Delhi poll outcome: people voted for change, they were fed up, says Priyanka Gandhi
Wayanad (Kerala) (PTI): With the BJP poised to form government in Delhi after more than 26 years, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said that people of the national capital "voted for change" as they were "fed up with the way things were".
Priyanka, also the MP from Wayanad, told reporters here that it was obvious during the party's meetings ahead of the Delhi polls that people wanted change.
"They were fed up with the way things were and they wanted change. I suppose they voted for change. My congratulations to all those who have won."
"For the rest of us, it just means we have to work harder, stay there, be on the ground and be responsive to the people's issues," she said.
Priyanka is on a three-day visit to Kerala.
According to the latest Election Commission of India (ECI) trends, the saffron party was ahead in 45 of the 70 assembly seats and AAP in 21.
The BJP and AAP have won two seats each, according to the ECI website.
The Congress, on the other hand, is poised to draw a blank for the third consecutive assembly polls.
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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.
