Page 499 - Politics
53% polling in UP till 5 pm
Over 53 per cent polling was recorded till 5 pm in 13 Lok Sabha seats of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, officials said. In Varanasi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a second term, the voter turnout was 52.9 per cent. "Till 5 pm, the turnout (across 13 seats) was 53.19 per cent," a state election office spokesperson said. According to the data given by the state election office till 5 pm, the highest turnout was 57.80 per cent in Maharajganj, while Ballia reported the lowest turnout of 48.80 per cent. In Gorakhpur, the turnout was 54.80 per cent. Violence erupted in Chandauli Lok Sabha constituency, from where state Bharatiya Janata Party chief Mahendra Nath Pandey is seeking re-election, when supporters of the saffron party and the Samajwadi Party clashed. "The incident was reported from Parahupur Sikatiya village in Chandauli. A police team rushed to the spot and the situation was brought under control," Additional Chief Electoral Officer B D R Tiwari said. Two election ...
WB: BJP workers, CRPF have committed 'unprecedented torture' during polling, says Mamata
Upping the ante on the BJP, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that BJP workers and CRPF deployed on election duty have committed "unprecedented torture" in the state.After casting her vote at a polling station in Kolkata, Mamata said: "It is not the time of campaigning as voting is going on, hence, I will not say anything about campaigning. But in my state, since morning, the torture by the BJP workers along with the CRPF during polling is unprecedented and I have never seen it before."The TMC supremo made this statement after casting her vote at a polling station here.Large scale violence is being reported from different parliamentary constituencies of the state with Trinamool and BJP blaming each other for the violence. While vehicles of few leaders were vandalised in poll-related violence, BJP has also accused TMC of beating its office-bearers.BJP MP candidate from Jadavpur, Anupam Hazra said that the Mandal president of his party was beaten by 'goons' of TMC. BJP .
Vijayvargiya doubts Kamal Nath's survival as CM
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya here on Sunday said he wasn't sure whether Kamal Nath would survive as the Chief Minister for 22 days after the Lok Sabha election results.
Mamata accuses BJP workers, CRPF of torturing people
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday accused BJP workers and central forces of "torturing people" during the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha polls on Sunday, saying she has never seen "such a thing before."
Naidu meets Sonia Gandhi, discusses post-poll scenario
As polling for the Lok Sabha election ends today, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi at her residence here.The meeting, which is seen as an effort towards forming an alternative government at the Centre if the BJP does not get enough numbers to retain power, lasted for forty-five minutes.Earlier in the day, Naidu also met Congress president Rahul Gandhi. He met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar at his residence.Naidu on Saturday had held discussions with the leaders of parties opposed to the BJP. He met Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati in Lucknow.Naidu also met CPI leader Sudhakar Reddy and Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) leader Sharad Yadav. He had flown to Lucknow for meeting the grand alliance leaders.
Over 46% percent turnout in Bihar at 4 p.m.
A turnout of 46.28 per cent was recorded till 4 p.m. in polling to eight seats in Bihar in the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha polls in the state amid stray incidents of violence, EVM glitches and poll boycotts.
Naidu meets Sonia Gandhi, attempts to cobble front to keep BJP out of power
Naidu, who has met Sonia Gandhi during the days of the United Front government in 1996, drove to her residence for the meeting. Nothing was disclosed about what they discussed but it is understood that the two leaders went over the options before non-BJP parties in the post-poll scenario.Earlier in the day the TDP chief also met Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury.He had also met Pawar yesterday as well as Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and grand alliance leaders BSP chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow."It is a pleasure to welcome Hon''ble Chief Minister Shri N Chandrababu Naidu Ji to Lucknow," Akhilesh Yadav tweeted after the meeting.Naidu also met NCP chief Sharad Pawar, CPI leader Sudhakar Reddy, and Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav. Last night, he had met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.Sonia Gandhi has also invited leaders of the UPA and sounded some others including Odisha and Telangana ..
59.38 per cent voting in MP till 4 pm
A voter turnout of 59.38 per cent was recorded till 4 pm in eight Lok Sabha seats of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has said.According to the ECI, Dewas recorded 63.88 pc voting, Ujjain 58.76 pc, Mandsour 62.52 pc, Ratlam 59.73 pc, Dhar 58.69 pc, Indore 54.55 pc, Khargone 59.95 pc, and Khandwa 58.56 pc.From Dewas, BJP has fielded Mahendra Singh Solanki, while Congress has put up Prahlad Singh Tipaniya. In Ujjain, Anil Firojiya is in the fray on BJP ticket and Babulal Malviya from the Congress.In Mandsour Lok Sabha seat, the BJP has reposed faith in Sudheer Gupta, while Congress has fielded former MP Meenakshi Natarajan.In Ratlam, Guman Singh Damor is in the fray on BJP ticket, while Kantilal Bhuria is trying his luck as a Congress candidate.In Dhar seat, BJP has fielded Chattarsingh Darbar, who is pitted against Girwal Dinesh of the Congress.The prestigious seat of Indore, which was represented by Sumitra Mahajan for many terms, is witnessing a fight .
TMC alleges central forces 'intimidating' voters
The Trinamool Congress Sunday alleged that the central forces were "brutally torturing" and "intimidating" voters in West Bengal and acting as per orders of BJP leaders. In a statement, Trinamool Congress lawmaker Derek O' Brien said, Bengal wants peaceful polling, which BJP doesn't. "Today, in Bengal, central forces are brutally torturing and intimidating common citizens, especially the marginalised. Even physically handicapped persons are being tortured. Central forces are also threatening voters 'kamal dabao nahin toh thok dega' (vote for BJP or will shoot you)," he said. "Media has all these videos. Many are already in the public domain," he added. O'Brien alleged that central forces were "mercilessly" beating up Trinamool Congress workers. "We are against violence and want the polling process to be peaceful. But the BJP is resorting to high level of violence in the Bhatpara Assembly bypoll. This is dangerous for democracy," he said. "This is a horror story being ...
64% turnout in Bengal amid sporadic violence, rigging (3RD LEAD)(3 PM)
A BJP candidate was attacked while the vehicles of another saffron party nominee and a party leader were vandalised allegedly by Trinamool Congress workers as West Bengal recorded 63.66 per cent polling till 3 p.m. on Sunday amid allegations of sporadic violence, rigging and EVM breakdowns.
Punjab sees 57% voting amidst skirmishes (4 p.m.)
Amid reports of skirmishes and snags in electronic voting machines (EVMs), nearly 57 per cent voting was recorded till 4 p.m. for Punjab's 13 Lok Sabha seats in the final phase of the general elections on Sunday, officials said.
BJP-Trinamool clash in Kankinara, hurl bombs
The by-polls in West Bengal's Bhatpara Assembly constituency was marred by severe violence and bombings on Sunday, amidst clashes between workers of Bharatiya Janata Party and Trinamool Congress at Kankinara in North 24 Parganas district.
TDP seeks action against PM Modi
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday took strong objection to the telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's activities in Kedarnath and Badrinath, saying it was a "clear violation" of the election Model Code of Conduct as voters could be influenced during the last phase of Lok Sabha polls and attacked the Election Commission for being a "mute spectator".
Rahul tells Karnataka leaders to behave, avoid coalition troubles
Amidst sniping of coalition partners JD(S) by Congress leaders in Karnataka, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday told the state unit that such behaviour will not be tolerated.This was conveyed by Gandhi to a delegation of party leaders who met him here according to working president of the Karnataka Congress unit , Dinesh Gundu Rao."The meeting with Rahul Gandhi is a bid to work in a more cohesive, strong and united manner. Some statements have been made against the coalition government by a few of our party members, which are not acceptable at all. Because of Lok Sabha election, we did not take any strict action but in the future, the party high command has said such things will be not tolerated and firm action will be taken. We need to have more discipline in Congress party," said Rao.The delegation included former chief minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar.The state unit president also said that very soon a co-ordination committee meeting will be ...
Bengal poll violence: CPI(M) leader Yechury speaks to CEC
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Sunday said he had spoken to the chief election commissioner about the violence in West Bengal in the last phase of the Lok Sabha polls. "Spoke to CEC Shri Sunil Arora ji, apprised him of the large scale attempts at rigging and violence in Dum Dum, Diamond Harbour, Kolkata Uttar, Jadavpur. He has assured us. We hope at this final stage of the poll, they can ensure that people are allowed to vote, freely and fairly," the Left leader said in a tweet. West Bengal has witnessed violence in all the seven phases of polling. On Sunday, polling was held for nine Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.
Michigan Rep. Justin Amash becomes first Republican to call for Trump's impeachment
US Representative from Michigan, Justin Amash, on Saturday (local time) said he believed that President Donald Trump has engaged in "impeachable conduct," becoming the first politician of his party to call for removing the president from his party.The Michigan representative also accused Attorney General William Barr of "deliberately" misleading the public over the actual content of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference into the 2016 US Presidential elections.In a Twitter thread on Saturday, Amash said he believed "few members of Congress even read" special counsel Robert Mueller's report and that the report itself established "multiple examples" of Trump committing obstruction of justice."Here are my principal conclusions: 1. Attorney General Barr has deliberately misrepresented Mueller's report. 2. President Trump has engaged in impeachable conduct. 3. Partisanship has eroded our system of checks and balances. 4. Few members of Congress have read the ...
April-May not appropriate for polls, election be held in Nov or Feb: Paswan
BJP ally and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan Sunday spoke against polling in April-May, saying extreme hot condition in the period is not appropriate for elections as he asked political parties to evolve consensus for polls to be held in either February or November. Earlier in the day, Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar also questioned the long drawn polling in intense heat conditions and suggested general election should be held in two or three phases either in February-March or October-November. In his tweets, Paswan said people are nowadays more aware about voting but April-May is not an appropriate period for Lok Sabha or assembly polls as the period is extremely hot and results in a lower turnout. "After a new government is formed after the elections, leaders of all political parties should seriously consider holding the polls either in February or November. It will facilitate campaigning. People will cast votes in comfort, boosting the turnout. It will ...
Stop 'continuous' telecast of PM's Kedarnath, Badrinath visits: Naidu to CEC
Opposition leader and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu Sunday wrote to the Election Commission, claiming that "continuous" telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "private activities" at Badrinath and Kedarnath shrines is violation of the poll code and should be stopped. Naidu is in the national capital trying to bring Opposition parties together to keep the BJP out of power after Lok Sabha election results are declared on May 23. Modi, who has expressed scientific knowledge guiding the scientists and defense experts to go ahead with air strikes on a cloudy day to escape from being caught by radars, is now trying to project a "megalomaniac" image of himself through various "dubious" activities, Naidu said. "If continuous telecast of these activities of Prime Minister is not stopped, it could affect the level playing field envisaged by the model code of conduct, which the ECI is duty bound to implement," he said in a letter written to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora. Modi has ..
Austrian president calls for September snap elections
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen said Sunday he wanted snap elections to take place in September after the government collapsed over a corruption scandal. "My preference is for early elections in September, if possible the beginning of September," he told journalists after holding talks with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. The legal procedures to fix the date will now have to take place over the coming weeks, with Van der Bellen set to hold further talks with other party leaders. The announcement came after a dramatic 48 hours in Austrian politics which saw far-right Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache resign in disgrace following explosive revelations in a hidden camera sting. On Friday, two German newspapers published footage showing Strache openly discussing the possibility of awarding public contracts in return for campaign help for his far-right Freedom Party (FPOe). Speaking alongside Van der Bellen, Kurz said that early elections had not been "desirable, but were ...
70% of votes cast in seven polling stations in AP
: About 70 per cent of votes have been polled till 3 pm in seven polling stations in Chandragiri assembly constituency under the Chittoor Lok Sabha segment of Andhra Pradesh, where re-poll is being held Sunday. A minor clash was reported between Telugu Desam Party and YSR Congress workers at Pulivarthivari Palle following which a case has been registered against TDP candidate Pulivarthi Nani. The election commission's special observer Vinod Zutsi and state chief electoral officer Gopal Krishna Dwivedi monitored the polling process through webcasting from the command control centre at the Secretariat. Elaborate security arrangements have been made at the seven polling stations with about 2,000-strong police force under the supervision of IPS officers. In all, there are 5,451 voters, according to the chief electoral officer. On Wednesday, the EC had ordered re-poll in five polling stations, on a petition by YSR Congress candidate Chevireddy Bhaskara Reddy who alleged that .