Many times the attendants of patients have to face problems in government-run hospitals because after getting blood and urine tests done, they have to stand in long queues for the reports, sometimes even going from one department to another to get the reports. One has to take rounds, due to which one sweats, but now there is relief news for you. The test report will be available on mobile UP government has started a new facility for patients in its hospitals, now no one will have to run from door to door to get test reports. They can be obtained online only. You can download it through mobile. This will save time and effort and you will be saved from unnecessary problems. The facility in 75 hospitals of UP Till now this facility has been started in 75 government hospitals of UP, you will get an alert of getting the test report through SMS on your mobile phone. According to the information, in the future 18 more hospitals in the state will be added to the list of this facility, where the trial is still going on. 'No need to come to the hospital for reports' Principal Secretary of Health and Medical Education Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma says that the facility of providing lab test reports in government hospitals on mobile through SMS will help many patients and their families. Their time will be saved and they will not have to come to the hospital and stand in line again just to get the report. Presently this facility has been started in 75 such hospitals and we will endeavor to start such service in other hospitals also. These hospitals of the capital Lucknow are included This facility is being provided to patients in Balrampur Hospital, Lokbandhu, Civil Hospital, Jhalkari Bai, Rani Lakshmi Bai Hospital, Thakurganj District Hospital, and Ram Sagar Mishra Hospital in Lucknow, the capital of UP. Apart from this, this facility has been started in 30 government hospitals of Eastern UP, 7 government hospitals of Central UP, and 31 government hospitals of Western UP. Where are the facilities available in East UP? Talking about East UP, there are 4 hospitals each in Prayagraj and Varanasi, 3 hospitals each in Ayodhya and Basti, 2 each in Balrampur, Mau and Barabanki, Azamgarh, Ballia, Gonda, Jaunpur, Kushinagar, Bhadohi, Chandauli, Rae Bareli, Sant Kabir Nagar. Patients have got freedom from long queues in 1-1 hospitals of Shravasti and Sitapur. Where is the facility available in Central and West UP? Talking about Central UP, this facility has been started in 2-2 hospitals in Kanpur and Mahoba, and 1-1 hospital in Unnao, Orai, and Mainpuri. In West UP near Delhi, 3 each from Ghaziabad and Rampur, 2 each from Bareilly, Etawah, Agra, Farrukhabad, Hathras, Muzaffarnagar, Lalitpur, Moradabad and Sitapur, Amroha, Badaun, Bijnor, Kannauj, Pilibhit, Bulandshahr, Saharanpur, In every hospital of Gautam Buddha Nagar, reports have started being received on mobile through SMS, due to which the attendants are getting a lot of relief. (PC: Freepik)
Accused Samajwadi Party MLA kept taking advantage of the victim's helplessness and raping her by threatening to make the photos viral
Five engineering students dead as car falls into gorge near Mussoorie in Uttarakhand
DEHRADUN: Five people were killed in a road accident after a vehicle fell down into a deep gorge near Chunakhal on the Mussoorie-Dehradun road at around 5 am on Saturday. Four of the victims are identified to be engineering students while a fellow woman passenger survived the fall with minor injuries. Speaking to The New Indian Express, Fire Station Officer Dheeraj Singh Tadiyal said, On receiving the information of the incident at around 5:30 a.m., we rushed to the accident scene with the police force. The relief and rescue operations are currently underway with the help of locals. The injured are being taken to nearby hospital The victims have been identified as Aman Singh Rana, 22, (IMS University), Dingyash Pratap Bhati, 23, (IMS University), Tanuja Rawat, 22, (IMS University), Ashutosh Tiwari resident of Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh), Hridyansh Chandra, 24, (D.I.T. University). Meanwhile, the injured woman who survived the crash has been identified as 24-year-old Nayanshree, a student of IMS University, a native of Meerut.
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
UP battle shifts from Jat land to Yadav stronghold
LUCKNOW: The focus of Uttar Pradeshs political landscape is set to shift from the Jat belt to the Braj and Rohilkhand region, popularly called the Yadav land, where the fate of 10 key seats having an admixture of the Yadav-Muslim votes will be decided. At stake in Phase-III of the parliamentary polls on May 7 is he prestige of the Samajwadi Party (SP). In the first two phases, 16 western UP constituencies voted on April 19 and 26. In 2019, of the 10 seats of phase-III, the ruling BJP won eight and the main opposition SP, despite being in a formidable alliance with the BSP, could win just two. The 10 UP seats set to vote in Phase-III include Sambhal, Hathras, Etah, Aonla, Bareilly, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Mainpuri, Badaun and Firozabad. Three members of the Yadav clan are in the fray in the phase. While SP chief Akhilesh Yadavs wife Dimple is contesting from Mainpuri, his two cousins Aditya Yadav is from Badaun and Akshay Yadav from Firozabad. Although the 10 seats fall in the Yadav belt, the ruling BJP has performed exceptionally well since 2014. The BJP won seven of 10 seats restricting the SP to just three Mainpuri (Mulayam Singh Yadav), Badaun (Dharmendra Yadav) and Firozabad (Akshay Yadav). In 2019, the BJP clinched an added seat and won total eight of the 10 seats in this phase. SP won only in Mainpuri and Sambhal. The constituencies going to the polls in the third phase also have the Muslim-OBC combination that can influence the outcome. Patriarchs pocket borough Sambhal The constituency sent SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav to Lok Sabha twice in 1998 and 1999 and SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav in 2004. The BJP wrested it in 2014. While the BSP won the seat twice in 1996 and 2009, Congress last won it in 1984. This time, SP has reposed faith in veteran MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq who won the seat in 2019. However, even before the commencement of poll process, Barq, 92, assed away. Consequently, SP fielded his grandson Zia-ur-Rahman Barq, the party MLA from Kundarki in Moradabad. The BJP has reposed faith in an OBC Parmeshwar Lal Saini. The BSP makes the contest triangular, fielding Shaulat Ali. Saffron citadel named Hathras A reserved seat, Hathras is considered a BJP bastion since 1991. In 2009, the RLD won it as a pre-poll BJP ally. The Congress last won it in 1971. In 2019, despite the infamous gangrape and murder case that created widespread uproar, BJPs Rajvir Singh Diler defeated SPs Ramji Lal Suman. This time, BJP has replaced the MP with Anoop Valmiki, partys MLA, while SP and BSP have given ticket to Jasveer Valmiki and Hembabu Dhangar, respectively. Diler died of heart attack last week. Caste lines are sharp in rural areas. Over 3 years after a Dalit woman was allegedly gangraped, and died 11 days later in 2020, voters in her village are divided. Mostly, Mulayams Mainpuri A Yadav stronghold, the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat has been with the family of Mulayam Singh Yadav since 1996. Mulayam represented it five times in Lok Sabha. The SP has won the seat since 1996. The Congress last won here in 1984. In 2019, Mulayam Singh Yadav won by defeating BJPs Prem Singh Shakya. In 2024, BJPs Jaiveer Singh is challenging SPs Dimple Yadav. Dr Gulshan Dev Shakya is BSP candidate. A debut in Budaun; will it matter? After flip-flops, the Samajwadi party finally fielded Aditya Yadav, son of SP lead Shivpal Yadav. It is Adtiyas electoral debut. Initially SP had named Dharmendra Yadav from the seat but replaced him with Shivpal who wanted the ticket for his son and the party finally succumbed to his demand. Budaun seat has been with SP continuously from 1996 to 2014. The BJP wrested it in 2019. Firozabads fragile loyalty The city of glass, Firozabad is another SP citadel which the party lost to the BJP in 2019. This seat elected SP chief Akhilesh Yadav in 2009 and his cousin Akshay Yadav in 2014. The Congresss Raj Babbar defeated SPs Dimple Yadav in a by-poll in 2009. For 2024, the BJP has announced Vishwadeep Singh as its candidate while the SP has repeated Akshay Yadav, son of SP veteran Ram Gopal Yadav. Its Etah, hub of Hindutva The BJP has been winning here since 1989 representing it in Lok Sabah for six times. In between, the SP won this seat twice. In 2009, Kalyan Singh won as an independent supported by the SP. BJPs Rajveer Singh, son of Kalyan Singh, won this seat in 2014 and 2019. The party has made him its candidate again in 2024. Davesh Shakya is SP candidate. Advantage none in Aonla The BJP has won Aonla seat six times since 1989 and three times since 2009. The SP has won twice. The Congress won last in 1984. Dharmendra Kashyap (BJP), Neeraj Maurya (SP) and Abid Ali (BSP) and main contestants. The third phase is also crucial for the SP because three of the five members from the Yadav family are candidates in this phase. They are Dimple Yadav from Mainpuri, Akshay Yadav from Firozabad and Aditya Yadav from Budaun. The fate of Fatehpur Sikri A perennial water shortage and turmoil in the countrys northwest is thought to have been the key reason for the citys abandonment. After Akbar moved the imperial capital from Fatehpur Sikri to Lahore, and then to Agra, the city was abandoned by 1610. Fast-forward to 2024, the BJP won this seat twice in 2014 and 2019. Before that in 2009, the seat was with the BSP. In 2019, the BJPs Raj Kumar Chahar won it, defeating Congress Raj Babbar. Chahar polled 64.23% votes. The BJP has retained Chahar and the Congress has fielded Ramnath Sikarwar as the INDIA candidate while the BSP has fielded a Brahmin candidate Ram Niwas Sharma. Dalits take centre stage in Agra Known as the Dalit capital of UP with Dalits comprising 21% of the electorate, the BJP has won this reserved seat for five terms since 1991 and thrice in a row since 2009. This time, BJP MP Prof SP Singh Baghel, who won it in 2019, seeks another term. The SP has fielded Suresh Chandra Kardan while the BSP has fielded Pooja Amrohi. Politics and history intertwine with Dalit influence here. Recent events amplified the pivotal role of Dalit voters. Pooja Amrohis candidacy challenges the grassroots engagement. There are 20.57 lakh voters, with nearly three-fourths of them Jatav Dalits, who appear to be with the BSP, despite despair over its declining performance.
Shravan Kumar took the burden of his blind parents on his shoulders and took them on a trip. However, now if parents have to be taken on a pilgrimage, the burden may not fall on their shoulders but on their pockets. There are many pilgrimage sites in the country, which extend from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. It is easy to go on a trip to these pilgrimage sites but due to the possibility of high expenses, the plan keeps getting postponed. IRCTC comes up with many tour packages from time to time, which let you tour the country and the world on a budget. IRCTC also takes you on temple tours. During this summer holidays, you can take your parents to visit the seven Jyotirlingas. IRCTC is coming up with the best tour packages to visit the seven Jyotirlingas. Let us know the complete information about the tour package to visit Jyotirlingas. Where will the journey start Jyotirlinga darshan by IRCTC will start from Yoganagari Rishikesh railway station. Bharat Gaurav will be taken to visit 7 Jyotirlingas on a tourist train. Passengers can join the yatra from Rishikesh, Haridwar, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Orai, Veerangana Laxmibai, Lalitpur. Which Jyotirlingas will we get darshan of? During the yatra, Omkareshwar, Mahakaleshwar, Somnath, Bhent Dwarka, Dwarkadhish Temple, Nageshwar, Trimbakeshwar, Ghrishneshwar and Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga will be visited. Facility This tour package includes 2 AC, 3 AC, and Sleeper class travel, breakfast and vegetarian lunch and dinner, and AC/non-AC buses to local places. When does the journey start? The tour package will commence from 22nd May 2024 to 2nd June 2024. The tour package will be of 11 nights and 12 days, in which you will be taken from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand to Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra to visit the Jyotirlingas. Pilgrimage expenses The ticket price for sleeper class during the journey will cost Rs 22150 per person and a child (5 to 11 years) staying with one/two or three persons will cost Rs 20800. For 3 AC passengers, you may have to spend Rs 36700 per person and for 2 AC passengers, you may have to spend Rs 48600 per person. If you want, you can pay the ticket expense of the tour package in EMI. EMI facility of Rs 1074 per month is also available. (PC: ISTOCK)
BJP with its 400 paar slogan misunderstood public mood: Akhilesh
Sambhal/Moradabad: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday, April 28, claimed the BJP will not win any seat in the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls and that the ruling party misunderstood the direction of the wind when it made its slogan of 400 paar. Addressing a rally in Sambhal, Yadav also said 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 .
UP: Samajwadi Party candidate from Ballia booked for spreading hatred
Ballia/Moradabad: Police have booked Sanatan Pandey, the Samajwadi Partys (SP) candidate from the Ballia Lok Sabha constituency, for allegedly spreading enmity and threatening the district election officer, officials said on Sunday, April 28. District officials said an FIR was lodged against Pandey over his statement to reporters on Saturday. Reacting to the FIR, Samajwadi Party 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 .
SP candidate from UP's Ballia booked for spreading hatred
SP candidate from UP's Ballia booked for spreading hatred Police have booked Sanatan Pandey, the Samajwadi Party's candidate from the Ballia Lok Sabha constituency, for allegedly spreading enmity and threatening the district election officer, officials said on Sunday. District officials said an FIR was lodged against Pandey over his statement to reporters on Saturday. Reacting to the FIR, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav asked if the Election Commission will take action against those who make comments on the Constitution, ''Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb'' and brotherhood from ''big stages''. During the interaction with reporters, Pandey can be heard saying that he had been winning the election last time but the administration cost him his victory. ''I accepted my defeat last time because I didn't want to challenge the Election Commission,'' he told the reporters. ''During the last elections, I was attacked outside the counting centre and my vehicle was damaged by people on the side of the government,'' he alleged. Pandey also said that he would not allow anything similar to happen this time. ''I have taken an oath this time. If the people of Ballia want to defeat me, I will accept it. But if the people of Ballia want to make me the victor, then the local administration or the BJP will not be able to stop me from getting my winning certificate,'' he further said. ''If they do so, either my body or the collector's body will come out...,'' Pandey said. A clip of the statement has become widely circulated on social media. Superintendent of Police Dev Ranjan Verma said an FIR has been lodged against Pandey under sections 171 F (exercising undue influence in elections), 189 (threatening a public servant), 186 (obstructing a public servant in public work), 505 (2) (spreading hatred and animosity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Representation of the People Act on the basis of a complaint filed by Sub Inspector Makhan Singh in Ballia city. He said Pandey, while commenting on the tenure and works of the current dispensation on Saturday, was accused of spreading enmity, hatred and animosity among different sections of society and threatening the district election officer. Samajwadi Party chief Yadav, when asked about the FIR, said registering a case against Pandey is natural based on the remarks he made. Pandey could have expressed his feelings in some other way, he said in Moradabad. ''Cases should also be registered against those who, from big stages, are making comments on the country's Constitution, the 'Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb' and brotherhood. Will the Election Commission take action against them?'' Yadav asked. ''We witnessed in the last polls that in Saharanpur, Bijnor and (neighbouring) Rampur, the administration snatched votes by deploying the police. If he (Pandey) said this, then he must have some suspicion because he had lost by a very ordinary margin last time (2019 Lok Sabha elections),'' he added. Pandey contested the Lok Sabha elections on a Samajwadi Party ticket in 2019, losing to the BJP's Virendra Singh Mast by 16,000 votes. This time, he is pitted against former Ballia MP Neeraj Shekhar of the BJP. Ballia will go to the polls in the last phase on June 1.
BJP's '400 Seats' Promise Backfired, Party Set to Lose in Phase 3 Elections: Akhilesh Yadav
BJP's '400 Seats' Promise Backfired, Party Set to Lose in Phase 3 Elections: Akhilesh Yadav Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday claimed the BJP will not win any seat in the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls and that the ruling party misunderstood the direction of the wind when it made its slogan of 400 paar. Addressing a rally in Sambhal, Yadav also said the Samajwadi Party had an advantage in the third phase, saying that elections on May 7 will be held between Sambhal and his home in Etawah and Mainpuri. ''BJP people did not know the direction of the wind, so they kept saying 400 paar (winning over 400 seats) and when they realised the public sentiment after the two phases of the election, BJP forgot its slogan, the former UP chief minister said. ''The wind that came from the west (western UP) in the first phase will change the BJP government. The similar trend was seen in the second phase also. People are not accepting the BJP, the SP chief said. It is now your responsibility in the third phase, he added to those gathered for the rally taken out in support of party candidate Zia ur Rahman Barq. ''These elections are being held from this part till our home. Netaji (SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav) has also been an MP from this area (Sambhal). Voting is going to take place from here to Mainpuri. I can say that the BJP is not going to open its account in any Lok Sabha seat here, Yadav said. Mulayam Singh, an ex-CM and the SP chief's father, was elected an MP from Sambhal Lok Sabha constituency twice in 1998 and 1999. ''Next to you, Samajwadi Party is winning in Rampur and Moradabad and if all the Lok Sabha seats nearby are winning, then will the people of Sambhal be left behind?'' ''When the seats where BJP lost with the highest number of votes are counted, the name of Sambhal Lok Sabha should be included in that count also, he further urged the voters. Yadav also said the election in Sambhal are an opportunity to pay tribute to party MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq, who was declared as the SP candidate but died earlier this year. We gave the ticket to the very popular Shafiqur Rahman Barq Saheb but he is no longer with us. This is an opportunity to pay tribute to him He always stood for the rights of his people, he said. The SP chief also said that the Lok Sabha polls are a fight between those that want to abolish the Constitution and the INDIA bloc and the socialists who want to protect the Constitution. ''Bharatiya Janata Party is conspiring to abolish the Constitution and take away our and your right to vote. So this is an election to save the Constitution and our rights, he said. Those who are out to change the Constitution will be changed by the public, the SP leader said. Asserting that the BJP insulted the farmers, Yadav said, ''The INDIA alliance government will waive off the loans of farmers. We will provide facilities to farmers.We will guarantee MSP for crops. He added that the BJP betrayed the youth just like the farmers. It was promised to provide two crore jobs every year to the youth. Ever since BJP came to government, papers of every recruitment exam are being leaked, the SP leader said. Yadav said that the BJP government has ''abolished permanent recruitment in the Army'' and ''introduced the Agniveer scheme and made it a four-year job''. Yadav said he was worried that under the current government, even policemen may be asked to serve for only three years like the Agniveer. In Uttar Pradesh, voting took place on eight seats in the first phase on April 19 and eight seats in the second phase on April 26, and most of these seats were in Western Uttar Pradesh. In the third phase, voting will be held on 10 seats in Sambhal, Hathras, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Badaun, Amla and Bareilly on May 7. Voting is scheduled to be held in all seven phases on 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh.
Congress intends to allow unrestricted cow slaughter: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi
Congress intends to allow unrestricted cow slaughter: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Training his guns on the INDIA bloc and its key constituent Congress on Friday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that these parties aim to grant minorities the freedom to consume 'food of their choice,' that is, they are talking about 'giving freedom to cow slaughter.' Addressing a huge election rally in Bilari, Moradabad, in favour of BJP candidate Parmeshwar Lal Saini, Yogi Adityanath said, 'Yeh besharm log humari gaay ko khaane ki chhut denge, jabki humara shashtra gaay ko vishwamata kehta hai' (These shameless people will allow our cows to be eaten, whereas our scriptures hail the cow as the mother of the world). They will hand over the cow to the butchers. Will India ever accept this? The Chief Minister also alleged that Congress wants to confiscate the properties of countrymen and women and redistribute them among Rohingyas and Bangladeshi infiltrators. The Chief Minister asserted that Congress talks about getting the property of the countrymen X-rayed. This implies that if someone owns a four-room house, they will grab two of them. Furthermore, the Congress suggests seizing women's jewellery as well. India will vehemently oppose such measures, he said. He further remarked that similar initiatives were undertaken during the UPA government's tenure from 2004 to 2014, aimed at undermining the reservations for SC, ST, and OBC communities. Referring to the Sachar Committee and Justice Ranganath Mishra Committee, he said that Congress wants to implement this and give 6 per cent of the backward caste reservation to Muslims. The Chief Minister accused the Congress of once again making schemes to divide the nation. Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, he said, It has been heard that both the brother and sister wish to visit Ayodhya. When they were in power, they denied the existence of Ram, and now they claim Ram belongs to everyone. This reveals their dual character. We shouldn't place our trust in them. They will deceive whenever they find an opportunity. We don't desire a government tainted with deceit and corruption, but one that will lead India to greater prosperity, he added. The Chief Minister urged voters not to support those who hesitate to chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Vande Mataram,' as doing so would amount to honouring those who conspire against India. He further emphasized the necessity of electing a government committed to making India self-reliant and developed for the bright future of the upcoming generation. He noted that since the formation of the BJP government in UP, rioters have realized that their actions will be met with consequences. BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Sambhal Parmeshwar Lal Saini, Anamika Yadav, Lok Sabha in-charge Rakesh Singh, coordinator Pankaj Gupta, Bhuvnesh Raghav, and BJP and RLD officials were present on the occasion. (ANI)
Lohia Global Ventures into Real Estate Sector; Plans Rs 1,000 Crore Investment for Housing Projects
Lohia Global Ventures into Real Estate Sector; Plans Rs 1,000 Crore Investment for Housing Projects Lohia Global, which is mainly into handicrafts exports and automobile businesses, on Thursday said it has entered into the real estate business and will invest Rs 1,000 crore over the next five years to develop projects across Delhi-NCR and Uttar Pradesh. Delhi-based Lohia Global is a privately held company with an annual revenue of around Rs 1,200 crore from four businesses - handicraft exports, electric vehicles, tiles and solar energy. It has formed a separate entity Lohia Developers Pvt Ltd for real estate business. The company has a land bank of around 200 acres across various cities in North India. ''We are entering into the real estate business as we feel it is the right time to monetise our land bank. Market condition is supportive,'' Lohia Developers Director Piyush Lohia told reporters here. ''We will be investing Rs 1,000 crore over the next five years to develop housing projects in Delhi, Moradabad and Lucknow. This will be funded through a mix of debt and equity,'' he said. The company plans to develop 3-4 housing projects in Moradabad and one each in Lucknow and Delhi over the next 4-5 years. In total, it is targeting to develop more than 1,500 apartments with a total area of 30-35 lakh square feet. ''We will be launching our first housing project at Moradabad in July this year. The price range will be around Rs 1-1.5 crore,'' Lohia said. He said the company is acquiring more land for future development. ''Real estate will be contributing significantly to our total group turnover,'' Lohia said. He noted that housing demand would sustain in the coming years as consumers prefer to invest in property both for end-use and investment purposes.
Another Tragedy For BJP After Moradabad, Party's Hathras MP Rajveer Diler Dies Of Heart Attack
Rajveer Diler won the 2019 Lok Sabha election on the BJP ticket and became a Member of Parliament. However, he was not given the ticket to contest the Lok Sabha polls this time.
Another Tragedy For BJP After Moradabad, Party`s Hathras MP Rajveer Diler Dies Of Heart Attack
Rajveer Diler won the 2019 Lok Sabha election on the BJP ticket and became a Member of Parliament. However, he was not given the ticket to contest the Lok Sabha polls this time.
NGT Directs Prompt Demarcation of Ganga's Floodplain in Uttar Pradesh
NGT Directs Prompt Demarcation of Ganga's Floodplain in Uttar Pradesh The National Green Tribunal has directed the authorities concerned to expedite the demarcation of floodplain zones of the Ganga and the Ram Ganga in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district. The green panel was hearing a plea alleging a state-owned company in the energy sector is carrying out illegal construction in the rivers' floodplains in the Milak Kharakpur Baaje village of the district's Munda Pandey block. A tributary of the Ganga, the Ram Ganga originates in Uttarakhand and enters Uttar Pradesh in Bijnor district. In February, a report by the Moradabad district magistrate and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board said a pipeline was being constructed by GAIL. A bench of National Green Tribunal Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said in pursuance of the tribunal's earlier directions, the district magistrate filed another report, saying Rs 1.12 crore had been paid to the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) in Roorkee for demarcation of the floodplain. According to the NIH, the determination of geo-coordinates for demarcating the floodplain would be completed within 12 months, following which the demarcation process would begin, the bench -- also comprising Judicial Member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member A Senthil Vel -- said noting the report. In an order passed on April 12, the bench noted that according to the authorities concerned, it could be ascertained whether the construction work was within the floodplains only after the process of demarcation was completed. ''Hence, we dispose of the original application, directing the authorities to expedite the process of demarcation of floodplain zone in question and submit a quarterly report before the tribunal disclosing the progress till it is demarcated and to take action against the project proponent (GAIL), if required, after demarcation, and submit final action taken report thereafter,'' the tribunal said.
UP: SP supporter held for derogatory post on death of BJP's Moradabad candidate
UP: SP supporter held for derogatory post on death of BJP's Moradabad candidate Police here on Sunday arrested a Samajwadi Party supporter for making a derogatory remark on the death of Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar, BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Moradabad, officials said. SHO of Kotwali police station Sushil Saini said Faizan, a resident of Bijnor, had uploaded a post on social media with praised for the Moradabad SP candidate and a derogatory remark on the death of Kumar. The SHO said a case was registered against Faizan under Section 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act. The Samajwadi Party had fielded Ruchi Vira from Moradabad in the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP candidate from the seat, who was unwell for some time, died at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Saturday, according to a senior party leader. Kumar was 72. He was among the 12 candidates in the fray from the Moradabad parliamentary constituency that went to polls in the first phase on April 19.
Delhi Police Special Cell Arrests Alleged Kingpin of Interstate Firearms Racket
New Delhi: T he Delhi Police Special Cell arrested an alleged kingpin of an interstate firearms racket in Sonia Vihar and recovered three semi-automatic pistols from his possession. The arrested individual, identified as 34-year-old Dayal Singh, is a resident of Pachauri in Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh, the police said. Pratiksha Godara, DCP Special Cell, stated that based on specific information, they apprehended Gandh Das Dawar, a resident of Burhanpur, on February 3, and recovered 20 illegal firearms from his possession. A case under Section 25(8) of the Arms (Amendment) Act was registered at the Police Station Special Cell, Delhi. During interrogation, Davar revealed that he received the consignment of illegal arms from Dayal Singh, intending to supply them to one of his contacts in Delhi. Although efforts were made to arrest Dayal Singh, he evaded arrest during the raids conducted at his hideouts in Madhya Pradesh. On April 18, the police received specific information that Singh would come near Sonia Vihar, Delhi, to supply the illegal firearms to one of his contacts. A trap was laid near Sonia Vihar, resulting in the apprehension and arrest of Singh. Three semi-automatic pistols were recovered from his possession. During interrogation, Singh confessed that he had been involved in manufacturing illegal firearms for the last 6-7 years in his native village in Madhya Pradesh. He learned this skill from his ancestors, who had been making these illegal weapons for many years. Singh disclosed that he supplied 20 illegal firearms, which were recovered from the possession of accused Gandh Das Davar in the present case. He further revealed that he made illegal weapons using a furnace located at his residence. The cost of one pistol was around Rs 1,800-2,000, and he sold them for approximately Rs 5,000 each, the police stated. Security Forces Encounter Naxalites in Chhattisgarh, One Killed Father Allegedly Murders Children, Found Dead on Railway Tracks; Mother Seriously Injured BJP's Moradabad Lok Sabha Candidate Kunwar Sarvesh Singh Passes Away
Congress is history, new opposition of clean people will emerge says UP Dy CM Maurya
Congress is history, new opposition of clean people will emerge says UP Dy CM Maurya Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday slammed opposition and said that the challenge named Congress used to be there in history, not at present and in their place, a new opposition consisting of clean people will emerge. The challenge of the name Congress used to be there in history, but not at present. In their place will come a new opposition consisting of clean people. Akhilesh Yadav has scored the boundary of defeats. He lost in 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2022. Now he will also hit six of defeats when he loses in 2024 and 2027. Even after losing so many times, he is still fighting, I admire his courage. People are now busy eliminating the Samajwadi Party and Congress has no importance left in Uttar Pradesh, he said. Further, speaking on the INDIA bloc's 'Ulgulan Rally', Maurya said all the opposition parties do not have anything to show in comparison with the works of the BJP. INDIA alliance started from Karnataka and by the time it reached Mumbai it remained half. Now whatever rally they hold, the BJP government has done such a good job that the opposition is not able to get space. Once upon a time, everyone would have come together against Congress and today the entire opposition has come together against BJP but still cannot stop our victory. The big targets set for 2024-2029 are our strength. Youth power, women power, and farmers are our strength, UP Deputy CM said. Exuding confidence in winning the Lok Sabha elections, Keshav Prasad Maurya said, BJP and our allies will win eight seats in the first phase with a huge margin. Preparations for the second and third phases are going on in full swing and we are confident that BJP will win 80 seats in 2024. Eight seats in western Uttar Pradesh, including Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur, and Saharanpur, went to polls in the first phase of the general elections on Friday. The most populous state, which sends the most members to the Lower House of Parliament, at 80, will poll across all seven phases. In the 2019 elections, turning the arithmetic of the SP-BSP 'Mahagatbandhan' in Uttar Pradesh upside down, the BJP and its ally Apna Dal (S) won 64 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats. The partners in the alliance, Akhilesh Yadav's SP and Mayawati's BSP, could only muster 15 seats. (ANI)
BJP's Moradabad Lok Sabha Candidate Kunwar Sarvesh Singh Passes Away
Lucknow: BJP's candidate for the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh, Kunwar Sarvesh Singh, passed away on Saturday following a prolonged illness. Singh breathed his last at AIIMS in Delhi around 6.30 pm. Despite voting for the Moradabad seat taking place in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, the late BJP nominee couldn't participate in his election campaigns due to his health conditions. UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary informed the media, Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar has passed away. He had some problem in his throat and had an operation. Yesterday, he had gone to AIIMS for a check-up. Expressing his condolences, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took to social media, praying for strength for Singh's supporters and bereaved family. I am shocked by the demise of BJP candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency and former MP Kunwar Sarvesh Singh ji. This is an irreparable loss for the BJP family. My condolences are with the bereaved family. I pray to Lord Ram to give a place to the departed soul in his feet and provide strength to the bereaved family and their supporters to bear this loss, Adityanath wrote on Twitter. I pray to Shri Ram Chandra Ji to give a place to the departed soul in his feet and give strength to his supporters and bereaved family to bear this unbearable loss. My condolences are with the bereaved family, he added. Kunwar Sarvesh Singh, a businessman, was a prominent leader of the party in Uttar Pradesh. He belonged to the Thakur caste and had been elected MLA four times from the Thakurdwara Assembly seat before becoming an MP. Sarvesh Kumar's son, Kunwar Sushant Singh, is an MLA from the Badhapur assembly seat, which falls under the Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency. Sarvesh Kumar was also in the news during the loudspeaker controversy in the Kanth assembly constituency in 2014. A little over 60 per cent voter turnout was recorded in eight western Uttar Pradesh seats that went to polls in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, with Moradabad recording a turnout of 60.60 per cent. Enhanced Efficiency of Enforcement Directorate under NDA Government, says PM Modi Truck Drivers in Manipur Launch Steering Wheel-Down Strike West Bengal CID Busts Multi-State Cyber Fraud Gang, Mastermind Arrested in Gujarat
Security Forces Encounter Naxalites in Chhattisgarh, One Killed
Raipur: Chhattisgarh Police reported an encounter with Naxalites in the Keshkutul area of Bhairamgarh, Bijapur district, resulting in the death of one Naxalite. Police confirmed the recovery of weapons from the site. Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav stated that the encounter operations are ongoing, and further details are awaited. This incident follows a recent encounter earlier this week in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district, where 29 Naxals were killed, and three security personnel sustained injuries. Bastar Inspector General of Police (IG) P Sundarraj declared that 71 Naxals have been neutralized since January 2024, marking significant progress in the fight against Naxals. 71 Naxals have been gunned down to date since January 2024. This is one of the major breakthroughs in Chhattisgarh on the Naxal front. The fight against Naxals is at a decisive step. Our endeavor in the future will be to build on what we have accomplished against the Naxalites. Preparations have started to give a new identity to the area and its people, said IG Sundarraj. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai commended the District Reserve Guard and BSF personnel after the encounter in Kanker district, terming it a significant achievement. The operation resulting in the death of 29 Naxals is considered one of the most significant counter-Naxal operations in recent times. Father Allegedly Murders Children, Found Dead on Railway Tracks; Mother Seriously Injured BJP's Moradabad Lok Sabha Candidate Kunwar Sarvesh Singh Passes Away Enhanced Efficiency of Enforcement Directorate under NDA Government, says PM Modi
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Flags Off Mahavir Jayanti Yatra in Rajkot
Surat: Vijay Rupani, former Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP leader, flagged off the Mahavir Jayanti Yatra in Rajkot on Sunday and extended his best wishes to everyone. On the auspicious day of Mahavir Jayanti, with all excitement, Jain society across the country celebrates with the principles of Lord Mahavir. I extend my best wishes to everyone, Rupani told the media. Claiming victory for his party in Gujarat, Rupani stated, The environment is heating up as the election is going forward. BJP is ahead in campaigning across the nation, and in Gujarat, 26 out of 26 seats BJP will win, he told the media.Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat's 26 parliamentary constituencies are scheduled to be held on May 7, 2024, in a single phase during the third phase.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah Extend Wishes Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended greetings to the countrymen on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, stating that the messages of Lord Mahavir are an inspiration for the country in building a developed India.In a post on social media, PM Modi said, On the auspicious occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, my best wishes to all the families of the country. Lord Mahavir's messages related to peace, restraint, and goodwill are an inspiration for the country in building a developed India. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended wishes on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti and said that Lord Mahavir's principles of non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possession will guide generations.In a post on social media, Amit Shah said, Infinite wishes to everyone on Lord Mahavir Jayanti. Lord Mahavir Ji, the eternal symbol of sacrifice, penance, truth, and non-violence, paved the way for the welfare of the entire human race through his teachings. His Panchsheel principles of non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possession will guide generations. Significance of Mahavir Jayanti Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir, who was given the name of 'Vardhamana' in his childhood. Born in 615 BC in a royal family, Mahavira renounced his princely status at the age of 30 to start his spiritual journey in search of truth and enlightenment. He practiced austerities and meditated for 12 years in a forest to achieve 'Kevala Jnana.' He then propagated the Dharma known as Jainism. The festival of Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated with rituals such as praying at Jain temples, processions, singing hymns adoring Lord Mahavira, fasting to purify the body and soul, charity, cultural programs, and lectures by religious scholars and leaders. Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated to highlight the significance of Jainism in the world, especially in India. The core teachings of Mahavira, including non-violence, non-stealing, chastity, and non-attachment, hold great importance in the world today. Delhi Police Special Cell Arrests Alleged Kingpin of Interstate Firearms Racket BJP's Moradabad Lok Sabha Candidate Kunwar Sarvesh Singh Passes Away Security Forces Encounter Naxalites in Chhattisgarh, One Killed
The BJP had chosen Kunwar Sarvesh Singh as its candidate for Moradabad Lok Sabha consituency. He was a five-time MLA and one-time MP.
BJP Moradabad candidate, a 5-time MLA, dies day after polling
JP Nadda condoles death of BJP candidate from Moradabad LS seat Sarvesh Kumar Singh
JP Nadda condoles death of BJP candidate from Moradabad LS seat Sarvesh Kumar Singh BJP national president JP Nadda offered his heartfelt condolences to the party's Moradabad candidate, Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh, who passed away on Saturday. In a post on X, JP Nadda said, The news of the demise of senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, former MP, and our candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency Kunwar Sarvesh Singh ji is extremely sad. My condolences are with the bereaved family. As a public leader of Uttar Pradesh and Moradabad, your life full of public service and dedication to the society is unforgettable. I pray to God to give strength to the grieving family and give a place to the departed soul on his feet. Om peace! he added in the post. Earlier, speaking to ANI on Saturday, Ritesh Gupta, the sitting BJP MLA from Moradabad, said Kunwar Sarvesh passed away after a heart attack. He was rushed to AIIMS, Delhi, but couldn't be revived, the BJP MLA added. Condoling the demise of the party's Moradabad candidate, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took to his official X handle to post, I am shocked to learn of the demise of our Moradabad candidate and former MP, Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh-ji. This is an irreparable loss for the BJP Parivaar. In this hour of grief, my thoughts and prayers go out to his family members and loved ones. I pray that Prabhu Shri Ram grants eternal peace to the departed soul while giving his family the strength and forbearance to bear this loss. Om Shanti! Kunwar Sarvesh was pitted against Ruchi Veera of the INDIA bloc in the battle for Moradabad, voting for which was concluded on Friday. (ANI)
BJP candidate from Moradabad seat Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar dies
BJP candidate from Moradabad seat Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar dies BJP candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha seat Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar, who was unwell for some time, died at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Saturday, a senior party leader said. He was 72. Kumar is survived by his wife Sadhna Singh, a son and a daughter. ''Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar has passed away,'' UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary told PTI. ''He had some problem in his throat and had an operation. Yesterday, he had gone to AIIMS for a check-up,'' Chaudhary said. Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar was among the 12 candidates in the poll fray from Moradabad parliamentary constituency that went to polls in the first phase on April 19. He won the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat in the 2014 general elections but lost in 2019 to the Samajwadi Party's S T Hasan. He has also been a five-time BJP MLA from the Thakurdwara assembly segment in Moradabad from 1991 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2014. Condoling his death, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a post in Hindi on X, said, ''I am shocked by the demise of BJP candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency and former MP Kunwar Sarvesh Singh ji. This is an irreparable loss for the BJP family. My condolences are with the bereaved family.'' ''I pray to Lord Shri Ram to give a place to the departed soul in his feet and provide strength to the bereaved family and their supporters to bear this loss. Om Shanti,'' he said. Both deputy chief ministers --- Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak -- also expressed grief over the death of Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar. In a post in Hindi on X, Maurya said, ''The news of the sudden demise of former MP from Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency and hardworking and popular BJP leader Kunwar Sarvesh Singh ji is extremely sad. His demise is an irreparable loss for the BJP and the political world. I pray to God to give a place to the virtuous soul in his feet and give strength to the grieving followers to bear this sorrow. Om Shanti!'' Pathak expressed shock over the death of the BJP candidate from the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat. ''My condolences are with the bereaved family. May God give peace to the departed soul and strength to the family members. Om Shanti!'' he said. UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary and General Secretary (Organization) of UP BJP Dharampal Singh have expressed deep condolence on the demise of Kunwar Sarvesh Singh. In a statement issued from the UP BJP headquarters, Chaudhary said, ''The untimely demise of Kunwar Sarvesh Singh ji, a hard-working leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, a source of inspiration for BJP workers and former MP from Moradabad, is extremely sad and painful.''
Sarvesh Singh was contesting Lok Sabha elections from the Moradabad seat which went into polls in the first phase of elections held on April 19.
Condoling the demise of the party's Moradabad candidate, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took to his official X handle to post, I am shocked to learn of the demise of our Moradabad candidate and former MP, Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh-ji.
First day, first flop show by BJP: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav recently held a joint rally in UP's Amroha. Yadav expressed optimism about the first phase of polling, labeling the BJP's efforts on the first day as a flop. Gandhi highlighted Congress' promises, such as the Mahalakshmi scheme, which he believes will be revolutionary. The alliance has fielded sitting MP Danish Ali for the Amroha seat. BJP's candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha seat, Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar, passed away at the age of 72 after being unwell for some time.
BJP candidate from UP's Moradabad Kunwar Sarvesh Singh passes away a day after polling
LUCKNOW: In major turn of events, BJP candidate from Moradabad, Kunwar Sarvesh Singh passed away on Saturday. He had not being keeping well for sometime. He breathed his last in Delhi's AIIMS. He was 72. Moradabad had voted in phase -I on Friday and the BJP candidate had cast his vote. As per the initial reports, the demise of the BJP candidate was attributed to a cardiac arrest, however, the official confirmation was yet to land. However, BJP state president Bhupendra Chaudhury confirming Singh's demise, stated that he had a medical condition in his throat and had undergone surgery. He had gone to AIIMS for a follow-up on Friday. Pall of gloom descended in the ruling party camp with the news of Singh's demise. Significantly, Kunwar Sarvesh Singh had been the five-time MLA of the BJP from Thakurdwara assembly segment of Moradabad. He represented the seat in UP assembly in 1991,1993,1996, 2002 and 2012. He was elected MP from Moradabad in 2014 after the seeping saffron wave. However, he failed to retain the seat in 2019 and lost it to Samajwadi party candidate Dr ST Hasan. Condoling his death, UP Chief Minister in a post on X in Hindi said, I am shocked by the demise of BJP candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency and former MP Kunwar Sarvesh Singh ji. This is an irreparable loss for the BJP family. My condolences are with the bereaved family. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to give a place to the departed soul in his feet and provide strength to the bereaved family and their supporters to bear this loss. Om Shaanti. Yogi Adityanath ( ) (@myogiadityanath) April 20, 2024 Kunwar Saresh Singh's son, Kunwar Sushant Singh is the BJP MLA from Barhapur. As per Moradabad DM Manvendra Singh, the demise of the BJP candidate would not hamper the poll process. The counting of votes of Moradbad would be held as per the schedule on June 4. Only If the BJP candidate wins, bypoll would be held. BJP leader and party's candidate for the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh died on Saturday. Notably, voting on Moradabad seat took place in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday. Kunwar Sarvesh Singh, born on December 23, 1952, was a businessman and strong leader of the party in Uttar Pradesh. He belonged to Ratupura Village of Thakurdwara in Moradbad. His father Raja Rampal was a 4-time MLA of Congress from Thakurdwara and once an MP from Amroha.
Before becoming an MP, Kunwar Sarvesh Singh represented the Thakurdwara assembly seat five times as its MLA.
Day after polls, BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Moradabad, Kunwar Sarvesh Singh passes away at 72
BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Moradabad, Kunwar Sarvesh Singh, has passed away at the age of 72 due to a heart attack at Delhi's AIIMS. The voting for the Moradabad constituency took place on Friday during the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed shock at the news, offering condolences to the bereaved family.
Day after polling, BJPs Moradabad candidate Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar dies
Voting in Moradabad constituency in Uttar Pradesh took place in the first phase
BJP's Moradabad Candidate Sarvesh Singh Dies A Day After UP Constituency Went To Polls
BJP's Moradabad candidate Sarvesh Singh, who was undergoing treatment in Delhi, died a day after his Uttar Pradesh constituency went to polls in phase one of general elections.
A day after polling for Moradabad LS seat, BJP candidate dies of heart attack, CM Yogi reacts
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BJP's Moradabad Candidate Dies A Day After UP Constituency Went To Polls
BJP's Moradabad candidate Sarvesh Singh, who was undergoing treatment in Delhi, died a day after his Uttar Pradesh constituency went to polls in phase one of general elections.
BJP candidate from UP's Moradabad Kunwar Sarvesh Singh dies
BJP candidate from UPs Moradabad Kunwar Sarvesh Singh dies
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.
First day, First show and the polling begins
The first round of 7-phase parliamentary polls was held across 21 states, with sporadic incidents of violence being reported from Manipur and West Bengal. In the biggest round of the elections, all 39 seats of Tamil Nadu, 12 of Rajasthan and 8 of Uttar Pradesh went to polls. With PM Modi eyeing a third term in office, the BJP hopes to win 22 of the 25 seats in Northeast, hold on to its 2019 tally in the Hindi heartland and Maharashtra and better its show in West Bengal as well as in the South. The Opposition INDIA bloc insists that it will do well across the country, especially in the saffron bastion of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar this time. The counting of votes will take place on June 4 Rajasthan: Total seats - 25 1st phase - 12 It was subdued enthusiasm among voters in 12 seats. Voting was largely peaceful in most constituencies, though some witnessed sporadic clashes. In Kuchera, Nagaur, one of the hot seats, supporters of BJP candidate Jyoti Mirdha and INDIA Alliance candidate Hanuman Beniwal of RLP clashed with each others, injuring Tejpal Mirdha, the chairman of Kuchera municipality. Nagour is a Jat-dominated seat. In another hot seat of Jhunjhunu in the Shekhawati region, BJP candidate Shubhakaran Chaudhary fought with security personnel and in Churu, an MLA was involved in altercation with a policeman Uttar pradesh: Total seats - 80 1st phase - 8 The overall turnout seemed to be lower than the 2019 elections. The eight constituencies which went to the polls included Saharanpur (63.29%),Pilibhit (60.2%), Kairana (58.68%), Nagina (SC) (58.05%), Moradabad (57.65%), Muzaffarnagar (54.91), Bijnor (54.68%), Rampur (52.42%). No major incident was reported during the polling. Last time, a turnout of 66.47% was recorded in the eight constituencies. Overall turnout in Uttar Pradesh during 2019 was 59.21%. In the Neuria area of the district, villagers said they would not vote as they are peeved at man-animal conflict Bihar: Total seats - 40 4 A low turnout of 48.23% was recorded in four constituencies where 38 candidates were in the fray. In 2019, 53.47% voters had exercised their franchise. Gaya has the highest 14 candidates in the fray. There is a decrease of around 5.24% of turnout in 2024. According to chief electoral officer H R Srinivasa, Gaya (SC) recorded the highest 52% turnout, Jamui (SC) and Aurangabad 50% each. In Nawada, only 41.50% voters exercised their franchise. In 2019, Aurangabad had recorded 53.63% turnout, Gaya 56.16 %, Nawada 49.33% and Jamui 55.21%. Voters called for poll boycott in six stations, there was no report of clashes or violence though, according to Srinivasa. WEST BENGAL: Total seats - 42 1st phase - 3 Sporadic incidents of violence marred the first phase, with TMC and BJP workers clashing in Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri. Three reserved seatsJalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Beharin North Bengal went to polls. The TMC and the BJP lodged 80 and 39 complaints, respectively, related to violence, voter intimidation, and assaults on poll agents in Cooch Behar and Alipurduar. Union MoS Nisith Pramanik is contesting from Cooch Behar. TMC leader Udayan Guha said that the BJP, along with central forces, unleashed a reign of terror to rig the elections. The BJP, however, denied the allegations. chhattisgarh: Total seats - 11 1st phase - 1 The voters defied the Maoist threat, as the encouraging turnout eclipsed the terror that haunted Bastar zone ahead of the polling. A CRPF personnel, Devendra kumar, was killed in an IED blast at Usoor in an edgy district of Bijapur during an area domination operation. He died of his injuries while on the way to Raipur in a chopper. In the same district, an assistant commandant of CRPF was injured during a poll-related duty at Bhairamgarh. Barring the two incidents, the polling across Bastar remained peaceful. For the first time, 102 new polling stations were set up for the convenience of voters. Madhya Pradesh: Total seats - 29 1st phase - 6 Six constituencies recorded around 67% turnout till 6.30 pm and the figure is likely to go up. The six seats had registered 75.23% polling in. The high-profile Chhindwara seat (where ex-CM Kamal Naths MP son Nakul Nath took on BJPs Vivek Sahu) stood on top in terms of poll percentage with 78.67% as shared by chief electoral officer Anupam Rajan. Another key constituency Mandla-ST (where sixth-time BJP MP and Union minister Faggan Singh Kulaste was pitted against ex-minister and fourth-time Congress MLA Omkar Markam) reported 72.92% polling. The Maoist-hit Balaghat seat reported 72.60% polling Jammu & Kashmir: Total seats - 5 1st phase - 1 For the first-time in over three decades, residents at the International Border in Hira Nagar sector of Kathua district exercised their right to vote for the Udhampur seat without any fear or threat of cross-border firing. It was the first major electoral exercise in J&K since the abrogration of Article 370 and bifurcation of erstwhile J&K state into two Union Territories. People men, women, including young and old thronged at the polling station in Kadyala village close to International Border. India and Pakistan on February 24, 2021, announced to strictly uphold the November 2003 border ceasefire pact between the troops of two countries. Residents said due to the ceasefire, more people have come to vote in this election UTTARAKHAND 5 5 Despite clear weather and relatively low temperature, the turnout was below expectation. Villagers of Jalal in Nainital and Tehri parliamentary constituency boycotted the election for lack of infrastructure, posing risks to their travel and safety. Newlywed couples, dressed in their wedding attire, arrived at several polling stations to cast their votes. However, around 350 were not able to vote on polling day due to wedding ceremonies. Bhagwan Singh, father of the groom from village Chhedi in Srinagar, expressed regret for not being able to vote on polling day due to clash over marriage date Maharashtra: Total seats - 48 1st phase - 5 Voting for the five seats took place without untoward events in Maharashtra. The voting began on a slow pace due to the scorching heat in the Vidarbha region. The tribal and Naxalite district of Gadchiroli witnessed the highest turnout at 64.95%, while Nagpur reported lowest at 47.91% till 5pm. In Ramtek-SC seat, 53.38% turnout was reported, 56.87% in BhandaraGondia and 55.11% in Chandrapur seat. To avoid technical snags cropping up in EVMs in the remote polling booths in Gadchiroli, three spare EVMs were dispatched by a helicopter to the Sironcha area of the district, said an official. Manipur: Total seats - 2 1st phase - 2 Sporadic incidents of gunfire and intimidation of voters as well as Congress workers by armed miscreants marred Lok Sabha elections in ethnic violence-hit Manipur on Friday. The turnout was 72.32% in the Inner Manipur seat and 61.98% in Outer Manipur. The violence occurred in places falling under the Inner Manipur seat which straddles the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley. The armed men fired several rounds outside a polling station at Thamnapokpi in Bishnupur district. Three persons were reportedly injured.The voters and the Congress polling agents were intimidated by the armed miscreants Tamil Nadu: Total seats - 39 1st phase - 39 The polling began at 7am amid tight security in most of the 39 constituencies. Argument broke out between voters and officials in some polling stations as authorities did not allow people to carry their smartphones/mobiles inside the booths. People belonging to Parandhur village with over 1,000 voters near Sriperumbudur did not turn up to vote till 9.30 am. Around 1,000 voters of Ennore who had called for boycott of the election over the ammonia gas leak incident at Ennore Creek withdrew their decision and decided to vote Puducherry: Total seats - 1 1st phase - 1 The Union Territory gets to elect their lone representative to the Lok Sabha. A visit to some of the polling stations in rural areas brought to the fore a mixed picture. Pink booths were the centre of attraction. The green environment at a booth housed on the premises of the more-than-century-old VOC Government Boys school in the town added to the lustre of the arrangements. Gruel, nutritious cereals, millets and buttermilk were given to the voters Lakshadweep: Total seats - 1 1st phase - 1 Nearly 60% voter turnout was recorded until 5pm in the Lakshadweep constituency spanning across 10 inhabited islands of the Lakshadweep Archipelago, with an electorate of 57,784, as per data shared by the Election Commission. Out of this total, 28,506 are women. The polling began at 7.30am across the 10 inhabited islands and concluded at 6.30 pm. An official said that the figures provided are preliminary, as voters who were in line by this deadline were given the opportunity to cast their votes Andaman & Nicobar islands: Total seats - 1 1st phase - 1 Around 3,15,148 voters in Andaman and Nicobar Islands have exercised their franchise till 3pm for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the Union Territory. Seven members of the Shompen tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTGs) of the Great Nicobar Islands, on Friday exercised their voting rights for the first time, an election official said. Other two primitive tribes, too, exercised their voting rights like in 2019, the CEO said Arunachal Pradesh: Total seats - 2 1st phase - 2 The unique Malogam polling station in Anjaw district of the state recorded cent per cent polling with the lone female voter, exercising her constitutional right on Friday, officials said. Supporters of two candidates clashed at the Bameng Assembly constituency in East Kameng. Irate mobs damaged EVMs in polling stations elsewhere in the state. Miscreants tried to snatch EVMs in three polling stations in the Nacho constituency in Upper Subansiri and in one in Kurung Kumey district, where polling was also suspended Assam: Total seats - 14 1st phase - 5 Long queues were seen outside booths since morning as polling was underway for five constituencies. Poling began at 7 am in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur and Kaziranga seats, and 86.5 lakh voters are eligible to vote. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal of BJP and Congresss deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi were among those who cast their votes in the first hour Meghalaya: Total seats - 2 1st phase - 2 Voters at numerous polling stations were seen queuing up as early as 6 am, underscoring their enthusiasm to participate in the electoral process. The first five voters were rewarded with mementoes and first-time voters were also felicitated. Voters in a model polling station planted trees after casting their votes. Polling was being held at 3,512 polling stations in which 10 candidates are in the fray Mizoram: Total seats - 1 1st phase - 1 At least 6,500 polling personnel, over 3,500 policemen and 12 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) have been deployed for the polls in the state. All international borders and inter-state borders have been sealed to ensure peaceful elections, a senior police officer said. Although there are six contenders, it is believed that the fight will be mainly among ZPM, MNF and Congress Nagaland: Total seats - 1 1st phase - 1 Polling personnel in six eastern districts of Nagaland waited for nine hours in booths, but not one of the four lakh voters of the region turned up following a shutdown call given by an organisation to press for its demand for Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT). Of the 13.25 lakh voters in Nagaland, 50.41 per cent have exercised their franchise, the officials said. Nagaland Governor La. Ganesan exercised his franchise at Model Polling Station Sikkim: Total seats - 1 1st phase - 1 Over 50% of the 4.64 lakh voters in Sikkim exercised their franchise in the 32 Assembly seats and in the lone Lok Sabha constituency till 3 pm on Friday, an official said. Thirteen companies of CAPF have been deployed in Sikkim, of which five companies are from ITBP and eight from SSB, he added. Former Indian Football captain and SDF vice president Bhaichung Bhutia who is contesting from Barfung (BL) assembly seat voted Tripura: Total seats - 2 1st phase - 1 The opposition Congress and CPM alleged that largescale rigging in several places across the constituency, with the Election Commission saying that it received some complaints and was looking into those. In the bypolls to the Ramnagar assembly seat, which was being held simultaneously, a turnout of 56.68% was recorded. Altogether 14.61 lakh people are eligible to vote in this phase of Lok Sabha polls in Tripura
Lok Sabha elections: Data shows over 55 pc voting at all 8 seats in Uttar Pradesh
Lok Sabha elections: Data shows over 55 pc voting at all 8 seats in Uttar Pradesh A total of 57.90 per cent voter turnout was recorded in all eight parliamentary constituencies of western Uttar Pradesh, where voting was held on Friday in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election, according to the Election Commission of India. A total of 80 candidates--73 men and seven women--are contesting in the first phase in the state. According to the ECI, Saharanpur recorded 63.29 per cent of voter turnout while Rampur recorded 52.42 per cent, Muzaffarnagar recorded 54.91 per cent and Pilibhit recorded 60.23 per cent. Today, the first phase of elections was held peacefully in eight Lok Sabha constituencies. At most places, voting began at 7 am and concluded by 6 pm but at some places, voting is still going on. According to information received till 5 pm, the average voting percentage in Uttar Pradesh is 67.54 per cent, Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa said. He also said that the state poll body office also received complaints from various political parties and candidates of malfunctioning of EVMs through emails. Complaints of malfunctioning EVMs were received from various political parties and candidates through various mediums, mainly through emails. All the complaints were promptly sent to the districts. There was no incident of violence anywhere, there was a minor scuffle between two parties outside a booth, but prompt action was taken by the police there, he added. The voter turnout in Bijnor was recorded at 54.68 per cent, Kairana at 60.39 per cent, Moradabad at 58.25 per cent, Nagina at 59.17 per cent. Voting for phases 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. (ANI)
Who Is Isha Arora? Saharanpur Polling Agent Goes Viral; Know All About Her
A total of 21 states are voting today in the first phase of the Lok Sabha Elections. Let us inform you that, of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, voting is being conducted on 8 of those seats in the first round - Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, and Rampur. Ahead of the voting, a polling official has gone viral for her looks and opinion for the elections.
List of Uttar Pradesh MPs representing Lok Sabha phase 1 seats
Uttar Pradesh, which sends the maximum number of MPs to the Lok Sabha, is witnessing polling on eight seats in the first phase of the general elections, which is being held on Friday. These constituencies include Pilibhit, Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, and Rampur. List of MPs of Uttar Pradesh Phase 1 Lok Sabha 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 .
102 LS Seats in 21 States Vote Today
NEW DELHI: In another few hours, the curtain will finally lift from the Lok Sabha battleground for 2024. One hundred and two Lok Sabha seats across 21 states and Union territories will go to the polls in the first phase Friday. During the last general election, the Opposition had won 45 of these 102 Lok Sabha seats, while the BJP-led NDA had won 41. With 39 seats in Tamil Nadu and one in Puducherry, the largest number of seats which will vote in the first phase is from South India. In 2019, the DMK-led alliance won 39 of the 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Armed with the potent arsenal of Lord Ram, Sanatan Dharma, the Citizenship Amendment Act and the unyielding promise of Modis guarantees, the BJP aims to unsettle its main rival, the I.N.D.I.A. bloc. With rising unemployment, inflation, communal tension, caste census and the farmers agitation emerging as the frontline battlegrounds, the I.N.D.I.A. bloc is all set to engage its adversaries head-on. There are a few wrinkles on the saffron forehead as the 2024 CSDS-Lokniti pre-poll survey indicated that unemployment and price rise remained the main concern of the electorate. As the BJP sought to emphasise issues like the inauguration of the Ram temple and went into a high decibel campaign on Sanatan Dharma, these issues failed to click with voters in comparison to livelihood concerns. Regardless, the survey indicated that the BJP and its allies have a comfortable 12 per cent lead over the I.N.D.I.A. bloc. Meanwhile, all eyes are on Tamil Nadu where the BJP is desperate to open its account. Besides the charisma and popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP is also banking heavily on its newfound Tamil star and state unit chief, former IPS officer K. Annamalai, his constituency Coimbatore will be going to the polls on Friday. His seven-month long En Mann, En Makkal (My land, my people) padayatra culminated in a rally attended by the Prime Minister. In Coimbatore, Annamalai is locked in a triangular fight with the DMK and AIADMK. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP led by Modi had been repeatedly hitting out at the DMK leaders for insulting Sanatan Dharma. Under Annamalai in Tamil Nadu, the BJP is contesting 23 seats on its own, a departure from its approach to contest as an ally. Speaking to this newspaper, a senior BJP leader sounded somewhat cynical. He argued: The BJP has no traditional vote bank in Tamil Nadu. We only gained when the party aligned with the Dravidian players. It was further argued that Tamil Nadu might not positively respond to the BJPs call for one language, one nation, one poll. Tamil Nadus electoral dynamics are crucial for the BJP's broader electoral objectives, whether it aims to retain its current seats or make significant gains towards achieving a landmark majority in the Lok Sabha. Of its 80 Lok Sabha seats, the first phase of polling will be held in eight seats in Uttar Pradesh. The state which has often been electorally viewed as the gateway to Delhi, will be involved in all seven phases of the general election. It may be recalled that of the eight seats voting on Friday, the BJP had managed to win only three in the last general election. These were Pilibhit, Kairana and Muzaffarnagar. The Samajwadi Party had won Moradabad and Rampur. The Bahujan Samaj Party won Saharanpur, Bijor and Nagina. Of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan, polling in the first phase will be held in 12 seats. Securing 24 of 25 seats, it was a clean sweep for the BJP in the desert state during the last general election. Even as the BJP is banking on religion and the CAA to woo the voters, the Opposition is stoking the fire of farmers protests, which it believes is simmering in the desert state. Of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, polling will be held in five seats on Friday. In the fray will be Union minister Nitin Gadkari' on his home turf Nagpur. Given the context of the intense political manipulation in the state, the situation may become tricky for the BJP. During the last general election, it had won 23 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats. Its ally, the Shiv Sena (before the split), secured 18 seats. Sources revealed that in the case of the Uddhav Thackery-led Shiv Sena, the fallout with the BJP and subsequent political maneuvering to oust it, could potentially elicit sympathy from certain sections of voters. Unemployment has also emerged as a major electoral issue in the state, a Congress leader claimed. Other states and union territories going to polls in the first phase include: Madhya Pradesh (6) Bihar (4), Assam (5),Uttarakhand (5), West Bengal (3), Chhattisgarh (1), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Manipur (2), Meghalaya (2), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Sikkim (1), Tripura (1), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1), Jammu and Kashmir (1), Lakshadweep (1) and Puducherry (1).
Elections 2024: 21 states, UTs set for polling in phase one; 102 LS seats in fray
The first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will see 102 constituencies across 21 states and union territories go to polls on Friday. The first phase of polling will take place across all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu, all five seats in Uttarakhand, both seats in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Meghalaya, and the sole seat in Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, respectively. Polling will also take place for 12 out of 25 seats in Rajasthan, eight out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, six out of 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh, five out of 48 seats in Maharashtra, five out of 14 seats in Assam, and four out of 40 seats in Bihar. Additionally, three out of 42 seats in West Bengal, one out of 11 seats in Chhattisgarh, and one out of two seats in Tripura will be contested. In the union territories, one out of five seats in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the sole seats in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry, will be up for grabs. Voting for the 543 Lok Sabha seats will take place across seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with the counting of votes slated for June 4. Separately, voting will also be held for 92 assembly seats in the state elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim on Friday. Of the 102 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP had won 39 in 2019, with the ruling alliance NDA bagging 12, five and three of them in Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, respectively. The BJP's existing allies hold seven of them. And in Tamil Nadu, the DMK-led alliance had swept 38 of the 39 seats in 2019 general elections. Amongst the prominent leaders trying their electoral luck in phase one are Union ministers Nitin Gadkari from Nagpur, Kiren Rijiju from Arunachal Pradesh (West), Arjun Ram Meghwal from Bikaner, Sarbanada Sonowal from Dibrugarh in Assam, Sanjeev Baliyan from Muzaffarnagar in western UP, Jitendra Singh from Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir and Bhupendra Yadav from Alwar in Rajasthan. Tamilisai Soundararajan, who recently resigned as governor of Telangana and Lt Governor of Puducherry to return to active politics, is contesting from Chennai South Lok Sabha constituency. Nakul Nath, son of Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, is seeking reelection from Chhindwara. Will the BJP's lotus bloom in Tamil Nadu? Tamil Nadu is gearing up for polls a mid fierce campaigning and an intense three-way political battle between the alliances led by state heavyweightsthe DMK and the AIADMKand the BJP, respectively. With elections for 39 Lok Sabha seats looming, approximately 6.23 crore voters are poised to cast their ballots across nearly 68,000 polling stations. The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has made unprecedented efforts to gain ground in the Dravidian stronghold. Modi's exhaustive campaign across Tamil Nadu, including rallies in Chennai, Coimbatore, Vellore, and Tirunelveli, underscores the BJP's determination to break its electoral jinx in the state. From raking up alleged corruption and 'parivarvad' politics of the DMK-Congress alliance to the Katchatheevu issue, Modi left no stone unturned in his nine visit to the state Coimbatore, the hub of western Tamil Nadu, is the most keenly watched constituency in the state and the BJP's K Annamalai is slogging to emerge victorious, battling against Dravidian giants the DMK and AIADMK. Meanwhile, the DMK, led by Chief Minister Stalin, has campaigned on platforms of social justice and welfare measures, portraying the elections as a battle against the BJP's divisive politics. Throughout the campaign, Stalin has repeatedly emphasised the importance of these elections, likening them to a second independence movement aimed at freeing the nation from the BJP's influence. In contrast, the AIADMK, under the leadership of Edappadi K Palaniswami, has staunchly defended its record in governance and taken a strong stance against the DMK's campaign. Palaniswami has vigorously addressed various issues, including law and order, and has accused the BJP of discrimination based on caste and religion. Despite facing challenges from both the DMK and BJP, the AIADMK remains confident in its ability to weather the storm, with Palaniswami asserting that the party will emerge victorious with the support of the electorate. UP: Eight seats up for grabs in India's largest state The first phase of the seven-phase parliamentary election in western Uttar Pradesh sees voters in eight Lok Sabha constituencies exercising their constitutional right. These constituencies, falling in the Jat and sugarcane belt, include Saharanpur, Bijnor, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit, spread across nine districts. The contest is three-cornered, primarily between the ruling BJP-led NDA, the Samajwadi Party (SP), and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The BJP has allied with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), while the SP has partnered with INDIA bloc ally Congress. The BSP, however, decided to go solo. Key issues for voters include employment, education, and development. A total of 80 candidates, including seven women, are in the fray. The eligible voter count stands at 1.43 crore, with a significant Muslim voter presence ranging from 35 to 50 percent. Notable candidates include Jitin Prasada from Pilibhit, who got the ticket over sitting BJP MP Varun Gandhi , Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan from Muzaffarnagar, and Azad Samaj Party chief Chandra Shekhar Azad from Nagina. In the previous 2019 polls, the BJP secured victories in Muzaffarnagar, Kairana, and Pilibhit, the BSP won in Saharanpur, Nagina and Bijnor, while the SP won in Moradabad and Rampur, the stronghold of its jailed leader Azam Khan. However, the party later lost Rampur to BJP in a bypoll. Cracking the Jat code: BJP's strategic courting of RLD and what it means in western Uttar Pradesh Maharashtra: Polls in 5 LS seats; Gadkari among 97 nominees in fray More than 95 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise on Friday in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra , covering five of the 48 constituencies, where 97 candidates, including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari of the BJP, are in fray. Polling will be held in the constituencies of Nagpur, Ramtek (SC), Bhandara-Gondia, Chandrapur and Naxal-hit Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST), all located in the easternmost parts of the state. There are 95,54,667 voters in the five Lok Sabha constituencies in the Vidarbha region where voting will take place on Friday. Of these, 48,28,142 are male, 47,26,178 are female and 347 are transgender voters, according to a statement from the state electoral office. In Nagpur, which houses the RSS headquarters, a direct fight is on cards between Gadkari, who is seeking a third term, and Congress candidate Vikas Thakre. First phase of LS polls in Maharashtra: It's Congress party's 'caste calculations' vs BJP's 'Modi charisma' In Chandrapur, BJP candidate and Maharashtra minister Sudhir Mungantiwar is facing Congress nominee Pratibha Dhanorkar, wife of late parliamentarian Suresh Dhanorkar, who was the lone MP from the grand old party to be elected from Maharashtra in 2019 from the seat. In Bhandara-Gondia, the BJP has fielded sitting MP Sunil Mendhe, who is pitted against Congress candidate Dr Prashant Patole. Two-time Lok Sabha MP of BJP, Ashok Nete, is contesting against Congress nominee Dr Namdev Kirsan in Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST), where some areas are affected Naxal insurgency. In the 2019 elections, Nete had defeated Congress candidate Dr Namdev Usendi. In Ramtek (SC), the fight is between Shyamkumar Barwe of the Congress and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena's candidate Raju Parwe. Maharashtra, which has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh, will vote in five phases between April 19 and May 20. Rajasthan: 12 seats in fray; will BJP's dominance continue? In the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan, 12 out of 25 seats will be contested. Polling will be held in Churu, Nagaurm, Ganganagar, Jhunjhunu, Bikaner, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur and Dausa. According to chief electoral officer Praveen Gupta, a total of 2.54 crore voters are set to vote in the first phase on Friday. Notably, a Union minister is among the 114 candidates in the fray. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is contesting from Bikaner against Congress candidate Govind Ram Meghwal. The Bharatiya Janata Party won all 25 seats in Rajasthan on its own in 2014, and in 2019, the NDA won 25 seats, the saffron party won 24 seats and the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) won one seat. Key constituencies include Nagaur, witnessing a contest between the RLP, now in alliance with Congress, and the BJP, and Churu, with former BJP MP Rahul Kaswan contesting as a Congress candidate. In Sikar, the CPI(M) is challenging the BJP's incumbent MP. The ruling BJP focused its campaign on PM Modi's popularity and its infrastructure work, while the Congress raised issues of central agency misuse and unemployment. Notable campaigners include PM Modi, Amit Shah, and Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. The second phase of the elections in Rajasthan will be held on April 26. In the second phase, polls will be held in 13 Lok Sabha constituencies: Tonk, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar. MP: Six LS seats in action, including Kamal Nath's bastion Six constituents will be in action during the first phase of the four phases for the Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh. The constituencies include Shahdol, Mandla, Jabalpur, Balaghat, Chhindwara, and Sidhi, covering 13 districts and 27 assembly segments. A total of 88 candidates are in the fray, with Jabalpur having the highest number at 19 and Shahdol the lowest at 10. The total number of registered voters across the six constituencies is 1,13,09,636, with arrangements made for shelter, water, and medical assistance at polling booths due to the hot weather. In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured 28 out of 29 Lok Sabha seats, while the Congress won only one seat in Chhindwara, held by Nakul Nath, the son of former Chief Minister Kamal Nath. The second, third and fourth phases of the elections will take place on April 26, May 7 and May 13. Kamal Nath fighting lone battle to help son win Chhindwara and protect home turf Over 75 lakh voters to decide four seats in Bihar In Bihar, the stage is set for the first phase more than 75 lakh voters will decide the fate of 38 candidates standing in four constituencies: Nawada, Aurangabad, Gaya and Jamui. Tight security arrangements are in place at Nawada and Aurangabad, besides reserved seats in Gaya and Jamui, where a majority of nearly 5,000 polling booths have been marked as sensitive, given these districts' long history of naxal violence. Nawada, with 20.06 lakh voters, sees a tough battle primarily between the BJP's Vivek Thakur and the RJD's Shravan Kushwaha, with Independent candidate Binod Yadav adding complexity. Gaya, with 18.18 lakh voters, witnesses 14 candidates, including former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, an NDA ally, and RJD's Kumar Sarvajeet. Jamui, with 19.07 lakh voters, features a showdown between Arun Bharti from Chirag Paswan's LJP (Ram Vilas) and RJD's Archana Ravidas. The party's president Chirag Paswan, whose sister is married to Bharti, has shifted base to Hajipur after having represented the seat for two consecutive terms. Aurangabad, with over 18 lakh voters, sees BJP's Sushil Kumar Singh facing RJD's Abhay Kushwaha. 76.01 lakh voters, including 36.38 lakh females and 255 belonging to the third gender, are expected to cast their votes. Uttarakhand: Can BJP 'three-peat' clean sweep? Uttarakhand's all five Lok Sabha seats go into polling in phase one, with the BJP aiming to retain the seats for the third time and the Congress looking to regain lost ground in the state. The five seats going to polls on Friday are Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar and the lone reserved seat of Almora. The BJP won all five seats in Uttarakhand in the 2014 and 2019 general elections. More than 83 lakh voters will decide the fate of 55 candidates in the fray. Sitting BJP MPs Ajay Bhatt, Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah and Ajay Tamta have been fielded by the party from Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar, Tehri Garhwal and Almora, respectively. The BJP has replaced its candidates in Haridwar and Pauri Garhwal. Former chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat is contesting in place of Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank from Haridwar and Anil Baluni in place of Tirath Singh Rawat from Pauri Garhwal. The Congress has fielded former PCC president Ganesh Godiyal from Pauri Garhwal, former chief minister Harish Rawat's son Virendra Rawat from Haridwar, Jot Singh Gunsola from Tehri Garhwal, Prakash Joshi from Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar and Pradeep Tamta from Almora. Candidates from the Bahujan Samaj Party, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal and relatively smaller outfits and independents are also in the fray, but straight contests are likely between traditional rivalsthe BJP and Congressin all the seats. Experts say that Haridwar's demography, which has substantial minority and Dalit votes, may also not be a cakewalk for the BJP's Trivendra Rawat, despite his advantage over his rival in terms of experience, as Congress veteran Harish Rawat, who had won the seat in 2009, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure his son's victory from the seat. If the Modi factor works again as it did in 2014 and 2019, overriding all other factors, the BJP will obviously reap the benefits but if unemployment, inflation, continued migration from the hills and performance of BJP MPs over the past 10 years outweigh the national issues, the Congress will gain, political analyst Jaisingh Rawat said. Bengal: Triangular tussle between TMC, BJP and Cong-Left In the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, all attention is on Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduars constituencies in north Bengal. A total of 56,26,108 voters are eligible to vote in 5,814 booths in this phase. Coochbehar, where Union Minister Nisith Pramanik faces TMC's Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, remains significant due to past violence and political rivalries. The deployment of central forces is higher in Coochbehar compared to the other two constituencies. Both BJP and TMC have intensified their campaigns, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee addressing rallies. Key issues include corruption allegations against ruling party leaders, denial of central funds, and the 2021 Sitalkuchi firing incident. The BJP won all three constituencies in the 2019 general elections and maintained its grip in Coochbehar and Alipurduars in the 2021 assembly polls. But, the TMC had the upper hand in Jalpaiguri in the 2021 assembly polls, winning five and the saffron party managed to win two. The Left Front and Congress are contesting together, having secured only single-digit vote shares in 2019. The BJP has renominated Jayanta Roy in Jalpaiguri and Pramanik in Cooch Behar, but replaced last time's winner John Barla with the party's Madarihat MLA Manoj Tigga in Alipurduars. The TMC has, however, changed candidates in all three seats, fielding Prakash Chik Baraik in Alipurduars, Nirmal Chandra Roy in Jalpaiguri and Sitai MLA Basunia in Coochbehar. Direct, triangular contests in Assam's five LS seats Assam gears up for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in five constituencies, with 35 candidates vying for victory, including Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal . The electorate of 86,47,869, comprising 43,64,859 women and 42,82,887 male voters, will cast their votes in 10,001 polling booths under tight security with 60 companies of security forces deployed. The BJP is contesting in all five seats, the Congress in four and supporting the Assam Jatiya Parishad contestant in one, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in two and the All India Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) in one seat each. A direct contest is on the cards between the BJP and Congress in Jorhat, Kaziranga and Lakhimpur, while in Dibrugarh and Sonitpur, there is likely to be a triangular fight among the ruling party, Congress, AJP and AAP. The prestigious Dibrugarh constituency has three candidates in fray: BJP's Sonowal, a Rajya Sabha MP, pitted against the United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA) candidate Lurinjyoti Gogoi of the AJP and AAP's Manoj Dhanowar. In Jorhat, four candidates are in contention, with Lok Sabha's Deputy Leader of the Opposition Gaurav Gogoi locked in a direct contest with sitting BJP MP Topon Gogoi. Gogoi had to shift his constituency to Jorhat from Kaliabor, which has been renamed Kaziranga following a delimitation exercise in the state last year. In Kaziranga, BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa is locked in a direct contest with former Congress MLA Roselina Tirkey, with both candidates belonging to the tea workers' community. Kaziranga has the highest number of 11 candidates in the fray. In Sonitpur, also renamed from the earlier Tezpur after delimitation, there are eight nominees, with a triangular contest likely between BJP MLA Ranjit Dutta, Congress candidate Prem Lal Ganju and AAP's Rishiraj Kaundinya. Lakhimpur has nine contestants, prominent among them being sitting BJP MP Pradan Baruah and Uday Shankar Hazarika of the Congress. Two LS seats in strife-torn Manipur go to polls Manipur gears up for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections amid tight security measures, particularly in the wake of recent ethnic violence. The Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat, which comprises 32 of the 60 assembly segments in the state, and 15 assembly segments of the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat will go to polls in the first phase on Friday. Six candidates, including state Education Minister Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh of the BJP and Angomcha Bimol Akoijam of the Congress, are in the fray for the Inner Manipur seat. Outer Manipur, which is reserved for Scheduled Tribes, will witness a four-cornered contest between Naga People's Front's K Timothy Zimik, Congress' Alfred Kanngam Arthur and independent candidates Kho John and Alyson Abonmai, with all the candidates being Nagas. A total of 9.91 lakh voters are eligible in Inner Manipur and over 10.22 lakh voters in Outer Manipur. Special arrangements have been made for people displaced due to ethnic strife, with special polling stations set up. The campaigning has been subdued due to the prevailing tensions, and security has been heightened with the deployment of central armed police forces, especially in vulnerable and critical polling stations. Polling personnel have been dispatched to their respective stations, with special provisions for internally displaced people. The election authorities have ensured gender diversity in the management of polling stations, with some stations being exclusively manned by women. Despite the challenges posed by the recent unrest, efforts are underway to conduct the elections in a free, fair, and peaceful manner. Tripura and Nagaland In Tripura, the first phase of Lok Sabha polls will see voting for the Tripura West Parliamentary constituency and a by-poll in the Ramnagar Assembly. The main contest in Tripura West is between the BJP's Biplab Kumar Deb and state Congress president Asish Kumar Saha. With 14.61 lakh eligible voters, including 7.33 lakh males and 7.28 lakh females, the constituency has 1682 polling booths. Central paramilitary forces will secure all booths, with webcasting from each. In the Ramnagar Assembly by-election, BJP's Agartala Mayor Dipak Majumer faces former CPI(M) MLA Ratan Das, with 54,669 electors deciding their fate. In Nagaland, over 13.25 lakh voters will decide the fate of three candidates. Congress nominee S Supongmeren Jamir, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) candidate Chumben Murry and Independent Hayithung Tungoe Lotha are contesting the elections. BJP President J P Nadda, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, and Deputy Chief Ministers T R Zeliang and Y Patton addressed several rallies in support of their candidate. Polling will run from 7 am to 4 pm, with 13,25,383 eligible voters, including 19,999 first-time voters and 6,707 people with disabilities. Female voters slightly outnumber male voters. In 2019, NDPP's Tokheho Yepthomi won against Congress's K L Chishi. J-K: Udhampur LC seat in action amid ceasefire The Udhampur seat in Jammu and Kashmir will go to polls on Friday in the first phase of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. In view of the ongoing ceasefire between India and Pakistan and the heavy deployment of paramilitary forces, the voting process is expected to be peaceful in 2,637 polling stations in the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency, a senior election official said. Union Minister Jitendra Singh is eyeing a third consecutive term in the constituency after winning the seat for BJP in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, facing a major challenge from Congress candidate Choudhary Lal Singh, who had also won the seat twice in 2004 and 2009. Democratic Progressive Azad Party's (DPAP) candidate G M Saroori, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Amit Kumar and six independents will also be contesting the elections from the Udhampur constituency. According to officials, there are 16,23,195 eligible voters. Among them, 845,283 are men, 777,899 are women and 13 are third-gender voters. There are a total of 84,468 potential first-time voters, aged 1819, of whom 45,825 are men, 38,641 are women and two are third genders, the officials said. Lone Puducherry segment all set for three-way fight The fate of the 26 candidates in fray for the Lok Sabha polls will be sealed on Friday when voters spread across four regions will pick the lone MP from this union territory, where the fight is largely confined between the ruling BJP and Congress. BJP leader and Home Minister A Namassivayam, fielded on behalf of the AINRC-BJP combine, will face off Congress MP and PCC president V Vaithilingam, while AIADMK's G Tamizhvendhan is also testing his luck as a debutant. The Union Territory has a total of 10,23,699 voters spread over Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions. Andaman's lone seat in action The lone seat in Andaman and Nicobar Islands will see 3.15 lakh voters get an opportunity to exercise their franchise. A total of 12 candidates, including two women and five independents, are in the fray for the polls. Of the 3.15 lakh voters, 1.64 lakh are men and 1.51 lakh are women, while there are four third-gender voters. The electorate also includes 39 voters from the Great Nicobarese tribe of the Strait Islands, 68 members of the Onge tribe at Hut Bay and 98 members of the Shompen tribe of Great Nicobar Island. Special polling stations have been established for them. This time, the saffron party has nominated Bishnu Pada Ray as its candidate, while the Congress has fielded its sitting MP, Kuldeep Rai Sharma. Ray was first elected to Lok Sabha in 1999, when he defeated Congress candidate Sharma by 2,990 votes. He was re-elected in 2009 and again in 2014. In the 2019 elections, however, Sharma secured a victory against BJP's Vishal Jolly (Ray was denied a ticket) by a narrow margin of 1,407 votes.
Lok Sabha election: Stage set for close contest in western Uttar Pradesh
All three main parties face challenges in this region owing to the sizable presence of Muslims, Scheduled Castes (SCs) and other backward classes (OBCs) across the eight Lok Sabha seats Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit which will go to the polls in the first phase on April 19.
Lok Sabha election: Stage set for close contest in western Uttar Pradesh
All three main parties face challenges in this region owing to the sizable presence of Muslims, Scheduled Castes (SCs) and other backward classes (OBCs) across the eight Lok Sabha seats Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit which will go to the polls in the first phase on April 19.
Lok Sabha elections: Keen contest on the cards as eight seats in western UP vote in Phase-I
LUCKNOW: The battle lines have been formally drawn in Uttar Pradesh for the high stakes Lok Sabha election with eight seats in the western region of the state set to vote in Phase-I on Friday. A total of 80 candidates are in the fray and 1.44 crore voters are set to decide their fate. Of the eight seats, the BJP had lost five Saharanpur, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad and Rampur in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when the SP, BSP and RLD were contesting in a grand alliance. The saffron outfit had to be satisfied with Kairana, Muzaffarnagar and Pilibhit. While Saharanpur, Bijnor and Nagina (SC) were won by the BSP, the SP had emerged victorious in Moradabad and Rampur. This time, while the BJP has accomplished a big strategic victory by winning over the Jayant Chaudhury-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which has a strong influence on the Jat vote, the Congress and SP have joined hands in the INDIA bloc and the Mayawati-led BSP is going it alone. As per the Congress-SP seat-sharing arrangement, the Congress will contest only one seat -- Saharanpur -- of the eight in the first phase, with the SP contesting the remaining seven. While the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is relying on the popularity of PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath in UP and beyond, improved law and order, beneficiaries of welfare schemes besides the consecration of Ram Lalla in his abode in Ayodhya, the SP has been harping on caste census while pitching for the Pichhda (OBC) Dalit (SC) Alpsankhyak (Muslim) narrative. Yogis new slogan: 80 banega aadhaar, NDA 400 paar... On the other hand, the Congress is looking for a revival in the state where it has been reduced to a non-entity. Across all eight seats set to vote on Friday, Muslims, Dalits and OBC (primarily Jats, Gurjar and Sainis) hold a sizable presence. However, some of the most watched-out contests would be in Pilibhit where the Gandhis Varun and mother Maneka are not in the scene for the first time since 1989 and the saffron party has pinned its hopes on Jitin Prasada against the SPs Bhagwat Saran Gangwar, a five-time MLA from Nawabganj assembly seat in Bareilly. The BSP, on the other hand, has fielded Anees Ahmad Khan, aka Phool Babu, a three-time MLA from Bisalpur. The BJP is finding it tough to sail through in Muzaffarnagar, the sugar bowl of UP, where its sitting MP and union minister Sanjiv Baliyan, is seeking a straight third term. With the RLD becoming part of the BJP-led NDA, all eyes will be on the challenge thrown by the SPs Harendra Malik, a Jat. The BSP has fielded Dara Singh Prajapati, an OBC, who could potentially consolidate both the OBC and Dalit vote. In Kairana, the BJPs sitting MP Pradeep Chaudhary, a Gurjar, is facing a stiff challenge from SPs Ikra Hasan, sister of SP MLA Nahid Hasan. The BSP has fielded Sripal Singh -- a Thakur -- in what is being perceived as a move to nudge the BJP in the west UP region. In 2019, Chaudhary had defeated Ikras mother Tabassum Begum. Polarisation seems to be the high point in Kairana. On what basis is BJP claiming 400 seats: Priyanka Gandhi smells a rat in NDA slogan In Rampur, another interesting contest is in the offing. Touted to be a pocket borough of senior SP leader and 10-time lawmaker Azam Khan, Rampur was wrested by the BJP in the 2022 by-polls necessitated after Azam vacated the seat following his election to the UP assembly. BJP candidate Ghanshyam Lodhi, the sitting MP, is now pitched against the SPs Mualana Mohibullah Nadvi and BSPs Zeeshan Khan who is reported to be invoking Azam and his legacy while campaigning. In Saharanpur, the contest is expected to be intense, with BJPs Raghav Lakhan Pal Sharma, Congresss Imran Masood and BSPs Majid Ali in the fray. This time, the BSP has replaced Fazlur Rehman, its sitting MP, with Majid Ali. Moradabad, the brass city, is also set for an interesting contest as the SP has replaced sitting MP ST Hasan with Ruchi Veera against the BJPs Kunwar Sarvesh Singh. The BSP has fielded Irfan Saifi, who could potentially eat into the Muslim vote bank of the SP. In Bijnor, the RLDs Chandan Chauhan, a Gurjar, is pitched against the SPs Deepak Saini. In 2019, the seat was won by the BSPs Malook Nagar who is now in the RLD. The BSP has fielded Chaudhary Vijendra Singh, a Jat. In Nagina reserved seat, the BJP has fielded its sitting MLA Om Kumar, who will be up against the SPs Manoj Kumar, a former district judge. The seat was won by the BSPs Girish Chandra in 2019. This time, the BSP has fielded Surendra Pal Singh. Moreover, Azad Samaj Party chief Chandra Shekhar Azad too is contesting from here.
UP Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 1: Uttar Pradesh prepares for its first phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 19, covering eight key constituencies out of the total 80 constituencies. These include Pilibhit, Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, and Rampur, with intense competition among candidates from various alliances.
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Campaigning ends for first phase in 102 seats
NEW DELHI: Campaigning for 102 parliamentary constituencies distributed across 21 states and Union territories, where voting will be held in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 19, concluded on Wednesday. In the first phase, polling will be held in Arunachal Pradesh (2 seats), Assam (5), Bihar (4), Chhattisgarh (1), Madhya Pradesh (6), Maharashtra (5), Manipur (2), Meghalaya (2), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Rajasthan (12), Sikkim (1), Tamil Nadu (39), Tripura (1), Uttar Pradesh (8), Uttarakhand (5), West Bengal (3), Andaman and Nicobar (1), Jammu and Kashmir (1), Lakshadweep (1) and Puducherry (1). Campaigning for the first phase of polling on April 19 in Uttar Pradesh concluded Wednesday evening, with candidates closing up their campaigns for eight parliamentary seats. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, both members of the opposition's INDIA bloc, held rallies in Saharanpur and Moradabad on the final day of the campaign. On what basis is BJP claiming 400 seats: Priyanka Gandhi smells a rat in NDA slogan The seats going to the polls in the first phase on Friday are Saharanpur, Bijnor, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit. Likewise, campaigning drew to a close in Uttarakhand at 5 pm this evening, Chief Electoral Officer B VRC Purushottam said. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a roadshow in Haldwani on the last day of the election campaign, earlier on Wednesday. After winning all five seats in Uttarakhand in the 2014 and 2019 general elections, the BJP is attempting to retain them for a third term. Six personnel for four voters -- a unique polling booth in Uttarakhand Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the BJP's campaign, built around the development plank, in Madhya Pradesh for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections that ended on Wednesday. With the first phase scheduled for April 19, the fate of 88 candidates contesting six seats in the MP will be sealed by voters. As TN gears up to vote, poll boycott decisions in the Vengaivayals of the state fail to draw attention In Maharashtra, campaigning for Lok Sabha elections came to an end in five constituencies of the Vidarbha region on Wednesday evening. Polling will be held in the constituencies of Nagpur, Ramtek, Bhandara-Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli in the first phase on April 19. The campaigning in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur parliamentary constituency ended on Wednesday evening. It is witnessing its first major electoral battle since the abrogation of Article 370. The polling is slated for the Udhampur Lok Sabha seat in the first phase on April 19 and will decide the fate of 12 contestants. Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Commissioner Saloni Rai said, On April 17 at 6 pm, we suspended all election-related campaigning, and political parties have been directed to not hold campaigning, roadshows, or canvassing other than door-to-door campaigning. Section 144 is also imposed. Flying squad and static surveillance teams have been deployed. Our main objective is a free and fair and inducement-free election, said Rai. Asaduddin Owaisi's Uttar Pradesh gambit and why it has left the BJP chuckling in delight Meanwhile, campaigning for three Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal - Cooch Behar (SC), Jalpaiguri (SC) and Alipurduars (ST) -- going to polls in the first phase on April 19 came to an end at 6 PM on Wednesday. Altogether 14 candidates, including sitting MP and Union minister Nisith Pramanik, are contesting the parliamentary elections from Cooch Behar. Verbal exchanges between main rivals Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress over issues such as corruption, poverty, and pre-poll promises dominated the campaigning for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Chhattisgarh, which concluded on Wednesday evening. Naxal-affected Bastar is the only seat among the 11 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state that will vote in the first phase on April 19, an exercise that will take place in the shadow of the major counter-insurgency operation in Kanker district on April 16. In Mizoram, the campaigning for the lone Lok Sabha seat ended on Wednesday with political parties making last ditch efforts to sweep the voters. Campaigning for the April 19 simultaneous polls in Arunachal Pradesh came to an end on Wednesday evening, setting the stage to elect two Lok Sabha MPs and 50 lawmakers for the state assembly. The BJP has already opened its account by securing 10 seats in the assembly in Arunachal. Campaigning for five Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam, which are due to go for polling on April 19, including the high-profile constituency of Dibrugarh, ended on Wednesday. Congress gave problems to Northeast, BJP made it a source of possibilities: PM Modi in Assam The Lok Sabha poll campaigning for 2024, for the first phase of elections, ended at 5 pm on the five Lok Sabha seats in Assam, including the high-profile seat of Dibrugarh, where Union Minister and former Chief Minister of Assam are contesting. The voting for the Lok Sabha election in the first phase is to be held across 21 states in 102 seats, including five seats in Upper Assam. The campaign for the Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency and the Ramnagar Assembly constituency by-poll also ended at 5 pm on Wednesday. Modi says Congress 'loot' policy would have led to Rs 5,000 mobile bills in northeast All preparations, including security arrangements, have been made for the polling to be held on April 19, an election department official said. Rallies, public meetings and roadshows marked the two-week-long high-decibel campaign. In the meantime, speaking on the preparations for Lok Sabha elections in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, South Andaman SP Niharika Bhatt says, The election campaign will be banned from 6 PM today and no political gathering or street processions will be allowed, that's called the 'Silent' period. Only door-to-door campaigning will be allowed and that too without speakers. DC has also given orders regarding Section 144 to maintain law and order. Voting will start at 7 in the morning on April 19 and go until 6 p.m. A few pink polling booths have been established where all the officials will be women, said the official. The 2024 general elections will be held in India in seven phases, from April 19 to June 1, to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. The results will be announced on June 4. From backroom boys to consultants: Poll strategists turn campaign makers in India's political war rooms
Campaigning ends for first phase of Lok Sabha polls in 102 seats
Campaigning ends for first phase of Lok Sabha polls in 102 seats Campaigning ended Wednesday evening for 102 Lok Sabha seats across 21 states and Union territories which will go to polls in the first phase on April 19 with top leaders of the BJP-led NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc making a last-gasp effort to woo voters. Leading the charge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took whirlwind tours of various constituencies in the past few days, addressing rallies and holding roadshows, and asserting that he went to people with hope in 2014, trust in 2019 and guarantee in 2024. Many times he said there is ''Modi's guarantee across the country and I am giving the guarantee of fulfilling all these guarantees''. Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and several of their cabinet colleagues, leaders of the Congress such as Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, and other parties also canvassed for their candidates. The BJP has come out all guns blazing at the INDIA bloc over corruption, dynasty politics and insulting the Constitution and Hinduism. The Opposition leaders, in turn, have attacked the government over electoral bonds, alleged misuse of agencies, inflation and unemployment among other issues. The BJP in its manifesto prioritised development and welfare while shunning populist measures and contentious issues like the NRC. Named ''Modi ki Guarantee'', the manifesto largely built on the government's existing welfare schemes targeted at different sections of society, while reiterating the BJP's commitment to roll out one-nation-one-election and Uniform Civil Code, two issues mentioned in its 2019 manifesto too. In its 45-page manifesto titled 'Nyay Patra', the Congress focussed on five ''pillars of justice'' and 25 guarantees under them. Right to apprenticeship, a legal guarantee for MSP, passing a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs, a nation-wide caste census and scrapping of Agnipath scheme are among the promises made by the party in the manifesto. Modi, however, lambasted the Congress manifesto saying it carries the imprint of the Muslim League with ''every page reeking of breaking India''. Eight Union ministers - Nitin Gadkari, Kiren Rijiju, Sarbanada Sonowal, Sanjeev Baliyan, Jitendra Singh, Bhupendra Yadav, Arjun Ram Meghwal and L Murugan, two former chief ministers - Biplab Kumar Deb (Tripura) and Nabam Tuki (Arunachal Pradesh), and former governor Tamilisai Soundararajan (Telangana) are among those in fray. In 2019, the UPA had won 45 of these 102 seats and the NDA 41. Six of these seats have been redrawn as part of the delimitation exercise. Polling will be held 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). Besides, there will be voting in 12 seats in Rajasthan, 8 in Uttar Pradesh, 6 in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Maharashtra, 4 in Bihar, 3 in West Bengal, 2 in Manipur, and one seat each in Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh. Authorities in these constituencies have been directed to ensure that no outsider remains in these areas 48 hours before polling. Any form of electioneering, public meetings, press conferences by political parties, interviews and panel discussions in electronic or print media have been strictly prohibited. In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister and DMK boss M K Stalin, on the last day of campaigning, described the polls as the ''second freedom movement'' and reiterated that the election is about deciding ''whose regime must not continue'' rather than who should capture power. He also alleged that Modi has ruined the nation for the sake of his ''selfish politics''. BJP Tamil Nadu unit president K Annamalai also held high-voltage campaigns. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav addressed rallies in Saharanpur and Moradabad Wednesday in Uttar Pradesh. In Jammu and Kashmir, Modi had reassured the people about holding of assembly elections and restoration of statehood. Home Minister Shah, during a rally, reiterated that the assembly elections will be held in accordance with the deadline of September 30 set by the Supreme Court. Naxal-affected Bastar in Chhattisgarh will vote in the first phase, an exercise that will take place in the shadow of a major counter-insurgency operation in Kanker district Tuesday in which 29 Maoists, including senior cadres, were gunned down by security forces. The second phase of polling for 89 seats in 13 states and Union territories will be held on April 26.
UP: BJP wants to take away right to vote, says ex-CM Akhilesh
Moradabad: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday, April 17, claimed that the BJP has given the 400 par slogan for the Lok Sabha polls as they want to change the Constitution of the country and take away the right to vote from people. Addressing an election rally here in support of Ruchi Veera, 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 .
Moradabad: BJP, SP slog it out in the land of biryani
MORADABAD: In the meetings of the BJPs local units in Moradabad, emphasis is on bringing voters to polling stations on the voting day. Encouraging party sympathisers to come out and vote is a course correction the BJP has planned following the mistake it committed in the last Lok Sabha elections. Last time we thought we were winning, therefore didnt make much effort. The party lost this seat despite a strong Modi wave that swept the country. In every meeting, stress is on working on the ground to ensure each voter reaches the booth and votes on April 19, said Sudhanshu Agrawal, convener of BJPs Moradabad Dehat unit. The BJP has nominated Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh, an influential zamindar of the district, fourth time from the seat while the Samajwadi Party has preferred former MLA of Bijnor Ruchi Veera over incumbent Dr ST Hasan. Veera belongs to the influential family of Bijnor, which is part of the management of education institutions in UP and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi. Considered a close confidant of party heavyweight from Rampur Azam Khan, she managed to get the nomination at the eleventh hour. The BSP has fielded Irfan Saifi, chairman of Thakurdwara Nagar Palika. The message is being sent out to support and vote for Modi. We cant afford to make a mistake again, said Agrawal who stays in Mandi Bans of old city area, close to the residence-cum-nursing home of Hasan. In 2019, Hasan wrested the seat from Singh when the SP had stitched an alliance with BSP. Moradabad is among five seats won by the SP in UP. Singh had defeated Hasan in 2014 after an unsuccessful debut in 2009 Lok Sabha polls. Guddu Chaudhary, incharge, Moradabad division of Bharatiya Gauraksha Sena, also said overconfidence led to BJPs defeat in 2019. The other reason was the SP-BSP alliance that transferred Jatav votes to Hasan, he added. This time Jatavs are with us. Moreover people who have benefitted from the schemes introduced by Modi, such as Ujjawala and Ayushman Bharat health card, will fetch votes for BJP, said Chaudhary, who runs a dhaba. Besides consolidation of Hindu votes, simmering anger among some SP sympathisers against the leadership for ignoring Hasan is a concern for the party. Some said SP chief Akhilesh Yadav should come to Moradabad and hold a rally with Hasan to quell dissatisfaction among voters. Locals and SP supporters believe that a direct contest between SP and BJP, meaning no split in minority votes, would result in Veeras victory. It seems BSP will not get a good votes. Akhilesh must bring Dr Hasan on board to prevent a divide in Muslim votes, said an SP sympathiser.
'Treated as a soft target ...': Robert Vadra hints at joining politics
Robert Vadra considers entering Lok Sabha elections from Amethi, Moradabad, or Haryana, if Congress approves. He views himself as a soft target due to Gandhi family association and advocates for a secular country in politics.
Moradabad and Rampur constituencies: BJP eyes strongholds of SP in 2024 elections
The News Mill
A Veteran, An 'Outsider', And A Spoiler: Moradabad Set For Three-Way Lok Sabha Battle
The Moradabad constituency is witnessing a battle between Samajwadi Party's Ruchi Veera and Bharatiya Janata Party's Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) possibly playing spoiler.
SP fielding Hindus in 'Muslim-dominated constituencies': Mayawati
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Monday found fault with the Samajwadi Party for fielding Hindus in Muslim-dominated constituencies and Muslims on seats where Hindus dominate. Addressing election rallies in Pilibhit and Moradabad, she also alleged that atrocities against the minorities are being committed in the guise of Hindutva.
Mayawati promises to work for statehood for western UP, asks Muslims not to vote for Cong
Mayawati promises to work for statehood for western UP, asks Muslims not to vote for Cong Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Sunday said her party will take ''concrete steps'' to make western Uttar Pradesh a separate state if voted to power at the Centre. Launching her party's poll campaign in western Uttar Pradesh, the BSP chief also asked the Muslim community not to split their votes. ''If the Muslim community splits its votes, and votes for the Congress, then the BJP will get the benefit,'' she said at a rally in Saharanpur. Addressing another rally in Muzaffarnagar, where she campaigned for party candidate Dara Singh Prajapati, she referred to the long-standing demand for statehood for western Uttar Pradesh. ''There has been a long-standing demand for statehood by the people of western Uttar Pradesh. For this, concrete steps will be taken if our government comes to power at the Centre,'' Mayawati told the gathering. The BSP is fighting this Lok Sabha election alone and is not part of the opposition INDIA bloc. Twenty-five years ago, Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh as a separate state. The BSP chief also claimed that if free and fair elections are held and voting machines are not tampered with, the BJP will not return to power this time. ''Most of the BJP's time was spent on making wealthy businessmen wealthier and protecting them... The BJP and other parties run their organisations and contest elections with the support of these businesses. Electoral bond data revealed this,'' she added. At the Saharanpur rally earlier in the day, Mayawati asked Muslims not to split their votes. ''To the Muslims, I would like to say that you should not allow your votes to be split. If you want to defeat the BJP candidate, I would ask the Muslim community not to allow your votes to get split,'' she said. Sharpening her attack on the Congress, the BSP chief said, ''Whenever the BSP has fielded a Muslim candidate, the Congress and other parties have also given tickets to Muslim candidates.'' ''The Congress knows that its candidate will not win the polls. The BSP has a huge chunk of Dalit votes along with Muslims. From the Kairana Lok Sabha seat, we have given the ticket to a 'Kshatriya'. Our candidate will get the 'Kshatriya' votes in Saharanpur as well,'' she added. She further claimed that it would not be easy for the BJP to return to power because of the difference in its words and actions. ''The BJP and its allies have been in power at the Centre and in most states. Owing to their casteist, capitalist, narrow and vindictive policies and style of working, and due to the significant difference in their words and actions, it now seems that it would not be easy for them to return to power at the Centre,'' the BSP chief said. People are not going to fall for the ''rhetoric'' served by the political parties ahead of the polls anymore, she said and accused the BJP of ''politicising'' probe agencies. She said her party is contesting the Lok Sabha election on its own instead of forging an alliance with any party and has given ''appropriate share to all sections of society'' in ticket distribution. Mayawati also hit out at rival political parties, saying their wrong policies have adversely impacted the economy. Apart from this, the country's borders are not completely safe, she claimed. Asking the voters to remain alert, Mayawati said other political parties use the media, opinion polls and surveys to create a favourable atmosphere. ''The BSP does not release its manifesto. Our party believes in speaking less and working more. Our government in Uttar Pradesh did historic work which is now being copied by governments of most parties,'' she said. Hitting out at the free ration scheme Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, Mayawati said, ''Food materials given to extremely poor families is not going to benefit them. This problem can be addressed by giving them work and our party will pay attention to this.'' Earlier in the day, Mayawati accused other mainstream parties of giving an ''ostensible'' respect to Dr BR Ambedkar and ignoring his followers. ''For narrow electoral interests, the ostensible respect given to Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, and ignoring his followers, exemplifies the proverb 'mooh mein ram, bagal mein chhuri', she said in a statement. In a post in Hindi on X, Mayawati paid tributes to Ambedkar on his birth anniversary and called him ''a messiah of millions of poor, exploited, deprived and neglected people in the country''. Eight parliamentary constituencies of Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 19. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.
Mayawati to address rallies in Moradabad and Pilibhit
Mayawati's ongoing campaign in UP includes rallies in Moradabad and Pilibhit, seeking votes for multiple candidates. She emphasizes the alliance with Samajwadi Party and RLD for the upcoming LS elections.
Tragic Lightning Strike Claims Lives of Two Children in Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal: Two children tragically lost their lives, and three others were injured due to a lightning strike amid rain on Saturday in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh. Satish Dubey, the in-charge of Vijaypur police station, reported that the incident occurred in the evening in Dhamini village while five children, aged between 8 to 15 years, were grazing goats. According to Dubey, the lightning struck when all the children were gathered under a tree. Unfortunately, two boys, aged 12 and eight, lost their lives, while three others, including two girls, sustained injuries. The injured are currently receiving treatment at Vijaypur Health Centre. The weather abruptly changed this evening, with strong winds and light to moderate rain occurring in several states, including Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and the surrounding areas of Delhi. The Meteorological Department has forecasted the possibility of heavy rain accompanied by thunder in the coming hours. Due to adverse weather conditions in Delhi, 17 flights bound for the airport had to be diverted. Among these, 7 were Indigo flights, 2 were Vistara, 6 were Air India, and 1 was Air India Express. As per IMD predictions, there is a likelihood of hailstorms in many regions of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Western Madhya Pradesh on April 13 and 14, and in Uttarakhand and Western Uttar Pradesh on April 14. Additionally, the Meteorological Department has warned of heavy thunderstorms, rainfall, lightning, and strong winds in Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Western Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab from April 13 to 15. Rainfall is expected in most districts of Karnataka until April 17. In response to the forecast, the Meteorological Department has issued an advisory urging people in Delhi-NCR and surrounding areas to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. The advisory recommends closing windows and doors and seeking shelter in safe places. People are also cautioned against taking refuge under trees during the adverse weather conditions. Iran Launches 300 Drone Missiles on Israel, Escalating Regional Tensions Gunfire Outside Salman Khan's Residence: Security Concerns Heightened Samajwadi Party's Moradabad Dilemma: ST Hasan Reluctant to Campaign for Ruchi Vira Amidst Party Discontent
Lucknow: A head of Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav's visit to Moradabad, party leader and sitting MP ST Hasan stated that he would accompany the party chief out of compulsion but would refrain from campaigning for the party's candidate, Ruchi Vira. Hasan expressed concerns that campaigning might provoke opposition from the people, who are currently discontented. I learned about this through media reports and newspapers. If Akhilesh Yadav calls me or visits my home, I'll accompany him out of compulsion as my etiquette dictates. I'll go out of respect for Akhilesh Yadav but will not campaign (for SP candidate, Ruchi Vira). People are upset, and if I campaign, they'll oppose me, Hasan told the media on Saturday.Akhilesh Yadav is scheduled to address an election rally in Moradabad in support of party candidate Ruchi Veera on Sunday. National President of Samajwadi Party and former Chief Minister Shri Akhilesh Yadav will address an election rally at Government Inter College Police Station Mughalpura Moradabad on Sunday, April 14 at 12:25 pm in support of Samajwadi Party INDIA Alliance candidate Ruchi Veera (Lok Sabha, 06-Moradabad) in Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency, the official X handle of SP posted on Saturday. There was suspense over the Moradabad seat as sitting MP ST Hasan filed his nomination on March 26, but there were speculations that the Samajwadi Party would go with Ruchi Vira. Later, Ruchi Vira filed her nomination from the Moradabad constituency for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on March 27, and Hasan withdrew his nomination the same evening. After filing her nomination, Ruchi Vira said that anyone having doubts should speak to the returning officer regarding the rules. The BJP has fielded Kumar Sarvesh Singh against Ruchi Vira from the Moradabad constituency. In the 2019 general elections, SP's ST Hasan won the Moradabad seat, gathering 50 per cent of votes. He defeated the BJP's Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar, who gathered 551,538 votes. Congress' Imran Pratapgarhi came in third. Uttar Pradesh, which sends the maximum number of MPs, 80, to Parliament, will vote in all seven phases. Earlier in the 2019 elections, defying expectations, the BJP and its ally Apna Dal(S) won 64 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats. The alliance partners, Akhilesh Yadav's party and Mayawati Party's, won 15 seats. 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 voting for the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat will be held in the first phase on April 19. PM Narendra Modi Pays Tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar on Birth Anniversary Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy Injured in Stone Pelting Incident During Roadshow in Vijayawada Key Promises in BJP's Election Manifesto: Focus on Development, Women's Welfare, and Viksit Bharat
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Opposition manipulated with peoples faith, formed ties with criminals: U.P. CM
At poll rally in Moradabad, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlights that no one dares to threaten women or businessmen anymore fearing the repercussions
Shah exudes confidence of BJP winning all 80 Lok Sabha seats from U.P.
At election rally in Moradabad, the top BJP leader says attempts are being made to divide the society on caste lines but voters in Uttar Pradesh have made up their minds to give all the 80 seats to the party
Amit Shah slams Congress chief Kharge over remarks on Article 370
Moradabad (UP), April 12: Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his recent remarks on the abrogation of Article 370. Speaking at a rally in Moradabad, HM Shah said: Mallikarjun Kharge asks what people of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have to do with Kashmir. I want to tell them (the [] The post Amit Shah slams Congress chief Kharge over remarks on Article 370 appeared first on The Shillong Times .
In This Uttar Pradesh Town, Eid Is A 'Black Day' For Many Muslims
Four decades after the 1980 Moradabad Eidgah massacre, the UP government has released a report on the incident.
UP: Only PM Modi can keep the country united: Amit Shah
Moradabad (UP), Apr 12 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday attacked the opposition parties and said only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can keep the country united because if Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress will come to power then they will divide Uttar Pradesh into castes again and split the state into pieces. Addressing... The post UP: Only PM Modi can keep the country united: Amit Shah first appeared on Central India's Premier English Daily .
Shah slams Congress for doing nothing on Article 370 for decades
Moradabad: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday attacked the Congress over its handling of the Kashmir issue, saying the party pampered Article 370 like a child in its lap for decades till it was scrapped. At an election meeting in Moradabad, Shah also slammed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for suggesting recently that Prime Minister 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 .
For 70 Years, Congress Nurtured Article 370 Like Its Child: Shah At Moradabad Rally
Moradabad (UP), Apr 12: Union Home minister Amit Shah on Friday attacked Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge over his recent remark on the abrogation of Article 370. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Addressing an election meeting in Moradabad, Shah said, Khargeji of the Congress asks what do people of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have to do with Kashmir. I want to tell them that every child of Moradabad is ready to give his life for Kashmir. For 70 years, [] The post For 70 Years, Congress Nurtured Article 370 Like Its Child: Shah At Moradabad Rally appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Under PM Modi's leadership, Kashmir has been united with India forever: Amit Shah at rally in Moradabad. Under PM Modi's leadership, Kashmir has been united with India forever: Amit Shah at rally in Moradabad.
Congress nurtured Article 370 like its baby for 70 years, PM Modi scrapped it: Union Home Minister Amit Shah at rally in UP's Moradabad. Congress nurtured Article 370 like its baby for 70 years, PM Modi scrapped it: Union Home Minister Amit Shah at rally in UP's Moradabad.
Accused of Uttarakhand dera chief's murder killed in police shootout
Accused of Uttarakhand dera chief's murder killed in police shootout Amarjeet Singh Bittu alias Ganda, one of the assailants who allegedly shot dead Nanakmatta Sahib Gurdwara dera kar seva chief Baba Tarsem Singh last month, was killed by a joint team of the STF and police in an encounter on Tuesday. Bittu had a bounty of Rs 1 lakh on his head. The police said another accused Sarabjit Singh fled from the spot in Haridwar's Kaliyar, and a search is underway to nab him. A reward of Rs 1 lakh has also been announced on Sarabjit Singh, a resident of the Tarn Taran district in Punjab. Director General of Police Abhinav Kumar said that late on Monday evening, the STF received a tip-off that the criminals wanted in the murder case were going from Saharanpur to Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh via Bhagwanpur and Kaliyar in Haridwar. Kumar said that based on the information, the police and STF jointly conducted operations at various places in Haridwar. Around 12:30 am, when the police team tried to stop two suspicious people moving on a motorcycle at the Gagalhedi intersection in Bhagwanpur, both of them started fleeing towards Imlikheda-Kaliyar, the DGP said. When the police surrounded both the accused, they allegedly started firing. In the retaliatory action of the police, Bittu was shot while Sarabjit Singh escaped from the spot taking advantage of the darkness, according to the DGP. The injured accused was taken to the Civil Hospital Roorkee, where doctors declared him brought dead, the DGP further said. Bittu alias Ganda has a long criminal history and several cases are registered against him and his associates in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand for allegedly harbouring terrorists, raising slogans in support of Khalistan, robbing banks etc. Considering the sensitivity of the case, apart from forming a six-member SIT, 11 teams were formed to unravel the murder case. Seven other accused were already arrested in the case during the investigation. Baba Tarsem Singh was shot dead on March 28 on the shrine's premises by two motorcycle-borne men in Udham Singh Nagar district. Besides the two assailants, the police have booked retired IAS officer Harbans Singh Chugh, who heads the Nanakmatta Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Baba Anup Singh and Pritam Singh Sandhu, the vice-president of a regional Sikh outfit, in the murder case.
PM Modi declares on first day of 'Navratri' that worshippers of 'Shakti' will not forgive INDIA alliance With the Navratri festival beginning on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country should remember how the INDIA bloc ''has taken a vow to destroy Shakti'' and those who worship the Goddess will never forgive the Congress and its allies. Nine forms of Goddess Durga or Shakti are worshipped during the nine-day Chaitra Navratri festival. ''Today, on the first day of Navratri, I am also reminding the country how the INDI alliance has vowed to destroy 'Shakti'. The 'Shakti' before which we bow our heads, the leaders of the Congress are speaking about uprooting that 'Shakti','' Modi said at an election rally, again targeting the opposition over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'fight against Shakti' remarks. During the election campaign, Modi and the BJP have been accusing the Congress and the opposition alliance of being ''anti-Hindu'', repeatedly attacking them over Rahul Gandhi's remarks, the comments of DMK leaders against Sanatan Dharma and for staying away from the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The opposition has, in turn, alleged that the ruling party was resorting to communal polarisation as it has nothing to show in its report card. ''Pilibhit's land is blessed by Mother Yashwantri Devi. This is the origin place of Adi Ganga Maa Gomti. ''Today, the 'Shakti', who is being worshipped in the country, that 'Shakti' has been insulted by the Congress... No worshipper of 'Shakti' will forgive the INDI alliance for this insult,'' Modi said. At an INDIA bloc rally in Mumbai last month, Rahul Gandhi had said, ''In the Hindu religion, there is a word called 'Shakti' . We are fighting against a 'Shakti'.'' Later, Gandhi accused the prime minister of twisting his words. ''The 'Shakti' that I mentioned, Modi ji is the mask of that power and we are fighting against it. It is such a power that today it has captured India's voice, India's institutions, the CBI, I-T, ED, Election Commission, the media, Indian industry and the entire constitutional structure of India in its clutches,'' he had said on X. ''I recognise that power and so does Narendra Modi ji. It is not any kind of religious power, it is the power of unrighteousness, corruption and falsehood. That's why whenever I raise my voice against it, Modi ji and his machine of lies gets upset and enraged,'' the Congress leader had added. Addressing an election rally in Saharanpur on April 6, Modi had said that it is the country's misfortune that leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc are openly talking about ''fighting against Shakti''. ''In every corner of Hindustan, worshipping Shakti is a part of our natural spiritual journey. ''But it is the misfortune of the country that the leaders of INDI Alliance openly throw a challenge that their fight is against Shakti. Can anyone finish Shakti, and challenge the power of Shakti? And, those who made an effort to destroy Shakti, what happened to them? It is mentioned in history and the Puranas,'' Modi had said. Eight parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh -- Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit -- will vote in the first phase of general elections on April 19.
Three accused arrested for raping minor model in UPs Moradabad
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Some leaders conspired against me: SP's S T Hasan on missing out party ticket for LS polls
S T Hasan faced nomination issues in Moradabad due to delays caused by conspiracy. Confusion arose when Ruchi Vira claimed to be SP's official candidate on March 24, clarified later. Hasan received party papers late due to delays in Rampur.
India showing world nothing is impossible: PM Modi
India showing world nothing is impossible: PM Modi Amid the various difficulties being faced by the world now, India is showing that there is nothing impossible for it to achieve, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday. He said this has been possible due to every single vote of the people. ''No matter how difficult the goal is, if India is determined to achieve it, it will definitely achieve. Today, with this inspiration and energy, we are working towards the resolution of a developed India,'' he said at a poll rally here. ''Amidst the difficulties of the entire world, India is showing that there is nothing impossible for it,'' he said The prime minister noted there was a time when the Congress government used to ask for help from the world, but during the Covid pandemic, medicines were made available to the whole world from India. ''When India became the world's fastest growing economic power, were you (people) proud of it or not? When our Chandrayaan hoisted the tricolour on the moon, were you proud or not? The grand G20 summit held in India was praised all over the world,'' he added. ''When the country becomes strong, the world listens to it,'' Modi said. Eight parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 19. These are Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit. Counting of votes will be held on June 4.
Congress committed scams in all three worlds: Nadda
Congress committed scams in all three worlds: Nadda BJP president JP Nadda on Monday came down heavily on the Congress, accusing it of committing scams in all the three worlds and said the party did not spare the sky, underground and water. Addressing an election rally in Rampur on Monday in favour of the BJP candidates, Nadda attacked the INDIA bloc and said, ''Modi ji is saying to end corruption and that none of the corrupt persons will be spared. All of them will go to jail.'' Further quoting Modi, he said the 'gathbandhan' (alliance) is saying that the corrupt should be ''saved'' and they are ''engaged'' in it. ''Did the Congress not commit the coal scam? Did the Congress not commit CWG scam, 2G scam, 3G scam, AugustaWestland scam, submarine scam?'' he said. In other words, the opposition bloc committed scams in all the three ''loks'' (worlds), Nadda said. ''They did not spare the 'nabh' (sky), 'paataal' (below the surface of the Earth) and 'jal' (water). The Congress committed corruption in the three worlds,'' he said. He also alleged that Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav committed the laptop scam, the Gomti (river) front scam and foodgrain scam. Similarly, senior RJD leader Lalu Prasad committed fodder scam and job in lieu of land scam, he further alleged. Attacking DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, the BJP chief said, ''Do you know that the income of Stalin is Rs 1.32 lakh crore. There is no source of this income. (Former Jharkhand chief minister) Hemant Soren of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) also committed the scam. ''Has (Delhi Chief Minister) Arvind Keriwal not committed the liquor scam? This 'ghamandiya' alliance is nothing but an alliance of the corrupt people,'' he said. Nadda also said former Congress presidents Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, the DMK ministers and the ministers of the Mamta Banerjee government are on bail. He asked the audience whether Soren, Kejriwal, AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, TMC ministers, KCR's daughter K Kavitha and veteran SP leader from Rampur Azam Khan are in jail or not. ''All these leaders of the 'ghamandia' (arrogant) alliance are either on bail or in jail,'' he said. Listing the ''parivarvadi'' (dynastic) parties, he said, ''Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi; rest of it (in Congress) is full stop. In the National Conference (NC), there are Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah; in the PDP, there are (late) Mufti Mohammad and Mehbooba Mufti; in Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), there was Parkash Singh Badal, and now there is Sukhbir Badal; and there is the Chautala family.'' ''After Mulayam Singh Yadav, it was Akhilesh Yadav and then Dimple (Yadav). They have even left 'chacha' (Shivpal Yadav), rest of it is full stop,'' he said, and cited the examples of Lalu Yadav-Rabri Devi-Tejashwi Yadav-Tej Pratap, Mamta Banerjee and (her nephew) Abhishek Banerjee, KCR-KTR-Kavitha, Karunanidhi-MK Stalin-Udhayanidhi and Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya. ''(There are) Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule. They have pushed away Ajit Pawar,'' he said. ''They have to save their families and indulge in corruption,'' Nadda said. According to the election schedule, eight parliamentary constituencies in UP will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 19. These are Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit. Counting of votes will be held on June 4.
Power Games | Parties go all-out to pick best candidate
Battle Preparedness Parties go all-out to pick best candidate The current Lok Sabha election is a keenly contested battle in which all political parties are trying to put up the best possible candidates in every parliamentary seat. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadavs failed attempt to change the Moradabad candidate on the last day of filing nomination after he fell out with the jailed co-founder of his party Azam Khan drew a lot of media attention. The Akhilesh-Azam brinkmanship had all the makings of a potboiler. Akhilesh travelling to jail to meet the veteran leader; Azam putting tough conditions for lending support to Samajwadi candidates and then both reportedly going back on their promises. As a result, Akhilesh got stuck with a candidate he didnt want in Moradabad and Azam didnt get the candidate he wanted in his stronghold Rampur. It was quite a thriller. But who can beat Lalu Yadav when it comes to delivering an interesting story. Lalus search for the right candidate for the Munger Lok Sabha constituency against former president of the Janata Dal (United) and Nitish Kumars confidant Rajiv Ranjan aka Lalan Singh led him to local strongman Ashok Mahto. But there was a problem. Mahto had walked out of jail after seventeen years only a year back while the law puts a six-year bar on persons convicted for over two years in criminal cases. Lalu found a novel solution to a seemingly difficult impasse. A decision was taken to help Mahto, who was a bachelor, find a bride and then give his wife the Lok Sabha ticket from Munger. A hunt was launched for a suitable girl for Mahto and he married Anita Kumari. Anita will now take on Lalan. Media Matters Govt may look into BBCs new partnership The BBC has outsourced its entire business of generating news content in six Indian languages to a newly created entity Collective Newsroom. The BBC top brass is flying down from London for the formal launch of the new entity on April 12 in Delhi. The Collective Newsrooms owners and employees are all BBC staff who are now part of the new company. The four founders of the Collective Newsroom are Rupa Jha, who was the editor of languages till the day the new entity was formed, Sara Hassan, a general manager at the BBC, Sanjoy Majumder, managing editor of the BBC and Mukesh Sharma, digital editor of the BBC. Two hundred employees of the BBC have now shifted to the new company. The Collective Newsroom is practically the BBC with a new name and management. The BBC will pay Collective Newsroom a fee for news gathering (salaries of journalists and support staff) and operational expenses (office rentals and other overheads) which will be equal to what the British company was spending on these heads when it directly controlled these operations. The only difference is that Collective Newsroom is a hundred per cent Indian-owned company, while the BBC was a foreign company. The Collective Newsroom was formed as a recent change in the FDI laws barred foreign entities from owning more than 26% of Indian digital news companies. The BBC, UK owned almost 100% of the company managing its India operations. The BBCs UK arm has now applied for a 26% stake in Collective Newsroom. Government sources said the tax authorities will look into the beneficial ownership and the structure of the new entity before acceding to the BBC request for equity acquisition. Shahid Faridi The writer is Resident Editor, TNIE, New Delhi. Follow him on X @Shahid_Faridi
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Acting against corruption to ensure a better future for people: PM Modi in UP
Eight parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh -- Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit -- will vote in the first phase on April 19. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.
Congress manifesto completely bears imprint of Muslim League: PM Modi
Congress manifesto completely bears imprint of Muslim League: PM Modi Virtually equating the Congress with the Muslim League, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the grand old party's election manifesto reflects the same thought as that of the Muslim League at the time of the freedom movement. Prime Minister Modi said the Congress, which existed at the time of the freedom movement, has ''ended decades ago''. ''A number of great personalities were associated with the Congress. The name of Mahatma Gandhi was associated with the Congress. The Congress, which is left today, neither has policies in the interest of the nation nor vision for the nation's development,'' Prime Minister Modi said. ''Yesterday, the kind of election manifesto was released, it has proved that today's Congress is completely cut off from the hopes and aspirations of today's India,'' he added addressing an election rally in Saharanpur. Sharpening his attack further, he said said the Congress is not visible even remotely. Prime Minister Modi also took a jibe at the Samajwadi Party, which is a member of the INDIA bloc and an election partner of the Congress in Uttar Pradesh. ''The situation of SP (Samajwadi Party) in Uttar Pradesh is such that here they have to change their candidates every hour, whereas the situation of Congress is even more strange. The Congress is not getting candidates at all,'' Prime Minister Modi said. ''Even on the seats, which the Congress considered as its stronghold, it is not able to muster the courage to field candidates,'' he added apparently referring to the Congress strongholds of Amethi and Rae Bareli. Prime Minister Modi said the ''INDI alliance has become another name for instability and uncertainty''. ''That's why today the country is not taking seriously even a single thing said by them,'' he added. Without taking the name of former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Prime Minister Modi said, ''You might remember here in Uttar Pradesh that the film featuring two boys ('do ladke'), which had flopped last time, the film of two boys has been re-released by these people.'' ''I do not understand how many times will these INDI alliance members put the wooden pot (on fire)?'' he added. The Congress and the Samajwadi Party had also contested the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections together. According to the election schedule, eight parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will vote in the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls on April 19. These are Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.
INDI alliance is for commission, NDA is on mission: PM Modi
INDI alliance is for commission, NDA is on mission: PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the opposition INDIA bloc's aim is to earn commission after coming to power while the BJP-led NDA is on a mission. Addressing an election rally in Saharanpur, Modi said the opposition alliance was fighting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections just to stop the BJP from winning more than 370 seats. ''During its rule, the Congress' focus was on earning commissions. The INDI alliance too aims to earn commission after coming to power but the NDA and Modi sarkar is on a mission,'' Modi said. ''The opposition is fighting just to stop the BJP from winning more than 370 seats. The Samajwadi Party is changing candidates every hour while the Congress can't even find candidates to field,'' Modi said. ''The Congress does not have the courage to field candidates even in those seats which are considered its stronghold,'' he added. Modi said the Congress manifesto bears a Muslim League imprint and part of it is dominated by leftists. The prime minister said the INDIA bloc has become synonymous with instability and uncertainty and the people of the country were not taking them seriously. He said it is the misfortune of the country that the opposition alliance is talking about fighting against 'shakti'. ''Worshipping shakti is a part of our natural spiritual journey. But, the people of the INDI alliance say their fight is against shakti,'' Modi said. According to the election schedule, eight parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 19. These are Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.
After Moradabad & Rampur, SPs Musical Chair Of Candidates In Meerut
Meerut isn't the sole constituency where the Samajwadi Party is grappling with candidate confusion. Party is facing a similar problem in Moradabad and Badaun.
2024 LS Polls: SP Caught in bind yet again, this time in Badaun over Shivpal's candidature
LUCKNOW: The Samajwadi Party seems to be in a state of persistent confusion over ticket distribution in Uttar Pradesh. After a mix-up in the selection of candidates for Moradabad, Rampur, Meerut, and Baghpat, leading to repeated replacements, the spotlight now shifts to the prestigious Badaun seat, where Shivpal, the uncle of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, has been named as the party candidate. In fact, Akhilesh had already made one change in Badaun. Initially, he had nominated cousin Dharmendra Yadav in the first list, only to replace him with his uncle Shivpal within a couple of days. Dharmendra has been shifted to Azamgarh. Badaun is scheduled for polling in the third phase on May 7th. Shivpal Yadav is already engaged in robust campaigning in the constituency, reaching out to people and holding party workers meeting in each assembly segment. Late on Tuesday night, a buzz suddenly started doing rounds in the political circles that Shivpal Yadav may leave Badaun seat for his son Aditya Yadav as Samajwadi Party candidate. The buzz gained weight after a resolution to this effect was formally passed at the party's 'karyakarta sammelan' (party workers conference) held in Gunnaur assembly segment of Badaun Lok Sabha seat on Tuesday. The party workers conference in Gunnaur was a part of a similar exercise being held in each of the five assembly segments of Badaun LS seat. Such conferences have already been held in Bisauli, Sahaswan and Badaun assembly segments. In Gunnaur assembly seat, workers turned out in large numbers, Shivpal said, talking to the media on the sidelines of the conference. Asked about the resolution passed by the party workers seeking Aditya Yadavs candidature from the seat, Shivpal confirmed the development. The resolution was passed and now it will be sent to the party president. It is for partys national leadership to take a call, he said adding: ab rashtriya netritva ki sehmati mil jaani chahiye (Now partys national leaderships consent is all that is needed), he said. However, in a U-turn on Wednesday, Shivpal said that his name had been included in the partys official list as the candidate from Badaun and would remain unchanged unless the party made a different decision. Wherever we went and held meetings in Badaun, public made the demand for the candidature of Aditya. They made the demand and they have the right to do that. List is released by the national leadership and it has my name. So I shall be the candidate. Strategies are formed and they can't be divulged to the media. Let strategy be strategy, said Shivpal while talking to news persons. In fact, Badaun has been a very prestigious seat for the Samajwadi Party, as it has been represented in Lok Sabha by its candidates half a dozen times since 1996 till 2014. In 2019, BJPs Sanghmitra Maurya wrested it from SPs Dharmendra Yadav. Significantly, Shivpal has been trying the political rehabilitation of his son Aditya Yadav for quite some time but party chief Akhilesh Yadav has not been lending an ear to him. He had sought a ticket for Aditya in 2022 Assembly polls as well when his Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party -Lohia (PSPL) had contested in alliance with the SP. PSPL finally merged SP after party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadavs demise in October 2022 and Shivpal played a very crucial role in ensuring the victory of Dimple Yadav in Mainpuri by-poll necessitated by the demise of MSY. However, as per the party insiders, in the ensuing elections, Shivpal was keen on getting a ticket of Lok Sabha for his son Aditya in his place. The party sources also claim that Shivpal wants to limit himself to the state politics and is not interested in going to Centre. Akhilesh Yadav is yet to pay heed to chachas wish of establishing Aditya in politics.
Seven women among 80 candidates in first phase of LS polls in Uttar Pradesh
NOIDA: Among the 80 candidates in the fray for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, just seven or 8.75 per cent are women, according to official data. The figure is lower than the first phase of the 2019 general elections when 12 of the 91 contenders or 13.18 per cent were women. However, none of those female candidates were victorious. Of the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, eight -- Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit -- will go to polls in the first phase on April 19. Kairana, Moradabad and Saharanpur have two female candidates each and Muzaffarnagar has one. Bijnor, Pilibhit, Rampur and Nagina do not have any female contenders, the Election Commission website showed. In Kairana, the Samajwadi Party has fielded Iqra Choudhary while Priti Kashyap is representing the Rashtriya Mazdoor Ekta Party. Ruchi Vira is the Samajwadi Party nominee and Sadhna Singh is an Independent candidate in Moradabad. In Saharanpur, Tasmeem Bano and Shabnam are fighting it out as Independents while Kavita, the lone woman candidate in Muzaffarnagar, is representing Rashtrawadi Janlok Party (Satya). During the first phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, when voting was held in these eight seats, Pilibhit, Kairana and Rampur had three female candidates each, Saharanpur had two and Nagina one. Bijnor, Moradabad and Muzaffarnagar didn't have any female candidates. March 30 was the last date of nomination withdrawal for the first phase of the 2024 general elections. Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa said 155 candidates had filed nominations and during their scrutiny on March 28, nomination papers of 71 were rejected. Four candidates -- two from Saharanpur and one each from Kairana and Moradabad -- withdrew their nomination. In the eight Lok Sabha constituencies of the first phase, 80 candidates are in the fray. There are 73 male candidates and seven female candidates. The list format 7A of all candidates has been prepared and election symbols have also been allotted to all candidates. Voting for the constituencies of the first phase will be held on April 19, Rinwa added.
PM Modi to address public meetings in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan tomorrow
PM Modi to address public meetings in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan tomorrow Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address public meetings in Uttarakhand and Rajasthan on April 2. PM Modi will speak at public gatherings in Uttarakhand's Rudrapur and Kothrutali in Rajasthan. Additionally, as part of his campaigning, the Prime Minister will conduct an election tour in Uttar Pradesh. He will address a public meeting in Saharanpur on April 6 and hold a roadshow in Ghaziabad on the same evening. The Prime Minister will also hold a huge public meeting in Pilibhot on April 9. He is likely to hold a public meeting in UP's Moradabad on April 16. Meanwhile, with more than two weeks to go for the Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will celebrate the party's foundation day with the slogan '400 Paar' on April 6. The party has issued an official circular to its office bearers (from the central leadership to booth-level teams), detailing various programs to be conducted to celebrate the foundation day. These programs include meetings with beneficiaries, door-to-door interactions, Padyatras, bike rallies, and felicitations of senior workers, to be organized across the country. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 303 seats, while the Indian National Congress (INC) managed to secure only 52 seats. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections for 543 seats will be held in seven phases starting April 19. Nearly 97 crore voters are eligible to cast votes in the general elections. (ANI)
