May 13, 2026

Picture credit: ANI NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed a reduction of his convoy vehicles as an austerity measure towards minimizing fuel consumption. By cutting down his own SPG (Special Protection Group) security entourage, his move nudged others in the government to follow.This came after the PM’s appeal for reduced fuel and gold consumption during a public rally in Hyderabad, amid concerns linked to the US-Iran war and rising energy costs. The number of vehicles in his convoy were significantly cut during his visits to Gujarat and Assam.Here are the other BJP ministers and leaders who followed suit:Union home minister Amit Shah downsized the number of vehicles in his convoy by less than half. Defence minister Rajnath Singh downsizes his convoy size to nearly half, following PM Modi’s appeal.Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed an immediate 50 percent reduction in the fleet of vehicles for the CM, ministers, and others. “MPs, MLAs, and public representatives should use public transport for one day a week,” he wrote on X. “The use of public transportation, cycling, carpooling, and electric vehicles should be encouraged.”Maharashtra mandated that state ministers must seek approval from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ office to use government aircraft, aiming to curb unnecessary air travel.Delhi CM Rekha Gupta also took the decision to limit number of vehicles used for departmental work. “I and all my Cabinet colleagues, all MLAs of the Bharatiya Janata Party, public representatives, officers of the Delhi government, and all departments will also use the minimum number of vehicles as required and prioritize carpooling and public transport,” she said.Mohan Yadav, the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, said his cavalcade will have the minimum number of vehicles required for security, and there will be no vehicle rallies during tours.Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has instructed all officials and public representatives, including the Chief Secretary, to minimize convoy vehicle use. “The focus is on reducing fuel consumption by avoiding unnecessary travel and promoting more economical use of petrol and diesel,” he said.Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat has announced that he will travel within Gujarat using public transport like trains and ST (State Transport) buses; instead of helicopters and flights. He also reduced the size of his official convoys. An appeal has been made to universities, government officers and citizens across Gujarat to promote bicycles, electric vehicles, public transport, indigenous products and natural farming. Furthermore, Gujarat deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi cancelled his visit to the United States, citing the PM’s appeal to cut fuel usage and avoid non-essential foreign travel.Bihar deputy chief minister and senior JD (U) leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, and two other ministers, Leshi Singh and Sheela Mandal, have said that they would undertake measures for the same. “I have personally reduced the number of vehicles I use by half. I will undertake official travel only when necessary,” said Chaudhary.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCM Vijay Revokes Astrologer Vettrivel’s OSD Appointment Amid Political Storm In Tamil NaduNEET-UG 2026 Leak Case Reaches Supreme Court, Petition Demands NTA Dissolution And Fresh ExamVijay Wins Tamil Nadu Trust Vote With 144 MLAs Amid AIADMK Split And Assembly ChaosKejriwal Targets BJP Over NEET Leak, Says ‘Gen-Z Can Demand Accountability Like Nepal & Bangladesh’FIR Against SP Spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati Over Viral Anti-Brahmin Remark, BJP Targets AkhileshAkhilesh Yadav Reacts To Prateek Yadav’s Death, Says “Business Losses Can Deeply Distress People”Air India Slashes International Flights | Why Ticket Prices Are Suddenly ExplodingPrateek Yadav Passes Away At 38 In Lucknow, Political Leaders Express GriefGovt Hikes Gold & Silver Import Duty To 15% | Modesty Push Or Economic Warning?PM Modi Pushes Major Austerity Drive, Orders Reduction In Convoy Size And Fuel Consumption Measures123PhotostoriesHow to grow Dragon fruit in your garden: Simple step-by-step guide for beginnersFrom Mouni Roy to Dilip Joshi, Kapil Sharma and more: Highest-paid TV stars and their net worthFrom Bulldogs to Pugs: 5 surprisingly lazy dog breeds that love sleeping all dayRatan Tata’s ₹150 crore sea-facing bungalow ‘Bakhtawar’ is Mumbai’s most iconic legacy property; here’s who lives there nowHow to identify the St Lucia Racer: One of the world’s rarest snakes”Bus uska whistle ka problem tha…thanks to God main bach gai”: When to replace your pressure cooker to avoid any accidentAlia Bhatt just turned Cannes red carpet glamour into pure parampara with this ivory corset sareeDivorce rumours hit paradise: Who is Mouni Roy’s husband Suraj Nambiar? All about their whirlwind romanceHow parents can create an emotionally safe space for children at homeDua Lipa is suing a leading electronics giant for $15 million: 5 other celebrities who took global brands to court123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingNashik AstrologerTamil Nadu NewsIPL Points TablePM Internship SchemeIPL Match TodayHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026Aparna YadavAir India FlightsPrateek Yadav

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins
Picture credit: ANI NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed a reduction of his convoy vehicles as an austerity measure towards minimizing fuel consumption. By cutting down his own SPG (Special Protection Group) security entourage, his move nudged others in the government to follow.This came after the PM’s appeal for reduced fuel and gold consumption during a public rally in Hyderabad, amid concerns linked to the US-Iran war and rising energy costs. The number of vehicles in his convoy were significantly cut during his visits to Gujarat and Assam.Here are the other BJP ministers and leaders who followed suit:Union home minister Amit Shah downsized the number of vehicles in his convoy by less than half. Defence minister Rajnath Singh downsizes his convoy size to nearly half, following PM Modi’s appeal.Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed an immediate 50 percent reduction in the fleet of vehicles for the CM, ministers, and others. “MPs, MLAs, and public representatives should use public transport for one day a week,” he wrote on X. “The use of public transportation, cycling, carpooling, and electric vehicles should be encouraged.”Maharashtra mandated that state ministers must seek approval from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ office to use government aircraft, aiming to curb unnecessary air travel.Delhi CM Rekha Gupta also took the decision to limit number of vehicles used for departmental work. “I and all my Cabinet colleagues, all MLAs of the Bharatiya Janata Party, public representatives, officers of the Delhi government, and all departments will also use the minimum number of vehicles as required and prioritize carpooling and public transport,” she said.Mohan Yadav, the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, said his cavalcade will have the minimum number of vehicles required for security, and there will be no vehicle rallies during tours.Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has instructed all officials and public representatives, including the Chief Secretary, to minimize convoy vehicle use. “The focus is on reducing fuel consumption by avoiding unnecessary travel and promoting more economical use of petrol and diesel,” he said.Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat has announced that he will travel within Gujarat using public transport like trains and ST (State Transport) buses; instead of helicopters and flights. He also reduced the size of his official convoys. An appeal has been made to universities, government officers and citizens across Gujarat to promote bicycles, electric vehicles, public transport, indigenous products and natural farming. Furthermore, Gujarat deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi cancelled his visit to the United States, citing the PM’s appeal to cut fuel usage and avoid non-essential foreign travel.Bihar deputy chief minister and senior JD (U) leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, and two other ministers, Leshi Singh and Sheela Mandal, have said that they would undertake measures for the same. “I have personally reduced the number of vehicles I use by half. I will undertake official travel only when necessary,” said Chaudhary.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCM Vijay Revokes Astrologer Vettrivel’s OSD Appointment Amid Political Storm In Tamil NaduNEET-UG 2026 Leak Case Reaches Supreme Court, Petition Demands NTA Dissolution And Fresh ExamVijay Wins Tamil Nadu Trust Vote With 144 MLAs Amid AIADMK Split And Assembly ChaosKejriwal Targets BJP Over NEET Leak, Says ‘Gen-Z Can Demand Accountability Like Nepal & Bangladesh’FIR Against SP Spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati Over Viral Anti-Brahmin Remark, BJP Targets AkhileshAkhilesh Yadav Reacts To Prateek Yadav’s Death, Says “Business Losses Can Deeply Distress People”Air India Slashes International Flights | Why Ticket Prices Are Suddenly ExplodingPrateek Yadav Passes Away At 38 In Lucknow, Political Leaders Express GriefGovt Hikes Gold & Silver Import Duty To 15% | Modesty Push Or Economic Warning?PM Modi Pushes Major Austerity Drive, Orders Reduction In Convoy Size And Fuel Consumption Measures123PhotostoriesHow to grow Dragon fruit in your garden: Simple step-by-step guide for beginnersFrom Mouni Roy to Dilip Joshi, Kapil Sharma and more: Highest-paid TV stars and their net worthFrom Bulldogs to Pugs: 5 surprisingly lazy dog breeds that love sleeping all dayRatan Tata’s ₹150 crore sea-facing bungalow ‘Bakhtawar’ is Mumbai’s most iconic legacy property; here’s who lives there nowHow to identify the St Lucia Racer: One of the world’s rarest snakes”Bus uska whistle ka problem tha…thanks to God main bach gai”: When to replace your pressure cooker to avoid any accidentAlia Bhatt just turned Cannes red carpet glamour into pure parampara with this ivory corset sareeDivorce rumours hit paradise: Who is Mouni Roy’s husband Suraj Nambiar? All about their whirlwind romanceHow parents can create an emotionally safe space for children at homeDua Lipa is suing a leading electronics giant for million: 5 other celebrities who took global brands to court123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingNashik AstrologerTamil Nadu NewsIPL Points TablePM Internship SchemeIPL Match TodayHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026Aparna YadavAir India FlightsPrateek Yadav


After PM Modi’s austerity call, Amit Shah, BJP CMs cut convoy size to save fuel

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed a reduction of his convoy vehicles as an austerity measure towards minimizing fuel consumption. By cutting down his own SPG (Special Protection Group) security entourage, his move nudged others in the government to follow.This came after the PM’s appeal for reduced fuel and gold consumption during a public rally in Hyderabad, amid concerns linked to the US-Iran war and rising energy costs. The number of vehicles in his convoy were significantly cut during his visits to Gujarat and Assam.Here are the other BJP ministers and leaders who followed suit:Union home minister Amit Shah downsized the number of vehicles in his convoy by less than half. Defence minister Rajnath Singh downsizes his convoy size to nearly half, following PM Modi’s appeal.Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed an immediate 50 percent reduction in the fleet of vehicles for the CM, ministers, and others. “MPs, MLAs, and public representatives should use public transport for one day a week,” he wrote on X. “The use of public transportation, cycling, carpooling, and electric vehicles should be encouraged.”Maharashtra mandated that state ministers must seek approval from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ office to use government aircraft, aiming to curb unnecessary air travel.Delhi CM Rekha Gupta also took the decision to limit number of vehicles used for departmental work. “I and all my Cabinet colleagues, all MLAs of the Bharatiya Janata Party, public representatives, officers of the Delhi government, and all departments will also use the minimum number of vehicles as required and prioritize carpooling and public transport,” she said.Mohan Yadav, the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, said his cavalcade will have the minimum number of vehicles required for security, and there will be no vehicle rallies during tours.Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has instructed all officials and public representatives, including the Chief Secretary, to minimize convoy vehicle use. “The focus is on reducing fuel consumption by avoiding unnecessary travel and promoting more economical use of petrol and diesel,” he said.Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat has announced that he will travel within Gujarat using public transport like trains and ST (State Transport) buses; instead of helicopters and flights. He also reduced the size of his official convoys. An appeal has been made to universities, government officers and citizens across Gujarat to promote bicycles, electric vehicles, public transport, indigenous products and natural farming. Furthermore, Gujarat deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi cancelled his visit to the United States, citing the PM’s appeal to cut fuel usage and avoid non-essential foreign travel.Bihar deputy chief minister and senior JD (U) leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, and two other ministers, Leshi Singh and Sheela Mandal, have said that they would undertake measures for the same. “I have personally reduced the number of vehicles I use by half. I will undertake official travel only when necessary,” said Chaudhary.



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Vamsikrishna 0
NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijay on Wednesday won the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu assembly and followed it up with a combative open letter to the people, accusing the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of trying to undermine his government despite its floor-test victory.Moving the confidence motion for his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, Vijay secured the support of 144 MLAs, while 22 voted against, five remained neutral and 60 did not participate.In an open letter released shortly after the vote on X, Vijay called the outcome a clear endorsement of his government and hit out at “arrogant” DMK as they walked out of the assembly claiming Vijay did not have majority.The trust vote comes days after Vijay took oath as CM following a fractured verdict in the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly election, where TVK emerged as the single largest party but fell short of a majority on its own. The party later secured outside support from the Indian National Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Indian Union Muslim League.In his statement, Vijay directly targeted leader of the opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin and rejected the DMK’s argument that his government lacked majority public support.”The old, stale argument that we did not receive the support of the majority of Tamil Nadu people was once again raised by the opposition leader in his usual style,” Vijay said.Citing election figures, he claimed that TVK had won 34.92% of the vote while contesting alone, compared to DMK’s standalone 24.19%.”These are not numbers we are saying. 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Nor have they forgotten that later the DMK allied with the same BJP and obtained ministerial positions,” he wrote.The TVK chief also suggested that the opposition had attempted to prevent his party from forming the government after the election, saying, “The DMK did everything possible to ensure that the TVK should not form a government despite being the single largest party with people’s support.”Positioning his government as one rooted in public sentiment rather than social media optics, Vijay said, “We do not rely merely on digital technology. We rely only on the emotions of the people.”He ended the letter with a message of continuity, saying his administration would remain focused on welfare and governance despite political attacks.“We will not pay attention to mudslinging. We will always focus only on people-centric actions, schemes and laws,” Vijay said, adding that his government would remain “firmly committed to secularism and social justice.”The DMK had walked out of assembly during the floor test.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSuvendu Adhikari Chooses Bhabanipur Over Nandigram, Sparks Fresh Political Battle In BengalCM Vijay Revokes Astrologer Vettrivel’s OSD Appointment Amid Political Storm In Tamil NaduNEET-UG 2026 Leak Case Reaches Supreme Court, Petition Demands NTA Dissolution And Fresh ExamVijay Wins Tamil Nadu Trust Vote With 144 MLAs Amid AIADMK Split And Assembly ChaosKejriwal Targets BJP Over NEET Leak, Says ‘Gen-Z Can Demand Accountability Like Nepal & Bangladesh’FIR Against SP Spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati Over Viral Anti-Brahmin Remark, BJP Targets AkhileshAkhilesh Yadav Reacts To Prateek Yadav’s Death, Says “Business Losses Can Deeply Distress People”Air India Slashes International Flights | Why Ticket Prices Are Suddenly ExplodingPrateek Yadav Passes Away At 38 In Lucknow, Political Leaders Express GriefGovt Hikes Gold & Silver Import Duty To 15% | Modesty Push Or Economic Warning?123Photostories’Karuppu’ releasing on May 14: Five reasons to watch Suriya’s rural mass film in theatersHow to make Rajma and Broccoli Tikki for summer evening snacking5 tiny and adorable dog breeds that shed lessHow to grow Dragon fruit in your garden: Simple step-by-step guide for beginnersFrom Mouni Roy to Dilip Joshi, Kapil Sharma and more: Highest-paid TV stars and their net worthFrom Bulldogs to Pugs: 5 surprisingly lazy dog breeds that love sleeping all dayRatan Tata’s ₹150 crore sea-facing bungalow ‘Bakhtawar’ is Mumbai’s most iconic legacy property; here’s who lives there nowHow to identify the St Lucia Racer: One of the world’s rarest snakes”Bus uska whistle ka problem tha…thanks to God main bach gai”: When to replace your pressure cooker to avoid any accidentAlia Bhatt just turned Cannes red carpet glamour into pure parampara with this ivory corset saree123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingNashik AstrologerTamil Nadu NewsIPL Points TablePM Internship SchemeIPL Match TodayHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026Aparna YadavAir India FlightsPrateek Yadav

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijay on Wednesday won the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu assembly and followed it up with a combative open letter to the people, accusing the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of trying to undermine his government despite its floor-test victory.Moving the confidence motion for his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, Vijay secured the support of 144 MLAs, while 22 voted against, five remained neutral and 60 did not participate.In an open letter released shortly after the vote on X, Vijay called the outcome a clear endorsement of his government and hit out at “arrogant” DMK as they walked out of the assembly claiming Vijay did not have majority.The trust vote comes days after Vijay took oath as CM following a fractured verdict in the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly election, where TVK emerged as the single largest party but fell short of a majority on its own. The party later secured outside support from the Indian National Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Indian Union Muslim League.In his statement, Vijay directly targeted leader of the opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin and rejected the DMK’s argument that his government lacked majority public support.”The old, stale argument that we did not receive the support of the majority of Tamil Nadu people was once again raised by the opposition leader in his usual style,” Vijay said.Citing election figures, he claimed that TVK had won 34.92% of the vote while contesting alone, compared to DMK’s standalone 24.19%.”These are not numbers we are saying. These are figures released by the Election Commission,” he wrote, adding that TVK had secured over 1.72 crore votes, which he said was around 53 lakh more than the DMK’s tally.Vijay also used the letter to hit back at allegations that his government depended on “borrowed support” from other parties. “It is because we are firmly committed to secular values that Congress, VCK, CPI, CPM and IUML supported our government,” he said.In a pointed political attack, Vijay accused the DMK of hypocrisy over coalition politics and invoked its past ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party.”People have not forgotten how the DMK suddenly supported the BJP alliance during the 1999 confidence vote in Parliament. Nor have they forgotten that later the DMK allied with the same BJP and obtained ministerial positions,” he wrote.The TVK chief also suggested that the opposition had attempted to prevent his party from forming the government after the election, saying, “The DMK did everything possible to ensure that the TVK should not form a government despite being the single largest party with people’s support.”Positioning his government as one rooted in public sentiment rather than social media optics, Vijay said, “We do not rely merely on digital technology. We rely only on the emotions of the people.”He ended the letter with a message of continuity, saying his administration would remain focused on welfare and governance despite political attacks.“We will not pay attention to mudslinging. We will always focus only on people-centric actions, schemes and laws,” Vijay said, adding that his government would remain “firmly committed to secularism and social justice.”The DMK had walked out of assembly during the floor test.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSuvendu Adhikari Chooses Bhabanipur Over Nandigram, Sparks Fresh Political Battle In BengalCM Vijay Revokes Astrologer Vettrivel’s OSD Appointment Amid Political Storm In Tamil NaduNEET-UG 2026 Leak Case Reaches Supreme Court, Petition Demands NTA Dissolution And Fresh ExamVijay Wins Tamil Nadu Trust Vote With 144 MLAs Amid AIADMK Split And Assembly ChaosKejriwal Targets BJP Over NEET Leak, Says ‘Gen-Z Can Demand Accountability Like Nepal & Bangladesh’FIR Against SP Spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati Over Viral Anti-Brahmin Remark, BJP Targets AkhileshAkhilesh Yadav Reacts To Prateek Yadav’s Death, Says “Business Losses Can Deeply Distress People”Air India Slashes International Flights | Why Ticket Prices Are Suddenly ExplodingPrateek Yadav Passes Away At 38 In Lucknow, Political Leaders Express GriefGovt Hikes Gold & Silver Import Duty To 15% | Modesty Push Or Economic Warning?123Photostories’Karuppu’ releasing on May 14: Five reasons to watch Suriya’s rural mass film in theatersHow to make Rajma and Broccoli Tikki for summer evening snacking5 tiny and adorable dog breeds that shed lessHow to grow Dragon fruit in your garden: Simple step-by-step guide for beginnersFrom Mouni Roy to Dilip Joshi, Kapil Sharma and more: Highest-paid TV stars and their net worthFrom Bulldogs to Pugs: 5 surprisingly lazy dog breeds that love sleeping all dayRatan Tata’s ₹150 crore sea-facing bungalow ‘Bakhtawar’ is Mumbai’s most iconic legacy property; here’s who lives there nowHow to identify the St Lucia Racer: One of the world’s rarest snakes”Bus uska whistle ka problem tha…thanks to God main bach gai”: When to replace your pressure cooker to avoid any accidentAlia Bhatt just turned Cannes red carpet glamour into pure parampara with this ivory corset saree123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingNashik AstrologerTamil Nadu NewsIPL Points TablePM Internship SchemeIPL Match TodayHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026Aparna YadavAir India FlightsPrateek Yadav

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Why ‘Congress-mukt Bharat’ may not become reality NEW DELHI: “Congress-mukt Bharat banana hai …” When Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared this at a BJP national executive meeting in Goa in June 2013, it was meant to be a political slogan to galvanize party cadres for the 2014 Lok Sabha challenge. After all, the Congress then ruled 14 states and was in the ninth year of its rule at the Centre. So, any call for erasing the grand-old-party from the country’s political map could only be a political rhetoric.But then came the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and the BJP storm swept away the Congress at the Centre. The Congress was reduced to just 44 seats – its worst performance in history. And that was the beginning of a decline that gradually saw the Congress footprint in the country shrink dramatically. For a party that had governed India for decades, it was a civilisational shock. Yes, the Congress suffered humiliating electoral defeats. Yes, it faced leadership crises, defections, and repeated predictions of political extinction. But still, even 13 years after PM Modi’s call for “Congress-mukt Bharat”, the BJP could not wipe out the grand-old-party from the political map.Even at its worst, the Congress ruled three states, something which no regional party could ever achieve. That number has now gone up to 4, with the grand-old-party scoring a comprehensive victory in Kerala in the just-concluded assembly elections. The Congress’s decline had two dimensions – the decimation at Centre and the loss of states. To understand the path of the Congress recovery, one must first revisit just how brutal the decline was.The slide at Centre: How Congress fell to its kneesIn September 2013, when the BJP baton was passed on to the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, the Congress had 206 members in Lok Sabha.In 2014, riding the Modi wave, the BJP stormed to 282 Lok Sabha seats decimating the Congress and reducing it to 44 seats. The number was so low that the Congress did not get the constitutional post of the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha.If 2014 was a humiliation, 2019 was meant to be the final nail. The BJP expanded to 303 seats while the Congress could only go up to 52, only eight more than its 2014 tally. It was still not enough to get the post of LoP in Lok Sabha. The drubbing raised fears that “Congress mukt Bharat” was not just a slogan but a prophecy in the making. And yet, within the party’s darkest years, the seeds of recovery were quietly being planted.The Congress joined hands with regional parties and became a part of a broad anti-BJP front. The plan worked and in the 2024 elections, the Congress almost doubled its Lok Sabha tally to reach the score of 99 and finally after 10 years could get back the post of LoP.The BJP, on the other hand, slipped to 240 seats, its first sub-majority performance since 2014 and PM Modi’s third term depended on the support of Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JD(U). Congress did not waste any time to remind BJP that the party that had promised to make India “Congress-mukt” could not form a government on its own.As Congress put it after the results, the election had been “a moral and political loss” for PM Modi. The trajectory, for the first time in many years, was pointing in Congress’s favour. The roller coaster ride in statesThe second dimension of Congress’s decline played out in the states across the country.In 2013, when the call for Congress-mukt Bharat was made, the grand-old-party ruled 14 states in the country. However, the 2014 drubbing triggered a decline which gradually saw the Congress slide dramatically to governing only 3 states.The Congress kept on losing states at regular levels. Fortunately for the party though, the grand-old-party kept on winning odd state elections to ensure that the party was never wiped out completely from the states.Rahul’s Bharat Jodo Yatra Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022, a 4,000 km padyatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, was one of the steps that perhaps helped the party reclaim some of the lost political ground. The campaign did not immediately translate into votes. But it did something arguably more important for a party that had lost its voice. It gave Congress a public face again. Rahul Gandhi, who had been caricatured by the BJP as a reluctant, distracted politician, emerged from the yatra with a renewed personal connect with voters. Picture credit: Uday DebThe electoral returns came the following year. In 2023, Congress won Telangana, ending K Chandrashekar Rao’s decade-long BRS rule and Karnataka, where it swept back to power on the back of sharp anti-incumbency against the BJP’s own internal chaos.Himachal Pradesh had already fallen in Congress’s kitty in late 2022, again on local anti-incumbency. So the party had three state governments in quick succession.The 2026 verdict: Congress footprint expands in southIn Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front swept the state with 102 seats, its strongest mandate since 1977. Congress alone won 63 of those. The Left Democratic Front, which had pulled off a historic second consecutive term in 2021, was reduced to 35 seats. Pinarayi Vijayan resigned the same evening. For the first time in half a century, not a single Communist party governs any state. KC Venugopal had said in December that “many red fortresses will collapse.” They did.And while victory in Kerala was largely on expected lines, the Congress sprang a surprise in Tamil Nadu, where it dumped the DMK, an ally of 11 years, for a bold political realignment with Vijay’s TVK to remain on the winning side of the divide. Vijay’s TVK, which stormed the assembly with 108 seats, but failed to reach the magic figure of 118 in the 234-seat assembly, got immediate Congress support.The Congress has not been a dominant force in the state for decades where the Dravidian giants, DMK and AIADMK, have ruled since the grand-old-party was pushed to irrelevance.But the extraordinary post-election churn of May 2026 ensures that the Congress will be at the table.What’s next?Among the many states that go to polls next year, the Congress has high stakes in Punjab and to some extent in Uttar Pradesh – where it is in alliance with Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party.Punjab assembly elections next year could be Congress’s biggest electoral opportunity since the 2024 Lok Sabha verdict to add one more state to its kitty. The Congress, which ruled Punjab from 2017 and lost the state to AAP in 2022. However AAP’s internal turbulence, leadership strains and governance pressures could create space for Congress recovery. The Congress, which remains the principal opposition party, would hope to reclaim the state.Whether it can convert AAP’s difficulties into its own votes depends almost entirely on whether it can resolve its chronic internal divisions and present a coherent alternative. That work is yet to begin in any serious way. Moreover, the road ahead for the grand-old-party would not be easy as the BJP has dropped enough hints of a very aggressive Punjab campaign.’Congress-yukt Bharat’The road ahead for the Congress remains an uphill battle. The small electoral successes notwithstanding, the grand-old-party still has a long way to go. The fact that some of the regional heavyweights like Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee have suffered electoral setbacks, provides the Congress an opportunity to reclaim some of its lost political space in these states.The key question is whether Congress’s revival stems from a strategy or if it is merely benefiting from the mistakes of its allies and the BJP? For now, the gains Congress is making seem largely incidental and due to the groundwork of state leaders. It’s not due to episodic interventions of Rahul Gandhi. For its long-term revival, the party needs Rahul to be a full-time politician, focusing on identifying and grooming local leaders and smart alliance management at the state level.The Congress remains way behind the BJP, absolutely no doubt about that. But the reality is that the saffron party’s dream of “Congress-mukt Bharat” would perhaps remain just that – a dream. The grand old party is not what it was at its prime, but the country still remains Congress-yukt.About the AuthorPriyanka MukherjeePriyanka Mukherjee is an Assistant News Editor at The Times of India, where deadlines rarely slow down. Often juggling breaking news, long-form explainers and the everyday chaos of the newsroom, she is usually managing stress, chasing clarity and trying to log off on time (rarely successful). She also cares deeply about stories around women’s rights and social change, while two very opinionated dogs make sure she never truly switches off.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSuvendu Adhikari Chooses Bhabanipur Over Nandigram, Sparks Fresh Political Battle In BengalCM Vijay Revokes Astrologer Vettrivel’s OSD Appointment Amid Political Storm In Tamil NaduNEET-UG 2026 Leak Case Reaches Supreme Court, Petition Demands NTA Dissolution And Fresh ExamVijay Wins Tamil Nadu Trust Vote With 144 MLAs Amid AIADMK Split And Assembly ChaosKejriwal Targets BJP Over NEET Leak, Says ‘Gen-Z Can Demand Accountability Like Nepal & Bangladesh’FIR Against SP Spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati Over Viral Anti-Brahmin Remark, BJP Targets AkhileshAkhilesh Yadav Reacts To Prateek Yadav’s Death, Says “Business Losses Can Deeply Distress People”Air India Slashes International Flights | Why Ticket Prices Are Suddenly ExplodingPrateek Yadav Passes Away At 38 In Lucknow, Political Leaders Express GriefGovt Hikes Gold & Silver Import Duty To 15% | Modesty Push Or Economic Warning?123PhotostoriesHow to grow Dragon fruit in your garden: Simple step-by-step guide for beginnersFrom Mouni Roy to Dilip Joshi, Kapil Sharma and more: Highest-paid TV stars and their net worthFrom Bulldogs to Pugs: 5 surprisingly lazy dog breeds that love sleeping all dayRatan Tata’s ₹150 crore sea-facing bungalow ‘Bakhtawar’ is Mumbai’s most iconic legacy property; here’s who lives there nowHow to identify the St Lucia Racer: One of the world’s rarest snakes”Bus uska whistle ka problem tha…thanks to God main bach gai”: When to replace your pressure cooker to avoid any accidentAlia Bhatt just turned Cannes red carpet glamour into pure parampara with this ivory corset sareeDivorce rumours hit paradise: Who is Mouni Roy’s husband Suraj Nambiar? All about their whirlwind romanceHow parents can create an emotionally safe space for children at homeDua Lipa is suing a leading electronics giant for million: 5 other celebrities who took global brands to court123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingNashik AstrologerTamil Nadu NewsIPL Points TablePM Internship SchemeIPL Match TodayHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026Aparna YadavAir India FlightsPrateek Yadav

Why ‘Congress-mukt Bharat’ may not become reality NEW DELHI: “Congress-mukt Bharat banana hai …” When Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared this at a BJP national executive meeting in Goa in June 2013, it was meant to be a political slogan to galvanize party cadres for the 2014 Lok Sabha challenge. After all, the Congress then ruled 14 states and was in the ninth year of its rule at the Centre. So, any call for erasing the grand-old-party from the country’s political map could only be a political rhetoric.But then came the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and the BJP storm swept away the Congress at the Centre. The Congress was reduced to just 44 seats – its worst performance in history. And that was the beginning of a decline that gradually saw the Congress footprint in the country shrink dramatically. For a party that had governed India for decades, it was a civilisational shock. Yes, the Congress suffered humiliating electoral defeats. Yes, it faced leadership crises, defections, and repeated predictions of political extinction. But still, even 13 years after PM Modi’s call for “Congress-mukt Bharat”, the BJP could not wipe out the grand-old-party from the political map.Even at its worst, the Congress ruled three states, something which no regional party could ever achieve. That number has now gone up to 4, with the grand-old-party scoring a comprehensive victory in Kerala in the just-concluded assembly elections. The Congress’s decline had two dimensions – the decimation at Centre and the loss of states. To understand the path of the Congress recovery, one must first revisit just how brutal the decline was.The slide at Centre: How Congress fell to its kneesIn September 2013, when the BJP baton was passed on to the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, the Congress had 206 members in Lok Sabha.In 2014, riding the Modi wave, the BJP stormed to 282 Lok Sabha seats decimating the Congress and reducing it to 44 seats. The number was so low that the Congress did not get the constitutional post of the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha.If 2014 was a humiliation, 2019 was meant to be the final nail. The BJP expanded to 303 seats while the Congress could only go up to 52, only eight more than its 2014 tally. It was still not enough to get the post of LoP in Lok Sabha. The drubbing raised fears that “Congress mukt Bharat” was not just a slogan but a prophecy in the making. And yet, within the party’s darkest years, the seeds of recovery were quietly being planted.The Congress joined hands with regional parties and became a part of a broad anti-BJP front. The plan worked and in the 2024 elections, the Congress almost doubled its Lok Sabha tally to reach the score of 99 and finally after 10 years could get back the post of LoP.The BJP, on the other hand, slipped to 240 seats, its first sub-majority performance since 2014 and PM Modi’s third term depended on the support of Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JD(U). Congress did not waste any time to remind BJP that the party that had promised to make India “Congress-mukt” could not form a government on its own.As Congress put it after the results, the election had been “a moral and political loss” for PM Modi. The trajectory, for the first time in many years, was pointing in Congress’s favour. The roller coaster ride in statesThe second dimension of Congress’s decline played out in the states across the country.In 2013, when the call for Congress-mukt Bharat was made, the grand-old-party ruled 14 states in the country. However, the 2014 drubbing triggered a decline which gradually saw the Congress slide dramatically to governing only 3 states.The Congress kept on losing states at regular levels. Fortunately for the party though, the grand-old-party kept on winning odd state elections to ensure that the party was never wiped out completely from the states.Rahul’s Bharat Jodo Yatra Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022, a 4,000 km padyatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, was one of the steps that perhaps helped the party reclaim some of the lost political ground. The campaign did not immediately translate into votes. But it did something arguably more important for a party that had lost its voice. It gave Congress a public face again. Rahul Gandhi, who had been caricatured by the BJP as a reluctant, distracted politician, emerged from the yatra with a renewed personal connect with voters. Picture credit: Uday DebThe electoral returns came the following year. In 2023, Congress won Telangana, ending K Chandrashekar Rao’s decade-long BRS rule and Karnataka, where it swept back to power on the back of sharp anti-incumbency against the BJP’s own internal chaos.Himachal Pradesh had already fallen in Congress’s kitty in late 2022, again on local anti-incumbency. So the party had three state governments in quick succession.The 2026 verdict: Congress footprint expands in southIn Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front swept the state with 102 seats, its strongest mandate since 1977. Congress alone won 63 of those. The Left Democratic Front, which had pulled off a historic second consecutive term in 2021, was reduced to 35 seats. Pinarayi Vijayan resigned the same evening. For the first time in half a century, not a single Communist party governs any state. KC Venugopal had said in December that “many red fortresses will collapse.” They did.And while victory in Kerala was largely on expected lines, the Congress sprang a surprise in Tamil Nadu, where it dumped the DMK, an ally of 11 years, for a bold political realignment with Vijay’s TVK to remain on the winning side of the divide. Vijay’s TVK, which stormed the assembly with 108 seats, but failed to reach the magic figure of 118 in the 234-seat assembly, got immediate Congress support.The Congress has not been a dominant force in the state for decades where the Dravidian giants, DMK and AIADMK, have ruled since the grand-old-party was pushed to irrelevance.But the extraordinary post-election churn of May 2026 ensures that the Congress will be at the table.What’s next?Among the many states that go to polls next year, the Congress has high stakes in Punjab and to some extent in Uttar Pradesh – where it is in alliance with Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party.Punjab assembly elections next year could be Congress’s biggest electoral opportunity since the 2024 Lok Sabha verdict to add one more state to its kitty. The Congress, which ruled Punjab from 2017 and lost the state to AAP in 2022. However AAP’s internal turbulence, leadership strains and governance pressures could create space for Congress recovery. The Congress, which remains the principal opposition party, would hope to reclaim the state.Whether it can convert AAP’s difficulties into its own votes depends almost entirely on whether it can resolve its chronic internal divisions and present a coherent alternative. That work is yet to begin in any serious way. Moreover, the road ahead for the grand-old-party would not be easy as the BJP has dropped enough hints of a very aggressive Punjab campaign.’Congress-yukt Bharat’The road ahead for the Congress remains an uphill battle. The small electoral successes notwithstanding, the grand-old-party still has a long way to go. The fact that some of the regional heavyweights like Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee have suffered electoral setbacks, provides the Congress an opportunity to reclaim some of its lost political space in these states.The key question is whether Congress’s revival stems from a strategy or if it is merely benefiting from the mistakes of its allies and the BJP? For now, the gains Congress is making seem largely incidental and due to the groundwork of state leaders. It’s not due to episodic interventions of Rahul Gandhi. For its long-term revival, the party needs Rahul to be a full-time politician, focusing on identifying and grooming local leaders and smart alliance management at the state level.The Congress remains way behind the BJP, absolutely no doubt about that. But the reality is that the saffron party’s dream of “Congress-mukt Bharat” would perhaps remain just that – a dream. The grand old party is not what it was at its prime, but the country still remains Congress-yukt.About the AuthorPriyanka MukherjeePriyanka Mukherjee is an Assistant News Editor at The Times of India, where deadlines rarely slow down. Often juggling breaking news, long-form explainers and the everyday chaos of the newsroom, she is usually managing stress, chasing clarity and trying to log off on time (rarely successful). She also cares deeply about stories around women’s rights and social change, while two very opinionated dogs make sure she never truly switches off.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSuvendu Adhikari Chooses Bhabanipur Over Nandigram, Sparks Fresh Political Battle In BengalCM Vijay Revokes Astrologer Vettrivel’s OSD Appointment Amid Political Storm In Tamil NaduNEET-UG 2026 Leak Case Reaches Supreme Court, Petition Demands NTA Dissolution And Fresh ExamVijay Wins Tamil Nadu Trust Vote With 144 MLAs Amid AIADMK Split And Assembly ChaosKejriwal Targets BJP Over NEET Leak, Says ‘Gen-Z Can Demand Accountability Like Nepal & Bangladesh’FIR Against SP Spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati Over Viral Anti-Brahmin Remark, BJP Targets AkhileshAkhilesh Yadav Reacts To Prateek Yadav’s Death, Says “Business Losses Can Deeply Distress People”Air India Slashes International Flights | Why Ticket Prices Are Suddenly ExplodingPrateek Yadav Passes Away At 38 In Lucknow, Political Leaders Express GriefGovt Hikes Gold & Silver Import Duty To 15% | Modesty Push Or Economic Warning?123PhotostoriesHow to grow Dragon fruit in your garden: Simple step-by-step guide for beginnersFrom Mouni Roy to Dilip Joshi, Kapil Sharma and more: Highest-paid TV stars and their net worthFrom Bulldogs to Pugs: 5 surprisingly lazy dog breeds that love sleeping all dayRatan Tata’s ₹150 crore sea-facing bungalow ‘Bakhtawar’ is Mumbai’s most iconic legacy property; here’s who lives there nowHow to identify the St Lucia Racer: One of the world’s rarest snakes”Bus uska whistle ka problem tha…thanks to God main bach gai”: When to replace your pressure cooker to avoid any accidentAlia Bhatt just turned Cannes red carpet glamour into pure parampara with this ivory corset sareeDivorce rumours hit paradise: Who is Mouni Roy’s husband Suraj Nambiar? All about their whirlwind romanceHow parents can create an emotionally safe space for children at homeDua Lipa is suing a leading electronics giant for $15 million: 5 other celebrities who took global brands to court123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingNashik AstrologerTamil Nadu NewsIPL Points TablePM Internship SchemeIPL Match TodayHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026Aparna YadavAir India FlightsPrateek Yadav

Vamsikrishna 0