Page 423 - Politics
BJP candidates capture Gujarat with dreamlike margins, highest at 6.78 lakh (Third Lead)
The Bharatiya Janata Party in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Gujarat once again captured all 26 Lok Sabha seats on Thursday while decimating the opposition Congress with BJP candidates improving their voteshare with dreamlike numbers, the highest margin being 6.78 lakh votes and the lowest at 1.25 lakh.
Grand Alliance fails as BJP set to sweep Jharkhand
The Grand Alliance of opposition parties seems to have failed in the Lok Sabha elections Jharkhand if the counting trends and margins are any indication.
BJP's Hardeep Puri accepts defeat in Amritsar
Union Minister and BJP's candidate for Punjab's Amritsar Lok Sabha seat, Hardeep Singh Puri, on Thursday accepted his defeat to his Congress rival Gurjit Aujla.
BJP retains all four Himachal seats with record margins (Fourth Lead)
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday retained all the four Lok Sabha seats in the state as its candidates won by a record huge margins, election officials said.
Riding high on Modi wave, BJP set for a clean sweep in Delhi
Riding high on the Modi wave, the BJP appeared to be headed for a clean sweep in the national capital with all its candidates bagging more than 50 per cent of votes, while the Congress for the first time in five years fared better than the ruling AAP which was relegated to the third spot. The BJP's overall performance in the national capital, which witnessed a triangular contest, was miles ahead of its opponents --- the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress. Even as the counting was underway in all the seven seats till late evening, the BJP had secured more than 56 per cent of votes, more than the combined vote share of the Congress (22.4 per cent) and the AAP (18.4 per cent). The BJP had bagged 46.4 per cent votes in 2014. The BJP led in all seven seats since the commencement of counting at 8 am. Celebrations began outside counting by noon as many BJP candidates were well ahead in the race. Wearing NaMo T-shirts and saffron scarves, BJP supporters started bursting fire crackers, shouting .
Mayawati terms LS poll results as 'unprecedented', questions EVMs again
Terming the Lok Sabha poll results as unprecedented, BSP president Mayawati again raised doubts over EVMs on Thursday and indicated that her alliance with the SP and the RLD will continue. "We had not contemplated that the alliance will fare so badly. People are not able to digest the poll results. It is against their sentiment and aspirations," she said. Pointing fingers towards electronic voting machines (EVMs), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo said, "Several shortcomings of conducting elections through EVMs have come to our notice and there is opposition to EVMs all over the country." She added that after this results, whatever confidence people had in EVMs will disappear. "When all parties are demanding that elections be conducted through ballot papers, why are the BJP and the Election Commission (EC) not agreeing to it? This means there is something wrong somewhere," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said. She alleged that though the opposition alliance had won some ...
Former Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren loses from Dumka seat
JMM president Shibu Soren lost the Dumka (ST) seat to BJP's Sunil Soren by 47,590 votes, officials said Thursday. While Shibu Soren got 4,37,333 votes, Sunil Soren polled 4,84,923 votes, they said. The former chief minister had won the seat eight times. BJP's sitting MP and former state police chief Vishnu Dayal Ram retained the Palamau (SC) seat, defeating his nearest rival, Ghuran Ram of the RJD, by a margin of 4,75,284 votes. In Giridih, state water resources minister and Ajsu party candidate Chandraprakash Choudhary defeated JMM's Jagarnath Mahato by 2,48,347 votes. BJP and Ajsu party fought the elections in alliance for the first time.
BJP makes inroads into West Bengal, Odisha
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) surprised many by making deep inroads into West Bengal and Odisha, considered bastions of the Trinamool Congress and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), respectively.
Pawan Kalyan defeated in both Assembly constituencies
Popular Telugu actor and Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief Pawan Kalyan had a disastrous electoral debut in Andhra Pradesh as he lost from both the Assembly seats he contested.
BJP's victory reflects failure of secular parties to provide 'credible' alternative: D Raja
CPI leader D Raja Thursday said the BJP's thumping victory in the Lok Sabha polls reflected the failure of secular, democratic parties to provide a "credible and viable" alternative to the people. He expressed fear that with the BJP getting a second term, India's existence will be in danger and it will face more challenges. The Left party has also called a national executive meeting on May 26 to introspect on the reasons for its defeat, he added. "It's a big gain for (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi, the BJP and its allies. Now with the BJP getting another term, Republic of India's existence will be in danger and will face more challenges," Raja told PTI. It also shows the "failure of secular democratic parties to come together and to provide a credible and viable alternative," he added. It was only in Tamil Nadu, Raja said, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) was successful in accommodating allies comfortably which helped the party to win more seats. "However, this did not happen in ...
Varun Gandhi wins from Pilibhit seat
BJP leader Varun Gandhi Thursday won the Pilibhit Lok Sabha seat defeating Hemraj Verma of the SP by a margin of over 2.50 lakh votes. The seat was held by Varun Gandhis's mother and Union minister Maneka Gandhi. This time she is contesting from Sultanpur seat, where Varun Gandhi had won in the last general election. Varun Gandhi polled over seven lakh votes, while Verma got over 4.48 lakh votes.
RSS welcomes BJP's victory, calls it "triumph of national forces"
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh welcomed BJP's victory in the Lok Sabha elections, calling it "the triumph of the national forces"."Crores of people of Bharat are fortunate to have once again a stable government. This is the triumph of the national forces. Many compliments to each and everyone who have contributed to this victory of democracy. The spirit and ideal of democracy have once again been established for the world to witness," RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi said.Joshi reposed faith in the abilities of the Narendra Modi-led government."We trust that the new government shall endeavour and succeed in fulfilling the aspirations and ambitions of the common people. We wish that with the completion of polling process all bitterness will end and the verdict of the masses is welcomed with humility," Joshi remarked.The BJP is looking to win over 300 seats, which is well clear of the majority 272-mark, while the Congress has been decimated to around 51 seats.
Tariq Anwar loses Katihar, Paswan's younger brother wins
Former Union minister and senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar Thursday loses his Katihar Lok Sabha seat to JD(U)s Dulal Chandra Goswami by a margin of about 57,000 votes. In Samastipur Lok Sabha seat, Lok Janshakti Party candidate Ramchandra Paswan defeated Ashok Kumar of the Congress by over 1.5 lakh votes. At Araria, BJP's Pradeep Kumar Singh trounced RJD's Sarfaraz Alam. Anwar had won the Katihar seat, fighting on an NCP ticket, in 2014 when he defeated three-term BJP MP Nikhil Kumar Chaudhary by more than one lakh votes. Anwar, who returned to the Congress last year after a gap of nearly three decades, had represented the seat four times in the 1980s and 1990s before he severed his ties with the party and floated the NCP along with Maharashtra stalwart Sharad Pawar and Meghalaya leader PA Sangma. At Samastipur, LJP president Ramvilas Paswan's younger brother Ramchandra Paswan retained his seat defeating Ashok Kumar of the Congress by over 1.5 lakh votes. Paswan had ...
Sukhbir, Harsimrat only winners in SAD
The opposition SAD, which was looking to resurrect itself in Punjab following the backlash over the desecration of religious texts, could only bag two of the 10 Lok Sabha seats it contested. As part of its seat-sharing agreement with the BJP, the Shiromani Akali Dal fielded candidates on 10 seats in the state, leaving three for its ally. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and his wife and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal were the only party candidates who won. Sukhbir Singh Badal won from Ferozepur and his wife, a two-time MP from Bathinda, retained her seat. Both the constituencies are considered SAD strongholds. "I want to thank... the people of Punjab," Sukhbir told reporters. The SAD president said with his party winning two seats, the Congress's "Mission 13" has completely failed. He said it showed that "those who used to make statements against the Badal family were actually spreading false propaganda". Sukhbir defeated SAD rebel and Congress candidate Sher Singh Ghubaya with a ...
Cong-led UDF wins 11 seats; leads in 8 in Kerala
In a spectacular showing, the opposition Congress-led UDF was heading for a landslide, winning 11 seats and leading in eight others out of the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala Thursday. Ruling CPI(M)-led LDF was leading in only one seat - Alapuzha, according to data provided by the Election Commission on its website about the counting of votes polled in the April 23 single phase elections in the state. BJP's hopes of opening its Lok Sabha account from the state this time were dashed again with union minister Alphons Kannanthanam trounced in Ernakulam. In Kasargod in north Kerala, Rajmohan Unnithan of Congress defeated LDF's K P Satheeshchandran by over 40,000 votes. Congress two-time sitting MP from Kozhikode M K Raghavan scored a hatrick of victory from the seat. Ragahavan, who faced bribery allegation following a sting operation during the poll campaigning, defeated CPI(M) sitting MLA, A Pradeep Kumar by over 85,000 votes. Congress' Benny Behennan, MLA K Muraleedharan, ...
Cong leaders call for sincere introspection after LS poll defeat
After the humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, top Congress leaders called for an honest introspection and rejuvenating the party in the larger interest of the country's democracy. Accepting the people's verdict, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said it is time to reflect on what went wrong and evolve ways on how to rejuvenate the party. Congress' former general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said he was not surprised at the poll results, while refusing to dwell on it further. "I am not surprised," he said. Sharma said, "Accepting the people's verdict with all humility, I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his victory. I hope the mandate gives grace and wisdom to leave the campaign bitterness behind and work towards unity." He said that he extends his appreciation to every Congress worker who campaigned hard to convey the message of the party to the people. "It is time to collectively introspect and reflect on what went wrong and mistakes made that led to this ...
Singapore PM congratulates Modi on poll victory, hopes for enhanced cooperation in digital space
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday congratulated his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on his electoral victory and expressed hope that the two nations will fully realise the potential for enhanced cooperation, including in the fintech and digital space. Prime Minister Modi led his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) towards an emphatic victory for a second term in office. "Congratulations on your re-election. The strong mandate reflects the results of your first term and the consequent trust that the people of India repose in your leadership," Lee said in a letter to Modi. He said it was remarkable that the elections were conducted peacefully and smoothly "despite the huge logistical challenges". The bilateral ties, Lee said, between India and Singapore "are already very substantial, but we should do more to...fully realise the potential for enhanced cooperation, including in the fintech and digital space". He further said Singapore appreciates the "personal focus" Modi has
Mehbooba loses Anantnag seat to NC's Justice (retd) Hasnain Masoodi
PDP president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti Thursday lost the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat to National Conference's Justice (retd) Hasnain Masoodi by nearly 10,000 votes. Masoodi, who was fighting his maiden electoral battle, polled 40,180 votes, while Mehbooba secured 30,524 votes, officials said. Congress's state unit president Ghulam Ahmad Mir was the runner up with 33,504 votes, they said. They said the NC candidate secured 32.59 per cent of the total votes polled on the seat which went to polls in three phases due to security reasons. Mir polled 26.76 per cent while Mehbooba 24.6 per cent of the votes. Taking to Twitter, Mehbooba, who had won the Anantnag seat in 2014 election, conceded the defeat. "I've been fortunate to get the love & affection of my people. They have every right to express their anger for my failings. Accept their verdict with humility. Congratulations to winning candidates from NC. I'm grateful to my party workers & ...
DG BSF calls on J-K guv, discusses security situation
Director General, Border Security Force, Rajni Kant Mishra on Thursday met Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik here and discussed various issues connected with internal and external security and the smooth conduct of the annual Amaranth Yatra. Mishra briefed the governor about the functioning of the BSF in the state and discussed various issues connected with internal and external security and smooth conduct of Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2019, an official spokesman said. He said the governor lauded the role being played by the BSF in effectively guarding the borders of the country.
US media terms PM Modi's win as landslide; says voters endorsed his vision
The US media on Thursday termed as landslide the victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in general elections and said that voters endorsed his vision of a "muscular, assertive and stridently Hindu India". The Washington Post reported that Modi's win is a victory for a form of religious nationalism that views India as a fundamentally Hindu nation and seeks to jettison the secularism promoted by the country's founders. "While India is roughly 80 per cent Hindu, it is also home to Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and other religious communities," the leading American daily said. It described Modi's victory as landslide. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party won a landslide victory in the world's largest election as voters endorsed his vision of a muscular, assertive and stridently Hindu India," the daily said. The New York Times reported that "Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one of the most powerful and divisive leaders India has produced in decades, appeared easily headed for .