In poll playbook: Central agencies come knocking on Opposition’s doors
The Income Tax department’s raids Friday on DMK leader Stalin’s daughter Senthamarai in Tamil Nadu and the Enforcement Directorate’s attachment of properties Saturday of TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Satabdi Roy in West Bengal fit a pattern.
Be it the run-up to a state assembly election or Lok Sabha polls, central agencies — from the ED to CBI to I-T — have a knack of knocking on the doors of Opposition leaders in the states they control. The agencies deny Opposition allegations that their actions are prompted by politics, but over the years a pattern has emerged.
Amid Covid-19 surge, over 20 poll observers’ tests return positive
More than 20 poll observers in West Bengal have tested positive for Covid-19 since the end of the second phase of the Assembly elections on April 1, Election Commission (EC) officials said on Saturday. The statement came even as the state reported over a thousand new Covid cases for the third straight day.
Sources in the Commission said some of the 20 tested positive before they joined duty while most were part of the poll process and are now in isolation. The observers will soon be replaced, they added.
Samajwadi Party MPJaya Bachchan came to Kolkata to attend a rally in support of Trinamool Congress candidate Aroop Biswas for the ongoing Assembly Eklections in West Bengal.
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Describing all 31 West Bengal assembly constituencies where polls are set to be held on Tuesday as ‘sensitive’, the Election Commission of India (ECI) Monday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, an official said. The order prohibits public gatherings in the constituencies spread across three districts when the third phase of elections will be held in the state.
In an apparent dig at the BJP, Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan said on Monday that no one has ever succeeded by "intimidating" Bengalis.
Addressing a press conference at the Trinamool Congress headquarters here, the veteran actor hailed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, asserting that she was fighting a battle all alone for democracy in Bengal.
Bachchan said that she was in West Bengal to campaign for the TMC on the instruction of her party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
"Mamata is fighting all alone against the atrocities, and for democratic rights of the people of Bengal. Her leg is broken, but she is still fighting," Bachchan said. --PTI
Altogether 2,813 cases of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violation have been reported since the announcement of the election to the 126-member Assam Assebly, Chief Electoral Officer Nitin Khade said on Monday. The campaigning for the third phase of the Assembly election to be held on April 6 ended on March 4. At least 1,347 complaints were received online through the cVigil app and 1,466 were received offline through Form B9 and 947 of the complaints received online have been already disposed of, he said. --PTI
The ruling AIADMK on Monday approached the Election Commission demanding to revoke elections in Kolathur, Chepauk, Katpadi, Tiruvannamalai and Trichy West constituencies alleging malpractices like money distribution in these seats, ANI reported.
Highlighting the ongoing rise in coronavirus cases, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed the authorities for conducting an eight phase long election. “What was the need for an eight-phase election? It was done by BJP Mandal. Given the present situation (COVID), shouldn't they have wrapped up the election within a short period of time?
Addressing a rally in Hooghly, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that BJP cannot find a local candidate to contest polls as “they don't have any locals, all their people are borrowed from either TMC or CPM.” Banerjee also said that those “can't say Sonar Bangla properly,cannot rule Bengal.”
Addressing a rally in Hooghly, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday expressed confidence on her win in Bengal, saying, “I will win Bengal on one leg and in the future, will get victory in Delhi on two legs.”
Massive road shows and long rallies, led by top national and state leaders on Sunday marked the finale of the weeks-long high-octane open campaigning for the April 6 Assembly polls in Kerala.
Despite a ban imposed by the Election Commission on the customary crowded culmination of the open poll campaigning in view of the COVID-19 situation, mass participation of party workers could be seen in the final events in most of the 140
constituencies.
Known as "Kottikalasham" in local parlance, the finale of the open poll campaigning used to be a jamboree in the southern state in which every political party would try to show off their strength by bringing a maximum number of supporters to add colour to the show.
Party workers also held small fire fireworks display and burst crackers in some places.
Campaigning for the third and last phase of the Assam assembly elections ended on Sunday.The fate of 337 candidates, including NEDA convenor and state minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, will be sealed in EVMs in 40 constituencies on April 6.
The seats, spread across 12 districts including three in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), witnessed last-minute canvassing by candidates, including 25 women, before the end of campaigning.
Modi, who had campaigned in all three phases,addressed two rallies at Kokrajhar and Tamulpur, both in BTR,and highlighted the signing of the Bodo Accord and development initiatives of the BJP.
On April 1, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the stage to address a large rally in Kokrajhar town in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), Honok Khaklary, a 40-year-old Bodo car mechanic, was among those cheering.
“It’s great that the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) has gone with the BJP. Hagrama (Mohilary, leader of the Bodoland People’s Front) has done nothing for us. Roads, water supply, infrastructure… all need development in the region. The BJP will bring progress, peace,” said Khaklary.
The single largest tribal community in Assam, Bodos constitute over 5-6% of its population. Following years of insurgency, the narrative in the Bodoland region is now seeing a major churn, as the BJP tries to make an entry. (Read Abhishek Saha's report here)
Senior Congress leader Jitendra Singh on Sunday claimed that the BJPs campaign in Assam has been full of negativity and the language used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during canvassing was aimed at dividing the Assamese society. Asserting that the Congress-led Grand Alliance will sweep the assembly polls in the state, Singh alleged that the recent incidents such as reduction of punishment of the BJP minister Himanta Biswa Sarma proved that the Election Commission is acting "like the agent" of the saffron party.
Addressing a joint press conference of the constituents of the 10-party opposition grouping before closing of the campaigning for the third and final phase of elections on April 6, the AICC's in-charge of Assam claimed that the Grand Alliance is on its way to accomplish the target of winning 101 seats in 126-member assembly. (PTI)
From the distance it looks like a cross. But it’s just a long pole with a crossbar, on both sides of which hang two small, white frocks with marks that look like blood stains. Accompanying it are half-a-dozen people who make up the campaign team of the woman who has been dubbed the ‘Walayar mother’, and who is contesting as a candidate from Dharmadam, the CPM fortress from where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is standing for re-election.
Long way from home, in Walayar, a town near Palakkad on the Tamil Nadu border, she hands out pamphlets — to everyone, in shops, those walking past her. They stop, listen, but few engage with her. Making a halt at a bus stop on the highway connecting Dharmadam to Kozhikode in the south and Mangalore in the north, she says in simple, clear Malayalam: “I want justice. I was promised justice by the CM, but the government is protecting the police officers who subverted the investigation into the rape and murder of my two children aged 9 and 11.”
Three months apart in 2017, her two daughters had been found dead under dubious circumstances. Following protests, arrests were made, but the men were later acquitted, with the court saying the prosecution had failed to prove its case against them. In January this year, the Kerala High Court found serious lapses in the probe and ordered a retrial. The state government has since handed over the case to the CBI. (Read Amrith Lal's report here)
With the Election Commission cutting down the ban on him campaigning from 48 hours to 24, senior BJP leader and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma counted down the end of Assam’s poll campaign with a series of rallies.
The ban, following Sarma’s threat to put Bodoland People’s Front chief Hagrama Mohilary behind bars on an NIA case, had been announced on Friday. After it ended on the completion of 24 hours, on Saturday evening, with the EC accepting his apology, Sarma took to the streets almost immediately, with a massive rally in the state capital Guwahati.
One of the key leaders of the BJP campaign, and a possible CM candidate, Sarma spent Sunday addressing a road show at Bijni, followed by public meetings at Dudhnoi, Borkhetri and Hajo. Finally, in the afternoon, Sarma called it a day with a rally at Jalukbari, his own constituency. Read More
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said “goons” belonging to the TMC would meet the fate of gangsters and criminals in his state and would be sent to prison within a month once the BJP comes to power in West Bengal.
“Once the BJP forms a government in Bengal, the TMC goons will meet the same fate as the goons in UP. They will be on their knees after poll results. Goons sheltered by the TMC will be tracked and sent behind bars within a month of the formation of the new government. We will punish those who are a part of the syndicate raj and demand cut money [commission] from people,” Adityanath said at a public meeting in Jangipara in Hooghly district. Read More
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday wondered if Narendra Modi was “a god or a superhuman” after the prime minister predicted a BJP triumph in the ongoing Assembly elections, six phases of which remain.
“What do you [Modi] think of yourself, are you a god or a superhuman? How he is announcing that they [BJP] will win and will come to the oath-taking ceremony? He is threatening our officers to get the data ready. This is illegal and unconstitutional. He cannot instruct our officers. If I instruct Delhi’s officers, what will happen?” Banerjee said, referring to Modi’s remarks at recent public meetings that he will attend the oath-taking ceremony of the BJP government in the state and request it to implement the PM Kisan Nidhi scheme as early as possible. Read More
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday accused Narendra Modi of using a mocking tone to address Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at BJP’s election rallies, alleging that the prime minister was insulting the women of the state.
At a press conference, senior TMC leader and state minister Shashi Panja said, “Today, we are all perturbed that the prime minister and home minister of the country are not respecting their positions. The prime minister is speaking in a leering, joking tone much of a hater of women he is. It is quite unfortunate that. It is clear from his speeches how the prime minister is using this kind of language.” Read More
Referring to an audio tape which surfaced on Sunday, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari launched a scathing attack on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, alleging that they were involved in the coal smuggling case in the state.
The audio tape carries the recording of a purported conversation between an unidentified person and Ganesh Bagaria, an aide of Anup Majhi who is an accused in the coal pilferage scam. Read More
he high octane campaign for the April 6 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections ended on Sunday at 7 pm, with the stage now set for the polling on April 6 which will decide whether it will a hat-trick of terms for the AIADMK or the return of DMK after a decade in opposition. The Election Commission said items and cash totally worth over Rs 428 crore have been seized in the run-up to the polls. --PTI
BJP chief J P Nadda on Sunday hit out at the Congress party over Naxalism saying there have been 'questions' of it taking a soft line with Naxalites. Condemning the killing of jawans in Chhattisgarh by Naxals and condoling their deaths, the top Saffron party leader asserted that the Centre would stand by the families of the soldiers. --PTI
With the Election Commission decision yet to come on Bodoland Peoples Front candidate Rangja Khungur Basumatary joining BJP in the middle of the ongoing polls, opposition Congress and CPI(M) have demanded suspension of election in Tamulpur constituency in the third phase on April 6. Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora personally heard the matter on Saturday in the presence of returning officer for the constituency Sanjiv Sarma, but no decision has been announced so far, sources in the poll panel told PTI. --PTI
"If discussion of MK Stalin becoming CM doesn't arise then how come his son Udhayanidhi Stalin become CM? For the past 10 years, people have forgotten DMK. Where is the party?," Tamil Nadu Deputy CM and AIADMK leader, O Panneerselvam said.
Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday alleged there was"competition" between the ruling LDF and opposition UDF fronts in Kerala to outdo each other in scams and said they were not interested in people's welfare, but only "lining their pockets". She also attacked the Left government over the Sabarimala issue, alleging that there was an attempt to stealthily send women, who were not Ayyappa devotees, to the hill shrine and raise the 'Lal Salaam" salute, a communist greeting. --PTI
Actor-turned-politician and Makkal Neethi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Hassan on Sunday said he is ready to quit cinema if it becomes hurdle for his political career, which was meant for serving the people. "I will finish all my present assignments and quit films, if they become a hurdle to my political career," he told reporters in Coimbatore. --PTI
Rahul Gandhi, who is on a campaign trail in Kerala, interacted with Shareef V V, an auto driver, in Kalpetta. Sharing the video on Telegram, he wrote: “His concerns about the rising fuel prices need urgent redressal. Millions of hardworking people are suffering because of Central Govt’s tax extortion. They need a minimum income guarantee in the form of NYAY. UDF promises to make it reality.”
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Sunday asserted that “goons sheltered by the Trinamool Congress” will be tracked down and sent to jail within a month of the BJP forming government in West Bengal. Speaking at a campaign rally in the state, he said the “murdered BJP karyakartas (workers)” including Sudarshan Pramanik from Hooghly district, will get justice once the saffron party comes to power in the state. “TMC goons, listen carefully. After the counting of votes, we will teach you a lesson. Similar things happened in Uttar Pradesh four years back after we formed the government there.”
Rahul Gandhi with a kid during his campaign in Kerala. (Photo: PTI)
"As a national party,Congress ignored regional issues. Now they're only following DMK. BJP, on the other hand, always prioritizes regional issues. For example, when Congress banned Jallikattu,DMK was a meek spectator. It was PM Modi who nullified it," BJP chief JP Nadda said in Chennai.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had Easter lunch with children at Jeevan Jyothi Orphanage in the Kalpetta area of Kerala's Wayanad during his campaign trail today. During lunch, the children spoke to Priyanka Gandhi over a video call. ---ANI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday wondered whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “god or a superhuman” to make claims of a BJP triumph in the assembly elections, six phases of which still remain.
At an election rally in Hooghly district, the TMC supremo, without naming the Indian Secular Front or its founder Abbas Siddiqui, also said the BJP is giving money “to a person” to eat into minority votes.
“What do you (Modi) think of yourself, are you god or superhuman?” Banerjee said, referring to remarks by the PM at public meetings that he will attend the oath-taking ceremony of the BJP government in Bengal and request it to implement the PM Kisan Nidhi scheme as early as possible. Read more
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has cut short his poll campaign in Assam and is returning to Delhi in view of Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh. He is returning after addressing one out of three rallies he was supposed to address: Jitendra Singh, BJP's co-in charge for Assam poll to ANI.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi kicked off Day 2 of his Kerala campaign trail on Sunday by offering prayers at Thirunelli Temple in Wayanad. Gandhi is set to hold a road show in Kozhikode later in the day.
Photos: Congress/Twitter
DMK President MK Stalin on Sunday held a roadshow in support of the party's Harbour Assembly seat candidate Sekar Babu.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of turning Bengal into a land of hooliganism and anarchy. Adityanath held roadshows and addressed public meetings in the districts of Howrah and South 24 Parganas. On April 6, 31 seats in these districts and Hooghly will go to the polls in the third phase of the Assembly polls.
“Bengal is a land of cultural nationalism. The TMC goons however have turned this into a land of hooliganism and anarchy. The Congress, the Left and the TMC have changed the atmosphere of the state and made the state a victim of their appeasement politics,” he said at a public meeting in the Uluberia Purba constituency.
Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid Saturday said his party is committed to correct BJP's governance of division, distortion and deceit if voted to power in Assam. Addressing a press conference here, the former union minister alleged that the saffron party has throughout its poll campaign attempted to destroy tenets of democracy and Assamese identity.
"The BJP believes in division, distortion and deceit. Five years of its rule in Assam has put a stamp on this," he said. Asserting that the Congress treats everyone equally and fairly, he said, "BJP's politics is centred around hatred. Last five years have seen unprecedented downfall in Assam's economic prowess, peace in the state and severe damage to Assamese identity." (PTI)
On a sweltering afternoon on March 30, at a public ground in Kanhangad in Kerala’s Kasaragod district, a car halts near a waiting crowd. As Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan alights from the vehicle, the crowd surges ahead, mobile phones go up as if in salute, slogans pierce the air and CPI(M) central committee member P Karunakaran announces: “Kerala’s captain is here — the captain who led Kerala in crisis.’’
Unlike neighbouring Tamil Nadu, which has monikers for its leaders (Kaliagnar, Thalaivar and Captain) — Kerala hasn’t had that tradition, with a rare exception probably being the late Congress leader K Karunakaran, who was called ‘Leader’ in party circles. But as Kerala votes on April 6, the ruling Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) entire campaign has revolved around this branding of Vijayan as ‘captain’, as the man in charge.
As the LDF hopes to buck the trend of voters alternating between the CPM-led front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), Vijayan is its only headliner and, amazingly for someone known to deliver the most tepid of speeches, its principal crowd puller.(Read more here)