In the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Congress faced a major defeat in direct contests with the BJP, winning only 10 out of 75 seats. This is a significant decline from their performance in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year. The BJP's average vote share per seat contested rose by 6 percentage points, while the Congress saw a decline of 14 percentage points. In some key constituencies, the Congress finished in fourth place, highlighting the immediate need for the party to reassess its strategies and connect with the voting public.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Priyanka Gandhi secured a convincing victory in the Wayanad constituency, surpassing her brother Rahul Gandhi's victory margin in the same seat earlier that year. Despite attempts by rivals to discredit Rahul, Priyanka's victory felt like an "annihilation" for them. This victory shows the unwavering support for the Gandhi family in Wayanad and their dominance in Indian politics.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has emerged victorious in her debut Lok Sabha election in Wayanad, surpassing her brother Rahul Gandhi's previous lead. She took to social media to express her gratitude to the people of Wayanad for their overwhelming support. Priyanka also thanked her UDF colleagues, Kerala volunteers, and her family for their unwavering support throughout her campaign.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance registered a thumping victory in Maharashtra, leading in 48 Assembly and 2 Lok Sabha constituencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and congratulated him on the alliance's win in the state. This is a developing story with more details to be added on the leading and winning candidates as well as reactions from other parties.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, running for the first time in national elections, is expected to win by an impressive margin in the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election. Her lead has crossed 2 lakh votes, cementing the Congress party's stronghold in the constituency. Despite facing criticism from rivals for focusing on dynasty politics, Priyanka's campaign resonated with voters as she promised to address their concerns and build upon her brother's legacy. This victory marks a significant milestone in her political career.
Congress-led UDF candidate Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is leading in the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll in Kerala, with a margin of over three lakh votes after three hours of counting, according to Election Commission figures. The counting of postal ballots began at 8 am, with Priyanka receiving 3,17,983 votes so far. The strong rooms where EVMs were kept were opened more than an hour before counting began.
Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav has declared that there will be no alliance between his party and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the upcoming Assembly elections in the Union Territory. He acknowledged the mistake made in the 2019 Lok Sabha election and clarified that it would not be repeated in the future. This comes after senior Congress leader Mateen Ahmed's decision to join the AAP, along with his son and daughter-in-law. Yadav has firmly stated that the defection of party members will not affect their decision and that the people of Delhi have faith in the Congress.
As the deadline to withdraw nominations passes, political parties are increasing their campaign efforts in preparation for the upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Meanwhile, in the Lok Sabha, MPs recently took their oaths with slogans such as "Jai Samvidhan" and "Jai Bhim" being shouted. Additionally, the importance of a non-partisan approach from the Speaker in ensuring smooth House functioning is being emphasized, with the home minister also criticizing the past regime's centralization of power under one person.
Nobel laureate Amartya Sen criticized the Indian government upon his arrival in Kolkata, highlighting issues such as wrongful imprisonments, economic disparities, and the need for political open-mindedness and secularism. He emphasized the importance of addressing these issues and promoting a more inclusive and democratic society. This statement comes amid the Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's loss to TMC candidate Yusuf Pathan in the Baharampur constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.
After Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray submitted his nomination from Worli Assembly Constituency, the MNS announced Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora as their candidate, setting up a Sena versus Sena battle. This is a significant shift from the Shiv Sena's stronghold in Worli, which has been a Thackeray family stronghold for decades. With MNS candidate Sandeep Deshpande also in the mix, there is speculation of a split in Maratha votes, which could affect the Shiv Sena's victory chances in the upcoming assembly election. While Shiv Sena justifies their low majority in Worli in the recent Lok Sabha polls to overconfidence, the change in political equations is evident with MNS chief Raj Thackeray's decision to not field a candidate against Aaditya Thackeray in 2019.