Indian Elections 2009

Dr. Manmohan Singh sworn in as P.M.

Karuna P Joshi — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:06:07 +0000

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.

Allies begin demanding cabinet posts

Karuna P Joshi — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:56:59 +0000

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 …

Dr. Manmohan Singh to be sworn in on May 22 2009

Karuna P Joshi — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:33:29 +0000

Dr. Manmohan Singh has become the Prime Minister for the second consecutive term. He was appointed as the PM by the victorious UPA alliance. UPA was also able to show support of 322 MPs in the letter it presented to the President Pratibha Patil. Given this strong show of support, the President has not asked the prime minister to prove his strength in the house.

Manmohan gets Presidential nod for second term as PM, Indian Express, May 20 2009
Manmohan Singh appointed Prime Minister, Times of India, May 20 2009

BSP and SP are among the parties that have provided letter of support to the UPA government. This support is interesting since BSP had fought against the UPA in these elections and the pre-poll alliance between SP and Congress had failed to materialize. But then success has many supporters.

The new PM will be sworn in on Friday, May 22.

Uttrakhand CM Khanduri to resign

Karuna P Joshi — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:15:27 +0000

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.

UPA confident of forming the next government

Karuna P Joshi — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:51:29 +0000

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.

Kudos to the Election commission. Thank you.

Karuna P Joshi — Sun, 17 May 2009 02:37:11 +0000

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 !

Congress wins the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections

Karuna P Joshi — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:21:50 +0000

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.

Naveen Patnaik wins in Orissa

Karuna P Joshi — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:36:26 +0000

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.

Congress/UPA winning; Dr. Manmohan Singh to continue as PM

Karuna P Joshi — Sat, 16 May 2009 11:08:48 +0000

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 .

Alliance	Wins+Leads
Congress+Allies	255
BJP+Allies	160
Third Front	69
Others	35
Fourth Front	25

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.

UPA leads in early trends.

Karuna P Joshi — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:57:53 +0000

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.

Alliance	Leads
Congress+Allies	227
BJP+Allies	153
Third Front	73
Others	31
Fourth Front	28

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