Statewide and National runup to 2014 General elections

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 10 Jan 2014 18:20

Nandan Nilekani ends speculation, to join Congress, contest LS poll

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 639996.cms?

BANGALORE: Ending speculation about his foray into politics, billionaire Infosys co-founder and head of Aadhar programme Nandan Nilekani on Friday said he would join the Congress and was ready to contest the Lok Sabha poll.

"Certainly. I believe I should do something on the political front. If Congress gives me a ticket, I will contest (the Lok Sabha election this year)," he told reporters, making public his stand on the issue for the first time.

58-year-old Nilekani, who is the chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India, said talks are going on about the constituency from which he should be contesting. He added that he would join Congress, which has been very "supportive" to him and his ideas.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 10 Jan 2014 18:24

M Joshi ji,

A very good list! Please spread the word!

M Joshi · Post by **M Joshi** » 10 Jan 2014 19:50

^^ Thanks Rajesh ji.

A laugh cracker meanwhile in between all this doom gloom..

Comer · Post by **Comer** » 10 Jan 2014 20:06

The coalition for BJP in TN is still up for grabs. Gabtan gets decide on behalf of his party and he can be a little unpredictable. He is been pursued by BJP, Congress and DMK. He wants to be the alliance leader for BJP in TN, which is not acceptable to BJP.
Ramdoss party which was close to forming an alliance with BJP is playing truant because they want to keep Gabtan party out of the alliance. Ramdoss apparently wants Health Ministership for his son.
Vaiko party is still in BJP camp.
AAP in TN is splitting before its formed fully. Udayakumar supports the existing head who is antagonising new joiners. The litany of complaints can be found here http://aapstatecomplaints.wordpress.com/
Still advantage Amma
All these are gleaned from tamil mags not any particular source.

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 10 Jan 2014 20:13

Virendra wrote: Congress and LaLu are both doomed in Bihar. How Rahui baba was treated there is known to everyone.
As far as LaLu is concerned, Bihar has realized that it has come a long way forward from the Lalu dark ages. No chance of going back.
I'm sure BJP would do well, followed closely by JD-U though.

Bihar is unpredictable. The core Lalu+INC+LJP vote is formidable if the other side is divided. Not sure if Nitish can protect his vote bank and attract Muslims. Not sure if non-Yadav OBCs will move to BJP. Perhaps the opinion polls will give us an idea.

member_25682 · Post by **member_25682** » 10 Jan 2014 20:55

Hi, .. in my what's app group of highschool friends following things did the turn around from AAP. so either strong #Namo supporters.. or #Namo is best available option.

Ignorance is shocking..... but then we must find what connects with the crowd... every vote counts ! u know ? They say don't argue... I say Argue.. but very
politely... you won't convert the strongest AAP convert...but others are listening...so polite and all positive message. and the point that AAP vote = wasted
or it might make Rahul PM !

1. AK may be good, but if you vote him, and lets say AAP wins 20-25 seats, who do you think will be Defence/Home/Finance minister ?
Mulayam/Lalu/Yechuri/Kumar Vishwas/ Yogendra Yadav/Bahenji/Mamata Didi - pick your choice
2. AK is surrounded by Communists (YY was Rahul advisor,Bhushan ityadi - communist bg, etc., BTW YY wants increase in reservation)
3. Now vote for #Namo - means 1> Stable govt. 2> Good governance - because he has ppl like Arun Shauri, Jaitly, many more
Good governance - because of track record - look at # of jobs he created in Gujarat
4. NDA/BJP sincere only - look at ABV - he achieved nuclear tests,good foreign standing, low inflation, good growth, more jobs, good roads
and telecom revolution (hence we are what's apping on phone!)
5. Kejriwal may be good (But he has communist background, and surrounded by Y Yadav) etc. AAP vote will be wasted, because no track record
, they will spoil Stable govt. chance, and based on background they appear to be commies - they have hated Savarkar in past
6. Bhide Guruji is ready to trust #Namo, Raigad talk -so I think #Namo appears to be sincere... but at least he can't be as bad as Rahul

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 10 Jan 2014 21:22

Supratik wrote:
Virendra wrote: Congress and LaLu are both doomed in Bihar. How Rahui baba was treated there is known to everyone.
As far as LaLu is concerned, Bihar has realized that it has come a long way forward from the Lalu dark ages. No chance of going back.
I'm sure BJP would do well, followed closely by JD-U though.
Bihar is unpredictable. The core Lalu+INC+LJP vote is formidable if the other side is divided. Not sure if Nitish can protect his vote bank and attract Muslims. Not sure if non-Yadav OBCs will move to BJP. Perhaps the opinion polls will give us an idea.

In all this drama, this 2014 election hinges on 6 states: UP, Bihar, Andhra, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and to some extent Haryana. Rest of the states, despite all the halla bol in the media, the seats are already pretty much decided and the voters are also decided. Even with minor fluctuations, there wont much change in other states.

UP: Maya has decided against alliance with cong. Congress is not at all seeming like a player in UP. We all know that apart from M's, the congress voters in UP are either vested interest voters or FC. Where will this congress voting FC's of UP park their votes this time. Will they vote BSP or BJP is the key. The other key is will the brahmins/FC's who were voting BSP shift to BJP? I am assuming that non-yadav BC's, rajputs, jats etc.. are completely with Modi by now.

Bihar: Despite all rhetoric, this could be BJP's waterloo. If congress+lalu+paswan is finalized, BJP has a hard time ahead. Even if Nitish gets 0% vote, BJP will have a hard time defeating the UPA alliance. But Nitish will get 4-5% vote anyway. So BJP desperately needs 3 things to happen. All the non yadav BC's who used to vote for lalu need to move to BJP (unlike UP, non yadav BC's were anyway not voting big time for Lalu, so even if BJP gets that it is not a sizable gain), at least 25-30% yadavs need to vote for Modi, the paswan/dalit vote which is already showing enuf signs of moving to BJP needs to accelerate even more. In the midst of all this, they need to hold on to their FC vote like a fortress.

Jharkhand: I was under the impression that congress and JMM did not ally in 2009 and hence BJP won. But wait, a closer look at the election results reveal clearly that JMM and Congress allied square except in Godda and Hazaribagh where they both put candidates to fool people as if it was was not in bed with soren. Anyway fwd to 2014, if BJP allies with JVM, i am willing bet that they will win 12-13 of the 14 seats. But if no alliance, looks like BJP will stop at 5.

Andhra, Maharashtra and Haryana: Gurus please weigh in.

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 10 Jan 2014 21:52

Yes, those are the key states and the picture is not clear yet.

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 10 Jan 2014 22:05

Supratik wrote:Yes, those are the key states and the picture is not clear yet.

In fact, deep inside, I have a feeling BJP may hit zero seats (or maybe the lone patna seat) in bihar. I mean see BJP+JDU had about 37% vote in the state. Even if they can restrict JDU to just 5%. BJP will have 32% onlee. Lalu+Paswan+INC will have 35-36%. Even if you go to India votes and look at it seat by seat, you will see that every seat UPA can romp home (based on 2009), if they all align and give BJP vote share = either bjp or jdu vote share - 5%.

Lalu is a shrewd politician, he will not be dying so much for alliance with congress, if the 9-10% of congress in bihar has evaporated.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 10 Jan 2014 22:06

As stated earlier comments from T0I forum are being removed right and left. My comment on fake survey of 2000 people in 8 big cities was removed after 3 days which was questioning the poor method of auditing and sample size only. It was agreed on by large numbers. It seems media wants to gag any voice of dissent. Anti national forces are firing all salvos to neutralize Modi supporters.

Shanmukh · Post by **Shanmukh** » 10 Jan 2014 22:15

muraliravi wrote:
Supratik wrote:Yes, those are the key states and the picture is not clear yet.
In fact, deep inside, I have a feeling BJP may hit zero seats (or maybe the lone patna seat) in bihar. I mean see BJP+JDU had about 37% vote in the state. Even if they can restrict JDU to just 5%. BJP will have 32% onlee. Lalu+Paswan+INC will have 35-36%. Even if you go to India votes and look at it seat by seat, you will see that every seat UPA can romp home (based on 2009), if they all align and give BJP vote share = either bjp or jdu vote share - 5%.

Lalu is a shrewd politician, he will not be dying so much for alliance with congress, if the 9-10% of congress in bihar has evaporated.

MuraliRavi-ji,
If you want a really pessimistic picture, with only absolutely sure seats, I can give you one.
J-K - 0.
Punjab - 0
Haryana - 0
HP - 1
Uttarakhand - 3
Delhi - 0
Rajasthan - 15
UP -12
Madhya Pradesh - 20
Chhattisgarh - 6
Bihar - 0
WB - 0
Maharashtra - 10
Gujarat - 17
Assam - 1
NE - 0
AP - 0
Orissa - 0
Kerala - 0
Goa - 1
Jharkhand - 3
Karnataka - 2
TN - 0
UTs - 2

Total - 93

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 10 Jan 2014 22:19

AAP accuses IB, state police of harassing members in Gujarat

Shanmukh · Post by **Shanmukh** » 10 Jan 2014 22:22

IndraD wrote:As stated earlier comments from T0I forum are being removed right and left. My comment on fake survey of 2000 people in 8 big cities was removed after 3 days which was questioning the poor method of auditing and sample size only. It was agreed on by large numbers. It seems media wants to gag any voice of dissent. Anti national forces are firing all salvos to neutralize Modi supporters.

How many of the comments are genuine - those in favour of AAP, I mean? I was talking to my mum in Bangalore, and she says she has heard nothing at all about any AAP activity in Bangalore. I am not sure where all that enthusiasm for Kejriwal is coming from.

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 10 Jan 2014 22:25

nageshks wrote:
MuraliRavi-ji,
If you want a really pessimistic picture, with only absolutely sure seats, I can give you one.
J-K - 0.
Punjab - 0
Haryana - 0
HP - 1
Uttarakhand - 3
Delhi - 0
Rajasthan - 15
UP -12
Madhya Pradesh - 20
Chhattisgarh - 6
Bihar - 0
WB - 0
Maharashtra - 10
Gujarat - 17
Assam - 1
NE - 0
AP - 0
Orissa - 0
Kerala - 0
Goa - 1
Jharkhand - 3
Karnataka - 2
TN - 0
UTs - 2

Total - 93

Nagesh ji,

Please dont take me for a pessimist. But aren't my concerns in Bihar valid. I mean you know that if in 2009 UPA had fought as a united force in Bihar, they could have lapped up 20 seats of the 40. So if even a united NDA cannot get more than 20, how can BJP alone walk away with 15-20 seats forget 25.

Ashok Sarraff · Post by **Ashok Sarraff** » 10 Jan 2014 22:27

muraliravi ji, you are assuming that the vote shares in Bihar will remain the same, which may not be the case.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 10 Jan 2014 22:32

this is some thing like media imposed emergency, 100% airtime to khujli and gang and all anti khujli comments removed from news papers, India today , etc

Shanmukh · Post by **Shanmukh** » 10 Jan 2014 22:35

muraliravi wrote: Nagesh ji,

Please dont take me for a pessimist. But aren't my concerns in Bihar valid. I mean you know that if in 2009 UPA had fought as a united force in Bihar, they could have lapped up 20 seats of the 40. So if even a united NDA cannot get more than 20, how can BJP alone walk away with 15-20 seats forget 25.

No - you are right in the sense that no surety can be given about the number of seats. However, my experience is that computing the number of seats is a little more involved than adding the votes of the different parties. The Congress has the least ability to transfer its vote, particularly in UP and Bihar. It is safe to say that 75% of the Congress vote in Bihar came from its candidates, and also, it was a pro-Manmohan vote. This time, the Congress cadres are all extremely disspirited. The idea that the Congress can transfer its (often) upper caste vote bank to Laloo is not very credible. This reason, by the way, is what repulses Behen-ji. She gets nothing by going in alliance with the Congress.

To illustrate my point further. In Assam, the AGP + BJP vote is usually much higher than the Congress vote, particularly in the Lok Sabha. Both of them depend on a very similar votebank. But whenever they contest in alliance, their total vote share drops by about 5-10% depending on the constituency. The reason is simple. Assamese Muslims vote for the AGP, but not for the BJP. Similarly, Hindu Bengalis vote for the BJP, but are reluctant to vote for the AGP. So, while arithmetic adds up, chemistry does not.

You are simply adding up votes. Things are never that simple, in my experience.

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 10 Jan 2014 22:42

True but it is still unpredictable and Laloo has a formidable alliance. I am concerned that NM is not campaiging hard in Bihar.

Shanmukh · Post by **Shanmukh** » 10 Jan 2014 22:50

Supratik wrote:True but it is still unpredictable and Laloo has a formidable alliance. I am concerned that NM is not campaiging hard in Bihar.

I don't contest that at all. Which is why, in my pessimistic analysis, I gave BJP 0. That is because there is no seat that the BJP can be absolutely sure of winning on its own. But arithmetic of votes and seat prediction are two different things. And coalitions have their own way of creating their counter alliances.

kumarn · Post by **kumarn** » 10 Jan 2014 22:52

Old voteshares will not hold in this election. Nikumma has lost hi sheen. Some of his votes are going to Namo. And so are some of the votes of kangrez, lalu and paswan. There is massive polarisation in favor of Namo. This is same as RJB times...As told to me by my cousins in bihar.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 10 Jan 2014 22:53

^^ I second that

JohnTitor · Post by **JohnTitor** » 10 Jan 2014 23:02

For those who are still under the delusion that pAAPis are becoming ever more popular, please read:
http://zeenews.india.com/news/delhi/aap ... 03207.html

I think BJP did that too.. or was it RSS? Wait maybe NM himself did it...

There is also a video on youtube which i posted here where some people said they were paid to wear the pAAP topi.. so stop the dhoti shivering.

What NM needs to do is get the dabba walas (tiffin carriers) in mumbai onboard, Im sure he can do this if he puts his mind to it.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 10 Jan 2014 23:34

JD-U legislator wants to join AAP

Lone JD-U MLA from Delhi Shoaib Iqbal wants to join AAP, and perhaps then get some charge. One more jhaparh on Nitish's face.

Shanmukh · Post by **Shanmukh** » 10 Jan 2014 23:37

RajeshA wrote:JD-U legislator wants to join AAP

Lone JD-U MLA from Delhi Shoaib Iqbal wants to join AAP, and perhaps then get some charge. One more jhaparh on Nitish's face.

That MLA from Matia Mahal is a perpetual party hopper, RajeshA-ji. Not surprising that he wants to be in AAP now. He knows which side of the bread is buttered.

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 10 Jan 2014 23:42

munna wrote:Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh update

2) Kangra; Once a bastion of BJP, Shanta Kumar and Rajan Sushant's collusion may take BJP down to a historic low

Trend: INC

Munna ji,

Looks like the whip has been cracked. http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editi ... n-aap.html

Rajan Sushant expelled from party.

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 11 Jan 2014 00:01

nageshks wrote:
muraliravi wrote: Nagesh ji,

Please dont take me for a pessimist. But aren't my concerns in Bihar valid. I mean you know that if in 2009 UPA had fought as a united force in Bihar, they could have lapped up 20 seats of the 40. So if even a united NDA cannot get more than 20, how can BJP alone walk away with 15-20 seats forget 25.
No - you are right in the sense that no surety can be given about the number of seats. However, my experience is that computing the number of seats is a little more involved than adding the votes of the different parties. The Congress has the least ability to transfer its vote, particularly in UP and Bihar. It is safe to say that 75% of the Congress vote in Bihar came from its candidates, and also, it was a pro-Manmohan vote. This time, the Congress cadres are all extremely disspirited. The idea that the Congress can transfer its (often) upper caste vote bank to Laloo is not very credible. This reason, by the way, is what repulses Behen-ji. She gets nothing by going in alliance with the Congress.

To illustrate my point further. In Assam, the AGP + BJP vote is usually much higher than the Congress vote, particularly in the Lok Sabha. Both of them depend on a very similar votebank. But whenever they contest in alliance, their total vote share drops by about 5-10% depending on the constituency. The reason is simple. Assamese Muslims vote for the AGP, but not for the BJP. Similarly, Hindu Bengalis vote for the BJP, but are reluctant to vote for the AGP. So, while arithmetic adds up, chemistry does not.

You are simply adding up votes. Things are never that simple, in my experience.

Nagesh ji,

I agree. The problem I have in seeing any definitive movements towards bjp is because most surveys on bihar are done with the assumption that everyone is going alone. Will wait and watch.

JohnTitor · Post by **JohnTitor** » 11 Jan 2014 00:10

Before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5s7SkLCZWQ

After:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H89rBg2UetE

Watch both. Notice when the mangoman claps in both videos. Still believe the paid media ???

member_20317 · Post by **member_20317** » 11 Jan 2014 00:37

Second one is old video before the elections.

munna · Post by **munna** » 11 Jan 2014 00:38

muraliravi wrote:
munna wrote:Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh update

2) Kangra; Once a bastion of BJP, Shanta Kumar and Rajan Sushant's collusion may take BJP down to a historic low

Trend: INC

Munna ji,

Looks like the whip has been cracked. http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editi ... n-aap.html

Rajan Sushant expelled from party.

This is not an ideal situation, he is Shanta "The Wrecking" Kumar's cat's paw. The screws should have been tightened on Kumar as Sushant is anyways a goner, a nut case. In all probability he will go the AAP way unless Shanta is given a ticket. But I must add, from my feedback in the region it is becoming clear that Punjab, Haryana and HP can be easily won Dilli style unless there are radical and quick changes to the setup.

Team Modi has seemingly outsourced this region to some Dilli based proxies who have no clue of the dynamics of the states.

Exhibit A

AAP demands CBI probe against Majithia

BS Majithia is the Brother in Law of Dy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and is the virtual 'handler' (for want of better term) of BJP in Punjab. He has recently come under cloud due to allegations by a Drug lord and the alliance is going all out to damage control.

Jalandhar: AAP on Thursday demanded CBI probe into the alleged involvement of Punjab Cabinet Minister Bikram Majithia in a drug racket case and urged for his removal.
Addressing a press conference here, AAP's National Working Committee member Himanshu Pathak and Jalandhar district executive member, Kamaldeep Singh alleged that Majithia was given a clean chit by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal without any inquiry.
Both the leaders also blamed SAD's alliance partner BJP for keeping mum over the issue and demanded them to clear their stand over Majithia.

Jagadish Singh Bhola, an alleged drug racket kingpin, had accused Majithia of involvement in drug racket.

Majithia had rejected Bhola's charge saying it was a "wild allegation" from a known criminal. On a query, Pathak said AAP was not going for any alliance with Congress in Punjab for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Exhibit B

AAP to contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: The Aam Admi Party (AAP) would contest all the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, senior leader Sanjay Singh said here today. He said the party would not go in for an alliance with any party and that the process of selection of candidates would begin soon.

"AAP has received tremendous response in Punjab and thousands of people have enrolled themselves with the party and candidates with clean image would be fielded on all 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state," Singh said after welcoming former Punjab DGP Shashi Kant into the party fold at the retired cop's residence here.

"Screening committees at the district unit levels would be constituted soon to select possible candidates," he said, adding that three Cs (crime, corruption and character) would be the key criteria for selection of candidates.

Asked about the possibility of an alliance with the People's Party of Punjab headed by former state finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, especially after their recent meeting, the AAP leader said there was no possibility of an alliance, but preferred to keep mum on the merger of the PPP with the AAP. Singh said drug abuse, high power tariff, deteriorating law & order, property tax and low minimum support price (MSP) for crops included the issues to be highlighted by the party. "We will fight against both the SAD-BJP combine and the Congress in the state as both of them are two sides of the same coin, as far as corruption is concerned," he added.

On the alleged involvement of Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia in the drug racket as revealed by the arrested drug kingpin Jagdish
Bhola, Singh demanded a time-bound judicial probe under regular monitoring by court.
"We don't believe in investigation by CBI, as the central agency's role in corruption allegations against RJD leader Lalu Parsad Yadav hasexposed partiality," Singh added

Exhibit C

Compared to swashbuckling by AAP and other Cong proxies please read the Punjab Kesari report of 7 January 2013

Exhibit D

Punjab State President of BJP is running helter skelter to save his own, in fact he has cancelled most of his public appearances to avoid uncomfortable questions of the public. Punjab Kesari report of 9 January 2013

I can go on and on and point out all the problems in this region but it seems that Modi has become a refuge for all these freeloaders who wish to use Modi's bounce to further their midget sized accomplishments. BJP will significantly underperform from its true potential unless it launches a wide array clean up in this region. I fear this may be the situation across nationally too!

Mind you Shanta Kumar got even with Kalia to avenge his loss of CM kursi in 2007 and has not forgiven Modi for making Dhumal CM for the first time in 90s. He is a man who never forgets....

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 11 Jan 2014 01:01

munna wrote:
I can go on and on and point out all the problems in this region but it seems that Modi has become a refuge for all these freeloaders who wish to use Modi's bounce to further their midget sized accomplishments. BJP will significantly underperform from its true potential unless it launches a wide array clean up in this region. I fear this may be the situation across nationally too!

Mind you Shanta Kumar got even with Kalia to avenge his loss of CM kursi in 2007 and has not forgiven Modi for making Dhumal CM for the first time in 90s. He is a man who never forgets....

Munna ji,

This region stretching from J&K through HP, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi has been BJP's weakest for quite some time. They may bounce back in UTT just due to anti incumbency. I am not sure if the BJP org in the rest of the country is that rotten.

If Modi can spike Shanta Kumar and annoint Dhumal in the 90's when Modi was not a big guy in BJP, what is stopping him from just expelling Shanta Kumar from the party.

munna · Post by **munna** » 11 Jan 2014 01:16

muraliravi wrote: If Modi can spike Shanta Kumar and annoint Dhumal in the 90's when Modi was not a big guy in BJP, what is stopping him from just expelling Shanta Kumar from the party.

Exactly this is something that befuddles me. In any case there are solid and grounded mass leaders in the ranks who have to brought into play before it is too late. It seems that Team Modi has people who are taking victory for granted.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 11 Jan 2014 01:20

not to mention Amritsar MP cricketer Sidhu has made mockery of his MP job by being out of constituency for over 1 year non stop, shooting for comedy nights etc

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 11 Jan 2014 01:24

nageshks wrote:
muraliravi wrote: Nagesh ji,

Please dont take me for a pessimist. But aren't my concerns in Bihar valid. I mean you know that if in 2009 UPA had fought as a united force in Bihar, they could have lapped up 20 seats of the 40. So if even a united NDA cannot get more than 20, how can BJP alone walk away with 15-20 seats forget 25.
No - you are right in the sense that no surety can be given about the number of seats. However, my experience is that computing the number of seats is a little more involved than adding the votes of the different parties. The Congress has the least ability to transfer its vote, particularly in UP and Bihar. It is safe to say that 75% of the Congress vote in Bihar came from its candidates, and also, it was a pro-Manmohan vote. This time, the Congress cadres are all extremely disspirited. The idea that the Congress can transfer its (often) upper caste vote bank to Laloo is not very credible. This reason, by the way, is what repulses Behen-ji. She gets nothing by going in alliance with the Congress.

If the rumors about JD-U MPs and MLAs leaving JD-U for BJP in the next weeks are true, then basically Muslims in Bihar know that JD-U is on a very weak wicket, so they would be moving to RJD.

JD-U doesn't really have any solid caste coalition to fall back on, nor does it have a good cadre. What it had were individual politicians who had some own standing, and all these politicos would be scooped up by BJP. Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP doesn't have the same control over the Paswans. Also Lalu would have his job cut out for him to persuade the Yadav youth to support him. The old ones may still support but youth is moving to NaMo.

Many of the non-BJP MPs from Bihar that BJP has embraced are people who have a strong following of their own. If on top of that comes Bihar BJP organization muscle plus NaMo's popularity, then good candidates would be winning.

Also BJP is building a good coalition with Upendra Kushwaha there, who will be cutting into Koeris votebase of JD-U.

vivek.rao · Post by **vivek.rao** » 11 Jan 2014 02:04

Miffed by Jairam's praise, Cong likens AAP govt to 'Lalu Raj'

Reflecting the unease in party over praise of Aam Aadmi Party by its leaders, a Congress leader on Friday likened it to early days of Lalu Prasad's rule in Bihar in the nineties while another slammed Union minister Jairam Ramesh for praising Arvind Kejriwal's party.

"AAP govt reminds me of the early days of Lalu Raj. Oath at JP's statue, call to fight corruption, Janta darbar, hair cut & bath to poor children etc.," AICC general secretary in-charge for Delhi Shakeel Ahmed tweeted.

The term 'Lalu Raj' has more than often been used by parties opposed to the Rashtriya Janata Dal as well as analysts to describe lack of development initiatives, lawlessness and lack of governance in Bihar during those days.

Ahmed's remarks came a day after party general secretary in-charge for organisation Janardan Dwivedi expressed the angst of party workers over prevailing situation.

"Let the Marxist parties take care of what they say. Perhaps the situation of chaos and anarchy suits them. They get a chance to do their politics in such a situation...this is a historic fact most of us know and accept.

Some Congress leaders are realizing this game of CON DIEnasty and their cohorts

"As far as Congress is concerned, every single worker and leader is unhappy that such a situation arose. He feels hurt. He is also angry," Dwivedi had said on Thursday when asked about the praise of AAP by some leaders from Left as well as from Congress mainly Union minister Jairam Ramesh.

Party leader Anil Shastri, who is chairman of the All India Congress Committee Hindi department and a special invitee of the Congress Working Committee tweeted, "Jairam has been all praise for AAP. This will go against the Congress in the LS elections. He should speak about his govt's achievements."

Shastri also commented on Twitter "Jairam says Lok Pal bill should have been passed two yrs ago. He was a Minister in the govt. Why did he not push it for the sake of party?"

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 11 Jan 2014 02:27

I often feel many decisions in AICC are imposed on foot soldiers by maa-beta, we are no more in 18h century such an approach is bound to boomerang now.

Shanmukh · Post by **Shanmukh** » 11 Jan 2014 02:30

This election is for the BJP to lose, folks. If the BJP can get good people to contest elections, it can easily triumph, get even 272 for the NDA. Any election depends on five things.
1) An inspiring and visionary leader who is gunning for the top post (Check)
2) A strong positive agenda that will inspire the masses (BJP should come out with its agenda fast).
3) An enthusiastic cadre that is willing to push the limits for its candidates (Check - for the most part)
4) Good candidates who have the confidence of the electorate (Need to work on this).
5) Good media management to showcase its agenda, candidates and achievements. This last is impossible in MSM, which is unremittingly hostile towards the BJP. But the BJP can bypass it by going straight to the people with its cadre, and using unconventional methods like Social media.

Honestly, the BJP should be able to fulfil all the criteria for victory. I wish they would tie up their alliances fast, announce their candidates list, and his the campaign trail fast. Look at AAP - they have already hit the campaign trail in Haryana, announcing their chief ministerial candidate. The BJP needs to get into the act fast. Announce their own CM candidate for the Haryana polls (how I wish they can project V K Singh!), announce their candidates list, and hit the campaign trail. If they can do all this before the end of the month, I think they have an excellent chance of victory.

Even if some alliances like TN, MH and AP are pending, the BJP can announce their candidates for the rest of the country, along with their agenda and hit the campaign trail. Nothing like the first mover advantage. The BJP already has it, thanks to NaMo. They should not fritter it away by dillydallying on the rest of the work.

JohnTitor · Post by **JohnTitor** » 11 Jan 2014 03:15

The negetivity some of you are putting out is just tiring. If you feel BJP has no chance then please don't say anything. Moaning all the time will not help. BJP will win, that's a given.

Meanwhile, teetar people .. please add me @LucidWitness

and tweet this: - Rakhi birla claiming to not own a car in her EC affidavit, yet files an FIR when a cricket ball hits her personal car.

Shanmukh · Post by **Shanmukh** » 11 Jan 2014 03:35

Shonu wrote:The negetivity some of you are putting out is just tiring. If you feel BJP has no chance then please don't say anything. Moaning all the time will not help. BJP will win, that's a given.

Meanwhile, teetar people .. please add me @LucidWitness

and tweet this: - Rakhi birla claiming to not own a car in her EC affidavit, yet files an FIR when a cricket ball hits her personal car.

It may be registered in her father's name, Shonu-ji. It would be interesting to check, nevertheless, who actually owns said car.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 11 Jan 2014 03:53

Cong set to clinch alliance with RJD, LJP in Bihar: Times of India

NEW DELHI: Congress is likely to clinch an umbrella alliance with Rashtriya Janata Dal and Loktantrik Janata Party in Bihar, a move aimed at consolidating a chunk of dalits, backwards and Muslims under the secular banner to take on rivals JD(U) of Nitish Kumar and BJP.

The alliance has been agreed to in-principle while nitty-gritties of seat distribution remain. Sources said Ram Vilas Paswan would scale down his demands in the interest of alliance and equitable seat-sharing would ensure the three parties stay together.

Congress parted ways with UPA-1 partners RJD and LJP to contest alone in 2009, resulting in near decimation of all of them while the BJP-JD(U) swept the state. This time around, while Congress is as badly placed in the state as 2009, facing serious anti-incumbency nationally.

At the same time, RJD is facing an existential battle since Lalu Prasad's conviction and jail in a fodder scam case while Paswan is fighting for survival after he lost his seat in 2009 and was also swept out in assembly polls.

The compulsion of the three outfits may result in a strong "secular" combo that is looking to benefit from the split between JD(U) and BJP.

Sources said the three parties would stick together in the distribution of 40 seats of Bihar while the partnership with RJD extends to Jharkhand where Congress may concede a seat from its quota of 10 to Lalu.

Congress attaches significance to the Bihar alliance, as it is believed that the trio can consolidate a strong base under one banner - Yadavs, Dusadhs and Muslims with a sprinkling of upper castes.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 11 Jan 2014 04:00

nageshks ji, others,

would you be knowing about which cases are still pending against Yeddyurappa, and when their hearing is?