Bjp

Exit polls project Mahayuti win in BMC as Maharashtra polls see 50% turnout

Around half the electorate voted in the BMC and 28 other civic bodies in Maharashtra, with exit polls projecting a Mahayuti alliance win in Mumbai as counting is set for Friday

CCP delegation holds talks with RSS, BJP, Congress amid political sparring

A Chinese Communist Party delegation met RSS, Congress leaders in New Delhi after holding talks with the BJP, with the visits prompting a political exchange between the ruling party and the Opposition

Kerala CM leads 'satyagraha' against Centre's 'financial discrimination'

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday accused the BJP-led Centre of subjecting the state to "financial discrimination" and alleged that arbitrary cuts in grants and borrowing limits were aimed at "economically strangulating" it. The Centre is trying to "snatch away" the constitutionally guaranteed rights of Kerala, a move that has no place in a democratic country, he claimed. The CM was speaking while leading a day-long Satyagraha protest here against the union government, accusing it of "political vengeance" and "bias" in denying the state its rightful financial allocations. Addressing the gathering, he said the state was being forced into an extraordinary struggle to protect its constitutionally guaranteed rights. Vijayan urged everyone to stand united to ensure that Kerala received its due share. "Our state is in the midst of a struggle. This is a struggle for the survival of this land and its people. Believing that all authority rests in their hands, the rulers at t

PM Modi pays tribute to Swami Vivekananda on 164th birth anniversary

PM Modi said that Swami Vivekananda remains a "powerful source of inspiration for India's youth," and his personality and works continue to strengthen the resolve for a developed India

BJP turns to women for victory in Assam amid rising female turnout

With women voting in record numbers, the BJP is banking on welfare schemes like Orunodoi and MMUA to consolidate female support ahead of Assam's Assembly elections

SIR is constitutional, stop the spectacle in UP: BJP hits out at Akhilesh

The BJP on Saturday asked Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Akhilesh Yadav to refrain from making a spectacle of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh by making contradictory claims about the exercise. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a constitutional process, which the Election Commission is carrying out with complete professional and technical expertise, BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said, and asked Yadav and others in the opposition INDIA bloc to cooperate in the exercise with all seriousness. The remarks came after Yadav on Saturday claimed that the BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh knew how many voters would be removed from the draft electoral roll even before it was published, and questioned the poll panel's credibility. Slamming Yadav, Trivedi said the Samajwadi Party (SP) chief should first make it clear that names of which party's voters have been removed from the draft rolls, because recently he was claimin

Bengal polls: TMC launches campaign song, criticises BJP, ED raids

The Trinamool Congress on Saturday launched its campaign song for the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections, asserting that the party would return to power for a fourth consecutive term. The song's launch comes two days after a stand-off between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over raids at the TMC's IT cell chief Pratik Jain's residence and office here. "Bengal will win again despite all attacks against it," the main refrain of the campaign song says, asserting, "We march on a new path with a new direction, your darkness will lose against the new dawn." The lyrics also make references to political issues. "We will not be afraid of the SIR or NRC, there is still time for you to recognise Mother Bengal's strength," goes the song's lyrics, which is accompanied by a video showcasing Mamata Banerjee and the party second-in-command Abhisekh Banerjee. The TMC has been vehemently criticising the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral .

BJP suspends 58 Mumbai, Nagpur leaders for six years ahead of civic polls

The BJP has suspended 58 functionaries from Mumbai and Nagpur for a period of six years for breach of party discipline in the run up to the January 15 polls to 29 municipal corporations, the action coming amid dissent marking the campaign of almost all major outfits and alliances in the state. The suspended leaders include former mayors, corporators and key workers, who are accused of rebellion against official candidates, attempts to tarnish the party's image and failure to cooperate with Mahayuti contestants, Bharatiya Janata Party sources said on Saturday. The 58 comprise 26 in the metropolis, including Divya Dhole (Ward 60, Versova), Nehal Amar Shah (Ward 177, Matunga), Janhavi Rane (Ward 205, Abhyudayanagar), Asawari Patil (Ward 2, Borivli, currently contesting from Shiv Sena UBT), Mohan Ambekar (Ward 166, Kurla), Dhanashree Baghel (Ward 131, Pantnagar), they added. The 32 persons suspended in Nagpur include Vinayak Dehankar, husband of former mayor Archana Dehankar, as well as

Hug hug na raha: Congress takes dig at PM after US commerce secy's remarks

The Congress on Friday took a Bollywood-tinged swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that the trade deal with India did not happen because PM Modi did not call US President Donald Trump. Posting a video of Lutnick's remarks, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Hug hug na raha, post post na raha." In his Bollywood-tinged taunt aimed at Modi, Ramesh added, "Kya se kya ho gaya, bewafa teri dosti mein." While this was a play on the hit number with similar lyrics from the Dev Anand-starrer film 'Guide' (1965), the other was a play on the song 'Dost dost na raha' from the 1964 film "Sangam" by Raj Kapoor. The swipe came after Lutnick said the trade deal with India did not happen because Prime Minister Modi did not call Trump. In an interview with the All-in Podcast on Thursday, Lutnick detailed how the India-US trade deal has not happened till now. "I'll tell you a story about India. I did the first

Rahul slams BJP's double engine govts, alleges corruption, abuse of power

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday dubbed the BJP 'Bhrast Janata Party' and claimed that its double-engine governments in various states have ruined the lives of the people through corruption, abuse of power and the poison of arrogance. Gandhi cited the murder of Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand, the Unnao rape case in Uttar Pradesh, deaths from drinking contaminated water in Indore, among others, to attack the BJP. Across the country, the Bhrasht' Janata Party's double-engine governments have ruined the lives of the people. Corruption, abuse of power, and the poison of arrogance have spread throughout the BJP's politics, from top to bottom, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said in a post in Hindi. In their system, the lives of the poor, the helpless, labourers, and the middle class are merely statistics, and a system of extortion is operating in the name of "development", Gandhi alleged. "The brutal murder of Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand shook the entire nation but th

12 Congress councillors suspended after polls join BJP in Ambernath

Twelve newly elected councillors in the Ambernath Municipal Council, suspended by the Congress for aligning with the BJP after the polls, have formally joined the saffron party. Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party president Ravindra Chavan announced the development at the BJP office here late Wednesday night, asserting the move was not motivated by power but driven by a shared commitment to development. "The people elected these councillors and they had promised development to the citizens. They have come with us because the government is working in a dynamic manner and is capable of delivering justice and development to the people," he said. Following the local polls held on December 20, the BJP joined hands with its arch-rival, Congress, under the banner of 'Ambernath Vikas Aghadi' (AVA) to form the Ambernath Municipal Council (in Thane district) leadership, sidelining ally Shiv Sena, which emerged as the single largest party. The Aghadi also includes Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist ...

Did BJP-Congress, AIMIM tie-up for Maharashtra civic polls? Fadnavis reacts

BJP has entered post-poll alliances with Congress and AIMIM in some Maharashtra civic bodies, triggering political backlash. Chief Minister Fadnavis denied approving such tie-ups and warned of action

EC illegally using mobile apps developed by BJP to conduct SIR: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged on Tuesday that the Election Commission is using mobile applications developed by the BJP's IT cell to conduct the ongoing SIR exercise in the state. Speaking to reporters before concluding her two-day visit to Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district to oversee preparations for the upcoming Gangasagar Mela, Banerjee accused the EC of "resorting to all kinds of wrong moves while conducting the electoral roll revision. The EC is resorting to all kinds of wrong moves for conducting the SIR. It is marking eligible voters as dead' and forcing the elderly, ill and indisposed to attend hearings. It is making use of mobile apps developed by the BJP's IT cell for the exercise. This is illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic. This cannot go on, the chief minister alleged. The TMC supremo's fresh set of allegations against the poll panel was made on a day when her party MP Derek O'Brien moved the Supreme Court against the EC, claiming it

Delhi Assembly adjourned briefly as BJP, AAP spar over stray dog census

The second day of Delhi Assembly's Winter Session was disrupted with ruling BJP leaders seeking an apology from AAP leaders for spreading "lies" that government school teachers have been engaged for counting stray dogs. Speaker Vijender Gupta on Tuesday had a hard time controlling the protesting BJP and AAP legislators. He adjourned the House for 30 minutes soon after the sitting started around 11 AM. When the House reconvened, the ruling party MLAs again raised slogans against AAP leaders, including their national convener Arvind Kejriwal, seeking an apology. Gupta tried to bring the House under order as the Opposition members too raised their voice in protest; however, he finally had to adjourn the House till 1 PM. Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood earlier wrote a letter to former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of making "wrong and misleading statements" regarding the deployment of government school teachers for the counting of stray dogs. In the letter, Sood sa

BJP asks Congress to apologise after SC denies bail to Umar, Sharjeel

The BJP on Monday said the Supreme Court order denying bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots case is a "big slap" on the Congress' face and demanded that the opposition party apologise for supporting the "tukde-tukde gang". Calling Khalid and Imam the "poster boys" of divisive forces in India, the BJP claimed that the Congress ecosystem was projecting them as "innocent victims" to protect them. The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant bail to Khalid and Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, saying there was a prima facie case against them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria, however, granted bail to activists Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad in the case. Reacting to the Supreme Court decision, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla wrote on X, "Satyameva Jayate (truth alone triumphs)". "The Supreme Court has denied bai

BJP to launch 'Choreder Panchali' to counter TMC's poll pitch in Bengal

West Bengal's Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday said the BJP will roll out 'Chorder Panchali' tableaux across his Purba Medinipur district to make the people aware of the alleged misdeeds of the Trinamool Congress government. Adhikari alleged the 'Unnayaner Panchali' (chronicles of development) campaign launched by the TMC government were spreading lies about the Narendra Modi government and the opposition parties in the state. "Though people can now see through the deceit of Trinamool Congress, still, the BJP needs to counter the campaign and make people see the real truth. From tomorrow, we will roll out 'Choreder Panchali' (tales of theft) tableaux across Purba Medinipur, including Nandigram," he told reporters on the sidelines of a rally in his constituency. Addressing the rally, Adhikari alleged the Hindus of Nandigram were living in fear of "jihadi elements" sheltered by the ruling party. "What happens when Hindus fail to unite can be clearly seen across t

Ajit Pawar attacks BJP, blames party for Pune's stalled civic development

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP head Ajit Pawar on Saturday accused the BJP's local leadership for "lack of development" in Pune and asked people in the state's second largest city to give his party a chance in the January 15 civic polls. Addressing a press conference here, Pawar said problems have increased despite the Pune Municipal Corporation having adequate resources. "Pune Municipal Corporation is one of the largest municipal corporations in the state. However, citizens have not received adequate civic amenities. Traffic problems still persist today. We (NCP) will continue to make every effort to ensure development across the municipal area," said Pawar, who is also guardian minister of the district. "As per the TomTom traffic survey, Pune has been ranked among the worst cities in the world for traffic congestion, standing at fourth position globally. In Pune, it takes about 33 minutes to cover a distance of just 10 km. Traffic congestion is seen at several places ..

BJP tells Ajit Pawar to introspect before levelling corruption allegations

Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan on Saturday said Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar should "introspect", after he alleged corruption and debt in the Pimpri Chinchwad civic body, which had been ruled by the BJP. If the Bharatiya Janata Party starts making allegations, it would create serious difficulties for him (Pawar), Chavan said, and advised the NCP chief to "introspect" before levelling allegations. The NCP, headed by Pawar, is an ally of the BJP in the ruling Mahayuti dispensation. Chavan was responding to Pawar's allegations that the civic body has been infested with corruption for the last nine years and has been pushed into debt over the same period. Notably, the Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporation was governed by the BJP from 2017 to 2022 and thereafter by a state-appointed administrator. The civic body is going to the polls on January 15, along with 28 other municipal corporations. "Ajit Pawar made this statement in the backdrop of the upcoming elections. Aji

Maha civic polls: 68 Mahayuti candidates elected unopposed, 44 from BJP

The BJP and its Mahayuti allies have won 68 seats unopposed in the Maharashtra civic polls, voting for which will be held on January 15. Across the state, as many as 68 candidates from the BJP and the Mahayuti have been elected unopposed, reflecting the party's growing strength in urban local bodies, BJP leader Keshav Upadhye said on Friday. This includes 44 of the BJP, with the highest number being from Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation in Thane district, followed by Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Panvel, Bhiwandi, Dhule, Jalgaon and Ahilyanagar. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has seen 22 of its candidates getting elected unopposed, while the figure is two for Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party. BJP leaders attributed the trend to the popularity of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and what they described as the successful electoral strategy of state unit president Ravindra Chavan. These have helped the BJP emerge as a dominant force not only in municipal councils but also in .

RSS no paramilitary group, can't be understood by looking at BJP: Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that despite the uniform and physical exercises, the Sangh is not a paramilitary organisation, and it would also be a huge mistake to try to understand it by looking at the BJP. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh works to unite society and imbue it with the necessary qualities and virtues to ensure that India does not fall into the clutches of a foreign power again, he said, addressing a gathering of prominent persons here on Friday. "We wear a uniform, take out marches and do stick exercise. (But) If someone thinks it is a paramilitary organisation, it will be a mistake," he said, adding that it was difficult to understand the Sangh, which was a unique organisation. "If you want to understand the Sangh by looking at the BJP, it will be a huge mistake. The same (mistake) will happen if you try to understand it by looking at Vidya Bharti (an RSS-affiliated organisation)," Bhagwat said. Notably, the RSS is widely considered the parent organisation of the