BJP's victory in Delhi Polls could have been averted with opposition unity: Sanjay Raut
Mumbai: As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leads in the Delhi Assembly election trends, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has highlighted the impact of a divided opposition. He stated that while the contest remained tight, a Congress-AAP alliance could have altered the outcome.
Speaking to the media, Raut said, "The early trends indicate a sharp competition. Had Congress and AAP contested together, the results may have been different. Their political opponent was the BJP, and both aimed to keep it out of power, yet they fought separately. If they had united, BJP’s defeat would have been certain in the first hour of counting."
Omar Abdullah takes a dig at INDIA bloc allies
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also criticised the Congress and AAP for contesting separately in Delhi despite being part of the INDIA bloc. Sharing a meme on X, he sarcastically suggested that their infighting had cost them the election. The meme read, "Jee bhar kar lado. Samaapt kardo ek dusre ko!" (Fight to your heart's content. Finish each other off!), with Abdullah captioning it, "Aur lado aapas mein!!!"
According to the data from the Election Commission, the BJP is leading in 48 out of 70 seats, while AAP is ahead in 25. With 36 seats required for a majority, the BJP is poised to return to power in Delhi after over two decades.
In the previous election, AAP had secured 62 seats, aiming for a third consecutive term. However, the BJP’s resurgence and Congress’ failure to make a significant impact have reshaped the political scenario in the capital.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
