#tmc on modi code of conduct

[warningsine]

This year’s general election in India arguably brought up more questions about the fairness of the electoral process than any other in the country’s history.

For example, in December, a bill was passed in India’s parliament that allowed election commissioners to be appointed by a panel dominated by the executive branch, which many feared would endanger free and fair elections.

And during the campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a string of speeches that were widely seen as Islamophobic, in which he accused the opposition Congress Party of favouring Muslims. The Election Commission failed to adequately enforce the Model Code of Conduct when it came to these comments.

Opposition chief ministers, Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Hemant Soren of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), meanwhile, were arrested on charges of corruption. Both parties claimed the charges were politically motivated.

One of the lessons from the election, however, is that even when there are questions about how free and fair a vote is, opposition parties can dent the dominance of ruling parties.

In India’s election, the opposition presented a united front and stuck to a consistent message reflecting specific issues of voter discontent.

Why caste politics were so important

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party did not perform as well as expected in the election, suffering major losses in its heartland northern Indian states. Modi began the six-week election campaign saying his party would win more than 400 seats. Ultimately, it was reduced to 240 seats, while the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) won 232 seats.

INDIA had a shaky start to the election. A founding member, the Janata Dal, joined Modi’s coalition earlier this year. INDIA also failed to reach a seat-sharing agreement with another member, Trinamool Congress (TMC), although that party remained part of the alliance.

Yet, as the campaign wore on, the BJP’s attacks on the opposition led to a more united front, focusing particularly on the issue of caste.

Indian society and politics are stratified by its caste system. It has roots in ancient religious texts, which grant symbolic and material rights and privileges to people based on their membership to a particular caste.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s speeches highlighted a commitment to protecting the Constitution and addressing the issue of caste-based injustice in India. He pledged to undertake a caste census to reveal the extent of disadvantage and concentration of wealth in society.

He also pointed out the government’s centralisation of power, as well as the upper caste-dominated media’s adulation of Modi and its inattention to issues of unemployment and inflation.

Lalu Prasad Yadav, a leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party, which is also part of the INDIA coalition, warned the BJP intended to change the Constitution to end caste-based affirmative action. Though this was denied by Modi, the allegation seemed to strike a chord with voters.

Caste presented a dilemma for Modi’s Hindu nationalist politics, which valorises upper-caste Hindu practices and behaviours, while relying on support from the lower caste majority to win elections.

The BJP had sought to ameliorate this tension by promoting welfare schemes and accusing the secular opposition of colluding with Muslims to deprive the Hindu lower-caste poor.

In the lead-up to the election, Modi also claimed to have replaced traditional forms of caste stratification with four new castes of welfare “beneficiaries” – women, farmers, the youth and the poor.

In truth, however, the government’s welfare schemes consisted of paltry cash transfers, small loans, food rations and subsidies for private goods like toilets, which sought to compensate for the stagnation of incomes and lack of jobs. Spending on health and education by Modi’s government, which could have transformative effects on society, has languished.

The BJP’s infrastructure-driven economic program has benefited large companies, leading to accusations of crony capitalism. It has also failed to attract substantial foreign investment or grow the manufacturing sector to create more jobs.

Over the past decade – but particularly following the COVID pandemic – India has also become one of the world’s most unequal countries. Women, Dalits, Adivasis and Muslims have fared the worst.

Dalit politicians also grew in prominence

Perhaps the biggest surprise for the BJP were its heavy losses in its heartland state, Uttar Pradesh.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) had previously dominated Uttar Pradesh politics by promoting the interests of particular lower caste “other backward classes”. This tactic, however, generated resentment among other lower castes, which was exploited by the BJP to win power in 2017.

In this election, the SP appears to have fashioned a new, broader caste coalition.

This election also saw new shifts in Dalit politics, the lowest rung of the caste structure in India. In Uttar Pradesh, new Dalit political parties became increasingly prominent, such as the Azad Party led by Chandra Sekhar Azad.

Further south, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) consolidated its status as the largest Dalit party in Tamil Nadu, winning all the seats it contested.

The future of Indian democracy

Indian democracy is not out of the woods yet. Activists, students, political leaders and journalists remain imprisoned.

The Hindu nationalist movement also has a history of inciting communal violence when things do not go its way in the electoral arena.

The Modi government started to extend its media censorship during the election, as well.

There is little to suggest that Modi will temper what many see as authoritarian tendencies, but there is now more resistance, scepticism and political alternatives that will hopefully aid India’s democratic recovery.

[petnews2day]

Mamata equates BJP to a poisonous snake, months of tense and bad electioneering begin in Bengal | Opinion Analysis News

New Post has been published on https://petn.ws/f4Fyt

Mamata equates BJP to a poisonous snake, months of tense and bad electioneering begin in Bengal | Opinion Analysis News

Going by the previous record between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP, West Bengal is likely to witness one of the most high-pitched electioneering in the country Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Accusing the BJP of flouting the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) […]

See full article at https://petn.ws/f4Fyt #ExoticPetNews

[werindialive]

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Union home minister Amit Shah indulge in a sharp word of wars again

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday engaged into another war of words over the CISF firing that costed 4 deaths at a polling booth in Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district on Saturday.

Mamata claimed it a ‘genocide’ and said, “They were shot in the neck and chest, not the lower parts of the body” and further added that the ban of 72 hours that prevent politicians from entering Cooch Behar, which also resulted in her not being able to meet the bereaved families- will help in the “evidence to be destroyed”.

Talking to the reporters, she said that the EC should rename the Model Code of Conduct the Modi Code of conduct.

On the other hand, Shah while interacting with the press at Nadia district said that this is Mamata’s way of politicizing deaths. He added that it was Mamata’s “gherao CRPF” that provoked he clash. “A voter by the name of Ananda Burman was killed but Mamata Didi condoled only the deaths of the other four people e as he’s not from her vote bank,” said, Union home minister Amit Shah referring that the later was from the minority community of the region.

TMC however gave an explanation and clarified that the Chief Minister mentioned and was concerned about all the five deaths and the plaque where the CM paid homage on Sunday bore all five names, not four.

The election in West Bengal are taking sharp turns every day and the clashes have become a day to day thing. Both the parties, TMC and BJP are trying their level best to ensure the best outcomes.

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[newsmatters]

'Gross Violation Of Model Code of Conduct': TMC Moves To EC Over PM Modi’s Bangladesh Visit

‘Gross Violation Of Model Code of Conduct’: TMC Moves To EC Over PM Modi’s Bangladesh Visit

The Trinamool Congress has registered a complaint with the Election Commission of India against Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that his recent visit to Bangladesh is a violation of Model Code of Conduct. The ruling party of the West Bengal, led by CM Mamata Banerjee, has said in its complaint that the Bangladesh visit by PM Modi is a “gross violation of democratic ethics and the Model Code…

[adminnewstrust24]

Order of the Election Commission - Remove Modi's picture from corona vaccine certificate,, TMC had complained

Order of the Election Commission – Remove Modi’s picture from corona vaccine certificate,, TMC had complained

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Of India TMC had complained to the Election Commission that the picture of PM Modi on the vaccine AAA certificate is a violation of the Code of Conduct. While taking action on this complaint, the Election Commission has asked the Ministry of Health to follow the electoral rules. The Election Commission has asked the Union Health Ministry to ensure that the picture…

[werajkaranbureau-blog]

Controversy over PM Modi’s Kedarnath yatra, TMC complains to EC

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) complained to Election Commission (EC) about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Kedarnath visit. According to TMC, it is a violation of election code because of media coverage. “Election campaign for last phase of polling for Lok Sabha polls is over, surprisingly Narendra Modi’s Kedarnath yatra is being widely covered by the media for the last 2 days. This is a gross violation of model code of conduct,” the party said, according to news agency ANI. PM Modi came to Kedarnath just before last phase of polling and in his two-day visit, he mediated in caves, saw the restoration work and offered prayers in the shrine. He spoke to media on Sunday, where he said that he does not seek anything from God. “God has given us capacity to give and not demand”. Congress leader and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot also attacked the PM for meditating in Kedarnath, wondering what message he wants to give now. “Today he is sitting in a cave wearing ‘bhagwa’ (saffron). God knows, what message he wants to deliver. Everybody has been watching him,” said Gehlot, who also accused the prime minister of doing “nothing but polarisation”. Read the full article

[thenorthlines]

PM Modi’s Kedarnath trip violates model code of conduct, TMC complains to EC The Trinamool Congress today complained to the Election Commission alleging that the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kedarnath is a violation of the model code of conduct.

[currenttrending1]

TMC complains to EC, demands cancellation of PM Modi's nomination

TMC complains to EC, demands cancellation of PM Modi’s nomination

New Delhi [India], April 30 (ANI): All India Trinamool Congress has written a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner alleging a violation of the model code of conduct by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party has also levied strong allegations against the Prime Minister by stating that he is encouraging horse trading and using this lie to persuade voters. In a letter written by TMC Rajya Sabha…

[tumbledsom]

Election 2019 LIVE: Cancel PM Modi’s Nomination Over MLAs Claim, TMC Tells Poll Body Lok Sabha Election 2019 LIVE: The Supreme Court will today hear a plea by Congress MP Sushmita Dev alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have been violating the Model Code of Conduct during their campaigning for Lok Sabha polls.

[newsmatters]

Mamata accuses Modi of speaking at Matua temple with an eye on Bengal polls- The New Indian Express

Mamata accuses Modi of speaking at Matua temple with an eye on Bengal polls- The New Indian Express

By Express News Service KHARAGPUR:  West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged PM Narendra Modi’s speech at the Matua temple at Orakandi in Bangladesh was with an eye on Bengal polls. The TMC supremo also alleged that Modi violated the model code of conduct through his speech at the temple, holy to the Matua community spread over India and Bangladesh. However, Modi in his speech at the…

[newsdoorway]

Trinamool Congress in its letter to the Election Commission objected to the media coverage of PM Modi's trip to Kedarnath and Badrinath over the weekend. TMC spokesperson Derek O'Brien said that the PM even announced that the master plan for the Kedarnath Temple is ready and also addressed the public and the media despite model code of conduct in force. from Times of India http://bit.ly/2HuxHa9 via IFTTT

[thecaktimes]

PM Modi's Kedarnath yatra: Modi violate the code of conduct, says TMC in a complain letter to Election Commission

PM Modi’s Kedarnath yatra: Modi violate the code of conduct, says TMC in a complain letter to Election Commission

Prime Minister embarked on a two-day visit to Kedarnath and Badrinath. Right now PM Modi is arriving to Badrinath according to the schedule of visit.

Trinamool Congress on Sunday alleged that PM Modi’s trip to Kedarnath temple in Uttrakhand was a violation of Code of Conduct.

The party complained Modi’s Kedarnath temple visit to Election Commission. TC wrote that PM Modi’s visit and the…

[consumerinfoline]

TMC complains to poll panel over PM's photo in rail tickets

TMC complains to poll panel over PM’s photo in rail tickets

New Delhi, Mar 19 (PTI) Citing railway tickets having photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Trinamool Congress Tuesday lodged a complaint against the BJP with the Election Commission over alleged violation of the model code of conduct.

The TMC claimed that photograph of Modi on railway tickets is part of an advertisement by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and it was…