Pre-Truth — snappy, witty and significant snippets from the world of politics and government.
UP voters are warming up to Congress after Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was announced as general secy
Even before Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has set foot in Uttar Pradesh after entering politics, an internal party survey has predictably shown she’s already making an impact.
According to sources, the question asked in the survey — covering one lakh respondents in UP before Priyanka’s entry into politics — was whether they would vote for the Congress. Twenty-seven per cent said maybe, 6 per cent said yes, and 67 per cent said no.
However, after Priyanka became the national general secretary of the Congress in charge of UP east, the number of ‘yes’ responses went up to 9 per cent, the number of maybes also rose to 37 per cent, while those saying no dropped to 54 per cent.
Party sources say the survey will be used to convince more people into voting for it.
The survey was conducted among upper caste Hindus, Dalits (not including Jatavs) and OBCs, and did not poll Muslims.
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Cold, tiring travel affect J&K Governor Malik’s health during Modi visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a hectic day trip to Jammu and Kashmir Sunday, visiting Leh, Jammu as well as Srinagar. Besides being a packed day, it was also a day with extremely low temperatures, particularly in Leh.
While PM Modi, who was seen in various outfits and headgear, managed covered himself in layers and even wore mittens, the cold and the tiring travel seem to have got to J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik. The governor, being out of touch with mass politics and the gruelling travel it entails, was fine in Leh, but by the last leg of the trip in Srinagar late afternoon, he fell sick. Malik, in fact, felt so unwell that he was compelled to call in doctors at the venue of the programme itself. This left several officials and others present worried about the governor’s health.
After attacking own party for infighting, Milind Deora says won’t contest LS polls
Former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora does not want to contest the next Lok Sabha elections. A day after the Congress was left embarrassed by his public outburst over infighting in the Mumbai unit headed by Sanjay Nirupam, Deora informed the party leadership about his reluctance to contest the polls. “Please look for another candidate for South Mumbai,” he is learnt to have told the party.
He posted a series of tweets attacking the party Tuesday.
In a city like Mumbai, which is our economic and cultural capital, we need to bring people together. The Mumbai Congress cannot become a cricket pitch for sectarian politics, with leaders pitted against one other.
— Milind Deora मिलिंद देवरा (@milinddeora) February 5, 2019
I'm disappointed with what is happening – and the party is aware of my stance on fighting the Lok Sabha elections. However, I have full faith in our central leadership and its commitment to our party's ideology and principles. Especially in Mumbai, where the Congress was born.
— Milind Deora मिलिंद देवरा (@milinddeora) February 5, 2019
@INCIndia is leading a powerful, united campaign across India. Infighting cannot, and should not, be allowed to threaten our base in Mumbai. I appeal to all Congress leaders in Mumbai to unite as a team. We owe this much to our party and to Congress President @RahulGandhi.
— Milind Deora मिलिंद देवरा (@milinddeora) February 5, 2019
Deora’s outburst and subsequent refusal to contest hasn’t surprised many in the party though. Having lost the last elections, he did not show much interest in nursing his constituency and even stayed away from most party programmes, say his colleagues from Mumbai.
His friendship with Rahul Gandhi has remained intact, and he has been accompanying him on his overseas tours. Pictures showing him and other colleagues having fun in Germany during Gandhi’s tour when the party was grieving the loss of senior leader from Mumbai, Gurudas Kamat, had left many Congressmen squirming.
Deora was not available for comment, but his party colleagues in Delhi and Mumbai claim that his criticism of the Mumbai Congress was meant to put the blame for his reluctance to contest the next Lok Sabha elections on the local leadership. However, they say that efforts will be made to persuade him to contest as it would send a wrong signal ahead of the elections.
Some leaders had chosen not to contest the 2014 elections for various reasons, including serious ailments, and the high command had taken a very adverse view of that. Unlike Deora, though, they were not in Gandhi’s inner circle.
(Contributors: DK Singh, Ruhi Tewari and Neelam Pandey)
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My vote for Milind Deora over Sanjay Nirupam, any day.