Page 50 - Elections

133 sarpanches, 17,158 panches elected ahead of Haryana panchayat polls

Haryana State Election Commissioner Dhanpat Singh on Friday said 133 sarpanches and 17,158 panches have been unanimously elected in nine districts of the state ahead of the November 2 panchayat elections. On October 30, polling will take place to elect members of zila parishad and panchayat samitis of the nine districts, while polls for sarpanches and panches of gram panchayats of these nine districts will be held on November 2. The nine districts to go to polls first in the three-phase elections are Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Jind, Kaithal, Mahendergarh, Nuh, Panchkula, Panipat and Yamunanagar. The second phase of the panchayat polls in nine more districts will be held on November 9 and 12 while the final phase will be held on November 22 and 25. Singh said in Panchkula that in the list of unanimously elected panches, 8,708 are men and 8,450 women. He said 39,619 nominations were filed for 25,968 posts of panches and now 16,832 candidates are in the fray, of which 9,593 are men and 7,239

EC doesn't have jurisdiction to regulate issues like freebies: Congress

The Congress on Friday said the Election Commission does not have the jurisdiction to regulate issues such as freebies, and urged the panel to focus on ensuring free and fair polls through proper implementation of Election Laws. The poll panel on October 4 had proposed amending the model code to ask political parties to provide authentic information to voters on the financial viability of their poll promises, a move that came amid the freebies versus welfare measures debate that had triggered a political slugfest. Such issues are part of the dialectics of a vibrant democratic system and depend on wisdom, discernment and analysis of the electorate which should never be taken to be less than acute, the opposition party said. "It is really something which is to be decided, be it pre-election or post-election, be it by way of electoral punishment or electoral acceptance and reward that the electorate decides the wisdom of such poll promises or campaign assurances and equally decides the

Kharge can't revive Congress, but the party's vote share may rise in 2024

After 10 years in power and with all-round economic distress, it would be a miracle if the BJP didn't lose around 3 percentage points from its 2019 share of 37.36 per cent

Malaysia election set for November 19 amid fear of heavy rains, floods

Malaysia's Election Commission said on Thursday that national elections will be held on November 19, amid concerns that heavy rain and floods during the year-end monsoon season may deter voters. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved Parliament on October 10 for early polls, ignoring protests from his government allies and the opposition for holding a vote in the monsoon season. Parliament's term expires in July 2023, but his United Malays National Organisation is feuding with allies in the ruling coalition and believes early voting is in its favour. UMNO is banking on a strong win on its own based on a return of support from ethnic Malays and a fragmented opposition before an expected economic softening next year. Election Commission chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh said the nomination date for candidates would be November 5, kicking off two weeks of official campaigning. He said 21.17 million voters will be casting their ballots. Three states will also hold local polls on Novem

Congress presidential polls energised cadre to face BJP: Shashi Tharoor

The Congress presidential election has energised party workers to take on the challenge the BJP poses in upcoming elections, Shashi Tharoor, who lost the poll to Mallikarjun Kharge, said on Wednesday. Tharoor told a press conference here he was never a candidate of dissent, but for change. Kharge's victory was a victory of the Congress, he said, adding the party's presidential election was to strengthen the organisation. "This augurs well for the Congress. We will move forward from here. Our workers have been energised to take on the challenge posed by the BJP and I am also confident that our party will display its strength," said Tharoor, who got 1,072 votes against Kharge's 7,897. "This is not an issue about an individual. I only wish that the party is strengthened. For a stronger India, you need a stronger Congress," he said. Tharoor expressed hope Kharge will implement the provisions of the Congress constitution that mandates election to the Congress Working Committee.

BJP names candidates for 62 seats, drops 11 sitting MLAs for HP polls

The BJP on Wednesday released its first list of 62 candidates for the polls to the 68-member Himachal Pradesh assembly, fielding Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur from his current constituency Seraj. The party dropped 11 sitting MLAs, including a cabinet minister, and changed the seats of two ministers -- Suresh Bharadwaj and Rakesh Pathania. Bharadwaj, a senior BJP leader in the state and a sitting MLA from Shimla Urban constituency, has been fielded from Kasumpti, while Nurpur MLA Pathania has been given a ticket from the neighbouring Fatehpur. Minister Mahendra Singh, MLA from Dharampur, has been replaced by his son Rajat Thakur. The BJP has fielded Chetan Bragta from Jubbal-Kotkhai, who contested as an independent in the by-election after the party had denied him a ticket. Anil Sharma, son of former Union minister Sukh Ram, has been fielded from Mandi. The name of former chief minister and veteran party leader Prem Kumar Dhumal did not figure in the list. Party sources said the .

Lula losing Brazil's biggest state forces urgent campaign kick start

Lula unexpectedly lost the overall state of Sao Paulo to Jair Bolsonaro by almost seven percentage points, a defeat that has Lula's team scrambling to shore up support before the Oct. 30 showdown

Shooting disrupts Bolsonaro-backed Sao Paulo candidate's campaign stop

A Sao Paulo gubernatorial candidate's campaign event in the Paraisopolis neighbourhood came to an abrupt halt on Monday when gunfire erupted outside. Paraisopolis is one of Brazil's biggest favelas, or slums, and videos of the moment from local media show journalists and Tarcsio Gomes de Freitas crouching below windows. Sao Paulo Gov. Rodrigo Garcia said in a statement that he had ordered an investigation. Osvaldo Nico, the head of the state's police, said in a press conference there was a shooting in the region and one person was killed, but that the incident had no connection with de Freitas' visit. On Twitter, de Freitas characterized the shooting as an attack by criminals. Sao Paulo is the most populous state and its biggest economic power, making its race for governor prominent in any election. But this year there is heightened attention, with the contest seen as a proxy for the presidential race between President Jair Bolsonaro and former President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva.

Goal is to win 2024 LS polls, help form non-BJP govt at Centre: M K Stalin

The DMK's first goal is to emerge victorious in all the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone Puducherry segment as well in the 2024 Parliamentary election, party President and Chief Minister M K Stalin said here on Sunday. The next goal is to facilitate formation of a new government at the Centre that is committed to the principles of social justice and federalism, he said. "During the run-up to the (Lok Sabha) election (in 2024), we will take political steps aimed at it," he said in a video-message. It is the first edition of DMK's public outreach initiative through a video-message series titled, "Answers of one among you." (Ungalil Oruvanin Pathilgal in Tamil). The DMK has come with a Tamil political slogan, "Narpathum Namathe, Nadum Namathe." It could be roughly translated as, "All the 40 Parliamentary constituencies are ours, the country is ours as well." The outreach programme's objective is to respond to queries raised in social media platforms by the people on ...

Himachal goes to polls on November 12; announcement for Gujarat later

A new actor in Himachal Pradesh is the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)

Priyanka Gandhi to launch Congress' poll campaign in Himachal Pradesh today

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will launch the party's election campaign in Himachal Pradesh on Friday with a rally in Solan district of the state. AICC general secretary Vadra's 'Parivartan Pratigya Rally' comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the hill state. During his visit ahead of the assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh by the year-end, Modi launched a slew of development projects in Una and Chamba. In Una, he flagged off a Vande Bharat Express, the fourth train in the series. Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III in Chamba to upgrade 3,125 km of rural roads. Gandhi will also visit the Maa Shoolini Temple around 12 noon prior to the rally, a party statement said.

I appreciate that I'm seen as the underdog in Congress election: Tharoor

Political career spent defending the values of inclusive India, allegations of disloyalty to Nehru Gandhi family malicious: Congress MP

At 97, Malaysia's former leader Mahathir Mohamad to contest in elections

Malaysia's 97-year-old former leader Mahathir Mohamad announced Tuesday he will defend his seat in the general elections expected next month, though he wouldn't say whether he would be prime minister a third time if his political alliance wins. We have not decided who will be prime minister because the prime minister candidate is only relevant if we win, Mahathir told a news conference. Though unlikely, he would be the oldest ever candidate for the post, which has a five-year term. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved Parliament on Monday for snap polls, caving in to pressure from his United Malays National Organization party, which is hoping for a big win on its own amid feuds with allies in the ruling coalition. The Election Commission is due to fix a date within the week for a vote, which must be held within 60 days of Parliament's dissolution. Despite his nonagenarian status and a health scare this year, Mahathir said he will defend his parliamentary seat in Langkawi ..

'Mashaal' will reach every home, says Aaditya Thackeray on new poll symbol

Former Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray has said that the new symbol of a 'Mashaal' given to their group by the Election Commission for next month's bypoll will be taken to every home

Malaysian PM Ismail Yaakob dissolves Parliament, calls for early elections

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Parliament will be dissolved on Monday, paving the way for general elections that are expected to be held in early November. The elections would come nine months before Parliament's term expires, following calls for early polls from Ismail's United Malays National Organisation. UMNO, the biggest party in the ruling coalition, was feuding with its allies and is aiming for a big win on its own. The Election Commission is expected to meet within the week to announce a date for the vote, which is likely to be held before the year-end monsoon season that often brings devastating floods.

Assembly elections: A test of BJP's defence in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh

Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh will go to the polls in a few weeks. Aditi Phadnis explains everything you wants to know about the political state of play in these two states

PM Modi likely to hold 40 rallies across 144 LS seats lost in 2019 polls

BJP is planning to conduct 40 rallies across 144 Lok Sabha seats it lost in the 2019 General elections. PM Narendra Modi is likely to hold one rally in every cluster

Brazil election enters runoff as Bolsonaro dashes Lula's hope of quick win

The unexpectedly strong showing by Bolsonaro on Sunday dashed hopes for a quick resolution to the deeply polarised election in the world's fourth-largest democracy

Congress president's election: Uncertain times ahead for the party

The election of Kharge as Congress president is almost certain. From here on, if the Congress does not improve its poor electoral performance, a challenge could emerge to the Gandhi family leadership

Bolsonaro, Lula to face runoff vote in Brazil's presidential elections

Former President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva of the leftist Workers' Party got the most votes in Brazil's presidential election Sunday, but not enough to avoid a runoff vote against his far-right rival, incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. With 97% of the votes tallied, da Silva had 47.9% support and Bolsonaro 43.6%. Since neither candidate received more than 50% of the valid votes, which exclude spoiled and blank ballots, a second round vote between them will be scheduled for October 30. Brazil's election authority announced late Sunday that a second round was a mathematical certainty. The highly polarised election will determine whether the country returns a leftist to the helm of the world's fourth-largest democracy or keeps the far-right leader in office for another four years. Bolsonaro's administration has been marked by incendiary speech, his testing of democratic institutions, his widely criticised handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the worst deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in