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<ul><li>Piggybacking on the Facebook’s ‘<keyword id="7225122" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="10-year-challenge">10 Year Challenge</keyword>’, the Indian prime minister’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made the ‘<keyword id="7234953" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="5-year-challenge">5 Year Challenge</keyword>’ trend on Twitter. </li><li>The aim on the online campaign to highlight the Indian government’s accomplishments under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Tenure ahead of the general elections in May.</li><li>The opposition finally hit back in the evening with their own set of tweets.</li><li>A strong public relations campaign is how Modi scored his win ahead of general elections in 2014 as well. </li><li>The party was already ahead of Netflix and Trivago as the number one advertiser on television before the 5-state assembly elections in December.</li></ul>The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), used the Facebook ‘10 Year Challenge’ to create their own viral trend on Twitter — the ‘5 Year Challenge’. The hashtag ‘#5YearChallenge’ went viral in India after the BJP started tweeting about the party’s accomplishments over the past five years from building the Bogibeel Bridge to the improvement of India’s ‘Ease of Doing Business’ rank. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="BJP4India" handlename="BJP" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/812531108092874753/frVON4bm_normal.jpg" favoritecount="1216" retweetcount="571" status="Here is our #5YearChallenge. In 2013, only Rs. 1,300 crore were allocated for Kumbh. In 2019, Rs. 4,200 crore bu… https://t.co/Xj75haMN2H" createdat="1547785931000" id="1086119034419056640"></div>



















 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="BJP4India" handlename="BJP" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/812531108092874753/frVON4bm_normal.jpg" favoritecount="117" retweetcount="36" status="At 7.3%, the average GDP growth over the entire term of our Government, has been the highest for any Indian Governm… https://t.co/dWg6TlZWfE" createdat="1547799571000" id="1086176246277517312"></div>

















 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="BJP4India" handlename="BJP" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/812531108092874753/frVON4bm_normal.jpg" favoritecount="542" retweetcount="281" status="Here is our #5YearChallenge. India’s ranking in World Bank's Ease of Doing Business has risen to 77 in 2018 from 1… https://t.co/9Q18TSOdKa" createdat="1547787720000" id="1086126537076822016"></div>



















 A publicity stunt or not, the ‘now’ and ‘then’ posts memes contrast the current achievements of the Indian government to when Congress was in power. The campaign to highlight BJP’s ‘success stories’ has <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/a-year-to-2019-polls-bjp-plans-advertisements-on-promises-kept/articleshow/62595917.cms">been in the works</a> throughout 2018. Sources told the Economic Times, that the government called in all the ministries to send data on which projects were revived under Modi and which of his cabinet decisions had a positive impact. Other BJP politicians chimed in as well, with their own impetus on what the party has been able to accomplish in their tenure as India’s ruling party. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="AmitShah" handlename="Amit Shah" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/800607969234677761/su4lACaR_normal.jpg" favoritecount="4177" retweetcount="1153" status="India took a leap from decades of darkness to a brighter #NewIndia under the leadership of Prime Minister, Shri… https://t.co/gqSPGqAgHW" createdat="1547794507000" id="1086155004564656129"></div>

















 While the BJP tried to ride the viral phenomenon, the opposition hit back alleging financial frauds and increase in corruption during Modi's tenure. 
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="INCIndia" handlename="Congress" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/928449965134815233/w2JsNWPK_normal.jpg" favoritecount="574" retweetcount="226" status="A lot can happen in 5 years, especially 'chori chori, chupke chupke'! #5YearChallenge https://t.co/r1xaUDYeMG" createdat="1547813888000" id="1086236293204307968"></div>











 The curious case of BJP and public relations Modi’s government has always been known for being strong in the realm of public relations. Its 2014 win was <a href="https://qz.com/india/327771/it-cost-narendra-modi-100-million-to-win-the-indian-election-heres-how-he-spent-it/">largely based</a> on a successful media campaign that cost nearly ₹3 billion, rewriting the rules of the game. Even ahead of the 5-state assembly elections in December, BJP was already the number one advertiser on television <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/advertising/ahead-of-polls-bjp-becomes-the-number-one-advertiser-on-television/articleshow/66759018.cms">according</a> to the Broadcast Audience Research Council. That puts them ahead of Netflix, Trivago and even consumer goods companies like Hindustan Unilever and Reckitt Benckiser. Congress, on the other hand, wasn’t even in the top 10. A right to information (RTI) inquiry also revealed that between 2014 to 2017, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP spent <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/during-3-year-tenure-nda-spends-twice-more-than-upa-in-print-electronic-advertising-rti/articleshow/60306252.cms">thrice as much</a> as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by Congress on print and electronic advertising. Congress, along with the NDA, will have to step up their efforts in order to counter Modi’s campaign if they want to keep their visibility ahead of the general elections. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/facebook-hits-the-street-to-verify-political-ads-in-india-but-that-might-not-be-enough/articleshow/67145040.cms">Facebook ‘hits the street’ to verify political ads in India — but that might not be enough</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/modi-administration-is-so-confident-about-its-re-election-chances-that-its-reportedly-releasing-a-full-budget-for-the-next-financial-year/articleshow/66750097.cms">Modi administration is so confident about its re-election chances that it’s reportedly releasing a full budget for the next financial year</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-sets-up-a-panel-to-monitor-fake-news-ahead-of-the-general-elections/articleshow/65386960.cms">India sets up a panel to monitor fake news ahead of the general elections</a>

Facebook's '10 Year Challenge' takes a political dimension in India

<ul><li>India’s incumbent, the <keyword id="58687" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Janata-Party">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP) continues to dominate the <keyword id="7611014" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="political-ad-spend">political ad spend</keyword> on Facebook amid the ongoing <keyword id="43815" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-election">Lok Sabha election</keyword>.</li><li>BJP and its affiliate channels account for more than half the overall expenditure of political advertising on Facebook. </li><li>BJP as well as regional parties like the Telugu Desam Party (TDS) are seen increasing their ad spend right before sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election on May 12, 2019.</li></ul>The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/bjp-manifesto-for-lok-sabha-election-2019-on-data-privacy-and-protection/articleshow/68775987.cms">Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)</a> is going all out with its campaign on social media. According to data from Facebook’s Ad Library, it is not only the party which is spending the most, but is also spending almost 37 times more than its arch rival, the <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> party. Facebook made as much as ₹228.5 million from political parties and affiliated channels, by sharing political ads on its network. BJP’s share in that revenue was at around ₹36.8 million, while the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/congress-election-manifesto-for-lok-sabha-elections-2019/articleshow/68707221.cms">Congress party</a> — the challenger, spent less than a million, at ₹919,000. In fact, BJP's spend is even higher if it is combined with its affiliate channels — like Bharat Ki Mann Ki Baat and My First Vote — at a whopping ₹140 million. That’s half of the total amount spent on political advertising on Facebook, ahead of the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections in India . Regional parties up the ante Regional parties like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/election-2019-telugu-desam-party-candidate-list-for-andhra-pradesh/articleshow/68807684.cms">Telugu Desam Party </a>(TDP), <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/topic/YSR-Congress-Party">YSR Congress</a> and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) also increased their spending on the social media network, by dipping deep into their coffers. Experts point out that this may not even be the full picture of BJP’s social media spends. Facebook ad spend is only includes the amount paid to the network. This does not include other aspects — like the manpower required to manufacture and publish the posts, and the conceptualization of an online strategy. Adding to that, BJP is active on other social media platforms like Twitter and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/bjp-tops-political-ad-spending-on-google-platforms/articleshow/68732310.cms">Google</a> as well. Hashtags like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/bjps-5-year-challenge-follows-facebooks-10-year-challenge/articleshow/67586112.cms">#5YearsChallenge</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/lok-sabha-elections-2019-chowkidar-trend-on-twitter-is-a-sign-that-narendra-modi-is-still-setting-the-agenda/articleshow/68480549.cms">#MainBhiChowkidar</a> have far outpaced any Twitter campaign that Congress or other political parties have tried to set up. The Ad Library set up by Facebook brings in transparency into social media campaigns. The network, which is already under scanner for privacy issues, is also looking to avoid another scandal like the Cambridge Analytica where ads were used to influence the 2016 US Presidential Elections. (with IANS inputs)

Facebook political ads continue to be dominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party

NEW DELHI: BJP faces a tough test in Bihar, <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> stares at a saffron challenge in Maharashtra and regional outfits contend with turning pitches on 117 <keyword id="6355187" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha">Lok Sabha</keyword> seats across 11 states and one union territory where polling is due on Thursday. 
 
The 2014 Lok Sabha polls will be more than half over after elections to 347 seats are complete after the sixth phase of voting, with the 84, 91 and 41 seats left in the remaining phases. 
 
BJP and Congress are squaring off in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and state bosses like Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, AIADMK's J Jayalalitha and NCP leader Sharad Pawar are also slugging it out with their rivals. 
 
This phase will settle the fate of political biggies like SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj besides others like PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti, DMK's A Raja and Congress’s Mohammad Azharuddin. 
 
The political topography is a challenge to BJP and Congress which need to defend turfs while seeking fresh gains even as regional forces like SP, BSP, AIADMK and DMK look to do much the same, with the difference that some now see BJP as an unanticipated threat. 
 
All of 39 seats in Tamil Nadu and one seat of Puducherry will go to polls while elections will be over in major states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. In Maharashtra the populous bell weather Mumbai-Thane-Kalyan belt will vote along with northern areas and Raigad. 
 The contests in Mumbai are keen, with Shiv Sena-BJP hoping to snatch seats from Congress-NCP riding on an anti-UPA wave and the diminished presence of <keyword id="6355257" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Raj-Thackeray">Raj Thackeray</keyword>'s MNS. 
 
 
 
 
Tamil Nadu is a fascinating mosaic, with front runner AIADMK losing some steam while DMK reportedly making a comeback of sorts and BJP’s unlikely alliance with DMDK, MDMK and PMK emerging as a force on its own. 
 In Bihar, a virtual eclipse of <keyword id="123462" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Janata-Dal">Janata Dal</keyword> (U) poses problems for BJP with the fight appearing bi-polar in the five seats in Seemanchal and two that fall outside the region. There is a sizeable Muslim population in all seats and though BJP has been winning Araria, Purnea, Katihar and Bhagalpur, it now faces elections on its own. RJD boss Lalu Prasad and Congress seem to be back in the reckoning in the state. 
 
Mulayam Singh Yadav defends his base of Etah-Mainpuri-Etawah, areas where he must score to check a resurgent BJP with reports from 21 seats in western UP and Rohilkhand indicating gains for the saffronites. 
 
Though support for BSP is harder to gauge, SP’s main regional rival seems to be feeling the heat with religious polarisation post Muzaffarnagar riots making several contests primarily BJP versus SP affairs. 
 For BJP, the stakes continue to be high with its prime ministerial candidate <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> campaigning hard, addressing rallies in Hardoi, Etah, Firozabad and Mathura on Monday hoping for significant gains. 
 
The Jat vote is a factor in just as Yadavs are expected to rally behind SP while Akbarpur has sent BSP chief Mayawati to Lok Saba twice, most recently in 2004. 
 
In Rajasthan, prestigious Jat-influenced seats like Alwar and Bharatpur are due to poll along with constituencies like Tonk, Dausa and Sawai-Madhopur. 
 
In Chhattisgarh, urbanising seats like Durg, Raipur and Bilaspur will be voting with Congress hoping to loosen BJP's seeming stranglehold. 
 In West Bengal, Abhijeet Mukherjee, son of President <keyword id="6359124" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Pranab-Mukherjee">Pranab Mukherjee</keyword>, is facing an uphill battle, with Murshidabad presenting the only bright spot for the party. 
 In Assam constituencies like Kokrajhar, that witnessed fierce rioting, and capital Guwahati are going to polls. In Madhya Pradesh, BJP veterans like Sumitra Mahajan (Indore) and Sushma Swaraj (Vidisha) will seek re-election besides Congress's Meenakshi Natarajan, seen to be close to <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword>, from Mandsaur.

Lok Sabha Polls: Voting In 117 Seats Today; Congress Faces Saffron Challenge

<keyword id="20392679" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP-candidate" source="keywords">BJP candidate</keyword> <keyword id="21392066" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mukesh-Dalal" source="keywords">Mukesh Dalal</keyword> was on Monday elected unopposed from <keyword id="19933716" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="surat" source="keywords">Surat</keyword> Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat after all other nominees withdrew from the fray, a poll official said. The development marks the first victory of the <keyword id="19931558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Janata-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bharatiya Janata Party" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bharatiya Janata Party">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. "I declare that Mukeshkumar Chandrakant Dalal, sponsored by the BJP, has been duly elected to fill the seat in the House from Surat parliamentary constituency," district collector cum election officer Saurabh Pardhi told media persons as he handed over the Certificate of Election to Dalal. Voting for all 26 constituencies in Gujarat is scheduled for May 7, but with the result of Surat seat already out, polling will be held on 25 seats. Except for Dalal, all 8 candidates in the fray from Surat- 4 Independents, 3 from smaller parties and Pyarelal Bharti of Bahujan Samaj Party- withdrew their nomination papers on the last day, as per the Surat district election office. Notably, the candidature of Congress' Nilesh Kumbhani from Surat seat was rejected on Sunday after the district returning officer prima facie found discrepancies in the signature of the proposers. The nomination form of Suresh Padsala, the Congress' substitute candidate from Surat, was also invalidated. The Congress on Sunday alleged that Kumbhani's nomination form was rejected at the behest of the BJP and said it would challenge the rejection in the High Court. "Surat has presented the first Lotus to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I congratulate our candidate for <keyword id="21392065" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Surat-Lok-Sabha-seat" source="keywords">Surat Lok Sabha seat</keyword> Mukesh Dalal for getting elected unopposed," Gujarat unit BJP president C R Paatil posted on X (formerly Twitter). In the 2019 polls, BJP won all 26 constituencies in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/google-pixel-8a-may-be-more-expensive-than-its-predecessor-as-per-a-new-leak/articleshow/109499394.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/google-pixel-8a-may-be-more-expensive-than-its-predecessor-as-per-a-new-leak/articleshow/109499394.cms" target="_blank">Google Pixel 8a may be more expensive than its predecessor, as per a new leak</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/at-17-indian-chess-prodigy-d-gukesh-becomes-youngest-challenger-for-world-championship/slidelist/109492021.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/at-17-indian-chess-prodigy-d-gukesh-becomes-youngest-challenger-for-world-championship/slidelist/109492021.cms" target="_blank">At 17, Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh becomes youngest challenger for World Championship</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/playstation-5-is-now-available-at-a-discount-of-10000-for-a-limited-period/articleshow/109183034.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/playstation-5-is-now-available-at-a-discount-of-10000-for-a-limited-period/articleshow/109183034.cms" target="_blank">PlayStation 5 is now available at a discount of ₹10,000 for a limited period</a>

BJP candidate wins Surat Lok Sabha seat unopposed as his challengers pull out of race

The <keyword id="26422" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="TMC">TMC</keyword> and challenger <keyword id="14666" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> were Sunday locked in a neck-and-neck contest in <keyword id="6357783" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="West-bengal">West Bengal</keyword> as counting of postal ballots was underway, with the ruling party having a slight edge, officials said. While the TMC was leading in 64 constituencies, the BJP in 60. The Left-Congress-ISF candidates are leading in three places. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/ldf-vs-udf-final-result-kerala-assembly-election-2021/articleshow/82347653.cms">Pinarayi Vijayan looks at a historic comeback while Kerala’s BJP cadre can only hope for a higher vote share</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covid-vaccines-may-take-up-to-5-months-to-reach-private-centres-governments-say-slots-for-all-adults-may-open-only-after-2-3-weeks/articleshow/82326681.cms">COVID vaccines may take up to 5 months to reach private centres — governments say slots for all adults may open only after 2-3 weeks</a>

TMC and BJP locked in neck-and-neck tussle in West Bengal as counting of votes began

With the early trends in all 182 seats of Gujarat Assembly coming in, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (<keyword id="14666" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="bjp" source="Orion">BJP</keyword>) was seen inching towards an all-time high record of 149 seats. As per the latest trends, the party was leading in 149 seats, the number of seats which the <keyword id="1575" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="congress" source="Orion">Congress</keyword> had won in the 1985 election under the leadership of Madhavsinh Solanki, in what remains a record till date. The BJP was all set for a sweeping victory for the eighth term in a state where it has not lost an election since 1995. The Congress was ahead in 19 seats and the Aam Aadmi Party (<keyword id="6356115" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="aap" source="Orion">AAP</keyword>) in 9, according to the first trends of all the seats in the state Assembly as reported by the Election Commission. The others were leading in five seats, including a candidate of the Samajwadi Party in Kutiyana seat of Porbandar district and four independents in Dhanera, Vaghodia, Santrampur and Deesa. After registering initial gains, the Congress and AAP slipped while the BJP continued to improve its tally to reach the tally of 149. A number of sitting BJP MLAs were among those leading in the initial trends. Party leaders like Jitu Vaghani, Purnesh Modi, Kanubhai Desai and Hardik Patel were among those ahead of their rivals. AAP's chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi was leading in Khambhalia. The party's candidates were also leading in Jamjodhpur, Dediapada, Dhari, Vyara, Botad, Bhiloda, Gariadhar and Limbayat. AAP state chief Gopal Italia was trailing in Katargam seat and Alpesh Kathiriya was trailing in Varachha Road seat, both in Surat. The BJP has so far received 53.62 per cent vote share, Congress 26.57 per cent and AAP 12.80 per cent. The results of the two-phase elections, held earlier this month, will be watched more for the performance of the Congress and the new poll entrant AAP, which seem to be locked in a battle to grab the status of the main opposition party in the state. While the Congress was not expected to replicate its creditable performance of the last Assembly elections in 2017, a good showing by the AAP would have helped its leader Arvind Kejriwal cement his place as a key challenger to Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> in the parliamentary elections due in 2024. The Modi government is struggling with issues like rising inflation, slowing growth and joblessness, but economic troubles are unlikely to dent the BJP's popularity in Gujarat that has been a bastion of the party for decades and where Modi was the chief minister from 2001 to 2014. Gujarat has 182 Assembly seats and the majority mark is 92. Exit polls have predicted the BJP will comfortably win a seventh straight term -- an outcome that will equal the Left Front's feat in West Bengal. For the Congress, its role as the main challenger to the BJP is at stake. Thursday's results will reveal if the party's silent campaign has cut ice with people. The party's campaign, mostly shouldered by local leaders, has leaned on door-to-door canvassing for votes as its leader Rahul Gandhi, who had aggressively campaigned in the 2017 elections, chose to stay away to focus on the Bharat Jodo Yatra. For the AAP, which carried out a high-decibel campaign, the elections in Gujarat are an opportunity to establish itself as a pan-national party and a challenger to BJP at the national level. Emboldened by the victory in the Delhi municipal elections, the AAP hopes its politics of welfarism will be accepted by the people in Gujarat. That said, the BJP has had to battle anti-incumbency after being in power for 25 years. It is banking on Modi's charisma and appeal to contain anti-incumbency. Modi addressed as many as 30 election rallies. Unemployment, price rise, water not reaching certain pockets of the state, land acquisition for big projects and farmers not getting proper compensation for crop damage due to excess rains were among key issues of the campaign this time. The voter turnout this time dropped 4 per cent compared to 2017, signalling fatigue and possible disillusionment among some supporters of BJP. While the contest in Gujarat has traditionally been between the BJP and Congress, it turned three-cornered this time with the entry of the AAP. Altogether 182 counting observers and as many election officers along with 494 assistant election officers will be on duty for the entire counting process, the official said. A three-tier security system has been ensured at all the counting centres with local police and personnel of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), the CEO said. The fate of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi, youth leaders Hardik Patel, Jignesh Mevani and Alpesh Thakor, among a total 1,621 candidates will be decided on Thursday. A total of 70 political parties and 624 independents were in the fray. Apart from the main rivals BJP, Congress and AAP, 101 candidates from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and 26 from Bharatiya Tribal party (BTP) also contested. In the 2017 Assembly polls, BJP won 99 seats and Congress 77 seats, while two seats went to BTP, one to NCP, and three to independents. Ahead of this month's elections, the BJP's number in the House stood at 110 and Congress at 60 after 20 MLAs who won on Congress seats switched over to the BJP in the last five years, three of them quitting just ahead of the elections. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/rate-hike-to-affect-housing-demand-in-the-mid-and-affordable-segments-say-experts/articleshow/96076359.cms">Rate hike to affect housing demand in the mid and affordable segments, say experts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/dharmaj-crop-guard-lists-at-12-premium-but-below-grey-market-expectations/articleshow/96075246.cms">Dharmaj Crop Guard lists at 12% premium but below grey market expectations</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/top-searches-on-google-in-india-in-2022/slidelist/96075404.cms">IPL to KGF Chapter 2 to FIFA World Cup, here are the top Google searches in India in 2022</a>

Gujarat assembly elections: BJP inches towards all-time high record of 149 seats

<keyword id="5652234" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pushkar-Singh-Dhami">Pushkar Singh Dhami</keyword> will be the new chief minister of <keyword id="44522" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttarakhand">Uttarakhand</keyword> following his election on Saturday as the leader of the BJP legislature party in the hill state where assembly polls are due next year. The 45-year-old will be the youngest chief minister of the state and replaces <keyword id="1498654" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tirath-Singh-Rawat">Tirath Singh Rawat</keyword>, who resigned on Friday night within four months of taking charge from <keyword id="2253089" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Trivendra-Singh-Rawat">Trivendra Singh Rawat</keyword>. Dhami will be sworn in on Sunday, Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar told reporters after a legislature party meeting at the state BJP headquarters where he was a central observer. "My party has appointed a common worker, son of an ex-serviceman, who was born in the border district of Pithoragarh to serve the people. "We'll work on people's issues with the cooperation of all. I will carry forward the work done by my predecessors," Dhami, a two-time MLA from Khatima in Udham Singh Nagar district, said. As Dhami takes over less than a year ahead of the next assembly elections, his biggest challenge lies in leading the BJP to another victory and retaining power in Uttarakhand, where the party has been plagued by factionalism. Changing chief ministers twice in a short span has not helped the party's image, with the opposition Congress accusing it of causing "political instability" and betraying the people. "We accept the challenge and we will take forward the party and serve the people," Dhami said when asked whether taking over as CM just months ahead of assembly polls will be an uphill task. The chief minister-elect thanked the party leadership for reposing faith in him and said that he will work with everyone's cooperation. Dhami's name was proposed by outgoing chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat and Pradesh BJP president Madan Kaushik and seconded by a number of MLAs, including former chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, Tomar told reporters outside the state BJP headquarters here. No other name was proposed for BJP legislature party leader, Tomar said. Soon after his unanimous election as the BJP legislature party leader, Dhami headed for the Raj Bhawan along with a number of MLAs and the central observers to stake his claim to form the government. The BJP had replaced Trivendra Singh Rawat with Tirath Singh Rawat on March 10, hoping to go into the assembly polls with the new face, but he too was asked to step down as the Constitution required him to get elected as a member of the state assembly within six months of his appointment as CM and there seemed an increasing uncertainty over the Election Commission holding bypolls at this stage. The opposition Congress hit out at the BJP leadership, saying instead of ushering in development, it has thrown Uttarakhand into the throes of political instability and betrayed its people by repeatedly changing chief ministers. Starting with Nityananad Swami, the BJP will have eight chief ministers in the state, senior Congress leader <keyword id="180100" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Harish-Rawat">Harish Rawat</keyword> said, and added that in the latest four and a half years of the BJP's rule in Uttarakhand, there will be three chief ministers. "The BJP's high drama in Dehradun is an insult to the people of Uttarakhand. The prime minister had promised to give a double-engine government, but the state only received different chief ministers and no development," Harish Rawat, a former chief minister, said. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the BJP has betrayed the people and Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> and BJP chief J P Nadda are responsible. "This is BJP's example of lust for power, political instability, sharing fruits of power and failure of leadership. Instead of serving the people of Uttarakhand, they tried to distribute power, and <keyword id="2238662" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="PM-Modi">PM Modi</keyword> and J P Nadda are responsible for this. The BJP has brought Uttarakhand to such a turn where power means only sharing its fruits and nothing else," he alleged. Ending days of speculation about a change of guard in the state, Tirat Singh Rawat on Friday handed over his resignation letter to Governor Baby Rani Maurya past 11 pm, hours after returning from <keyword id="66" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi">Delhi</keyword> where he was summoned by the top BJP leadership on Wednesday. The names of nearly half a dozen MLAs were doing the rounds as probables for the top job, including Chaubattakhal MLA and cabinet minister Satpal Maharaj, Shrinagar MLA Dhan Singh Rawat and Khatima MLA Pushkar Singh Dhami. Interacting with reporters at his official residence after returning from the Raj Bhawan, Tirath Singh Rawat said, "I thought it was appropriate to resign as the state was facing a constitutional crisis under the provisions of section 151 A and 164 of the Representation of People Act." SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/google-is-working-on-a-new-app-to-let-you-store-your-medical-records/articleshow/84059948.cms">Google is working on a new app to let you store your medical records</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/battlegrounds-mobile-india-official-download-link-how-to-update-bgmi-rewards/articleshow/84058116.cms">Battlegrounds Mobile India launched officially – here’s how to update, claim rewards and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/failure-to-pivot-covid-19-blues-force-amazon-backed-shuttl-to-look-for-a-buyer/articleshow/84056797.cms">Failure to pivot, COVID-19 blues force Amazon-backed Shuttl to look for a buyer</a>

Pushkar Singh Dhami to be the new Chief Minister of Uttarakhand replacing Tirath Singh Rawat

<keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword>’s landslide win in UP and <keyword id="44522" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttarakhand">Uttarakhand</keyword> has made corporates believe that major reforms will be adapted as the coordination between the centre and states would be sorted. 
 <keyword id="6355988" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Assocham">Assocham</keyword> President <keyword id="4036" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sandeep-Jajodia">Sandeep Jajodia</keyword> said one of the important takeaways of the poll outcome is that a far better coordination is expected between the country's largest state (UP) and the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, according to a <keyword id="6367495" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="PTI">PTI</keyword> news report. 
 "Mr <keyword id="6354642" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi">Modi</keyword>'s agenda on economic development and to take on the challenges upfront has gone down very well with the people of the key states who are looking with a new hope for an economic development of the states. Most of the states are now being ruled by the BJP and its allies and far better level of development coordination is expected," <keyword id="4048" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jajodia">Jajodia</keyword> said. 
 "Investors value predictability &amp; stability. BJP's resounding victory in UP points to long term leadership. Markets may well applaud next week [sic]," <keyword id="6355744" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mahindra-Group">Mahindra Group</keyword>'s Executive Chairman <keyword id="46425" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anand-Mahindra">Anand Mahindra</keyword> said in a tweet. 
 "By and large, the results ensure that the process of reforms would gain further credence, support and momentum at the central level," industry body <keyword id="6358345" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="CII">CII</keyword> said. The BJP was also locked in a close contest in Goa and <keyword id="6359754" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manipur">Manipur</keyword> with the <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword>, which won the consolation prize of <keyword id="6354953" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Punjab">Punjab</keyword> where it will form the government.

BJP’s landslide
victory will push for better reform, believes India Inc

Kuldeep Rai Sharma from Indian National Congress is winner from Andaman and Nicobar Islands With 15 candidates trying their luck in the union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the tough game is said to be between the BJP and Congress parties. In Lok Sabha elections 2014, Bishnu Pandey Ray representing BJP won the seat by defeating the Congress Candidate Manoranjan Bhakta. In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has fielded Vishal Jolly who locked horns with Kuldeep Rai Sharma of the Congress party. The other important candidate who is in the game this time is Sanjay Meshak of Aam Aadmy Party (AAP). TMC has fielded Ayan Mandal, who is the grandson of the former MP of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Manoranjan Bhakta. Minoty Biswas, the former chairperson of South Andaman Zilla Parishad is now contesting for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as an independent candidate. He might be a prospective candidate who could challenge the results in the union territory. He is a Bengali candidate and the significant percentage of Bengali population might vote for him this time which can take away the vote share from that of BJP and Congress. In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, BJP, Congress, AAP and TMC ranked first, second, third and fourth respectively in terms of their vote share.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lok Sabha Election Result 2019

NEW DELHI: Looking to cement its frontrunner status, BJP faces a formidable array of rivals ranging from Congress, Samajwadi Party, BSP, Janata Dal(U) to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha as the biggest round of polling in 121 seats in 12 states takes place on Thursday. 
 
Though BJP is expected to do well in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh where it won state polls last December, it needs to prove its mettle in UP and Bihar and retrieve ground lost to Congress in the Karnataka election in 2013. 
 
A strong performance by BJP in UP, Maharashtra and Bihar, which account for 168 seats, is critical for the party to cross the 200-seat mark, crucial to powering BJP, and specifically its PM candidate Narendra Modi, to the magic halfway mark of 272. 
 
The Shiv Sena and BJP have their task cut out in western Maharashtra’s Maratha belt where the Congress-NCP control over sugar cooperatives gives them significant political clout. NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s family boroughs of Madha and Baramati will also be tested. 
 
The central stretch of Bihar going to polls is a big test for Janata Dal(U) leader Nitish Kumar as the party holds important seats like Arrah, Nalanda and Munger and must contend with the two-pronged threat of RJD-Congress and BJP-LJP. 
 
BJP needs a high strike rate to remain on course to winning more than 20 of Bihar’s 40 Lok Sabha seats, an objective integral to the party’s hopes of picking up a rich haul of seats in UP and Bihar. 
JD(U) is at risk of being squeezed out of the frame with RJD-Congress appearing a preferred option for Muslims and upper castes, as well as a chunk of middle castes gravitating towards BJP which has sought to encash Modi’s backward caste credentials. 
 
In UP, BJP is banking on a counter-mobilization that cuts across castes to help it challenge SP and check BSP. The latter may face the toughest test as it must compete with SP for the minority vote while protecting parts of its dalit base from drifting to the BJP. 
 
In the 11 seats of Odisha that include tribal ones like Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj as well as those in the coastal heartland, BJP has emerged as a surprise force but its capacity to convert support into seats will be tested by lack of organized presence. 
 
In MP, BJP holds most of the 10 seats and Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia remains the sole hope. In Bengal, Congress has been reduced to a bit player with even BJP grabbing more eyeballs. In Jharkhand, BJP has just two of the six seats up for grabs, and hopes to improve at the cost of Congress-JMM and Babulal Marandi’s JVM(P).

Lok Sabha Polls 2014: Get Set, Vote In Biggest Phase Today

New Delhi [India], July 25 (ANI): The discussion on the <keyword id="6360189" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget" source="Orion">Union Budget</keyword> 2024-25, presented on July 23, will continue in both <keyword id="244400" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Houses-of-Parliament" source="Orion">Houses of Parliament</keyword> on Thursday. The discussion on <keyword id="6358021" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Budget" source="Orion">Budget</keyword> of <keyword id="17605" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jammu-and-kashmir" source="Orion">Jammu and Kashmir</keyword>, 2024-25, which was also presented on Tuesday, will also continue today. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Jitendra Singh, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Kirtivardhan Singh will lay papers on the table today. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar is likely to make a statement regarding status of implementation of recommendations and observations contained in the 250th report of the department-related parliamentary standing committee on Home Affairs on action taken by the government on the recommendations and observations contained in the 243rd report of the committee on demands for grants (2023-24) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. Both Houses of <keyword id="19895397" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Parliament" source="keywords">Parliament</keyword> took up discussion on the <keyword id="15626720" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="union-budget-2024" source="Orion">Union Budget 2024</keyword> on July 24, with opposition parties accusing it of being "discriminatory" to most states and lacking vision. The discussion was initiated by former Finance Minister and Congress MP P Chidambaram in Rajya Sabha and Congress MP Kumari Selja initiated the discussion in Lok Sabha. Raising four major challenges, Chidambaram said the most significant challenge is unemployment and data released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) indicates that the unemployment rate for June 2024 is 9.2 per cent . Chidambaram emphasised that the primary challenge for the economy is creating sufficient employment opportunities. He pointed out that the budget's announcement of the employment-linked incentives (ELI) scheme suggests that the Production Linked Incentives (PLI) scheme is not generating the expected employment. He urged the finance minister to disclose the number of jobs created by the PLI scheme. Radha Mohan Das Aggarwal of the BJP highlighted the achievements made by the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last ten years. He said the Jan Dhan Yojana has provided banking services to crores of people in the country. Biplab Kumar Deb of the BJP said the Economic Survey has estimated real GDP growth of 6.5 per cent to 7 per cent in 2024-25. He highlighted the provisions in the budget for various sections, including farmers and the education sector. Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee launched a strong attack on the Modi government, alleging that the Union Budget lacks clarity or vision, that it has been rolled out to satisfy the coalition partners of the BJP and that it "was planned by two individuals to keep another two in good faith." The budget session of Parliament began on July 22 and, according to schedule, will end on August 12.

Discussions on Union Budget, Budget for Jammu and Kashmir to continue in Parliament today

<ul><li>Over ₹40 million were spent on political ads on Facebook in India over the last month. </li><li>More than half that amount was spending by the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), one of the primary contenders in the upcoming general elections in India.</li><li>Their main opposition, the Indian National Congress, only spent around ₹300,000 on political advertising on Facebook. </li></ul>The general elections are coming up and political parties in India are leaving no stone unturned. Facebook’s Ad Archive <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ads/archive/report/">report</a> shows that over ₹40 million were spent on political advertising in India. And, over ₹20 million came from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the country’s country's largest political party in terms of representation and a primary contender in the upcoming elections. 
 
 
 
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 Congress on the other hand, only accounted for ₹300,000 on political ads on Facebook, regional parties and backers included. 
 
 
 






 
 
 
 
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 This isn’t the first time that BJP has shot head of Facebook in terms of political advertising. Before the 5-state assembly elections in December 2018, BJP was already the number one advertiser on television <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/advertising/ahead-of-polls-bjp-becomes-the-number-one-advertiser-on-television/articleshow/66759018.cms">according</a> to the Broadcast Audience Research Council — putting them ahead of Netflix, Trivago and even consumer goods companies like Hindustan Unilever and Reckitt Benckiser. Indirect routes Even though the advertiser was not the BJP directly, just over ₹10 million were spent on ‘Bharat ke Mann ki Baat’ — a pro-BJP page — that too, without a political ad disclaimer. Another BJP supporting page, Nation with NaMo, spent ₹5 million to advertising — ads, that again, ran without disclaimers. Even the page responsible for the most amount of political ads in India — 2,153 ads — is a pro-BJP page called NaMo supporters. Their ad spent, meanwhile was limited to, ₹197,031. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Image"><cdata><![CDATA[
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 Facebook is working on rectifying the ‘no disclaimer’ issue by taking down political ads that are place without the necessarily information — including government campaigns like Digital India. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="&quot;When an advertiser categorises their ad as being related to politics or an issue of national importance, they are required to disclose who paid for the ad. If an ad ran without a disclaimer, this field will state 'these ads ran without a disclaimer'”" auname="Facebook told IANS"></div>





















 (with inputs from IANS) See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/bjps-5-year-challenge-follows-facebooks-10-year-challenge/articleshow/67586112.cms">Facebook's '10 Year Challenge' takes a political dimension in India</a>

BJP spends too much on political advertising on Facebook as Congress spends too little — yet again

New Delhi, The <keyword id="6466153" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="congress-high-command">Congress high command</keyword> has given its nod for an <keyword id="6365866" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alliance">alliance</keyword> with Left parties for <keyword id="10469457" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-west-bengal-assembly">the West Bengal Assembly</keyword> election next year. <keyword id="181147" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengal-Congress">Bengal Congress</keyword> President <keyword id="10489633" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="adhir-ranjan-chowdhry">Adhir Ranjan Chowdhry</keyword> said, "Today the Congress High command has formally approved the electoral alliance with the Left parties for the impending election in <keyword id="6357783" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="West-bengal">West Bengal</keyword>." In the last polls in 2016, the Congress fought in alliance with the Left parties and secured 44 seats to emerge as the second <keyword id="1285069" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="largest-party">largest party</keyword>. However, half of its MLAs have since joined the Trinamool. However, it is not clear how many seats the Congress will contest but party sources say Congress wants a fair share in the seat sharing agreement. Bengal Congress in-charge Jitin Prasada said talks on seat sharing will begin but the party will fight with full force to restore the pride of Bengal which is being "destroyed by the BJP and TMC". In Bengal, the Congress faces a formidable challenge from the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP, which is fast emerging as a force to reckon with in the poll-bound state. The 294-member Bengal Assembly will go to the polls next year. While the Trinamool Congress has the challenge to retain power, the Congress also has to retain its ground in the state. The Congress is also up against an upbeat BJP which has made inroads in the state after winning 18 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general election. The Congress was in a dilemma over whether to go with the Left or the Trinamool. But its state leaders have been talking to the Left informally and holding programmes in the state simultaneously. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-mrs-bectors-ril-bharti-airtel-vodafone-idea-ilfs-interglobe-aviation-future-group-deepak-nitrite-jubilant-foodworks-and-others/articleshow/79933826.cms">Top stocks to watch – Mrs Bectors, RIL, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, IL&amp;FS, InterGlobe Aviation, Future Group, Deepak Nitrite, Jubilant FoodWorks, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/india-will-have-to-pay-cairn-1-2-billion-ending-one-of-the-biggest-tax-disputes-of-the-decade/articleshow/79934284.cms">India will have to pay Cairn $1.2 billion ending one of the biggest tax disputes of the decade</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/mrs-bectors-food-ipo-investors-saw-their-money-double-on-listing-day/articleshow/79934860.cms">Mrs Bector’s Food IPO investors saw their money double on listing day</a>

You Searched For "BJP Challenge" and got 14 results

Facebook's '10 Year Challenge' takes a political dimension in India

Prabhjote Gill

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Times Of India

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Pushkar Singh Dhami to be the new Chief Minister of Uttarakhand replacing Tirath Singh Rawat

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BJP’s landslide victory will push for better reform, believes India Inc

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Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lok Sabha Election Result 2019

BI India Bureau

Lok Sabha Polls 2014: Get Set, Vote In Biggest Phase Today

Times Of India

Discussions on Union Budget, Budget for Jammu and Kashmir to continue in Parliament today

ANI

BJP spends too much on political advertising on Facebook as Congress spends too little — yet again

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Congress sealed alliance with Left parties for West Bengal Assembly elections

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In Amethi, Congress’s Rahul Gandhi and BJP’s Smriti Irani are up against 25 other challengers

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