Amaravati, May 6: In what has emerged as one of the most remarkable electoral coincidences in recent Tamil Nadu political history, a DMK Minister has lost the Tirupattur Assembly constituency by a single vote — the precise margin that the BJP's election incharge for the segment had repeatedly predicted months before polling day.

Kokker Srinivas, a BJP leader from Andhra Pradesh appointed by the party's national leadership as election incharge for the Tirupattur Assembly constituency, had taken up residence in the segment from March 6 onwards, conducting an intensive campaign across all seven mandals of the constituency for 45 consecutive days until April 25.

Throughout this period, Srinivas consistently emphasised a single, unwavering message to party workers, booth-level functionaries, and allied party cadres alike: that one vote could alter political destiny.

"One vote changes political fate," he told gatherings across the constituency. "One vote decides victory. This one vote can change history." The message was repeated not merely as a rhetorical device, but as a strategic directive — workers were mobilised with the explicit understanding that no vote could be treated as inconsequential.

The same message was carried to meetings of the National Democratic Alliance partners in the constituency, including the AIADMK and the AMMK, where Srinivas elaborated the point with historical examples of razor-thin electoral outcomes.

When results came, the words acquired new weight

When votes were counted on May 4, the outcome at Tirupattur confounded observers across the political spectrum. The TVK candidate prevailed over the sitting DMK Minister by a margin of exactly one vote — a result described by election analysts as virtually without precedent in Tamil Nadu's electoral history.

The coincidence was not lost on BJP workers who had sat through those pre-election meetings.

"When he said it then, we took it as motivational talk," admitted a senior BJP functionary in Tirupattur. "But he said it so clearly, so many times — only now do we realise the full significance of what he was telling us."

A question of political foresight

The episode has since sparked considerable discussion across party lines in Tirupattur and beyond — not merely about the extraordinary result itself, but about the degree to which the BJP's national apparatus had assessed ground realities in the constituency with precision.

Whether the repeated emphasis on a single-vote margin reflected a precise reading of the constituency's electoral arithmetic, or whether it was a general motivational strategy that happened to align with an extraordinary outcome, remains a matter of conjecture. What is beyond dispute, however, is that the phrase "one vote" has acquired an entirely new resonance in Tirupattur's political lexicon.

The result has drawn wide coverage across print and electronic media, with analysts examining both the mechanics of the recount process and the broader implications of such a narrow verdict in a constituency where a Cabinet Minister was the incumbent.

For the BJP, whose candidate was not the eventual winner, the episode has nonetheless provided an unexpected moment of political vindication — the party's meticulous booth-level mobilisation and the incharge's insistent messaging are now being cited within its ranks as evidence of sound ground-level intelligence.

The Tirupattur constituency result is currently under scrutiny, with legal and procedural processes expected to follow given the unprecedented margin.

KERALAM: The election campaign for National Democratic Alliance candidate Dr. Renu Suresh in the Kongad Assembly constituency concluded on Tuesday with a massive show of strength, drawing enthusiastic participation from party workers and supporters across the constituency, said BJP Election In-charge for Kongad Dr. Kilaru Dilip.

Addressing mediapersons at the concluding press meet, Dr. Kilaru Dilip said the final day of campaigning witnessed a vibrant public rally, extensive door-to-door outreach, and high-voltage interactions with voters, reflecting a significant groundswell of support for the NDA candidate.

"From early morning, enthusiastic party workers and supporters joined in large numbers, transforming Kongad into a hub of political momentum and optimism. The response from the people has been phenomenal. This is a movement for progress and a better future," Dr. Kilaru Dilip told reporters.

Dr. Renu Suresh personally led the campaign, interacting with families during the door-to-door outreach, listening to their concerns, and assuring voters of development-focused governance, transparency, and inclusive growth, he said.

Expressing strong confidence in the NDA's prospects, Dr. Kilaru Dilip said the overwhelming public response across the constituency was a clear reflection of the people's aspiration for change and meaningful development. "We are confident that Dr. Renu Suresh will secure a resounding victory," he asserted.

The BJP Election In-charge Dr. Kilaru Dilip said the campaign concluded with a unified call for good governance, sustainable development, and a new political direction for Keralam.

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Keralam: Bhubaneswar Member of Parliament Aparajita Sarangi on Monday conducted an extensive campaign in the Kongad assembly constituency in Kerala in support of BJP candidate Dr. Renu Suresh, urging voters to back the party that she said was committed to taking the region forward on the path of development. The campaign drew a strong turnout of party leaders, workers, and local residents.

Enthusiastic Public Response

Speaking on the occasion, BJP Kongad assembly election in-charge Dr. Kilaru Dilip said the campaign event featuring Aparajita Sarangi had evoked a tremendous response from the public. He appealed to voters to elect Dr. Renu Suresh in the interest of Kongad's development, expressing confidence that the constituency was ready to embrace change.

Viksit Kongad the Goal

Dr. Dilip said the NDA was moving forward with a clear agenda of development and transparent governance for Kerala, and that bringing Kongad into the mainstream of progress was central to the alliance's vision for the constituency. He appealed to the people to support the NDA candidate in keeping with the goal of a Viksit Kongad, echoing the broader national vision articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Star Campaigner Energises Ground Workers

The presence of Aparajita Sarangi, a prominent national figure within the BJP, lent fresh energy to the party's campaign in Kongad. Party functionaries said the MP's participation had galvanised workers at the booth level and strengthened the resolve of the alliance's ground organisation ahead of polling day.

Keralam: The Bharatiya Janata Party and National Democratic Alliance brought their election campaign in the Aranmula assembly constituency to a rousing close on Tuesday, with workers and supporters turning out in large numbers from across the constituency to participate in the final day of campaigning. The proceedings unfolded in a festive atmosphere, reflecting what the party described as a groundswell of public enthusiasm.

Kummanam Riding a Wave

BJP Aranmula assembly election in-charge Valluru Jayaprakash Narayan said in a statement that BJP-NDA candidate Kummanam Rajasekharan was receiving exceptional public support across the constituency. He noted that a clear desire for change was palpable among the electorate, and expressed firm confidence that this mood would translate into a decisive majority for the party on polling day.

Viksit Keralam Through Modi's Leadership

Jayaprakash Narayan said the people of Aranmula believed that a developed Kerala and a developed Aranmula — in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat — could only be achieved under BJP governance. He said voters were increasingly convinced that a BJP government would bring industrial growth, expanded employment opportunities, and a check on migration from the region.

Agriculture and Livelihoods at the Core

The BJP in-charge said the party's agenda for Aranmula placed particular emphasis on agricultural development alongside industrial growth, promising a comprehensive improvement in livelihoods for the constituency's residents. He maintained that the response witnessed on the final day of campaigning was itself a clear portent of the party's impending victory.

Final Day Surge Seals the Confidence

Jayaprakash Narayan said the scale of participation and public response on the last day of campaigning left the party in no doubt about the outcome. Kummanam Rajasekharan, he asserted, was set to win Aranmula with a substantial majority, and the NDA's combined strength on the ground would ensure that every vote was secured before polling day.

Tamil Nadu: Leaders and workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party, AIADMK, AMMK, and PMK came together on Tuesday for a major joint meeting in the Tirupattur assembly constituency in support of BJP candidate KC Thirumaran, signalling a united front as the campaign enters its final stretch. Workers drawn from various mandals across the constituency participated in the gathering and deliberated on poll strategy.

Alliance Unity the Cornerstone

Addressing the meeting, BJP Tirupattur assembly election in-charge Kokkera Srinivas Yadav said the solidarity among alliance partners was the most decisive factor in the party's favour. He noted that public support for KC Thirumaran was visibly growing, and expressed firm confidence that the BJP-led alliance would secure a decisive majority in the constituency.

Development and Clean Governance on the Agenda

Srinivas Yadav said the alliance parties were united in their commitment to delivering development and transparent governance to the people. He urged workers at the grassroots level to coordinate their efforts and ensure that every voter in the constituency was reached before polling day.

Ground Push in Final Lap

Leaders at the meeting resolved to intensify the campaign with renewed vigour in the days remaining. Srinivas Yadav reaffirmed that with the combined strength of the alliance, a BJP victory in Tirupattur was well within reach, calling on cadres to redouble their outreach across every village and ward.

Keralam: The Bharatiya Janata Party brought its election campaign in the Azhikode assembly constituency to a spirited close on Tuesday with a grand rally and roadshow, drawing significant attention in Kannur district. The culminating event was a continuation of a series of rallies held since Sunday across Azhikode and Charakkkal mandals, and was described by party functionaries as one of the most visible campaign closures in the district in recent memory.

A Finale That Stood Out

Speaking on the occasion, BJP Azhikode assembly election in-charge Taduvai Ramakrishna said the grand rally, organised as a reflection of Indian culture and tradition, had struck a chord with voters in a manner unprecedented in Kerala. He maintained that no such campaign event had been conducted anywhere else in the State, and expressed confidence that the enthusiastic public response augured well for the party's prospects.

500 Workers, One City Electrified

The rally saw the participation of nearly 500 BJP workers and members of the Mahila Morcha, lending the event considerable energy and visibility. Beginning in the morning, the proceedings continued until 6 p.m., with the city of Azhikode witnessing a charged and festive atmosphere throughout the day.

Candidate and Leadership in Full Stride

BJP Azhikode candidate K.K. Vinod Kumar, presidents of both mandals, and hundreds of party workers took part in the rally. Taduvai Ramakrishna said the overwhelming response from the public on the final day of campaigning was a clear indicator of the party's strong position in the constituency, expressing firm confidence in a BJP victory.

Kerlam, April 3: With the Aranmula assembly constituency emerging as a key focus area for the BJP, the party has launched a comprehensive booth-level electoral strategy aimed at securing victory for NDA candidate Kummnam Rajasekharan, constituency BJP election in-charge Valluru Jayaprakash Narayan said on Friday.

Speaking after a booth-level review meeting held at the NDA election office in Aranmula, Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan said the gathering was attended by BJP Kerala state election in-charge Vinod Tavde and candidate Kummnam Rajasekharan. The meeting brought together mandal-level leaders and booth-level workers, who were briefed on the electoral plan and ground-level action strategy by Mr. Tavde.

According to Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan, workers were directed to reach out personally to every voter in their respective booths, explain Central government schemes to the public, and take special measures to improve voter turnout on polling day. The emphasis, he said, was on building a robust booth-level infrastructure that could translate into a decisive electoral advantage.

"Winning Aranmula this time is our primary objective, and we are moving forward with a comprehensive strategy from the booth level upward," Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan said, expressing confidence that coordinated efforts by party workers would make victory certain. He added that strengthening every booth would ease the path to a winning margin.

Workers were also urged to maintain continuous contact with voters, identify local issues, and work towards resolving them before polling day. Mr. Tavde called upon the cadre to ensure effective daily implementation of the action plan right up to election day.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Valluru Jayaprakash Narayan, along with several mandal-level leaders and booth-level workers from across the constituency.

Kongad (Kerala), April 2, 2026: The NDA's governance is guided by the vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas — collective effort, mutual trust, and inclusive progress — and the Kongad manifesto reflects precisely that commitment, said Dr. Kilaru Dileep, BJP Election Incharge for Kongad Assembly Constituency, as the National Democratic Alliance formally released its manifesto for the segment on Wednesday at a well-attended public gathering that brought together party leaders, functionaries, and workers from across all wards of the constituency.

The event was graced by National Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Chairman of the Haj Committee, A.P. Abdullakutty, who attended as chief guest.

Abdullakutty Highlights Centre's Minority Welfare Record

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Abdullakutty elaborated on the range of welfare schemes and developmental initiatives introduced by the Central Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He placed particular emphasis on the government's sustained focus on the empowerment of minority communities — spanning education, economic opportunity, and social upliftment — and sought to make the case that the NDA's governance record offered a credible alternative to the incumbents in the constituency.

Dr. Kilaru Dileep Outlines NDA's Vision for Kongad

Elaborating further, Dr. Dileep outlined several transformative schemes and development initiatives that the alliance proposes to champion for the overall progress and welfare of Kongad's residents. He underlined the alliance's commitment to transparent, accountable, and equitable governance, stressing that every citizen — irrespective of community, background, or social standing — must be a genuine beneficiary of development and economic opportunity. The Kongad manifesto, he said, embodied a forward-looking vision anchored in development, transparency, and inclusive growth, with the overarching objective of improving the quality of life for every section of society in the constituency.

Strong Grassroots Turnout

The participation of karyakarthas and party workers from every ward of Kongad was seen as a reflection of the NDA's strengthening organisational network in the constituency. Senior party functionaries and local leaders were also present in considerable numbers, lending the event a momentum that the alliance hopes to carry into the campaign's final stretch.

Aranmula (Keralam), April 2, 2026: With the Aranmula Assembly constituency bypolls drawing closer, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has sharply stepped up its electoral campaign, banking on a slate of populist welfare promises under its 'Vikasit Keralam Vision 2026' manifesto to make inroads into a seat that has long eluded the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state.

Coordinated booth-level mobilisation

Valluru Jayaprakash Narayan, the NDA's constituency election in-charge, said on Wednesday that party workers at every booth level were actively engaged in expanding outreach, and that the visit of Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje had given fresh momentum to the campaign. Speaking at a meeting held as part of the 'Election Pravasa Yojana' initiative at the NDA office in Aranmula, Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan expressed confidence that the alliance's candidate, former Governor Kummnam Rajasekharan, was receiving a positive response from voters across the constituency.

Manifesto at the centre of outreach

The party has placed the 'Vikasit Kerala Vision 2026' manifesto at the heart of its voter connect programme, with cadres conducting door-to-door campaigns highlighting key promises. Among the pledges generating considerable interest, according to Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan, are two free LPG cylinders per household annually, a monthly financial assistance of ₹2,500 for women, and a pension of ₹3,000 per month for senior citizens. He said these commitments were resonating particularly well among poorer households and the middle class, who he claimed had been left behind by successive governments in the state.

Critique of LDF and UDF record

Taking aim at both the ruling Left Democratic Front and the opposition United Democratic Front, Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan argued that neither formation had delivered on the aspirations of the people of Aranmula. "The voters of this constituency are seeking change, and the NDA is prepared to offer them a new direction," he said, asserting that a BJP victory would usher in a fresh era of development for the region.

Union Minister's visit lends weight

Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who visited the NDA's Aranmula office as part of the party's intensified campaign schedule, was accorded a warm reception by Mr. Kummnam Rajasekharan, Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan, and local party workers. A large number of functionaries and grassroots activists attended the event, reflecting the organisational energy the NDA is seeking to project ahead of polling day.

Political observers note that Aranmula, a constituency with deep cultural and religious significance as the home of the famous Parthasarathy Temple, has historically been a stronghold of the Congress-led UDF, making the NDA's push a significant test of the BJP's growing ambitions in Kerala.

One Voice, One Vision: BJP Aranmula Gathers Around PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat in a Moment of Unity

ARANMULA, KERALAM — Sunday mornings have a certain quality to them — quieter, slower, reflective. And at the BJP Election Office in Aranmula Constituency on this particular Sunday, that reflective quality found a perfect expression.

Leaders and workers — some who had been campaigning late into the previous night, some who had driven in from distant corners of the constituency — pulled up chairs, settled in, and turned their attention to a screen. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was about to speak. And in Aranmula, the BJP was listening.

Together.

The 132nd episode of Mann Ki Baat — the Prime Minister's beloved monthly address to the nation — became on Sunday morning something more than a broadcast. In the Aranmula BJP Election Office, it became a gathering. A ritual. A moment of collective purpose that brought together Lok Sabha representatives, constituency leaders, mandal secretaries, panchayat presidents, district committee members, and the office staff who quietly keep the wheels of the election machinery turning — all under one roof, all tuned to one voice.

The Man Behind the Moment

Valluru Jayaprakash, BJP Election Incharge for Aranmula Constituency, was the driving force behind Sunday's collective viewing — and when he spoke about what Mann Ki Baat means to party workers on the ground, his words carried the conviction of someone who genuinely believes in what he is doing.

"Mann Ki Baat is Prime Minister Modi's direct conversation with every Indian citizen," Jayaprakash said, his voice warm with quiet enthusiasm. "It is a moment where the nation's leader speaks from his heart — to farmers, to students, to workers, to dreamers. When we sit together as BJP workers and listen to those words, something happens. We remember why we are here. We remember what we are fighting for."

He paused, and then added something that captured the essence of the morning perfectly.

"It energises us. Every single time."

For Jayaprakash, the collective viewing is not a ceremonial gesture or a box to be ticked on a campaign checklist. It is a genuine act of political and ideological recharging — a weekly reminder of the larger national mission that gives local electoral work its meaning and its momentum.

Around the Room

Look around the Aranmula BJP Election Office on Sunday morning and you saw the full spectrum of the party's organisational life in one compact, energised gathering.

Hedge — the Lok Sabha Prabari — brought the weight of senior leadership to the room. His presence was a quiet signal that Mann Ki Baat is not just for the grassroots. It is for everyone. Equally.

Bijju Mathew, the Aranmula Constituency Incharge, sat alongside — the man responsible for the day-to-day heartbeat of the election campaign, taking a moment of Sunday stillness before the week's campaigning resumes in earnest.

Suresh, the Aranmula Mandal Secretary, was there — the kind of party worker who knows every street, every family, and every political nuance in his area, and who carries that knowledge into every campaign interaction.

Vijay Kumar, President of Naranganam Panchayat, represented the bridge between party politics and local governance — a reminder that BJP's ambitions in Aranmula are rooted in a genuine commitment to community development and public service.

Mohan, the District Committee Member, brought the broader organisational perspective. And the office staff — the unsung heroes who answer phones, manage schedules, coordinate logistics, and keep the election office humming from morning to night — were present too, included not as an afterthought but as equal participants in the morning's shared experience.

It is that kind of inclusivity — where the senior leader and the junior office worker sit in the same room and listen to the same words — that Valluru Jayaprakash says defines the BJP's organisational culture in Aranmula.

What Mann Ki Baat Does for Workers on the Ground

Ask any BJP worker in any part of India what Mann Ki Baat means to them, and you will get a version of the same answer.

It connects. It inspires. It reminds.

In Kerala — where the BJP is working with sustained determination to build electoral credibility and voter trust in a politically competitive and ideologically diverse state — that connection carries special significance. The party is not the establishment here. It is the challenger. And challengers need fuel — the kind of fuel that comes from believing deeply in what you are doing and why you are doing it.

Mann Ki Baat provides that fuel. Week after week, episode after episode, the Prime Minister's words reach into BJP offices across Kerala and remind workers that their local efforts are part of a national story — that what they do in Aranmula matters to the larger project of building a stronger, more developed, more inclusive India.

"Every activity we undertake is part of building a genuine relationship with the people of Aranmula," Jayaprakash reflected. "Door-to-door campaigns, night outreach, constituency meetings — and yes, sitting together to listen to Mann Ki Baat. All of it is part of the same mission. All of it matters."

A Constituency Listening and Learning

The 132nd episode of Mann Ki Baat carried within it — as every episode does — the Prime Minister's reflections on the nation's journey, its achievements, its challenges, and its people. The workers gathered in Aranmula listened with attention and with the kind of focused engagement that suggests they were not merely watching a programme but absorbing a message.

In a constituency where the BJP is building electoral momentum brick by brick, conversation by conversation, and door by door — the morning's collective listening was one more brick laid, one more shared experience that binds a political family together and strengthens its collective resolve.

More Than Politics

Step back from the electoral context for a moment, and what you see in the Aranmula BJP Election Office on Sunday morning is something quite human and quite moving.

A group of people — different ages, different roles, different levels of seniority — sitting together in a room, listening to a voice they trust, and drawing strength from each other's company. In the middle of a demanding election campaign, in the heart of a politically competitive constituency, they carved out a Sunday morning hour for something that was not about tactics or targets or vote counts.

It was about values. About vision. About the quiet, sustaining power of shared belief.

And when the 132nd episode of Mann Ki Baat came to its end, and the chairs were pushed back, and the campaign day began in earnest — the men and women who filed out of the Aranmula BJP Election Office carried with them something that no campaign strategy can manufacture.

They carried purpose.

And in Aranmula, on this Sunday morning, that felt like more than enough.

The 132nd episode of Mann Ki Baat was broadcast on Sunday, March 29, 2026. The collective viewing at Aranmula BJP Election Office was organised under the leadership of Election Incharge Valluru Jayaprakash.

BJP's Midnight March: Night Campaign Blazes Through Kongad as Party Eyes Historic Victory

KONGAD, KERALA — The sun may have set over Kongad, but the campaign never stops.

In a striking display of electoral determination that has set the constituency buzzing, BJP workers took their campaign deep into the night on Saturday — moving street by street, door by door, household by household — in a powerful nocturnal outreach that signals the party's absolute commitment to leaving no voter uncontacted and no vote uncontested in the Kongad Assembly Constituency.

The night campaign — drawing enthusiastic participation from dedicated party workers and local leaders — painted Kongad's streets in the BJP's colours long after darkness fell, sending an unmistakable message to rivals and supporters alike: this party is hungry for victory, and it will work around the clock to achieve it.

"From Day to Night, Our Mission is Victory"

Dr. Dileep Kilaru, BJP Election Incharge for Kongad Assembly Constituency, left no doubt about the party's intent or its energy.

"The campaign momentum continues even after sunset," Dr. Kilaru declared. "From day to night, our mission is victory. Our karyakarthas are moving from street to street, interacting directly with voters, sharing our vision, and reaching every single household in Kongad. We are committed to securing a historic victory for this constituency."

His words captured the spirit of a campaign that refuses to be constrained by daylight hours — a campaign built on the conviction that Kongad is ready for change, and that change requires the kind of relentless, boots-on-the-ground effort that only a truly motivated political organisation can sustain.

Street by Street, Door by Door

What made Saturday night's campaign distinctive was not just its timing but its method.

Rather than relying on mass rallies or megaphone politics, BJP workers fanned out across Kongad's neighbourhoods in small, mobile groups — knocking on doors, engaging voters in face-to-face conversation, listening to concerns, and sharing the party's vision for the constituency's future.

The approach was personal, direct, and deliberately intimate — designed to reach voters where they are most comfortable and most receptive: in their own homes and on their own streets.

The response, according to Dr. Kilaru and the campaign team, was overwhelmingly positive. High energy among workers was matched by strong public support from residents — with many voters expressing enthusiasm for the BJP's message and eagerness to see real change in Kongad.

Karyakarthas Fuel the Fire

At the heart of Saturday night's campaign was something that no election strategy document can manufacture — genuine grassroots commitment.

BJP karyakarthas, the dedicated party workers who form the backbone of the organisation's electoral machine, threw themselves into the night campaign with infectious enthusiasm. Undeterred by the late hour, they marched through Kongad's streets with energy and purpose — chanting, engaging, connecting, and building the human-to-human relationships that ultimately decide elections.

Their dedication, Dr. Kilaru said, reflects the deep conviction within the party that Kongad represents not just an electoral opportunity but a genuine mandate for change — and that the voters of Kongad deserve a party willing to work tirelessly to earn their trust.

Kongad Is Ready for Change

Dr. Dileep Kilaru's assessment of the political mood in Kongad was confident and direct.

"The spirit on the ground is clear," he said. "Kongad is ready for change and victory. We can feel it in every interaction, in every street, in every household we visit. The people of Kongad want something different — and the BJP is here to deliver it."

The night campaign, he added, is part of a comprehensive and sustained outreach strategy that combines door-to-door contact, direct voter interaction, and high-energy public engagement — all designed to ensure that the BJP's message penetrates every corner of the constituency before polling day.

A Campaign That Never Sleeps

Saturday's night campaign in Kongad is part of a broader BJP electoral push across Kerala — a state where the party has long sought to expand its footprint and establish itself as a genuine political force capable of challenging the established dominance of the Left and the Congress.

Kongad represents exactly the kind of constituency where the BJP believes it can make a breakthrough — and the intensity of Saturday night's campaign reflects the seriousness of that belief.

With workers on the streets from dawn to well past dusk, with direct voter engagement at the heart of the strategy, and with Dr. Dileep Kilaru driving the campaign with visible passion and purpose, the BJP is making a clear statement in Kongad:

This party is not here to make up the numbers. It is here to win.

And if that means campaigning through the night — so be it.

Mumbai ( Journalist File ) : The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra faced a significant setback on Saturday, as the Samajwadi Party (SP) announced its decision to exit the coalition. SP legislator Abu Azmi revealed that the party had chosen to distance itself from the alliance, citing the Shiv Sena (UBT)'s embrace of the Hindutva agenda as the primary reason for their withdrawal.

Azmi criticized the lack of coordination within the MVA, particularly regarding the allocation of seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections and the subsequent election campaign. He pointed out that following their defeat in the Assembly elections, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had instructed party leaders and workers to aggressively pursue a Hindutva agenda during internal meetings. Azmi further highlighted the controversy surrounding a social media post by Shiv Sena (UBT) on December 6, which expressed support for the demolition of the Babri Masjid, an act that the SP deemed unacceptable.

"Given the Shiv Sena's stance, we have decided to no longer continue with the MVA," Azmi stated, emphasizing that the party could not align with an alliance that supported Hindutva in its current form.

The political drama continued in the Maharashtra Assembly, where opposition legislators, including those from the SP, boycotted the session in protest. However, SP legislators Asim Azmi and Rice Shake took their oaths as members of the Assembly today, defying the MVA's call to boycott the proceedings.

The withdrawal of the SP marks a further unraveling of the MVA alliance, which has been under strain due to internal differences and political disagreements.