Page 2 - Elections

Rising prices dominate Japan election as voters seek cost-of-living relief

The election pits the PM Takaichi-led Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) coalition against the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, with inflation and affordability shaping voter sentiment nationwide

Japanese Takaichi hopes for big win as polls open in national elections

Polls opened Sunday in parliamentary elections that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hopes will give her struggling party a big enough win to push through an ambitious conservative political agenda. Takaichi is hugely popular, but the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which has governed Japan for most of the last seven decades, is not. She called Sunday's snap elections hoping to turn that around. She wants to make progress on a right-wing agenda that aims to boost Japan's economy and military capabilities as tensions grow with China. She also nurtures ties with her crucial US ally, and a sometimes unpredictable President Donald Trump. The ultraconservative Takaichi, who took office as Japan's first female leader in October, pledged to "work, work, work," and her style, which is seen as both playful and tough, has resonated with younger fans. The latest surveys indicated a landslide win in the lower house for the LDP. The opposition, despite the formation of a new centrist ...

SIR in Telangana expected to be announced during April-May, says CEO

Telangana CEO C Sudharsan Reddy has said that the SIR of electoral rolls in the state is expected to be announced during AprilMay this year. Addressing a meeting with representatives of recognised political parties on Thursday, he said Booth Level Agents (BLAs) should preferably be drawn from the local area of the polling station and work in close coordination with Booth Level Officers. The Chief Electoral Officer informed the parties that the SIR is currently underway in 12 states, and that the schedule for the remaining states, including Telangana, is expected to be announced during AprilMay 2026. Given the limited time available for the revision once notified, he said preparatory work had already commenced in the state, a release quoting him late on Thursday said. Political parties were urged to appoint at least one BLA for every polling station ahead of the forthcoming SIR of electoral rolls, with the Chief Electoral Officer stressing that strong booth-level coordination would

West Bengal widens social sector schemes ambit ahead of Assembly poll

Vote-on-account boosts Lakshmir Bhandar payouts, expands welfare coverage and raises social sector spending as West Bengal heads into election season

Recognition in sight: Long-ignored IPKF may finally get official honour

Why are IPKF martyrs not being officially recognised and appropriately honoured and its veterans only allowed a silent felicitation? And is the government really changing its mind on this now?

End of Battling Begums: Khaleda Zia's death may reshape Bangladesh polls

Khaleda Zia's passing reshapes Bangladesh's political landscape, reviving the BNP's prospects and testing New Delhi's recalibrated ties ahead of pivotal February elections

Myanmar to hold 1st election in 5 years as criticism of military rule grows

Myanmar will hold the first phase of a general election on Sunday, its first vote in five years and an exercise that critics say will neither restore the country's fragile democracy undone by a 2021 army takeover, nor end a devastating civil war triggered by the nation's harsh military rule. The military has framed the polls as a return to multi-party democracy, likely seeking to add a facade of legitimacy to its rule, which began after the army four years ago ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The takeover triggered widespread popular opposition that has grown into a civil war. The fighting has complicated holding the polls in many contested areas. Voting will be held in different parts of the country in three phases, with the second on Jan. 11 and the third on Jan. 25. Human rights and opposition groups say the vote will be neither free nor fair and that power is likely to remain in the hands of military leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing. Critics doubt a real ..

Won't join hands with NCP for Pune civic polls until doubts cleared: Sule

NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule said on Wednesday that her party won't forge an alliance with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP for the Pune civic polls until all the doubts and apprehensions of her party workers are addressed. Speaking to reporters in Pune, Sule said they are in touch with the NCP, and potential repercussions will also be deliberated upon if both NCP groups decide to join hands. About her party's city unit president Prashant Jagtap's disappointment over the possible tie-up with Ajit Pawar's NCP for the January 15 corporation elections in Pune, Sule said she spoke to him at length and understood his apprehensions. Sule said she assured Jagtap that no ideology or party policy would be compromised if we join hands with the NCP. Jagtap's concerns were valid. His questions are absolutely valid, she added. Referring to past political developments, Sule recalled that her NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar was forced out of the Congress after he raised the issue of Sonia Gandhi's

BJP scores record local body poll win, says Fadnavis; Oppn cries foul

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the BJP has set a record in local body polls with 48 per cent of councillors winning on the party symbol, and its candidates elected as presidents in 129 municipal councils. He attributed the Mahayuti alliance's success in the municipal council and nagar panchayat elections to the BJP organisation and development agenda of the government. Counting of votes for elections to the posts of president and members in 286 municipal councils and nagar panchayats held in two phases began in the morning. Fadnavis said the BJP has once again emerged as the single largest party. "48 per cent councillors have been elected on the BJP symbol, which is a record. The BJP has created another record with 3,300 councillors being elected from the party. "BJP candidates have been elected as presidents in 129 municipal councils. In 75 per cent of the local bodies, Mahayuti nominees have been elected as municipal presidents," he said. Fadnavis .

Voters' count in Gujarat drops by 7.3 million to 43 million after SIR

As many as 73.73 lakh voters were removed following the special intensive revision (SIR) drive in Gujarat, reducing the number of registered voters in draft electoral rolls to 4.34 crore from the earlier 5.08 crore, officials said. The draft electoral rolls were published by the Election Commission on Friday. The names of 73,73,327 voters were omitted after the SIR undertaken by the Election Commission to clean up voter lists, said state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Harit Shukla. Before the SIR, a total of 5,08,43,436 voters were registered in the state. After the publication of the draft electoral rolls, the number is 4,34,70,109, he said. The names of 73,73,327 voters were removed for various reasons. Of these, 18,07,278 voters are deceased, 9,69,662 voters were absent, 40,25,553 persons have migrated outside the state, while 3,81,470 voters were registered in two places. Besides, 1,89,364 voters were removed for other reasons, the release from CEO's office said. The SIR was .

SIR 2.0: Election Commission publishes draft electoral rolls in 5 regions

The Election Commission has released draft electoral rolls for five states and one Union Territory after a special revision, deleting millions of names and opening a month-long claims process

Congress candidate wins seat after Kerala HC reinstates name to voter list

The Congress candidate from Muttada division of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in the local body polls who had to move the Kerala High Court to reinstate her name in the electoral roll, won on Saturday with a margin of over 300 votes. Talking to reporters after her win, Vyshna SL said it was a "win for democracy" and that the Congress had said that "truth will win". "It is an occasion for us to be proud and happy. People recognised our hard work," she said. Vyshna had approached the Kerala HC after receiving a notice from the State Election Commission (SEC) stating that her name had been removed from the voters' list. Subsequently, the High Court had directed the SEC to reexamine her claim. Thereafter, the SEC had conducted a hearing and reinstated her name in the voters list. The Congress had alleged that there was a LDF conspiracy behind the removal of Vyshna's name from the electoral roll.

Thai PM calls early election amid border clashes and parliamentary turmoil

The Thai premier said he had a call scheduled late on Friday with US President Donald Trump, who intervened in July to broker a fragile truce the last time fighting erupted

Hong Kong voter turnout edges up despite anger over fire, electoral reforms

About a third of Hong Kong 's registered voters elected a new 90-member legislature Sunday, a turnout that avoided an embarrassment for the government but fell short of a ringing endorsement of an electoral system revamp that eliminated the once feisty opposition in the Chinese territory. The turnout rate reached 31.9%, surpassing the 30.2% in the 2021 election, the first held under the new system. It was much lower than before the electoral changes, when turnout topped 50%. Many of the city's 4.1 million eligible voters, especially democracy supporters, have turned away from politics since a crackdown that has stifled dissent. Candidates must now go through a vetting process that ensures they are patriots who are loyal to the Chinese government. The government says the changes were needed to bring stability after massive anti-government protests in 2019. The government launched a major campaign to drive up turnout, adding polling stations, extending voting hours and holding candida

StatsGuru: Half the nation's electoral power hinges on the SIR exercise

India's voter base continues to expand, with 12 states adding 160 million electors since 2004 as the Election Commission prepares to release fresh SIR data on December 16

Hong Kong votes in legislative election after deadly apartment fire

Hong Kong voters are casting ballots Sunday in their second legislative election since a 2021 overhaul of the system eliminated the pro-democracy opposition in the Chinese territory. The poll, coming less than two weeks after an apartment fire that killed at least 159 people, is a possible test of public sentiment about the government's handling of the tragedy. The focus is on voter turnout, which fell to about 30% in the last election in 2021, after the overhaul dampened interest. Some analysts believe mounting public anger over government accountability in the blaze could suppress turnout further. City leader John Lee has called on citizens to vote, saying Friday it would send a signal on promoting reforms. He said he would put forth a proposal to the new legislature on how to support the victims, many who have been left homeless by the fire. The polls close at 11:30 pm. Deadly blaze stalled get-out-the-vote efforts Election campaigning was suspended after the fire and remained

Bolsonaro's son to run for Brazil presidency in 2026 after father's jailing

Brazilian Senetor Flvio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, said Friday that his father decided he should represent their political group and run for president in 2026. Bolsonaro was arrested last month and began serving a 27-year prison sentence after being convicted of attempting a coup. The far right leader has already been barred from running for office until 2030 as part of a separate process against him. "It is with great responsibility that I confirm the decision of Brazil's greatest political and moral leader, Jair Messias Bolsonaro, to entrust me with the mission of continuing our national project," Flvio Bolsonaro wrote on X. The office of Sen. Bolsonaro confirmed to The Associated Press that he will challenge President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva, who is running for a fourth nonconsecutive term, as the candidate of Bolsonaro's Liberal Party. The office also said Flvio Bolsonaro visited his father in prison on Tuesday. Flvio Bolsonaro was elected ..

Sweeps and stakes in Nepal: No single party likely to win clear majority

A clean sweep by any single political party is unlikely in Nepal's forthcoming elections, which could mark a return to the politics of loaves and fishes

Kyrgyzstan holds snap parliamentary election as opposition faces crackdown

Polls opened in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan on Sunday in a snap parliamentary election amid the arrests of opposition figures and the closure of independent media outlets. It is expected to cement the grip of President Sadyr Zhaparov, who has sought to suppress dissent in what was once Central Asia's most democratic country. The vote is being held a year earlier than scheduled, a move that officials have justified by arguing that the parliamentary elections would otherwise fall too close to the 2027 presidential elections. There have also been sweeping changes to Kyrgyzstan's electoral system, with 30 constituencies electing three lawmakers each. According to the Central Election Commission, 467 candidates are vying for the 90 seats in Kyrgyzstan's one-chamber parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh. There's also a gender quota system that requires at least one female lawmaker from each district. Analysts say candidates loyal to Zhaparov are likely to succeed thanks to the rapi

Delhi poll panel ready for MCD by-election; AAP, BJP vie for bigger share

The stage is set for MCD bypolls in 12 wards on Sunday, which will be a litmus test for the voters' mood in the national capital after the massive success of the BJP in the assembly elections earlier this year. The voting will begin from 7.30 am on November 30 at 580 booths across 143 polling locations. It will conclude at 5.30 pm, the Delhi State Election Commission said in a statement. A total of 2,320 polling body personnel, along with the deployment of 2,265 personnel, 580 Home Guards, and 13 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces, will facilitate the electoral exercise. Fifty-one candidates, including 26 women, are in the fray for the polls. The BJP has fielded the highest number of women candidates (8), followed by AAP (6) and Congress (5). The election is being closely observed as AAP and the BJP will take on each other again after the assembly polls held in February. The saffron party won 48 out of the 70 constituencies and returned to power in Delhi after 27 years, .