logo
​Making a point: On the election of the Vice-President

​Making a point: On the election of the Vice-President

The Hindua day ago
The BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led Opposition parties have announced their respective candidates for the post of the Vice-President of India, which fell vacant after the abrupt and intriguing resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, 2025, setting the stage for a fresh face-off. The numbers are foretold and there is no surprise in store about the outcome. However, this is a significant ideological battle, and both sides see it as such. The NDA's candidate, C.P. Radhakrishnan, is a veteran RSS activist from Tamil Nadu, who has served as a two-term Member of Parliament, from 1998 to 2004. He is the Governor of Maharashtra. The INDIA bloc parties have chosen B. Sudershan Reddy, a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India, born and raised in undivided Andhra Pradesh. The NDA has a majority and is on a drive to canvas additional unattached individual voters and parties such as the BJD and the BRS. The YSRCP, bitterly opposed to the TDP, the NDA's partner, in Andhra Pradesh, has pledged its support to Mr. Radhakrishnan. Justice Reddy's candidacy has set off some regionalist political posturing in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, while Mr. Radhakrishnan's has caused the same in Tamil Nadu. On this count, the INDIA bloc managed to push back the NDA's attempt to put the DMK on the defensive ahead of the State Assembly election. The BJP hopes that Mr. Radhakrishnan's elevation will gain it some mileage in the Assembly election.
The political messaging cannot be clearer. By offering the second-highest office in the country to a life-long adherent of Hindutva, the BJP has fastened its ties with its mother ship, the RSS. Mr. Radhakrishnan's profile is in stark contrast with Mr. Dhankhar, who was a late entrant into the Sangh Parivar and failed to fit in. The BJP has used state power, which it controls, in a systematic and effective manner to advance Hindutva. Numerous personality clashes notwithstanding, these shared convictions hold the Sangh Parivar together. Not only has the BJP managed to hold its existing partners firmly behind its candidate but it has also managed to win over the YSRCP. As for the Congress and the Opposition, Justice Reddy's candidacy is an assertion of its resistance to the Parivar and an attempt to amplify their social justice slogan. Justice Reddy recently headed the 11-member independent expert working group that had analysed and interpreted the data collected during the Telangana Congress government's Socio, Economic, Education, Employment, Political and Caste (SEEEPC) Survey 2024. They also hope to use this contest as a rallying cry for the Opposition to consolidate against the BJP.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

After Mughals, British looted India, Congress, SP did the same: Yogi
After Mughals, British looted India, Congress, SP did the same: Yogi

Hindustan Times

time25 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

After Mughals, British looted India, Congress, SP did the same: Yogi

: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday alleged that India was first looted by the Mughals, followed by the British and the remnants of the nation's wealth was plundered by the Congress and Samajwadi Party. He claimed that such a state of affairs led to a situation where both the state and the country were left grappling with an identity crisis. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurates the Shri Cement Plant in Eta under the new industrial policy. in Eta on Thursday. (ANI) Adityanath was addressing a gathering in Etah district of Aligarh division on Thursday after inaugurating Shree Cement Plant in the Malawan area of Etah. 'Remember, first the Mughals looted, then the British destroyed and whatever was left after the Mughals and the British, the Congress and Samajwadi Party destroyed and created an identity crisis in front of the country and the state,' he said. Referring to Etah district, he said, 'Mafia and criminals were calling the shots here (in the past) while the poor were helpless. The situation has changed now with a zero tolerance policy for crime. New projects are coming up, including power plants. New avenues of jobs and business are coming up.' Attacking the previous governments, he hit out at both the Congress and SP, accusing them of having a 'narrow vision' and prioritising their own families over the public good. 'Whether it is the Congress or Samajwadi Party, their vision never aligned with Prime Minister Modi's vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. Due to the narrow vision of these parties, these people sought everyone's support but served only their own families,' he said. 'As a result, the state and the country lagged behind, poverty increased and anarchy kept increasing due to their goons,' he said. 'There was no safety, neither for businessmen nor for police stations,' he added. The chief minister said the nearby Jawaharpur thermal power plant generates 1,500 megawatt (MW) of power, while the new cement unit will create 500 direct jobs and more than 3,000 indirect opportunities. 'This investment is not just about jobs but also about strengthening trade, transport, and distribution networks — the real foundation of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat,' he added. Recalling the Congress era, Yogi said even cement was once rationed and available only through connections, making house construction extremely difficult. 'How could development happen with such intent and policies?' he asked. Contrasting this with today's growth, he said that India, which fell to 11th place in the world economy by 2014 due to the Congress and the SP policies, has now risen to fourth place under PM Modi and is set to become the third-largest economy within two years. Uttar Pradesh too, he said, has risen from the seventh-largest state economy in 2017 to the second-largest today. He credited the turnaround to strict action against mafia and rioters, which restored investor confidence. 'UP has received investment proposals worth ₹45 lakh crore, out of which ₹15 lakh crore have already been grounded, creating employment for 60 lakh youth,' he said. He added that 60,244 youth, including many from Etah, were recruited into the police on merit, without discrimination. Under Mukhyamantri Yuva Yojana, 70,000 young entrepreneurs have received interest-free, guarantee-free loans to establish their own enterprises, he said. The chief minister also highlighted Etah's traditional identity, noting that the bells and ghungroos of Jalesar remain an integral part of temple worship and music gatherings. Linking this cultural heritage with modern development, he said UP is preparing its roadmap for Viksit Bharat 2047.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta vows to continue with public hearings, extend it to all constituencies
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta vows to continue with public hearings, extend it to all constituencies

Hindustan Times

time25 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta vows to continue with public hearings, extend it to all constituencies

Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta, on Thursday, a day after she was attacked during a public hearing at her official residence, said that the programme will not only continue to be organised at her residence, but will now be extended to every assembly constituency in the city. Saying she 'can never stop fighting for the interests of Delhiites', Gupta said the chief minister will now visit the people at their doorstep. Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta was physically assaulted at a weekly public hearing at her official residence in Civil Lines on Wednesday morning.(X/@rekha_gupta) The schedule of public hearings in the assembly constituencies is being worked out and will be shared when it is finalised. The next public hearing at the CM's residence is likely to be held next Wednesday, as has been the case since Gupta assumed office. ALSO READ | Rekha Gupta's security gets CRPF upgrade after attack; curbs on Jan Sunwai too 'When I was in college, Papa gave me a car to drive. One day, a big accident happened. I got scared and became afraid to even touch the car again. Then Papa said that accidents happen in life, but you can't stop out of fear. You can't stop walking on the path. Today, his same lesson comes to mind again. Yesterday, another accident happened, but I can never stop fighting for the interests of Delhiites. Every moment of my life and every particle of my body is dedicated to Delhi. Despite all these unexpected blows, I will never abandon Delhi. Anyway, women have double the strength to fight through difficulties. They have to pass countless tests to prove themselves. I am ready too! Now, public hearings will not only be held at my home but in every assembly of Delhi. Your Chief Minister, at your doorstep,' CM Gupta said in a post on X. Gupta was physically assaulted at a weekly public hearing at her official residence in Civil Lines on Wednesday morning by a 41-year-old man who came from Rajkot in Gujarat, and entered posing as a complainant. The accused, Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai Sakriya , an auto driver by profession, was overpowered by the CM's security team and others present there. A first information report (FIR) under the sections of attempt to murder has been filed against him. His motives are not known, and it is also not clear whether he was working alone. ALSO READ | Rekha Gupta attack: Forensic team to probe accused's call records, phone data Meanwhile, all seven Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members of Parliament (MPs) from Delhi, including Ramvir Singh Bidhuri (South Delhi), Manoj Tiwari (North East Delhi), Praveen Khandelwal (Chandni Chowk ), and Bansuri Swaraj (New Delhi), met CM Gupta at her residence on Thursday morning. A photo of the meeting was shared widely, given it was the first appearance by the chief minister since the attack. South Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said the CM was healthy and remained committed to serve the people with the same resolve. 'All the MPs wished the CM a speedy recovery. Such attacks cannot affect her determination and resolve to work for the development of Delhi. In the last six months, Delhi has run on the path of development due to the major development works being done by CM Rekha Gupta but some people do not like her style of going among the public and solving their problems. That is why she has been attacked. The police is investigating the matter and soon the entire conspiracy of the attack will be exposed,' said Bidhuri. ALSO READ | Delhi CM Rekha Gupta meets BJP MPs in first appearance after attack Delhi minister Kapil Mishra also called on her in the morning and said she is working from her home despite having serious injuries. 'She worked last evening too. She has been seeing files. She is doing all the official work…,' Mishra said. According to the public engagement details of CM Gupta shared by the CM's Office, Gupta will attend two public events, one in Gandhi Nagar and the other in Chanakyapuri, on Friday.

BJP gets going for 2026 semi-finals before 2027 battle
BJP gets going for 2026 semi-finals before 2027 battle

Hindustan Times

time25 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

BJP gets going for 2026 semi-finals before 2027 battle

: Coining the slogan 'purva tayari - poorna tayari' (advance preparation, complete preparation), the BJP has started micro- management by reaching out to every booth for the panchayat polls that are about eight to nine months away. For the BJP's top brass, the panchayat polls in 2026 are the semi-finals before the crucial assembly polls in 2027. (For representation only) The BJP has activated its workers in every village at the booth level and the cadres have started moving door -to-door to register voters. For the BJP's top brass, the panchayat polls in 2026 are the semi-finals before the crucial assembly polls in 2027. Reaching out to party workers in every district, BJP state general secretary (organization) Dharamal Singh has taken up the mantle to ensure that the party shines in all the 75 zila panchayats. 'The party has made a strategy to reach out to the rural voters by activating the booth committees, divisional units and Shakti Kendras. The importance of panchayat elections is being explained to workers by holding meetings in each district,' said BJP state vice-president Santsh Singh. The party is focusing on zila panchayat seats and not on gram panchayat and kshetra panchayats. 'As panchayat elections are not held on the party's symbol, the BJP will focus only on the zila panchayat seats. The party will not interfere in the elections of gram pradhan and kshetra panchayat members to avoid any controversy,' a party leader said. 'The maximum controversy and animosity is for the elections of gram pradhan and kshetra panchayat. Most of the party workers want to become pradhan or kshetra panchayat members. In such a situation, to avoid controversy, the party has decided not to interfere in the election of gram pradhan and kshetra panchayats,' he added. 'The first test for the recently constituted booth committees, mandal units and Shakti Kendra s will be the panchayat polls. The party leadership has conveyed that the outperforming workers will be rewarded,' said a BJP leader. The party is also apprising villagers of various welfare schemes of the state government. The state leadership of the party is also viewing panchayat polls as an opportunity for a major course correction after the poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh. In a bid to counter the Samajwadi Party's PDA (Pichhda, Dalits and Alpsankhyak) formula, the BJP too will focus on the local caste matrix at the mandal and village level. The BJP's seriousness about the panchayat polls is not without reason. In four successive poll victories in Uttar Pradesh—2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha and 2017, 2022 assembly polls – the BJP managed the most diverse representation minus Muslims. The party succeeded in keeping intact its caste umbrella, broadly non-Jatav Dalits, non-Yadav OBCs and upper castes, in four polls in Uttar Pradesh. However, in the 2024 Lok Sabha poll, the SP's PDA plank succeeded in bringing a large chunk of OBC and Dalits into its fold, dealing a blow to the BJP. The BJP's tally of seats in Uttar Pradesh came down to 33 in the last Lok Sabha election from 62 in 2019. The most resounding defeat was in the Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency, the nerve of centre saffron politics revolving around the temple town of Ayodhya. Panchayat elections Total gram panchayats-57,694 Kshetra panchayats-826 Zila panchayats-75

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store