Indian Elections 2009

Fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections will be conducted on Thursday, April 30. This poll will include the National Capital Region apart from seats in Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan will also conduct polls for the first time in these elections.

• 4th phase: electioneering ends today, Press Trust of India, May 5 2009
• 164 candidates with criminal records in round four of polls, Economic Times, May 5 2009

Key contestants include BJP president Rajnath Singh (Ghaziabad), External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee (Jangipur), RJD president Lalu Prasad (Pataliputra), Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav (Mainpuri), Rashtirya Lok Dal president Ajit Singh (Baghpat) and former U.P. Chief Minister, ex-BJP member Kalyan Singh (independent in Etah). For Mr. Lalu Prasad this is the second spot; he is contesting also from Saran in Bihar which went to the polls on April 16.

May 5th, 2009 | Tags: fourth phase, Lok Sabha elections | Category: Bihar, Indian Politics, Jammu and Kashmir, Political Parties, States | Leave a comment

Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar, leader of JD(U) and a key member of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has made public statements reiterating his closeness to the left parties. He has also stated that he has no plans of joining the Congress lead, United Progressive Alliance (UPA), thus refuting public statements made by Shiela Dikshit that Congress is in talks with JD (U). Nitish Kumar stated that he has no plans of a post poll alliance with the Third Front.

• JD(U), Left old friends, says Nitish, Indian Express, May 4 2009
• Nitish rubbishes Sheila’s claim of him aligning with Congress, The Hindu, May 4 2009

The statement has raised important questions like whether the NDA is sending feelers to the Third Front or is the JD(U) planning to join the Front if the poll numbers are in it’s favour. With two more phases remaining in this election, this statement does carry weight.

May 4th, 2009 | Tags: Bihar, NDA/BJP, Nitish Kumar, Third Front | Category: Bihar, Communist Parties, Indian Politics, NDA/BJP, National Security, Nitish Kumar, Terrorism, Third Front, coalitions/alliances | Leave a comment

Samajwadi Party’s (SP) leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, Rashtriya Janta Dal’s (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP)’s chief Ram Vilas Paswan announced that they are combining forces for the coming Lok Sabha elections. The three parties are going to form a pre-poll alliance called “secular alliance” to jointly contest all 120 seats Lok Sabha in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.  SP general secretary Amar Singh said that formal announcement of this will be most likely in New Delhi on March 30.

• Mulayam, Lalu, Paswan join hands , The Hindu, Mar 26 2009
• Mulayam, Lalu to form alliance for secular vote bank , Economic Times, Mar 26 2009

The Congress has put a brave front and said that this alliance will join the UPA after the elections because “the Congress is the only secular alternative”.  Union Minister Kapil Sibal argued that every regional party jostled for space and wanted to throw out the national party (in the state). A national party, on the other hand, did not want to concede space to regional parties at the national level. “This has been there in every election and will continue to be so,” said Sibal.

RJD chief, Lalu Yadav, has also been giving vague and mixed statement about his party’s plan. On one hand, he still has claimed to be an integral part of the UPA coalition; while on the other his party is fielding candidates against the Congress in Bihar.

• I’ll always be with Soniaji, clarifies Lalu , Indian Express, Mar 25, 2009‎

If the alliance becomes a reality, we will have four main coalitions in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Our analysis is that even if a Fourth front is created by the three parties, it’s voter base will compel it to join the UPA coalition post elections or the parties will split and the alliance will cease to exist.

So if you plan on voting for the ‘Secular alliance’, assume that it will tie up with the UPA coalition in the center.

March 27th, 2009 | Tags: Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, LJP, Lok Sabha elections, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan, RJD, Samajwadi Party, UPA/Congress, Uttar Pradesh | Category: Amar Singh, Bihar, Elections, Indian Politics, Lalu Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Political Parties, Uttar Pradesh | Comments (1)

RJD and Congress have ended their understanding for the Lok Sabha elections. RJD has left the UPA coalition. The split occurred following Congress’ displeasure over seat sharing arrangement between RJD and Ram Vilas Paswan’s party, LJP. The Congress was left with a mere 4 seats by the new political parties.

• RJD signals break with Cong as Lalu sticks to his stand, Indian Express, Mar 22 2009

The UPA coalition has lost one of it’s key member with this split. The election results could change all this if RJD-LJP is also not able to win many seats and still wants to be part of the ruling coalition. Rest assured, they will be welcome back with open arms.

March 22nd, 2009 | Tags: Lalu Prasad Yadav, RJD, UPA/Congress | Category: Bihar, Indian Politics, Lalu Yadav, UPA/Congress | Leave a comment

Lalu Prasad Yadav lead RJD and Ram Vilas Paswan lead LJP have announced that they will be sharing seats in Bihar in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

This coalition has not gone down well with RJD ally Congress, who were apparantly not consulted before the seat-sharing arrangement was announced in a well attended press conference.

• Lalu-Paswan deal not acceptable, says Congress, Indian Express, Mar 17 2009

RJD-LJP combine hope to defeat Bihar CM Nitish Singh’s formidable party, which is also a key NDA member, in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Another coalition in trouble ?? This isn’t amusing anymore, just confusing. There should be a law against confusing self-styled political analysts who blog.

March 17th, 2009 | Tags: Lalu Prasad Yadav, Lok Sabha elections, RLD, UPA/Congress | Category: Bihar, Elections, Indian Politics, Lalu Yadav, UPA/Congress | Comments (2)