Page 8 - Elections

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Sri Lankan president's NPP secures majority in parliamentary election

The ruling National People's Power party led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is poised for a sweeping victory in the Sri Lankan parliamentary election held on Thursday. As of 11 pm local time, with partial results declared, the NPP has secured a substantial 70 per cent of the vote. The main opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), and the National Democratic Front (NDF), backed by former president Ranil Wickremesinghe, have been reduced to just 11 and 5 per cent of the vote, respectively. In the only polling division result announced so far, the NPP won decisively in the southern province capital of Galle with over 70 per cent of the vote. Analysts note that the NPP has increased its vote share compared to the September presidential election. If this trend continues, the party will surpass the 150-seat mark, achieving an absolute majority in the 225-member parliament. Thursday's election was the first major test for NPP. The snap parliamentary polls were the first after the

Sri Lanka votes in parliamentary election that's key for its new president

Sri Lankans are voting in a parliamentary election Thursday that is key for the country's new Marxist-leaning president to consolidate his party's power and follow through on promises of economic recovery. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won the presidential election on September 21 in a victory that marked a rejection of the traditional political parties, which have governed the island nation since its independence from British rule in 1948. However, Dissanayake's failure to secure more than 50 per cent of the votes has fuelled concerns over his party's outlook in Thursday's election. His National People's Power party must increase its votes significantly from the 42 per cent it won in the presidential election if it is to acquire a minimum of 113 seats to take control of the 225-member Parliament. The biggest challenge for the NPP which was founded in 2019 and is a relative newcomer on Sri Lanka's political scene is that many of its candidates are new faces in politics ...

Prism Johnson posts bigger-than-expected Q2 loss on tepid cement demand

Average cement prices slumped to a 51-month low around July-end and the first half of August, and only rose marginally in the later part of the quarter

Let's ensure resounding victory together: Rahul to Wayanad voters

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged Wayanad voters to support his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and said she will be more than just a representative for them and be their sister, daughter and advocate. "I'm reaching out to my family in Wayanad this election, my sister Priyanka Gandhi is ready to be your voice in Parliament," Gandhi said in a post on X. "She will be more than just a representative - ?she will be your sister, your daughter, and your advocate. I am confident she will help unlock Wayanad's full potential," Rahul Gandhi said. "I urge all of you to come out, vote, and support her. Let's ensure a resounding victory together!" the former Congress president said. Voting in the bypolls for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat commenced at 7 am on Wednesday The Wayanad constituency comprises seven assembly segments of Mananthavady (ST), Sulthan Bathery (ST), and Kalpetta in Wayanad district; Thiruvambady in Kozhikode district; and Eranad, Nilambur, and

Sri Lanka set for parliamentary polls on Nov 14, all arrangements in place

Sri Lanka is set to hold its parliamentary election on Thursday with all arrangements in place to ensure a fair and transparent process, a top election commission official has said. Voting will take place at over 13,314 polling stations across the country, from 7 am to 4 pm local time on Thursday. Director General of the Elections Commission Saman Sri Ratnayaka on Tuesday said that all ballot boxes and other equipment needed at the polling stations would be dispatched on Wednesday. The polling station officials will carry out rehearsals from 7 am on Wednesday," Ratnayaka said. Over 17 million voters from the island's 21 million population are eligible to vote. 225 members would be elected from voting based on proportional representation. The western province district of Gampaha would elect the highest number of Members of Parliament 19 with the capital district of Colombo from the same province having 18 MPs elected. The eastern province district of Trincomalee will elect the lo

Mauritius holds election with ruling party seeking second five-year term

People in Mauritius voted on Sunday for a new Parliament with the ruling party seeking to secure a second five-year term for Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth in one of Africa's most stable democracies. Jugnauth's government has faced criticism recently after it banned social media websites following a wiretapping scandal in which recorded conversations involving politicians, businesspeople, activists and journalists leaked and were published online. The ban was lifted after a few days but has raised concern among the opposition and civil society. At least 1 million people were registered to vote in the 12th elections since Mauritius gained independence from Britain in 1968. An alliance of parties led by Jugnauth's center-left Militant Socialist Movement won a majority of seats in Parliament to cement his leadership in 2019. He is being challenged by opposition leader Navin Ramgoolam's Alliance for Change. Mauritius, which sits about 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) off Africa's east .

Rajasthan bypolls: 9,000 security personnel to be deployed on polling day

More than 9,000 security personnel will be deployed on the polling day for the by-elections to the seven assembly seats in Rajasthan, officials said. "Strong law and order arrangements have been made for free, fair and transparent elections in all seven assembly constituencies of Ramgarh, Dausa, Jhunjhunu, Salumber, Chaurasi, Khinvsar and Deoli-Uniyara," Rajasthan Chief Election Officer Naveen Mahajan said. Mahajan said strong security measures will be implemented in these areas on the polling day on November 13, for which over 9,000 security personnel, including 43 companies of central armed police forces (CAPF) and 17 companies of Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC), will be deployed. A total of 6,275 personnel of state police and 650 jawans of Home Guard are also being deployed, he added. Mahajan said flying squads and static surveillance teams will be deployed in every assembly constituency for intensive checking and monitoring on the polling day. Additional monitoring teams h

MVA manifesto: Free cervical cancer vaccine for minors, caste census, more

The opposition MVA on Sunday released its manifesto for the Maharashtra assembly polls, promising free cervical cancer vaccines for girls aged 9 to 16 and and two optional leave days for women employees during menstruation. The manifesto, titled 'Maharashtranama', also assured a caste-based census, establishment of a separate department for the empowerment of self-help groups, formation of a dedicated ministry for child welfare, and six cooking gas cylinders every year at Rs 500 each to women. It also promised to frame a 'Nirbhay Maharashtra' policy and enforcement of the Shakti law for the safety of women and children. The MVA also assured to provide Rs 1 lakh each to girls on attaining the age of 18 years. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge released the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) manifesto for the November 20 state polls at a press conference in Mumbai where NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut were also present. Replying to ...

Amid model code, Mumbai police seize Rs 2.3 cr cash, arrest 12 people

In the run-up to the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections, police have seized Rs 2.3 crore cash from 12 persons at Kalbadevi in south Mumbai, officials said on Friday. Acting on inputs, a team of Lokmanya Tilak Marg police station and poll officials intercepted a group of people on Thursday night. While a search led to the discovery of Rs 2.3 crore, the individuals could neither produce any documents linked to the cash nor explain why they were carrying so much money, an official said. As the model code of conduct for the state elections is in force, surveillance teams formed on the instructions of the Election Commission are checking the movement of potential inducements like cash, liquor, and other items. After paperwork and questioning, which went on till the early hours of Friday, the money was seized and the 12 persons carrying the cash were detained, he said. The cash was later handed over to the Income Tax department for further probe, the official added.

US voters head to polling booths as turbulent election season nears climax

In Raleigh, North Carolina, Johnny Graves had set up a DJ booth outside the polling station at Lincoln A.M.E. Church, pepping up morning voters with the Miley Cyrus track "Party in the U.S.A."

MPLAD schemes: Detractors warn of eroded separation of powers in governance

Critics point out that rarely are questions asked and probes ordered on the utilisation of public money under these schemes, or when done, it is mostly to settle political scores around election time

PM Modi pitches 'Roti, Beti, Maati ki pukar' in Jharkhand's Garhwa

The Prime Minister's visit comes a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the BJP's manifesto

Tribal issues come to the fore as poll battle heats up in Jharkhand

All but one CM have been members of ST communities. Still two-thirds of tribal-dominated districts have high levels of multidimensional poverty

Seismic change in Botswana as party that ruled for 58 years loses power

Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat in the general election Friday, in a seismic moment of change for the country that ended the ruling party's 58 years in power since independence from Britain in the 1960s. Masisi's concession came before final results were announced, with his Botswana Democratic Party trailing in fourth place in the parliamentary elections in what appeared to be a humbling rejection by voters and a landslide victory for the main opposition party. The opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change held an overwhelming lead in the partial results, making its candidate, Duma Boko, the favorite to become president of a southern African country that is one of the world's biggest producers of mined diamonds. Masisi said he had called Boko to inform him he was conceding defeat and said that Boko was now effectively the president-elect. Final results were expected to be announced later Friday, but the BDP had no path to a majority. I concede the election,"

PM Modi is winning elections through 'fraud', alleges Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is winning the elections by resorting to "fraud" and questioned the authenticity of EVMs. The Congress veteran also referred to business tycoon Elon Musk's statement questioning the genuineness of EVMs to support his claim. "Modi hasn't won a by election. Everything is fraud. He gets 10,000 names removed from the voter list or get 10,000 to 20,000 new names added. This is the truth but the question is how to prove it," Kharge said at the Congress Bhavan here. He was speaking at an event to pay tribute to former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi and Congress stalwart and first Deputy Prime Minister of India Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. Kharge said Musk, who is a tech expert, has said EVMs can be altered and hacked through computers. He added that no major western nation such as the US, Canada, Britain, Germany, France or Italy use EVMs. The Congress chief took a dig at the BJP leaders for ...

Oppn party says it wants to topple Trudeau's govt in Canada's Parliament

A Quebec nationalist party said Tuesday it will work with other opposition parties in Canada's Parliament to topple Prime Minister Justin Trudeau' s minority government. Trudeau's Liberals have only 153 seats in the 338-seat House of Commons and must rely on an opposition party to pass legislation. With the parliamentary election approaching and Trudeau hoping for a fourth term, his party has been trailing the Conservatives in polls with Canadians feeling frustrated by the rising cost of living, coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bloc Qubcois Leader Yves-Franois Blanchet said Trudeau's days are numbered after the Liberals failed to meet his demand to boost old age security payments for seniors. However, the party will need the leftist New Democratic Party and the Conservatives who are eager to force an election to take down Trudeau's Liberals. The NDP has been supporting Trudeau's Liberals but their leader recently announced it would decide based on each proposed bill. Trudeau

What does a shocking parliamentary loss for Japan's long-ruling party mean?

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling party and its junior partner lost their majority in Sunday's parliamentary election. The loss, much bigger than expected, is bad news for a leader who's only been in power for a month. It's largely a reflection of voters' anger at the repeated financial scandals that have hit the Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled Japan nearly without interruption since 1955. The big loss throws the nation's politics into turmoil, and will make it difficult for Ishiba to push through the changes he needs to win back voter support. The Associated Press explains how the election results could weaken Ishiba's hold on power, and what the poor showing means for Japan's diplomatic, economic and security goals. What happened Sunday? The governing Liberal Democratic Party lost its sole majority in the lower house, the more powerful of Japan's two-chamber parliament. Even adding the Buddhist-backed Komeito party, which has partnered with the LDP for a

Ruling LDP loses lower house majority exacerbating challenges for new PM

Support from smaller parties, such as the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) or the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), who won 28 and 38 seats respectively, could now be key for the LDP

Uruguay's presidential front-runners to face off in second round of voting

The leading contenders in Uruguay's presidential election on Sunday said voters in the small South American nation had sent the race to a run-off in November. An early count of the general elections showed Uruguay's moderate leftist alliance leading over the conservative governing coalition with more than 60 per cent ballots tallied. The leftist former mayor, Yamandu Orsi, and the ruling party candidate, Alvaro Delgado, told crowds of cheering supporters after midnight that they would face off in a second round of voting on November 24. Uruguayans will decide whether to return the long-dominant centre-left coalition to power or continue the mandate of centre-right President Luis Lacalle Pou. Electoral officials reported a turnout of 89 per cent of 2.7 million eligible voters in Uruguay, long considered a model democracy and bastion of stability where voting in presidential and congressional contests is compulsory. Voters in the small South American nation of Uruguay waited anxious