Indian elections (2024) Discussion Thread

Which political party will win the upcoming general elections in India in 2024?

  • Aam Adami Party (AAP)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Communist Party (CP)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • National People's Party (NPP)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Some other regional party

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    15
@Cover Drive Six How's the South Indian firebrand Annamalai looking bro?

No excuses ok. He's contesting from a traditional NDA stronghold which has had communal tensions ever since Advani's time. So win guaranteed?
 
@Cover Drive Six How's the South Indian firebrand Annamalai looking bro?

No excuses ok. He's contesting from a traditional NDA stronghold which has had communal tensions ever since Advani's time. So win guaranteed?
Which is NDA stronghold in TN? They have never won a single seat in TN
 
It is not possible to vote on the polls unless you are a BJP supporter.

The Congress cannot win on their own. It is the INDIA alliance that will win OR the BJP will just scrape through. In either scenario, Modi is back to Gujarat :dhoni
 
Which is NDA stronghold in TN? They have never won a single seat in TN
AIADMK has been a traditional NDA partner and are strong there. It's not my problem or business that the new Anna Hazare couldn't stitch an alliance with them :dhoni
 
AIADMK has been a traditional NDA partner and are strong there.
DmK is traditional NDA partner , things changed in 2004.. this was also the reason Vajpayee lost.

Aiadmk is still dravidian party , Bjp is different..
 
DmK is traditional NDA partner , things changed in 2004.. this was also the reason Vajpayee lost.

Aiadmk is still dravidian party , Bjp is different..
Vajpayee's BJP is a completely different party to Modi-Shah's. And Jayalalitha was always BJP at heart. Plus Kannadiga :dhoni Brahmin, so not really your typical Dravidian leader.
 
@Cover Drive Six How's the South Indian firebrand Annamalai looking bro?

No excuses ok. He's contesting from a traditional NDA stronghold which has had communal tensions ever since Advani's time. So win guaranteed?

I've mentioned before, bro, it's not easy for him. My prediction is that he will lose in a close triangular fight. DMK might win.

He's not over-ambitious; all he expects is a double-digit vote share, a first-time occurrence in TN history.
He says that while getting anti-DMK, anti-AIADMK votes may help in the short term, he's not interested in that. He wants to establish BJP on its own, even if it takes some time. He has a vision for the long term.

Even though Dravidian parties are abusing/mocking him, he addresses them very respectfully in every interview.

DMK candidate, Ganapathy, is a former Coimbatore mayor and postgraduate.
AIADMK candidate is Singai Ramachandran, an IIM graduate.
BJP candidate is Annamalai, an IIM graduate and IPS officer.
 
It is not possible to vote on the polls unless you are a BJP supporter.

The Congress cannot win on their own. It is the INDIA alliance that will win OR the BJP will just scrape through. In either scenario, Modi is back to Gujarat :dhoni
Yeah... wait a few more weeks.
 
I've mentioned before, bro, it's not easy for him. My prediction is that he will lose in a close triangular fight. DMK might win.

He's not over-ambitious; all he expects is a double-digit vote share, a first-time occurrence in TN history.
He says that while getting anti-DMK, anti-AIADMK votes may help in the short term, he's not interested in that. He wants to establish BJP on its own, even if it takes some time. He has a vision for the long term.

Even though Dravidian parties are abusing/mocking him, he addresses them very respectfully in every interview.

DMK candidate, Ganapathy, is a former Coimbatore mayor and postgraduate.
AIADMK candidate is Singai Ramachandran, an IIM graduate.
BJP candidate is Annamalai, an IIM graduate and IPS officer.
lol at Anna Hazare being respectful. He is respectful only when he is out of his comfort zone and talking in a non-BJP zone. Haven't you seen how rude and abusive he is otherwise?

But I agree with you because I know the reality. I have friends (who remain friends because we grew up together) and who are involved at various levels or have family in the RSS. The Sangh has been putting a massive effort in Tamil Nadu especially in rural and tribal areas and the results will start to pay off politically in a decade or so.
 
India’s Lok Sabha election 2024: What you need to know

Voting begins in the first phase of India's general election
Rama Chandra, 76, a Sadhu or a Hindu holy man, votes at a polling station during the first phase of the general election, at Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu, India, April 19, 2024. REUTERS/ Navesh Chitrakar

India is holding the world's biggest election starting this month, with nearly 1 billion people eligible to vote and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the pole position.

WHAT IS IT?

Elections to the 543 contested seats in the lower house of parliament, called the Lok Sabha, for a term of five years. To rule, a party or a coalition needs a simple majority of 272 seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 303 seats the last time, followed by 52 for the main opposition Indian National Congress (INC).

In addition to the contested seats, India's president can nominate up to two Anglo-Indians to the Lok Sabha.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, won 303 seats in 2019 general election. The second largest party, the Indian National Congress, INC, won 52 seats. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, DMK, emerged as the third largest party.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, won 303 seats in 2019 general election. The second largest party, the Indian National Congress, INC, won 52 seats. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, DMK, emerged as the third largest party.

WHERE AND WHEN IS IT TAKING PLACE?

The elections will be conducted in seven phases partly to ensure sufficient security at polling booths across the vast country. Voters can make their choice by pressing a button on an electronic voting machine, first used in India in 1982 and more widely since the early 2000s.
Votes will be counted on June 4 after polling is done on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1.

Source : Reuters
 
Vajpayee's BJP is a completely different party to Modi-Shah's. And Jayalalitha was always BJP at heart. Plus Kannadiga :dhoni Brahmin, so not really your typical Dravidian leader.
Her party is full of Dravidians man, she definitely disliked Sonia Gandhi but MGR was massively pro Indira Gandhi and Jaya was pro Rajiv.

The shift occurred only after 2004, DMK was actually an anti-congress part since 1965, it changed in 2004 and that’s when they made a lot of money.
 
Elections Update

2024 India Election: Aggregate polling in Lok Sabha Phase 1 so far has been 62.37%

Source: TOI
 
2024 Lok Sabha Election: Voting Concludes in 102 Seats; 60.03% Turnout Till 7 pm In First Phase

The estimated voter turnout by 7 pm in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday was around 60.03%, the Election Commission said. A spokesperson of the poll panel said the figures were only approximate. As many as 102 parliamentary constituencies across 21 states and Union territories participated in the first phase of the elections, which are scheduled to take place in seven phases. Voting began at 7 am and ended at 6 pm.

More than 1,600 candidates, including eight Union ministers, two former Chief Ministers and an ex-governor, were in the fray as India went for polls in the first phase of the crucial Lok Sabha elections 2024.

The Election Commission has deployed over 18 lakh polling personnel across 1.87 lakh polling stations where over 16.63 crore voters will exercise their franchise. The 16.63 voters include 8.4 crore men, 8.23 crore women and 11,371 third gender.

In addition to this, voting will also be held for 92 Assembly seats in the state elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

SOURCE: NEWS18
 

Indians vote in huge election dominated by jobs, Hindu pride and Modi


The first of India's almost one billion voters cast ballots on Friday in the country's multi-day election, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a rare third term on the back of issues such as growth, welfare and Hindu nationalism.

The vote pits Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against an alliance of two dozen opposition parties that promise greater affirmative action and more handouts while stressing what they call the need to save democratic institutions.

Nearly 970 million people are eligible to vote in the seven-phase exercise, the world's largest election, which runs through the peak of summer until June 1, with results set for June 4.

Election Commission figures after polls closed on Friday's first day of voting estimated voter turnout at 60%, with the small northeastern state of Tripura top of the list at 80% and the northwestern state of Rajasthan at the bottom with 51%.

"Polling for the first phase...recorded high voter turnout despite the heat wave," the panel said. "The voting percentage is likely to go upwards when reports from all polling stations are obtained."

Friday's vote covered 166 million voters in 102 constituencies across 21 states and territories, from Tamil Nadu in the south to Arunachal Pradesh on the Himalayan frontier with China.

Opinion polls have suggested the BJP will easily win a majority, even though voters worry about unemployment, inflation and rural distress in the world's most populous country and fastest growing major economy.

"Modi will come back to power, because apart from the religious push, his other work, in areas such as safety and security, is good," said Abdul Sattar, 32, a Muslim voter in the city of Kairana in the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh.

Jobs were the chief concern for Mohammed Shabbir, another Muslim voter in Kairana. None of his eight children had regular employment, the 60-year-old driver said.

"Even the Hindus are affected by a lack of jobs," he said, adding that the problem outweighed the appeal of Hindu nationalism in the Hindu-majority nation.

Hindu nationalism is a key election theme, especially after Modi's consecration of a grand temple to Lord Ram in January on a site in Uttar Pradesh believed to be his birthplace, more than three decades after a Hindu mob destroyed a 16th-century mosque that had stood there, leading to nationwide religious riots.

In 2019, the Supreme Court handed over the land to Hindus and ordered allotment of a separate plot to Muslims to build a new mosque.

Critics accuse Modi's government and party of treating India's 200 million minority Muslims unfairly to please their hardline Hindu base - an accusation that both deny.

Modi aims to win 370 of parliament's 543 seats, up from 303 in 2019, hoping for a two-thirds majority that some analysts and opposition members fear could let his party usher in far-reaching constitutional changes.


STRONG SOUTHERN PUSH


But in Tamil Nadu, one of India's most developed states where the BJP is weak, voters seemed divided on whether Modi's strong push this time round would benefit his party.

"Modi has made India a peaceful country, particularly for Hindus," said S. Rajagopal, a three-wheel taxi driver in the state capital of Chennai.

"The BJP may not boost its vote share in Tamil Nadu but nationwide, Modi will win hands down again."

However, V. Parasuraman, 55, a businessman in construction, said the BJP had done little for Tamil Nadu, adding, "People here are educated and ... won't fall for Modi's sugar-coated words."

"The country has made up its mind," Modi said at a campaign rally on Friday.

"After today's first round of voting, there is one thing visible...the country wants a strong, stable government", and voting for the opposition alliance "is as good as wasting your vote", he said.

Campaigning continues during the election process for seats that are scheduled to vote in later phases.

Victory for Modi would make him only the second Indian prime minister to be elected three times in a row, after post-independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru.

WEAK, FRAGMENTED OPPOSITION

Surveys show a big gap between the BJP and the opposition but political analyst Sandeep Shastri of research firm Lokniti Network said it was not "necessarily unsurmountable".

"Many voters say that we take our decision on who to vote for during campaigning and many say we do it closer to the day of voting," he said. "So there is also scope for campaigning to impact the nature of the verdict."

But some BJP insiders and analysts say the party is worried about complacency or overconfidence among voters and party members, and needs to draw more people to vote.

Yet the opposition's INDIA alliance has struggled to forge unity. It has accused the government of hobbling its efforts by arresting its leaders in graft cases and making huge tax demands ahead of the vote - a charge the government denies.

Rahul Gandhi, leader of the main opposition Congress party, said on X the election would decide the future of Indian democracy.

"Strengthen democracy by applying the balm of your vote to the wounds inflicted on the soul of the nation in the last 10 years ... defeat hatred," he said on Friday.

 
Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Updates: INDIA bloc to hold mega 'Ulgulan Nyay' rally in Ranchi today; Sunita Kejriwal and others to be present

Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, is set to join the "Nyay Ulgulan Rally" organized by the INDIA bloc in Ranchi, Jharkhand, on April 21. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP MP Sanjay Singh are also expected to participate in the rally.

Ahead of the event, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) convened a meeting to discuss preparations. Leaders including Kalpana Soren, Ghulam Ahmed Mir, and Rajesh Thakur attended, emphasizing the importance of the rally and rallying support.

Kalpana Soren, wife of former Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has been actively mobilizing party members for the rally, aiming to highlight perceived injustices and show solidarity with imprisoned leaders like Hemant Soren and Arvind Kejriwal.

The rally, scheduled at Prabhat Tara Ground, aims to protest against the arrest of Hemant Soren and address alleged discrimination against Jharkhand by the central government.

Sanjay Singh of AAP recently expressed concerns about the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, warning against potential changes to the constitution if the BJP were to win. He emphasized the importance of preventing such a scenario, citing fears of the erosion of democratic rights.

Jharkhand is gearing up for elections in four phases starting from May 13. In the previous Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-led NDA secured a majority of seats in the state, with the BJP winning 11 out of 12 seats.

SOURCE:https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...ews-updates-21th-april/liveblog/109470607.cms
 

Lok Sabha election 2024 LIVE: ‘Modi washing powder cleans all corruptions…’ says AAP's Sanjay Singh


"Narendra Modi speaks against corruption. He put Hemant Soren, Arvind Kejriwal in jail under false accusations. When he speaks on corruption, it looks as if Osama Bin Laden and Gabbar Singh are preaching non-violence. A Modi washing powder has come which cleans all your corruptions. Their slogan is 'Jo jitna bada bhrashtachari, wo utna bada padadhikari," Sanjay Singh said.

HT
 

BJP targeting me, Abhishek, we are not safe, says Mamata


Lok Sabha election 2024 LIVE: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday alleged that the BJP is targeting her and her nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and they do not feel safe.
"The BJP is targeting me and Abhishek, we are not safe, but we are also not afraid of the saffron party's conspiracy. We urge everyone to be on guard against a conspiracy against TMC leaders and the people of West Bengal," she said, while addressing an election rally in Kumarganj in Balurghat Lok Sabha seat.

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PM attacks Congress at Jalore rally


Narendra Modi LIVE updates: “Congress party, which is a symbol of instability, and its alliance can never run the country properly. The Congress party itself is responsible for the condition it is in today. Earlier, Rajasthan sent former PM Manmohan Singh to Rajya Sabha, now you have another leader of Congress to Rajya Sabha. People who knew that they could not win ran away from the race and reached Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. The people are punishing the Congress party for the sins they committed during 60 years of their governance,” PM Modi said.

HT
 

‘In the last 5 years, over 11 crore families have benefitted under the Jal Jeevan mission…’ says PM


Narendra Modi LIVE updates: “It is my mission to make sure water reaches every house and farmer in the country. In the last 5 years, over 11 crore families have benefitted under the Jal Jeevan mission. Unfortunately, the Congress govt in Rajasthan did corruption in this also. Bhajanlal ji govt is conducting a probe into this. If there was no Congress govt in Rajasthan, then we could have reached our targets under the ' Har Ghar Jal' scheme,” said PM.

HT
 

'Cong hollowed the country by spreading the termite of 'parivaarwad', says PM


Addressing a public rally in Rajasthan's Jalore, PM Modi said, "You sent Former PM Manmohan Singh to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. But did you see him in the state again? Another leader from the party has gone to Rajya Sabha from the state now. Those who can't fight and win elections have come to Rajasthan this time. Congress hollowed the country by spreading the termite of 'parivaarwad' and corruption.The youth of the country is so angry with Congress that it doesn't want to see their face again."

HT
 
Can somebody tell me why India doesn't have an interim PM during elections?
 

In face of Modi juggernaut, India’s opposition appears increasingly weak​


Under the searing New Delhi sun, more than a dozen of India’s top opposition leaders joined hands in a rare show of unity imploring voters to “save democracy.”

Standing before thousands of supporters at the city’s historic and politically important Ramlila Maidan, the March 31 rally marked the opposition’s strongest attempt yet to sway voters against electing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a third straight term.

The consequence of continued Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule, they say, would be the erosion of the very foundation upon which modern India was built: democracy.

“This election is for saving democracy and we must fight united,” main opposition party Indian National Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge told the crowds, who were waving the party flag of orange, white and green. “There is no level playing field in this election.”

It echoed a similar rally more than 40 years earlier on the same spot, when opposition leaders fired up huge crowds to help change the course of the 1977 election – ending the 10-year rule of India’s powerful third prime minister and political scion Indira Gandhi.

Gandhi had imposed a state of emergency, jailed key opposition leaders and curtailed civil freedoms. To some, India’s future was perched on a needle point between autocracy and democracy. She lost the election and, in the eyes of many, India’s democracy was saved.

To many supporters in the crowd three weeks ago, India is now at a similar crossroads with this high-stakes election deciding which path the country follows.

“Our democracy is being murdered, India is becoming a dictatorship,” Hazari Lal Rajput, a resident from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, told CNN at the Ramlila Maidan.

Democracy under threat?

Unless there is a major upset, Modi’s BJP is set to win its third straight five-year term thanks to his potent, populist mix of economic empowerment and Hindu nationalism.

According to 2023 Pew research, about eight in 10 Indian adults have a favorable view of Modi, including 55% who have a very favorable view. Such levels of popularity for a two-term incumbent prime minister defy all modern conventions, both in India and throughout much of the democratic world.

But India’s opposition leaders accuse Modi’s right-wing government of becoming an electoral autocracy by attempting to rig the vote, weaponizing state agencies to stifle, attack and arrest opposition politicians, and undermining democratic principles ahead of elections, which began on April 19 and run until June 1, with results counted on June 4.

They also warn Modi’s brand of Hindu nationalism is uncorking dangerous religious divides in a country with a long and tragic history of sectarian bloodletting.

Modi and the BJP have denied political interference, with one senior party leader saying it was a “process of law” to take “appropriate action against corruption.”

To counter the BJP, the opposition has formed a 27-member bloc — the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, or INDIA.

But so far that alliance has proved lackluster, observers say. It has been beset by ideological differences, has seen a host of defections to the BJP and, even with the election in full swing, has yet to even name a prime ministerial candidate.

“What kind of a democracy can you have if you don’t have a vibrant opposition, a robust opposition that can question the government?” asks Arati Jerath, an independent political commentator and journalist.

“That’s why it’s not really a question of whether Modi wins or not, it’s a question of keeping the opposition alive to fight another day so that democracy in India survives.”

Among those leading the charge for the opposition alliance is Rahul Gandhi, longtime face of the Congress and the latest member of his family to bid for power.

He is the son of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. His grandmother Indira was India’s first female leader, and his great-grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, was the country’s founding prime minister.

“If the BJP wins these fixed elections and changes the constitution, the country will be on fire. Remember this,” Rahul Gandhi told the crowd in Delhi last month.

The BJP and its allies are gunning for a supermajority of more than two-thirds of the seats in India’s parliament, the Lok Sabha. A rising fear among critics is that this would give the BJP the power to change India’s constitution, which is rooted in the democratic principles of justice, liberty, equality and – crucially – secularism.

The BJP has repeatedly denied it has plans to change the constitution.

“When I say that I have big plans, no one should be scared. I don’t take decisions to scare or run over anyone, I take decisions for the wholesome development of the nation,” Modi said in an interview with Indian news agency ANI earlier this week.

But the party has already begun publicly pulling India’s government away from its secular foundation and leading BJP figures have openly advocated for the country to be declared a Hindu nation.

“There shouldn’t be politics on the basis of religion in any country, they should talk about real issues. Until people’s financial situation improves, there won’t be any social reform,” said voter Mohammad Irfan at the opposition rally in Delhi.

Opposition parties have found themselves facing a slew of legal and financial challenges in the run-up to this year’s election.

Gandhi’s Congress – the largest party in the INDIA alliance — has accused the BJP of “tax terrorism” and crippling its ability to campaign after its accounts were frozen by the tax department, leaving it unable to use some $20 million in funds. It has also been landed with a $218 million tax bill.

Then came the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi chief minister and head of the popular Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Kejriwal’s detention on graft allegations came after the announcement of the general election last month, sparking protests in the capital. Analysts say it’s the first time in post-independence history that an Indian chief minister has governed from behind bars.

Kejriwal has denied the allegations, claiming they are politically motivated. He is just one of several prominent members of the opposition, including three other senior AAP leaders, that have also been arrested or investigated by state agencies in moves decried as political by their parties.

“I think there are very serious concerns about how free and fair the elections are going to be in India this time around,” said Atishi, Delhi minister of education for the AAP, who goes by one name.

Reports have emerged of opposition party members being coerced into joining the BJP with the threat of arrest, while they were under investigation by state agencies. Other reports suggest politicians have had their probes dropped after switching sides.

Atishi said she was also approached to switch to the BJP. “Either you join the ruling party, and then the cases are closed or put into cold storage or if you don’t, like the Aam Aadmi Party leaders, then the cases go ahead and you’re arrested and put into jail,” she said, without specifically naming who approached her.

CNN cannot independently confirm the incidents and has reached out to the BJP for comment.

In his interview with ANI, Modi denied any sliding of democracy under his rule and emphasized the independence of the Election Commission and state agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate, saying political leaders make up just 3% of cases.

“Shouldn’t we let the ED work independently when it is supposed to do so?” he said. “I am convinced that corruption has destroyed the country. We should fight against corruption with our full strength.”

Analyst Jerath said a BJP-led campaign to weaken the opposition was part of Modi’s “scorched earth policy.”

“Just wipe out whatever comes in your way so that this juggernaut can move on without any kind of challenge, without any obstruction,” she said.

Gandhi ‘not a contender’

Modi is enduringly popular, analysts say, appealing to both the poor and the affluent, especially among much of the roughly 80% of India’s population who are Hindu.

During his 10 years in power, he has launched a raft of welfare policies including free food handouts, housing, cheap gas cylinders for women and infrastructure projects.

India is also the world’s fastest-growing major economy and Modi’s presence on the world stage — including hosting the G20 — has cemented the country as a modern global power, along with a history-making moon landing.

Author Christophe Jaffrelot told CNN Modi makes people feel “proud again of being Indian.”

“There is a sense in India, a constant sense, of vulnerability, a lack of self-esteem. So to be recognized as a great power in spite of everything, (that) is attributed to him,” he said.

That does not mean there aren’t key issues the opposition could rally around, analysts say, including the BJP’s failure to increase education opportunities or improve health infrastructure – especially following the coronavirus pandemic, which hit India especially hard.

Youth unemployment also remains a huge problem, close to 50% among 20-to-24-year-olds.

But the INDIA alliance has failed to capitalize on these weak spots, Jerath said.

“They haven’t been able to weave together a cohesive kind of campaign, come up with a catchy slogan that will fire the imagination of the voting public,” she said.

Congress leader Gandhi is one of the few opposition figures considered to have the kind of star power and name recognition to stand against Modi.

But though he may have the name, Gandhi lacks leadership skills, some analysts say.

Rasheed Kidwai, journalist and author of “24 Akbar Road,” a history of the Congress party, said it’s a winner-takes-all election and there is “no silver medal in politics.”

“The problem with INDIA alliance is there is nobody who has that kind of hunger, who has that kind of personal(ity), who has that kind of inner sense of belonging or ownership to go in this election. Rahul is doing it but is not a contender,” he said.

Gandhi recently completed a 6,713-kilometer (4,200-mile) walk across the country, starting in the violence-hit northeastern state of Manipur, to raise issues of poverty, unemployment, diversity and democracy with voters.

Despite these efforts, the BJP has dominated the campaign narrative.

A key gauge of opposition strength will be in those parts of India where the BJP has historically failed to make inroads.

Regional opposition heavyweights, such as the West Bengal chief minister and All India Trinamool Congress head Mamata Banerjee and the south’s Tamil Nadu chief minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin, will be vying to block a BJP takeover in their respective states.

But the only other major national party is the Congress, which has been the main opposition since 2014.

Congress governed the country for much of the 77 years since independence, and while it was once a powerful political force with its legacy rooted in the formation of modern India, it now finds itself in the doldrums, dogged by infighting and accusations of corruption within the party.

“In the Congress, the best and brightest are not fighting the election,” Kidwai said.

Analysts say that during a decade in opposition, Congress has failed to rebuild its organization and political machinery to effectively take on the BJP.

The Congress organization has “decayed and almost died over the years, particularly in north India, and particularly in Uttar Pradesh, which is the largest, most populous state,” Jerath said.

“There was a time after independence, and for many years after independence, that they used to say that you would find a Congress flag in every single village in India,” she said. “That’s no longer true.”

Still, there is optimism from some.

The AAP’s Atishi said that despite repeated attacks against her party, it has been able to defeat the BJP in Delhi again and again.

“Democracy becoming an autocracy … That is what we are fighting against,” she said. “I think that the people of India have always voted very sensibly, and we hope that they do so this time.”

 

BJP targeting me, Abhishek, we are not safe, says Mamata


Lok Sabha election 2024 LIVE: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday alleged that the BJP is targeting her and her nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and they do not feel safe.
"The BJP is targeting me and Abhishek, we are not safe, but we are also not afraid of the saffron party's conspiracy. We urge everyone to be on guard against a conspiracy against TMC leaders and the people of West Bengal," she said, while addressing an election rally in Kumarganj in Balurghat Lok Sabha seat.

HT
Yeah good to hear. Your days are numbered Mamata ammayi, now you start your countdown.
 
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lol each one of those women supporting Modi with an idiot smile on their faces should be evicted from that free bus ride and be given Modi's Guarantee - which will be to walk to work and back home while eating pakodas prepared by their otherwise unemployed son's/brothers/fathers :dhoni

That's how I would work if I was CM of Karnataka. Teach bhakts in the language they understand. I would even advocate a little violence for the male bhakts, especially Gujaratis sitting in the UK, but that's for another day :)
 
lol each one of those women supporting Modi with an idiot smile on their faces should be evicted from that free bus ride and be given Modi's Guarantee - which will be to walk to work and back home while eating pakodas prepared by their otherwise unemployed son's/brothers/fathers :dhoni

That's how I would work if I was CM of Karnataka. Teach bhakts in the language they understand. I would even advocate a little violence for the male bhakts, especially Gujaratis sitting in the UK, but that's for another day :)


Lets not get the frustration get the better of you.

Violence is never the answer for anything. A country is what’s its people are.

If the majority of people choose Modi then the rest have to live with it or move out.
If the majority do not choose Modi then Modi supporters have to live with the choice of the majority.
If the majority do not choose Modi, but Modi still comes to power due to rigging or any other unfair means you can think of then again it’s upto the majority to protest and fight for their rights and independence from the shackles.

We will get an answer soon.
 
Lets not get the frustration get the better of you.

Violence is never the answer for anything. A country is what’s its people are.

If the majority of people choose Modi then the rest have to live with it or move out.
If the majority do not choose Modi then Modi supporters have to live with the choice of the majority.
If the majority do not choose Modi, but Modi still comes to power due to rigging or any other unfair means you can think of then again it’s upto the majority to protest and fight for their rights and independence from the shackles.

We will get an answer soon.
Nah. The days of Gandhi are long gone. Once the results are out, advisable for bhakts to stay indoors and keep their heads and voices down if they need to step outside. There're some scores that need settling :dhoni

btw for non-Kannadigas (obviously even bhakts know that this is an edited video) - this is Nelamangala in Chikkballapura LS which is a BJP constituency right now. Rajdeep doesn't even know where he is hahaha. But my point still stands for the 50% odd who were pro-Modi because he is a good person. All their free benefits should be revoked just for saying that and being idiots lol

But if you see the full video, what I found the funniest is the bus conductor and driver mocking Rajdeep. The conductor blows his whistle almost signaling to Rajdeep to cut his crap and get on with it hahaha.
 
Deepfakes of Bollywood stars spark worries of AI meddling in India election

MUMBAI: In fake videos that have gone viral online, two of India’s A-lister Bollywood actors are seen criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asking people to vote for the opposition Congress party in the country’s ongoing general election.

In a 30-second video that shows Aamir Khan and another 41-second clip of Ranveer Singh, the two Bollywood actors purportedly say Modi failed to keep campaign promises and failed to address critical economic issues during his two terms as prime minister.

Both AI-generated videos end with the Congress election symbol and slogan: “Vote for Justice, Vote for Congress.”

The two videos have been viewed on social media more than half a million times since last week, a Reuters review shows.

Their spread underlines the potential role such AI (artificial intelligence)-generated content can play in the mammoth Indian election that started on Friday and will continue until June. AI and AI-generated fakes, or deepfakes, are being increasingly used in elections elsewhere in the world, including in the US, Pakistan and Indonesia.

Campaigning in India has long focused on door-to-door outreach and public rallies, but extensive use of WhatsApp and Facebook as campaigning tools started in 2019. This year’s general election — in which Modi is expected to secure a rare third term — is the first in which AI is being used.

A Congress spokesperson, Sujata Paul, shared actor Singh’s video with her 16,000 followers on X on April 17 and by Saturday afternoon, her post had been reshared 2,900 times, liked 8,700 times and received 438,000 views.

Paul told Reuters by telephone she was aware the video was marked “manipulated media” by X, but she did not want to delete it as, while posting, she thought the person was a look alike of Singh and “it has creativity for sure.”

The post was no longer visible on X on Sunday, hours after Reuters sent a request for comment to Congress’ head of social media cell, who did not respond.

Both actors have said the videos are fake. Facebook, X and at least eight fact-checking websites have said they are altered or manipulated, which the Reuters digital verification unit has also confirmed.

Reuters could not ascertain who created the videos. Khan was “alarmed” by the viral “fake” video and Singh’s team was looking into the matter, according to a spokesperson for both actors. Singh wrote on X on Friday: “Beware of deepfakes, friends.”

Modi’s office, and the IT head of his Bharatiya Janata Party, did not respond to requests for comment.

Source: Arab News
 
Nah. The days of Gandhi are long gone. Once the results are out, advisable for bhakts to stay indoors and keep their heads and voices down if they need to step outside. There're some scores that need settling :dhoni

btw for non-Kannadigas (obviously even bhakts know that this is an edited video) - this is Nelamangala in Chikkballapura LS which is a BJP constituency right now. Rajdeep doesn't even know where he is hahaha. But my point still stands for the 50% odd who were pro-Modi because he is a good person. All their free benefits should be revoked just for saying that and being idiots lol

But if you see the full video, what I found the funniest is the bus conductor and driver mocking Rajdeep. The conductor blows his whistle almost signaling to Rajdeep to cut his crap and get on with it hahaha.


I didn’t get the Rajdeep jibe, however, it’s important to not lower yourself to their standards.
If you justify violence in any scenario then the divisive politics will never end and even if BJP loses this time will again come to power much worse in 2029.

The only thing every sane Indian who loves their country should want is to make the media, judiciary and central agencies independent.
 
lol, feku is such a coward that he 'forgot' to mention his bigotry laced comments on his own website, here is what mentioned on his website from that rally,

“Coming down heavily on the ‘grand old party’ in Bhanswara, PM Modi reiterated, ‘Congress is trapped in the clutches of the Leftists and urban naxals (a term coined by the BJP to accuse those opposing its Hindutva ideology of rebelling against the country). What Congress has said in its manifesto is serious and worrying. They have said if they form a government then a survey of property belonging to every person will be done. It will be checked how much gold our sisters own, how much money government employees have. They have also said that gold jewellery by (of) our sisters would be equally distributed. Does government have the right to take our property?”
 


The thing which most people in India and the ones on these forum fail to understand is “why Modi/BJP” came to power.

Majority of the blame of what is going on right now lies with congress and regional parties.

BJP/Modi is just the other extreme of what ideology they were practising to get votes.

If congress + regional parties want to come to power the first step they need to take is to accept and apologise for what they did in past.
 
The thing which most people in India and the ones on these forum fail to understand is “why Modi/BJP” came to power.

Majority of the blame of what is going on right now lies with congress and regional parties.

BJP/Modi is just the other extreme of what ideology they were practising to get votes.

If congress + regional parties want to come to power the first step they need to take is to accept and apologise for what they did in past.
Whatever bad Congress did or not did. But did we, the common Indians, deserve such a lying bigot at helm of our country's affairs? What bad did we do?
 
Whatever bad Congress did or not did. But did we, the common Indians, deserve such a lying bigot at helm of our country's affairs? What bad did we do?

Common Indians are always suffering and will continue to suffer, irrespective of the government. Majority of the Indians have a subservient and worship mindset, they don’t have the fight in them to challenge for their rights and generally either succumb to people in power or never raise their voice publicly and lead a subservient life.

All the recent protests from Shaheen bagh, farmer protest, Ladakh protest etc were because of reasons directly or perceived to be directly impacting the protestors.

The only times you see anyone protesting without it directly impacting them will be when the protest gains media attention and political parties make it mainstream from backend without public realising. E.g. Nirbhaya protests, india against corruption movement etc.

The main problem is however bad Modi might be, for majority of the people he is still a better option than Mayawati, Akhilesh, Lalu, Mamta etc in centre.

If someone put a gun to my head and told me to vote for Modi or any of the above, I would vote for Modi personally.

Opposition needs to understand they have decades of mistrust with common voter, they need to wipe the slate clean and apologise first to even begin for people like us to consider forgiving them and even think of voting for them.
 
I didn’t get the Rajdeep jibe, however, it’s important to not lower yourself to their standards.
If you justify violence in any scenario then the divisive politics will never end and even if BJP loses this time will again come to power much worse in 2029.

The only thing every sane Indian who loves their country should want is to make the media, judiciary and central agencies independent.

He is talking about Rajdeep Sardesai, the journalist. Btw, what is our standards? Be specific mate. Apologies if we can't operate at the high standards you are setting here in Pakpassion..LOL. I am making a concious effort to stay away from political thread and trying extremely hard to maintain my decorum, pls dnt ignite me.
 
Common people of India voted him.

This concept is alien to them. They think Modi hijacked the power by force. They forget the fact that people of India voted him in power twice in landslide numbers. It is ironical that people who preach democracy are the first one to discredit the people's mandate. Remember, Mani Shankar Iyer once went to Pakistani channel and said 'Inko (refering to Modi) hatao aur hame power me leke aao'. I can see many such mir Jaffar's aka Mani Iyer's in this thread. Wonder how they even see their faces in mirror at night without feeling an iorta of shame.

Now watch they will come back with NRI jibe as if NRIs are voting Modi ji into power and rejecting their clown prince.
 
Nah. The days of Gandhi are long gone. Once the results are out, advisable for bhakts to stay indoors and keep their heads and voices down if they need to step outside. There're some scores that need settling :dhoni

btw for non-Kannadigas (obviously even bhakts know that this is an edited video) - this is Nelamangala in Chikkballapura LS which is a BJP constituency right now. Rajdeep doesn't even know where he is hahaha. But my point still stands for the 50% odd who were pro-Modi because he is a good person. All their free benefits should be revoked just for saying that and being idiots lol

But if you see the full video, what I found the funniest is the bus conductor and driver mocking Rajdeep. The conductor blows his whistle almost signaling to Rajdeep to cut his crap and get on with it hahaha.

Try posting this on social media and the law will settle scores with you.
 
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This concept is alien to them. They think Modi hijacked the power by force. They forget the fact that people of India voted him in power twice in landslide numbers. It is ironical that people who preach democracy are the first one to discredit the people's mandate. Remember, Mani Shankar Iyer once went to Pakistani channel and said 'Inko (refering to Modi) hatao aur hame power me leke aao'. I can see many such mir Jaffar's aka Mani Iyer's in this thread. Wonder how they even see their faces in mirror at night without feeling an iorta of shame.

Now watch they will come back with NRI jibe as if NRIs are voting Modi ji into power and rejecting their clown prince.

If they post on social media in India, law will teach them lessons.

When you have to find support for your propoganda amongst foreigners, it shows your support amongst Indians.
 
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If someone put a gun to my head and told me to vote for Modi or any of the above, I would vote for Modi personally.

Opposition needs to understand they have decades of mistrust with common voter, they need to wipe the slate clean and apologise first to even begin for people like us to consider forgiving them and even think of voting for them.
So there you said it!

As for your 2nd point, well, for all the ills of emergency and Indira herself losing the election, she stormed back to power within 3 years of losing it. So what you are saying in your 2nd point isn't correct. There is no need for any political party to apologize in front of electorate which was gullible during Congress rule and is even more gullible in current regime's times.

All you need to a bit of dosage of outright lies about improving quality of their lives, seeking some sympathy if your close one has died, lots of dose of caste and religion and voila, you win elections in India!
 
lol, andhbhakts threatening people who dare to question their feku. How novel! They have learnt it from the best in business.
 
These guys post rubbish here, threaten violence because no one in PP will take any steps. If they post their rubbish on social media in India, law will teach them lessons.

When you have to find support for your propoganda amongst foreigners, it shows your support amongst Indians.

This is the problem of the pseudos, the fake liberals. They are the biggest nuisence among all political ideologies. As long as their wishes are fulfilled or things going their way, they will pretend all cool and righteous. The moment things go south, they resort to violence and forget the same democratic values they preach. This is not only restricted to India though but world wide phenonemon. I still remember how Hilary supporters were preaching values and law of land prior to 2016 election. Once she lost, they forgot all principles and resort to violence. I can write an essay why these leftists are such an outcast.

This guy @pillionrider thought everyone is anti Modi. That video came across as an embarassment for him like it did for Rajdeep Sardesai. Now he wants these women to face violence just bcoz they spoke good about a leader he doesn't support. And these guys preach democracy, just imagine.
 
So there you said it!

As for your 2nd point, well, for all the ills of emergency and Indira herself losing the election, she stormed back to power within 3 years of losing it. So what you are saying in your 2nd point isn't correct. There is no need for any political party to apologize in front of electorate which was gullible during Congress rule and is even more gullible in current regime's times.

All you need to a bit of dosage of outright lies about improving quality of their lives, seeking some sympathy if your close one has died, lots of dose of caste and religion and voila, you win elections in India!

BJP has already perfected that strategy.
In addition to that strategy they have also got the public swayed from caste based politics at national level to religion based politics.
No opposition party can make any headway into that strategy at national level.

If a political party apologises for their past, there’s 90% chance that it will be the end for them. However, they aren’t winning anyways, if they apologise and try to wipe the slate clean and make voters believe they are starting fresh, there’s a small chance people will start trusting them.

They aren’t winning anyways so what’s the harm in trying that strategy, it will give them a better chance to compete in 2029 elections than with their current strategy.
 
He is talking about Rajdeep Sardesai, the journalist. Btw, what is our standards? Be specific mate. Apologies if we can't operate at the high standards you are setting here in Pakpassion..LOL. I am making a concious effort to stay away from political thread and trying extremely hard to maintain my decorum, pls dnt ignite me.

I know he’s talking about the journalist, I didn’t get the jibe he threw since in that video everyone in bus wanted Modi even if it was a BJP seat in South, people still wanted Modi.

Way to take it personally, I didn’t even think or remember about a poster with Rajdeep name on PP. Unless you are that Journalist.

What are you blabbering on?
 
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I know he’s talking about the journalist, I didn’t get the jibe he threw since in that video everyone in bus wanted Modi even if it was a BJP seat in South, people still wanted Modi.

Way to take it personally, I didn’t even think or remember about a poster with Rajdeep name on PP. Unless you are that Journalist.

What are you blabbering on?

You said, lets not fall to their standards.

Whose standards?

Rajdeep Sardesai's?
 
You said, lets not fall to their standards.

Whose standards?

Rajdeep Sardesai's?

The andhbhakts who justify every wrong doing of a political party, including justifying rape convicts/murderers and other sort of criminals.

Two wrongs never make right, the poster was advocating violence against innocents just because they vote for a political party (whatever one might think is the reason for their vote, even if it’s brainwashing or bought votes) that post was unnecessary and should be condemned.

What are you so worked up about? If you fall in the first category then my initial post probably irked you, if you don’t then you would see nothing wrong in it.
 

India opposition criticises Modi for 'hate speech'​

India's opposition has accused PM Narendra Modi of Islamophobic remarks after he claimed his opponents would distribute people's wealth to "infiltrators" if they won power.

Mr Modi told a rally the opposition Congress wanted to distribute wealth to "those who have many children".
His remarks were widely seen as referring to India's Muslim minority.

The Congress party has rejected the claim, which came days after the general election began.
Mr Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has often been accused of singling out India's minority communities, especially Muslims.

Rights groups say that they face discrimination and attacks, and have been forced to live as "second-class" citizens under Mr Modi's rule - an allegation the BJP denies.

The first of seven phases in the general election was held on 19 April. Results will be declared on 4 June.
Mr Modi made the comments on Sunday during an election rally in Rajasthan state, when he was talking about the Congress party's manifesto.

He alleged that the manifesto said it would "take stock" of the gold women traditionally save in India and redistribute it.
"And their earlier [Congress] government had said that Muslims have the first right over the nation's wealth," Mr Modi alleged.

"This means that they [the Congress] will collect people's wealth and distribute it to whom?" he asked the audience.
"To those who have more children. To the infiltrators. Should your hard-earned money be given to infiltrators?"

Mr Modi was referring to a 2006 speech by Manmohan Singh, who was then prime minister when Congress were in office, where he spoke about empowering minorities so they could share in the fruits of development.

The Muslim community has often been stereotyped as having many children. But experts say that this claim is distorted and opens the community up to prejudicial treatment.

Opposition leaders across parties have criticised the prime minister's comments.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge defended his party's manifesto, saying that it was "for every Indian" and it talks about equality and justice for all.

He called Mr Modi's remarks a panic-filled "hate speech" and a ploy to divert people's attention from the opposition having performed better than his BJP in the first phase of polling.

"In the history of India, no prime minister has lowered the dignity of his post as much as Modiji has," he said.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi said that "Modi today called Muslims infiltrators and people with many children" and added that since 2002, the only "Modi guarantee" has been "to abuse Muslims and get votes".

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, Saket Gokhale, called Modi's remarks "hateful and divisive" against the Muslim community and urged people to lodge complaints about the speech with with India's electoral authorities.

There was no immediate response from Mr Modi or the BJP to the opposition criticisms.
The Election Commission of India - which oversees the elections - declined to comment.

 
The andhbhakts who justify every wrong doing of a political party, including justifying rape convicts/murderers and other sort of criminals.

Two wrongs never make right, the poster was advocating violence against innocents just because they vote for a political party (whatever one might think is the reason for their vote, even if it’s brainwashing or bought votes) that post was unnecessary and should be condemned.

What are you so worked up about? If you fall in the first category then my initial post probably irked you, if you don’t then you would see nothing wrong in it.

What is Andhbhakt?

What is that suppose to even mean? LOL

Are you referring to the people that supports ruling party?

So anyone that supports a specific political party whom you don't like, they become andh bhakts, is it?

I thought you are a matured and educated person and not 2 rupee twitter troll. My bad...will keep in mind going foward.

Btw, all of those millions of people who voted for Modi, whom you call as Andhabhakts supports rape and murders?

Where did you hear that and how did you come to this conclusion?

And then you have the gall to call others intolerant and don't fall at their level? Uff the irony.

If pot calling kettle has a face, you would be the poster boy. LOL
 
What is Andhbhakt?

What is that suppose to even mean?

Are you referring to the people that supports ruling party?

So anyone that supports a specific political party whom you don't like, they become andh bhakts, is it?

I thought you are a matured and educated person and not 2 rupee twitter troll. My bad...will keep in mind going foward.

Btw, all of those millions of people who voted for Modi, whom you call as Andhabhakts supports rape and murders?

Where did you hear that and how did you come to this conclusion? And then you have the gall to call others intolerant and don't fall at their level? Uff the irony. If pot calling kettle has a face, you would be the poster boy.


Are you dumb?

You started your post with a question, then instead of ending your post at that question and waiting for my answer you went on to answer that question yourself with nonsense just so that you can write the last paragraphs sprouting even more imaginary nonsense.

I mean if you want to talk to yourself then why even quote me, you are free to continue your discussion with yourself.
 

India opposition criticises Modi for 'hate speech'​

India's opposition has accused PM Narendra Modi of Islamophobic remarks after he claimed his opponents would distribute people's wealth to "infiltrators" if they won power.

Mr Modi told a rally the opposition Congress wanted to distribute wealth to "those who have many children".
His remarks were widely seen as referring to India's Muslim minority.

The Congress party has rejected the claim, which came days after the general election began.
Mr Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has often been accused of singling out India's minority communities, especially Muslims.

Rights groups say that they face discrimination and attacks, and have been forced to live as "second-class" citizens under Mr Modi's rule - an allegation the BJP denies.

The first of seven phases in the general election was held on 19 April. Results will be declared on 4 June.
Mr Modi made the comments on Sunday during an election rally in Rajasthan state, when he was talking about the Congress party's manifesto.

He alleged that the manifesto said it would "take stock" of the gold women traditionally save in India and redistribute it.
"And their earlier [Congress] government had said that Muslims have the first right over the nation's wealth," Mr Modi alleged.

"This means that they [the Congress] will collect people's wealth and distribute it to whom?" he asked the audience.
"To those who have more children. To the infiltrators. Should your hard-earned money be given to infiltrators?"

Mr Modi was referring to a 2006 speech by Manmohan Singh, who was then prime minister when Congress were in office, where he spoke about empowering minorities so they could share in the fruits of development.

The Muslim community has often been stereotyped as having many children. But experts say that this claim is distorted and opens the community up to prejudicial treatment.

Opposition leaders across parties have criticised the prime minister's comments.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge defended his party's manifesto, saying that it was "for every Indian" and it talks about equality and justice for all.

He called Mr Modi's remarks a panic-filled "hate speech" and a ploy to divert people's attention from the opposition having performed better than his BJP in the first phase of polling.

"In the history of India, no prime minister has lowered the dignity of his post as much as Modiji has," he said.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi said that "Modi today called Muslims infiltrators and people with many children" and added that since 2002, the only "Modi guarantee" has been "to abuse Muslims and get votes".

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, Saket Gokhale, called Modi's remarks "hateful and divisive" against the Muslim community and urged people to lodge complaints about the speech with with India's electoral authorities.

There was no immediate response from Mr Modi or the BJP to the opposition criticisms.
The Election Commission of India - which oversees the elections - declined to comment.

I don't know what Modiji meant to say, but by ghuspathiye (infiltrators) we Indians mean Rohingyas, and illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in West Bengal and my state of Assam. My state has been ruined by the past Congress governments bringing hundreds of thousands of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants for the purpose of vote bank politics. They are known in my state colloquially as 'Miya'.
 
Are you dumb?

You started your post with a question, then instead of ending your post at that question and waiting for my answer you went on to answer that question yourself with nonsense just so that you can write the last paragraphs sprouting even more imaginary nonsense.

I mean if you want to talk to yourself then why even quote me, you are free to continue your discussion with yourself.

Assuming I am dumb, pls answer my question. Your good friend @pillionrider never answers my questions and run away. That is the reason why I stopped posting in political section. Pls don't be like him and explain a dumb guy like me.

1. Why does anyone that supports ruling party becomes an Andh bhakt? I mean I love that term as Bhakti is a great character to have in hindusim but what is the relevance of it to their political ideology?

2. How did you come to the conclusion that millions and millions of Indians that supports Modi whom you call as Andhbhakts supports rape and murder? You said to Pillionrider to not fall to their standards. You think all those people supports rape and murder and wanted Pillionrider to not emulate them?

Answer na brah...
 

Ex-cricketer jabs Congress over wealth survey: 'Like re-distributing IPL points'​


Former cricketer Venkatesh Prasad on Monday took a dig at the Congress over its promise of conducting a wealth redistribution survey if the party was voted to power in the Lok Sabha elections. He called the idea "pathetic".

Venkatesh Prasad, without naming the Congress, likened the party's promise to taking points from the top four IPL teams in the points table and redistributing them to the bottom three teams "so that they could make it to the playoffs".

"One of the political party’s manifesto is to redistribute the wealth of the rich to the poor. The really poor need to be uplifted but this thought process is so pathetic. It is like saying If we take 4 points from RR and 4 from KKR and SRH and re-distribute it to the bottom 3 teams, they can make the playoffs," he tweeted.

Currently, the bottom three IPL teams in the 10-team IPL 2024 season are -- Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The top four teams as of now are -- Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, SunRisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings. The top four teams will qualify for the playoffs while the remaining teams will be eliminated.

Venkatesh Prasad's tweet came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that the Congress, if voted to power, would redistribute the country's wealth to "infiltrators" and "those who have children". His remarks sparked a furore among the Opposition parties.

The Prime Minister's remarks came after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on April 6, said the party, if voted to power, will conduct a financial and institutional survey to ascertain the distribution of wealth among the people in the country.

"We will first conduct a nationwide caste census to determine how many people belong to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and minorities. After that, we will conduct a financial and institutional survey in a historic step to ascertain the distribution of wealth," he said at a rally in Hyderabad after releasing the Congress's manifesto.

Rahul Gandhi said the Congress will ensure that it will give the rightful share of the people after conducting the survey.

 
The thing which most people in India and the ones on these forum fail to understand is “why Modi/BJP” came to power.

Majority of the blame of what is going on right now lies with congress and regional parties.

BJP/Modi is just the other extreme of what ideology they were practising to get votes.

If congress + regional parties want to come to power the first step they need to take is to accept and apologise for what they did in past.
Yes. I think they know what they did wrong. You can see the changes already when people like Rahulg talk in public. For eg: when he was in Kargil (predominantly Muslim demographics), there was a leading question from the crowd goading him to talk about difficulties faced by Muslims in India today and he agreed with it but also emphasized that it wasn't just Muslims, but all minorities and weaker sections like the Dalits and Adivasis who were being exploited.
 
I didn’t get the Rajdeep jibe, however, it’s important to not lower yourself to their standards.
If you justify violence in any scenario then the divisive politics will never end and even if BJP loses this time will again come to power much worse in 2029.

The only thing every sane Indian who loves their country should want is to make the media, judiciary and central agencies independent.
This is the full video. You can see the conductor and another driver laughing at Rajdeep Sardesai

 
Two wrongs never make right, the poster was advocating violence against innocents just because they vote for a political party (whatever one might think is the reason for their vote, even if it’s brainwashing or bought votes) that post was unnecessary and should be condemned.
No, only violence against male bhakts especially from Gujarat who sit in the UK - they got the message and have appeared in this thread already hahaha
 
Are you dumb?

You started your post with a question, then instead of ending your post at that question and waiting for my answer you went on to answer that question yourself with nonsense just so that you can write the last paragraphs sprouting even more imaginary nonsense.

I mean if you want to talk to yourself then why even quote me, you are free to continue your discussion with yourself.
The way these guys argue, you just wait a while. By the next page of this thread, they'd have turned you into me and later both of us would have been apparently people calling on Pakistanis to attack Modi supporters. That's the games these guys play.

But those days are over. The opposition has learned to fight back in India. And aggressively too.

Regarding you saying we shouldn't fall to their standards - you are not seeing them for what they are. Bhakts are not about Modi, religion or even an ideology. At their very basic, they are simply bullies.

That's all they are. Bullies. And we all know, pan-culture, pan-history, the only way to straighten a bully out is to make him feel some pain. It's the best medicine to sort a bully out :dhoni
 
I don't know what Modiji meant to say, but by ghuspathiye (infiltrators) we Indians mean Rohingyas, and illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in West Bengal and my state of Assam. My state has been ruined by the past Congress governments bringing hundreds of thousands of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants for the purpose of vote bank politics. They are known in my state colloquially as 'Miya'.
Compared to the rest of the population, these would only constitute a very minute and tiny number, don't see where wealth distribution comes into it. So might not even mean them at all given the statement immediately preceding it.

Regardless as PM shouldn't be using hate speech but I guess that's how diplomats win votes in these countries. The 'many children' taunt is directed only at one minority.
 

Ex-cricketer jabs Congress over wealth survey: 'Like re-distributing IPL points'​


Former cricketer Venkatesh Prasad on Monday took a dig at the Congress over its promise of conducting a wealth redistribution survey if the party was voted to power in the Lok Sabha elections. He called the idea "pathetic".

Venkatesh Prasad, without naming the Congress, likened the party's promise to taking points from the top four IPL teams in the points table and redistributing them to the bottom three teams "so that they could make it to the playoffs".

"One of the political party’s manifesto is to redistribute the wealth of the rich to the poor. The really poor need to be uplifted but this thought process is so pathetic. It is like saying If we take 4 points from RR and 4 from KKR and SRH and re-distribute it to the bottom 3 teams, they can make the playoffs," he tweeted.

Currently, the bottom three IPL teams in the 10-team IPL 2024 season are -- Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The top four teams as of now are -- Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, SunRisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings. The top four teams will qualify for the playoffs while the remaining teams will be eliminated.

Venkatesh Prasad's tweet came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that the Congress, if voted to power, would redistribute the country's wealth to "infiltrators" and "those who have children". His remarks sparked a furore among the Opposition parties.

The Prime Minister's remarks came after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on April 6, said the party, if voted to power, will conduct a financial and institutional survey to ascertain the distribution of wealth among the people in the country.

"We will first conduct a nationwide caste census to determine how many people belong to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and minorities. After that, we will conduct a financial and institutional survey in a historic step to ascertain the distribution of wealth," he said at a rally in Hyderabad after releasing the Congress's manifesto.

Rahul Gandhi said the Congress will ensure that it will give the rightful share of the people after conducting the survey.

Dumb analogy from a dumb person.
 
Assuming I am dumb, pls answer my question. Your good friend @pillionrider never answers my questions and run away. That is the reason why I stopped posting in political section. Pls don't be like him and explain a dumb guy like me.

1. Why does anyone that supports ruling party becomes an Andh bhakt? I mean I love that term as Bhakti is a great character to have in hindusim but what is the relevance of it to their political ideology?

2. How did you come to the conclusion that millions and millions of Indians that supports Modi whom you call as Andhbhakts supports rape and murder? You said to Pillionrider to not fall to their standards. You think all those people supports rape and murder and wanted Pillionrider to not emulate them?

Answer na brah...


No one here is my friend, I don't know anyone in real life and we can’t have communication on these forums in private. The way you are talking, it feels a waste of my time to even reply to you. But let me take the bait.

1. Again it feels like you are talking to yourself. You have some thoughts in your mind and you are just parroting them without any basis. I never said that anyone who supports a political party is an andhbhakt.
Supporting BJP or any other political party is one’s right and no one is denying that.

2. Again you are interpreting something which was never said and probably is in your head and coming to random conclusions.

Let me phrase it in laymen’s term for you to understand (thought I doubt you would).

1. There is nothing wrong in supporting any political party.
2. Andhbhakts are different from people who are ill informed or mis informed. There are many people who are ill informed/Mia informed due to the mainstream media being sellout.
3. Andhbhakts are people who have the actual knowledge of the wrongdoings, yet turn a blind eye towards it or even worse try to justify them.
4. One can understand that people give vote to BJP even after knowing of their wrong doings because the alternatives are far worse in their eyes. However, to justify the wrong doings of BJP is what makes one an andhbhakt.
5. Pillionrider was justifying violence because as per him that’s how BJP supporters should be treated. Which was wrong and I called it out. He can have his views about those people, but in no way should one justify any kind of violence.
 
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And this is not the first time bigot has used this slur for Muslims. Remember Hum 2, hamare 25?
I don't tend to follow so can't recall, but 25!? Now that's maniacal OTT levels of exaggeration :yk2
 
The way these guys argue, you just wait a while. By the next page of this thread, they'd have turned you into me and later both of us would have been apparently people calling on Pakistanis to attack Modi supporters. That's the games these guys play.

But those days are over. The opposition has learned to fight back in India. And aggressively too.

Regarding you saying we shouldn't fall to their standards - you are not seeing them for what they are. Bhakts are not about Modi, religion or even an ideology. At their very basic, they are simply bullies.

That's all they are. Bullies. And we all know, pan-culture, pan-history, the only way to straighten a bully out is to make him feel some pain. It's the best medicine to sort a bully out :dhoni

Violence will never solve any issue it will only create more issues. Whatever different views we might have with the posters here, at the end of the day we are all Indians.
I don’t agree with Joshilla’s or Napa’s (not sure if he is still active) views a lot of time, however, they are still Indians and the beauty of India is to have diverse views. Even the poster who keeps quoting me has varying views, I don’t agree with them but it’s his right to have those views.

What we need is for media, judiciary and central agencies to become independent ASAP.

The best part about BJP while being in opposition was how strong of an opposition they were and how they used the media and how the media kept pressure on government.

For India to stay on the right path we need such a strong opposition and media to keep the government in check.

The juvenile name calling by some posters you can ignore. Things get heated when discussing varying views you are passionate about, you love India you want the best for the nation so you think your views are the best way ahead.
Those guys think their views are best way ahead for India (or some of them might be paid IT cell folks), either ways they are either passionate about their nation just like or doing their job.
Try not to take it personally or be offended. I know it can get to you sometimes but if it does take a break for couple days from here and then come refreshed.
 
This is the full video. You can see the conductor and another driver laughing at Rajdeep Sardesai


I don’t stay in India nor am I from south, so I am not aware of the dynamics there.

I am just curious how did BJP make such massive inroads in Karnataka, whereas, it doesn’t have much of a presence in any other southern state?

What is the difference in Karnataka compared to other southern states? Lack of strong regional parties?
 
The vile oaf yesterday gave a hate / election speech targeting the 220 Million Indians in minority & in the Kela republic that he has turned India in to in last 5 years , the Election Commission of India is silent on this . I could never have imagined in my 29 years of life that 1 illiterate narcist megalomaniac bigot could push a good nation beyond tipping point in just 10 years :(
 
Violence will never solve any issue it will only create more issues. Whatever different views we might have with the posters here, at the end of the day we are all Indians.
I don’t agree with Joshilla’s or Napa’s (not sure if he is still active) views a lot of time, however, they are still Indians and the beauty of India is to have diverse views. Even the poster who keeps quoting me has varying views, I don’t agree with them but it’s his right to have those views.

What we need is for media, judiciary and central agencies to become independent ASAP.

The best part about BJP while being in opposition was how strong of an opposition they were and how they used the media and how the media kept pressure on government.

For India to stay on the right path we need such a strong opposition and media to keep the government in check.

The juvenile name calling by some posters you can ignore. Things get heated when discussing varying views you are passionate about, you love India you want the best for the nation so you think your views are the best way ahead.
Those guys think their views are best way ahead for India (or some of them might be paid IT cell folks), either ways they are either passionate about their nation just like or doing their job.
Try not to take it personally or be offended. I know it can get to you sometimes but if it does take a break for couple days from here and then come refreshed.
I'm mostly here to have fun with these guys. I wasted a lot of time over the years trying to argue logic with them but they instead showed themselves to be coldhearted and gleeful at violence perpetrated against helpless folk. So now, I believe the wheel has turned and it's time for them to understand that it's not fun when you're at the receiving end. Besides, I have/had plenty of BJP/RSS-supporting friends and family and one thing I've understood about them is that they are cowards who only work in mobs. You need to counter them with aggression as that's the only language they understand and fear :dhoni
 
I don’t stay in India nor am I from south, so I am not aware of the dynamics there.

I am just curious how did BJP make such massive inroads in Karnataka, whereas, it doesn’t have much of a presence in any other southern state?

What is the difference in Karnataka compared to other southern states? Lack of strong regional parties?
Karnataka is extremely caste-driven. It is ironic because one of the dominant castes, the Lingayats (who form the basis of the BJP vote bank here) was started as an anti-caste ideology (some would call it a separate religion) by 12th century philosopher, Basavanna. But if you know irl Lingayats, they are among the most casteist lol.

I myself was a BJP voter in 2014 but have been turned by Modi-Shah. There was a a regional party, JD(S) - ex-PM Deve Gowda's - which started as a farmer's party but has been reduced to a shadow of its ideals now.

Now regarding the BJP inroads here. There are some legitimate reasons for it. The party was singlehandedly built by one man here, Yeddyurappa. His success was forged on being Lingayat, being extremely generous to their mathas and also fighting genuine issues. One of the biggest issues on which Yeddy built the party was this town called Hubli where a cricket ground was leased to a Muslim organization. The local BJP started an issue of wanting to hoist the National Flag there which the Muslim leaders refused to allow. It was a dumb move because this became a national event and the Congress government made it worse by allowing the Muslims to construct a building on the maidan where Muslims otherwise only had permission to offer prayers twice a year, the rest of the time, it being supposed to be used only for cricket.

The other polarization that has happened was on the coastal belt where extremist Hindu and Muslim organizations exist. The Hindus claim they rose as a counter to the Muslim ones there. In my view, there is some truth there, but it's only part of the truth. For eg: Rama Sene leaders have been caught on camera planning fake attacks by Muslims on Hindu events to then generate riots.

So the rise of the BJP in Karnataka has been due to legitimate concerns that were then smartly exploited by Yeddy, while also being helped big time by the Congress governments, who on occasion even used force to quell these BJP moves, rather than delicately suppressing them.
 
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