Today in Politics: PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi to Hold Rallies in Delhi Ahead of Phase 6

As the campaigning for the 49 Phase 5 seats wraps up, political parties are now turning their focus to the 58 seats in Phase 6, which includes all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and all 10 in Haryana.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

PM Modi’s Campaign

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after addressing rallies in Haryana’s Ambala and Sonipat, is set to hold his first rally of this election campaign in Delhi at a Delhi Development Authority ground near three key Lok Sabha constituencies: East, North East, and Chandni Chowk.

In the past two Lok Sabha polls, the BJP has dominated all seven Delhi seats, leaving the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress without a foothold. This election, however, the BJP is up against a Congress-AAP alliance. The alliance, with a 4–3 split favoring AAP, marks a rare instance of coordination between the two INDIA bloc members.

The BJP has adopted an aggressive strategy, dropping six of its seven sitting MPs, including former Union ministers Harsh Vardhan and Meenakshi Lekhi, to counter anti-incumbency. New faces like Bansuri Swaraj, the late Sushma Swaraj’s daughter, and Delhi Assembly LoP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri have been introduced.

It will be interesting to see if Modi addresses the Swati Maliwal alleged assault case during his rally. Rajya Sabha MP Maliwal has accused an aide of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of assault and molestation, a matter over which the BJP has been protesting against AAP.

Rahul Gandhi’s Rally

Rahul Gandhi is spearheading the Congress campaign in Delhi with a rally in Chandni Chowk. His rally follows Kejriwal’s recent campaign efforts for Congress candidates. The Congress, contesting three seats (Chandni Chowk, North East Delhi, and North West Delhi), has released a manifesto focusing on local issues for each constituency.

The Congress has re-fielded Jai Prakash Agarwal in Chandni Chowk, with former student activist Kanhaiya Kumar contesting in North East and former BJP MP Udit Raj in North West.

Rahul Gandhi will also address rallies in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki, which votes on May 20.

Telangana Cabinet Meeting

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is set to hold a Cabinet meeting on Saturday to discuss pending issues related to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, as the 10-year bifurcation anniversary approaches on June 2.

Hyderabad, set to become solely the capital of Telangana from June 2, 2024, remains a contentious issue, with the division of various institutions and corporations between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh still incomplete. The Cabinet will also deliberate on farm loan waivers, paddy procurement, and an action plan for the upcoming Kharif season.

Conclusion

With critical rallies and Cabinet meetings on the horizon, the political landscape in India remains dynamic. PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi’s rallies in Delhi, alongside Telangana’s Cabinet meeting, are set to shape the political discourse as the election season intensifies.