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‘PM Modi created a new power elite and brought about a cultural revolution in India’: Political analyst Sanjaya Baru

OpIndia Staff
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‘PM Modi created a new power elite and brought about a cultural revolution in India’: Political analyst Sanjaya Baru

In a recent interview with journalist Karan Thapar for the leftist online portal The Wire, political commentator and analyst Sanjaya Baru claimed that PM Modi has created a new power elite and sparked a cultural revolution in terms of people who govern the country and their ideas and attitudes about the idea of India.

Speaking in the interview that marked the launch of his latest book: ‘India’s Power Elite: Class, Caste and a Cultural Revolution’, Baru said that the new intellectuals around Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath belong to a very different world. He added that the government and the bureaucracy in many parts of the country have started placing more importance on vernacular culture and traditions as opposed to the previous order that was primarily dominated by the English upper-middle-class.

“The new power elite are provincial, not comfortable in English…I think we now have a bureaucracy in Delhi and in many parts of India that thinks in vernacular. The metaphors they use, the symbolism they use, the administrative practices they are willing to use….there is an underlying cultural revolution in the country, there is a change in a way in which the ruling class thinks,” Baru elaborated when asked about the distinction between the new and old power elite.

“The new power elite is more provincial, it prefers to use Hindi or vernacular languages, unlike their predecessors which belonged to the upper-middle-class, the emerging power elite draws from the middle of the intermediate classes and are not born into families of privilege with easily accessible contacts. They earned their way to the top,” Baru said.

Baru notes it is the first time that no one in the PMO is from St Stephens or JNU

Baru also explained how the government changes in New Delhi before PM Modi came to power did not bring about radical changes in the social class that constituted the capital’s power elite. He even added that on most occasions, the power elite had starkly similar characteristics and had often belonged to the same set of institutions. “It was a revolving door…one set of friends went in and another set went out,” Baru said.

The old elite had been to similar schools and universities, were members of the Gymkhana or IIC and were largely upper-middle-class, Baru said. In a striking illustration, Baru notes that this is the first time the PMO does not have officers who have graduated from St. Stephens or JNU.

“The secular left-liberal weltanschauung of the old public intellectuals has been replaced by a Hindu nationalist intellectual architecture,” said Baru, adding that the new power elite is unabashedly pro-Hindu, pro-Hindi and pro-vernacular.

Baru claims the cultural revolution brought about by the emerging class of power elite underpinned the aspirational India that represents the ascent of Bharat and the decline of India. The political commentator drew a parallel between the cultural revolution triggered by PM Modi’s arrival at the Centre with the one that happened under Mao in China. In both instances, the aim was to remove if not eradicate vestiges of the old order, who might have desperately tried to somehow cling onto power and their position, Baru said.

In the 32-minute interview with Karan Thapar, Baru also analysed PM Modi’s popularity among the masses and his mantra for political success. He said it is a combination of BJP’s Hindutva nationalism, Ram Manohar Lohia’s caste-based social welfarism and the Left’s class-based pro-poor radicalism. It is also hostile to the left and the elites, he added.

When asked what are the challenges that could stifle Modi’s ascent, Baru opined that a revival of the opposition or an economic collapse are the only two roadblocks he envisions that could stop PM Modi’s relentless juggernaut. He added that the people of new aspirational India are drawn towards PM Modi because he personifies them and reflects their views. However, Baru noted that if the economy takes a hit, this unwavering support to PM Modi could transform into disillusionment and frustration.

Prashant Bhushan slammed for spreading anti-mask study, brazens it out after netizens object

OpIndia Staff
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Prashant Bhushan slammed for spreading anti-mask study, brazens it out after netizens object

‘Eminent intellectual’ and PIL activist Prashant Bhushan appears to have found new meaning to his existence after suffering several setbacks in his legal pursuits. Soon after the Courts refused to deliverable a favourable verdict in his Rohingya petition, Prashant Bhushan has jumped onto the anti-mask bandwagon.

At a time when doctors and healthcare experts are advising people to mask up due to the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic, Bhushan has resorted to peddling conspiracy theories against the usage of masks.

Prashant Bhushan spreads anti-mask conspiracy theories
Prashant Bhushan spreads anti-mask conspiracy theories

His conspiracy mongering attracted criticism across the board. Dr Amit Thadlani, unamused by Bhushan’s dangerous rhetoric, asked him if he was aware what a hypothesis meant. A hypothesis is a proposition that is the subject of a study or experiment which has not yet been found to be true.

Others agreed with Dr Thadlani’s ‘nutcase’ assessment.

Others slammed him for his tweet as well.

People from across the political spectrum are condemning him for the tweet.

After he was called out for his tweet, Prashant Bhushan decided to brazen it out instead of apologising for the same.

Earlier in February, the PIL activist had claimed that Covid-19 was dying naturally in the country and wanted the government to refrain from investing in vaccines.

Pakistan: Hindus protest after court refuses to allow parents to meet their daughter who was kidnapped, converted to Islam and married off

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: Hindus protest after court refuses to allow parents to meet their daughter who was kidnapped, converted to Islam and married off

The persecution of Hindu minorities in Pakistan continues unabated. Last Saturday, a 22-year-old Hindu girl named Aarti Bai was abducted from Ali Gohar Abad locality in Larkana in the Sindh province, forcibly converted to Islam and married off to a man. Yesterday, members of the Hindu community protested outside the court after it declined to allow parents to meet their daughter.

As per the family of the victim, the girl went missing on Saturday, 3 April 2021, after she left home for a beauty parlour located in Resham Gali where she is working. When she did not return home, her father suspected that his daughter might have been kidnapped and approached the police to rescue her.

The family of the girl was worried about their whereabouts and stunned by her mysterious disappearance. Later, it came to be known that the girl was converted to Islam and married to her abductor.

On Friday this week, six days after the girl was kidnapped, a Karachi based journalist Veengas posted a video on Twitter that showed members of the Hindu community protesting for justice for the parents of the kidnapped girl. It was also reported that the local court did not allow parents to meet their daughter.

Rampant abduction and forceful conversion of Hindu girls in Pakistan

Hindus in Pakistan live under a constant threat of persecution. Attacks on Hindus, kidnapping of Hindu daughters and their forcible conversions have become par for the course in Pakistan.

Hindus in Pakistan, especially girls, are leading a particularly vulnerable life in the country where forced conversion of Hindus into Islam has become a common norm. The Islamist fanatics routinely abduct Hindu girls, forcefully convert them into Islam before marrying them.

Last month, on March 11, a 13-year-old Hindu girl named Kavita Oad from the Kandhkot area of Sindh was reportedly abducted and then forcibly converted to Islam. A couple of days later, her house was set on fire by unidentified miscreants.

In March 2021, a journalist in Pakistan was shot dead by unknown assailants for exposing the role of politicians and clerics in facilitating the forceful conversions of Hindu girls.

In December 2020, a top US diplomat for religious freedom Samuel Brownback stated that Pakistan was marketing Hindu and Christian women as “concubines” and “forced brides” to China.

Even the courts fail to do justice for Hindus in Pakistan. In fact, in some cases, the courts have actively participated in the injustice meted out to the Hindu and Christian minorities. In June 2020, a district magistrate allowed a Muslim man to keep his Hindu wife even after the parents of the girl alleged that their daughter was kidnapped and forcibly married off to the man.

TMC leader Sujata Mondal Khan labels Dalits as ‘beggars by nature’, claims that they sold themselves to the BJP

OpIndia Staff
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TMC leader Sujata Mondal Khan labels Dalits as ‘beggars by nature’, claims that they sold themselves to the BJP

Ahead of the 4th phase of Vidhan Sabha polls in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sujata Mondal Khan made disparaging comments against the Dalit community. A video of the same was shared by BJP’s SC Morcha.

While speaking to News 18 Bangla, Sujata Mondal Khan claimed, “Even though Mamata Banerjee has helped the poor Scheduled Castes, yet their scarcity will never mitigate.” Furthermore, the TMC leader remarked, “Mane ekta kotha thake na ki keu thake sobhabe bhikari aar keu thake obhabe bhikari. Ekhaner Scheduled Caste gulo holo Sobhabe bhikari. (There is a saying that some are beggars by nature while others are beggars by circumstance. The Scheduled Castes here are beggars by nature).”

She also accused the Dalit community of being ungrateful and siding with rival BJP. “Mamata Banerjee has done so much for them but they have now sold themselves to the BJP in exchange for money. And now, they are committing atrocities on us,” Sujata Mondal Khan alleged.

While slamming the Trinamool Congress party, the State unit of the BJP tweeted, “Sujata Mandal of Trinamool, close to Mamata Banerjee, blatantly accuses the Scheduled Caste community of Bengal as “beggars by nature”. Can the people of Bengal give TMC a befitting reply and throw them out of power? Dalit Samaaj (Rajbanshi, Matuas, Namasudras) deserves better.”

TMC leader Sujata Mondal Khan attacks villagers, faces retaliation

In a video that has recently gone viral on social media, the TMC leader and her workers were accused of attacking villagers after entering their houses and injuring one of the villagers. A reporter said that the villagers had accused the TMC workers of breaking the hand of one of their own. And therefore, villagers came out in large numbers against the political leader. The villagers were seen chasing the Trinamool gang with sticks in their hands. It was falsely presented by several media houses that BJP workers attacked Sujata Mondal Khan.

Lakhs of Muslims gather in Bareilly after Friday prayers demanding arrest, beheading of Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati

OpIndia Staff
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Lakhs of Muslims gather in Bareilly after Friday prayers demanding arrest, beheading of Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati

Days after Delhi AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan called for the beheading of Dasna Devi Temple head priest Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati for ‘blasphemy’, lakhs of Muslims gathered in Bareilly demanding the same. After the Hindu priest made some comments criticising Islam and Prophet Muhammad, Muslim fanatics across the country are baying for his blood.

On 9th April after the Friday prayers, a larger number of Muslims gathered at the Islamia Ground in Bareilly, demanding for action against Yati Narsinghanand. Amid the slogans to behead the priest, clerics gave speech asking for his arrest.

Several Muslims shared videos of the incident on Twitter, where they referred to Yati Narsinghanand as a ‘Bhagwa Terrorist’.

Muslims are demanding action against Yati Narsinghanand after a video had emerged where he was heard criticising Islam. Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati was speaking at an event held at the Press Club of India where he had urged Hindus to be fearless in highlighting the characteristics of Prophet Muhammad.

“If Islam’s reality, for which Maulana says, ‘If you speak about Muhammad, we will behead you’, Hindus should get rid of this fear. We are Hindus. If we can about the characteristics of Lord Ram, and other Hindu deities, then Muhammad is nothing for us. Why could not we speak about Muhammad and speak truth?” Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati had exclaimed.

Proving his claims right, the AAP MLA had called for beheading him for his comments on Islam. Following his comments, Delhi police had filed an FIR against him for ‘hurting religious sentiments’, taking suo motu cognizance. Amanatullah Khan also had lodged a complaint against him.

Subsequently on 4th April, Delhi Police had filed an FIR against Amanatullah Khan also for threatening to behead Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati.

Prashant Kishor says internal survey shows BJP win, hails PM Modi, admits TMC’s Muslim appeasement politics: Here is everything he said on Clubhouse

OpIndia Staff
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Prashant Kishor says internal survey shows BJP win, hails PM Modi, admits TMC’s Muslim appeasement politics: Here is everything he said on Clubhouse

On Saturday (April 7), audio clips of a Clubhouse conversation between Lutyens journalists and election strategist Prashant Kishor appeared on Twitter. Kishor, working for the ruling TMC, has admitted that his internal survey results suggest a comfortable BJP victory in the West Bengal State Legislative polls.

Without realising that the audio conversation on Club House app is being recorded, Prashant Kishor said, “If BJP is getting votes, then, it is due to the Modi and Hindu factor. Polarisation, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Hindi-speaking people are the other factors. Suvendu Adhikari’s exit or my entry has no bearing on the election results. There are over 1 crore Hindi-speaking people here and 27% SCs. All of them are standing with the BJP.”

While speaking on the voting preferences of the Matua community, Prashant Kishor emphasised, “Matuas will be predominantly voting for the BJP. However, they won’t be unitedly voting for the BJP as they did in the Lok Sabha polls. It will be 75% BJP and 25% TMC.”

Majority opinion is that BJP will form govt, claims Prashant Kishor

“We do an internal survey to find out who is voting for whom and who is forming the government. In our survey, we found that the BJP is forming the government. We have found that those voting for the BJP are also saying that the party will form the government. The Left will get about 15% of the votes. 2/3rd of those voting for the Left are saying that BJP will come to power. So, the majority opinion is that BJP will form the government.”

“The Left voters think that BJP must come to power. They believe only then they can operate freely. This is all about perception,” the election strategist conceded. He added that several people who come to State from outside are unaware of the ground presence of the BJP. “This is not true. They earlier might have been members of the Left but they are now working for the BJP in a dedicated manner. Other than 1 or 2 constituencies, BJP has a strong cadre on the ground,” Kishor admitted. He also conceded that about 50-55% of Hindus will vote for the BJP.

Mamata Banerjee’s election strategist lauds PM Modi’s popularity

On being quizzed about the reasons behind PM Modi’s overwhelming popularity in West Bengal, Prashant Kishor pointed out, “There is no anti-incumbency against the PM Modi. He has a cult following across India. There are at least 35% of people who find God in him. Whether this is good or bad is a different issue. PM Modi’s core base is the Hindi-speaking people. Plus, the anti-incumbency is against the State government and not the Centre.”

He added, “PM Modi and Mamata are equally popular, as we found in our survey. Modi is also popular because people here have not experienced the BJP rule in the State. This is a big factor. People here have not seen BJP government for the past 30-35 years. There is a huge turn out in Modi’s rallies. One factor is the mobilisation of people and the other is his popularity. There are no two opinions about it. Anger against TMC, polarisation and Modi’s popularity are the three main factors. On top of that, there is BJP’s election machinery.”

Prashant Kishor admits Muslim appeasement politics of TMC

“Major problem that we have to accept is that there have been efforts for the last 20 years to appease the minorities. Take the example of Bengal. The simple strategy here has been that whoever has the Muslims vote, will form the government. Be it the Left, Congress or Didi’s government, the strategy has been to garner Muslim votes. For the first time, Hindus have realised that there is a party for them. It is not as if there is something wrong with the society altogether,” remarked Prashant Kishor.

He concluded, “This is the aspect that the BJP is exploiting. And this comes from the blatant use of minority politics by some of these parties. You and I cannot deny this reality.” The voting for the 4th phase of elections in West Bengal will take place on April 10 (Saturday) in the Northern districts of Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri. In the Southern region, polling will be conducted in Hooghly, Howrah, and South 24 Parganas districts. The results will be declared on May 2.

Prashant Kishor vowed to quit his job if BJP crosses 100 seats

In an interview with the Indian Express, Kishor said, “Around November-December last year, there was a lot of hype being created around the BJP, that they are going to sweep the state, get 200 seats etc. So, it was important for us to say publicly that this is not true… There is no way that in December the BJP was in a position to be winning 200 seats.”

He said that he stood by his earlier assessment that BJP can not cross the double-digit mark. “And, in our assessment, they would struggle to enter triple digits, and I stand by that remark. If they do, I will cease to exist as a political aide to anyone. I must quit this space, and quitting this space does not mean Twitter; I won’t do this work ever,” he announced.

Lutyens journalist speaking ‘truth to the power’ by discussing Mamata Banerjee’s toilet routine

OpIndia Staff
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Lutyens journalist speaking ‘truth to the power’ by discussing Mamata Banerjee’s toilet routine

Amidst the ongoing Vidhan Sabha polls in the State of West Bengal, audio clips of a conversation between Lutyens journalists and election strategist Prashant Kishor appeared on Twitter on Saturday (April 7). The conversation took place on the exclusive audio messaging app ClubHouse.

Several Lutyens journalists such as Sakshi Joshi, Arfa Khanum Sherwani, Rohini Singh, Swati Chaturvedi and others were part of the group. Without realising that the conversation was available for the public to listen and it was being recorded, ‘independent journalist’ Sakshi Joshi inquired about the incumbent West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s toilet routine to her election strategist. Joshi, who believes in speaking truth to power, seemed to be in awe of Mamata Banerjee for her ability to control her bladder.

She inquired, “I was wondering as a woman. Mamata Banerjee arrives in a helicopter, speaks on the stage for an hour, returns back to her helicopter and then lands at a different venue. Even there she speaks for an hour on the stage. When is she going to the washroom? When is she going for herself? This is my question. “

“I was thinking that we (journalists) have to (use the loo frequently) due to the excessive heat and intake of a large quantity of water. We have to go somewhere or the other. I have never seen her taking any breaks,” the Lutyens’ journalist continued. An embarrassed Prashant Kishor jokingly asked, “Am I expected to answer this also?”

Sakshi Joshi further prodded, “What is her (bathroom) schedule? How it has been made? I mean what is she doing. Wherever she goes, I have never seen her being lodged in someone else’s home. She directly comes to the venue and then goes away.” Kishor, who was expecting questions on the lines of ongoing elections in West Bengal, was caught off-guard by this question. He dodged the answer by shrewdly laughing over it.

The voting for the 4th phase of elections in West Bengal will take place on April 10 (Saturday) in the Northern districts of Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri. In the Southern region, polling will be conducted in Hooghly, Howrah, and South 24 Parganas districts. The results will be declared on May 2.

New Delhi conveys concern to Washington over US Navy carrying out operations in Indian waters without consent

OpIndia Staff
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New Delhi conveys concern to Washington over US Navy carrying out operations in Indian waters without consent

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday expressed concerns to the United States over a US Navy ship carrying out a freedom of navigation operation in the Indian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) without seeking its consent. 

“India”s stated position on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is that the convention does not authorise other States to carry out in the Exclusive Economic Zone and on the continental shelf, military exercises or manoeuvres, in particular those involving the use of weapons or explosives, without the consent of the coastal State,” the strongly-worded statement by the MEA said.

India’s reaction came hours after the US Navy, in an unusual move, boasted that one of its ships conducted patrols in the Indian EEZ this week without India’s consent. 

In the statement, MEA said US Navy ship John Paul Jones was continuously monitored transiting from the Persian Gulf towards the Malacca Straits.

“The USS John Paul Jones was continuously monitored transiting from the Persian Gulf towards the Malacca Straits. We have conveyed our concerns regarding this passage through our EEZ to the government of USA through diplomatic channels,” the MEA said.

USS John Paul Jones is a Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer of the US Navy. The ship is currently part of Destroyer Squadron 23 of the Carrier Strike Group 9, which in turn is part of the Seventh Fleet that is controlled by the United States Pacific Fleet. Nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is the flagship of this fleet.

US Navy brags it breached the Indian maritime rules and conducted ops in Indian EEZ 

The US Navy on Friday issued a statement announcing that its 7th Fleet conducted a freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) inside India’s exclusive economic zone without India’s consent. The US Navy claims to have challenged “India’s excessive maritime claims.”

The statement said, “On April 7, 2021 (local time) USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) asserted navigational rights and freedoms approximately 130 nautical miles west of the Lakshadweep Islands, inside India’s exclusive economic zone, without requesting India’s prior consent, consistent with international law.”

“India requires prior consent for military exercises or maneuvers in its exclusive economic zone or continental shelf, a claim inconsistent with international law. This freedom of navigation operation (“FONOP”) upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law by challenging India’s excessive maritime claims,” it added, using an unusually aggressive tone.

USA: Police officers show up at Twitter user’s home for criticising Congresswoman AOC on social media, her spokesperson denies involvement

OpIndia Staff
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USA: Police officers show up at Twitter user’s home for criticising Congresswoman AOC on social media, her spokesperson denies involvement

Two policemen in plainclothes visited the home of a person living in the United States for tweeting against US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). The police officers were from the California Highway Patrol and paid a visit on behalf of the Capitol Police.

The individual speculated that he was paid a visit because of a tweet where he said that AOC’s response to a question on Israel and Palestine was underwhelming.

The individual said that the visit was outrageous. He said, “I felt scared, intimidated, and violated. They knew my name and where I live. It was done on behalf of a congresswoman who advocates against police state tactics.” “I recognize she probably receives a lot of threats, but I shouldn’t be harassed by police for critiquing her politics. I frankly feel very unsafe in my home right now,” the person added.

The California Highway Patrol appeared to confirm that they did pay the Twitter user paid a visit although they did not admit it directly when confronted by another user on the platform. The CHP asked the user to contact Capitol Police for more information.

A spokesperson for AOC denied that they reported the matter to the Police. Ryan Grim, journalist at The Intercept, quoted a spokesperson as saying, “No, not at all. But when we saw his tweets last night about being visited we asked Capitol Police to look into what happened here.”

Journalist Glenn Greenwald said, “No basis to assume AOC is responsible for this without evidence, but regardless, this is a very serious incident if the Capitol Police are dispatching armed police officers to citizens’ homes in response to non-violent criticisms of a politician’s statements. It’s repressive.”

Assam: Fearing poaching by BJP, Congress-led alliance starts shifting candidates to Rajasthan, 20 AIUDF candidates reach Jaipur hotel

OpIndia Staff
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Assam: Fearing poaching by BJP, Congress-led alliance starts shifting candidates to Rajasthan, 20 AIUDF candidates reach Jaipur hotel

The three-phase assembly elections in Assam were over on 6th April, while the results will be counted and announced on the 2nd of May, almost a month later. This has become a major headache for the Congress-led grand alliance which includes AIUDF, BPF and other parties, as they fear that their candidates may switch over to BJP. To prevent this from happening, the alliance has resorted to the well-known strategy of the Congress party, the resort strategy.

The Congress-AIUDF have decided to keep some of its candidates away from Assam, and they have selected Congress-ruled Rajasthan for the same. According to ANI, Congress sources said that the candidates have been shifted to Jaipur as a precautionary measure by the Mahajot alliance. The party said that today several AIUDF candidates reached Jaipur, while few more Congress candidates will be shifted to Jaipur shortly.

The candidates have been checked in at the Fairmount Hotel in the Rajasthan capital.

Congress chief whip in Rajasthan Mahesh Joshi said that the candidates were shifted to Rajasthan in fear that BJP may try to ‘buy’ them. “Till BJP is in Centre, there’ll always be a possibility of buying MLAs,” he said. Joshi added that around 20 people were coming today, but he was not aware about their parties.

A flight manifest of an Indigo Guwahati-Jaipur flight shows that 20 AIUDF candidates were shifted to Jaipur today. Flight no 6E-9397 took off from Guwahati in the morning today and landed in Jaipur at around 1.30 PM.

AIUDF candidates shifted to Jaipur (source: News Live editor Nandan Pratim Sharma Bordoloi)

This step by the alliance comes after one their candidates already joined BJP. BPF candidate from Tamulpur, Rangja Khungur Basumatary, had joined BJP on 1st April and retired from the elections. His decision came after the last date for withdrawal of nomination was over, therefore his name remained in the election, hence he had appealed the voters to vote for the BJP ally UPPL candidate. BPF had appealed the EC to postpone the elections, but the EC had refused to do so, saying that there is no provision to postpone elections for candidates switching sides.

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