NDA needs 400 seats to implement UCC & get back PoK: Himanta

Begusarai: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country, to get back the Pakistan occupied Kashmir, to stop love jihad, to construct a grand temple at the Krishna Janmasthan in Mathura and to stop religion based reservation, NDA has to win 400 seats in the []

NDA Needs Over 400 Seats...: Himanta Biswa On UCC, Krishna Janmasthan Temple

Himanta Biswa Sarma was addressing a rally in Begusarai, he said thatNDA needs to secure victory on over 400 seats in Lok Sabha elections to implement UCC and build a temple on Krishna Janmasthan in Mathura.

'Ramdrohis' do politics for their families' gain: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi

'Ramdrohis' do politics for their families' gain: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Drawing a stark comparison between the political ideologies of the BJP and the opposition, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asserted on Saturday that while the politics of 'Ram Bhakts' is rooted in the national interests, the politics of 'Ramdrohis' revolves around familial concerns. Their focus doesn't extend beyond their own family, he stressed. Speaking at a public gathering in the Unnao Lok Sabha constituency to seek votes for Lok Sabha candidate and MP Sakshi Maharaj, CM Yogi remarked, The Samajwadi Party has fielded candidates from its own family. Presently, they are contesting five seats. It appears they'll continue this trend for generations to come, extending to their children and grandchildren. He further stated, Such practices impede development, leading to identity crises at the national and state levels. Security is compromised, allowing the mafia to thrive. They neglect the public's needs and fail to ensure safety, especially for women. The CM stressed that prioritizing national interests in politics garners respect on the global stage, ensures border security, and facilitates significant developmental projects. Furthermore, it enables equitable distribution of welfare benefits to the public without discrimination. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused the Samajwadi Party of attempting to withdraw cases against terrorists during its tenure. He said that these people had tried to withdraw the cases of terrorists who attacked Ayodhya, the CRPF camp in Rampur, Sankat Mochan Temple in Kashi in Lucknow, Ayodhya and Varanasi courts. He further elaborated, In response, the court issued a scathing remark, questioning the party's intentions, suggesting that after seeking to withdraw cases, they may even consider honouring the perpetrators with the prestigious Padma Award. Subsequently, the court intervened and halted the Samajwadi Party's efforts. Highlighting the divide in the current election between 'Rambhakts' and 'Ramdrohis,' Yogi remarked, You may also hear the voices of 'Ramdrohis.' Some of them argue against the construction of the Ram temple within the country. And they are the 'wise' people of Congress. Continuing his attack on the Samajwadi Party, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath remarked, The SP says that the Ram temple is 'useless'. Would they dare say the same about any mosque? They can't because they don't have the guts to do so. Those who point fingers at the Ram temple are 'Ramdrohi'. They have even resorted to violence against Ram devotees. They bond with criminals. They insult our great men and gods. He contrasted the situation with the massive crackdown on mafias and criminals in the state in the current government, which has ended riots and curfews in the state. He highlighted the vibrant celebrations of Deepotsav in Ayodhya, Rangotsav in Mathura Vrindavan, and Dev Diwali in Kashi. CM Yogi stated that the campaigns in Unnao would cease this evening due to the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections, urging the public to reflect during this time. He urged them to utilize their voting rights to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in its endeavour to make the country self-reliant and developed. Legislative Council member Ram Chandra Pradhan, MLA Ashutosh Shukla, Panjak Gupta, Brajesh Rawat, District President Awadhesh Katiyar, District Panchayat President Sakun Singh, Lok Sabha in-charge Saurabh Mishra etc. were present in the program. (ANI)

Breaking News: Updates on Top Stories Highlights: Major Earthquake Strikes Japan: Tremors cause widespread damage and power outages. Political Scandal Rocks Washington: Top officials implicated in corruption allegations. New COVID Variant Detected: Concerns grow over potential severity and vaccine effectiveness. Record-Breaking Heat Wave Grips Europe: Scorching temperatures lead to health risks and wildfires. SpaceX Launch Successful: Crew of four astronauts safely enters orbit for International

Breaking News: Updates on Top Stories Highlights: Major Earthquake Strikes Japan: Tremors cause widespread damage and power outages. Political Scandal Rocks Washington: Top officials implicated in corruption allegations. New COVID Variant Detected: Concerns grow over potential severity and vaccine effectiveness. Record-Breaking Heat Wave Grips Europe: Scorching temperatures lead to health risks and wildfires. SpaceX Launch Successful: Crew of four astronauts safely enters orbit for International Space Station mission. Following are the top stories at 5.20 pm: NATION ELN36 ELECTIONS-DL-KEJRIWAL **** All opposition leaders will be in jail if BJP wins LS polls: Kejriwal New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that all opposition leaders, including his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and RJD leader Tejashvi Yadav, will be in jail if the BJP wins the Lok Sabha polls.**** ELN51 ELECTIONS-OD-MODI-2NDLD RALLY **** Congress won't win even 50 LS seats, will not get opposition party status after polls: PM Phulbani/Bolangir/Bargarh (Odisha): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday claimed that the Congress will not win even 50 seats in the Lok Sabha elections and will not be able to get the opposition party status after the polls.**** ELN68 ELECTIONS-BH-KHARGE-RALLY **** Why did Modi govt not take action if Ambani, Adani were sending black money to Congress: Kharge Samastipur (Bihar): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning why did his government not take any action if, as per his allegation, industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani were sending black money to the grand old party.**** ELN49 ELECTIONS-TL-LD AMIT SHAH **** PoK belongs to India, asserts Union Home Minister Amit Shah Hyderabad: In a scathing attack on Congress and its leaders, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said due to the fear of Pakistan having an atom bomb, the grand old party wants to give up India's rights over Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.**** ELN59 ELECTIONS-RAHUL-PM **** Rahul Gandhi calls PM 'puppet king' of 'tempo billionaires' New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a ''puppet king'' of ''tempo billionaires''.**** ELN55 ELECTIONS-WB-MAMATA-GUV **** Bengal Guv must explain why he should not resign in wake of molestation allegations: Mamata Saptagram (WB): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday slammed Governor C V Ananda Bose over allegations of molestation against him, and said he must explain why he should not step down.**** ELN56 ELECTIONS-BH-HIMANTA **** NDA needs more than 400 seats in LS elections to implement UCC in country: Himanta Begusarai (Bihar): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the NDA needs to win more than 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country and to construct a grand temple at the Krishna Janmasthan in Mathura.**** ELN15 ELECTIONS-MP-BHURIA-REMARK **** After row over his two wives remark, Bhuria says he made comment in response to tribal man's query Bhopal: Former Union minister and Congress' Lok Sabha candidate from Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh, Kantilal Bhuria, who has courted a controversy with his ''two wives'' remark, has clarified that he passed the comment sarcastically in response to a tribal man's query.**** DEL2 JAISHANKAR-CAREER HIGHLIGHT **** Closing out G20 Summit most satisfying, forging crucial friendships most significant in his career, says EAM Jaishankar New Delhi: If closing out the G20 Summit was the most satisfying moment of his career, the most significant was being associated with ''enormous changes in some crucial relationships'' such as the US, Australia, UAE and Japan during the last five years, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar says. By Vijay Joshi and Kunal Dutt **** DEL23 ASTRONOMY-LADAKH **** Severe solar storm triggers rare auroral arc in Ladakh sky New Delhi: A crimson glow lit up the dark sky in parts of Ladakh in a rare stable auroral red arc event at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in the high Himalayas due to the strong solar magnetic storms launched towards Earth.**** DEL25 THAKUR-INTERVIEW-KEJRIWAL **** People like Kejriwal, Sisodia, Jain never welcome in BJP: Anurag Thakur Hamirpur: Amid a recent influx of opposition politicians into the BJP, Union minister Anurag Thakur said that while the party continues to attract rivals, it will never accept Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, who are facing serious charges of corruption.**** MDS1 KA-SCANDAL-BJP ARREST **** Sex videos: BJP leader Devaraje Gowda arrested in Chitradurga Chitradurga (Karnataka): BJP leader and advocate G Devaraje Gowda was arrested in connection with the release of an explicit sex video allegedly involving Hassan JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna.**** CAL4 WB-SANDESHKHALI-TMC **** TMC seeks to apprise President about Sandeshkhali incidents Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress on Saturday said it has become imperative for the party to apprise President Droupadi Murmu of the true unfolding of incidents at Sandeshkhali which had led to narratives and counter-narratives between the ruling party and the BJP.**** LEGAL LGD2 SC-SHARMA-FAKE ENCOUNTER-BAIL **** SC grants bail to ex-cop Pradeep Sharma in 2006 fake encounter case New Delhi: The Supreme Court has granted bail to former Mumbai Police officer Pradeep Sharma, awarded life sentence in the 2006 fake encounter killing case of gangster Ramnarayan Gupta alias Lakkhan Bhaiya.**** LGD1 DL-HC-TERROR **** HC grants bail to alleged Indian Mujahideen operative in terror case New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has granted bail to Abdul Subhan Qureshi, co-founder of banned terror organisation Indian Mujahideen (IM), in a terror case.**** FOREIGN FGN26 UN-AFGHAN-FLOODS-TOLL **** Flash floods kill more than 300 people in northern Afghanistan after heavy rains, UN says Islamabad: The UN food agency says more than 300 Afghans have died in flash floods that also destroyed more than 1,000 houses in the northern province of Baghlan. AP**** FGN27 MALDIVES-INDIA-TROOPS **** Maldives says 76 Indian military personnel replaced by civilians to operate 3 aviation platforms gifted by India Male: Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer on Saturday said 76 Indian military personnel were replaced by civilian employees of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited which manufactured the helicopters gifted by India, thus also ending the suspense over the exact number of those repatriated. ****

Himanta: NDA Requires Over 400 Lok Sabha Seats to Enact Uniform Civil Code

Himanta: NDA Requires Over 400 Lok Sabha Seats to Enact Uniform Civil Code Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the NDA needs to win more than 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country and to construct a grand temple at the Krishna Janmasthan in Mathura. Addressing an election rally in favour of senior BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh in Begusarai, Sarma slammed the Congress and its allies for ''raising question mark'' on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He said, ''... The NDA under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has to win 400 plus seats to implement the UCC in the country, for the construction a grand temple at Krishna Janmasthan in Mathura and also to ensure PoK, which is a part of India, returns to India.'' The UCC means having a common law for all citizens of the country that is not based on religion. Personal laws and laws related to inheritance, adoption and succession are likely to be covered by a common code. Hitting out at the Congress and its allies, Sarma said, ''Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD supremo, Lalu Prasad, did not attend Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Lalla at Ayodhya. Let me make it very clear that neither Rahul nor Lalu will ever be able to visit Ram temple in Ayodhya ...'' The Assam CM accused the Congress of giving religion-based reservation. ''They (INDIA alliance leaders) are indulging in politics of appeasement and raise issues that support Pakistan. Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar recently said that India should not raise the PoK issue and respect Pakistan as it possesses an atom bomb. Even if Pakistan has a nuclear bomb, I am confident that it must have passed its expiry date. ''Our government at the Centre has made it clear that PoK belongs to India and no force can snatch it. We have to give a third term to Modi Ji to ensure that PoK returns to India. Since the NDA government has removed article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, it will ensure PoK returns to India in the coming days,'' said Sarma. The NDA needs to win more than 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections to save the quota granted to the OBCs, SCs and STs, he said. ''The Congress gave reservation to Muslims by reducing the quota of OBCs/STs and SCs in Karnataka and other states and it now plans to replicate this across the country. Mamata Banerjee... Congress and RJD are the biggest enemy of OBCs... Religion-based reservation should be given to Muslims in Pakistan, not in India. The NDA will not allow this at any cost,'' he said. ''In Assam, I have made it very clear that Muslims will have to forsake child marriage and polygamy, and encourage women's education. Marrying two or three times is not allowed in Assam. It's very simplethey (Muslims) cannot have three wives. Action has been taken against 6,000 people, belonging to a particular community, who indulged in child marriage. We believe in Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,'' he said. Union Minister Giriraj Singh is seeking re-election from Begusarai Lok Sabha seat as the NDA nominee. Singh is pitted against Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate Awadhesh Rai, who is Mahagathbandhan's nominee.. Elections will be held in Begusarai, Darbhanga, Ujiarpur, Samastipur, Begusarai, Munger Lok Sabha seats of Bihar in the fourth phase on May 13.

NDA needs more than 400 seats in LS elections to implement UCC in country: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma outlines NDA's goals, asserting over 400 Lok Sabha seats needed for Uniform Civil Code (UCC) implementation, construction of Mathura temple, and PoK reintegration. He criticizes Congress for religious-based policies and emphasizes NDA's commitment to secularism and OBC rights, campaigning for Giriraj Singh in Bihar.

Congress should fight polls in Pakistan if it loves that nation: MP CM

Congress should fight polls in Pakistan if it loves that nation: MP CM Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday took a dig at the Congress over its leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's comment on Pakistan and said the opposition party should contest from there if it so fond of that nation. In comments which have gone viral on social media, Aiyar is heard saying India should give respect to Pakistan as it is a sovereign nation and engage with it as it also possesses an atom bomb. Aiyar has claimed the video was old and dredged up now as the BJP's election campaign is faltering. ''Congress leaders are fighting elections here but are taking support of Pakistan. What do you have to do with Pakistan? If you are so fond of Pakistan then contest from there,'' Yadav said while taking part in a road show here. Earlier Pakistan used to create disturbances in India but ''now Hindustan is changing'', Yadav said. ''After 2014, terrorism was curbed, and the country's economy rose from 11th to fifth rank, ahead of United Kingdom which ruled us for long,'' he said. Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the MP CM said world leaders were vying to take a selfie with the former during the G20 events organised in the country last year. ''Modi has dedicated his entire life to the people of the country,'' Yadav said, adding that a temple will come up for Lord Krishna in Mathura the way a grand temple came up in Ayodhya for Lord Ram. In the fourth and last phase of Lok Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh on May 13, voting will take place in Indore, Khandwa, Mandsaur, Ujjain (SC), Dewas (SC), Khargone (ST), Ratlam (ST) and Dhar (ST).

Hyderabad: Techie held for sexually assaulting woman on job pretext

Hyderabad: A young woman was sexually assaulted by a manager of a software company after she was lured under the pretext of a job in Mathura Nagar. The accused has been identified as Naveen Kumar. The victim went for an interview at a software company, where the accused confirmed that she was selected for the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train to Embark on Inaugural Journey from New Jalpaiguri on May 18

Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train to Embark on Inaugural Journey from New Jalpaiguri on May 18 The Bharat Gaurav Special Tourist Train, covering the tourist destinations of North India, will start from New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway station on May 18, an official of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said on Friday. The journey spans 8 nights and nine days, covering key destinations including Vaishno Devi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mathura, Vrindavan, and Ayodhya. The train, comprising AC-3 tier and economy/sleeper class coaches, will traverse through Malda Town, Rampurhat, Dumka, Bhagalpur, Jamalpur, Kiul to reach Patna Junction on May 19. On May 20 and 21, the train will be stationed at Vaishno Devi Katra station and on May 22 and 23, the train will be at Haridwar station. On May 24, the train will be stationed at Mathura and at Ayodhya on May 25. The train will start its return journey from Ayodhya to reach Patna Junction on May 26 from where the tourists can start their de-boarding at their respective destinations till New Jalpaiguri station. The cost of the package will be Rs 29,500 for AC class and Rs 17,900 per person for economy/sleeper class. Bharat Gaurav is the first such tourism special train and is in line with the Centre's initiative 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat' and 'Dekho Apna Desh', the official said in a release.

Clash erupts between CPI (M) and TMC workers during nomination filing processions in Kolkata

Clash erupts between CPI (M) and TMC workers during nomination filing processions in Kolkata CPI (M) and Trinamool Congress supporters engaged in heated arguments with one another when their processions came face-to-face during filing of nominations in Kolkata on Thursday. The incident took place when the supporters of the archrival parties went to Alipore District Collector Office here for filing of nominations by five Left Front candidates and one TMC nominee for the Lok Sabha polls. Supporters of the two parties engaged in heated arguments and sloganeering but a large posse of police personnel stood as a barrier between them, preventing the situation from escalating, an official said. While TMC's Mala Roy is scheduled to file her nomination papers for re-election to the prestigious Kolkata Dakshin constituency, her CPI (M) opponent in the seat, Saira Shah Halim, was also there to file her papers. CPI (M)'s Srijan Bhattacharya for Jadavpur seat, Pratikur Rahaman for Diamond Harbour, Sarat Chandra Halder for Mathurapur and RSP candidate Samarendranath Mondal for Jaynagar constituency arrived at the collector's office in a procession from Hazra Crossing, about a kilometre away, for filing the papers. TMC supporters were also there for the filing of nomination by Roy.

Deity is owner of Mathura site, 1968 compromise not valid

Hema Malini JoinsBJPsStar Campaigners in Odisha

Bhubaneswar:Prominent actress and Mathura MP, Hema Malini, has been added to the list of BJPs star campaigners in Odisha. She is set to campaign for BJP candidates inSouthof Odisha. She has been included in Odisha BJPs list of star campaigners in place of Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. On May 9th, Road Transport and [] The post Hema Malini JoinsBJPsStar Campaigners in Odisha appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Hema Malini: Check LSS Congress Candidate From Mathura Lok Sabha Seat

Hema Malini is a candidate from Uttar Pradesh's Mathura lok sabha seat and challaned by congress candidateMukesh Dhangar

HC seeks Delhi Govt, polices plan for handling bomb threats in schools

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday sought a detailed response from the Delhi Government and Delhi Police regarding their preparedness and procedures for handling bomb threats in schools. Justice Subramonium Prasad was hearing a plea filed by lawyer Arpit Bhargava after a bomb threat email was received from Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

PM Modi's campaign focuses on religion over economic issues, alleges Raut

PM Modi's campaign focuses on religion over economic issues, alleges Raut Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek votes in the name of Lord Ram but will not speak on development, inflation and jobs. Talking to reporters here, Raut claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trailing after the first two phases of the Lok Sabha elections. The third phase of polls will take place on May 7. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Sunday and hold a roadshow. ''Modi will go to Dwarka, Mathura and Ayodhya. He will go to every temple but won't talk about development, inflation and jobs. He will not talk about why the (2019) Pulwama attack took place,'' the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said. He also hit out at the prime minister over the attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which a soldier was killed and four were injured as terrorists ambushed an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in Poonch district. ''Yesterday, in broad daylight, our soldiers were attacked and killed. He will not talk about this in Ayodhya. (He will) just seek votes in the name of Lord Ram,'' Raut said.

Kalpana celebrates 5th rescue anniversary at Mathura elephant hospital

Doing best to deal with bomb threats: Delhi DoE

NEW DELHI: The Directorate of Education (DoE) has a zero-tolerance policy in matters of safety in schools and its officials are doing their best to ensure the effective implementation of the guidelines for dealing with disasters, including bomb threats, the Delhi High Court was told. In a status report dated April 29, the DoE said it has issued several directions to the institutions to step up their safety and security measures, including a circular dated April 16 on precautionary measures and the role of the school authorities in cases of bomb threats. The DoEs stand was filed in response to a petition raising concerns regarding bomb threats in schools. Bomb threat is an issue of law and order and specifically, pertain with the police authority and internal security agencies... The department has issued a specific circular dated 16.04.2024 on dealing with bomb threats to schools and issued guidelines on precautionary measures and roles of the school authorities, the DoE said before the court. Petitioner Arpit Bhargava, a lawyer by profession, filed the petition in 2023 in the wake of a hoax bomb threat in DPS, Mathura Road. Additionally, the DoE informed that it called an emergent meeting last month to discuss safety plan for students and staff of schools. It said several circulars have issued necessary directions with respect to minimum standards of school safety, undertaking safety audits, condemnation of obsolete and junk articles as well as preparedness for potential disasters. With respect to bomb threats, the DoE said the heads of schools have been directed to make parents aware that no student should make a hoax threat call due to any reason as it may not only affect his studies, but also lead to police action and even suspension or rustication. Schools to hold drills for safe evacuation The DoE informed the court that heads of schools have been asked to conduct safety walks and mock drills for a safe evacuation of students and staff on a regular basis. There is also an online module with a link on the DoE website for all schools to fill a monthly report on the issue of safety, the report added.

Express train searched for 40 minutes in Bhopal after passenger spots suspicious object

Manish Arora, a resident of Delhi was travelling in Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express and pulled the emergency chain at Mathura Junction so that his mother could finish breakfast before alighting on the platform. (Photo: File I Representational) Manish Arora, a resident of Delhi was travelling in Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express and pulled the emergency chain at Mathura Junction so that his mother could finish breakfast before alighting on the platform. (Photo: File I Representational) Bhopal: A Jammu-bound train was searched for 40 minutes at Rani Kamalapti station in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal on Friday morning after one of the passengers claimed that there was a suspicious object onboard, an official of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) said. The Pune-Jammu Tawi Jhelum Express was searched at Rani Kamalapati station around 9 am, but the information turned out to be a hoax, RPF commandant Prashant Yadav said. One of the passengers onboard the train informed the ticket checker about the presence of a suspicious object, following which the train was halted at Rani Kamalapati station, he said. However, nothing suspicious was found during the search, which lasted for about 40 minutes, and the train left for its destination at 9.40, the official said. The passenger is being interrogated, he added.

Kerala: Climate change reality gets heatwave check

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Valerian Isaac, a traditional fisherman from Anchuthengu in Thiruvananthapuram, is deeply concerned about the impact of climate change on his livelihood and the overall quality of life. He used to enjoy his summer with the sea cooling down when folks in the town sweltered in the heat. The situation however has changed dramatically. The sea has warmed up significantly. Consequently, the fish have migrated to cooler waters away from the coast. Previously, we relied on good winds and occasional rains to alleviate the heat. But this summer has proven to be the toughest yet, Isaac said. With the dwindling catch, only a handful of fishermen dare to venture out into the sea in his area. And they are not the only ones suffering. Adverse weather has also affected autorickshaw drivers, tour operators, vegetable vendors and those in the construction sector. As the government considers imposing further restrictions on operations between 11am and 3pm, the livelihoods of even more sectors hang in the balance. Isaac, like many others, had not heard of the term El Nino, a climate phenomenon responsible for warming the sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean and often cited as a primary cause of harsh summers. However, he, along with the rest of the populace, has become acquainted with the term heatwave in recent times. Its sudden appearance in the vocabulary coincided with its confirmation in Palakkad on April 26, the day of the general elections. Such weather was once considered unusual, mostly associated with the traditional hot regions of the country. The India Meteorological Department first issued a heatwave alert in Kerala in 2016, the warmest year on record for the state, primarily focused on Palakkad. This year, the focus has again been on Palakkad which experienced scorching temperatures throughout April, with Thrissur following suit. Subsequently, heatwave alerts were issued for Kollam, Kozhikode and Alappuzha, as temperatures in these districts deviated from the norm significantly. A majority of those belonging to the fishing community in Perumathura in Thiruvananthapuram are spending their time under the shade of coconut palms. The reason being the roofs of their homes are made of asbestos and tin sheets, which increase the heat Weather experts assert the situation is similar across south and east India. An Asia-wide heatwave map published by international weather agencies depicts most countries in the region coloured in red. The temperature rise is attributed to global warming induced by climate change. The impact of El Nino exacerbates the situation, said D Sivananda Pai, senior scientist and ADGM of India Meteorological Department. According to him, the dry weather in Kerala has increased the temperature. In Palakkad, the relative humidity is now in the 30-40% range in comparison to the normal 60-80%. Thats why the temperature remains high. The condition is worse for people living in more humid areas as high moisture content does not help reduce body temperature, he said. Like this year, 2016 too was an El Nino year. While it was the warmest year in recent history, the damage, technically, was limited to a heatwave alert in Palakkad. What makes the conditions worse than 2016 is the absence of summer rain, especially in the northern districts, and the land use and land cover changes because of urbanisation, said Rajeevan Erikkulam, a meteorologist with the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority. Weather experts pointed out the situation is likely to improve by the second week of May when summer rains are expected to be more regular. The El Nino effect is expected to be neutral during the time of monsoon, but the experts have a warning the next El Nino year could be much worse than 2024. What is heatwave? Qualitatively, heatwave is a condition of air temperature that becomes fatal to human body when exposed. Quantitatively, it is defined based on the temperature thresholds over a region in terms of actual temperature or its departure from normal. Criterion for declaring heatwave Heatwave is considered to be in effect if the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40Celsius or more in the plains, at least 30Celsius or more in hilly regions, and 37 Celsius or more in coastal regions. The departure from normal is 4.5 to 6.4Celsius. If the above criteria is met in at least two stations in a meteorological sub-division for at least two consecutive days, a heatwave is declared on the second day. A woman carrying a pedestal fan on a two-wheeler in Kochi. With mercury level going up, residents are opting for various methods to beat the scorching heat Heatwave prone states Heatwave generally occurs over the plains of northwest India and central, east and north peninsular India from March to June. It covers Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Sometimes, it occurs over Tamil Nadu and Kerala too. Impact of heatwave Water stress Health problems Livelihood problems Heatwave in Kerala First alert - Palakkad, in 2016 First alert - Kozhikode - 2020 First confirmation this year - Palakkad, on April 26 First alert in Alappuzha - April 30 Reasons for heatwave Global warming El Nino Absence of summer rain Urbanisation Number of days above 40 degrees Celsius in April in Kerala 2024 - 16 (15 in Palakkad) 2023 - 3 2016 - 14 1989 - 8

What are UP's Muslim voters up to in this Lok Sabha election?

Till about a decade ago, the voting behaviour of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh used to be a decisive factor in about two dozen Lok Sabha seats. The main political parties in those elections, such as the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress, whether in alliance or separately, used to bank heavily on the support of Muslims. This used to be the norm from the 1970s till the general election of 2014, when the Narendra Modi wave made all such factors redundant. Riding high on it, the Bharatiya Janata Party got the majority community to vote in such numbers so as to make the Muslim vote bank irrelevant. However, ten years of BJP rule at the Centre has taken away much of the wind from beneath that wave. With two phases of polling having already been completed in the state, the significance of the electoral heft of Muslim voters has once again come into play with both the SP-Congress alliance and the BSP renewing their efforts to wrest Muslim support. UP's Muslims have over the last few years and till this election been caught in a dilemma as they have not been able to consider any one party in the state their benefactor. Earlier, from the heydays of Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party used to be their go-to party since the late former CM had made the welfare of Muslims nothing short of a sacred political pledge for himself and his party. But as Akhilesh Yadav inherited the party in 2017, he very quietly shelved the pro-Muslim policy and started pursuing a brand of ambivalent-- often so-called soft -- Hindutva. In the recent past, Akhilesh vociferously backed the construction of a statue of Parashuram, the deity revered by Brahmins, proposed the construction of a huge Krishna temple in Vrindavan, inaugurated a Lord Krishna statue in Saifai, and generally avoided having Muslim leaders in his core team of Samajwadi Party after the jailing and subsequent sidelining of Azam Khan. All this changed ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In order to counter the charge of ignoring Muslims, Akhilesh skipped the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, visited the family residence of late Mukhtar Ansari in Ghazipur to pay condolences (albeit belatedly) and risked disaffection in the party by ignoring upper caste-Hindus for key bye-elections. The importance of being Akhilesh Yadav in this Lok Sabha election Mayawati, meanwhile, had appeared to be softer towards the BJP in the beginning, but her Bahujan Samaj Party has still stuck to fielding Muslims in key elections in the past few years, and the trend is highly visible in this year's list as well. The party's candidates for 54 seats so far includes 14 Muslims. Then there is the AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, who had declared his intention to fight from all seats in collaboration with Apna Dal (K) and some smaller parties with much fanfare, but the initiative seems to have lost steam. The Muslim vote in UP According to several estimates, Muslims account for 19% to 23% of the state's population. Based on figures from various organisations and development programmes, the districts with high Muslim population (above 25%) are: Rampur 50.57%, Moradabad 47.12%, Bijnor 43.04%, Saharanpur 41.95%, Muzaffarnagar 41.30%, Amroha 40.78%, Balrampur 37.51%, Bareilly 34.54%, Meerut 34.43%, Bahraich 33.53%, Shrawasti 30.79%, Baghpat 27.98%, Ghaziabad 25.35%, and Siddharthnagar 29.23%. Polling was completed in the first phase on April 19 in eight constituencies -- Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit. The eight constituencies where voting took place on April 26 were Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahar, Aligarh, Gautam Buddha Nagar, and Mathura. Of these 16 constituencies, at least 11 constituencies have a Muslim population above 20%. There are indications that in these two phases, Muslim voters may have resorted to voting to bring about a change, and the candidate's faith may not be a factor. This has been often referred to as actical voting where the sole aim is to ensure the defeat of a candidate whose party is considered to be apathetic to Muslims interests. Advantage INDIA bloc? In this case, voting to ensure the BJP's candidates defeat could have led Muslim voters to support either the SP-Congress INDIA bloc, or the BSP. It appears that the community could have preferred the former in most places, while the BSP could be preferred only in places where the INDIA combine is thought to be weaker. This is endorsed by Professor Hilal Ahmad, a veteran political analyst and social scholar. He says that Muslim voters appear to be in favour of the INDIA bloc, regardless of the result. In many districts, there have been reports of voters, including women, having voted in favour of the SP-Congress combine, he said, but added emphatically that the Muslim voter is totally silent with no proclamations from community leaders whatsoever. This, however, does not mean that the results will be follow the same pattern in all the Muslim-dominated seats. For the record, the 2014 Lok Sabha election saw the BJP winning at least eight such seats, including Amroha, Bijnor, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina, Rampur, Saharanpur and Sambhal. But in 2019, the SP-BSP fighting in alliance, won 15 seats including in Muslim-dominated Amroha, Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur and Sambhal. Another fact to be remembered is that despite general perception that Muslims were voting against the BJP, the party succeeded in getting a percentage of the Muslim votes in the 2022 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. This came out in a post-election survey by CSDS-Lokniti which suggested that least eight per cent of the Muslim votes went to the BJP. Also, the BJP has gone into the 2024 election in alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal which has been favoured by Muslim voters in its stronghold areas. Even during the campaign for the first phase, BJP leaders accompanied RLD leaders in Muslim-dominated areas. UP battle shifts from Jat land to Yadav stronghold All this could mean on the one hand that Muslims are disillusioned that no party has shown faith in them, but rather than abstaining, they will vote for the candidate considered to be the BJP's strongest rival. On the other hand, they could also accept the BJP candidate for the simple fact that the state has a BJP government headed by Yogi Adityanath and no purpose may be served in getting identified as a non-BJP voter till 2027 (when the next Assembly election is scheduled). According to Anshuman Shukla, a veteran political analyst and columnist, although Muslims have increasingly voted in a unified way, political and social mobilization has highlighted divisions along sub-identities like caste and sect among them. This explains the BJP's outreach -- and success -- with Pasmanda Muslims, a term that includes backwards, Dalits and tribal Muslims. According to many researchers, the held belief of Muslims voting en bloc may not be completely true, an idea also suggested in a study Mapping Muslim Voter Behaviour in India by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Even some Muslim scholars agree that Muslims are increasingly getting divided along caste and sectarian lines, an example of which is the lukewarm response to Asaduddin Owaisi after he announced his decision to contest in UP with the Apna Dal (K). Anshuman Shukla says that even though figures show that Muslims could play a crucial role in deciding the result in more than 25 seats in UP, the results will show a different picture. Kashi: A date with the present

Delhi schools bomb threat: Foreign IP mystery in another case yet to be solved

NEW DELHI: It was hardly the first instance when Delhi schools received threat mails insinuating the presence of explosives at school premises. Rather several schools in the national capital have received similar hoax threats in the past; and one common consequence, panic. The threat mail that reached DPS RK Puram in February this year, claiming that two bombs had been placed within the school premises, remains untraced to an accused even to this day. According to a senior Delhi Police official, a team of cyber police station, investigating the case, had found that the alleged miscreants used a foreign IP address, indicating either the perpetrators are sitting in some other country or masking their IP address. The case is very tough to be cracked as the accused were using a foreign IP address and a Tor browser on the dark web, an officer privy to the probe told this newspaper. The Tor browser can be used for secure and anonymous internet surfing, even on the dark web. As per cyber experts, Tor is a system of network encryption that protects your privacy and anonymity online. The police in its investigation into the DPS Mathura bomb threat case have so far found that the alleged mail was written in sub-standard English. The sentence construction was not right. There were even grammatical mistakes. It seems that the message was first written in a regional language and then translated into English, the officer said. The police have also found out that the email ID through which the threat mail was generated, was created on the very same day i.e. February 2. Threats unabated In September last year, the Lal Bahadur Shastri School in RK Puram received an email threatening a bomb in the school premises that later turned out to be a hoax. In May, 2023, the Delhi Public School in Mathura Road received a similar hoax bomb scare. The Indian School in Sadiq Nagar received two bomb threats, the last on April 12, 2023, via email. The first one was over the phone in November 2022. Both turned out to be hoaxes. The threat to DPS Mathura Road in May, 2023, was probed and a student was found involved, who said he wanted to prank the school for the kicks.

Delhi: Detailed action plan on bomb scares awaited

NEW DELHI: Nearly two weeks have gone by since the Delhi High Court had sought a report from the Delhi Government on a petition filed by a parent seeking direction for a detailed action plan to deal with bomb threats in schools in the national capital. The court had directed the government to file the status report by April 29, 2024. In the wake of another bomb threat that brought the city on its toes on Wednesday afternoon, with over 130 schools taken for a ride, we are reminded that the Delhi government is yet to submit its action plan before the high court. The matter is listed for hearing on May 3. The petitioner had also sought that, in case there is a real threat, there should be a proper response plan which can be uniformly implemented across city schools. The plea referred to the incident at DPS Mathura Road on April 26, 2023. Some miscreant had sent an email in relation to the presence of bomb in DPS Mathura Road school premises leading to chaos, and mental and emotional trauma for all, the plea said, In the April 1 order, a single judge bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad had observed, Though a reply has been filed on behalf of Delhi Police, no reply has been filed on behalf of GNCTD. Government reply is necessary for laying down a proper and detailed action plan to deal with bomb threats and other disasters to ensure the safety of school children. In their report filed last year, the police had informed the court that they have drafted a circular highlighting the procedure to be followed after a bomb threat call is declared hoax. The police report said an action plan has been prepared highlighting steps to be taken by different stakeholders.

Bomb threat to over 130 schools in Delhi-NCR sparks massive scare; Police probing terror angle

Bomb threat to over 130 schools in Delhi-NCR sparks massive scare; Police probing terror angle In a bomb scare of unprecedented scale, over 130 schools in Delhi-NCR received an identical threat email on Wednesday claiming that explosives had been planted on their premises, triggering massive evacuations and searches as panic-stricken parents rushed to pick up their children. ''Nothing objectionable'' was found during searches by authorities which later declared it a hoax. Officials said that the initial probe suspected a ''deeper conspiracy'' by a terror group during the Lok Sabha elections, adding that there is suspicion that the threat mail was sent by an ISIS module. The Delhi Police's anti-terror unit special cell has traced the domain of emails to Russia and it is suspected to have been formed with the help of the dark web - an encrypted online content that allows individuals to hide their identity and location from others. The National Investigation Agency may also take up the probe since the role of a terror group is suspected and the ''conspiracy'' angle may lead to a pan-India investigation, an official said. Law enforcement authorities went into a tizzy as police and fire services started receiving a flurry of calls from schools at 6 am on Wednesday. Delhi Public School (Mathura Road), DPS (Saket), Sanskriti School, Amity School (Saket), DAV (Model Town), DPS (Dwarka) and St. Mary School (Mayur Vihar) were among the education institutions that received the threat email on Wednesday. A senior Noida Police official told PTI that the email threat was received in seven schools in the satellite city. It was only an hour or so since parents had dropped off their children when they received messages from the school authorities informing them about an e-mail threatening the safety and security of the students. Parents rushed to pick up their children and school authorities scampered to bring the students to safety, moving them outside the buildings, while police personnel with sniffer dogs sanitised the premises. With over 130 schools receiving the bomb threat via email, Delhi Police faced a daunting task as it rushed its dog and bomb squads from one school to another and there was no time to be wasted. The city police went into an overdrive and the situation lasted till evening. Police said that the number of schools that received the threat may go up as they were compiling the list. According to a police officer, the email ID from which the threat was sent is 'sawariim@mail.ru'. Sawarim is an Arabic word extensively used by the terror outfit Islamic State (IS) in their propaganda videos over the past several years, the official said. ''Kill them wherever you meet and drive them out of the places from which they drove you. There are many explosive devices in the school...,'' reads the identical email sent to all schools. The officer said that the email also contained ''aayate (verses) of the holy Quran''. ''The main agenda of sending such threat emails in bulk is to create panic and wage a cyber war by some terror group,'' an officer, who did not wish to be named, said. A case has been registered under relevant sections of law for offences like conspiracy and threat by the Special Cell and a dedicated team formed to conduct the investigation, an official said. Security has been stepped up at all metro and railway stations, bus stands and markets in the national capital. Noida resident Monika Arora, whose son studies in Class 12 in DPS-Noida, said, ''My son had left for his extra classes at 6:30 am. Around 8 am, we received a message about a threat e-mail. ''The school authorities asked the parents whose children travel by private taxis to get them picked while those who come in school buses were being sent back.'' Rukesh Kumar, whose daughters study in two different schools in east Delhi, said students were evacuated by teachers. ''Some students climbed up trees saying they would be saved if there was an explosion. Some tried to hide in safe places,'' Kumar said. Several schools said they were able to carry out a swift evacuation of the students and staff, but dealing with the parents was a challenge. Some schools also said they plan to issue a circular for parents, outlining the standard operating procedure to guide them on how to react in adverse situations like these. ''We hold frequent evacuation drills to prepare students for situations like an earthquake or other natural calamities. So handling the students was not a problem as our children are trained on how to react during such situations. It was the parents who panicked and were difficult to manage,'' Sudha Acharya, principal, ITL Public School, said. The Gurugram Police also remained alert and police and bomb disposal teams visited various schools, including DPS schools in sectors 102 and 103, and conducted searches. No suspicious object was found anywhere, the police said. Several schools kept sending updates to the parents through messages on WhatsApp groups. Meanwhile, the Delhi government issued an advisory for schools, asking them to ensure that the e-mails received at their official e-mail addresses are checked timely. ''In view of the current situation wherein bomb threats were received by a few schools of Delhi in the early hours of the morning of 01.05.2024, it is advised that School Administrators/Managers /Heads of Government/Government Aided and Unaided Recognised Schools under the Directorate of Education, GNCT Delhi should ensure that emails/messages received on official email id of the school at any time of the day (before, during or after school hours) are checked timely,'' read the advisory issued by the Directorate of Education. Lt Governor VK Saxena said that Delhi Police has traced the origin of the threat emails. He assured that the culprits would be given strict punishment.

UP: Muslims in Mathura say they were denied right to vote

Muslim voters in Uttar Pradeshs Mathura constituency claim that their votes were denied by the booth-level officers, while Hindus in the city bear no complaints, Scroll reported. Jamrul Nisha, 74, claimed that ahead of the second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections on April 26, not even one of her nine family members received a Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Elections phase III: BJP, Congress in fierce battle for Fatehpur Sikri LS seat

LUCKNOW: Fatehpur Sikri, once the captial of erstwhile Mughal Empire, is the most recent parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh. Following delimitation in 2008, it was carved out of Agra Lok Sabha seat. In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, it saw its inaugural victory secured by the BSPs Seema Upadhyaya. The town, renowned for housing the shrine of the Sufi saint Salim Chishti and the resolute red stone fortress of Emperor Akbar, stands as a testament to the grandeur of the Mughal empire. This time around, the Fatehpur Sikri seat appears to be balanced on a knife's edge, with both the ruling BJP and the Congress eyeing victory. In Uttar Pradesh, the Congress is contesting 17 seats in alliance with its INDIA bloc partner, the Samajwadi Party. Among them, Ramnath Sikarwar, popularly known as Fauji Baba, is posing a strong challenge to Rajkumar Chahar, the BJP's sitting MP from Fatehpur Sikri. The BJP lawmaker had won the Fatehpur Sikri seat with a margin of five lakh votes in the previous 2019 Lok Sabha election by defeating Raj Babbar, the then-state president of the Congress. Chahar, who is also the national chairman of BJP Kisan Morcha, finds himself entangled not only in his partys internal conflicts regarding his candidature but is also grappling with significant anti-incumbency sentiment. Apart from contending with the opposition candidate, Chahar is also grappling with a formidable challenge from Rameshwar Chaudhury, son of the incumbent BJP MLA from Fatehpur Sikri, Babulal Chaudhury. Rameshwar is contesting as an independent and is perceived to wield greater influence than Chahar among Jat voters in the constituency. Conversely, Chahar faces opposition from the disgruntled Kashtriya community, while Congress candidate Ramnath Sikarwar, himself a Kshatriya, garners their support. Similarly, the anti-incumbency factor also poses a substantial obstacle to replicating his past success. Acknowledging these challenges, senior BJP figures, including prominent Thakur leaders Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, are conducting numerous rallies in Sikri and Agra to assuage the concerns of the disillusioned Kshatriya community. Under the given circumstances, Chahar is relying entirely on the Modi-Yogi factor. PM Modi had convened a poll rally in Agra recently to seek support for both Chahar and Prof SP Singh Baghel, the BJP candidate from Agra. Amidst mounting anticipation of a potential triumph, the Congress party's top brass are directing their focus towards Sikri. Notably, during the second phase of the election, the absence of prominent leaders campaigning for the Congress candidate in Mathura was conspicuous. However, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi is slated to conduct a roadshow in support of Congress candidate Ram Nath Sikarwar in Fatehpur Sikri on May 3. Sikarwar has a dedicated following of his own. A retired Indian Army veteran, Sikarwar contributed to the Kargil victory before his retirement in 2004. Hailing from Kheragarh village, the Congress contender is known to frequently reside in the village temple. Sikarwar's popularity, particularly among marginalized communities, presents an additional challenge for the BJP candidate. Meanwhile, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which has gone solo, has fielded Ram Niwas Sharma, a Brahmin, thereby making the Fatehpur Sikri contest somewhat quadrangular. In the three elections held for the Fatehpur Sikri Lok Sabha seat, a Brahmin candidate emerged victorious once, while two Jats won in 2014 and 2019. In the caste dynamics of Sikri, Thakurs hold sway as the predominant caste, numbering three and a half lakhs, followed by three lakh Brahmins. Additionally, there are 1.75 lakh Jats and equal numbers of Muslims and Vaishyas, totaling one lakh each. Among the backward castes, Kushwahas account for 1.4 lakhs, while Nishads comprise 1.25 lakhs. Meanwhile, the BJP is also relying on its sitting MLA Rani Pakshalika Singh from Bah assembly segment. Hailing from the Bhadawar Royal family, Pakshalika Singh has some bearing among the Thakur community, which is dominant in her constituency. The saffron party has also roped in retired Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadoria, another Thakur from Bah who recently joined the party, to pacify the Thakur community. Bhadoria was brought in to hold a roadshow for the BJP candidate.

Allahabad High Court quashes order banning registration of e-rickshaws and e-autos in Mathura and Agra

The Allahabad High Court has quashed an order that banned the registration of e-rickshaws and e-autos in Mathura and Agra. The Division Bench of Justice Anjani Kumar Mishra and Justice Jayant Banerji passed this order while hearing a petition filed by Shree Vindavan Auto Sales. Under challenge in some of these petitions is the Notification []

Bomb Threats Rattle Delhi-NCR Schools: From DPS Mathura Road to GD Goenka, Check List of Impacted Institutes

The bomb threat wasfirst received by DPS Dwarka, after whicha team of the Delhi Police,fire department, and the bomb disposal squad (BDS) were dispatched

Two held in Mathura for beating stray dog to death, PETA wants Sec 429 to be added against them

Two held in Mathura for beating stray dog to death, PETA wants Sec 429 to be added against them Mathura: Two men have been arrested for allegedly beating a stray dog to death in Govardhan Chowk, Radhapuram, Mathura, a non-profit organisation said. The FIR had been registered under Section 11 of The Prevention of [] The post Two held in Mathura for beating stray dog to death, PETA wants Sec 429 to be added against them appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Hearing in Mathura title dispute today

Abhishek calls out Yogi Adityanath, Amit Shah for mispronouncing places

Abhishek calls out Yogi Adityanath, Amit Shah for mispronouncing places Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee took a jibe at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanth and Union Home Minister Amit Shah saying that while the former called Birbhum, Birbhumi, the latter called Balurghat Belurghat. Today, BJP's migrant leader- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath came to Birbhum and called the place 'Birbhumi'. He does not even know the name of the area. Amit Shah came to Balurghat and called it 'Belurghat'. Why should we not say that they are against Bengal? Banerjee said at a public meeting at North 24 Parganas' Mathurapur on Tuesday. Birbhum and Balurghat are two Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal. They are saying that Swami Vivekananda was a 'Left product', the TMC leader said saying that the BJP has been insulting Swami Vivekananada. Banerjee claimed that Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's statue was broken under the leadership of Amit Shah. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's statue was broken under the leadership of Amit Shah ahead of the 2019 elections. They got the answer from Kolkata and South 24 Parganas in 2019. Those who are insulting Bengal will get an answer from us through revenge, he said. Slamming the Union Home Minister for allegedly saying that the Trinamool Congress wants to make Abhishek Banerjee the next Chief Minister, he said, Amit Shah said that Trinamool Congress wants to make Abhishek Banerjee the Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee wants it too. You are saying your own wishes. You want to make your son BCCI President. Not everyone is like you. Continuing his attack against Shah for labelling political leaders as hieves if they are summoned by investigative agencies, Banerjee said, You have never launched a movement. There are multiple allegations against you. Today, if anyone is summoned by the ED, CBI, you call his thief. You yourself have gone to jail. We do not need to learn about policies and ideologies from you. Banerjee even hit out at Adityanath over incidents like Unnao, Hathras and Lakhimpur Kheri under his watch. Yogi Adityanath is the most unsuccessful and communal Chief Minister in the country. Under his reign, Unnao, Hathras, incidents took place. At Lakhimpur Kheri, the Union Minister of State (Home) Ajay Teni Mishra's son ran over five farmers. This took place under Yogi Adityanath's tenure. Do we need to learn about law and order from him? he said. The NCRB report under the Union Home Ministry states that Kolkata is the safest city. This report was released by the Centre, not by the Mamata Banerjee government, Banerjee added. Voting in six Lok Sabha constituencies in Bengal was held in the first and second phases on April 19 and April 26 respectively. Polling for the remaining parliamentary seats will be held on May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The counting of votes will be done on June 4. In most of the constituencies in the state, the main fight is between the ruling Trinamool Congress and BJP. Though the TMC is part of the INDIA bloc, it does not have a seat-sharing arrangement with the other parties in the alliance, like Congress and the Left parties in the state. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC won 34 seats in the state, while the BJP had to settle for just 2 seats. The CPI (M) won 2 seats, while the Congress bagged 4. However, the BJP came up with a much-improved showing in the 2019 polls, winning 18 seats against the TMC's 22. The Congress's tally dropped to just 2 seats, while the Left scored a blank. (ANI)

Abhishek dares Shah to face him in polls, vows to quit politics if defeated

Abhishek dares Shah to face him in polls, vows to quit politics if defeated Senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday challenged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to contest against him from Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency and if the BJP leader wins, he would retire from active politics. Banerjee, who is considered the number two in the TMC, also said that Shah has two other options to make him retire from politics. ''If you want Abhishek Banerjee to leave active politics, then I would like you to fulfil any of the three options I am providing you today. You release the state's due of Rs 1,64,000 crore and I will retire within 24 hours. The second option is to release the funds of the PM Awas Yojana,'' Banerjee said at an election rally for TMCs Mathurapur candidate Bapi Halder. ''The nomination for the Diamond Harbour constituency is yet to start. The third option: you (Shah) contest from here and defeat me. I will leave politics forever,'' the partys national general secretary said. Responding to the BJP leaders statement in Memari earlier in the day that TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee wants him to be the next chief minister of West Bengal, Abhishek Banerjee said everyone is not like him (Shah). ''You wish to make your son the BCCI president. Not all are like you. You have never been part of any agitation. You are a person who was jailed. We do not need to learn any moral values and ideology from you,'' Banerjee said. The Union home ministers son Jay Shah is the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). ''You are in politics for your benefit. We do not do that. We are in politics to address the cause of the people,'' he said.

MHA grants X category security cover to BJPs Basirhat LS candidate Rekha Patra

NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sanctioned the X-category security protection to Rekha Patra, who led the protests against suspended TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan in West Bengals Sandeshkhali, officials said on Tuesday. The BJP has fielded Patra as its candidate from the Basirhat Lok Sabha seat in the state to reap electoral dividend out of her popularity among anti-TMC voters in the state. Voting in Basirhat will take place on June 1, the last phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Patra has been pitted against TMCs Haji Nurul Islam, who was nominated after current MP and Bengali actor Nusrat Jahan was dropped from the list of candidates. Commandos from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will provide security to the Sandeskhali survivor, the officials said, adding that the MHA took the decision to provide the X-category protection to her following an Intelligence Bureau (IB) report that indicated threat to her life. Besides Patra, the MHA also accorded security cover by the central forces to five other BJP leaders, they informed. The X-category security cover was provided to Pranat Tudu, the BJPs candidate from Jhargram, as well as to Nirmal Saha contesting from Bahrampur, Ashok Kandari from Jaynagar and Ashok Purkait from Mathurapur. Meanwhile, the Raiganj BJP candidate Karthik Paul was given the Y-category security protection. Since the announcement of Lok Sabha elections earlier this month, the MHA has provided security to more than two dozen BJP leaders in West Bengal. Currently, more than 100 BJP leaders have got security protection from the Central government. CISF commandos of the VIP security wing of the force provide security to these leaders. PM dials Sandeshkhali survivor and BJP nominee Rekha Patra, lauds her as shakti swaroopa

Jharkhand parties prefer tried & tested lawmakers

RANCHI: Political parties in Jharkhand prefer sitting MLAs as their candidates for the Lok Sabha polls. Be it the NDA or INDI-Alliance, they have been showing their confidence in the sitting MLAs on most of the Lok Sabha seats in the state. Interestingly, BJP has fielded the sitting Baghmara MLA Dhulu Mahto from Dhanbad Lok Sabha seat and is drawing flack from the business community for giving ticket to a person having 49 criminal cases against him. Not only that, Mahot is also notorious for coal smuggling, extortion and other cases in the Dhanbad region and is also convicted in four cases. Dhulu Mahto has replaced veteran BJP leader and sitting MP from Dhanbad, PN Singh. Despite several big shots in the race, Dhulu Mahto has been given ticket from the seat. BJP has also fielded Sita Soren, the elder daughter in law of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren and three times MLA from Jama Assembly seat, from Dumka Lok Sabha seat. Sita Soren recently joined BJP after quitting the JMM and secured a ticket for her from Dumka Lok Sabha seat. Sita Soren has been fielded from Dumka replacing the sitting BJP MP Sunil Soren. Similarly, Hazaribagh (Sadar) MLA Manish Jaiswal has been made BJP candidate from Hazaribagh Lok Sabha Seat. He has replaced the sitting Hazaribagh MP and former Union Minister Jayant Sinha. Sinha will take on Congress Jai Prakash Bhai Patel, also a sitting MLA from Mandu in Hazaribagh. Even JMM does not lag behind and has fielded Shikaripada legislator Nalin Soren against BJPs Sita Soren at Dumka Lok Sabha seat. Earlier, it was being said that former Chief Minister Hemant Soren will be contesting from the Dumka, considered to be a traditional seat of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren. From Giridih Lok Sabha seat also, sitting Tundi MLA Mathura Prasad Mahto has been fielded by JMM who will take on AJSUs lone candidate in Jharkhand and sitting MP Chadra Prakash Chaudhary. Another sitting MLA, who has been fielded by JMM includes, ex-minister Joba Manjhi from Singhbhum Lok Sabha seat. Joba Manjhi will take on Geeta Koda who switched to the BJP recently. Geta Koda is the wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda. BJP conducted internal surveys BJP and JMM functionaries said that the tickets were given only on the basis of the win-ability factor of the candidates. An internal survey was conducted by the party to assess that win-ability of the candidates and public outreach of the candidates who were in the race of Lok Sabha seats. Opinion of the workers of respective seats were taken before giving tickets, said state BJP spokesperson Pradeep Sinha.

Kerala Latin Catholic Association furious after one more fisher dies at Muthalapozhi

KOCHI: The Kerala Latin Catholic Association (KLCA) has come out strongly against the authorities concerned for not taking steps to ensure the safety of the fishermen venturing out to the sea from the Muthalapozhi harbour. The outrage comes after one more fisherman, John of Pudukurichi, died after his fishing boat overturned near the harbour. He is the 76th person to die at Muthalapozhi. Quoting a study by the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) for the state government, the KLCA said construction of gyrone embankments at the harbour was found to be the cause of coastal erosion in all four villages in the Anchuthengu region. Similarly, it was found there has been a gradual rise in land area due to deposition of sediment from the sea in the area between Perumathura and Muthalapozhi, the association said. The KLCA alleged that man-made harbours made using gyrones like at like Muthalapozhi require constant maintenance with periodic dredging. These works have not been carried out regularly as promised, it said. The last time such an accident led to death, the Church had come out in protest against the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities in implementing the promised measures. However, the Church authorities were booked. Later, in the discussions that took place after the agitation, the state government announced measures to make Muthalapozhi safe. None of the assurances was fulfilled. There has also been no compensation, the KLCA said. Had the promises been delivered, the latest accident would not have occurred. Those responsible for not completing the process should take responsibility for the death, the KLCA said.

Fire breaks out at pipe warehouse on Delhi-Agra Highway

Fire breaks out at pipe warehouse on Delhi-Agra Highway A massive fire broke out in a pipe warehouse located on the Delhi-Agra Highway on Monday, police officials said. Fire tenders have rushed to the spot to douse the fire, they added. Massive fire broke out at a godown filled with plastic pipes close to the highway. Fire tenders have been called. Efforts are on to control the fire. There is no report of any casualties in the incident. People have been evacuated. We want to control the flames and ensure that property loss is minimal. People are being isolated from the spot, Senior Superintendent of Police of Mathura, Shailesh Pandey said. Further details are awaited. (ANI)

Nomination filing process begins for bypolls to 4 Jharkhand Lok Sabha seats

Nomination filing process begins for bypolls to 4 Jharkhand Lok Sabha seats The nomination process for four Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand where elections will be held on May 25 commenced on Monday with the issuance of the notification for the sixth phase of polls in the country, an official said. The four constituencies that would go to polls on May 25 are Giridih, Dhanbad, Ranchi and Jamshedpur. The nomination exercise started at 11 am and will continue till 3 pm every day till the last date of the process for the phase on May 6, the election official said. Scrutiny of the nomination papers will be held on May 7 and the last day of withdrawing nomination is May 9. The INDIA bloc and the NDA have declared their candidates for the four seats in the phase. AJSU party, an ally in BJP-led NDA, has fielded its sitting MP Chandra Prakash Chaudhary from Giridih Lok Sabha seat, while BJP has fielded its Baghmara MLA Dulu Mahto from Dhanbad seat, incumbent MP Sanjay Seth from Ranchi and sitting MP Bidyut Baran Mahto from Jamshedpur seat. From the INDIA bloc, JMM has fielded its Tundi MLA Mathura Mahto from the Giridih seat and Bahragora legislator Samir Kumar Mohanty from the Jamshedpur seat, while Congress has fielded Anupama Singh, wife for Bermo legislator Jai Mangal Singh, from Dhanbad, Yashaswini Sahay, a political newbie and daughter of former Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay, from Ranchi Lok Sabha seat.

Jharkhands list of star campaigners creates stir

RANCHI: Name of jailed former chief minister Hemant Soren figuring prominently in the list of star campaigners for the Jharkhand Lok Sabha elections has triggered a row among political circles. On Saturday, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) named 40 star campaigners which also include Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren, party president Shibu Soren and Chief Minister Champai Soren. Hitting out at the party, the BJP said that the JMM is still not able to accept Champai Soren as the Chief Minister and is trying to keep Hemant Soren at the centre-stage by projecting him as invincible to the party. Hemant Sorens name appearing among the other star campaigners clearly indicates that Champai Soren is the Chief Minister just for name sake and the party is still not able to accept him as Chief Minister, said BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo. Ironically, they have named Hemant Soren as star campaigner despite the fact that he is currently lodged in jail as an accused of money laundering through land scam, he added. Another BJP functionary Pradeep Sinha said that only the JMM functionaries can say that how Hemant Soren will campaign from the jail. It is possible only in JMM that an incarcerated person has been made a star campaigner. The JMM has also included some rebels like Chamra Linda in the list despite Chamra filing his nomination from Lohardaga as an independent candidate against Congress candidate Sukhdeo Bhagat. The Congress, under the seat sharing arrangement of INDI-Alliance, has fielded Sukhdeo Bhagat from the seat. Sinha said that Congress needs to understand who is pushing these rebels against its candidate. The JMM, however, said that there is nothing wrong in it as they strongly believe that the ex-CM will be out of jail before the elections. Whats wrong with it? There is a hearing in the Supreme Court on Monday against the arresting of Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate, and we strongly believe that he will get relief from the apex court. Still there is a lot of time during which he can get relief from the top court, said JMM spokesperson Monoj Pandey. Being a former CM, Hemant Soren is quite popular among the youths and hence the party has named him as a star campaigner, he added. In addition to the prominent ones, names of leaders like Nalin Soren, Prof. Stephen Marandi, Mathura Prasad Mahato, Savita Mahato, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Bejnay Ram, Vinod Kumar Pandey, Fagu Besra, Supriyo Bhattacharya, Deepak Birua, Sudivy Kumar Sonu, Mithilesh Kumar Thakur, Chamra Linda, Yogendra Mahato, Abhishek Kumar Pintu also figure in the list.

Many Samajwadi Party Leaders Join BJP amidst Lok Sabha Polls

Lucknow: In a blow to the opposition ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, several Samajwadi Party leaders switched allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Lucknow on Sunday. Former Samajwadi Party MLA Jai Choubey, along with several other leaders including Balram Yadav and Jagat Jaiswal, joined the BJP in a ceremony attended by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak. Welcoming the new members, Deputy Chief Minister Pathak said, Former MLA and several district presidents have joined our party today. Welcome and congratulations to all of you. Those working at the block level are also joining us. They have a significant responsibility ahead of them.Addressing the gathering, Pathak emphasized, You all have decided to join the BJP... Under PM Modi's leadership, the BJP has connected with the masses. With PM Modi's guidance, we have committed to building a 'Developed India,' and I trust that all of you will contribute to this vision. Uttar Pradesh, the state with the highest number of parliamentary constituencies at 80, is undergoing polling in all seven phases of the Lok Sabha elections.The first phase of voting was conducted on April 19 in eight parliamentary constituencies, followed by the second phase on April 26 in another eight constituencies.During the second phase, constituencies including Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Aligarh, Mathura, and Bulandshahr cast their votes. The state is scheduled for further polling in phases three and four on May 7 and May 13 respectively, and in phases five, six, and seven on May 20, May 23, and June 1. Vote counting is set for June 4. Controversy Surrounding Congress Manifesto and Allegations of Appeasement PM Modi Criticizes Rahul Gandhi for Double Standards on Historical Atrocities DK Shivakumar Slams Centre for Inadequate Relief Funds

Opposition Slams Adityanath Over Starvation and Biryani Remarks

Opposition Slams Adityanath Over Starvation and Biryani Remarks Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, Samajwadi Party and BSP, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said the ''poor were victims of starvation'' and the ''terrorists were fed biryani'' when they were in power. The chief minister addressed separate election rallies in Sikandrarau for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Anup Pradhan from Hathras seat and Firozabad constituency candidate Thakur Vishwadeep Singh. ''The poor, farmers, women and youth were not in the agenda of the SP (Samajwadi Party), Congress and BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party). They only did vote bank politics, they committed the sin of dividing the caste and society,'' Adityanath said in Hathras. ''During their (opposition governments) time, the poor were victims of starvation and the terrorists were fed biryani. The farmers used to commit suicide and the corrupt people used to enjoy life of luxury, he added. Adityanath said the ''mafia used to wield power as patrons'', but work is being done today in the country and the state ''without any discrimination''. He claimed that more work was done under the BJP rule than what was done by the Congress, Samajwadi Party and BSP. Even in the meeting in Firozabad, the chief minister hit out at the Congress and the Samajwadi Party stating these people want to give permission for cow slaughter on the land of Ram and Krishna. Taking aim at the Congress, Adityanath said the people of 'Discovery of India' think that Ram and Krishna never existed. He said that on one hand the Modi government is giving free ration to 80 crore people of the country, on the other hand even the ration of even the poorest of the poor was wasted during the Congress rule. ''After Kashi and Ayodhya, we have moved towards Mathura,'' Adityanath said. Targeting the Samajwadi Party, he asked whether they have ever done anything for the development of Braj region. Taking potshots at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Adityanath said that these people did not think anything outside their family and keep defaming caste in the name of nepotism. His sympathy is not with the poor but with the mafia, he added. Voting will be held in the third phase in Hathras and Firozabad on May 7.

Kerala LS polls: Coastal votes help raise poll percentage in Attingal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A high voter turnout in the coastal areas at the fag end of the polling time pushed the voting percentage in the Attingal constituency closer to the state average. The booths along the coastal road have seen the rush after 1pm when the overall voting percentage in the constituency was around 40%. Women and elderly chose to cast their votes in the evening in several booths in the coastal regions of Thumpa, Maryanad, Puthukurichi, Perumathura, Perunguzhi, Poothura and Anchuthengu. The women are busy with their household and other livelihood matters in the morning. But they did come to booths by afternoon, said Gerald Franklin a booth-level agent at Puthikurichy. The voter turnout in the coastal area was also closely linked to the mass or Juma being held at religious centres in the locality. At Perumathura and Perunghuzhi the rush began after the Juma at the Central Juma Masjid and Valiya Palli at 1.30pm. The boat workers in the region decided not to operate boats on Election Day to attend the Juma and cast their votes. At the booth at Government LPS Perumathura, which is a designated sensitive booth, a heavy rush witnessed since the afternoon to the last hours, forcing the officials to close the gate at the scheduled time. The seven assembly constituencies in Attingal reported brisk polling from 7am itself. However, the voting percentage dipped from the 74 % recorded in 2019. Attingal 2024: 68.84% 2019: 74.4%

Lok Sabha elections: 65% turnout in 2nd phase

NEW DELHI: In a relatively improved showing, the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections recorded over 65% voter turnout covering 88 seats across 13 states. The highest voting percentage was recorded in Tripura at 78.53% while the lowest was in Uttar Pradesh at 54.85%. Kerala, Karnataka and Rajasthan accounted for more than half the seats. Elections to 14 seats were held in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 6 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Bihar, 3 seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir. All eyes are on the high stakes battle in Kerala, where the BJP has been aggressively working to open its account. The contests in Wayanad, where former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is contesting, and Thiruvananthapuram where Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar is pitted against sitting MP Shashi Tharoor, are keenly watched. Other top guns in the fray include actor-turned-politician Arun Govil in Meerut, Karnataka deputy CM D K Shivakumars brother D K Suresh in Bangalore Rural, and former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy (JDS) in Mandya. BJPs Hema Malini, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat are seeking a hat-trick of wins from Uttar Pradeshs Mathura, Rajasthans Kota and Jodhpur, respectively. With the conclusion of the second phase, voting has been completed in 14 states/UTs.

Over 61 per cent turnout across 88 seats

New Delhi: Over 61 per cent polling was reported in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections covering 88 seats across 13 states amid few complaints of EVM glitches and bogus voting in some states. Voters in some villages of Uttar Pradeshs Mathura, Rajasthans Banswara and Maharashtras Parbhani were boycotting the polls over various issues []

Over 63 per cent turnout in phase 2 of Lok Sabhapolls

New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) Over 63 per cent polling was reported in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections covering 88 seats across 13 states amid few complaints of EVM glitches and bogus voting in some states. Voters in some villages of Uttar Pradeshs Mathura, Rajasthans Banswara and Maharashtras Parbhani were boycotting the polls Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Robust Voter Turnout Marks Second Phase of Indian Parliamentary Elections

Robust Voter Turnout Marks Second Phase of Indian Parliamentary Elections Over 63 per cent polling was reported in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections covering 88 seats across 13 states amid few complaints of EVM glitches and bogus voting in some states. Voters in some villages of Uttar Pradesh's Mathura, Rajasthan's Banswara and Maharashtra's Parbhani were boycotting the polls over various issues but were later persuaded by authorities to cast their franchise. Polling for the second stage of the seven-phase elections started at 7 am and ended at 6 pm. Several states experienced intense heat conditions. The first phase of polling was held on April 19 in 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories. The Election Commission (EC) said polling remained largely peaceful. The tentative figure at 8 pm of voter turnout was 63.50 per cent. It is likely to go upwards when reports from all polling stations are obtained, the EC said, adding voters reaching polling stations till the end of polling hour are allowed to cast their vote. The National Democratic alliance (NDA) under Prime Minister Modi is seeking a stronger majority for a third consecutive term, while the constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc are hoping for a rebound after facing reverses in the 2014 and 2019 elections. Election Commission data showed the highest voting percentage was recorded in Tripura which registered 79.46 per cent polling, followed by Manipur at 77.32 while the turnout was in Uttar Pradesh at 54.85 per cent and Bihar 55.08 per cent. Polling was held in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 6 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Bihar, 3 seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and actor-turned-politician Arun Govil, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's brother DK Suresh (Cong), and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy (JDS) are among the key candidates while BJP's Hema Malini, Om Birla and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seeking a hat-trick of wins from their respective constituencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the morning urged people to cast their votes in record numbers and said a high voter turnout strengthens democracy. Stressing on the importance of each vote, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi issued impassioned appeals asking people to step out and exercise their franchise in the second phase of the Lok Sabha election. After the end of polling, Modi in a tweet said, ''Phase Two has been too good! Gratitude to the people across India who have voted today. The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more. Voters want NDA's good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support.'' In Kerala, the turnout was 65.91 per cent. The election process, held amid tight security arrangements, was primarily incident free except for instances of bogus voting and breakdowns of electronic voting machines (EVMs) being reported in some booths of the state. Such incidents resulted in delaying the polling process in the affected booths. One person each reportedly died at Palakkad, Alappuzha and Malappuram after casting their vote and a polling agent died after collapsing at a booth in Kozhikode. Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency recorded a turnout of 79.46 per cent. Election officials said there were some complaints from a few booths but those were ''promptly addressed''. A jawan of the Madhya Pradesh Special Armed Force deployed on poll duty allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle at a government school where he was stationed in Gariaband district under the Mahasamund seat in Chhattisgarh, where a voter turnout of 73.62 per cent was recorded. A polling booth at Sivni village in Balod district (Kanker seat) was decorated like a wedding 'mandap', with a display of rituals of traditional weddings. Several brides and grooms, dressed in their wedding finery, cast their votes at several polling booths. The EC said people from 46 villages in Bastar and Kanker seats cast their votes in a polling booth set up in their own village for the first time in a Lok Sabha election. In neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, there was a turnout of 57.88 per cent. An estimated 71.11 per cent of the 77,26,668 voters exercised their franchise in the five parliamentary constituencies of Assam that went to polls in this phase. In restive Manipur, where polling is being held under high presence of security personnel, the turnout was a significantly high 77.32 per cent. There were reports of intimidation by suspected militants, altercation between Congress workers and NPF supporters and damage of EVM at a polling station in the Tangkhul Naga-dominated hill district. At KK Leishi Phanit polling station in Ukhrul, irate voters destroyed an EVM and other items after alleged disturbances by armed miscreants. The overall voting percentage in Karnataka was 68.30. A case was booked against BJP MP and Bangalore South Candidate Tejasvi Surya for allegedly posting a video on a social media platform and soliciting votes on the grounds of religion, the Election Commission said. Another BJP leader CT Ravi was booked for allegedly promoting hatred and enmity between citizens through his social media post. Various restaurants in Bangalore were offering free dosas, laddu, coffee and other food items at discounted rates to customers who cast their vote. A private hospital assisted 41 inpatients cast their vote with the help of city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Green corridors were created for the ambulances across constituencies to ensure easy, hassle-free voting. Some EVMs were destroyed at a polling station in Indiganatha village in Chamarajanagara district of Karnataka during a clash between two groups of people over whether to vote or not. Officials said an FIR is being filed the Election Commission will take a call after getting a detailed report. A voter turnout of 57.83 per cent was recorded in eight constituencies in Maharashtra, while in Rajasthan, the turnout was 64.07 per cent. Incidents of confrontation between the supporters of the Congress candidate and an independent candidate were reported at a couple of places during polling in Barmer-Jaisalmer Lok Sabha constituency of Rajasthan. Police said they were looking into the complaints besides some about fake voting from some places. The by-election for the Bagidora assembly constituency in Banswara district was also held simultaneously on Friday and 76.66 per cent voting took place. A voter turnout of 54.85 per cent was recorded in the eight parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. Senior citizens dominated the early hours of voting in Noida in the Gautam Buddh Nagar constituency. Some residents' welfare associations made arrangements for electric vehicles to ferry voters to and from the polling booths. In Bihar, the turnout was 55.08 per cent, 71.84 per cent in in West Bengal and 71.91 per cent in Jammu and Kashmir. The Lok Sabha polls are the first major electoral battle in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into Union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh -- on August 5, 2019. The Election Commission registered nearly 300 complaints in West Bengal, mostly related to EVM malfunctioning. After Friday's phase, polling is over in Kerala, Rajasthan and Tripura. In the first phase on April 19, polling was completed in all seats of Tamil Nadu (39), Uttarakhand (5), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Meghalaya (2), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Puducherry (1), Sikkim (1) and Lakshadweep (1). The third phase of elections for 94 seats across 12 states and Union territories will be held on May 7. Counting will be done on June 4.

Nearly 61 Per Cent Turnout In Phase 2 Of LS polls; Tripura records 78.53 pc, Manipur 77.18

NEW DELHI, Apr 26: Nearly 61 per cent polling was reported in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections covering 88 seats across 13 states amid few complaints of EVM glitches and bogus voting in some states. Voters in some villages of Uttar Pradeshs Mathura, Rajasthans Banswara and Maharashtras Parbhani were boycotting the polls over various issues but were later persuaded by authorities to cast their franchise. Polling for the second stage of the seven-phase elections started at 7 am [] The post Nearly 61 Per Cent Turnout In Phase 2 Of LS polls; Tripura records 78.53 pc, Manipur 77.18 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Lok Sabha Polls: 2nd phase voting

Solapur: Supporters of Congress candidate Praniti during an election campaign for Lok Sabha elections, in Solapur, Friday, April 26, 2024. (PTI Photo) Mathura: Rashtriya Lok Dal Chief Jayant Chaudhary and his wife show their fingers marked with indelible ink after casting their vote for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls, in Mathura, Friday, April Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Religious Tourism spots like Varanasi and Ayodhya may soon outshine Goa and Agra

Religious Tourism spots like Varanasi and Ayodhya may soon outshine Goa and Agra By Nikhil Dedha Recent data shows that post COVID religious inclinations of Indians have become stronger resulting in an accelerated momentum towards religious tourism. According to the Ministry of Tourism data, last year 8.5 crores of tourists visited Varanasi(Kashi), around 4.5 crore people visited Prayagraj and more than 1.5 crores of people have visited Ayodhya Ram temple since the consecration ceremony. Many experts feel Varanasi will outdo Goa, Agra, and Shimla. During the COVID period when the temples were closed down, our Prime Minister thought let's make the temples a place where everybody would like to visit. So we came up with the idea of having the Kashi Vishwanath corridor. It has changed the entire tourism scenario of the state and in year 2023 we had more than 10 crore tourists said Preeti Srivastava, Deputy Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh to ANI. Government of Uttar Pradesh is promoting the new golden triangle of Prayagraj, Kashi and Ayodhaya as a golden triangle of religious tourism. Now everybody is benefiting. Even the small washerman, he's also getting business because he's washing the linen of the hotels. The vegetable seller, everybody is benefiting. The rickshaw pullers, the flower sellers and local Prasad shops. Now the new golden triangle is coming up that is Ayodhya, Prayagraj and Varanasi said Preeti. The transformative impact of projects like the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, has revitalized Varanasi's tourism sector, leading to a substantial increase in tourist footfall and allied economic activities. The surge in tourism has not only boosted local businesses but also generated substantial revenue for the state. As per the data by the Ministry of Tourism 1,439 million people participated in religious tourism in India during 2022, it is more than double from 677 million in 2021. In 2022, religious tourism destinations earned Rs1.34 lakh crore in revenue, up from Rs65,070 crore in 2021. In 2022, Varanasi had 82 million visitors, which is almost four times the number of visitors in 2019. This number accounted for almost 26% of all arrivals in 2022, compared to less than 4 per cent in 2019. Varanasi's tourist footfall has surpassed Agra, which is home to the Taj Mahal, and has made it the most visited city in Uttar Pradesh. PM Narendra Modi also mentioned in his address on the 103rd episode of radio program 'Mann Ki Baat' that Now more than 10 crore tourists are reaching Kashi every year. The number of devotees visiting pilgrimages like Ayodhya, Mathura, Ujjain is also increasing rapidly. Due to this lakhs of poor are getting employment. According to the industry experts the religious tourism sector is expected to generate a revenue of Rs 59 billion by 2028 and create 140 million temporary and permanent jobs by 2030. Under central government's Swadesh Darshan Scheme, an outlay of Rs 5294 crore has been allocated for the development of theme-based tourist circuits. A total of 76 projects have been sanctioned under the project which covers popular religious destinations across different states of India. These includes Buddhist circuit, Ramayana circuit and Krishna circuit. The Ministry of tourism has also started the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme to improve the religious tourism experience by identifying and developing pilgrimage sites across India.(ANI)

Mathura Muslim Voter

(Mathura)

BJPs Hema Malini confident ahead of Mathura polls: We are going to perform twice as well

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Lok Sabha 2024: In Mathura, Hema Malini's Bid For Hat-Trick

The Mathura Lok Sabha constituency is one of the VIP seats in Uttar Pradesh, playing a significant role in the state's politics.

India votes in second election phase as Modi vs Gandhi contest heats up

India votes in second election phase as Modi vs Gandhi contest heats up India began voting on Friday in the second phase of the world's biggest election, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his rivals raise the pitch of the campaign by focusing on hot-button issues such as religious discrimination, affirmative action and taxes. Almost one billion people are eligible to vote in the seven-phase general elections that began on April 19 and concludes on June 1, with votes set to be counted on June 4. Modi is seeking a record-equalling third straight term on the back of his economic record, welfare measures, national pride, Hindu nationalism and personal popularity. Surveys suggest he will easily win a comfortable majority. His challengers have formed an alliance of more than two dozen parties and are promising greater affirmative action, more handouts and an end to what they call Modi's autocratic rule. A total of 88 seats out of the 543 seats in the lower house of parliament went to the polls on Friday, with 160 million people eligible to vote. They were spread across 13 states and federal territories in the world's most populous country. More than half of the seats in Friday's contests were in the southern states of Kerala and Karnataka and the northwestern state of Rajasthan. The campaign has become more heated since the first phase of voting on April 19 as Modi and the main opposition Congress party have faced off on communal issues with Modi accusing Congress of favouring minority Muslims, aiming to dilute affirmative action and planning to impose an inheritance tax. Congress has denied the charges and said Modi fears losing and was using divisive language to distract voters from real issues such as unemployment, the price rise and rural distress. But some voters were responding to the BJP. I will vote for BJP. Muslims will get a lot of benefits if Congress comes to power and I dont want taxpayers' money to go for the benefit of any one community, said Shree Hari S.S., 23, who voted in the tech hub of Bengaluru. Tackling unemployment, inflation and high taxation in the world's fastest growing major economy, however, should be the priorities of the new government, said Kareemulla Basha, 47, a Bengaluru software engineer and a Muslim voter. When you promise something, see if it is fiscally prudent, he said. I am okay with subsidies, but the government should do a better job of finding a balance and understanding how much they will cost the exchequer. RAHUL GANDHI IN THE FRAY Rahul Gandhi, former Congress president and the face of the party, was among the 1,200 candidates in the fray on Friday. Your vote will decide whether the next government will be of 'a few billionaires' or of '140 crore Indians', Gandhi posted on X as voting began, referring to India's population of 1.4 billion. Therefore, it is the duty of every citizen to step out of their homes today and become a 'soldier of the constitution' and vote to protect democracy. Gandhi is seeking re-election from Wayanad in Kerala and faces Annie Raja of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and BJP's K. Surendran, among others, in the Left Front-ruled state. In 2019, Gandhi defeated the CPI candidate by more than 400,000 votes, the highest margin in Kerala, although he lost his second seat to BJP in the family bastion of Amethi in north India. India allows a candidate to contest from more than one seat but they can retain only one if they win from more. Congress slumped to a historic low when it was swept out of power by BJP in 2014 and won its second-lowest number of 52 seats in 2019, with Kerala contributing the highest tally of 15. The party is expected to do better in Karnataka this year where it won just one of 28 seats in 2019 but gained strength and defeated BJP in state elections last year. It is still seen to be struggling nationally as bickering within the opposition alliance it leads and graft cases against some leaders has hobbled its challenge to Modi. The Election Commission and political parties have been worried about voter turnout due to the summer heat and wedding season in some parts of the country with turnout falling to around 65% in the first phase from nearly 70% in 2019. While Bengaluru, which has faced an unusually hot summer this year, is forecast to touch a high of 37 degrees Celsius (99 Fahrenheit) on Friday, Mathura is expected to touch 41 degrees Celsius (106F), weather websites showed.

BJP pick Hema Malini predicts her victory margin in UP's Mathura: '5-7 lakhs'

BJP pick Hema Malini predicts her victory margin in UPs Mathura lakhs

BJP Mathura candidate Hema Malini confident of extending her term

BJP Mathura candidate Hema Malini confident of extending her term

Battle For Bharat | Massive Reporter Team Delivers Phase 2 Polling Updates! | Lok Sabha Elections

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 | Biggest team of reporters on ground to get you updates from the length & breadth of the country on 2nd phase of polling; @KamalikaSengupt brings in brings in details from Darjeeling. Battle For Bharat: 4.4% noted in the voter turnout in phase 1; 2nd phase polling on 88 seats today, key seats include Mathura and Wayanad. Join the special

Phase 2 Lok Sabha | Key Battles Unfold: Phase 2 Polling in 88 Seats - Mathura, Wayanad in Spotlight

Phase 2 Lok Sabha | Key Battles Unfold: Phase 2 Polling in 88 Seats - Mathura, Wayanad in Spotlight | English NewsBattle For Bharat: 4.4% noted in the voter turnout in phase 1; 2nd phase polling on 88 seats today, key seats include Mathura and Wayanad. Join the special

From Rahul Gandhi to Arun Govil: List of key candidates in Phase 2 LS polls

New Delhi: From Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad, Shashi Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram to Hema Malini in Mathura and Arun Govil in Meerut, the fates of several prominent personalities will be locked by the voters in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday. The second phase has 88 Lok Sabha constituencies including all Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

India begins voting in second phase of giant election as Modi vs Gandhi campaign heats up

India begins voting in second phase of giant election as Modi vs Gandhi campaign heats up By Dhanya Skariachan, Chris Thomas and Nikunj Ohri BENGALURU/KOTTAYAM/MATHURA, India, April 26 (Reuters) - I ndia began voting on Friday in the second phase of the world's biggest election, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his rivals raise the pitch of the campaign by focusing on hot-button issues such as religious discrimination, affirmative action and taxes. Almost one billion people are eligible to vote in the seven-phase general elections that began on April 19 and concludes on June 1, with votes set to be counted on June 4. Modi is seeking a record-equalling third straight term on the back of his economic record, welfare measures, national pride, Hindu nationalism and personal popularity. Surveys suggest he will easily win a comfortable majority. His challengers have formed an alliance of more than two dozen parties and are promising greater affirmative action, more handouts and an end to what they call Modi's autocratic rule. Friday's polling will be held for 88 of the total 543 seats in the lower house of parliament with 160 million people eligible to vote. It will be spread across 13 states and federal territories in the world's most populous country. More than half of those 88 seats are in the southern states of Kerala and Karnataka and the northwestern state of Rajasthan. The campaign has changed tack since the first phase and become heated as Modi and the main opposition Congress party have faced off on communal issues with Modi accusing Congress of favouring minority Muslims, aiming to dilute affirmative action and planning to impose inheritance tax. Congress, which used to make noise in the name of the Constitution, has now been badly exposed for its hidden agenda, Modi posted on X late on Thursday. Congress has denied the charges and said Modi is distracting voters from real issues such as unemployment, price rise and rural distress and fears losing. RAHUL GANDHI IN THE FRAY We spoke to you, we heard what was on your mind and drafted a revolutionary manifesto, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a video message on the eve of the vote. This has been drafted by the Congress party but it is your voice. Gandhi, former Congress president and the face of the party, is among the 1200 candidates in the fray on Friday. He is seeking re-election from Wayanad in Kerala and faces Annie Raja of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and BJP's K. Surendran, among others, in the Left Front-ruled state. In 2019, Gandhi defeated the CPI candidate by more than 400,000 votes, the highest margin in Kerala, although he lost his second seat to BJP in the family bastion of Amethi in north India. India allows a candidate to contest from more than one seat but they can retain only one if they win from more. Congress slumped to a historic low when it was swept out of power by BJP in 2014 and won its second-lowest number of 52 seats in 2019, with Kerala contributing the highest of 15. The party is also expected to do better in Karnataka where it won just one of 28 seats in 2019 but gained strength and defeated BJP in state elections last year. It is still seen to be struggling nationally as bickering within the opposition alliance it leads and graft cases against some leaders has hobbled its challenge to Modi. The Election Commission and political parties have been worried about voter turnout due to the summer heat and wedding season in some parts of the country with turnout falling to around 65% in the first phase from nearly 70% in 2019. The poll panel has increased appeals for voter participation since, asking them to vote with responsibility and pride. (Reproting by Dhanya Skariachan in Bengaluru, Chris Thomas in Kottayam and Nikunj Ohri in Mathura; Writing by YP Rajesh; Editing by Stephen Coates)

Congress tries to make it local vs outsider against Hema Malini; Rajput anger towards BJP poses some challenge

Hema Malini, a dream girl from Mathura, faces challenges in her third election as a BJP candidate. Opponents argue that the contest is a Brajvasi or Bhari/ Pravasi contest, with Congress candidate Mukesh Dhangar putting up hoardings and BSP candidate Suresh Singh referring to her as a Bambai Wali Sansad. BJP workers are urging voters to elect Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seek votes in the names of Modi and Yogi.

Hema Malini, Lord Krishna's 'Gopi', Faces Congress Test In Mathura

BJP leader Hema Malini - who last week labelled herself a 'gopi' of Lord Krishna - will defend her Mathura Lok Sabha seat against Mukesh Dhangar of the Congress and Suresh Singh of the Bahujan Samaj Party when voting opens Friday morning.

Its advantage BJP in 8 western UP seats

Indefatigable: The ruling party expects to counter local factors impacting seats such as Mathura, Meerut and Amroha with organisational strength and Modi appeal

Mathura Lok Sabha election 2024: Voting date, key candidates

Mathura Lok Sabha election Voting date key candidates

Mohan-Mathura-Modi-Malini: The Intricacies Of Politics In Brajabhoomi

In Mathura, BJP Eyes Hema Hattrick In Nal And Kamal Partnership Ground Report

LS polls Phase 2: Rahul, Tharoor in fray; Hema Malini, Om Birla seek hat-trick of wins

New Delhi: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, and actor-turned-politician Arun Govil are among the key candidates in the fray for the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls with BJP's Hema Malini, Om Birla and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seeking a hat-trick of wins from their respective constituencies.Staggered over seven stages, the first phase of the elections held last Friday for 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories saw a voter turnout of around 65.5 per cent. In the second phase of Lok Sabha polls on Friday, polling is scheduled in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, eight seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, seven in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, three seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir. Gandhi is the sitting MP from Wayanad in Kerala and is seeking re-election. He is pitted against CPI's Annie Raja and BJP's K Surendran. In the 2019 election, Gandhi secured victory by a substantial margin of more than 7 lakh votes against his closest rival, CPI's P P Suneer. Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor is hoping to retain the Thiruvananthapuram seat for the fourth time. He is pitted against Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar from the BJP and CPI's Pannyan Raveendran. Malini, who has represented the Mathura constituency since 2014, is contesting against Congress' Mukesh Dhangar while Om Birla, a two-time MP from Kota, is facing Prahlad Gunjal from the Congress party. Union minister Shekhawat is eyeing a third win from the Jodhpur seat while Congress candidate Karan Singh Uchiyarda would look to put a spanner in the works of the BJP candidate. Tejasvi Surya, the sitting MP for Bangalore South and the national president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), will face Congress' Sowmya Reddy. Former chief minister of Chhattisgarh and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel is contesting from Rajnandgaon, a stronghold of the BJP for over 30 years. Baghel is pitted against BJP's Santosh Pandey, who won the 2019 Lok Sabha elections succeeding Abhishek Singh, the son of former Chief Minister Raman Singh, also from the BJP. Replacing three-time MP Rajendra Agarwal, who has been holding the Meerut seat since 2004, Arun Govil, famous for portraying Lord Ram's character in Ramayan TV series, is making his electoral debut against BSP's Devvrat Kumar Tyagi and SP's Sunita Verma. In Madhya Pradesh, BJP leader Virendra Kumar Khatik is eyeing a fourth win from Tikamgarh. The Congress has fielded a new face, Pankaj Ahirwar, from the constituency. In 2019, Khatik defeated Congress' Kiran Ahirwar by a margin of over 3.48 lakh votes. The contest for the Alappuzha seat in Kerala has turned into a prestige battle for the Congress with All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K C Venugopal's return to the Lok Sabha poll fray after 2014 as the party looks to wrest the only seat it lost to the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in its landslide 19-1 victory in Kerala in the 2019 polls. Venugopal has not lost any major election in his career. He won the Alappuzha Assembly seat thrice in a row in 1996, 2001, and 2006 and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Alappuzha in 2009 and 2014. In 2019, he did not contest after the party elevated him to the post of the AICC general secretary. Actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi is also in the fray from Thrissur against K Muraleedharan of Congress and VS Sunil Kumar of CPI(M). Sukanta Majumdar, incumbent BJP MP from Balurghat in West Bengal is seeking re-election. He is pitted against Biplab Mitra of the Trinamool Congress and Joydeb Siddhanta of the Revolutionary Socialist Party.

LS polls Phase 2: Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor in fray; Hema Malini, Om Birla seek hat-trick of wins

NEW DELHI: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, and actor-turned-politician Arun Govil are among the key candidates in the fray for the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls with BJP's Hema Malini, Om Birla and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seeking a hat-trick of wins from their respective constituencies. Staggered over seven stages, the first phase of the elections held last Friday for 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories saw a voter turnout of around 65.5 per cent. In the second phase of Lok Sabha polls on Friday, polling is scheduled in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, eight seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, seven in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, three seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir. Gandhi is the sitting MP from Wayanad in Kerala and is seeking re-election. He is pitted against CPI's Annie Raja and BJP's K Surendran. Wayanad: Left, BJP hopes to prick Rahuls balloon In the 2019 election, Gandhi secured victory by a substantial margin of more than 7 lakh votes against his closest rival, CPI's P P Suneer. Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor is hoping to retain the Thiruvananthapuram seat for the fourth time. He is pitted against Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar from the BJP and CPI's Pannyan Raveendran. Malini, who has represented the Mathura constituency since 2014, is contesting against Congress' Mukesh Dhangar while Om Birla, a two-time MP from Kota, is facing Prahlad Gunjal from the Congress party. Union minister Shekhawat is eyeing a third win from the Jodhpur seat while Congress candidate Karan Singh Uchiyarda would look to put a spanner in the works of the BJP candidate. Tejasvi Surya, the sitting MP for Bangalore South and the national president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), will face Congress' Sowmya Reddy. Former chief minister of Chhattisgarh and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel is contesting from Rajnandgaon, a stronghold of the BJP for over 30 years. Baghel is pitted against BJP's Santosh Pandey, who won the 2019 Lok Sabha elections succeeding Abhishek Singh, the son of former Chief Minister Raman Singh, also from the BJP. Replacing three-time MP Rajendra Agarwal, who has been holding the Meerut seat since 2004, Arun Govil, famous for portraying Lord Ram's character in Ramayan TV series, is making his electoral debut against BSP's Devvrat Kumar Tyagi and SP's Sunita Verma. In Madhya Pradesh, BJP leader Virendra Kumar Khatik is eyeing a fourth win from Tikamgarh. The Congress has fielded a new face, Pankaj Ahirwar, from the constituency. In 2019, Khatik defeated Congress' Kiran Ahirwar by a margin of over 3.48 lakh votes. The contest for the Alappuzha seat in Kerala has turned into a prestige battle for the Congress with All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K C Venugopal's return to the Lok Sabha poll fray after 2014 as the party looks to wrest the only seat it lost to the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in its landslide 19-1 victory in Kerala in the 2019 polls. Venugopal has not lost any major election in his career. He won the Alappuzha Assembly seat thrice in a row in 1996, 2001, and 2006 and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Alappuzha in 2009 and 2014. In 2019, he did not contest after the party elevated him to the post of the AICC general secretary. Actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi is also in the fray from Thrissur against K Muraleedharan of Congress and VS Sunil Kumar of CPI(M). Sukanta Majumdar, incumbent BJP MP from Balurghat in West Bengal is seeking re-election. He is pitted against Biplab Mitra of the Trinamool Congress and Joydeb Siddhanta of the Revolutionary Socialist Party. Uttar Pradesh: RLD onboard, BJP looks for dominance

Kidnapping At Gunpoint, Then 800-Km Drive: Faridabad Bank Manager Rescued

A bank manager, who was kidnapped at gunpoint Saturday from his Faridabad home to Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur and then Mathura, has been rescued, thanks to swift action by Haryana police's crime branch

Uttar Pradesh: RLD onboard, BJP looks for dominance

LUCKNOW: Having acquired more political muscle through Jat support by taking Jayant Chaudhury-led RLD onboard, the BJP is aiming for a dominance on the eight seats Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh and Mathura set to vote on April 26, while the Opposition bloc is ready to put a stiff fight. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP, while facing the challenge from SP-BSP-RLD grand alliance, won seven of these seats. Only Amroha was won by the alliance. In 2024, the BJP has reworked its strategy by allying with the RLD and allotting the Baghpat seat to the party that has Jats as its core support base. To regain lost ground, the SP has tied up with the Congress. The BSP is going it alone. In this phase, both SP and Congress are contesting on four seats each as per their seat-sharing arrangement. While the SP has fielded candidates in Meerut, Baghpat, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Aligarh, Congress will contest in Ghaziabad, Mathura, Amroha and Bulandshahr. The fate of former Union minister Mahesh Sharma, who is seeking a third term on the BJP ticket from Gautam Budh Nagar, Ramayan fame actor Arun Govil in Meerut and actress Hema Malini, who is seeking a hat-trick from Mathura, will be decided in this phase. Former Mumbai Police commissioner Satya Pal Singh is not in the fray this time. He had defeated RLD chief Ajit Singh in Baghpat in 2014 and Jayant Chaudhary in 2019. BJP has allotted Baghpat to the RLD and Dr Rajkumar Sangwan has been fielded as NDA candidate. Amroha is set to witness a contest among Congresss Danish Ali, BJPs Kanwar Singh Tanwar, and BSPs Dr Mujahid Hussain. The BSP suspended Ali, who was its MP from Amroha, last year for anti-party activities and he joined the Congress. The BJP stronghold Meerut will witness a three-way fight among BJPs Arun Govil, SPs Sunita Verma and BSPs Devvrat Kumar Tyagi. In Meerut, the S P has fielded dalit candidate Sunita Verma replacing OBC aspirant Atul Pradhan. The BJP won the seat in 1996, losing it to Congress in 1999 and BSP in 2004. BJPs Rajendra Agrawal, who has been denied the ticket this time, won the Meerut seat in 2009, 2014 and 2019. The BJP has replaced Agarwal with Govil. Baghpat, an RLD bastion, is in for a three-cornered contest among RLDs Rajkumar Sangwan, SPs Amarpal Sharma and BSPs Praveen Baisala. Former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh had won the seat thrice in 1977, 1980 and 1984. His son Ajit Singh won it in 1989, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2004 and 2009. However, BJP candidate Sompal won the seat in 1998. A BJP bastion since it came into existence in 2008, the Ghaziabad seat is set for a fight between BJPs Atul Garg, Congresss Dolly Sharma and BSPs Nandkishor Pundhir. The BJP is banking on the popularity of Garg to retain the seat, while BSP plans to cash in on anger among Rajputs in rural areas over denial of ticket to two-time BJP MP and Union minister General (retd) VK Singh. The Congress is working on the Brahmin-Muslim formula. In Gautam Budhh Nagar, Mahesh Sharma, who was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2014 and 2019, is seeking a third term as the BJP candidate. He is facing the SPs Rahul Awana, a Gujjar leader, and BSPs Rajendra Singh Solanki, a Rajput. The Bulandshahr reserved seat is all set for a contest among BJPs Bhola Singh, who won the seat in 2014 and 2019, BSPs Girish Chandra, MP from Nagina, and Congresss Shiv Ram Valmiki. In Aligarh, BJPs Satish Gautam (Brahmin), who won the seat in 2014 and 2019, is in the fray for a third term. The BSP has fielded a Brahmin candidate, Hitendra Kumar aka Bunty Upadhyay, a former BJP leader. The SP has nominated Bijendra Singh. In Mathura, two-time BJP MP Hema Malini is seeking a third term. She is pitted against Mukesh Dhangar of Congress and Suresh Singh of BSP. The Congress was earlier planning to field boxer Vijendra Singh in Mathura but he joined BJP.

LS Polls: UP govt to provide medical kits for polling personnel in 2nd phase to combat hot conditions

LS Polls: UP govt to provide medical kits for polling personnel in 2nd phase to combat hot conditions In view of the soaring temperatures in Uttar Pradesh, medical kits to address health conditions such as heatstroke, will be provided to the polling personnel for the voting scheduled on April 26 across 8 constituencies in the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Directions have also been issued to ensure all necessary facilities for polling personnel and voters at polling stations. The polling parties will depart for polling stations on April 25 (Thursday) to ensure fair and peaceful elections in the state. The eight constituencies of UP that are going to polls in the second phase include Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, and Mathura. These 8 Lok Sabha seats fall under 9 districts of the state, namely, Amroha, Hapur, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, and Mathura. State Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa said that instructions have been given to all the District Election Officers to send polling parties on time for the second phase of voting in 8 Lok Sabha constituencies scheduled for April 26. He mentioned that directions have been issued to all the concerned District Election Officers to ensure necessary facilities for voters and polling personnel at polling centres and polling booths. Before the departure of polling parties, the polling personnel will be provided with medical kits to address health conditions such as heatstroke. Because of the heat, tents, sheds, drinking water arrangements and other necessary facilities will be installed as per the guidelines issued earlier. In compliance with the directives of the Election Commission of India, continuous operations are being carried out across Uttar Pradesh by the Police, Income Tax, Excise, Narcotics, and other departments. For thorough inspection, 480 interstate check posts and 1836 check posts within the state are operational. From March 16 to April 23, 2024, the Police department seized 495 licensed weapons from criminals whereas licenses for 4553 weapons were revoked and deposited. Notices have been issued under the CrPC to 2,532,068 individuals over concerns of peace disruption, of which 2,061,166 have already been restricted. Additionally, the Police department seized 7650 unlicensed weapons, 7753 cartridges, 2900.32 kilograms of explosives, and 411 bombs. Besides, raids were conducted on 3153 illegal weapon manufacturing centres, while 148 were busted. On April 23, licenses for 249 weapons owned by criminals were revoked and deposited by the Police department. Under the CrPC, 36,978 individuals were restricted as a preventive measure. Additionally, 105 unlicensed weapons and 171 cartridges were seized. Raids were conducted on 96 illegal weapon manufacturing centres by the police. (ANI)

Mathura Roadshow Resonates with Festive Cheer as Hema Malini Exudes Confidence

Mathura Roadshow Resonates with Festive Cheer as Hema Malini Exudes Confidence Amid chants of 'Radhe, Radhe' and sweltering heat, actor-turned-politician Hema Malini, seeking a third successive term as Lok Sabha MP from Mathura, on Wednesday held a roadshow that wound its way through the narrow bylanes of the temple town. Dressed in a green saree, she used a yellow peacock feather motif dupatta to shield herself from the afternoon sun as she stood in an SUV and greeted voters with an elegant namaste. Hema Malini waved a cutout of the lotus, the BJP's poll symbol, and reminded voters to exercise their franchise on April 26, when Mathura goes to polls. An accomplished Bharatanatyam exponent, Hema Malini often showcased the 'flower mudra', gently opening her closed fingers to depict a flowering bud. People gathered in balconies and on rooftops showered rose petals on her carcade which snaked its way through the Chowk Bazaar area, considered the business hub of the old town. ''It (the roadshow) felt like it was a post-victory celebration. The roadshow was very beautifully organised by our party. Everybody, including our alliance partners, participated in it,'' Hema Malini told reporters after the roadshow. Hema Malini is pitted against OBC leader Mukesh Dhangar of the Congress, the nominee of the opposition INDIA bloc, and Chaudhary Suresh Singh of the BSP. ''This is a one-sided election. The Congress and the BSP are vying for the second spot,'' Dinesh Kumar Agrawal, a businessman in the local jewellery market, told PTI as Hema Malini's roadshow crossed the Chowk Bazaar. While the BJP is banking on the performance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the star power of Hema Malini, the Congress is seeking votes in the name of change. BSP's Singh, a veteran Jat leader who was earlier with the BJP, is hoping to cash in on the sizeable population of his community in Mathura and his party's committed supporters. RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary's last-minute decision to align with the BJP has not gone down well with his supporters here and Singh is eyeing this section. ''The Jat community in this region holds RLD founder Chaudhary Charan Singh in high regard. The BJP may benefit from bestowing the Bharat Ratna on him, but local leaders of the RLD are unhappy with Jayant's decision to align with the BJP,'' said Hemant Chaudhary, a local hotelier. Among the 19.30 lakh voters in Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, the Jat community is the most influential with around 5 lakh votes, followed by Rajputs and Brahmins (approximately 3 lakh each), Jatavs (2 lakh), Muslims (1.6 lakh) and OBCs. A large section of the locals still view Hema Malini as an ''outsider'' but BJP supporters turned out in large numbers for her roadshow on Wednesday, the last day of campaigning for the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls. ''Vote toh Modi aur Yogi baba ke naam par padna hai, Hema ji toh bahar ki hai (people will vote in the name of Modi and Yogi baba, Hema is an outsider),'' local BJP leader Sanjay Bhardwaj said. Vinod Kumar Gola, who belongs to the Prajapati community of potters, said he will vote for the BJP and listed central government initiatives that have benefited his community. The Jatav community, considered a staunch supporter of former chief minister and BSP president Mayawati, appears to be firmly backing her party. ''Behen ji ko vote nahi diya toh vote bekar hai (my vote will go waste if I don't vote for behen ji),'' said daily labourer Phool Chand Jatav, dismissing concerns over a Jat candidate fielded by the BSP. BJP corporator Kunjvihari Bhardwaj claimed that the real fight in Mathura was for the second rank as Hema Malini's victory was a ''foregone conclusion''. ''In 2019, she won by a margin of nearly 3 lakh votes. If the voter turnout is good on the election day, Hema ji can win by even a margin of 5 lakh votes. The Congress and the BSP are in the race for the second spot,'' he said.

Campaigning on eight LS seats for second phase in UP ends today

Lucknow: Campaigning for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in eight seats of western will conclude on Wednesday evening. The eight seats where polls will be held in the second phase are Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh and Mathura. Polling for the second phase will be held on April 26. Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP's incumbent MP Mahesh Sharma to face SP, BSP candidates in Gautam Buddha Nagar in Phase 2

The Gautam Buddha Nagar constituency will go to polls in the second phase on April 26 along with Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Mathura and Bulandshahr seats in Uttar Pradesh.

Krishna Janmbhoomi-Idgah suit: Hindu side says forcible possession of temple land does not make it Waqf property

Allahabad High Court debates Mathura temple jurisdiction, legal acts. Hearing set for April 30. Focus on Places of Worship Act, legal procedures in Hindu-Muslim dispute.

BJPs Mathura MP Hema Malini Says Have Done So Much Work That Cant Recollect; Internet Reacts With Memes

* inserts Koi Sense Hai Iss Baat Ka meme *

Mathuras museums: Unveiling architectural marvels and hidden treasures

If you find yourself on a pilgrimage to Mathura, dont overlook the hidden treasures waiting to be discovered beyond its religious significance. A lesser-known part of this place is its Jain heritage housed in its...

Lok Sabha Election 2024: Hema Malini Backs Traditional Investments, Bets On Immoveable Assets

Hema Malini has filed her nomination from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Powered by brand PM Modi and RLD tie-up, Hema Malini in lead role again in Mathura

Hema Malini pocketed 53% of votes in 2014 LS polls, rising to a staggering 61% five years later, although her victory margin dipped. RLD had cornered 34% of the votes then. Simply put, BJP and RLD had polled a combined 95% votes for Mathura in 2019. In politics, one plus one does not always equal two, but with RLD and BJP joining forces, the Lotus is undeniably in pole position here.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024: UP Phase 2 candidates pad up; 'Dream Girl' eyes dream run

Uttar Pradesh emerges as a crucial battleground with 80 parliamentary seats, witnessing a fierce contest among BJP, Congress, BSP, and RLD. With voting in seven phases and the first phase completed on April 19, Mathura gears up for polling on April 26, followed by phases on May 7, 13, 20, 23, and June 1. The state's election results, key for national politics, will be announced on June 4.

LS polls: BJP's Hema Malini pitted against Congress, BSP in triangular contest; as she seeks third term in Mathura

LS polls: BJP's Hema Malini pitted against Congress, BSP in triangular contest; as she seeks third term in Mathura Mathura Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh is one of the high-profile seats up for grabs in the second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections from where Dream Girl Hema Malini is eyeing her third victory. The upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Mathura will see a triangular contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Uttar Pradesh has 80 parliamentary seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal are the main parties in the constituency. The Mathura seat comprises five Assembly segments including Chhata, Mant, Goverdhan, Mathura, and Baldev. The constituency is a General quota seat. Hema Malini is a two-time MP from Mathura who is fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the third consecutive time from the Mathura Lok Sabha seat, while Congress has decided to field Mukesh Dhangar and the BSP has given the ticket to Suresh Singh. Earlier in 2019, Hema Malini of the BJP won the Mathura constituency in the Lok Sabha elections 2019, securing 6,71,293 votes with 60.9 per cent while 3,77,822 votes were polled in favour of Kunwar Narendra Singh of the RLD with 34.3 per cent votes. Congress's Mahesh Pathak secured 28,084 votes. Malini won the elections with a massive margin of 2,93,471. In the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, Malini from BJP won the seat and polled 574,633 votes with a vote share of 53.29 per cent. RLD candidate Jayant Chaudhary got 243,890 votes (22.62 per cent) and was the runner-up. Hema Malini defeated Jayant Chaudhary by a margin of 330,743 votes. From 1991 to 1999, Mathura was the BJP's stronghold four times. In 2004, Mathura went to Congress's account. In 2009, RLD's Jayant Chaudhary became an MP from Mathura. Hema Malini urged the people to convert their support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi into votes and come out in huge numbers to exercise their right to franchise. The BJP's lotus will definitely bloom all over India and definitely in UP as so much work has happened here and people have seen it. The work PM Modi has done here, neither has such work has been done before nor will anyone do it in the future. I know everyone knows how much work PM Modi has done, but to convert it into votes, you all will have to go out and vote. It is our responsibility towards your country, Hema Malini further added. Earlier, BJP candidate Malini's daughters, Isha and Ahana Deol, arrived in Mathura to meet youth and garner support for their mother in the Lok Sabha elections. The two arrived at the Banke Bihari Temple, where they bowed before Lord Banke Bihari Ji, and sought divine blessings. Isha expressed confidence in her mother's victory in the elections, highlighting the support from Mathura's residents. There are so many supporters here who are the residents of Mathura. They want my mother to stay here and win the election from here. They want her to do much more, and it's because of their support that my mom can do all this. So, their support is important, she said. In 2014, the BJP fielded Hema Malini who won. In the 2019 elections, Hema's husband, actor Dharmendra, also campaigned for her and gathered a huge crowd in her favour. Due to the public welfare schemes of the double-engine government, once again in 2019, lotus bloomed in Mathura and Hema Malini became an MP. Uttar Pradesh, which sends the maximum number of MPs, 80, to Parliament, will vote in all seven phases. Voting for phase 1 was held on April 19 on eight 8 seats. Mathura will go to polling during the second phase on April 26. The state will once again poll in phases three and four on May 7 and May 13. The Uttar Pradesh electorate will also vote in phases five, six and seven on May 20, May 23 and June 1, respectively. The votes will be counted on June 4. (ANI)

Less polling happened in first phase because...: Hema Malini urges people to exercise voting rights

Actor and BJP MP Hema Malini called on people to convert their support for PM Narendra Modi into votes and participate in large numbers in the elections. She emphasized the importance of voting and urged people to exercise their right to franchise. Malini expressed confidence in the BJP's success, citing the strong support from the public. She highlighted the significant work done by PM Modi and the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, urging voters to show their responsibility towards the country by voting. Uttar Pradesh will vote in all seven phases, with Mathura going to polls in the second phase on April 26.

Samajwadi Party struggling to save its Mainpuri, Kannauj bastions: UP minister

Samajwadi Party struggling to save its Mainpuri, Kannauj bastions: UP minister The Samajwadi Party is struggling to save its bastions of Mainpuri and Kannauj in the Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Minister Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary said on Sunday and claimed that there is no impact of its alliance with the Congress. The Congress virtually has no public support in the state. As a result, there is no impact of its alliance with the Samajwadi Party, he claimed. Chaudhary, the minister for sugarcane development, said, ''The Samajwadi Party is struggling to save its Mainpuri and Kannauj seats and it will be extremely difficult for the party to save those.'' In Mainpuri, the BJP has fielded UP Minister Jaiveer Singh against Dimple Yadav, the incumbent MP and the wife of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. Mainpuri goes to the polls in the third phase on May 7. In Kannauj, which goes to the polls in the fourth phase on May 13, the BJP has fielded sitting MP Subrat Pathak. The Samajwadi Party is yet to announce its candidate from the seat. Chaudhary further claimed that the BJP's alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) will prevent the division of about 20 per cent Jat votes as more than 70 per cent people from the community have so far been voting for the saffron party. The minister also asserted that the BJP will sweep western Uttar Pradesh, like it did in previous elections. ''In Mathura, Hema Malini will set a record for victory margin in the state,'' he said. The BJP's Hema Malini is eyeing a third term in the Lok Sabha from Mathura. Owing to the welfare programmes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the administration of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the BJP will register convincing victories in all 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Chaudhary admitted that while the poll battle will not be a cakewalk for the party in a few areas due to the caste factor, the BJP will ultimately win the elections on the back of the government's welfare programmes. The minister also lashed out at Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, saying, ''Her latest trick to give tickets to Muslims is not going to work. I have visited three constituencies of western Uttar Pradesh but did not find any support for the BSP.'' Chaudhary claimed the BJP will also get votes from Muslims after the Centre introduced a law criminalising triple talaq and other welfare programmes. Mathura will vote in the second phase of polling on April 26, alongside Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Bulandshahr and Aligarh.

Opposition Leaders Converge in Ranchi for 'Ulgulan Nyay' Rally, Focusing on Kejriwal and Hemant Soren Arrests

Ranchi: At least 14 leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, are expected to attend the 'Ulgulan (uprising) Nyay' rally in Ranchi on Sunday. The main focus of the mega event will be on the arrests of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate. Around 5 lakh people are likely to attend the rally at Ranchis Prabhat Tara ground, which is scheduled to commence at around 3 pm. The event has been organized by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) as a joint show of strength amid the Lok Sabha polls. Sunita Kejriwal and Kalpana Soren, the wives of Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren, are also expected to address the event, along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, and National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah. Posters of INDIA bloc leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren, have already been put up at the rally venue. A day before the rally, Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren said, We need to stop the dictatorship and save our democracy and the constitution. Everyone knows what happened in Jharkhand and Delhi. We will expose the dictatorial approach of the Centre at the mega rally. The Chief Minister also said that they got the people's mandate in the name of Hemant Soren, but attempts were made to destabilize his government from the beginning, and finally, he was sent to jail, as reported. Delhi's people also experienced a similar situation. From the dais of Ulgulan rally, we will tell the people of the country about the dictatorship of the Centre, he added. Speaking to the media, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said, We are together in this fight against BJP's growing autocracy. They are not allowing the opposition to function properly; what they are trying to do is to silence the opposition. We are seeing a high rate of inflation, joblessness and women not getting a safe environment. In the first phase of the election, not many people, but those who have come out to vote have come out to change these people (BJP), who have been showing this dictatorial tendency, she added. Meanwhile, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury wrote to Kalpana Soren, saying that he would be unable to attend today's rally due to election-related commitments. Firstly, Yechury thanked Kalpana Soren for extending the invitation and said, Unfortunately, I am in the midst of the election campaign in Kerala, where voting is scheduled for April 26. You are surely aware of the importance of Kerala for the CPI(M)... Therefore, I will not be able to attend... In his letter, the CPI(M) General Secretary reiterated that he continued to denounce the detention of Hemant Soren. The CPI(M) will resolutely work for the defeat of the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections in cooperation with all the secular democratic parties of the INDIA bloc. However, Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi criticized the Ranchi rally, saying all those who were against development and Sanatan Dharma are gathering here. Jharkhand would not have been created if there was no BJP government at the Centre. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee created the state on November 15, 2000, after the formation of the BJP-led NDA government in 1999. Only BJP and NDA understood the feelings and sentiments of the tribals and Jharkhand, he said. He alleged that the JMM-led coalition government indulged in corruption for the past four years and looted the state's resources. The 'Ulgulan (uprising) Nyay' rally in Ranchi comes weeks after the March 31 'Loktantra Bachao' rally in Delhi, which was called by top leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. The Delhi rally was attended by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti; former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray; Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi; Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav; Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut; NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar; and Kalpana Soren, among others. While addressing the rally, Kalpana Soren slammed the BJP and alleged that there were attempts to end democracy by dictatorship forces. She said hate was being spread throughout the country and called on the people to vote for the INDIA bloc to save democracy and your rights. Voters are the most powerful. Two months back, Hemant Soren was arrested. Arvind Kejriwal is in jail for 10 days. Strengthen our alliance by giving us votes. Throw out these dictatorship forces, she added. The Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand are set to take place in four phases on May 13, 20, 25, and June 1. The state has 28 of the 81 Assembly seats and five of the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs). The JMM will contest the upcoming polls in alliance with Congress and other parties. As per the seat-sharing agreement, the JMM will contest five seats while the Congress will field its candidates on seven seats out of the total 14 in Jharkhand. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP clinched 11 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats, while the All Jharkhand Students Union party, Congress, and JMM secured one seat each. Earlier this month, the JMM named two of its candidates for the upcoming polls, bringing an end to speculations that Hemant Soren was being fielded against his sister-in-law and BJP candidate Sita Soren from the Dumka seat. The party has instead fielded Nalin Soren from Dumka, while Mathura Mahto will contest from Giridih. Sita Soren, wife of late JMM leader Durga Soren, joined the BJP on March 19. She was given a ticket to contest from Dumka by the party. Film 'Laal Ayodhya' directed by Dushyant Pratap Singh unveiled, Emotionally deep and Unique concept Congress to Announce Candidates for Haryana Lok Sabha Elections; Deepender Hooda Likely from Rohtak The Rollout of School Quality Assurance and Assessment (SQAA)

Cong against development, stalled canal project, says Shah

JAIPUR/MATHURA: At a rally in Rajasthans Kota, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday sharply criticized the Congress, branding it as anti-development. Shah was in the town to garner support for Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Had the electorate voted for Congress in 2019, Kota would have been a stronghold for the Popular Front of India (PFI), a banned Islamic outfit. However, due to our support for Prime Minister Modi, the PFI influence has been eradicated, said Shah. He accused the former Ashok Gehlot-led government of hindering the states development. The Gehlot government halted the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) for five years. In contrast, the Bhajan Lal administration advanced the ERCP work within just three months. PM Modi is committed to ensuring water in every village through the ERCP, said the minister. He expressed confidence in the BJP sweeping all seats. All 12 seats contested in the state will be won by Narendra Modi, Shah said. Om Birla has won from Kota twice with a margin of over two lakh votes. He faces Congress Pahlad Gunjal, who recently switched from BJP to Congress. Every vote cast for Om Birla in Kota-Bundi directly supports Modi ji, he added. Earlier, Shah attended a Vijay Sankalp Mahasabha in Bhilwara to support BJPs Damodar Agarwal. Sonia Gandhi aims to make her son Rahul Gandhi the PM, while Modi strives to elevate the nation. Congress politicized Ram Lalla for vote banks, neglecting the true sentiment of the people, he said. Addressing another rally in Mathura in support for party candidate Hema Malini for a third term, Shah said the Congress-SP combined was wiped out in the first phase. The voting in Saharanpur, Bijnor, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit seats took place on Friday. Cong failed to protect national security: Yogi UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted a roadshow supporting BJPs CP Joshi from Chittorgarh Lok Sabha constituency. Yogi criticized Congress, saying, During their tenure, terrorists were pampered with biryani. They even questioned Lord Rams existence. Those disrespecting faith and failing to bolster national security shouldnt govern. He also expressed confidence in BJPs victory.

Waterlogging, parking woes major concerns for Southeast Delhi residents

NEW DELHI : Jangpura, a neighborhood in South East Delhi, encompasses the residential areas of Jangpura A and B on either side of Mathura Road, extending westward to Jangpura (Bhogal) and further to Jangpura Extension. The latter stretches along the northern side of the Ring Railway line to the east side of the Defence Colony Flyover on Josip Broz Tito Marg. The Muslim voter percentage is the highest in Jangpura at 16.3%, followed by Punjabis at 11.2%. In 2020, Praveen Kumar of the AAP won the seat by defeating Impreet Singh Bakshi of the BJP with a margin of 16,063 votes. In the last seven major elections, AAP led three times, while the BJP and Congress led twice. In the 2015 election, AAP candidate Praveen Kumar won the seat. In 2013, AAP candidate Maninder Singh won the seat. Prior to that in 2008, Congress won the seat. Major issues concerning the Jangpura assembly include parking facilities, uneven streets, garbage accumulation, sanitation, sewerage in certain areas, noise pollution, and an unhygienic environment. Residents also complain of late-night loud music and the lack of greenery in residential areas. One resident of Jangpura, Apoorva, stated, There are a lot of Paying Guests in my lane and they come at odd timings. It is such a disturbance throughout the night, with vehicles entering the lanes. It is very disturbing. We cant control their timings, but I believe there should be certain restrictions at the entrance after particular timings. Entry and exit of the PGs should be monitored. Meanwhile, addressing the parking issue in Jangpura, Lalit Mehta said, Every now, and then we see people fighting over parking of their cars at a particular spot. If they park their cars at a specific location, they feel that it is their property. Parking issues are a major concern. I really dont know how this issue can be resolved. The concerned agency should be given this charge to handle the parking issue. Waterlogging is another troubling issue in Jangpura. Last year, in July, the PWD received over 200 complaints of waterlogging and rainwater seeping into homes, officials aware of the matter said. Jangpura and neighbouring areas remain inundated as backflow from the Barapullah canal has not allowed the excess rainwater to flow out into the Yamuna, the officials had said.

LS polls an election to decide future of country; Shah

Mathura (UP), (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday that the ongoing Lok Sabha election is an election to decide the future of the country, in which on one side there are corrupt parties and on the other side there is Narendra Modi, who has not made a single allegation of corruption. During... The post LS polls an election to decide future of country; Shah first appeared on Central India's Premier English Daily .

Lok Sabha elections: Hema Malinis daughters Isha, Ahana visit Mathura to campaign for her

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Congress-SP combine wiped out in first phase: Amit Shah in Mathura

Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that the Congress-SP combine was defeated in the first phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh. Polling was held for eight seats, including Saharanpur, Bijnor, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina (reserved), Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit. Speaking at an election rally in support of BJP candidate Hema Malini in Vrindavan, Shah asserted that Congress and SP were wiped out in the first phase. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav claimed a change in the state's atmosphere, stating that people had rejected the BJP after the initial polling.

Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha Election: Esha And Ahana Deol Join Hema Malini In Mathura For Campaign

Esha Deol and Ahana Deol join mother Hema Malini's hand for the campaign in Mathura constituency. The people of Mathura is all set to polls on April 26.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Hema Malini's Daughters Isha, Ahana Visit Mathura To Campaign For Her

BJP candidate Hema Malini's daughters, Isha and Ahana Deol, arrived in Mathura on Saturday to meet youth and garner support for their mother in the Lok Sabha elections.

Delhi: Traffic Advisory Issued For Lord Mahavir Nirvana Mahotsav At Bharat Mandapam On Sunday

The police have also requested commuters to avoid Bhairon Marg, Purana Quila Road and Mathura Road from the W-Point to the Bhairon Road crossing

Lok Sabha elections: Hema Malini's daughters Isha, Ahana visit Mathura to campaign for her

Lok Sabha elections: Hema Malini's daughters Isha, Ahana visit Mathura to campaign for her Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Hema Malini's daughters, Isha and Ahana Deol, arrived in Mathura on Saturday to meet youth and garner support for their mother in the Lok Sabha elections. The two arrived at the Banke Bihari Temple, where they bowed before Lord Banke Bihari Ji, and sought divine blessings. During their visit, temple priest Abhilash Goswami presented them with the Lord's blessed cloth and 'prasad.' While speaking to ANI, the actress praised the development and preservation efforts in Mathura and Vrindavan. There's so much to say about Mathura, I'm coming here after some time, and there's been so much development. It feels so good here. And the special thing is that along with development, you all have taken care of Vrindavan's alleys, its heritage, you've preserved it well, Isha said. Isha expressed confidence in her mother's victory in the elections, highlighting the support from Mathura's residents. There are so many supporters here who are the residents of Mathura. They want my mother to stay here and win the election from here. They want her to do much more, and it's because of their support that my mom can do all this. So, their support is important, she said. Having concluded their temple visit, Isha and Ahana will next interact with youth in colleges and universities in Mathura. Hema Malini is fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the third consecutive time from the Mathura Lok Sabha seat. From 1991 to 1999, Mathura was the BJP's stronghold four times. In 2004, Mathura went to Congress's account. In 2009, RLD's Jayant Chaudhary became an MP from Mathura. In 2014, the BJP fielded Hema Malini who won. In the 2019 elections, Hema's husband, actor Dharmendra, also campaigned for her and gathered a huge crowd in her favour. Due to the public welfare schemes of the double-engine government, once again in 2019, lotus bloomed in Mathura and Hema Malini became an MP. Uttar Pradesh, which sends the maximum number of MPs, 80, to Parliament, will vote in all seven phases. Voting for phases one and two will be held on April 19 and April 26. Next, the state will once again poll in phases three and four on May 7 and May 13. The Uttar Pradesh electorate will also vote in phases five, six and seven on May 20, May 23 and June 1, respectively. Mathura will poll in the second phase of the general elections on April 26. (ANI)