in the last election. The CPI(ML), which did well in 2020, wants a larger share of seats. Since 2005, the RJD has had difficulty regaining power, except for short periods in 2015 and 2022.

Currently, Tejashwi Yadav has two main tasks. First, he needs to expand the support beyond its core groups of Muslims and Yadavs to include other castes. This involves a stronger grassroots campaign, as the traditional voting trends are changing. The Congress has not developed younger leadership in Bihar. Its old core groups of Muslims and Dalits have shifted to other parties. The party has launched the ‘Samvidhan Leadership Programme’ to eye marginalised communities.

The main parties face challenges both within their groups and from outside, and a significant political change is expected. A point to note is that Nitish Kumar’s EBC is intact and challenges the RJD-Congress alliance.

There could be many more changes before November; they would be interesting to watch. In politics, one week is said to be long. Six months is really long. (IPA Service)

The article Bihar To See Significant Political Churnings Before Assembly Polls By Year End appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

DALLAS (USA): The U.S. Presidential election on November 5 is of immense significance, as it will determine the next tenant of the White House and shape the future of the United States an also its relationship with the other countries of the world..

Whether USA will get its first woman president or a second Donald Trump term is a debate going on among not only the politicians but also -the public. A week before the November 5 presidential polls, election fever has hit the country hard. However, there is a possibility that knowing the final result may take a few more days. Narrow victories in a handful of swing states will likely determine who gets the top job. Polls and prediction markets are signalling a Republican sweep in the election. As the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, and the Democrat nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, wrap up their campaigns, the potential impact of this election on the future of the United States cannot be overstated.

It is no surprise that the campaign has been not only highly polemical but also personal, with Trump attacking his rival, hitting her below the belt and calling her “dumb.”

While the reports claim that the fight is very tight, with Trump leading now and Kamala making up her lead, the suspense will continue for a few more days, even after the election date. The Electoral College is the system that decides presidential elections: A candidate must secure at least 270 votes out of the total 538 votes in electoral college to win the White House. Although certification sabotage has not yet resulted in such an extensive delay, many attempts have been made before.

County election boards generally have no legal authority to investigate any allegations of fraud or irregularities. Tight races in crucial battleground states in 2020 and an increase in mail-in voting amid the COVID pandemic saw prolonged vote counts. That helped the unfounded claims of election irregularities made by Donald Trump.

State election law provides other checks and safeguards through which suspected irregularities can be adjudicated. These mechanisms are designed to resolve disputes. Extended delays in county-level certification could run against deadlines for certifying statewide results.

According to the Associated Press, the winner will likely not be projected for days. However, states and the whole election results are typically “called” long before final votes are counted.

In 2020, President Joe Biden won but the result was called for four days after November 3 when Pennsylvania’s result was confirmed. The state gave Biden 20 electoral college votes, taking over the 270 required to win. In 2016, Hillary Clinton conceded to Trump the morning after the election.

With the presidential contest in the final countdown and Harris and Trump maligning the opponent, the vice president has called Trump dangerous. Harris insists she’s doing both — establishing a contrast with Trump and laying out her agenda on the economy, immigration and more.

Trump is relentless in attacking Harris, sometimes in crude terms. His core strategy has been to tie Harris to voters’ frustrations with the Biden administration.

According to the latest reports, Harris leads Trump by four points, 51%-47%, in an ABC/Ipsos of likely voters released Sunday, up slightly from her 50%-48% edge in early October, while a CBS /You govt survey out Sunday shows Harris up 50%-49%, a dip from the vice president’s 51%-48% mid-October lead.

According to FiveThirtyEight’s election forecast, Trump is favoured to win 54 times out of 100, compared to 46 for Harris.

As for the campaign spending, Harris routed Trump in fundraising for their official campaigns in September by pulling in $222 million compared to the Republican’s $63 million. Those numbers are down from the same period in 2020 when Biden raised $281 million and Trump raised $81 million.

Harris was able to spend a lot on TV ads. According to the Wesleyan Media Project, the Harris campaign has also dramatically outspent Trump in digital advertising and dominated cable and radio advertising, which tracks campaign advertising spending.

The economy and inflation remain prominent concerns, with 90% and 85% of registered voters calling these highly important in their vote.

Harris’ campaign insists she’s doing both — establishing a contrast with Trump and laying out her agenda on the economy, immigration and more. As she said in Georgia earlier this week: “It’s either Donald Trump in there, stewing over his enemies list, or me working for you, checking off my to-do list.”The economy and inflation remain prominent concerns, with 90% and 85% of registered voters calling these highly important in their vote.

The problem for Kamala Harris is that she is a woman of Asian descent. Despite being a highly developed country, people are shying away from electing a woman. Hillary Clinton tried hard, but she could not win the presidency. Let us see if Kamala is successful. (IPA Service)

The article November 5 Polls To Witness Closest Fight For White House Between Trump And Harris appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

When controversy and suspicion surround an innocuous sweet like Srivari Laddu sold by the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam, it does not stop there. It has gone much further in the past week and become a political weapon for Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandra Babu Naidu to beat his predecessor, Jagan Mohan Reddy. Other political parties like Congress and the BJP use it to their advantage. Some see it as a religious issue. Some others see it as a food quality issue. The spiritual leaders claim that Laddu is divine food and that contaminated Laddus should not be offered to the deity. The political row surrounding the Laddu highlights the delicate balance between politics, religion, food quality, and the public.

The delicious Laddus are made in pure ghee with sugar, cardamom, raisins, cashews and gram flour. Fourteen tons of cow ghee were used daily to make Laddu prasadam in a modernised kitchen. They are first offered to god and distributed to the devotees as the divine ‘prasad’. The Laddus also bring Rs 500 crores annually by selling them to the devotees.

Naidu seized the Laddu controversy to attack Jagan. He accused the Reddy government of allowing contaminated Laddu with beef fat in the ghee as prasad. He raised it at a celebration of the Modi government completing 100 days in his third term. TDP is part of the coalition government at the Centre.

Laddu came into focus in the sixties and seventies also. At that time, there were concerns about adding dalda vanaspati, a vegetable fat, to the gee. Shipments with this added fat were rejected, and the suppliers were blocked.

In another case, there was a dispute between two Vaishnavite groups about the tilak on Lord Venkateswara. The two groups apply different types of tilaks to Venkateshwara’s forehead. The top court ruled that both tilaks should be used, fifteen days each in a month.

The TDP won the Andhra Pradesh assembly elections in June this year.. Reddy’s YSRCP was trounced. After winning the assembly election, TDP used the Laddu issue as Naidu, claiming that the Jagan government’s cost-cutting measures led to the purchase of low-quality ghee, compromising the quality of the Tirumala Laddu. Naidu accused Jagan of neglect of Hindu religious practices during his regime. Significantly, Jagan and his late father and chief minister, Rajashekar Reddy, are Christians.

Reddy has refuted the allegations, claiming it was politically motivated. Jagan has complained to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Chandrababu was trying to settle political scores against him. The YSRCP also criticised Naidu and performed the purification ceremony. Jagan was denied permission to enter the temple for any penance.

The Laddu controversy has been blown out of proportion in the past week. Jagan did not find support from the other parties. Even Jagan’s sister Sharmila joined the Congress and became the Andhra Pradesh unit chief. She has taken the issue to the Andhra Pradesh governor and seeks a CBI inquiry.

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister, Naidu’s coalition partner, and a famous movie star, Pawan Kalyan, is taking up the issue on religious grounds. He has gone on an 11-day penance claiming the corrupted ghee was a grave offence. While Nadiu plays the political card, Kalyan plays the religious card, saying Sanathana Dharma should be protected.

The Laddu controversy has spread widely when the media, public figures and some political leaders have questioned the quality of Laddus. It has sparked nationwide outrage among seers and devotees. Unsurprisingly, other organisations like the VHP, a sister organisation of the BJP, the Ayodhya seers and other religious institutions have demanded a thorough enquiry. The Ayodhya and Puri Jagannath priests have sent their prasad for quality checkup.

The Laddu controversy has also led to demands that temples be freed from state control. This has come up now and then. But no government wants to let go of their massive temples for free.

On the legal side, Surjit Singh Yadav, President of Hindu Sena Samiti, has taken the issue to the Supreme Court, demanding a special Investigation team to go into the issue. The state government has also set up a committee. The Centre has asked the state to send a report.

Meanwhile, the TTD tried to contain the damage. It conducted a purification ritual and assured the devotees that Laddus were not contaminated. The issue is evolving and may take longer to resolve now that it has gone to court. It suits Babu and Modi to keep the issue burning. However, such a sensitive issue could go out of control and become a law and order problem if not checked.

The longer it remains, the more the risk of religious sensitivity looming. The controversy shows the need to balance politics, food and religion. Political and religious leaders must carefully consider how different segments of society will perceive their actions regarding spiritual matters. When faith is politicised, it becomes susceptible. Politicians must be vigilant not to make it an emotional issue. In any case, all stake holders are looking at the Supreme Court for verdict. (IPA Service)

The article Tirupathi Laddu Controversy Has Both Political And Religious Dimension appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent trip to the United States has provoked a war of words between the ruling BJP and the main opposition Congress in India. Should the Indian leaders refrain from badmouthing the ruling BJP while abroad? Is there a red line, and has Rahul crossed it while he was in the US? The BJP claims yes, and the Congress says no.

Gandhi has taken potshots at the Indian government and PM Modi. Congress claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also badmouthed the Congress not once but continuously since he took over in 2014 and visited over 80 countries. The Congress cites many examples. Also, the BJP has misrepresented Rahul’s statements.

Rahul aims to engage the Diaspora through programs with the Diaspora, students, officials, and lawmakers in the US, demonstrating the strategic nature of his approach.

Why does he want to woo the Diaspora? Modi also has never missed an opportunity to address the Diaspora in whichever country he visits. Rahul, too, wants to connect with the Indian American community. The influence of the Indian American community has increased. A decade ago, there was one Indian-American in the House of Representatives; now, there are five and one senator. The US has an Indian-origin Presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, and a vice-presidential candidate, JD Vance, who has an Indian wife.

Education, affluence and awareness of the influence in the past two decades are behind the rise of Indian Americans, whose population is one per cent, and their representation in US Congress is now one per cent.

Rahul commented on the RSS, India’s democracy, Modi’s China policy, and religious freedom in India, among other things. On the RSS, Gandhi said that the BJP’s parent organisation believes India is “one idea”, but the Congress considers it a “diversity of ideas. This criticism of the RSS, a critical ideological force behind the BJP, upset the BJP.

In India, the BJP slammed Rahul’s adverse comments and meeting with anti-India US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. The BJP claims that it can be used for anti-India propaganda. Gandhi counters that she was part of the lawmaker’s delegation, and how he could have declined to meet with the delegation.

Rahul noted that Indian democracy has struggled for the past ten years but is improving. He also observed that 90% of India’s population, including OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis, are not able to take an active part in the democratic process. This has upset the BJP.

While Rahul agreed with Modi’s policies on Pakistan and Bangladesh, he felt Modi’s China policy was flawed. Rahul pointed out,” We’ve got Chinese troops occupying land the size of Delhi in Ladakh. I think that’s a disaster.”

The BJP fielded top leaders to refute Rahul’s allegations, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh leading the response. He rubbished Rahul’s claim on China policy. He observed it was “extremely shameful” that the LOP is hurting the dignity of India by saying “misleading, baseless and factless things.”

Another controversial subject was the caste census. Rahul Gandhi supported the caste census and claimed that BJP was trying to end the reservation. Union Minister Amit Shah quickly responded that they would not allow anyone to abolish reservations or undermine the nation’s security. Countering his remarks about the status of Sikhs in India, Senior Minister Hardeep Puri said,’ I am a proud Sikh. I have been wearing a turban for over six decades and a kada for even longer…’

The BJP takes Rahul’s statements seriously, given that he is the LOP. His increased stature after leading the ‘Bharat Jodo’ yatra and the Leader of the Opposition cannot be wished away. Both the Congress and the BJP’s electoral fortunes have been fluctuating. The Congress continues to survive despite Modi’s vow to make India Congress-Mukth Bharat. In the 2024 elections, much to the dismay of the BJP, Congress doubled its number.

Second, after the 2024 polls, the opposition coalition INDIA was strengthened. The BJP had to form the government with the help of allies.

Third, Rahul visited the US before Modi’s scheduled visit on September 22. His trip was well received, which did not please the BJP. But Modi also would have a grand welcome at the official and the community levels in USA during his visit to US next week.

At the end of his visit, Rahul clarified, “The fight for democracy in India is an Indian fight. It has nothing to do with anybody else. It’s our problem. And we’ll take care of it. We will make sure that democracy is secure.” This clarification prevented the idea that he was inviting a foreign power to resolve Indian problems.

There is some merit in the BJP saying dirty linen should not be wasted abroad. On an earlier occasion, foreign minister S. Jaishankar said, “I don’t think taking national politics out of the country is in the national interest.” But this is good for both sides, and both should follow it. (IPA Service)

The article BJP Leadership Is Rattled At Rahul’s Success In Wooing Indian Diaspora In USA appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Who will emerge victorious in Haryana’s upcoming assembly polls? Will the ruling BJP retain the state, or will the resurgent Congress seize the opportunity to win? The nation is watching as the results of the impending polls in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Jammu, and Kashmir will shape these states’ future and significantly impact the national political landscape.

Haryana is gearing up for a diverse, multi-cornered contest with 90 seats. The main competition is between the BJP and the Congress. Still, other parties like AAP, Samajwadi Party, CPI(M),CPI and Haryana Lokhit Party are also in the field, adding diversity to the electoral dynamics.

The BJP, JJP, and Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) have allied with Dushyant Chautala as their chief ministerial candidate. At the same time, the INLD and BSP have chosen Abhay Singh Chautala as theirs.

The BJP and Congress have not declared their chief ministerial faces, but former chief minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda is leading the battle for Congress. The new BJP chief minister, Nayab Singh Saini, is leading the BJP.

Both parties are facing internal problems. In the case of the BJP, Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala and MLA Lakshman Dass Napa left the party after being denied tickets. Other prominent figures and district leaders resigned after not being considered for tickets.

During seat-sharing discussions with its coalition partner AAP, Congress leaders in Haryana, including Hooda, are willing to concede only a few seats.

The Congress, led by former chief minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda, is optimistic about returning to power after a ten-year gap. The party is strategically wooing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Samajwadi Party for an alliance. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is facing allegations of involvement in a liquor scam.

The Haryana polls are crucial. The BJP wants a third term, while the Congress aims to regain power. Other regional parties are also vying for a share of power. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won all ten seats. In 2024, it only secured five seats, with the Congress taking the other five. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP, lacking the majority, formed the government with the help of JD(U) and Telugu Desam.

Before 2014, the BJP was a minor player in Haryana. Only after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections the party gained momentum. In 2019, the BJP formed a government with 40 seats, just six short of the majority, Dushyant Chautala’s Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), which won ten seats, supported the BJP. However, JJP recently ended its alliance with the BJP.

In Haryana, the BJP’s vote share decreased from 58.2% in 2019 to 46.11% in 2024. This was mainly due to the farmers demanding a legal minimum support price (MSP) guarantee. In 2024, the INDIA bloc, a coalition of regional parties and Congress surpassed the BJP’s vote share.

In March, BJP replaced Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini. The new Chief Minister has introduced welfare schemes, promised to fill government job vacancies, and aims to leverage the Jat issue. However, the BJP does not have Jat’s support. Also, Saini’s short six-month tenure has limited his impact.

The Congress is upbeat after doubling its Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Congress focuses on joblessness, inflation, farmer’s issues, and the controversial Agniveer scheme. The party is preparing its manifesto based on public suggestions, which includes welfare schemes like a Rs 6,000 pension for old-age people and 300 units of free electricity. The party also counts on 452,000 first-time voters and 4.09 million young voters.

Congress aims to unite the opposition votes, while the BJP seeks to divide them strategically. AAP has some influence in border areas of Haryana. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is trying to keep the INDIA coalition intact. The AAP has agreed to fight in five seats, according to latest indications.

There are rumblings in the Congress, too. The Congress is facing factional fights. It is divided into two groups led by Hooda and Kumari Selja. The party tries to satisfy both factions, but Hooda holds more influence because of his previous role as chief minister. Turncoats and relatives of former chief ministers are in the Congress list of candidates.

The BJP is facing a tough battle in Haryana. Current polls indicate that the party may win fewer seats. BJP’s weaknesses are the absence of strong leadership at the state level and a compelling counter-narrative against the Opposition charges. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who leads the party’s campaigns, has not addressed any election rallies yet.

The Congress must work doing away with complacency, internal conflicts, and boost organisation. The BJP faced rebellion after the candidate list was announced, and some influential people like Ranjit left the party. Too many ticket aspirants could diminish the party’s prospects.

Ultimately, the arithmetic will determine Congress’s victory. Also, the unity of the INDIA coalition is essential. If lucky, the BJP may minimise damage by securing a respectable number of seats, leading to a strong opposition Congress should avoid mistakes and take everybody along. Otherwise, it will miss a golden opportunity. (IPA Service)

The article Congress Is Upbeat Before Haryana Assembly Polls Against Ruling BJP appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

The Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi, formerly the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, sets itself apart from other declining political parties. Led by the ambitious K. Chandrasekhar Rao, or KCR, the party’s national expansion has been marked by setbacks, including its failure to retain power in Telangana. This fate is shared by many political parties and their leaders, as most eventually fade away after holding power at a state or national level.

The downslide continued as BRS suffered a significant and sudden setback with no Lok Sabha seat in 2024. Despite having around Rs 1,000 crore in party funds, KCR’s hopes of national expansion were dashed.

Rao renamed his party B.R.S. in 2022, dropping the word Telangana, and KCR opened branches in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Those units are defunct now. This is a stark example of how the political landscape can change instantly. Having lost power in the 2023 Assembly elections to the Congress, which has been in the wilderness for the past ten years, the B.R.S. is now facing a significant struggle for survival.

The B.R.S. has no representation in the Lok Sabha for the first time. The party, which dominated Telangana politics for about two decades and ruled the state for almost a decade, was voted out of the Lok Sabha in 2024. Also, just last week, B.R.S. received a further setback. BRS MLA A. Gandhi defected to the ruling Congress, which reflects the party’s decline. The Congress now boasts 75 M.L.A.s, including 65 from Congress, one from C.P.I., and nine former B.R.S. members.

In 2001, KCR made a historic decision to resign from the Telugu Desam Party (T.D.P.). He believed that creating a separate state was the only way to end the discrimination in the Telangana region, sparking a demand for separation. T.R.S. was formed to achieve separate Telangana, a seemingly impossible regional objective. He was 47 at the time. T.D.P. was the second-largest party in the National Democratic Alliance.

In 2004, the T.R.S. joined forces with the Congress and secured five Lok Sabha seats. Following this, KCR was appointed the Union Minister for Labour and Employment in the United Progressive Alliance (U.P.A.) government, headed by U.P.A. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. He continued his struggle inside and outside Parliament. In 2009, he initiated a hunger strike to demand the introduction of the Telangana Bill in Parliament. After a few days, the Centre conceded to his demands.

Shortly before the 2014 election, the U.P.A. Government announced the formation of Telangana state. The T.R.S. performed well in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, winning 11 seats, its highest tally. However, it lost power to the Congress in the 2023 Assembly polls. On December 9, 2022, T.R.S. was officially renamed B.R.S., indicating KCR’s intention to pursue national ambitions.

Now that the B.R.S. has failed to win even a single Lok Sabha seat in the state and its vote share has dropped to only 16.69%, the party faces a genuine existential crisis. The B.R.S. lost power last year, with just 35 seats in the Assembly. The B.R.S Chief struggled to keep the party together during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It could not implement plans to field candidates in other states.

KCR’s attempt to establish a dynastic rule by appointing his son, nephew, and daughter to significant positions has been a point of contention. It was seen as a deviation from the party’s founding principles and a sign of increasing autocracy. Secondly, like many dictatorial leaders, Rao failed to develop a second tier of leadership, which is an asset for any political leader except promoting his family.

Thirdly, KCR, who rose to power through agitation and protests, steadily withdrew from public spaces. His inaccessibility and his aversion to media have significantly contributed to the disconnect between him and his leaders and workers. Rao surrounded himself with people who lacked substance and only praised him. As a result, he could not see the reality and fell into the trap of his sycophants, who presented false facts.

Unlike Chandrababu, who had the backing of the Kamma community, KCR lacks support from any caste group except Velamas, a small group. This political isolation is a significant factor in his decline. Fifthly, there were allegations of corruption. His daughter Kavitha is now in jail for alleged corruption in the Delhi liquor case.

Sixthly, instead of concentrating on the state, KCR began dabbling in national politics and went around the Opposition-ruled states with a naked ambition of becoming Prime Minister. But he failed. This wavering resulted in B.R.S. unable to form the government in the 2024 polls. Seventhly, he thought he and his party were unbeatable and would continue to rule Telangana indefinitely like many other tinpot dictators. Eighthly, B.R.S. faced defections. However, he also induced defections when he was the chief minister.

KCR has now joined a group of once-influential leaders such as Sharad Pawar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Edappadi Palaniswamy, Deve Gowda, Mayawati, Uddhav Thackeray, and others who have previously held power but are now struggling. In politics, it’s like playing a game of snakes and ladders. (IPA Service)

The article KCR: Yet Another Once-Influential Leader Struggling For Relevance appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

The recent results of by-elections for 13 seats in seven states are essential for understanding what people think of the major political parties. More than a month after the 2024 elections, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi won a third term, the INDIA bloc’s significant victory in securing ten of the 13 seats has shifted the country’s politics. This positive result for the INDIA bloc could weaken the ruling coalition’s power in the coming battles.

The BJP won 240 seats in 2024 Lok Sabha polls but fell short of the 272-majority mark .. As a result, the party had to seek the support of NDA allies, which could influence its policy decisions and lead to compromises to maintain the coalition. This situation raises concerns about the government’s stability. A boost to the Opposition could create unpredictability within the ruling coalition.

The dependence on allies could sway the BJP’s policy decisions. The BJP may have to compromise on specific issues to maintain the coalition. There is also a shadow of uncertainty over the government’s stability. A substantial boost to the Opposition can shift the balance of power and create a sense of unease and unpredictability in the ruling coalition.

The Election Commission conducts the by-polls when a legislative seat becomes vacant. There could be many reasons for a vacant seat. It could be death, resignation, disqualification, or expulsion of a sitting member.

Elections are held to fill empty seats when a member of Parliament resigns or dies. Only voters from the area can vote, and there is no party vote. On Wednesday, by-elections were held for 13 assembly seats in Punjab (1), Himachal Pradesh (3), Uttarakhand (2), West Bengal (4), Madhya Pradesh (1), Bihar (1), and Tamil Nadu (1). The Congress, TMC, AAP, and DMK are some of the parties that put forward candidates in the by-elections to test their strength.

The INDIA bloc’s win significantly boosted the Opposition. They have been a crucial test for the INDIA bloc as it faced the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the first electoral battle after the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The regional chieftains in the Opposition performed exceptionally well. Trinamool Congress, a key player in the INDIA bloc, secured all four seats in Bengal, a significant victory.

At the same time, the surging Congress won two seats each in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, further strengthening its position in these states. The DMK won one seat, and AAP captured Jalandhar West. These diverse outcomes hint at potential shifts in power dynamics, adding a layer of uncertainty to the current political scenario. Also, the BJP securing only two seats and an independent candidate winning in Bihar add a layer of complexity.

Typically, the party in power wins the bye-election seat. The TMC, DMK, Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party controlled their states. For the TMC, the results were a shot in the arm just a month after it had bagged 29 parliamentary seats, up from 22 in 2019.The TMC got three assembly seats in districts by defeating the BJP in the seats which the saffron won in 2021 assembly polls. The TMC increased its vote share in all the seats thereby indicating that the party is surging further putting BJP far behind and marginalizing the CPI(M) which ruled Bengal for 34 years.

In Uttarakhand and Bihar, things were different. The candidates from the ruling parties – BJP and JD(U) – lost. Congress won two out of the three by-elections in Himachal. After the results, the party has 40 members again in the 68-member house. This will bring stability to our government.

Bye-elections are a crucial test for political parties and their popularity. Parties gauge public sentiment and assess their support base. They often use by-elections to test campaign strategies, influencing future elections. If the ruling party wins seats in the by-election, it could increase its overall number of seats and have more influence on the government’s stability and decision-making.

The BJP still needs to improve its performance despite investigating the reasons for its low number of seats in the Lok Sabha elections. This raises questions and potential strains within the party. There are speculations about a possible strain between the RSS and the BJP, which could negatively affect the RSS’s support for the party, adding to tension and uncertainty in the ruling coalition.

The strong performance of the INDIA bloc shows that power dynamics may be shifting. Despite their differences, this success is because the opposition parties continued to work together. Some analysts think that both factors led to their success. The Opposition’s strong showing could weaken the ruling coalition’s power and strengthen the Opposition’s position.

The future is difficult to predict at this stage. Winning and losing are part of the game in a democracy. The impact of these events will be more precise in the upcoming assembly polls in Maharashtra , Haryana and Jharkhand later this year. The INDIA bloc’s strong showing in the by-elections could strengthen the Opposition’s position in these forthcoming assembly polls. They will help determine whether the Opposition gains strength or weakens. (IPA Service)

The article INDIA Bloc’s Sweep In Bypolls Sends Ominous Signal To NDA Before Assembly Polls appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

U.S. President Joe Biden’s underwhelming performance in the 2024 presidential debate last week raised concerns due to his apparent fatigue, forgetfulness, and confusion. This has caused uncertainty among supporters despite Biden’s attempts to reassure them in the post-debate period. Even last week, during a speech in Madison, Wisconsin, he initially said he would “beat Donald Trump again in 2020” before correcting himself to “2024,” which added to the uncertainty.

According to the Spanish newspaper El Pais, Biden has defended himself about three things. First, his support stayed pretty much the same after the debate. Secondly, most party voters want him to continue. The last point is that other options are not better.

President Biden has demonstrated resilience in the face of pressure to step down. He confidently declared at a rally in Madison that he would run and win again, which cheered his supporters and reassured some doubters within the party.

President Biden’s improved performance in his public appearances post-debate has the potential to significantly reshape his chances in the upcoming election and the prospects of the Democratic Party. This shift in dynamics could bring a sense of hope and anticipation to the party.

Next month, the Democratic Party will nominate President Biden as its 2024 Presidential candidate in a virtual convention. This event will officially confirm Biden’s candidacy and establish the party’s campaign strategy.

If Biden stays in the race, it will be tough for any other candidate to win the Democratic nomination. This is because the party rules give Biden a big advantage. These rules include specific guidelines for delegate allocation and influence. of super delegates.

If Biden were to resign, who would take his place? With only four months before the 2024 election, finding the right person takes a lot of work. This shows how serious the situation is.

Kamala Harris, the current Vice President and Joe Biden’s running mate, is the top contender for the upcoming presidential election. Many believe that she has the advantage. However, her lack of popularity could be a significant challenge, as 49% of Americans disapprove of her according to polling averages. Republicans hope Harris will become the Democratic presidential nominee, believing it will benefit Trump’s campaign. The Trump campaign has launched an ad with the slogan: “This November, vote Republican. Stop Kamala.”

A recent poll by Reuters/Ipsos showed that Michelle Obama could win against Trump in November. However, Michelle has repeatedly said she does not aspire to be President, so it’s doubtful she will run.

Several names are being floated to replace President Biden. This includes at least six governors: Gavin Newsom from California, Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan, Josh Shapiro from Pennsylvania, J. B. Pritzker from Illinois, and Ro Khanna, a representative from California. Each of these potential candidates has their strengths and weaknesses. For instance, Gavin Newsom is the favourite. Their potential to run for office would have different effects on the Democratic Party and the upcoming election.

After the debate, polls from CNN, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal showed that Biden is six points behind Trump in the country. Biden is also trailing in the most crucial states he won in 2020 elections.. Furthermore, other states he won—Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Virginia—now seem uncertain. In 2020, four months before the election, Biden was 9 points ahead in the polls. However, he eventually won the election with 51.25% of the popular vote, compared to Trump’s 46.8%. This data suggests Biden may face a more challenging race in 2024 than 2020.

When asked whether he could run the country for another term, he told ABC in a recent interview. “I believe so; I wouldn’t be running ‘ if I didn’t think I did. Look, I’m running’ again because I believe I understand best what has to be done to take this nation to a completely new level. We’re on our way.”

Polls reveal that voters are more concerned about whether the 81-year-old President could manage another four years in the White House than his 78-year-old rival.. Biden needs to be more competent to win in November.

Biden was confident when he said, “If the Lord Almighty came down and said, ‘Joe, get out of the race,’ I’d get out of the race,” but added, “The Lord Almighty’s not coming down.” So, it is up to God Almighty to go down and ask him to keep out of the race. Trump quietly observes Biden’s challenging position.

India has had a good rapport with both Trump and Biden. There is also bipartisan support. Therefore, it is unlikely that their South Asia and India policies will change, given the growing economic influence of India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also has a good rapport with both of them.

Biden is facing challenges as he moves toward November. 5. Trump has raised a lot of money and still has support from his party despite some court decisions going against him. Both candidates are trying to harm each other’s reputation. Elections are unpredictable, especially with four months to go. Anything can happen. (IPA Service)

The article For Democratic Party, It Is Too Late To Replace Joe Biden As Prez Candidate appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Amidst a flurry of speculation and anticipation, the Congress party has made a strategic and significant move by fielding Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi in the by-elections in Wayanad. This seat became available after her brother Rahul Gandhi decided to retain Rae Bareily and step down from the Wayanad, both of which he had won. If successful, it could be a game-changer for Priyanka, her party and Indian politics. It has sparked excitement and scepticism among the public and political class.

“I am glad to represent Wayanad and will ensure the people don’t feel Rahul Gandhi’s absence,” she said when her candidacy was announced. “I chose to run in Wayanad to continue my family’s political legacy and the Gandhis’ presence in the South. My grandmother, Indira Gandhi, had a strong connection with the people of Wayanad, and I hope to build on that.”

Rahul and his mother, Sonia, led the Congress party for many years and served as MPs. The upcoming Wayanad elections will be a critical test for Priyanka, as this will be her first litmus test. The entire nation, including the BJP, will closely observe her performance.

Born into a political family, Priyanka has actively participated in her mother’s election campaigns. She also campaigned for her brother when he entered politics in 2004.

In 2014 and 2019, there were rumours that Priyanka might contest against Narendra Modi from Varanasi. Before the 2024 elections, she stated that the party aimed to avoid fielding three Gandhis to counter the BJP’s criticism of dynastic rule.

The Gandhis changed their mind, seeing the 2024 polls as an excellent opportunity for Congress. They decided it was the perfect time to introduce Priyanka to electoral politics as a Kerala Congress MP. It is a safe seat.

Priyanka, who resembles her grandmother, Indira Gandhi, has been in the spotlight since entering politics in 2019. She became the general secretary of the Congress party and played a vital role in the party’s campaign. Priyanka is credited with nearly doubling Congress’s count in the 2024 election and rejuvenating the party.

In Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi struggled to make an impact. She wasn’t held accountable when Congress performed poorly in the 2022 assembly polls under her watch. She had messed up Punjab during the Assembly polls. However, her extensive campaigning in Himachal Pradesh was credited for the success of the Congress party in the state assembly elections.

In 2024, Priyanka decided not to run for Lok Sabha elections, focusing on nationwide party campaigning. She held 108 public meetings, participated in roadshows, and campaigned in 16 states and one union territory.

The decision to contest from Wayanad presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities for Priyanka. On the one hand, she may face attacks from the BJP on the issue of dynasty politics, a hurdle she must navigate with tact and resilience. On the other hand, it gives her a golden opportunity to prove herself and connect with a new constituency, a chance she must seize with determination.

The Wayanad constituency, located in North Kerala, has a voter base of 1.46 million. It has consistently elected Congress MPs in the past four elections, indicating a solid support for the party. The constituency also enjoys broad support for the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), with Muslims and Christians comprising about 60 per cent of the voters. IUML will back Priyanka.

If Priyanka wins, all three members of the Gandhi family will be in the Indian Parliament. This could strengthen the family’s position within the party but will also invite attacks from opponents.

In Indian politics, Priyanka’s candidacy in Kerala is a strategic move by the Congress party to strengthen its support base in the South, potentially reshaping its regional dynamics.

The Congress party acknowledges the importance of the South and aims to strengthen its presence there. Rahul will focus on the North, while Priyanka may concentrate on the South. Her potential win could bolster the party’s position in the region.

There is more to it, as Priyanka’s husband, Robert Vadra, also wants to join politics. He said Priyanka should be in Parliament before him, and he could follow her at a suitable time.

The move shields the Congress from criticism for neglecting the South. Priyanka’s candidacy from Wayanad is part of the party’s mission in the South to leverage anti-incumbency in Kerala for the 2026 assembly polls.

Priyanka has advantages – she is well-known and has a strong command of Hindi. However, her husband, Robert Vadra, is seen as a liability due to legal issues.

If elected to Parliament, Priyanka should strive to become a good parliamentarian. Similarly, the two Gandhi siblings must strengthen the organization and return the party to its former glory. Wayanad has been loyal to Rahul and would support Priyanka. (IPA Service)

The article Priyanka Contesting From Wayanad Is Linked To The Congress Strategy On South appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

The swearing-in of Nara Chandrababu Naidu as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister was a significant event for Naidu personally, and to his party and for Indian politics, too. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top BJP leaders witnessed the 74-year-old politician taking the oath for the fourth time, marking a significant political comeback. Despite being marginalised in state and national politics for over two decades, Naidu is grateful. He has once again proven that one should never underestimate a politician until he is out of the game.

The triumphant return of Naidu as the Chief Minister, along with the Telugu Desam Party as the second largest group in Modi’s NDA government at the Centre, signifies a shift in power dynamics.

A year ago, Chandrababu’s predecessor, Jagan Mohan Reddy, was comfortably placed to win another term. Then, because the opposition was divided, Pawan Kalyan was not with the TDP, and the BJP was still deciding whether to let the TDP join the NDA coalition again. Babu was accused of corruption, and TDP workers felt disheartened.

Several factors contributed to Naidu’s comeback. Apart from the anti-incumbency sentiment, the caste coalition of Pawan Kalyan’s Janasena, the BJP, and the TDP played a crucial role. Jagan’s neglect of infrastructure and agriculture also negatively affected the people, further contributing to Naidu’s resurgence.

Naidu has been a survivor. He started his political career as a junior minister in 1978 and has since held various positions in the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). He has served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh multiple times, overseeing significant development projects and facing political controversies. Throughout it all, Naidu kept his unwavering spirit.

Naidu has announced that the 2024 election will be his last, a move intended to emotionally appeal to voters while grooming his son Lokesh as his successor. This strategic decision could significantly impact the Naidu dynasty’s future in Andhra Pradesh politics.

At first, Babu stayed in the shadows of his father-in-law and Telugu Desam chief N T Rama Rao, but eventually became Indispensable. He gained valuable experience and insights into national politics during the National Front and United Front governments. His Party was part of the V P Singh, Devegowda, I K Gujral, and Vajpayee governments, signifying that no party was untouchable.

Naidu and his party have had a fluctuating relationship with various central governments. However, their current participation in the Modi government is particularly notable. With TDP’s support for the Modi government, Naidu is in a position to negotiate and advocate for the interests of Andhra Pradesh.

As for the state, Babu has become the state’s CEO again. As Chief Minister, Naidu rubbed shoulders with tech giants like Bill Gates in his earlier terms. He brought investment opportunities to Hyderabad and transformed it into Cyberabad. He secured funding for infrastructure from agencies like the World Bank and developed Hyderabad overall. However, the mistake was that he should have focused on developing other parts of the state.

In his fourth term, Naidu should avail the opportunity to bring back the importance of Andhra Pradesh, once the country’s rice bowl. Naidu’s top priority is securing additional funds for Andhra Pradesh, which is a crucial step towards the state’s development.

Naidu’s vision for Andhra Pradesh’s development includes reviving long pending irrigation projects like the Polavaram project to boost the state’s agricultural sector. With his party’s support, Naidu is determined to maximise the state’s resources and drive development.

“We are not negotiating on the composition of the Narendra Modi cabinet when it comes to state interests,” was his response to a question about the TDP securing only one cabinet minister and one Minister of State in the Modi cabinet. However, the TDP still hopes to secure more positions during the next expansion.

The second important task is to build the Andhra Pradesh state capital, Amaravati. His predecessor, Jagan Mohan Reddy, suspended this ambitious project during his two terms. Now that Babu is back in charge, he aims to complete Amaravati. He will put pressure on the Centre to secure funds for building the capital, and various new projects, as well as fund his six welfare schemes. Being a showman, he would like to project Amaravathi as a model capital.

The state is facing a severe financial crisis. There is a significant shortage of funds, with a total debt of around Rs 14 lakh crores, including Rs 12 lakh crore borrowed from various sources and pending bills of Rs 1.5 lakh crore.

During his four decades of political career, Naidu, aged 74, has proved himself a survivor. He was much ahead of his time in his first and second terms. He projected himself as a forward-thinking, pro-technology, and tech-savvy Chief Minister.

The atmosphere is excellent, as Naidu has the comfort of a kingmaker. Being part of the Modi government gives him a chance to share power. He has no opposition in the Assembly, with YSRCP reduced to just 11 seats.

The TDP needs to address the issue of reservations for Muslims. This topic could lead to conflicts with the BJP. Naidu’s positive relationship with Modi is expected to last a year, after which they could pressure the Modi government on this issue. Additionally, the TDP must resolve the corruption case as Naidu is currently out on bail. His conduct in his fourth term is crucial for his future and that of his son Lokesh. (IPA Service)

The article Chandrababu Naidu Makes A Significant Difference To Modi’s NDA Govt appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

The NDA coalition government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just taken office, and it’s too early to predict how it will perform, even whether it will run its five-year term. It is common knowledge that India has a messy history of multi-party governments. Late BJP leader Atal Behari Vajpayee also ran an alliance of 24 parties from 1998 to 2004. India’s experience with coalition governments has been somewhat tumultuous.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won a third term, which is a significant personal achievement also. But the BJP only got 240 of the required 272 seats to govern independently. Modi now leads a coalition government with the other parties of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). His government’s future depends on these allies and Modi is too smart a politician not to understand what the situation requires of him.

The NDA is an alliance of centre-right parties led by the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party. The allies secured 43 seats in the recent elections, bringing the NDA’s total to 283 seats, 11 more than the required number to form the government. This is a new situation for Modi. As a leader who believed in centralizing power, forming a coalition government challenges Modi’s authority.

This could significantly alter the course of his political agenda, potentially resulting in a greater emphasis on policies that appeal to the varied coalition partners rather than suit the BJP’s agenda alone. The formation of the NDA coalition government could lead to a shift in priorities.

There might be greater emphasis on the coalition’s policies and a potential moderation of Modi’s religious nationalist agenda. This could have far-reaching implications for India’s political and social fabric.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, now in his third term, is expected to continue his policies on economic reform, national security, and social welfare. Yet, he faces the extra challenge of managing a diverse coalition. Dealing with coalition partners and running the Parliament may be difficult as he faces a more influential and authoritative opposition.

In his third term, Modi faces several challenges. There are questions about the extent of his authority, particularly as the BJP has lost its majority. New political dynamics have emerged, with the party’s primary NDA allies now playing pivotal roles in the ruling coalition. The shift can be attributed to various factors, including regional political dynamics.

The first major hurdle was forming the government, which required him to navigate the complexities of coalition politics. Continuing his assertive and independent political style may take time and effort.

The next step is allocating portfolios that are satisfactory to his allies. Both Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu are tough negotiators and will demand important portfolios. Smaller allies will also assert their influence in shaping the government’s policies and decisions by overseeing key ministries.

The main point is to keep the NDA together. Rumours suggest the INDIA coalition wanted to lure the JD(U) and TDP to its fold and form its own government. This move failed, but it could lead to a realignment of political forces, tilting the balance of power within the coalition. Whether Modi’s NDA allies will remain loyal or undermine his rule is in the realm of speculation and the “million-dollar question”. The uncertainty rooted in the history of key allies’ unreliability needs to be watched.

Some of the BJP’s key allies, such as the TDP, Shiv Sena, AIADMK, and Akali Dal, had ended their partnerships in the past decade. In 2018, the TDP left the alliance because Andhra Pradesh didn’t receive special category status. Now, the TDP and JD(U) are back with the BJP. Modi will have to take care not to alienate Telugu Desam Party and Janata Dal (United).

Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, with 28 seats between them, are the “kingmakers.” They have long advocated for special status for their respective states and are known for their slippery character.

Nitish Kumar, known as ‘Paltu Kumar’ for his frequent flip-flops, ended his partnership with the BJP in 2014 over the issue of the BJP declaring Modi the prime ministerial candidate. He later joined the NDA and again broke with the BJP in 2022 to form the government with the RJD. This year, he again returned to the NDA fold.

Due to coalition politics and a weakened mandate, passing laws for the government’s ambitious reform plans may take time and effort. Despite not having a majority, the opposition will have enough members in the parliamentary committees to prevent the passing of controversial bills. This means that Modi’s ability to push the BJP’s agenda forward will be challenged. Important policies such as the ‘Uniform Civil Code’ and ‘One Nation, One Election’ could be delayed, potentially slowing down policy-making and leading to a rethinking on the government’s reform chart.

Changes in political alliances wouldn’t be surprising. Modi may focus on changing his minority government into a majority over the next two or three years. But, initially, it will be a tightrope walk to balance power. (IPA Service)

The post Modi’s ‘NDA Govt’ Starts Third Term, Reined In By Coalition Politics first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article Modi’s ‘NDA Govt’ Starts Third Term, Reined In By Coalition Politics appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

After the seven-phase elections, the June 1 exit polls indicate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely win big. The INDIA block, a coalition of regional parties, also competed, but its chances were slim. The results on January 4 will reveal the actual winner.

Election results often surprise. In 2004, the U.P.A. formed the government even though the B.J.P.’s “India Shining” campaign created a big hype and exit polls predicted BJP victory.

Regardless of the outcome, the winning party and the Opposition bloc will face challenges. Modi has claimed that his last ten years in office have been the appetizer, andthe main meal will come in his third term. Modi stated, “Wait for bigger decisions in the third term. I’m already working on a roadmap that will be completed soon.”

Modi’s aspiration for a third term is not just about securing his legacy across all sectors. It’s a daring attempt to surpass Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s three-term record. However, this ambitious pursuit has challenges, including public opinion and internal party dynamics that could significantly influence the political landscape.

While Modi’s previous terms have seen significant achievements, his ‘Modi 3.0′ government will not be without its challenges. These include navigating the post-pandemic recovery, addressing social unrest, managing foreign policy issues, and meeting the diverse expectations of the electorate.

Modi has an unfinished agenda of B.J.P.’s core issues. This means implementing a Uniform Civil Code,’ one nation-one poll ‘, propelling India to become the third largest economy and continuing to make essential changes to land and labour policies.

Over the past three months, the Modi government has been working on a ‘125-day plan’ for the next phase of governance. Initially, the plan was for 100 days, but it was extended by another 25 days, with a focus on the youth. The agenda is expected to cover 50 to 70 key objectives and will set out the direction and priorities of the new government.

Modi might discredit his opponents and potentially break up the INDIA coalition, which could significantly change India’s political landscape.

Modi wants to simultaneously hold all elections in the country, from local to national, which he calls ‘one nation, one poll.’ This change could make the electoral system more efficient and organized, but it could also concentrate power in the hands of the ruling party and reduce the frequency of elections.

Modi has already laid the groundwork for this proposal. A committee under former president Ramnath Kovind’s leadership has suggested holding Lok Sabha and all state elections together.

However, the delimitation exercise involves redrawing the boundaries of parliamentary and assembly constituencies. The decennial census must be completed before that.

The delimitation could have significant political implications, especially for the Southern states. An affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court stated that the delimitation is expected to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 888 and Rajya Sabha seats from 250 to 384. Modi has ensured that there will be enough seating in the new Parliament building.

The South’s population control policy has led to a decrease in its population, potentially resulting in a loss of at least 100 seats for Southern states in the delimitation process. This could create a North-South divide, causing contention among regional parties in the South.

The B.J.P. is pushing for a Uniform Civil Code applicable to all citizens of India, regardless of religion. Uttarakhand, governed by the B.J.P., is taking steps to implement it, and other BJP-ruled states will soon follow. However, this raises concerns about potential social disruption and backlash from religious communities.

During the campaign, the Opposition expressed concerns that the B.J.P. might change the Constitution to remove the word ‘secular.’ A Modi government with a substantial majority could alter the Preamble and eliminate the terms’ socialist’ and ‘secular’ added by the 42nd Amendment.

Modi aims to make India the world’s third-largest economy through ‘Viksit Bharat’, prioritizing manufacturing, technology, infrastructure, and clean energy. However, funding, implementation, and public acceptance challenges could impact its success and the Indian political landscape.

There is a slim chance that the INDIA coalition might surprise everyone and improve. Despite being hamstrung by arrests and other crackdowns, the Opposition mustered its most united front in years. Still, exit polls indicated it could not cut into the B.J.P.’s parliamentary majority. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claims that the Opposition bloc will get more than 272 seats and will choose the PM candidate in 48 hours.

If the INDIA coalition manages to form a government despite the odds, it could herald a significant shift in India’s political landscape. It would face challenges, such as selecting a Prime Minister and executing its ambitious plans.

Elections have resulted in surprises and upsets before. India’s stability lies in its ability to transition power smoothly. The outcome will be known on June 4, when the winner is announced. To fortify its democracy, India requires a stable government and strong Opposition. (IPA Service)

The post Narendra Modi Has His Plans Ready For Next Five Years If BJP Wins Lok Sabha Polls first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article Narendra Modi Has His Plans Ready For Next Five Years If BJP Wins Lok Sabha Polls appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

The convincing victory of the JMM-Congress coalition in Jharkhand assembly on February 5 amidst allegations about BJP’s poaching reports, is a big boost to the INDIA bloc in the present political atmosphere in the country. Chief Minister Champai Soren has now the tough task to run a government for the welfare of the people, especially tribals while doing away with corruption in administration.

Jharkhand has been going through political unrest since its establishment in 2000. Therefore, it is no surprise that it is faced another crisis and political turmoil in the past few days.

The State had a tumultuous political history. It has witnessed eleven chief ministers in the last two decades, with the twelfth appointment being Champai Soren; on Friday, Hemant Soren, the previous chief minister, was interrogated for seven hours at his official residence and was subsequently forced to resign, resulting in a crisis.

Corruption and defection have led to instability in the State. In the past, several former Chief Ministers resigned due to corruption. It was not surprising when Hemant Soren was arrested, as he knew it was coming sooner or later.

Unfortunately, the crisis occurred at a crucial time, raising several issues. These include the uncertainty surrounding the newly formed Opposition Forum I.N.D.I.A. It could hurt adversely the outcome of the 2024 elections, which are scheduled for April-May. Additionally, why small states are experiencing political instability should also be investigated.

Jharkhand has had political instability and Maoist violence since it was formed. In contrast, Chattisgarh, created simultaneously, has been relatively politically stable. Jharkhand is blessed with plenty of natural resources. Still, its people have been struggling with poverty and underdevelopment due to frequent changes in government. This has caused problems for the State’s development over time.

Jharkhand has had 11 Chief Ministers since 2000, with most having brief tenures. Only Raghubir Das, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (B.J.P.), completed a full five-year term from 2014 to 2019.

After Hemant Soren resigned, Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan delayed Champai Soren’s swearing-in ceremony, causing tensions in Jharkhand. The State was left without a Chief Minister for more than 48 hours. However, Champai Soren, a committed Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party member and the former State Transport Minister, was finally sworn in as the new Chief Minister on Friday. Champai Soren is one of the founding members of the party, along with Hemant Soren’s father, Shibu Soren. Hemant chose Champai Soren as his successor not only for his loyalty but also for his competence and dedication to the party.

Just forming smaller states is no guarantee for better lives, as evidenced by Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand, all created in 2000.

The Jharkhand Assembly has 81 members. A government can form with 41 members. The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance has 47 members, B.J.P. has 25, and A.J.S.U. has three members. The remaining seats are shared by the NCP, a Left party, and three independent members.

The JMM-led alliance was concerned about the Bharatiya Janata Party destabilizing their government by luring their members away. As a precaution, the M.L.A.s were taken to a safe place until the new chief minister took the oath. Defection problems have plagued the political system; resort politics is another issue that needs attention.

The opposition coalition I.N.D.I.A has faced a setback after instability in Jharkhand. The cracks in the alliance have become more evident due to a lack of unity within the I.N.D.I.A. group. Nitish Kumar’s departure from the party, followed by Mamata Banerjee’s announcement that her T.M.C. party will contest in all seats in West Bengal, and A.A.P.’s decision to run independently in Punjab, has posed a severe threat to the unity of the group. The strained relationship between the Congress and Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh has further worsened the situation.

The Opposition accuses the Modi government of investigating several leaders from the Opposition. These include Delhi’s CM Arvind Kejriwal, Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan, NCP’s Sharad Pawar, Hemant Soren, D.M.K.’s Stalin and the Congress.

Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee established three smaller states by dividing larger ones: Chhattisgarh from Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand from Bihar, and Uttarakhand from Uttar Pradesh. The main goal was to promote development in these regions. However, two decades later, these states are still experiencing instability and a lack of development. The mere creation of a smaller state is no guarantee for better lives.

The time has come to assess whether smaller states have achieved their intended purpose. There may be better options for the people. Smaller assemblies can cause instability as M.L.A.s switch sides. In smaller states, elections often prioritize local issues, dividing representation among smaller parties and regional leaders who act independently. It can have unintended consequences that negatively affect people’s lives.

The stability of smaller states depends on various factors. In Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, direct contests occur between B.J.P. and Congress. But, in Jharkhand, the multi-party system with national parties relying on regional parties can lead to instability and defections.

In elections, when no political party wins a clear majority, it can cause political instability in small and large states. To prevent lawmakers from switching parties, the Anti-Defection Law was created. However, this law often fails as some legislators are tempted by money and muscle power.

Comprehensive electoral reforms should be implemented, and state funding must be provided for elections. Political parties must find practical solutions to ensure the system’s fairness and transparency. (IPA Service)

The post Champai Soren’s Convincing Win In Jharkhand Assembly Test Is A Victory For INDIA Bloc first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article Champai Soren’s Convincing Win In Jharkhand Assembly Test Is A Victory For INDIA Bloc appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

On Sunday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar threw a bomb shell by leaving the ruling Mahagathbandhan in Bihar and returning to the N.D.A. coalition. He also quit the opposition coalition which he had built eight months ago. This dismantling of the bloc has dealt a significant blow to the I.N.D.I.A. bloc at the national level. They missed the slim chance of defeating the B.J.P. in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

It is worth exploring how Bihar’s politics may affect the national landscape. Kumar’s decision to return to the N.D.A. fold could benefit the B.J.P. but weaken the Rashtriya Janata Dal (R.J.D.) and Congress in Bihar. It could ultimately impact the opposition bloc at the national level. This B.J.P.- J.D. (U) partnership could improve the chances of the B.J.P. winning more seats in the upcoming 2024 general elections and help Modi achieve a hat trick.

The B.J.P. tried to break the opposition coalition and partner with the J.D. (U) alliance. The Party sees Nitish Kumar as a critical ally in Bihar and believes their partnership can win in the 2024 elections. Kumar has only 45 seats in the current Assembly, while the R.J.D. and B.J.P. have 79 and 78 seats, respectively. Despite this, Nitish managed to continue as the chief minister.

Did the Congress party have a hand in Nitish Kumar’s departure from the IN.D.I.A. opposition bloc? The reason behind this setback was the decision to sideline Nitish and promote Congress. Kumar accused the Party of being responsible for the failed alliance, arguing that the situation arose due to poor communication.

K.C. Tyagi of the Janata Dal-United (J.D.U.) has levelled accusations against the Congress party that it conspired to dominate the Opposition bloc. On January 13th in Mumbai, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury proposed Nitish Kumar as the convener of the bloc. This suggestion was supported by most of the other leaders present. However, Rahul Gandhi voiced his disagreement. Mamata Banerjee subsequently proposed the name of Congress chief Kharge as the coalition chief, a move Tyagi claims was part of a broader conspiracy.

Tyagi stated that Nitish Kumar mobilised an alliance that united all non-Congress parties. However, it is now disintegrating. The situation in Punjab and Bihar is on the verge of collapse, and the INDIA bloc in West Bengal is also falling apart.

Nitish confirmed that he left the I.N.D.I.A. alliance because it didn’t meet his expectations. He felt he was the only one working towards the coalition’s goals. Although the partnership has brought together all non-Congress parties, the alliance disintegrated in Bihar and almost collapsed in Punjab and Bengal.

There is also an untold story. Lalu Yadav, the leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (R.J.D.), encouraged Nitish Kumar to form an opposition coalition at the national level to aim for the position of Prime Ministerial candidate. The purpose of this plan was to pave the way for Lalu Yadav’s son to become the Chief Minister of Bihar. However, the plan failed when Mallikarjun Kharge was chosen as the leader of the new coalition. Consequently, Nitish Kumar decided to align with the BJP for a better future.

Kumar’s credibility has been tarnished because of his unwavering desire to hold power, regardless of the repercussions. He has changed political allegiances several times, always for his benefit, and currently holds the title of Chief Minister with the longest tenure in Bihar..

Nitish’s track record shows that after exploring other options in 2013, Nitish Kumar left the B.J.P. and allied with the R.J.D. and Congress. After the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he aligned with the B.J.P. again and became the Chief Minister in 2020. However, two years later, Kumar left the B.J.P. and formed a new government with the R.J.D. and Congress. Now he has dumped the R.J.D. That is why he is called Palti Ram.

Despite being an experienced politician, Nitish Kumar’s frequent changes in stance has cost him the chance to be considered as a prime ministerial candidate for the opposition party, especially at the age of 72.

The B.J.P.’s dismantling of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc may facilitate Prime Minister Modi to win his third term. In Bihar, mobilising O.B.C. votes to achieve electoral success is imperative. In November 2023, Bihar increased the reservation for Scheduled Castes and Extremely Backward Castes.

It is unclear how long the Nitish and the B.J.P partnership will last. They may work together until the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, but what will happen afterwards is uncertain. The Bharatiya Janata Party may support Nitish only until the Lok Sabha polls and their support could decrease afterwards—some question whether the alliance will continue until the 2025 Bihar Assembly polls.

Nitish has shown that it’s possible to retain power by using clever bargaining skills and winning a few seats, even if only 4% of the electorate belongs to their caste. But one thing is sure: Given Nitish’s track record, there could be other flip-flops by the chief minister. (IPA Service)

The post Nitish Kumar Has Given A Big Jolt To India But His JD(U)’s Future Is Bleak first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article Nitish Kumar Has Given A Big Jolt To India But His JD(U)’s Future Is Bleak appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Is Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s judgement coming under scrutiny? The critics wonder whether he promoted aides who ultimately betrayed him and the Congress. The recent departure of former minister Milind Deora has shrunk his inner circle, leaving only a few close aides who remain loyal. It’s worth noting that the BJP has welcomed many aides who have left Congress and even encouraged some to defect from the Party.

Why have Rahul Gandhi’s friends joined other political parties recently? The simple answer was that they were disenchanted with the Congress and its leaders. It is important to remember that wise advisers are crucial for the success of any leader.

Rajiv and Rahul had similar political and personal experiences, and both started their political careers on a high note. However, Rajiv’s political education came from learning on the job. Four years after entering politics, Rajiv became the Prime Minister due to unforeseen circumstances. While he was out of power, Rajiv learned his political lessons well. Rahul is still learning.

In 1989, Rajiv Gandhi was targeted by his political opponents through negative campaigning, leading to his political downfall. Several notable members, including Arun Nehru, Arun Singh, V.P. Singh, and Amitabh Bachchan, left Rajiv’s team during this period. Rajiv’s trusted friends were from the Doon School, collectively known as the Dosco team.

Rahul’s team of image makers put much effort into presenting him as a capable leader. He is credited with creative solutions to address issues related to religion, caste, and economy and to bring India together towards progress. However, the BJP attempted to present him as an inept and entitled leader who lacked vision and could not lead the country towards prosperity. They often called him “pappu” to reinforce this negative perception.

Frustrated with the continuous electoral losses, most of Rahul’s inner circle sought greener pastures. They belonged to influential political dynasties and were ambitious. They were in a hurry to take over from the old guard. After enjoying power, most of his handpicked team left.

For instance, Jyotiraditya Scindia, a close friend of Rahul Gandhi, was disappointed when the Congress leadership did not appoint him as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh after the 2018 Assembly polls. As a result, he played a significant role in toppling the Madhya Pradesh government, eventually leading to establishing the BJP government two years ago. Scindia was offered a ministerial position in the Centre for his support. Recently, Jitin Prasada has joined the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh. At the same time, Kapil Sibal, Alpesh Thakur, and R.P.N Singh have all moved to different parties. Moreover, Ghulam Nabi Azad has ended his relationship with Congress due to his dissatisfaction with Rahul Gandhi’s leadership.

Captain Amarinder Singh left the Congress Party in Punjab and established a new political party. Sunil Jakhar, another prominent Congress leader, has also left. Twenty-three leaders challenged the Congress Party’s leadership after the 2019 general elections when the Party lost.

There is a growing dissatisfaction over the departure of some of Rahul’s close aides. Rahul had previously promoted them as ministers in the Manmohan Singh government. He later gave them higher positions within the Party. Some even held positions in the Congress Working Committee, which usually requires years of dedication.

Congress lost power in the 2014 and 2019 elections, and they may only be able to secure at most 100 seats in the upcoming 2024 election. Fearing for their future, they cannot afford to spend another five years without being in power. Rahul’s inner circle started exploring other options. They were not disappointed as they got tempting offers from the BJP.

In the past 20 years, Rahul’s growth could be more impressive. He has been handed powerful positions without seeking them. With Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge being a mere figurehead and his mother, Sonia Gandhi, taking a back seat, Rahul has complete control over appointing crucial personnel to important positions within the Congress.

To win the 2024 elections, Rahul Gandhi needs to review his strategy, select the right people to work with and build strong leaders in each state. His ongoing Bharat Nyay Yatra is an effective way to connect with voters, just like his previous Bharat Jodi Yatra did. The most important thing is to get the voters to the polling booth. Rahul must learn from past experiences, make necessary changes promptly, earn the trust of Congress workers and coalition partners, and, above all, find a new narrative. (IPA Service)

The post Rahul Gandhi Has To Be Careful In Choosing His Political Advisers first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article Rahul Gandhi Has To Be Careful In Choosing His Political Advisers appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Congress Party’s responsibilities have increased with the decision of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc Opposition coalition to name Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge as the President. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has declined the post of convenor.

Forming partnerships before elections is relatively easy, but the real challenge lies in agreeing on seats. How difficult is seat-sharing for India Block, and can the Opposition overcome the obstacles before the polls?

The Congress party is leading a coalition of 28 parties to find a solution that satisfies everyone. They have decided to nominate a single candidate to contest against the Bharatiya Janata Party to prevent the opposition vote from being divided.

However, the Congress-led coalition finds itself in a difficult position as most regional parties are bargaining hard for more seats, which could only come at the cost of the Congress party’s interests. Mallikarjun Kharge has instructed the Party to initiate talks with other allies to address this dilemma. It indicates that the Congress is prepared to contest in fewer seats, this time to accommodate the partners.

The Congress party had formed alliances with other political parties in several states before the elections. It joined with D.M.K. in Tamil Nadu, R.J.D. and J.D. (U) in Bihar, and J.M.M. in Jharkhand. Although these alliances continue, the Congress knows that seat-sharing will be challenging in certain states, particularly Delhi, Punjab, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress party is currently trying to strike a balance between meeting the needs of their Party and their allies. It faces the challenge of maintaining positive relationships with its regional partners..The party is cautious that the talks should not lead to any bad blood among the partners.

The Congress’s local units differ with the top leadership about giving away seats to partners. Seeing the reality, Kharge has directed the Party’s alliance committee to put in extra efforts to accommodate allies. He has also reached out to opposition leaders to coordinate with the India bloc.

The Congress will fight against the B.J.P. directly in 13 states and against non-BJP parties in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, and Telangana. The Congress has to decide whether it will ally with the CPI(M) in Bengal and Tripura.

In the past, Congress wielded significant political power in Delhi and Punjab. However, the Aam Aadmi Party (A.A.P.) has emerged as a strong contender against Congress’ dominance, as it now holds power in both states. While the Congress aims for four seats in Delhi and seven in Punjab, the ruling A.A.P. Party seeks a larger share of seats. Additionally, the A.A.P. plans to contest in other states like Goa, Haryana, and Gujarat.

Similarly, in UP, the Samajwadi Party; in Bihar, R.J.D. and J.D. (U); in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference and PDP; and in Tamil Nadu, D.M.K. are expected to have the upper hand. The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, will be in control of her state. Me.

During the 2019 elections, Congress contested 421 seats but won only 52. They formed alliances in some states and contested in fewer seats, such as nine in Bihar, seven in Jharkhand, 21 in Karnataka, 25 in Maharashtra, and nine in Tamil Nadu. However, they contested in 70 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh.

Congress has less chance of defeating the B.J.P. on its own. It will not contest the 272 seats required to form the government independently but may contest 255 seats, the lowest ever. Its best-case scenario is to win 125 seats.

As a key player, the Congress should focus on directly challenging the B.J.P. in over 190 seats, with strong leaders fielded from constituencies. The Party needs to strengthen the booth committees at the ground level.

The Bharat Jodo N.Y.A.Y. Yatra, led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, has also sparked controversy. K.C. Tyagi, leader of J.D. (U), questioned why Congress did not make it a joint yatra with opposition bloc partners. Although Congress invited its partners, how they will respond is still uncertain. A successful yatra will go to the credit of Rahul Gandhi.

The Opposition is in a difficult situation regarding the inauguration of the Ram Temple. The opposition coalition has decided to boycott the event. Attending it would only support their narrative as it is a political spectacle for the B.J.P. While Congress was internally divided, it declined the invitation. The CPI(M) and CPI leaders have politely declined the invitation.

Although the poll surveys have predicted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will win the upcoming election, the Opposition still has a slim chance if they remain united. The opposition parties may repeat the 2004 Lok Sabha results if they fight on the basis of maximum possible agreement on seat sharing. (IPA Service)

The post Congress Is More Accommodative This Time In Seat Sharing Talks With Allies first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article Congress Is More Accommodative This Time In Seat Sharing Talks With Allies appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Can the enormous popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieve electoral success in the southern states? The Party is seeking to gain more voters in the challenging southern region. Its presence is limited in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Since it has already peaked in the northern states, the BJP, needs to secure more seats in the South.

Last week, Modi began his election campaign for the 2024 elections in the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Lakshadweep. He also inaugurated several multi-crore projects.

The B.J.P. has access to unlimited funds and has well-organized party workers on the ground. To achieve the Party’s objective, 40 central ministers had been fielded in the South.

In Telangana, the Bharatiya Rashtriya Samithi (B.R.S.) has been present since its establishment in 2014 but recently lost the State to Congress. Kerala is ruled by Congress or Left-led fronts, while Tamil Nadu alternates between Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (D.M.K.) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (A.I.A.D.M.K.). In Karnataka, Janata Dal (Secular), Congress, and B.J.P. have all had a turn in power.

Several factors influence voters in the region. They include caste, money, power, ideology, cinema, and liquor. In Tamil Nadu, political figures such as C.N. Annadurai, M. Karunanidhi, M.G.R., and Jayalalithaa have significantly influenced voters. In the past, N.T. Rama Rao played a crucial role in united Andhra Pradesh. However, the B.J.P. currently lacks prominent leaders in the southern states. With the passing of influential leaders like M. Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa, the B.J.P. is trying to fill the political void.

The B.J.P won 29 of the 130 Southern region seats in the 2019 elections, including 25 in Karnataka and four in Telangana. However, the Party lost to Karnataka the Congress in last year’s assembly polls.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (A.I.A.D.M.K.) was a significant ally of the B.J.P. However, they ended their alliance three months ago, and neither Party has attempted to reconcile since then.

The southern states of India are known for their unique cultures. One noticeable difference is the language divide between the North and South. While Hindi is the preferred language in the North, the South predominantly uses English and local languages. Dravidian Parties in Tamil Nadu oppose the use of Hindi and follow an atheistic ideology. On the other hand, Kerala has a robust communist presence and alternates between Left Front and Congress-led coalitions.

The method of using population as a measure for constituency delimitation has led to the South feeling mistreated. This is because the population control measures implemented by Southern states have resulted in a decline in population compared to the North, leading to a sense of unfairness. As a result, the North, which has yet to enforce any population control measures, will be allocated more parliamentary constituencies than the South.

A possible solution to address the delimitation issue is to consider changing the composition of the Rajya Sabha. This can be inspired by the U.S. Senate’s approach of guaranteeing equal representation of all states. However, this proposal faced resistance from bigger states in the U.S. and the same might be in India.

Prime Minister Modi is attempting to change the perception that the B.J.P. is not aligned with the culture of South India. The B.J.P. must still reach a mutual understanding with Southern states. The opposition coalition, I.N.D.I.A., controls most of the Southern States. They are determined to unseat Modi in 2024

The B.J.P. has a strong focus on Hindutva, the construction of the Ayodhya Ram temple, and an anti-Muslim stance. However, these views may be less popular among voters in southern regions of India. The Opposition parties like D.M.K., A.I.A.D.M.K., T.D.P., and B.R.S. hold dominant positions in their respective states. Specific communities such as Vanniyars, Thevars, and Gounders have influential roles in Tamil Nadu. In Karnataka, Vokkaligas and Lingayats have influence, while Reddys and Kammas are rivals in Andhra Pradesh. However, Brahmins have lost power. In Kerala, Communists opposed the rival Congress in the state, which is also a member of the I.N.D I.A coalition. In Telangana, K. Chandra Shekhar Rao, a Velama leader, held sway, but in 2023, Congress snatched the state.

Religion is not a major political issue in South India. The B.J.P.’s views on Christian conversions or hostility towards Islam have yet to gain any traction in the region. The southern states have not experienced major religious conflicts. This is because the minorities have assimilated themselves with the local population.

For the Bharatiya Janata Party (B.J.P.) to gain success in South India, they need to adapt to the local cultural norms and political strategies. They must form alliances and regain the support of former partners. To achieve this, the B.J.P. should revise its election strategy and develop a new narrative. Failing to do so will result in the opposition coalition I.N.D.I.A. becoming stronger and posing a significant threat to the B.J.P in 2024 Lok Sabha polls. (IPA Service)

The post Despite Narendra Modi’s Big Thrust In South, BJP May Not Gain In Lok Sabha Polls first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article Despite Narendra Modi’s Big Thrust In South, BJP May Not Gain In Lok Sabha Polls appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

The grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya is all dressed up for the inauguration on January 22 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is fulfilling a longstanding dream of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar.

A Hindu mob destroyed the Babri Masjid in 1992, claiming it was built on an ancient Hindu temple site in Lord Ram’s birthplace. The communal conflict ended when the Supreme Court decided the disputed area belonged to the Hindus in 2019.

The fact that Muslims have abided by the rule of law and accepted the SC verdict in the spirit of closure is laudable. The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board was offered five acres of land in Dhannipur village, Ayodhya, where they could build a mosque. However, Reuters has reported that the city’s sizeable Muslim community of an estimated 350,000 said they are not reaping the benefits of the reported boom.

The Ram temple story is more political than religious. On November 9, 1989, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) performed the Shilanyas ceremony. On August 5, 2019, Prime Minister Modi laid a 40 kg silver brick to mark the beginning of the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Ayodhya is a city of great cultural, religious, and political significance. The Temple’s construction is a victory for the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which led the movement and Narendra Modi, whose political career has coincided with the rise of Hindu nationalism. The intense fight by BJP leaders L.K Advani and Dr Murli Manohar Joshi cannot be underrated.

The inauguration of the Ram Temple holds great importance in the BJP’s campaign for the 2024 elections. The Modi government has fulfilled two of its poll promises. They are -constructing the Ram Temple and revoking Article 370, -which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Implementing a uniform civil code is the third core issue that needs to be addressed.

The Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which started in 1989 and was led by BJP leaders Lal Krishna Advani and Dr Murli Manohar Joshi in 1992, played a significant role in the BJP’s current political dominance. The movement aimed to gain the support of Hindus for political purposes, as Advani openly admitted. The Vishva Hindu Parishad, a front organization of the Sangh, led the Ayodhya agitation to construct the Ram temple. The Sangh believes building the Temple is crucial to establishing Hindu Rashtra.

In 1992, a Hindu mob demolished the Babri mosque located on the disputed site. This resulted in widespread riots throughout the country. It led to the deaths of approximately 2,000 people, mostly Muslims.

In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that the disputed Babri Masjid site belonged to Hindu groups. Just four years later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s team completed the construction of a temple at the site.

The Sangh Parivar could use this event to boost community pride. The BJP plans to promote the Temple’s message and symbol. Finally, the Ram temple propaganda could weaken the Opposition campaign. Before the inauguration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched several projects worth Rs 22000 crores, including a new airport and railway station on December 30.

Seven new temples will be built within the Temple to honour seven significant figures from Ramayana. These figures include Maharishi Valmiki and Shabri from the Dalit community, Nishad Raj from the fishing community, Acharya Vashisht from the Brahmin community, Rishi Vishwamitra from the Rajput community, and Ahalya and Agastyamuni, who are revered by various castes and communities.

The Ayodhya movement had a social impact. The Mandal Commission report, implemented by the VP Singh government, consolidated the OBC vote behind parties that advocated social justice. It combined both the Mandal and Kamandal movements.

The current political dominance of the BJP cannot be solely attributed to the Ram temple issue. From 1991 to 2009, their vote share remained around 20%. However, under the leadership of Modi in 2014, the BJP’s vote share increased to over 30%, and it secured a majority in Lok Sabha after 30 years. This percentage rose further in 2019. With the construction of the Ram Temple, the BJP may gain more Hindu votes in 2024.

After the death of Rajiv Gandhi, the Congress party distanced itself from the Ram Mandir issue, while the BJP consolidated the Hindu community. The party is confused about whether to adopt a soft Hindutva. Muslims have begun to support care-based and secular organizations like the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and Bahujan Samaj Party. The Congress dilemma continues even as the Lok Sabha elections are approaching. (IPA Service)

The post Ram Mandir Inauguration At Ayodhya On January 22 Is A Big Political Achievement For Narendra Modi first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article Ram Mandir Inauguration At Ayodhya On January 22 Is A Big Political Achievement For Narendra Modi appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

The recent security breach in Parliament has severe political, electoral, legislative, and security implications. The resultant unprecedented suspension of 146 MPs has now united the Opposition coalition, the INDI-Alliance.

Lok Sabha witnessed two intruders jumping from the visitor’s gallery and uncorking smoke canisters inside the Lok Sabha. It is a mystery how they entered the House despite the five-tier security that protects Parliament.

Unfortunately, parliaments of various countries have been attacked in the past. They include the 1981 Spanish coup attempt, the 2017 UK Parliament Terror Attack, the 1987 Sri Lankan Parliament Grenade Attack, the 2021 US Capitol Attack and the Oct 2023 Turkish government building attack. In each case, appropriate corrective measures were taken immediately.

In the instance of this attack on the Indian Parliament, soon after the incident, security was tightened further and Parliament House was “fortified” even as a high-level probe of the breach was ordered. More measures are expected after the high-level enquiry report is submitted.

The security breach highlights the importance of strictly implementing the already rigorous security measures that were introduced after the 2001 terrorist attack. It is crucial for thorough screening of visitors. Members of Parliament should be cautious when recommending passes and should be held accountable for their actions. The intruders had   obtained passes on the recommendation of the BJP’s Mysuru MP.

The government responded quickly by ordering a thorough investigation. All the six individuals involved in the incident have been apprehended and face tough charges.

After the shocking security breach, the Opposition demanded a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah, which he refused to provide. This led to chaos and confrontations that could have been avoided if Shah had made a brief statement. The Opposition created an uproar that led to the suspension of 146 unruly members, mainly from the INDIA Alliance.

According to the rules, there are two reasons for which members can be suspended from the House. The first is when a member disrespects the authority of the Chair. The second is when a member intentionally and persistently obstructs the proceedings of the House. In this instance, the suspended members went against the authority of the Speaker and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

A total of 146 members were suspended for insulting Parliament, mimicking the Rajya Sabha Chairman, and defying the Speaker. The Rajya Sabha Chairman and the Lok Sabha Speaker made the decision, stating that such unruly behaviour was unacceptable.

With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on the horizon, it appears that neither side is focused on running the House. The Budget session, slated for next month, may also encounter confrontations, but a vote on the account budget must be passed nonetheless.

The shocking Parliament breach will have an electoral impact as the opposition parties have come together to protest against the Modi government’s alleged authoritarianism. They have taken the issue to the streets and made it a significant election matter. The Opposition is asking the government how it can ensure the safety of citizens when it failed to protect such a high-profile asset like the Parliament.

Of course, damaging Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reputation of a strong leader is crucial for the 2024 polls. So, as a first step, the Opposition has decided to put a joint candidate against BJP candidates in the Lok Sabha elections to avoid splitting Opposition votes.

As for legislation, crucial bills like the Criminal Law Amendment Bill, were passed while the suspended members protested outside. In the past, too, a bunch of laws were passed in minutes. Former Supreme Court Chief Justice N.V. Ramana had once expressed his disappointment that Members of Parliament did not thoroughly debate and discuss the bills they passed.

Members of Parliament have five primary functions –making laws, reviewing budgets, overseeing government activities, representing people and holding the government accountable. But, despite the best efforts of the MPs, they face difficulties when Parliament is not functioning smoothly. Without order in the House, it becomes challenging to highlight issues and establish a good understanding of specific topics.

Although it is the government’s responsibility to ensure the efficient functioning of Parliament, the Opposition should also offer productive feedback. After all, Members of Parliament are called “lawmakers” for a reason, and the legislative body is weakened when laws are not thoroughly examined and debated.

What is the reaction from the public? The public is appalled by the behaviour of the MPs and the 146 suspensions was unprecedented. Instead of addressing the concerns of their constituents, legislators blatantly create chaos in the House, which is so very disappointing for the public.

The task of creating laws is assigned to the legislature by the Constitution. The government executes these laws while the judiciary enforces them in the spirit of the Constitution. For a democracy to thrive, the effective functioning of Parliament is crucial. Better coordination between the government and the Opposition is essential to ensure the smooth running of the House. (IPA Service)

The post Parliament Security Breach Can’t Escape Electoral Impact first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article Parliament Security Breach Can’t Escape Electoral Impact appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

After completing the five state elections, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Opposition prepare for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The B.J.P. is confident about maintaining its stronghold in the Hindi belt, and the Opposition has failed to challenge them effectively. B.J.P. won elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh comfortably in November polls.

The B.J.P. has become a major political force in India. The Party has broadened its reach and currently holds power in 18 states. This is due to its firm leadership, well-organized structure, vast resources, and effective communication. Furthermore, there has been a significant shift to the right in Indian politics. There is a substantial gap between the popularity rating of Narendra Modi and other opposition leaders. The Party’s new slogan is “New Momentum, New Pledge.”

In the past ten years, Narendra Modi has effectively promoted the core concept of Hindu nationalism of the B.J.P. The Party has implemented welfare schemes such as cash transfers, free rations, and affordable gas cylinders to win voters. Another crucial idea, the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, is planned for January of next year. Despite facing challenges such as high unemployment, inflation, and price hikes, these schemes remain popular among the masses. The BJP is pitching for the third term for the Party based on these.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (B.J.P.) faces problems in Southern states and the party may adopt new strategies beyond relying solely on Modi’s charisma to win elections in these states.. The party is trying to address internal disagreements within the Party.

However, they need to create a new narrative that resonates with voters in the southern states. The current ideologies of Hindutva and Sanatan Dharma are not appealing to the people in these states, who view the B.J.P. as a party that caters to North India.

Unlike other political parties, Dravidian parties have promoted social justice for decades. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has been talking about the Dravidian administration model. The southern region holds 131 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats. Kerala has many Communist supporters, Tamil Nadu is predominantly atheistic, and the B.J.P. has some base in Karnataka. However, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have regional parties, limiting the B.J.P.’s support in these states.

The Opposition group I.N.D.I.A. is dismayed with Congress’s poor performance in the recent polls. Rahul Gandhi might have succeeded if the Grand Old Party had won in at least two northern Indian states. Congress must opt for a new poll strategy before the next elections.

Opposition parties must unite to prevent the division of non-BJP votes in the next four months to challenge Modi. As a first step, they should agree to field a single candidate in seats where the B.J.P. is the primary contender. The Congress party should focus on winning constituencies with a higher chance of success. It’s essential to prioritize defeating the ruling Party over personal agendas and egos.

Congress needs to update its leadership and leave behind old practices. Trinamool Congress criticized Congress’s poor performance and said that B.J.P.’s victory resulted from Congress’s failure. Congress lost the elections due to internal conflicts, weak alliances, and a lack of understanding of the current political climate. To improve, Congress must recruit competent individuals for the appropriate roles and motivate its supporters.

Rahul Gandhi led the 4,000-kilometer Bharat Jodo Yatra to revive the Congress Party. This helped the Party win significantly in Karnataka and Telangana. However, the Yatra’s momentum was mainly limited to South India and had no impact in the North.

The Opposition needs more money to compete with the B.J.P. The saffron Party uses its funds to keep its campaign in top gear. . B.J.P. received ₹10,122.03 crore donations in the previous five years compared to Congress’ ₹1,547.43 crores. Corporate contributions to Congress have decreased while the B.J.P.s have increased.

According to recent reports, the Congress is considering crowdfunding to finance its election campaigns due to lack of funds. It needs vast funds to match with the B.J.P.’s war chest.

In the last 20 years, the expenditure on Lok Sabha elections of BJP has increased six times, from Rs 9,000 55,000 crore in last Lok Sabha polls.. A third of the expenses are allocated for campaign and publicity. In contrast, the second largest expense is direct payment to voters. There are many ways the voters get bribed. BJP has a big advantage over the Congress in terms of both funds and organization backed by the RSS.

Simply put, B.J.P. needs to develop a fresh strategy for the South, while Congress should focus on the North. As for regional parties, their priority should be to keep their loyal voter base. Moreover, merely offering freebies is not always enough to win voters. It is essential to do more to earn their trust and support.

India’s democratic journey is a big achievement with hardly any precedent. The democracy has survived despite its faults, and the power has been transferred 17 times. Ultimately, it is the billion voters who will decide the shape of the government at the centre after 2024 Lok Sabha elections. (IPA Service)

The post BJP Has A Big Advantage Over Congress In Terms Of Funds And Organisational Power first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article BJP Has A Big Advantage Over Congress In Terms Of Funds And Organisational Power appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

After the Five States Assembly poll results, speculation about who the new chief ministers will be is rife. The BJP has won three states and the Congress one. In Mizoram, the XDF has won defeating the ruling MNF.

Although the B.J.P. has strengthened itself in the North, it has yet to find a foothold in the South. The B.J.P.’s successful poll strategy united its supporters and minimised internal conflicts. Fielding Parliament members as candidates helped the Party reduce internal sabotage in the three heartland states.

Congress gained an advantage in Telangana due to its strong local leadership. The Party also benefited greatly from the defections of many leaders who began to see it as a viable contender, especially after its success in Karnataka. Voters shifted towards the Congress once it became evident that it posed a severe challenge to the ruling B.R.S.

B.J.P. and Congress did not announce chief ministerial candidates before the polls. Both parties must decide whether to continue with established leaders or search for new leadership. Congress must decide whether to appoint Revanth Reddy or a new face.

The BJP has many potential candidates, so the main question is how to implement the new rules. The B.J.P. favours phasing out old guards like Vasundhara Raje, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Raman Singh, who have had their innings. Another crucial factor when selecting new candidates is their caste. A diverse mix of castes is essential, not limiting it to Rajputs or forward castes. Additionally, their performance will also be taken into consideration.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants a suitable candidate to deliver the States in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. This is his top priority for performing a hat trick.

Let’s take a look at Madhya Pradesh as an example. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, one of the longest-serving Chief Ministers, is ready to continue. During an event in Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan even asked the public for their opinion on whether he should run for Chief Minister again if elected.

There are many potential candidates for the top post in Madhya Pradesh. They include three Union Ministers, Narendra Singh Tomar, Faggan Singh Kulaste, and Prahlad Patel, who provide a range of options. Kailash Vijayvargiya, the Party’s General Secretary and Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Union Minister who helped bring down the Kamal Nath government, are also on the list of potential candidates.

The prominent candidate in the State of Rajasthan would be the former chief minister Vasundhara Raje. Union ministers Bhupender Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnav, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Minister Arjun Meghwal, and Mahant Balaknath are also in the race.

Rajavardhan Rathode is a Rajput and a multiple-time cabinet minister. Satish Poonia served as the Rajasthan B.J.P. president when the Party was out of power. In early 2023, C P Joshi, a Brahmin and two-time MP, replaced Poonia as the state B.J.P. president. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, a new-generation B.J.P. leader, is also a potential candidate for the CM of Rajasthan.

In Chattisgarh, too, former chief minister Raman Singh is a front-runner. Raman Singh, the BAMS doctor who ruled Chhattisgarh for 15 years till 2018, is the most recognisable face of the Party in the State. He was a Union minister before he became the chief minister of Chhattisgarh in 2003. However, he has been sidelined in the past five years.

Vishnu Dev Sao is also a contender for CM. He has a clean image, comes from an RSS family and has risen. Union Minister Renuka Singh, a prominent tribal leader, from the Bharatpur-Sonhat constituency is yet another option.

Congress, on its part, must choose a leader to keep the Party united in Telangana. The leader of B.R.S., K. Chandrashekhar Rao, is known for his talent in luring away members from other parties. Historically, Congress has lost its ability to protect its flock. This was visible in Goa, Karnataka, and other states.

Revanth Reddy is the most likely candidate in Telangana. He belongs to the robust Reddy clan and had the full support of Congress leadership despite criticisms from within the Party for his style of functioning. Starting with A.B.V.P. as a student, he has ended up at the top.

Reddy faces various challenges, including winning more seats in the Lok Sabha polls in 2024. However, it’s more crucial for him to keep his Party united. Of late, the instability kicks off with horse trading, commencing immediately after the government’s formation.

Despite the stringent anti-defection laws, MLAs are tempted with large sums of money to change sides, often resulting in the winning Party’s government’s collapse. Political parties use tricks to buy the required MLAs to snatch the government.

The B.J.P. is upbeat about its success and is already strategising for 2024 polls. The opposition group I.N.D.I.A is assessing situation after the huge B.J.P. win. (IPA Service)

The post After December 3 Results, Focus Has Shifted To The Choice Of Chief Ministers first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article After December 3 Results, Focus Has Shifted To The Choice Of Chief Ministers appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

As the Telangana elections approach their final week, the youngest state in India is ready for a Triangular electoral contest. The ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (B.R.S.), Congress, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (B.J.P.) compete for victory.

Since its inception in 2014, B.R.S. chief K. Chandrashekhar Rao has been at the helm. He is keen to perform a hat trick. However, anti-incumbency poses a significant challenge for him. Despite leading the separate Telangana movement successfully, he has faced a decline in popularity for various reasons.

In 2018, surprisingly, preponing the polls, T.R.S. won 88 seats in the 119-member Assembly. Congress followed it with 19 and A.I.M.I.M. with 7. At present, B.R.S. holds a total of 99 seats by splitting other parties, while Congress has 8 M.L.A.s. The A.I.M.I.M. and B.J.P. have 7 and 6 M.L.A.s, respectively.

KCR has installed his family members, including his son and daughter, in prominent positions. His son, KT Rama Rao, is the deputy chief minister, his daughter, Kavita, is an M.P., and his nephew is a minister.

Rao has big plans for himself and his family. After he wins, he plans to install his son as the state’s chief minister. Not content with being a state-level politician, he has set his sights on national politics.

As a first step, KCR changed the Party’s name from Telangana Rashtra Samithi to Bharat Rashtra Samithi, indicating a shift towards a more national outlook.

Rao had attempted to form a third front, a federal front, and a ginger group over the past decade, but there were no takers. The newly formed opposition group, I.N.D.I.A., has yet to invite KCR to join them despite their aim to challenge the B.J.P. They allege that KCR is the B team of the B.J.P.

This election is a make-or-break moment for three primary players, as the B.J.P. sees Telangana as an opportunity to gain in southern politics. The outcome will undoubtedly set the tone for next year’s Lok Sabha elections.

The Telugu Desam Party (T.D.P.) was once a significant political player but has weakened over the last decade. Its leader, Chandrababu Naidu, is facing corruption charges and has announced that the Party will not participate in the upcoming polls. Meanwhile, the Congress party has regained its position and poses a serious challenge to the T.R.S.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (B.J.P.) goal of becoming the main opposition party in the state is far-fetched. Despite improving in the municipal elections, it has now slipped to the third position. Apart from winning twice in Karnataka, the B.J.P. has no significant presence in Southern India, except in alliance with the N.R. Congress in Puducherry. The B.J.P. intends to gain more seats in the South to balance out any potential losses in the North, where their expansion is already at its peak.

Congress regrets dividing Andhra Pradesh in 2014 under pressure. To its horror, the move backfired as people rejected Congress, favouring T.R.S. in Telangana and Y.S.R.C.P. in Andhra Pradesh.

KCR has announced his candidacy from two constituencies, Gajwel and Kamareddy. In Gajwel, he faces a rebel from B.R.S., while in Kamareddy, he will be up against Congress leader Revanth Reddy. He has retained all ministers and senior M.L.A.s to avoid any rebellion in the Party despite taking a risk.

According to recent opinion polls, the Congress party is leading in the competition, followed by B.R.S. and B.J.P. The B.R.S. is expected to win fewer seats than last time, while Congress is predicted to gain more. A.I.M.I.M., which has a limited presence, may retain the same seats. A few independent candidates may win one or two seats. B.J.P. is expected to be in the fourth position.

KCR believes that his work will get him votes. He has concentrated on irrigation and agriculture as well as Information Technology. Multinationals like Google have invested in Hyderabad even before 2014. Telangana’s GDP. has more than doubled. But a cash-rich state has a heavy debt burden.

B.J.P., would reconcile with any other party ruling Telangana other than Congress. According to reports, the B.J.P. is helping KCR in a secret deal. In return, the B.J.P. would go soft on KCR’s daughter, whom the agencies hounded.

Congress is gaining ground quickly, thanks to Revanth Reddy’s leadership. Sonia Gandhi announced six populist schemes to win over voters, offering Rs 2500 for women and Rs 15000 for farmers. She also reminded the crowd that Congress created Telangana in 2014.

The success of KCR is dependent on his political strategy. In contrast, his opponents criticise his family and accuse him of corruption. KCR emerged victorious on the Telangana issue in 2014 and supported the farmers in the 2018 elections. However, currently, he faces anti-incumbency, a resurgent Congress, and the Centre’s attempts to tarnish his daughter’s reputation.

Congress should seize this opportunity to gain power in the Game of Thrones. There is a mood for change. When people are determined to bring about change, they will do so despite any challenges or obstacles. (IPA Service)

The post In Telangana Assembly Polls, Congress Has Moved Fast In The Last Leg Of Campaigning first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article In Telangana Assembly Polls, Congress Has Moved Fast In The Last Leg Of Campaigning appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

How do the Indian origin American presidential hopefuls fare in the 2024 polls? With a year before 2024, they are far behind Republican leader and former President Donald Trump. It is noteworthy that Trump has a significant lead over other contenders, which could make the race more competitive and exciting. No one said they would win the presidential nomination from their parties, as the gap between them and Trump was vast. Ultimately, Trump and President Biden will be chosen as the official candidates.

Knowing they have slim chances of winning, why did the Indian Americans throw their hats in the Presidential ring? First, their bid had skyrocketed their political profile, whether they won or lost. Their names are better known nationally. Second, though they are polling far behind former President Donald Trump, Haley and Ramaswamy represent the growing political influence of American Indian descent.

Thirdly, the Indian diaspora has become a robust and influential community in countries like the U.S., U.K., and Australia. They have emerged as a powerful lobby in Congress and society. Fourthly, there was a time when Indian Americans were satisfied with giving hefty donations to Political parties. Of late, they have realized where the power lies and try to become candidates. Fifthly, Kamala Harris and Nikki Haley have already established themselves, and Vivek Ramaswamy has emerged just now. All three are children of immigrants and were raised in the U.S.

Some sections of the Indian Diaspora continue to support, fund, and engage in American politics. There has been some attention and pride regarding the three candidates. During her presidential campaign, Hailey said, “I am the proud daughter of Indian immigrants. Neither black nor white. I was different.”

Kamala Harris has already broken the glass ceiling and become the first woman vice President. Kamala’s mother, Shyamala, came from Tamil Nadu. Hailey is known for many firsts — the first Asian American woman to serve as governor in U.S. history, the first Indian American member of a presidential Cabinet, and the first woman seeking the GOP nomination. Hailey boasts impressive foreign policy experience amid the conflict in Ukraine and the war between Israel and Hamas.

Kamala Harris and Ramaswamy are South Indians, and Haley has a Punjabi heritage. They are a source of pride for their respective communities in India. When Kamala Harris became the vice president in 2020, Tamil Nadu burst crackers and celebrated the event.

The parents of the first major Indian American presidential candidate, former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, came in 1971. Hailey and earlier Bobby Jindal, both of Indian origin, became Governors and made a significant impact. While Jindal had faded away, Nikki still made the news.

A former South Carolina governor and later U.N. ambassador for Trump, Haley generally aligns with the party’s traditional establishment. The five Indian American members of Congress make up slightly less than their share of the population. There are no current senators or governors of Indian descent.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, in 1960, there were only 12,000 Indian immigrants residing in the United States. However, today, census data reveals that the number has increased significantly to more than 4 million. Indian Americans comprise about 1.3% of the country’s population and have become prominent members of both major political parties. Although the Republican Party may not be able to win over the Indian diaspora in America, even slight gains could be significant in closely contested states.

Kamala Harris, who was hoping to succeed, is now reconciled as Biden’s running mate. Haley and Ramaswamy have 6 per cent and 5 per cent support, respectively. The political parties are yet to announce their candidates officially.

In 2020, Indian Americans voted over 74 per cent for Biden compared to 15 per cent who voted for Trump. The PEW found similar results, with 68 per cent of Indians identifying or leaning toward the Democratic Party compared with 29 per cent who leaned Republican.

The Sangh Parivar’s overseas outfit in the U.S. has existed since the 1960s. Prime Ministers Vajpayee and Modi helped organize NRIs with facilities. First-generation Indian immigrants were highly educated, became skilled in the labour force, and affluent through hard work. According to ABC News, they were allowed into the U.S. Indian Americans now have a median household income of nearly $142,000, according to the census. It is double the average.

Haley and Ramaswamy wanted Trump to consider them as his running mates. They positioned themselves in a way that wouldn’t rule out this possibility. Even if Nikki Haley fails to become the first woman Republican nominee, this election will mark yet another first for her as it will be the first election she has ever lost. Ramaswamy has a new political profile that will help him later.

Overall, the confidence of the three candidates is also the story of the rising Indian Diaspora. Whether they win or lose in 2024, they will make news. They will someday achieve their American dream. (IPA Service)

** Our political editor Kalyani Shankar travelled in USA for three weeks observing the Presidential election campaign. This is the last of her two part series.

The post Indian Origin American Presidential Candidates Have Long Term Objective first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article Indian Origin American Presidential Candidates Have Long Term Objective appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

A hypothetical President Joe Biden versus his predecessor, Donald Trump, contest in the 2024 U.S. presidential race is too close to call. Elections will be held on November 5, 2024, just a year away.

News agency Reuters says this election promises to be like no other modern U.S. election. New York Times noted Biden and Trump Are tied. It would be “the most important election since 1860″ — when Abraham Lincoln was elected President, triggering the US Civil War. ”

The last U.S. presidential election was held in November 2020. Still, unfortunately, it resulted in a deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol and the first failed coup in American history. According to the BBC, there are indications that the 2024 election will repeat in 2020, with Donald Trump running against Joe Biden, but with their respective roles reversed.

Nine Republicans, four Democrats and two independent candidates — are running for President in 2024. But Biden and Trump may ultimately be their respective party’s nominees.

But surprises and upsets cannot be ruled out before November 5, 2024, the election date. For instance, in 1979, a hostage crisis cost President Jimmy Carter re-election. In 2020, Pandemic Covid played a negative role.

Possible election surprises include a leading candidate quitting, the Israel-Gaza war affecting outcomes, and the Ukraine conflict escalating. President Trump faces 91 criminal charges across four trials next year, which could mean he goes to prison.

Political parties have yet to announce their official nominees. In the past, sitting Presidents have been re-nominated if they choose to run again. It is interesting to note that a country that values youth may have to choose between two of its oldest Presidents.

According to recent polls, Trump is leading his challengers by a significant margin. However, he has a strong hold on his party’s right wing. He may face difficulty winning over moderate and independent voters in a general election if he secures the Republican nomination.

On the Democratic side, Biden faces three long-shot challengers, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running independently. Kennedy’s candidacy may spoil the chances of either Democratic candidate. Trump is the favourite to win the 2024 Presidential election at most sport bookies with election odds of around +160.

What’s different between Biden’s and Trump’s presidencies? Biden is the current President and is running against Trump in 2024.

Trump may be chosen as the Republican candidate, but he’s been indicted four times on 91 felony charges since April. This is good news for President Biden. On the bright side, inflation’s gone down, job growth’s steady, and the stock market has rebounded.

If he gets elected , Trump has promised to implement more stringent immigration restrictions and stricter limitations on trade with China. Additionally, he would likely to take political revenge against those who he believes have wronged him.

Biden is conducting his campaign by extensively travelling both in the United States and abroad, attending official events, and participating in dozens of fundraisers.

Biden faces challenges from within his party, as only 66% of Democrats approve of his handling of foreign policy, and 74% support his management of the economy, compared to 81% approval among Democrats. The lack of support from young Black people and Latinos is a cause for concern for Biden.

The President is campaigning for re-election based on his record of handling the economy and the “battle for the soul of America.” Under Biden, unemployment reached historic lows, GDP grew faster than expected, and wages increased. But inflation spiked last year, and voters are still concerned about the high cost of essentials like food, fuel, housing, and cars. With exactly a year away, Biden’s strategy is to revive 2020 themes, drawing a contrast with Trump. Biden has repeatedly asked the voters to allow him to finish the job.

Both Presidents have achievements to highlight, but 44% of Americans say they are worse off financially under the Biden regime. CNBC’s survey shows Biden’s approval rating at just 37%, while Trump beats him by 4 points in a head-to-head matchup. Opposing views on the economy and geopolitical tensions are eroding Biden’s support. But voter frustration with lingering inflation and age concern (Biden turns 81 in two weeks) remain.

Currently, 48% of Americans approve of Trump’s performance, which matches his peak as President. Additionally, 54% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents favour him for the GOP nomination.

American allies are paying close attention to conflicts in Israel-Hamas and Ukraine. This highlights the importance of Washington’s global role. China, Russia, and Iran are creating versions of a new international order. Presidential candidates compete for donations with lower contributions than Obama, Clinton, and Trump in 2020.

Many people around the globe are closely monitoring the situation. However, it’s challenging to make predictions as both presidents have strengths and weaknesses. For instance, Democrat Albert Gore won half a million more votes than his Republican opponent George W. Bush. Yet, he lost the presidency in the Electoral College. (IPA Service)

The post American Presidential Election In November 2024 Promises To Be A Tumultuous One first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article American Presidential Election In November 2024 Promises To Be A Tumultuous One appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Does India need a caste census? If conducted, Will it bring positive or negative consequences? There is debate over this issue. The issue is controversial due to differing opinions on potential benefits or drawbacks.

Opinions vary, with some acknowledging its long-standing presence and others expressing concern for adverse outcomes. In preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, political parties are seeking to establish connections with marginalized communities, resulting in increased demands for a caste census.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has provoked the present debate by conducting a caste census. He released the results on October 2 and has projected himself as the champion of marginalized communities.

The census report may lead to political demands for removing the 50% reservation ceiling imposed by the Supreme Court. At its recent Mumbai meeting, the newly formed Opposition coalition I.N.D.I.A also requested a caste census. Maharashtra, Odisha, and Jharkhand have agreed to conduct a caste census, while Bengal has not decided yet. Madhya Pradesh Congress has also promised.

The topic of caste census sparks varied opinions. It encompasses aspects such as its impact on elections and communities. It still needs to be completed, given the need for more reliable data since 1931. Some argue favouring a caste census, but it’s akin to trying to wink in the dark.

Before 1931, the Decennial Census included data on Caste. However, 1941 was skipped due to World War 2. From 1951 to 2011, all of India’s independent censuses contained information on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes but not on other castes.

India saw a census conducted for administrative and demographic purposes without collecting data on Caste during the British Colonial period. After independence, the Nehru government did not favour a caste census. The successive Congress governments opposed a caste census for decades. During the Janata Government, the Mandal Commission was established in 1979.

After a decade, Janata Dal Prime Minister V.P. Singh implemented a 27% reservation for O.B.C.s in government jobs, based on the Mandal Commission report. The 2001 Census considered adding Caste as a category, but practical issues and concerns prevented it from being implemented.

However, in 2010, the Manmohan Singh government conducted a survey based on economic factors. The 2021 census has been postponed due to the pandemic and has yet to be carried out. Today, there is a change in Congress’s stand. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi used the phrase “Jitni Abadi, utna haq” to discuss issues related to Caste. In 2011, the S.E.C.C. included information about Caste, but the main focus was living conditions and financial status.

The Modi government released the financial component of the S.E.C.C. in 2015, but the census for the caste component was not included.

Defining Caste is a complex issue. A caste census is deemed discriminatory and opposed by those who seek equal rights and opportunities for all. The B.J.P. has so far not taken an official stand on the caste census, a demand first raised by regional parties like the R.J.D. and the J.D. (U) and then supported by most other opposition parties. The Party is among those who believe that conducting a caste census could hinder the creation of a more united society due to political and logistical challenges.

Historically, the Constituent Assembly met between December 1946 and November 1949 to draft a constitution for India’s independence. Stalwarts like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel were important figures who led discussions on topics like government structure, citizens’ rights, and fundamental principles. Their contributions were crucial in shaping the new republic’s Constitution.

Affirmative action is allowed by the Constitution to address past social injustices. However, there may not have been enough discussion about collecting specific data, such as conducting a caste census.

There are valid arguments both for and against carrying out a caste census. Ultimately, the decision to conduct a census largely depends on political factors, public sentiment, and the ruling Party’s priorities. The government’s actions can also be influenced by the public’s demands and level of awareness.

As of now, we need a more favourable environment to acknowledge the importance of the caste census. BJP leaders argue that many leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi and Ram Manohar Lohia, have recognized that caste discrimination weakens society.

The BJP. hesitates to back a caste census, though they hold a majority in the Lok Sabha. But caste-based parties advocate for it, creating a dilemma for the BJP. to appease them and their supporters.

Some Political parties have gained influence by addressing caste issues. Specific communities seek recognition as Other Backward Classes. Congress, D.M.K., and J.D. (U) support a caste census, which Bihar has already conducted. Other states may run one as well.

For Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, the demand for caste census nationally as demanded by the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has thrown up a thorny political challenge The dilemma is that the move may benefit the INDIA parties irrespective of whatever the centre does.. The BJP is in a real dilemma six months before the Lok Sabha polls. It will be seen how the Modi government finally responds. (IPA Service).

The post INDIA Constituents Are Ready To Use Caste Census As A Weapon Against BJP first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article INDIA Constituents Are Ready To Use Caste Census As A Weapon Against BJP appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Can the split between the AIADMK and BJP be permanent? If so, this could hurt the BJP’s chances of winning in Tamil Nadu since the AIADMK had supported them since J. Jayalalithaa’s passing away in 2016. The decision to end its partnership with the NDA on a national and state level may put the BJP at a disadvantage.

The future political landscape could have an impact on the upcoming 2024LokSabha elections. It could cause a shift in power among Tamil Nadu parties and their alliances. This may result in the AIADMK losing the support of the Modi government, which has acted as a powerful ally.

According to experts, the separation between the BJP and AIADMK is expected to be temporary. The leaders of both parties have advised their members to refrain from making negative comments about each other. The BJP seeks more support in the Southern region and hopes to secure additional seats through partnerships.

Last week, former AIADMK minister Munuswamy announced that his party is severing ties with the BJP and NDA. He accused the BJP state chief, Annamalai, of deliberately tarnishing the reputation of respected party members, including former Chief Ministers C.N. Annadurai and Jayalalithaa.

The decision may have a significant impact on state and national politics. AIADMK is the lone major partner of the BJP at the national level. Previously, NDA included bigger parties like Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, Telugu Desam, and AIADMK. Still, now only AIADMK remained in the alliance.

For the BJP, the loss is more significant. Despite earnest efforts, it has not established a substantial presence in Tamil Nadu—the power switches between the DMK and AIADMK since 1967. The AIADMK has ruled 30 out of their 50 years.

Tamil Nadu has two main political parties: AIADMK and DMK. AIADMK is a popular party with a large membership of two crore people, and it offers an alternative to DMK. The DMK and AIADMK, the two main Dravidian parties, have both supported the BJP at different times.

For decades, the BJP has faced a tough challenge in winning over voters in Tamil Nadu. The Dravidian movement started by E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker has taken deep roots in the form of DMK and AIADMK parties. The party only secured 3% of the vote in the last Lok Sabha elections. In comparison, the two Dravidian parties had a solid 25% base each.

Since 2016, the AIADMK party has experienced continuous defeats in all elections. It has no charismatic leaders like Jayalalithaa or founder M.G. Ramachandran – both matinee idols. The party’s performance in the most recent Assembly polls in 2021 was poor , the seats came down , from 136 to 75. The DMK-Congress coalition took control of the government. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, AIADMK only secured one seat, a significant drop compared to their previous 37. Meanwhile, the DMK coalition’s seats increased from 0 to 39. Consequently, AIADMK cadres view their connection with the BJP as a hindrance.

The BJP’s attempt to win over voters in Tamil Nadu failed due to differing ideologies. The Dravidian parties are non-believers, while BJP’s primary election strategy is centred around Ram Temple in Ayodhya earlier and Sanatan dharma now.

The upcoming Lok Sabha elections are significant for the BJP, while the AIADMK focuses on the 2026 Assembly polls. The outcome will largely depend on the coalitions formed by the two Dravidian parties. Prime Minister Modi is determined to secure a third term in the 2024 elections.

Insiders suggest that Annamalai’s behaviour was not the main reason for the split. Despite numerous complaints, AIADMK is unhappy that the BJP has not taken action against Annamalai. There is a more significant disagreement over seat sharing. Both parties failed to win seats in Tamil Nadu in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections due to a lack of shared ideology. Annamalai has suggested running independently in the election, and some BJP members are considering the idea. Annamalai wants to form a coalition with smaller parties.

AIADMK chief Edappadi Palaniswamy has successfully united the party and worked with senior leaders to prevent the re-entry of Sasikala, TTV Dhinakaran, and former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. It is a no-no for him even if the BJP provides them seats under its quota. Palaniswamy was able to remove them from AIADMK and now holds complete control. He apprehends that once they entered, his authority would diminish.

The upcoming Lok Sabha elections are crucial for the DMK, AIADMK, Congress and BJP. Among them, the BJP stands to gain or lose the most. Factors such as caste, financial resources, and political influence will also play a significant role in the election. The BJP needs to perform well in the five States Assembly polls. The saffron face a formidable tsk in Tamil Nadu in next Lok Sabha elections. (IPA Service)

The post BJP Wooing Smaller Parties After Rupture With AIADMK In Tamil Nadu first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article BJP Wooing Smaller Parties After Rupture With AIADMK In Tamil Nadu appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

The ongoing massive diplomatic row has brought a sudden spotlight on the Canada-India relationship. Differences emerged between the two countries after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in killing a separatist Sikh activist, Nijjar. Outraged, New Delhi vehemently denied the claim and dismissed it as “absurd and motivated.”

On June 18 this year, a pro – Khalistani leader Nijjar was shot dead outside a Gurudwara in Surrey, British Columbia. India had declared him a wanted terrorist.

If the relationship between India and Canada had been trending smoothly, it was because of the Geopolitical developments, economic relations, and demographic trends. It worsened after the Nijjar killing. The two countries resorted to tit-for-tat reactions against each other. The ties between the visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the G20 summit early this month were visibly frosty.

New Delhi has been protesting the presence of the pro – Khalistani elements in Canada. New Delhi also frowned on the referendum for Khalistan by them. When Trudeau was on a bilateral visit in 2018, there were embarrassing moments about the presence of a Khalistani activist in his delegation. The pro- Khalistani elements sent death threats to Indian diplomats in Ottawa. The request for their extradition also has yet to be addressed so far.

Why is Canada important to India? The former British colony has the highest population of Sikhs outside their home state of Punjab. About 1.4 million Indian immigrants live in Canada out of 40 million population.. About 770,000 people follow Sikhism. New Delhi has often complained about their activities.

After the controversy, Canada and India acted swiftly to expel senior diplomats in reciprocal moves earlier this week. On Thursday, India’s foreign ministry suspended visa services temporarily for Canadian citizens. Ottawa claims that Canadian security agencies had uncovered evidence linking the Indian government to the assassination.

As for domestic politics, the Congress and other parties supported the Indian government and criticized Trudeau’s statement. They are shocked at the allegation that the Indian government had orchestrated the killing of an Indian-origin Canadian citizen on Canadian soil and supported the South Bloc. Only Sukhbir Badal, the leader of Akali Dal, suggested that political parties should work together to stop anti-Sikh propaganda in the media.

As for the international scenario, the reaction towards India from its Western allies has been cautious. Top U.S. diplomat David Cohen claimed the shared intelligence among the Five Eyes led to Justin’s allegation. Five Eyes Network is an intelligence alliance comprised of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The New York Times said on Sunday, “In the aftermath of the killing in June of the Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, U.S. intelligence agencies offered their Canadian counterparts context that helped Canada conclude that India had been involved. ”

Trudeau called on India to cooperate with Canadian authorities to “uncover the truth” about the killing but stated that he was not looking to escalate tensions between the two countries.

The standoff will have repercussions for both India and Canada. India is Canada’s tenth most significant trading partner. Secondly, India has a vital role in Canada’s 2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy. The two countries have been in discussions about a trade agreement for more than a decade. In 2022, the total trade value between them only reached C$13.7 billion, a small portion of Canada’s overall trade volume amounting to C$1.52 trillion. A favourable climate for high-level negotiations for an Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) existed. The October meeting for EPTA talks has now been postponed indefinitely.

The Canadian merchandise trade had grown from approximately $3.87 billion in 2012 to $10.18 billion in 2022. Trade will get hit for both sides.., There could be a reduction in immigration from India to Canada. Canada has been home to many immigrants in recent years. It has tripled since 2013, overtaking Philippines and China. The students’ traffic would also be affected adversely. Over 30 per cent of the students come from India to study in Canada.

Further, tourist traffic will also affected. On September 21, India declared that it would temporarily stop issuing visas to Canadian citizens because of security concerns affecting their missions in Canada. New Delhi is also considering cancelling overseas citizenship to pro-Khalistanis.

India has come a long way since the 1980s and 1990s, rapidly gaining political and economic power. The United States wants to partner with India to balance China’s influence and would prefer to avoid strains developing among its allies. A former Pentagon official said that if the U.S. chose the two countries, it might favour India as Washington has been wooing India to balance China in the region.

However, any negative impact on India-Canada relations could prevent Canada from joining the Indo-Pacific network of institutions. Ottawa recognizes India’s regional power and influence. Ottawa must be made to understand the sentiments of New Delhi and should not pamper pro-Khalistani elements. (IPA Service)

The post India-Canada Political And Diplomatic Ties Facing Serious Threat first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article India-Canada Political And Diplomatic Ties Facing Serious Threat appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

The Congress leaders are upbeat after the weekend Congress Working Committee meeting in Hyderabad. They are ready to plunge into poll mode. The C.W.C., the Party’s highest policy-making body agreed on several contentious and sensitive topics and planned its future course.

The meeting was the first after Mallikarjun Kharge became party president. The Gandhis had a strong presence, with Sonia, Rahul, and Priyanka attending the conference. Following three productive gatherings of the Opposition coalition in I.N.D.I.A., the C.W.C. members voiced their backing for Rahul Gandhi’s leadership and their intention to move forward with the Bharat Jodo Yatra 2-0. There was a sense of assurance and positivity in the air

The choice of Hyderabad as the capital of bifurcated -Telangana is significant as assembly polls are due in three months. The Congress has lost both  states – Andhra Pradesh  and Telangana since 2014.

After considering the political, economic and security situations, the C.W.C. emphatically declared that it is fully prepared for the upcoming Assembly polls and the 2024 Lok Sabha. Congress presented itself as an alternative to the B.J.P. with the support of the I.N.D.I.A. coalition.

Congress leaders are optimistic about the I.N.D.I.A. Alliance. The Grand Old Party wants to play a primary role in the coalition and criticized the Modi government’s failure on all fronts, particularly in Manipur and Kashmir.

One of the 14 resolutions said, “The C.W.C. reiterates the Congress party’s resolve to make the I.N.D.I.A. initiative an ideological and electoral success so that our country is freed from divisive and polarising politics, the forces of social equity and justice are strengthened, and the people get a Union Government that is responsible, responsive, sensitive, transparent and accountable.” In essence, this will be the thrust of the poll campaign.

This message serves as a reaffirmation of the Party’s unwavering commitment to its alliance partners. There have been doubts about it because of the inherent contradictions among the players.

The Party strategized for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Mizoram. It took note of the challenges include differing views between the central leadership and specific state units on forming alliances and adjusting seats with some members of the I.N.D.I.A. coalition.

According to internal assessments, the Party expects trouble from within its Punjab, Delhi, and West Bengal ranks. Party leaders in Punjab and Delhi don’t support the rival Aam Aadmi Party. In West Bengal, the state leadership competes directly with the Trinamool Congress. In Rajasthan, the Congress and B.J.P. are closely competing for power.

Based on internal surveys, the Congress party has a slight advantage in Chhattisgarh and a stronger position in Madhya Pradesh. Party insiders also report that the Congress is gaining momentum in Telangana. The Party has organized a two-day event to celebrate Hyderabad Day on September 17th, which marks the city’s inclusion in India in 1948.

Resolutions about legislative business in Parliament mainly centred on rejecting proposals to review the Constitution. The Party demanded the one-third women’s reservation Bill and augmented reservation limits for S.C.s, STs, and O.B.C.s. These measures aim to win over various voter groups.

The C.W.C. also opposed a proposed Bill to amend the salary, allowance, and service conditions of the Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners. They argued that the bill  may harm the independence of the Election Commission.

The C.W.C. has opposed the B.J.P.’s proposal of “one nation, one poll,” citing it as unconstitutional. Nevertheless, the Modi government has established a committee, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, to explore the feasibility of conducting coexistent elections for Lok Sabha, state Assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats.

One resolution criticized the heartlessness of the B.J.P. for celebrating Modi’s G-20 achievements during a crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, disrespecting the sacrifice of security personnel.

The Congress is careful and avoiding controversial topics by stating that they believe in the principle of sarva dharma sambhavana. Significantly, at a public rally in Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Modi recently accused the I.N.D.I.A. bloc of trying to eliminate Sanatana culture and making it a political agenda for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

At the public rally following the C.W.C., Sonia Gandhi made six promises for the upcoming Telangana elections. Sonia has announced several benefits, which are as follows: (1). Women will receive a monthly sum of ₹2,500, (2). Farmers and tenant farmers will receive an annual amount of ₹15,000, (3). Home loans who need them, (4). Homeless will receive house sites and a sum of ₹5 lakhs, (5). Programs to support the development of young people, and (6). Medical assistance to all needy citizens. These benefits were aimed at attracting voters with freebies.

The Congress, however, has yet to reveal its new narrative, while it is clear that ideology is the central plank. The Congress has to work hard to improve its position. The success of the Party will depend on several factors, including seat sharing, candidate selection, Alliance, resources, and worker support. But the worker’s morale has been boosted. (IPA Service)

The post Congress Leadership Confident Of Taking On BJP In 2024 Under INDIA Banner first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article Congress Leadership Confident Of Taking On BJP In 2024 Under INDIA Banner appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

The well-known quote from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name, would smell as sweet,” is frequently referenced about name change. It is true of the ongoing debate about India’s official name change to Bharat. Regardless of the title employed, it remains the same nation.

The country currently has two names. The Indian government now officially recognizes the English name “India” for global use and the Hindi name ‘Bharat’ for use within the country. Is it necessary for India to alter its official name to Bharat? Would this change have a significant impact on people’s lives? Is calling India Bharat more advantageous to people’s lives? People are often used to the old name, like Chennai continues to be called Madras and Mumbai as Bombay.

The RSS, the ideological parent of the B.J.P., has always insisted on calling the country Bharat. “At times, we use India so those who speak English will understand. But we must stop using this. The name of the country Bharat will remain Bharat wherever you go,” RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said recently.

The President of India, Draupadi Murmu, recently hosted a dinner for G20 world leaders. During the event, she called herself the “President of Bharat” instead of “President of India.” Similarly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to himself as the “Prime Minister of Bharat” during his recent trip to Indonesia.

These actions have led some people to believe the government may consider changing the country’s name. A special Parliament session has been announced from September 18 to 22, which suggests that a bill proposing the name change may be introduced soon. Implementing such a measure could have both domestic and global repercussions.

In 1949, the Constitution makers discussed the name of the new country. Various options, including ‘Bharat’, ‘Hindustan’, ‘Hind’, ‘Bharatbhumi’, and ‘Bharatvarsh’, were considered. Finally, they agreed that “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States,” the country’s official name as stated in Article 1(1) of the Indian Constitution.

The term “Bharat” is associated with promoting Hindu identity as a part of a broader ideological framework. It originates from the Hindu scriptures and refers to the Indian subcontinent. This term can be traced back to the Puranas and the Mahabharata, where a well-known king named ‘Bharat’ played a significant role. Although Greek historians and European colonizers commonly referred to India as “India,” the term “Bharat” has a rich history deeply rooted in Hindu mythology.

It’s not uncommon for names of people, streets, cities, and countries to change due to factors like governments or geopolitics. For example, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Iran have all undergone name changes. Even many Indian cities, like Allahabad (now Prayag Raj), Bombay (now Mumbai), and Madras (now Chennai), have had their names changed. The B.J.P. has renamed various cities and places associated with the Mughal and colonial periods. For instance, the Mughal Garden at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan was renamed Amrit Udyan.

Changing a name has its pros and cons. Politically, some speculate that the name change was an attempt to weaken the new opposition group, I.N.D.I.A. The opposition argues that India is a globally recognized democratic, secular and diverse nation that encompasses its modern history and reminds us of its struggle for independence from British colonial rule.

In the past, there have been failed attempts to change the name through legislation. Shantaram Naik, a member of Congress, introduced two private member Bills in Parliament in 2010 and 2012, calling for only Bharat as the official name. Yogi Adityanath, the current chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, also supported the proposal as an M.P. He suggested that “India that is Bharat” should be replaced with “Bharat which is Hindustan.

In 2015, the Chief Justice of India, TS Thakur, rejected the proposals when the court considered the issue. In 2020, the court dismissed a similar case. The court stated that the country’s triumphant synonym is Bharat, and Hindustan is its home name.” Bharat is where we dream, and Hindustan is where we live,” the court interpreted.

It’s worth noting that changing a country’s name is a bigger deal than renaming streets and cities. The Modi government is hurrying to name change, but it will likely to be smooth. The bill needs approval from Parliament’s special session from September 18 to 22 before the states can ratify it. A two-thirds majority vote in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is necessary to pass.

Secondly, The United Nations must accept the name change as the country is known as the Republic of India. But this will be fine, as media reports say the U.N. will agree.

Apart, the Government has to take care of practical matters like updating official documents, currency, and international agreements. However, these are routine matters and can be implemented once the Narendra Modi government gets the motion passed.

Also, if the name change happens, Modi will be the first Prime Minister of Bharat. (IPA Service)

The post India Being Named As Bharat Is Not A Big Issue As Constitution Already Has It first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article India Being Named As Bharat Is Not A Big Issue As Constitution Already Has It appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

The newly formed Opposition alliance I.N.D.I.A. took a positive step last week in cementing a solid coalition in Mumbai. This decision was made during their third meeting, preceded by two previous conferences in Patna and Bengaluru. Their goal is to replicate the 1977 or 2004 scenario where the weaker Opposition won against the ruling dispensation.

Representatives from 28 political parties gathered for a two-day meeting on Thursday and Friday in Mumbai. Sixty-three attendees discussed a shared campaign strategy and ways to counter the N.D.A.

Following the meeting, the alliance declared they would participate in the election “together to the best of their ability.” They will begin organizing state seat-sharing arrangements immediately, using a “collaborative spirit of compromise.” Additionally, they aim to hold public rallies nationwide as soon as possible. A 13-member coordination was also set up.

The Opposition leaders realize there are many obstacles to overcome, both internal and external. The coalition faces a challenge in negotiating seat-sharing with regional parties.

The I.N.D.I.A. team faces the difficult task of overcoming inherent contradictions among coalition partners. They must agree on a give-and-take policy for seamless seat allocation and collaborate at the grassroots level. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi acknowledged it.

For example, in Delhi and Punjab, Congress and A.A.P. are political rivals, while Trinamool Congress, the Left parties, and Congress have their respective political positions in West Bengal. The Left and Congress also have a big stake in Kerala.

Mamata Banerjee suggested releasing the bloc’s manifesto by October 2nd, while Arvind Kejriwal proposed finalizing the seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha elections by the end of next month.

The main thing is to boost the morale of its workers, which has been affected by the B.J.P.’s nine-year tenure. Many are unwilling to endure another five years in the political wilderness. Therefore, choosing the most suitable candidate and reaching a consensus on specific seats is crucial. The give-and-take policy can help in this regard. It is also vital to ensure the victory of their candidate and the commitment of everyone in their group, including ground-level workers. These workers are confused about how to support a party they have been fighting against till yesterday.

There are other issues which are yet to be decided. The coalition must identify a viable candidate to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and develop a new narrative. There is yet to be a consensus on the convenor or the Prime Ministerial face.

In all these, Congress remains the only pan-national Party in the block. Despite experiencing a decline in strength over the past decade, the Congress Party remains the only political entity with nationwide appeal. In the 2019 general elections, the Congress won 52 seats and came second in 209 seats. They received over 12 crores of votes, while the combined opposition bloc received less. Any change in their fortunes could significantly impact the country’s politics.

The Congress and B.J.P. are facing a direct contest in one-third of the Lok Sabha seats. The Party still holds a significant amount of influence in Punjab, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Goa, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland, which together account for 155 Lok Sabha seats.

One significant concern is when the next elections will take place. The B.J.P. may be hesitant to call for early general elections due to their previous experience. 2004, they were expected to win, but the Congress-led U.P.A. surprisingly defeated them. The B.J.P. has a strong presence in the Hindi heartland but has yet to make substantial progress in the South, with 129 seats up for grabs.

However, some opposition chief ministers, such as Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee, M.K. Stalin, and Arvind Kejriwal, speculate that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections may occur sooner. It could coincide with the upcoming Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Mizoram, and Telangana. Additionally, the B.J.P. has advocated the ‘one nation -one election’ idea.

There is no confirmed news on whether the Lok Sabha elections will be advanced. Neither the B.J.P. nor the Election Commission has provided any indication. The final decision rests with Prime Minister Modi, known for making unexpected choices.

The B.J.P. considers Modi to be their lucky mascot. The Party governs ten states, and four states with the coalition led by the N.D.A. with over 55% of the seats in the Lok Sabha. Modi aims to take advantage of the Opposition’s chaos to win a third term.

The B.J.P. has made thorough preparations for every conceivable situation. It has mobilized around 40,000 booth workers to cover 100,000 booths across all 543 parliamentary constituencies.

The ruling Party keeps its plans secret and aims to reduce the Opposition’s influence while maintaining its strength. This includes neutrality with parties like BJD, Y.S.R.C.P., and B.R.S. Their ultimate objective is to prevent funds from flowing to the opposing side while getting more funds for B.J.P.

The next few months will see feverish activities in both camps. Modi’s popularity, B.J.P.’s financial resources, and strong organization may still give the ruling Party an edge. Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram could be a trailer of what’s to come. (IPA Service)

The post INDIA Alliance Has To Successfully Tackle Seat Sharing Issue To Defeat BJP first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article INDIA Alliance Has To Successfully Tackle Seat Sharing Issue To Defeat BJP appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

India successfully landed the Chandrayaan 3 spacecraft on the Moon last week. It is the fourth country to do so. Congratulations to ISRO for this achievement, which fills every Indian with pride. Scientists worldwide are especially interested in the Moon’s South Pole region.

The Chandrayaan 3 success has boosted India’s soft power prestige, especially considering its failed attempt in 2019. The victory is sweeter since it happened shortly after Russia’s unsuccessful attempt at a lunar landing.

The United States was the first to land humans on the Moon in 1969. NASA, the American space research organization, achieved this extraordinary accomplishment through the Apollo Program over 50 years ago. With technological advancements, the interest in exploring the Moon and the other planets is growing in other countries also.

We owe this moment of success to our great scientists and visionary leaders, such as our first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The contributions of his successors, including Prime Minister Modi, have been instrumental in maintaining this success.

The Moon always fascinated us as kids. Many children innocently attempted to touch it. Our mothers and grandmothers shared beautiful stories. They struck a relationship with the Moon and called it Chandamama (Moon Uncle)

Indians have known astronomy for centuries. There were renowned astronomers such as Aryabhatta, Varahamihira, and Brahmagupta. Our ancestors held a profound respect for celestial bodies. They believed in a four-tiered universe consisting of the Earth, the middle region, Indra’s heaven, and the higher heaven of the immortals. According to the Rig Veda, the Sun is at the centre of the solar system, with all other planets revolving around it.

People used the Moon’s phases for centuries to make the lunar calendar. It was an essential tool in their daily lives. It’s still noticeable today, even though it’s not widely used anymore.

Air Force pilot Rakesh Sharma made history by becoming the first Indian to embark on a space mission to the Salyut 7 space station, an invitation extended by the Soviets. His mission in 1984 lasted for seven days, twenty-one hours, and forty minutes. This accomplishment opened the doors to outer space research.

Even politicians use the Moon to bribe their voters. In the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly election campaign, Thulam Saravanan, an independent candidate, made an exceptional pledge to his voters. He promised a trip to the Moon if he won, but his voters knew it was an empty promise.

What inspires individuals to venture into outer space? It’s a natural curiosity and fascination with the unknown. Throughout history, people have explored and discovered new frontiers. Our quest for planets outside our solar system has grown significantly in recent years.

Space exploration inspires motivation and provides better communication on robotics and advanced science. It also facilitates collaboration in science, technology, and diplomacy. Additionally, it can enhance resource extraction, human habitation, and long-term space-living research.

Scientists believe there is water ice on the Moon. It could be utilized for fuel and living spaces. The objective of the Chandrayaan 3 is to locate these deposits and study them.

The possibility of establishing a base on the Moon is also being explored. Studying the Moon is crucial for investigating other planets, including Mars. Technological advancements and lower exploration expenses have increased the Moon research. Utilizing the Moon as a launching platform promotes space tourism.

The demand for satellite imaging, positioning, and navigation data is high, leading to significant growth in the space economy. The global space industry will reach USD 546 billion by the year-end of 2023. India’s space industry is valued at $8 billion, representing just a 2% share of the global space economy. Since 1999, the country has launched 381 foreign satellites for 34 countries, earning $279 million. With the success of the Chandrayaan 3 Mission, there is potential for a further boost to India’s space economy.

Exploring the Moon and other planets is a significant investment for the US and Russia. In July 2023, India joined China and Russia in the race to build infrastructure on the Moon with the development of the International Lunar Research Station. This Moon base is under construction.

India’s space programme received early support from the US, Russia, and France. It has experienced both achievements and obstacles over time. Since its creation in the 1960s, ISRO has made noteworthy advancements and strengthened its partnership with NASA. Thanks to its cost-effective programs, it has conducted missions to explore the Moon and Mars, including Chandrayaan3.

There is a debate about whether we should invest more money into space exploration or concentrate on solving problems here on Earth. Some people think that space research deserves more financial support, while others believe that we should deal with issues on our planet before anything else. Nonetheless, it’s clear that ISRO has accomplished remarkable progress in space exploration and requires more funding to sustain its work. The present success will also enhance ISRO’s standing in the global space industry. (IPA Service)

The post Chandrayaan 3 Success Has Given A Big Boost To India’s Image As A Powerful Nation first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article Chandrayaan 3 Success Has Given A Big Boost To India’s Image As A Powerful Nation appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

India just marked its 77th year of independence on August 15. It is an excellent time to reflect on successes and failures and plan what’s ahead. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shared his vision for the country until 2047. His “Azadi ka Amrit Kaal” plan aims to enhance the quality of life for all Indians.

Modi’s dream is to prepare India to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2030 and a developed nation by 2047. Amrit Kaal aims to use technology and involve the younger generation to improve the quality of life and reduce government intervention.

The country gained independence on August 15, 1947, a significant historical event. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, delivered his famous “Tryst with Destiny” speech on the eve of this day in the Central Hall of Parliament. Various Prime Ministers have played a crucial role in shaping India to its current position.

India’s freedom fighters made great sacrifices that paved the way for generations of free Indian citizens. Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister born in independent India, which is noteworthy. The most critical thing was that since 1947, the country has remained united despite predictions of disintegration from Western countries.

India has achieved 17 peaceful power transfers as a young nation without hiccups or military coups. The voters have actively participated in the democratic process. Even illiterate voters have demonstrated their ability to remove powerful regimes, as was seen in 1977. During this time, the Janata Party coalition was brought in. Indira Gandhi was removed from power due to her emergency excesses. However, when it was discovered that the Janata coalition was a failure, the people voted back Indira Gandhi in 1980.

The country has made progress in various sectors. Its economy has gained global recognition, particularly since its liberalization in 1991. Over the past 77 years, India’s democratic institutions have seen both successes and failures.

The Modi government has initiated several schemes, as did his predecessors. The weak link is their implementation. One crucial area is to promote gender equality by placing more women in government positions. They must also get equal pay for equal work.

Despite women’s demand for a 30% reservation of seats in Parliament, male politicians have resisted the idea thus far. Rajya Sabha passed the women’s reservation bill in March 2010, but it lapsed in Lok Sabha. New efforts have yet to be made to reintroduce it.

During his tenth Independence Day address last week, the Prime Minister spoke about India’s progress in many areas. He highlighted the importance of three key factors: Democracy, Diversity, and Demography. He noted that 65% of the country’s population is young. It is both a boon and a curse. While having more human resources is advantageous, ensuring enough food and jobs for such a large population is a worry.

On his tenth Independence Day address from the Red Fort, Prime Minister claimed that the country has progressed in various areas during his regime. Transparency in decision-making is essential for trust between the government and the governed. It can be achieved through access to information. The Right to Information Act (2005) is a critical tool that promotes openness and accessibility in governance.

Promoting political participation is essential. The village panchayat system has significantly progressed since the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution in 1992. A three-tiered approach has decentralized power. Currently, over a million women hold positions as panchayat heads.

Industries like agriculture and dairy farming have seen significant progress, such as the Green and White Revolutions. The country has also made strides in nuclear power, military and information technology, and space exploration.

Despite progress in many areas, critical issues remain. Specifically, education, housing, infrastructure, and healthcare need more funding. It is crucial in light of the recent pandemic. We need to build a more resilient healthcare system.

Although steps have been taken to address corruption, more actions could combat this issue. Corruption has deeply rooted itself in all strata of society. And those who offer and accept bribes must face the consequences.

Transparency in political financing is essential, especially with the rising costs of elections. Disclosing all donations to political parties is crucial. Moreover, identifying and addressing any loopholes in existing laws is vital. To prevent discrimination based on caste, gender, and religion, it’s vital to implement affirmative action strictly. Also, there is a demand for quota for the Backward Classes.

In India, easing religious tensions is critical to respecting other religions and adopting a philosophy of coexistence. Communal clashes in various parts of the country must be ruthlessly checked. Prime Minister and his party BJP are being increasingly adopting majoritarianism against the minorities. The riots in Manipur and Nuh in Haryana are the reminders of the excesses of the communal elements. The country can never truly prosper by polarizing the nation, the nation has to be unified as per the ethos of the Indian Constitution.

The road ahead could be rough. The focus must be checking population growth, treating poverty and illiteracy, religious bias and gender inequality. We must address issues like city congestion, environmental degradation, and a pressing energy crisis. For all these, good governance is essential. People must be vigilant while choosing their representatives. As the saying goes, “you get the government you deserve.” The voters must be vigilant.. Only then we can move forward. (IPA Service)

The post Indian Nation Facing Major Challenges In Its Journey Towards 2047 first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article Indian Nation Facing Major Challenges In Its Journey Towards 2047 appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Can the Manipur crisis impact the newly formed opposition coalition I.N.D.I.A. to its advantage? Can Congress leader Rahul Gandhi utilize it as another Opposition leader Mamata Banerjee did in Singur and Nandigram Moment in West Bengal to win in 2011 assembly elections? These significant moments are rare and unforgettable.

Rahul Gandhi may face obstacles that could significantly affect Congress and the political situation in India in the coming months. How he handles these challenges will be crucial in deciding his future and the future of Indian politics overall.

The latest attempt to table a no-confidence motion against the Modi government was defeated last week because of the NDA majority. Now is a unique chance for Rahul to make a difference for himself, his Party and the Opposition.

Between 2004 and 2014, Gandhi had the opportunity to become a minister in Dr Manmohan Singh’s cabinet but did not take the position. As the Congress chief in the 2019 elections, he could not lead the Congress to victory.

His Party has been in the wilderness since the entry of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the national scene in 2014, resulting in Congress being out of power for a decade. Winning the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in 2024 is crucial for Congress to regain control and calm growing restlessness.

Rahul’s return as Lok Sabha member has lifted the spirits of himself, his Party, and the Opposition. He projected himself as a victim of Modi’s political vendetta and gained public sympathy. The dignified handling of his dismissal from Parliament and eventual reinstatement, thanks to intervention from the Supreme Court, demonstrated great maturity.

Rahul realizes his mistakes. His successful Bharat Jodi Yatra, which covered 3500 kilometres from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, earned him praise for promoting unity and peace. During his Yatra, Rahul Gandhi rallied the demoralized Congress supporters. He presented himself as a self-assured leader capable of challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. It resulted in the B.J.P. and other regional leaders taking notice of his growing acceptance to the common masses, apart from the Congress supporters.

Rahul needs to show maturity and develop a fresh narrative for the upcoming Assembly elections this year and the Lok Sabha elections next year. Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram are all preparing for the polls. The AAM ADMI slogan was instrumental in the Party’s success and power retention from 2004 to 2014. Raising bread and butter issues that concern the common man is crucial. Winning these elections could be a critical step forward in Rahul’s political career.

Rahul faces a challenge in gaining the support of senior Opposition leaders like Sharad Pawar (NCP), Mamata Banerjee (TMC), Nitish Kumar, M K Stalin and Akhilesh Yadav.

Following Rahul’s disqualification, the Opposition worked towards unity and agreed to move forward with an alliance, which included the Congress, despite their differences. It accommodated the needs of the smaller regional parties, treating them as equals. After Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that Congress is not vying for the Prime Minister position, Rahul is now more acceptable to the coalition partners.

Despite Prime Minister Modi’s goal of a Congress-free India, the Congress party is gaining momentum. The popularity of Gandhi is increasing steadily, thanks to the pan-national nature of the Congress party across the country. It is more after the Bharat Jodo yatra and Rahul’s expulsion from Parliament after Gujarat High Court verdict followed by reinstatement due to Supreme Court order.

In 2019, Rahul resigned from his position as Congress President. However, he still makes decisions for the Party. He must take responsibility and work openly instead of operating behind the scenes. Rahul as the leader of the main opposition party must play a prominent role in leading INDIA alliance.

To reach the voters, there is a need to focus on urgent issues such as the rising cost of living, inflation, and affordability of necessities like food and milk. While Rahul’s emphasis on Congress’ ideology is crucial, a new narrative focusing on the people’s fundamental concerns is equally essential.

It is essential to reorganize the Party and establish strong booth committees at the gross root level. Gandhi must assign the right person to the right job. According to the coalition’s strength, it is vital to field a strong candidate from I.N.D.I.A. against the B.J.P. in every seat.. Cooperation and flexibility are necessary for this endeavour.

Rahul Gandhi has presented himself as a self-assured leader, prepared to face Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Additionally, he has announced that the second part of the Bharat Jodo yatra will be initiated shortly. (IPA Service)

The post Rahul Gandhi Is Emerging Stronger As Potential Leader Of The Opposition first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article Rahul Gandhi Is Emerging Stronger As Potential Leader Of The Opposition appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

In democratic countries like India and the United States, it is often surprising that politicians with controversial pasts are still elected. However, the reasons for this still need to be better understood.

For instance, multiple indictments have been filed against ex-President Donald Trump. Does a leader have the right to use lies to stay in power, even if the people vote against them? The main question has arisen due to the recent indictment of the ex-President.

The Department of Justice alleges that he tried to steal the 2020 election and undermine democracy, despite knowing he had lost. Trump is charged with possessing classified documents in Florida, paying off a pornographic actor in Manhattan, and trying to manipulate the election results in Georgia.

Last week’s third indictment of the year had caused a significant split among voters. Democrats see it as a necessary act of justice for an attack on American democracy, while Republicans view it as evidence of partisan meddling in the legal system.

Although there have been misconduct accusations, Trump has consistently denied them. Playing the victim card, he claims he is unfairly targeted for political reasons.

The talking points of President Trump revolve around how the establishment and the ‘deep state’ are working against him. Trump has successfully pushed a politics of grievance, where the system is out to get you,”

Many Republican voters continue to support the ex-President, despite facing numerous indictments. GOP officials were backing Trump’s claim that the charges were politically motivated.

Recent opinion polls show that Trump is leading the race against President Joe Biden. Many Trump supporters are willing to donate generously to his legal defence and campaign. After all, running for the presidency requires a significant war chest.

Discrediting his prosecutors, Trump has expressed doubts about why the charges were not brought up earlier. At a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 29, Trump asserted,  “They’re not indicting me; they’re indicting you. I happen to be standing in their way.”

Trump’s strategists plan to use his recent indictment to strengthen his defence. He portrays himself as a Washington outsider despite being the President earlier.

Trump sees himself as a defender against the “deep state.” He claims, “They want to take away my freedom because I will never let them take away your freedom.”

Earlier this year, the Trump campaign claimed that the charges against him were similar to those in Nazi Germany during the 1930s.

Trump’s power within his party has remained since his victory in the 2016 election as President of the United States.

It’s still being determined how the trials will affect the 2024  presidential election, even though many people have made contradicting predictions. So far, the indictments have hurt Trump with independent voters but strengthened him with the Republican voters who decide primaries.

There is no clarity on whether what happens to Trump – whether he’s found guilty, not guilty, or the jury can’t decide – will impact the election.

Unlawful conduct and corruption are not just issues in India. However,

examining the situation can shed light on the difficulties that other democracies, like Pakistan and the Philippines, are grappling with, as these issues are deeply ingrained. It will provide helpful insight into how common these issues are in democratic nations.

What motivates political parties in India to select candidates with criminal charges? What drives voters to vote for them? Why do voters support politicians with a tarnished reputation, even after their past misdeeds?

Political parties like the ruling BJP and the main Opposition Congress choose candidates with a known history of corruption and criminal record without hesitation. They do not show any remorse when picking these candidates.

India has a political system with three tiers and three million positions available. Campaigning for office requires a lot of resources.

Unfortunately, many local political parties are controlled by influential individuals and clans who have complete control over their respective regions. These parties function like personal fiefs and often lack inner-party democracy.

Wealthy candidates have an advantage in gaining a foothold. Parties also seek self-financed candidates who tend to be more competitive during elections.

Running for office can be expensive. Unfortunately, a candidate’s wealth determines their likelihood of winning.

Will Indian democracy be affected by a Parliament made up mostly of wealthy representatives in a mainly impoverished country?

Over 80% of Parliament members are millionaires. As a result, many qualified and knowledgeable people in India do not view politics as a career choice.

It’s the same analogy in the US. It is possible to contest and win elections if you are a multi-millionaire or supported by wealthy people.

Coming back to India, although she had a questionable track record, the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, J. Jayalalitha, even after conviction, has succeeded in winning multiple elections. Other notable politicians include BJP leader Y.S. Yediyurappa and the late Gujarat Chief Minister Chiman Bhai Patel.

Establishing a transparent and honest method of fighting elections is crucial to promote democracy and fairness in countries like the US and India. It will pave the way for a more equal and just society.(IPA Service)

The post Donald Trump’s Increasing Popularity Even After Three Indictions Raises Moral Questions first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article Donald Trump’s Increasing Popularity Even After Three Indictions Raises Moral Questions appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

The Speaker has admitted the notice given by the new Opposition coalition (INDIA) last week against the Narendra Modi government. It will be the second he has faced since 2014.

Earlier this month, 26 opposition parties formed Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). Opposition parties are increasing the pressure on Modi as they gear up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Socialist leader Acharya Kripalani brought the first no confidence motion against the Jawaharlal Nehru government in August 1963. Indira Gandhi faced the most number of no-confidence motions. She faced 15 during her 16-year tenure (1966-77 and1980- 1984) as prime minister. Charan Singh, V.P. Singh, Chandra Shekhar, H.D. Deve Gowda and I.K. Gujral did not face any such motion.

The opposition sponsored motion comes after the monsoon session faced continuous disruption on the Manipur issue. That was the last resort after it exhausted all other options to get a reply from Prime Minister.

The fate of the present no-trust motion is already known. There will be no nail-biting excitement. The ruling BJP can easily win the motion, as the math favours Modi.

The BJP-led NDA has 332 members in Lok Sabha. The required majority mark is 272. The Jagan Mohan Reddy-led Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), not a part of the NDA, has decided to back the NDA government with its 22 members in the Lok Sabha.

The opposition bloc has a strength of 142 seats. The KCR-led (Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), )not part of the INDIA bloc, has backed the opposition. The BRS also had submitted a no-trust motion separately, but the Speaker did not admit it.

The Opposition knows it may not win the vote but claims it will win the perception war. The motion will pressure the PM to come before the Lok Sabha and answer the questions about Maniour clashes and other issues. Narendra Modi has remained silent for nearly three months.

The ethnic clashes began in early May. It was between the majority Meitei group, who are overwhelmingly Hindus, and the mainly Christian Kuki and Naga tribes in the BJP-ruled Manipur.

The clashes have caused widespread national and international anger after some disturbing videos have become public recently. A video of two women paraded naked by a mob sparked global outrage last week. A spokesman of the Biden administration also expressed condemnation.

The face-off between the Government and the Opposition escalated over the issue, resulting in the non-stop disruption of Parliament since the Monsoon session began. Having a considerable majority, the Modi Government has nothing to fear, yet it refused to be accommodating towards the Opposition.

The Opposition is also confronting the Government with walkouts, noisy scenes, and slogan shouting. Both sides adopted an aggressive attitude. While it is the business of the Government to ensure the smooth running of Parliament, the Opposition must also provide constructive criticism. Both sides must change their attitude. Debate, discussion, and constructive criticism are fundamental parts of Parliamentary functioning.

Prime Minister must now respond to the upcoming no-confidence motion and clarify all issues raised. The Opposition will undoubtedly utilize this debate as an opportunity to voice their concerns, making it crucial for the Prime Minister to clear doubts.

Parliament needs more discussions and scrutiny of laws, as the members are called lawmakers for nothing.

Recognizing the value of parliamentary debates in shaping public opinion is essential. Dismissing these debates as unproductive would be a mistake.

The lawmakers debate bills before they vote on them. Expressing their concerns during a House session is essential. They have several avenues to voice their concern. They have the question hour, short notice questions, calling attention motions, adjournment motions and finally, a no-trust motion.

Since Independence, Indian Parliament has witnessed some excellent debates. But over the years, disruptions rather than debate have become the norm. So the debates and discussions have no place amidst noisy scenes. M.P.s from both sides must use debates and discussions to represent their constituents’ views and allow for meaningful scrutiny of government policies.

Even the former Chief Justice of India, N.V. Ramana, lamented that the Parliament did not have adequate discussions over scrutinizing the laws.

Lawmakers must ensure that necessary modifications and revisions are made to a bill to achieve its intended objective and avoid it from being dismissed by the judiciary.

A thriving democracy requires an effective Parliament. As per the Constitution, the legislature creates laws, the Government carries them out, and the judiciary enforces them.

It is essential to take action to implement necessary changes decisively. This includes ensuring that parliamentary institutions and procedures are practical and powerful tools.

The Modi government’s significant majority in the Lok Sabha does not guarantee an effortless operation. The Opposition must identify and address the correct issues to be successful. Mere walkouts, shouting slogans, and causing disruptions in the House will not accomplish their objectives. There should be a more strategic and practical approach to achieving their goals.

Political parties must immediately revisit their approach and prioritize constructive debates and discussions. (IPA Service)

The post Indian Parliament Has A Chequered History Of No-Confidence Motions first appeared on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.

The article Indian Parliament Has A Chequered History Of No-Confidence Motions appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Why did the Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi consciously keep a low profile at the Opposition unity meeting in Bangalore or earlier in Patna? Insiders say that it was a calculated decision.

Congress decided two things after the Party failed to unite the Opposition. One is to play a low profile in the Opposition meetings. The second is to climb down from its high pedestal and concede that all partners are equal. The million dollar question is why the Gandhis have adopted a “we are equals” position in the Bengaluru gathering.

But more importantly, even before the meeting, Congress President MallikharjunKHarge had clarified that his Party was not in the race to stake for prime ministership this time. So far, Congress has been living in its past glory. The allies also resented the big-brother attitude of the Congress.

They anticipated that Congress would push for leadership and claim that Rahul should become the prime minister. This was a calculated decision of the Party (read as the Gandhi family), or Kharge would not have made that statement. It has created a positive atmosphere as most of the partners had been anti-Congress at one time or  other.

The political compulsions make Congress adopt it. Also, the declining Congress finally realized that the Party had lost its primacy in an era where the regional satraps had a stronghold over their fiefdoms.

With Rahul’s future unclear and what the Supreme could say about his disqualification, the Gandhi family is not keen to project anyone. So as a goodwill measure, the Party said it would not seek primacy.

Sonia had initially planned to retire from politics at 70 but could not do so due to political challenges. Over the past two years, she has taken a less active role in politics due to her declining health. While she has minimized her participation in election rallies, she attended the Bengaluru meeting to serve as a unifying force for various partners. Also, expecting regional leaders to work under Rahul may be too optimistic. Leaders like Mamata Banerjee would not favour it.

Secondly, The Gandhi family is bidding time. It needs the full strength of the Opposition to help them counter the BJP. Suppose the apex court verdict goes in Rahul’s favour in the disqualification case, it will be an optimistic scenario. Gandhi’s legal team hopes to nullify the ban by overturning the decision or reducing his sentence to less than two years. If he wins the court case, Rahul could challenge Modi in the 2024 polls. He could always campaign for the alliance if the Court upheld the lower Court’s decision, and Rahul would get sympathy.

Thirdly, the family has always shown reluctance to accept positions. They prefer to be the power behind the throne. This ‘renunciation’ went down well with the Public. In 2004, Sonia declined the post of prime minister.

It was the same with Rahul Gandhi. He refused in an AICC meeting in Hyderabad (2005), declaring he was not ready to take a job when the Party was clamouring to give him a post in the AICC. But later, he became the Congress President, only to resign after the 2019 debacle. But taking on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2024 will be a formidable challenge even for a united opposition.

The Congress is the largest Party in the opposition bloc with 80 MPs (49 in Lok Sabha and 31 in Rajya Sabha). The Party is in power in four states — Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh. It is a member of the ruling coalitions in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Jharkhand.

While the Opposition has successfully convened the two meetings, the leadership issue is yet to be taken. So is the Prime Ministerial face, as the partners have decided that that comes after the elections. Whichever Party wins, the highest number would   get  the advantage .

Despite not holding any official position, Rahul is now a prominent Opposition coalition member along with his mother, Sonia and Party chief Kharge. Suppose Sonia becomes the new coalition’s President, Rahul will still make the decisions on behalf of the Party whether he contests or not.

The Party   cadres   were demoralized after losing the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Therefore winning in 2024 is a must for Congress. After the recent ‘ Bharat Jodo Yatra,’ Rahul’s image improved.

Congress must address its internal conflicts as the elections approach, especially in states like Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana. Securing victories in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh     and Chhattishgarh is possible, but   the    state units   have to fight   the battle against the BJP fully united.

The future is still being determined. Each partner should hold the meeting in rotation but if the Opposition coalition is successful, it will go a long way for catapulting   the Congress near the seat   of   power. (IPA Service)

The post Sonia Gandhi Will Be More Active In India Till 2024 Lok Sabha Elections first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article Sonia Gandhi Will Be More Active In India Till 2024 Lok Sabha Elections appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

As we approach the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the ruling NDA and the combined opposition prepare for the fierce battle ahead. The opposition is holding strategy meetings in Bengaluru its second, on July 18, while the NDA is meeting in Delhi on the same day to showcase its strength.

The opposition front has expanded, with eight more parties joining the second unity meeting on Tuesday The Opposition is enthused after its successful first meeting in Patna last month in which 16 parties participated. The Bengaluru meeting is meant to take it forward. Its decisions arrived at the first meeting on June 23. The NDA, too, is seeking more allies and retaining the present flock.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had invited 24 allies, including eight new entrants. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, the Forward Bloc, the Indian Union Muslim League, the Kerala Congress-Joseph and the Kerala Congress-Mani will join the second opposition meeting. MDMK and KDMK were BJP allies earlier.

The Congress Parliamentary Party’s leader Sonia Gandhi will attend the meeting. Though she has taken a back seat, for the first time, she will participate in Bengaluru.

The main objective of the opposition front is to promote positive partnerships. At Patna, the front held firm to an unwavering mindset of “hum saath saath hai,” which means that we stand together. This motto encapsulates the opposition’s unwavering confidence in working as a team. The Patna meeting has kept out irritants among the players, which itself is considered well-begun.

A lot had happened politically since the Opposition’s first and second meetings. There was a setback after the Nationalist Congress Party split this month. Eight NCP rebels, including Sharad Pawar’s close lieutenants Praful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal, have ditched the senior Pawar. Sharad Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar is now the new Deputy chief minister of the Shinde cabinet.

Secondly, in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee won a massive victory in the recent Panchayat elections. Why do the national parties seek alliance? The BJP governs ten states independently and in partnership with five others, while the Congress governs four states independently and is partner in three state governments.

In about 180 seats, the primary challengers to the national parties are regional parties. The Congress versus BJP would be in about 230+ seats. Bharat Rashtra Samiti, Biju Janata Dal, Andhra Pradesh’s YSRCP, Bahujan Samaj Party, and other smaller parties with pockets of influence are neutral.

The Opposition is already broadly united in States like Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and Jammu and Kashmir. The contradictions are: In West Bengal, the TMC directly competes with the BJP. The AAP is a rival to the BJP in Delhi and Congress in Punjab . In Kerala, it is Congress versus Left.

The main issue is whether Congress accepts allies as its equal and vice versa. Congress and the allies perceive each other as not having equal status. They must come to a mutual understanding. For instance, following the Patna meeting, AAP announced that attending future meetings would depend on whether Congress publicly denounced the recent ordinance hurting the Delhi government. Congress did that on Saturday and AAP is attending the Bengaluru meeting.

The second priority is establishing a Common Minimum Programme. The third is to agree on a convenor; the choice of the prime ministerial candidate will come later. The fourth is an apprehension that Narendra Modi might advance Lok Sabha polls. Hence Opposition parties must find the broadest possible consensus on various issues.

BJP is eyeing ‘NDA plus’ ahead of the 2024 elections and a hat trick for Modi. A new and expanded NDA will meet on July 18 in Delhi to discuss their plans. The BJP aims to secure 50% of the vote share by collaborating with new and old NDA members.

The BJP has shrunk because it lost four of its oldest allies since 2014- The Janata Dal (United), Akali Dal, Shiv Sena and JD(U). In a game of snakes and ladders, Telugu Desam and Akali Dal want to come back. Shiv Sena has split, and one faction will join the NDA..The NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar is also expected to join July 18 meeting.

The new members are -The Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party and the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena. Chirag Paswan, leader of the Lok Jan Shakti Party (RV), the former chief minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Jiten Ram Manjhi and his son will be present. The JD(S) from Karnataka could also join the NDA meeting. There could be a delay in finalizing the return of the TDP and the SAD.

The BJP is becoming more attentive to its allies, as they feel they need to be consulted. It must nurse its allies in Maharashtra, Haryana, Bihar, the northeastern and southern states. It must also keep channels open with neutral parties like Biju Janata Dal and YSRCP.

The purpose of the July 18 meeting is to signal NDA is strong. The BJP also wants to reduce the media spotlight on UPA’s Bengaluru meeting. Both coalitions plan to make full use of optics. Despite what happens in the two meetings, it is vital for the Opposition to maintain their unity and for the NDA to add more allies and prioritize their importance. Both coalitions are getting ready for the final battle after eight months. (IPA Service)

The post NDA Conclave On July 18 Is A Sort Of Challenge To Opposition Meet In Bengaluru first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article NDA Conclave On July 18 Is A Sort Of Challenge To Opposition Meet In Bengaluru appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

The Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar claims he is neither ‘tired nor retired’ at 82. Undeterred by the recent political crisis in his party, the Grand old man has begun to rebuild his shrinking party after the BJP engineered the division in the NCP. Pawar founded the party in 1999, rebelling against Congress. He is currently facing the very tough challenge of keeping his flock together. Senior Pawar is much older and has health problems.

To add to his woes, almost all his loyalists, including his nephew Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal, whom he had groomed for years, have ditched him to join the BJP coalition.

The present Sena-BJP government had the numbers and didn’t need an NCP faction for survival. The question is why the party lured the NCP rebels when the Shinde government is comfortably placed.

The political drama runs at two levels- one at the regional and the other at the national level. The larger story is not the Maharashtra crisis but its impact on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the Opposition unity. With just 9 months before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the electoral future of all parties is at stake. Modi is running for his third term in office.

As for Maharashtra, the elections are due next year. The state accounts for Parliament’s second highest Lok Sabha Seats (48), after UP(80). The BJP wants to improve its position.

Pawar is a wily politician who has seen many ups and downs in his more than five decades of political life. He has been chief minister four times also, defence minister and agriculture minister at the Centre. The only thing he could not achieve was his ambition to become Prime Minister. He threw his hat in the ring after Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991 but lost the opportunity.

The BJP has hit multiple targets in one go successfully. The party took its “revenge” against Sharad Pawar, for in 2019, Sharad had weaned away the Shiv Sena. He persuaded the Congress and put together a Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition government. As part of the revenge, the BJP split the Sena and installed Sena rebel Eknath Shinde as chief minister last year. Now it was the turn of the NCP to face a split.

Ajit, nursing chief ministerial ambition, will have to work alongside BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the same position. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde apprehends that Ajit Pawar might be made the chief minister. Shinde and the other Sena rebels are facing a disqualification case, and the verdict is expected in August.

After the NCP split, the political dynamics in Maharashtra shifted in favour of the BJP. Broadly, Sharad Pawar was weakened, and Congress got an advantage. The BJP looks to consolidate power and regain Maratha and OBC support base before the polls. The party enjoyed the Marathas’ strong support while keeping its traditional vote base of OBCs from 2014 to 2019.

At the national level, the BJP is yet to recover from the recent defeat in the Karnataka state polls. It depends on the potential for improvement in the other poll-bound states of Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Congress is ruling in Rajasthan and Chattisgarh, while BJP holds Madhya Pradesh.

At another level, the NCP split has sent shock waves to the Opposition camp. It hinders the Opposition’s efforts to unite anti-BJP forces ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

Sharad Pawar is one of the key players in the unity move.

Recently, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar convened a meeting of non-BJP leaders in Patna, where 16 opposition parties participated. They presented a united front and promised to cooperate to achieve their common objective of defeating the BJP. Another meeting is scheduled for  July 17 and 18  at Bengaluru .

Bihar could be the next to face instability. The JD(U) had been a long-time BJP ally .Chief Minister Nitish Kumar dumped the BJP last year and formed a government with the RJD, Congress, the Left, and other parties. If enough JD (U) MLAs defect, the BJP could form a government in Bihar, significantly weakening the Opposition unity move. Bihar has 40 seats in Lok Sabha.

West Bengal could be another target as the BJP has tried hard to penetrate, only in vain. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is one of the active members of the proposed non-BJP coalition.  BJP has been trying to weaken Mamata in Bengal but so far, the saffron have not succeeded.

The ongoing political uncertainty in Maharashtra may prolong due to legal battles in courts and the Election Commission. The decision of Speaker Narwekar could also be delayed.

Despite his numerous challenges, Pawar has proven to be a resilient and formidable figure. Pawar may have lost the battle against his nephew and a conniving BJP, but will he eventually win the war to reclaim his party and reputation? Is the fight over? Of course not. It is a no holds barred, winner takes it all war that would be fought in the 2024 polls. (IPA Service)

The post NCP Split In Maharashtra Is A Part Of Wider BJP Plan For Lok Sabha Polls first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article NCP Split In Maharashtra Is A Part Of Wider BJP Plan For Lok Sabha Polls appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Is Prime Minister Narendra Modi trying to complete all the three core agenda of the Sangh Parivar? He had overseen the other two issues in the past nine years of his regime- building the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and revoking Article 370.

Implementing a uniform civil code remains on the table. The moot question is whether India needs such a law and whether this is the time to push it. Despite the codification of Hindu laws in 1956, a consensus on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is yet to come in India. Many religious communities at present abide by their own distinct personal laws.

The UCC is a complex issue. It has several angles, such as political, legislative, religious, gender and Constitutional perspectives, to the question. The UCC is prevalent in many countries like France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. However, some countries like Kenya, Pakistan, Italy, South Africa, Nigeria, and Greece do not have it.

Analysts see Modi’s raising the issue again during his address to the BJP workers in Bhopal last week was not an off-the-cuff remark. He had measured every word . Significantly, Madhya Pradesh is a poll-bound state.

The origin of the UCC dates back to colonial India. The British government recommended uniformity in the codification of Indian law in 1835. The UCC intends to unify all personal religious laws, including marriage, divorce, property rights, inheritance, and maintenance. Article 44 of the Indian Constitution stipulates the state shall endeavour to secure a Common Code throughout India for citizens. One of the Principles of State Policy states that the UCC is essential. Goa is the only Indian state that follows a uniform civil code. The Portuguese law of 1867 remained the same even after India annexed Goa.

The Constituent Assembly debated the issue. India’s first Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru, postponed a decision claiming, “I do not think that at the present moment, the time is ripe for me to try to push it (UCC) through”. If only the framers of our Constitution had decided on the issue, the problem would not exist today. The Law Commission of India began to examine UCC afresh and sought suggestions from the public.

The UCC has become more political than legal. Supporters and opponents argue on both sides. Supporters believe, sooner or later, there must be a common law that applies to all religious communities. The BJP believes in bringing the UCC.

Prime Minister Modi, while making a strong pitch for the UCC, said in Bhopal the Constitution mentions having equal rights. “If there is one law for one member in a house and another for the other, will the house be able to run? So how will the country be able to run with such a dual system?” the prime minister asked.

He argued that passing the Uniform Civil Law would provide benefits despite many differences and conflicts. It would provide gender equality and one law for all. Modi urged Muslims to see how the Opposition provoked and exploited them.

Further, The Supreme Court highlighted the importance of a (UCC) in 1985. The apex court noted that it would maintain national unity. In 1995, the Court recommended a single law governing all citizens. In 2019, the Modi government expressed its commitment to the UCC to the Apex Court. Earlier, the Supreme Court outlawed the Triple Talaq providing gender justice.

The Opponents, led by Congress and other secular parties, oppose it. Muslims and other minorities do not favour it although some Islamic countries have adopted a common law for all, Modi’s call for Uniform Civil Code has provoked sharp criticism from opposition parties. They allege Modi was trying to divert the attention from bread-and-butter issues such as rising prices, unemployment and violence in Manipur. They note that without a consensus on the subject, there could be no UCC. The opponents point out that Muslims perceive the UCC as infringing on their religious freedom.

In a secular country like India, UCC is significant to provide one law for all. Seventy-five years have passed, and many experts feel that it is time to consider it seriously in a country where 65 per cent are youth. Uttarakhand has received a report from a commission led by a former Supreme Court recommending UCC for the state. Perhaps the BJP intends to replicate this in other states.

BJP sources say that Prime Minister Modi would like to face the 2024 Lok Sabha elections after UCC legislation. It is a question mark whether he could push it through. In Parliament which opens on July 20 with its monsoon session It is likely that BJP will push through the legislation without caring for the opposition since the saffron may get the support of a few non-BJP parties like AAP and it will be possible to get it passed in Rajya Sabha where still the BJP and its allies have no majority.

The Prime Minister must convene an all-party meeting to discuss the issue of the UCC. With Assembly elections in some states and the General elections scheduled for next year, Prime Minister feels that the implementation of the third core issue in BJP programme UCC, may help the Party in doing better in the coming polls by getting more support from the Hindus and dividing the Muslims. (IPA Service)

The post Prime Minister Seems Determined To Get UCC Bill Passed In Parliament Before 2024 Polls first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article Prime Minister Seems Determined To Get UCC Bill Passed In Parliament Before 2024 Polls appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States has strengthened the ties between the two countries, augmenting his global presence and reinforcing his association with the Diaspora and business leaders.

The Indian Diaspora in countries like the U.S., U.K., and Australia has become a robust and influential community. Modi has been working to win over this community even as Gujarat’s chief minister. He has continued to build strong relationships with them in countries like America, Great Britain, and Australia, which has proven beneficial.

Prime Minister was pleased that he received top honours from Washington. It included a state dinner at the White House, prestigious guest accommodations at the Blair House, and an opportunity to address the U.S. Congress for the second time in nine years.

Modi’s cooperation with the U.S. has increased despite a previous visa denial. It was due to India’s growing economy, strong military, and educated immigrant workforce. The ties have moved from a non-interference policy of Prime Minister Nehru to the present more engaged approach.

Over the decades, the BJP has built a powerful overseas lobby. “The Friends of BJP” is an influential organization in America. From the 60s, the Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh had been functioning in the U.S. as the Sangh Parivar’s overseas outfit.

During the earlier BJP regime, the Diaspora received increased recognition. The former BJP Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, initiated the Pravasi Divas and conferred honours upon Indian Americans. He also appointed an NRI Agnihotri as a roving ambassador. Nevertheless, the U.S. government declined to acknowledge a second envoy.

Modi pampered them by providing many facilities, like a more accessible visa regime and an Overseas Indian card. The Diaspora wants voting rights, but this will take a long time.

Throughout his speeches, including his address to the U.S. Congress, Modi expressed great admiration for Indian Americans. He presented India as a rapidly growing global power. Instilling a sense of national pride in them, he used their support to strengthen his constituency in India.

Indian Americans responded by showing up in large numbers to welcome and interact with Modi. They chanted slogans such as ‘Modi Modi’, ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, and ‘Vande Mataram’ upon his arrival in New York. They cheered him during President Biden’s welcome speech on the South Lawn of the White House.

Prime Minister called them “the real strength” of the U.S.-India relationship. “I have come here many times, but today for the first time, the doors of the White House have been opened for the Indian American community in such large numbers,” he replied.

Applauding the Diaspora, Modi said they were “brilliant in every field, not just Spelling Bee,” and have played a significant role in the country’s relationship with America. The Diaspora reciprocated enthusiastically. In 2014, Modi’s meeting at the Madison Square event in New York impressed Americans. Later the “Howdy Modi” rally in Houston surprised President Trump.

Both Biden and Modi acknowledge the political power of the four-million-strong Indian American community. They are the second-largest and fastest-growing community in the U.S. Their votes are crucial in several swing states. In the 2020 elections, 74% of Indian American voters supported Biden, highlighting their importance in the political landscape.

Modi has had the opportunity to meet and interact with three American Presidents – Obama, Trump, and Biden. All three have included more members of the Indian Diaspora in their administrations. Currently, Biden has appointed 130 Indian Americans to key positions. Vice President Kamala Harris and presidential hopeful Nikky Halley are both trailblazers in their own right. Some business leaders are heading over two dozen American companies, including Google chief Sundar Pichai and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella.

India and the United States have strengthened business and defence ties over the past decade, with India becoming a member of international groupings like Quad and G20.

However, in Washington, groups favouring and against Modi came together to either support or protest against him. Modi’s human rights track record has not gone unnoticed. On June 20, 75 U.S. Senators and Members of Congress wrote a letter to President Biden, highlighting concerns over issues such as the “shrinking of political space and the rise of religious intolerance.” Moreover, six lawmakers boycotted Modi’s address to the U.S. Congress.

Despite their differing opinions, Washington and New Delhi agree that the visit was necessary and beneficial for the two countries. Modi acknowledged the success of his visit, stating that he had participated in multiple programs and discussions to enhance the friendship between India and the USA.

The South Block intends to capitalize on the visit’s success and pave the way for the upcoming G20 summit in September in New Delhi. These efforts are expected to enhance the Prime Minister’s reputation both nationally and internationally. (IPA Service)

The post Prime Minister Narendra Modi Focused On Indian Diaspora In A Big Way During US Visit first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article Prime Minister Narendra Modi Focused On Indian Diaspora In A Big Way During US Visit appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP are reassessing their 2024 Lok Sabha poll strategy to perform a hat trick. As the Opposition parties try to build a united platform against the BJP, it has become necessary for BJP to begin negotiations with its erstwhile allies and find new partners.

The NDA had 19 allies in 2019. After the loss in Karnataka last month, the BJP is in power in ten states and shares power in four states. But the situation in 2024 looks different. Apart from the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), Rashtriya Lok Jan Shakti Party (Pashupati Paras faction), Apna Dal (Soney Lal faction) and AIADMK, no major party is part of the NDA that completed 25 years of its existence on May.15 this year.

The BJP leadership has already resumed alliance talks with the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab. It has also reaffirmed its ties with the ruling Shiv Sena faction in Maharashtra and the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu.

The BJP has to put its house in order and contain factionalism and indiscipline before this year’s three Assembly polls. What better way than to assuage the departed allies’ feelings and lure them back? BJP had four important partners since 2014. Akali Dal, Shiv Sena, and Telugu Desam might return except JD(U).

Significantly the Party has weakened in Bihar (40 parliamentary seats) after breaking up with Janata Dal (United) and in Maharashtra (48 seats) after splitting Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. With these losses and a united Opposition, the BJP has a potential fight at hand. Hence the need for an alliance.

Firstly, the Party must recover from losing Karnataka in recent Assembly polls. The BJP thought a hung Assembly would emerge, but the Congress won a landslide victory. Therefore, strengthening the Karnataka unit is crucial. For BJP as there are 29 seats from the state in Lok Sabha and in 2019 elections, the BJP got 25 seats out of 29. The Congress got only one. The trends of the recent assembly polls show that the Congress is in a position to win minimum 20 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Secondly, the impact of these results has energised Congress and the Opposition. The BJP would naturally prefer a weak Congress and divided Opposition.

Thirdly, the BJP has reached the maximum it can win on its own in the 2019 elections. It scored maximum number of seats in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The Party could lose some seats in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh. BJP must increase the seats in the South to cover the likely losses. But penetrating the South has been challenging due to different ideologies and the emergence of solid regional parties.

Telugu Desam chief Chandra Babu Naidu recently met top BJP leaders Amit Shah and J.P. Nadda and held talks for re-entry. He was encouraged when Narendra Modi paid homage to TDP founder N T Rama Rao on his 100th birth centenary in his Mann ki Baat address last month. TDP left NDA in 2018. If things work out, the two may become partners in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The BJP will have a tough choice, as the current chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy also had good relations with the BJP.

As for Akali Dal, the oldest ally of the BJP, the Prime Minister recently went to Chandigarh to pay homage to the departed Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, who passed away at 95. The two parties parted ways in 2021 when SAD opposed the three farming laws which it considered anti-farmer. Although the laws were withdrawn, the SAD and BJP fought the elections separately.

Nitish Kumar broke the alliance in Bihar last year. He became the chief minister again with the help of RJD. Bihar is a critical state. The BJP has some small partners and is hoping for defections from JD(U). Nitish has been busy mobilising the Opposition. The BJP is making all efforts to cause cracks in JD(U) to show that Nitish Kumar is even not in control of his own party. But despite all efforts, Nitish is in control and efforts of BJP and RSS may fail in damaging the image of the Bihar Chief Minister.

However, BJP has fair chance regarding the JD(S). The JD(S) may return after its miserable performance in the recent elections winning just 19 seats. It’s founder and former Prime Minister, Deve Gowda, is ready for a short-term alliance in Karnataka.

The BJP rides piggyback on the AIADMK after the death of its leader J. Jayalalithaa in December 2016. Strains developed after the state BJP chief Annamalai recently made unsavoury remarks about the former AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa. The enraged AIADMK threatens to leave the coalition. The BJP central leadership is busy in damage control. BJP needs AIADMK as its ally against the DMK supremo who has emerged as a major leader of the opposition camp.

The BJP is holding talks with its present allies in Maharashtra, Haryana, Bihar, the northeastern states and the South to do well in the polls. The party has also kept channels open with parties equidistant from BJP and the Congress, such as the Biju Janata Dal, and YSRCP.

Officially, the BJP is talking of a both PM and the target of 350 seats out of the total 543 in the2024 Lok Sabha elections, but both PM and the strategic planner Amit Shah know that is a tough job and may not be achievable. Their core strategy is to ensure somehow a simple majority and for ensuring that also, the BJP needs the help of its allies, both present and the past. That is  why all the top leaders are busy talking to JD(S), TDP and SAD for persuading them to be a part of NDA. (IPA Service)

The post BJP Leadership Wants The Estranged Allies To Be Back In NDA Before 2024 Polls first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article BJP Leadership Wants The Estranged Allies To Be Back In NDA Before 2024 Polls appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi was many things to many people. He was ‘Thalaivar” to his cadres, a wily politician to his opponents and a visionary to his admirers. His autobiography ‘Nenjukku Neethi ‘ shows his life and struggle.

Karunanidhi is among the half-a-dozen leaders who shaped Tamil Nadu. Considering his contribution to state, regional and national politics, it is only fitting for the state government to celebrate his birth centenary for a year from June 3. He died at 94 in August 2018.

In his own words, Karunanidhi said, “I have written stories and dialogues for 75 films. I have used my career in films to dispel ignorance among the people in the lower rungs of society, to light up their lives, to remove inequities in society, to spread socially reformative and progressive views and to make Tamilians aware of the antiquity, the sweep, the grandeur and the richness of their language.”Karunanidhi was chief minister for five terms spread over 19 years. He was DMK chief ten times and legislator 13 times.

Growing up amid the Dravidian movement of the 1930s, the multi-faceted Karunanidhi began his life as an activist and journalist. He later became a powerful scriptwriter who used films as a medium to spread the DMK message. He epitomized Dravidian politics, rooted in the Justice Party that emerged in the old Madras Presidency in 1916.

Rising from humble origins and a champion of Dravidian politics, Karunanidhi joined politics at 14. When Annadurai launched the DMK in 1949, he was part of it. Karunanidhi became an MLA in 1957, a minister in 1967 and chief minister in 1969. He weathered many political storms. Indira Gandhi dismissed his government in 1976 when he opposed the Emergency. Prime Minister Chandrashekhar sacked his government in 1990.

His one-time friend M.G. Ramachandran split the party in 1972. He formed a new party Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Since then, the DMK and AIADMK have ruled the State. The DMK remained out of power from 1977 to 1987. MGR ruled till he died in 1987. After the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa won in alliance with Congress in 1991. Since then, the DMK and the AIADMK have alternated in power except from 2011 to 2021.

He also dabbled in national politics. During the 1969 Congress split, he supported Indira Gandhi. When Jayaprakash Narayan launched the Janata Party, the DMK was part of it. He had a cosy relationship with several national leaders. The DMK was part of all coalitions, including the 1989 National Front, United Front in 1996, NDA in 1999, and UPA in 2004. He declined to be the Prime Minister in 1997 when H.D. Deve Gowda stepped down. Karunanidhi asserted, “En uyaram enakke theriyum (I know my height).”

A consummate politician, Karunanidhi could always gauge the public mood correctly. Just before the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, I asked him how he and other senior leaders like comrade Jyoti Basu accepted Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s (a novice compared to them) leadership. True to his prediction, the UPA defeated the Vajpayee government.

He made and unmade alliances based on electoral fortunes. He believed in no permanent enemies or friends in politics. Though Indira Gandhi got his government dismissed in 1976, he became an ally of Congress four years later. They hobnobbed with political leaders virtually across the spectrum.

Karunanidhi played a crucial role in Indo-Sri Lankan relations. While MGR supported the LTTE, Karunanidhi had links with Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation, which LTTE finished. He criticized the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord. Karunanidhi’s critics blamed him for his government’s failure to take a decisive stand against the massacre of Sri Lankan Tamil in Sri Lanka in 2009.

In the seventies, he also faced corruption charges, and the Sarkaria Commission partly acquitted him. The 2 G scam in 2010 also was a black mark during the UPA era. On the plus side, despite consistent complaints that Karunanidhi had made the party his family property, he kept the cadres with him. He prepared a smooth succession plan and made his son M.K. Stalin succeed him.

As a good administrator, he built the basic infrastructure which became the basis for industrialization in the State. Establishing the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and a range of welfare boards enabled the State to attract investments.

Karunanidhi outlived all his opponents. But his place in Tamil Nadu and national politics will be remembered forever. He was known for constantly fighting with the Centre on states’ rights and Federalism. Karunanidhi will always be remembered as one of  the  most influential politician of his time. He has left behind a lasting legacy. (IPA Service)

The post M Karunanidhi’s Centenary Year Begins In Tamil Nadu With Big Fanfare first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article M Karunanidhi’s Centenary Year Begins In Tamil Nadu With Big Fanfare appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Why do Indian politicians woo the Diaspora in the United States and elsewhere? Why does the Diaspora, who can’t vote in India, take an interest in their homeland? It is perhaps because, as India’s GDP grows, the Diaspora’s role in India’s foreign policy also rises.

The 32 million-strong global Indian Diaspora has emerged as one of the wealthiest minorities in many developed countries. Every year 2.5 million Indians (the highest annual number) migrate to other countries. Cumulative NRI deposits are at $136 billion as of February 2023.

Indian Americans like U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Presidential hopefuls Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy play an increasingly important political role. Indian Origin Rishi Sunak is now the Prime Minister of the U.K.

In the Corporate world, Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Sundar Pichai (Google), and Shantanu Narayen (Adobe) now head giant American multinational corporations. Ajay Banga just became the President of the World Bank.

The B.J.P. realised the importance of the Diaspora long ago. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also aggressively wooed them. Late Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee appointed an Indian American as an ‘ambassador at large’ in addition to the regular U.S. envoy. However, he was withdrawn as the American government did not recognise him.

Interestingly Congress Party did not take the Diaspora seriously. That could be because the Grand Old Party ruled the country for more than five decades since independence. Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi did not need this exercise for their international image.

But, Rahul Gandhi has been reaching out since his successful U.S. tour in 2017. His visit to the United Kingdom in March and the US this week is part of that image-building exercise.

The dormant Overseas Congress, now headed by Sam Pitroda, has been activated. Rahul has acquired a raised profile after his successful ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ early this year. Added to that was the recent massive win in Karnataka assembly polls. Congress Party felt it must seriously engage with the Diaspora before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Curiously, Rahul Gandhi visited the US three weeks before Modi’s official visit. President Joe Biden will host the Prime Minister at the White House. Being the showman, Modi would make all efforts to hog the limelight in his last visit before the coming Lok Sabha polls.

Modi engaged with amazing success with the US diaspora in the past nine years with his Madison Square Garden meeting in New York in 2014 and his ‘Howdy Modi rally” in Houston in 2019. He developed a first-name basis with the three American Presidents- Obama, Trump and Biden.

Rahul tried to begin a new conversation with students, academicians, Congressmen and intellectuals in various meetings. Confident and cheerful, he poked fun at Modi and his government. Gandhi lavished praise on the Diaspora, “So thank you very much for holding up the Indian flag in America.

The thrust of his meetings in California, New York and Washington — the three cities he visited, was that there was a hidden undercurrent. “For one minute, I don’t believe the B.J.P. cannot be defeated,” he said. But in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the opposition will make it possible- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be removed from power.

At the National press club meeting in Washington, Gandhi expressed hope for a strong comeback of his party in the coming elections. Gandhi talked about India’s relations with China and Russia. The only endorsement of the Modi government was its stand on Russia and Ukraine.

“To be nasty to people, to be arrogant, to be violent, these are not Indian values,” Gandhi told an event at the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan. He called for Indians in the US and back home to stand up for democracy and the Indian constitution. Scenes of his Bharat Jodo trip were displayed on the famous Times Square billboard, one of the world’s busiest and most famous intersections in New York.

For a politician who is no longer a parliament member, the Indian Overseas Congress mobilised enough crowds for his events.

The BJP is upset at Gandhi’s criticism of Modi abroad. The External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was critical of his remarks on foreign soil. Even earlier, during his March trip to the United Kingdom, several BJP ministers demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi for flinging mud on India.

Rahul told the Diaspora, “I need institutional structures to fight elections. I need a judicial system that protects me. I need a media that is reasonably free. I need financial parity. I need a set of institutional structures that allow me to operate as a political party.” And Gandhi noted, “I do not have them.”

Congress is happy about Rahul’s US visit. But he needs to do more than Modi- Bashing. Also, he must improve his delivery. One part of the story is about visiting the US and the UK, and the other speaking his mind with the Diaspora. But Gandhi must clearly spell out his vision for India and address bread and butter issues for the Indian electorate.

In short, Rahul should take this opportunity to impress the Diaspora and Indians back home that he is the right man to take on Modi. (IPA Service)

The post Rahul Gandhi’s Engagement With Indian Diaspora In USA Has Been Productive first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article Rahul Gandhi’s Engagement With Indian Diaspora In USA Has Been Productive appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

One of the first things Prime Minister Narendra Modi did soon after assuming office nine years ago was dismantling the Planning Commission with a legacy of 65 years and set up the Niti Aayog in January 2015. Even as the chief minister of Gujarat earlier, Modi had some ideas for a stronger Centre-State relationship and reforms. He hoped that Niti Aayog would strengthen this relationship.

However, Modi still faces Opposition from the non-BJP-ruled states. They have been rallying against him due to their political differences. The new chief minister’s club is growing by the day as they work in tandem.

Unsurprisingly, acting as a pressure group, some non-BJP chief ministers had boycotted Saturday’s Niti Aayog meeting addressed by the PM. The conference’s theme was “Viksit Bharat @2047: Role of Team India.” These chief ministers could have participated and discussed 100 issues identified for the session. Instead, they stayed away.

Nineteen Opposition parties also boycotted the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28. They held that President Draupadi Murmu and not Modi should have that honour. Those who boycotted include Mamata Banerjee (West Benga), Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi), Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan), K. Chandrashekhar Rao (Telangana), Bhagwant Mann (Punjab), Nitish Kumar (Bihar), M.K. Staliin (Tamil Nadu), Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala), and Naveen Patnaik( Odisha).

The last name was a surprise addition as Patnaik had been keeping equidistance from both Congress and BJP. He is said to have been upset that President Draupadi Murmu, hailing from Odisha, had not been invited to the inauguration of the new Parliament.

K.C. Rao skipped the Niti Aayog meeting even last year. Having a running battle with the Centre, he claimed, “Chief Ministers do not get enough time to speak, and after a few minutes, a bell rings saying you should stop now.”

Mamata Banerjee wanted a revival of the Planning Commission instead of Niti Aayog, which she called a “paper tiger”. Other chief ministers gave some excuses for their absence, like prior engagements. It was clear that they worked in tandem.

It is not the first time such boycotts have taken place. Even during the Indira Gandhi era,  late Andhra Pradesh chief minister N.T. Rama Rao walked out of the National Development Council  meeting protesting against the Centre. Doyens like late Jyoti Basu. Ramakrishna Hegde and others, too, had walked out of the NDC meetings. Late Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa left the Planning Commission meeting that she needed to be given adequate time.

As for Saturday’s Niti Aayog meeting, should the chief ministers have shown their anger by boycotting it, or should they have participated and explained their misgivings? They could have attended the meeting and presented their grievances or worn black flags. After all, it was a forum for interaction with other chief ministers and the Centre.

The BJP sees the boycotts of the Aayog meeting and the inauguration of the new Parliament building as part of the Opposition’s “Modi hatred”.

There have been several questions about the relevance of the NitiAayog and its predecessor Planning Commission. While the Commission was seen as a White elephant, the NitiAayog is seen as a toothless institution.

The Planning Commission had two primary duties-implementation of the five-year plan and providing formula for granting  finances to the states.

NITI Aayog has no constitutional or statutory sanction. Its stated aim is to construct a dynamic and robust nation. Unlike the Planning Commission, it has no financial role. It is mainly the country’s premier think tank. The Aayog has two hubs: “Team India Hub” and “Knowledge and Innovation Hub”.

In addition to developing long-term, strategic plans for the Government of India, the Aayog supports a federal cooperative structure. Critics say that it should focus on the implementation rather than only concentrating on the recommendations of the policies.

India has emerged as a major global economy. The Aayog will be unable to transform an unequal society into a modern economy. It cannot influence public or private investment or policymaking. It needs to answer specific questions like why 90% of the workers are in the unorganized sector.

Aayog should evolve into a much stronger organization. It lacks the states’ confidence, particularly from the non-BJP chief ministers. An active collaboration will be needed to ensure cooperative federalism’s success.

Strangely healthy competition among the states worked well during the Covid period. Prime Minister held Zoom conferences and involved the chief ministers in pandemic relief. However, politics entered on Covid relief later with the non-BJP chief ministers complaining of step-motherly treatment from the Centre.

Overall, the NITI Aayog needs to evolve into a much stronger organization. If it wants to be more effective, it requires the trust of the non-BJP chief ministers and their active participation. Only then a strong centre and strong states will emerge. (IPA Service)

The post NITI Aayog Has Failed To Play Any Effective Role In Planning For Indian Economy first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article NITI Aayog Has Failed To Play Any Effective Role In Planning For Indian Economy appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Dame Luck smiles at every Party at a particular moment. The 137-year Grand Old Congress Party, which has seen many ups and downs, is no exception. Winning a prosperous and significant Karnataka recently gave Congress that golden moment. If Congress wants to revive itself, it can’t sit on the laurels of recent triumph.

Congress faces elections to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram later this year, and the Grand finale is in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Will the Congress build on the Karnataka victory, drawing on the history of how late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi used her Chikmagaluru moment? She always took advantage of every opportunity.

Old-timers recall how Indira, after the emergency used her Chikmagaluru by-election win in 1978 to return to bring her Party to power in 1980Lok Sabha elections… They also recall how Indira used her Belchi moment to her advantage. In July 1977, 11 persons, including eight Dalits, were ruthlessly murdered by a gang in Bihar. She visited the victims in Belchi by riding an elephant and a tractor.

Karnataka was lucky for Indira’s daughter-in-law, Sonia Gandhi too. She won her first elections in 1999 from the Bellary constituency, a Congress citadel. She built a viable coalition, brought the Party to power in 2004, and ruled for ten years.

The present victory has given Congress to seize two immediate initiatives. One is to revive the organisation, which is out of shape. The second is to take the lead in uniting the Opposition with its newfound boost.

The Congress played its card well in Karnataka by raising the bread and butter and local issues. It also gave the local leaders a free hand. The High command only assisted in the campaign. It paid dividends

On the contrary, the BJP played a wrong poll strategy to the advantage of the Congress. Depending on the Modi magic and the high-voltage campaign by top BJP leaders gave limited success for the BJP. The weak chief minister Bommai and allegations of enormous corruption added to its woes. The Hindutva or Ram Mandir have no takers. Hindutva worked only within Coastal districts. There were only a few local issues the BJP could raise. The election also showed that to succeed in the South, it needs s different poll narrative.

More importantly, the loss of Karnataka means the BJP has no presence in South India. The South has 129 seats, of which the BJP won only 29 in 2019.

Congress must learn from the Karnataka polls. Had the Party’s top brass left the newly elected legislators to choose their chief minister, it would have been more democratic. Instead, the legislature Party passed the usual one-line resolution leaving the choice to High Command.

The two aspirants – former chief minister Siddaramaiah and PCC chief D.K. Shivakumar – were cooling their heels in Delhi for four days. Sonia Gandhi finally resolved the issue. She mollified Shiv Kumar to agree to a power-sharing formula with Siddaramaiah as chief minister and Shiv Kumar as his deputy.

Secondly, the real test will be how Congress handles its newly acquired clout for uniting the Opposition coalition for the 2024 Election. In this regard, Congress used the swearing-in ceremony of chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday to exhibit its newfound vigour.

A united Opposition must grab the opportunity to perform well in the upcoming elections. Some 209 Lok Sabha seats are spread across 19 states, where the Congress and the BJP are in direct contest. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has been talking of a one-to-one fight.

Thirdly, Congress regained its lost vote bank of Muslims, Dalits and Backward classes in Karnataka. It should not only be preserved but also replicated in the upcoming elections.

Fourthly, Siddaramaiah began well and implemented five poll promises in his first cabinet meeting as promised. His challenge is to take everybody along and protect his flock from poaching by the BJP. The welfare measures include supplying 200 units of free power to all households, Rs 2000 per month to the head of the family, and 10 kgs of free rice to every member of a BPL household.

Congress has other headaches. It must resolve the Rajasthan and Chattisgarh Power struggles before the upcoming polls. It needs delicate handling. The former Deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot wants to replace Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, but Gehlot is unwilling to go. Both can cause trouble if the other gets the prize.

A similar situation prevails in Chattisgarh; there has been a power struggle between chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and cabinet minister TS Singh Deo.  Rahul Gandhi promised a rotational chief minister after two and a half years in 2018. Deo has been demanding the change.

The recent win in Himachal Pradesh and now Karnataka have shown Congress that unity in the Party and the Opposition, a robust organisation and a compelling narrative should be the new mantra in the coming months. (IPA Service)

The post Congress Can Take Lessons From Indira’s Chikmagaluru Victory To Succeed In 2024 Polls first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article Congress Can Take Lessons From Indira’s Chikmagaluru Victory To Succeed In 2024 Polls appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Could the United States also favour an Indian American for the top job in the 2024 polls? It is a million-dollar question. But it does not stop the American Indians from dreaming about it. The United Kingdom has chosen an Indian-origin Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, last year. As for the Indian Americans, it is a long road to becoming the tenant of the White House. Over the years, they have become affluent and also ambitious. Their success is a unique coming-of-age story.

Today Indian American diaspora is 4 million plus, of which at least 2 million are voters. It is the second-largest immigrant group in the United States. Affluent Indian Americans also donate money to the two major parties. The number of   People of Indian Origin (PIOs) appointed to high-profile positions has multiplied in recent years. The most significant example was Kamala Harris, the U.S. vice President.

No one would have imagined that Indian Americans would bid for the Oval Office a few years ago. Then Louisiana Governor Piyush Bobby Jindal in 2016 and Kamala Harris in 2020 joined the presidential race only to be disappointed. Their number is gradually growing in the U.S. Congress and the state Assembly.

The 2024 Presidential polls will be interesting for Indian Americans. Vice President Kamala Harris has been announced as the running mate of President Biden, who is seeking reelection.  At least two Indian-origin Americans intend to run for president in 2024. They are former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Hailey and millionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. His parents are the first generation immigrant from Kerala immigrated to the U.S.

Ramaswamy focuses on “getting rid of ‘affirmative action” and allowing more highly skilled immigrants into the U.S. While they all represent “America first,” they knew that road to the White House was long.

The primary contenders would be President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald  Trump. The latter is 76 now.  Biden was 78 when he became the president in 2020.   As the trends   show it will be a battle against   between Biden    and Trump.

Harris, the first woman Vice President was at a knocking distance from the Oval Office. She had sought the Democratic Party nomination for the 2020 election before dropping out in the campaign’s initial stages. Kamala accepted to run as Biden’s running mate in 2020 when everyone thought Biden wouldn’t seek a second term. She also became the U.S.’s first ‘woman acting president’ for 55 minutes on November 19, 2021, when Biden underwent a colonoscopy. A sitting President   generally wins in his second term, but Trump could not in the 2020 presidential elections, thereby bucking the tradition. Kamala Harris, who is only 58, is Biden’s running mate again.

The two-time former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, daughter of Indian-origin immigrants, made history as South Carolina’s first female governor. At 39, Nikki was the youngest governor in the U.S. in January 2011. Nikki was also the state’s first Indian-American governor. She is projecting herself as a changemaker who can reinvigorate a party. Her biggest challenge comes from her former boss, Trump. He advised her to follow her heart when she informed Donald Trump about her intention to contest.

Nikki and Kamala have the advantage of name recognition, but Vivek is less well-known. The 37-year-old studied at Harvard and Yale earned millions as a biotechnology entrepreneur and founded an asset management firm. It would be difficult for Vivek, with no political experience, to join the race for the White House. But former President Trump said some encouraging words: “I am pleased to see that Vivek Ramaswamy is doing so well in the most recent Republican Primary Poll, CBS YouGov.”

The Indian-origin candidates face many hurdles to cross, even to get their respective party’s nomination in the primary in which the Whites dominate. The first is to get the support of their respective parties.

In the Republican Party, after Trump (52 percent) and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (24 percent), Nikki has only 18 percent support. It indicates she has a long way to go before being considered a serious contender.. The second would be to catch the imagination of the   all Americans. They know that their ethnic background alone cannot win them an election. Thirdly, it is a question mark whether they would vote for a woman and that too of ethnic origin. Even Hillary Clinton, a white American, was rejected earlier as she could not mobilize the women voters in her favor.

Apart from these, others like Asa Hutchinson, Robert Kennedy Jr, Marianne Williamson, Tim Scott, Larry Elder, , and Mike Pence are likely presidential candidates. DeSantis is yet to announce his candidacy. He is considered Trump’s top challenger for the 2024 nomination from Republican Party.

Biden is the bookies’ current favourite. He is surging and leads both Trump and DeSantis in the polls. He has the momentum and financial muscle to embark on another successful presidential campaign. But it is too early to predict. (IPA Service)

The post President Joe Biden Is Favourite In The Present Campaign For 2024 Polls first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article President Joe Biden Is Favourite In The Present Campaign For 2024 Polls appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar surprised friends and foes alike with his sudden decision to give up the presidency of his Party recently, only to withdraw it after three days. It ultimately became a storm in a teacup.

Had Pawar stuck to his decision, it could have considerably weakened his Party, the MVA, and the fight against the BJP in the state, which sends 48 members to the Lok Sabha. Sharad Pawar plays the guessing game better than most others. By his revocation, Sharad Pawar has stolen a march over nephew Ajit and consolidated the support of his party workers.

Resignation is the favourite game charismatic leaders resort to when their Party rebels. Others like former Karnataka chief minister Ramakrishna Hegde, Sena Pramukh Bal Thackeray, and Sonia Gandhi used it successfully.

Pawar’s resignation drama gave a shock treatment to his Party and other opposition leaders. He checkmated his nephew Ajit Pawar who was contemplating splitting the Party and joining the BJP with himself as the chief minister. He successfully diverted the attention that his Party was facing internal trouble.

There were three crucial players in the present power play. One was Sharad Pawar, who wanted a succession plan. The second was his daughter Supriya, and the third was Ajit Pawar.

Pawar’s resignation and withdrawal drama was scripted by himself. Being a clever politician, he kept his Party and the Opposition guessing whether he would take back the resignation for three days. As expected, senior leaders in the Party and even opposition leaders persuaded him to take back the resignation. The core committee to search for Pawar’s successor came back and said it rejected the resignation unanimously.

As per his script known only to his family, Pawar agreed to remain, claiming he “can’t disrespect the emotions of so many people.” he said. Your love has made me emotional. The decision by the senior NCP leaders’ committee was informed to me, and I respect it. As such, I withdraw my decision to resign from the post.”

The NCP chief said that although he will continue his responsibilities, his primary focus would be creating new leadership and handing over new responsibilities to them. A cancer survivor, Pawar was emotional when he said, “My political career, which started in 1960, has been going on for 63 years without any hindrance. It is time to step down and give a chance to new leadership.” He asserted, “That is why I decided to leave the NCP President’s post”, he revealed in an interview.

Many people knew of the power struggle between his nephew Ajit Pawar and his only child Supriya Sule, a Parliament member. It is no big secret that Pawar would like to hand over the baton to Supriya Sule. Also, Pawar has been suspicious of his nephew’s plan. Senior BJP leaders have assured Ajit that if he could mobilise enough NCP legislators, they would make him the chief minister, replacing Eknath Shinde.

Pawar clarified that he was not taking political sanyas, “There will be no separation from me or public retirement. I was with you; I am and will always be there till my last breath.” In short, he would continue to loom large.

Secondly, Pawar knew that his Party was sliding and had lost its national status recently; the NCP had not been able to penetrate new voters. Since its formation in 1999, the NCP has always ridden piggyback to share power — first with the Congress Party and later with the Shiv Sena-Congress in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition. There is an urgent need to strengthen the NCP. Thirdly, Pawar’s health and his age were not on his side. Hence the urgency for a succession plan.

At the national level, Pawar has already positioned himself to mobilise non-BJP parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as an influential leader with friends in all the parties. He said,” My responsibility is in the larger interest of the nation to bring together like minor parties and provide an alternative to the people.”

He clarified his role ahead of the 2024 polls: “I enjoy personal relations with many who said that I was required for this. They include Rahul Gandhi, Sitaram Yechury and many more.” He also told NDTV.

While many opposition leaders are against promoting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as the opposition candidate, they would support Sharad Pawar. Even Parties like BRS, YSRCP, and BJD, reluctant to join the UPA, may also support Sharad Pawar’s post as PM.

On the whole, Pawar’s game plan worked to his satisfaction. Any split was averted, and Ajit Pawar would think twice before making such an attempt. The non-BJP Opposition would also look up to him. Pawar, in his own way, turned the disadvantage to his advantage. (IPA Service)

The post Sharad Pawar Has Now Emerged As A Stronger Leader To Lead Battle Against BJP first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article Sharad Pawar Has Now Emerged As A Stronger Leader To Lead Battle Against BJP appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Viewers worldwide will witness the coronation ceremony of British King Charles and his Queen Camilla on May 6. The critical moment in modern British history will be 70 years after Queen Elizebeth11 coronation in 1952.

Though Charles succeeded Queen Elizabeth 11 in September 2022 after her death, the coronation will only occur now. From the investiture ceremony to the big coronation day, it will be a long weekend of many events, lunches, and community events. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was a “unique moment” for the country.

The ceremony will include the Recognition, the Coronation Oath, the Anointing, the Investiture, and the Enthronement and Homage. While most other world monarchies have discontinued this pompous event, Britain still continues.

King Charles now also heads the Commonwealth, a group of 54 independent countries comprising 2.4 billion people. He needed to show the world his reign would be modern and the Commonwealth would be inclusive. There is a growing demand for reparation payments and an apology for slavery.

The guest list for Charles’ ceremony has been slashed from 8,000 to just 2,000. Other monarchs like Monaco’s Prince Albert and Princess Charlene, Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, Poland’s President Duda, and President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will participate for the first time in 900 years. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will represent India at the coronation.

Most British royal family members will attend, including William, Prince of Wales, his wife Katherine, and their children. Notable absentees include Meghan Merkel, but her husband, Prince Harry, will be present, and so will Prince Andrew. US President Joe Biden will be absent, but his wife, Jill Biden, will lead the US delegation.

The service will include different faiths and community groups following the King’s wishes. Indian-origin peer Lord Indarjit Singh will represent the Sikh community and

Lord Patel will represent the Hindu community. Charles has long expressed interest in all religions, regardless of race or religious beliefs.

That brings us to the larger question of whether such an event holds the significance it once did, and does the monarch need one. There has been a debate in the country on this issue. While some would like the continuation of the monarchy, others consider it a burden on the country’s economy, particularly the younger generation, when there is an economic crisis. Some anti-monarchy groups feel it might seem out of place in 2023.

The latest YouGov opinion poll to assess the public mood before the coronation revealed that Charles is not unpopular but is certainly less popular than his mother and son, Prince William.

The survey suggests broad support for the monarchy, with 58% preferring it to an elected head of state – which was supported by 26%. Only 32% backed the monarchy. Moreover, while over-65-year old support the monarchy at 78%, the young are the least likely.

There were doubts about how effective Charles would be. He impressed the royalists and non-royalists during his first six months on the job. He has reshuffled royal residences. He would like to slim down the royal household.

The new postage stamps bearing the image of King Charles III without the crown were released by the Royal Mail. Also, Charles rejected Heathrow’s offer to name Terminal 5 after him, an honour it also extended to his mother. Terminal 2 became the Queen’s Terminal in 2014

In the past, Charles’s broken marriage with Diana left him unpopular. Now this is changing. People are willing to accept Charles and his Queen Camilla.

As the Prince of Wales, King Charles started The Prince’s Trust in 1976 with his severance pay from the British Navy. This provides first grants for people with disadvantaged backgrounds. His other interests include climate change, employment prospects for young people, and interfaith relations. There is an Indian connection, too, with the coronation.

So far, the queens have worn the famous 105-karat Koh-i-Noor diamond, mined in Golconda in Andhra Pradesh, to coronations. The Kohinoor was put in a cross on Queen Mary’s crown in 1911. Still, the diamond was removed from the crown and sent to the Tower of London for public display to avoid controversy. India has demanded the return of Kohinoor, and Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan have also claimed the “jewel in the crown.”

After the coronation, King plans to downsize the royal household and the number of working royals. Also, the Sunday Times reported Charles wanted Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, Windsor Castle, and Balmoral to be transformed into public places.

Politically, too the King would like to be more flexible than his mother. He has developed a good rapport with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He has already said he will abide by the constitutional principle to avoid controversy as King. Overall, King Charles aims to be a modern king in line with the changing times. (IPA Service)

The post King Charles 111 Aims To Synergise Tradition With Modernity At Coronation first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article King Charles 111 Aims To Synergise Tradition With Modernity At Coronation appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Will the turncoats spoil the chances of the ruling BJP returning to power in Karnataka’s May 10 Assembly polls?

The Party-hopping has peaked before the elections. How far these turncoats would damage the BJP is unknown. Despite its insisting that this migration would not affect its poll prospects, the exit of prominent faces could be bad optics.

The BJP already faces anti-incumbency and is battling allegations of corruption. Besides, the state has a tradition of not returning the ruling party to power. There are other issues like caste politics.

Some Veterans and old-timers are miffed over their non-inclusion in the candidate lists. The erosion is due to BJP’s calculated decision to purge older candidates for younger and new faces. Also, those who sense they would not get a ticket and those who could gauge the public’s mood against the party have defected to Congress and Janata Dal (Secular.)

Last week,  the BJP fielded 52 new candidates and retained 90 sitting MLAs, including 11 from Congress and J.D. (S) who crossed over in 2019 to help it wrest power from the Kumaraswamy coalition.

The former chief minister, a former State BJP President, and a six-time MLA, Jagdish Shetter, tops the list of these migrants. BJP attempted damage control by offering him the post of governor or a central minister, but he rejected it to contest from a Congress ticket.

The other disappointed veterans include Laxman Savadi – a heavyweight Ex-deputy chief minister, S Angara- a six-time MLA, R. Shankar- BJP MLC and M P Kumaraswamy- Mudigere, BJP MLA. Most are from the influential Lingayat community, traditionally supporting the BJP since the late 1990s.

Defections are not new to Indian politics. The Congress Socialist Party broke away from Congress as early as 1948. The party split in Uttar Pradesh in 1950, Andhra Pradesh in 1953, and Haryana in 1967 (famous (Aya Ram Gaya Ram” case.) A Haryana legislator, Gaya Ram of the sixties, won first as an Independent, joined the Congress, and changed parties thrice again within a fortnight!

Karnataka has a long history of migrant and betrayal politics which resulted in government collapse not once or twice but several times. Between 1967 and 1983, there were approximately 2,700 defections at the state level, with 15 becoming chief ministers, according to PRS Legislative Research.

What is defection? A turncoat in politics happens when a legislator leaves the party on whose symbol they won and joins another party. These turncoats treat disqualification as a mere detour to return to the House by recontesting.

After the passage of the Anti-Defection Law in 1985 to check the menace, the pace fell, but the trend continued. A fourth of the current MLAs had won on a different party ticket and one in six won elections on more than one party ticket.

According to India Today’s Data Intelligence Team, of the 341 turncoat candidates in Karnataka in the last three assembly elections, 78 won, while 263 lost. Also, the count has increased over time, with the highest number in the 2018 election.

Incidentally, the BJP has been in power in Karnataka for nine years at different terms but has never secured a majority. It had to depend on the turncoats to form their government.

In the previous 2018 Assembly polls, the BJP won 104 out of the 224 seats. But J.D. (S) (37) and the Congress (76) coalition formed the government, though BJP emerged as the single largest party. However, the Kumaraswamy coalition government collapsed after the BJP engineered a coup with 18 MLAs from Congress and J.D. (S), bringing it back to power. Voters elected 15 of the 17 defected legislators in 2019.

The BJP leader Yediyurappa became the chief minister four times, the only leader to do so, but never once completed a full term. Two of his terms lasted just a few days each. His government collapsed in 2007, 2011, and 2018.

Why do the voters return the turncoats? The rival parties are willing to embrace them and field them again. They see the migration now as more of a vehicle that lends credibility and gets influential positions in their chosen party. Switching parties do not always affect the migrants. Of the 833 turncoats, BJP filed in the last decade, 44 percent of won re-elections.

Traditionally, turncoats depended on the migrant party’s goodwill, cadres, and ability to finance. Small-time leaders acquire a new image to win. In the case of famous leaders, they carry their vote bank.

The moral of the story is that turncoats can not be wished away by bringing stringent laws. They remain constant whichever party comes to power in a hung kind of Assembly.

Sadly, the turncoats are here to stay as long as political parties encourage them, the public votes for them to return, and defectors believe in self-interest. If the trend is not checked, it will damage Indian democracy. Awareness of the voters and shaming the turncoats could be the answer once the public sees the threat. (IPA Service)

The post Party Hopping Is A Normal Feature In Karnataka Before Or After Polls first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article Party Hopping Is A Normal Feature In Karnataka Before Or After Polls appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

With the state assembly election later this year, Congress faces a political crisis again. The party lost Punjab last year because of mishandling by the Gandhis by backing the wrong horse. Will the Congress leadership be able to save Rajasthan from going the Punjab way?

Congress and BJP have been alternating in Government, and now it is the turn of the BJP to win the elections in Rajasthan. Congress desperately needs to retain the big state in the Assembly polls. In a catch-22 situation, Congress is still dithering whether to face the electorate with Ashok Gehlot as Chief Minister or the rebel Sachin Pilot instead.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former Deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot are at loggerheads again. The power tussle between the two started in 2018, first over party tickets and later over the chief minister’s position. Gehlot wants to keep his job, and Pilot wants to grab it immediately.

Pilot had rebelled twice in the meanwhile. In 2020, he led a revolt with the tacit support of the BJP with 20 of his legislators; the one-month-long political crisis ended after the Congress high command promised to look into the issues raised by Sachin Pilot.

The second time was in September 2022, when the Gehlot camp consisting of 90 MLAs, submitted their resignation letters to prevent Sachin Pilot from succeeding Gehlot. This was when Ashok Gehlot was offered Congress president’s post. Gehlot wanted Party presidentship along with retaining the CM’s position. Pilot thinks it is now or never as the time is running out. Though he is only 46, if Pilot misses this time,, his next shot would be in 2028. He is not in the mood to wait for another five years.

Last week, Pilot announced a one-day dharna accusing the Gehlot Government of failing to act against the excise mafia, illegal mining, land encroachment, or the Lalit Modi affidavit case sat in dharna for a day. He complained Gehlot had been reluctant to act against the predecessor Vasundhara-led Government. Incidentally, Vasundhara Raje (BJP) quietly helped Gehlot win the confidence vote in 2020. Also, she is staking her claims to become chief minister again.

Sachin is young, charismatic, ambitious, articulate, and sophisticated. He is also close to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi; however, he is a rebel, impatient. There are speculations BJP might offer him a ministerial berth. With few young leaders left, PIlot’s quitting could hurt Congress before the polls. Ashok Gehlot is 71, asking the electorate for one last chance. If denied CM’s position, he may not reconcile. At least his supporters say so.

The options before Congress are few. One is to counsel patience to Sachin. He has chosen corruption as an issue this time. When Rahul Gandhi is spearheading corruption, how could they blame Sachin? Moving Pilot to Delhi to give organizational responsibilities was one of the options, but Pilot would not be satisfied.

Alienating Gehlot also will have repercussions. One option is to convince the one-time magician Gehlot to step down. Gehlot had been the chief minister twice earlier and was an experienced leader from the OBC community. He has shown many times that he is a man in control. But, he is an aging leader, lacks charisma, and indulges in factionalism. He also faces anti-incumbency.

It will be an acid test for the six-month-old Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge busy amid Karnataka Assembly polls. Last month, he was toying with making Pilot the state party chief, which would have soothed Sachin but upset Gehlot. Kharge may be waiting for the Karnataka elections to conclude. With pretty good chances of winning the state, he could deal with both leaders from a position of strength. Ultimately, it depends on the party’s high command to find an acceptable formula for both. But this is easier said than done. Congress leadership has little time to dither.

The first and foremost is to quieten the warring camps. The Congress has roped veteran Kamal Nath to mediate between the two sides. Secondly, the High command should act swiftly. Keeping the crisis unaddressed will result in further chaos. It might also affect the party’s chances in Karnataka. Thirdly, Kharge should ensure Rajasthan is not messed up as they did in Punjab by backing the wrong horse and losing the state. Fourthly, there are few politically savvy peacemakers like Ahmed Patel in the Congress now.. Also, Sonia Gandhi has taken a backseat.

Kamal Nath has reportedly offered Pilot a ‘meaty’ role in the AICC secretariat, a member of the Congress Working Committee, and a vital role in the screening committee for the upcoming Rajasthan elections.

The High Command is not willing to disturb Gehlot. So, Congress must tread carefully, as any misstep would mean losing Rajasthan. It will need all the mediating skills to resolve the issue at a time when Congress needs to win and not lose. (IPA Service)

The post Congress Leadership Has To Take Immediate Action To Resolve Rajasthan Crisis first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article Congress Leadership Has To Take Immediate Action To Resolve Rajasthan Crisis appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

When Arvind Kejriwal launched his Aam Admi Party in 2012 and bid for power the following year for Delhi assembly in 2013, no one thought he would find political space and sustain himself for long years. Now, on Monday, the Election Commission has granted AAP national party status on the basis of the party’s performance in the assembly polls. With AAP, there are now six political parties with National status. The others are Congress, BJP, BSP, CPI(M) and NPP.

A decade later, today, after winning the Delhi assembly elections all through, he has changed from the self-projected role of an angry young man to an ‘ambitious young man’ with grand plans for himself and his young Party.

With two states – Delhi and Punjab – under his belt, Kejriwal wants to lead the Opposition in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He has three goals: Expand his Party to as many states as possible, Find a place in the country’s political high table and Position himself as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s primary challenger.

His optimism comes out in his recent prophecy, “Time is very powerful; nothing is permanent in the world. If one thinks that one will remain in power forever, then that’s not going to happen. Today we’re in power in Delhi, and they’re (BJP) in power in Centre; Tomorrow it might happen we will be in power in Centre,”

The AAP’s political journey has seen dramatic twists and turns. The Party has grown beyond recognition, and the BJP has overtaken Congress. At the same time, the Grand Old Party has shrunk.

Born from India Against Corruption movement, the AAP decimated Congress and the BJP in the 2013 Delhi Assembly elections. After 49 days, he quit as chief minister, only to return in 2015 and 2020 assembly polls.. The AAP has no Lok Sabha MP now but boasts 10 members in the Rajya Sabha. It is the only Party other than the Congress and the BJP to control power in two states, Delhi and Punjab.

The Party lost miserably in the 2019 parliamentary elections in Delhi. At another level, AAP faced a setback as it could not muster even one percent of votes in the assembly elections in Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. But the landslide win in Punjab last year brought back cheers.

After last year’s Gujarat polls, AAP is again ascending by gaining the national party status.

Compared to AAP, Samajwadi Party, JD(U), Telugu Desam, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi couldn’t move beyond their turf. Parties like NCP, TMC, CPI, and BSP lost their respective national status by failing to meet the criteria of the Election Commission.

Like many other Opposition parties, AAP faced pinpricks from the Centre. These have demoralized the Party and created a fear complex. After weighing the pros and cons, the AAP chief has decided to take on the BJP headlong, particularly after the recent arrests of his two ministers, Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain.

For instance, despite the mutual discomfort between the two rivals -AAP and Congress- Kejriwal blasted BJP after the recent Gujarat court verdict and the subsequent disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha.

The AAP chief alleged Modi is the most corrupt Prime Minister. He criticized the Prime Minister for his alleged closeness to industrialist Gautam Adani, who became the world’s second wealthiest man and joined the Opposition in their demand for a Joint Parliamentary probe last session.

He has questioned Modi’s educational qualifications and asked if his “degree is fake”. This came a day after Gujarat High Court fined Kejriwal and ruled that Prime Minister’s degree details were unnecessary.

Kejriwal went to the Lion’s Den Gujarat by talking about his “Delhi model.” during the last year’s Assembly polls. Modi came to power propagating his ‘Gujarat model.”

Kejriwal has openly joined other opposition leaders to challenge Modi before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

There are many ifs and buts before Kejriwal could achieve his goals. AAP continues to concentrate on bread-and-butter issues and those about the common man. Kejriwal plays a soft Hindutva to attract Hindu voters. He wants to win voters by offering freebies. But the strategy in the North may or may not work in the Southern states.

To succeed, Kejriwal must build his Party and sell his ‘Delhi model” successfully. Several factors influence the voters, including grassroots organization, anti-BJP sentiment, a credible local face, and the potential for implementing the Delhi model.

Secondly, Kejriwal needs to build second-line state leaders. The Party’s founding members, such as Prashant Bhushan, Yogendra Yadav, Shazia Ilmi, Kumar Vishwas, and Ashutosh, and civil society members, in the past decade, quit the Party protesting against Kejriwal’s highhandedness. Before the 2022 Assembly election, at least 11 MLAs either quit the Party or were disqualified.

Thirdly, he has made a personality cult around himself, and all powers are centred on him. He must learn to share power instead of concentrating power in himself.

The fourth is to build friendships with other opposition leaders and mend fences with Congress. Assembly polls 2023 will be a trial run before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections for all parties, but more so for AAP. (IPA Service)

The post Getting National Party Status From Election Commission Is A Big Boost To AAP first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article Getting National Party Status From Election Commission Is A Big Boost To AAP appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

All eyes are on the forthcoming Karnataka Assembly elections, for which polling will be held on May 10, and the results will be announced on May 13.

The outcome will determine the prospects of the two leading contenders – the ruling BJP and the Congress ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The third political party in the state JD(S) will also assess its strength.

In a neck-and-neck fight, most opinion polls indicate Congress has the edge over the BJP. Intelligence sources have also projected 80 to 90 for BJP, 90 to 100 for the Congress, and 30 to 40 for the JDS.

Karnataka faces a three-cornered contest between the Congress, BJP and the Janata Dal (S). Stakes are high but more so for the BJP and Congress. The new entrant Aam Admi Party is also contesting all the seats.

Winning Karnataka would indicate the crucial Congress revival. It will give a moral boost to the Party, which currently rules in only three states- Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

A defeat would be a setback to the ruling BJP, which has been on a winning spree, even in the three Northeastern states polls last month. Karnataka is the only BJP-ruled state in the South.

Former prime minister Deve Gowda and his son, former chief minister Kumaraswamy, are battling to retain their JD(S) supremacy in the old Mysuru region and their kingmaker role.

It will not be a walkover for either national Party as they face intense factionalism and indiscipline.

The BJP is solely dependent on Narendra Modi’s magic. The Prime Minister has visited the state several times, inaugurating various schemes and addressing Poll rallies.

BJP is looking to the support of octogenarian former chief minister Yediyurappa. The Lingayat strongman can sabotage the BJP’s chances in the highly caste-ridden politics. The BJP got its first chief minister in the South when Yediyurappa won the state in 2008. Unable to sideline him, the BJP has made him a Parliamentary board member after he was asked to pave way for Basavaraj Bommai last year.

The BJP faces three challenges-Anti-incumbency, corruption and lack of chief ministerial face.

The BJP is defensive on the anti-incumbency. Karnataka has never elected the same Party consecutively in assembly elections for more than two decades. Secondly, it has never given a majority to the same Party in consecutive Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

In the caste arithmetic, Vokkaligas constitute 15 percent, OBCs 35 percent, SC/STs 18 percent, Muslims 12.92 percent, and Brahmins about three percent. Vokkaliga votes will be divided between JDS, Congress, BJP, and others.

Lingayats (15 per cent) dominate as many as 100 of 224 constituencies. Until 1989, they supported Congress. However, they moved away after the sacking of the then Chief Minister Veerendra Patil by Rajiv Gandhi.

Congress’s strategy is to woo specific interest groups like women. It mobilizes support from Kuruba, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Muslim, and OBC communities. Secondly, Congress’s vote share has never been below 26% votes in the state. Even in 2018, the Congress’s vote share stood at 38.04 percent.

Thirdly, Congress has made an aggressive and defiant move with Rahul Gandhi planning to launch his Karnataka campaign with the April 5 rally in Kolar. His Bharat  Jodo Yatra and the recent court verdict resulting in disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha  membership f have increased his acceptance.

As for BJP, the Bommai government has increased quotas for SC and ST by four and two percent. The Lingayats and Vokkaligas also got a two percent hike each. The Bommai government has announced up to Rs 3,000 per month for families below the poverty line. It has offered ₹ 1000 per month for female farm workers, free bus passes to 30 lakh women in the organized sector, and 8 lakh girl students.

On the negative side, the BJP is defensive on the Poll issues like Inflation, price rise, farmer problems, and unemployment. Real estate, sand, and mining mafias also need to be fixed. The Bommai government is allegedly known as a 40 percent commission  government..

Parties are showering freebies on the voter. As per the recent trend, money is not a consideration, as all the parties are willing to spend vast amounts. Congress has already guaranteed 4 things. They are – 10 Kg Foodgrains, 200 Units Of Power, Rs 2000 for a Woman Family Head, and Rs 3000 For Graduates. The new entrant AAP has announced free electricity, free water, agricultural loan waiver, unemployment insurance @ Rs. 3000, and free bus pass for women in urban areas.

With the parties desperately trying to woo voters with political promises, new schemes, and gifts, the big question is how much the voter would get swayed by them. The verdict known on May 13 will have catalytic effect on the next round of assembly  elections  in 2023 and finally on 2024 Lok Sabha polls. (IPA Service)

The post Congress Party Has An Edge Over BJP In Karnataka Assembly Polls On May 10 first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article Congress Party Has An Edge Over BJP In Karnataka Assembly Polls On May 10 appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Is Congress leader Rahul Gandhi politically finished after the recent court verdict and his subsequent dismissal from Parliament? Is it an advantage or a setback for him and his party? It is too early to predict as it is an evolving story. But experience says that no politician is finished until he is finished.

The BJP is happy that the court has fixed Rahul and believes he is politically finished. However, Congress claims that Rahul is in a win-win position. It will be advantageous if a higher court stays or overturns the verdict. If it does not, Rahul is prepared to pay ‘any price’ and even go to jail, which might give him more political mileage.

Why did the court punish Rahul? Gandhi said at a campaign rally in Karnataka in April 2019: “Why do all these thieves have Modi as their surname? Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi.”

In response, a BJP politician Purnesh Modi filed a criminal defamation complaint in which he accused Gandhi of defaming the “Modi community.”

The ruling could have been milder. The court pronounced a two-year imprisonment on Thursday. The court also gave him bail immediately and suspended the sentence for a month, allowing him time to appeal in a higher court against the punishment.

The defamation provisions used against Gandhi date back to the 1860s, when India was a British colony. Section 500 of the IPC makes the crime punishable by up to two years in prison.

Rahul will also be unable to contest the Lok Sabha elections for the next eight years apart from losing his present membership in the lower house. According to a historic decision of the Supreme Court in 2013, the membership of an MP or MLA sentenced for two years or more ends immediately after the court convicts them. The Lok Sabha promptly announced Rahul’s dismissal the next day.

Rahul needs three layers of support to come out of the situation: The strong backing of the united party. Of the united Opposition. The support of the public.

Congress responded that the conviction was to divert the Adani issue in Parliament as Congress has demanded a joint parliamentary probe into the Adani-Henderson report.

Rahul Gandhi said he would not “back down” from asking questions on the Adani stocks issue or be intimidated by threats, disqualifications, and prison sentences. Refusing to apologize for the remark, Rahul said: “My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi. Gandhis don’t apologize to anyone.”

Secondly, the judgment has united the Opposition against the ruling dispensation. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and other Opposition leaders, like Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin, Former U.P. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray joined the condemnation of the act. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was the first to condemn the action while she has been opposing Congress all these days.

Thirdly, though the public is shocked at the punishment, the complete response is yet to come. Congress is yet to take it to the streets to involve the people in the coming days.

Rahul Gandhi’s punishment has pushed other contentious issues like Rahul’s controversial speech in Cambridge. The BJP has been stalling business in Parliament, demanding an apology from him.

Even though the conviction was a psychological blow to Rahul, his party, and the entire Opposition, it all depends on how it is communicated to the people, handle the situation, translate it into public sympathy, and sustain it until the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Critics are skeptical about this. It may not be easy given the BJP’s increasing popularity, tight control over the media, and winning spree. But Gandhi will still be news.

In the coming months, before 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Congress will face its first significant test in Karnataka  followed   by  Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, where there will be a direct contest with the BJP. If the party wins the elections in these states, it will cheer the Opposition. If the party loses, it will be a setback before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and reconcile to Modi performing the hat trick.

Rahul’s success depends on many ifs and buts. This includes whether he will get a higher court order to stay his verdict and how the public reacts. Congress must also change the poll narrative for the 2024 polls. In short, BJP cannot wish away Rahul. No politician is finished until he is finished. Rahul can be no exception.

The BJP probably realizes the adage never bring your opponent into the limelight. The moral of the story is that politicians, whatever high positions they occupy, should have tight control over their tongues. (IPA Service)

The post Rahul Gandhi’s Political Future Depends On Many Imponderables Before 2024 Polls first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article Rahul Gandhi’s Political Future Depends On Many Imponderables Before 2024 Polls appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

Just as we need reforms in many other areas, Parliament needs reforms urgently. Right now, both Houses remain paralysed. The Opposition is looking for public and media attention to embarrass the Government, while the Government is also in an aggressive mood.. The ruling  party  members     are not   allowing the Parliament   to function. The stalemate   is continuing   in the second   week also.

The BJP opposed the earlier Congress Governments precisely as the Congress is following now. It includes walkouts, running to the well of the House with placards, shouting slogans, etc., which could attract the public and media attention. The direct T.V. telecast also makes members play at the gallery.

The face-off between the adamant Treasury Benches and the belligerent Opposition continues over two controversial issues. The first concerns Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent alleged defamatory comments about the Modi government while addressing a meeting in the U.K. Strangely, the treasury benches are demanding, “Rahul Gandhi Sadan mein aao, sadan mein aakar maafi mango (Rahul Gandhi come to the House and apologise in the House).”

The second comes from the opposition, which demands a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani-Hindenburg issue. The Adani issue had been simmering for some time, but the Government has been unwilling to discuss it in the House. Adani has become the wealthiest man in the world in just nine years.

The second half of the budget session opened on March 13. The row has become intense now, with the Opposition taking the issue to the streets. The Congress also gave a privilege notice against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha.

Reiterating the Government’s stand,  Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said, “A member of this House (meaning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi) went abroad and made defamatory comments about this House. He has to tender an apology. And how these people (some opposition MPs) who are protesting and carrying placards in the House should be acted against; in my opinion, they should be suspended.”  Rahul Gandhi and

This brings us to the larger question of Parliament’s functioning. There are enough checks and balances. Parliament’s liberal framework provides many opportunities for vigorous debate, discussion, and dissent.  The Question hour, short duration discussion, adjournment motions, Calling attention notice, and other rules give a chance to hold the Government accountable.

Political parties must replace disorder, disruption, and delay in legislation with debate, discussion, and decision in a  democracy. Politicians can differ in their opinions and have a right to protest. The adage is while the Opposition should have its say, the Government should have its  right..

Historically, there was a degree of homogeneity in both Houses in the fifties and sixties. Many members like Piloo Modi enlivened the  House with their repartees, humour, and healthy debates while maintaining the dignity and decorum of the House. Congress dominance shrank since the eighties while others, including regional parties, grew, leading to coalition politics.

Another area for improvement is the duration of sittings. Most state legislatures sit for barely 30 days a year. In some, states, like Haryana and Punjab, the average is about a fortnight. The Parliament spends less time on legislative business resulting in lawmakers spending less time on law-making.

The first three Lok Sabhas sat for an average of 120 days a year. The Lok Sabha spent less than 10 minutes to pass a law, and the Rajya Sabha less than half an hour. The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution recommended that Lok Sabha should have at least 120 and Rajya Sabha 100 sittings. A single minute in Parliament leads to an expenditure of Rs. 2.5 lakhs approx to the exchequer.

The former chief justice N.V. Ramana recently lamented how Parliament passed laws without deliberation and debate. The judiciary interprets the law and always looks for the discussion before passing the law. The presiding officers of both Houses have time and again urged the members to maintain the dignity of the House in mind.

There should be a complete revamp of the rules to make clearing legislation and discussion on issues open, transparent, and outcome-oriented. Secondly, political parties should choose eminent men and women as members. Thirdly, new members should be given adequate time to participate in the proceedings. Fourthly, the party leaders should focus more on Parliament’s functioning as they are also stakeholders.

Fifthly, Question Hour should not be disturbed as that is when Government answers many questions. The cancellation of Zero Hour and Question Hour indicates that parliamentary reforms are urgently needed. Sixthly, presiding officers should be given more teeth. Seventhly, accommodation and negotiations should be part of the conduct of the House. Eighthly, new members should be trained to understand the House’s rules and regulations.

The parliamentary committees have gradually decreased their number of sittings. The Government also only refers some pieces of legislation to the committee. A healthy democracy needs a fit functioning Parliament. Indian democracy has matured over the years, and it is time to make some necessary corrective issues. (IPA Service)

The post Time Is Ripe For Reforming The Ways For Parliament’s Smooth Functioning first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article Time Is Ripe For Reforming The Ways For Parliament’s Smooth Functioning appeared first on Arabian Post.

By Kalyani Shankar

After the recent Assembly results, all parties in the tiny State of Nagaland formed an Opposition- free government to get a share in the power pie. All the parties unconditionally supported the ruling alliance, and all parties were in the Government with no Opposition.

It isn’t the first time Nagaland has chosen an Opposition-free government. In 2015 and 2021, there were such governments, but this was the first-ever Assembly where there was no opposition party even before the elected members had been sworn in.

The stakeholders justified their decision in their plea to bring all sections together for Naga’s political solution. The State faces serious development challenges attributed to long years of insurgency. This complete lack of Opposition shows the convulsions of democracy in its worst form.

The ruling NDPP (Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party)-BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) alliance retained power for a second straight term. In the 60-member House, the BJP won 12 seats, and its ally NDPP got 25. Independents won four and Nationalist Congress Party 7. Congress, which ruled the State earlier, did not open its account in the current or the previous Assembly. Sadly, the grand old party is almost disappearing from the North East, where it was a dominant force earlier.

To explain the historical perspective, the Naga movement, the longest-running insurgency in the country, began during the British regime and continued even after independence. In 1997, the Centre signed a ceasefire agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSC-IM), the largest rebel group.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi renewed the negotiations after he came to power in 2014. As a result, the Naga peace accord was signed to end the six-decade-old insurgency on 3 August 2015. All the parties formed an Opposition-free government before that.

The Government’s interlocutor for Naga Peace Talks, R. N. Ravi, signed it on behalf of the Government of India. Lt. Isak Chishi Swu, Chairman, and Thuingaleng Muivah, General Secretary, signed on behalf of the NSCN in the presence of Modi. For a second time, in 2021, the NPF and Independents joined the NDPP-BJP alliance to seek a collective solution to the Nagaland problem and formed an Opposition -free government.

However, as the circumstances differ, the Nagaland experiment cannot be extended to other States or the Centre. Suppose such a thing happened at the national level? Our founding fathers would shiver in their graves.

Former Chief Justice of India N. V. Ramana, addressing Rajasthan Assembly before his retirement, expressed concern over the diminishing space for the Opposition in legislative bodies. He lamented that the laws were passed without detailed deliberation and called for a robust, vibrant, active Opposition.

As a larger question, there are many reasons for the declining Opposition space within the state Assembly. They include an increasing number of dynastic leaders, lack of debate in the Legislature, absence of a good counter-narrative, and their adoption of an obstructive agenda.

The BJP has been aggressive in its expansion. PM Modi and his deputy Amit Shah worked feverishly to expand the party. Even nationally, the opposition space has been systematically eroded in the last decade, mainly after Modi took over.

In contrast, the main political party, the Congress, unable to protect its turf, has continuously declined in its electoral performance. The Left parties, too, face a similar situation. The regional leaders needed the numbers that could only come through alliances with these national parties. Above all, the Opposition parties needed an alternate vision and an engaging narrative to check the ruling BJP.

While drafting the Constitution, our founding fathers went into all aspects, including the role of the Opposition. Ideally, in genuine parliamentary democracies, governments and oppositions have equal obligations and responsibilities to the people who elected them to represent their interests. There is no democracy without Opposition, and theoretically, at least, it is as powerful as the Government. Power, though, has the potential to be misused, as witnessed by the adage: absolute power corrupts absolutely.

However, the success of democracy depends on the constructive role of the opposition parties as they provide an alternate viewpoint. They also scrutinize and challenge the ruling parties and hold them accountable for their actions.

Opposition is strong when people join it. Today, it is ordinary Indians who are performing the role of a formal Opposition to the Government. The effectiveness of the Opposition lies in raising the right questions. Any opposition party, civil society group, any organization willing to engage with the issues can be a vehicle for opposition politics.

The moral of the story is that democracies can survive authoritarians; they cannot survive the absence of vigorous Opposition. It performs a restraining role and constantly challenges the government of the day by promising a viable alternative. (IPA Service)

The post Nagaland’s Opposition-Free Government Must Remain One-Off first appeared on IPA Newspack.

The article Nagaland’s Opposition-Free Government Must Remain One-Off appeared first on Arabian Post.