Election fever has gripped the world’s largest democracy, ending the first inning of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Even as Modi has pitched to get re-elected, observers opine that the battle is likely to be tough for him because he will be battling the main opposition Congress and a horde of regional parties.
Despite Modi’s resilient nationalism, he seems not very confident this time as in 2014. And, the general impression is that India’s votes are not easy to predict. Or perhaps, it could be a mug’s game. This means that Modi’s party faces immense pressure this time. The BJP is still India’s favorite but questions remain.
Consider this: The unexpected defeats faced by the BJP in the key state-level elections and the opposition Congress getting majorities in several states have given been a setback for Modi.
However, India retaliatory attack on Pakistan has helped Modi bolster his strongman and nationalistic image though opposition parties, especially the Congress, has alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government of failing to deliver as promised. Opposition parties of every hue say inflation has risen steeply, corruption has been unbridled, joblessness has risen, poverty level has gone up, and some state banks drowning in bad loans, among others.
Consider this: The unexpected defeats faced by the BJP in the key state-level elections and the opposition Congress getting majorities in several states have given been a setback for Modi.
Other factors that could possibly spell trouble for him is the declining confidence in the country’s economy, and the ‘aggressive approach’ of the Congress teaming up with other opposition parties to take on Modi’s party – the BJP, although alliances in India are considered ‘messy’. The AAP-Congress alliance in New Delhi can be a snag for BJP in New Delhi.
Even as polls suggest that Gandhi with his voluble speech has been successful to narrow the gap, Modi still remains popular though he failed to deliver on his promises to create over 10 million jobs annually – a Herculean task, among others.
This, however, is not the dipstick since polls have suggested that BJP’s coalition, albeit with a shrunken majority, is likely to retain power. Modi, 68, who is still considered as a diligent and dedicated leader in wide swathes of India, came to power in 2014 with an absolute majority after crushing the 48-year-old Rahul Gandhi, whom a significant number of Indians call him a young, visionary and energetic leader – the Gandhi scion.
Rahul is the son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, grandson of former PM Indira Gandhi and the great-grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister while Modi comes from a common family.
Even as polls suggest that Gandhi with his voluble speech has been successful to narrow the gap, Modi still remains popular though he failed to deliver on his promises to create over 10 million jobs annually – a Herculean task, among others.
Three states in India– Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar — are considered crucial this time.
Despite this, Modi’s party still controls 17 out of 29 states, including Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. However, the Congress and other opposition parties have alleged him of turning a blind eye on instances of attacks on religious minorities.
One aspect that Indian voters could consider is the BJP government’s — what has been dubbed as “tactful and befitting” — response to the terrorist attack in Kashmir on February 14 for which Modi received a boost for his rigid stance on Pakistan.
Around 900 million voters, above 18, will be queuing up at more than a million polling stations beginning April 11 to May 19 to elect 543 representatives to the Lok Sabha, the country’s lower house of the parliament. Around 2,300 parties will be in the fray across India’s 543 constituencies in 29 states and 7 union territories in the elections to be held in seven stages.
Whatever the analysis might be, all eyes are on May 23 when the votes would be counted.
Some facts:
In India, (from 1951), no party has won 50 percent vote share in the elections.
Till 1984, Congress has more than 40 percent vote share.
In 1984, Congress got 48 percent vote share when Rajiv Gandhi was elected the Prime Minister after his mother and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated.
Congress vote share declined below 20 percent in 2014.
BJP’s vote share reached over 30 percent in 2014.
BEIRUT: At least 13 people died on Sunday in shelling by government and rebel forces in northwestern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
It said nine persons died in government shelling of the insurgent-held towns of Saraqeb and Nerab, while four people died in insurgent shelling of the government-held town of Masyaf. (Agencies)
WASHINGTON: The United States is preparing to move its de facto embassy in Taiwan to a new site next month, media reports said.
Nearly 500 staff, including active US military personnel, will relocate to the new US$255 million complex in the Neihu district, Taipei on May 6.
They will leave behind the old premises that was set up to defend Taiwan against any military action from Beijing before 1979.
The new American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) will occupy a five-floor office and other buildings that take up about one-third of the 6.5-hectare site.
It took more than nine years to build the new structure. (Agencies)
LONDON: Prince William spent three weeks on work placements with Britain’s three security and intelligence agencies.
The Duke of Cambridge said the MI5, MI6 and GCHQ intelligence agencies were full of people doing the most extraordinary work to keep people us safe.
The GCHQ’s head of counter-terrorism said that Prince William worked “exceptionally hard”.
Prince William also learned about risks to the UK’s national security and economy, according to the Kensington Palace.
Reports said the Duke of Cambridge also observed counter-terrorism teams analyzing intelligence as well as carrying out investigations.
The Prince said working and spending inside the security and intelligence agencies was a truly humbling experience. (Agencies)
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, if he is re-elected, he will annex Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israelis are voting on Tuesday. Netanyahu is competing for votes with right-wing parties supporting the annexation part of the West Bank.
The settlements are illegal under international law.
In March, the US recognized the occupied Golan Heights as Israeli territory.
Israel has so far settled about 400,000 Jews in West Bank settlements.
Around 2.5 million Palestinians are currently living in the West Bank. (Agencies)
QUITO: Ecuador’s government has rejected reports that it would imminently expel Wikileaks founder Julian Assange from its London embassy, Reuters reported.
Assange was “prepared” for expulsion from the building, a British friend of his said on Tuesday after Ecuador’s President Lenin Moreno said he had “repeatedly violated” the terms of his asylum.
Assange has lived in an asylum for nearly seven years.
KARACHI: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has blamed India’s ruling party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for whipping up war hysteria.
He also accused the party of an attempt to win elections through whipping up war hysteria. The remarks by the Pakistani prime minister come following a revelation by US-based magazine that India didn’t down the fighter F-16 aircraft.
“The truth always prevails and is always the best policy,” Khan said in a Tweet. “BJP’s attempt to win elections through whipping up war hysteria and false claims of downing a Pak F 16 has backfired with US Defence officials also confirming that no F16 was missing from Pakistan’s fleet,” he said in a tweet.
JALALABAD: At least three people were killed and 19 others were injured in twin explosions in Jalalabad, Afghanistan international media reported quoting a government spokesperson.
Two children and eight security forces were among the casualties. It was not clear what caused the explosions.
No group took immediate responsibility, reports added.
UAE: Two Nepali nationals died while two others sustained critical injuries in a road accident in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates.
The deceased are identified as Niroj Pariyar of Nawalparasi and Shanti Bishwakarma. Bishwakarma’s address is yet to be ascertained.
According to the kin of the deceased, the accident took place when the taxi they were traveling by was hit by a speeding car.
The bodies of the deceased have been kept at Abu Dhabi-based Khalifa Hospital.
The two injured in the accident, whose identities are yet to be established, are undergoing treatment at the same hospital.
LONDON: British passports are being issued without the words ‘European Union’ on the cover, a BBC report said.
The new burgundy passports were introduced from 30 March, the day after the UK was supposed to leave the EU. However, some Britishers may still receive the old version until stocks run out.
One recipient said she was “truly appalled” at the change.
Dark blue passports resembling the pre-EU British design are due to be issued from the end of the year.
Susan Hindle Barone, who received her new passport on Friday, opined that she thought the design should not change for as long as the UK remains an EU member.
She said: “I was just surprised – we’re still members of the EU. I was surprised they’ve made the change when we haven’t left, and it’s a tangible mark of something which I believe to be completely futile.
The decision to remove the ‘European Union’ label was made in the expectation that the UK would be leaving the EU at the end of last month, as scheduled.
(Agencies)