Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has challenged BJP MP Bandi Sanjay’s claims of confidence in winning the Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat, questioning why Prime Minister Narendra Modi felt the need to campaign in Vemulawada. Prabhakar alleges that Modi’s presence was not driven by religious devotion but by a desire for votes. He criticizes Modi for not providing funds for the Dakshina Kashi temple despite allocating funds for Uttara Kashi.
The Congress has accused the BJP-led central government of neglecting Adivasi communities in Madhya Pradesh, alleging that the saffron party’s allocation for Adivasis in the central budget has consistently fallen short of the 8.2% target set by the NITI Aayog. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed several questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his rallies in Madhya Pradesh, including why the BJP has failed to improve rail connectivity in the state’s tribal districts and why Adivasis are unwelcome in ‘Modi ka Parivar.’
Opposition parties, including the Congress, will form a coalition government after the Lok Sabha polls, said Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. He asserted that the people will get a prime minister who is first among equals and listens to others. Tharoor believes that a coalition government, like the proposed INDIA bloc, will provide a government that functions differently from a one-party government, with a prime minister who considers the views of others and manages effectively. He cited examples of former prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh as successful examples of consensus builders and effective leaders in coalition governments. Tharoor believes that the hubristic narrative of the BJP will end after the first phase of elections, and that the opposition will come together after June 4 to prevent the BJP from coming to power.
In response to the Election Commission’s (EC) directive against political parties enrolling voters for post-election schemes, the Congress has expressed its dissatisfaction and raised questions about the BJP’s similar tactic in its successful Chhattisgarh Assembly election campaign. The EC directive was prompted by a complaint from the BJP, alleging the Congress’s “Ghar Ghar Guarantee” outreach program as “corrupt practice amounting to bribery”. Congress spokesperson Gurdeep Singh Sappal responded by highlighting the BJP’s use of “Mahtari Vandan Yojana” in Chhattisgarh, where BJP workers had enrolled potential beneficiaries ahead of last year’s polls, and appealed to the EC for consistency in its approach.
The State Congress has shifted its campaign strategy, accusing the BJP of ignoring the poor and downtrodden amid the ongoing political turmoil surrounding sexual abuse allegations against a JD(S) MP. Congress leaders have highlighted issues of poverty, unemployment, and inflation, which had taken a backseat due to the recent controversies.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has lambasted the Narendra Modi-led BJP government, calling Mr. Modi the most arrogant leader in history. She praised former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh for prioritizing public welfare and criticized Mr. Modi’s focus on foreign diplomacy at the expense of public engagement. Priyanka highlighted the high unemployment rate, inflation, and vacant Central government posts under the current regime. She also censured Mr. Modi for his ‘idiotic’ claims about the Congress confiscating valuables and his irresponsible statements about the opposition.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to fulfill his promises and stifling democracy. Kharge claimed that Modi’s slogan of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ (all together, development for all) has turned into ‘sabka satyanash’ (doom for everyone). He alleged that the PM had not delivered on promises of creating 20 crore jobs, returning black money, doubling farmers’ income, and building houses for all families. Kharge also criticized the BJP’s patriotism claims, stating that the party had never fought for the country’s independence and had stolen the Congress’s legacy.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has penned an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, challenging his campaign speeches that have criticized the Congress party’s ‘Nyay Patra’ initiative. Kharge asserts that the program aims to provide justice to marginalized groups and is not an attack on Hinduism, as Modi has claimed. He accuses Modi of misleading advisors and creating communal divisions in the country.
Congress has released a charge sheet against the 10-year rule of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging a plan to abolish reservations and change the Constitution of India. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy claimed that the BJP’s slogan of ‘Beyond 400’ seats in the upcoming elections is to secure the required numbers for altering the Constitution.
India’s parliamentary elections, the largest democratic exercise in the world, continue with the second phase on April 26. The polls will be held across 88 constituencies in 13 states and union territories, including the southern states of Kerala and Karnataka. Key candidates include a former opposition leader, a former United Nations official, and a Bollywood star seeking her third term. The results of the election, which began on April 19, will be announced on June 4.
