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Tag: Aam Aadmi Party

  • BJP may regain Rajasthan & Chhattisgarh and retain Gujarat, MP & HP; TRS likely to retain power in Telangana, says India TV-Matrize poll

    BJP may regain Rajasthan & Chhattisgarh and retain Gujarat, MP & HP; TRS likely to retain power in Telangana, says India TV-Matrize poll

    Mumbai: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may return to power in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and retain power in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, according to assembly seat projection made by India TV-Matrize opinion poll, results of which were telecast on the news channel on Saturday (30 July).

    On the other hand, the ruling Trinamool Congress may retain power in West Bengal with a reduced majority, while TRS & Aam Aadmi Party may continue to remain in power in Telangana and Punjab respectively if elections are held now, says the opinion poll.

    Following are the details of the opinion poll from different states:

    Rajasthan

    In the 200-seat Rajasthan assembly, if elections are held now, BJP may win 148 seats, Congress may win 42 seats, and ‘others’ including independents may win 10 seats, according to the opinion poll. In the 2018 elections, BJP had won 73, Congress had won 99 and others had won 28 seats. Voting percentage: BJP 52 percent, Congress 31 percent and others 17 percent if elections are held now. The assembly elections are scheduled for next year.

    Asked about favourite choice for CM, Ashok Gehlot leads with 27 percent, BJP leader Vasundhara Raje comes second with 22 percent, and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat with 19 percent. Congress leader Sachin Pilot got 11 percent support from respondents.

    The biggest electoral issue among respondents was: (1) the government’s performance 31 percent and (2) Narendra Modi factor of 26 percent (3) MLA’s work 14 percent and (4) Communal polarization 12 percent.

    Asked about the effects of Kanhaiyalal’s beheading in Udaipur, 69 pc said ‘yes’ and 23 pc said ‘no.

    Asked which party they would prefer to form government next year, 57 percent said BJP while 27 percent said Congress. Asked in whose name will you cast your vote, 42 per cent said, “in Modi’s name”. Only 28 percent said “in Ashok Gehlot’s name”.

    Gujarat

    In the 182-seat Gujarat assembly, BJP is going to retain power by winning 108 seats, Congress may win 55 seats, AAP may win eight seats and others including independents may win 11 seats. In the 2017 assembly elections, BJP had won 99 seats, Congress had won 77 seats, and other six seats. The assembly elections are due in December this year. The voting percentage shown in the survey is BJP 48 percent, Congress 33 percent and AAP 16 percent.

    Asked whether BJP should project a CM candidate before the elections, 38 per cent said ‘No’, 36 per cent said ‘BJP should declare a new face’, and 22 per cent said “the present CM”.

    Asked in whose name will you cast your vote, 33 per cent said “for Modi”, 24 per cent said, “for the candidate with the best image”.

    Asked about the best face for CM, only 22 per cent said Bhupendra Patel, the present CM, 16 per cent opted for BJP leader Purushottam Rupala, 9 per cent for Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil, and a whopping 69 per cent said “any other face”.

    Madhya Pradesh

    In the 230-seat Madhya Pradesh Assembly, BJP is set to retain power winning 119 seats, while Congress may win 98 seats and Others 13 seats. In the 2018 elections, BJP had won 109 seats, Congress had won 114 and Others had won seven seats. Voting percentage in opinion poll: BJP 44 per cent and Congress 41 percent.

    Asked about their first choice for CM candidate, 38 per cent preferred the current CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while 31 percent opted for Congress leader Kamal Nath.

    Chhattisgarh

    In the 90-seat Chhattisgarh assembly BJP is projected to win 48 seats, while the ruling Congress party may win 40 seats. Others may win only 2 seats. In the 2018 elections, Congress had won 68, BJP had won 15 and Others had won 7 seats. Voting percentage in opinion poll: Congress 40 percent and BJP 43 percent.

    38 per cent of respondents said they would vote in the name of Modi, while 22 percent opted for Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Among the choices for CM, 29 percent said they would support State BJP chief Vishnudeo Sai, 24 percent opted for Bhupesh Baghel and 14 percent for ex-CM Raman Singh.

    Maharashtra

    In the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly, BJP may emerge as the largest party again with 134 seats, while its ally Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena may win 41 seats, meaning that the alliance can win a comfortable majority. NCP may win 44 seats, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena may win 18 seats, Congress may win 38 seats and others 13. Voting percentage in opinion poll: BJP 34.1 percent, NCP 19.6 percent, Congress 16.1 percent, Shinde Shiv Sena 12.6 percent and Uddhav Shiv Sena 9.1 percent. Assembly polls are due in 2024.

    Who will be the best face for CM? 38.4 percent opted for Devendra Fadnavis, 11.3 percent for Eknath Shinde, 9.2 percent for Sharad Pawar, 8.6 percent for Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan and 8.1 percent for Uddhav Thackeray.

    52 per cent said they wanted to see BJP-Eknath Shiv Sena govt again in 2024, while 32 percent opted for Congress-NCP government. 52 per cent said they will vote “in the name of Modi’, while 32 percent said they will vote “in the name of Sharad Pawar”. 56 percent said the Uddhav-led party is the real Shiv Sena, while 44 percent said the Eknath-led party is the real Shiv Sena.

    Punjab

    If elections are held now in Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party may retain power but with a reduced majority. In the 117-seat assembly, AAP may win 72 seats, BJP 16 seats, Akali Dal 11 seats, Congress 9 and other nine seats. In this year’s assembly polls, AAP had won 92 seats, Congress 18, Akali Dal 3, BJP 2, and Others 2 seats.

    Asked whether they want to change the present government, 46 per cent said ‘No’, 41 per cent said ‘Yes’. Asked about the AAP government’s performance, 32 percent said they were not happy, 31 percent said they were happy, 24 percent said AAP did what they promised, 13 percent said they made a mistake (galti ho gayi).

    Uttar Pradesh

    In the 403-seat UP assembly, if elections are held now, Yogi Adityanath-led BJP may win 292 seats, Samajwadi Party may win 94 seats, Congress one and others 16 seats. In the assembly polls in March this year, BJP had won 255 seats, Samajwadi Party 111, Congress 1 , BSP 1 and Others 35.

    Voting percentage in opinion poll: BJP 44.6 percent and SP 31.3 percent. Asked on which issue would you vote, 38 per cent said “because of Yogi’s popularity”, 26 percent said “sushasan and ration (good governance and ration)”. 56 per cent said “Double engine factor decides the vote” while 39 percent said, “Double engine factor does not decide the vote”.

    Bihar

    In the 243-seat Bihar assembly, if elections are held now, Rashtriya Janata Dal may get 83 seats and BJP may win 81 seats. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) may win 38 seats and Congress may get 11 seats. LJP may win one seat. Others may win 29 seats. Voting percentage in opinion poll, RJD 26.3 per cent, BJP 23.6 percent, JD-U 13.6 percent, and Congress 7.2 percent. Elections are due in 2025. In the 2020 assembly elections, RJD had won 75, BJP 74, JD-U 43, Congress 19, LJP one and Others 31 seats.

    Among the respondents, 39 per cent preferred Narendra Modi, 28 percent preferred Nitish Kumar, and 22 percent opted for Tejashwi Yadav. 45 per cent said they wanted a BJP-JD(U) combine in power, while 22 pc wanted a RJD-Congress combine.

    Telangana

    Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao-led Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is set to retain power if assembly elections are held now. TRS may win 76 seats out of a total of 117 assembly seats. BJP may win 21 and Congress may win 12 seats. Owaisi’s AIMIM may win seven seats and Others one. Voting percentage in opinion poll: TRS 42 percent, BJP 28 percent, Congress 23 percent.

    36 per cent of respondents said they would vote for KCR’s performance, while 22 percent said they would support Modi. Among CM faces, 41.8 percent support K. Chandrashekhar Rao, 26.8 percent supported Congress leader Uttam Kumar Reddy, and 21.6 percent supported BJP leader B. Sanjay Kumar.

    Himachal Pradesh

    BJP may retain power in Himachal Pradesh which goes to assembly polls later this year. According to the opinion poll, BJP is projected to win 47 seats, Congress may win 17 seats, AAP one seat and others three. Percentage-wise in opinion poll: BJP 48 percent, Congress 39 percent, AAP 5 percent.

    Chief Minister Jairam Thakur leads the popular choice for CM with 26 percent, Congress leader Pratibha Singh with 21 percent, Congress leader Asha Kumari and Union Minister Anurag Thakur with 17-17 percent each.

    West Bengal

    In the 294-seat West Bengal Assembly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stormed to power last year, but if elections are held now, her party Trinamool Congress may retain power with reduced majority. This time, TMC may win 173 seats, BJP may win 112 seats, Congress 2, Left 2, Others five. Voting percentage in opinion poll: TMC 46 percent and BJP 41 percent. In last year’s elections, TMC had won 213 seats, BJP had won 77, Others four. Congress and Left did not win a single seat.

    A whopping 46 per cent favoured Mamata Banerjee as CM choice, 24 percent opted for BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, and 20 percent favoured BJP leader Dilip Ghosh.

  • BJP leads political ad spends on Facebook

    BJP leads political ad spends on Facebook

    NEW DELHI: Social media has emerged as one of the most powerful tools in elections. All the political parties are making the utmost use of social media platforms during the elections to tilt the opinion in their favour.

    From February 2019 till August 24 this year, BJP spent Rs 4.61 crore on Facebook advertisements and Congress Rs 1.84 crore, according to the data available on the social media giant’s spending tracker. Keeping an eye on Maharashtra elections, the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party spent most on this money tp push social issues, elections, and politics. 

    Four other advertisers, linked to the BJP, also made it to the top 10 list including three that share the same address in Delhi as the ruling party’s national headquarters, according to the tracker.

    These four include two community pages, ‘My First Vote for Modi’ (Rs 1.39 crore) and ‘Bharat Ke Mann Ki Baat’ (Rs 2.24 crore); Nation With Namo, which is categorised as a news and media website (Rs 1.28 crore); and, a page (Rs 0.65 crore) affiliated to BJP leader and former MP R K Sinha, who owns Security and Intelligence Services (SIS).

    According to Facebook, an ad is categorised under “social issues, elections, and politics” if it is made by or on behalf of a candidate, political party, or advocates an outcome; is about a particular election or referendum; is regulated by political advertising, or is about a local social issue.

    In total, these accounts and BJP spent Rs 10.17 crore on advertising, which accounts for 64 per cent of the total amount spent by the top ten rank holders, that is Rs 15.81 crore. The period covered includes the general elections in April-May 2019, which saw the BJP return to power with an overwhelming majority.

    Earlier, a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), claimed that BJP is by far the richest political party in India. The ADR analysed the audited accounts of the BJP, and six other national parties, including the Congress, for 2016-17. In 2019, BJP earned Rs 2,410 crore.

  • Opinion poll surveys predict Aam Aadmi Party to get second term in Delhi

    Opinion poll surveys predict Aam Aadmi Party to get second term in Delhi

    MUMBAI: Amid the fierce political battle, opinion polls indicate that Aam Aadmi Party is set to retain power in the national capital in the 2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly elections, which are scheduled for 8 February and the results will be declared on 11 February.

    According to ABP News-CVOTER, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is leading with a 45.6 per cent vote share that is around 42-56. Similarly, the India News-Neta App Poll survey also portrayed that the AAP will bag around 52-57 seats in 70-seats Assembly.

    The ABP News-CVOTER survey also projects Bharatiya Janata Party may come second with 37.1 per cent vote share gaining 10-24 seats and Congress, as same as last terms election, to remain at third spot with mere 4.4 per cent vote share occupying 0-4 seats. The survey also said that around 12.9 per cent respondents were undecided about the same.

    Meanwhile, the News India – Neta App poll survey predicted that the BJP is likely to win between 11-18 seats and the Congres around 0-2 seats. The results are based on inputs from 3.45 lakh people across 70-member Assembly constituencies in Delhi.

    There has been resurgence for the BJP in Delhi election with 37.1 per cent vote share amid the Shaheen Bagh anti-CAA and NRC protests turning into a top poll issue, said ABP News-CVOTER poll survey. It also said that at least 82.5 per cent of respondents believe Shaheen Bagh has become a political pawn.

    The survey conducted by Centre for Voting Opinion & Trends in Election Research (CVOTER) along with ABP keeps the viewers abreast of the various political opinions and understand the mood of voters.

    The News India – Neta App poll had ensured a pertinent sample size. The application had used multiple mediums like the app, IVR calls and SMS to gather data on evolving political inclinations.

  • Govt places embargo on publishing exit poll of Delhi Assembly election

    Govt places embargo on publishing exit poll of Delhi Assembly election

    MUMBAI: Amid the battle for power in the national capital, the Election Commission of India has banned all print or electronic media from showing exit poll of Delhi Assembly election between 8 am to 6.30 pm on 8 February 2020.

    The government, setting an embargo time for the exit poll, said, “Election Commission has notified the period between 8 am and 6.30 pm on 8 February 2020, conducting any exit poll and publishing or publicising the result of exit poll by means of the print or electronic media or in any other manner shall be prohibited in the ongoing General Election to the Legislative Assembly of NCT of Delhi, 2020.”

    Meanwhile, the statement also read, “Displaying any election matter including results of any opinion poll or any other poll survey, in any electronic media, would be prohibited during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for conclusion of poll in the aforesaid General election.”

    Delhiites will vote on 8 February 2020 and the results are expected on 11 February 2020. Channels tend to go in a frenzy to declare the winners using experts and poll results.

  • Delhi govt TV ads ‘beyond responsibility’: CAG

    MUMBAI: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s audit report on Friday said that advertisements released outside Delhi last year, constituting around 86 per cent of the total expenditure of Rs 33.4 crore, was “beyond the responsibility” of the Delhi government.

    The state government explained that the ads were issued outside Delhi because there was “immense potential to promote trade, tourism, and retail businesses…the achievements made in critical sectors such as health, education, etc were highlighted to attract best talent and businesses to the national capital.”

    CAG also grilled the state government for its plan to establish ‘Shabdarth’ as its in-house ad-agency, saying the aim was to reduce the cost of official publicity.

    The Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi, the CAG found, invested Rs 28.7 crore on ads outside the capital in a single campaign during its first year in office. The auditor also stated that some contents of the publicity material violated the Supreme Court’s guidelines on acceptable matter in such ads, the Times of India reported.

    Between 14 and 17 February, 2016, the Delhi government inserted advertorials in 26 national and 37 regional newspapers in 14 states. Nine television clips were sanctioned for broadcast on 89 channels, including regional ones, between 15 February and 1 March, while seven radio jingles were aired between 13 and 19 February.

    CAG, however, did not find the explanation tenable since the jingles and TV clips showed the achievements not as those of the government but “of a political party”. Besides, the advertisements were “not linked to GNCTD’s constitutional and legal obligations towards the citizenry of NCT of Delhi.”

    The audit report listed ads worth Rs 24.2 crore released in this period as not conforming to the apex court guidelines. While the television and print ads referred to the Delhi government as “AAP government” and “Kejriwal sarkar” or as “AAP”, some of those also carried pictures of Delhi ministers in violation of the SC guidelines.

    The government has argued that “Kejriwal sarkar” was simply “a nomenclature used by the public… to refer to Delhi government.”

    AlsO Read :

    SC recognises ASCI role

    Govt campaigns cost exchequer double than Mars mission

    Only one-third of govt ads went to electronic media

    Magic ‘dawakhana’ TV ads to be curbed

  • Subhash Chandra files defamation case against Delhi CM

    Subhash Chandra files defamation case against Delhi CM

    NEW DELHI: Subhash Chandra, Chairman of Essel Group and Zee, has filed a criminal defamation case in a Delhi court last week against Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

    The plea, filed in Patiala House Court, said that while addressing a press conference on 11 November, 2016 — four days after PM Modi announced demonetisation of Rs 500 and 1000 notes to arrest the rising menace of black money — Kejriwal made “false, fabricated and defamatory allegations” against Chandra alluding that he had amassed black money.

    According to the complaint, the Delhi Chief Minister had “defamed the complainant (Chandra) by making inherently defamatory statements and caused serious harm to his reputation by imputing behaviour incompatible with proper conduct and suggestions of involvement in illegal activity.”

    Kejriwal had been slapped with a similar complaint in Delhi High Court by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who had said that allegations were made against him without any basis and which amounted to character assassination.“There are many decisions in life that you don’t want to take initially, but you’re left with no other option except that. Personally, I didn’t find any happiness in doing what I have done; in fact it pained me a lot,” in a Facebook post on Sunday Chandra said, adding, “I have had differences of opinion with him (Kejriwal) on numerous occasions but never have I stooped so low and passed any personal remarks on him.”

    public://FullSizeRender.jpg

    Sometime back Chandra had created a stir in the media with his support to the government-imposed one-day ban on NDTV India news channel for breaching content code related to national security issues that was subsequently withdrawn. He has also openly favoured the government’s move on demonetisation — criticised by many as an ill-thought and badly implemented move that has hobbled a large swathe of Indians — saying in the long run the initiative would benefit the country.

    Pointing out that he had supported the Delhi CM’s various initiatives, including the odd-even number formula to check vehicular pollution in Delhi area when many had ridiculed the move, Chandra said, “I was one amongst the few and the first to have appreciated his move. Not because of any ulterior motive like his, but for the interest of Delhi-ites. Was I having `black money’ even then?”

    “What if I say that the Delhi CM had indulged in malpractices to win the Delhi election and he had taken bribe from the Congress Party to contest against Prime Minister Modi in Varanasi and he had paid and hired people to assault him in public and so on. I know all of this is false and so I will never question his integrity and make such personal and baseless remarks. Similarly, what gives him the right to do so?” quipped Chandra, a Member of Parliament of Rajya Sabha or Upper House.

    He further went on to ask: “Just because I run a news organization with which he (Kejriwal) is not in good terms or because I, like the whole nation, welcomed the Prime Minister’s demonetization masterstroke or because now I’ve been elected to the Rajya Sabha (public servant), gives him the right to hurl personal abuses?

    “And if he or his social media warriors or other AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) cadres, who have always found some pleasure in abusing me, are reading this then I want to humbly tell them that kindly convey it to the Hon’ble Delhi CM who enjoys your support that I never have and never will take any attack on me lightly. It wasn’t an attack just on me but the 10,000 colleagues of mine and the billion hearts and lives that we have touched. Come what may, any further baseless and allegation and remark will be dealt under the provision of law, of which I am a firm believer, unlike the Honourable Chief Minister.”

    Chandra’s parting advise to Kejriwal in Hindustani that translates into English as: People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

     

  • Subhash Chandra files defamation case against Delhi CM

    Subhash Chandra files defamation case against Delhi CM

    NEW DELHI: Subhash Chandra, Chairman of Essel Group and Zee, has filed a criminal defamation case in a Delhi court last week against Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

    The plea, filed in Patiala House Court, said that while addressing a press conference on 11 November, 2016 — four days after PM Modi announced demonetisation of Rs 500 and 1000 notes to arrest the rising menace of black money — Kejriwal made “false, fabricated and defamatory allegations” against Chandra alluding that he had amassed black money.

    According to the complaint, the Delhi Chief Minister had “defamed the complainant (Chandra) by making inherently defamatory statements and caused serious harm to his reputation by imputing behaviour incompatible with proper conduct and suggestions of involvement in illegal activity.”

    Kejriwal had been slapped with a similar complaint in Delhi High Court by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who had said that allegations were made against him without any basis and which amounted to character assassination.“There are many decisions in life that you don’t want to take initially, but you’re left with no other option except that. Personally, I didn’t find any happiness in doing what I have done; in fact it pained me a lot,” in a Facebook post on Sunday Chandra said, adding, “I have had differences of opinion with him (Kejriwal) on numerous occasions but never have I stooped so low and passed any personal remarks on him.”

    public://FullSizeRender.jpg

    Sometime back Chandra had created a stir in the media with his support to the government-imposed one-day ban on NDTV India news channel for breaching content code related to national security issues that was subsequently withdrawn. He has also openly favoured the government’s move on demonetisation — criticised by many as an ill-thought and badly implemented move that has hobbled a large swathe of Indians — saying in the long run the initiative would benefit the country.

    Pointing out that he had supported the Delhi CM’s various initiatives, including the odd-even number formula to check vehicular pollution in Delhi area when many had ridiculed the move, Chandra said, “I was one amongst the few and the first to have appreciated his move. Not because of any ulterior motive like his, but for the interest of Delhi-ites. Was I having `black money’ even then?”

    “What if I say that the Delhi CM had indulged in malpractices to win the Delhi election and he had taken bribe from the Congress Party to contest against Prime Minister Modi in Varanasi and he had paid and hired people to assault him in public and so on. I know all of this is false and so I will never question his integrity and make such personal and baseless remarks. Similarly, what gives him the right to do so?” quipped Chandra, a Member of Parliament of Rajya Sabha or Upper House.

    He further went on to ask: “Just because I run a news organization with which he (Kejriwal) is not in good terms or because I, like the whole nation, welcomed the Prime Minister’s demonetization masterstroke or because now I’ve been elected to the Rajya Sabha (public servant), gives him the right to hurl personal abuses?

    “And if he or his social media warriors or other AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) cadres, who have always found some pleasure in abusing me, are reading this then I want to humbly tell them that kindly convey it to the Hon’ble Delhi CM who enjoys your support that I never have and never will take any attack on me lightly. It wasn’t an attack just on me but the 10,000 colleagues of mine and the billion hearts and lives that we have touched. Come what may, any further baseless and allegation and remark will be dealt under the provision of law, of which I am a firm believer, unlike the Honourable Chief Minister.”

    Chandra’s parting advise to Kejriwal in Hindustani that translates into English as: People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

     

  • ‘Off Centre’ to feature ‘Aam Aadmi Party’ founder Yogendra Yadav

    ‘Off Centre’ to feature ‘Aam Aadmi Party’ founder Yogendra Yadav

    MUMBAI: CNN News18’s interview show Off-Centre hosted by Anuradha Sengupta is seeing huge waves of success. In this week’s episode, the host will talk to former AAP founder and psephologist Yogendra Yadav in a candid conversation.

    In the interview, Yadav speaks about his political party Swaraj India and the revolution they want to bring in with the new kind of politics. He further talks about preparing a political cadre who are idealist and have a certain sense of India. During the interview, he also tells that he feels that the founding values of India are under threat and adds that his idea of a country is where minorities are safe and where Dalits live a dignified.

    The show sees the veteran journalist interviewing guests with a high degree of individuality, offering the viewers an inside view of guest’s life through interesting anecdotes, and much more. The show will use a narrative style of interview with a casual ambience in contextual locations to create memorable conversations with guests who span the world of entertainment, politics, books, government, sports and beyond.

    The show airs every Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday 12:30 pm and 9:30 pm.

  • ‘Off Centre’ to feature ‘Aam Aadmi Party’ founder Yogendra Yadav

    ‘Off Centre’ to feature ‘Aam Aadmi Party’ founder Yogendra Yadav

    MUMBAI: CNN News18’s interview show Off-Centre hosted by Anuradha Sengupta is seeing huge waves of success. In this week’s episode, the host will talk to former AAP founder and psephologist Yogendra Yadav in a candid conversation.

    In the interview, Yadav speaks about his political party Swaraj India and the revolution they want to bring in with the new kind of politics. He further talks about preparing a political cadre who are idealist and have a certain sense of India. During the interview, he also tells that he feels that the founding values of India are under threat and adds that his idea of a country is where minorities are safe and where Dalits live a dignified.

    The show sees the veteran journalist interviewing guests with a high degree of individuality, offering the viewers an inside view of guest’s life through interesting anecdotes, and much more. The show will use a narrative style of interview with a casual ambience in contextual locations to create memorable conversations with guests who span the world of entertainment, politics, books, government, sports and beyond.

    The show airs every Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday 12:30 pm and 9:30 pm.

  • All India Digital Cable Federation condemns ET hike in Delhi

    All India Digital Cable Federation condemns ET hike in Delhi

    MUMBAI: The Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party is currently dealing with a lot of criticism, especially from the cable and direct to home (DTH) sector. This, after it presented its budget for the national capital on 25 June. Of the many decisions, the government has decided to increase the entertainment tax on cable and DTH services from the current Rs 20 to Rs 40. While it is the consumers who have to bear the burden of the increased taxes, both the cable operators and DTH players have come out heavily on this decision.

     

    The newly formed All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) through a statement said, “The Delhi government’s recent announcement proposing to double the entertainment tax on the cable TV and DTH services in the budget is an added burden on the common man whose main source of entertainment is television. Aam Aadmi Party, which had promised to control the prices by reducing electricity and water charges is negating by the proposed hike. Due to this, the common man will have to bear the brunt of yet again, an additional tax, as cable TV operators will have no choice but to pass on this hike to the common man.”

     

    The statement further said, “It should be noted that cable TV is the biggest medium for news, entertainment and education. It should also be noted that the common man is already burdened by an increase in service tax from June 2015. The said proposal of Delhi government is like giving a piece of bread with right hand and snatching back the same from left hand. All India Digital Cable Federation strictly condemns the proposed hike.”

     

    In an earlier statement, even the DTH Operators Association of India, a body consisting of all private DTH players had condemned the hike. Association president and Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera had then said, “The recent announcement of doubling of entertainment tax on cable TV and DTH services made by the Aam Admi Party government seems unfair and illogical. DTH as a platform is considered as critical to citizen’s right to information, news, education and entertainment. The sector is already saddled with high tax, where 33 per cent of revenues are taxed between the Centre and State. DTH operators that comprises Tata Sky, Dish TV, Airtel Digital TV, Videocon d2h, Sun Direct and Reliance Big TV, will have no choice but to hike their tariffs in Delhi to accommodate this hike in entertainment tax and the load will finally fall on the customer. By dropping electricity prices on the one hand and increasing entertainment tax on DTH on the other, does not seem like a move in favour of the aam aadmi! Is this how we plan to achieve a balance budget and reduce fiscal deficit?”