The hidden message of bypolls
With the recently concluded by-elections, the whole nation was focused on Kairana in Uttar Pradesh; and in the state, people keenly awaited the Rajarajeshwari Nagar results. If a bypoll result can be considered a verdict for any party to rid itself of any allegations of electoral misconduct, then Munirathna has just been declared a clean man. Congress has earned itself a good reputation and a massive sigh of relief with the victory of their candidate. This constituency was somewhat a primary litmus test for the coalition government in the state. Hence it was necessary for either Congress or a JD(S) candidate to clinch this constituency since the coalition partners went into this bypoll with their own candidates, and not a mutually agreeable single candidate who could have been staged here. On one hand there were allegations against Munirathna and on the other there was polarization of votes that could have worked against him. But Munirathna won with a thumping margin, a much needed relief to him and his party too.
At the same time, BJP has suffered major drubbing in Kairana, Uttar Pradesh a seat that was most prestigious for the party since they had won with a massive margin last time. Political analysts had said the Kairana results could be an indicator of mood for the 2019 general elections. Kairana was the last opportunity for UP CM Yogi Adityanath to rectify the loss of face he suffered with losses in Gorakhpur and Phulpur. The MLA seat turned vacant with the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh. BJP was successful in fanning communal fires in this constituency last time. Party members had spread rumours stating Hindus were migrating from Kairana owing to a large section muslim population and the troubles they have been creating for the Hindus. The fear created by this was so massive that communal clashes broke out and this had helped consolidate Jat votes for the party in the general elections. Even if one put SP, BSP and Congress votes, it was impossible to measure up to the votes BJP was polled.
But this time around, a Muslim lady Tabassum has won the by elections in Kairana. This is a tight slap served to the misadministration of CM Yogi Adityanath’s administration. This response from the consolidation of secular forces is a strong one considering BJP had refused to stage even a single muslim candidate. And at the same time, this is also a message to SP, BSP and Congress to come together put up a united front. The attempts of saffronisation by Yogi has been rejected flatly. The coming together of secular forces will surely defeat Modi and his agenda in the coming days. This message has been conveyed loud and clear from Kairana. Similarly, the NCPU and Congress supported candidate has won from Bhandara Gondiya seat which was again under BJP last time.
In the past, during the ‘undefeatable’ Indira Gandhi’s time all opposition parties had come together to serve her a defeat. She ate a humble pie. People had come to accept this coalition because they were reeling under the ill effects of emergency. Indira Gandhi enjoyed the support of the poorest of the poor who adored her. Narendra Modi does not command the kind of support as she did. He stands on the fake foundation of lies. It won’t take too long for this bubble to burst since he has failed to deliver an administration that would help people’s lives get better. Today we have undeclared emergency in the country. People are suffering owing to hike in petrol prices. If the secular forces can come together, Modi’s dream run can end soon enough. This is the message by polls have conveyed to the people.
Now, the anti-BJP parties should not stop their battle against EVMs. BSP had spoken pretty strongly against EVMs in the past. Today, only Shiv Sena is speaking about this. This discourse has to continue till things change for 2019 elections to ensure the 2014 results do not repeat. A movement against EVMs is needed for free and fair elections to be held in 2019. Only then we can expect some miracles to happen
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Pope Leo XIV calls for aid to reach Gaza and an end to hostilities in his first general audience
Vatican City (AP): Pope Leo XIV called for humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip and for an end to the “heartbreaking” toll on its people, as he presided over his first general audience in St. Peter's Square.
The Vatican said that around 40,000 people were on hand for the audience, which came just days after an estimated 200,000 people attended the inaugural Mass on Sunday for history's first American pope.
Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, began the audience with a tour through the piazza in the popemobile and stopped to bless several babies. In addressing specific greetings to different groups of pilgrims, Leo spoke in his native English, his fluent Spanish as well as the traditional Italian of the papacy.
“I renew my heartfelt appeal to allow the entrance of dignified humanitarian aid to Gaza and to put an end to the hostilities whose heartbreaking price is being paid by children, the elderly, and sick people,” he said.
The general audience on Wednesdays is a weekly appointment that popes have kept for decades to allow ordinary faithful to have a face-to-face encounter with the pontiff. It features the pope delivering a brief reflection on a theme or Scripture passage, with summaries provided by others in different languages and the pope directing specific messages to particular faith groups.
The encounter, which lasts more than an hour, usually ends with a brief topical appeal by the pope about a current issue or upcoming event. Leo began it with his now-frequent mantra “Peace be with you.”
To that end, Leo on Tuesday reaffirmed the Vatican's willingness to host the next round of ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine during a phone call with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, the Italian leader's office said.
Meloni made the call after speaking with U.S. President Donald Trump and other European leaders, who asked her to verify the Holy See's offer.
“Finding in the Holy Father the confirmation of the willingness to welcome the next talks between the parties, the premier expressed profound gratitude for Pope Leo XIV's willingness and his incessant commitment in favor of peace,” Meloni's office said in a statement late Tuesday.
Trump had referred to the Vatican's longstanding offer to host talks in reporting on his phone call Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
While low-level talks could take place in Rome, Italy would be hard-pressed to allow Putin to fly into Rome for any higher-level negotiation. Putin is subject to an international arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, of which Italy is a founding member and therefore obliged to execute its warrants.
