NEW DELHI: More than 110 Lok Sabha  constituencies have been identified as “expenditure sensitive” or prone to influence through money power in the upcoming general election, according to the latest data compiled by the Election Commission. The number is likely to exceed 150 Lok Sabha seats out of a total 543 as inputs from more states are filed, ET has learnt.

The election will be held in seven phases between April 11 and May 19, with counting on May 23. All Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu and more than half in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Karnataka and Gujarat have been assessed as “expenditure sensitive”.

For the first time, the Election Commission has decided to send in two expenditure observers to each of these constituencies to create special teams dedicated to tracking activity on the ground. The recently constituted Multi Department Election Intelligence Committee (MDIC), which held its first meeting on March 15, will also put these constituencies under close scrutiny to track and freeze illegal money flows.

The first state-level feedback to EC has shown that political parties and candidates are likely to dole out cash and other freebies including drugs, liquor and household appliances to influence voters in 112 constituencies.

The EC assessment is based on inputs by chief electoral officers (CEOs) of all states and Union Territories. The Tamil Nadu CEO has sought observers for each of its 39 constituencies. In 2017, the EC had countermanded by-elections to RK Nagar. It has postponed assembly polls in two constituencies in 2016 amid allegations of rampant voter bribery and cash seizures.

Andhra Pradesh, known to see high levels of money flow in elections, will have 116 of 175 assembly constituencies and 16 of 25 Lok Sabha constituencies under watch. In Telangana, 17 Lok Sabha seats will be under scrutiny. In Bihar, 21 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats across 26 assembly constituencies are on the EC radar as are two LS seats in Jharkhand.

In Gujarat, 28 assembly constituencies and 18 of 26 LS constituencies are on the list as are 12 of 28 in Karnataka, EC data indicates. Four of the five LS constituencies in Uttarakhand are sensitive besides two out of six in J&K. Three Lok Sabha seats each in Haryana and Chhattisgarh, one out of two in Goa, five in Rajasthan and six in Punjab are also on the watch list. Eight assembly constituencies and two LS constituencies in Manipur, 23 Vidhan Sabha seats and two LS seats in Meghalaya, seven assembly constituencies and one LS constituency in Nagaland are on the radar as well.

Uttar Pradesh is still finalising its list of sensitive constituencies as candidates in the fray are likely to be determining factors. Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tripura, Assam, Kerala and the Union territories of Delhi, Chandigrah, Andaman &Nicobar, Daman & Diu have not yet indicated any such constituencies. The EC is likely to reassess this.

West Bengal, for instance, has sought more expenditure observers even though it hasn’t indicated any specific constituency as sensitive. Money power has been identified by the EC repeatedly as one of the biggest challenges to the conduct of fair and free polls. The EC seized Rs 1,200 crore during the 2014 LS election, including Rs 300 crore in cash. Of the latter, Rs 124 crore was seized in Andhra Pradesh alone while drugs worth more than Rs 700 crore were seized in Punjab. Since then, the commission has posted a total seizure of Rs 1,837.52 crore until early 2018 in 21 state assembly elections.

In the recent round of assembly elections in five states in November-December 2018, cash and goods worth Rs 296 crore were seized. These seizures are just the tip of the iceberg, say experts. The Centre for Media Studies projects that over Rs 50,000 crore will be spent on LS polls this year and most of it will be “covert” or “illegal”.

source: Economic Times

We supported the Union government on issues that were pro-India. We opposed wrong policies like the Land Acquisition Bill, violence by cow vigilante groups, the JNU issue and many more, says Tathagata Satpathy.

How would you describe the BJD’s performance in the 16th Lok Sabha?

Being a regional party, the BJD performed sincerely and in a restrained manner. Our MPs never obstructed the functioning of Parliament. They have not only raised issues exclusive to the state but also participated in discussions that had national impact. Under the leadership of Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik, who has a national outlook, we have tried to perform as a responsible party.

Was the BJD an opposition party or an ally of the ruling BJP?

We supported the Union government on issues that were pro-India. We opposed wrong policies like the Land Acquisition Bill, violence by cow vigilante groups, the JNU issue and many more.

In the last few months, many regional party leaders including some CMs have been trying to stitch a coalition of opposition parties. But Patnaik has not stepped out of Odisha. What does it mean in the context of the upcoming election?

I have not spoken to Patnaik regarding this matter. But if every CM took the responsibility for the well-being of their citizens, there will be effective governance. This is not to say that Patnaik has resolved every problem. He has focussed on providing clean and effective governance and has been successful to a great extent. That is why the people of the state have repeatedly elected him. Patnaik is not a run-of-the-mill politician. He has carved out a niche for himself. As far as the upcoming elections are concerned, Patnaik is focussing only on the state. The BJD will continue to work for the development of Odisha.

Is the Lok Sabha election not your priority?

Politically, Patnaik moves with equal vigour for both (Assembly and general elections). His campaign style is unique — he spends a day at a parliamentary constituency and during that time he covers all the assembly areas in it. He travels by helicopter and the Lok Sabha candidate accompanies him. The candidate for the particular Assembly seat joins him at the venue.

What will the BJD focus on in its election campaign

The pro-poor and pro-farmer policies and their implementation. We will also show to the people that whenever the Congress and the BJP were in power at the Centre, Odisha was neglected even though it contributed substantially to the exchequer. We are not considered politically powerful because we have lesser number of seats in the Lok Sabha.

Who is the BJD’s primary opponent?

The BJP is facing a downward slide at the national level. I can see a perceptible change in the popularity of the party in Odisha also. The BJP is on a decline and the Congress is not gaining. So the fight will be against the BJP and Congress.

If no party manages to get a majority in the Lok Sabha polls, what will be the BJD’s stance?

As far as I know, Patnaik will always try to maintain an equidistance. But I would also underline that he will ensure a stable government at the Centre. He will not maintain equidistance at the cost of the Union of India. Whichever government comes to power, if it serves the people of this country and takes care of the interests of Odisha, the BJD will support.

Do you think the KALIA (Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation) scheme can resolve the agrarian crisis in the state?

The Kalia scheme is a meticulously planned programme. It covers farm labourers, sharecroppers and landowning farmers. In fact, farm labourer will get more money than land-owning farmers. But I am aware that the scheme alone cannot resolve the crisis. It’s true that we have been in power for nearly two decades. The allegation that we have not created enough cold storage is not acceptable. These time-consuming and capital-intensive projects cannot be built by the states alone.

source: The Indian Express

CPM Pinarayi Vijayan criticises the Congress-led Madhya Pradesh government for its move to invoke the stringent National Security Act against those arrested on charges of cow slaughter, calling it “against the secular character” of India.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Kerala Chief Minister and senior leader of CPM Pinarayi Vijayan criticises the Congress-led Madhya Pradesh government for its move to invoke the stringent National Security Act against those arrested on charges of cow slaughter, calling it “against the secular character” of India, and speaks about the Left’s political strategies for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Excerpts:

Kerala is in a rebuilding state after the floods. What has been the progress?

United Nations agencies have assessed that Kerala requires Rs 31,000 crore (for the rebuilding exercise). Of this, Rs 5,000 will be from the Central government; we will have to mobilise the rest of the money. The World Bank is expected to help, and the Centre should cooperate with us in getting this support, especially because there is no special package announced (for Kerala) in this (Union) Budget. I am optimistic all work will be completed in three years.

Amid the recent violent agitation over women’s entry into Sabarimala shrine, the LDF government came under criticism from some Hindu outfits. Does CPM fear a consolidation of Hindu voters against it?

Do you think Muslim voters will stand by CPM in the Lok Sabha elections?

The minority community will see who is opposing the BJP strongly, and who can defeat the BJP (in Kerala). There is a general feeling that the Left are a credible opposition to BJP…. The Left’s presence has made Kerala’s atmosphere different for them. So they will support the Left. They had seen how the Left could influence decisions during the UPA-1 government. There are some parties representing those (minority) communities and they oppose the Left. But they are getting weak, which in turn will strengthen the Left. The Congress has become a party that does not have any community with it (in Kerala).

What do you think of what is being called the Congress’s soft-Hindutva stand? The MP government’s charges under NSA for cow slaughter, for instance.

If the Congress tries to follow RSS or Sangh Parivar stand on every issue, how can it strengthen secularism? It will, in fact, breed communalism. Take the case of Sabarimala, the Congress joined ranks with the RSS and BJP. If you want to strengthen secularism, you cannot adopt a communal stance.

Do you think CPM should have an understanding with the Congress in states such as West Bengal to oppose the BJP?

The Left’s stand is, the country will perish if the BJP returns to power for another five years in India (in 2019) — the country’s democracy, secularism and democratic institutions will be destroyed. If we want to keep the country in its present form, the BJP should not return to power. We need to ensure the BJP’s defeat everywhere. The Left will take a stand for that accordingly. We have not discussed any understanding with the Congress in West Bengal. Let them (party’s West Bengal unit) consider their issues and discuss the matter.

source: The Indian Express

Speaking Thursday in what could be his last speech in the 16th Lok Sabha, Modi accused the Congress of bullying the judiciary, compromising with the national interest and humiliating the Army.

SHARPLY drawing the battlelines for the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the Congress party, framing his government’s 55 months against its 55 years in power, and warned against a “mahamilavat” (highly adulterated) government if his party wasn’t voted back.

Speaking Thursday in what could be his last speech in the 16th Lok Sabha, Modi accused the Congress of bullying the judiciary, compromising with the national interest and humiliating the Army.

He also presented a report card of his government trying to rebut the criticism on his government on job creation and measures for farmers. Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to President’s address in Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister turned to the BC, AD nomenclature to take a swipe at the Congress and the Gandhi family: “BC stands for Before Congress, AD for After Dynasty.”

“I am making a serious charge against the Congress,” he said in his 100-minute-long speech. “Congress party does not want the Indian Air Force to be strong. Why do you want the Rafale deal to be cancelled? Who is going to benefit out of it? For which company you are playing this? You played this kind of game with the Army? Why?,” he said.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi his target, he went on: “History is witness to the (fact) that Congress and its power hungry allies have never done anything without middlemen? I used to wonder how can he (Rahul Gandhi) say lies with such confidence over Rafale? When I started looking into the details, I realised that in the last 55 years, in the saga of power-hungry rule, no deal was done without middlemen.”

To the charge that he and his Government are undermining institutions, Modi said: “Ulta chor chowkidaar ko dantte hain”. He said: “Congress imposed Emergency but they say Modi is destroying institutions. Congress insults Army, calls the Army chief a ‘goonda’ but they say Modi is destroying institutions. It creates stories that Army is doing a coup but Modi is destroying institutions,” he said.

He also said Indira Gandhi dismissed elected governments “over 50 times”, charged Congress with making defence deals with “Chachas and Mamas”, and with having “benami properties” abroad, an apparent reference to the ED’s allegations against Robert Vadra.

As the Opposition benches started protesting, Modi warned: The public knows what happens when there is a milawat ki sarkar (adulterated government)”. Then, gesturing to the Treasury benches, he said, “Don’t worry, the Grand Adulteration people won’t come here…The voters understand how a maha milavat government can be harmful for the country… When the government has majority, the performance is undoubtedly different,” he said. Then he added specifically, “The voters do not want a Mahamilavat government of those who assembled in Kolkata,” referring to the coming together of 23 parties in Kolkata.

source: The Indian Express