General Elections 2019 – Day 41

General Elections 2019 - Day 41

General Elections 2019 - Day 41

PM rakes up Abhinandan at the rally; may attract EC attention

PM Modi brought up Abhinandan at a poll rally in Paran, Gujarat, reports Hindustan Times. The PM spoke of how he warned Pakistan for IAF fighter pilot Abhinandan’s immediate return after his MiG 21 Bison shot down an intruding F-16 fighter and had to eject over POK after his aircraft took fire and subsequently taken prisoner.

The PM went on to quote an American official who said Modi had kept 12 missiles ready to attack Pakistan if the pilot was not returned immediately. PM Modi said He described the press conference he held immediately. He reaffirmed his commitment to fighting terror to an applauding crowd.

The reference to Abhinandan might attract opposition and EC attention since the EC has forbidden political parties from making any reference to Abhinandan during campaigning.

PM Modi also used the occasion to go after Sharad Pawar who had earlier said he had no idea what Modi would do next. The PM told an amused crowd that if Pawar had no idea what he would do next, there was no way for PM Imran Khan to know what will come next from Modi.

Dynasty continues as Kamal Nath campaigns for son in Chhindwara

The Gandhi family continues to face opposition jibes over dynastic politics, and Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath gave further ammunition to the opposition by fielding his son, Nakul Nath from his bastion Chhindwara.

Barring the 1997 by-poll when Sundar Lal Patwa BJP won, Kamal Nath has held the Lok Sabha seat since 1980. In 1996 his wife, Alka stood from here and won. This year, Nakul Nath is contesting for the first time from a seat considered safe by the Nath family. CM Kamal Nath is contesting the Chhindwara legislative assembly by-poll as it is mandatory for the CM to be a member of the legislative assembly.

Speaking at a rally in Dhanora under the Amarwada assembly seat, Kamal Nath appealed to voters to support his son as they had supported him over the last forty years. He told voters to tear Nakul’s shirt off if he did not deliver, reports Hindustan Times.

Kamal Nath recalled BJP’s unfulfilled promise of delivering Rs 15 lakh into people’s account and called demonetization and the fight against black money a gimmick.

He highlighted the fact he had delivered on his promise and waived loans of 22 lakh farmers and said another 33 lakh farmers would benefit from the waiver up to Rs 2 lakh.

AAP in alliance with JJP in Haryana; to fight in three seats

After protracted negotiations with the Congress failed to work out an alliance in Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab, AAP has announced it will be contesting the Haryana polls in alliance with Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), reports The Hindu.

Speaking to the media, AAP convener Gopal Rai along with JJP leader Dushyant Singh announced the alliance for Haryana. Under the arrangement, JJP will contest 7 seats out of 10, leaving 3 seats for AAP.

The three AAP candidates are Naveen Jaihind, AAP’s Haryana unit chief, from Faridabad; Krishan Kumar Agarwal from Karnal; former Himachal DGP Prithvi Raj from Ambala. JJP has already the names of four candidates, and the remaining three names are expected to be announced later today.

Gopal Rai blamed the Congress for the alliance talks failing and said it would benefit the BJP.

Which Yadav will win the Firozabad voter’s heart?

Firozabad is all set to witness the Yadav family clash when voters make their choice between former CM Mulayam Singh Yadav’s brother, Shivpal Yadav and his cousin Ramgopal Yadav’s son, Akshay.

Shivpal Yadav had not been on comfortable terms with cousin Ramgopal, and when the latter sided with Mulayam’s son Akhilesh Yadav, Shivlal resigned from SP to form Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia).

Shivpal Yadav’s party is yet to build a base and will face a tough fight against the SP-BSP alliance-backed Akshay in Firozabad. Akshay accused Shivpal Yadav of playing BJP’s B-team.