Heavy rains have brought Bengaluru to its knees, with widespread flooding and waterlogging exposing the city’s infrastructure shortcomings. Opposition parties have seized the opportunity to criticize Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his government, pointing to a video of a differently-abled woman falling into a pothole as evidence of the city’s neglect. While the government promises compensation, the incident highlights a growing public frustration with the state’s infrastructure management.
Japan’s general election on Sunday presents a crucial test for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who seeks to solidify his position within a scandal-plagued party. While the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) aims to retain its majority, polls suggest a potential loss of seats to the opposition. This election takes place amidst economic uncertainty and rising tensions with neighboring countries, making it a pivotal moment for Japan’s political landscape.
The 2024 general elections witnessed opposition parties effectively leveraging alternative media, such as YouTubers, independent journalists, and social media influencers, to gain political ground. These influencers provided engaging content, often using satire and humor, to appeal particularly to Gen Z and millennial voters, who were tired of mainstream media’s perceived pro-government stance. The opposition strategically targeted young voters by choosing voices focused on issues like employment and economic growth. Despite the BJP’s strong social media presence, the opposition matched their efforts, quietly and aggressively using social media platforms to reach a wider audience. Independent journalists also played a significant role in democratizing the campaigning landscape and amplifying opposition voices.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has welcomed the Supreme Court’s order rejecting pleas to replace Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The court also dismissed requests for complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with VVPAT, stating that ‘blindly distrusting’ the system is unwarranted. Meghwal accused opposition parties of ‘defaming’ the Election Commission of India (ECI) by raising questions about EVM credibility. He emphasized that EVMs have been successfully used in numerous elections without any evidence of tampering.
Following discussions between opposition and treasury benches, an agreement has been reached to allocate chairmanships of National Assembly standing committees based on party representation. The meeting, led by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, included representatives from various parties, including PML-N, PPP, PTI, MQM-P, IPP, and PML-Q. The final decision will be announced next week after opposition parties consult on committee selections. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairmanship is expected to go to the opposition, while the parliamentary committee on Kashmir will be led by the treasury benches. The meeting also established rules for parliamentary proceedings, including the allocation of days for the motion of thanks on presidential speech, budget session, and parliamentary year calendar.
