Indian Elections 2009

Flush with the success of the Lok Sabha elections, the four pre-poll allies of the Congress have begin negotiating for their share of the pie.

• UPA allies battle for their share of the spoils, Hindustan Times, May 20 2009

The DMK has already asked for seven cabinet positions. I guess their logic is that if they ask for seven, they will get five.

• DMK demands 7 cabinet berths; meeting with Pranab inconclusive, Indian Express, May 20 2009

Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference has also expressed a desire for a cabinet post for the party (read him).

Mamta Banerjee has not yet expressed a desire to join the cabinet in Delhi, claiming to be concentrating on the coming Assembly elections in West Bengal in 2011. As expected, the party has called for pre-poning the elections.

• Mamata yet to take decision on joining UPA cabinet, Indian Express, May 20 2009

NCP has been quiet so far …

May 20th, 2009 | Tags: allies, DMK, National Conference, NCP, Trinamool Congress, UPA government, UPA/Congress | Category: DMK, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Elections, National Conference, Sharad Pawar, Trinamool Congress, UPA/Congress, coalitions/alliances | Comments (1)

News Update : BJP’s central committee has allowed CM Khanduri to remain in his post for now.

One of the first casualty of BJP’s loss in the national elections, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, B.C. Khanduri is expected to tender his resignation soon. BJP lost all five Lok Sabha seats in this northern states to it’s rival Congress.

• Khanduri to resign over poll debacle in Uttarakhand, Indian Express, May 18 2009

CM Khanduri had faced rebelion from other BJP leaders of the state last year. The rebels, led by former chief minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari , had last year accused him of inaccessibility and slowdown in development projects of the state.

State Health Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank, state Tourism Minister Prakash Pant and Koshiyari are among the front-runners to replace CM Khanduri.

May 19th, 2009 | Tags: BJP, Lok Sabha elections, Uttarakhand | Category: Elections, NDA/BJP, Uttarakhand | Leave a comment

With 261 seats in it’s bag, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), is confident of getting support of 11 additional MPs to cross the magic number of 272 needed for a majority in the parliament. Speculation is rife in main stream media that the parties that constituted the fourth front (RJD,SP and LJP) will not be invited to support the UPA government; instead the UPA will rely on like-minded independents and smaller parties to make up for the shortfall.

Apart from the Congress party that won 206 seats on it’s own, the UPA consists of Sharad Pawar’s NCP, M. Karunanidhi’s DMK, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress and Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference, who won the remaining 55. Leaders of these four parties are expected to be part of the new cabinet. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is also expected to join the cabinet.

The PM, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will give his resignation to the President on Monday who will ask him to continue as the interim-PM. The Election Commission will present the list of successful Lok sabha candidates to President Pratibha Patil on Monday evening.

Dr. Manmohan Singh is expected to be sworn in as the PM either on 20 or 22 May 2009.

May 17th, 2009 | Tags: Dr. Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha elections, lok sabha results, UPA/Congress | Category: Dr. Manmohan Singh, Election Results, Elections, Indian Politics, National Conference, Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Sonia Gandhi, Trinamool Congress, UPA/Congress, coalitions/alliances | Comments (1)

Now that the elections are over and we have a definite verdict with the UPA continuing it’s rule for another five years, it is time to give an applause to the Election Commission.

This herculean effort that lasted a month and enfranchised a fifth of humanity will definitely go down in Indian history as one of our successful endeavors. It was also one of the least violent election in our nation’s history, clearly underlining the maturity of our election process if not our democratic process.

This election witnessed all parts of our nation participating enthusiastically. People defied boycott calls made by separatists in Kashmir and Maoists/Naxals in Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand.  People stood in extremely hot conditions to execute their right.

Some of us will cheer the results, while some of us will be disappointed at the failure of our preferred candidates or parties. But few will doubt that the Election Commission played their role very well. Please join me in congratulating the dedicated staff who made this election a success -  Thank you, you made us proud !

May 16th, 2009 | Tags: Election commission, Lok Sabha elections | Category: Election Results, Elections | Leave a comment

News Update : YSR Reddy sworn in as the Chief Minister on Andhra Pradesh for the second consecutive term on Wednesday, May 20 2009

The Congress has managed to win the Andhra Pradesh assembly elections winning 155 of the 294 seats in the state. The main opposition party, TDP, gave a good fight this election leading/winning around 100 seats, but it wasn’t enough to remove the incumbent government of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

• Andhra Assembly polls: YSR all set to lead second term, Indian Express, May 16 2009
• Chiranjeevi’s glamour fails to impress voters, Economic Times, May 16 2009

In another feather in Congress’ cap, they have also managed to win 33 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

May 16th, 2009 | Tags: Andhra Pradesh, Election Results, State Assembly Elections | Category: Andhra Pradesh, Election Results, Elections, Indian Politics, UPA/Congress | Comments (4)

Naveen Patnaik lead BJD is set to form the government in Orissa for the third time. His decision to contest the Assembly elections alone without BJP appear to have paid off. Latest reports indicate that BJD is leading in 101 of the state’s 147 assembly constituencies. The Congress and the BJP were ahead in 30 and 10 respectively.

In the Lok Sabha constituencies in the state too, the BJD was leading in 14, the Congress was leading in six the Communist Party of India in one seat.

May 16th, 2009 | Tags: BJD, lok sabha results, Naveen Patnaik, Orissa | Category: BJD, Elections, Orissa | Leave a comment

Continuing it’s winning streak, Congress and it’s allies are heading for a majority in the Indian parliament. In a surprizing result, Congress is leading in 21 seats in Uttar Pradesh trouncing it’s rival BJP and other smaller parties like BSP and SP. Their decision to go it alone in UP appear to have paid off.

• Congress emerges biggest gainer in UP, Times of India, May 16 2009
• Left fort collapses in Bengal, registers worst poll performance, Hindustan Times, May 16 2009

Early breakdown at 4:40 p.m. IST is as follows .

The other key wins for Congress and it’s allies include all constituencies in Mumbai and Delhi.

Among the big losers in this election, the Communist parties have failed to win their seats in West Bengal and Kerala. The Congress and it’s allies have won at their expense in these states. It appears that the elctorate did not take it kindly to their breaking away from the previous government. Their loss also firmly seals any opposition to the Indo-US Nuclear treaty.

May 16th, 2009 | Tags: Election Results, Lok Sabha elections, lok sabha results | Category: Dr. Manmohan Singh, Election Results, Elections, Indian Politics, Political Parties, Sonia Gandhi, Uttar Pradesh | Comments (2)

Early trends show UPA leading in over 220 seats. Hindustan Times is already declaring it a winner.

• UPA heads for clear victory, celebrations begin, Hindustan Times, May 16 2009.
• UPA leads in 228 seats, NDA in 156, Times of India, May 16 2009

Early breakdown at 11:20 a.m. IST is as follows and appears to be on expected lines.

Early trends also indicate a hung verdict for Andhra Pradesh assembly.

May 16th, 2009 | Tags: Election Results, Lok Sabha elections, lok sabha results | Category: Election Results, Elections, Indian Politics, Political Parties, States | Comments (4)

Two days before the results are counted on Saturday, the leading poliical parties have begin discussing post-poll alliances with smaller regional parties. Hectic negotiations have been observed both my NDA and UPA.

• Cong, BJP woo allies ahead of vote count, Times of India, May 14 2009
• Parties go into huddle, Cong approaches miffed allies, Indian Express, May 14 2009
• BJP may choose south over Mayawati , Hindustan Times, May 15 2009
• Parties go all out to woo allies , NDTV.com, May 15 2009

May 14th, 2009 | Tags: Lok Sabha elections | Category: Elections | Leave a comment