BJP confident, Cong alleges rigging in Barak
Silchar: As the first phase of the panchayat elections in Barak Valley concludes, political parties find themselves locked in a battle of narratives over the anticipated results.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The ruling BJP has expressed unwavering confidence in its performance, while the Congress has alleged widespread electoral malpractice.
State minister Kaushik Rai projected a strong showing for the BJP in Cachar district, predicting the party would secure more than 20 zila parishad seats. "The mood among voters is clearly in favour of the BJP," Rai said. "The people want a strong panchayati raj system, and their faith in our leadership — both in Dispur and Delhi — is evident."
Rai emphasised that the BJP has already won two zila parishad and 35 anchalik panchayat seats in Cachar and anticipates a one-sided victory in the final tally. Confident in BJP's prospects across the region, he predicted absolute majorities in the second phase of polling scheduled for May 7.
Former BJP district president of Sribhumi, Subrata Bhattacharjee, echoed this optimism, claiming the party is poised for a decisive win in Sribhumi district.
He said the BJP would dominate the 16 zila parishad seats, forming the Sribhumi zilla parishad in alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).
"The BJP's presence was overwhelming. People voted spontaneously for development, leaving the Congress and AIUDF irrelevant," he said, expressing gratitude to voters and anticipating success in regional panchayat seats as well.
State minister Krishnendu Paul reinforced the BJP's confidence, citing uncontested wins in two zila parishad seats in Patharkandi, where Congress failed to field candidates.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Paul predicted that the BJP-AGP coalition would form the council and spearhead extensive development across Hailakandi and Cachar.
The Congress, however, painted a starkly different picture. Sribhumi district Congress committee president Rajat Chakrabarty accused the BJP of manipulating the election process.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
39 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
In Madurai, the BJP's pitch to win Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu's assembly elections are due only in April next year. However, the BJP has already sounded the poll bugle. Union home minister Amit Shah addressed a public meeting in Madurai on Sunday, where he accused the ruling DMK of running a corrupt government. He also flagged Operation Sindoor and reminded the audience that Prime Minister Modi had installed the sengol (sceptre) at the new Parliament premises. With an alliance with the AIADMK, the chief opposition party, almost in place, the BJP seems to have readied its arsenal to launch a poll battle in Tamil Nadu. That Shah chose to launch the BJP's campaign in Madurai is not at all surprising. Madurai is both the state's cultural capital and the gateway to southern Tamil Nadu, a region where the BJP has made significant inroads since the 1980s. But can the BJP translate these gains into electoral wins? Shah's speech suggests that the party is likely to rely on nationalism, corruption allegations and faith to tide over the formidable political alliance that the DMK leads. In recent years, the DMK has doubled down on its Dravidian legacy, also in a bid to corner the BJP on charges of promoting a Hindi-Hindu nationalism, which it claims is against the political and cultural ethos of Tamil Nadu. The BJP has also embraced local symbols (sengol, for instance) and faith traditions to appeal to the faithful in the state. Shah pointedly spoke about the Murugan conference that Madurai is set to host later this month. Five years ago, the party had held a Vel (spear) Yatra to appeal to followers of this popular Tamil deity. Considering the competitive nature of Tamil politics, with multiple fronts likely to be in the fray, any incremental gains in vote share can make a difference to the outcome. The BJP is aware of it.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
U.S. Influence on India's Foreign Policy Questioned: CPM Telangana Secretary John Wesley Calls for United Secular Front Against Communal Politics
Gadwal: Communist Party of India (Marxist) Telangana State Secretary John Wesley raised serious concerns about growing American influence over India's foreign policy during a district-wide extended meeting of the CPM held on Monday at Anantha Convention Hall in the district headquarters. The event was presided over by district committee member G. Raju and witnessed participation from numerous party leaders and activists. Addressing the gathering, John Wesley questioned the central government's silence on former U.S. President Donald Trump's claims that it was his intervention that stopped a potential war between India and Pakistan. 'What is the nature of America's dominance in India's foreign policy?' he asked, demanding a clear response from the Modi-led central government. He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for boasting about India surpassing Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy, while failing to address the growing economic and social disparities within the country. 'If 80% of the country's wealth is in the hands of just 20% of corporate forces and capitalists, the rest—India's poor—are still struggling for food, shelter, and clothing,' Wesley lamented. He further alleged that during the 11 years of BJP rule, there has been a sharp increase in attacks and atrocities against the marginalized and backward communities. He accused the BJP of sowing division and hatred among people to benefit from vote-bank politics, and emphasized the need for all secular and democratic forces to unite against the rise of communal forces in the country. Wesley reiterated that wars are not solutions to problems and urged people to reflect on the deteriorating conditions in war-torn nations around the world. He encouraged youth to avoid being swayed by emotions and instead analyze the root causes of national and global issues. In regard to the Telangana government, he criticized its failure to implement promises made to the people, blaming economic excuses for policy backtracking. He described this as unacceptable, especially when the poor and marginalized are left behind. In a strong statement against caste-based dominance, Wesley called upon marginalized communities in Jogulamba Gadwal district to unite and overthrow the upper-caste feudal political forces, who continue to exploit the poor either directly or indirectly. Symbolic Bike Rally and Tributes Prior to the meeting, a bike rally was held starting from Jammiched, passing through town streets, and culminating at Ambedkar Chowk. Floral tributes were offered to the statues of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Jyotirao Phule, reinforcing the CPM's commitment to social justice and equality. The event also served as an opportunity for leaders from other political parties and representatives of various social and public organizations in Gadwal town to meet John Wesley, honor him ceremonially, and submit memoranda regarding various public issues affecting the district. Party Leaders in Attendance The event was marked by the presence of several prominent CPM leaders including: R. Sriram Naik (State Committee Member) A. Venkataswamy (District Secretary) Repalle Devadas, Paranjyoti, V.V. Narasimha, Maddileti, Upper Narasimha, Narmada, Eidanna, and Ramesh (District Committee Members) Local mandal-level leaders, activists, and supporters attended in large numbers, reflecting strong grassroots support for the party in the region.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Shongtong-Karcham hydro project to be commissioned by Nov 2026: Himachal CM Sukhu
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Monday visited the Shongtong-Karcham hydroelectric project in Kinnaur district to inspect the ongoing developmental works and announced its completion by November 2026. Chief Minister Sukhu inspected the powerhouse at Karcham town and visited the barrage site at Powari, where he interacted with engineers and workers of the project. Chief Minister Sukhu directed completion of this 450 MW capacity hydroelectric project in a time-bound manner by November 2026 and said that after the commissioning of the Shongtong-Karcham hydroelectric project, Himachal Pradesh would earn annual revenue of about Rs 1,000 crore. Chief Minister Sukhu said that work on the Shongtong-Karcham hydroelectric project was underway for the last 13 years, but his government accelerated its construction and the project would be dedicated to the nation in a stipulated time period. He added the government was taking concrete steps to ensure proper exploitation of its river water, to strengthen the economy of Himachal. Chief Minister Sukhu said the Himachal government was working to take over the Dhaulasidh, Luhri and Sunni hydropower projects and the total amount spent on these projects so far was being evaluated. He stated that henceforth, the Himachal government would take forward the construction work of hydropower projects on its own terms so that the interests of the state could be protected, which were completely sidelined by the previous BJP government. Chief Minister Sukhu said the Himachal government was also moving towards setting up a geo-thermal power project at Tapri in Kinnaur district and making advancement in the field of electricity by producing solar and green hydrogen energy. He said despite being a surplus energy state, 'we are purchasing electricity in winters i.e. from October to March at Rs 5 to Rs 6 per unit from neighbouring states. Solar energy production is being promoted as much as possible during this time period so that the government does not require to buy electricity.' Chief Minister Sukhu said solar projects of about 626 MW capacity were at various stages of construction through HPPCL.
