Page 44 - Election Commission

Meghalaya assembly polls: A look at key contests between candidates

The fates of the contesting parties will be decided by over 21 lakhs voters across 59 poll-bound constituencies today

EC to hold booth-level peace meetings in Tripura ahead of vote counting

The Election Commission has decided to hold booth-level "peace meetings" in Tripura as part of its efforts to ensure no untoward incident takes place anywhere in the state during and after the vote-counting process, said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Gitte Kirankumar Dinakarrao. Counting for the 60-member Assembly is scheduled to take place across 21 venues on March 2. "We were able to conduct the polling process without disturbance on February 16, with the state registering a high voting percentage. Our next mission is to ensure that peace prevails in the state on the day of counting, he said at a press meet on Saturday. The booth-level peace meetings are scheduled to be held on February 27 and 28, Dinakarrao stated, urging all political parties, eminent citizens and professionals to participate. "Political parties need to exercise restraint after the results are declared. I hope that our apprehension of peace disruption (on the day of counting) falls flat," he said. Noting that

Congress will set up National Election Fund: Draft political resolution

The draft noted that the Congress would build the widest possible consensus with all like-minded political parties to take up the issue with the Election Commission

EC orders sealing of India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya in view of polls

The Election Commission of India has ordered the sealing of Meghalaya's International border with Bangladesh till March 2

EC sends notice to minister for 'doling out money' in poll-bound Meghalaya

The Election Commission has issued a show-cause notice to Meghalaya minister Brolding Nongsiej for allegedly doling out money in his constituency, under the garb of a rural development programme, and thus violating the model code of conduct (MCC), officials said on Thursday. A social organisation had lodged a complaint with the returning officer alleging that a woman was seen accepting the money being given by the minister. Acting on the complaint, the returning officer of Mawthadraishan assembly constituency in West Khasi Hills district directed the candidate of the United Democratic Party reply within February 25 as to why action should not be taken against him. Elections to the 60-member assembly will be held on February 27. Votes will be counted on March 2.

Uddhav faction gears up for legal battle as SC refuses to stay EC order

While Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the Supreme Court had not accepted the demand of status quo, Thackeray faction leader Anil Desai said that the court had taken up the plea

EC order on Shiv Sena made things crystal clear, asserts Anurag Thakur

Union minister Anurag Thakur has said the Election Commission's decision to recognise the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena has made things "crystal clear" and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray should now understand who actually has the support of party workers. He also taunted Thackeray saying what was the use of repenting over what has been lost. The rival factions led by Maharashtra CM Shinde and his predecessor Thackeray are locked in legal battles over the control of the Shiv Sena. When asked about it, Thakur told reporters in Indore late on Tuesday night that the Election Commission (EC) has given a very detailed decision in this matter. "Iske baad doodh ka doodh aur pani ka pani ho chuka hai (everything is crystal clear now)," the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister said. "Thackeray should now understand who has the number (support) of Shiv Sainiks, party's MLAs, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs. This number alone tells the entire story,"

Nagaland polls: Nominations of 200 applicants found valid, says EC

The Election Commission, after scrutiny of all nomination papers, has found 22 of the 222 applications invalid in Nagaland, a senior official said. A total of 225 aspirants had filed papers for the February 27 elections, but three of them later withdrew from the contest, the official said. Four women are among the 200 candidates whose papers were found to be valid, he stated. At least 13 parties including the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Naga People's Front (NPF), the Congress, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), the National People's Party (NPP), Janata Dal (United), Republican Party of India (Athawale), Nationalist Congress Party, Rising People's Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and CPI have nominated candidates for the polls. More than 20 Independents are also in fray. Friday is the last of date for withdrawing nomination. Votes will be counted on March 2.

BJP manifesto promises package for east Nagaland, Naga culture preservation

The BJP has released its manifesto for the upcoming Nagaland assembly elections, promising a special package for the eastern part of the state and establishment of a board for the holistic development of the region if the party returns to power for the second time in a row. The BJP and its ally NDPP are contesting the February 27 assembly elections with a 20:40 seat-sharing arrangement. In its manifesto released by party president JP Nadda on Tuesday, the saffron party also announced a slew of measures for creating infrastructure, economic advancement, and boosting healthcare and agriculture, besides skill development. We will work with the central government to expedite the construction of the Trans-Nagaland Highway to enable easy access across districts, especially from eastern Nagaland, it stated. Eastern Nagaland was in the news recently as there was a vote boycott call by an organisation spearheading an agitation demanding a separate state comprising six districts of the area.

Nagaland Assembly polls: 183 candidates in fray for 60 seats across state

After withdrawal of candidature by a Cong candidate, Nagaland Assembly election will witness a total of 183 candidates in the fray for 60 seats, Chief Electoral Officer, V Shashank Shekhar said

Nagaland's Seyochung Sitimi constituency resolves 'one man one vote'

To ensure the conduct of a free and fair election, the Seyochung Sitimi village in poll-bound Nagaland has made a strong resolution with the motto of 'one man one vote'

Ahead of assembly elections, police beefed up security across Nagaland

Ahead of the upcoming Nagaland assembly polls, Nagaland Police has beefed up security and patrols across the state

Meghalaya man arrested for sharing video of EVM that showed votes go to BJP

A man was arrested in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district for allegedly sharing a video on social media which purportedly showed that any button pressed on an EVM leads to a vote in favour of the BJP, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) FR Kharkongor said on Saturday. The man, identified as Bolong R Sangma, had on February 16 shared the clip, alleging that EVMs were manipulated, he said. Sangma was arrested after the returning officer of Rongjeng assembly constituency filed a police complaint, he added. A case was filed against him under IPC section 171G, which deals with false statement in connection with an election, Kharkongor said. EVMs or electronic voting machines are tamper-proof and go to factory reset mode if any manipulation is attempted, he said, adding that numerous safeguards are present at every level.

Not involved in denying PM Modi's rally, says Meghalaya CM Sangma

Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People's Party (NPP) supremo Conrad K Sangma on Monday asserted that neither he nor his party had any role in denying permission for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election rally at the PA Sangma Sports Complex in Tura. The sports department has informed the West Garo Hills district authorities that permission cannot be given for the PM's rally there as construction debris may pose safety concerns. The saffron party, which last month snapped ties with ally NPP ahead of the February 27 assembly election, alleged that the ruling party were trying to stall a "wave of the BJP" in the state. In a statement issued here, the chief minister said the accusation made by the BJP was false as permissions for rallies are given by the Election Commission and the district administration is now a part of it. All permissions come from the side of the Election Commission of India. So, there is no say from NPP or my side. Dragging our name into it is completely .

VPP to review border pact with Assam if elected to power: Manifesto

The Voice of the People, a new political party in Meghalaya would review the inter-state boundary MoU signed with Assam and will root out corruption in the state, if elected to power in the February 27 assembly election, the party manifesto said. The Voice of People (VPP) was formed by former MLA Ardent Basaiawmoit. The party will root out corruption and would also institute CBI inquiry into the alleged scams and excesses of the National People's Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, it said. Releasing the party's manifesto on Monday here, Basaiawmoit said the VPP would review the interstate boundary border agreement signed with Assam last year and would pressurise the Government of India to put the state under the umbrage of special protective provisions of Article 371 of the Constitution of India. "In order to safeguard the indigenous tribal cultures and customs, the party is committed to pursue and pressurise the Government of India for extension of the special ..

After EC's symbol ruling, Shinde's Shiv Sena faction gets Parliament office

'Room No. 128, Parliament House has been allotted to the Shiv Sena Parliamentary Party for the office of the Shiv Sena Parliamentary Party'

SC agrees to hear Uddhav Thackeray faction's plea against EC decision

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear on Wednesday the Uddhav Thackeray faction's plea challenging the decision of the Election Commission recognising the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena and ordering allocation of the "bow and arrow" poll symbol to it. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Thackeray faction, mentioned the matter before a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices Krishna Murari and P S Narasimha on Tuesday. If the EC order is not stayed then they will take over the symbol and the bank accounts. Please list it tomorrow before the Constitution bench, Sibal submitted. The top court said it needs to go through the case files and posted the matter for hearing at 3:30 pm on Wednesday The Election Commission on Friday had recognised the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena and ordered the allocation of the "bow and arrow" poll symbol to it. In a 78-page order on the protracted battle for control of the organisation, the Commissi

Maharashtra citizens have not liked EC's Sena decision: Ajit Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar on Monday said people of Maharashtra have not liked the Election Commission's decision to recognise the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as the real Shiv Sena. On February 17, the EC had allotted the 'Shiv Sena' name and bow and arrow symbol to the Shinde faction, in the process delivering a blow to Uddhav Thackeray whose father Bal Thackeray had founded the outfit in 1966. Campaigning for the Kasba Assembly bypoll scheduled for February 26, Pawar said people have the opportunity to show their displeasure at the EC by voting for the Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate Ravindra Dhangekar. "The decision given by EC was not liked by the people of Maharashtra and the voters of Shiv Sena, The voters have got an opportunity to express their displeasure through this bypoll. This displeasure will be seen in the results," he said.

Uddhav faction moves SC over EC decision, hits out at 'Shinde faction'

The plea said that the poll panel "failed" to consider that his action enjoys a majority in the Legislative Council and Rajya Sabha

Dissolve Election Commission, SC is last ray of hope: Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Monday demanded that the Election Commission of India, which ruled that the Eknath Shinde-led faction is the real Shiv Sena, should be dissolved. The name (Shiv Sena) and symbol (bow and arrow) of our party have been stolen, but the name Thackeray' cannot be stolen, he told reporters at Sena Bhavan in Dadar here. Thackeray's media briefing came after the Supreme Court, earlier in the day, refused to entertain an oral mentioning made by his faction to urgently list its plea challenging the EC decision. The Election Commission's order is wrong. Supreme Court is the last ray of hope, Thackeray said. There is not a single instance where the party name and symbol were directly given to one faction," Thackeray said. "What was the need for the EC to give this decision in a hurry?" the former Maharashtra chief minister said. Even if the other faction took our name and symbol, they can't take our Thackeray name. I was lucky to be born to the fami