Today in Politics: All eyes on Modi ministry’s last huddle ahead of LS polls, focus on vikas

Among the key points for discussion at this marathon meeting could be the highlights of the Modi government 2.0’s performance since 2019 as well as its vikas (development) agenda. This would tie into the development and welfare pitch of the BJP’s campaign for the polls, among other issues.

The BJP is heading towards the elections with unprecedented confidence after Modi has underlined a target of 370 seats for the party on its own and 400 plus for its NDA coalition.

To achieve it, the party has already stitched up fresh alliances with smaller parties as well as regional outfits like Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka, got back its former partner Janata Dal (United) in Bihar, and has been in talks with parties like the TDP and Jana Sena Party (JSP) in Andhra Pradesh.

At present, the Modi ministry has 27 Cabinet ministers and 45 Ministers of State (MoS).

Farm unions to take decision

The agitating farmers who had announced their “Dilli Chalo” march over a range of demands had put their march on hold following the death of a young farmer named Shubhkaran Singh on February 21. They are currently at protesting sites at Shambhu and Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana borders.

On Sunday, after the last prayer meeting for Shubhkaran, they will announce their next course of action.

“We will march to Delhi in a peaceful manner if there is no repression from the Haryana security forces at the borders. Else, we will strengthen the stir at the existing borders and even add more locations, not only in Punjab but in other states as well,” Ramandeep Singh Mann, a member of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) told The Indian Express.

KMM coordinator Sarwan Singh Pandher added, “Our morchas at Shambhu and Khanauri are going strong and we have sought more tarpaulin sheets and makeshift tents. More announcements will be made after Shubhkaran’s bhog on Sunday afternoon. I appeal to each and every person in Punjab to join the last prayer meeting at his native village Balloh in Bathinda district.”

Earlier in the day, Pandher alleged that the Central government was not paying attention to farmers’ demands as the ruling BJP’s sole focus was on winning the Lok Sabha elections. He added that the government should give a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops and meet other demands of protesting farmers, which include debt waiver.

After their fourth round of talks with farm leaders on February 18, the Union government proposed it would procure pulses, maize and cotton at MSP by government agencies for five years. The farm leaders had said this was not in favour of the farmers.

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Rahul Yatra

After taking a five-day break to deliver lectures at Cambridge University in the UK, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered Madhya Pradesh’s Morena on Saturday. On Sunday morning, the Yatra will proceed to Morkheda and then go to Shivpuri in the state.

On Saturday the Congress put up a united front, with former chief minister Kamal Nath joining it several days after indications that he may join the BJP. The Congress went into damage-control mode after the news to keep its flock together, even as Nath dismissed the buzz as a “media creation”.

Speaking at a gathering Saturday, Nath said Rahul’s mission was to spread peace and love.

“We all know that in the next few months we will have an election. This is not a normal election. This election will decide the future of our youth and farmers… This is Rahul’s second Yatra in Madhya Pradesh, what is his message? He only talks of love and peace. This is our country’s culture. This is Rahul Gandhi’s objective – to ensure the next generation’s future is secure,” Nath said.

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—- With PTI inputs