Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday expressed confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party winning the state Assembly polls by securing over 300 seats and said that the elections are a fight between 80 versus 20, wherein 80 per cent are those who back progress while 20 per cent of people oppose everything and have a negative attitude.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Adityanath said that after the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections there is no doubt about the BJP forming the government.
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with the blessing of the people, the double-engine government is coming back for the tenure. Elections have taken an 80 versus 20 direction. Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress are upset and are on the back foot after the first phase," he told ANI.
Meanwhile, commenting on the ongoing hijab row, Adityanath said that people can’t impose personal religious beliefs on India’s institutions. He said that the dress code must be enforced in schools.
The Central Bureau of Investigation Director has received a one-year extension, continuing in the role until May next year. The decision was made by a high-power committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, and the Leader of Opposition.
The latest edition of Statecraft covers major geopolitical shifts as US President Donald Trump arrives in Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit, occurring amid the ongoing West Asia conflict and the Strait of Hormuz blockade, focusses on trade, tariffs, and the Iran war.
In this episode of Newstrack, watch the exclusive interview of Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Lahiri as he decodes PM Modi's austerity push amid the escalating crisis in West Asia.
The central government has implemented austerity measures, including reducing ministerial convoys to two vehicles, in response to a looming fuel crisis driven by West Asian geopolitical tensions. While the ruling party frames this as a necessary fiscal step, opposition leaders have labeled the move tokenism, demanding a special parliamentary session to address the economic situation and rising oil prices. Simultaneously, the national currency has depreciated to an all-time low against the dollar, prompting calls from experts for fiscal consolidation and reduced political populism. Amidst these economic challenges, a major controversy has emerged regarding the national medical entrance examination. Investigations into an alleged paper leak and an interstate exam mafia have resulted in multiple arrests across several states, revealing potential political links. Education experts are now advocating for a complete overhaul of the testing system, suggesting decentralized, computer-based examinations to ensure future transparency. Transparency activists further urge the government to disclose fuel stock data to prevent public panic and hoarding during this period of economic instability.
