Page 8 - State Assembly Polls

Rajasthan polls: Police seize record Rs 436 crore worth poll 'freebies'

The Rajasthan Police made an all-time high seizure of electoral inducements like cash, liquor and narcotics worth Rs 436 crore during the recently concluded assembly polls in the state, officials said Tuesday. This is over six times higher than that of 2018 elections when Rs 65 crore worth of such seizures were effected by the Rajasthan Police, they said. Overall, as per Election Commission figures, illegal inducements worth Rs 690 crore were seized by various agencies deployed by it to ensure free and fair polls in the state where voting was held on November 25 for 199 out of the total 200 assembly seats. As per official data for seizures made by the state police, out of the total Rs 436 crore, cash comprised Rs 47 crore, liquor valued at Rs 39 crore and narcotics of Rs 87 crore were intercepted since the model code of conduct was implemented by the EC on October 9. The police, as per the officials, launched a number of special operations to check illegal activities during the ...

Karnataka govt gets EC's notice over newspaper ads in poll-bound Telangana

The Election Commission on Monday sought an explanation from the Congress government in Karnataka over advertisements publicising its achievements in newspapers in poll-bound Telangana. In a letter to the Karnataka chief secretary, the commission said the state government did not obtain prior approval from it for publishing the advertisements, an action violative of the poll code. It also said the publication of any such advertisement by the government of Karnataka in Telangana should stop with immediate effect till necessary approvals are taken by the state government from the commission. It has sought an explanation by 5 pm on Tuesday on the circumstances which led to the violation of the commission's Model Code of Conduct (MCC) instructions. In its letter, the commission also asked why disciplinary action should not be taken against the secretary-in-charge of the Department of Information and Public Relations for violations of procedure as required under MCC instructions. Earli

Telangana elections LIVE: BJP, Congress, BRS hold rallies ahead of polls

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Rapido offers free rides to 2,600 polling booths in Hyderabad on Nov 30

Ride-sharing platform, Rapido on Monday announced the launch of free rides to over 2,600 polling stations in the city on November 30, to help voters. A press release from the firm said, the initiative reflects Rapido's commitment to boosting voter turnout in Telangana, particularly among its predominantly young user base. Rapido's Co-founder Pavan Guntupalli, said India's democracy is its biggest highlight, and we are proud to be the disruptors in making every vote count. We urge people to participate in greater numbers to cast their vote without worrying about transportation. By facilitating free bike rides on Election Day, we intend to encourage citizens to exercise their right to vote. Recognizing transportation as a critical factor in voter participation, Rapido's offer of free rides aims to boost widespread participation in the election process, ensuring that many can actively partake in the festival of democracy, the release added.

Rajasthan polls: 71.74% voter turnout with stray incidents of violence

More than 55 per cent of the electorate in Rajasthan voted by 3 pm on Saturday to elect a new government in a bipolar contest, with both the Congress and the BJP expressing hope of getting the people's mandate. Polling began at more than 51,000 polling booths at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm. Officials said voting was by and large peaceful across the state. However, two people - a polling agent of a candidate and an elderly voter - died of cardiac arrest at polling booths in Pali and Udaipur districts. The voting percentage till 3 pm was 55.63 per cent, an official said. In the first two hours of voting, nearly 10 per cent of voters cast their votes and the figure went up to nearly 25 per cent by 11 am and to more than 40 per cent by 1 pm, he added. There are more than 5.25 crore registered voters in 199 seats, out of a total of 200 in the state. Polling in one constituency has been postponed due to the death of a candidate. The voters will decide the fate of 1,862 candidates.

Rajasthan Assembly polls 2023 LIVE: Voting concludes in state

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Most money-making ministries under KCR family: Rahul ahead of T'gana polls

The state of Telangana is set to undergo assembly polls on November 30. The ruling BRS, Congress and BJP are the main contestants in the state. The counting of votes will take place on December 3

Advertisement 'camouflaged' in headline: PCI sends notices to newspapers

The Press Council of India has sent notices to editors of several newspapers over the publication of an advertisement that was allegedly "camouflaged" to look like a headline during the Rajasthan assembly polls. The elections in Rajasthan were held on November 25. Its results will be declared along with those of polls in Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh on December 3. Listing the newspapers that have been served the show-cause notices, the Press Council of India (PCI) on Friday said in a statement that its "Chairperson Justice (retired) Ranjana Prakash Desai, has taken suo-motu cognizance" of the said content published by them on November 20. "Publication of banner headline camouflaged as news headline right below the newspaper masthead, appears to be in violation of Norms and Journalistic Conduct, 2022 edition, with regard to Rajasthan Legislative Assembly elections, 2023," the PCI statement read. "Show-cause notices have been issued to the editors of all the ..

Rajasthan polls 2023 LIVE: PM Modi, Shah, CM Gehlot address final rallies

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EC rubbishes report of its nod for MP Chief Secretary's term extension

The Election Commission on Thursday made it clear that reports about it giving an approval to extend Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains' term by a month were false. Bains' term as the state chief secretary is ending on November 30. As the model code of conduct for the state assembly elections, held in a single phase on November 17, is still in force, any decision regarding Bains' term extension will have to be approved by the Election Commission. Taking to X, the office of the Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anupam Rajan said, "A fake news is being shared on social media that Election Commission has given approval to the extension of tenure of Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, who is about to superannuate. It is clarified that no such approval has been given by the Commission." When asked about it, CEO Ranjan told PTI, "I have already stated on X that the information that the EC has extended Bains' tenure as fake news." Bains, a trusted hand of Chief ..

Madhya Pradesh polls: Ladli Behna Yojana game changer for BJP, says Shivraj

'The Ladli Behna Yojana in Madhya Pradesh will see an increase in the monthly payout if the BJP forms the government,' said Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Rajasthan polls 2023 LIVE: Congress, BJP gear up for elections on Nov 25

Rajasthan state Assembly elections LIVE: Catch all the latest updates of Rajasthan elections 2023 here

State legislative Assemblies have been meeting for fewer days, shows data

Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Chhat­tis­garh, Mizoram and Telangana, where elections are underway, met for less than 30 days on average annually between 2019 and 2023

PM Modi diverts attention, Adani dupes people: Rahul Gandhi in Rajasthan

Rahul Gandhi calls PM Modi "Panauti Modi", a term associated with bringing bad luck, with reference to the Prime Minister's presence at India vs Australia ICC World Cup final

Rajasthan Assembly polls 2023 LIVE: Cong manifesto promises caste census

Rajasthan state Assembly elections LIVE: Catch all the latest updates of Rajasthan elections 2023 here

Rajasthan polls 2023: Congress releases manifesto, promises caste census

Congress promises Rs 2 lakh interest-free loan to farmers, MSP as per Swaminathan commission report, new scheme for recruitment at panchayat level, and caste census in Rajasthan election manifesto

Seizures in five election states up 636% in 5 yrs; Telangana tops the list

The EC also released data on seizures that enforcement agencies made in the six assembly elections held since November 2022 but preceding the current round of polls

PM Modi launches scathing attack on Congress ahead of Rajasthan polls

PM Modi criticised Congress in Rajasthan, alleging appeasement politics and neglect of women's issues

From ports to airports, PM Modi controls everything: Congress chief Kharge

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for not acknowledging the contributions of Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru to infrastructure and education

Rajasthan polls 2023 LIVE: BJP, Congress hold rallies ahead of elections

Rajasthan state Assembly elections LIVE: Catch all the latest updates of Rajasthan elections 2023 here