Page 98 - Lok Sabha Elections

Noida restaurants, hospitals offer 'Democracy Discount' to voters on Apr 26

Restaurants and hospitals here are offering discounts on their services to citizens who go out to vote in the Lok Sabha elections on April 26. The initiative called Democracy Discount allows the citizens to avail 20 per cent discount in restaurants in Noida and Greater Noida by showing their finger with voter ink on April 26 and April 27. National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) has exhorted member companies for the initiative, which has seen about two dozen restaurants in the constituency coming on board till Wednesday. Among restaurants offering the discount are Desi Vibes, Kaffiiaa, I Sacked Newton, De Valentino Caf, Noida Social, Getafix, Osteria, Chica Loca, F Bar Noida, Xero Courtyard Gardens Galleria, Dirty Rabbit, Baby Dragon, Trippy Tequila, Cafe Delhi heights, Ching Singh, Paso Noida, Moire Cafe & Lounge, The Beer Caf, Sky by Swagath, 'Imperfecto and The Patiala Kkitchen, according to NRAI. "The idea is to encourage citizens for more voter turnout," Varun Khera,

Priyanka Gandhi accuses BJP, PM of diverting attention from real issues

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged on Wednesday the prices of essential commodities are rising under BJP rule, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the saffron party are diverting attention from real issues even during the election campaign. Launching a scathing attack on the BJP and the Prime Minister at a corner meeting in Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency where her brother Rahul Gandhi is seeking re-election, she said the BJP government led by Modi failed to address issues like price rise and unemployment. She said the Lok Sabha election is an opportunity to "protect democracy and the Constitution of India." Priyanka alleged the prices of petrol, diesel and other essential commodities have risen "exponentially" in the last 10 years of BJP rule. Similarly, she stated the unemployment rate has increased. However, she alleged the Prime Minister and BJP leaders will not address these problems. "They will not speak about development; they will not speak about real issues," t

BJP leader Nityanand Rai owns assets worth Rs 15.45 crore: Affidavit

Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Nityanand Rai, seeking re-election from Ujiarpur Lok Sabha seat in Bihar under the NDA banner, has declared movable and immovable assets totaling Rs 15.45 crore in his filed affidavit. His wife's assets amount to Rs 2.47 crore. Rai submitted his nomination papers for Ujiarpur on Tuesday, with elections for Ujiarpur, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Begusarai, and Munger Lok Sabha seats scheduled for the fourth phase on May 13. According to Rai's affidavit, his movable assets stand at Rs 5.52 crore, while his immovable assets are valued at Rs 9.92 crore. His wife's movable assets are worth Rs 42.9 lakh, with immovable assets valued at Rs 2.04 crore. Additionally, Rai declared Rs 3.25 lakh cash in hand, with his wife holding Rs 1.35 lakh. He holds four bank accounts and gold jewellery worth Rs 13.20 lakh, while his wife has one bank account and gold jewellery worth Rs 21.60 lakh, along with silver jewellery valued at Rs 1.23 lakh. Rai's immovable assets .

LS polls: PM Modi is afraid of invisible voters, says AICC chief Kharge

AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said as the first round of voting of the Lok Sabha polls was over, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was afraid of invisible voters and that's why he is always criticising the Congress party. If the Congress is nothing, why is the Prime Minister bothered about the grand old party, Kharge asked at a press conference here. He said he had travelled to nearly 10-12 states and that the party was getting a very good response from voters there. "I hope the undercurrent, that I can say, is not visible but Modiji is afraid of these invisible voters, and that's why he is always criticising the Congress," Kharge said at the press conference. Accusing the Prime Minister of acting like a "petty politician," the AICC president also wanted him to read more about this country's history and learn how to keep the nation united.

LS elections: Both Left, Cong taking PFI support in polls, says Amit Shah

Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday attacked the Congress and the ruling Left in Kerala, alleging both were taking the support of a banned organisation, Popular Front of India, to win in the Lok Sabha polls in the state. Shah alleged that while the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), political wing of PFI, openly proclaimed its support for the Congress-led UDF in Kerala, the LDF was silent on the ban on PFI. "On the other hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working to protect the country from organisations like the PFI," he said at a poll rally in Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency while seeking votes for BJP's candidate Sobha Surendran. He also alleged that during the rule of the Communists and the Congress, terrorists were protected in state. Shah also attacked the Congress and the Left, alleging that they both pretend to be fighting each other in Kerala and West Bengal, while in other parts of the country they are together. He claimed that ...

Delhi BJP protests near Cong HQ, accuses Rahul of 'disintegrating' India

The Delhi BJP on Wednesday staged a protest near the Congress party headquarters here, claiming that Rahul Gandhi was indulging in politics to disintegrate India. The BJP also said that the Congress manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls was an "insult" to the culture of the country. Ahead of Lok Sabha polls, the BJP including Prime Minister Narendra Modi have launched a frontal attack on the Congress alleging its manifesto smacks of appeasement and that if it came to power, it would redistribute people's wealth and also give reservations to Muslims from the quotas for SC, ST and OBC communities. Senior BJP leaders, including national general secretary Tarun Chugh, Delhi state president Virendra Sachdeva, and Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha president Richa Pandey, took part in the protest. Chugh said the manifesto of the Congress "conspired" to "snatch away" property and jewellery of women and give it to the minorities. He alleged the Congress manifesto was an "insult" to the culture of the ..

Group of suspected Maoists in Wayanad call for boycott of LS polls

A four-member group of suspected armed Maoists reached an area under Thalappuzha police station in this hill district on Wednesday morning, urging the people there to boycott the April 26 Lok Sabha polls. A police officer said a group of police personnel has gone to Kambamala after learning about the Maoist presence in the area. However, he did not elaborate. Meanwhile, locals said the Maoists reached the area around 6.15 am and raised slogans. The ultras also urged the people to boycott voting, they said. The Maoists were in their uniforms and were carrying guns. They spent around 20 minutes in the area, the locals added. A purported video of the Maoists interacting with the locals surfaced later. It also showed that there were people, mainly workers, at the junction at the time of their arrival.

PM waived off loans worth Rs 16 trn of his billionaire friends, says Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of waiving off loans worth Rs 16 lakh crore of his billionaire friends, and said the country will never forgive him for this "crime". In a post in Hindi on X, he said this money could have been used to cure the pain of Indians but was spent on creating hype for the ilk of those like 'Adanis'. "Narendra Modi has waived off the loans of his billionaire friends amounting to Rs 1,60,00,00,00,00,000 i.e. 16 lakh crore rupees. With this much money: 16 crore youth could have got jobs of Rs 1 lakh per year, by giving Rs 1 lakh per year to 16 crore women, the lives of their families could have been changed. Countless suicides could have been prevented by waiving off the loans of 10 crore farmer families," he said. "The entire country could have been provided gas cylinders for just Rs 400 for 20 years. The entire expenses of the Indian Army could have been borne for 3 years. Education up to graduation could have be

Do not make inflammatory remarks during campaign: Poll officials in Latur

Poll authorities have asked candidates in Maharashtra's Latur Lok Sabha constituency to refrain from making inflammatory speeches and personal criticism against opponents during their campaign. Latur's general election observer Niranjan Kumar on Tuesday held a meeting with the candidates at the district collectorate and also appealed to them to follow the model code of conduct and cooperate with the authorities for the conduct of elections in a transparent and peaceful manner. Twenty eight candidates are in the fray for the Latur Lok Sabha seat election, to be held on May 7. Among the major political parties, the BJP has fielded sitting MP Sudhakar Shrangare, the Congress has given a ticket to Shivaji Kalge, and the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) has fielded Narsingrao Nivritti Udgirkar. During the meeting, Kumar said, "Candidates should not make inflammatory, provocative speeches during the campaign and refrain from personal criticism." It is mandatory for the

LS elections: Repolling underway in 4 assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh

Repolling at eight polling stations in four assembly constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh is underway on Wednesday, amid elaborate security arrangements, an official said. The repolling was necessitated following reports of violence, including damage to electronic voting machines (EVMs), during the simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the northeastern state on April 19, he said. The Election Commission ordered repolling to Sario under the Bameng assembly constituency in East Kameng district, Longte Loth in the Nyapin segment in Kurung Kumey, and Bogne and Molom booths under the Rumgong seat in Siang. Dingser, Bogiya Siyum, Jimbari and Lengi under the Nacho constituency in Upper Subansiri are also on the list of booths where repolling is underway. The polling began at 6 AM and is scheduled to end at 2 PM, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pawan Kumar Sain said, adding that all eligible voters would be allowed to cast votes after issuing slips if voting is not completed on ...

LS polls: NCP (SP) moves EC over poll symbol allocation in Baramati

The Nationalist Congress Party (SP) has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the symbol of a trumpet-like instrument allotted to an independent candidate contesting from its stronghold, Baramati, in Maharashtra's Pune district. The NCP (SP) has claimed the ECI has allotted a trumpet-like symbol to independent candidate Shaikh Soyalshah Yunusshah and has identified it as "tutari". The ECI has allotted "a man blowing turha" (a traditional trumpet) as the poll symbol for the NCP (SP). The complaint filed by Laxmikant Khabiya, the poll representative of the party's candidate, Supriya Sule, stated that there is a similarity in both names, which can cause confusion among voters. Khabiya submitted the complaint to the returning officer on April 20. "The symbol given to the independent candidate is a trumpet. In Marathi, it cannot be called 'tutari'. We have requested the ECI to call the symbol 'trumpet' instead of 'tutari'," he stated in the complaint. The

EAM Jaishankar slams Western media, says 'games being played with us'

"Now I read that article and I wanted to say listen, in that heat my lowest turnout is higher than your highest turnout in the best run," Jaishankar said

LS polls: War of words between Cong, BJP leaders intensifies in Kolhapur

Congress leader Satej Patil and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dhananjay Mahadik engaged in a war of words in Kolhapur in western Maharashtra on Tuesday after Patil warned the opposition not to obstruct his party's workers while they campaigned. If opponents created obstructions, he will confront them with a stick, Patil reportedly said. Mahadik responded by asking whether Patil wanted start riots by using such language. "I want to tell the opponents not to mess with us while we campaign. You do your campaign but do not try to mess with us," the Congress leader said. Mahadik told reporters that nobody was obstructing people from other parties. "Using the language of stick, does he want to start riots here," the BJP MP asked, claiming that Patil was already sensing defeat of his party. In Kolhapur, Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj of Congress is pitted against Shiv Sena's current MP Sanjay Mandlik.

Volatility index India Vix records steepest slump in nearly 5 years

Poll expectations, easing of global tensions likely causes

Prakash Ambedkar flays MVA; sees bright future for Bahujan politics

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar discusses electoral strategies, the potential for post-poll alliances, and the evolving landscape of Maharashtra politics

Lok Sabha polls: Will Bengal's sagging tea industry brew a new flavour?

Darjeeling goes to vote on April 26 in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections alongside Balurghat and Raiganj. All three in North Bengal are BJP seats

How young India views the world and polls

The ethnographic study findings suggest that politics is not on the radar of 18-21 year old Indians

My mother's 'mangalsutra' was sacrificed for this country: Priyanka Gandhi

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "gold and mangalsutra" remarks, saying her mother Sonia Gandhi sacrificed her mangalsutra' for the country. What talks are happening in this country? Two days back there were speeches that Congress wants to snatch your 'mangalsutra'. This country has been free for the past 75 years, and 55 years Congress was in power. Did Congress ever snatch your gold or 'mangalsutra'?, she asked at an election rally here. Priyanka was referring to Modi's allegations that the Congress plans to give people's hard-earned money and valuables to "infiltrators" and "those who have more children' -- alluding to Muslims in his campaign speech in Rajasthan yesterday -- and would steal the "gold of mothers and sisters" if voted to power. In a sharp attack on Modi, Priyanka said: When there was war, Indira Gandhi (her grandmother and former prime minister) donated her gold." She further said, "My mother's ..

Congress wanted to give SC, ST quota to Muslims: PM Narendra Modi

He said the Congress' actions betrayed that it didn't respect either the Constitution or B R Ambedkar, while he was dedicated to protecting the sanctity of that document

Beyond promises

The BJP's election manifesto raises many economic-policy issues requiring a more holistic approach