Page 18 - Assembly Polls

Parliamentary panel suggests reducing of age to contest LS, assembly polls

A parliamentary committee on Friday batted for reducing the minimum age to contest Lok Sabha and assembly elections, saying it would give the youth equal opportunities to engage in democracy. According to the present legal framework, a person should be at least 25 years old to contest Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The minimum age to become a member of Rajya Sabha and state legislative council is 30 years. At present, the age at which a person can register as a voter is 18 years. For "national elections" or Lok Sabha polls, it specifically recommended reducing the minimum age to contest from the present 25 years to 18. "After examining various countries' practices, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, the Committee observes that the minimum age for candidacy in national elections needs to be 18 years. These nations' examples demonstrate that young individuals can be reliable and responsible political participants," the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Person

Ensure error-free electoral rolls, ECI delegation to Andhra officials

An Election Commission of India (ECI) delegation has directed all the 26 district Collectors/district election officers in Andhra Pradesh to ensure inclusive and error-free electoral rolls by the end of Special Summary Revision 2024 process. The delegation, led by Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Dharmendra Sharma issued these guidelines at the end of a two-day meeting here. The panel asked the officials to conduct special drives for enrollment of young voters and left out voters, a release said. They also stressed on the inclusion of all the eligible members from the marginalised sections of the society such as SCs, STs, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG), homeless people and others. Likewise, they reviewed the progress and status of SSR-2024 activities and the initiated steps. Further, they deliberated on human resources availability, training, electronic voting machines (EVMs) availability, proper statutory processes and documentation, polling station rationalisati

MP polls: Tribal leader Kantilal Bhuria to lead Congress poll campaign

Sources in the party said that by giving the veteran leader Kantilal Bhuria a major role, the party hopes to cement its tribal vote bank

Nadda to chair BJP meeting today on Lok Sabha and assembly polls in Delhi

BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda will chair a strategy meeting of party leaders here on Wednesday on the assembly polls later this year and the Lok Sabha elections next year. Party sources said it will be a meeting of leaders associated with the BJP's 'Lok Sabha Pravas' programme, an exercise aimed at boosting its prospects in nearly 160 Lok Sabha seats, most of which it had lost in 2019. Besides the party's office-bearers, several Union ministers have also been drafted in the exercise. The deliberations will also focus on the preparations underway for the Lok Sabha polls as well as the assembly elections, a BJP leader said. Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana are due later this year. That these are going to be the last round of state elections before the all-important Lok Sabha polls next year has added extra significance to them, with the BJP pulling out all the stops to put up an impressive show after its recent loss to the Congress

Former Telangana minister, ex-MP among 35 BRS leaders set to join Congress

As many as 35 BRS leaders, including former MP Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and ex-minister Telangana government Jupally Krishna Rao, announced their intention to join the Congress and met the party's top leadership here on Monday, sources said. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi leaders will formally join the Congress at a public rally in Khammam, Telangana expected to be held in the first week of July with the likely presence of AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi. Reddy was a BRS MP from Khammam in the previous Lok Sabha polls. The development comes ahead of Assembly elections in the state later this year. The leaders met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi in the presence of general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal and Telangana Congress chief A Revanth Reddy.

Money, muscle, and media versus mind: Who will win out in Tamil Nadu?

Transfer of power aside, BJP's 'Sengol' is part of a larger political play in its Tamil Nadu plan

Karnataka elections 2023: Key contests to play deciding factor for Assembly

Ahead of the counting of votes for the Assembly elections in Karnataka scheduled, both the BJP and Congress have rejected exit polls' prediction of a hung assembly and claimed of winning a majority

Karnataka Assembly elections 2023: Things to know before result day

Karnataka saw a voter turnout of 73.19% in the Assembly elections, which officials on Thursday termed a record

Karnataka CM Bommai confirms he will seek reelection from Shiggaon

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday confirmed he would seek reelection from his home town of Shiggaon in Haveri district in the Assembly elections. Stating that there is "pro-incumbency" in the state, Bommai said a lot of changes have taken place in the country after the BJP-led government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power. "I will contest from Shiggaon in Haveri," Bommai told reporters. He added that the ruling BJP was fully prepared to face the election. "We are seeking votes based on our performance". The Chief Minister hit out at the Congress alleging that there was large-scale corruption and uncertainty in the country when the UPA was in power, which impacted the country's economy. Bommai has been the state's Chief Minister since July 2021.

Ahead of polls, states lure farmers with interest payout for defaulters

In the last assembly polls in MP, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan, the incumbent BJP lost power to Congress due to discontent among the farming class that saw consecutive years of low prices

BJP President Nadda discusses upcoming polls with General Secretaries

BJP President J.P. Nadda on Wednesday held the routine meeting with party General secretaries at the BJP headquarters here with issues like the upcoming Assembly elections

BJP falls back on Yediyurappa, makes him 'mascot' for Assembly polls

The BJP seems to be falling back on its seasoned oarsman B S Yediyurappa making him a key poll mascot, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as it shores up campaign in poll-bound Karnataka. The octogenarian, who has already announced his retirement from electoral politics, is sought to be put on the pedestal by the governing party's central leaders. The reasons are not far to seek as to why Yediyurappa has been pushed to the top of the campaign plank, the four-time Chief Minister, who built the party from grassroots level, has a mass appeal and connect -- particularly the political influential Lingayat community -- that no other party leader in the State commands. It's now quite evident from the BJP's campaign narrative that the party is banking on the "Yediyurappa factor" and putting him up as the "poster boy" by leveraging his clout to the hilt. The BJP central leadership -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party President J P Nadda and Defence

BJP succeeds in maintaining momentum in its favour in Assembly polls

The maiden alliance of the Left and the Congress in Tripura and the emergence of TIPRA Motha as a dominant force in tribal seats did not prove enough to topple the BJP from power in the state as the ruling party's development plank and ideological resonance surmounted local factors to deliver it another victory. Among the three northeastern states that went to assembly polls, Tripura's verdict was the most keenly watched due to the high stakes for three national parties - the BJP, Congress and the Left - and the results underscored the continuity of momentum in the saffron party's favour despite the occasional setbacks it has suffered in state polls. "If our 2018 victory was an endorsement of our ideological and development agenda, the win now shows its popular acceptance," a BJP leader involved in the Tripura polls said. The party had benefited from popular anger against the Left "misrule" for 25 years in 2018 and it has now received a positive mandate for the Centre and state ...

NPP wins 13 seats, ahead in 12; UDP bags nine in Meghalaya Assembly polls

The ruling National People's Party (NPP) in Meghalaya won 13 seats, and was leading in 12 other constituencies, the Election Commission said on Thursday as the counting of votes for the assembly elections was underway. The United Democratic Party (UDP) bagged nine constituencies and was ahead in two seats. The Congress won four seats and was leading in one constituency. The Trinamool Congress won three seats and was ahead in two other constituencies. The Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) and the Voice of the People Party (VPP) won two seats each. The VPP was ahead in two constituencies. The BJP was leading in three seats, and the People's Democratic Front in two constituencies. Two Independent candidates emerged victorious, as per the latest trends available. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma was leading in the South Tura seat by a margin of 2,830 votes, while his deputy Prestone Tynsong was leading in Pynursla seat by over 8,140 votes. State Congress president and MP Vin

BJP alliance likely to return in Tripura, Nagaland; trailing in Meghalaya

In neighbouring Meghalaya, the ruling National People's Party (NPP) won 6 seats and was leading in 19, while the BJP was leading in 3 seats

Meghalaya assembly polls peaceful; over 75% voters' turnout recorded

More than 75 per cent of the 21.6 lakh electors in Meghalaya cast their votes on Monday till 5 pm and the polling was peaceful, Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor said. The figure is expected to increase as the polling continued for several hours after the scheduled time of conclusion. The ruling National People's Party (NPP) is contesting to retain power while the BJP, Trinamool Congress and other regional parties are attempting to bring about a change in the government in the northeastern state. The Congress and the BJP are contesting in 59 seats, while the NPP has put up nominees in 56 constituencies, the TMC in 57 and the UDP in 46. Though Meghalaya has a 60-member assembly, polling in Sohiong constituency has been adjourned following the death of one of the candidates. "At 5 pm, over 75 per cent turnout was recorded. In 200 odd polling stations in four districts, voting is likely to go on till 9 pm, Kharkongor said. Polling is being held in a free and fair manner. No unto

NE Assembly elections: ECI appoints observers to monitor poll process

They are general observers, police observers, expenditure observers, micro observers in each polling station, special observers for the special circumstances, and counting observers

Assembly polls in Tripura on Feb 16; in Nagaland, Meghalaya on Feb 27: ECI

The three state assemblies have a strength of 60 members each

Assembly polls: Schedule to be announced in three NE states by Thursday

The five year term of assemblies of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura would end on March 12, March 15 and March 22, respectively, and before that period, new assemblies have to be constituted

PM holds roadshow ahead of National Youth Festival in Karnataka's Hubballi

BJP-ruled Karnataka goes to Assembly polls by May