Page 6 - Lok Sabha Elections

Open to probe, regulations will help doing business: Axis My India chief

Facing opposition fire for exit polls allegedly being used for stock market manipulation, Axis My India's chief Pradeep Gupta has said he is open to facing all kinds of investigations and it would help do business in a much better way if the government frames specific regulations for pollsters. Opposition parties and several civil society groups have been asking for thorough investigations, including by capital markets regulator SEBI and a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), after the stock markets witnessed a massive rally when exit polls gave a huge majority to the BJP but fell sharply after the actual results showed the ruling party falling short of a clear majority on its own. In an interaction with PTI editors at the agency's headquarters here, Gupta said he has been demanding formulation of norms and regulations for pollsters since five years. Gupta, the chairman and managing director of Axis My India that had predicted 361-401 seats for the BJP-led alliance as against the ..

INDIA bloc made mistakes in ticket distribution: Dipankar Bhattacharya

The INDIA bloc's performance in Bihar in the Lok Sabha polls was affected as it made "certain mistakes" there, including in ticket distribution, CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya has said. In an interview with PTI editors at the agency's headquarters, the Left party's leader did not rule out the "Nitish Kumar factor" as also being a reason for the bloc's less than expected returns in the polls. Bihar Chief Minister Kumar's Janata Dal (United) was in an alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal-Congress-Left 'Mahagathbandhan' grouping in Bihar and a constituent of the opposition INDIA bloc, but jumped to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) just before the 2024 general elections. The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation general secretary hoped INDIA bloc members the RJD, the Congress and Left parties, including his CPI(ML), will do better in the assembly polls in the state next year. While the BJP and its NDA partners JD(U),

Paper leaks to pro tem Speaker issue: 18th LS set for combative 1st session

The war of words indicated that the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, which begins on Monday, is likely to be combative

Investors beware! Four risks that can trigger a stock market correction

The faith in the market is at epic levels and may require something equally epic to break the faith. High or even bubble valuations are irrelevant for non-institutional investors, said a KIE note

Why PM Narendra Modi should loosen purse strings for his new allies

However deferential Modi's newly vital allies might appear, the fact is that they have plans, projects and constituencies of their own to cultivate

After LS poll loss, Kashmiri Shia leader Imran Ansari blasts his supporters

A video of a Shia leader in Kashmir angry with his supporters after his party's debacle in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls has gone viral on social media. The 19-second video of Shia leader Imran Reza Ansari, the general secretary of the People's Conference, has gone viral on social media and received harsh comments. The People's Conference is headed by separatist-turned-mainstream politician Sajad Gani Lone. Lone contested the polls from north Kashmir's Baramulla Lok Sabha seat, but his party was routed in the elections. Independent candidate Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid, who is in jail on terror funding charges, won the seat. National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah stood at the second place and Lone came a distant third. Apparently miffed over the poll debacle, Ansari is seen talking angrily to his supporters in the video. "I swear upon the grave of my father, I want to tear apart my clothes today. I was in an exalted position, you made me bite the

No change in Maharashtra's leadership, plan to win Assembly elections: BJP

The BJP on Tuesday ruled out any change in its leadership in Maharashtra after its poor showing in the Lok Sabha elections and asserted that it is working on a blueprint for the Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP coalition to emerge victorious in the assembly polls, due later this year. The decision was taken at the Maharashtra BJP's core group meeting with party president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. "There will be no change in leadership in Maharashtra," Union Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters at the BJP headquarters. The leaders discussed the strategy to ensure the re-election of the MahaYuti alliance in the upcoming assembly elections, Goyal said. The meeting was attended by senior BJP leaders BL Santosh, Bhupender Yadav, Ashwini Vaishnaw, state BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Chandrakant Patil, Pankaja Munde, Raosaheb Danve and Vinod Tawde, among others. The BJP won nine seats in Maharashtra in the recent Lok Sabha elections, down from its 2019 tally

In 2014, farmers became part of country's political agenda: CM Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said that for the first time since independence, farmers in 2014 became a part of the country's political agenda. Addressing a PM Kisan Samman Sammelan in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi here, Adityanath said several schemes were launched by the Modi government to increase the income of farmers and transform their lives. He added that the schemes ranged from Soil Health Card to Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, and "today its results are visible". "When Prime Minister Modi took oath for the third time, the first thing he did was to sign a file dedicated to the farmers. Today crores of farmers are benefiting from Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi," Adityanath was quoted as saying in a statement. The chief minister mentioned that for the first time in 62 years, a politician has brought about extensive changes in the lives of all sections of society through his work and took oath as the Prime Minister for the third

Should MPs get a salary hike? Here is what other major countries do

They are paid less than elected representatives in other major nations

It appears Maa Ganga has adopted me: PM Modi on visit to Varanasi

Visiting his Varanasi constituency which elected him to the Lok Sabha for a third consecutive time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said it appears that mother Ganga has now adopted him. Addressing a PM Kisan Samman Sammelan, he said the mandate given by the people in this Lok Sabha election is truly unprecedented and has created history. "I consider farmers, women, the youth and the poor strong pillars of 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India)," Modi said on his first visit to his constituency after the Lok Sabha polls and added that the first decision of the new government related to farmers and the poor. He won from Varanasi with a reduced margin of 1,52,513 votes in these polls. In 2019, the margin was about 4.8 lakh. "The people of Varanasi have not only chosen me as MP for a third time but also as prime minister," Modi said at the event where he released the Rs 20,000-crore 17th installment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KSN) for more than 9.26 crore farmers. After bein

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resigns from Wayanad seat of Lok Sabha

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has resigned from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat of Kerala and retained the Rae Bareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said on Tuesday. A Lok Sabha bulletin said his resignation has been accepted with effect from June 18. Ending speculation on the issue, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge announced on Monday the decision on the two seats after the party's top brass held discussions at his residence in the national capital. Rahul Gandhi's sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will make her electoral debut by contesting the Wayanad bypoll. Following Rahul Gandhi's resignation from one of the two seats he had won, the Congress' tally in the Lower House now stands at 98. The Wayanad seat will be the first constituency to go for a bypoll in the 18th Lok Sabha. "Shri Rahul Gandhi, an elected member of Lok Sabha from two constituencies viz Wayanad and Rae Bareli parliamentary constituencies of Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, respectively, has resigned h

TMC-led Oppn MPs group seeks probe on result-day crash, meet Sebi officials

After the meeting, Banerjee said that though they did not get any assurance from Sebi, the officials said that they will look into the matter

After Priyanka, husband Robert Vadra looking to enter politics? His answer

Priyanka Gandhi is set to contest the Wayanad Lok Sabha bye-election, which has been necessitated after Rahul Gandhi announced his decision to vacate the constituency

Kerala BJP mocks Cong over Priyanka Gandhi's candidature from Wayanad

The BJP in Kerala on Tuesday continued to mock the Congress party's decision to field Priyanka Gandhi in Wayanad, which was vacated by Rahul Gandhi, and said the grand old party may consider her husband Robert Vadra in the upcoming by-poll in Palakkad assembly segment. BJP state chief K Surendran and senior leader V Muraleedharan criticised the Congress leadership over their decision and alleged that they had cheated the people of Wayanad. Surendran, who had contested against Rahul Gandhi in the April 26 Lok Sabha polls in the hill constituency, said it is once again proven beyond doubt that the Congress is the only "tool" for the so-called Nehru-Gandhi family to serve their family's interests. In a post on 'X', he said: "Mr @RahulGandhi claimed that Wayanad is his family. Now he has decided the candidature of his own sister claimed that Wayanad is his family. Now he has decided the candidature of his own sister @priyankagandhi to the upcoming by-election in Wayanad. Hope that Mr ..

Rahul in Raebareli, Priyanka in Wayanad: What it means for the Congress

On Monday, Rahul Gandhi announced that he would represent the Raebareli Lok Sabha seat in Parliament, vacating the Wayanad seat in Kerala, where Priyanka Gandhi would now fight the bye-election

After LS poll win from Vidisha, Shivraj Singh Chouhan resigns as MLA

Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday resigned as the MLA from his traditional Budhni seat in Madhya Pradesh, days after getting elected to the Lok Sabha from Vidisha in the state. After submitting his resignation from the assembly membership to the speaker, Chouhan said he will continue to serve the people of Budhni in Sehore district from where he started his political career decades ago. In a video statement, the BJP veteran said it was a very emotional moment for him to resign from the Budhni seat, which elected him to the assembly 6 times. I am feeling very emotional today. I have resigned from the membership of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly. The people of Budhni reside in every breath of mine. I started my public life from Budhni and people continued to shower me with their love and affection," he noted. "Since childhood, I took part in agitations in Budhni. Thereafter, I am getting people's love and affection. Serving ...

'Symbol of dynasticism', says BJP on Priyanka contesting from Wayanad seat

The BJP on Monday slammed the Congress accusing it of indulging in "dynastic politics" after party leader Rahul Gandhi decided to retain the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat and vacate Wayanad in Kerala for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to contest the by-elections from the seat. "With Rahul Gandhi deciding to vacate the Wayanad seat and his sister to contest from there, it has become clear today that the Congress is not a political party but a company of the family," BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonwala charged. "Mother (Sonia Gandhi) will be in the Rajya Sabha, son (Rahul Gandhi) in the Lok Sabha from one (Rae Bareli) and Priyanka will also be in the Lok Sabha from another (Wayanad) seat. This is a symbol of dynasticism," he added. The BJP's reaction came after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that Gandhi will keep the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh and vacate the Wayanad seat in Kerala from where his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest. The BJP spokesperson ter

New MP Ramvir Bidhuri urges BJP chief to relieve him as Delhi assembly LoP

BJP MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, who was elected to the Lok Sabha, has requested party president JP Nadda to relieve him from the post of the leader of opposition in the Delhi assembly. Bidhuri contested the recently held general elections from the South Delhi parliamentary constituency. In a statement, Bidhuri said he has decided to resign from membership of the Delhi assembly following his election from the South Delhi seat and written to the BJP national president to be relieved from the post of leader of opposition in the assembly. He said according to rules, he needs to resign from either the assembly or the Lok Sabha within 14 days of the notification being issued. Therefore, he will be resigning from the membership of the assembly on June 18, Bidhuri said. The BJP has eight MLAs in the 70-member Delhi assembly. The number will come down to seven after his resignation. The party has yet to announce the name of next Leader of Opposition in the Assembly. Bidhuri said that as per

Elon Musk sparks fresh debate on EVMs: How do e-voting machines work?

Reacting to alleged voting irregularities in Puerto Rico, Elon Musk's Saturday remark has fuelled Indian political debate on EVM

EC should release data on EVMs found faulty in LS polls: Gaurav Gogoi

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Monday asked the Election Commission to put out data on how many EVMs were found faulty throughout the Lok Sabha polls. Gogoi, who won the just concluded Lok Sabha elections from Assam's Jorhat seat by defeating his nearest BJP rival by a margin of over 1.44 lakh votes, said he can confidently say that these machines have shown inaccurate results. Gogoi's statement came a day after a fresh political row erupted over EVM tampering claims with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders citing a media report that alleged that a relative of the Shiv Sena candidate in Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency was found using a mobile phone "connected" to an electronic voting machine during the counting of votes on June 4. In a post on 'X', Gogoi said before treating the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) as infallible, the Election Commission of India should put out data on how many EVMs were found faulty throughout the elections. He said the