Seen by political watchers as the favourite to retain power for a third straight term, the Bharatiya Janata Party has set itself an ambitious target of winning 370 Lok Sabha seats, a goal aimed as much at projecting its strength as at diminishing the opposition in popular imagination.
The ruling BJP in Karnataka, where Assembly elections are due in April-May next year, considers Lingayats as its key vote-base.
After days of haggling, ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its key ally Congress today finalised on the 63 constituencies to be contested by the national party for the April 13 assembly elections, amid indications by the Congress about possible power-sharing in case the combine won.
The Budget session of the Parliament would be adjourned sine die on March 24. The session would be resumed on May 23 and will continue till June 8.
The infighting in the AIADMK has made it weak on par with the DMK and other parties, says R Rajagopalan.
A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices P Sathasivam and J M Panchal issued notices to Tamil Nadu and other states on a petition challenging the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government's decision to distribute colour televisions in rural areas as promised by the party in its assembly election manifesto, which will cost the state exchequer about Rs 2400 crore.
'The AIADMK has no Number Two, frankly it does not even have a Number Hundred and Two. There is the Numero Uno, and there is everybody else -- a point that was made very clear when Jayalalithaa made her ministers take the oath of office in unison on May 23. What, after all, was the point of having them do so individually when they lack individuality?'
rom now till the day of the election, Twitter will ensure that the 'full might of the Twitter platform' was used to make sure that the message reached as many people in Tamil Nadu as possible, the TN CEO said.
The elections will also see for the first time a symbol, which has been created by the National School of Design, allotted to 'None of the above' that will be placed at the bottom of the list of candidates.
'The alliance led by the DMK is starting with 15% votes while the AIADMK is starting from scratch.' 'Minority votes may be crucial'
India is already perceived to be a soft State by terrorists. Let us not confirm that fact, fumes A Ganesh Nadar
The Modi juggernaut is all set to paint the five south Indian states in saffron colours, writes R Rajagopalan.
However, the list was silent on allocation of seats to the newly-formed Tamizhaga Indira Congress floated by expelled Congress leader Tindivanam K Ramamurthee.
The bill to amend the law governing Waqf boards proposes far-reaching changes in the Wakf Act, 1995, including ensuring the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in such bodies.
'Those in the BJP are more keen to make India Hindia!' says MDMK Chairman L.Ganesan.
Tamil Nadu's unending legislative fight for exemption from NEET has now flagged the question if it's time to review the Supreme Court's famous verdict in the 'Mandal case', fixing 50-per cent upper-limit for all reservations, asks N Sathiya Moorthy.
Aditi Phadnis predicts frequent stand-offs between the Centre and states in the future.
Indicating a fresh start to the topic of if or not he would enter politics, that was debated for over two decades in Tamil Nadu, the actor said 'questions' lingered among the Mandram functionaries on the forum's future.
From all indications, Sunil Kanugolu is here to stay, though whether his magic will help the Congress in the northern states in the Lok Sabha elections remains to be seen, wonders Aditi Phadnis.
Despite drawing a blank in Tamil Nadu, its leaders in the state claimed they should strike roots without using a crutch at this "most opportune" time, reports Radhika Ramaseshan.
Maharashtra Opposition leader Ajit Pawar, who belongs to Nationalist Congress Party, on Saturday said Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) are trustworthy and the system cannot be manipulated by a single person.
The money is seized when the person concerned fails to furnish any evidence of it being part of the disclosed money.
'As she has been sentenced to 4 years in prison, her disqualification period begins after that for 6 years, totaling the next 10 years of her life, which may indicate that her legislative career in politics is over for the time being.'
Tamil superstar Rajinikanth may have been wooed by the Bharatiya Janata Party and G K Vasan, who broke away from the Congress, but newly appointed Congress chief in Tamil Nadu E V K S Elangovan feels he should not enter politics.
However, "we don't know who is Krishna and who is Arjuna," added the actor, who has said he would launch his political party and contest the 2021 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin is in New Delhi on Wednesday and is expected to visit colleague and former Telecom Minister A Raja in the Tihar jail.
Reacting to the results, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that in the by-elections held on 13 seats in seven states, the people of the country have given their support to the INDIA bloc.
The BJP and the AIADMK are unable to sort out ideological differences, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.
With political parties in Tamil Nadu stepping up pressure on Centre for boycott of CHOGM at Colombo this month, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram met DMK chief M Karunanidhi in Chennai on Saturday and said no decision has been taken as yet on Prime Minister's visit to the meet.
The decision has been taken to check the spread of coronavirus, the sources said.
Should the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu not make the required five out of 22 by-election seats, or even otherwise, the temptation to poach, especially from the Congress or starting with the Congress may be high on Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisami's agenda, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera tweeted, "Shayad meri tapasya mein kuch kami reh gayi (Maybe my penance fell short)."
Cassandras and Congressis may sneer at the findings, but the Times Now poll indicated that the Modi government was very much on its way to a second term.
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