Page 15 - Election News

Lok Sabha polls 2024: 39.30 % voter turnout recorded in Odisha till 1 pm

Odisha recorded around 9.23 per cent voter turnout in the first two hours of polling in four Lok Sabha constituencies and 28 Assembly segments on Monday, officials said. Voting started at 7 am in Berhampur, Koraput, Nabarangpur, and Kalahandi parliamentary constituencies along with 28 assembly segments within the jurisdiction of these Lok Sabha seats. Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are being held simultaneously in Odisha. Odisha's Chief Electoral Officer N B Dhal Monday said that the voting was underway in all the 7,303 polling stations across peacefully in four Parliamentary Constituencies and 28 assembly segments under their jurisdiction with some reports of EVM glitches. Till 9 am around 9.23 per cent of the over 62.87 lakh electors eligible voters have exercised their franchise, officials said. He said the highest EVM glitches were reported from the Kalahandi Lok Sabha seat and they were addressed immediately. The CEO said the defects in EVMs were identified during the mock

Delhi HC dismisses plea on direction to ECI to take action against PM Modi

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a plea seeking direction to the Election Commission of India to take action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly delivering communally divisive speeches during Lok Sabha poll campaigning in violation of the Model Code of Conduct. Justice Sachin Datta said the plea was misconceived and devoid of merits and the ECI can take an independent view on the complaint of the petitioner in accordance with law. The court also referred to its earlier order passed in a plea pertaining to a speech given by the prime minister allegedly seeking votes in the name of religion and deities and went on to say that making any presupposition is unjustified. The counsel for the ECI submitted that it has issued a detailed advisory to all political parties. It said that appropriate action shall be taken if necessary on the reply. The petitioner's counsel said the ECI cannot have different standards for taking action against different politicians. The pl

Lok Sabha elections: What is Nota, and how can it affect the polls?

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 'None of the above' (Nota) offers voters the chance to express their discontent with all candidates contesting in their constituency during an election

Phase 4 Lok Sabha elections 2024: What was the voter turnout at 9 am?

In Phase 4 of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, 96 out of 543 constituencies have gone to polls in 10 states and Union Territories. Votes will be counted on June 4

LS polls 2024: Andhra Pradesh Guv Nazeer, CM Jagan among early voters

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu along with their respective family members, were among the early voters in Andhra Pradesh on Monday. Jagan Mohan Reddy cast his vote at Bhakarapuram in Pulivendula constituency of Kadapa district on Monday while Chandrababu Naidu and his wife exercised their franchise in Amaravati. Speaking to mediapersons after casting his vote, Jagan Mohan Reddy said the people have seen the best governance during the past five years. "You have seen the governance for the past five years and the best governance is to continue for their betterment, vote for that government," he told reporters. The polling is scheduled from 7 AM to 6 PM in the state, barring a few places where it will conclude one or two hours earlier. Jagan Mohan Reddy (Pulivendula), TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu (Kuppam) and Janasena chief and actor Pawan Kalyan (Pithapuram), among others, are in the Assembly poll race. Andhra Pradesh Congres

LS polls: Former Vice Prez Naidu, Kishan Reddy among early voters in T'gana

Union Minister and Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy and 'Pushpa' movie fame Allu Arjun were among the early voters in Telangana as polling for the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state got underway. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, who is seeking re-election from the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency and BJP candidate from the seat K Madhavi Latha also cast their votes. Polling which began at 7 am will end by 6 pm, barring at a few places where it will conclude two hours earlier. The Election Commission has also made arrangements to conduct a bypoll for the Secunderabad (Cantonment) Assembly seat to be held simultaneously today. "Several voters including some senior citizens cast their votes. People, in large numbers, are coming out to vote. I am requesting the people to come and exercise their franchise for democracy and the country's security," Reddy told reporters after casting his vote. He said the voters should not treat polling day as a holiday. As many as 625 candidates, incl

Lok Sabha polls phase 4 today, 177 mn eligible to cast vote. Top 10 updates

Lok Sabha elections: A total of 96 constituencies across ten states and Union territories went to polls on Monday in the fourth stage of elections. Here are ten latest election updates for May 13

LS polls: Vote in large numbers, help INDIA bloc form govt, appeals Cong

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday urged people to cast their votes in large numbers in the fourth round of the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls and help the INDIA bloc form government at the Centre. In a post on X, Gandhi appealed to the electorate not to be distracted and vote on issues that concern it. "Today is the fourth phase of voting. After the first three phases, it has become clear that on June 4 an INDIA (bloc) government is going to be formed," he said. "Remember, your one vote will not only protect your democratic rights but will also change the fate of your entire family," Gandhi said as polling was underway in 96 parliamentary constituencies across 10 states and Union Territories. Polling is also being simultaneously held in all 175 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, which is witnessing a triangular contest involving the ruling YSRCP, Congress-led INDIA bloc and the NDA, comprising the BJP, Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP and the Pawan

LS polls: PM Modi calls for 'democracy duty' as voting begins in Phase 4

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday morning expressed hope that people will vote in large numbers to strengthen democracy while Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged voters including those in Jammu and Kashmir to reach polling booths in record numbers as polling began for the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections.Taking to X, PM Modi said, "In today's 4th Phase of the Lok Sabha elections, 96 seats across 10 States and UTs are going to the polls. I am sure people in these constituencies will vote in large numbers and the young voters as well as women voters will power this surge in voting. Come, let's all do our duty and strengthen our democracy!"Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged voters including those in Jammu and Kashmir to reach polling booths in record numbers."In the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, I appeal to the voters of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir to reach polling booths in record numbers to form a government whose ...

Battleground 2024: 96 Lok Sabha, 203 Assembly seats go to polls on Monday

Elections to all 25 of Andhra Pradesh's Lok Sabha and all 175 of its assembly seats will be held. Polling will also be held on 28 of Odisha's 146 Assembly seats and four of its 21 Lok Sabha seats

PM Modi's roadshow will enthuse party workers in Bihar: Dy CM Chaudhary

Bihar BJP President and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow in Patna on Sunday will enthuse party workers and motivate them to ensure victory of NDA nominees in all 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Talking to PTI on Sunday, Chaudhary said, "People of Patna are fully prepared to give a grand welcome to Modi Ji. It will be the first roadshow in Patna by any PM. This roadshow will certainly enthuse party workers and motivate them to ensure victory to NDA nominees in all 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state." The Bihar DyCM, said, "Our PM thinks for the overall development of the country and also for the welfare of the general public, including weaker sections of the society. The NDA government under the leadership of Modi Ji has launched several welfare schemes for the poor and weaker sections of the society. PM does not think for himself. He is a 'fakir' and will always remain a fakir." Meanwhile, foolproof security arrangements are in place

Andhra Pradesh set to go for 25 LS seats, Assembly polls in single phase

After an intense campaign marked by fervent speeches from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, and several other prominent leaders across political parties, the stage is set for polling on Monday to elect the 175- member AP assembly and also 25 Lok Sabha seats from the state. YSRCP president Jagan (Pulivendula), TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu (Kuppam) and Janasena chief and actor Pawan Kalyan (Pithapuram), among others, are in the Assembly poll race. AP Congress president and Jagan's sister YS Sharmila (Kadapa) and BJP state chief Purandeswari (Rajamahendravaram), among others, are in Lok Sabha poll fray. The YSRCP is contesting in all 175 Assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha segments in the state. As part of a seat sharing deal among NDA partners, the TDP was allocated 144 Assembly and 17 Lok Sabha constituencies while the BJP will contest from six Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly seats. The Janasena will contest two Lok Sabha and

Lok Sabha polls 2024: UP gears up for fourth phase in 13 constituencies

Voting for the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh covering 13 parliamentary constituencies will take place on Monday, with all eyes on the prestigious Kannauj seat from where SP president Akhilesh Yadav is seeking a re-election. Another prominent candidate in the fray in this round is Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni, who is contesting from Kheri. Voting will take place in Shahjahanpur (SC), Kheri, Dhaurahra, Sitapur, Hardoi (SC), Misrikh (SC), Unnao, Farrukhabad, Etawah (SC), Kannauj, Kanpur, Akbarpur and Bahraich (SC). A total of 130 candidates are in the poll fray in this phase. Among the 13 poll-bound constituencies, Kannauj will see a contest between the SP chief and sitting BJP MP Subrat Pathak, while in Unnao, incumbent BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj (Swami Sachidanand Hari Sakshi) is pitted against SP's Annu Tandon (a former Lok Sabha MP from Unnao). Tandon had contested against Sakshi Maharaj as a Congress candidate in 2014 and 2019, but had

LS polls: PM Modi to hold roadshow in Bihar today during his 2-day visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead a roadshow in Patna on Sunday evening, followed by three election rallies elsewhere in Bihar, a day later. This is the first political visit to the state capital by the prime minister since the March 2009 rally at the historic Gandhi Maidan. He was on an official visit here a couple of years ago for a function held by the Bihar Assembly. Foolproof security arrangements are in place across the city. There will be a complete ban on flying drones in any locality and plying of vehicles will remain suspended on the roadshow route, Senior Superintendent of Police Rajeev Mishra told PTI. The roadshow will commence at the Income Tax office roundabout, situated a few hundred metres from the state BJP headquarters, and conclude at Udyog Bhavan in the vicinity of Gandhi Maidan, passing through crowded localities like Fraser Road, Exhibition Road, Kadam Kuan and Sahitya Sammelan. Barricades have been erected on both sides of the road along the route and .

Lok Sabha polls 2024: PM Modi to hold four rallies in West Bengal today

Voting will take place for eight Lok Sabha seats of West Bengal in the fourth phase of voting to be held on May 13

'Every inch of PoK belongs to India and no force can snatch it': Amit Shah

During an election rally in Jharkhand, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that every inch of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) belonged to India and no force could snatch it away from India

LS polls 2024: BJP nominee Taranjit Sandhu files nomination from Amrtisar

BJP candidate from Amritsar Lok Sabha seat and former diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Friday filed their nomination papers for the June 1 elections. Sandhu held a roadshow before filing his papers in Amritsar and was accompanied by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other BJP leaders. Speaking to reporters after Sandhu filed his papers, Jaishankar exuded confidence that the former Indian ambassador to the US would win. "We have full confidence that the people of Amritsar will elect him and send him to Delhi (Parliament). He will be a very good MP in Parliament. He is the most popular ambassador of India," the Union minister said. He served the country a lot and now he will serve Amritsar, he said. "If Punjab's side and Amritsar's interest have to be put forward, you cannot choose a better man than Taranjit Singh Sandhu," Jaishankar said. Sandhu, 61, is the grandson of Teja Singh Samundri, who was one of the founding members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee

BJP accuses Congress of being apologist for Pakistan, it's terrorism

The BJP on Friday accused the Congress of being an apologist for Pakistan and the terrorism emanating from its soil, as the ruling party cited comments of Mani Shankar Aiyar to slam it. In comments which have gone viral on social media, Aiyar is heard saying that India should accord due respect to Pakistan and hold talks with it. If India spurns the neighbouring country, some madman there can use nuclear bomb, the former Union minister suggested. Reacting to the row, Aiyar noted in a statement that it is obvious from the sweater he is wearing is the video that he made the comments to Chill Pill in the winter several months ago. "They have been dredged up now as the BJP's election campaign falters. I refuse to play their game. Interested persons may please read the relevant passages in my two books released by Juggernaut last year, 'Memoirs of a Maverick' and 'The Rajiv I Knew'," the Congress leader said. Seeking to corner the opposition party in the middle of the high-stakes gener

Will not let reservation be given to Muslims as long as I'm alive: PM Modi

Speaking at an election rally in Maharashtra, Prime Minister says that he will not let reservation for Dalits, adivasis, OBCs to be compromised

Rupee aided by dip in US yields, while election uncertainty weighs

Worries over the Indian election results, due on June 4, have prompted foreigners to take out money from equities, pushing the benchmark Nifty 50 index to a three-week low