Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News Updates: Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and other INDIA bloc partners will take part in a large rally in Amethi at 1 pm. Rahul and Akhilesh will attend a joint rally in Raebareli later in the day at 3 pm.
Tag: 2024 Lok Sabha Elections
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Will Arvind Kejriwal’s Arrest In Delhi Liquor Case Impact AAP’s 2024 Lok Sabha Election Campaign? |
NEW DELHI: Amid the high-voltage drama, Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi and the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with allegations of corruption and money laundering linked to Delhi’s excise policy. The arrest marks a significant moment in Indian political history, as Kejriwal has become the first sitting chief minister to face arrest in a criminal case.
Allegations Of Corruption And Money Laundering
The case against Kejriwal and others revolves around accusations of corruption and money laundering concerning the formulation and execution of Delhi’s excise policy for the fiscal year 2021-22, which was subsequently scrapped. Kejriwal’s repeated avoidance of summons by the ED only served to intensify scrutiny on the matter, ultimately leading to his arrest.
Arrest Amidst Election Season
Importantly, Kejriwal’s arrest comes at a politically sensitive juncture, just before the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. With the political landscape already charged with anticipation and speculation, this development adds a layer of complexity to AAP’s electoral strategy.
What Next For AAP?
AAP, a party known for its anti-corruption stance and grassroots appeal, now faces a critical leadership vacuum with its prominent figures embroiled in legal troubles. Kejriwal’s absence as the party’s star campaigner poses a significant challenge, forcing AAP to reconsider its electoral tactics and leadership structure. Kejriwal’s arrest compounds an already complex situation for AAP, as prominent figures like Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Satyendra Jain are embroiled in the same investigation. As AAP strives to expand its political footprint nationally and engages in strategic alliances, Kejriwal’s absence poses a formidable obstacle to the party’s electoral ambitions.
The arrest disrupts AAP’s carefully crafted campaign strategies, particularly in Delhi and Gujarat, where Kejriwal serves as the focal point of electoral messaging. The party’s reliance on Kejriwal’s mass appeal and popularity underscores the magnitude of the challenge it now faces in recalibrating its campaign strategy.
Who Can Lead AAP In Kejriiwal’s Absence?
In the wake of Kejriwal’s arrest, AAP confronts the challenge of identifying a capable leader to navigate the party through this turbulent period. Names like Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Raghav Chadha and Bhagwant Mann emerge as potential contenders, each bringing unique strengths and considerations to the table. The selection of a successor assumes paramount importance as AAP strives to maintain its political relevance and momentum.
Governance Amidst Legal Battle
Beyond its electoral implications, Kejriwal’s arrest raises fundamental questions about governance in Delhi. As the AAP government contends with legal and constitutional challenges, the efficacy of governance amidst ongoing legal battles remains a subject of intense scrutiny. The party’s ability to uphold its governance agenda and deliver on electoral promises becomes increasingly precarious in this volatile environment.
AAP’s response to Kejriwal’s arrest is characterized by a delicate balance of strategic manoeuvres and public engagement. The party’s efforts to leverage the arrest as a rallying point for public sympathy underscore its determination to mitigate the electoral fallout. However, navigating the complexities of public perception and political dynamics presents a formidable challenge as AAP seeks to reaffirm its commitment to its core principles of ”zero tolerance” and electoral objectives.
As the nation grapples with the implications of Kejriwal’s arrest, the future of AAP hangs in the balance. The unfolding legal battle, coupled with the impending Lok Sabha Elections, has set the already stage for a high-stakes political showdown, where every move and decision carries significant consequences. As political parties strategize and discuss their next moves in this charged atmosphere, the fate of AAP and its electoral prospects remain uncertain, awaiting further developments in this unfolding saga.
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Seat-Sharing Deal With BJP Finalised, Announcement Soon: Chirag Paswan |
NEW DELHI: In a significant development, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan on Wednesday said that the seat-sharing deal with the BJP for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha Elections has been finalised. Chirag Paswan, who represents the Jamui Lok Sabha seat, said that a formal announcement in this regard will be made soon. Chirag also confirmed that his party will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as part of the BJP-led NDA.
”As a member of the NDA, today in a meeting with BJP National President JP Nadda, we have together finalised the seat sharing in Bihar for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. The same will be announced in due course of time,” Chirag Paswan said in a post on X.
As a member of the NDA, today in a meeting with BJP National President Hon Shri @jpnadda ji, we have together finalised the seat sharing in Bihar for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
The same will be announced in due course.एनडीए के सदस्य के रूप में आज भाजपा के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष… pic.twitter.com/hpAQNC5HKo
— युवा बिहारी चिराग पासवान (@iChiragPaswan) March 13, 2024
Chirag Paswan made these remarks following his meeting with BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda in the national capital.
#WATCH | LJP national president Chirag Paswan meets BJP national president JP Nadda, in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/Zfx9CQMhjE
— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2024
Sources said that Chirag Paswan will be given 5 seats from LJP’s quota in Bihar. Chirag Paswan will contest from the Hajipur Lok Sabha seat, and there is a consensus between the BJP and Chirag Paswan. BJP has also reportedly offered the post of Governor to Chirag’s estranged uncle Pashupati Paras and discussed the possibility of Prince Paswan, the Member of Parliament from the Samastipur Lok Sabha constituency, becoming a minister in the the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government.
Prince Paswan is the nephew of late LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan. Prince was elected as a Member of Parliament from Samastipur in a by-poll on 24 October 2019, after the death of his father and sitting MP Ram Chandra Paswan.
Speaking to journalists later, Chirag Paswan said, “Every worker of LJP expresses gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Just as we have been with the Bharatiya Janata Party in the past several elections, we will continue to be with BJP in the upcoming elections. We thank BJP President JP Nadda for not only addressing our demands but also making efforts towards their resolution.”
Chirag Paswan further stated, “Today, when the alliance is fully prepared, I express heartfelt gratitude to Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda. In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the NDA alliance will win all 40 seats in Bihar. I have attended the party’s programs in the state, and from the experiences gained there, I feel confident that we will cross the mark of 400, and the flag of NDA will fly on all 40 seats of Bihar.”
When asked about the formula for seat allocation, LJP National President Chirag said, “There is a rule of the alliance. We will all sit together and then make the announcement together.” What’s most interesting is that Chirag Paswan said, “With the arrival of Nitish Kumar, the NDA has become stronger, and we will succeed in winning all the seats of the state.”
In Bihar, there are 40 Lok Sabha seats and six parties including BJP and JD(U) are the main contenders. Both Pashupati Kumar Paras and Chirag Paswan have been claiming the Hajipur seat.
Pashupati Kumar Paras, who is currently serving as the Minister of Food Processing Industries in the Narendra Modi-led Government since 2021, is the founder of the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party. He is currently serving as a member of Lok Sabha from Hajipur since 2019.
Interestingly, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president had recently cautioned the BJP before making any final decision on seat-sharing in Bihar. Upon realising that he is likely to get fewer seats in the BJP-led alliance this time after the arrival of Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Paswan asserted that he is not afraid of anyone and neither will bow down. Giving a strong message to the BJP, Paswan said his alliance was only with the people of Bihar.
In response to his statement, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary assured that all the allies of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will get proper representation in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Chaudhary’s remarks came even as the NDA in Bihar appeared to be grappling with the question of seat-sharing despite crucial meetings in Delhi and Patna to streamline the distribution of Lok Sabha seats among its constituents in the state. Responding to a question of dismay within the smaller NDA constituents, Choudhary said, “They all will be taken into account and will get proper representation”.
When asked about the timeline of announcing candidates in Bihar for Lok Sabha seats, the BJP leader said that there is ample time and assured that a seat-sharing deal will be revealed before the announcement of general election dates.
Addressing a recent rally, Chirag Paswan dropped hints that he was weighing his options and could tilt towards the side with a better bargain. “I can see the posse of media persons here who are anxious to know whom Chirag Paswan is aligned with. I wish to tell them that Chirag Paswan is aligned only with the people of Bihar,” Chirag Paswan said. “Every party, every coalition wants Chirag Paswan to be on its side,” he said, adding that this was because people were enamoured with his “Bihar first Bihari first” vision that seeks to pull the state out of chronic backwardness.
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Election Quiz: Who Was The Veteran Congressman Who Served Twice As Acting Prime Minister Of India?
Born on July 4, 1898, in Sialkot, Nanda’s early life was shaped by his commitment to India’s freedom struggle, which he joined shortly after becoming an economics professor.
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BJP’s Saumitra Khan vs TMC’s Sujata Mondal: Bengal’s Bishnupur LS Seat To See Contest Between Former Couple |
New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress (TMC), the ruling party in West Bengal, has announced its candidates for all the 42 parliamentary seats in the state for the upcoming 2024 general elections. One of the most interesting contests is in the Bishnupur constituency, where the TMC has pitted Sujata Mondal against her former husband and the incumbent BJP MP, Saumitra Khan. The couple, who once campaigned together, are now bitter rivals in the political arena.
How Couple Drifted Apart
Saumitra Khan and Sujata Mondal were married for several years, but their relationship soured due to ideological differences. According to sources, they had disagreements over political issues, which led to personal conflicts. Eventually, they decided to part ways and live separately. Their divorce was finalized in 2020, after which Sujata Mondal joined the TMC, leaving behind her husband and his party, the BJP.
The Battle For Bishnupur
The BJP has re-nominated Saumitra Khan as its candidate from Bishnupur, a seat that he won in 2019 with a comfortable margin. However, he will face a tough challenge from his ex-wife, who has been given the ticket by the TMC. In the 2019 elections, Sujata Mondal had supported her husband and canvassed for him door to door. But now, she will be seeking votes for herself and trying to defeat him. The irony is that the two will be campaigning against each other on the same turf.
Sujata Mondal’s Rise In TMC
Sujata Mondal, who was known as Saumitra Khan’s wife in politics, has carved a niche for herself in the TMC. She joined the party in 2020 and was soon given a ticket to contest the assembly elections from Arambagh. She lost the election, but not before accusing the BJP workers of attacking her with bricks and stones. She also courted controversy by making a derogatory remark about the scheduled caste community.
Despite these setbacks, she rose in the ranks of the TMC and became the chief executive of the Bankura district council. She has now been entrusted with the responsibility of taking on her former husband in the Lok Sabha elections.
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Modi To Contest From Varanasi, Amit Shah From Gandhinagar: BJP’s 1st List Of 195 Candidates |
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday announced its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking re-election from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The list, which was released by BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde at the party’s Delhi headquarters, includes 34 central ministers and ministers of state and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
The party also announced 15 candidates from Gujarat, where BJP president Amit Shah will make his Lok Sabha debut from Gandhinagar, replacing veteran leader LK Advani. Union Minister Mansukhbhai Mandaviya will contest from Porbandar.
LIVE: BJP Press Conference at party headquarters in New Delhi. #PressConference https://t.co/s0BUb3oFph
— BJP Gujarat (@BJP4Gujarat) March 2, 2024Other prominent names in the list are Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiran Rijiju from Arunachal West, BJP MP Bishnu Pada Ray from Andaman & Nicobar, BJP MP Tapir Gao from Arunachal East, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal from Dibrugarh in Assam, and Union Minister Smriti Irani from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, where she will take on Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
The BJP also fielded Praveen Khadelwal from Chandni Chowk seat, Manoj Tiwari from North East Delhi, Bansuri Swaraj from New Delhi seat, Kamaljit Sehrawat from West Delhi, and Ramvir Singh Bidhuri from South Delhi.
The party announced candidates for 51 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, 20 in West Bengal, five in Delhi, one each in Goa and Tripura, and 16 other states and Union Territories. The list also reflects the party’s focus on women and young leaders, as 28 women and 47 candidates under the age of 50 were given tickets.
The BJP is aiming to retain its majority in the 543-member Lok Sabha, where it had won 282 seats in 2014. The elections will be held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19, and the results will be declared on May 23.
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Congress, AAP Join Hands For Lok Sabha Elections, Reveal Seat-Sharing Deal For 3 States, 2 UTs |
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress have forged an alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The parties have announced their seat-sharing arrangements for Delhi, Gujarat and Haryana. In Gujarat, the Congress will fight for 24 seats, AAP for 2; in Haryana, the Congress will vie for 9 seats, AAP for one seat; in Delhi, AAP will have the upper hand with four seats, the Congress with 3 seats.
“Congress will contest on 24 seats out of 26 in Gujarat. AAP will field its candidates on 2 seats – Bharuch and Bhavnagar,” said Mukul Wasnik, Congress general secretary and MP. “In Haryana, which has 10 Lok Sabha seats, Congress will contest on 9. AAP will have its candidates on 1 seat – in Kurukshetra,” he added.
Delhi | Congress and AAP announce seat-sharing in Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Chandigarh and Goa
In Delhi (7 seats), Congress to contest on 3 and AAP on 4
In Gujarat (26 seats), Congress to contest on 24 and AAP on 2 (in Bharuch and Bhavnagar)
In Haryana (10 seats), Congress to… pic.twitter.com/vCauAdvkUm
— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2024In Delhi, AAP will compete in New Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi and East Delhi; the Congress will challenge in Chandni Chowk, North East and North West seats. Wasnik said that after a long discussion, it was agreed that the Congress will contest in the Chandigarh seat. In Goa, the Congress will contest both the Lok Sabha seats.
The two parties did not comment on Punjab, where AAP had formed a government in 2022 after ousting the Congress. Earlier this month, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal declared that his party will contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. AAP and Congress, former adversaries in Punjab and Delhi, had contested the Chandigarh mayoral elections in alliance last month and won with the Supreme Court’s intervention.
“The country is facing a grave situation – the BJP Government is destroying all institutions one by one, the elections are being ‘rigged’ and Opposition leaders are being jailed to win elections, the farmers are being treated unjustly, the people of the country are suffering from unemployment and inflation…the country needs an honest and strong alternative,” said AAP MP Sandeep Pathak after announcing the alliance.
“With that in mind, we set aside our own political interests and kept the interest of the nation in mind. We came together in this alliance. The country is more important than the party. This election will not be fought as Congress versus AAP, but as INDIA versus BJP,” he added.
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AAP-Congress Alliance In Delhi Uncertain: ‘Let’s See,’ Says Kejriwal After Blaming Delays |
New Delhi: The AAP and the Congress were “too late” in their talks over seat sharing in Delhi for Lok Sabha polls, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday, amid reports by sources in both sides that the prospects of an alliance have faced a setback. On Tuesday, Kejriwal had said that talks for seat sharing in the national capital were in “final stages” and a partnership between the two parties would be declared soon. There are seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi currently held by the BJP.
News agency PTI citing sources in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) reported that if the alliance did not materialize with the Congress, the party could announce its candidates in the next few days. When questioned by reporters on the likelihood of alliance with the Congress in Delhi, Kejriwal said, “It is too late, it should have occurred much earlier. Let us see what happens in the next one-two days.”
Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely said that the party is ready for elections on all the seven constituencies in Delhi. “The committee headed by Mukul Vasnik is constantly talking to the members of the INDIA bloc. It would not be proper for me to comment about that,” he told reporters.
Sources said despite several rounds of talks between the leaders of two parties, a consensus over number of seats to be fought by them was yet to be reached. Congress sources claimed that the party wanted to fight four of the seven Lok Sabha seats and leave the rest for the AAP.
“This is justified as in the 2019 polls, the Congress candidates were second on six of the seven seats in Delhi while AAP candidates were on third place except for South Delhi constituency,” said a senior Delhi Congress leader.
Although AAP leaders remained silent on seat sharing, sources in the party said, “The Aam Aadmi Party wants to fight four seats – North East Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi and North West Delhi.” The AAP earlier said it was holding talks with the INDIA bloc partners for a pact in Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, and Goa. The party has already decided to go alone in Punjab.
AAP national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak recently said that the party has demanded eight out of 26 Lok Sabha seats from the Congress in Gujarat. He said that the AAP won five seats by polling a total 13 per cent votes in the last Assembly polls in Gujarat and claimed eight Lok Sabha seats in the state for the upcoming polls, while offering remaining 18 to the Congress.
He had also offered one Lok Sabha seat in Delhi to the Congress saying it did not merit even that based on its previous election track record. The Congress currently does not have any Lok Sabha MP or MLA from Delhi. The AAP has so far unilaterally declared its candidates in two seats each in Gujarat and Assam and one in Goa.
Pathak had said that if a decision was not soon taken on seat-sharing in Delhi, his party would declare its candidates. The BJP won all the seven seats in Delhi consecutively in 2014 and 2019 elections. Interestingly, the BJP candidates in 2019 polled more votes than the combined tally of Congress and AAP candidates.
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‘Glad That Congress Has Accepted ‘Amethi’ Challenge’ For Rahul Gandhi: Smriti Irani |
AMETHI: Union Minister and senior BJP leader Smriti Irani on Tuesday said that she was glad to hear that the Congress party has accepted her challenge to field Rahul Gandhi from Amethi – her Lok Sabha constituency where she had defeted the former Congress president in 2019 polls. Irani had challenged the former Congress chief to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Amethi without taking help from the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party and without going to Wayanad – his current Lok Sabha constituency.
Hitting back at senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, Irani told reporters, “I am happy that Jairam Ramesh has accepted my challenge that Rahul Gandhi is ready to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls without the help from Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati. I wish that the CWC (Congress Working Committee) would immediately accept Ramesh’s proposal.”
Calling herself an ordinary BJP worker, Irani said that she awaits a formal announcement from the Congress party in this regard.
“I once again say, since Jairam Ramesh has said that Rahul Gandhi is ready to accept our challenge, our party workers from Amethi are eagerly waiting… Rahul Gandhi through the CWC should make an announcement (about him contesting the polls from Amethi and not Wayanad),” added Irani, who had defeated Rahul Gandhi from Amethi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
#WATCH | Amethi: On the statement of Congress General Secretary (Communication) Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister and Lok Sabha MP from Amethi, Smriti Irani says, “I am happy that Jairam Ramesh has accepted my challenge that Rahul Gandhi without Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati is ready… pic.twitter.com/kozHZdaCy7
— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2024
Irani, who is in Amethi these days, attacked the Congress party and said that the empty streets that greeted Rahul Gandhi on Monday are a reflection of the people of Amethi’s anger towards the Gandhi family.
Anger In Amethi Against Gandhi Family: Irani
The BJP MP from Amethi spoke to the media on Monday and said, “The anger of the people of Amethi against the Gandhi family is visible. Today, when Rahul Gandhi) arrived, he was welcomed by empty streets. The anger of those who were deprived of development in Amethi has transformed into empty streets for the visit of the Gandhi family.”
Speaking to the media Irani said, “In 2014, Amethi was promised a ‘Badlaav ki Raajneeti’ (politics of change) under our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hence, Amethi received an investment of Rs 6,523 crore in the Investors Summit held in the national capital.”
“This was not a memorandum of understanding, ‘ye dharatal par implement hua nivesh hai.’ From the period of independence till 2014, when Prime Minister Modi became PM, the small-scale industry in Amethi only received Rs 500 crore in over 60 years,” she said.
“However, in the 10 years of PM Modi’s tenure, Rs 2107 crore was given to the same small-scale industry sector in Amethi so that over one lakh beneficiaries could start their small-scale industries,” said Irani.
Dare Rahul To Contest From Amethi Alone: Irani
Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, Irani said, “Perhaps this is also the reason why the people of Amethi remained unavailable to welcome the people who did not serve Amethi well.”
“The people of Amethi also haven’t forgotten that this particular person who had mentioned Amethi and said that ‘yaha ke logo ki samjh theek nahi hai’. This is the reason why the people of this constituency are angry,” she said.
“The Ram Bhakts of Amethi are also angered with the fact that the former MP of Amethi and the Gandhi family rejected the invitation for Ram Lalla’s life Pran Prathistha ceremony,” she stated. “The anger of those who were deprived of development in Amethi has today transformed into empty streets for the visit of the Gandhi family,” said Irani.
Rahul Gandhi arrived in Amethi, the parliamentary seat he represented earlier on Monday, the same day, Smriti Irani began her four-day visit to the Uttar Pradesh town.
Amethi used to be a Congress stronghold in Uttar Pradesh, where Rahul Gandhi lost to Smriti Irani by a margin of around 55,000 votes in the 2019 elections.
The Congress is still undecided on whether Rahul Gandhi will attempt to regain the Congress stronghold, especially since Sonia Gandhi has also left Rae Bareili for the Rajya Sabha.
Rahul Gandhi had won Lok Sabha elections from erstwhile Nehru-Gandhi family bastion Amethi three times until the 2019 general elections when he faced defeat from Smriti Irani. Rahul Gandhi, however, won from Wayanad in Kerala, the second seat he contested in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Rahul Gandhi reached Amethi on Monday as part of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the campaign kicked off by him on January 14 from Thoubal in Manipur in the run-up to the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Although it is improbable that the two leaders come face-to-face with each other, the coincidence proceeds ahead of the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in Amethi and beyond.
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‘This Time They Will Be Wiped Out Of Parliament’: Mallikarjun Kharge On BJP’s ‘400 Seats’ Claim |
NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday claimed that the Narendra Modi-powered BJP won’t be able to cross 400 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and it will be wiped out of Parliament. Speaking to reporters in Amethi, Kharge said, “I said – they (BJP) keep saying that they will cross 400 (LS seats), but this time they will be out of Parliament.” Denying any rift with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, Kharge said, ‘”Everything will be alright. He has agreed and our people have agreed too. There is no problem.” Kharge on Saturday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and described it as a ‘curse’ for the country’s farmers.
#WATCH | In UP’s Amethi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge says, “I said – they (BJP) are saying that they will cross 400 (LS seats), but this time they will be out of Parliament.” https://t.co/mr3cU5wfmC
— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2024
The Congress president accused the Modi government of treating farmers like enemies. Kharge asserted that only the Congress party can provide farmers with the legal right to a Minimum Support Price (MSP).
“The Modi government is a curse for the country’s food-providing farmers. Due to the continuous false ‘Modi’s Guarantee’, first 750 farmers lost their lives, and now, yesterday, one farmer lost his life and 3 have lost their eyesight due to rubber bullets. The Modi government has treated farmers like enemies, Only Congress will give them the legal right of MSP!” he said in a post on ‘X’.
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his poll promises, Kharge said the former is the chief of all liars as he failed to even fulfil what he had promised during his 2014 poll campaign.
“I want to ask him what happened to the promises he made during 2014–he never fulfilled those. Modiji jhuton ka sardar hai (PM Modi is the chief of liars),” Kharge said addressing party workers at an event hosted by Maharashtra Congress in Pune.
The Congress national president said people keep praising PM Modi despite the latter not doing much work in the last 10 years.
Kharge cautioned that if such a scenario continues, the Constitution will “vanish”.
“PM Modi keeps lying…you all know what he did in the last ten years. Still, people praise him…if this continues, then there will soon come a day when the Constitution will vanish. We are waging a fight to protect the Constitution and have to keep fighting,” he said.
Describing Prime Minister Modi as “individualistic,” Kharge alleged that the former does not even take his party’s name while announcing his “guarantees.”
“PM Modi keeps on saying that this is Modi ki Guarantee…he never uses his party name. He is very individualistic and full of himself,” the Congress president said.
Claiming further that the BJP had no role in the country’s freedom struggle, Kharge added, “We are fighting for the country and its founding ideals all over again. The BJP had no role or contribution to our freedom struggle. We fought for the country.”
Taking a dig at the Congress, PM Modi earlier this month said that even Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge has predicted the return of the NDA government with over 400 seats.
PM Modi made this remark during his response to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in Lok Sabha.
During a session in the Rajya Sabha on February 2, Kharge inadvertently coined what would become a rallying cry for the BJP, stating “Abki Baar, 400 Paar,” which translates to “This time, over 400 seats.”
“Our third tenure is not far away, a maximum of 100-125 days are left. The entire nation is saying ‘abki baar, 400 paar’. Even Kharge ji said that,” PM Modi said while replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in Lok Sabha.
He expressed confidence that the BJP would not only secure a third term but also achieve an impressive victory by winning over 370 seats individually and crossing the 400 mark with the support of the NDA bloc. Modi’s remarks were met with laughter, including his own, as he acknowledged Kharge’s statement, suggesting that even the opposition leader seemed to predict the ruling party’s electoral success.
Modi further criticised the Congress party, implying that they had become comfortable in their role as the opposition and were preparing to occupy the spectators’ gallery in Parliament. He also took a veiled swipe at Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party’s alleged nepotism, criticizing the repeated promotion of the same leadership without success.
PM Modi indirectly referenced Rahul Gandhi by stating that the Congress is on the brink of shutting down its shop, emphasizing that they keep trying to relaunch the same product repeatedly.