NC not to Ally with NDA in 2014 Lok Sabha Polls: Omar

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Thursday ruled out the possibility of any coalition with NDA in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

"Jammu and Kashmir National Conference will not join NDA," J-K Chief Minister and party president Omar Abdullah said.

Abdullah was here along with his father and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah to pay obeisance at the dargah of Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chisiti.

NC has three members in the Lok Sabha and is an ally of the UPA.

Source: Indian Express

BJP to Prepare for National Parliamentary Election This Year

(Party spokesman says the allies of the Congress-led UPA are running away from the coalition.)

New Delhi: The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said on Friday that India’s national elections may be held this year itself—they are currently scheduled for 2014—and the party will seek to prepare itself for such an eventuality.

"The allies of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) are running away from the coalition," BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters on Friday.

Party president Rajnath Singh will tell BJP members to prepare for early elections during the national executive and council meeting on 1-3 March in the national capital, Naqvi said. Both the leading national parties, the Congress and the BJP, have already started preparing themselves for elections, with Rahul Gandhi and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi being seen as the respective, likely, prime ministerial candidates.

The BJP said the upcoming budget session on 21 February "will most likely" be the last parliament session under this government. "The Congress will rule for the next three-four months after the budget session and after that will go for polls to avoid further embarrassment from its allies," said a BJP leader, who declined to be named.

Meanwhile, the BJP is also planning to launch a fresh attack against home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde for his remarks on saffron terror.

Source: LiveMint

2014 Election as a Duel between Narendra Modi & Rahul Gandhi

NEW DELHI: India's parliamentary form of democracy may acquire a 'presidential' hue for the first time, with BJP hoping to project the 2014 general election as a duel between Gujarat chief minister NarendraModi and Congress vice-president and Nehru-Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi.

While political pundits say that the charisma of one leader may not be enough to pull in votes in a parliamentary system of election, they concede that various factors — such as anti-incumbency factor against the "tainted" UPA, Modi's emphatic third successive win in Gujarat, BJP's efforts to pitch him as a pro-development icon and mascot — may make the NaMo vs Rahul Gandhi slogan tempting and heady in the run-up to the 2014 election. Congress is finding it nearly impossible to downplay the comparison.

"There are states where BJP has not been able to register its presence. The appeal of the leader can help the party overcome this shortcoming. A president-like election will also benefit the party in the urban seats. Voters in these seats prefer a strong and credible leadership. We will be able to generate a more powerful appeal," BJP leader and former Union minister Yashwant Sinha told ET.

HE VS HE

"Modi as an able administrator and a campaigner fighting a so-far-unsuccessful Congress prince may not be a bad campaign proposition for any Rahul Gandhiparty," said another. BJP leader adding that "we are also considering the anti-Modi rhetoric that pseduo-secularists may raise to tarnish Modi over the 2002 Gujarat riots". "But I have this feeling that the worse the anti-Modi campaign the more he will gain," he says asking not to be named. "All that character assassination campaign may boomerang. That is my belief," he says.

While Gandhi has been made vicepresident at the Congress's Chintan Shivir in Jaipur, the BJP leadership is slated to name Modi to the highest decision-making body of the party, the Parliamentary Board, following his hattrick win in Gujarat. Neither Congress nor BJP has announced its PM candidate. While Gandhi is clearly Congress's choice, Modi seems to be emerging as the best bet for BJP;

In the past, similar comparisons had arisen only between AB Vajpayee and Sonia Gandhi, but then neither the 1998 nor the 2004 contest were centred on personalities. In the 1989 poll though there were comparisons between Rajiv Gandhi and VP Singh, it was a poll race which saw the Bofors corruption issue as the overriding theme.

FIRST AMONG EQUALS

A Congress leader, however, thinks Modi's appeal hasn't transcended Gujarat and he has his support mostly among 'internet Hindus'. This leader from Kerala conceded though that "support from corporates may help him raise the pitch at the national level. But I am not sure if BJP can take on the Congress campaign machinery across the country." At the biennial Vibrant Gujarat summit held last month, several business leaders showered lavish praise on Modi for his pro-industry approach and for setting an example of good governance at the state level. Some of those who gushed about Modi's 'capabilities and vision' included the Ambani brothers. Gandhi, on the other hand, hasn't evoked any similar sentiment from any section of Indian society — despite his repeated and drama-filled efforts to warm up to youth and the aam aadmi.

Political observers say that while the faction-ridden BJP, too, faces its set of problems over corruption — including one connected to its former president Nitin Gadkari — and various troubles across states, including in its strongholds such as Karnataka, Modi is largely perceived as above board.

"Of course, nobody thinks of Modi when they think of corruption in BJP, but everybody thinks of the Gandhi family's inefficiency when they think of scams in the central government. Besides, there is a solid perception that Rahul is incapable of doing much," says a Left party leader who didn't wish to be named because the opinion doesn't reflect that of his party. "BJP will be making a mistake if they think Modi can do in all of India what he can in Gujarat," he adds.

CRUCIAL URBAN APPEAL

However, Modi clearly is seen as a doer and a dynamic politician despite the bad name he had earned due to his alleged complicity in the 2002 Gujarat riots. As an orator, too, he is fiery and endears himself to the masses. The contrast is inescapable. Not only is the Congress vice-president seen as taciturn, he is also perceived to be indecisive. Notably, at his first press conference after assuming the V-P's post last month, he insisted that he wouldn't take questions. Modi, on the other hand, is quite comfortable in handling the media and is often quick on the draw with repartees and wisecracks. Gandhi has not yet shown any indications that he has any sense of humour. Interestingly, Modi is known for his sharp wit.

Source: Economic Times

RSS All Set for Hindutva Relaunch, but no Modi at Kumbh Meet

Allahabad: The Hindutva agenda makes a comeback at a meeting of sants or priests backed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS at the Kumbh mela being held in Uttar Pradesh. The meeting was to have begun today, but, in a last-minute change, will now only be a one-day affair tomorrow.

As a cautious first step towards resurrecting what was once the main political plank of the BJP, a new deadline for the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya is expected to be announced. RSS affiliate Vishwa Hindu Parishad or the VHP, which is organising the event, has begun distributing pamphlets on the Ram temple and the focus of deliberations will reportedly be on how to harness a soft Hindutva appeal in the run-up to the 2014 general elections.

The RSS says it plans to cover three lakh villages in its "Hindu awakening" drive in the next year. Top RSS functionaries and BJP leaders are expected to attend the Kumbh meeting, including new party president Rajnath Singh. But Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will not be there. The VHP says it has not invited Mr Modi. It has also denied much speculation that the meet will endorse Mr Modi as the best BJP candidate for Prime Minister in 2014.

Sources say Mr Modi is being strategically kept away. The RSS' plan for 2014 is two-pronged - while the VHP and RSS will focus on Hindutva, the BJP will continue its efforts to win votes on an agenda of good governance. Mr Modi, who has painstakingly attempted to repackage himself, will be part of the latter exercise.

The plan so far, sources say, is to induct Mr Modi into the party's parliamentary board. Mr Modi is also expected to be given charge of the party's campaign committee for the Lok Sabha elections and as such will be the face of the party.

Rajnath Singh has appealed to partymen not to participate in Modi-for-PM discussions. Apart from crucial allies like the Janata Dal (United) bristling, Mr Modi himself is reportedly uncomfortable at such discussions at a premature stage. He is expected to attend the Mahakumbh mela next week, after the VHP event has finished.

Source: NDTV.com

Nitish Denies Giving Interview on BJP's PM Candidate in 2014 Polls

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday denied giving an interview to a local daily in which he was quoted as saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should declare its Prime Ministerial candidate.

"Based on a report in the Dainik Bhaskar, an ABP news channel reported on the Chief Minister’s statement on the BJP’s choice of a Prime Ministerial candidate. The Chief Minister has not given any such interview," Mr. Kumar said in an official statement. He also told a news channel that he was not aware about the interview being carried in the paper and learnt about it from the public relations officer.

A channel reported on the purported interview, where he was quoted as saying, "The general elections should be contested in the same manner as was done when Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s name was put forward. There are demands for declaring the Prime Ministerial candidate from the BJP. Till now, the party has not officially declared a candidate." Mr. Kumar runs a coalition government in Bihar with the BJP’s support. His party, the Janata Dal (United), is a key ally of the BJP in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Asked about Mr. Kumar’s reported statement, JD (U) State president Bashishtha Narayan Singh told The Hindu, "Mr. Kumar had given an interview to an English paper a while ago. I think this interview is simply based on that. Mr. Kumar has issued his denial. There is no change in his stand on the Prime Ministerial candidate. So what’s all the fuss about? He made an ideological statement. First the BJP will decide, then the NDA will decide. A few stray statements don’t decide a Prime Minister."

In an earlier interview, Mr. Kumar had said that he wanted a “secular” candidate to be nominated for the Prime Minister’s position.

Source: The Hindu

Cong Will Face 2014 Polls Under Rahul's Leadership: Pilot

Congress will face the 2014 general elections under the leadership of its newly appointed Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Sachin Pilot said.

"Congress will go to the people under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi in 2014 general elections and the UPA will again form the government," he told reporters last night.

There was an intense infighting within BJP among a dozen leaders for the Prime Minister's post and that had affected its NDA partners, he said.

The Minister denied that there was factionalism in Congress.

In the coming Assembly polls, Congress will come back to power in Madhya Pradesh, he said.

Sources: OutLookIndia.com

BJP May Prefer Ambiguity on Modi Till Around October-2013

The sudden clamour among allies of the BJP for discussions on whom to project as the common NDA candidate for prime ministership is understandable. But it is also a trap for both, BJP and allies. It cannot benefit either of them in the short run, and the current ambiguity is important.

Take the case of the Janata Dal (United) in Bihar. The call for discussions is actually a ploy to send minorities the message that it will oppose Narendra Modi, if he becomes the BJP’s choice for PM. But the JD(U) can hardly want to rock the current coalition in the state which has yielded high dividends to both parties.

Nitish Kumar’s ambitions may be at variance with Modi’s, but neither will benefit from a rush to divorce. It makes sense for both partners to delay the inevitable. For both have to prepare for it.

Then we have had the Shiv Sena under Uddhav Thackeray seeking discussions with the BJP on the same subject. Uddhav has said, "We do not want the kind of confusion we had during the presidential elections about NDA’s candidate. BJP should initiate a discussion with allies so that there’s absolute clarity."

The only ally who has not demurred at all about Modi is the Akali Dal. The Dal-BJP combine has been an all-weather alliance, given the solid Sikh-Hindu demographics that the alliance addresses in the Punjab electorate. To the Akalis, who are themselves a religion-based party, it makes no difference who runs the BJP. Modi is as welcome as anyone else.

My guess is the right time would be around six months ahead of a scheduled May 2014 poll unless a political accident causes an election earlier.

The dilemmas the BJP has to solve about Modi are thus the following:

One is the timing of the announcement, and the precise role he is to be given before the next poll.

Two, decisions on which allies to forsake, and which ones to keep. The real dilemmas relate to Maharashtra and Bihar, for elsewhere the BJP would largely have to go it alone. In Maharashtra, the best option would be a three-way seat-sharing deal with both Senas for the Lok Sabha poll. In Bihar, the BJP has to sacrifice the alliance and prepare for some loss of seats.

Three, even if the BJP were to make up its mind on exiting the Bihar alliance, an early announcement on Modi means making him vulnerable to more dirty tricks from the central government. A clearly announced Modi candidature would enable the Congress to start targeting him in every way – something it would not be able to do when election fever is at a higher pitch, as the electorate will see through the game.

Four, the long-term dilemma relates to the BJP-RSS link-up. The problem is more real for the RSS than the BJP, for the Sangh needs the BJP more than the other way round. The RSS knows that political parties wield more power than social organisations, and this is why it has been trying to inflict its choice of leader on the BJP. A BJP under Modi would be more powerful than a BJP under any other leader because Modi has a direct appeal to the electorate and the BJP cadre. This is what the Sangh fears most.

Five, Modi himself has to take a call on when he can partially delink from Gujarat. If he is projected as the PM candidate, he can’t simultaneously be full-time CM of Gujarat in practical terms. There may be no legal bar on being CM and campaigning for the party in national elections, but at the very least, he would have to anoint a No 2 in Gujarat while he becomes a largely absentee CM during the campaigning.

The best guess one can make is that Modi’s candidature will be announced around October, after the Delhi elections. That will give Modi a clear six months to get the BJP fighting fit.

Source: FirstPost.Com