Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda.
| Photo Credit: ANI

 Health is a priority area and finance for this sector has never been an issue for the various programmes run by the Centre, said Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Tuesday (January 28, 2025) ahead of the Union Budget announcement scheduled for Saturday.

The Minister noted that the announcement by the U.S. to exit the World Health Organsation would not hamper the ongoing programmes with the global health agency here in the country.

“Our projects will continue on schedule and while there are many programmes where WHO partners with us, there will be no disruption. India is also a big contributor to the WHO,’’ Mr. Nadda told a press conference held to list the progress in the last 10 years under the National Health Mission (NHM).

Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research (DHR), noted that the ongoing cluster of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in Maharashtra was under investigation.

Also Read | Union Budget 2025: When and where to watch

“Samples have been taken and the NIV, Pune is looking at the possible cause. We are yet to get any definite leads,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nadda, highlighting the Central government’s achievements through the National Health Mission, noted that the share of Central release under the NHM had seen a 185% growth since 2014. The Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme had benefited over 4.53 lakh dialysis patients in 2023-24. The NHM had seen new initiatives added after 2014, including the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Mission and Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP), while many other initiatives had been reinvigorated like the National TB Elimination Programme, Mission Indradhanush (MI) etc.

The Minister noted that the NHM had engaged over 12 lakh additional healthcare workers between 2021-24.

He said the maternal mortality rate in India declined by 83% (from 556 to 97) since 1990, which was higher than the global decline of 45% (from 385 to 223). The infant mortality rate had declined by 69% from 89 to 28, compared to global decline of 55%, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) had reduced from 3.4 in 1992-93 to 2.0 in 2019-20 (even crossed the replacement level of 2.1) and India demonstrated a higher decline of 75% (from 69 to 32 in 2020) in the reduction of Under 5 Mortality Rate in comparison to the global reduction of 60% since 1990.

Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said the Central government was looking at a pilot roll-out of the HPV vaccine soon. “The modalities are being worked out,’’ she said.

Spotlighting the “distressing situation” outside Delhi AIIMS, a premier medical institution, where hundreds of patients are often seen huddled on the footpath and subway, Rahul Gandhi urged Health Minister JP Nadda and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi to help resolve this “humanitarian crisis”.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha also urged the central government to take concrete steps to strengthen the public healthcare system in the upcoming budget and increase the necessary resources for it.

Pointing out the large “systemic issues”, Mr Gandhi urged in his letter to JP Nadda that Delhi AIIMS is overburdened because “crores of people do not have access to affordable and high-quality healthcare where they live”.

“I urge you as Health Minister, to recognise and address this systemic issue. As a first step, the new AIIMS facilities across the country should be operationalised at the earliest. In addition, the public healthcare infrastructure should be strengthened at all levels, from primary to tertiary, in partnership with the state government,” said Mr Gandhi in his letter dated January 18.  

देशभर से दिल्ली AIIMS आने वाले मरीजों और उनके परिवारों को बेहतर सुविधाएं उपलब्ध कराने के लिए दिल्ली की मुख्यमंत्री और केंद्रीय स्वास्थ्य मंत्री को पत्र लिखा है।

पिछले दिनों मैंने देखा कि ठिठुरती ठंड में ये मेट्रो स्टेशन के नीचे सोने को मजबूर हैं, जहां न तो पीने के पानी की… pic.twitter.com/WVldBRCwan

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 20, 2025

“Central healthcare schemes such as Ayushman Bharat should be reviewed to reduce patient out-of-pocket expenses as much as possible, by expanding eligibility, hospitals enrolled, and conditions covered. The sharp rise in the costs of private healthcare also deserves detailed scrutiny. I hope the Government will use the upcoming Budget to review its overall approach, and substantially increase its investment in public healthcare,” said Mr Gandhi.

Reducing the long wait times, said Mr Gandhi, at each step of treatment, and providing patients information about wait times, would help reduce patients’ uncertainty.

Earlier, on Thursday, the Congress leader met several patients and their families camping on the road and subways around the AIIMS and inquired about their problems and grievances. He accused the Centre and the Delhi government of showing “insensitivity” towards them.

AIIMS के बाहर नरक!

देशभर से आए ग़रीब मरीज और उनके परिवार AIIMS के बाहर ठंड, गंदगी और भूख के बीच सोने को मजबूर हैं।

उनके पास न छत है, न खाना, न शौचालय और न पीने का पानी।

बड़े-बड़े दावे करने वाली केंद्र और दिल्ली सरकार ने इस मानवीय संकट पर आंखें क्यों मूंद ली हैं? pic.twitter.com/wwnm8Fc3i8

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 18, 2025

Most of the patients and their family members had complained to him about the lack of a place to stay while getting their treatment done and a long waiting time for appointments at the AIIMS.

Mr Gandhi had shared a video of his interaction with patients and their families camping on roads near AIIMS.

In his letter to Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, Mr Gandhi said he was “saddened” to see scores of patients outside the facility and on the subway in the bitter cold with only thin blankets and without drinking water or sanitation facilities.

“I urge the government of Delhi to take immediate and timely steps this winter to provide heating, bedding, water and shelter to the patients seeking medical care from AIIMS Delhi. More permanent solutions to accommodate patients by building and expanding permanent facilities should also be explored,” wrote Mr Gandhi.

“While AIIMS Delhi delivers excellent and affordable care, the condition of patients and their families shows that health-care is still out of reach for crores of Indians. As public representatives, we must all work together to address these issues,” he said, assuring his “full support in any endeavour to reduce the suffering of countless patients and their families”.

New Delhi:

The BJP today launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he said the Opposition was fighting not just the BJP, but the Indian State. Union Health Minister and BJP president JP Nadda said the Congress’s “ugly truth now stands exposed”. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asked why Mr Gandhi carried a copy of the Constitution if he thought the Opposition was fighting the State.

Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of the Congress’s new headquarters in Delhi, Mr Gandhi slammed the BJP and its ideological parent RSS.

#WATCH | Delhi: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says “Do not think that we are fighting a fair fight. There is no fairness in this. If you believe that we are fighting a political organisation called the BJP or RSS, you have not understood what is going on. The BJP and… pic.twitter.com/wuZRnxDysB

— ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2025

“Our ideology like the RSS ideology is thousands of years old and it has been fighting the RSS ideology for thousands of years. Do not think that we are fighting a fair fight. There is no fairness in this. If you believe that we are fighting a political organisation called the BJP or RSS, you have not understood what is going on. The BJP and the RSS have captured every single institution of our country. We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian State itself,” he said.

Hidden no more, Congress’ ugly truth now stands exposed by their own leader.

I ‘compliment’ Mr. Rahul Gandhi for saying clearly what the nation knows- that he is fighting the Indian state!

It is not a secret that Mr. Gandhi and his ecosystem have close links with Urban Naxals…

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) January 15, 2025

The remark drew a sharp response from the BJP chief. “Hidden no more, Congress’ ugly truth now stands exposed by their own leader. I ‘compliment’ Mr. Rahul Gandhi for saying clearly what the nation knows- that he is fighting the Indian state,” he said in a post on X.

“It is not a secret that Mr. Gandhi and his ecosystem have close links with Urban Naxals and the Deep State who want to defame, demean and discredit India. His repeated actions have also strengthened this belief. Everything he has done or said has been in the direction of breaking India and dividing our society,” Mr Nadda added.

“Congress has a history of encouraging all those forces who want a weak India. Their greed for power meant compromising the nation’s integrity and betraying the trust of the people. But, the people of India are wise. They have decided that they will always reject Mr. Rahul Gandhi and his rotten ideology,” the BJP chief said.

Finance Minister Sitharaman said the Leader if the Opposition, who took the oath on the Consitution, is saying he is fighting the Indian State. 

The LoP, who was sworn in by taking oath on the Constitution, is now saying, “We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian State itself.”

So, @INCIndia and @RahulGandhi, what for are you carrying a copy of the constitution in your hand? https://t.co/pi3hNpoDWZ

— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) January 15, 2025

Mr Gandhi also launched a no-holds-barred attack on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his remark that India got “true independence” after the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was consecrated. He said the RSS chief’s comment amounted to “treason” and that he would be arrested and tried if he was in any other country.

“Mohan Bhagwat has the audacity to inform the nation every two or three days what he thinks about the Independence movement, what he thinks about the Constitution. What he has said yesterday is treason because it is stating that the Constitution is invalid, it is stating that everything (done) to fight against the British was invalid and he has the audacity to say this publicly,” Mr Gandhi said, adding, “in any other country, he would be arrested and tried”.

“To say that India did not get Independence in 1947 is an insult to every single Indian and it’s about time we stop listening to this nonsense that these people think they can just keep parroting out and shouting and screaming,” the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha said.

Indore:

Deaths from AIDS in the country came down by 79 per cent while HIV infections fell by 44 per cent in 2023 when compared to 2010, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said on Sunday.

Speaking at a function on the occasion of World AIDS Day, Mr Nadda said the 44 per cent decrease in new HIV cases in India since 2010 was higher than the global reduction rate of 39 per cent.

The country is committed to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of eradicating AIDS by 2030, he said and cited the ongoing Phase V of the National AIDS and STD Control Programme.

Mr Nadda said the renewed IDS response measures of ‘test and treat’ and universal viral load testing will be endorsed and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act 2017 will be implemented in toto.

The Union minister underlined the sustained efforts by NACO and State AIDS Control Societies and said India has worked out a formula of “95-95-95” in view of the target of eliminating AIDS by 2030.

“Ninety-five percent of the patients in the country should know that they are infected with HIV, 95 percent of the patients should get treatment and the “viral load” of 95 percent of the patients should be lessened by antiretroviral therapy medicines,” he explained.

At present, 81 per cent of patients know they are infected with HIV, 88 per cent patients are being given treatment and the viral load of 97 per cent patients has reduced, the Union minister informed.

“There has been 44 per cent reduction in new AIDS infections in the country, while AIDS-related deaths have reduced by 79 per cent in 2023 when compared to 2010,” he said.

Mr Nadda said the current prevalence of AIDS is 0.70 percent globally, whereas in India it was 0.20 percent, adding that after a long battle against AIDS, a strong medical system has been developed in the country to fight off this disease.

The Union Health Minister said the Centre is providing AIDS medicines to patients free of cost and also giving medicine to people instantly after they test positive for HIV.

Indian pharmaceutical companies were shipping the cheapest and most effective AIDS medicines to Africa, South Africa and Latin America, Mr Nadda pointed out.

“Youth should take precautions while getting tattooed. Today we are getting to know that people are suffering from AIDS after getting tattoos. I want to make youth aware of this danger,” he said.

The Union minister also urged people to set aside taboos associated with the disease and adopt a sensitive attitude towards those infected.

It should be ensured that there is no discrimination against HIV infected people in employment and other areas, Mr Nadda asserted.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav was also present at the function.

Mr Yadav said MP aims to achieve the target of eradicating AIDS as a public health threat by 2028, two years ahead of the 2030 SDG goal.

Emphasizing that the government is working on the principle of ‘live and let live’, Mr Yadav said Madhya Pradesh is leading the way in Ayushman Bharat Vay Vandana Yojana as well as in health indicators like IMR and delivery of health services to remote areas etc. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The doctor-population ratio is 1:811 in the country which is better than the WHO standard of 1:1000, Union Health Minister J P Nadda informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.

As per information provided by the National Medical Commission (NMC), there are 13,86,145 allopathic doctors registered with the State Medical Councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC) as on November, 2024, he said.

“Assuming 80 per cent availability of registered allopathic doctors and around 6.14 lakh AYUSH doctors, the doctor-population ratio in the country is around 1:811 which is better than the WHO standard of 1:1000,” J P Nadda said.

The government has increased the number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats, he said.

The minister said there is an increase of 102 per cent in the medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 780 as of now.

Further, there is an increase of 130 per cent in MBBS seats from 51,348 before 2014 to 1,18,137 as of now and an increase of 135 per cent in PG seats from 31,185 before 2014 to 73,157 as of now, he added.

Listing the measures/steps taken by the government to increase the doctor/medical professional in the country, J P Nadda said the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new medical colleges by upgrading district/ referral hospital under which 131 new medical colleges are already functional out of 157 approved medical colleges which includes 23 medical colleges in Rajasthan.

Under upgradation of government medical colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) scheme, a total of 75 projects have been approved, of which 69 projects are complete, the minister informed.

Under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved, said J P Nadda said, adding undergraduate courses have started in 19 of these.

Besides, DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as faculty to take care of shortage of faculty. Enhancement of age limit for appointment/ extension/ re-employment against posts of teachers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges upto 70 years, he said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

BJP president JP Nadda on Friday accused the Congress of pushing an “incorrect, false and politically” motivated narrative on the issue of Manipur unrest, as he hit back at Mallikarjun Kharge for seeking President Droupadi Murmu’s intervention and alleging the Centre’s complete failure in defusing the crisis.

In a rejoinder to Mr Kharge, Mr Nadda said the repercussions of the Congress’s “abject failure” in dealing with local issues in Manipur when it was in power are being felt even today.

What is shocking is how repeated attempts are being made by the Congress party to sensationalise the situation in Manipur, he told Mr Kharge, asserting that the current dispensation has been working since the first incidents of violence to bring stability and peace in the state.

He said Mr Kharge seemed to have forgotten that not only did his government legitimise the illegal migration of foreign militants to India, the then home minister P Chidambaram had signed treaties with them.

These known militant leaders fleeing their country to avoid arrest were wholeheartedly endorsed and encouraged to carry on their destabilising efforts, Mr Nadda claimed.

“This complete failure of India’s security and administrative protocols under your government is one of the major reasons why militant and habitually violent organisations are attempting to destroy the hard-won peace in Manipur and push it back several decades into the age of anarchy,” he said.

Unlike the Congress, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government will not allow this to happen at any cost, he added.

He said the governments at the Centre and in Manipur have been working to stabilise the situation and protect people since the initial violence.

The entire government machinery is devoted to bringing back peace and harmony to Manipur, he said, stressing the BJP’s commitment to resolving the situation quickly as probe into the incidents of violence are being carried out by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), “one of the most efficient agencies” in the country.

Mr Nadda said he felt compelled to respond to the “incorrect, false and politically motivated narrative” being pushed against the government and which Kharge’s words fail to camouflage.

Referring to the Congress president’s letter to President Murmu, he said it was “heartening” to finally see “some form of respect” from the Opposition party for the President of India after “uncountable disrespectful remarks” heaped on her by its senior leaders.

Mr Kharge and his party, he said, seemed to have conveniently forgotten the complete failure of government machinery and the “ill-advised strategies” adopted by the Congress governments both at the Centre and state during similar incidents in the early 90s and during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) era.

The northeast region has seen a complete transformation in every sector be it economy, security, healthcare, education or access to growth opportunities under the Modi government, he said.

People have endorsed its work by repeatedly putting their faith in the stability of “double engine” NDA governments over the false promises of the Congress and its allies, he said.

“From more than 10 historical peace accords to unprecedented connectivity, our governments are truly bringing the people of northeast closer,” Mr Nadda said. In Manipur alone, the percentage of people suffering from multidimensional poverty has reduced from over 20 per cent in 2013 to just over 5 per cent in 2022, he added.

“Yet, ignoring these developments, you (Mr Kharge) and your party have chosen to use the northeast and its people to rake up political mileage and peddle your nefarious agendas. I wish to remind you that under Congress rule, Manipur witnessed one of the bloodiest periods in history,” Mr Nadda said.

In addition to the black period of the 90s when thousands were killed and lakhs displaced due to rampant violence, in 2011 alone Manipur witnessed a complete blockade for more than 120 days, he said.

READ | “There’s A Photo…”: Manipur Chief Minister vs P Chidambaram On Militancy

Petrol and LPG prices were nearly four-times higher than the rest of the country and losses of crores of rupees were being suffered by the exchequer every day, he said. The state was marked by thousands of fake encounters, he alleged.

Mr Nadda claimed that this pattern of Congress leaders endorsing and encouraging a nexus of foreign forces looking to derail India’s progress is truly worrying.

“As a result of this failure to recognise the maleficent intentions of these individuals, your party is often seen matching them step-for-step. Whether this failure is an unfortunate blind spot resulting from the Congress’s thirst for power or part of a carefully designed strategy to divide the people and sideline our democracy, is what our nation deserves to know,” he said.

Mr Nadda reminded Mr Kharge of the “disrespectful and irresponsible manner” in which the Congress acted when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing the issue of violence in Manipur in Parliament earlier this year.

In his two-page letter to the President, Mr Kharge on Tuesday accused both the Union and the state governments of having “completely failed” in restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur during the last 18 months, seeking her intervention.

He said people have lost confidence in the government. Mr Kharge said the violence has claimed more than 300 lives, including that of women, children and babies.

“The deteriorating law and order in Manipur has internally displaced nearly a lakh people, rendering them homeless and forcing them to live in different relief camps,” he said, adding the agony continues unabated.

New Delhi:

BJP president JP Nadda today slammed his Congress counterpart Mallikarjun Kharge for seeking President Droupadi Murmu’s intervention to restore peace in Manipur, calling it an attempt to “sensationalise” the situation in the northeastern state.

Manipur has been hit by a fresh wave of violence over the last week, in the ongoing cycle of inter-communal clashes that broke out in May last year between the ethnic Meitei and Kuki communities, and led to more than 200 deaths and displaced around 60,000 people.

Mr Kharge on Tuesday wrote to the President and sought her intervention, accusing both the Centre and the state government of having “completely failed” in restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur in the last 18 months.

Mr Nadda, responding to the Congress chief’s charge, insisted that Manipur was still feeling the repercussions of the Congress’s “abject failure” in dealing with local issues when it was in power in the state.

In a three-page letter to Mr Kharge, the Union Minister said the BJP governments at the Centre and in Manipur have been working to stabilise the situation and protect people since the initial violence.

BJP national president JP Nadda writes to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge over the latter’s letter to President Droupadi Murmu on Manipur violence.

“…What is shocking is how repeated attempts are being made by the Congress party to sensationalise the situation in Manipur.… pic.twitter.com/mFSU6iK4jO

— ANI (@ANI) November 22, 2024

He said Mr Kharge seemed to have forgotten that not only did his government legitimise the illegal migration of foreign militants to India, the then home minister P Chidambaram had even signed treaties with them.

“These known militant leaders fleeing their country to avoid arrest were wholeheartedly endorsed and encouraged to carry on their destabilising efforts,” Mr Nadda wrote.

“This complete failure of India’s security and administrative protocols under your government is one of the major reasons why militant and habitually violent organisations are attempting to destroy the hard-won peace in Manipur and push it back several decades into the age of anarchy,” he said.

Unlike the Congress, the BJP-led NDA government will not allow this to happen at any cost, the BJP leader said.

Mr Nadda also said that he felt “compelled” to respond to the “incorrect, false and politically motivated narrative” being pushed against the government which Mr Kharge’s words fail to camouflage.

The North East region has witnessed a complete transformation in every sector be it economy, security, healthcare, education or access to growth opportunities under the Modi government, the BJP chief insisted.

“People have endorsed its work by repeatedly putting their faith in the stability of double-engine NDA governments over the false promises of Congress and its allies,” he wrote.

“Yet, ignoring these developments you and your party have chosen to use the North East and its people to rake up political mileage and peddle your nefarious agendas. I wish to remind you that under Congress rule, Manipur witnessed one of the bloodiest periods in history,” Mr Nadda said.

“In addition to the black period of the 90s when thousands were killed and lakhs displaced due to rampant violence, in 2011 alone Manipur witnessed a complete blockade for more than 120 days,” he wrote.

He also reminded Mr Kharge of the “disrespectful and irresponsible manner” in which the Congress acted when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing the issue of violence in Manipur in Parliament earlier this year.

Mr Nadda claimed that “this pattern of Congress leaders endorsing and encouraging a nexus of foreign forces looking to derail India’s progress is truly worrying”.

What Mallikarjun Kharge Said

Mallikarjun Kharge had written to President Droupadi Murmu, seeking her immediate intervention to ensure that the people of Manipur live “peacefully” in their homes with “dignity”.

In his two-page letter, the Congress chief claimed that the violence has killed more than 300 people, including women, children and babies.

“The deteriorating law and order in Manipur has internally displaced nearly a lakh of human population rendering them homeless and forcing them to live in different relief camps,” he said, adding the “agony continues unabated”.

“I consider that it has become constitutionally imperative on part of yourself, Hon’ble Madam, as the President of Republic of India and the custodian of our Constitution to uphold the constitutional propriety and immediately intervene to ensure the protection of lives and… pic.twitter.com/gd081642Zx

— Congress (@INCIndia) November 19, 2024

“I consider that it has become constitutionally imperative on the part of yourself, Hon’ble Madam, as the President of the Republic of India and the custodian of our Constitution to uphold the constitutional propriety and immediately intervene to ensure the protection of lives and properties of our own citizens in Manipur, as enshrined in the Constitution,” he wrote.

“I am confident that, through your intervention of your esteemed Office, the people of Manipur will again live peacefully in their homes in security with dignity,” Mr Kharge said.

The Congress chief blamed the “deliberate acts of omission and commission” and “inordinate inaction” by the Centre and the state government for the present situation.

“With every passing day, the people of Manipur are becoming insecure on their own soil – their home turf having witnessed their infants, babies, children and women getting mercilessly killed,” he said.

New Delhi:

Chief Ministers from 19 NDA-ruled states met in Chandigarh today for a long pending meet to discuss issues relating to governance and upcoming events of the government, including one to celebrate the Constitution — Samvidhan ki Amrut Mahotsav. The meeting — held shortly after the oath ceremony of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini — was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

In a post on X, PM Modi shared pictures from the meeting. “Chaired a meeting of NDA Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers. We had extensive discussions on aspects of good governance and ways to improve people’s lives. Our alliance is committed to furthering national progress and empowering the poor and downtrodden,” his post read.

“The PM gave his observation that since Independence it was the first time yesterday that the oath ceremony in Jammu and Kashmir was held as per the Indian constitution. Before this, the oath ceremony in J&K used to take place as per the Constitution of Jammu & Kashmir,” said BJP chief JP Nadda, who was present at the meet along with Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath.

“Amit Shah ji moved a proposal that in 2025 we will discuss how democracy was murdered with the imposition of Emergency… Next year, we will celebrate 150 years of Birsa Munda and Sardar Patel and the 100th birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee,” he added. 

“Deliberations in this meeting will have a structured agenda covering national development issues. It will also discuss subjects like observance of Samvidhan Ka Amrut Mahotsav and the Year of 50th anniversary of attempt to murder democracy,” read a statement from the government released ahead of the meeting.

With the BJP and its allies set to take on opposition alliance in next month’s Maharashtra and Jharkhand polls, the ruling bloc is looking to draw momentum from its Haryana win to charge at its rivals.

Thirteen Chief Ministers and 16 Deputy Chief Ministers from the BJP participated, along with allies — Chief Ministers from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim, Nagaland, and Meghalaya, which are governed by NDA partners.

New Delhi:

The BJP is ready with a list of three candidates for each assembly constituency in Jharkhand, where elections are due by the year-end, sources have told NDTV. The final list will take shape at a meeting with party chief JP Nadda, expected to be held shortly.

The BJP is contesting the election with allies Janata Dal United of Nitish Kumar and Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party. Sources said two of the state’s 81 assembly seats to go to JDU and one to LJP. Nine seats are also likely to be given to All Jharkhand Students’ Union, which is the BJP’s local ally.

Regarding candidates, the party has sought suggestions from three levels of workers — Mandal level, booth level and MPs. The list of three was then drawn up, taking into account the results of an internal survey. 

Sources said the party has focused on only one criterion — winnability – during candidate selection.

Also the party, which has been vocal about dynastic politics, will not shy away from giving tickets to family members of senior leaders, sources said. 

In a mark of optimism, the BJP will field candidates on all 28 tribal dominated seats, sources said. All candidates will be drawn from the tribal community. The decision flies in the face of the Lok Sabha election results earlier this year, when the party had lost from all five tribal-dominated seats of the state. Candidates of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and its ally Congress had won from Khunti, Singhbhum, Lohardaga, Rajmahal, and Dumka.

In 2019, the BJP had won from Khunti, Lohardanga and Dumka, dispelling the perception about its unpopularity among tribals and Dalits. 

This time, the party is banking on Champai Soren, the senior leader of JMM who crossed over to the BJP after being asked to step down from the Chief Minister post once Chief Minister Hemant Soren, arrested in an alleged corruption case, got bail.

In the last assembly election in 2019, the BJP had won 25 seats, down from 37 in 2029 – but including 11 of the 14 tribal seats. The JMM had won 30 and its ally Congress 16. 

Election dates for Jharkhand and Maharashtra are likely to be announced after the results of Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir come in tomorrow.

New Delhi:

Expressing disappointment that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not reply to a letter by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and, instead, got BJP President JP Nadda to pen an “inferior and aggressive” response, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has said there is a lot of poison in today’s politics and the PM should have set a different example. 

Mr Kharge had written to PM Modi on Tuesday and asked him to “discipline” BJP leaders for their “objectionable and violent” statements against senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. 

In his letter, the Congress president had highlighted statements by Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu and UP Minister Raghuraj Singh calling Mr Gandhi “number one terrorist”, and Sanjay Gaikwad, an MLA from BJP ally Shiv Sena, announcing that he would give Rs 11 lakh to anyone chopping off the Congress leader’s tongue for his remarks made in the US on scrapping the reservation system.  

Mr Nadda responded on Thursday and, besides listing the abuses hurled at PM Modi by Congress leaders in the past, took a dig at Mr Gandhi and said the party has attempted once again to polish and relaunch a “failed product” which had been rejected by people several times. 

Taking to X on Friday, Priyanka Gandhi said Mr Kharge is a senior leader and older than the Prime Minister – the Congress president is 82 while the PM turned 74 this month – and asked why he had been disrespected. 

कुछेक भाजपा नेताओं और मंत्रियों की अनर्गल और हिंसक बयानबाज़ी के मद्देनज़र लोकसभा में विपक्ष के नेता राहुल गांधी के जीवन की सुरक्षा के लिए चिंतित होकर कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष और राज्यसभा में विपक्ष के नेता श्री मल्लिकार्जुन खरगे जी ने प्रधानमंत्री जी को एक पत्र लिखा।

प्रधानमंत्री जी की…

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) September 20, 2024

“If the Prime Minister had faith in democratic values, equal dialogue and respect for elders, he would have personally responded to this (Mr Kharge’s) letter. Instead, he got an inferior and aggressive response written by Nadda ji and sent it,” Ms Gandhi wrote in Hindi. 

The senior Congress leader said asking questions and communicating are part of the ethos of democracy and even religion states that no one is above values like dignity and etiquette. 

“There is a lot of poison in today’s politics, the Prime Minister should have set a different example by keeping the dignity of his post. If he had respectfully replied to the letter of a senior colleague politician, his image and dignity would have increased in the eyes of the public,” she said, adding, “It is unfortunate that our leaders in the highest positions in the government have rejected these great traditions.”

Rahul Gandhi has been taking fire from BJP leaders, with the charge being led by PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, for his statements during his recent visit to the US in which he spoke about scrapping reservations when India “is a fair place” and on the issue of religious freedoms. He clarified the reservation remark later and said it was misrepresented, adding that the Congress wanted to take reservation beyond the cap of 50%.

At an event in Gujarat on Monday PM Modi did not name Mr Gandhi but said some people were acting against the interests of the country. “Some people filled with negativity are targeting India’s unity. Those filled with hate are not leaving any chance to defame India and Gujarat… they want to do ‘tukde, tukde’ of the country (break it up),” he said.