Tag: LS polls

  • LS Polls 2024 Phase 4: EVMs are checked thoroughly before sealing…’ M’rashtra Beed Additional Collector Arvind Latkar – The Economic Times Video

    EVMs and VVPAT dispatched ahead of 4th phase of Lok Sabha Polls in Maharashtra’s Parali Vaijnath. Additional Collector of Beed district Arvind Latkar said, “We have a team of a total of 8 members. They are going to be dispatched today. EVMs are checked thoroughly before sealing. We are going to hold a mock polling before actual polling at the polling station.”

  • LS polls: Farmers of Lakhimpur Kheri await justice

    Amid the rising political heat, people in Tikunia area of Lakhimpur Kheri still remember the unforgettable incident that shook the country three years ago.

    Eight people including a journalist and four farmers were killed when violence broke out after an SUV ran over a group of protesting farmers in October of 2021.

    “I pass by this place everyday. We have tried a lot to forget what happened here but every time we approach this place, the images of that day flash before our eyes,” said Manjeet Singh, a resident of Tikunia pointing towards the ground where the farmers held the protest against the three controversial farm laws, which have been scrapped now. This ground lies on one side of the narrow road leading towards Tikunia, a small town located on the northern most corner of Lakhimpur Kheri district, over 215 km away from state capital Lucknow. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther States”The ground is a constant reminder of how nothing happens to a person with political influence,” said Satwant Singh, another Tikunia resident who participated in the protest and was a witness to the incidents. Ashish Mishra ‘Monu’, the son of Union minister Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’, was made an accused in the case. Ashish Mishra was arrested after the incidents but is currently out on bail. “Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’ was awarded by the BJP for the incident. The party did nothing to him and has now given him a ticket for the Lok Sabha polls,” said Rajdeep Singh, another resident who was injured in the incident. The BJP has renominated Ajay Mishra from the Lakhimpur Kheri seat. The Samajwadi Party (SP) has fielded Utkarsh Verma and the BSP Anshay Kalra. Voting will be held on May 13.

    The 2021 incident occurred in Tikunia but almost all the victims were from different places in the district.

    Mandeep Singh, the son of an elderly farmer Nacchatar Singh who was killed after being run over by the SUV, said, “We were shown how important we are in the incident. Nobody from the government has till date asked about us. We want this to change, we want to see the accused behind bars.”

    Singh declined to comment on the ongoing elections but said he wants to see a change. “Like every other farmer and local we want to see a change.”

    Surendra Singh, a relative of another victim Lovepreet Singh and also a member of farmers union, said, “This was an attack on farmers who produce grains to feed the entire country. We will continue to fight for justice.”

    The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Tikait) unit in Lakhimpur Kheri had objected to the candidature of Ajay Mishra.

    “This is nothing but disrespect to those killed in Tikunia and all farmers. The farmers will respond to this by their votes,” said Surinder Singh Virk, an office bearer of the farmers union.

    Though farmers, especially from the Sikh community in Tikunia and nearby areas, express anger over the incident, the same emotion is not reflected by people of other communities, particularly outside Tikunia.

    “What happened in Tikunia was wrong, nobody will support such an act but we need to come together and move ahead for development of Lakhimpur,” said Prabhat Singh, a former village head in Palia area of the district.

    SP president Akhilesh Yadav has talked about the episode in his public meeting held here but his party candidate Utkarsh Verma has made only passing reference in his public meetings.

    BSP’s Kalra, who himself comes from the Sikh community, has raised the issue in his public meetings in Palia and Nighasan area.

  • ‘Can They Provide Safety….’: PM Modi Hits Out At Congress Over Karnataka College Girl Murder |

    New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the ruling party in Karnataka and questioned the public he was addressing in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada if Congress can provide safety to the girl in the state.

    PM Modi attacked Congress over the recent murder of a Hubballi student, Neha Hiremath, at her college premises that created “sensation” in the country, he said, the family sought action, but the Congress government gave priority to appeasement.

    “For them, the lives of daughters like Neha have no value, they think only about their vote bank. Can Congress ever provide safety to your daughters?  In a college campus, in daylight, such dare, they who committed crime know that those hungry for vote bank will save them in a few days.”

    #WATCH Uttara Kannada, Karnataka: PM Narendra Modi while addressing the public meeting in Sirsi says, “A few days back, what happened to a daughter in Hubballi, the entire nation is worried about it… In a college campus, in daylight, such dare, they who committed crime know… pic.twitter.com/Gze3YFHUoW
    — ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2024

    “Even when there was a bomb blast in a Bengaluru’s cafe, the Congress government did not take it seriously initially; they even termed it a cylinder blast initially. “Why are you — Congress — lying to the people of the country, if you can’t, leave and go home,” Modi said.

    The Congress for the sake of votes is taking support of banned PFI — the anti-national organisation that supported terrorism. “To win one seat in Wayanad, are you surrendering to them? BJP has banned PFI and has put its leaders behind bars.” he said.

  • 1 Out Of Every 5 Sitting BJP MPs Lost Their Ticket Despite ‘Clear Wave’: A Look At The Big Faces Rested |

    New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made a decisive move by replacing 21% of its sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) with new candidates, NDTV reported. This change comes as the party announced 267 Lok Sabha candidates across two lists. The second list, released on Wednesday, introduced 30 fresh faces for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. According to NDTV, this strategic candidate reshuffle is a response to potential anti-incumbency sentiments. The party’s choices reflect the grassroots feedback and are aligned with its ambitious goal to secure 370 seats in the forthcoming polls, an increase of 67 seats from the 2019 elections.

    New Faces in Key Regions

    In the nation’s capital, the BJP has nominated Harsh Malhotra for the East Delhi constituency, replacing former cricketer and sitting MP Gautam Gambhir. For the North West Delhi seat, reserved for the Scheduled Caste, Yogendra Chandolia has been chosen over the incumbent Hans Raj Hans.

    In Gujarat, the home turf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the party has introduced five new candidates, including Bhikhaji Dudhaji Thakore for Sabarkantha and Nimuben Bambhania for Bhavnagar, signaling a significant change in representation.

    In Haryana, The BJP has opted for Ashok Tanwar, a former Congress leader, for the Sirsa seat, while former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has been fielded from Karnal, indicating a high-stakes play in the state.

    The party’s second list features five new faces in Karnataka, including Basavaraj Kyavator for Koppal and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai for Haveri, showcasing a mix of seasoned politicians and new entrants.

    Changes Across the Map

    In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has nominated Savitri Thakur for Dhar, and in Maharashtra, new candidates like Smita Wagh for Jalgaon and Union Minister Piyush Goyal for Mumbai North have been introduced, reflecting a nationwide strategy to rejuvenate the party’s electoral appeal.

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has selected Anup Dhorte to contest from the Akola constituency in Maharashtra for the Lok Sabha seat, replacing the current MP, Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre.

    In Mumbai North East, the BJP has chosen Mihir Kotecha over the incumbent MP Manoj Kishorebhai Kotak. Pankaja Munde has been announced as the candidate for the Beed Lok Sabha seat, taking over from her sister Pritam Gopinath Rao Munde, who has served for two consecutive terms.

    For the Adilabad Lok Sabha seat in Telangana, reserved for the Scheduled Caste, the BJP has nominated Godam Nagesh, moving away from the sitting MP Soyam Babu Rao. Anil Baluni, the party’s chief spokesperson and a member of the Rajya Sabha, has been fielded for the Garhwal seat, succeeding the former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat.

    Trivendra Singh Rawat, another former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, has been chosen to run for the Haridwar seat, replacing the two-term MP and former Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

    From the Tripura East seat, the BJP has put forward Maharani Kriti Singh Debbarma, taking the place of the current MP Rebati Tripura. This follows the party’s earlier decision, announced on March 2, to introduce new candidates for over 190 Lok Sabha seats, which included changing at least 33 incumbent MPs.

  • `Hum Gayab Ho Gaye The…`: Nitish Kumar Swears Allegiance To NDA, PM Modi Breaks Into Laughter | Video

    Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pledged his eternal loyalty to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Saturday during a public meet in Aurangabad.

  • Congress’ Supriya Shrinate reacts to Mamata Banerjee’s ‘fight alone’ remarks ahead of LS Polls: ‘We’ll contest election together…’ – The Economic Times Video

    New Delhi: After West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee clarified that her party, TMC, will fight alone during Lok Sabha polls in the state, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate stated that Mamata Banerjee has a very important role in the INDIA Bloc. She is a part of this alliance, and we will contest this election together, she further added.

  • Opposition unity: Nitish to have lunch with Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar ahead of LS polls

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Janata Dal (U) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will arrive in Mumbai on Thursday morning as part of his Opposition unity efforts. 

    Nitish Kumar will meet and hold meetings with top Maharashtra leaders including Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray over lunch at ‘Matoshri’ in Bandra, before meeting Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar over tea at the latter’s ‘Silver Oaks’ home in south Mumbai.

    Nitish Kumar has taken the lead to unite all smaller and secular alliance parties against the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As a part of it, he has been cementing ties and ironing out the differences with the Opposition.

    Kapil Patil, MLC and general secretary of JD (U) said that their leader Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has been receiving overwhelming support from the Opposition parties against the BJP.

    He said in 1977, all non-Congress parties came together against the Congress to protest and anger against the emergency and to save democracy, In the same way, the Opposition needs to unite today against the BJP if they want to save the constitution.

    “The constitutional federal structure has been disturbed. The central government is ushering all power while weakening the respective state government and non-BJP-ruled states are deprived of the central government-allotted funds. Besides, the central agencies and institutions are to target the Opposition and remain in power. So, all smaller and bigger parties of the Opposition have to come together against the BJP in 2024. Otherwise, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be the last elections in India,” Patil said.

    He added Nitish Kumar has got huge and rich political and administrative experience and there are no stains in his political career. 

    Patil added that the Bihar CM is the man that can unite everyone and Congress will also be the main stakeholder. 

    NCP chief Sharad Pawar earlier extended support to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar saying if someone is taking an effort, then as an Opposition, they have to extend all possible support. “We as NCP are with Nitish Kumar,” Pawar added.

    Interestingly, Bihar CM Eknath Shinde earlier met Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi party leader Akhilesh Yadav.

    MUMBAI: Janata Dal (U) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will arrive in Mumbai on Thursday morning as part of his Opposition unity efforts. 

    Nitish Kumar will meet and hold meetings with top Maharashtra leaders including Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray over lunch at ‘Matoshri’ in Bandra, before meeting Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar over tea at the latter’s ‘Silver Oaks’ home in south Mumbai.

    Nitish Kumar has taken the lead to unite all smaller and secular alliance parties against the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As a part of it, he has been cementing ties and ironing out the differences with the Opposition.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Kapil Patil, MLC and general secretary of JD (U) said that their leader Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has been receiving overwhelming support from the Opposition parties against the BJP.

    He said in 1977, all non-Congress parties came together against the Congress to protest and anger against the emergency and to save democracy, In the same way, the Opposition needs to unite today against the BJP if they want to save the constitution.

    “The constitutional federal structure has been disturbed. The central government is ushering all power while weakening the respective state government and non-BJP-ruled states are deprived of the central government-allotted funds. Besides, the central agencies and institutions are to target the Opposition and remain in power. So, all smaller and bigger parties of the Opposition have to come together against the BJP in 2024. Otherwise, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be the last elections in India,” Patil said.

    He added Nitish Kumar has got huge and rich political and administrative experience and there are no stains in his political career. 

    Patil added that the Bihar CM is the man that can unite everyone and Congress will also be the main stakeholder. 

    NCP chief Sharad Pawar earlier extended support to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar saying if someone is taking an effort, then as an Opposition, they have to extend all possible support. “We as NCP are with Nitish Kumar,” Pawar added.

    Interestingly, Bihar CM Eknath Shinde earlier met Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi party leader Akhilesh Yadav.