Nephew Of Former US President John F Kennedy Announces Presidential Bid

The 69-year-old Robert Kennedy Jr outsider intends to compete for the Democratic Party’s nomination against incumbent President Joe Biden, who has yet to announce his reelection bid but has repeatedly said he plans to run.

Boston: Robert Kennedy Jr, a noted anti-vaccine advocate whose uncle “JFK” was the 35th US president, formally announced his own White House bid on Wednesday.

The 69-year-old outsider intends to compete for the Democratic Party’s nomination against incumbent President Joe Biden, who has yet to announce his reelection bid but has repeatedly said he plans to run.

Kennedy’s father “RFK” served as attorney general under Democratic president John F Kennedy and later as a US senator from New York.

The assassinations of both brothers — JFK in 1963 and RFK in 1968 during his own presidential campaign — are viewed as among the most significant events in 20th century US politics.

RFK Jr worked for decades as an environmental lawyer, but has been known since 2005 for promoting conspiracy theories about vaccines, notably linking them to the development of autism.

“I’ve come here today to announce my candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States,” he said at his campaign launch event in Massachusetts, the stronghold of the Kennedy family.

Among the crown assembled in Boston, several supporters wore caps with anti-vaccine messages.

Kennedy vowed to end the deep political division in the United States by “telling the truth to the American people.”

Despite his highly recognizable name, Kennedy’s bid is a longshot against incumbent Biden, whose own official launch is expected later in the year, though no date has been announced.

A few others have also announced they will challenge 80-year-old Biden for the Democratic nomination, but no high-profile names have joined the race.

“101%”: BS Yediyurappa On Lingayats’ Support After High-Profile BJP Exits

BS Yediyurappa remains the BJP’s tallest leader in Karnataka as the party preps for the May 10 election.

New Delhi: After big exits from the BJP in Karnataka by sulking Lingayat leaders like Jagadish Shettar, former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa says the community remains “101 percent” with his party.

The veteran leader, who quit electoral politics but remains the BJP’s tallest leader in Karnataka as the party preps for the May 10 election, also said Jagadish Shettar, his one-time loyalist, “made a mistake” by quitting the BJP.

Mr Shettar joined the Congress earlier this week, upset at being dropped as a candidate by the BJP.

“We had promised him Rajya Sabha membership and we would make him a minister at the Centre. Amit Shah himself spoke to Shettar. I think he made a mistake leaving the party. We wholeheartedly supported him almost every time,” Mr Yediyurappa told .

“We made him Speaker, minister, gave him almost all important opportunities. I told him not to leave the party.”

Mr Yediyurappa, 80, spoke in an exclusive interview in his constituency Shikaripura, where his son BY Vijayendra filed his nomination to contest the election. Mr Yediyurappa has won from the constituency since 1983.

Mr Shettar is a prominent Lingayat leader like Mr Yediyurappa. So was Laxman Savadi, who also quit after being dropped by the BJP.

Would the Lingayats still back the BJP like before? “101% – there is no doubt about it. And wherever there is any misunderstanding, we will convince them… on what happened with Shettar,” the former Chief Minister said.

The BJP has dropped several senior leaders from its list of candidates this time, opting for younger leaders and “fresh faces” in an attempt to offset anti-incumbency.

Mr Yediyurappa said his own decision to not fight the election was under no compulsion. “I myself have taken a decision not to contest the assembly election,” he stressed.

“According to me, the leadership of Modi ji and Amit Bhai (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah) will ensure BJP wins this time. We are going to get an absolute majority and we are going to form a government,” Mr Yediyurappa declared.

As for his son Vijayendra, who is contesting from his father’s constituency for the first time, Mr Yediyurappa said he would win by a margin of more than 55,000 votes.

Mr Yediyurappa, who resigned as Chief Minister in 2021 in a haze of corruption allegations and was replaced by Basavaraj Bommai, dismissed the opposition’s campaign focused on corruption on the BJP’s watch.

“These are false allegations and will not affect our politics,” said the BJP veteran.

His son BY Vijayendra also dismissed the possibility of recent exits impacting the BJP.

“This is a party based on cadre. The party doesn’t depend on a few leaders,”

Defending the BJP’s decisions, Mr Vijayendra said: “The Intent is pretty clear – to pave the way for a young, new leadership. The BJP is the only party able to test this. The Congress is limited to one family but for the BJP, everything is based on surveys and reports.”

The Karnataka election results will be announced on May 13.

Tejasvi Surya Is Not On Party’s Star Campaigners’ List

Tejasvi Surya does not feature in the list of 40 star campaigners that the BJP released on Wednesday.

Bengaluru: The BJP has left out one of its most prominent young faces, Tejasvi Surya, from its list of star campaigners for the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections, raising questions about his role and influence in the state’s politics.

The 30-year-old is the president of the BJP’s youth wing and a member of parliament from Bengaluru South. He is known for his vocal support for the party’s Hindutva agenda and his criticism of the opposition parties, especially the Congress.

However, he does not feature in the list of 40 star campaigners that the BJP released on Wednesday. The list includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and several other senior leaders from the state and the centre.

According to BJP sources, Mr Surya’s omission is not a sign of any negative view in the party regarding him. The leader has been the subject of intense ridicule in recent months over an incident involving him accidentally opening an emergency exit on a passenger flight before take-off.

Rather, it is a strategic decision to keep him focused on his constituency and his organisational work, a BJP official said.

“He is a member of parliament from Karnataka and a popular leader for us. He is anyways campaigning for the party and has been doing so for weeks now. But we also need people from the organisation who can be sent at short notice for meetings, everyone cannot be burdened with the responsibility of campaigning all the time,” a BJP leader told NDTV on condition of anonymity.

The source added that Mr Surya’s absence from the list does not mean that he will not be seen or heard during the election campaign.

Mr Surya has not commented on the subject yet. Sources close to him said the BJP leadership had decided to keep all young leaders off the list.

“Tejasvi Surya has been asked to campaign in at least 50 constituencies across the state. He will be in Puttur, Byndoor and Shimoga tomorrow,” a source said.

Mr Surya’s fellow MP from Karnataka, Pratap Simha, who is also known for his hardline Hindutva views, has also been left out of the star campaigner list. Mr Simha represents the Mysuru-Kodagu constituency and is also a national spokesperson of the BJP.

The BJP has also not included BY Vijayendra, son of former chief minister BS Yediyurappa, who is contesting from the Shikaripura seat. Mr Vijayendra is seen as Mr Yediyurappa’s heir apparent and has been actively involved in state politics since his father’s resignation in July.

The BJP is facing a tough challenge from the Congress and its former ally Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka, where it has 114 seats in the 224-member assembly. The elections are scheduled to be held on May 10, with results expected on May 13.

“My Last Election”: Congress’s Siddaramaiah Files Nomination For Elections

Siddaramaiah’s son Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah is the sitting Congress MLA from Varuna.

Mysuru: Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday filed nomination from Varuna constituency in this district, for the May 10 Karnataka Assembly polls, as he reiterated that this would be his last election and virtually laid out a “succession plan” of sorts.

The 75-year-old Leader of Opposition indicated his son and grandson to be his political successors. “This is my last election, after that there is Yathindra (son), Dhawan Rakesh (grand son)…”, he said.

Siddaramaiah’s younger son Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah is the sitting Congress MLA from Varuna.

An eight time MLA, Siddaramaiah had earlier won twice from Varuna, and went on to become the Leader of Opposition after winning from here in 2008, and then became Chief Minister after 2013 Assembly polls.

The Congress legislature party leader offered prayers to his family deity Siddarameshwara at the temple in his native village of Siddaramanahundi, and also visited Sri Rama temple there, and held a massive roadshow before filing the nomination.

He also visited the famous Chamundeshwari temple on Chamundi hills in Mysuru, and addressed a public meeting ahead of filing papers.

Pointing out that he is the son of the soil, as his village Siddaramanahundi comes under Varuna segment, Siddaramaiah while addressing the public meeting said this will be his last election. After contesting these polls, he will retire from electoral politics, but not from politics.

Dhawan Rakesh is son of Siddaramaiah’s late elder son Rakesh Siddaramaiah. As Siddaramaiah took Dhwan’s name the crowd started cheering.

As Dhawan was waving at the crowd, Siddaramaiah said, “He should be 25 years to come to politics, still eight years to go, his education is still not complete. Only after completing education, politics. Your love and affection towards him was what you had on Rakesh, who was very popular here.” Further, urging people to ensure that he wins with a margin of over one lakh votes, he said, “I will not be able to come for campaigning here for more than two days, think you are the candidate and ensure victory.” The ruling BJP has fielded Minister V Somanna from Varuna to take on Siddaramaiah.

Stating that BJP has fielded Somanna who is a resident of Bengaluru, instead of someone born here, Siddaramaiah alleged, “BJP and JD(S) have come to an internal pact. That’s the reason why JD(S) has fielded Bharathi Shankar, former MLA from T Narasipur, as its candidate, aimed at dividing Dalit votes, but I’m confident that people of Varuna will understand the conspiracy and will make me win with a big margin.” “BJP and JD(S) aimed at defeating me may ensure money flow,” said Siddaramaiah, a Chief Ministerial aspirant in the event of Congress coming to power. “Despite all their conspiracies and spending crores of money, people of Varuna will not fall prey to their allurements and will bless me,” he said.

By filing nomination in Varuna, Siddaramaiah has returned to his home constituency after contesting from neighbouring Chamundeshwari, and Badami in Bagalkote district, in 2018 polls. He had faced a defeat in Chamundeshwari, but had won in Badami.

The last day for filing of nominations is April 20. Voting will take place on May 10 and the counting of votes will be on May 13.

Sachin Pilot Out, Ex BJP Veteran In

While former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who recently joined the Congress after a fallout with the BJP, was on the list, the name of Sachin Pilot, who has been making headlines for his not-so-secret feud with Ashok Gehlot, was nowhere to be seen.

New Delhi: Two high-profile names were the highlights of the Congress’ star campaigners’ list for the upcoming assembly polls in Karnataka, one for making it and the other for being dropped off it. While former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who recently joined the Congress after a fallout with the BJP, was on the list, the name of Sachin Pilot, who has been making headlines for his not-so-secret feud with Ashok Gehlot, was nowhere to be seen.

Ashok Gehlot, along with other Congress Chief Ministers – Bhupesh Baghel (Chhattisgarh) and Sukhwinder Singh Sukkhu (Himachal Pradesh) was a part of the party’s 40 star campaigners.

Mr Shettar was part of the Jan Sangh and BJP for several decades before severing his ties with the party after being dropped as a candidate for the May 10 election. He joined the Congress on Monday.

Sachin Pilot, who was on the list of star campaigners for the 2018 Karnataka polls, does not figure on the list this time. The 45-year-old was one of the star campaigners for the recently-concluded Assam polls.

The development comes close on the heels of Mr Pilot staging a protest against his own government in the state. He has alleged the Ashok Gehlot government failed to probe the corruption cases during the BJP regime.

Shashi Tharoor, who missed out on the Congress’ Gujarat list before making a comeback as the party’s star campaigner in Nagaland, has been included in the Karnataka list.

The list also features the constants – Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi, senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra among others.

Karnataka Congress heavyweights, such as Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, Veerappa Moily, MB Patil, and Satish Jarkiholi would also be campaigning for the party.

Ramalinga Reddy, DK Suresh, GC Chandrashekhar, Syed Naseer Hussain, Zameer Ahmed Khan, HM Revanna, Umashree, Revanth Reddy, Ramesh Chennithala, Srinivas BV, Raj Babbar, Mohammed Azharuddin, Divya Spandana, Imran Pratapgarhi, Kanhaiya Kumar, Rupa Shashidhar and Sadhukokila are also on the list.

“There Will Be Heartburn For Some”-B Bommai

B Bommai, who replaced the BJP’s Karnataka giant BS Yediyurappa as Chief Minister in 2021, said the recent exit of top leaders would not impact the party

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai today said the Congress’s “40 per cent commission” charge against his government is “a figment of imagination” and challenged his critics to produce “one solid case” of corruption.

“These are still allegations. I am challenging all my adversaries – come out with one case, a solid case against our government and we will do the perfect inquiry. We won’t spare anybody. 40% is just a figment of imagination,” Mr Bommai told in Shiggaon, where he filed his nomination papers to contest the May 10 election.

Mr Bommai, a three-time winner from Shiggaon, campaigned there today with Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeep and BJP president JP Nadda.

“There is a very good relationship between me and the people of my constituency. The enthusiasm of people wherever I go shows the BJP will come back with a thumping majority despite some leaders leaving the party. In spite of all these rumblings, people are with us, the workers are with us,” said the Chief Minister.

Mr Bommai, who replaced the BJP’s Karnataka giant BS Yediyurappa as Chief Minister in 2021, said the recent exit of top leaders would not impact the party. Among those who have quit the BJP is former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, a powerful Lingayat leader, who has joined the Congress.

“The BJP and (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji have certain principles. There will be some kind of heartburn for some. It is natural. But our party has the capacity to digest all this. Our strength is the people, our strength is the direction of Modi ji,” he said.

He also slammed the opposition Congress, which has been targeting his government over allegations of bribery and commission. “The Congress has lost its credibility. Another name for the Congress is corruption. They don’t have any moral right to talk about it,” Mr Bommai said.

The newly elected BJP MLAs are set to meet later on Monday to elect the chief minister at the party’s office at Colonel Chowmuhani in Agartala, a senior party leader said.

 Agartala: The newly elected BJP MLAs are set to meet later on Monday to elect the chief minister at the party’s office at Colonel Chowmuhani in Agartala, a senior party leader said.

In the recently concluded elections the BJP won 32 seats of the 60-member Assembly while its ally-Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) won one seat.

“The newly elected members of the party will meet at the party’s election office on Monday to elect the leader of the BJP legislators. Party’s Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra will also join the meeting”, Sunit Sarka, the party media incharge told PTI.

However, he declined to comment on who is likely to be the leader, who will also be the chief minister of the state. There are speculations Manik Saha, who has already tendered his resignation, is likely to be the next Chief Minister of the second BJP-IPFT government considering his performance within the brief period during which he ran the state.

“He is a well educated, gentleman and clean imaged person. I hope no other name will come up at the meeting as his replacement,” said one of the party’s vice presidents.

“Saha had taken charge in a difficult time and led the party to a crucial victory in the election. He deserves to be the next Chief Minister,” he added. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Darma has already visited the north eastern state to measure the water and held meetings with the Chief Minister and senior party colleagues on the possible formation of the next cabinet.

Mr Sarma had a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Sunday over the composition of the cabinet and its leader to ensure a smooth transition, party sources said.

Sources claimed the Union Home Minister is likely to arrive in the state on Tuesday to give a final touch to the cabinet. The second BJP led government will take oath on March 8 in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

BJP national president JP Nadda and several Chief Ministers of BJP ruled states are expected to join the swearing in ceremony.

With the IPFT in decline following the death of its founder N C Debbarma, the burden of delivering a majority rests largely on the shoulders of the BJP while its two main rivals have united.

New Delhi: 

Stakes are high for the BJP ahead of the counting of votes on Thursday for three state assembly polls as results will signal if it has deepened its roots in Tripura, a Left bastion captured by the party in 2018, and made further inroads in Meghalaya and Nagaland, or the opposition has managed to dent its influence.

Among the three states, it is Tripura which promises to have more national resonance than the two others as traditional rivals Congress and the Left have joined hands for the first time to challenge the BJP in the election to the state’s 60-member assembly.

In this battle among the national parties, it is the Pradyot Debbarma-led TIPRA Motha that has emerged as an X-factor as the sway of its founder, scion of erstwhile royalty, among a big section of the tribal population has disturbed conventional calculations, more so as the BJP and its ally Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) had done well in the tribal region in 2018.

The BJP had won 36 seats and the IPFT eight last time. With the IPFT in decline following the death of its founder N C Debbarma, the burden of delivering a majority rests largely on the shoulders of the BJP while its two main rivals have united.

The BJP’s stunning rise after having failed to win a single seat in 2013 to a majority on its own five years later by decimating the Left citadel for two decades was projected by the party as its ideological victory over its rivals, and a loss will be seen as a setback despite Tripura’s relatively marginal influence on national politics.

While regional parties remain bigger players in both Meghalaya and Nagaland, the BJP ran a determined campaign with its bigwigs, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, in the states to expand its footprints.

For the first time, the BJP has fought on all 60 seats in Meghalaya and constantly targeted National People’s Party leader and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma for running the “most corrupt” state government in the country.

The BJP was a partner in the state government but broke ties ahead of the polls. The party hopes to boost its strength from two in the assembly to emerge as a more powerful player if the verdict throws up a hung assembly like the last time.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJP’s pointsman for the northeast region, met Mr Sangma after the polls in an indication that the two parties can do business together again.

An interesting sideshow to these election is the strong push by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress to make an impact in the polls to project itself as a stronger challenger to the BJP than the Congress, more so as the countdown to the next Lok Sabha polls in 2024 begins.

The Congress has also run an intensive campaign, with Rahul Gandhi holding a rally in Meghalaya, in its bid to claw back its lost influence in the states it once dominated.

In Nagaland, which had the unique feature of having no opposition as all parties with presence in the 60-member assembly backed the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party-led government, the BJP is again fighting the polls in alliance with the NDPP.

Mr Sarma has claimed that there will be no hung assembly in Tripura, Nagaland or Meghalaya, as predicted in some exit polls, and the BJP-led NDA will form governments with absolute majority in all three northeastern states.

“We are hopeful that our party will win at least 15 seats in Khasi and Jaintia Hills region. We are expecting it will be around 31-32 seats in the state. We are preparing for the celebrations,” he added.

Tura, Meghalaya: 

A day ahead of counting for Meghalaya assembly polls, National People’s Party (NPP) leader JD Sangma has exuded confidence of the party getting a comfortable majority in the state.

JD Sangma, NPP chief of West Garo Hills district, said the party will over 30 seats in the 60-member assembly and emerge victorious.

“We have worked very hard. Our Chief Minister also worked very hard not only for this election campaign but he worked for the people to boost development, specially in Garo Hills region. We are very confident,” he said.

“We are hopeful that our party will win at least 15 seats in Khasi and Jaintia Hills region. We are expecting it will be around 31-32 seats in the state. We are preparing for the celebrations,” he added.

NPP workers also expressed confidence of victory. Meghalaya saw voting for assmebly polls on February 27.

Agatchi W. Momin, a NPP worker from the South Tura constituency, said that all party workers are eagerly waiting for tomorrow’s result.

NPP leader and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is contesting from South Tura constituency.

Both BJP and NPP contested the assembly polls separately though they partnered in the ruling alliance.

In an interesting development, Conrad Sangma met Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati on Tuesday night.

The meeting lasted for half an hour. Exit polls have predicted a hung verdict in Meghalaya.

The Election Commission has made all the arrangements for the counting of votes.

The security at EVM strong rooms has been strengthened.

Apart from Meghalaya, the counting of votes will be taken up on Thursday for assembly polls in Nagaland and Tripura.

The repolling started at 7 am and will continue till 4 pm.

Repolling is underway in four polling stations in Nagaland on Wednesday, an official said.

The repolling is in being held in New Colony polling station in Zunheboto constituency, Pangti V in Sanis constituency, Jaboka Village in Tizit constituency and Pathso East Wing in Thonoknyu constituency, the official said. The repolling began at 7 am and will continue till 4 pm.

Election officials in the state have not cited any reasons for the repolling in the four polling stations.

The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday announced repolling in four polling stations out of the 2,291 polling stations across Nagaland that went to polls on Monday.

On the basis of reports submitted by general observers and after taking all material circumstances into account, the commission declared the voting held on Monday at the four polling stations as void, said EC under-secretary Surender Singh.

Polling for 59 assembly seats was held on Monday, while the votes will be counted on Thursday