May 5th 2024.
The final stretch of campaigning for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections has come to a close, with 92 seats up for grabs in 11 states and Union Territories. This phase is particularly crucial for the BJP, as they had won a significant number of these seats back in 2019, including all in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was at the forefront of the BJP's campaign, challenging the Congress to promise that they would not allocate reservations to Muslims under Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
In response, the Congress and its allies accused the BJP of trying to tamper with the Constitution and abolish reservations altogether. The principal opposition party also demanded clarity from the BJP on their stance regarding the 50 per cent cap on reservations. Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, focused on issues such as social justice, unemployment, and the alleged preferential treatment of certain businessmen.
Meanwhile, the BJP targeted the Congress on topics like wealth redistribution and inheritance tax, accusing them of indulging in appeasement politics. In contrast, Rahul Gandhi reiterated the Congress' commitment to conducting a caste census and economic survey if voted to power. With over 1,300 candidates in the running, including around 120 women, the third phase of elections promises to be a heated one. Some notable names include Union Ministers Amit Shah, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Mansukh Mandaviya, Parshottam Rupala, Pralhad Joshi, and SP Singh Baghel.
Additionally, former Chief Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Digvijaya Singh have also returned to the electoral fray in Madhya Pradesh. The fate of former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Badruddin Ajmal will also be decided on May 7. In Uttar Pradesh, several members of Mulayam Singh Yadav's family are contesting, making this phase crucial for them as well.
While campaigning in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Modi took a dig at the "dynastic politics" of the Samajwadi Party and Congress, stating that while the opposition alliance only works for the benefit of their families, he and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are focused on building a better future for the nation's next generations. He also added that as they don't have children of their own, they are working for the children of the country.
Out of the 25 seats in Prime Minister Modi's home state of Gujarat, one has already been won by the BJP's Mukesh Dalal unopposed. The remaining seats, along with 11 in Maharashtra, 10 in Uttar Pradesh, 14 out of 28 in Karnataka, seven in Chhattisgarh, eight in Madhya Pradesh, five in Bihar, four each in Assam and West Bengal, and all two in Goa, will go to polls on May 7. The Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu will also hold elections in this phase, while the Anatnag-Rajouri seat's election has been postponed to the sixth phase due to logistical reasons.
The Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has been targeting the BJP over the sexual harassment allegations against Prajwal Revanna, a JD leader and ally of the BJP. In response, BJP leader Amit Shah and others questioned the Congress' delay in taking action against Revanna and pointed out that the JD had joined the NDA just last September. Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, was arrested by a Special Investigation Team on Saturday for his alleged involvement in a kidnapping case linked to sexual abuse allegations.
The BJP has also accused the Congress of failing to control anti-national activities, while also bringing up incidents like the bomb blast at a cafe in Hubballi, the murder of a college student in Hubballi, and the raising of pro-Pakistan slogans in Vidhana Soudha. In Maharashtra, a thrilling contest is taking place in Baramati between Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar, and Sunetra Pawar, wife of the veteran leader's estranged nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
In Gujarat, the BJP's Mukesh Dalal has already been declared the winner after the Congress' Nilesh Kumbhani's nomination was rejected due to irregularities. On the last day of campaigning, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, BJP state unit president CR Paatil, and minister Harsh Sanghavi participated in motorcycle rallies. However, the BJP faced backlash from the Kshatriya community over a remark made by Rupala in Rajkot.
The Aam Aadmi Party, which is contesting from Bhavnagar and Bharuch, held rallies with the help of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, also held a roadshow in Bharuch. In Uttar Pradesh, numerous roadshows and rallies were conducted in the 10 constituencies of Sambhal, Hathras, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Budaun, Aonla, and Bareilly.
This phase is particularly significant for the Mulayam Singh Yadav's family, with Dimple Yadav aiming to retain the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat. Akshaya Yadav, son of Ram Gopal Yadav, is contesting from Firozabad, while Aditya Yadav is making his electoral debut from Budaun. During his rallies, BJP leader Amit Shah took jabs at Rahul Gandhi, suggesting that the Congress would have to conduct a "Congress Dhoondho Yatra" after June 4.
The BJP also accused the Congress and SP leaders of not attending the Ram Temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya due to fear of alienating their vote bank. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav campaigned extensively for his party candidates, attacking the BJP over issues like reservations. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP is hopeful of a clean sweep in the state, which sends 29 members to Lok Sabha.
During a rally in Morena, Prime Minister Modi claimed that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi abolished the inheritance tax to save the money he was supposed to receive after Indira Gandhi's death. In an emotional response, Priyanka Gandhi hit back, stating that her father inherited "martyrdom" and not wealth from Indira Gandhi, who was assassinated. In Bihar, voting will take place in Araria, Supaul, Jhanjharpur, Madhepura, and Khagaria, all of which are currently held by the ruling NDA.
The NDA's heavy artillery was led by Prime Minister Modi, who is known to be the BJP-led coalition's biggest crowd-puller. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, an NDA partner and JD leader, also held rallies and roadshows in all five constituencies. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also campaigned extensively in these five seats, including Khagaria and Jhanjharpur, which his party is not contesting. In Bihar's Khagaria, CPI leaders were noticeably absent, as it is the only seat the party is contesting.
Even with heavy rains in Assam, both the ruling and opposition parties campaigned vigorously in Dhubri, Barpeta, Kokrajhar, and Guwahati. The BJP focused on highlighting the various development schemes of the central and state governments, while the opposition brought up issues like citizenship, connectivity, and unemployment.
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