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Bhartiya Janata Party(BJP) won 9 out of the 11 seats in the Chattisgarh state. Deepak Baij and Jyotsna Mahant are the only Congress candidates their respective states. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Chhattisgarh </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;"> </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;"> </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;"> </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Constituency </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Current MP 2014 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">BJP Candidates </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">INC Candidates </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">BSP Candidates </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Bastar </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Dinesh Kashyap </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Baiduram Kashyap </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Deepak Baij (Winner) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Aaytu Ram Mandavi </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Rajnandgaon </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Abhishek Singh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Santosh Pandey (Winner) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Bholaram Sahu </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Ravita Lakra </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Mahasamund </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Chandu Lal Sahu </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Chunnilal Sahu (Winner) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Dhanendra Sahu </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Dhan Singh Kaisaria </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Kanker </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Vikram Usendi </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Mohan Mandavi (Winner) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Brijesh Thakur </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Sube Singh Dhurve </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Sarguja </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Kamalbhan Singh Marabi </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Renuka Singh (Winner) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Khel Sai Singh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Maya Bhagat </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Raigarh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Vishnu Deo Sai </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Gomtee Sai (Winner) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Laljeet Singh Rathia </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Innocent Kujur </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Janjgir-Champa </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Kamla Devi Patle </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Guharam Ajgale (Winner) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Ravi Bhardwaj </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Dauram Ratnakar </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Korba </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Banshilal Mahto </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Jyoti Nand Dubey </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Smt. Jyotsna Mahant (Winner) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Parmeet Singh </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Bilaspur </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Lakhan Lal Sahu </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Arun Sa0 (Winner) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Atal vastav </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Uttam Das Guru Gosai </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Durg </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Vacant </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Vijay Baghel (Winner) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Pratima Chandrakar </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Geetanjali Singh </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Raipur </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:middle;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Ramesh Bais </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Sunil Soni (Winner) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">Pramod Dubey </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;">khileshwar sahu </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;"> </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;"> </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;"> </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;"> </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.75pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.75pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 2pt;"> </td></tr></tbody></table> Chhattisgarh, the central eastern state of India is the tenth largest in terms of area stretching over 135,191 square kilometers. This is also the 16 th largest in India in terms of population. This fastest developing state of India has a total number 1,89,32,245 voters. The gender ratio is seen as 94,92,481 male voters and 94,39,055 female voters. During the past three Lok Sabha elections in 2004, 2009 and 2014, Chhattisgarh has been giving 10 seats to the BJP and 1 seat to the Congress party. In 2014 parliamentary elections, BJP claimed 10 constituencies leaving the Durg constituency to the Congress candidate Tamradhwaj Sahu. He surpassed the Saroj Pandey of the BJP who was holding this seat after 2009 elections. The total number of Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh are 11. Among these seats, 1 is reserved for the candidates of scheduled castes and 4 are earmarked for scheduled tribe candidates. The state of Chhattisgarh also sends 5 Rajya Sabha members from here. The last assembly elections were held in 2018 for the 91 assembly constituencies in the state. The polling was held in Chhattisgarh for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in three phases on April 11, April 18 and April 23.

Check out the winning candidate list from Chattisgarh Lok Sabha election

Lok Sabha Election 2019 Candidate List for Chattisgarh

During 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, Chhattisgarh will face polling during three phases. The polling dates for the various constituencies in Chhattisgarh are April 11, 18 and 23. Names of Lok Sabha constituencies in Chhattisgarh In total, Chhattisgarh has 11 Lok Sabha Constituencies namely Bastar, Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund, Kanker, Surguja, Raigarh, Janjgir-Champa, Korba, Bilaspur, Durg, and Raipur The present status of constituencies in Chhattisgarh After its thumping victory from the state in 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, BJP has a hold over 10 seats in the state. The Indian National Congress has only one seat in the state as on date. Quite interestingly, the BJP got the same number of 10 seats during 2009 general elections for the parliament leaving Congress with only one seat. While the Congress won from Korba in 2009, it captured Durg in 2014. Amidst a curious mood prevailing among the electors to know the status of results in 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, we need to wait till May 23 to see how many seats BJP is going to grab this time, which will play a decisive role in its victory. BJP looks forward to winning from all the constituencies in this state since this is one of the strongholds of the party in the country.

Lok Sabha Election 2019: Total seats in Chattisgarh

<ul><li><keyword id="68723" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bastar">Bastar</keyword> the most “sensitive” constituency goes into polls today, with 80,000 security personnel guarding the polling booths. </li><li>Just days before the elections, a BJP MLA and four security personnel were killed in a Naxalite attack. </li><li>Both Bihar and Odisha too have been put under high alert.</li></ul>As voting commences in India, security has been tightened in polling booths across the country. But there are some polling booths, which are still marred by the blood stains caused by left-wing extremism. With just one seat to offer in the Lok Sabha, Bastar, <keyword id="45326" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chattisgarh">Chattisgarh</keyword> has 80,000 security personnel guarding the voters. Just days before the polling started, an attack by guerilla attackers in <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/several-killed-including-bjp-mla-bhima-mandavi-in-ied-blast-in-dantewada/article26782767.ece">Dantewada</a>, in the same constituency, killed BJP state legislator, Bheema Mandavi, and four security personnel. The state which has been the hotbed of left-wing extremism, also known as Maoism named after the founder of the Communist Party of China, saw an encounter on April 10, between the police and Naxalites in the Rajnandgaon District in Chattisgarh. Days before the <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019/chhattisgarh/news/maoists-ask-voters-in-bastar-to-boycott-polls-support-kashmir-separatism/articleshow/68787718.cms">election</a>, the maoists had also given out handwritten posters to villagers asking them to boycott the elections. The voter turnout in Bastar was 59% in the last general elections five years ago. India’s red corridor reflects the eastern, central and southern districts that have been most affected by the Naxalist-Maoist insurgency. While Bastar is the “most sensitive” constituency voting today, Bihar too has been under high security. Three <a href="https://www.newdelhitimes.com/2-ied-1-local-made-bomb-recovered-in-bihar/">bombs</a> were discovered in Bihar’s Gaya constituency just hours before the polling booths opened. The bombs which were placed near a government school were defused. On March 28, Maoists had also blown up ex-Bihar Legislative Council member Anuj Kumar Singh’s in Gaya, while <a href="https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/maoists-blow-up-ex-bihar-mlcs-house-call-for-poll-ban">asking voters</a> to boycott the elections. Security has also been beefed up in Telangana. In the state alone, over 5,749 polling stations have been marked as highly sensitive. Over <a href="https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/100419/70000-cops-to-guard-lok-sabha-elections-in-telangana.html">70,000</a> police forces have been deployed for the polling booths in the state. A similar situation hovers around the state of Odisha, where the <keyword id="7518639" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maoist-Constituencies">maoist constituencies</keyword> including Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada and Gajapati districts have been put under high alert. The Border Security Force in the state has asked voters to vote without fear and to <a href="https://odishatv.in/odisha/cast-votes-without-fear-bsf-tells-people-in-maoist-hit-odisha-363154">send </a>out a message to maoists by voting. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/lok-sabha-elections-2019-west-bengal-voting-begins/articleshow/68824684.cms">Elections 2019: Voting begins in West Bengal amid simmering communal tensions that have polarised the state’s population</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/general-election-2019-afspa-top-issue-in-5-states-voting-today/articleshow/68823814.cms">A brutal military law is among the core election issues in at least 5 Indian states voting today</a>

Elections 2019: These are the constituencies affected by Maoist violence that will vote today

<ul><li><keyword id="43771" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Exit-polls">Exit polls</keyword> predict states that gave Congress the confidence to go at it alone during the General Election — Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh — are now teetering back towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).</li><li>This is a mere six months are Congress won the State Elections in those states.</li><li>Even in the national capital, where praises of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chime for local governance, citizens seems to want a national party representing their needs. </li><li>Members from the Congress party remain optimistic saying that exit polls often make incorrect predictions.</li></ul>The tussle of power between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress during the General Election is gearing to its end as the final day of polling drew to a close. Congress may have won over the heartland, the BJP-ruled states during the State Elections but those same states — Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chattisgarh — are now singing Modi’s tune when its comes down to the exit polls of the General <keyword id="3383007" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Election-2019">Election 2019</keyword>. Even the national capital, New Delhi, where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won all but one constituency during the State Elections in 2015, will remain with the BJP, according to exit polls winning at least six of the seven seats in the union territory. Traders reflected a similar opinion expressing that while AAP is fine for local governance, they want a national party leading the country. Although, it should be pointed out, that exit polls are often known to get it wrong. Breaking down the heartland It was only six months ago, in December, that Congress managed to wrestle the heartland states away from BJP — but that victory doesn’t seem to repeat itself on the national stage. In Rajasthan, BJP’s stronghold will continue with at least 23 seats to their name according to exit polls. In 2014, they won all 25 seats even though they lost to Congress in 2018 when it came time for the State Assembly Elections. Madhya Pradesh will remain with the BJP as well where exit polls predict 26 seats will go to Modi and only three possible seats might peter down to Congress. For Chattisgarh, not everyone has doled out their prediction just yet, but India Today - My Axis predicts that eight of the state’s eleven seats will go to the National Democration Alliance. The Congress-party Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath, remains optimistic saying that the exit polls predicted Congress’ loss in 2018 as well, despite which the party came out on top. 
	<div type="twitter" handle="OfficeOfKNath" handlename="Office Of Kamal Nath" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1080037749120516096/nMIfc6J4_normal.jpg" favoritecount="2175" retweetcount="554" status="हमने सारे #ExitPolls 2004 में भी देखे थे,2018 के पाँच राज्यों के चुनाव के समय भी देखे थे,सब कांग्रेस की हार दिखा र… https://t.co/PCwK912bv6" createdat="1558279761000" id="1130133348813135874"></div>

In these states voters don’t mind Congress at home, but want Modi on the throne

<ul><li>The first phase of the Indian general election saw multiple outbreaks of violence in different parts of the country.</li><li>At least two separate improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were detonated, while others were caught before they could be triggered.</li><li>Andhra Pradesh was a hotbed of political clashes, which also resulted in the death of a <keyword id="83019" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telugu-Desam-Party">Telugu Desam Party</keyword> (TDP) members.</li><li>EVMs were also targets of violence where multiple attempts were made to destroy them, some of which were successful.</li></ul>The first phase of the Indian general election isn’t off the best start. Multiple reports of violence have been <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/violence-reports-of-evm-glitches-and-missing-names-mar-round-one-of-election-2019/articleshow/68835236.cms">reported</a> in 20 states that were up for polling today. Although most of the incidents were centered Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chattisgarh. One of the first reports of violence was an improvised explosive device (IED) attack <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/politics/naxals-trigger-ied-blast-in-chhattisgarhs-bastar-constituency-amid-polling-no-casualty-reported-2098061.html">allegedly</a> by the Naxalites in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh but thankfully, there were no casualties. Similarly, another IED blast by Naxalites <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/maharashtra/maharashtra-naxals-trigger-ied-blast-near-polling-booth/articleshow/68829732.cms">went off</a> in the Waghezari area of the Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra. No casualties were reported their either. An IED was also detected inside an old oil pipeline in Assam but it was removed before it could detonate. Firearms were also <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/4-naxals-arrested-3-firearms-seized-amid-polling-in-chhattisgarh-2021331">seized</a> from four guerrilla Naxalites in Bijapur of Chhattisgarh, while polling was still underway. However, in Andhra Pradesh, clashes between leaders actually led to the <a href="https://www.firstpost.com/india/andhra-pradesh-sees-violence-during-ls-polls-with-two-leaders-killed-after-tdp-ysrc-party-workers-clash-in-anantapur-6430801.html">death</a> of Sidda Bhaskar Reddy — a local leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) — in Tadipatri. The opposition, <keyword id="302547" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="YSR-Congress-Party">YSR Congress Party</keyword> (YSRCP), is alleging that one of their party workers also died in the clashes but the police are yet to confirm. While the TDP <a href="https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/tdp-accuses-ysrcp-leaders-of-violence-writes-to-dgp20190411154129/">accused</a> YSRCP of using violence in an attempt to win the elections, the YSRCP accused TDP was rigging votes and manipulating poll booths. Clashes also broke out in other parts of the state like Eluru City where a YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) member was allegedly attacked by members of the TDP and Jammalamadugu of Kadapa district, where both parties were reportedly caught in a stoning match. In another corner of Andhra Pradesh — the Narasaraopet constituency of Guntur — TDP workers were seen ransacking the polling booth and damaging the room. 
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 People also tried to forcibly enter the polling booth in Kairana in Uttar Pradesh without their voter IDs compelling the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel to fire shots in the air in order to control the situation. Madhusudhan Gupta from the Jana Sena Party was also arrested for being violent in one of the poll booths of Guntakal — another constituency in Andhra Pradesh — where he tried to destroy an electronic voting machine (EVM) that allegedly did not work properly. 
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 And apparently, Gupta wasn’t the only one to attack an EVM. <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1116346109494996992?s=19">According</a> to the election commission there have been six incidents in Andhra Pradesh, five in Arunachal Pradesh, one in Bihar, two in Manipur and one in West Bengal. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/lok-sabha-election-2019-drones-monitoring-poll-booths-are-cheaper/articleshow/68829523.cms">Drones replace bulky choppers making India's elections fuel efficient</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/lok-sabha-elections-2019-evm-issues-in-first-phase-of-voting-in-india/articleshow/68825731.cms">The first day of voting in India is dotted with glitches in the electronic voting machines</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/lok-sabha-elections-2019-first-phase-of-polling-citizenship-bill-may-hurt-4-million-people-in-north-east/articleshow/68824120.cms">The north-east of India is voting to decide whether 4 million undocumented people should continue living in India</a>

The first phase of India's Parliamentary elections had its share of explosions, firearms, and bombs

<ul><li>The Indian states granting farm loan waivers amid an ongoing rural distress in the country may reportedly hike liquor taxes. </li><li>Liquor taxes are one of the top three revenue sources of the state governments in India who will be looking to make up for the shortfall in revenue. </li><li>Any rise in tax will eventually be passed onto consumers.</li></ul>India’s ongoing farmer distress has led many state governments to waive off farm loans. Now, it appears the move may lead to higher prices on alcohol as those states will likely increase taxes, according to a Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-02/farm-waiver-to-shake-n-stir-india-liquor-firms-edelweiss-says">report.</a> Loan waivers to farmers have recently dominated agendas for political parties as they gear up for the upcoming general elections this year. Agrarian distress may play a huge factor in deciding rural votes. Liquor taxes are among the top revenue sources of state governments who will be looking to make up for the shortfall in revenue. However, the move will mean that the burden of the extra tax levy will likely be passed onto consumers, said the report. Alcohol is already among the highest taxed in the country as it does not fall under the national Goods and Services Tax However, that could change as Indian Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> indicated last month the government was considering imposing the highest taxes on luxury and sin goods including alcohol and tobacco. Recently, India’s main opposition party, the Indian National <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politically-driven-financially-unsound-the-loan-waivers-offered-by-indias-political-parties-will-only-serve-to-worsen-the-countrys-bad-loan-crisis/articleshow/67190737.cms">announced</a> loan waivers in three Indian states immediately after coming to power in three states including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chattisgarh. The Maharashtra government has already announced a hike in the tax on home-made liquor by 20%, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/sober-new-year-maharashtra-ups-tax-on-imfl-by-20/articleshow/67331136.cms">reported</a> the Times of India. See more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politically-driven-financially-unsound-the-loan-waivers-offered-by-indias-political-parties-will-only-serve-to-worsen-the-countrys-bad-loan-crisis/articleshow/67190737.cms">Politically driven, financially unsound: The loan waivers offered by India’s political parties will only serve to worsen the country’s bad loan crisis</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-bad-loan-problem-continues-to-break-records/articleshow/64601136.cms">India's bad loan problem continues to break records</a>

Alcohol may become costlier in Indian states considering farm loan waivers: Report

(Image source- Pixabay) <ul><li>One of the major reasons the <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> was able to wrest three very important states from the ruling <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> in the recent round of <keyword id="6355644" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="elections">elections</keyword> is because of its promises to write off farmers loans. </li><li>After a <keyword id="56684" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="loan-waiver">loan waiver</keyword> is announced, farmers stop servicing their loans. As banks won’t be able to recover these debts, the waiver leads to a buildup in their <keyword id="142154" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="bad-loans">bad loans</keyword> and shortage in liquidity. </li><li>The state government writing off the loans usually compensates the banks, but it can take a number of years for the funds to reach the banks. </li><li><keyword id="6358908" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="raghuram-rajan">Raghuram Rajan</keyword>, the former governor of the Reserve Bank of India, has written to the Election Commission to recommend a ban on pre-election announcements relating to loan waivers. </li></ul>It has become a common, albeit alarming, practice by India’s political parties in recent months to offer loan waivers to farmers while on the campaign trail. The move makes sense. Farmers are a huge vote bank and can be easily swayed by promises that their debts will go away. But, ultimately, when the party makes good on its electoral promises, it’s the banks, taxpayers and most importantly, future governments that end up inheriting the problem. It’s the classic conundrum of short-term gain vs long-term instability. Farm loan waivers offer immediate relief but don’t solve the problem of high input costs and weak prices of agricultural commodities. While they’ve been mooted as solution to preventing farmer suicides, the waivers actually apply to farmers with relatively large landholdings since they have the ability to secure loans from formal institutions. Smallholder farmers do not usually get covered under waiver schemes since they borrow money from loan sharks. Loan waivers also prevent productive investments by the government in agricultural research and innovation. More importantly, based on the regularity of such handouts, farmers are disincentivised from servicing their loans in the first place. One of the major reasons the Congress was able to wrest <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/here-are-some-reasons-why-indias-ruling-party-lost-to-its-main-rival-in-three-very-important-state-elections/articleshow/67057122.cms">three very important states</a> from the ruling BJP in the recent round of elections is because of its promises to write off farmers loans. It did, to be fair, take a cue from BJP governments in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, which wrote off loans last year. Within days of assuming power, the new governments of both Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh announced the waiver of loans with Rajasthan also following suit. The decisions endanger the recovery of a significant proportion of the <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/banking/farm-loan-waivers-in-states-may-put-squeeze-on-lending/articleshow/67184308.cms">₹1.47 trillion</a> worth of farmer loans outstanding in these three states. After a loan waiver is announced, farmers stop servicing their loans. As banks won’t be able to recover these debts, the waiver portends a buildup in their bad loans and shortage in funds for the purpose of extending further loans. In addition, banks become reluctant to grant large loans to the agricultural sector. The state government writing off the loans usually compensates the banks, but it can take a number of years for the funds to reach the banks. And where do these funds come from? The coffers of the state government, or if it doesn’t have enough cash on hand, it raises the money from debt markets by issuing bonds. In essence, the government is currying favour from the electorate by taking a loan from taxpayers and future state governments, which will inevitably struggle to govern amid financial pressure. Last week, Raghuram Rajan, the former governor of the Reserve Bank of India, said that he had written to the Election Commission <a href="https://www.theweek.in/news/biz-tech/2018/12/14/Raghuram-Rajan-bats-for-banning-of-loan-waiver-promises-in-poll-manifestos.html">to recommend a ban </a>on pre-election announcements relating to loan waivers. Despite Rajan’s efforts, the trend looks set to continue. Following their election losses, the Narendra Modi-led BJP government is reportedly <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/modi-likely-to-announce-farm-loan-waivers-to-win-back-rural-voters/article25723758.ece">planning</a> their own handouts to farmers ahead of general elections in mid-2019. Following a pledge from the Congress to provide a national loan waiver, the party in power at the centre is expected to write off ₹4 trillion worth of farmer loans over the next couple of months, which will exacerbate their fiscal deficit. However, they will cross that bridge when they come to it. The immediate priority is of course, re-election and that means, playing into the demands of rural voters. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/here-are-some-reasons-why-indias-ruling-party-lost-to-its-main-rival-in-three-very-important-state-elections/articleshow/67057122.cms">Here are some reasons why India’s ruling party lost to its main rival in three very important state elections</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-bad-loan-problem-continues-to-break-records/articleshow/64601136.cms">India's bad loan problem continues to break records</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-amazing-public-relations-of-the-farmer-protests-in-maharashtra/articleshow/63328247.cms">The amazing public relations of the farmer protests in Maharashtra</a>

Politically driven, financially unsound: The loan waivers offered by India’s political parties will only serve to worsen the country’s bad loan crisis

(Image source- Reuters) The 11th of December is not a day that the Modi government will forget easily. In addition to conceding ground in Telangana, India’s ruling party, the <keyword id="58687" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Janata-Party">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP), was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/we-accept-the-peoples-mandate-indias-state-election-results-prove-a-huge-setback-for-pm-narendra-modis-bjp/articleshow/67053526.cms">beaten</a> in <keyword id="6355644" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="elections">elections</keyword> in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh by the main opposition party -- the Indian National <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword>. It wouldn’t be remiss to say that the BJP was expecting a better performance in the three states, all of which lie in the Hindu heartland. While the party suffered heavy defeats in Rajasthan, where power has alternated between the BJP and Congress since 1993, and Chattisgarh, it fell short of the Congress by a few seats in Madhya Pradesh, where it was campaigning for its record fourth consecutive term. And so begins a period of introspection for India’s ruling party, which up until yesterday, seemed insurmountable in the face of a divided opposition. While the BJP blames the results on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/local-issues-determined-outcome-will-do-better-in-2019-bjp/articleshow/67049584.cms">“local issues,”</a> in effect, downplaying any apprehensions they have about their strength ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha elections, it remains to be seen what exactly went wrong. Here are a few possible reasons: The anti-incumbency wave One of the primary explanations here seems to be that the BJP underestimated the anti-incumbency problem and how it was mostly targeted at chief ministers. Despite its diverse makeup, the Indian electorate can be remarkably consistent when it comes to voting for change. Anti-incumbency is always a key consideration in the minds of voters come election time and this time it was no different The BJP was the ruler in all three states that it lost to the Congress, and failed to make a good enough case for re-election. This was compounded by the general resentment of upper-caste voters, who felt shunted by recent changes to the SC/ST Act. The BJP wasn’t able to demonstrate that it had made good on its promises. For example, in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, did not deliver on her goal of creating 1.5 million new jobs. Meanwhile its rival Congress swayed voters with promises of better welfare schemes a change in the way of doing things. Farmer distress A number of factors have dominated the public conversation in India all year: High fuel prices, youth unemployment, lack of funds for small businesses and most importantly, the need for farmers to secure debt relief. The BJP suffered heavy losses in rural constituencies as compared to urban ones, and this may be due to the fact that it didn’t cater to a crucial voter bloc. Madhya Pradesh is largely a rural state, and a significant proportion of its voters are farmers. In fact, the BJP lost a number of seats in <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/distressed-farmers-speak-out-via-ballots/articleshow/67053185.cms">two key regions in the state</a> that were notable for farmer suicides and protests. In contrast, the Congress made farmers a key part of its election proposals. In addition to promising an increase in the minimum support price for agricultural commodities, <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> alluded to a <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/rahul-gandhi-hints-at-nationwide-farm-loan-waiver/articleshow/66962964.cms">national waiver</a> for all farmers - an unrealistic proposal, but one that resonated nonetheless - while criticising the Modi administration’s supposed approach to writing off the bad loans of large companies. The BJP was unable to present an adequate response or counter-offer to the Congress’s pitch to farmers. A failure of leadership Anonymous sources told the <a href="https://indianexpress.com/elections/state-assembly-elections-2018-rumbling-in-bjp-just-as-they-take-credit-top-should-share-blame-too-5489279/">Indian Express </a>that the BJP’s core leadership played a very heavy hand in deciding electoral strategies in each state and did not decentralise power to the chiefs of state units, which resulted in them overlooking issues of local importance. In addition, there were reports of conflicts between state chiefs and party leaders, as seen in the tussle between Raje and BJP President <keyword id="6355521" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="amit-shah">Amit Shah</keyword> over the <a href="https://scroll.in/article/901550/rajasthan-elections-amit-shah-vasundhara-raje-now-at-loggerheads-over-ticket-distribution">distribution of tickets in Rajasthan.</a> There were also complaints of “overconfidence” among the party’s leaders, a plausible claim given the BJP’s strong showing in multiple state elections over the last few years. More importantly, its decision to play into the Hindutva nationalism narrative, as evidenced by sending UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the campaign trail and bringing up the Ram Temple issue, did not pay off. The electoral victory is the most significant one for the Opposition since the BJP stormed to power in the general elections of 2014 on a wave of popular support for Brand Modi. It may be too soon to say if the Modi star is dimming, however. In fact, the string of losses will likely propel the ruling party to rely more on its star figure and hand out more sweeteners to allies and farmers as campaigning for the general elections ramps up. The Congress showed that it is still a force to reckon with in the Hindi-speaking belt of India and will now have a renewed vigour when it comes to sealing alliances with other opposition parties. Having presented the election results as a collective assessment on the Modi government, it is in a strong position to take on India’s ruling party in next year’s Lok Sabha elections. However, it remains to be seen if the promise of loan waivers and freebies can fuel its campaign. The stage is set for an interesting 2019. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/we-accept-the-peoples-mandate-indias-state-election-results-prove-a-huge-setback-for-pm-narendra-modis-bjp/articleshow/67053526.cms">'We accept the people's mandate': India's state election results prove a huge setback for PM Narendra Modi's BJP</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-top-two-political-parties-in-india-are-bickering-over-whos-better-at-building-toilets/articleshow/63941200.cms">The top two political parties in India are bickering over who’s better at building toilets</a>

Here are some reasons why India’s ruling party lost to its main rival in three very important state elections

It seems that India’s slowing <keyword id="35050" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="gdp">GDP</keyword> growth in 2017-18, in the wake of demonetisation, an overhaul of the tax regime and a decline in manufacturing and investment, has had an adverse impact on the financial strength of its states. According to <a href="http://www.careratings.com/upload/NewsFiles/SplAnalysis/Study%20of%20State%20Budgets%20for%20FY19.pdf">a report by CARE Ratings</a>, a credit ratings agency, 14 out of 24 states recorded a decline in their net financial position, as per latest estimates, in the year ended March 2018. Of the 14 states that recorded a revenue surplus, which occurs when revenue receipts are higher than revenue expenditure, eight saw a lower surplus than the year before, including <keyword id="6357713" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttar-Pradesh">Uttar Pradesh</keyword> (₹185.2 billion), Bihar (₹14.5 billion) and Odisha (₹88.7 billion). However, a revenue surplus isn’t an obvious indicator of financial strength. Many states which record surpluses like Uttar Pradesh, which has the highest surplus, <a href="http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/State%20Budget%202018-19/Uttar%20Pradesh%20Budget%20Analysis%202018-19.pdf">spend less than their budget estimates </a>on agriculture and education, resulting in lower expenditure. Meanwhile, 10 states recorded a revenue deficit, out of which 6 experienced a higher deficit than the previous year. These include Rajasthan (₹201.7 billion), Tamil Nadu (₹183.7 billion) and <keyword id="13126" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword> (₹148.4 billion). Assam recorded the highest deficit at ₹233.5 billion, compared to a mere deficit of ₹1.4 billion the previous year, as it significantly <a href="http://www.prsindia.org/administrator/uploads/general/1521201654~~Assam%20Budget%20Analysis%2018-19.pdf">overshot its budgeted expenditure</a> on agriculture, police resources, education and health. Spending beyond their means Another cause for concern is that more states are spending beyond their means. The number of states with a <keyword id="6365485" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Fiscal-Deficit">fiscal deficit</keyword>, the difference between total revenue (excluding borrowings) and total expenditure, that is larger than 3% of GDSP (a state’s gross domestic product) has increased from 10 in 2016-17 to 14 in 2017-18. The 14th Finance Commission recommends a maximum limit of 3% on state fiscal deficits. In fact, 5 states actually had a deficit ratio higher than 3.5%. Bihar stood out as the state with the worst ratio, at 7.5%, partly owing to <a href="http://www.prsindia.org/administrator/uploads/general/1519878666_State%20Budget%20Analysis%20-%20Bihar%202018.pdf">higher spending on pensions, education and rural development. </a> India’s states are increasing the amount they spend on asset creation, in lieu of future growth and development. Around 14 out of 24 states reported a higher capital outlay, or the money spent on infrastructure creation and fixed assets, as a percentage of total expenditure. Goa had the highest allocation, at 27% of total expenditure, followed by Jammu &amp; Kashmir and Bihar. It bears mentioning that Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab all extended generous loan waivers last year. However, as shown below, it seems that only Maharashtra can afford the waivers. Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh have the highest <keyword id="44647" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="debt">debt</keyword> levels Maharashtra, India’s richest state, had the highest level of outstanding debt with ₹4.07 trillion, closely followed by Uttar Pradesh, one of India’s poorest states, with a debt burden of ₹4.06 trillion. This is roughly equivalent to the cost of 306,000 Lamborghini Gallardos. However, given its high GDSP, Maharashtra has a debt-to-GDSP ratio of only 16.3%, well below the Finance Commission’s maximum permissible limit of 25%, while Uttar Pradesh has a debt ratio of 29.5%. The reports show that 8 out of 19 states had a debt-to-GDSP ratio over 25%. Punjab and Jammu &amp; Kashmir had worryingly high debt ratios, at 41% and 46.4% respectively. Along with West Bengal and Haryana, Punjab spends more than 20% of its revenue receipts on interest payments alone, which results in lower development spending. Only four states - Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha and Chattisgarh - proved to be efficient at managing their debt obligations. In addition to having a debt-to-GDSP ratio of less than 25%, these states also allocated less than 10% of their revenue receipts to interest payments. An improvement in 2019? In light of their declining financial strength, India’s states will focus on fiscal consolidation and cost control in the current fiscal year. Only 7 states are budgeted to have a revenue deficit in 2018-19, out of which 4 expect to reduce their revenue deficit. West Bengal, Assam and Andhra Pradesh, all of which recorded a revenue deficit last year, expect to record a surplus or a neutral balance in 2018-19. Meanwhile, all the 14 states that recorded a revenue surplus last year, expect to do so in 2018-19 as well, with 9, including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Bihar, planning to increase their surplus. These states will continue to count on the generosity of the central government for grants-in-aid and tax revenues. According to PRS Legislative Research, a think tank, <a href="http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Analytical%20Report/State%20of%20State%20Finances%202018.pdf">states derive 46% of their revenue</a> from the central government’s coffers. Grants account for 20% of state funding while the states’ share of central taxes account for 26%. Given their dependence on the central government, it isn’t hard to see why so many voters in state elections favour the party that is in power at the centre.

Here’s what the fiscal health of Indian states looks like post-demonetisation and GST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strategy and political ideology being mismatch have raised new question mark in US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) report. As reported by The Economic Times, USCIRF has slammed the BJP Government on the 'Ghar Vapasi' campaign and the violence against Christians. The only respite for Modi is his statement in mid-February in support of religious freedom, which has been deemed by USCIRF as "positive development". 
 
The annual report of USCIRF mentions, since Modi has come to power, religious minority communities have been subject to "derogatory comments by politicians linked to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)" and "numerous violent attacks and forced conversions by Hindu nationalist groups" such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). 
 
 
In a chapter on India, the report reads, “The states of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan tend to have the greatest number of religiously-motivated attacks and communal violence incidents. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and religious leaders, including from the Muslim, Christian, and Sikh communities, attributed the initial increase to religiously-divisive campaigning in advance of the country's 2014 general election.” 
 
“Religious minority communities frequently accuse the RSS, VHP and other Hindu-nationalist groups and individuals of intolerance, discrimination, and violence against them, the report adds. Moreover, religious minority communities voice concern that high-ranking BJP members protect or provide support to these groups. In light of these concerns, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement in support of religious freedom made in mid-February 2015 was a positive development," the USCIRF report further read. 
 
As per the news report, USCIRF report adds that the Muslim community in India also has experienced increased harassment and violence. "It faces significant hate campaigns perpetrated by Hindu nationalist groups and local and state politicians that include wide- spread media propaganda accusing Muslims of being terrorists; spying for Pakistan; forcibly kidnapping, converting, and marrying Hindu women; and disrespecting Hinduism by slaughtering cows. Additionally, the Muslim community reports that its mosques are monitored and young boys and men are detained indiscriminately under the pretext of countering terrorism. Muslims also complain that most Indian states violate their religious freedom by restricting or banning cow slaughter, which is required for Muslims during Eid al-Adha," the report has said. 
 
In what may sound rough to Modi’s liking for the US, the financial daily report, the USCIRF has further urged the US government to urge the central Indian government to press states that have adopted anti-conversion laws to repeal or amend them to conform with internationally recognised human rights standards and make clear US opposition to laws that restrict freedom of thought and association. It has further asked the US to urge Indian government to publicly rebuke government officials and religious leaders that make derogatory statements about religious communities, as per the USCIRF report. 
 
(Image: Reuters)

The US didn’t like India’s ‘ghar
wapsi’

Bullets have often been the symbol of power in the eastern states of Bihar, Jharkand and Chattisgarh. Call it a show of power or switching on the safety mode before serving the people, Bihar’s politicians are busy getting special protections for them and their cars. 
 
With assembly elections round the corner, SUVs from poll-bound Bihar are making a beeline for Meerut for bulletproofing, according to a news report by The Economic Times. 
 
The automobile workshop in Meerut that does the work said they have received orders for more than 500 vehicles in the past one month while more than a thousand queries were made regarding the cost. 
Balwinder Singh Sekho, director of Bulletproof Systems Ltd, told TOI, "Among the 500 vehicles that have come for the security cover that costs anything from Rs 16 to Rs 28 lakh, there are not only politicians but also businessmen. We have completed work on 200 vehicles so far." 
 
He added, "Bihar has always been a volatile state with high crime rate. Even during normal circumstances, we get a lot of orders for bulletproofing of vehicles. Polls are a different game altogether. Be it politicians or businessmen everybody becomes extra cautious in matters of security." 
 
HOW IS BULLETPROOFING DONE? 
"First of all, tyres are made bulletproof by using ballistic fibre fixed inside the original tyre. Diesel tank is yet another vulnerable area which is coated with impenetrable steel. We make it explosion-proof as well by using the latest technology. Then comes the windows and windscreen which are a combination of four layers of glass and polycarbonate. Besides, provision of dual battery system is made in addition to complete protection of the radiator. The roof and floor are also covered by high grade steel," Sekho said. 
COST 
But armouring one's vehicle comes with a formidable price tag. While bullet-proofing Scorpio and Safari costs Rs 15 lakh, if one goes for a bombproof cover, the costs rise to Rs 22 lakh. Similarly, Fortuner and Pajero cost Rs 17 lakh (for bulletproofing) and 25 lakh (for bombproofing) respectively. 
 
According to Sekho, Jharkhand, eastern UP and Chhattisgarh have a high demand for bombproof vehicles, since bombs are common in Naxalite-affected areas. 
 
BJP MLA from Muzaffarpur, Suresh Sharma, said, "I am not surprised if bulletproofing of vehicles is happening. A resident of Bihar is a frightened man today and tries to find all means to protect himself from the worsening law and order situation in the state. Moreover, these are politically volatile times. Politicians have to move across the state for campaigning. Some areas are Naxalite-affected too. So getting vehicles bulletproofed is logical." 
 
Leaders from the ruling party, however, dismissed the "poor law and order" charge. Senior Janata Dal (United) leader and current Rajya Sabha member, Ali Anwar, attributed the culture of bulletproofing to pomp and show by the powerful and mighty. 
 
JD(U)'s Bihar president Bashishtha Narayan Singh said, "This is not a good sign at all. What if anti-social elements get access to bulletproof vehicles? It is a serious matter that needs to be examined."

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