Page 35 - Election Commission Of India

LS polls: UP's 8 constituencies to witness 3-cornered fight in 2nd phase

The stage is set for a three-cornered contest in eight Lok Sabha constituencies of Uttar Pradesh going to polls in the second phase on Friday. Staggered over seven stages, the first phase of the elections held last Friday for 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories saw a voter turnout of around 65.5 per cent. The poll campaigning for the second phase ended on Wednesday evening with leaders of all the major political parties criss-crossing the constituencies, garnering support for their candidates. The eight constituencies of Uttar Pradesh where voting will be held on Friday are Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh and Mathura. Prominent among the total of 91 candidates whose future will be decided in the second phase are actors-turned-politician Hema Malini, who is seeking a third term from Mathura; and Arun Govil, who played the role of Lord Rama in the famed TV serial Ramayan. He has been fielded by the saffron party from his nati

Cong, BJP lock horns again within a year as stage set for voting in K'taka

The Congress and BJP will lock horns on the electoral battleground again, in less than a year, in Karnataka as the stage is set for voting in the first phase in 14 Lok Sabha seats on Friday. It's going to be a straight fight between the ruling Congress and the BJP-JD(S) combine unlike the Assembly elections in May last year which witnessed a triangular contest among the three parties. The state has a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. The second phase of polling in the remaining 14 seats is on May seven. A total of 247 candidates -- 226 men and 21 women -- are in the fray for the first phase in most of the southern and coastal districts. More than 2.88 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 30,602 polling stations where polling will take place between 7 am to 6 pm. While the Congress is contesting in all 14 seats, BJP has fielded nominees in 11 and its alliance partner JD(S), which joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in three -- Hassan, Mandya and ..

CM Siddaramaiah slams PM Modi, defends 4% Muslim quota in Karnataka

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim that the Congress had transferred the reservation quota from backward classes to Muslims is a blatant lie. He also defended 4 per cent reservation for Muslims under the backward classes category in Karnataka. It stems from ignorance but also indicative of his desperation born from a fear of defeat. No leader in the history of our country has ever demeaned the office of the prime minister to such a low level, Siddaramaiah said in a post on X. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim that the Congress has transferred the reservation quota from backward classes and Dalits to Muslims is a blatant lie, he said. Being in a position of responsibility, Prime Minister Modi should either substantiate these irresponsible allegations with evidence or apologise to the nation, Siddaramaiah said. In an election rally in Rajasthan's Tonk on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi said the Congress has tried to extend ..

Highlights of the day: Results for JEE-Main announced, says National Testing Agency

Latest news updates: Catch all the news updates from around the world here

Poll body answers SC's queries, Court reserves judgement in EVM-VVPAT case

The Supreme Court said it is clear from the Election Commission of India's replies that the flash memory of the microcontrollers in EVMs cannot be reprogrammed

Lok Sabha 2024: What to do if your name is missing from electoral rolls?

Ensure your name is on the electoral roll to exercise your democratic right. Follow this guide for verification if your name is missing

Priyanka Gandhi accuses BJP, PM of diverting attention from real issues

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged on Wednesday the prices of essential commodities are rising under BJP rule, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the saffron party are diverting attention from real issues even during the election campaign. Launching a scathing attack on the BJP and the Prime Minister at a corner meeting in Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency where her brother Rahul Gandhi is seeking re-election, she said the BJP government led by Modi failed to address issues like price rise and unemployment. She said the Lok Sabha election is an opportunity to "protect democracy and the Constitution of India." Priyanka alleged the prices of petrol, diesel and other essential commodities have risen "exponentially" in the last 10 years of BJP rule. Similarly, she stated the unemployment rate has increased. However, she alleged the Prime Minister and BJP leaders will not address these problems. "They will not speak about development; they will not speak about real issues," t

BJP leader Nityanand Rai owns assets worth Rs 15.45 crore: Affidavit

Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Nityanand Rai, seeking re-election from Ujiarpur Lok Sabha seat in Bihar under the NDA banner, has declared movable and immovable assets totaling Rs 15.45 crore in his filed affidavit. His wife's assets amount to Rs 2.47 crore. Rai submitted his nomination papers for Ujiarpur on Tuesday, with elections for Ujiarpur, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Begusarai, and Munger Lok Sabha seats scheduled for the fourth phase on May 13. According to Rai's affidavit, his movable assets stand at Rs 5.52 crore, while his immovable assets are valued at Rs 9.92 crore. His wife's movable assets are worth Rs 42.9 lakh, with immovable assets valued at Rs 2.04 crore. Additionally, Rai declared Rs 3.25 lakh cash in hand, with his wife holding Rs 1.35 lakh. He holds four bank accounts and gold jewellery worth Rs 13.20 lakh, while his wife has one bank account and gold jewellery worth Rs 21.60 lakh, along with silver jewellery valued at Rs 1.23 lakh. Rai's immovable assets .

Electoral bonds: Plea in SC seeks SIT probe into alleged quid pro quo

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored probe by an special investigation team (SIT) into the alleged instances of "apparent quid pro quo" between political parties, corporates and officials of investigating agencies in donations via electoral bonds. A five-judge constitution bench of the apex court had on February 15 scrapped the Centre's electoral bonds scheme of anonymous political funding. Following a Supreme Court directive, the State Bank of India, which was the authorised seller of electoral bonds, had shared the data with the Election Commission, which later made the data public. The electoral bonds scheme, which was notified by the government on January 2, 2018, was pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of its efforts to bring transparency in political funding. The plea, filed through advocate Prashant Bhushan, has sought a direction to the authorities to investigate the source of funding of "shell compan

Group of suspected Maoists in Wayanad call for boycott of LS polls

A four-member group of suspected armed Maoists reached an area under Thalappuzha police station in this hill district on Wednesday morning, urging the people there to boycott the April 26 Lok Sabha polls. A police officer said a group of police personnel has gone to Kambamala after learning about the Maoist presence in the area. However, he did not elaborate. Meanwhile, locals said the Maoists reached the area around 6.15 am and raised slogans. The ultras also urged the people to boycott voting, they said. The Maoists were in their uniforms and were carrying guns. They spent around 20 minutes in the area, the locals added. A purported video of the Maoists interacting with the locals surfaced later. It also showed that there were people, mainly workers, at the junction at the time of their arrival.

Supreme Court questions ECI on five technical aspects of EVM-VVPAT case

The top court is hearing a petition concerning the cross-verification of votes cast in electronic voting machines with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail

SC seeks EC clarification on EVM functioning, calls panel official at 2 pm

The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought clarification from the Election Commission on certain aspects regarding the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and summoned a senior poll panel official at 2 pm. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, which has reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), said it needs clarification on certain aspects as there was some confusion in answers given by the EC in its 'frequently asked questions' (FAQs) on EVMs. "We don't want to be wrong but doubly sure in our findings and hence we thought of seeking the clarification," the bench told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati who was appearing for the EC. It asked Bhati to call senior Deputy Election Commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas at 2 PM. Vyas had earlier given a presentation to the court on the functioning of the EVMs. It flagged some points on which the court

MCD seeks EC's permission for Delhi mayoral polls on April 26

This move comes in light of the ongoing implementation of the Model Code of Conduct due to the Lok Sabha elections

LS polls: NCP (SP) moves EC over poll symbol allocation in Baramati

The Nationalist Congress Party (SP) has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the symbol of a trumpet-like instrument allotted to an independent candidate contesting from its stronghold, Baramati, in Maharashtra's Pune district. The NCP (SP) has claimed the ECI has allotted a trumpet-like symbol to independent candidate Shaikh Soyalshah Yunusshah and has identified it as "tutari". The ECI has allotted "a man blowing turha" (a traditional trumpet) as the poll symbol for the NCP (SP). The complaint filed by Laxmikant Khabiya, the poll representative of the party's candidate, Supriya Sule, stated that there is a similarity in both names, which can cause confusion among voters. Khabiya submitted the complaint to the returning officer on April 20. "The symbol given to the independent candidate is a trumpet. In Marathi, it cannot be called 'tutari'. We have requested the ECI to call the symbol 'trumpet' instead of 'tutari'," he stated in the complaint. The

Congress tried to give reservations to Muslims out of SC/ST quota: PM Modi

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress of plotting to snatch property, assured reservation for Dalits and backward classes

EC not acting in non-partisan manner: Kerala CM on PM Modi's Muslim remark

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said that it was "unfortunate" that the Election Commission (EC) was not acting in a non-partisan manner by taking immediate action in connection with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent alleged remarks against Muslims. Vijayan contended it was a situation where the EC ought to have acted immediately, but till now it has been silent on the issue. "It is unfortunate. The EC should have shown it was non-partisan. It should have acted immediately," the Marxist veteran said at a press meet here. Vijayan said that this is an issue which would have to be raised before the Supreme Court. At the same time, he claimed that because of such statements by the PM, the anti-BJP sentiment in the nation is strengthening and the saffron party will be isolated even further. Modi, during a poll rally in Rajasthan's Banswara on Sunday, said that if the Congress comes to power, it would redistribute people's wealth to Muslims. He also alleged that t

Election Commission declines to comment on PM Modi's Rajasthan poll speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Congress party, if elected to power at the Centre, would distribute people's property, land and gold among Muslims

BJP candidate Madhavi Latha files complaint against AIMIM's Owaisi

AIMIM chief Owaisi addressed a public rally in support of party candidate Akhtarul Iman and said that the Lok Sabha elections of Kisanganj people's prestige

Lok Sabha election results may send stock market tumbling, warns Bernstein

The markets have factored in close to 350 seats for the BJP and almost 400 seats for the NDA. If they get 50 seats fewer, there will be a market correction, says Bernstein

Lok Sabha polls: ECI orders repoll in 8 polling stations in Arunachal

Election Commission of India has ordered repolling in eight polling stations in Arunachal Pradesh where EVM damage and violence were reported during polling to simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls on April 19, an official said. The Commission in an order on Sunday declared the polling in the eight polling stations as void and ordered fresh polling on April 24 from 6 am to 2 pm, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Liken Koyu said in a communique. The polling stations where repoll would be held include, Sario in Bameng assembly constituency in East Kameng district, Longte Loth under Nyapin assembly seat in Kurung Kumey, Dingser, Bogiya Siyum, Jimbari and Lengi polling booths under Nacho constituency in Upper Subansiri district. Repoll will also be held in Bogne and Molom polling booths under Rumgong assembly constituency in Siang district, the communique said. An estimated 76.44 per cent of the total 8,92,694 voters exercised their franchise on April 19 to elect 50 MLAs for the ...