Page 3 - Political Parties

BJP office-bearers to meet on Aug 17 for upcoming membership drive launch

The BJP's national office-bearers are expected to meet on August 17 to finalise the launch of the party's membership drive, which will culminate with the election of a new party president. Besides those holding an office in the BJP's organisational team at the national level, the meeting will also be attended by sate party presidents and general secretaries in charge of the party's organisation in different states. There has long been a buzz that the ruling party may appoint a 'working president' before a president is formally elected as the membership drive required to be completed for the election to take place may stretch over six months. With incumbent president J P Nadda joining the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government as a Cabinet minister, he is expected to be replaced as per the party's convention of 'one person one post'. However, unlike 2019, when Nadda had emerged as the obvious successor to Home Minister Amit Shah at the helm of the party after he did not join th

Will not seek any post in Jan Suraaj political party: Prashant Kishor

Political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor on Monday made it clear that he "will not be seeking any post" once his Jan Suraaj campaign evolves into a full-fledged political party later this year. The IPAC founder expressed his sentiments in a lengthy post on X, a day after he told a well-attended meeting of Jan Suraaj that on October 2, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti, the drive will metamorph into a political party. "After more than two years of padayatra through thousands of villages and small towns of Bihar, we formally started the process of party formation to give a better alternative that would end decades of misery and ensure a better future for the children of Bihar," he said. On Sunday, the process began with the first of the eight office bearers' convention before the official launch of the party on Oct 2, he added. "Over the next two months 1.5 lakh Jan Suraaj office bearers together with lakhs of participating 'Sansthapak Sadasyas' (founding members) of Jan Sur

An unfair landslide?

The fairness or unfairness of the first-past-the-post voting system goes beyond mere vote shares

H D Revanna alleges conspiracy behind abuse charges against son Suraj

JD(S) MLA and former Karnataka Minister H D Revanna on Sunday termed the allegations against his son and MLC Suraj Revanna of sexually abusing a male party worker as a "conspiracy" and said he has faith in God and the judiciary. Not wanting to react to anything, he said when time comes he will tell everything. Suraj Revanna -- the brother of former MP Prajwal Revanna who is facing allegations of sexually abusing several women -- was arrested in Hassan earlier in the day on charges of "unnatural offences" against him, police sources said. He was booked on Saturday for allegedly sexually abusing a party worker a few days ago and under different sections of the IPC, including "unnatural offences." "I won't react to anything. Let the (CID) do it (investigation). Who said don't (investigate)? I won't say anything on this. I have respect for the judiciary. I know what's happening in the state," Revanna said. While speaking to reporters here, he said, "I won't react to anything. I have

Political controversy: CISF questioning of DMK MP MM Abdulla sparks debate

CISF asks DMK MP to 'explain his purpose of visit' inside Parliament. MP writes to the Vice President. TMC Rajya Sabha MP questions if govt aims to obstruct INDIA MPs from carrying out their duties

Taiwan issues warning over Chinese influence in political party recruitment

The statement was prompted by social media posts made by Taiwanese singer R-chord on June 14 and actress Alexis Ho on June 15

Nehru's idealism, Ambedkar's social justice: Yogendra Yadav on Rahul Gandhi

Political commentator Yogendra Yadav analyses the Congress' performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, noting that Rahul Gandhi believes in 'socialist principles of economic equality'

Naveen Patnaik's close aide Pandian quits politics after BJD's defeat

VK Pandian announced his withdrawal from politics following Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) defeat in the Odisha state Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in 2024

Markets make sharp recovery but a third of stocks still in the red

PSEs, Adani, infra stocks among laggards

LS polls 2024: Candidates from 41 parties elected, up from 36 in 2019

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections witnessed an increase in political parties' participation, with candidates from 41 parties being elected, compared to 36 in the 2019 general election. According to an analysis by the think-tank PRS, national parties secured 346 seats, accounting for 64 per cent of the total, while the state-recognised parties won 179 seats, representing 33 per cent. Unrecognised parties clinched 11 seats, and independents won seven. According to an analysis by the poll rights body Association for Democratic Reforms, there has been a 104 per cent rise in the number of political parties from 2009 to 2024. In 2024, a total of 751 parties participated, compared to 677 in 2019, 464 in 2014, and 368 in 2009. The ADR and National Election Watch conducted a comprehensive review of the self-sworn affidavits of 8,337 candidates contesting the just concluded elections. The candidate pool comprises 1,333 from national parties, 532 from state parties, 2,580 from registered unrecog

After the verdict

Mr Trump's conviction deepens US political friction

Lok Sabha polls 2024 Phase 6: Over 49% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Sixth phase will see voting in 58 of 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, including all seven seats in Delhi

BJP to win 305 seats in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, predicts Eurasia Group

Lok Sabha elections 2024: After Prashant Kishor, American political scientist Ian Bremmer expects Prime Minister Narendra Modi to secure a third term in office

Lok Sabha elections: Between reserved seats and unreserved controversy

With reservation on the ropes and political consensus moving into the arena of contention

LS polls: 10 nations' political parties to visit India on BJP's invite

Representatives of 18 political parties from 10 countries will interact with a host of BJP leaders, including party president J P Nadda and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during their visit to India on the ruling party's invitation to get a first-hand experience of the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP said the foreign leaders will also be given insights into the party's election campaign and will be briefed about its strategies and the overall electoral process. They will meet Nadda on Wednesday and also interact with Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Australia's Liberal Party, Vietnam's Communist Party of Vietnam, Bangladesh's Awami League, Israel's Likud Party, Uganda's National Resistance Movement, Tanzania's Chama Cha Mapinduzi, and Russia's United Russia Party are among the political parties whose representatives are visiting India. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and United National Party from Sri Lanka, Militant Socialist Movement, Mauritius Labour Party, Mauritian Militant ...

Among national parties, Bahujan Samaj Party's candidate owns fewest assets

Baluswamy owns less than an average Indian household

Lok Sabha polls Phase 2: 88 seats go to polls on April 26; all details here

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Key candidates including Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, and Hema Malini's seats to go to polls on Phase 2 on April 26

An idea for the next government

Swift delivery of justice will improve the investment climate, increase growth potential, and enhance the overall quality of development

Heatwave: Political parties focusing on evening meetings, small gatherings

With day temperatures in Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts of Odisha hovering between 39 and 42 degrees Celsius, political parties are focusing more on evening meetings and small village gatherings while campaigning for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Malkangiri district under Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seat recorded the highest temperature of 42 degrees Celsius recently. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more heatwaves in the next few days in the state. Odisha's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nikunj B Dhal has suggested that political parties and candidates undertake election campaigning with adequate measures to beat the heat. BJP candidate for Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seat Balabhadra Majhi said, "I had prepared a chart for my campaigning soon after the declaration of the tickets but altered my campaigning itinerary due to the scorching temperature, focusing more on evening meetings and small village gatherings." Pradeep Majhi, BJD candidate for the Nabarangp

Ex-RBI chief wants govt to bring White Paper on freebies. Here's why

Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister should come out with a 'White Paper' to generate a consensus among political parties on the issue of giveaways or freebies, former Reserve Bank Governor D Subbarao has said adding that there has to be a thorough debate on how to impose restraints on political parties in this regard. He also said the public should be made more aware of the cost and benefits of these freebies and that it is the responsibility of the government to educate the population on this. I think this is ultimately a political issue and there has to be political consensus on this. The leadership has to be taken by the central government and the Prime Minister. I believe they must float a white paper and try to generate a consensus on this. "Educate people on the pros, and cons of these giveaways or freebies ( and ensure) how we can put a restraint on that and how we can enforce it, the former RBI governor told PTI in a recent interaction. Subbarao said t