View Articles

The confidence exuded by Narendra Modi about the BJP’s return to power has been borne out by the exit polls.

Now that the 2019 Lok Sabha election is over and soon a new government is to be formed, it may be time to review and rework on the norms of election spending which has unofficially exceeded even the combined 2016 US presidential and congressional elections cost estimated at $6.5 billion. No one really knows or may ever have any good idea about the sum ultimately spent by contesting political parties and candidates in the latest election. However, going by the extraordinary pomp and show connected with the campaign in the last 45 days of the seven-phase election, the total expenditure by the contesting parties and candidates may have surpassed Rs.50,000 crore.

The Congress is in and out of the Prime Ministerial-sweepstakes depending on the day of the week. Thursday, Ghulam Nabi Azad said the party was not interested. Friday morning, less than 24 hours later, Azad said the Congress retained the right to stake claim to form the government with Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister. For reasons, Azad cited “oldest party” and “Congress will get most number of seats”. The first is fact, the second is an assessment, which will be proven right or wrong on May 23.

BHOPAL: In the last phase of Lok Sabha election, voters of eight constituencies of Madhya Pradesh will exercise their franchise on May 19. The constituencies which will go to poll are Indore, Dewas, Ujjain, Ratlam, Dhar, Khargone, Khandwa and Mandsaur. All these seats come in the Nimar and Malwa region. Malwa is that region which witnessed Kisan stir in which six persons were killed in firing.

In this election season, what is often heard is that this time unlike the 2014 elections there is no “Modi wave” — basically, 2019 is a waveless election. Those who say this, cite the lack of enthusiasm among the voters. But, as of now, after the end of voting in six phases, the voting percentage is higher than 2014 elections amid some cases of decline in voting percentage in couple of states.

All eyes are on as the election process is ongoing in the world's largest democracy. Across the globe people are eagerly waiting for May 23, the day of announcement of the poll results. The seventh and the last phase of election is slated to be completed on the May 19. On the evening of May 19 there will be number of exit poll forecasts. It is likely that the exits polls may throw up varying and differing forecasts given the complexity of the situation. Nevertheless the exit poll results will generate a lot of excitement and despair in the camp followers on both sides. The most nagging question is – Whether Modi is to return as prime minister or not?

On May 5, President Trump tweeted for a fresh look for high tariff on Chinese goods worth US $ 200 billion imports from 10 percent to 25 percent from Friday, if the renewed negotiation failed. USA alleged China for backtracking from its previous offers. The negotiation failed. USA activated a new 25 percent duty on US $ 200 billion worth of exports from China, effective from 1st June.

The country's politics has completely changed. Hate politics was made in the elections. But the Congress did not give up its ideology and agenda. Even today, Congress is a party truly representing India. The Lok Sabha elections of 2019 is quite different from that of 2014. In the last five years, the people of the country were deceived in the name of development. The results of May 23 will illustrate that the partnership of Modi and Shah has failed completely.

People oppose things because they’re ignorant of them. So said a Sufi poet claiming superiority over the occidental who had struck the note that ignorance is bliss. Talking of ignorance, till the other day, it was thought that getting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a press conference was like not getting burned by fire. That notion melted in media glare the other day. Modi actually turned up at a presser even if it was not one called by him.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A controversy is raging over the decision of the Muslim Education Society (MES) not to allow students studying in their educational institutions to wear “any dress that covers their face”.