All articles tagged with #lok sabha
With 16 Lok Sabha seats, TDP president Chandrababu Naidu is poised to play a crucial role in the formation of the next central government, as the BJP falls short of a majority. Naidu, who has a history of being a kingmaker, is unlikely to oppose Modi and may even be offered the NDA convenor post.
TimesNow, previously predicting a sweeping victory for YCP in the Lok Sabha elections, has revised its forecast to 14 seats for YCP and 11 for BJP+. This shift is attributed to either BJP's alliance or growing anti-incumbency sentiment. While TimesNow remains the only national media house favoring YCP, other national outlets predict a BJP+ advantage. Local media exit polls are split evenly between YCP and BJP+. The actual results will be revealed on June 4th.
India's 47-day marathon election for the Lok Sabha, involving nearly a billion registered voters, has concluded. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling party are seeking a third term, aiming to surpass their 2019 performance of 303 seats. Results will be announced on Tuesday.
The YSR Congress Party announced candidates for all 175 Assembly seats and 24 Lok Sabha constituencies in Andhra Pradesh, dropping a majority of the sitting MPs. YSRCP president and Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy announced the candidates, emphasizing social justice in ticket distribution and retaining some controversial figures. The party has given significant representation to SC/ST/BC/Minority communities and recognized grassroots leaders, with a majority of candidates being graduates and above. Andhra Pradesh will go to polls on May 13.
Sonia Gandhi's decision to opt for the Rajya Sabha instead of contesting the Lok Sabha elections is seen by the BJP as an admission of the Congress party's "looming defeat" in the upcoming polls. BJP leaders commented that the Gandhis have deserted their supposed strongholds, with Sonia Gandhi choosing the Rajya Sabha route instead of contesting from her family pocket borough Rae Bareli. The Congress is expected to win one of the three Rajya Sabha seats from Rajasthan, and Sonia Gandhi's nomination marks her first term in the Upper House after serving five terms as a Lok Sabha MP. BJP leaders also suggested that the Gandhi family's move reflects fear of facing the people in their constituencies and predicted a BJP sweep in the forthcoming general elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Sudhanshu Trivedi and RPN Singh are among the BJP candidates nominated for the Rajya Sabha polls, while Sushil Modi and Saroj Pandey were left out. The list reflects a shift of several Rajya Sabha members to Lok Sabha polls or organizational roles, in line with PM Narendra Modi's recent remarks. The party has also introduced new faces and maintained a balance of caste equations in its candidate selection, with elections for 56 Rajya Sabha seats scheduled for Feb 27.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi reiterated the party's opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), stating that it goes against the essence of India and is based on religion. He emphasized that AIMIM has consistently opposed the CAA and will continue to do so. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the CAA will be implemented before the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, asserting that it is a promise of the government and aims to confer Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has indicated that his party, the Aam Aadmi Party, will contest all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, citing the decision of the "people of Delhi." This move could further fragment the Opposition front in India, as it follows similar decisions in Punjab and Bengal, where AAP and Trinamool Congress have opted to go solo. Kejriwal also expressed confidence in winning all seats in Punjab and Chandigarh, while criticizing the Congress and emphasizing the need to strengthen regional parties against the BJP.
The BJP has announced 14 candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, including R P N Singh, Sudhanshu Trivedi, and Mahendra Bhatt. Notably, none of the Union ministers whose terms are ending were named, indicating a likelihood of their contesting the Lok Sabha polls. The party is yet to name several candidates, and the fate of senior leader Sushil Kumar Modi remains uncertain. Elections for 56 Rajya Sabha seats across 15 states are scheduled for February 27, with nominations closing on February 15.
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi expressed his respect for Lord Ram but criticized the BJP-led Centre during a Lok Sabha debate on the resolution for the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, questioning the government's stance on religion and its message to the Muslim community. He also condemned Nathuram Godse and demanded clarification on the government's religious affiliations, while BJP national president JP Nadda hailed the 'Pran Pratishtha Day' as a resurgence of the country's spiritual and cultural conscience.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 17th Lok Sabha, highlighting the achievements of his government, including the abrogation of Article 370 and the removal of triple talaq. He emphasized the productivity of the Lok Sabha and praised Speaker Om Birla. Modi also mentioned the construction of a new Parliament building and India's successful G20 presidency. He expressed satisfaction over bringing social justice to Jammu & Kashmir and the enactment of strict laws against terrorism. Modi concluded by stating that the next 25 years are crucial for the country.
The BJP-led government plans to bring a resolution in both houses of Parliament on the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on the last day of the session before the Lok Sabha polls. The motion will be moved under Rule 193 in the Lok Sabha and under Rule 176 in the Rajya Sabha, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely to address the House.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticized the UPA government's leadership and policies, blaming an "extra-constitutional" body for running the government and causing India to be labeled as one of the "Fragile Five" economies. She contrasted the UPA's response to the 2008 global financial crisis with the NDA government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting corruption scandals and alleged kickbacks during the UPA regime. Sitharaman also emphasized the Modi government's efforts to reform public sector banks and the coal sector, while the Congress accused the White Paper of being a "political manifesto" for the upcoming 2024 General Elections.
The Lok Sabha has passed an 'anti-cheating' bill aimed at preventing fraudulent practices, such as leaking of exam papers, in government recruitment exams. The bill, which will now be presented to the Rajya Sabha and then to the President for assent, imposes strict penalties, including up to 10 years in jail and a fine of Rs 1 crore, for those involved in paper leaks or tampering with answer sheets. The bill covers various offences related to cheating in competitive exams and empowers police to take action without a warrant, while also holding service providers accountable for not reporting possible offences.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi predicts a landslide victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, stating that the BJP will cross 370 seats and the NDA will surpass 400 seats. Modi expressed confidence in the people's support and emphasized the BJP's campaign message of 'Tabhi toh sab Modi ko chunte hain' (the only choice for the people is Modi). He also predicted a decline for the Congress, suggesting they would be relegated to the visitor's gallery of Parliament and remain in the opposition for many years to come.