No alliance between Congress and AAP in Delhi
Alliance talks between Congress and AAP have failed and both will now fight independently in Delhi – reports Hindustan Times. BJP will heave a sigh of relief as it’s now a three-cornered contest and any division of votes will mean a spill-over vote gain for BJP.
Speaking to the media, Congress leader PC Chacko laid the blame on AAP for failing to strike an alliance. He said both parties had mutually come to an understanding on seat share with Congress to fight three seats and AAP to contest the remaining four.
It was AAP’s insistence of extending the alliance to Haryana and Punjab which prevented the alliance going forward. Congress opposed extending the alliance outside of Delhi because the political situation in both Punjab and Haryana were different from Delhi. Former CM of Delhi Sheila Dikshit who opposed the alliance with AAP is having the last laugh, as now the party will contest all seven seats on its own.
Will it work? As per Chacko, the last elections saw Congress win 21 percent vote share with AAP getting 26 percent. Expect the Congress to be fully tested on polling day, with both AAP and BJP breathing down their neck.
EVM malfunction in the first phase gives ammo excuse to the opposition
Opposition parties are complaining to the EC regarding non-functioning and malfunctioning of EVMs. As per Times of India, several incidents were reported across Andhra Pradesh of EVMs breaking down and resulting in violent clashes between rival parties and with paramilitary forces and Police.
It resulted in voting delays in over 400 booths and consequently, voting hours in A.P were extended well past 10 pm in 267 booths.
A.P CM Chandrababu Naidu has already written to the EC demanding repoll in 150 booths. A.P is holding simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assembly.
In U.P, BSP Leader Mayawati has complained of EVM malfunction where voters were pressing her party’s ‘Elephant’ symbol, but the vote was going to the BJP.
In western U.P, BJP’s Sanjeev Balyan complained of women in burqa voting multiple times since their faces remained covered.
The country will hold six more phases of polling with the last one on 19 May. The results will be announced on 23 May.
Eye on tribals, Jharkhand’s RJD manifesto promises a review of land laws, liquor laws, and religious conversions
The RJD in Jharkhand yesterday released a state-specific manifesto promising to abolish forceful acquisition of tribal land for without permission of the gram panchayat, reports Hindustan Times. The state has been acquiring land to build a land bank for industrial and related development. However, the process has been controversial with many tribals complaining of being coerced into giving up their lands. The manifesto hopes to placate them with the promise to abolish the law.
The manifesto also promises to safeguard tribal religious beliefs and practices by assuring to tweak laws on forceful religious conversions.
Can the 2019 elections change the fate of Kishanganj, one of the poorest districts in India?
Why is it that after 71 years of independence, Kishanganj in Bihar remains one of the poorest districts in the country? The Hindustan Times highlights how social demographics paint a dismal picture.
Seventy percent of the population in Kishanganj district is Muslim. As per the economic survey 2018-19, the per capita annual income is Rs 9,928, with a low literacy rate of just 57.04 percent.
After seven decades of neglect by successive state and central governments, the question remains wide open – will the 2019 elections bring any positive change in the lives of the 16.52 lakh voters of Kishanganj?
