Page 49 - Elections

UP's Khatauli Assembly bypolls on Dec 5, counting on Dec 8

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced the schedule of the bypoll for the Khatauli Assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh

Will waive farm loans in Telangana if Congress comes to power: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the 3,500-km 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' on Monday said farm loans would be waived in Telangana if his party comes to power in the next elections. Speaking at a public meeting in Jukkal constituency before entering Maharashtra, he said hospitals were being privatised and education system was being destroyed in Telangana. Farmers are not getting a supporting price. No farmer feels that farming is a profitable venture. The UPA government waived agriculture loans to the tune of Rs 70,000 crore. We promise farm loans will be waived when we come to power, he said. Alleging that the ruling TRS government is not implementing the Tribal Bill that the UPA government had brought, the Congress leader said the lands of Dalits and Adivasis that were allegedly grabbed would be returned to them. He alleged that education has become expensive and one has to spend lakhs of rupees to become an engineer or doctor. He charged BJP and TRS with working in tandem an

Bypolls results: Lotus blooms in four seats, Congress faces another setback

The BJP's bypoll win in four of the six seats it contested has invigorated the party ahead of assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. It has given tough competition to erstwhile ally Nitish Kumar's Grand Alliance in Bihar and ended the BJD's winning run in Odisha. The Congress drew a blank in the seven assembly constituencies -- Adampur, Gola Gokarannath, Dhamnagar, Andheri (East), Mokama, Gopalganj and Munugode -- in six states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Odisha and Telangana that went to polls on November 3. The results were declared on Sunday. While the TRS managed to get a foothold by winning the high-stakes bypoll to Munugode Assembly constituency, it had to overcome a spirited challenge from the BJP. The bypoll assumed immense political significance as it was seen as a virtual semi-final ahead of next year's Legislative Assembly polls in Telangana. The TRS, recently renamed as Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS), took it as a prestige issue as a loss would

Winds of change blowing across Himachal: Sachin Pilot in Palampur

Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday said that winds of change are blowing across Himachal Pradesh and exuded confidence that his party will form the government in the state

Congress leader Himanshu Vyas joins BJP in Gujarat ahead of elections

Senior Congress leader Himanshu Vyas joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Saturday. BJP leader and Union home minister Amit Shah welcomed him into the party fold. The development came ahead of the next month's Assembly elections in Gujarat. Vyas, who held the post of secretary in the Congress, blamed the party leadership for his decision to quit, saying those who work for the party are ignored while sycophants get ahead. "The Congress leadership has failed in people's eyes and also failed in communicating with party workers," he told reporters. "The leadership is surrounded by people who do not allow true workers to approach the leadership," he added. He had been sidelined in the Congress for the last two years, Vyas claimed. Vyas had fought election twice from Wadhwan Assembly seat in Surendranagar district of the state but lost both the times.

Assembly bypolls: Counting of votes on seven seats in six states on Sunday

Counting of votes will be held on Sunday in the by-election to seven assembly constituencies in six states including former chief minister Bhajan Lal's family bastion Admapur in Haryana. Bhajan Lal's grandson Bhavya Bishnoi, who contested on a BJP ticket, and RJD's Neelam Devi, whose husband Anant Singh's disqualification necessitated the by-election in Bihar's Mokama, are among the prominent candidates in the fray. The other constituencies where results of the November 3 bypolls will be out were Gopalganj in Bihar, Andheri (East) of Maharashtra, Munugode of Telangana, Gola Gokarannath of Uttar Pradesh, and Dhamnagar of Odisha. Among the seven seats which witnessed a stiff contest between the BJP and the regional parties, the saffron party held three and the Congress two, while the Shiv Sena and the RJD had one each. For the bypolls in Bihar, the main contest is between the BJP and the RJD, and the saffron party's main contenders in Haryana are the Congress, INLD and the AAP. Main

Campaigning formally kicks off for Malaysia's general elections

Campaigning for Malaysia's general elections formally started Saturday, in a highly competitive race that will see the world's longest-serving coalition seeking to regain its dominance four years after a shocking electoral loss. The Nov. 19 election will determine if Barisan Nasional (BN), or National Front coalition, can make a strong comeback or whether political reformers can secure another surprise win that will see their leader, Anwar Ibrahim, achieve a long-held dream of becoming prime minister. Led by the United Malays National Organization, BN has ruled since Malaysia's independence from Britain in 1957. But anger over government corruption led to its defeat in 2018 polls to Anwar's Pakatan Harapan (PH), or Alliance of Hope. The election victory sparked hopes of reforms as once-powerful UMNO leaders were jailed or hauled to court for graft, but it was short lived after defections caused the PH government to crumble in early 2020 and brought UMNO back to power. Scores of ...

First voter of independent India Shyam Saran Negi passes away in Himachal

As per official record, he had also participated in the 1951-52 general elections, the country's first.

Imran Khan addresses nation, says he knew about the assassination plot

I already knew about their plan to attack me but I will continue to call out the corrupt who are stealing people's money, said Khan in his address to the nation a day after he was shot in the leg

Assembly by-elections: More than 45% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm

An average voter turnout of 45.60 per cent was recorded till 3 pm Thursday in the by-elections to seven assembly constituencies underway in six states, including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The polling is being held in Mokama and Gopalganj assembly constituencies of Bihar, Andheri (East) of Maharashtra, Adampur of Haryana, Munugode of Telangana, Gola Gokarannath of Uttar Pradesh, and Dhamnagar of Odisha. Among the seven seats where bypolls are being held, the BJP held three seats and the Congress two, while the Shiv Sena and the RJD had one each. The contest is symbolic of the fierce turf war between the BJP and the regional parties. For the bypolls in Bihar, the main contest is between the BJP and the RJD, and the saffron party's main contenders in Haryana are the Congress, INLD and the AAP. In Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, the main contests are between the BJP and the TRS, SP and the BJD respectively. The Munugode assembly bypoll recorded the highest turnout till 3 pm of 59.9

Assembly bypolls: Voting underway in seven constituencies in six states

Voting was underway on Thursday in the by-election to seven assembly constituencies in six states a contest symbolic of the fierce turf war between the BJP and regional parties. The polling is being held in Mokama and Gopalganj assembly constituencies of Bihar, Andheri (East) of Maharashtra, Adampur of Haryana, Munugode of Telangana, Gola Gokarannath of Uttar Pradesh, and Dhamnagar of Odisha. Authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the voting. Among the seven seats where bypolls are being held, the BJP held three seats and the Congress two, while the Shiv Sena and the RJD had one each. For the bypolls in Bihar, the main contest is between the BJP and the RJD, and the saffron party's main contenders in Haryana are the Congress, INLD and the AAP. In Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, the main contests are between the BJP and the TRS, SP and the BJD respectively. While a victory in the bypolls will be inconsequential to their position in the assemblies, the parties have n

Voting begins for bypoll in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri, BJP and SP to lock horns

The main contest is between the BJP's Aman Giri, the son of Arvind Giri, and SP candidate and former Gola Gokarannath MLA Vinay Tiwari.

Over 80% polling recorded in first phase of Haryana panchayat elections

A high turnout of more than 80 per cent was recorded in the election for panches and sarpanches in nine Haryana districts in the first of the three-phase voting on Wednesday. "Barring a stray incident, polling remained peaceful," Haryana State Election Commissioner Dhanpat Singh told PTI. According to the figures of the Haryana State Election Commission available at 10 pm, 81.4 per cent voting was recorded in the nine districts. The polling was held between 7 am and 6 pm in the districts of Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Jind, Kaithal, Mahendragarh, Nuh, Panchkula, Panipat and Yamunanagar. Counting of votes was taken up immediately after the end of polling. Haryana Director General of Police P K Agrawal said polling has been conducted in a peaceful manner. According to the DGP, there was no poll-related violence reported from anywhere till the completion of the polling process. "However, a few incidents of clashes outside polling booths in Jhajjar and Kaithal districts as well as the breakin

China increasingly involved in Nepal's domestic politics ahead of elections

On November 20, Nepalis will head to the polls to elect their 11th government since the country became a democratic republic in 2008.

Voting underway for 1st phase polls to elect panches, sarpanches in Haryana

Polling began on Wednesday to elect panches and sarpanches in nine Haryana districts in the first phase of the three-phase voting. The polling is going on in the districts of Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Jind, Kaithal, Mahendragarh, Nuh, Panchkula, Panipat and Yamunanagar, officials said. The polling began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm. A number of voters had queued up since morning and 7.5 poll percentage was recorded in the first two hours of polling. According to an official statement, Haryana State Election Commissioner Dhanpat Singh had on Tuesday said that polling would be held on November 2 for electing 2,607 sarpanches and 25,968 panches in these nine districts. The first phase polls for zila parishads and panchayat samitis in these districts was held on October 30. Arrangements related to drinking water, electricity and wheelchairs for physically challenged voters have been taken care of at all polling booths, he said. According to Singh, there are over 49 lakh voters in the

Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen to try to form new govt after election win

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was in a strong position to remain in power after her Social Democrats won the most votes in Denmark's election Tuesday and a centre-left bloc in Parliament that backs appeared set to retain a majority by just one seat. The result was preliminary and based on the assumption that a vote count in Greenland expected early Wednesday would give the autonomous Danish territory's two seats to the centre-left bloc. I am so thrilled and proud. We have gotten the best election result in 20 years, Frederiksen told supporters early Wednesday in Copenhagen. Despite the success, Frederiksen, who heads a Social Democratic minority government, said she would resign as prime minister and try to form a new government with broader support across the political divide, something she had said suggested before the election. "It is also clear there is no longer a majority behind the government in its current form. Therefore, tomorrow I will submit the government's resignat

Jair Bolsonaro declines to concede Brazil defeat in first address

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday did not concede the election he lost to leftist Lula da Silva in a brief speech that marked his first comments since results were released two days ago. But afterward, Chief-of-Staff Ciro Nogueira told reporters that Bolsonaro has authorised him to begin the transition process. Bolsonaro's address didn't mention election results, but he said he will continue to follow the rules of the nation's constitution. I have always been labelled as anti-democratic and, unlike my accusers, I have always played within the four lines of the constitution, Bolsonaro, flanked by more than a dozen ministers and allies, told reporters in the official residence in capital Brasilia. Bolsonaro lost Sunday's race by a thin margin, garnering 49.1 per cent of the vote to da Silva's 50.9 per cent, according to the nation's electoral authority. It was the tightest presidential race since Brazil's return to democracy in 1985 and marks the first time Bolsonaro has

Israel elections: Exit polls predict win for former PM Benjamin Netanyahu

Exit polls broadcast by all the leading Israeli TV channels on Tuesday predicted an election win for former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu-led right-wing bloc. The exit polls were broadcast soon after polling booths closed at 10 PM local time. The exit polls saw pro-Netanyahu bloc winning 61-62 seats in the 120 member Knesset (Israeli parliament), just about making the magical figure that would see him making a comeback after losing power following March 2019 polls. Prime Minister Yair Lapid-led bloc was put at 54-55 seats, as per the exit polls. Public broadcaster Kan and Channel 12 gave the Netanyahu-led bloc 62 seats, while Channel 12 projected 61 seats for him.

Lula's return: Brazil's left turn may be more muted this time

Lula's earlier popularity lay in his redistributive policies, but this time around, he will have to demonstrate an ability to negotiate the narrow path between populism and pragmatism

MP polls: A possible Cong-JAYS tie-up, Bhim Army moves liven up politics

Apart from this, in a recent development the Bhim Army is trying to make inroads into state politics