2009 lok sabha election

The Left and Electoral Politics in India

Here's a choice extract from Enabling Congress to rule the country, CPI(M) goes into “ostrich mode”:

Market Soars On Congress Victory

John Authers, investment editor for the Financial Time, wrote:

"True surprises for markets are rare. Monday’s rise of 17 per cent in India’s benchmark Sensex stock index was an exception. It is plain that the market is very happy that the ruling Congress party won a smashing victory in parliamentary elections, which should now give it much greater freedom of political manoeuvre."

Net to protect Modi from possible shoe attack

Date: 17 Apr 2009

In an attempt to save Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi from a possible shoe attack, a net was put up on the stage from where Modi
addressed a public meeting on Friday.

About two feet plastic net was put up in front of the stage of the chief minister Narendra Modi where he addressed a rally tonight.

Author: | Source: Times of India | Submitted by: vivek on 22 Apr 2009 | Comments: 8

Stephen Colbert Endorses Shashi Tharoor

Stephen Colbert has Shashi Tharoor's son Kanishk on the show to explain the Lok Sabha Election in India, and in the process, endorses Shashi. Kanishk Tharoor is Associate Editor of openDemocracy.

Choice question: "Do [the poor] vote against their interests in India? Because we've gotten them to do that here."

Video below...

He Said She Said, Media Says

The Times of India informs us that on the campaign trail, Narendra Modi said: "The Indian government submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying that Lord Ram was never born."

What the Times doesn't tell us is whether or not the UPA government actually did such a thing. I don't know either, since the actual affidavit produced before the court doesn't seem to be available on the intertubes. But here's a hint, which doesn't sound much like saying that Lord Ram was never born:

EC holds Varun guilty, suggests BJP not to nominate him

Date: 22 Mar 2009

In an unprecedented order, the Election Commission tonight recommended to the BJP that it should not nominate Varun Gandhi as a candidate for the Lok Sabha elections after holding him guilty of violating Model Code of Conduct for his hate speeches against Muslims. Coming done heavily on the 29-year old son of late Sanjay Gandhi and Menaka Gandhi, the Commission in a 10-page order said Gandhi's controversial speeches in Pilibhit(UP) early this month contained "highly derogatory" references and seriously provocative language of a "wholly unacceptable" nature against a certain community.

Author: | Source: Press Trust of India | Submitted by: vivek on 22 Mar 2009 | Comments: 0

No Hindu terrorism, says RSS chief

Date: 22 Mar 2009

Mohanrao Bhagwat, the new RSS chief, indirectly told the Nagpur conclave of the organisation on Friday that RSS cadres must aim for the BJP’s victory in the coming parliamentary polls.

Although Mr. Bhagwat did not mention that the RSS must campaign for the party, the context in which it was said made this quite clear. Party sources confirmed that this time the organisation would canvass wholeheartedly for the BJP...

Author: | Source: Hindu | Submitted by: vivek on 22 Mar 2009 | Comments: 0

Transcript & Translation of Varun Gandhi's Remarks

Date: 18 Mar 2009

The following are excerpts from speeches that Varun Gandhi is shown as delivering in at least two locations earlier this month in Pilibhit, from where he is contesting as the BJP candidate. The speeches figure in a video recording viewed by The Indian Express. On the directions of the Election Commission, the police today registered a criminal case against Gandhi.

Author: | Source: Indian Express | Submitted by: vivek on 20 Mar 2009 | Comments: 0