Brand Modi In Assembly Elections

‘Brand Modi May Not Work In Upcoming Assembly Elections’

Kamal Bhargava, a lawyer and political observer, says election results of five state assemblies will have little bearing on the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. His views:

It can be said that the Lok Sabha polls in 2024 will decide the direction of the country for the next many years. To some extent, it is believed that assembly elections are the gateway to the parliamentary elections, even though issues in the parliamentary and assembly elections are altogether different. Hence, the outcome in five states where elections are on the cards will surely set both the mood and the tone for the general elections.

The opposition today claims that BJP may face defeat in the 2024 polls as its popularity is going down in several states. However, there have been instances when the party in governance at the Centre got defeated in state elections but performed well in parliamentary election thereafter. With the country on the verge of 2024 Lok Sabha elections, political parties are leaving no stone unturned in claiming their stake in forming the next government.

After two terms, the Modi-led Bhartiya Janta Party is trying their level best for a hat trick, with Modi eyeing to level the record of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Meanwhile the Opposition is busy in forming an alliance I.N.D.I.A. to keep BJP in abeyance.

While completing nine years in office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had via a tweet “to keep working even harder”. This could be a growing worry in the BJP for the 2024 general election as one could once again sense “total dependence” on Brand Modi that might not work in forthcoming state polls. Many a time, even Modi has advised its present MPs to depend more on their individual work rather then repeatedly relying on ‘Brand Modi’.

ALSO READ: ‘Assembly Elections Do Not Augur Well For BJP’

But here what matters is, issues like unemployment, price rise, communal disharmony, and steps for the welfare of women and farmers. And to some extent the opposition is trying to catch up with these issues too. One fear of the ruling party pertains to using government machinery like CBI and ED in getting political personalities behind bars.

Modi is known for bold and indifferent decisions. Be it Triple Talaq, repealing of Article 370, One nation, one Election, Women Empowerment Bill — he knows the pulse of a common man. He has taken the country and its politics to a different level having one of the largest fan following across the globe. By the time the opposition thinks of countering the government, something new and different is already on the floor. BJP has been working on different notes. But when it comes to development no doubt one can count on different aspects. Be it the new laws, repealing the age-old ones or construction of highways, connectivity, law and order, etc. For the people of North, the biggest gift one could get is the road and rail connectivity. Reaching NCR in just one hour was a dream. But BJP made it possible.

The saffron party is still in a strong position with regard to the 2024 general elections. At any point of time, BJP’s biggest strength is its organizational strength and management. Its minutest and both micro and macro planning gives it an edge over other political parties. For the opposition, it is an uphill battle at all levels. None stands to his stature. But to some extent one can see signs of a quiet worry setting in, in the BJP with I.N.D.I.A. struggling hard for a comeback.

As told to Deepa Gupta

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21-member delegation from the grand Opposition alliance, I.N.D.I.A

21-Member Oppo Delegation To Land In Imphal For 2-day Manipur Visit

A 21-member delegation from the grand Opposition alliance, I.N.D.I.A, is set to touch down at Imphal airport on Saturday for a two-visit to violence-hit Manipur.

The visit follows from a chorus from the Opposition members for a debate on the Manipur situation and a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has resulted in repeated disruptions and adjournments in both Houses of Parliament.
The Northeast state has been racked by ehtnic violence, which broke out over a Manipur High Court order asking the state government to consider adding the Meitei community to the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Amid the persistent violence, a video from May 4, when the clashes broke out, surfaced recently purportedly showing two women being paraded naked.

The viral video triggered a fierce war of words between the BJP-led Centre and the Opposition, both within the four walls of the Parliament and outside, over the prevailing state of affairs in the Northeast state.

Demanding that all scheduled businesses in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha be set aside for a discussion on Manipur, members of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) raised a ruckus, disrupting and stalling proceedings in both Houses.

The visit by the I.N.D.I.A delegation comes even as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla accepted a motion of no cofidence moved by the Opposition against the Centre over the Manipur situation.

The motion was tabled in the Lower House by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who is part of the delegation visiting Manipur on Saturday.

Defending the motion against the Centre, Opposition leaders said it was aimed at eliciting a response from PM Modi over the Manipur situation in Parliament.

The 21-member Opposition delegation, from both Houses, includes Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi, K Suresh and Phulo Devi Netam of the Congress; Rajiv Ranjan Lalan Singh of the JDU; Sushmita Dev from Trinamool Congress; Kanimozhi from DMK; Sandosh Kumar of the CPI; AA Rahim from CPI(M), Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD; Javed Ali Khan of SP; Mahua Maji of JMM; PP Mohammed Faizal of NCP; Aneel Prasad Hegde of JDU, ET Mohammed Basheer of IUML; NK Premachandran of RSP; Sushil Gupta of AAP; Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT); D Ravikumar of VCK; Thiru Thol Thirumavalavan also of VCK; and Jayant Singh of the RLD.

Only Demand Is Peace With Justice: Manoj Jha

As per the schedule, the delegation, split into two teams, will reach the Imphal airport at 12 pm on Saturday and will leave for Churachandpur, the epicentre of the ethnic violence in the state. The delegation will likely hold a press conference at 8.30 pm later in the day.

The Opppsition members have been adamant on the demand for a discussion on Manipur and a statement from PM Modi on the prevailing state of affairs in the state since the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on July 20.

While the Treasury said it was ready for a discussion on Manipur, the Opposition insisted on a debate under adjournment motion.

Amid the disruptions in the Rajya Sabha over the Manipur issue, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday held a meeting with leaders of all Opposition parties to discuss the proceedings of the Upper House next week.

The BJP’s Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha and Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said the Opposition should proper functioning of the House by way of dialogue, debate and discussion.

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Manipur during which he announced several steps to restore peace.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had visited the state in June. (ANI)