Page 17 - Election

Steady progress over the years but election fight still tough for women

Even if they win in a contest, it is not certain that political parties will field them again

State legislative Assemblies have been meeting for fewer days, shows data

Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Chhat­tis­garh, Mizoram and Telangana, where elections are underway, met for less than 30 days on average annually between 2019 and 2023

Nearly 76% turnout recorded in assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh

A voter turnout of nearly 76 per cent was recorded in assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh on Friday, a senior official said. The voting figure surpassed the 75 per cent recorded in 2018 and could increase further. Polling was held for all 230 constituencies in a single phase on Friday. Voting was approximately 76 per cent. We are waiting for some details before coming out with the final figure which will take some time, the state's Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan told PTI late at night. The incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition Congress are locked in a direct fight in the state. The polling was marred by violence in a few places. An aide of a Congress candidate was killed after two groups clashed in Rajnagar, police said. Voting in naxalite-affected Balaghat, Mandla and Dindori districts ended at 3 PM while it continued till 6 PM in other parts of the state. Polling had begun at 7 AM across all 230 constituencies. In Balaghat district, Baihar assembly constituenc

MP polls: Stone pelting at 2 polling booths in Dimani segment, 1 injured

One person was injured in the stone pelting, the police informed, adding that the situation was now under control and adequate security deployment has been made at the spot in the wake of the incident

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Rs 450 cylinder subsidy for Ujjwala beneficiaries: BJP promises in Raj

The BJP on Thursday released its manifesto for the Rajasthan assembly polls, promising a subsidy of Rs 450 per LPG cylinder for Ujjwala scheme beneficiaries and 2.5 lakh government jobs. Releasing the 'sankalp patra' here, party chief J P Nadda also said that if the BJP forms the government in the state, a Special Investigation Team will be formed to probe paper leaks and other alleged scams in the Congress government. Pledging a slew of schemes for girls and women, he said a 'mahila thana' will be set up in every district and 'mahila desk' in every police station besides an anti-romeo squad in every city. He also announced a savings bond of Rs 2 lakh on birth of girl child and compensation policy for farmers whose land was auctioned. Rajasthan goes to polls on November 25 and the results will be declared on December 3.

Congress raises questions on release of PM-Kisan instalment ahead of polls

The Congress on Wednesday questioned the release of the 15th instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi just two days ahead of assembly elections in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and wondered if it was "intentional". While polling in Madhya Pradesh will be held in a single-phase on November 17, in neighbouring Chhattisgarh, voting for the second-phase will be conducted. The first phase was held on November 7. The sixth instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi was released on August 1, 2020, while the ninth instalment on August 9, 2021, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X in Hindi. The 12th instalment was released on October 17 last year, said Ramesh, whose party aims to retain power in Chhattisgarh and defeat the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. "The 15th instalment under PM-Kisan is coming today i.e. on November 15, 2023. Now when elections are to be held in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in two days, in Rajasthan in 10 days and in Telangana

Hefty MSP hike promises in poll-bound states could spell trouble in future

Hikes in wheat and paddy MSP in key states that contribute a significant amount to central pool would also mean that the Centre might find it difficult not to replicate the same increases nationally

MP CM Chouhan distributes voter slips in Bhopal, asks people to vote

During this, the BJP leader also visited the residence of Congress leader Govind Goyal in the Shymala Hills locality and handed him over the voter slip

Cong has no intention to work for women's development: Dharmendra Pradhan

The Union Minister stated that the Centre worked hard to provide subsidies on LPG cylinders through Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and Chhattisgarh was also a significant beneficiary of this scheme

KTR accuses Congress of using minorities as 'vote bank' in Telangana

He claimed that the Karnataka farmers were coming to Telangana and saying that it was a mistake to elect Congress in Karnataka, which has only worsened the their problems

BJP helping BRS to win in Telangana, to get support in 2024 polls: Cong

The Congress leader's reaction came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of corruption and appeasement in the state during an election rally in Hyderabad

Nagaland elections: Over 96% voter turnout for Tapi Assembly bypoll

The by-election to the Tapi Assembly seat in Nagaland's Mon district ended peacefully on Tuesday with 96.25 per cent of 15,256 voters exercising their franchise, an official said. Voting was incident-free and peaceful across the 23 polling stations from 7 am till 4 pm, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vyasan R said here. Webcasting was conducted in all the polling stations, he said. The electorate comprised 7,788 men and 7,468 women. The by-election was necessitated following the death of Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) MLA Noke Wangnao on August 28. Ruling NDPP candidate Wangpang Konyak and Congress nominee Wanglem Konyak are in the fray. The counting of votes will take place on December 3.

Ukraine President Zelenskyy rules out holding elections next spring

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy late Monday ruled out holding a presidential vote in the spring and urged his countrymen to avoid political divides, saying they must concentrate all resources on fighting Russia. Zelenskyy's comments in a video address follow increasing discussions about the possibility of a presidential election in March. Zelenskyy, who was elected for a five-year term in March 2019, had previously avoided definitive statements on the question. His associates had said he was pondering various possibilities. Now, in wartime, when there are so many challenges, it is absolutely irresponsible to throw the topic of elections into society in a lighthearted and playful way, Zelenskyy said, adding that the waves of any politically divisive things must stop". We must realise that now is the time of defense, the time of the battle that determines the fate of the state and people, not the time of manipulations, which only Russia expects from Ukraine, he said. I believe

Telangana polls: Congress appoints 'cluster in-charges', AICC observers

The Congress on Saturday appointed "cluster in-charges" and AICC assembly constituency observers for the upcoming polls in Telangana. Several senior ministers and leaders of the Congress from nearby Karnataka were named as "cluster in-charges" to look after the party's poll activities in various regions. Dinesh Gundu Rao, Priyank Kharge, M C Sudhakar, KH Muniyappa, Krishna Byre Gowda and B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan were among the 10 leaders appointed as cluster in-charges by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. AICC Assembly Constituency Observers were also named for 48 assembly seats in Telangana. Polling in Telangana would be held on November 30 and counting of votes would be taken up on December 3.

Pak Prez, Election Commission agrees to hold general elections on Feb 8

Taking to X, President Alvi said, "After a detailed discussion the meeting unanimously agreed to hold General Elections in the country on 8th February 2024."

Mizoram polls: 7,671 exercise franchise through home voting, postal ballots

A total of 7,671 people have voted in the Mizoram assembly elections through home voting and postal ballot facilities, an election official said on Thursday. Out of these, 1,998 votes have been cast through home voting and 5,673 votes were polled through postal ballots, Additional Chief Electoral Officer H Lianzela said in a statement. Polling for the 40-member assembly will be held on November 7, and the votes will be counted on December 3. Home voting facility is offered to people of 80 years and above along with persons with disability (PwD), while the postal ballots are for the polling personnel, other officials and people working in essential services. Of the 11 districts, the highest home and postal voting have been recorded in Aizawl at 1,654. It is followed by 1,114 votes in Lunglei and 1,064 votes in Lawngtlai, the statement said. "Data received from different districts could not be compiled properly due to the difference in the schedule of conducting home voting and post

Chhattisgarh polls: 6,400 voters opt for ECI's 'vote-from-home' facility

More than 6,400 voters in Chhattisgarh have decided to avail the Election Commission of India's vote-from-home facility introduced for people above 80 years of age and persons with more than 40 per cent disability in the state assembly elections to be held this month, officials said. A total of 6,447 voters have decided to avail this facility, the poll officials said on Thursday. In the elections to the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly to be held in two phases on November 7 and 17, a total of 2,03,93,160 voters, including 1,01,35,561 males, 1,02,56,846 females and 753 transgenders, will be able to exercise their franchise, a statement issued by the poll authority said. Of the total voters, 2,457 are those who have completed the age of 100 years and are witness to the festival of democracy (elections) since its beginning, while 7,29,267 voters in the age category of 18-19 are first-time electors, it said. "The Election Commission has introduced the facility of voting through postal .

Defying ED summons, Kejriwal takes part in election roadshow in MP

Defying the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) summons, Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday took part in a roadshow for the party's Assembly elections candidate in Madhya Pradesh's Singrauli city. He was accompanied by Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann. Kejriwal, who is the AAP's national convener, did not appear before the ED for questioning in the Delhi excise policy-linked case earlier in the day, and instead wrote to the agency demanding the withdrawal of the notice summoning him claiming it was "illegal and politically motivated". He and Mann took part in a roadshow here for the party candidate from Singrauli and AAP's state president Rani Agrawal. Agrawal is also the mayor of the Singrauli city, a major electricity generation hub. She won the mayoral election last year, springing a surprise in a state dominated by the BJP and Congress. The polls for the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly will be held on November 17.

Chhattisgarh polls: Cameras installed to keep vigil on liquor movement

"Moreover, the inter-districts and interstate barriers have also been equipped with CCTV cameras to deal with the illegal transportation of liquor," the officer added