In what could be seen as game changing development in the face of Lok Sabha elections 2024, the opposition bloc, constituted with 26 parties, coalesced to square off with the BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In the meeting held in Bengaluru on July 18 (Tuesday), they christened their alliance I.N.D.I.A (India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), setting the stage for a battle of ballot against the BJP-led ruling establishment to win majority in Lok Sabha elections scheduled for 2024. Striking a chord of nationalism to cross swords with BJP’s NDA, the 26-party alliance have floated the tagline of I.N.D.I.A.: “Jeetega Bharat”.

After the joint opposition meeting in Bengaluru, the Bharatiya Janata Party has also shown its strength with a meeting of 38 members of the NDA in the national capital on the same day. During his address to NDA leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “NDA means: N=New India, D=Development, A=Aspiration.” It looks that wordplay is in the fray, heralding an intense battle in the making for 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The ruling dispensation has on several occasions used acronyms cleverly to catch the attention of the public. Taking the leaf out of the BJP’s book, the opposition has now delivered I.N.D.I.A googly to stump out the NDA on the pitch of nationalism to settle scores in the bitterly contested run-up to 2024. So, the battle lines are drawn for NDA vs I.N.D.I.A.

Punch and counter punch have started to set the optics for 2024 general elections, as leaders from both the sides claim their preparedness to emerge victorious.  According to Congress Twitter handle, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said: “This is an important meeting to save democracy and the constitution, and in the interest of the country, we have come together. With one voice, people have supported the resolution. Our alliance will be called INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance).

Addressing a joint press conference with other alliance leaders, Kharge revealed that all 26 parties unanimously took the decision to set up an “11-member coordination committee” during their next meeting to be held in Mumbai. The committee, the Congress chief said, will handle matters related to leadership questions and complexities of seat sharing. Kharge further contended that the reconstitution of NDA has exposed the Modi-led BJP apprehensions about the growing strength of BJP.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stressed the alliance’s commitment to defend the voice of people and the idea of India. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackray among others joined the same bandwagon to defend the positioning of the I.N.D.I.A alliance and expressed solidarity to take on the BJP-led NDA.

In his address to the NDA members, PM Modi said that the BJP-led alliance was formed to bring stability in the nation, and added: “Even when we were in the opposition, we always did positive politics. In opposition, we brought out scams of the then govts but never insulted the mandate of the people. We never took the help of foreign powers against the ruling governments. We never created hurdles in development schemes meant for the country,” reported by ANI.

“Hamare liye gathbandhan majboori nahi majbooti ka madhyam hai. NDA is not the symbol of coalition and compulsion but the symbol of coalition and contribution. In NDA, no party is small or big. We all are walking together towards the same goal,” said the PM Modi while addressing the NDA members.

Meanwhile Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, sharing his views on the CNN-News 18 Townhall’s theme ‘Road to 2024’ held on Tuesday, expressed confidence on the performance of the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, and added, “People will vote for the good governance in 2024 because we do politics of progress and development. What Congress did not do in sixty years; we did in nine. BJP will have a massive majority under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

Taking a swipe on the Opposition’s bid to huddle together, the minister said, “When people become weak, they come together. We do politics of conviction and progression.”

The Opposition plays a vital role in the functioning of Indian democracy by acting as a responsible check on the government, representing diverse views, and contributing to policy formulation and legislative debates. Their constructive engagement helps uphold democratic principles and ensures a more balanced and inclusive governance system.

The pertinent questions reverberating in public domain: Will the opposition bloc of 26 parties stand together to play constructive role to lead India?  In 2024 Lok Sabha elections, who will be the face of the opposition group to face off “charismatic” PM Modi?  What formula will be evolved to stich all members of the opposition alliance together on seat sharing for fighting Lok Sabha elections? How will wrinkles between TMC and CPM be ironed out, as they snuggle down in meeting in Bengaluru and fiercely fight with each other in Kolkata?  Of course, road to 2024, as it appears now, will be a bumpy ride for I.N.D.I.A, but it is the public, sab janati hai, who will decide that: “Jeetega Bharat” or “Khilega Kamal”.

-RAMAKANT CHAUDHARY

Ramakant Chaudhary works with PR Professionals as DGM-Content Development, and has worked in various editorial roles with Financial Express, Mint (Hindustan Times Group), The Times Of India, Jagran Post (Dainik Jagran Group), The Pioneer, and The Political and Business Daily. He writes on politics, government policy, economy, infrastructure, real estate, social issues, lifestyle, and health.

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This is a paradox of the situation, as on one hand we have successfully sent Chandrayaan 3 to explore water on the south pole of the moon, on the other hand, the national capital of India is facing a deluge of water. Lo and behold, it has not rained in Delhi so much, but Pandava’s Indraprastha is flooded. The Yamuna river in Delhi witnessed an unprecedented surge causing severe flooding in nearby areas and affecting streets, public facilities and private infrastructure. Residents in the affected areas are grappling with odds and adversary in the face of unprecedented events. The authorities evacuated as many as 16,564 people and around 14,534 of them took refuge in tents pitched by the Delhi government and under flyovers.

People marooned

Thousands of people were compelled to seek refuge on the road. Schools, colleges, crematoriums and even water treatment plants in Delhi were closed as overflowing Yamuna inundated the national capital. As per media reports, the water level of the Yamuna, all-time high on Thursday, is gradually receding, however several parts in Delhi, including Supreme court, ITO, Rajghat, iconic Lal Qila among others are confronting the challenges of flood. As people were on Thursday battling with flood, five gates of the ITO barrage were reportedly jammed, spelling more trouble. The crops planted on hundreds of acres in Delhi’s Madanpur Khadar were destroyed owing to flooding in the areas.  According to a trader’s body: “An estimated Rs 200 crore worth of business has been affected due to rains and flooding in parts of the national capital.”

Commuters faced difficulties as traffic was diverted due to waterlogging at ITO road, a key stretch connecting east Delhi to Lutyens’s Delhi. “No vehicular traffic will be allowed on Mahatma Gandhi Marg from Sarai Kale Khan towards IP Flyover due to overflow of drain water near WHO Building. Commuters are advised to avoid the stretch,” the Delhi Traffic Police said in a tweet. The Delhi police has also imposed section 144 CrPC as a precautionary measure in the flood-prone areas in Delhi.

Blame games: People in knee-deep trouble

Political blame games have erupted between the ruling party Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party amidst people are in knee-deep trouble in flood-like situations.

BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya said that Arvind Kejriwal is responsible for Delhi floods and Yamuna inundating streets of Delhi and adjoining areas. He added, “Despite several promises to clean the Yamuna, no dredging has been done ever since Kejriwal came to power. Sewer lines have not been desilted for the last 8 years. Even this year, drains that were to be desilted till 15th June, have not been cleared. There is no drainage plan for the city.”

AAP leader and PWD Minister Atishi Marlena tweeted, “Ecosystems are not divided by political boundaries. Not just north India, the whole world is witnessing large-scale climatic catastrophes. The amount of rainfall this year in Delhi, Himachal, Haryana etc. is unprecedented by far. And this is exactly why the Yamuna is flooding, as one common river basin that goes through several states.”

BJP leader Manoj Tiwari said of the flood situation: “I had been constantly alerting (the government) over this (flood) threat. But the Arvind Kejriwal government didn’t wake up.”

The Congress attacked the AAP government in Delhi over the flood-like situation, describing it as a “man-made crisis” and not a natural disaster. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate told news agency PTI, “The government needs to step in. It has happened because of a man-made crisis, this is not a natural disaster. Drains are not clear, water bodies have been taken over, (there is) illegal occupation of land…”

“Where is the Delhi chief minister? Looks like he said it seriously that he would make Delhi (a) land of lakes,” Shrinate said in a swipe at Arvind Kejriwal.

PM Modi enquires about flood from France

Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him up over the phone from France to enquire about the flood and waterlogging situation in the national capital.

“Honourable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji called from France to enquire about the waterlogging and flood situation in Delhi and the efforts being made to deal with it,” Saxena said.

Devastating 1978 Delhi floods

The devastating Delhi flood of 1978 was a natural disaster that occurred in the national capital. In July 1978, heavy monsoon rains lashed the city, leading to massive flooding and widespread destruction. The flood was one of the worst in Delhi’s history and resulted in the loss of many lives and extensive damage to infrastructure. The then Indira Gandhi-led union government had to deploy Indian Air Force choppers to drop food packets and relief materials among the flood victims.

The 1978 flood served as a wake-up call for Delhi’s authorities, leading to a re-evaluation of the city’s drainage and flood management systems. Subsequent measures were taken to improve infrastructure, including the construction of additional stormwater drains and reservoirs. These initiatives aimed to enhance the city’s resilience to future flooding events. The 2023 Delhi flood must be taken on a serious note to refurbish the infrastructure to avert such a situation in the face of climatic challenges becoming formidable with each passing year.

-RAMAKANT CHAUDHARY

Ramakant Chaudhary works with PR Professionals as DGM-Content Development, and has worked in various editorial roles with Financial Express, Mint (Hindustan Times Group), The Times Of India, Jagran Post (Dainik Jagran Group), The Pioneer, and The Political and Business Daily. He writes on politics, government policy, economy, infrastructure, real estate, social issues, lifestyle, and health

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The central government had reviewed the security of Mr Vishwas and the threat perception based on intelligence inputs in the wake of his allegations against AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

After the review, it was decided to give Mr Vishwas ‘Y’ category security through the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the sources said.

Under the ‘Y’ category security, Mr Vishwas will be protected by four personal security officers round the clock.

meanwhile Amid ex-AAP leader and poet Kumar Vishwas’ sensational claim, several poets have written an open letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleging that his counter to Vishwas had ‘hurt the sentiments of poets’. Over 40 persons, mostly poets, have signed the letter saying that instead of relying on facts to counter Kumar Vishwas’ statement, Kejriwal had ‘insulted’ poets as a class.

The letter addressed to the Chief Minister in Hindi read, “As poets and people of literature, we are deeply hurt by your disrespectful remarks. As an irresponsible person, you have ridiculed him (Kumar Vishwas) and without any proof, have called him the person who makes unreliable claims. That is why we are writing to you with a heavy heart.”

Breaking his silence on the ‘Khalistani’ allegations levelled against him, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Friday, questioned why no one had arrested him to date if Vishwas’ statement was true. Dismissing both Congress and BJP’s ‘terror’ allegations on him, he jibed that political parties were grateful that a ‘poet caught such a big terrorist’

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As part of their protest against the three farm laws heads of all farmer unions started  hunger strike from 8 am to 5 pm today. they also announced to intensify agitation in coming days .

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Delhi and Haryana Police have issued separate travel and traffic advisories for people looking to enter or leave the national capital region, which is likely to bear the brunt of the bandh after farmers camped at junctions along the UP and Haryana borders warning they will cut off road access to the city. Traffic on National Highways 9, 19, 24, 44 and 48 will be disrupted, with either sections or the whole of these roads closed.

Farmers’ outfits are observing a Bharat Bandh (nationwide shutdown) today to protest against the controversial new agriculture laws, with several trade and transport unions extending support and almost all opposition parties too backing their demands. Farmer leaders said their strike will remain peaceful and that no shops and establishments will be forcibly closed on account of the Bandh. “There will be complete ‘Bharat bandh’ till 3 pm Tuesday, but emergency services will be allowed,” farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal told reporters. The farmer leaders had earlier announced their intention to block all roads leading to Delhi, which has emerged as the epicentre of the protests against the farm laws, and occupy all toll plazas, but on Monday said they do not want to inconvenience the common people and have, hence, kept the timing of the chakka jam (blockade) from 11am to 3 pm. The Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Trinamool Congress, DMK and its allies, TRS, RJD, Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party and the Left are among the political parties that are backing the strike.

It is our duty to stand in unity with farmers and stay connected to their sentiments, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said.  ” It is no political Bandh. It is our sentiment. Farmer organisations agitating in Delhi aren’t carrying any political flag. There is no politics here and there shouldn’t be,”  Raut was quoted as saying by the ANI. He also reiterated that the government should talk to the farmers. ” If the government has a heart, be it the Home Minister or the Prime Minister, they themselves will go and talk to the farmers,” Raut said.

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The national capital witnessed 131 Covid-related deaths in the last 24 hours clear indication that things may be more critical in next few days when cases related to Diwali will serge.

Covid-19 has claimed 7,943 lives in Delhi to date.

The national capital’s tally of confirmed coronavirus cases also exceeded the 5-lakh mark on Wednesday with 7,846 fresh cases. Delhi has reported a total of 5,03,084 confirmed cases to date.

Over the last 24 hours, Delhi tested 62,232 tests for Covid-19. However Dehli govt has ruled out another lockdown in the national capital.

There are now 42,458 active cases of coronavirus in Delhi while the AAP government has notified as many as 4,444 areas as containment zones to curb further spread of infection. CM Kejriwal have call all party meeting  to discuss the spike in Covid-19 cases in the national capital..

In light of the recent spike in coronavirus cases, the Delhi High Court also upheld the AAP government’s order prohibiting Chhath Puja celebrations in public places. Bursting of firecrackers despite a ban on the same across NCR, coupled with worsening air quality has further led to another wave of Covid-19 infections in the national capital.

Meanwhile India on Thursday recorded 45,576 new coronavirus infections in a span of 24 hours, government Covid-19 data shows. With this, the country’s overall Covid-19 case count since the outbreak stands at 89,58,484.

In the one-day period, 585 people lost their life to the deadly virus, taking the overall fatalities to 1,31,578.

The total active cases stand at 4,43,303 after a decrease of 3,502 in the last 24 hours.

The total discharged cases are at 83,83,603 with 48,493 new recoveries in the last 24 hours.

For the 12th day today, India has reported less than 50,000 daily coronavirus cases.

The Indian Council of Medical Research said that a total of 12,85,08,389 samples have been tested for Covid-19 up to 18 November. Of these, 10,28,203 samples were tested yesterday, the ICMR added.

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The richest and most visited temple in the world, the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirumala, reopened today. Unlike earlier when 80,000 to a lakh people visited the Tirumala Tirupati temple every day, only 6,873 people have made online bookings to visit the as part of the trial opening, following all social distancing norms. Only people from Tirumala and Tirupati regions will be allowed inside the temple for darshan for the first two to three days. The temple management has written to the centre, asking them to allow theertham (holy water) to be given to devotees.

Religious places, hotels and restaurants will not be allowed to open today in Maharashtra which has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in India. Private offices will be given permission to resume from today with 10 per cent staff. The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) have resumed operations from today to carry passengers to their workplaces. However, only 30 people can sit and five can stand in a single bus. Only one passenger will be allowed per seat.

Several temples and gurdwaras reopened in Delhi this morning. At Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, devotees started coming in the morning. There are placards at every few meters with messages on social distancing. Other introductions include thermal scanners and foot pedal-based sanitiser dispensers Many churches in Delhi, however, have decided to not to reopen just yet. “Malls, restaurants and religious places will be opening from Monday in Delhi in accordance with the centre’s guidelines,” Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said .

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Warning of strict action, the CM said Delhi government teams are monitoring the “black marketing of beds” and said strict action will be taken in the next few days if hospitals do not start admitting patients, even as he said that some specialised hospitals have come forward with genuine concerns.

Kejriwal said – “We have to remove panic from people’s mind. If everyone, especially asymptomatic people decide to get tested, then our capacity will fall. He requested asymptomatic people to not get tested to leave space for people with serious symptoms.he said says – “Give me some days, if these hospitals do not listen, there will be strict action taken against them. A medical professional from the Delhi government will sit at the reception of every hospital to oversee the bed occupation. We are bringing out an order that will be issued to all hospitals that no suspected Covid-19 case will be turned away from a hospital. If a suspected patient approaches a hospital then that hospital has to test them and diagnose them.”

Delhi Chief Minister said – “After the Covid app launch, there was a controversy. As if we did a bad thing by giving out information. There are some hospitals in Delhi which have become powerful, there have connections in political parties, and they are saying they will not take coronavirus patients. But they will HAVE to, I am warning them, they will not be let go, they have to serve people.”

Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said -“You will be admitted if your case is serious. You don’t need to be admitted just because you are Covid-19 positive. More than 80 to 90% of positive case patients don’t need to be admitted. No hospital will refuse admission if beds are available.”

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Both AAP heavyweights Manish Sisodia and Atishi have won their respective seats after initial scare. The biggest AAP heavyweight trailing at the moment is Speaker Ram Niwas Goel.

Exit polls had predicted another term for Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party, the BJP, which powered its campaign on the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests at Shaheen Bagh, is likely to win right seats.

The campaign for the Delhi Election 2020 has been bitter and polarised, the political discourse bogged down by threatening slogans and foul language.

The ruling AAP has sought to retain power on the work done in the field of education, health, and in providing cheap electricity and water, while the main opposition BJP conducted a massive campaign, roping in most of its 70 union ministers, 270 MPs and leaders and Chief Ministers from various states, to deliver it’s campaign message on anti-CAA protests and nationalism.

Delhi election 2020 was held on Saturday, with 62.59 per cent of the city’s voters coming out to exercise their democratic right. The voter turnout in the previous assembly election in 2015 stood at 67.5 per cent.

Party Total

AAP- 63

BJP- 7

INC- 0

JD(U)- 0 0 0

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