General Elections 2019 – Day 53

General Elections 2019 - Day 53

General Elections 2019 - Day 53

‘No jail on loan default’ promises Rahul Gandhi to farmers

Addressing a rally in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi focused on three important voter segments – farmers, youth and women.

He promised farmers they would not be jailed on account of loan default, if Congress came to power, reports The Hindu. It is bound to resonate with farmers across the country who have had to deal with a triple whammy of erratic monsoons

Next, he addressed the most important issue concerning youth – jobs. He promised to fill 22 lakh vacant government jobs within a year of coming to power. Furthermore, he promised opening up 10 lakh jobs in panchayats.

Rahul Gandhi then turned his attention to women, especially rural homemakers. The biggest issue for a married woman is running her home with a steady minimum income. India’s poverty and starvation come from a lack of steady minimum income.

He assured women present there under the NYAY scheme, women from economically weaker sections will receive Rs 6,000 every month or Rs 72,000 per year, directly into their bank account. It would ensure no one goes hungry in the country.

He spoke of how the Modi government had failed to create jobs, address farmer distress or provide relief to rural women.

Rewa constituency shall vote on 6 May.

2019 to seal the fate of 3 former CMs in Jharkhand

Phase 5 of polling will seal the fate of two former Chief Ministers of Jharkhand while the last round on 19 May will decide the career of the third CM in the fray.

The former CMs in the race to the Lok Sabha this year are Arjun Munda, Babulal Marandi, and Shibu Soren. All have sat in the high office in the state, and all have to win to get to sit in the lower house in Delhi.

Both Shibu Soren and Arjun Munda are three-term Chief Ministers. Babulal Marandi served as Jharkhand’s first Chief Minister (Nov 2000-Mar 2003).

Shibu Soren is a popular Santhal tribe leader and president of JMM. He seeks a ninth term in Lok Sabha when he contests the Dumka seat on 19 May.

BJP has placed its faith on Arjun Munda to contest the Khunti seat held by Karia Munda. The party has held back Karia Munda on account of age and health, and it’s now up to Arjun Munda to take forward Karia Munda’s legacy.

Ex-BJP leader and former CM Babulal Marandi have a lot at stake as he contests the Koderma seat as the opposition alliance candidate. A win here will resurrect his fledgeling political career.

Why did MNS leader Raj Thackeray give 2019 elections a miss?

What made the fiery MNS leader from Mumbai Raj Thackeray hold back himself and his party from contesting the 2019 general elections? According to a Hindustan Times article, Raj Thackeray is following his uncle and mentor Bal Thackeray’s strategy in 1980.

Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray did not contest the 1980 elections and indirectly supported the Congress come to power at the centre under PM Indira Gandhi. The move only increased his stature and relevance in state and central politics. Raj Thackeray, who founded the MNS, is also treading the same path in building a narrative that is anti-Modi anti-BJP while providing tacit support to the Congress-NCP alliance. Any gains by Congress-NCP will come at the cost of BJP-Shiv Sena, and that plays into the hands of Raj Thackeray’s MNS. To what extent he is successful will be known on 23 May.

Can Sunny Deol swing it for BJP in Gurdaspur?

Gurdaspur in Punjab is all excited to have a popular movie star visiting the town and was evident in the warm reception people gave to the film star-turned-politician. In his first roadshow, Sunny Deol, BJP candidate from Gurdaspur, is yet another film star turned politician.

People lined up to watch the star as he and his younger brother Bobby Deol travelled from Dera Baba Nanak to Pathankot. He faces sitting MP from Congress Sunil Jakhar for the Gurdaspur seat.