A child dressed as AAP's Punjab CM candidate Bhagwant Mann on the counting day of Punjab Assembly polls. (PTI)
In another development, after its stunning victory in the Punjab Assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is now gearing up to expand its footprint in Gujarat, whose politics has traditionally been a bipolar affair involving the BJP and the principal Opposition Congress. The party is set to launch a “Tiranga Yatra” in each district of the state from March 19, which will be led by a number of party leaders from Delhi.
Explained: Here are 5 reasons why AAP swept Punjab
The Aam Aadmi Party has swept Punjab, garnering over 90 seats, the best-ever performance by any party in the state. Here are the five reasons why it conquered the two traditional parties of Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal that have ruled the state for the last seven decades
1. The clamour for change
In Punjab, power has traditionally alternated between the SAD, which had a 24-year-long partnership with the BJP from 1997 to 2021, and Congress, with the former winning in 2007 and 2012.
The Captain Amarinder Singh-led government in the state was accused of being in cahoots with the Akalis due to its soft-pedalling on charges against the Badals, leading to the perception on the ground that the Congress and Akalis were two sides of the same coin. This time, people across Punjab, Malwa in particular, voted for a change. The message that reverberated across the state was that the voters have seen the two big parties rule for 70 years, but they haven’t delivered results. So it is time to give a chance to another party. The AAP slogan “Is baar na khaawaange dhokha, Bhagwant Maan te Kejriwal nu dewaange mauka (We won’t get fooled this time, will give a chance to Bhagwant Mann and Kejriwal)” resonated across the state as people were fed up with the status quo and falling income levels.
Peace, stability and normalcy plank: In contrast to the tumultuous Congress regime under the Okram Ibobi Singh, marked by bandhs, blockades and a sharp rise in extra judicial killings, the last five years have been considerably peaceful in Manipur. State wide bandhs and economic blockades called by civil organisations in different parts of the state, that could last for days (the longest being the 100 day economic blockade of 2011), are now a thing of the past. There have been barely any violent protests, stone pelting, tear-gassing or curfews. While the situation began to improve pre-2017, the BJP came to power at the right time, and has been able to use this transition to its advantage.
Power at the Centre: Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Manipur BJP chief A Sharda Devi dance in celebrations after the party’s victory in Assembly polls, in Imphal, Thursday, March 10, 2022. (PTI Photo) Moreover, with funds and resources at its disposal, the BJP has been able to invest in its campaign.
A weak Opposition: While in 2017, the Congress was the single largest party in the House, the last five years have been particularly difficult for the grand old party as its MLA base has eroded from 27 to 13. Marred by rampant defections and a lack of leadership, it is a particularly weakened Congress that contested 2022. While Congress heavyweight Okram Ibobi Singh became active in the campaign trail in the last two months, he was practically invisible in the last five years.
Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi chairs the Congress Working Committee meeting, in New Delhi, Sunday, March 13, 2022. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal are also seen. (PTI Photo)
After a nearly five-hour meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Sunday, the Grand Old Party said Sonia Gandhi will remain the party president. The CWC reaffirmed its faith in Sonia’s leadership and authorised her to make necessary organisational changes. The party will soon hold a brainstorming session to draw up the future roadmap, the CWC added.
Sonia will remain as the Congress president till organisational elections are held later this year to appoint a new president. Sources said Sonia told the meeting if any of the members has any reservations over her leadership, she was ready to step down. Briefing reporters, AICC general secretary in charge of organisation K C Venugopal said the CWC had a “sincere” and “very fruitful” discussion. Read more
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, in his first visit to the national capital after the party notched up a comprehensive victory in the assembly polls. Earlier in the day, Adityanath met Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and BJP general secretary BL Santhosh. --PTI
Uttar Pradesh-designate CM and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath met party's president JP Nadda at the latter's residence in Delhi.
Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting concludes.
Punjab CM designate Bhagwant Mann to tender his resignation from MP post on Monday (March 14) in Delhi. He is a Member of Parliament from the Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency.
The chorus for naming Rahul Gandhi the Congress president grew louder Sunday with several party leaders and workers voiced support for him to take the charge. Ahead of a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said no one takes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Gandhi does. "The prime minister has to start his speech after targeting Rahul Gandhi, you can understand what this means," he said.
A number of Congress workers gathered in support of former party chief Rahul Gandhi near the AICC headquarter here ahead of a crucial meeting of the party's working committee where its electoral debacle in the recent assembly polls would be discussed.
The Congress workers from around Delhi, who converged near the party office, were not allowed to enter the AICC headquarter as the traffic was held up and the road outside the party office was barricaded by the police. A group led by Delhi Congress leaders, including Alka Lamba, voiced support for Rahul Gandhi to lead the party and raised slogans in his and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's favour. --PTI
Goa Raj Bhawan in a notice said Sudnay that the Governor has called for convening of new Assembly on March 15 for the purpose of administering the oath or affirmation to the newly-elected members.
Uttar Pradesh-designate CM Yogi Adityanath reaches 7 Lok Kalyan Marg to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Congress Working Committee meeting to discuss the party's recent poll debacle has begun. The meeting is being chaired by party's interim president Sonia Gandhi.
Inviting all Punjabis for the oath-taking ceremony on March 16, Punjab CM-designate Bhagwant Mann said, " All Punjabis will take oath as CM & all will be CM."
Punjab CM designate Bhagwant Mann during rally in Amritsar.
Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM designate Bhagwant Mann hold victory roadshow in Amritsar, reported ANI.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee(SGPC) on Sunday honoured Punjab CM designate Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal with Siropa at the information office in the Golden Temple precinct.
Punjab CM-designate Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday paid floral tribute at Jallianwala Bagh memorial in Amritsar.
Punjab CM-designate Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Punjab CM-designate Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar, ahead of their roadshow to mark the party's victory in Punjab polls. The leaders were accompanied with over 92 legislators landing there with their followers.
SATOJ is a village in celebration. The signs are everywhere. ‘Jee aayan nu (Welcome)’, says a temporary gate erected at the entrance, with the picture of Arvind Kejriwal in one corner and that of Bhagwant Mann on the other. Venture a little further and every house has a poster of the newly elected Chief Minister of Punjab.
Their ‘Pind da munda (village boy)’ is now ‘Mann Saab (Sir)’, and Satoj can’t have enough of it.
The 48-year-old was at the village Thursday when news of AAP’s overwhelming victory — 92 seats of 117, upending the state’s politics and creating national history — came in. Manga Singh, Mann’s neighbour, says Mann celebrated with jalebis and pakodas at the grain market before going home to his mother Harpal Kaur, fondly called Bebe, and sister Manpreet. “It was an emotional moment as they hugged. Bebe broke down and Mann couldn’t speak.”
Read Raakhi Jagga's full report here
The Congress parliamentary strategy group meeting on Sunday discussed the issues that the Opposition will raise in the upcoming Budget session of Parliament. "We will try to raise the issues of inflation, unemployment, MSP for farmers and medical students returning from Ukraine," Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters after the meet.
Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Anand Sharma, K Suresh and Jairam Ramesh arrived for the Congress parliamentary strategy group meeting on Sunday. The meeting is to chalk out strategy for second part of Budget session of Parliament commencing tomorrow.
Uttar Pradesh Cheif Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday will visit Delhi to discuss government formation in the state with BJP leadership. The dates for the swearing-in ceremony of the new government along with the new cabinet members are likely up for discussions, ANI reported.
Almost half (49.5%) of the assembly seats in Punjab have witnessed a victory margin between 20,000 and 75,000 votes, which is considered huge for Assembly elections where the total number of voters was between 1.25 lakh and 2 lakh. Of the total 58 seats (in the 117 seats Punjab Assembly) that saw a high victory margin, 57 were won by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and one by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Of the 58, nine constituencies recorded a victory margin between 20,000 and 25,000 votes, 38 constituencies witnessed a victory margin between 25,000 and 50,000 votes while 11 constitutions polled between 50,000 and 75,000 votes.
The huge victory margins were mostly recorded in the Malwa region where AAP registered a big victory by winning 66 of the 69 assembly seats. (With Anju Aghnihotri Chaba)
Cutouts and posters of CM-designate Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal seen on Amritsar roads ahead of their roadshow and visit to temples on Sunday. (ANI)
The stellar performance of the Janata Dal (United) in the recently concluded Manipur assembly election can be attributed to anti-incumbency and individual factors, besides the promises made in the manifesto which include scrapping of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), the party and political observers feel. The JD(U) bagged six seats, one more than the Congress which had ruled the North-eastern state for 15 years in a row since 2002. The party which did not get a single seat in the 2017 election finished this time only behind the BJP which won 32 seats and the NPP that secured seven constituencies.
The JD(U) also got 10.77 per cent of the votes polled.
The Congress' star women candidates, who entered the election fray as a symbol of struggle with the slogan "Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon', secured less than 3,000 votes each and had to even forfeit their deposits.
Living up to the party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's promise to give 40 per cent of the tickets to women candidates, the Congress fielded 148 of them, of which only one "Congress Legislature leader Aradhana Mishra Mona" secured victory. From Unnao's Sadar seat, the Congress had fielded Asha Devi, the mother of a rape victim. The grand old party had also engaged its team of workers from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to campaign for her. However, Devi bagged only 1,555 votes.
The Janata Dal (United) on Saturday extended support of its six MLAs in the Manipur assembly to the BJP as the latter is set to form government after winning a majority on its own. "In the interest of the people of Manipur, the JD (U) has decided to give support to the BJP in the formation of the government.
"The JD (U) would like to appeal to the BJP to honour the mandate reposed in the party and fulfil the hopes and aspiration of the people," it said in a statement.
AAP seems to have already switched to campaign mode in Gujarat. It is launching a “Tiranga Yatra” in each district of the state from March 19, which will be led by a number of party leaders from Delhi. The party supremo and Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, along with Punjab CM-designate Bhagwant Mann, would also visit Gujarat in the coming days to boost its membership drive.
AAP's Gujarat hope has been fuelled by its performance in the February 2021 Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) polls in which it sprang a surprise by winning 27 seats, while the Congress drew a blank. The BJP clinched the SMC, but the AAP got the main Opposition's space vacated by the Congress. Subsequently, top AAP leaders, including Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia, started to make frequent visits to Gujarat, declaring that the party will contest all the seats in the next state Assembly elections.
Buoyed by its stunning victory in the Punjab Assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is now gearing up to expand its footprint in Gujarat, whose politics has traditionally been a bipolar affair involving the BJP, which has been ruling the state for over 25 years, and the principal Opposition Congress.
Eyeing the Opposition space in Gujarat, AAP is hoping that a shrinking Congress would enable it to emerge as another major political player in the state slated for Assembly polls in December this year.
he BJP got the support of the over half of the Hindu voters while the Samajwadi Party was backed by over two-third of Muslim electors in the just-concluded Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, a post-poll survey has revealed. According to the findings of the CSDS-Lokniti survey, the BJP saw a marginal increase in its support among the Muslim voters as compared to the 2017 Assembly elections. The study also points to the fact that the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party got support of 26 per cent of Hindu voters, up from 18 per cent in the last Assembly elections. Yadav had visited many temples in course of his whirlwind campaign with an aim to dent the BJP's vote base among the Hindus.
The post-poll survey was published in The Hindu.
On the second day of his visit to home state Gujarat, where elections are due in December this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held two roadshows- in Gandhinagar district and another on his way to the Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad where he inaugurated the state's major sporting event, the Khel Mahakumbh.
Holding three roadshows in two days in Gujarat is seen as the prime minister virtually propelling BJP workers in poll mode. On Saturday evening, Modi held a roadshow between Indira bridge and the Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad, covering a distance of 3.5 km, amid cheers by the people and BJP workers.
Hours after Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant tendered his resignation to pave the way for the formation of a new government, Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai on Saturday evening dissolved the Legislative Assembly with immediate effect. Sawant had submitted his resignation on Saturday afternoon to the governor after his party- BJP- won 20 of the total 40 seats in the recently-held elections. The governor appointed Sawant as caretaker chief minister till the new government is sworn in.
Karnataka MLC C M Ibrahim on Saturday announced that he is quitting from the state Legislative Council as well as from the Congress party after its dismal performance in the recent Assembly elections held in five states. He is expected to join the Janata Dal (Secular) which he had left years ago.
A powerful leader from the Muslim community in the state, Ibrahim said the Congress was a sinking boat. “They are not recognising people who are working on the ground but are trying to elevate people who do not have a network with the public,” he said. Ibrahim is the first leader to quit the party after the Assembly poll results. Read more
Development and government functioning were among the top priorities for voters in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections while the Ram temple and Hindutva did not weigh much in the minds of people while exercising their franchise, a post-poll survey has highlighted. The study said the net satisfaction with the Narendra Modi government at the Centre was three times higher than that of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh, indicating the 'Modi magic' helped the BJP return to power for the second consecutive term. --PTI
AAP workers, led by Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, held a roadshow in Shimla on Saturday.
After Congress’ poor show in the recently-concluded Assembly elections in five states, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) will meet on Sunday evening to review the party’s performance and the current political situation. The meeting will be held at 4 pm at AICC office in Delhi.
With the BSP still reeling from its worst-ever performance in assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, party supremo Mayawati Saturday accused the media of adopting "casteist and hateful approach" towards the party, and asked its spokesperson to boycott TV debates.
Her outburst came through a series of tweets two days after the BSP slumped to its lowest ever tally of seats in Uttar Pradesh, winning just one in the current state polls. She claimed the media adopted a "casteist, hateful and despicable approach" to "harm" the Ambedkarite BSP movement during the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls on the instructions of "their bosses". (PTI)
Punjab CM-designate Bhagwant Mann leaves from Mohali for his home town Sangrur. His swearing-in ceremony will be held in Khatkar Kalan on March 16th.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a Gujarat visit, on Saturday held a roadshow in Gandhinagar, his second such event in the state in two days.
The roadshow was conducted between Dehgam town in Gandhinagar district and the Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) at Lavad village, wherein Modi waved to people standing in large numbers on both sides of the road. Before the roadshow, Modi had left the Raj Bhavan here in a car and shifted to an open jeep on reaching Dehgam.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel accompanied him in the open jeep. People thronged to greet the prime minister along the 12-km route of the roadshow. They welcomed him with garlands and flower petals. The roadshow ended when the vehicle reached the RRU. (PTI)
Additional Chief Secretary (Taxation) A Venu Prasad was Saturday appointed Principal Secretary to Chief Minister.
He is a 1991-batch IAS officer. He has been the CMD of PSPCL for a long time. His appointment is the first bureaucratic appointment undertaken by the new government led by Bhagwant Mann. (PTI)
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday resigned from the post to pave the way for the formation of a new government in the state, two days after his party - BJP - emerged as the single largest force by winning 20 seats in the 40-member assembly.
Sawant met Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai at the Raj Bhavan around noon and submitted his resignation.
Talking to reporters later, Sawant said he has been asked to continue as a caretaker chief minister till the new government is formed.
"The governor has given me an appointment letter to be the caretaker chief minister of the state," he said. (PTI)
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant tenders his resignation to Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai at Raj Bhawan in Panaji as his first tenure comes to an end.
PM Narendra Modi waves at people during a roadshow in Dahegam in Gandhinagar.
Speaking about the BJP's victory in Uttar Pradesh in the recently-held Assembly polls, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said: "They (BJP) won by speaking cleverly in the name of Hindutva, polarisation. Everyone knows about the Covid management in the country, in UP. Still, Opposition lagged behind as they (BJP) speak cleverly. It changed people's mind. I believe truth triumphs in the end." (ANI)
Announcing that he had staked claim to form government in Punjab, AAP leader Bhagwant Mann said: "I met the Governor, handed over letter of support from our MLAs and staked claim to form Government. He told me to tell him wherever we want to hold swearing-in ceremony. It'll be held at the native village of Bhagat Singh, Khatkar Kalan at 12.30 pm on March 16."
"People from houses across Punjab will come to the ceremony, they will also pay tribute to Bhagat Singh. We will have a good cabinet, historic decisions -that were never made before - will be made. So, you will have to wait," he told ANI. "
Punjab CM-designate Bhagwant Mann met Governor Banwarilal Purohit at Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh on Saturday morning, where he staked claim to form the government in the state.
Punjab CM-designate Bhagwant Mann arrived at Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh on Saturday morning to meet Governor Banwarilal Purohit. He will stake claim to form the government in the state. Take a look.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be visiting Delhi tomorrow to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President JP Nadda, ANI reported. The swearing-in ceremony of the new government is likely to take place after Holi, sources told the news agency.
Punjab chief minister-designate Bhagwant Mann will meet Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Saturday to stake claim to form the government in the state. Mann was elected as the AAP Legislature Party leader at a meeting of the party MLAs in Mohali on Friday.
"A meeting of the legislature group was held today. We have formally elected Bhagwant Mann as our leader," Aam Aadmi Party leader Aman Arora said here. He said Mann will meet the governor on Saturday to stake claim to form the government.
Mann will take oath as the chief minister of Punjab on March 16 at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, in Nawanshahr district. Names of several MLAs, including Harpal Singh Cheema, Aman Arora, Baljinder Kaur, Saravjit Kaur Manuke, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Budh Ram, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, Jeevanjyot Kaur and Dr Charanjit Singh, are doing the rounds for ministerial positions.
Cheema, the Leader of Opposition in the outgoing Legislative Assembly, was elected from the Dirba seat for the second time. Arora was re-elected from the Sunam seat. (PTI)