Indian Elections 2009

Dr. Manmohan Singh took oath today as the PM for the second time. He had taken oath as the PM for the first time on the same date, May 22, five years back.

 In addition to Dr. Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, Sharad Pawar, A K Antony, P Chidambaram, Mamata Banerjee, S M Krishna, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sushilkumar Shinde, Veerappa Moily, S Jaipal Reddy, Kamal Nath, Vayalar Ravi, Meira Kumar, Murli Deora, Kapil Sibal, Ambika Soni, B K Handique, Anand Sharma and C P Joshi were sworn in as cabinet ministers.

• Pics: New Team Manmohan , NDTV.com, May 22 2009

There is going to be a continuity with most of the ministries being given to the incumbents like Pranab Mukherjee who will get Finance, P. Chidambaram getting Home, Sharad Pawar getting agriculture. It is expected that Mamta Banerjee will take over as the new railways minister. In addition, Trinamool Congress will get 6 Minister of State berths.

The negotiations between Congress and DMK on the number of cabinet seats to be given to them has not been resolved and National Conference has to still get it’s share. So there is expectation that the cabinet will be further expanded to accomodate these two allies.

May 22nd, 2009 | Tags: Dr. Manmohan Singh, UPA government, UPA/Congress | Category: Dr. Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Trinamool Congress, UPA/Congress | Comments (1)

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)

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)

The Congress party, lead by Sonia Gandhi, released it’s manifesto for the coming Lok Sabha elections today. Dr. Manmohan Singh will be the face of their campaign, claimed Ms. Gandhi. The Congress leader also said that the party would stress on Security, respect and prosperity of all citizens during their campaign.

• PM, Sonia release Congress poll manifesto, NDTV.com, Mar 24 2009
• Congress manifesto pushes for rural help, jobs, Reuters India, Mar 24 2009

The PM fired the first salvo at the main opposition party, BJP, by declaring that it was dividing the nation on communal lines.  He termed BJP’s defence of Varun Gandhi’s comments with communal overtone as shameful. He said Left parties and BJP have ‘negative mindset’ which cannot take the nation forward.

• PM accuses BJP of dividing people on communal agenda, Indian Express, Mar 24 2009

Sonia Gandhi also launched Congress’s campaign from Karnataka on the 22nd. The party also released it’s manifesto for the state assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh which are scheduled at the same time as the Lok Sabha elections.

March 24th, 2009 | Tags: Dr. Manmohan Singh, Election Issue : Internal Security, Election manifesto, Lok Sabha elections, National Security, Sonia Gandhi, UPA/Congress | Category: Dr. Manmohan Singh, Elections, National Security, Sonia Gandhi, UPA/Congress | Leave a comment

One of the leading newspapers of India, Times of India, has stated that the UPA has a lead in the coming Lok Sabha elections. In a news analysis published on their website today, the paper listed that Congress is more confident post it’s win in the 2008 Assembly elections. It also states that more allies want to join the UPA than the NDA giving a boost to Sonia Gandhi’s popularity.

• No clear favourites yet, but UPA takes early lead, Times of India, 3 Mar 2009.

The newspaper has not officially endorsed the Congress party. Unlike the Newspapers in the US, who officially endorsed their preferred presidental candidates;  editors in India refrain from making any official endorsement.

However, this article does sound like an unofficial endorsement of Sonia Gandhi and Congress/UPA in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

March 3rd, 2009 | Tags: Lok Sabha elections, Sonia Gandhi, UPA/Congress | Category: Elections, Indian Politics, Sonia Gandhi, UPA/Congress | Comments (1)

Granting statehood to the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh has become a key election issue in the region. All the political parties, except Congress are in favour of carving a new state. Indian Express is reporting that the Congress, which has been isolated over the Telangana statehood issue and under Opposition attack for “letting down” the region and its people, may now change it’s stand. Party president Sonia Gandhi is expected to endorse the demand for a separate Telangana state during her visit to Andhra Pradesh on February 27-28.

• Sonia plans Telangana rewrite, to back statehood, Indian Express, Feb 25 2009
• Telangana major poll plank for TDP, TRS, Hindu, Feb 21, 2009
• Modi uses Telangana plank to woo voters, Hindustan Times, Feb 21, 2009

While Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy has been opposed to bifurcation of the state, Congress leaders from Telangana have made several representations to the party high command, pleading for Congress endorsement of a separate Telangana.

The Telangana region accounts for 15 Lok Sabha seats and these 15 seats could play a decisive role in case of a Hung parliament. Hence the rush by all political parties to endorse it’s statehood.

February 25th, 2009 | Tags: Andhra Pradesh, Lok Sabha elections, Sonia Gandhi, Telangana, UPA/Congress | Category: Andhra Pradesh, Elections, Indian Politics, Sonia Gandhi, UPA/Congress | Comments (4)

As the elections are coming closer, the main stream media (MSM) appears to be toeing the official government line. News articles are reporting the achievements of the UPA government and highlighting the fringe elements in the opposition parties to belittle their qualifications to rule the country.  The press has been emphasizing the age factor of NDA Prime Ministerial candidate, Mr. L.K. Advani, while ignoring his experience. On the other hand, articles on Rahul Gandhi show his youth in positive light, downplaying his nepotistic rise and relatively little experience. Of late there have been many articles emphasizing the in-fighting in BJP and lack of strong National Leaders in the party.

India has also been affected by the global recession that has hit the Western countries severely. It has been predicted that Indian economy will severely slowdown and there are bound to be many layoffs leading to increased unemployment. But very voter will notice how the word “Recession” is seriously avoided in the MSM sites. There are daily articles quoting the President, PM, FM, Congress President and assorted government sources on how we should be in recovery and growing pretty soon. The Indian electorate is smart enough to understand that the economic recession is not of Congress’ making. It is a direct result of the global economic crisis. So let us not insult their intelligence by pretending that it is a temporary “downturn” which will be resolved in a few months. It is not everyday that the US President contemplates a stimulus package of over a Trillion dollars and so the global recession is a serious crisis facing us.

This isn’t the first time that the media has been swayed by the government’s propaganda and trashed the opposition. In the previous Lok Sabha elections as well, it went overboard emphasizing the “India Shining ” slogan of the then-ruling NDA government. So high was the hype that majority of the Indians were made to believe that the election of Mr. Vajpayee as the next PM of India was a mere formality. Similar questions were asked in the media then about “Where was Sonia Gandhi” and she and the Congress were all but written off her. Other parties like BSP, SP and the left parties were regarded as too insignificant to even be mentioned beyond a footnote.

For sure after the election results, the media suddenly woke up to the fact of 400 million poor in Shining India who had voted against the NDA and for the ‘pro-poor’ parties. After a 180 degree turn, the Media began hailing the victors of the last elections as the leaders who had truly felt the true pulse of the nation and snatched victory from certain defeat.

It is high time the fourth estate took a balanced view of all the political parties and not play favorites. Else they will reduce themselves to being merely a propaganda material for the political party they are promoting. The responsibility of the media is to make the electorate aware of all their options so that they can take a informed decision when electing the next government.

February 17th, 2009 | Tags: Main Stream Media, NDA/BJP, Opinion, UPA government, UPA/Congress | Category: Communist Parties, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Elections, India Shining, Indian Politics, L K Advani, NDA/BJP, Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party, Sonia Gandhi, UPA/Congress | Leave a comment

Potential Lok Sabha allies, Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) are at each others throats and their coalition appears to be on shaky ground. The latest round of distrust began when the CBI filed a disproportionate assets (DPA) case against SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

• Mulayam’s assets case: SC turns heat on, SP-Cong war flares up, Indian Express, Feb 11, 2009
• If Mulayam is corrupt, so is Sonia: Amar Singh, Hindustan Times, Feb 10 2009
• Mulayam’s illegal assets case hearing on Tuesday, Indian Feb 9, 2009
• Will Mulayam get a clean chit in illegal assets case?, NDTV.com, Feb 9, 2009
• Cong-SP honeymoon on the rocks, Economic Times, Feb 9 2009
• SP drags Sonia, Rahul into dispute over Mulayam’s assets, Times of India, India - Feb 9, 2009

Both the parties have had a very tenacious relationship toggling between love and hate - at time they are best of friends - with SP coming to the PM’s help during the confidence motion . At other times they are worst of the enemies - remember the “we have 172″ statement by Sonia Gandhi ?

It appears that both the parties are firm believers in the adage - “there are no permanent friends or enemies, just permanent interests.” Right now their interests are the same - to win Delhi in the next Lok Sabha elections. So don’t be surprised if the current heated exchange of harsh words is soon forgotten and the alliance continues till the elections. Post elections, only interests will matter.

February 11th, 2009 | Tags: Lok Sabha elections, Samajwadi Party, UPA/Congress | Category: Amar Singh, Corruption, Elections, Indian Politics, Samajwadi Party, Sonia Gandhi, UPA/Congress, Uttar Pradesh | Leave a comment

We have listed below some interesting statements made by Indian political leaders during December 2008.

In December 2008, the main news covered the results of the Assembly Elections in six states.

“I am thankful to you for giving the NC a chance to rule,”
National Conference President, Omar Abdullah, Dec 29, 2008

“We are a party of economically weak and downtrodden people, without any kind of support from industrialists and businessmen, who are patrons of other political parties like the Congress, Samajwadi Party and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). We therefore depend on contribution from supporters, who donate to the party funds on my birthday.”
UP Chief Minister, Mayawati, justifying the fund collection for her birthday bash, Dec 25, 2008

“This is beyond my comprehension why Karkare didn’t go to Taj, Oberoi or Nariman House where the terrorists were holed up. Why he chose to go to a different place”.
Union Minority Affairs Minister A R Antulay, Dec 17, 2008

“Our silence should not be misconstrued as our weakness,”
P M Manmohan Singh, Dec 14, 2008

“Pakistan has to hand over those using its soil to spread Terror in India and award exemplary punishment to those directly involved in the Mumbai attacks on November 26,”
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Dec 13, 2008.

“People from their soil were indulging in mass murder in India. I have played cricket. I know the spirit of cricket. Cricket is not commerce. Is it possible for one team to arrive in Mumbai and indulge in mass murder and have another team go and play cricket in the winter afternoon sun at Lahore immediately after?”
Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill, Dec 12, 2008

“I apologise to the people of the country that this dastardly act could not be prevented,”
PM Manmohan Singh, Dec 11, 2008

“Terror and national security are important but not necessarily for elections. We don’t do politics on the issue of terror. The Lok Sabha elections too would be fought primarily on local issues, where terror may have a tad greater role,”
BJP President, Rajnath Singh, Dec 9, 2008

“The common people of Rajasthan were terrorised under Raje’s rule. Now their mandate is to put her shadow of terror behind,”
Congress Leader from Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, Dec 8, 2008

“This is the verdict for change and a big snub to the 10-year-old misrule and corruption of the MNF government,”
Congress CM Candidate in Mizoram, Lalthanhawla, Dec 8, 2008

“We went to the polls on the development ground with honesty and unity, and people have voted for that,”
Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, Dec 8, 2008

“It is sad. The results have been depressing in Rajasthan,”
BJP party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad, Dec 8, 2008. Early counting indicated a loss for BJP in Rajasthan.

“It is, however, worrying that a neighbouring state might even consider acting on the basis of such a hoax call, try to give it credibility with other states, and confuse the public by releasing the story in part,”
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Dec 7, 2008

“Today we are witnessing an unacceptable rise in intolerance. Our society seems more divided, more angry and tragically more violent,”
PM, Manmohan Singh, Dec 6, 2008

“ If I wish, I can prevent the new government from taking charge or topple it when it is formed. It is not in a majority and I can prove it on the floor of the house, even if the opposition does not seek a trust vote,”
Narayan Rane, Dec 6, 2008. Congress I suspended the leader from the party, after he went against the party high command.

“I will give up my NSG cover if L K Advani is also prepared to do so,”
Lalu Prasad Yadav, Dec 6,2008

“India is the only country in the world where kerosene is cheaper than mineral water,”
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, Dec 5, 2008. He announced a price cut for petrol and Kerosene.

“I have accepted moral responsibility for Mumbai terror attacks. In a democracy one has to honour people’s anguish and anger,”
Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Dec 4, 2008

“Whatever information we have received up to now that has been shared with them and we have pointed out that elements in Pakistan are responsible. If elements in Pakistan are responsible, then it is the responsibility of the Pakistan government to take action against those elements.”
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Dec 3, 2008

“It seems Captain Amarinder Singh has lost his mental balance after his being proved big failures as Good Chief Minister and as Good Husband (due to his affairs with Pak National woman)“,
Sukhbir Badal, President of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Dec 2 2008

“Some women wearing lipstick and powder have taken to streets in Mumbai and are abusing politicians, thus spreading dissatisfaction against democracy. This is what terrorists are doing in Jammu and Kashmir,”
BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Dec 1 2008

“It was for Sandeep (Unnikrishnan) I had gone, otherwise even a dog wouldn’t have visited them. I never expected this. A soldier’s father should have displayed better behavior.”
Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan , Dec 1 2008
<Note: The CM later apologized for this comment. >

“The fact is that Congress has a tradition of having dummy home ministers for the comfort of its leadership. While the arrangement suits the leader, it leaves the nation unprotected,”
BJP general secretary, Arun Jaitley, Dec 1, 2008

January 2nd, 2009 | Tags: Elections, Neta Vox, State Assembly Elections 2008 | Category: BSP, Development, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Elections, L K Advani, MNS, Mayawati, NDA/BJP, National Conference, National Security, Raj Thackeray, Samajwadi Party, Sonia Gandhi, UPA/Congress | Leave a comment