Party hopping failed to augur well for defectors in Karnataka, with just two out of eight of them winning the popular mandate at the hustings.

Poll stars do not augur lucky for defectors

Press Trust of India

Admitting that selection of wrong candidates and changes effected at eleventh hour led to its poll debacle in Orissa, Congress today accused BJD of rigging the election to retain power.

Selection of wrong candidates cost party in Orissa: Congress

The media was waiting for the top leader of the party at 10 Janpath, the oficial residence of Congress President Sonia Gandhi. But Gandhi asked Manmohan Singh to face the camera and microphones first, while stepping back a few steps. This was the symbolic picture of the Congress&rsquo; victory in this election.

Manmohan at the fore does it for Congress

Business Standard

Terror attacks, job cuts and pay cuts due to economic slow down don't seem to bother Mumbaikars and satellite towns of Thane district which accommodates working class of Mumbai much as polling percentage has dropped by around 3.5 per cent and remained far below 50 per cent. The average voting percentage in six constituencies of Mumbai and four constituencies of Thane district was 43.52 per cent.

Mumbai polling below 50%

The '108' ambulance services of Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) was a favourite topic for leaders this election with both BJP and Congress laying claim on it. While BJP says to have been instrumental behind the success of the service across the country, Congress states that it was the UPA government that sanctioned a fund of Rs 55 crore for the project.

BJP, Congress fight for  '108' service

Fate of 359 candidates was sealed today in Gujarat in third phase of election. Around 47 per cent of voters turned out to cast their votes amid scorching heat. Today's election assumes importance as many top political leaders including BJP's prime ministerial candidate LK Advani, union textile minister Shankersinh Vaghela, Dinsha Patel and Naranbhai Rathwa are contesting from Gujarat.

Gujarat sees 47% voting; fate of 359 candidates sealed

The second phase of polling held to the 11 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka ended in absolutely peaceful manner today. An estimated 60.31 per cent of 15.5 million voters turned out to vote. Both the first and second phase of polling put together, the total percentage of voting works out to be 56.70 per cent in the state.

Phase II polls sees 60.3% voting

Rural voters were more enthusiastic in exercising their franchise than their urban counterparts as the polling for the Dharwad Parliamentary constituency on Thursday was a smooth affair with no untoward incident being reported.

Rural folks beat urbanites to booths

114 refugee camps across the state will not vote.

Lankan Tamils hottest issue in poll-bound TN

The average turnout for 107 Lok Sabha seats spanning nine states and two Union territories that went to polls today in the third phase of general elections, hovered between 45 and 50 per cent owing to inclement weather conditions and a perceptible excitement deficit. The third phase completes elections to 372 seats in a 545-member House.

50% turnout in Phase 3 polls

If the polling percentage of the 2004 Lok Sabha elections is compared with that of the current polls so far, it seems there is not much difference in the polling pattern in Maharashtra. Last time, the polling percentage in the state was 54.37 per cent, whereas it has been 55.72 and 53.25 per cent, respectively, in the first two phases of the ongoing elections in which 38 out of 48 constituencies have gone to polls.

Low turnout in Maharashtra's urban pockets

Terror attacks, job losses and pay cuts due to economic slowdown don&rsquo;t seem to bother Mumbaikars and satellite towns of Thane district, which accommodates Mumbai&rsquo;s working class, as voter turnout for the third phase of general elections today remained far below 50 per cent, dropping by around 3.5 per cent from the last time.

Mumbai polling below 50 per cent

As West Bengal entered election mode today, it was clear that the CPIM led Left Front was trying to fend off a stiff challenge from the united opposition of Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) . In the first of the three-phased poll in Bengal, 14 out of 42 seats went to poll today. As Subrata Mukherjee, the Congress candidate from the Bankura constituency put it: &ldquo;This time, the division among voters is - those who are pro-Left and those who are anti Left.

West Bengal in election mode

Ghulam Ahmed Mir&rsquo;s family had been desperately knocking at the doors of officers in Srinagar to seek extension of his parole. Mir, a resident of Rajouri in Jammu, suffered a paralytic stroke two months ago in the district jail, where he was detained under the J&amp;K&rsquo;s Public Safety Act (equivalent of the National Security Act).

Surfeit of elections puts off J&K voters

For over 1400 candidates who contested in the twin polls to the assembly and Lok Sabha seats in Orissa, it is now a long and anxious wait for the results.

Voters' turnout gives little away on poll winners

The second and final phase of the elections to the 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh, which ended today, remained by and large peaceful.

Polling ends peacefully in Madhya Pradesh

Amir Khan&rsquo;s rigorous campaign asking people not to get lured by candidates and must vote, and the catchline and Jago Voter Jago, seems to have fallen on deaf ears in Uttar Pradesh. For, the figures in the state indicate that the picture will be the same as it was in the 2004 elections &mdash; low voter turnout.

44.5% per cent turnout in Uttar Pradesh

For the first phase of polls in the 14 parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal, voter turnout till 5pm was 64 per cent.

West Bengal records 64 per cent turnout in Phase I polls

PCC President CP Joshi, who had lost the assembly polls by just one vote last year, is trying his luck from the Bhilwara Lok Sabha seat now though rival and sitting BJP MP V P Singh thinks his development work will help him trump the Congress leader.

Local issues top poll agenda in Bhilwara

The Supreme Court today lifted the stay on trial of 2002 Gujarat riots cases and directed the setting up of fast track courts for holding it on a day-to-day basis.

SC lifts stay on Gujarat riots trial

The BJP has raked up security and the Congress talks about setting up an IIT, but polls to the pink city may be decided on more urgent local issues like scarcity of drinking water and infrastructure, and the party that addresses these may have the final word.

Jaipur seeks solution to local problems from poll contenders

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Visit Business Standard for the latest updated information on the general election results 2024, including the candidate lists for the BJP and Congress, Lok Sabha Election Dates, Exit Polls, Opinion Polls, and Election Results.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Election Results News, PM Candidates, Narendra Modi | General Election

Visit Business Standard for the latest updated information on the general election results 2024, including the candidate lists for the BJP and Congress, Lok Sabha Election Dates, Exit Polls, Opinion Polls, and Election Results.

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