Page 20 - Elections

LS polls: Only 12% of candidates in fray in phase 5 are women, says ADR

The representation of women in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls continues to remain dismally low, as only about 12 per cent of the candidates in the fray in the fifth phase are female, according to an analysis by poll rights body ADR. The ADR analysis also showed that nearly 23 per cent have declared criminal cases against themselves and about 18 per cent have serious criminal cases pending. Out of the total 695 candidates in the fifth phase on May 20, only 82 of them are women, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said. In the first phase of the elections, 135 (8 per cent) female candidates contested while 100 (8 per cent) women candidates fought in the second phase. Similarly, in the third phase of the elections, 123 (9 per cent) female candidates contested while in the fourth phase, as many as 170 (10 per cent) such candidates are in the fray. Out of the 695 candidates under scrutiny in the fifth phase, 18 per cent (122 candidates) have serious criminal cases pending, includi

Dismiss 'minority' govt in Haryana, order fresh polls: Cong in memo to Guv

The Congress submitted a memorandum addressed to Haryana Governor here on Friday with a demand to dismiss the "minority" BJP government in the state and order fresh elections under the President's rule. Senior Congress leader B B Batra, chief whip CLP, accompanied by Deputy CLP leader Aftab Ahmed, submitted a memorandum addressed to Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya regarding the present political situation in the state. Earlier this week, three Independents had withdrawn their support to the Nayab Singh Saini government in Haryana. The party said that another Independent MLA Balraj Kundu had withdrawn support a couple of years back and is opposed to the current Haryana government. In its memorandum, the party claimed that it is crystal clear that the Haryana government was reduced to a minority in the House. The 90-member Haryana assembly at present has an effective strength of 88 with Karnal and Rania assembly seats being vacant. The Congress, in its memo, said, "It is crysta

Iranians vote in runoff election after hard-liners dominate initial voting

Iranians voted Friday in a runoff election for the remaining seats in the country's parliament after hard-line politicians dominated March balloting. People in 22 constituencies across the country will elect 45 representatives from a pool of 90 candidates, 15 of whom are considered moderate. In the capital, Tehran, 16 representatives will be chosen from 32 candidates, all hard-liners. Final results are expected on Monday, though counts in smaller constituencies are likely before that. Iran's parliament plays a secondary role in governing the country. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final say in all important state matters. State TV showed Khamenei voting on Friday immediately after the polls opened. He urged people to vote and said the runoff election was as important as the main one. In the March election, hard-liners won 200 out of 245 seats, with more moderate candidates taking the other 45. A total of 25 million ballots were cast, for a turnout of just under 41 p

Rahul Gandhi's stance on Adani and Ambani: Silence or vocal opposition?

Over the past week, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has consistently referenced 'Adani and Ambani' in almost every public address

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: When can you find out Exit Poll predictions?

Countdown to clarity: Key dates and insights for when Lok Sabha 2024 Exit Polls will go live. Read on to know the A to Z of Exit Polls in India

LS elections: Repolling at voting both in Barmer records over 85% turnout

Over 85 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the repolling held on Wednesday at a polling station in Dudhwa Khurd in Rajasthan's Barmer Lok Sabha constituency. The exercise was ordered by the Election Commission following complaints of a breach of confidentiality after some videos showing bogus voting and voters being denied their right to franchise surfaced on social media. Officials said the overall polling percentage recorded was 85.70. The Barmer district election officer has suspended four members of the polling team which had conducted the voting at the booth on April 26, in the second phase of the Lok Sabha election. Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said repolling was held from 7 am to 5 pm at polling centre number 50, Government Higher Secondary School, of the Dudhwa Khurd booth in the Chauhtan assembly constituency. There are 1,294 eligible voters and 1,109 cast their votes. He said the department made all preparations for the repolling as per the instructions of

Who is Akash Anand, Mayawati's nephew, now sacked as her political heir?

BSP chief Mayawati's decision comes merely five months after she publicly declared Akash Anand as her apparent heir during a critical meeting of party officials in Lucknow

61% voter turnout recorded in LS polls Phase 3, Assam records highest

Assam recorded the highest voter turnout of 75.01 per cent and the lowest was recorded in Maharashtra, where it was 53.95 per cent

PM Modi to Congress: How much black money did you get from Adani-Ambani?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked if the Congress had received huge sums of money from Ambani-Adani since Rahul Gandhi stopped attacking them suddenly

MCC, and restrictions force drinkers to opt for local liquor brands

With state governments tightening their grip over liquor and Lok Sabha election restrictions creating supply chain disruptions, local brands are flooding the market

Here's how Bhopal voters got diamond rings for voting on poll day

In an innovative move to boost voter turnout, the Bhopal administration organised a lottery scheme rewarding voters with diamond rings for casting their votes on polling day

Is the broking and the wealth management industry ripe for a consolidation?

Anand Rathi, founder and chairman of Anand Rathi group shares his views on the outlook for the Indian stock market, broking, wealth management industry and strategies ahead of Lok Sabha poll outcome

Manoj Tiwari richest Lok Sabha contender in Delhi, BJP's Bidhuri is 2nd

Bhojpuri singer-turned-politician Manoj Tiwari (53) is the richest among the prominent candidates from the BJP, AAP and the Congress in fray for the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi with total assets worth Rs 28.05 crore. Second in line is Ramvir Singh Bidhuri (71), the BJP's candidate in South Delhi, with total assets of Rs 21.08 crore. According to his 2022-23 Income Tax returns, Bidhuri had an income of Rs 14.93 lakh. The third richest among poll contenders is Mahabal Mishra (69), the AAP's candidate from West Delhi. He has declared Rs 19.93 crore. Mishra's highest qualification is pre-university certificate from LS College Muzaffarpur, Bihar obtained in 1971. Oxford-returned lawyer Bansuri Swaraj (40), daughter of former external affairs minister late Sushma Swaraj, with total assets worth Rs 19 crore, stands fourth in the row, followed by former AAP leader Raaj Kumar Anand who jumped ships to the BSP and owns assets worth Rs 17.87 crore. Swaraj, who is the BJP's debutant contender

LS polls: Nomination process concludes in Delhi, 269 candidates file papers

The nomination process in Delhi for the Lok Sabha elections concluded on Monday, with 269 candidates filing their papers. Filing of nominations began on April 29. Among the prominent candidates who filed their nominations on Monday were the Congress' North East Delhi nominee Kanhaiya Kumar and former AAP leader Raaj Kumar Anand, who joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and is contesting from the prestigious New Delhi seat. Kumar, who is contesting against the BJP's incumbent MP Manoj Tiwari, has movable assets of Rs 8 lakh. He also has Rs 2.65 lakh in immovable assets, according to his self-sworn poll affidavit. Kumar holds a PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Anand declared total assets of more than Rs 17 crore. He and his wife have vehicles worth Rs 51 lakh. According to data shared by the Chief Electoral Officer's office, 50 candidates -- the highest among the national capital's seven seats -- have filed their nomination papers from North East Delhi. South Delhi has the l

Britannia expects double-digit volume growth after election: MD Varun Berry

Leading food products company Britannia Industries expects a "double-digit growth" in volumes post general elections and the monsoon season with a "manageable inflation", its Vice Chairman and Managing Director Varun Berry said on Monday. The company is "hopeful of recovery in consumption" this fiscal year with an expectation of stable inflation and a good monsoon. It anticipates a "healthy inflation" of around 3 per cent in FY25, which will also help achieve faster growth of its topline as it moves forward, Berry said in a post-earnings conference call. "Last quarter volume growth was two times the revenue growth. So I think volume growth this year, we expect them to be quite solid," he said. Barring a few months in FY25, which would be pretty similar to the last fiscal, Berry expects a double-digit volume growth for Britannia, maker of Good Day, Marie Gold, Tiger, Bourbon, and Milk Bikis biscuits. "The volume growth this year, we expect them to be quite solid. And I would think

Women flee homes over fear and stigma after Prajwal Revanna video release

Video clips purportedly showing instances of sexual assault by Prajwal Revanna have emerged, prompting several women who are said to be victims to flee their homes

Representatives of poll bodies from 23 nations to see LS elections up close

Representatives of election management bodies from 23 countries, including Australia, Russia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, are here to observe the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. Seventy-five delegates will visit six states in small groups to witness the elections and preparations related to it in various constituencies. The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday described the visit of the foreign delegates as a first in terms of scale and magnitude of participation. Beginning Saturday, the programme seeks to familiarise them with the nuances of India's electoral system as well as the best practices being used. Election management bodies of Bhutan, Mongolia, Australia, Madagascar, Fiji, the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Moldova, Tunisia, Seychelles, Cambodia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Chile, Uzbekistan, Maldives, Papua New Guinea and Namibia are participating in the programme. Members of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and m

Who is Dinesh Pratap Singh, BJP's Raebareli contender against Rahul Gandhi

A BJP MLC in Uttar Pradesh, Dinesh Pratap Singh switched from the Congress in 2018 after being suspended over alleged misbehaviour

Who is Kishori Lal Sharma, Congress' Amethi candidate against Smriti Irani?

KL Sharma is the first non-Gandhi Congress candidate in Amethi in over two decades as Rahul Gandhi is set to contest in neighbouring Rae Bareli

WhatsApp banned record 22 million accounts in first quarter of 2024

The messaging app has the highest user base in India with more than 500 million active users