Page 55 - Lok Sabha Elections

No objection to action against grandson if found guilty: Deve Gowda

JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda, who turned 92 on Saturday, broke his silence over the sexual abuse charges levelled against his grandson and MP Prajwal Revanna and said he has no objection to the action taken against him if found guilty. However, he said the cases against his son and JD(S) MLA H D Revanna, who is facing charges of sexual harassment and kidnap of a woman, were "created", but refrained from commenting further, as the matter was subjudice. Recently, Gowda had announced his decision not to celebrate his birthday and requested well wishers and party workers to wish him from wherever they are. "... I don't want to comment on things that are going on in the court regarding Revanna. Prajwal Revanna has gone abroad, regarding that Kumaraswamy (Gowda's other son and state JD(S) chief) has on behalf of our family said it is the duty of the government to take action in accordance with the law of the land," Gowda said. Addressing reporters here, the former PM said, "There are .

LS polls: Security tightened ahead of rallies by PM Modi, Rahul in Delhi

Security in parts of the national capital was beefed up in view of two different rallies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with the local police having planned to deploy around 3,000-personnel strong force on the day. On Friday, the Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, along with other senior officers, visited the northeast district and took stock of the security arrangements, where PM Modi will address a rally. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will campaign at the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha constituency. A senior officer said, Modi is likely to arrive at the rally site by a chopper after addressing another election rally in Sonipat in Haryana. At least four-layer security arrangements comprising the SPG, security wing of the Delhi Police, and the local police will be in place. "Meetings were held with other agencies responsible for the prime minister's security. "We have identified buildings and trees on all possible routes where police perso

LS polls: Modi's allegation of insult to UP 'cheap tactic' says Stalin

DMK President and Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of picking up a "cheap strategy" of stoking confrontation between states as his "propaganda of communal hatred" did not help. Stalin slammed what he called Modi's "imaginary tales and bags of lies" by alleging that leaders of southern states including Tamil Nadu (INDIA bloc constituents) were speaking in a derogatory manner, against the people of Uttar Pradesh. Days ago, PM Modi had alleged in a poll rally that Samajwadi Party and the Congress's southern allies insulted Uttar Pradesh and Sanatana Dharma but the two parties remained quiet. The DMK president alleged that it was the BJP that supported and encouraged fake news items, such as the false claims made by "YouTubers like Manish Kashyap" of assault on guest workers in Tamil Nadu. Such fake claims were hate propaganda aimed at creating divisions in society. Kashyap was arrested last year by Tamil Nadu police for alleged circulation of

With PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi rallies in Delhi, check the routes to avoid

A robust four-layer security cordon will be in place for PM Modi's rally in northeast Delhi, while Rahul Gandhi will be campaigning in Chandni Chowk

India among the few vibrant democracies across world, says White House

Applauding the people of India for exercising their right to vote, the White House on Friday said there are not too many more vibrant democracies in the world than India. Not too many more vibrant democracies in the world than India. And we applaud the Indian people for exercising, you know, their ability to vote, and to have a voice in their future government. And we wish them well throughout the process, of course, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby told reporters at a news conference here. Kirby was responding to a question on the ongoing Indian elections, wherein over 969 million people are exercising their right to franchise at one million polling stations to elect 545 members of parliament from thousands of candidates representing as many as 2,660 registered political parties. Responding to another question, Kirby said the India-US relationship has strengthened under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular during the last three years of the Bide

Indian cities struggle with labour shortage amid Lok Sabha elections

With numerous well-paying opportunities back home during LS polls, including pamphlet distribution and providing tenting, vehicle services etc., many migrant workers have returned home

No government can change Constitution drafted by Ambedkar, says Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday asserted that no government can change the Constitution drafted by Dr B R Ambedkar, and the Congress was spreading lies that the BJP plans to alter it. He was speaking at a campaign rally for Hemant Godse of the Shiv Sena, the candidate of the ruling alliance for the Nashik Lok Sabha seat. "No government can change the Constitution created by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Only its sections can be changed or amended. Congress has committed the sin of amending the Constitution 80 times. Despite that, they are spreading false propaganda that we will change the Constitution," he said. "Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas" is the mantra of the Narendra Modi government which has implemented various welfare schemes without discriminating against any community, Gadkari further said. The government has decided to create facilities for storage and processing of onions and grapes, two major crops in the Nashik region, the minister said.

LS polls 2024: 37 candidates to contest four seats in Himachal Pradesh

Thirty-seven candidates will battle it out for Himachal Pradesh's four Lok Sabha seats while 25 are in the fray for the assembly bypolls in six seats. Friday was the last day to withdraw nominations. Polling for the four Lok Sabha seats and the bypolls to the six assembly constituencies will be held on June 1. The BJP, Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have fielded candidates from all four Lok Sabha seats but the main contest is between the ruling and the opposition parties. Ten candidates are in the fray in Mandi, where actor Kangana Ranaut is taking on Vikramaditya Singh. Singh's mother Pratibha Singh is the outgoing MP from the seat. In Kangra, which is also being contested by 10 candidates, senior Congress leader and former Union minister Anand Sharma is taking on the BJP's Rajiv Bharadwaj. The Congress has fielded Kasauli MLA Vinod Sultanpuri against incumbent MP Suresh Kashyap of the BJP in Shimla, where five candidates are in the fray. In Hamirpur, Union Minister

FPI selling tops $3.5 billion amid Lok Sabha poll jitters, flows to China

If sustains, it will be highest monthly pullout since January 2023

Battleground 2024: PM Modi's first Delhi address to see two dozen diplomats

Apart from party-organised visits, several diplomats are travelling on their own to get a first-hand experience of election campaigning in the world's largest democracy

Last stand of Desawari paan? Of fragrance, flavour, and forgotten farmers

The Desawari cannot withstand waterlogging, making the undulating slopes of Mahoba ideal for its cultivation

Lok Sabha elections: Mumbai MSMEs clamour for government support

With the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections entering the fifth phase on May 20, the spotlight is on Mumbai's Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan region

Swati Maliwal controversy: AAP, BJP spar; Congress distances itself

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed solidarity with Maliwal, with the Congress' women leaders in Delhi echoing her

PM Modi slams 'Maoist economics' of INDIA bloc; Opposition counters

The PM had earlier said the Congress poll document had Muslim League imprint

Mumbai North voters demand better metro connectivity, railway services

The Mumbai North Lok Sabha constituency has 32 per cent Maharashtrian voters, 28 per cent Gujarati votes and the rest are from other communities.

Lok Sabha elections: In Singur, Lakshmir Bhandar in the spotlight

In a state where big-ticket investments have become rare, Mamata Banerjee's numerous welfare schemes are fulfilling needs in more ways than one

Why simple election narratives fail

Given India's complex electoral dynamics and geographical diversity, policy initiatives crafted to suit a simple national narrative are not very useful

Abki baar 90 paar?

An additional 30 seats for the BJP won't make any difference to the strength and quality of government. Thirty fewer, however, will have several substantive consequences

Lok Sabha elections: What is Nota, and how can it affect the polls?

As Lok Sabha elections are underway, the debate around NOTA has once again grabbed attention. It is a contentious choice provided to voters in elections. What are the arguments in favour and against t

Odisha to turn saffron, BJP will win over 75 Assembly, 15 LS seats: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday claimed that Odisha would turn saffron after the elections, since the BJP would win over 75 assembly and 15 Lok Sabha seats. He asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already won 270 Lok Sabha seats in the first four phases of elections and is now moving towards 400. Lok Sabha and assembly elections are held simultaneously in Odisha. "With more than 15 MPs and 75 MLAs, Odisha is about to be coloured saffron. This election is the election to make Narendra Modi the PM for the third time," Shah said while addressing a rally at Rourkela. The state has 21 Lok Sabha and 147 assembly seats. Referring to the missing keys of the Puri Jagannath Temple 'Ratna Bhandar' (treasure chest), the BJP leader alleged that Odisha Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik is misleading people and playing with their faith. The missing keys of the Ratna Bhandar have been a major political issue in Odisha for the past few years. Shah said this electi