Page 60 - Lok Sabha

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

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

Lok Sabha polls: BJP's bastion gears up for a triangular contest in Akola

For the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP has fielded Sanjay Dhotre's son, Anup Dhotre, against the Congress' state committee general secretary Abhay Patil

BJP's road ahead to fulfill agri promises in 2024 election manifesto

Significant progress has been made in the production, yields and the cultivation area of pulse and oilseed between FY19 and FY23

LS polls: Jobs among major issues for young Muslim women voters in Aligarh

For young Muslim women voters in Aligarh, jobs are not only a means of livelihood but crucially a pathway to independence and security. Salma Khatoon (name changed), 21, an engineering graduate facing familial pressures to marry, emphasized the significance of employment for women like her. "For me, finding a job is about more than just a career, it's about independence. If I can't find work, I'll have to follow my family's wishes," she said. Similarly, first time voter Syeda Fatima, a computer engineering master's student, has been advised by her family to prioritize marriage if she cannot secure a job placement. Highlighting a common sentiment among Muslim women in Aligarh, Farhat Jahan, a retired teacher at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), said, "For women here, jobs represent not just livelihood but independence and security. They do not want to regress to a time when their sole purpose was to study to find a suitable husband." The issue of unemployment resonates strongly

Congress tried to give reservations to Muslims out of SC/ST quota: PM Modi

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress of plotting to snatch property, assured reservation for Dalits and backward classes

Lok Sabha Elections: Did BJP really get its first win from Surat constituency

In a first in this year’s Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already marked its first poll victory. BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal has been declared the winner from the Surat

LS polls: Not scared of expulsion from BJP, says ex-Deputy CM Eshwarappa

Former Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa on Tuesday said he is not scared of expulsion from the BJP as he reiterated his resolve to contest the Lok Sabha elections as an independent with full vigour. He said his expulsion was on the expected lines. BJP on Monday expelled Eshwarappa for six years for violating party discipline, and contesting Lok Sabha polls as an independent candidate. "Ignoring the party's directions, you are contesting as a rebel candidate from Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency, causing embarrassment to the party. This is violation of party discipline," state disciplinary committee president Lingaraj Patil said in the expulsion order. It said, "so, you have been relieved from all the responsibilities and have been expelled from the party for six years, with immediate effect." Eshwarappa has remained steadfast on his decision to contest, spurning efforts by party leaders to pacify him. The paty's decision to expel the former Leader of Opposition in the Legislati

Hold Modi accountable for 'false, unverified allegations': Congress to EC

Congress says the Election Commission 'risks tarnishing its legacy and abandoning its constitutional duty' if it fails to act against the Prime Minister

Lok Sabha election results may send stock market tumbling, warns Bernstein

The markets have factored in close to 350 seats for the BJP and almost 400 seats for the NDA. If they get 50 seats fewer, there will be a market correction, says Bernstein

Repolling at 11 Manipur polling stations after gunfire, EVMs destroyed

Manipur chief electoral officer on Saturday announced repolling at 11 polling stations in Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency on April 22. The decision follows a directive from the Election Commission to declare the polls held at these stations on April 19 as null and void and schedule fresh polling. The affected polling stations are Moirangkampu Sajeb and Thongam Leikai in Khurai constituency, four in Kshetrigao and one in Thongju in Imphal East district and three in Uripok and one in Konthoujam in Imphal West district, the official said. Incidents of firing, intimidation, destruction of EVMs at some polling booths and allegations of booth capturing were reported from conflict-hit Manipur that recorded a turnout of 72 per cent in the two Lok Sabha constituencies - Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur - on Friday. Earlier in the day, the Congress had demanded repoll in 47 polling stations alleging that booths were captured and elections were rigged. Manipur Congress president K ...

BJP's Mukesh Dalal runs unopposed, wins Surat Lok Sabha Seat before polls

Eight other candidates, including that of BSP, withdraw their candidature on the final day for withdrawal of nomination forms

Rahul will try to create division, don't fall for it, says Irani in Amethi

Union minister and local MP Smriti Irani on Monday alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will come to Amethi after April 26 and divide the people in the name of casteism and visit one temple after the other. Addressing roadside meetings during her election campaign in Bhetua and Bhadar areas here, Irani said, "After the voting in Wayanad on April 26, Rahul Gandhi will come here to tell everyone that Amethi is his family and stoke the fire of casteism in the society here." She added, "Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party rejected the invitation for the consecration ceremony of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya but he will be seen roaming around the temples in Amethi. So there is a need to be careful and alert." In a major upset for the Congress in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Irani wrested Amethi from Rahul Gandhi, who had held the constituency for 15 years. The Congress has not yet declared its candidate from the seat but local party workers are rooting for Rahul Gandhi to contest again. T

Lok Sabha polls Phase 1: 81% of applicants use postal ballots to cast vote

The Election Commission of India has extended its "vote-from-home" facility using postal ballots to persons with disabilities (PwD) and senior citizens aged 85 and above

LS polls: CM Revanth Reddy lashes out at BJP, alleges PM insulted T'gana

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday hit out at the BJP and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi insulted Telangana in the past with comments on the state's formation in Parliament. Modi had commented that the then Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government closed the doors of Parliament when the bill for Telangana's formation was passed and that "mother (Andhra Pradesh)" was "killed" to give birth to the "child (Telangana)", Revanth Reddy claimed. The Congress fulfilled the promise of Telangana's formation though it was decimated in Andhra Pradesh (post bifurcation), the chief minister said. Does Modi have the right to seek votes in Telangana when he insulted the state, he asked while addressing a rally in support of the Congress' Bhuvanagiri candidate Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy. Modi has not fulfilled the assurances given to Telangana in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, including setting up a steel plant, railway coach factory and others in the state,

Will 'last election' appeal work for former MP CM Digvijaya Singh?

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh to contest from Rajhgarh constituency of Madhya Pradesh after a gap of 33 years

BSP announces names of candidate for four Lok Sabha seats in Himachal

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Sunday announced its candidates for all four Lok Sabha seats in Himachal Pradesh. State BSP chief Narayan Azad said his party would expose the "anti-Scheduled Caste stance" of both the BJP and the Congress and would contest the election on the plank of justice to the poor and scheduled castes and tribes. He said that Anil Kumar will contest from the Shimla (Reserve) seat, Hem Raj will be the party candidate from the Hamirpur seat, while Prakash Chand Bhardwaj and Rekha Rani will contest from Mandi and Kangra seats respectively. A party meeting was held at Una recently where the names of the candidates were discussed and sent to the party high command for approval.

PM talks about 'Make in India' but wants Chinese goods in country: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed that although Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about 'Make in India', he has "destroyed" MSMEs through demonetisation and GST as he wants Chinese goods to be sold in the country and billionaires profit from it. He also the BJP government has created "two types of martyrs" and asserted that if voted to power, the Congress will scrap the Agniveer scheme. At an election meeting here also attended by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, the former Congress chief alleged that PM Modi worked with full vigour for 15-20 billionaires in the past 10 years. By diverting people's attention, the "entire wealth of India was handed over to these people. Narendra Modi ji has waived loans worth Rs 16 lakh crore of the billionaires", he claimed. "They have waived the loans of 10-15 people. Narendra Modi ji has given lakhs of crores to the billionaires. Today, the situation is such that 22 people possess wealth equal to that of 70 crore Indians... T

Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar, BJP candidate from UP's Moradabad, dies at 72

BJP candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha seat Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar, who was unwell for some time, died at Delhi's AIIMS hospital on Saturday, a senior party leader said. He was 72. "Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar has passed away," UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary told PTI. "He had some problem in his throat and had an operation. Yesterday, he had gone to AIIMS for a check-up," Chaudhary. Voting in Moradabad constituency in Uttar Pradesh took place in the first phase on Friday.

LS polls: Undercurrent in favour of INDIA gaining strength, says Congress

A day after polling for the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress on Saturday claimed that the INDIA bloc is far ahead of the BJP and an undercurrent in favour of the coalition is gaining strength. Polling in the first phase of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections covering 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories took place on Friday. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "BJP's Graph: South Mein Saaf, North Mein Half! Here's what we know after the first phase of voting: In the first phase, voting was held on 102 seats in 21 states. Ground reports clearly show the INDIA coalition far ahead of BJP." "We have swept Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, and performed strongly in Bihar, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh," he claimed. Ramesh further said that the BJP's performance in key states has been "remarkably poor". "The BJP leadership is in panic due to these trends - the PM's tweet is an indication of the desperation in their camp," he claimed. Ram