Prime Time
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s debut speech in Gujarat was top of the news charts Tuesday, although “chaos in the Congress” (RepublicTV) with defections in Maharashtra, Gujarat and possibly Bengal, were gleefully pounced upon by TV news.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been missing from the headlines since Sunday’s announcement of elections — this only sharpened focus on Congress’s woes on channels like Times Now, India Today and RepublicTV.
And so Republic TV devoted three hours to discussions on Rahul Gandhi: his claim “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” was a Congress slogan, the Congress in disarray with defections and alliance faultlines, and his use of “Masood ji” in a speech.
On India Ahead, there was mayhem after anchor Sourav Sanyal bemoaned the absence of political debate on “real” issues instead of Rahul’s “Masood ji” remark.
First, Tauseef Khan, TMC, argued that BJP used such trivialities to divert attention from Nirav Modi and demonetisation — stories that broke over the weekend and on Monday.
“If Rahul had said sorry (for using ‘ji’), it would be debated for a day,” he argued. The youth don’t care about such “b…”
Sanyal immediately ticked him off: “Be civil in language.”
Then, Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s Fuad Halim claimed that Nathuram Godse was the “first terrorist” of India but people called him Godse ji.
Where upon BJP’s Khemchand Sharma erupted: “Shame on you!” he yelled, “Godse was a criminal… he was punished…”
On India Today, anchor Rajdeep Sardesai discussed if Priyanka Gandhi Vadra could change the narrative for Congress.
BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli was sarcastic: “BJP is not worried about what Priyanka Gandhi has to say at all, she is a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family, the first family of the Congress party…”
Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot replied that “instead of criticising her, BJP should answer the questions which she raised…”
Front Page
The front pages are a patchwork of election news — Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Trinamool Congress (TMC) all make appearances.
However, “In late-night move, India grounds Boeing 737 Max” takes the lead in The Times of India and The Indian Express, while Hindustan Times continues to supply “Pulwama proof” with “Speeches, cyber trail…” in its second lead.
TOI’s other lead is an “exclusive” interview with BJP president Amit Shah — “Only Modi majority govt can ensure nat’l security: Shah” — this continues in a full page spread inside.
Shah told the paper “that BJP would win a bigger majority” and that he “dismissed the suggestion that the party had reached saturation point in its strongholds in 2014….”
“In Modiji, we have given India a ‘mazboot’ leader under whom India has emerged among the top economies… Who can secure the country is another big issue. He is best equipped,” the report quotes him saying.
The Congress Working Committee meet in Ahmedabad and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s debut rally speech, Tuesday, feature in all newspapers with different focus points: in their headlines, The Hindu and HT highlight the party meet, TOI and Express, the Gandhis.
HT says, “Cong kicks off campaign blitz on Modi’s home turf,” Hindu “Congress terms Modi years a period of false promises.”
TOI’s “Gandhis sound poll bulge…” leads with what the “Gandhi family” said at their poll rally. “Attempting to change the political narrative post-Pulwama terror attack, the Gandhi family targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over unemployment, failed poll promises and the Rafale deal in his own backyard on Tuesday,” writes TOI.
Express highlights what Rahul said in, “Take the fight to BJP, don’t fear its Balakot pitch.”
“Telling leaders of his party not to feel despondent by the strident nationalism pitch of the BJP post the Balakot air strike, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday urged them to take the fight to the rival camp while targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” it writes.
HT quotes Priyanka Gandhi Vadra quotes her saying “‘Our institutions are being destroyed. Wherever you see, hatred is being spread,’ she said, adding that the April-May Lok Sabha elections are no less than the “fight for independence.”
Women’s reservation
TMC also makes it to the front pages for giving 40 per cent of its seats to women candidates. “By giving 40% of the seats to women candidates, Mamata Banerjee outdid her Odisha counterpart, Naveen Patnaik, who had announced 33% seats for women,” writes TOI.
Express quotes Banerjee to say, she’s “happy to share that this time 41 per cent… candidates are women.”
The significant news of Mayawati ending “any possibility of the Congress becoming a part of the anti-BJP alliance in Uttar Pradesh” doesn’t make it to the front pages, except in The Hindu.
The Hindu’s big page one story looks east: in “No names removed based on draft NRC: Election Commission,” it writes that the Election Commission “assured the Supreme Court that names have not been deleted from the Assam electoral rolls on the basis of the draft National Register of Citizens…”
Hindi dailies
Amar Ujala and Dainik Bhasker lead with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s Ahmedabad speech.
Ujala’s headline quotes Priyanka: “Azadi ki ladai se kam nahin yeh chunav, sahi mudde uthaye…jagrukta hi deshbhakti hai..”
Dainik Bhaskar also leads with Priyanka’s statement that Modi is using nationalism to hide his bad record: “Modi Nakamiaya chipaney ko rashtrawad ki aad le rahe hai‘
Dainik Jagran leads with what it sees at the imminent end of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ with both Mamata Banerjee and Mayawati declining tie ups with Congress: “Matdaan se pehle hi mahagathbandhan fail”
Tamil dailies
The Pollachi sexual assault case and the government handing over the case to CBI, makes the front page – A four-member gang was arrested for the alleged sexual harassment of several women in Pollachi.
Dinamalar‘s headline says it all: “Blackmailing/torturing with filmed sexual abuse videos. Govt. decides to transfer the case to CBI”
The clash between polling dates and the famous Chithirai festival celebrated around Madurai, Theni and Thiruvannamalai is the other big story today. Dinamani asks: “Can the election be postponed due to the festival – HC asks State election commission to respond”
Dinamalar has a more dramatic headline: “Will it happen? Madurai Lok Sabha polling. HC strikes EC with a volley of questions.”
On state politics, there’s some masala with Rahul Gandhi’s Tamil Nadu trip today: Daily Thanthi says “With the sudden arrival of Rahul Gandhi, there is a delay in DMK announcing candidates list.”
Dinamalar asks, “Stalin denies to meet Rahul? Congress shocked.”
Opinion
Election issues lead the editorials: Hindu analyses simultaneous assembly elections in four states, Express argues that NCP leader Sharad Pawar’s exit from the polls is a warning to dynastic politics.
TOI’s “Wanted, Allies” urges Congress to “walk the extra mile to become the fulcrum of the opposition challenge” to the BJP. Thus far, the Congress “poll battle is somewhat listless” and “piecemeal”. To overcome the BJP “electoral juggernaut” it needs “smart alliances” — citing Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Bengal where it has been “dragging its feet”, Congress must “yield” to potential partners “even play second fiddle”, argues TOI.
HT’s “An Uphill task for EC,” is sceptical of including political parties social media platforms in the Model Code of Conduct to curb fake news — “…fake news goes beyond political parties” and can any measure “adequately monitor the gigantic Indian Internet user base” which exceeds 500 million?’’, HT asks.
While social media companies want to “maximize time and engagement” on their platforms, “it is unlikely political parties will have either the means of inclination” to crack down on fake news, it concludes.
Tweet of the day
In the simple dignity of Sabarmati, the truth lives on.
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) March 12, 2019
With inputs from Shailaja Bajpai, Renu Agal and Aananth Daksnamurthy