Page 18 - Elections In India

Most Indian Americans back PM Modi's third term, says Diaspora leader

Majority of Indian Americans favour a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his government's policies are transforming India, an influential community leader has said. Indians are part of the deep economic growth of the United States and they've been working hard to contribute to the economic growth, Indian-American Democratic fundraiser Ajay Jain Bhaturia said, underling that when they see similar economic growth happening back in India, they feel very proud of it. I think the majority of Indian Americans want Prime Minister Modi to come back. It's a sense of pride for them that when India shines, they shine, Bhaturia told PTI in an interview. They feel proud that India is rising, India is growing. India has been growing at almost a much faster rate of economic growth, six to seven per cent. When I'm reading the statistics, it says that it'll overtake Japan by the end of this year to become the fourth largest economy. And maybe by 2027, India would be the third largest ...

Lok Sabha polls 2024: 81.71% voter turnout recorded in 4 seats in Assam

An estimated 81.71 per cent of the 81.49 lakh eligible voters exercised their franchise in the elections held in four Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam on May 7, officials said on Wednesday. The final polling percentage could be further revised as compilation of figures are yet to be completed, an official said. Polling in all the three phases in Assam was peaceful with no repoll held in the first two phases and none announced so far for the third. Dhubri recorded the highest polling percentage of 86.80 per cent, followed by Barpeta with 81.02 per cent, Kokrajhar with 80.44 per cent and Guwahati the lowest at 75.67 per cent. There are 47 candidates in the fray in the final phase. A total of 81,49,091 voters, including 41,00,544 men, 40,48,436 women and 111 of the third gender, were eligible to exercise their franchise in 9,516 polling stations. The prominent candidates in the fray are AIUDF Chief Badruddin Ajmal, seeking a fourth successive term from Dhubri, and his rival and .

Those speaking Pak's language should be charged with treason: CM Shinde

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said those speaking Pakistan's language while living in India should be charged with treason and put behind bars as he dubbed the statements of opposition leaders Vijay Wadettiwar and Farooq Abdullah their frustration about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rise. "These people are speaking Pakistan's language. Is it not treason against the nation? They are not able to tolerate the wave of patriotism that has spread out across the country under PM Modi's leadership. It's like Congress ka haath, Pakistan ke saath," Shinde told PTI here. He also hit out at former Maharashtra Chief Minister and former Union minister Sharad Pawar for doing "nothing" for the state during his long stints in the state and Centre. "He has been in Maharashtra politics, national politics for such a long time. Maharashtra should have progressed so much during this time. He was also the agriculture minister. What our government has done for farmers, no other government h

BJP wants to win 400-plus seats to change Constitution, says Uddhav

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday claimed the BJP-led NDA wants a 400-plus seat mandate so that they can change the Constitution. "For them (BJP) the Constitution of India is a burden. They think why should they follow the Constitution written by a Dalit? They want 400-plus seats so that they can change the Constitution written by Dr B R Ambedkar," Thackeray claimed. He accused the Centre of betraying farmers by not giving adequate prices to farm produce. "I will restore the glory of Maharashtra which was robbed by these people after we return to power. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had looted Surat (for Swarajta) but now these two (persons) from Surat are looting Chhatrapati's Maharashtra," Thackeray alleged while addressing an election rally for MVA candidate Shobha Bacchav in Dhule.

PM Modi to hold road show in Varanasi on May 13 before nomination filing

Varanasi is the stronghold of the Prime Minister. He won the seat twice - the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections

Actor Shekhar Suman, ex-Congress spokesperson Radhika Khera join BJP

Shekhar Suman and Rahika Khera join BJP amid polling for Phase 3 Lok Sabha elections. It is unclear if either will be contesting elections later

Jobs used to be on sale during Congress rule in Haryana, says Khattar

Former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar alleged on Tuesday that jobs used to be on sale during the Congress rule in the state and said the BJP has set the system right and given jobs on the basis of merit. Khattar said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments at the Centre and in the state have undertaken development work in various spheres. He alleged that there was favouritism in giving jobs during the previous Congress-led regime in the state. "Jobs used to be on sale. During the Congress rule, be it the job of a peon, clerk, superintendent, HCS, class 1, class 2 -- rates were fixed. "We set the system right and deserving candidates got jobs on merit. We have given 1.3 lakh jobs purely on the basis of merit," the BJP leader said while addressing a gathering during his roadshow in Samalkha, which falls under the Karnal parliamentary constituency. Khattar is the saffron party's candidate from Karnal in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. "We will win all the 10 Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha polls 2024 Phase 3: Over 25% voter turnout recorded till 11 am

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Voting underway in 93 constituencies in 11 states and Union territories (UTs)

India VIX jumps 72% from April lows; up 5% today. What's behind the surge?

Analysts attribute this rise to nervousness ahead of the outcome of Lok Sabha elections on June 4, and expect India VIX to continue its journey north as the election outcome day nears.

Kharge writes to opposition leaders on 'discrepancies' in EC's polling data

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to the leaders of various parties of the INDIA opposition bloc on Tuesday, questioning the alleged discrepancies in the voting data released by the Election Commission (EC). In his letter, Kharge urged the INDIA bloc leaders to raise their voice against such discrepancies, for "our only objective is to protect the culture of a vibrant democracy and the Constitution". "Let us ensure the independence of the Election Commission of India and make it accountable," he said in his letter. "As the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), it should be our collective endeavour to safeguard democracy and protect the independent functioning of the ECI. All the aforementioned facts force us to ask a question -- could this be an attempt to doctor the final results?" he asked. "We all know how Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and the BJP are visibly flustered and frustrated by the voting trends and their receding electoral fortunes in the

LS polls 2024: PM Modi hails EC for peaceful conduct of first two phases

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated the Election Commission for conducting the first two phases of Lok Sabha polls with hardly any violence and asked the people to come out in large numbers to vote. He said violence during elections was very common in the past. After casting his vote at Nishan School in Ranip area of Ahmedabad city under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat, PM Modi also said the way the Indian elections are being conducted could be a learning process for other democracies. "Matdaan samanya daan nahi hai, hamare desh main daan ka mahatva hai (voting is not a common gift, in our country importance is given to donation). People of the country should vote in large numbers keeping this feeling in their hearts," Modi told reporters. The third phase of voting is underway on Tuesday and campaigning will go on for almost three weeks and four more phases of polling, he noted. "As a voter from Gujarat, I have been voting here (Nishan School) f

Phase 3 Lok Sabha elections 2024: What was the voter turnout at 9 am?

In the Phase 3 of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, 93 out of 543 constituencies have gone to polls in 11 states and Union Territories. Votes will be counted on June 4

LS polls: Manoj Tiwari richest contender in Delhi, Bidhuri on 2nd spot

BJP's Manoj Tiwari (53) is the richest among the prominent Lok Sabha poll candidates in Delhi with assets worth Rs 28.05 crore. Ramvir Singh Bidhuri (71), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from South Delhi, is on the second spot with assets worth Rs 21.08 crore. According to his income-tax returns for 2022-23, Bidhuri has an annual income of Rs 14.93 lakh. The third-richest among the poll contenders is Mahabal Mishra (69), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from West Delhi. He has declared assets worth Rs 19.93 crore. Mishra's highest qualification is pre-university certificate from the LS College in Bihar's Muzaffarpur that he obtained in 1971. Oxford University-returned lawyer Bansuri Swaraj (40), daughter of former external affairs minister late Sushma Swaraj, with assets worth Rs 19 crore, occupies the fourth spot, followed by former AAP leader Raaj Kumar Anand, who is now with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Anand owns assets worth Rs 17.87 crore. Swaraj, who is makin

Lok Sabha polls 2024: Amit Shah casts vote at polling booth in Gandhinagar

Union Home Minister Amit Shah cast his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat on Tuesday morning. Shah, who is contesting to retain the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, greeted his supporters, interacted with them and signed autographs as he approached the polling booth at a sub-station in Naranpura locality here. The senior BJP leader was accompanied by his wife Sonal Shah, son Jay Shah other family members as they exercised their franchise. After casting his vote, Amit Shah showed his inked finger and the victory sign. He greeted the people after emerging from the polling booth and offered prayers at a nearby temple along with his family members as part of the tradition he has followed on every voting day. Voting is underway from 7 am on Tuesday in 25 Lok Sabha seats of Gujarat.

BJP an 'autocratic regime, drunk with power': Congress Chief Kharge

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Ruling party will 'go to any extent to stay in the chair', Mallikarjun Kharge says as India votes for Phase 3 of elections

CM Patel votes in Ahmedabad, urges people to vote for country's development

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel cast his vote for the Lok Sabha elections at a polling booth in Ahmedabad on Tuesday and appealed to the people to exercise their franchise to make the country developed and prosperous. The chief minister stood in a queue at the polling booth in Shilaj area here to cast his vote. He showed his inked finger after he emerged from the polling booth, which falls under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency from where Union Home Minister Amit Shah is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate. "I have cast my vote. I would like to request every citizen to exercise his/her franchise to make India great, prosperous and developed," the CM said. "My vote is in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat where the country's Home Minister Amit Shah is the BJP candidate. As the party worker and legislator from this area, I would like to appeal to the public to register a high voter turnout for his victory," Patel said. Polling is currently underway in 25 Lok Sabha se

Election Commission's credibility at all-time low: Kharge to INDIA partners

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge writes a letter to INDIA alliance leaders raising concerns on voting data discrepancies and registered voters' list by the ECI

Lok Sabha polls 2024: Gujarat among 11 territories voting in third phase

Tuesday's polling covers 93 seats in 11 states and territories, with Gujarat and Maharashtra in the west and Karnataka in the south accounting for 50 seats

Concerns on low voter turnout 'myth'; focus on absolute numbers: Report

Terming concerns on low voter turnout in the first two phases of 2024 general elections a "myth", an economist at the country's largest lender SBI has said comparing the absolute number of votes cast is a better way to analyse the turnout. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, the group chief economic adviser at SBI, said there has been 0.4 per cent increase in the absolute number of votes cast in the first two phases. "The unending debates propagated around supposedly low voter turnout in the first two phases of the General Elections 2024 is a myth. A better measure of votes cast is the absolute number of voters," he said in a report. The Election Commission has been working to increase the voting percentage in the remaining phases of the polls. Ghosh, who is also a part time member of the 16th Finance Commission, said the voting is about 3.1 percentage points below the trend observed in the last general elections of 2019, but was quick to add that the numbers can "swell" in the remaining 5 phases

Cong appoints Baghel, Gehlot as AICC observers for Rae Bareli, Amethi

The Congress on Monday appointed former chief ministers Bhupesh Baghel and Ashok Gehlot as AICC senior observers for Rae Bareli and Amethi Parliamentary constituencies, respectively. Ending weeks of suspense, the Congress on Friday announced that Rahul Gandhi will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Rae Bareli, the constituency held by his mother Sonia Gandhi for the last two decades, and Kishori Lal Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhi family, will fight from Amethi. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is set to spearhead the campaign in Rae Bareli and Amethi, and camp in these parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh from Monday to ensure the party's victory in the two high-profile seats. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has approved the proposal to appoint Bhupesh Baghel and Ashok Gehlot as AICC senior observers for Rae Bareli and Amethi Parliamentary constituencies respectively, a statement issued by the party said. Priyanka Gandhi has already taken command of the ..