General Elections 2019 – Day 5

General Elections 2019 - Day-05

General Elections 2019 - Day-05

BJP turns Congress‘s jibe into ‘#MainBhiChowkidar’ campaign

In a brilliant counter to Congress’s repeated “Chowkidar Chor Hai” jibes, the PM Modi today tweeted plans of launching of #MeinBhiChowkidar as a poll campaign.

The Indian Express reported the PM tweeting “Your chowkidar is standing firm and serving the nation. But, I am not alone. Everyone who is fighting corruption, dirt, social evils is a chowkidar. Everyone working hard for the progress of India is a chowkidar. Today, every Indian is saying-#MainBhiChowkidar,”

The BJP plans to launch the campaign on March 31 just before the first phase of the polls. BJP hopes to make this a popular poll campaign extolling grassroots party workers across the country to join in the claim with pride.

In a tactical shift, JDS(Gen Sec) Danish Ali joins BSP

JDS General Secretary and HD Kumaraswamy confidante has joined Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and will be contesting on a BSP Lok Sabha ticket in U.P.

The move comes as a surprise as he was actively engaged in tricky negotiations on seat sharing between JDS and the Congress in Karnataka. NDTV quotes Danish Ali saying the move is a strategic one as JDS does not have a party organization in U.P and by joining the BSP, a JDS ally in Karnataka, he could serve the combined interests of both parties in U.P, his Janmabhoomi and Karmabhoomi. Ali added he had the blessings of JDS party supremo HD Deva Gowda.

Rahul Gandhi promises ‘Guaranteed Minimum Income Scheme’ to poor

PTI has reported Rahul Gandhi promising to introduce a ‘Guaranteed Minimum Income’ scheme while speaking at a rally in Dehradun today. He said the scheme would cover the poor with direct cash transfers to the beneficiary’s account. It is the second big social welfare scheme announced by the Congress President. He recently promised to bring in the Healthcare Act and also committed to removing the controversial Sedition Law.

RJD plays hardball with Congress over seats

Congress is under pressure in keeping its Grand Alliance intact with allies demanding a greater share of seats. The Economic Times today reported RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is upset with the Congress and has reportedly threatened to go it alone in Bihar if the two parties did not come to a mutually agreeable seat-sharing agreement.

The past three days have witnessed hectic parleys between the alliance leaders over seat sharing. In earlier talks, the Congress had agreed to contest 11 seats out of the total 40 seats, coming down from the original demand for 14 seats, and leaving 21 with RJD and the rest to be negotiated between other alliance partners including Jiten Ram Manjhi’s HAM and Sharad Yadav’s LJD. HAM and LJD are unhappy, and discussions were ongoing at the time of reporting.

Karnataka may offer Rahul Gandhi Plan B seat

Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has offered Rahul Gandhi a safe seat in Karnataka. The Congress President is likely to contest from Amethi in U.P but is likely to face BJP’s Smriti Irani in that fight. Given what’s at stake, there is a good likelihood that the Rahul Gandhi may well take up that offer as Plan B.