Congress could have done better if fought seriously, say voters

Varanasi (UP), May 11  Belief is often said to be a cause and asource of happiness.
People in Varanasi also perhaps believed that parliamentary electionswould offer excitement like 2014. But many say they have been let down.
It has become a one sided matter. Prime Minister Narendra Modi willwin with good margins as the Congress and Samajwadi-BSP-RLD alliancecould not put up a good fight.
 In terms of contest in eastern Uttar Pradesh, common people say therewas lot of expectation from the Congress – which still has a strongsupport base. But the complaint remains that the grand old party couldnot take the contest to its logical end.
Many citizens here say there was 'lack of sincerity' in Congress andeven after Priyanka Gandhi (Vadra) joined the campaign trail and wasnamed as AICC general secretary – there was no solid planning to movethings on ground.
Visit in various parts of the city including gullies would suggestthat the natives are not much interested about the so called 'do ordie' elections.
"We thought there would be good fight. By some standards, in 2014,there was a contest as AAP leader from Delhi Arvind Kejriwal took onMr Modi. But not this time. Now even those who want to vote againstBJP knows pretty well that Mr Modi's victory from the constituency ismuch easier," says local businessman Santosh Kumar.
Even in 2009 - there was much of political excitement as senior BJPleader Murli Manohor Joshi was in the contest for the first time.Prior to that Mr Joshi used to contest from Allahabad.
Agreeing with Santosh Kumar, a hotelier Irfan Mia, says - "It is sadto note that the Congress is not seen in contest. When the resultscome not only in Varanasi, but in key eastern UP hubs like Gorakhpur,the Congress could have put up a better show had there been properstrategy and planning".
What's people's main grudge against the Congress?
Firstly, they say - at least in Varanasi – the Congress should havefielded a senior leader and a more 'known face'.
"After initial hype of Priyanka Gandhi herself contesting fizzled out– the Congress has left it to Ajay Rai – who not only lost 2014 LokSabha polls against Modi by a huge margin, but it is also a fact thatMr Rai also lost assembly elections in 2017 too," says a Congresssupporter.
This is not to undermine Ajay Rai as a candidate, at least he took onthe fight, local citizens say.
Voters in key eastern UP political hubs say the Congress should havedone proper planning and ‘organising’ of things to exploit its"potential support" base.
On this score – admit many senior citizens especially retiredgovernment servants that despite potential to fight it well Gorakhpurto Azamgarh to Varanasi – the Congress is not seen in contest.
"If things could not be organised, the Congress and SP-BSP-RLD shouldhave worked harder, held more meetings to ensure the alliance," sayssweat shop owner Rajendra Gupta.
This is the reason, he explains the city today is giving a peculiarindifferent look.
Endorsing this view, a BJP worker says - "Elections may come,elections may go. People are giving an impression that life ofcommoners would continue. The focus is on day to day challenges - theysay".
So much is 'weakness' in Congress candidate today that locals saypossibly the Mahagatbandhan nominee Shalini Yadav may easily poll morevotes than Ajay Rai of the Congress, simply on the arithmetic of thealliance.
But those who believe in 'fighting it out' in politics have not yet given up.
"Shalini Yadav now the main opposition nominee as Samajwadi candidate.Now, all eyes are May 16 rally to be addressed by SP chief AkhileshYadav, BSP supremo Mayawati and RLD leader Ajit Singh. She will put upa fight to Modi and perhaps bring down the victory margin," saysSamajwadi Party worker Neelima Singh.
In terms of statistics, in 2014 while Congress candidate bagged 75,000votes to finish third after Mr Modi and AAP leader Mr Kejriwal, the SPvote share was 45,000 and the BSP candidate got 60,000.
In a record victory, Mr Modi polled more than 5.8 lakh votes making it56 per cent of the total votes cast while Mr Kejriwal had finishedsecond by polling 2.09 lakh votes.
BJP supporters, however, say there is definitely all the excitement."You talk to any youth and local citizen near the Ghat, there is Modi,Modi sloganeering. People have made up their mind both in Varanasi andthe rest of UP - Phir Ekbar, Modi Sarkar," says one ABVPactivist.

Varanasi (UP), May 11  In what is seen an interesting developmentin caste equations in electoral politics in Varanasi, ShivpalYadav-led newly floated Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) hasdecided to support the candidature of Congress Ajay Rai for theprestigious seat.The announcement here has taken people by surprise as the move willaffect the prospects of SP-BSP-RLD alliance – more so in casteequations.In 2014 Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought in an unprecedented unityamong all castes population including the Yadavs.But in the run up to the 2019 polls, Samajwadi Party, which holds agrip over Yadav vote share, struck an alliance with BSP and RLD andthus could claim substantial OBC and Dalit votes.This could have had bigger influence in enhancing the prospect ofMahagatbandhan nominee Shalini Yadav.But now the decision of Shivpal Yadav, uncle of Samajwadi Party chiefAkhilesh Yadav, will certainly create a division among Yadav voters.Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) Varanasi unit president Ismail KGuddu announced the party “decision” to back Ajay Rai and also saidthat Shivpal Yadav will campaign for the Congress nominee.The SP-BSP-RLD Mahagatbandhan has fielded Shalini Yadav,daughter-in-law of a local Congress veteran for the prestigious seat.Shivpal Yadav’s party has presented a Vision Document for Varanasi andurged the Congress nominee to highlight the same.Meanwhile, sources in the Congress camp say the party candidate AjayRai, who contested unsuccessfully against Prime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014 also, has reached out to various socio political groups andsmaller parties to garner their support for May 19 elections.Among others, the Congress candidate has reached out to RashtriyaPurvanchal Ekta Party, Kendriya Brahmin Samaj, Lok Manch Benaras andManav Samaj Party.Amid  challenge, BJP hopes to retain Ghazipur banking on Modi factor
Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh), May 10 In the contest is Afzal Ansariof Samajwadi-BSP alliance.  Also a former MP for two terms between 2004 and 2014, Ansari is alsoa brother of local muscleman Mukhtar Ansari and obviously this is afactor in the election for Ghazipur parliamentary constituency fromwhere BJP has fielded Union Minister Manoj Sinha.However, as one interacts with political workers in rural hubs inthese pockets - caste equation is mostly debated."The caste factor does not favour the BJP but good thing is localpeople talk about developmental works of Manoj Sinha," says a BJPsupporter Rajiv Kumar Gupta.But hard reality suggests the challenge for Manoj Sinha is quite aherculean one. Even during the peak of 2014 'Narendra Modi wave', MrSinha could wrest the seat for his party by a margin of 33,000 only.The votes polled by Samajwadi and BSP in 2014 add up to -- 516122 much more than 306929 polled by Mr Sinha.

Deoria voters have fond memories of ‘socialist leader’ Mohan Singh
Deoria (Uttar Pradesh), May 8The electorate in Deoria seemed to have come full circle with their choice.
 
The parliamentary constituency – in close range of hyper sensitive political segment of Gorakhpur – has been 
once a Congress bastion and gradually it has gone through being a socialist hub under much respected 
socialist Mohan Singh.
Essentially, it has been always a non-BJP constituency. The voters, however, came under the saffron influence 
occasionally and BJP nominees have been returning home. In 2009 it went in favour of BSP as well.  
In 1962, 1967 and 1971 elections, Bishwanath Rai of Congress dominated the scene. After Emergency in 1977,
Devata Mani Tripathi won the election on Bharatiya Lok Dal ticket. He repeated the feat yet again in 
1980.
The seat came back to Congress in 1984 (post Indira Gandhi assassination) but in 1989 Janata Dal
nominee Raj Mangal Pandey could win the seat.
In 1991, Mohan Singh won on the Janata Dal ticket but in 1996 the seat was won by Prakash Mani Tripathi of BJP.
Mohan Singh, now a Samajwadi Party nominee, won the election in 1998.
However, BJP's Prakash Mani Tripathi again won the election in 1999 but Mohan Singh won it in 2004 yet again.
In 2009 however, Gorakh Prasad Jaiswal on the seat on, Bahujan Samaj Party. Again in 2014 riding 
the Narendra Modi wave, veteran Kalraj Mishra won the seat for the saffron party. 
In 2014 – it was BJP veteran Kalraj Mishra – who had shifted from Kanpur – who won the seat by a huge margin.
Mr Mishra for his part had to move from Kanpur as another stalwart of Hindutva politics M M Joshi had to be 
accommodated. In 2009, Dr Joshi was BJP MP from Varanasi – but in 2014 – as Narendra Modi got a call from ‘Ganga Maiya’ – Dr Joshi was given ticket from Kanpur.
In 2014, Kalraj Mishra had polled 4,96,500 votes and his nearest rival Neeyaz Ahmad of BSP had polled 2,31,114 votes.
“Voters here have fond memories of Mohan Singh’s tenure as MP. He had won the polls thrice. Singh was really a people’s representative and was extremely popular,” says Samajwadi Party supporter Kiran Yadav.
“Late Mohan Singh was a big leader. He might have not had the lung power of the political class among many leaders from the region. But when he spoke in parliament and here during meetings and rallies, it had made lot of sense to local electorate,” he says.
Samajwadi Party supporters and also others among citizens say the BJP fielded Kalraj Mishra in 2014, but there was no denying the fact that Mr Mishra was an ‘outsider’ to this constituency.
The BJP has this time too fielded another ‘outsider’ Ramapati Ram Tripathi, a former state unit chief of the party and who was once a trusted aide of Rajnath Singh. 
Nobody is though sure about how much Rajnath Singh, a former national president of the Lotus party, has helped Mr Ramapati get the ticket this time.
In fact, the saffron party had a compulsion in accommodating him as its candidate after his son – the sitting MP from Sant Kabir Nagar Sharad Tripathi got embroiled into a ‘shoe beating’ trouble with another party leader and MLA.
The BJP leadership decided to ‘punish’ Tripathi for his indiscipline and misconduct in public life.
Among the opposition parties, the Congress nominee is Niyaz Ahmad Khan, who has moved to the grand old party after Mahagatbandhan of Samajwadi and BSP decided to allot the ticket for the seat to Binod Kumar Jaiswal of Samajwadi Party.
“We are working hard and this seat will return to the Samajwadi Party this time,” says Samajwadi Party local 
leader Parvez Khan.
But the ‘outsider tag’ given for the BJP candidate is likely to dominate in people’s mind and thus according to educationist Bhavna Singh, “the voter turnout could be less or the votes in NOTA category will go up”.
The parliamentary segment has five assembly constituencies under it – Deoria, Tamkuhi Raj, Fazilnagar, Pathardeva
and Rampur Karkhana.
As mentioned, Deoria has been won by the Congress as well. Congress stalwart Bishwanath Rai, had first represented 
this constituency way back in 1951 as well.
Mr Rai was once a Minister in the central government also and had good command over UP politics.

Samajwadi Party hopeful of Mahagatbandhan win in Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), May 7  Despite the known fact that Gorakhpur has been always considered a 
'safe seat' for BJP since 1990s, the Samajwadi Party workers feel the Mahagatbandhan of SP and BSP has able to take the fight to the rival camp.
"Our candidate and former minister Ram Bhuwal Nishad has several advantages in this year's election.
The efforts to cause a split in Nishad votes in Gorakhpur by the BJP has failed and it rather backfired with discontent
seen in the BJP camp," says local Samajwadi Party worker Toofan Singh.  
His reference is to the sitting BJP MP from Machhali Shahar Ram Charit Nishad, joining the Samajwai Party
last fortnight.
Two other important Nishad leaders Amrendra Nishad and his mother Rajmati Nishad, a former MLA, 
also came into the Samajwadi snapping their about five-week stay in the BJP.
Samajwadi Party sources claim an overwhelming section of Employees’ Union of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya have
decided to back the party and this will have a critical influence in the outcome.
The BJP has 'not compromised' on their commitment towards upward castes - like Thakurs and Brahmins - who have
always dominated in eastern UP, says Singh.
"The BJP does not want the backward communities to be benefitted," says another Samajwadi supporter Akhil Anand.
The refrain from supporters of the Mahagatbandhan is that the BJP "only wants to cash" in on the Nishad community 
votes, "but the saffron party will not give Nishad the share according to local Nishads' population size and participation".
They also point out that there is a division in the influential Hindu Yuva Vahini - which was once a major source of support for Yogi Adityanath, when he used to contest Lok Sabha polls.
All eyes will be on, however,  on whom the voters make choice of the Congress candidate. 
The grand old party has fielded a known crime lawyer Madhusudan Tiwari from the seat and Samajwadi and 
BSP supporters feel the Congress nominee will only cause in BJP vote share and thus help the Mahagatbandhan.

ends 

'Modi Modi' sloganeering reflects people's high expectations: Prime Minister

New Delhi, May 4 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the 'Modi Modi' sloganeering during election campaign does reflect people's anguish against some political forces but this also reflects people's immense faith and 'high expectations'.  
"Jab koi 'Modi Modi' kaheta hae, toh uske dimak mein uska samasyaon ka samadhan hae (When people raise 'Modi Modi' sloganeering; they have one expectation that their problems would be resolved)," Prime Minister said in a television show organised by India TV in the spacious Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. 
He said previously he used to enjoy the sloganeering, but slowly he has realised that such sloganeering reflects people's "vishwas (faith) and apekshaye (expectations)".
Chants of 'Modi, Modi' filled Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as Prime Minister fielded questions from India TV Editor in Chief Rajat Sharma.

The programme was recorded two days back, sources said.
To a question, he said, "I too am a simple person like most of you".

"I too have weaknesses like everyone has; like others I have some qualities. But I have decided that as long as I am in this coveted office, I will continue to serve you all. I will live for you," Mr Modi said as all eyes are now on for the fifth phase of polling on Monday.

As many as 51 parliamentary constituencies - mostly in central and north Indian states - will go to the  polls on Monday.

The parliamentary constituency of Amethi will also go to the polls on the same day.

However, to a question on sloganeering of 'Modi Modi' even at an event in Bengaluru at a Congress President Rahul Gandhi's function, the Prime Minister skirted a direct reply saying - "iske liye hum kya jawab de (What should I really say on this)".

Who commit irregularities must fear our Govt, says PM

New Delhi, May 4  As curtains came down for the fifth phase of voting for 51 parliamentary constituencies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday slammed the principal Opposition party Congress and said that the people who commit irregularities must fear.

''Yeh dar achhe ke liye hai. Yeh dar achhon ke liye hai ((This fear is for the good. This fear is good for those who are innocent), Mr Modi said on being asked why he was creating fear in the minds of the likes of Robert Vadra, P Chidambaram and Sonia Gandhi.

In his interaction with senior television anchor Rajat Sharma, who is also Editor in Chief of India TV, the Prime Minister said: "You may remember, I had said in 2014 in Aap Ki Adalat show that people who commit irregularities must fear. 'Darna chahiye' . Yeh dar achha hai (When wrong doers fear, it is good).'' 

  

Mr Modi ridiculed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his tweets on government of India's China policy.

"Kya aap Kapil Sharma ke show ke script likhtey haen (Do you write for script for Kapil Sharma show)," , Mr Modi suggested that it was for the Congress party to see why such statements or tweets come from their leader.

Asked what he 'thought' on such missives on the micro blogging sites wherein Rahul Gandhi had taken potshot on Mr Modi for being over friendly to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister shot back in his irreplaceable style : "oos party ko sochne chahiye (This is an issue best left for the Congress party)".

Asked how India persuaded China to agree to the UNSC resolution declaring Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a 'global terrorist', the Prime Minister replied: "I think experts should slightly correct their analysis. What is the reality today? What was the situation earlier? Whenever Pakistan's terrorism issue cropped up, Kashmir used to become a stumbling block. Russia used to be the only country that used to support us, and the rest of the world used to side with Pakistan.''  

This is the record of last 40 years, he said and pointed out - ''In the last five years, you might have noticed, only China supports Pakistan, and the entire world is with us. This is a very big change". 

Mr Modi further said: "On terrorism, we had a consistent policy and there was no world forum where India did not raise the issue of humanity and terrorism".

''Experts will say that the force of this victory is greater than that of the surgical strike or air strike. The UNSC resolution will have a lasting impact."

Asked why the Opposition is seeking evidence of damages caused by IAF air strike on Balakot, the Prime Minister replied: "Any citizen of India has the right to demand evidence, political leaders also have the right to demand evidence, but then, accepting those evidences is also their responsibility.  The problem (with Opposition) is they demand and demand, but do not accept.  The biggest evidence (of Balakot air strike) is Pakistan itself".

Had there been no elections in India and bickering among leaders, Balakot air strike would have ranked among one of the major military operations of the world, Mr Modi said.

Asked about former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh claiming that Indian army had carried out several surgical strikes in the past, Mr Modi replied:  "The Congress has only one ex-PM left. Earlier, they used to run the government through remote control, and now they are using remote control in order to make them such  statements."

The Prime Minister said that he had made friendly gestures to both the incumbent Prime Minister Imran Khan and one former PM Nawaz Sharif but the biggest problem in dealing with Islamabad is that nobody knows who is running that country.

"The biggest problem with Pakistan is that nobody knows who is running that country and whom we should  talk to," said the Prime Minister in the freewheeling interview in a packed audience of nearly 2,500 people at Jawaharlal  Nehru Stadium here.

The Prime Minister's remarks come on the backdrop of the Pakistan Prime Minister's letter to Mr Modi, in which he had written that "resumption of bilateral dialogue is important to resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir."

Mr Modi said he has struck a good personal rapport with the Argentine President Mauricio Macri and his wife Juliana Awada. The latter had served him tea in special teaware when they visited India. 

Similarly, he said, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife took him to an Indian restaurant in the city where they had South Indian dishes. 

During the interaction, he said described at length how US President Donald Trump spent nine hours with him in the White House. 

PM Modi ridicules Rahul for his tweets on India's China policy

New Delhi, May 4  Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Saturday ridiculed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his tweets on government of India's China policy.

"Kya aap Kapil Sharma ke show ke script likhtey haen (Do you write for script for Kapil Sharma show)," Mr Modi told a private TV news channel in the spacious Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.         

Interacting with senior television anchor Rajat Sharma, who is also Editor in Chief of India TV, Mr Modi suggested that it was for the Congress party to see why such statements or tweets come from their leader.

Asked what he 'thought' on such missives on the micro blogging sites wherein Rahul Gandhi had taken potshot on Mr Modi for being over friendly to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister shot back in his irreplaceable style : "oos party ko sochne chahiye (This is an issue best left for the Congress party)".

Answering questions, Prime Minister said his decision to visit Pakistan on December 25, 2015 was a landmark trip as the people of Pakistan could appreciate that India is not keen to harm its western neighbour.

On his foreign policy, Mr Modi said the decision to invite all SAARC nation heads including the then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had played a great game changer.

On the manner, he improved India's ties with countries like the United States, Prime Minister said 

one thing he has appreciated during his tenure is that while dealing with global leaders - one should deal with people sincerely.

"One should deal with these leaders through heart rather than mind," he said.

ends 

After waiting 'as long as it takes' : Modi Govt crushes Great Wall of China

Indian officials indicated that New Delhi was willing to show patience “as long as it takes" and work to persuade China reverse its stance on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and also on Jaish-e-Mohammed Azhar.

But the patience and doggedness seemed to have yielded results by March 2019.

For the first time since 2009, when India first tried to list Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, India got as many as 13 co-sponsors for the proposal. Beijing could not ignore this fact.

More than isolating Pakistan – which has apparently been quite an easy mission – in terms of ensuring UN ban on JeM chief Masood Azhar, the Indian diplomacy achieved a tougher goal and seemed to have crushed the 'Great Wall of China'.

This was easier said than done. In fact, even by first week of March 2019 – after France had pushed seeking UN Security Council listing against Azhar and the move was supported by the US and the United Kingdom – Indian side still remained skeptical.

The Chinese decision is probably also linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s growing acceptability internationally as Russia last month honoured him with its highest civilian award the ‘Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First’.

Moreover, China would be keen to deepen ties with India at a time when the Modi government’s US friendly gestures have already taken it closer to the US-led Indo Pacific strategy.

India, during last few months, went overboard trying to convince international community that what it was stating about Pakistani complexity vis-a-vis terror was true and had credible evidence. Germany, Belgium and Poland also co-sponsored the proposal to ban Azhar.

In fact, Indian officials often questioned what would India gain by ‘ban’ on Azhar would respond that in such an eventuality, the Pakistan getting cornered internationally would be complete.

“The UN listing has own benefits – in foreign policy and actual actions on ground will have benefits for national security,” a source maintained. “We now want to see that those banned are behind bars,” it said.

At the global level, it became utterly difficult for China to continue with its double standard. A refrain soon went around that - Beijing persecutes members of the Uighur minority for practicing their faith but on the other hand, it supports Masood Azhar, a hardened jihadist seen as responsible for fomenting terrorism against India.  

Even by February 27 at the RIC Foreign Ministers meet at Wuzhen in China, the Chinese official line was a cautious one: "....we believe that Pakistan has always been opposed to terrorism".

However, there was a ray of hope when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, "We agreed to jointly combat all forms terrorism through closer policy coordination and it is especially important to eradicate the breeding grounds of terrorism and extremism”.

The mention of the "breeding grounds" of terrorism was largely seen as endorsement of India's stance  specially against the backdrop of the February 14 Pulwama terror attack and the aerial strike carried out by Indian Air Force on February 26. 

India had carried a surgical strike in 2016 after Uri attack in 2016 too.

On her part, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said during RIC meet, "We have agreed that the UN-led Global Counter Terrorism mechanism be set up and it was also agreed that India-proposed Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism be also finalised and adopted at the earliest".

The credit also should go to persistent efforts made by NSA Ajit Doval to keep the US on board in its mission while Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale traveled to the US in March and also interacted with top representatives in the Trump administration.

The US too tried to build up pressure and thus within weeks after France initiated effort to proscribe Masood Azhar was stalled by China, the US moved a fresh draft resolution directly at the UN Security Council to designate him a global terrorist.

There was some persuasion at different levels to convince China that it must redraw its policy. In March, the US secretary of state Mike Pompeo called out China’s alleged hypocrisy in repressing Muslims, while shielding ‘actual terrorists’ overseas. 

Now, that Azhar has been listed by UNSC, in his reaction the MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar said, "The 1267 Sanctions Committee’s decision to designate the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammad, Masood Azhar, as a UN proscribed terrorist is a step in the right direction to demonstrate the international community’s resolve to fight against terrorism and its enablers".

“This is in accordance with India’s position and in line with the information that India has shared with the members of the Sanctions Committee regarding terrorist activities of Masood Azhar and the Jaish-e-Mohammad,” MEA spokesman said. 

India will continue with its efforts through international forums to ensure that terrorist organizations and their leaders who cause harm to Indian citizens are brought to justice, he added. 

ends 

Shoeing: Why so common in politics? And the target is Neta

(Aprajita Snatak) 

Guest Writer

One, two buckle my shoe, three four throw it for sure!

And the target is Neta.

True, shoe hurling incidents, though not pleasant in Indian politics, surely leave a mark whatsoever as some make headlines in the present and some become history.

On Thursday (April 19, 2019) again, such an ugly incident was witnessed at BJP Rajya Sabha MP GVL Narsimha Rao's press conference here when a Kanpur-based surgeon and a supposed Modi critic hurled a shoe at the BJP leader Mr Rao -- who certainly does not enjoy the status of P Chidambaram who faced the same ignominy in 2009.

Rao and other BJP leaders were addressing the media on the decision to name Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur as the party candidate from Bhopal when the man hurled the shoe.

The man, identified as Dr Shakti Bhargav, hurled his shoe from the left side at Rao, who had party general secretary Bhupendra Yadav sitting on his left.

In India, to start with, the one such infamous incident dates back to April 16, 2009 when BJP worker Pavas Agrawal hurled a slipper at BJP leader L K Advani. Agrawal was arrested for interrogation.

Agrawal was a former district vice-president of BJP from Katni town in Madhya Pradesh.

Prior to that on April 7, 2009, journalist Jarnail Singh, who worked at a Hindi daily, hurled a shoe at the then Home Minister P Chidambaram.

The scribe said he was protesting against CBI's clean chit to senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler accused in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. Singh was then freed by the police after a brief detention.

The shoe missed Chidambaram, who leaned back to avoid it. He later smiled and asked security guards to take the reporter out of the room but was cautious and said "mildly mildly".

The then Home Minister said the CBI was not under his Ministry, and no ministry of the government had put any pressure on the CBI.

He said, "It is for the court to accept or reject or ask for further investigation by CBI. Let us wait for the court decision."

When Jarnail Singh persisted with his questions, Chidambaram told him "no arguments, you are using this forum".

Following this the journalist lobbed his shoe saying 'I protest'. Thrown underhand with little force, the shoe narrowly missed hitting Chidambaram. The action caused a flutter in the hall.

Chidambaram responded to the situation in a composed manner and said the journalist should be removed from the media conference hall.

He told reporters, "Let not the action of one emotional person hijack the entire press conference. I have answered his questions to the best of my ability.

Later, the scribe contested as Aam Aadmi Party candidate for the West Delhi Lok Sabha seat and lost but in 2015, won the Delhi assembly elections.

On April 26, 2009 the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, generally appreciated as an upright and soft-spoken politician even amid his opponents, also faced a shoe attack during the 2009 general election campaign in Ahmedabad. A computer engineering student hurled a sneaker at him but it fell short of the dais from where he was addressing his first poll rally in Gujarat in April, 2009.

The incident left the Special Protection Group and other security personnel in a tizzy, however, Singh maintained his calm and asked the police not to register any case against the student identified as Hitesh Chauhan, a 21-year-old resident of Bapunagar.

The incident was condemned by the opposition BJP and was called an "unestablished way of protesting against democracy.

On June 6, 2011, an attempt was made by a journalist identified as Sunil Kumar, a scribe from Nav Sanchar Patrika of Rajasthan to fling a shoe at Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi.

It was a reaction after Delhi Police ordered dismantle act against Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's agitation against corruption. The attacker posed as a scribe.

In the same year, on October 18, a man identified as Jitendra Pathak of Jalaun district hurled a chappal at Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party leader, after he alighted from a vehicle and was about to reach the dais at Jhulelal park. The man, who was stated to be around 40 years, claimed that he was not associated with any party. However, unconfirmed TV reports said that the man had been a Congress Seva Dal functionary till 2009.

He was quickly overpowered and allegedly roughed up by volunteers before being rescued and detained by the police in a temple within the park vicinity. He has been taken under preventive custody. Team Anna core committee member Sanjay Singh told reporters that Kejriwal had "pardoned" his attacker.

Prashant Bhushan, a key member, was attacked by members of a right-wing group in his Supreme Court chambers on October 12, allegedly over his remarks advocating plebiscite in Kashmir. Though Kejriwal went ahead with his programme, telling people that if Jan Lokpal Bill was not passed in the Winter Session of Parliament then, social crusader Anna Hazare would come to Uttar Pradesh and appeal to people not to vote for Congress in the forthcoming assembly elections.A shoe was also thrown at the then Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi during an election rally in Dehradun on January 23, 2012. One person was detained for throwing the shoe.

"If some people think that throwing a shoe will deter me and force me to run away, then they are mistaken. Rahul Gandhi will not run away," Mr Gandhi had said then.

On January 11, 2017,when the then Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, was addressing the people in Ratta Khera village of his constituency, a relative of Sikh preacher Amrik Singh Ajnala flung the shoe at him to agitate against 2016's burning of Sikh holy books and yelled at the speaker.

A similar incident happened to Badal in 2014 also.

International politics is also not aloof to such shameful incidents and it is said that shoeing received attention after Muntadhar-al-Zaidi threw his shoes at then US President George W Bush in a December 14, 2008 press conference in Baghdad, Iraq.

Since the al-Zaidi incident, similar incidents in Europe, North America, India, China, Hong Kong have been reported.

ends

(The writer is a senior journalist with UNI and the story was run by the premier news agency)

Victory after victory for India: Azhar declared global terrorist, Pak isolation complete

New Delhi, May 1 (UNI) In a big diplomatic blow to Islamabad after aerial surgical strikes on terrorist breeding camps at Balakot deep inside Pakistan, the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday placed Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar in its sanctions list freezing his assets, imposing a travel ban and an arms embargo.
Beijing had indicated on Tuesday a reversal of its stance on Azhar's designation as a global terrorist.
The UNSC listing stipulates that all states will freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets or economic resources. According to an Indian government source, the move has in the ultimate
analysis left Pakistan "completely isolated".
"It's clear, even its longtime friend and protector China seems to have left Pakistan in the lurch," the source said.
India has been trying since 2009 to designate Azhar as a global terrorist.
Better late than never

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the UN body move saying the development of the international community is a "matter of satisfaction"."Dere aye durust aye," Mr Modi said at an election rally.
He used the occasion to slam Manmohan Singh regime saying a few years ago, even cabinet ministers did not bother about what the then Prime Minister was saying.

"Today the voice of 130 crore people of India matters. It is being heard. This is the New India," the Prime Minister asserted.
"Today, India's voice cannot be undermined....This is just the beginning," Mr Modi said.

Notorious past

Azhar has had a notorious past and after he was released by the Vajpayee government on December 31, 1999 in exchange of passengers held hostage after the Kandhar hijack, he was easily latched on by the ISI and other stake holders in the Jehadi circle and helped to float Jaish-e-Mohammed in 2000.

''The Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities approved the addition of [Masood Azhar] to its ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List," the UN committee said.

India had been making persistent efforts to designate Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and the latest move came after the February 14 Pulwama terror attack, claimed by JeM, on a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force which killed 40 personnel.
India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative at the U.N. Syed Akbaruddin tweeted: ''Big, small, all join together. Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist in U.N. Sanctions list. Grateful to all for their support.''
The Bharatiya Janata Party tried to make use of the momentous occasion and linked the event to its election slogan 'Modi hae toh Mumkin hae'.

High point

Senior Minister Arun Jaitley said the move by the world body "marks a high point for the Prime Minister’s foreign policy".
"India stands vindicated. Masood Azar is now a global terrorist. India is in safe hands," he tweeted.

The saffron party's official Twitter handle in no time gave the credit to Prime Minister and posted a missive: It's possible only with Modi" - a ready reference to one of its campaign line during the ongoing elections.
"India has attained a historic success against terrorists. UN Security Council's Pulwama terror attack mastermind Masood Azhar declared as an international terrorist. It's possible because of Modi," the missive said in Hindi.

ends 

Trinamool and BJP - sourness is at peak for friends-turned-foes

Purulia, West Bengal, May 1 

The maxim ‘Nothing is permanent except Change’ seems to work well for the BJP and the Trinamool Congress.The ‘mutual bitterness’ towards one another by top Trinamool Congress and BJP leaders show that the battle of Bengal in 2019 between the two is truly acerbic.But in retrospective, both were allies.Thus, the sourness is certainly at peak for friends-turned-foes!

Not long ago, during 1998 parliamentary polls – hardly a year after its formation, the Trinamool Congress had helped BJP get a toehold in the erstwhile ‘Lal Durg’ - red forte.

BJP and Trinamool Congress had picked up eight seats with a combined vote share of 34.63 per centas the communists' ideology and perceived Bengali temperament for the Left principles almost paled into insignificance in many areas.

Tapan Sikdar made it as a BJP nominee from Dum Dum humbling CPI-M veteran Nirmal Kanti Chatterjee by a convincing margin of 1.36 lakh votes.
The BJP’s vote share made a quantum leap from 6.85 per cent to above 10 per cent though 13 of its other candidates had to bite the dust.Thus if today, the Congress or the Left parties blame Mamata Didi for showing the saffron party the ‘gate way’ to enter Bengal, they have good reasons. That year – the Congress vote share had nosedived to 15.2 per cent leaving them only one seat from West Bengal for legendary ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury.

Ms Banerjee herself made a mark for herself emerging as a key regional leader and making it to union cabinet. Trinamool vote share was 24.43 taking almost two-thirds of the Congress vote and Mamata Banerjee’s candidates snatched six from Congress kitty and one from Forward Bloc to make a seven ‘win’ out of 21 candidates it fielded.

Forward Bloc lost the crucial Barasat seat – held by Chitta Basu since 1977 to Ranjit Panja, elder brother of Ajit Panja.

A former Union Minister Ajit Panja returned safe from Calcutta North East – but on Trinamool ticket.

The alliance between Mamata Banerjee-led party and the saffron party continued in two subsequent elections in 1999 and 2004.

In 1999, Trinamool Congress vote share was 26.04 and it secured eight 8 seats while BJP won two seats. The BJP vote share increased marginally to 11.13 per cent and Mamata's party had polled 26.04 per cent.

Winning 10 seats was no small achievement for the Trinamool-BJP combine, but in 2004, the Left emerged the ‘right’ - the correct party or the one acceptable to the people of Bengal. And that changed all the friendship.

Mamata could only ensure her victory from the state and she was convinced that alliance with the BJP especially after 2002 Gujarat mayhem had spoiled her game.

“That marked the beginning of her drift towards minority appeasement politics,” says a local educationist Tushar Bhadra.


He, however point out that prior to that in 2000, Trinamool won the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections. In the 2001 state assembly elections, Trinamool entered in a pact with Congress and dumped BJP in the state to win 60 seats in the state Assembly polls.


Old timers in Purulia and in Birbhum recall that BJP’s ‘refugee’ politics as underlined in its National Register of Citizens (NRC) in 2019 was a time-tested card even in previous elections.


“I do not buy the line that Mamata Banerjee had singularly helped BJP made entry into Bengal politics in 1998. In fact in 1991 itself, long before Mamata came out of Congress, the BJP undercurrent was visible in Nadia, Murshidabad and West Dinajpur,” says Birhum-based social worker Tasleem Khan.

Endorsing him, in Purulia, a former teacher Amalendu Chakraborty said, “The BJP initially made their presence felt in 1991 in Murshibabad and West Dinajpur largely owing to its ability to woo the support of Bengali ‘refugee’ population”.


In fact, in 1991, the BJP vote share jumped from 1.67 per cent to 11.66 per cent and in many places in vulnerable north Bengal seats, the Lotus party came runners up to the CPI-M.

Notably from the electoral strategy, it was that year, the BJP had roped in two celebrities actor Victor Banerjee fielding and muscleman Manohor Aich fielding and making both to contest. Of course, both had lost the polls.

Those were the days when legendary Marxist Jyoti Basu's hold over the state prevailed and the CPI-M vote share was 35.99 per cent and the Left parties in total had won as many as 37 seats from West Bengal.

Move over ‘Gatbandhan', Mamata brought destruction in Bengal, says Cong

Purulia, West Bengal, Apr 30 (UNI)  The electioneering atmosphere in this township of West Bengal is surcharged with talk of violence.

In last one year, in major incidents three BJP workers were killed, their bodies hung on trees and scores were injured.

Electioneering is also often punctuated with ''anti-Pakistan'' slogans as locals have great admiration for men in uniform – the forces. The saffron party believes there is a strong ‘pro Narendra Modi wave’.

In contrast, the Trinamool Congress leaders and supporters say the ‘mood’ is in favour of Mamata Didi (Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee).

The protagonists among the Communists block also do not remain silent either.

“Development is something that always has takers in our constituency,” says Niloy Mukherjee, CPI-M district general secretary.

However, the Congress version is slightly different. The party nominee Nepal Mahato, sitting legislator from Baghmundi blames Mamata Banerjee regime for bringing in “biporjoy (utter failure and destruction)” in the life of Bengalis.

For Congress the issue here is ‘non performance’ of Trinamool dispensation and corruption.

“Besides corruption related to Sharada, Narada and Rose Valley, the entire political and administrative set up is clouded by Syndicate, extra constitutional toll taxes and Coal and Sand Mafia. The crisis is huge,” he says.

He readily endorses the BJP charge that several saffron party workers have been attacked by Didi’s party men. “The reason is money, illegal earning and mafia involvement,” he says.

Other Congress leaders also say that not only Purulia, even in the rest of the state there is a virtual ‘police raj’.

“They have created a dangerous thing called police volunteers. This is dangerous because it gives legitimacy to goondaism of Trinamool Congress,” says Jishu Das, a local Congress supporter.

On the other hand, he cites hospitals, schools and other local administration departments – each place is ‘under staffed’.

“At the state level we can say about 70 per cent of office positions in bureaucracy at the middle and lower levels are vacant. The state apparently does not have finance to fund the salaries. The administration has either collapsed or is standstill. But the Chief Minister is going around claiming votes in the name of development,”  says Mr Mahato.

Even as the Trinamool Congress has strong presence and BJP improved its vote share in last year’s panchayat polls, the Congress too has its bastions.

Assembly segment wise break ups under the parliamentary constituency, the Purulia Assembly seat in 2016 was won by Sudip Kumar Mukherjee of Congress and Nepal Mahato (also Congress) had won from Baghmundi.

The remaining four Assembly seats Manbazar, Joypur, Balarampur and Para were won by Trinamool Congress.

Hence, without doubt BJP faces an uphill task and Congress cannot be underestimated either.

A large number of citizens say BJP has an advantage for Lok Sabha polls.

Pandit Rajesh Tiwari of Dorji Para in Purulia says, “As far as Lok Sabha polls are concerned, there is pro-Modi wave”.

The Congress knows it has support base and thus it can fight it out well in Purulia.

However, it is also true that in the event there is a pro-Modi mood – at least in popular perception, there is an apprehension that a ‘large number of Congress workers and supporters’ may shift allegiance to the saffron party.

Prime Minister Modi’s hardliner nationalist image, of course, will be a factor on this.

However, a retired school teacher Amalendu Mukherjee dismisses such contentions and maintains that the Trinamool Congress will retain the seat quite easily.

Battle of Bengal: BJP chief Dilip Ghosh may emerge Man of the Moment

New Delhi, Apr 29 (UNI) Most of the faceless BJP workers and district level and rural leaders have high appreciation for Dilip Ghosh these days with the refrain being the saffron party could have benefited earlier too with him in the citadel of power as state unit chief.

A former RSS in-charge of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and a successful organiser, Ghosh calls himself  'ekti chasar chheley' (a farmer’s son)’.

To his party workers, he is highly acclaimed for his candid approach to politics and for calling spade a spade notwithstanding the brickbats from detractors.

“He is a befitting answer to Trinamool Congress goondaism,” says Durgapur-based BJP Intellectual cell chief Amitava Banerjee.

Mr Ghosh is hardly apologetic about his frank outburst. “I speak what I feel and perhaps that is the answer and the language Trinamool Congress understands it well”.

In the past from time to time, Ghosh has courted controversies for remarks like – Our party workers ‘trained’ by RSS can break shoulders of Trinamool workers with bare hands.

Mr Ghosh was again in the midst of severe criticism when he mocked at two actresses-turned Trinamool candidates for Lok Sabha polls Mimi Chakroborty and Nusrat Jahan.

Recently he took on the CPI-M-led Left parties also. After one senior communist leader commented that the Modi government has forced ‘hardships’ on people, Mr Ghosh countered it in his characteristic style.

“Those people who have been forced to pay up tax under GST will be definitely unhappy. Those who lost cash during demonetisation, those who lost power they will be certainly unhappy. If  Narendra Modi comes back, these will be more and eitai vidhir likhon (This is destiny’s truth),” he said tongue-in-cheek manner.

Three phases of polls are over and some key south Bengal seats are going to the polls on Monday.

For obvious reasons, now, all eyes are on the outcome of the voting for 42 crucial seats in West Bengal on May 23.

Again – he has able to take the battle into the enemy camp leaving Trinamool leaders akin to tigers and tigresses leaking their wounds.

For his part, BJP state unit chief and candidate from Medinipur says - “Mamata Banerjee will not be able to digest it, but of the ten seats in first three phases, the Trinamool will draw a blank. We are winning at least seven to eight seats”.

All BJP leaders may not share his optimism.

But there is no denial that Ghosh’s mannerism and way of speaking have often kept the spirit of the party Karyakartas – often battered and at the receiving end of violence – high.

A key party leader in Purulia says, “Importantly in intra-political matters within the party, he is trusted by BJP chief Amit Shah and key central leaders like Kailash Vijayvargiya”.

In fact, a committed RSS foot soldier from the age of 20 – rare among Bengalis of his era - Ghosh was appointed as state BJP president in December 2015 – months before 2016 state Assembly elections. His appointment was hailed as the coming of a ‘tiger’.

A skilled hand in ‘organising things’, he had won 2016 Assembly polls defeating Congress leader Gyan Singh Sohanpal.

Durgapur BJP leader Amitava Banerjee told UNI, “Dilip da has unique experience of working as a lieutenant of former RSS chief K S Sudarshan. His victory from Kharagpur during a supposed Mamata wave was unique and special as Congress MLA Sohanpal had won the Kharagpur Sadar Assembly seat for seven times in a row from 1982 to 2011. He broke the myth that he was a new comer”.

In fact, due to his Nagpur connections – most BJP leaders if not all including celebrity stars take him seriously.

On the ground, local BJP supporters also credit the 54-year-old state BJP president  for spearheading the Rath Yatra campaign in West Bengal and that really had galvanised party workers in a unity of purpose.

Many still remember his one liner given to TV channels, “Nothing would stop the BJP Rath Yatra to establish democracy in Bengal”.

Local party workers said in Jangipur and Murshidabad that it was Ghosh along with fellow compatriots like Mukul Roy who insisted with the central leadership that Muslim candidates would send right signals.

Of course, the detractors do not buy the line. But there is candid admission even by CPI(M) leaders in Durgapur that the saffron party’s vote share will increase.

“It is true, the BJP has made inroads in Durgapur region and places like Malda and Murshidabad,” says Durgapur CPI-M secretary Biprendu Chakraborty.

There are also on ground political reality. In Bahrampur and Malda North , the CPM-led Left Front has not fielded any candidate and to make the battle more intense Trinamool Congress has fielded former aides of Adhir Chowdhury in two of the three seats in the district.

In Medinipur too, Mamata Banerjee has been cautious and therefore fielded an old Congress hand Manas Bhuiyan.

Ghosh has been tactful while talking about Mr Bhuiyan and calls him a ‘senior and experienced man’ – but hastens to add that the fact that Bhuiyan has been a party hopper would go against him.

His new punch line that can provoke angry reactions from Trinamool camp is : “Even Muslims and women have lost their faith in Mamata Banerjee”.

However, poor results by the BJP in Lok Sabha elections may – however – hurt the future prospects of the present ‘A team’ in Bengal BJP.

BJP’s ‘glorious journey’ has space for only dozen minority candidates

New Delhi, Apr 28 (UNI) The more things change, the more they look the same!
In terms of BJP’s relations with religious groups, the Christians and the Muslims have always held the saffron party in suspicion.
Many would not even hesitate to join the campaign that India's ‘secular character’ is at stake under the BJP-led dispensation.
Even as Muslims are 'presumed' to have voted in favour of BJP nominees in 2014 Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh and also during the state assembly elections in 2017 and Christians inched closer to the saffron party in northeast, there were doubts, nevertheless, that if ‘communal forces’ are not halted, the largest democracy in the world could fall prey to ‘destruction’ of old social structures.

However, according to BJP sources in the run up to the polls of 2019 and the 'exultant journey' in making of a 'New India', the saffron party strategists fielded candidates from both the minority communities.

The claim is true but the BJP minority candidates would be around a dozen only.

BJP and its alliance partners - smaller parties and otherwise - are contesting virtually all of 543 seats in the grand battle of 2019.

In fact, there were also two Sikh prominent BJP nominees – Hardeep Singh Puri from Amritsar in Punjab and SS Ahluwalia from Bardhaman-Durgapur parliamentary constituency in West Bengal.

BJP fielded three Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir: MM War nominated to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla, Khalid Jahangir from Srinagar and Sofi Youssaf from Anantnag in Jammua and Kashmir.

In West Bengal, the Lotus party rested faith in a Muslim woman, Mahfuza Khatun, who was given ticket in Jangipur constituency where her rivals included two other Muslims and Congress candidate Abhijit Mukherjee,  son of former President Pranab Mukherjee.

In Jangipur, Khalilur Rehman is the Trinamool nominee and the CPI(M) has fielded Zulfikar Ali.

It is worth mentioning that the former President Mr Mukherjee represented Jangipur from 2004 to 2012 – a full one and a half term.

For BJP, another Muslim candidate in West Bengal has been Humayun Kabir from Murshidabad.

In Kerala, party's new found Christian face and Union Minister KJ Alphons has been fielded from Ernakulum - where he will sweat it out against P Rajeev of the CPI-M and Hibi Eden of the Congress.

BJP has backed the candidature of Kerala Congress (Mani) nominee PC Thomas from Kottayam.

The saffron party's Christian candidates in Meghalaya are Rikman G Momin as its candidate for Tura parliamentary constituency and three-time MLA Sanbor Shullai as another nominee for the Shillong seat.

In Manipur, H Shokhopao Mate Benjamin is a tribal Christian nominee from Inner Manipur.

In Mizoram, BJP nominee has been Nirupam Chakma - a Buddhist but the fight is considered only as part of tokenism. The state's ruling MNF is a constituent of BJP-led NEDA in the northeast.

In Nagaland, no BJP candidate in the Lok Sabha polls this time as the party backed NDPP nominee – Thokheho Yepthomi, also a Christian.

Abdul Khader is the BJP candidate from Lakshadweep (ST) Parliamentary constituency.

Interestingly,  with the BJP decision to field Union Minister of State Hardeep Singh Puri as its candidate from Amritsar, the constituency is set for a ‘rare’ contest between Sikhs.

The Congress has already announced the candidature of sitting MP Gurjit Singh Aujla. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal from a constituency which has 65 per cent Sikh voters.

In Karnataka, BJP leader  KS Eshwarappa, a former deputy chief minister, recently courted controversy when he reportedly told media that his party ‘intentionally’ avoided having Christians as BJP candidates.

“The Christians, like the Muslims, were not given party tickets in our state because Christians are not honest,” he said reportedly.

Predictably, Christians have reacted to the statement also. Archbishop Peter Machado in Bengaluru said the BJP leader’s statement “has done great harm to Christians and discredited their community’s credibility”.

He also demanded that Mr Eshwarappa should “withdraw” his statement and tender an unconditional apology.

BJP’s ‘glorious journey’ has space for only a dozen minority candidates

New Delhi, Apr 28 The more things change, the more they look the same.

In terms of BJP’s relations with religious groups, the Christians and the Muslims have always held the saffron party in suspicion.
Many would not even hesitate to join the campaign that India's ‘secular character’ is at stake under the BJP-led dispensation.
Even as Muslims are 'presumed' to have voted in favour of BJP nominees in 2014 Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh and also during the state assembly elections in 2017 and Christians inched closer to the saffron party in north east, there were doubts nevertheless that if ‘communal forces’ are not halted, the largest democracy in the world could fall prey to ‘destruction’ of old social structures.
However, according to BJP sources in the run up to the polls of 2019 and the 'exultant journey' in making of a 'New India', the saffron party strategists fielded candidates from both the minority communities. 

The claim is true but the BJP minority candidates would be around a dozen only. 

In fact, there were also two Sikh prominent BJP nominees – Hardeep Singh Puri from Amritsar in Punjab and S S Ahluwalia from Bardhaman-Durgapur parliamentary constituency in West Bengal.
BJP fielded three Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir: M M War nominated to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla, Khalid Jahangir from Srinagar and Sofi Youssaf from Anantnag in Jammua and Kashmir.
In West Bengal, the Lotus party rested faith in a Muslim woman, Mahfuza Khatun, who was given ticket in Jangipur constituency where her rivals included two other Muslims and Congress candidate Abhijit Mukherjee,  son of former President Pranab Mukherjee. 

In Jangipur, Khalilur Rehman is the Trinamool nominee and the CPI(M) has fielded Zulfikar Ali.
It is worth mentioning that the former President Mr Mukherjee represented Jangipur from 2004 to 2012 – a full one and a half term. 

For BJP, another Muslim candidate in West Bengal has been Humayun Kabir from Murshidabad.
In Kerala, party's new found Christian face and Union Minister K J Alphons has been fielded from Ernakulum - where he will sweat it out against P. Rajeev of the CPI-M and Hibi Eden of the Congress.

BJP has backed the candidature of Kerala Congress (Mani) nominee P C Thomas from Kottayam.

The saffron party's Christian candidates in Meghalaya are Rikman G Momin as its candidate for Tura parliamentary constituency and three-time MLA Sanbor Shullai as another nominee for the Shillong seat.

In Manipur, H Shokhopao Mate Benjamin is a tribal Christian nominee from Inner Manipur.

In Mizoram, BJP nominee has been Nirupam Chakma - a Buddhist but the fight is considered only as part of tokenism. The state's ruling MNF is a constituent of BJP-led NEDA in the north east.

In Nagaland, no BJP candidate in the Lok Sabha polls this time as the party backed NDPP nominee – Thokheho Yepthomi, also a Christian.

Abdul Khader is the BJP candidate from Lakshadweep (ST) Parliamentary constituency.

Interestingly,  with the BJP decision to field Union Minister of State Hardeep Singh Puri as its candidate from Amritsar, the constituency is set for a ‘rare’ contest between Sikhs.


The Congress has already announced the candidature of sitting MP Gurjit Singh Aujla. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal from a constituency which has 65 per cent Sikh voters.

In Karnataka, BJP leader  K S Eshwarappa, a former deputy chief minister, recently courted controversy when he reportedly told media that his party ‘intentionally’ avoided having Christians as BJP candidates.

“The Christians, like the Muslims, were not given party tickets in our state because Christians are not honest,” he said reportedly. 


Predictably, Christians have reacted to the statement also. Archbishop Peter Machado in Bengaluru said the BJP leader’s statement “has done great harm to Christians and discredited their community’s credibility”.

He also demanded that Mr Eshwarappa should “withdraw” his statement and tender an unconditional apology.