EC tells political parties to use disability, gender sensitive language

All campaigning should be accessible, Election Commission says in guidelines to parties.

In a first, the Election Commission has issued guidelines to political parties to use disability and gender sensitive language, and refrain from using derogatory references to persons with disabilities (PwD) in public speeches, campaigns and writings.

The guidelines issued Wednesday state that the EC has been informed of the “use of derogatory or offensive language in the political discourse about PwDs”. Citing Section 7 of the Rights of PwD Act, 2016, the EC said PwD are accorded protection from abuse.

The EC said parties and their representatives should not use disability or terms referring to disability or PwDs in the context of “human incapacity” and should avoid comments that may be offensive or perpetuating stereotypes. It added that any use of such language would attract punishments under the RPD Act.

Parties were asked to ensure that all campaign materials, including speeches by leaders and social media posts, undergo an internal review process to identify and correct any ableist, offensive or discriminatory language.

“All political parties should ensure and should declare on their website that they will use disability and gender sensitive language and etiquette as well as respect inherent human equality, equity, dignity and autonomy…All political parties shall make their public speeches/campaigns/ activities/ events accessible for all citizens,” the guidelines said.

Parties were asked to train their workers and appoint a nodal authority to receive complaints from PwD regarding the use of ableist language. “Political parties may endeavour to include more PwDs at levels such as members and party workers to shed the attitudinal barrier of the party and public and provide equal opportunities,” the EC said.

In a statement on Thursday, the EC said the foundation of democracy lay in the representation of all communities within the electoral process. It said accessible and inclusive elections were a non-negotiable promise of the EC.

Nawaz Sharif To Contest Polls From Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Says Son-In-Law

Mr Sharif, acquitted in the Avenfield and Al Azizia cases by the Islamabad High Court, eyes a record fourth term as premier in the next elections.

Islamabad: Pakistan’s former prime minister Nawaz Sharif would contest elections from the Mansehra region of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, his son-in-law Captain (retd.) Muhammad Safdar said on Wednesday.

Mr Safdar, who hails from Mansehra and is married to Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz, told the media that the 73-year-old three-time former premier would submit his nomination papers for the National Assembly seat “NA 15 Mansehra-cum-Torghar constituency” by Thursday (December 21).

Mansehra is part of the Hazara division which is considered a stronghold of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Mr Sharif is also expected to contest from Lahore in addition to Mansehra.

Mr Sharif, the only Pakistani politician who became the prime minister of the coup-prone country for a record three times, returned to Pakistan in October after a four-year self-imposed exile to lead his party in the general elections.

Mr Sharif, acquitted in the Avenfield and Al Azizia cases by the Islamabad High Court, eyes a record fourth term as premier in the next elections.

However, Mr Sharif faces a big hurdle as he remains disqualified from holding public office by the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case, and in a later judgment interpreting a provision of the Constitution that involves honesty and trustworthiness – the top court ruled that the disqualification is for life.

Earlier this year amendments were made to the Elections Act, 2017 by the government led by Mr Sharif’s younger brother and PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, limiting the disqualification of lawmakers to five years with a retrospective effect.

The Supreme Court has decided to form a larger bench to determine once and for all whether aspirants disqualified can contest polls in light of the amendments in the Elections Act, 2017.

The case is expected to be decided before elections scheduled to be held on February 8.

Earlier, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf announced that its incarcerated founder leader Imran Khan would contest the general elections from at least three seats.

PM Modi’s “Scared” Dig At Congress Over Sonia Gandhi’s Return To Rallies

Sonia Gandhi, who has been largely absent from public rallies since the 2019 elections, addressed her first meeting in Karnataka a day ago.

Shivamogga: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a swipe at the Congress party during an election rally on Sunday, claiming that the party was “scared” and had resorted to bringing in veteran leader Sonia Gandhi after their “lies did not work” in the Karnataka election campaign.

While the Prime Minister did not directly name the former Congress chief, his statement at the rally in Shivamogga in central Karnataka seemed to allude to her recent return to the campaign trail.

“Now, the Congress is so afraid and scared that when their lies did not work, then those who are not taking part in campaigning are being brought here. The Congress has started dumping the responsibility of defeat on each other,” he said.

Ms Gandhi, 76, who has been largely absent from public rallies and campaigning since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls due to health concerns, addressed her first election meeting in Karnataka on Saturday, ahead of the state’s voting day on May 10.

She addressed a rally in Hubballi, in northern Karnataka, where she accused PM Modi and the BJP of spreading “falsehoods” and “dividing” the country.

This move came as a surprise to many, given her recent absence from the political limelight.

During the rally, the Prime Minister also declared that the Congress’ “balloon of lies” was no longer effective, as the people had “burst it.”

As PM Modi was presented with a Hanuman idol and a saffron-coloured ‘Shivaji’ turban, the crowd erupted with chants of ‘Jai Sri Ram’ (Hail Lord Ram) and ‘Bajrang Bali Ki Jai’ (Hail Hanuman).

PM Modi expressed gratitude for the overwhelming response he received during his roadshow in Bengaluru earlier that day, which was cut short due to the NEET exam.

The Prime Minister pledged to repay the people of Karnataka for their faith in him, saying, “I want to give you an original guarantee for your love and blessings, I will develop Karnataka and refund your love with interest.”

US presidential election: Donald Trump ups competition with Republican rival DeSantis

The move is a sign of the escalating competition between the two men who, at least for now, are leading contenders for the Republican presidential nomination.

The competition between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis is intensifying as the former president is scheduling a return trip to Iowa on the same day that the Florida governor was already going to be in the state that will kick off the Republican contest for the White House.

A Trump campaign official said Saturday that the former president plans to be in Iowa on May 13 to headline an organizing rally at a sprawling park in downtown Des Moines. That’s when DeSantis was already slated to headline Iowa Rep. Randy Feenstra’s annual summer fundraiser in northwest Iowa and speak at a party fundraiser later that evening in Cedar Rapids.

The Trump campaign official, who requested anonymity to discuss the trip before it was announced, said the Des Moines organizing rally has been in the planning stage for weeks and is aimed at identifying caucus supporters and volunteers.

The move is a sign of the escalating competition between the two men who, at least for now, are leading contenders for the Republican presidential nomination. Trump and his allies have become increasingly emboldened in their efforts to attack and marginalize DeSantis, who is expected to announce his White House bid sometime after the Florida Legislature wraps up its work in the coming week.

But Trump’s trip is also notable for its emphasis on the type of ground-level organizing that is vital in Iowa politics and was often missing during his 2016 campaign, when Texas Sen. Ted Cruz overtook him and won the state’s GOP caucuses.

Trump has been almost singularly focused on swinging at DeSantis, whom he has attacked for policy positions on entitlement reform, his loyalty to conservative causes, even his character. While DeSantis has largely ignored Trump’s jabs, a pro-DeSantis super political action committee, Never Back Down, began to respond in paid ads this month.

Meanwhile, the super PAC promoting DeSantis is hiring Iowa staff to begin organizing support for the governor before he enters the race.

The stakes for both men are particularly high in Iowa, where the caucuses in February offer opportunities for them to cement their status atop the GOP. A poor performance, however, would give an opening for other Republicans to mount an upstart campaign.

Trump’s 2016 Iowa campaign was a seat-of-the-pants operation disparately managed by campaign newcomers who, including the candidate, had little idea what the caucuses are. The roughly 1,700 precinct-level Republican political meetings, vestiges of prairie civic life, include a presidential preference question but require in-person participation on a typically frigid winter evening.

Eight years ago, Trump’s Iowa team had left contact information for roughly 10,000 Iowans interested in supporting him unprocessed before the caucuses, where Trump had led in lead-up polls, but fell short against Cruz’s more organized campaign.

Armed with not just refined 2016 caucus data but information collected during two national campaigns, Trump’s advisers says they are building a data and digital engagement strategy they say would put him in position to win the caucuses. It’s an expectation Iowa GOP strategists say is an absolute must for the former president, who carried Iowa comfortably in the 2016 and 2020 general elections.

Meantime Never Back Down, run by DeSantis’ 2022 Florida re-election campaign senior strategist, Phil Cox, has named Iowa Republican operatives to its roster as it seeks to tap into interested GOP activists as the Iowa 2024 campaign gets underway. Among them are Ryan Koopmans, the former chief of staff to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The group has been airing TV advertisements in Iowa and other early-voting states, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, for weeks, and plans to launch a new one Monday.

“Rectified Wrong Done By Congress”: Amit Shah 

“BJP scrapped the 4 per cent Muslim reservation. That reservation was not as per Constitution,” said Amit Shah.

Udupi, Karnataka: Lashing out at the Congress in poll-bound Karnataka on Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rectified wrong done by Congress by doing away with Muslim reservation quota in Karnataka.

The Home Minister made the remarks while addressing a gathering in Byndoor.

Amit Shah said, “BJP has rectified the wrong done by Congress by doing away with the Muslim reservation quota in Karnataka. Congress wants to restore it. Ensure that it is not given this chance; it is unconstitutional as well as compromises the rights of Vokkaligas, Lingayats, SCs, STs and Dalits in the State.”

“BJP scrapped the 4 per cent Muslim reservation. That reservation was not as per Constitution. Our Constitution does not permit reservation on the basis of religion. Congress says that once their reverse gear government comes, they will bring back the Muslim reservation once again. Do you want that?” questioned Amit Shah.

Alleging that Congress was incapable of the protection of coastal Karnataka, Amit Shah said, “Only BJP can do the job of securing Coastal Karnataka. Greed for a vote bank, Congress can never ensure the security of Coastal Karnataka. We worked to provide security to fishermen by building a new port in Udupi.”

“BJP banned the PFI and ensured peace, safety and security for Karnataka,” the Home Minister added.

Earlier, Amit Shah said that Congress would put the state into “reverse gear”, depriving it of the benefits of “double-engine sarkar”.

Addressing a rally at the Navalgund Assembly constituency, Amit Shah said, “On one hand, there is the Congress under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and on the other, is the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. This (Karnataka Assembly) election is an opportunity for you to decide if you want a double engine sarkar led by PM Modi, which will take Karnataka forward, or the Congress’s reverse gear sarkar, which will take Karnataka backwards.”

The polls for the 224-seat assembly will take place on May 10 and the counting of votes will be held on May 13.

Rahul Gandhi will address a party rally on Sunday in Kolar, the same place where he made aremarks on the Modi surname

Rahul Gandhi Kolar Rally: The Gandhi scion had made those remarks at Kolar in April 2019 during the Lok Sabha poll campaign.

Bengaluru: 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address a party rally on Sunday in Kolar, the same place where he made a remarks on the Modi surname for which he was convicted of criminal defamation,resulting in him being stripped of his Parliament membership.

According to state Congress sources, the former AICC president will arrive in Bengaluru on Sunday morning, and travel to Kolar where he will address the ‘Jai Bharat’ rally organised by the party.

In the evening, Mr Gandhi will inaugurate the newly constructed ‘Indira Gandhi Bhavan’ – an office and auditorium with a seating capacity of 750 people – near the Karnataka PCC office in Bengaluru.

Several senior Congress leaders including AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, KPCC chief DK Shivakumar, and legislature party leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah are expected to participate in the events.

The rally was first scheduled on April 5, which was then postponed to April 9, and finally to April 16, due to poll preparation and the candidate selection process, among other reasons, Congress sources said.

Rahul Gandhi was on March 23 sentenced to two years in jail by a court in Gujarat’s Surat in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his “why all thieves have the Modi surname” remark. A day later, he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction in the case. The Gandhi scion had made those remarks at Kolar in April 2019 during the Lok Sabha poll campaign.

His visit on Sunday is important for the party ahead of the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka.

Kolar is significant as Siddaramaiah has expressed his wish to contest from there, as his second seat. He has already been fielded from Varuna in Mysuru district.

Congress has not yet named its candidate for the Kolar seat.

Owaisi’s Party To Contest From 25 Seats

We are open for alliance-Asaduddin Owaisi

Karnataka Elections: Speaking to PTI, party chief Asaduddin Owaisi said: “So far, we have announced three candidates. We are open for alliance. We will definitely contest the elections. Whether we will have an alliance or not, we will have to wait”.

Bengaluru: 

Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM plans to field candidates in about 25 constituencies and is eyeing an electoral alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular) in the Assembly elections in Karnataka, the party’s state unit president Osman Ghani said today.

Speaking to PTI, party chief Asaduddin Owaisi said: “So far, we have announced three candidates. We are open for alliance. We will definitely contest the elections. Whether we will have an alliance or not, we will have to wait”.

State unit chief Ghani said the party is in talks with the JD(S) headed by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda for an alliance but the latter is yet to respond to the offer. He said the party would contest in about 25 segments in the state.

In the 2018 polls for the 224-member Assembly in Karnataka, AIMIM had backed the JD(S) and not fielded any candidates.

Asked about parties with which AIMIM is open for alliance, Mr Owaisi, the Hyderabad Lok Sabha member, said: “Congress does not want to have an alliance because they make wild and baseless allegations against me. So, we will see”.

He termed as “completely illegal” the Basavaraj Bommai government’s recent decision to scrap four per cent reservation for Muslims within the OBC category, and expressed indignation: “Why weren’t there protests? Why weren’t strong statements emanated from so-called secular leaders and parties?”

On oft-repeated criticism by some parties that AIMIM fielding candidates lead to “division” of the Muslim vote, he wondered why such a question is not being posed to leaders of other communities such as Lingayats, Vokkaligas and Kurubas.

He also recalled that the AIMIM had not fielded candidates in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, where the Congress could get only one seat. “Was it because of the division of Muslim vote or consolidation of ‘majority’ vote for the BJP?” Owaisi asked.

The AIMIM leader noted that the BJP formed the government in Karnataka in 2019 with the help of defectors from the Congress.

Congress second list of 40 candidates in Karnataka

State leaders and screening committee members to “sort out their issues”-Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has told the state leaders and screening committee members to “sort out their issues” and come with a “single name list” for the remaining seats.

New Delhi: 

The Congress came up with its second list of 40 candidates in Karnataka today — a contentious exercise in view of the differences within the party on whether or not to field turncoats who returned after a stint in the BJP. Sources told NDTV that senior leader Rahul Gandhi has told the state leaders and screening committee members to “sort out their issues” and come with a “single name list” for the remaining seats.

Sources said the idea is to ensure that the selected candidates do not jump ship in the event of a hung house or if the Congress fails to do well in the election.

A number of Congress MLAs had changed camp in 2019, bringing down the alliance government of HD Kumaraswamy and the Congress.

Ahead of the election due in May, many of them have returned, encouraged and welcomed by party chief DK Shivakumar.

On the issue of fielding them, the party has been split, with former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his loyalists being against the idea.

The welcoming approach of Mr Shivakumar — a contender for the top post — is seen as a way to enhance his support base within the party.

The support of MLAs is essential to get elected as the leader of the legislature party, which is mandatory for a Chief Ministerial candidate.

In an interview to NDTV yesterday, Mr Siddaramaiah said: “If DK Shivakumar wants to be Chief Minister, nothing’s wrong. If I want to be Chief Minister, nothing is wrong. Ultimately, the newly elected MLAs have to elect the leader of the legislature party. And ultimately high command has to take a decision. And that is the democratic procedure.”

The Congress has already announced its first list of 124 candidates. The Central Election Committee of the party will meet tomorrow to finalise the remaining seats, sources added.

Both Mr Siddaramaiah and Mr Shivakumar have ruled out the possibility of a tie-up with Janata Dal Secular chief Mr Kumaraswamy in case of a hung assembly, insisting the verdict will be in favour of the Congress. The party is also banking on the fact that for decades, no ruling party has returned to power in Karnataka. Election to 224 seats in Karnataka will be held on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13.

Supreme Court Puts On Hold Order Cancelling Nagaland Local Body Polls

On March 30, the State Election Commission issued a notification cancelling the election programme “till further orders”.

The Election Commission had earlier issued notification for elections to three municipal councils and 36 town councils on May 16 with 33 per cent reservation for women.

The Nagaland government’s decision to indefinitely cancel the election to 36 town councils and three municipal councils, due on May 16, was put on hold by the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The court strongly criticised the state government and the state Election Commission for violating its previous order and issued notices to both.

On March 14, the court had directed that the election process be completed according to the schedule and 33 per cent reservation for women be implemented.

But the election was cancelled after the state assembly – following pressure from tribal groups and civil society — passed a resolution on March 28 to repeal the Municipal Act, 2001. The Act had made 33 per cent reservation of seats for women mandatory in Urban Local Bodies, as directed by the Supreme Court.

On March 30, the State Election Commission issued a notification cancelling the election programme “till further orders”.

The move was seen as a setback to the government initiative to hold elections to local bodies in Nagaland. There was also concern that it might affect the reservation for women in civic polls. In the recently held Nagaland Assembly elections, two women were elected – a first in the state.

A petition was filed in the top court against the cancellation of the elections by People’s Union for Civil Liberties ( PUCL). It also sought that the court take contempt action as its March 14 order was disobeyed.

The tribal organisations and civil society groups had demanded that elections be held only after amending the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001. They contended that it infringed upon Article 371(A) of the Constitution which gives special rights to Nagas on their lands and its resources, and safeguards their customs and traditions.

Traditional tribal bodies threatened to boycott the civic polls unless the government guaranteed that reservation of 33 per cent seats would not violate the provisions of Article 371(A).

The Election Commission had earlier issued notification for elections to three municipal councils and 36 town councils on May 16 with 33 per cent reservation for women.