Page 503 - Politics
Over 22 per cent polling till 11 am in UP
More than 22 per cent voting was recorded till 11 am in 13 Lok Sabha seats of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, officials said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was among the early voters in Gorakhpur, said, "People are fighting this election for nation's interest and if someone cannot understand this thing, his IQ is questionable. The entire election revolved around Modiji. With big achievements of his government during the last five years, the BJP will win the election. Ram Bhuwal Nishad, the SP-BSP alliance candidate also voted at Daunadih Prathmik Vidyalaya booth number 295 in Gorakhpur. Union minister of state for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla also exercised his franchise in Gorakhpur. He said BJP candidate Ravi Kishan will win with more than 3 lakh votes and the BJP will form government at the Centre. The turnout in Varanasi was 23.10 per cent, while in Gorakhpur, it was 23.62 per cent. The highest turnout was 26 per cent in Maharajganj, while Robertsganj reported the lowest turnout of ..
Trump opposed to parts of Alabama's abortion ban
US President Donald Trump has outlined a less restrictive view of abortion than what was passed by Alabama's Republican state government.
102-year-old voter casts ballot in Himachal
Shyam Saran Negi, a 102-year-old voter who also participated in the 1951-52 general elections which were the country's first, cast his ballot on Sunday at a picturesque hamlet in Kinnaur district as elections were held to elect four members of Parliament from Himachal
RSF urges Nepalese Government to drop probe against journalists on Dalai Lama news
Reporters without Borders (RSF or Reporters Sans Frontieres) has urged Nepalese Government to drop the probe against three journalists of the Rashtriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) who published a report about Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama.Journalists Mohani Risal, Somnath Lamichhane and Jivan Bhandari, who work for the foreign desk of Nepal's state-owned news agency RSS, are being investigated over the news on Dalai Lama. The desk had dispatched news about the health condition of Tibetan spiritual leader.The probe was initiated following the instruction by Nepal's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology."They are being probed for the issue of a Dalai Lama related story following instructions by Ministry (Communications and Information Technology). The journalists have given their answer about coverage, they have mentioned that it was based on humanitarian ground and had a strong news sense and value as it was an issue of concern for all," a member from the committee ...
Nearly 32% voting recorded in Andhra re-polls
Nearly 32 per cent voters exercised their ballots in seven polling stations as re-polling was underway in Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday amid tight security.
Voters boycott polling at six booths in MP
Voters boycotted polling at six booths in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday over some local issues, a senior election official said. Efforts were on to pursuade the voters to exercise their democratic right, MP's Chief Electoral Officer V L Kantha Rao told reporters here. Polling was underway in the eight constituencies of Dewas, Ujjain, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Dhar, Indore, Khargone and Khandwa since 7 am, he said. However, voters listed at a booth in Agar Malwa district falling under the Dewas seat and five booths in Mandsaur seat boycotted the polling over some of their demands, Rao said, without elaborating further. "Our teams are in talks with them and urging them to cast their votes. We are trying hard so that that no one refrains from voting over local issues," he said. Rao said around 12 people cast their votes at the polling booth in Dewas after being persuaded by the election officials there. Meanwhile, long queues were seen at several other booths in the eight ...
Rabri Devi seeks Nitish's resignation over Pragya Thakur's comment
RJD leader Rabri Devi sought Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's resignation after the latter condemned Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur's comment on Nathuram Godse.Rabri told ANI that if Kumar was miffed over Thakur's remark then he should have separated from the BJP."Nitish Kumar should have resigned, if he is hurt over Pragya Thakur's comment. He should have separated from BJP over this comment," she said speaking to ANI."We are getting 40 out of 40 seats. The Mahagathbandhan is relaxed. On May 23, everything will be clear," she added .Pragya Thakur on May 16, stoked a huge controversy and left the BJP red-faced with her comment that Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse was a 'true patriot', a statement her party condemned and asked her to apologise for it immediately.The Opposition parties tore into Pragya, saying what she said reflected the mindset of the people nurtured in RSS ideology.Thakur, an accused in the Malegaon blast case, is not new to courting controversies. After being ...
Over 30 pc polling in 4 assembly constituencies till 11 AM
Brisk voting was reported in the four Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu Sunday, with over 30 per cent of the electorate casting their votes in all four segments till 11 AM in the by-polls. Election Commission officials said polling was peaceful and smooth, despite early EVM glitches in some areas, even as the ruling AIADMK filed complaints against DMK, including charging one of the opposition party candidates with "wronful restraint" of voters in Aravakurichi. Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Satyabrata Sahoo said wherever complaints regarding glitches in EVMs were made, officials were rushed to address the situation. Adequate police protection has been deployed in all four constituencies to ensure peaceful election, he added. According to the EC figures, all four constituencies-- Sulur (31.55 per cent), Aravakurichi (34.89 per cent), Thirupparankundram (30.02 per cent) and Ottapidaram (SC) (30.28 percent), recorded over 30 per cent voting till 11 AM. Brisk ...
Vote to strengthen democracy: Himachal CM
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday urged people to vote to strengthen the democracy as the state's four Lok Sabha seats -- Shimla, Mandi, Hamirpur and Kangra -- cast their vote in the seventh and final phase of polling of the Lok Sabha elections.
29.48% voting in MP LS polls (11 a.m.)
Madhya Pradesh on Sunday witnessed 29.48 per cent voting in the first four hours of polling to the state's eight Lok Sabha seats in the seventh and last phase of voting in the ongoing general elections, an official said.
Nearly 13% polling in Himachal (2nd Lead) (11 a.m.)
Nearly 13 per cent of over 53 lakh voters in Himachal Pradesh turned out in the first four hours of polling on Sunday to elect members of Parliament for four seats in the last phase of the general elections, officials said.
West Bengal run by goons: Kailash Vijayvargiya
BJP's Bengal in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya on Sunday slammed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and claimed that her goons are running the state of West Bengal.The leader also said that the state government and police have together murdered the democracy of the region."Mamata Banerjee has handed over the charge of the state to the goons. There is hooliganism in the state and no democracy. There is dictatorship in the region. West Bengal government and police have together murdered the democracy of the region," he said.Vijayvargiya said that the BJP wants to establish democracy in West Bengal and added that the Mamata Banerjee government is not allowing people to vote for the BJP."I have come to know that people in West Bengal want to vote cast their ballot in favour of the BJP but the workers of the West Bengal government are blocking their ways. I believe that PM Modi is the only leader which can strengthen the democracy in the country and can take the nation forward," he said.The ...
Over 13 pc voting till 11 am in Punjab
An estimated 13.55 per cent polling was recorded till 11 am in 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab Around 10.40 per cent voting turnout was registered in lone Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat till 11 am, poll officials said. Polling for all the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab and Union Territory Chandigarh began at 7 am Sunday and it will continue till 6 pm. Gurdaspur recorded a voter turnout of 13.28 per cent, followed by Amritsar (8.29), Khadoor Sahib (12.66), Jalandhar (12.11), Hoshiarpur (9.03), Anandpur Sahib (14.81), Ludhiana (11.92), Fategarh Sahib (14.98), Faridkot (14.33), Ferozepur (14.50), Bathinda (17.27), Sangrur (18.93) and Patiala recorded 13.98 per cent. Voters queued up early morning at several polling stations to exercise their franchise. There were some reports of technical glitches in EVMs at several places including Ludhiana, Samana and Moga. Punjab's Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju said eight ballot units, 13 control units, and eightvoter-verified paper audit ...
Nitish condemns Pragya Thakur's remark on Godse, favours her
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday strongly condemned BJP's Bhopal candidate Pragya Singh Thakur's controversial remark describing assassin of Mahatama Gandhi, Nathuram Godse as "patriot' and said BJP should consider expelling her from the party. Kumar, president of BJP's strong ally JD(U), made it clear that his party would not tolerate such things. "This is highly condemnable. We will not tolerate all these things (Thakur's statement terming Godse as patriot). Bapu is the father of the nation and people will not like if anyone talks about Godse in this manner, " Kumar said. Kumar was talking to reporters after casting his vote at a polling station located at a government school near Raj Bhavan here. It falls under Patna Sahib Lok Sabha seat, where Congress candidate Shatrughan Sinha is locked in an intense contest with Union Minister Ravishankar Prasad. In reply to a query whether the BJP should expel her from the party, Kumar said that "it must be ...
Nitish Kumar condemns Pragya Thakur's pro-Godse remark
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday condemned BJP candidate Pragya Singh Thakur for calling Nathuram Godse a "patriot", asserting that his party JD(U), an ally of BJP, will not tolerate any remark in support of Mahatma Gandhi's assassin."It is condemnable, we don't agree with such views. Mahatma Gandhi is the father of the nation. Suspending her from the party is their own matter. Giving a reaction or taking action is an internal matter of their party. As much as we are concerned, we will not tolerate this kind of view," he told reporters here after casting his vote for the Lok Sabha polls.Demanding that elections should be held in two or three phases instead of such a long period, Kumar said he will be working to create a consensus among political parties on the issue."Based on my experience, I believe that an all-party meeting should take place on the issue of poll duration. It is not right to have a long campaign period in such hot weather. In our country, polls should be ..
Salute all mothers and sisters who played key role in LS polls: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday 'saluted' women for playing a key role in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections as candidates as well as for turning up in large numbers to vote."Today is the 7th and last phase of polling. Our mothers and sisters have played a key role in these elections, not just as candidates, but also as committed voters whose voices must be heard. I salute them all," Gandhi tweeted.Gandhi also shared a 30-second video, along with the tweet, in which female voters are seen asking for equal opportunities, respect, and a united country. The women in the video also expressed hope that the NYAY scheme of Congress will give the women what is rightfully owed to them.Gandhi had earlier met Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday in which both the leaders reportedly discussed the possibility of forming an alternative government at the Centre if the BJP does not get enough numbers to retain the power.A total of 918 candidates, including Prime Minister Narendra ...
Nearly 13% polling in Himachal (11 a.m.)
Nearly 13 per cent of over 53 lakh voters in Himachal Pradesh turned out in the first four hours of polling on Sunday to elect members of Parliament for four seats in the penultimate phase of the general elections, officials said.
2019 general election: The Turning Point (Comment)
The ongoing 2019 general election is one of the most closely contested general elections in Indias parliamentary history of India. It also has one of the most widely spread election schedules of seven phases in a span of 39 days. Everyone is anxiously waiting for May 23 - the day the poll results will be announced. Even the most experienced political experts are not in a position to do a precise qualified prediction of the results. But the majority of the surveys and analyses indicate a post poll scenario where the BJP and the NDA will be the largest single party and alliance respectively, but the NDA may fall short of the majority mark.
Wide-scale coverage of Modi's Kedarnath visit violates MCC: TMC to EC
The Trinamool Congress on Sunday wrote a letter to Election Commission of India (ECI) and asserted that the wide-scale of media coverage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kedarnath is a violation of Model Code of Conduct.'Election campaign for the last phase of polling for Lok Sabha polls is over, surprisingly Narendra Modi's Kedarnath Yatra is being widely covered by the media for the last 2 days. This is a gross violation of the model code of conduct,' read the letter.Echoing similar sentiments, TMC's political rival and Communist Party of India (CPI) Leader D Raja also accused ECI of being 'soft' on Prime Minister Modi and said, "It is true that PM keeps violating model code of conduct but election commission is not taking any action. The election commission is so soft on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP Chief Amit Shah. The election commission is not acting in a manner it should act. ECI is constitutional body it should act neutrally, objectively without any biased or
Over 10% voting in Punjab LS polls (10 a.m.)
More than 10 per cent voting was recorded in the first three hours of polling to Punjab's 13 Lok Sabha seats on Sunday in the seventh and final phase of the general elections, officials said.