Page 244 - Congress

Congress to announce candidates for MP polls after Pitru Paksha: Kamal Nath

The upcoming Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh are crucial for both the BJP and the Congress party

Modi factor will not work in Assembly polls: Chhattisgarh DY chief minister

TS Singh Deo said the Modi factor will not work in the state as he is not a pivotal factor as far as Chhattisgarh politics is concerned

I'm for caste census 100%; it's like X-Ray that will help: Rahul Gandhi

Asserting that he is "100 per cent" in support of a caste census, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has likened the exercise with an "X-Ray" and said it would give a clear picture of how many Dalits, tribals, OBCs and upper castes are there which in turn would help in deciding the future course of action. Gandhi made the remarks on September 23 during his interaction with the students of the Maharani College in Jaipur, a video of which was released on his social media platforms on Tuesday. Gandhi was received by the college principal. After his interaction with the students, the party leader rode pillion on a two-wheeler driven by a girl student amid security on the road outside the college. In his interaction with the girls at the college, Gandhi talked about a host of issues, including the education system and the need for empowering women in the country, according to the video. Asked about the caste census, Gandhi said, "The fact is that the lower caste communities, the OBCs, Dalits

Chhattisgarh polls: BJP justifies decision to field rioting case accused

A BJP leader accused in a rioting case and a villager whose son was killed in a communal clash have been given tickets by the saffron party for the Chhattisgarh assembly polls scheduled next month. While the opposition BJP in Chhattisgarh has justified its decision to field these two candidates, a political observer said communalism may feature in the state poll campaign this time. Asked whether the BJP was trying to raise the issue of communal violence by giving these tickets, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said, "No matter how hard they try, it will not be an issue." Ishwar Sahu, whose son was killed in a communal clash in Biranpur village of Bemetara district in April this year, has been fielded from Saja assembly constituency, while Vijay Sharma, the BJP leader who was named as accused in an incident of rioting in adjoining Kabirdham district in 2021, will contest from Kawardha seat. The two names featured in the BJP's second list of 64 candidates released on Monday. The BJP ha

Govt's liberal import policy cause of worry for farmers: Congress

The Congress on Tuesday said the liberal import policy of the Modi government is causing a "huge crisis" for the farmers in the country. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said soyabean is being sold by farmers in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan at rates lower than the minimum support price and they are also not getting good prices for milk in several states. "The liberal import policy of Modi government is causing huge crisis for farmers in various states. In Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, soyabean is being sold below the MSP because cheap imports have been allowed," he said in a post in Hindi on X. "In these states and in other states too, milk prices are falling due to import of cheap palm oil, which is encouraging adulteration of vegetable fats in cheap pure ghee. Farmers are suffering huge losses due to low prices of milk," Ramesh said. Both Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are going to polls next month.

MP people will remove Shivraj Chouhan: Kamal Nath on upcoming polls

He further added that the Bharatiya Janata Party itself should decide by how many seats it would lose this election

BJP relies on old guard, those who lost in 2018 for win in Chhattisgarh

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has pinned its hopes on the old guard to ensure victory in the next month's assembly elections in Chhattisgarh as it has given tickets to 11 sitting MLAs and renominated 13 leaders who lost in the 2018 polls. The BJP on Monday released its second list of candidates for 64 assembly seats, hours after the Election Commission announced assembly poll dates for Chhattisgarh and four other states. The Naxal-affected state will have a two-phase polling on November 7 (20 seats) and November 17 (70 seats) to elect a new 90-member assembly. With this, the saffron party has so far declared candidates for 85 seats with just five nominees left to be named. Former chief minister Raman Singh will be contesting from his traditional Rajnandgaon seat, while Leader of Opposition in the assembly Narayan Prasad Chandel has been renominated from his current seat Janjir-Champa. Popular Chhattisgarhi filmstar Anuj Sharma, who recently joined the BJP, has been .

Remembers everything in Oppn, did nothing in power: Pralhad slams Congress

"Their (Congress) government was at the Centre for ten years. Rahul Gandhi remembers everything when his party is in the opposition"

Congress will again form govt in Rajasthan: Sachin Pilot on upcoming polls

He further exuded confidence that Congress will form government once again in Rajasthan

CWC meet to focus on caste census, poll strategy for upcoming polls

The CWC meet comes at a time when some opposition leaders are facing heat from central probe agencies and the latest in a series of arrests is of AAP's Sanjay Singh in the Delhi excise policy case

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Need for effective strategy to win assembly polls: Kharge at CWC meet

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday asked party workers to work in coordination, discipline and unity and put in all their might to win the assembly elections in five states in November. Addressing party leaders at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), he once again raised the demand for conducting a nationwide caste census to ensure social justice and rights to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in accordance with their population, while noting that the BJP is silent on this. For proper share in welfare schemes, it is important to have socio-economic data on the condition of weaker sections of society and ensure social justice to them, he asserted. The Congress president also said the party would implement women's reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies if voted to power in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. While asking party leaders to expedite efforts to highlight the government's failures, he said they mus

CWC's caste census decision powerful step for liberation of poor: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the party's working committee has taken a "historic decision" unanimously to support the idea of a nationwide caste census, asserting that it is a "powerful step" for the emancipation of the poor. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Gandhi expressed confidence that a vast majority of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties will support and push for a caste census. If any party has a different opinion, the Congress is flexible, "not fascist", he added. Flanked by the party's chief ministers in four states, Gandhi also said the decision of the CWC to support a caste census is a "very progressive" and "powerful" step for the emancipation of poor people. Talking about the idea of caste census, the former Congress chief said this 'X-ray' is needed for a new paradigm and development in the country. Earlier, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asked party workers

Will scheming Gehlot deprive BJP of its chance in Rajasthan?: SWOT of Cong

Will the welfare schemes launched by the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan be enough to win the state for the Congress? Or will the Gehlot-Pilot feud take it down in the assembly polls on November 23? Here is a SWOT analysis of the Congress a look at the party's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Strengths Three-time Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's mass connect, strengthened further by a systematic outreach programme, gives the party another shot at power. Despite being sidelined in the state, former deputy minister Sachin Pilot's charisma still counts. He remains a crowd-puller, particularly among the youth A long list of welfare schemes launched by the government. These include Rs 25-lakh medical insurance, MGNREGA-like employment scheme for urban areas, cooking gas cylinders at Rs 500 for the Ujjwala scheme beneficiaries, smartphones for women and a social security allowance. Weaknesses Infighting between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot has been out in the open

From soaring high in 2018 to setback in 2020, what next for Congress in MP?

Up from its tally of 38 in 2003, the Congress edged past the ruling BJP in the 2018 Madhya Pradesh polls winning 114 seats in the 230-member assembly and formed the government. But its dreams were upended in March 2020, after Jyotiraditya Scindia, now a Union minister, and MLAs backing him switched over to the BJP, helping the saffron party wrest power. The Congress is now gearing up to take on the BJP over alleged corruption, jobs and issues tied to tribals, farmers and women. Its morale fortified by the emphatic victory in Karnataka, the Congress could launch an aggressive campaign in MP, and Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, both governed by it, before heading for next year's big-stage contest Lok Sabha polls. Here is a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the Congress in the Hindi heartland state. STRENGTHS: *Congress' vote share rose to over 40 per cent in 2018 from 30 per cent two decades ago. *State chief Kamal Nath trying hard to blunt BJP's Hindut

Farewell of BJP, allies announced: Kharge on poll schedule for five states

With the Election Commission announcing the schedule for assembly polls in five states, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said the party will go to the people with strength and outlined public welfare, social justice and progressive development as its guarantees. "With the announcement of elections in 5 states, the farewell of BJP and its allies has also been announced. In Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram, the Congress party will go to the people with strength," he said on X. "Public welfare, social justice and progressive development are the guarantees of the Congress Party," he added. Five states of Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana will go to polls on different days from November 7-30 and votes will be counted on December 3, the Election Commission said on Monday, setting the stage for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls semi-finals.

BJP eyeing fourth win in MP in two decades; A SWOT analysis of ruling party

The Bharatiya Janata Party will have to battle anti-incumbency, overcome infighting, and face voters amid the fatigue against the state leadership of more than 16 years to fend off resurgent Congress in the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly polls. After winning three consecutive polls in 2003, 2008 and 2013, the BJP lost to the Congress in 2018 but managed to come back to power after the Kamal Nath-led government collapsed in March 2020. Here is a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the BJP in the central state, where the saffron party and the Congress are traditional rivals. STRENGTHS: * BJP is relying heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charisma and mass appeal of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, an OBC leader known for his down-to-earth image. *The ruling party is banking on its outreach to attract women voters and has launched dedicated schemes like 'Ladli Bahna Yojana'. Eligible women get Rs 1,250 per month under this scheme, and the ...

Explainer: Congress strives to retain power in Chhattisgarh for second term

The Congress registered a landslide victory in 2018 assembly elections because of the strong anti-incumbency against the BJP that had ruled the state for 15 years between 2003 and 2018. The Congress currently holds 71 seats in the 90-member state assembly and is aiming to win 75 seats in the upcoming elections riding on the Bhupesh Baghel-led government's pro-farmers, pro-tribals and pro-poor schemes. The ruling party is also eyeing to cash in on CM Baghel's popularity as he has a significant hold over the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and rural voters. Here is a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of the ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh. STRENGTHS: Implementation of several welfare schemes, including Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay and Godhan Nyay Yojana, catering to farmers and rural population, unemployment allowance and procurement of millets and various forest produce at support price. CM Baghel has developed his image as a son of the soil, enhancing his .

If Modi govt comes to power again, it will lead nation to destruction: Cong

The opposition Congress in Kerala on Monday said that if the Narendra Modi government comes to power for a third time, it will lead the country to destruction and therefore, the grand old party decided to unify all secular groups to defeat the BJP. Former Leader of Opposition in the Kerala assembly and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala made the statement while speaking to reporters in New Delhi. Chennithala said Congress took the initiative to create the INDIA bloc or front with the deliberate intention of ensuring, at any cost, that the BJP does not return to power for a third time. "If the Narendra Modi government comes to power for a third time, it will lead the country to destruction. There is no doubt about that," he said. That is why the Congress decided to unify all secular groups to fight against the BJP, he added. His remarks come a day after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan warned that if the BJP comes to power for a third time, the country would be in an .

Rahul acted in consonance with people's sentiment on caste census: Congress

The Congress on Monday said Rahul Gandhi decided to take forward the demand for a caste census by the backward class people he met during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the party leadership has endorsed this move. In a post in Hindi on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, there was one thing which almost all the backward class people of every state sought which was that there should be a caste census in the country. "Rahul ji acted in consonance with the sentiments of the people and the Congress leadership endorsed it," Ramesh said. His remarks came ahead of the crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting here at the AICC headquarters. The Congress has taken a stand to push for the caste census. After Bihar released the findings of a caste census in the state, Congress-ruled Rajasthan issued orders on Saturday for holding a similar exercise. In Chhattisgarh too, the Congress has announced that it will conduct a caste survey if it is v