Eyeing clean sweep, BJP faced tough fight in four Gwalior-Chambal seats
BHOPAL: The third and penultimate phase of Lok Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh, which were held on Tuesday, may turn out to be the toughest phase for the ruling BJP, which has been aiming to win all 29 seats in the state this time. According to informed sources on the ground, four of the nine seats where polling occurred on Tuesday could have seen a tough battle between the BJP and the Congress. The four seats include the Rajgarh seat of central MP, from where ex-CM and Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh is the Congress candidate after 33 years from his home seat, and three seats of the Gwalior-Chambal region, including Gwalior, Morena and Bhind. According to a young BJP leader in Morena district, the battle for the Morena seat between former BJP MLA Satyapal Singh Sikarwar Nitu (who was the Congress candidate this time) and Vidhan Sabha Speaker and ex-MP Narendra Singh Tomars loyalist ex-BJP MLA Shiv Mangal Tomar may really emerge as a tough contest for the ruling party. While the Kshatriya vote may well have split into two parts between the two candidates hailing from the Sikarwar Kshatriya clan and the Tomar Kshatriya clan respectively, the BJPs core Baniya (trader community) vote may have gone in substantial numbers towards the BSP candidate Ramesh Garg. Also, with the BJP candidate being seen as a rubber-stamp of Narendra Singh Tomar, a major faction of the BJP, particularly the Brahmins, may have either been silent or supported the Congress candidate, who is the son of two-time ex-BJP MLA Dada Satyapal Singh Sikarwar. Even the Gurjars, despite efforts by minister Aidal Singh Kansana, may not have significantly backed the BJP candidate, the BJP leader said.
High Voter Turnout: 62.28% Recorded in Nine Lok Sabha Seats of Madhya Pradesh Till 5 PM
High Voter Turnout: 62.28% Recorded in Nine Lok Sabha Seats of Madhya Pradesh Till 5 PM At least 62.28 per cent of voters exercised their franchise till 5 pm in nine Lok Sabha seats of Madhya Pradesh in the third phase of the general elections on Tuesday, a poll official said. Of the nine Lok Sabha seats, Rajgarh recorded the highest 72.08 per cent turnout, followed by Vidisha with 69.2 per cent, Guna with 68.93 per cent, Betul with 67.97 per cent, Sagar with 61.7 per cent, Bhopal with 58.42 per cent, Gwalior with 57.86 per cent, Morena with 55.25 per cent and Bhind with 50.96 per cent, till 5 pm, the official said. Former chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Digvijaya Singh and state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president V D Sharma were among the early voters. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who are contesting the polls from Rajgarh and Guna, respectively, will not be able to vote for themselves as the former is a registered voter of Bhopal, and the latter is registered to vote from Gwalior, party sources said. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the BJP candidate from Vidisha seat, exercised franchise with his wife, Sadhna Singh, and two sons at a polling booth in his native village, Jait, in Sehore district. Polling began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm across 20,456 polling stations, including 1,043 managed by women personnel and 75 by Divyang employees, an election official said. To ensure smooth polling, the administration made the local candidates sit in the police control room in Morena in the Gwalior-Chambal region, which is considered a sensitive area. The police made BJP candidate Shivmangal Singh Tomar, BSP's Ramesh Chandra Garg and Congress candidate Satyapal Sikarwar sit in the police control room, Superintendent of Police Shailendra Singh Chouhan said. The candidates came to the police control room with their consent and sat together, as it has happened here in the past, he said. A total of 1.77 crore voters will decide the fate of 127 candidates who are contesting from Morena, Bhind (SC-reserved), Gwalior, Guna, Sagar, Vidisha, Bhopal, Rajgarh and Betul (ST-reserved) seats spread across 19 districts of the state. Polling in Betul (ST) constituency was initially scheduled to be held in the second phase on April 26 but was deferred due to the death of a candidate. In all, 127 candidates, including nine women, are in the fray in the third phase of the elections. Bhopal has the highest number of 22 candidates, while Bhind has the lowest at 7. Voters include 92.68 lakh men, 84.83 lakh women, and 491 members of the third gender, while 1.66 lakh voters are 'divyangjan' (people with disabilities), 88,106 are above the age of 85, and 1,804 are 100 plus years old, the poll official said. As many as 5.25 lakh voters are in the age group of 18-19 years. Of the 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh, polling for 12 seats took place in the first two phases on April 19 and 26. The remaining eight seats will go to polls in the fourth phase on May 13.
Polling underway in 10 third-phase seats of Uttar Pradesh
Polling underway in 10 third-phase seats of Uttar Pradesh Polling began Tuesday morning for 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, including high-profile Mainpuri, in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Over 1.89 crore voters will seal the fate of 100 candidates in parliamentary constituencies of Sambhal, Hathras (SC), Agra (SC), Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Budaun, Aonla and Bareilly, where polling began at 7 am and will go on till 6 pm, according to the Election Commission. It is an important phase for Uttar Pradesh's Yadav family. The Samajwadi Party's (SP) Dimple Yadav is aiming to retain the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat, which she won in the bypolls following the death of her father-in-law and party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav. Akshaya Yadav, the son of SP national principal general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav, will try to reclaim the Firozabad seat. Aditya Yadav, the son of SP national general secretary Shivpal Yadav, is making his electoral debut from the Budaun constituency, which was won by his cousin Dharmendra Yadav in 2014. Polling during the day will also seal the fate of Union minister S P Singh Baghel, Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Jayveer Singh and its Minister of State for Revenue Anoop Pradhan Balmiki. Baghel, Jayveer Singh and Balmiki are contesting from Agra (SC), Mainpuri and Hathras (SC) Lok Sabha seats respectively. Rajveer Singh, the son of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and BJP stalwart Kalyan Singh, is looking to score a hat-trick from Etah, which was represented in 2009 by his father as a candidate of the Jan Kranti Party. In Bareilly, the main contest has narrowed down to the BJP's Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar and the SP's Praveen Singh Aron after the nomination papers of BSP candidate Chhotey Lal Gangwar were rejected. In the third phase, the BJP has given tickets to five new faces -- Chhatrapal Gangwar from Bareilly, Durvijay Singh Shakya from Budaun, Anoop Pradhan Balmiki from Hathras, Vishwadeep Singh from Firozabad and Jayveer Singh from Mainpuri. The first four replaced Santosh Gangwar, Sanghamitra Maurya, Rajveer Singh Diler and Chandrasen Jadaun. Jayveer Singh is the sole candidate in this phase who replaced a losing candidate from the BJP. The BJP retained the winning candidates from Etah, Agra (SC), Aonla and Fatehpur Sikri. It also gave a ticket to Parameshwar Lal Saini from Sambhal Lok Sabha seat. The Congress has fielded Ramnath Singh Sikarwar from Fatehpur Sikri, while its INDIA bloc ally SP has fielded candidates in the remaining nine seats in this phase. Uttar Pradesh has 80 parliamentary constituencies, the largest number among all states. Polling in the state is spread across all seven phases from April 19 to June 1. The counting of votes will be taken up on June 4.
Sikar man who smuggled in 250 kg of gold in 3 years in DRI net
Jitendra Soni arrested for aiding gold smuggling syndicate in Rajasthan, procuring 250 kg gold from the Middle East, targeting labourers as carriers, and selling to jewellers in multiple regions.
5 of a family & driver die, 2 kids injured in accident in Sawai Madhopur
Six people, including five family members from Sikar district, died in an accident on the Delhi-Mumbai expressway. Two children were critically injured. The truck driver involved in the accident fled the scene.
6 Of Family Killed In Accident On Mumbai-Delhi Expressway In Rajasthan
The family was going from Khandela in Sikar to the Trinetra Ganesh Temple in Ranthambore when the accident occurred.
Explore these waterfalls of Bihar, the beauty will make you crazy
Bihar, a state known for its rich cultural heritage and historical significance, also boasts some hidden gems of natureits mesmerizing waterfalls. From cascading streams to thundering falls, Bihar's waterfalls offer a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Let's delve into the enchanting beauty of these natural wonders that will leave you spellbound. Roaring Wonders amidst Nature's Embrace 1. Kakolat Falls: A Majestic Cascade Nestled amidst lush greenery in Nawada district, Kakolat Falls stands tall as one of Bihar's most majestic waterfalls. With its cascading waters plunging from a height of approximately 160 feet, Kakolat presents a breathtaking sight. The surrounding landscape, adorned with rocky cliffs and verdant foliage, adds to the allure of this natural wonder. 2. Karkat Waterfall: Nature's Symphony Located in the Kaimur district, Karkat Waterfall is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Surrounded by dense forests and rocky terrain, this picturesque waterfall offers a tranquil retreat for nature enthusiasts. The pristine beauty and soothing sound of cascading water make it a perfect spot for relaxation and rejuvenation. Tranquil Oases of Serenity 3. Manjhar Kund: A Serene Haven Tucked away in the scenic hills of Munger district, Manjhar Kund is a serene oasis amidst nature's bounty. The tranquil waters of this picturesque pond, fed by a small waterfall, create a calming ambiance that soothes the soul. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely dip or simply bask in the tranquility of this hidden gem. 4. Dhua Kund: Nature's Delight Located near the town of Gaya, Dhua Kund is a charming waterfall renowned for its natural beauty and spiritual significance. Set against a backdrop of rugged hills and lush greenery, this cascading waterfall offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Visitors can revel in the pristine surroundings and immerse themselves in the tranquility of this enchanting oasis. Unveiling Nature's Splendor 5. Chandan Dam: A Scenic Retreat Nestled amidst the scenic landscapes of Jamui district, Chandan Dam is a hidden gem waiting to be explored. The tranquil waters of this reservoir, formed by a small waterfall, create a serene ambiance that is perfect for picnics and leisurely strolls. Visitors can soak in the scenic beauty and marvel at the wonders of nature in this idyllic retreat. 6. Sikarhar Kund: A Natural Marvel Tucked away in the picturesque hills of Banka district, Sikarhar Kund is a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. Surrounded by lush greenery and rocky cliffs, this cascading waterfall offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Visitors can unwind amidst nature's embrace and marvel at the beauty of this pristine oasis. Bihar's waterfalls are not just natural wonders; they are tranquil oases that offer a respite from the chaos of everyday life. Whether you seek adventure or solace, these enchanting cascades beckon you to explore their beauty and immerse yourself in the serenity of nature's embrace. Couple romantic activities happen in Manali, plan to go with your girlfriend soon Where do trains with rotating seats, glass windows and unique coaches run? Travel Reimagined: Concierge Introduces Bespoke First-Class and Private Jet Experiences
PM bought planes for himself but didnt waive off loans of farmers: Priyanka
Agra (UP), May 3: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Friday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he bought planes for himself but did not waive off the loan of farmers. Priyanka Gandhi held a road show in support of the Congress' candidate from Fatehpur Sikri Lok Sabha constituency, Ramnath Sikarwar. Sitting atop a vehicle along [] The post PM bought planes for himself but didnt waive off loans of farmers: Priyanka appeared first on Northlines .
PM bought planes for himself but didn't waive off loans of farmers: Priyanka Gandhi
Priyanka Gandhi criticizes PM Modi for not helping farmers. She promises justice and supports Sikarwar, opposing Chahar. The road show had SP flags, enthusiastic workers, and May 7 polling. Gandhi vows to review armed forces recruitment.
BJP scramble to save Sikri fort from popular Kargil war veterans Hand
LUCKNOW: Known for being the seat of the famous Sufi saint Salim Chishti and the fort of Mughal Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri is the youngest parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh. It was carved out of Agra in 2008. BJPs Rajkumar Chahar had won it in 2019 with a thumping five lakh-plus vote margin. But this time around, the contest seems to be evenly poised between the BJP and the Congress. Sikri goes to polls on May 7. Congress candidate Ram Nath Sikarwar popularly known as Fauji Baba is giving a tough fight to Chahar, who is reeling under anti-incumbency besides intra-party rebellion. In 2019, Chahar was a giant killer, having defeated Raj Babbar, the then state president of the Congress. But now Chahar, the national chairman of the BJPs Kisan Morcha, is caught in a double whammy. Apart from Sikarwar, Chahar is also facing a tough challenge from Rameshwar Chaudhury, son of sitting BJP MLA Babulal Chaudhury. Rameshwar has raised the flag of revolt and is contesting as an independent. He is believed to have better clout than Chahar among the Jat voters. The BJP recently expelled Rameshwar after all efforts to pacify him failed. Chahar also has to deal with grumpy Kashtriyas because of a perceived slight against the community by the BJPs candidate in Gujarats Rajkot, Parshottam Rupala. Since Sikarwar is a Kshatriya, he is getting resonance from the community. To save the seat, senior BJP leaders like Rajnath Singh, a prominent Thakur face, and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are holding multiple rallies in Sikri and Agra to placate the Kshatriyas. The BJP has also roped in retired Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadoria, another Thakur from Bah who recently joined the party, to pacify the Thakurs. Bhadoria held a roadshow for the BJP candidate. Chahar is mainly relying on the Modi-Yogi factor to stay afloat. As for the Congress, its leadership is trying to put in more efforts to wrest the seat. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi is scheduled to hold a roadshow in Fatehpur Sikri on Friday. Besides, Sikarwar has his own following. He resides in the Kheragarh village, often stays in a village temple and travels in a four-wheeler. A Kargil war hero, he retired from the Army in 2004. His popularity, especially among the deprived sections, is giving Chahar more worries. The BSP has fielded Ram Niwas Sharma, a Brahmin, making it a quadrangular contest. Sikri has 1.75 lakh Jats, 3.5 lakh Thakurs, 3 lakh Brahmins, 1.4 lakh Kushwahas, 1.25 lakh Nishads, and Muslims and Vaishyas at 1 lakh each.
Insurance Jimmy - Official Trailer
Watch the Official Trailer from Gujarati movie Insurance Jimmy starring Parth Shukla, Ragi Jani, Chetan Daiya, Parmeshwar Sirsikar, Brinda Trivedi, Hitarth Asija, Hitansh Asija, Sweety Mahavadiya, Maddy Kava . Insurance Jimmy movie is directed by Parth Shukla and produced by Jimmy Satish Asija and Satish Radhakishan Asija. To know more about Insurance Jimmy Trailer watch the video. Check out the latest Gujarati Trailers, new movie Trailers, trending Gujarati movie Trailers, and more at ETimes - Times of India Entertainment.
'My father inherited martyrdom, not wealth': Priyanka hits back at PM Modis jibe on Rajiv Gandhi
BHOPAL: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent inheritance tax jibe aimed at her father and former PM Rajiv Gandhi, asserting, It was not wealth, but the spirit of shahadat (martyrdom), which my father inherited from his mother. At a poll rally in Madhya Pradesh's Morena, the Congress leader fired back at the Prime Minister while campaigning for party candidate Nitu Sikarwar. PM accused my father of being a traitor and having scrapped a law just to inherit his mothers wealth. But not PM Modi, only you all present here who sent their children to guard the countrys borders can understand that my father (Rajiv Gandhi) didnt inherit money and wealth from his mother (Indira Gandhi). He inherited the spirit of martyrdom, she said. ' ' , , , , , : @priyankagandhi , pic.twitter.com/sh9Inf7KJR Congress (@INCIndia) May 2, 2024 Priyanka emotionally recounted the 1991 assassination of her father, adding that Modi will not understand the sacrifices made by her family. I was only 19 years old when I brought home pieces of my fathers body draped in the national tricolour. I was angry at the country then for not having saved my father, who sacrificed his life for the country, she said. Now, Im 52 and stating this fact publicly for the first time. But slowly, I realised that one only gets angry with someone he or she loves. How can I narrate how much we love our country when PM Modi terms by father a deshdrohi (traitor) on the public stage? the Congress leader continued. Last week, while addressing a rally in Morena, Modi had accused Rajiv of abolishing inheritance tax after coming to power to avoid taxation on the wealth inherited from his mother, Indira Gandhi. Listen with your ears wide open about the sins the Congress has committed. I want to put forth an interesting fact. When sister Indira Gandhi passed away, there was a law by virtue of which half of the wealth used to go to the government. There were talks then that Indiraji willed her wealth in her son Rajiv Gandhi's name, Modi had told the gathering. To save the money going to the government, the then-PM Rajiv Gandhi abolished the inheritance tax, the prime minister had claimed, as he tried to double down on his wealth redistribution and inheritance tax charge at the Congress. Immediately responding to Modi's remarks against Rajiv Gandhi, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had said that every time he opens his mouth to speak, the prime minister provides fresh evidence of his meanness, pettiness, and his steadfast adherence to lies. Should we fear inheritance tax? Hard truths and the Chidambaram-Jaitley dalliance with it Meanwhile, during Thursday's poll campaign, Priyanka escalated her criticism of the prime minister, claiming that Modi can only discuss dynastic politics and not their patriotic spirit, which she insisted can never be erased from our hearts. When Modiji utters nonsense about a woman like Indiraji, when Modiji, after seeing this feeling of patriotism, only sees dynastic politics, he cannot understand this sacrifice, Priyanka said in a voice choked with emotion. Let him call us traitors, evict us from houses, and burden us with cases. He got my brother ousted from Parliament, burdening him with so many cases and forcing him to move from one state to another to face court trials in those cases. Let him (Modi) do whatever he wants to do with us, even kill us, but the spirit of patriotism can never be erased from our hearts, the Congress leader added. While maintaining that the preaching of Hinduism formed the basis of Mahatma Gandhis movement against British rule and also the foundation of the Congress, Priyanka lashed out at the BJP and accused the saffron party of using religion to hide their non-performance on public issues. We are all religious. My grandmother, Indira Gandhi, taught me how to perform puja and I accompanied my father (Rajiv Gandhi) to the temples. My mother, who hails from abroad, learned Indian traditions in this country and has taught me about Hinduism. It is all about truth and the eternal spirit of Satyamev Jayate. But those in power today raise emotive issues of religion at the time of polls to hide their non-performance on public issues, the Congress leader said. BJP targets Sam Pitroda's inheritance tax remark; Congress distances itself, calls it Modi's 'malicious' campaign
Madhya Pradesh: BJP, Congress bank on defectors in Morena
BHOPAL : As the Lok Sabha polls move into the third phase in Madhya Pradesh, the spotlight will be on the Gwalior-Chambal region the most fiercely contested region in the 2023 assembly polls, where BJP won 18 and Congress finished a close second with 16 seats. While the region houses four seats Guna, Gwalior, Bhind-SC and Morena the last one, Morena, seems to be emerging as the hottest and toughest. Spread across eight assembly segments in Morena and Sheopur districts bordering Rajasthan, Morena is famous for being the land of the sweet Gajak (sweet prepared with sesame and jaggery), the expanding Banmore Industrial Area, and the Kuno National Park (KNP), which is home to African cheetahs since September 2022. The constituency, which houses around 20.04 lakh voters (10.70 lakh males, 9.34 lakh females and 24 third gender), has turned into a BJP citadel since 1996, with former Morena mayor Ashok Argal, infamous for being allegedly involved in the 2008 cash-for-votes scandal, winning the seat four times in a row between 1996 and 2004. With the BSP too being a formidable player, the contest this time in Morena appears to be three-cornered, but as per political observers, the battle may ultimately boil down to the BJP and Congress. The BSP may largely play a spoiler for either of the two main parties. Aiming to snatch the seat from the BJP, the Congress has fielded Satyapal Singh Neetu Sikarwar, the son of a BJP leader. The younger son of BJP veteran and two-time former BJP MLA from Morena Lok Sabha seats Sumaoli assembly segment Gajraj Singh Sikarwar, the Congress candidate had won the seat in 2013 assembly polls on BJP ticket. Neetus elder brother Satish Sikawar, also a former BJP man who defected to the Congress in 2020, is the first-time Congress MLA from Gwalior-East seat, while Satishs wife Shobha Sikarwar is currently Congress Gwalior mayor. Though Neetu was declared the Congress candidate from Morena after a long delay and only around a month before the May 7 poll battle, the partys best bet is his familys major influence not just among the Kshatriya community he hails from, but also other castes including Brahmins, Kushwahas and SCs. Gajraj Singh Sikarwar, who is known among Kshatriyas as Dada (elder brother), now remains confined to a wheelchair due to severe paralytic attack. But despite this, the former BJP veteran has issued a pamphlet appeal to voters (particularly eyeing the 2 lakh plus Kshatriya voters) for his sons poll success. On the other hand, the BJP nominee Shiv Mangal Singh Tomar is an ex-MLA from Dimani assembly segment, currently represented by his mentor and Vidhan Sabha Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar. Shiv Mangal Tomar won from Dimani on the BJP ticket in 2008 by just 256 votes, but lost by bigger margins from the same assembly seat in 2013 and 2018. With the second-time MP and former Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar who won the Morena seat in 2009 and 2018 now being the states Vidhan Sabha speaker, BJP has fielded Shiv Mangal Tomar, who is being largely seen as the former Union ministers shadow candidate to maintain his clout in the regions politics. Narendra Singh Tomar and Dada Gajraj Singh Sikarwar are considered two major Kshatriya politicians in Morena. It is an open secret in local BJP circles that Tomar was instrumental in Dadas elder son Satishs defeat in 2018 assembly polls in Gwalior-East, when Satish contested as BJP candidate. Tomars hand is also alleged in the defeats of other BJP leaders, including former Madhya Pradesh ministers Jaibhan Singh Pavaiya and Anoop Mishra in Gwalior district in 2013 and 2018 assembly polls. With a major section of BJP in Gwalior-Chambal region, particularly in Morena, being averse to Tomar, the possibility of some BJP quarters internally backing the Congress candidate in the May 7 polls cannot be ruled out, a BJP leader in Morena, who wished not to be named, told this newspaper. While the Congress is eyeing the seat it had last won in 1991 through a BJP family scion, the BJP too is working on a counter plan of banking on desertions from other parties. The list of major politicians from the region who have joined the BJP in this poll season include six-time MLA and former minister Ramniwas Rawat (a powerful OBC leader who missed out the Congress ticket despite having finished runners up from the seat in 2019 and 2009), Morena mayor Sharda Solanki, former Congress MLAs Rakesh Mawai and Ajab Singh Kushwah (all from Congress), besides BSPs ex-Brahmin MLA Balveer Dandotiya, who lost to Narendra Singh Tomar in 2023 assembly polls. There is no other issue except caste in the politics of Gwalior-Chambal region, particularly Morena. Even the dacoits who once called the shots in the Chambal ravines of Bhind and Morena largely headed the gangs on caste lines. By roping in these former Congress and BSP leaders in its ranks, the BJP is eyeing to cut into Congress and BSP votes in various dominant castes, including Gurjars, Brahmins, Kushwah, Rawat (Meena) and Scheduled Castes. But the ruling party also risks the possibility of other castes and its own cadres averse to these leaders since long, actually working against the partys candidate on the poll day, Morena-based political analyst Hariom Gaur said. A caste-wise break-up of the 20.04 lakh voters in Morena constituency reveals that the Scheduled Castes form the largest chunk with around 4 lakh plus votes, Kshatriyas (2.75 lakh), the OBCs including Gurjars, Rawats and Kushwahas collectively around 4-5 lakh, Brahmins who are around 2.5 lakh and the Baniyas around one lakh. With the BSP fielding Ramesh Chand Garg for the May 7 battle, the Congress hopes to profit from the possibility of the BSP candidate eating into BJPs traditional voter base. 2,361 polling stations spread across 8 assembly segments in Morena and Sheopur districts.
Delhivery Expands Women's Participation In Logistics With New Hub In Sikar
The company said it has already scaled up women's participation at its gateways in Tauru (Haryana), Bhiwandi (Mumbai), and other locations in the country.
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.
Scorching Heat Wave Grips India, Kalaikunda Swelters at 47.6 Degrees Celsius
Scorching Heat Wave Grips India, Kalaikunda Swelters at 47.6 Degrees Celsius Facing the brunt of an extended heat wave, Kalaikunda in West Bengal recorded a maximum temperature of 47.2 degrees Celsius, the highest ever in April anywhere in the country which reeled under searing heat and stifling humidity on Tuesday. The maximum of 47.2 degrees Celsius at Kalaikunda was 10.4 degrees above the normal for the season, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said, adding that it marked the prevalence of severe heat wave conditions over the Gangetic West Bengal region. Popular hill stations such as Ugadhmandalam (Ooty) in Tamil Nadu and Matheran in Maharashtra also did not escape the brunt of the scorching summer with the mercury touching 29.4 degrees Celsius and 37 degrees Celsius, respectively. According to the department, 29.4 degrees Celsius was the highest ever maximum temperature recorded at Ooty in April, surpassing the 28.5 degrees Celsius recorded on April 29, 1986. At Matheran, the only automobile-free hill station in the country, the mercury climbed to 37 degrees Celsius, the fourth highest maximum temperature recorded there ever. The hill station, located about 90 km from Mumbai, had recorded the highest ever maximum temperature of 38.5 degrees Celsius on February 6, 1979, followed by 37.4 degrees Celsius on April 2, 1975 and 37.2 degrees Celsius on April 7, 1978. Speaking of records, Churu in Rajasthan had clocked 49.9 degrees Celsius on May 26, 1998 and 49 degrees Celsius on June 5, 2003. Sikar, also in Rajasthan, had recorded a maximum of 49.7 degrees Celsius on June 12, 1993 and 49 degrees Celsius on May 26, 1994. Ajmer had recorded a maximum temperature of 47.4 degrees Celsius on May 19, 1997. The automatic weather station at Baharagora in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand recorded 47.1 degrees. However, long-term weather data was not available for the town to calculate the departure from normal temperatures for the season. Baripada in Odisha sizzled at 46.4 degrees Celsius, 8.9 degrees above the normal, followed by Balasore at 46 degrees Celsius (+10.1 degrees), Panagarh in West Bengal at 45.6 degrees Celsius (+10 degrees), Jamshedpur in Jharkhand at 45.5 degrees Celsius (+5.8 degrees) and Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh at 45 degrees Celsius (+4.2 degrees). Several cities and towns in Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana recorded temperatures in excess of 44 degrees Celsius. Intensely hot conditions are expected in east India until May 1 and the south peninsular region over the next five days, the IMD said. The threshold for a heat wave is met when the maximum temperature of a weather station reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains, 37 degrees in the coastal areas, and 30 degrees in the hilly regions, and the departure from normal is at least 4.5 notches. A severe heat wave is declared if the departure from normal exceeds 6.4 notches. The ongoing heat wave spell is the second this month. Heatwave conditions have been prevailing in Odisha since April 15 and in Gangetic West Bengal since April 17, according to the department. Amid the prevailing but weakening El Nino conditions, the IMD had earlier warned of extreme heat during the April-June period, coinciding with the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. Lakhs of voters had to cope with the searing heat when they stepped out to exercise their franchise in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26. Voting to elect representatives from 94 constituencies in 12 states will take place on May 7. The weather office has said four to eight heat wave days are expected in different parts of the country in April against a normal of one to three days. Ten to 20 heatwave days are expected against a normal of four to eight in the entire April-June period. The areas and regions predicted to witness a higher number of heat wave days are Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Maharashtra, Vidarbha, Marathwada, Bihar and Jharkhand. Some places may record more than 20 heatwave days. The intense heat could strain power grids and result in water shortages in parts of India. Global weather agencies, including the IMD, are also expecting La Nina conditions to develop later in the year. El Nino conditions -- periodic warming of surface waters in the central Pacific Ocean -- are associated with weaker monsoon winds and drier conditions in India. La Nina conditions -- the antithesis of El Nino -- lead to plentiful rainfall during the monsoon season. In a mid-April update, the IMD said India would experience above-normal cumulative rainfall in the 2024 monsoon season with La Nina conditions, expected to set in by August-September, being the dominant factor. The monsoon is critical for India's agricultural landscape, with 52 per cent of the net cultivated area dependent on it. It is also crucial for replenishing reservoirs critical for drinking water apart from power generation across the country.
Big jolt to Congress in Madhya Pradesh as veteran OBC leader snaps ties with party to join BJP
BHOPAL: The Congress continues to be hit by defections by prominent leaders to the ruling BJP amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh. The latest switchover on Tuesday is seen as one of the biggest jolts the grand old party has suffered during the last two months. Six-time sitting MLA, veteran OBC leader and former MP Ramniwas Rawat ended his decades-old association with the party and joined the BJP at a poll rally of the ruling party in his assembly constituency Vijaypur in Sheopur district, which forms part of the Morena Lok Sabha seat. Rawats switch to the BJP in presence of CM Dr Mohan Yadav and state party chief VD Sharma happened a day after the Congress had suffered huge embarrassment following the withdrawal of nomination papers by its Indore Lok Sabha candidate Akshay Kanti Bam, who too had subsequently joined the BJP. Rawats entry into the BJP assumed significance, as it happened at the same time that former Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressed a poll rally in the adjoining Bhind-Datia SC constituency of the same Gwalior-Chambal region. But it was not just Rawat who switched from the Congress to the BJP, as Morenas mayor Sharda Solanki too joined the latter on the stage of the same poll rally in Vijaypur (Sheopur). With Solanki joining the BJP, now three out of the five Congress mayors, including Jagat Bahadur Singh Annu (Jabalpur), Vikram Ahake (Chhindwara) and Sharda Solanki (Morena), have joined the BJP in the ongoing poll season. After joining the BJP, Rawat said he took the decision to ensure proper development of his Vijaypur assembly constituency. He promised to script a new chapter of development in the area after joining. Rawats departure to the BJP is being seen as a major loss for the Congress in the Gwalior-Chambal region, particularly in Morena Lok Sabha constituency, where his (Meena) caste voters number around one lakh in Sheopur and Vijaypur assembly segments. The BJP candidate Shiv Mangal Tomar is facing a tough fight against ex-BJP MLA and Congress candidate Satyapal Sikarwar. Rawat who was a minister in the erstwhile Congress government led by Digvijaya Singh is among the most powerful Congress leaders of the Gwalior-Chambal region. Despite being considered close to Gwaliors erstwhile royal Scindia family, Rawat had stayed back in the Congress, when Jyotiraditya Scindia along with 22 loyalist MLAs had walked into the BJP in March 2020. But not being considered either for the post of state Congress president or the leader of opposition in the Vidhan Sabha after the change of guard in the MP Congress following the 2023 assembly polls debacle, Rawat was feeling ignored in the party on whose ticket he won six out of the eight assembly polls he contested from Vijaypur seat. The former chief whip of the Congress in the Vidhan Sabha, Rawat was also upset on not being considered for the Congress ticket for the Morena Lok Sabha seat from where he twice finished runner-up behind the BJPs Narendra Singh Tomar in 2019 and 2009. Rawat had planned to join the BJP at the April 25 poll rally of PM Narendra Modi in Morena, but phone calls from ex-Congress president Rahul Gandhi and former MP CM Digvijaya Singh had delayed his exit. Rawats entry into the BJP is another jolt to the Congress after the exit of ex-minister Deepak Saxena and ex-Union minister and former state party chief Suresh Pachouri.
Veteran Madhya Pradesh Congress Leader Ramniwas Rawat Joins BJP
BHOPAL : Veteran Madhya Pradesh Congress leader and six-time Vijaypur MLA Ramniwas Rawat made a significant shift by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday. His formal induction into the BJP took place in Sheopur, attended by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. This move comes after Rawat's resignation from the Congress party, marking a new chapter in his political career. Rawat, an experienced politician, had previously run for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Morena as a Congress candidate but lost to BJP's Narendra Singh Tomar. Rawat had hoped to contest the Morena seat again, but Congress chose Satyapal Singh Sikarwar for the ticket instead. This decision did not sit well with Rawat, leading to his discontent.A prominent OBC leader in Madhya Pradesh, Rawat had served as the working president of the state Congress. His dissatisfaction with the party escalated when he was overlooked for the role of Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, despite his extensive tenure as an MLA. Rawat's decision to leave the Congress party follows another significant loss for the party in recent days, with Indore's Lok Sabha candidate Akshay Bam also joining the BJP. Rawat's entry into the BJP could open new opportunities, potentially including a cabinet position in the Mohan Yadav-led government. He previously served as a minister in the Digvijaya Singh administration and has been in the Opposition since the BJP's victory in 2003. Ola Cabs CEO Hemant Bakshi Resigns Amid Company Restructuring Is ice facial beneficial for puffy eyes and acne? Do you keep food open in the fridge? So it is important for you to know about its disadvantages, it can become 'poison'
Phase III of Lok Sabha polls in UP puts Samajwadi Party to test in 'Yadav land'
LUCKNOW: As Uttar Pradesh gears up for third phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on May 7, all eyes are on the Braj and Rohilkhand regions, commonly dubbed the 'Yadav land.' Here, 10 key seats featuring a fascinating Yadav-Muslim dynamic will undergo scrutiny, posing a significant test to the Samajwadi Party's reputation and influence. The general elections in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted across all seven phases, with the first and second phases being held for 16 seats in the 'Jat belt' of Western UP on April 19 and April 26, respectively. In the 2019 elections, out of the 10 seats contested in phase III, the ruling BJP secured victory in eight, while the main opposition Samajwadi Party (SP), despite forming a formidable alliance with arch-rival Bhaujan Samaj Party (BSP), managed to win only two seats. This time, the SP has forged an alliance with the Congress under the Opposition's INDIA bloc. Conversely, the BSP has opted for a solo approach, setting the stage for a three-way showdown against the BJP-led NDA, echoing the political dynamics of the 2019 elections. The upcoming Phase III of voting will be pivotal for the SP, with 10 crucial seats up for contention. These include Sambhal, Hathras, Etah, Aonla, Bareilly, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Mainpuri, Badaun, and Firozabad. Significantly, three members of the Yadav family are participating in this phase of the elections. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's wife, Dimple, is contesting from Mainpuri, while his two cousins, Aditya Yadav from Badaun and Akshay Yadav from Firozabad, are also in the fray. Although the seats going to the polls in phase III fall under the Yadav belt, the ruling saffron brigade has been performing exceptionally well here since 2014. The BJP had won seven of 10 seats, restricting the SP to just three: Mainpuri (Mulayam Singh Yadav), Badaun (Dharmendra Yadav) and Firozabad (Akshay Yadav) in the 2014 general elections. In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured an additional seat, bringing their total to eight out of the 10 seats in this phase. Meanwhile, the SP retained Mainpuri and emerged victorious in Sambhal. The seats going to the polls in the third phase have the Muslim-OBC combination as the dominant force influencing the outcome across various constituencies. In constituencies such as Etah, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Badaun, and Sambhal, Yadav voters form a significant and influential bloc. Conversely, Muslim voters play a decisive role in Sambhal, Aonla, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, and Firozabad, comprising 6 percent to 13 percent of the population, except in Bareilly, where the Muslim population exceeds 33 percent. Likewise, in Etah, a stronghold of former UP CM Kalyan Singh, non-Yadav communities, particularly the Lodhs, emerge as a significant and decisive force. In other constituencies, the Kachhi, Shakya and Murao communities hold sway, shaping the electoral landscape. Lok Sabha polls 2024: How to crack UPs reserved seat puzzle Uttar Pradesh: RLD onboard, BJP looks for dominance SEAT-WISE DYNAMICS Sambhal Sambhal, considered to be the Yadav pocket borough as it has 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 the seat in 2014. While the BSP won the seat twice, in 1996 and 2009, the Congress last won it in 1984. In 2024, the SP had reposed faith in its sitting veteran MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq who had won the seat in 2019. However, even before the commencement of the poll process, Barq, 92, passed away after a prolonged illness. Consequently, SP fielded his grandson Zia-ur-Rahman Barq, the sitting SP MLA from Kundarki in Moradabad. The BJP has reposed faith in an OBC candidate Parmeshwar Lal Saini, who contested against Barq in 2019, to reclaim the seat, while the BSP has made the contest triangular by fielding a Muslim candidate Shaulat Ali. Hathras (Sc) Hathras, a reserved seat considered a BJP bastion since 1991, has been an impregnable fort for the SP and BSP, who have never registered a victory here. In 2009, the RLD won this seat as a pre-poll ally of the BJP, while the Congress last won here in 1971. In 2019, despite the horrific gangrape and murder case that had created widespread uproar, the BJP's Rajvir Singh Diler defeated the SP's Ramji Lal Suman. Diler died of heart attack last week. In 2024, the BJP replaced the sitting MP with Anoop Valmiki, the party's sitting MLA, while the SP and BSP have given the ticket to Jasveer Valmiki and Hembabu Dhangar, respectively. Agra (Sc) Agra, known as the Dalit capital of the state, has nearly 21 percent of its electorate comprised of Dalits. The BJP has won this reserved seat five times since 1991 and thrice in a row since 2009. It has retained sitting MP Professor SP Singh Baghel for 2024, who had won the seat for the first time in 2019. The Samajwadi Party has fielded Suresh Chandra Kardan, while the BSP has fielded Pooja Amrohi. Fatehpur Sikri The BJP won this seat twice, in 2014 and 2019. Before that, in 2009, the seat was with the BSP. In 2019, the BJP's Raj Kumar Chahar won this seat, defeating the Congress's Raj Babbar. The BJP has retained Raj Kumar Chahar and the Congress has fielded Ramnath Sikarwar as the INDIA bloc candidate, while the BSP has fielded Brahmin candidate Ram Niwas Sharma, making the contest interesting. Mainpuri The Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat, a stronghold of the Samajwadi Party, has remained under the control of Mulayam Singh Yadav's family since 1996. The SP patriarch himself represented it five times in the Lok Sabha, while the Congress last won here in 1984. In 2019, Mulayam Singh Yadav won by defeating the BJP's Prem Singh Shakya. Following his demise in 2022, Dimple Yadav, the wife of Akhliesh Yadav, won the seat in a by-poll. In 2024, the BJP's Jaiveer Singh is challenging Dimple Yadav, while Gulshan Dev Shakya is the BSP candidate. Budaun After a few flip-flops , the Samajwadi Party finally fielded Aditya Yadav, the son of party leader Shivpal Yadav. It is Adtiyas electoral debut. Initially, the SP had named Dharmendra Yadav for 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. It was wrested by the BJP in 2019. This time, BJP has replaced the sitting MP Sanghmitra Maurya with Durvijay Shakya. Firozabad Known as the city of glass, Firozabad is another citadel of the Samajwadi Party. However, it lost to the BJP in 2019. This seat elected SP chief Akhilesh Yadav in 2009 and his cousin Akshay Yadav in 2014. The Congress's Raj Babbar defeated Akhilesh's wife, Dimple Yadav, in the 2009 by-poll. In 2024, the BJP has announced Vishwadeep Singh as its candidate, while the SP has repeated Akshay Yadav, son of SP veteran Ram Gopal Yadav. Etah The BJP has been winning here since 1989, while the SP won it twice, in between, in the 1999 and 2004 elections. In 2009, former UP chief minister Kalyan Singh won as an independent, supported by the SP, while the BJP's Rajveer Singh, the son of Kalyan, won this seat in 2014 and 2019. The party has retained Rajveer as its candidate again in 2024, while Davesh Shakya is the candidate for SP. Bareilly In Bareilly, the BJP has replaced its eight-time MP and former Union Minister Santosh Gangwar, who continuously won the seat from 1989 till 2019, barring 2009 when then Congress leader Praveen Aron, now with the Samajwadi Party, defeated him by a thin margin. This time, the BJP has replaced him with Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar, who will take on Aron. The BSP got a jolt when the nomination of its candidate, Chhote Lal Gangwar, was rejected in Bareilly. Anola The BJP has won this seat six times since 1989 and three times since 2009. The SP has won the seat twice, while the Congress last won it in 1984. Dharmendra Kashyap of the BJP, Neeraj Maurya of SP and BSP's Abid Ali are the main contestants. Phase III: The key numbers Total Seats: 10 Date of Poll: May 7 Total Districts covered: 12 Total voters: 1.89 crore Male voters: 1.01 crore Female voters: 87.48 lakh Third gender voters: 752 Total polling centres: 12,339 Total Polling booths: 20,415 Mixed feelings for Gandhis in UPs rice bowl Meerut: Battle of perception with Ram chant in land of revolution
The BJP in Rajasthan is facing obstacles ahead of the upcoming elections due to intra-party challenges, defections, inadequate development, anger over Agnipath, and farmer protests. Local factors are making it challenging for the saffron party in nine seats, including Churu, Nagaur, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Dausa, Kota, Jodhpur, Barmer, and Banswara.
Rajasthan Lok Sabha election: Twirling 9-m saafa to 'peacock' attacks in rallies
Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra from Sikar entertained at public meetings by dancing to traditional songs dedicated to Teja ji during assembly elections, despite criticism from MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati.
In Rajasthan's Banswara LS seat, Congress campaigning against own candidate
BANSWARA: A peculiar poll battle is on the cards in the tribal-dominated Banswara-Dungarpur Lok Sabha constituency in Rajasthan where the Congress is appealing to the people not to vote for its candidate. The reason: After much flip-flop, the Congress decided to form an alliance with the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) and the two parties fielded their joint candidate -- Rajkumar Roat. However, the Congress candidate, Arvind Damor, whose name was announced before the stitching of the alliance, has refused to withdraw his nomination. What was supposed to be a bipolar contest between the BJP and the Congress-BAP alliance has turned into a three-way fight with Damor likely to divide the Congress votes thus, giving an edge to the saffron party candidate -- Mahendrajit Singh Malviya. While the local leadership of the Congress has appealed to the people to vote for Roat instead of their own candidate, Damor has claimed that he has the support of a section of the party leaders who are against the alliance with the BAP. Vikas Bamnia, a district-level leader, and the son of Congress MLA Arjun Bamnia said the party was supporting Roat. Our stand is clear, we are supporting the BAP candidate. We are working keeping in mind the sentiments of the people and the directions received from the party, Bamnia said. Another local Congress leader said Roat was the official candidate of the Congress-BAP alliance. We are asking people clearly to not vote for the Congress candidate (Damor), the leader said. Although, several local residents told PTI that the contest was primarily between Malviya and Roat, some were of the view that Damor's refusal to toe the party line was embarrassing for the Congress. BAP, which was established in southern Rajasthan ahead of the 2023 assembly elections, has three MLAs, including Roat. Banswara-Dungarpur is a reserved seat for Scheduled Tribes and will go to polls in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed a rally here on Sunday. Slamming the Congress manifesto, he had alleged that the opposition party was planning to give people's hard-earned money to infiltrators and hose who have more children and referred to former PM Manmohan Singh's speech in 2006 to contend he had said that Muslims have the first claim on the country's resources. In his campaigning speeches, Malviya has accused Roat of misleading the people of Banswara while he, in return, has been charged with dividing the tribal community by the Congress-BAP candidate. Where will these people take our tribal brothers and sisters? They are misleading the tribal community. Building a house for one person does not benefit the entire community, Malviya, who joined the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, said. These people are working to spread anarchy. No matter how much they try, the BJP is going to win this seat by lakhs of votes. The alliance of Congress and BAP will not work. It only shows that the Congress did not get a candidate for the Banswara-Dungarpur seat, he added. Countering him, Raot said the BJP candidate was dividing and abusing the tribal community. The kind of statements Malviya is giving, he is abusing the tribal community. The BJP is trying to divide the tribal community. Our tribal people may be associated with any party, be it the BJP or the Congress, but it is our responsibility to unite them. We think above the party, we think for the tribal people, he said. Damor, meanwhile, said a faction of the Congress leaders was against the alliance with BAP. I have support from the people and the party leaders who are not in favour of the alliance. I am confident of winning the election, Damor said. Amid the tussle, key issues like education, employment, roads and electricity have taken a back seat with each candidate trying to outdo the other to project himself as the champion of the tribal community, according to some non-tribal locals. The area lacks industries and job opportunities. Many people from this region work in the neighbouring state of Gujarat. Women are also seen working in farms and in labour work in large numbers, a non-tribal local resident said. The ideology of BAP appears to be radical and could emerge as a threat in the time to come. Issues are less important, they are polarising people in the name of the community, he added. Meanwhile, the need for the Congress to find an alliance partner in Banswara-Dungarpur was necessitated after Malviya -- a satrap from the Vagad region -- joined the BJP. Malviya, who was made a cabinet minister twice in the previous Congress governments, quit the party after being denied the post of the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly in the wake of Congress' defeat in the 2023 assembly elections. He resigned as the MLA from Bagidora assembly constituency and joined the BJP in February. As the Congress and the BAP -- the new party from the Vagad region -- held discussions for an alliance, the lack of consensus on seat sharing and resistance by some local Congress leaders delayed the finalisation of the coalition. On the last day of filing of nominations, the Congress decided to field Damor from Banswara-Dungarpur and Kapoor Singh from the Bagidora for the bypoll. A day before the withdrawal of nominations, Rajasthan Congress in charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa announced on social media that the party would support BAP in both the elections. However, in a rude shock for the Congress, its two candidates refused to withdraw their nominations. Of the eight assembly segments under the Banswara-Dungarpur Lok Sabha seat, the BJP has four MLAs, the Congress has three and the BAP one. The Congress in Rajasthan is contesting the elections as part of an alliance on two seats -- Nagaur (with Rashtriya Loktantrik Party) and Sikar (with CPI-M).
The News Mill
Strong foundation of 'Viksit Bharat' will be laid today: Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on 1st phase voting As the voting for the first phase of the 2024 general elections began on Friday, Union Minister and BJP candidate from Bikaner Lok Sabha seat Arjun Ram Meghwal said a strong foundation of 'Viksit Bharat' will be laid today. Rajasthan has 25 parliamentary constituencies and in Phase 1 of polling today, voting is being conducted for 12 seats. The remaining 13 seats in the state will be polled in the second phase on April 26. 114 candidates are in the fray in the first phase of the elections. It is the festival of democracy today. Voting will be done today on a total of 102 seats in the country and 12 seats in Rajasthan, including the Bikaner Lok Sabha seat. Today, a strong foundation of 'Viksit Bharat' will be laid. 'Viksit Bharat' is an overarching theme of the BJP under which the party is seeking votes in the election, Meghwa told ANI. The constituencies in the first phase include Churu, Nagaurm, Ganganagar, Jhunjhunu, Bikaner, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur and Dausa. Meghwal, a Dalit leader who has been representing the Bikaner Lok Sabha seat since 2009, is contesting the Lok Sabha elections for the fourth time. He is contesting against Congress candidate and former state minister Govind Ram Meghwal. Bikaner has remained a BJP bastion since 2004, when the seat was won by actor Dharmendra. In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the seat was won by Meghwal, who went on to become a minister in the Narendra Modi cabinet. While the Congress struggled to secure victories in the general elections post-1999, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has consistently dominated this constituency from 2004 to 2019. A Meghwal, the current Member of Parliament from Bikaner, clinched victories in 2009, 2014, and 2019, solidifying Bikaner as a fortress for the BJP. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he secured 62.84 per cent of the votes, defeating his Congress rival Shankar Pannu. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he won for the third consecutive time with a margin of 2,64,081 votes, defeating the Congress candidate and his cousin, Madan Gopal Meghwal. Voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 began at 7:00 am on Friday across 102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories. Voting will end at 6 pm. A total of 16.63 crore voters are going to vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls, deciding the fate of 1625 candidates, with Nitin Gadkari, Kiren Rijiju, Bhupendra Yadav, and Arjun Ram Meghwal among several Union ministers in the fray. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)
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.
Maharashtra Poll Diary: BJP's Nanded fears and an MLA ally's jolt for Eknath Shinde
Nanded jitters for BJP despite Ashok Chavan crossing over Nanded Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra is where BJP's Prataprao Govindrao Chikhalikar, the sitting MP, is taking on Congress party's Vasant Balvantrao Chavan Patil. Avinash Bosikar of the Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) is also in the race. In 2019, Prataprao Govindrao Chikhalikar secured 4,86,806 (43.10 %) votes to defeat Ashok Chavan of the Congress. Chavan had then secured 4,46,658 votes (39.55%). Interestingly, this time around, Chavan, a former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, has been campaigning for the victory of Prataprao Govindrao Chikhalikar. Chavan crossed over from Congress to the BJP in February this year. The Congress has claimed that Chavan joined the BJP fearing Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids. He has rubbished the allegation. In an interview to an English-language daily, Chavan was asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are campaigning in the constituency because the party is doubtful of winning Nanded. He swatted the suggestion aside, stressing that it is a winning seat and that every PM has visited the constituency from the time of Indira Gandhi. Of the six assembly segments in Nanded, Bhokar is vacant. Nanded North is with the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. Nanded South and Delgur (SC) constituencies are with the Congress while Naigaon and Mukhed are with the BJP. Congress wants Sangali, in turn offers Mumbai North to Sena (UBT) It can be said that after Ashok Chavan joined BJP, Nanded has been perceived as a safe seat for the BJP. But the story from the ground is different. This is the reason perhaps why Nanded is one of the constituencies that could witness PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah campaigning together. Seeing is believing! Another seat and a more real jolt to the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi. BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad's spouse Sulabha Gaikwad (in the green sari) was seen actively campaigning for Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Vaishali Darekar (Left) in Kalyan against Maharashtra CM Eknath Shindes son and sitting Sena Lok Sabha MP Dr Shrikant Shinde. A home run-in for the CM you could term it. Talk about a picture worth a thousand words! First phase of LS polls in Maharashtra: It's Congress party's 'caste calculations' vs BJP's 'Modi charisma'
INDIA bloc candidate Amra Ram expects to regain lost ground for Left forces in Sikar
Mr. Ram, 72, fielded from the Jat-dominated constituency following an alliance with the Congress, is pitted against the BJPs Sumedhanand Saraswati
Famous Temples of Baba Khatushyam Beyond Rajasthan
Baba Khatushyam, also known as Shyam Baba or Barbarika, is a revered deity worshipped across India. While Rajasthan hosts the most famous temple dedicated to Baba Khatushyam, there are several other notable temples located outside Rajasthan where devotees seek blessings and fulfillment of their desires. Let's delve into the details of these renowned temples spread across different regions: Khatushyam Temple, Rajasthan: Situated in Sikar district of Rajasthan, the Khatushyam Temple is the most prominent and revered shrine dedicated to Baba Khatushyam. The temple's architecture reflects Rajasthani style, with intricate carvings adorning its exterior. Devotees from all corners of the country visit this temple to pay homage to Baba Khatushyam and seek his blessings. The annual Lakh Mela organized here attracts a massive gathering of pilgrims, adding to the temple's significance. Khatushyam Temple, Delhi: For devotees residing in Delhi and its neighboring regions, the Khatushyam Temple in Alipur serves as a spiritual haven. Situated near GT Karnal Road, this temple offers a serene ambiance for devotees to connect with Baba Khatushyam. Despite being away from the temple's original location in Rajasthan, it carries the same essence of devotion and faith. Khatushyam Temple, Katihar: Located in the Katihar district of Bihar, the Khatushyam Temple at Adgadiya Chowk in Bada Bazaar holds immense religious significance. Devotees from Bihar and nearby states visit this temple to seek blessings and offer prayers to Baba Khatushyam. The temple's architecture and surroundings create a tranquil atmosphere conducive to spiritual reflection and devotion. Khatushyam Temple, Kolkata: In the bustling city of Kolkata, the Bangur Shyam Temple stands as a testament to devotion towards Baba Khatushyam. Situated in Alambazar, this ancient temple witnesses a steady stream of devotees, especially during auspicious occasions like Ekadashi. Elaborate rituals and decorations adorn the temple premises during such festivities, enhancing the spiritual experience for visitors. These temples beyond Rajasthan serve as important centers of devotion and faith for followers of Baba Khatushyam. Despite being geographically distant from the main temple in Rajasthan, they hold equal significance in the hearts of devotees. Each temple reflects the enduring legacy of Baba Khatushyam and his eternal presence in the lives of his worshippers. Pay obeisance at one of these temples during Navratri Acquittal in Kasaragod Muezzin Murder Case: RSS-BJP Activists Released After 7 Years in Jail Massive Fire Engulfs Scrap Godown in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi Area
Agro, Agniveer, and an Alliance: Rajasthans Shekhawati to Spring a Surprise?
The Sikar seat, in particular, is a riveting electoral clash between diverse political ideologies of two contenders.
Comrade vs baba: A promising fight guaranteed in Rajasthan's Sikar
Comrade vs baba A promising fight guaranteed in Rajasthans Sikar
Two Kids Among 7 of Family Burnt Alive In Car-Truck Collision In Rajasthan
Seven people, including two children and three women, of a family were burnt alive when their car caught fire after crashing into a truck in Rajasthan's Sikar district on Sunday
2 kids among 7 burnt alive as car rams into truck in Sikar
Seven, including 3 women & 2 children from UP's Meerut, died in car-truck collision on Churu-Salasar highway. Car on LPG cylinder caught fire, spreading flames to truck with cotton. Eyewitness saw victims shouting for help.
New alliance blues for Congress in Rajasthan
In the 25 seats being contested, Congress has fielded candidates in 22, and has an understanding with INDIA bloc ally CPI (M) in Sikar, Hanuman Beniwal's Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) in Nagaur, and the newly-formed Bharatiya Adivasi Party (BAP) in tribal-dominated Banswara constituency.
Rains reported from parts of Jaipur, Udaipur, Sikar
Innovations in traditional methods revolutionising farming in Rajasthans parched Shekhawati
The decline in the groundwater level is a major issue for agriculturists in all four districts of Shekhawati Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Churu, and Neem Ka Thana
Caste politics replaced by politics of development under Modi, says Nadda
Caste politics replaced by politics of development under Modi, says Nadda BJP national president J P Nadda on Monday said earlier vote bank politics was done by dividing people into castes, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi started politics of development in the country. He said a few days ago, some people talked about caste census to divide the society. The BJP is not against caste census but their objective of having caste census done was less important and it was more to divide the people among castes. ''Today India's politics has changed under the leadership of Modi. What was seen 10 years ago is no longer the same today. ''Earlier, the government belonged to a particular caste group. It was not the government of every section,'' Nadda said, addressing a public meeting in Sangaria of Hanumangarh district in support of BJP candidate Priyanka Balan from Anupgarh. He said the elections were also conducted in such a way that caste played an important role. Politics was done by dividing the people, he added. ''Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed the definition and culture of politics. Today politics of development is being done. Our opponents also have to talk about development,'' he said. He said on one hand there is Modi who talks about removing corruption and on the other side there is a 'Ghamandia Gathbandhan', which says they will save the corrupt. There will be action against the corrupts, he added. He further said, ''All these corrupts have come together. This is the 'ghamandia' (arrogant) alliance. This is an alliance to save the corrupt.'' Nadda said India is now the fifth largest economy by defeating Britain which ruled over us for 200 years. In time to come, India will become the third largest economy of the world. He said, ''The manner in which work has been done in this country under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi ji for India's sovereignty and India's culture, India's cultural awakening was never done before.'' If anyone has worried about the villages, the poor, the deprived, the exploited, the Dalits, the women, the youth, the tribal brothers and the farmers, then Prime Minister Modi has done so, he said. He said India's name has been established in the world. New dimensions of development have been created. Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan will be held in two phases. In the first phase, voting will be held on April 19 in 12 seats -- Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur. Voting will be held in the second phase on April 26 in the remaining 13 seats of Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran. Byelection for Bagidaura assembly constituency will also be held in the second phase on April 26.
CM Yogi addresses public meeting for BJP candidate Sumedhanand Saraswati in Rajasthan's Sikar
CM Yogi addresses public meeting for BJP candidate Sumedhanand Saraswati in Rajasthan's Sikar In a blistering attack on the opposition parties, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that they lacked the courage and conviction to serve Lord Ram, stressing their inability to undertake monumental projects like Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. He accused the Congress and Communist parties of questioning the existence of revered figures like Ram and Krishna as well as undermining faith and national security. Addressing a rally in Rajasthan's Sikar to seek votes for BJP MP and Sikar candidate Sumedhanand Saraswati, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted BJP's achievements through these years. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged the people of Rajasthan to revisit New Ayodhya after the elections, promising an experience reminiscent of Tretayug. He said that over 1.5 crore devotees have visited Ayodhya within just two months, indicating a resurgence of faith suppressed in the past. Emphasizing inclusivity, he highlighted, Not only the magnificent Ram Lala's temple has been built in Ayodhya but also housing has been provided for four crore impoverished citizens across the nation. Echoing CM Yogi's call, the public pledged their support, vowing to secure BJP's triumph in Sikar for the third consecutive time. With unwavering confidence in the outcome of the 18th Lok Sabha elections, CM Yogi emphasized the unanimous desire across the nation for another term under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Anticipating victory, he urged supporters to replicate the success of the previous two elections, ensuring Swami Subedanand's triumphant return for a third term. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attributed the ongoing transformation across the country to the electorate's wise choices made during elections. He emphasized that previously when votes were cast in favor of the wrong party, it resulted in terrorism, riots, curfews, and the loss of innocent lives. Women and businessmen felt unsafe during such times, he added. However, under the governance of the right party, Uttar Pradesh has witnessed seven years without riots or curfews, leading the populace to forget the days of enforced curfew. The state now sees millions participating in the Kanwar Yatra with great enthusiasm, he remarked. He highlighted the government's commitment to non-discrimination, citing examples such as naming the international airport in Ayodhya after Maharishi Valmiki before the installation of Lord Ram's idol. Significant attention has been given to Seer Govardhan in Kashi, the birthplace of Saint Shiromani Ravidas, and Prime Minister Modi has honoured and revitalized the Panch Teerths of Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar, he pointed out. Furthermore, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asserted that the act of installing Ramlala's idol in Ayodhya not only symbolizes devotion but also sends a strong message to terrorists. He was referring to a recent report in 'The Guardian about the killing of 20 hardcore criminals within Pakistan over the past two years, possibly with contributions from Indian intelligence agencies. He highlighted India's proactive stance against terrorism, underscoring that while addressing each other with Ram-Ram, India not only venerates Ramlala in Ayodhya but also confronts terrorism with resolve, contrasting it with the purported practice of 'feeding biryani to terrorists' by the Congress.` Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized, The national pride evoked by Prime Minister Modi's international visits indicates a unified celebration across the country, encompassing its 1.4 billion citizens. He highlighted the fortified borders, signalling to potential aggressors that incursions into Indian territory would not go unchallenged. He noted the disappearance of stone-throwing proxies from Kashmir, attributing this to adequate security measures. While criticizing the Congress for exacerbating issues, he praised the BJP for providing resolutions. Adityanath commended Prime Minister Modi for bestowing the Bharat Ratna upon farmer advocate Chaudhary Charan Singh and for spearheading initiatives like enhanced train connectivity, including projects such as Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat, and Namo Bharat trains. Shifting the focus to the role of communists in Rajasthan, Adityanath questioned their relevance in a state renowned for its spiritual significance and political influence. Drawing parallels with West Bengal's rejection of communism, he underscored Rajasthan's rich cultural landscape, encompassing educational hubs like Sikar and revered pilgrimage sites such as Salasar, Jeeran, Khatu, and Bhairav Ji Maharaj. Adityanath emphasized the state's historical significance, citing the valor of Mana Baba, a revered cow devotee who attained martyrdom while defending the nation. He challenged the utility of communists in a state steeped in devotion and power like Rajasthan, suggesting their redundancy in such a milieu. Asserting the unity of India under one flag, he lauded the dedicated service of public representatives like MP Swami Sumedhanand Saraswati, highlighting their commitment to the nation and society. Adityanath expressed confidence in securing the Sikar seat for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), envisioning it as a pivotal victory to eradicate communism from the region. He emphasized the importance of preserving India's values and identity, urging constituents to unite against ideologies conflicting with the nation's ethos. The event saw the presence of prominent figures, including Sikar MP Swami Sumedhanand Saraswati, BJP District President Dr. Kamal Seekwal, former Union Minister Subhash Mahariya, MLA Subhash Meel, and Govardhan Verma.The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases starting April 19. Nearly 97 crore voters are eligible to cast votes in the general election. Counting of the votes will be held on June 4.Rajasthan will go to the polls in two phases, on April 19 and April 26. Polling for 12 Lok Sabha seats will be held in the first phase on April 19, while the remaining 13 seats will be polled in the second phase on April 26. (ANI)
CM Yogi addresses public meeting for BJP candidate Sumedhanand Saraswati in Rajasthans Sikar
The News Mill
New India knows how to safeguard its people, says Adityanath citing report by UK daily on killing of terrorists in Pak The new India knows how to protect its borders and safeguard its people, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday and asked if it was wrong to kill terrorists. The firebrand BJP leader, who addressed election rallies in Rajasthan's Bharatpur, Dausa and Sikar, referred to a report by the UK daily 'The Guardian' that claimed Indian intelligence agencies were involved in targeted killings of terrorists in Pakistan as part of an emboldened approach to national security after 2019. ''On one hand is the report which says terrorists are being killed in Pakistan, the world considers terrorism a big burden, but on the other was the Congress government that used to feed biryani to terrorists,'' Adityanath said. ''Should terrorists be killed or not? They are a burden on society and a threat to everyone's safety. Congress would starve the poor and feed biryani to terrorists,'' he said addressing the rally in Bharatpur. Adityanath said those who gave shelter to those terrorists till yesterday are ''now not daring to say anything against India due to the fear of air strike''. ''Three days ago, a reputed newspaper of the UK said that 20 deadly terrorists had been killed inside Pakistan and it was possible that India might have killed them... We do not know what is the basis and the source of the report but this is the new India, which knows how to provide security to its people and protect its borders,'' he added. The UP chief minister's remarks came on a day Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav attacked the BJP saying that the Indian government is accused of getting people killed in another country. ''Will the definition of viksit Bharat (developed India) be that we will go to another country and commit murder?'' Yadav said after meeting the family of mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari at his home in Ghazipur. Ansari, a five-time MLA from Mau who was in jail, died after suffering cardiac arrest, on March 28, according to officials. However, his family members allege that he was given poison inside jail. In his address, Adityanath said the world respects India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. ''When an Indian citizen goes abroad, he gets respect. The borders are safe; naxalism, extremism and terrorism have ended,'' he said. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister hailed the abrogation of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, by the Modi government, saying, ''Now no one will be able to foment terrorism within the borders of India.'' He said that over the past decade, the country has successfully quelled terrorism and stone-pelting in Kashmir. ''Consequently, Kashmir is now progressing in tandem with developmental initiatives and democratic principles. The region witnesses a substantial influx of tourists, with people safely participating in events such as the Amarnath Yatra and the pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi,'' he stated. Adityanath claimed that the Congress lacked leaders and intentions to take decisive steps. ''Would Congress have been able to build Ram temple in Ayodhya? They say that Ram did not exist,'' he said at the election rally in support of the party candidate from the Bharatpur seat Ramswaroop Koli. Addressing another rally in Dausa, he said that the ''Congress party is the biggest problem of the country and imposing curfew is part of its DNA.'' The BJP's star campaigner emphasised that worldwide, there is a belief that India's actions are in the interest of humanity. ''Presently, no nation dares to endorse terrorism as they understand that such support would result in facing repercussions like airstrikes,'' he said without naming Pakistan. He said that there was a time when people of the Congress party denied rights to the poor. ''However, in the Modi government, 80 crore poor people are benefiting from free ration, 60 crore poor people are getting coverage of health insurance of Rs 5 lakh while housing has been provided for four crore poor people and the Kisan Samman Nidhi for 12 crore farmers,'' he said. Continuing his attack on the Congress, the chief minister said that the party did not want a solution to the Ram temple issue. ''Congress is the problem of the country, which keeps giving problems to the country while Modi provides solutions,'' he asserted. He also appealed to the people of Dausa to vote for the party candidate Kanhaiya Lal Meena. The BJP leader addressed a third rally in the Sikar constituency in support of the party candidate Swami Sumedhan.
Congress plays BKY card, banks on candidates from traditional BJP families in Gwalior-Chambal
BHOPAL: Aiming to challenge the ruling BJP in the Gwalior-Chambal region which was the most closely contested among the five regions in the state in the 2023 assembly polls the Congress has played the Brahmin-Kshatriya-Yadav card in three Lok Sabha seats, besides fielding candidates from traditional BJP families. Ending ten days of suspense, the Congress announced its candidates for the three remaining seats Morena, Gwalior (both in Gwalior-Chambal region) and Khandwa in the southwestern MP region on Saturday. While ex-BJP MLA Satyapal Singh Sikarwar was fielded from Morena, the partys former legislator Praveen Pathak was named as the candidate from Gwalior and 2023 assembly poll loser Narendra Patel was fielded from Khandwa. With this, the Congress has named candidates for all 28 seats its contesting in the state, including four seats of the Gwalior-Chambal region. All four seats in the region -- Bhind-SC, Morena, Gwalior and Guna -- go to the polls in the third phase (April 7). Knowing well the possibility of cracks within the BJP as the polls draw close, the Congress has tried to challenge the saffron party with its old family sons -- Satyapal Sikarwar in Morena and Rao Yadvendra Singh Yadav in Guna. Madhya Pradesh: Two decades after Assembly poll fight, ex-CMs eye LS return from home turfs Theres a growing feeling in BJP circles that the party in Gwalior-Chambal region is slowly being dominated either by union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia or Vidhan Sabha speaker Narendra Singh Tomar and their loyalists. While both the candidates, Shivmangal Tomar (Morena) and Bharat Singh Kushwah (Gwalior), are sworn Narendra Singh Tomar loyalists, a large section of the old BJP is unhappy over denial of ticket to popular first time MP Dr KP Yadav to field Scindia from Guna. Though the Modi factor is the predominant factor in the polls in Gwalior-Chambal also, the possibility of many BJP cadres silently backing their old family sons, Satyapal Sikarwar in Morena and Rao Yadvendra Singh Yadav in Guna, cannot be ruled out, a Brahmin leader of the ruling BJP in Morena told The New Indian Express . In the Morena Lok Sabha seat (which was won by Narendra Singh Tomar in 2009 and 2019) particularly, the ground is already fertile for the Congress, as it won five of the eight assembly segments in the 2023 assembly polls. Shiv Mangal Tomar who is being seen in some BJP circles as the dummy candidate of Narendra Singh Tomar has won from Dimani assembly seat (which was won by Narendra Singh Tomar in 2023) by 250 odd votes in 2008, but lost from the same seat in 2013 and 2018 by bigger margins. Still he has been named the BJP candidate from Morena. On the other hand, the Congress candidate Satyapal Sikarwar Neetu hails from one of the oldest and most powerful BJP families headed by Gajraj Singh Sikarwar. While Gajraj won the Sumaoli assembly seat in 1990 and 2003, his son Satyapal won the same assembly seat in 2013, another BJP leader from Morena district said. The Sikarwar family which has a big influence among Kshatriya voters of Morena constituency is now totally with the Congress. While elder brother Satish Sikarwar is the Congress MLA in Gwalior district, Satishs wife Shobha is the Gwalior mayor. With Satyapal now being named the Congress candidate from Morena, the family will use all its influence among the Kshatriya and Brahmin voters to win the seat, which the Congress won last in 1991. In the adjoining Gwalior Lok Sabha seat, while the BJP has fielded another Tomar loyalist and ex-minister Bharat Singh Kushwah, who lost the 2023 assembly polls from Gwalior-Rural by over 3000 votes, the Congress has fielded its ex-Gwalior South MLA Praveen Pathak, who failed to retain his assembly seat by merely 200-odd votes in 2023. The BJP and the Congress had both won four assembly segments each of the Gwalior Lok Sabha seat in 2023. By fielding Praveen Pathak from Gwalior, the Congress is seeking to give a positive signal to Brahmins (who constitute 2-3 lakh votes in the adjoining Morena Lok Sabha seat) and by fielding Sikarwar from Morena, its trying to add to Pathaks popularity the power of the Sikarwar family in Gwalior, thus hoping to do something big in both seats through the targeted Brahmin-Kshatriya chemistry. In the adjoining Guna seat, the Congress is pinning hopes on the possibility of internal sabotage by BJP cadres against Scindia coupled with the angst of the Yadav caste (the most dominant OBC bloc in the constituency) over the denial of a ticket to first-time MP Dr KP Yadav. To benefit on both counts, the Congress has fielded the traditional BJP familys elder son Rao Yadvendra Singh Yadav against Scindia in Guna.
This election is a big opportunity..., says PM Modi in Ajmer
Polling for 12 Lok Sabha seats will be held in the first phase on April 19, while the remaining 13 seats will be polled in the second phase on April 26. In the first phase, voting will be held in 12 constituencies -- Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur.
Lok Sabha polls: Cong declares names for three seats in MP, fields two ex-MLAs
Lok Sabha polls: Cong declares names for three seats in MP, fields two ex-MLAs The Congress on Saturday announced the candidates for the three remaining Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh, fielding two former legislators. With the announcement of its nominees from Khandwa, Gwalior and Morena, the Congress has now fielded candidates in 28 of the 29 Lok Sabha constituencies. One seat Khajuraho has been given to the Samajwadi Party (SP) under the INDIA bloc seat-sharing arrangement. The Congress has fielded former MLA Praveen Pathak against BJP's Bharat Singh Kushwaha from Gwalior. Pathak had been elected on a Congress ticket from Gwalior South assembly seat in 2018 but faced defeat in 2023. Ex-legislator Satyapal Singh Sikarwar has been nominated from Morena and will face off with BJPs Shivmangal Singh Tomar. This Lok Sabha seat was won by BJP's Narendra Singh Tomar in 2019, but he was elected as an MLA last year and later made the speaker of the Madhya Pradesh assembly. Sikarwar was elected as MLA from the Sumawali assembly seat in 2013 on a BJP ticket. His father had also won the same assembly seat in 2003. Sikarwar was expelled from the saffron outfit in 2020 for alleged anti-party activities, following which he joined the Congress. Congress has fielded Narendra Patel from Khandwa amid speculations that former union minister Arun Yadav could be the candidate from there. Patel had contested from Badwah in the 2023 assembly polls and lost to BJPs Sachin Birla by 5,499 votes. The BJP has fielded sitting MP Gyaneshwar Patil from Khandwa LS seat. Gwalior and Morena will go to polls in the third phase on May 7, while voting in Khandwa will be held in the fourth phase on May 13.
Election 2024: Congress releases another list of candidates for Lok Sabha elections
Ahead of Lok Sabha elections, Congress announces candidates list for for 6 seats in Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Dadar. In this list, names of candidates have been announced for 6 seats of Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Dadar. Praveen Pathak has been given ticket from Gwalior seat of Madhya Pradesh and Satyapal Singh Sikarwar has been []
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma reaffirms pro-farmer initiatives at Sikar Rally
The News Mill
These elections are to change dynamics of the country: BJP leader Om Birla makes vote appeal in Kota
These elections are to change dynamics of the country: BJP leader Om Birla makes vote appeal in Kota Emphasising his commitment to the people of Kota, Rajasthan, BJP leader and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla on Wednesday made a vote appeal for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Addressing the crowd, Birla recounted his dedication to ensuring the welfare of Kota's citizens, particularly during the pandemic's peak. Even as Lok Sabha Speaker, I tried to be among you all the time. During the COVID-19 period, the whole world was suffering, but I made sure that the people of Kota, Rajasthan do not suffer for oxygen, he remarked. Underscoring the significance of the upcoming elections, Birla stressed the need for transformative change under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. These elections are to change the dynamics of the country. These elections are for the development of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, he asserted. Drawing upon his personal connection to Kota, Birla expressed gratitude for the unwavering support he has received from the community throughout his political career. I have started my politics from this place, and I can never forget the love I received from here. I have always tried to keep your belief in me alive, he affirmed. By voting with full strength on 26th (April), we will create history by giving more than 400 seats to Narendra Modi, he said. Earlier in the day, Om Birla filed his nomination from Kota, Rajasthan. Speaking to ANI, the BJP leader said, The people of Kota have always loved me and it is because of this that I am contesting the Lok Sabha elections for the third time and this time also the people of the area will make me win with a good majority. He also exuded confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party's victory in the general elections, contributing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's potential third term. People have liked the work done by Modi's government in the country. In these elections, once again, the people of the country will repose faith in the BJP and Modi government, he said. The 25 parliamentary constituencies of Rajasthan will go to the polls in two phases. In Phase 1 of polling in the state on April 19, which is also the opening phase of the seven-phased elections, voting will be conducted for 12 seats. The remaining 13 seats in the state will be contested in the second phase on April 26. Under Phase 1, on April 19, polling will be held in Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa, and Nagaur. Phase 2 of polling on April 26 will take place in Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota, and Jhalawar-Baran. (ANI)
Ambedkar-led VBA fields Vasant More in Pune, supports Sule in Baramati
Ambedkar-led VBA fields Vasant More in Pune, supports Sule in Baramati The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) led by Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar on Tuesday announced former MNS leader Vasant More as its candidate for the Pune Lok Sabha constituency. The VBA, whose talks for seat-sharing with the opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra fell through last month, also declared candidates for Nanded (Avinash Bosikar), Parbhani (Babasaheb Ugle), Aurangabad (Afsar Khan) and Shirur (Mangaldas Bagul). In Baramati, it will support the candidate of NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), the VBA said. NCP (SP) has fielded sitting MP and Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule from Baramati. Vasant More, who recently quit the Raj Thackeray-led MNS, had met Ambedkar and expressed the wish to contest from Pune where the BJP's Murlidhar Mohol would be taking on the Congress's Ravindra Dhangekar.
BJP will secure all 25 seats from Rajasthan in Lok Sabha elections: Union Minister Anurag Thakur
BJP will secure all 25 seats from Rajasthan in Lok Sabha elections: Union Minister Anurag Thakur Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday expressed confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party's victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, asserting that the party is poised to secure victory in all 25 seats in Rajasthan, thereby contributing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's potential third term. He also highlighted that there is a dearth of senior leaders in Congress willing to contest elections due to widespread corruption within their ranks. Whether it was the election of 2014 or 2019, the people of Rajasthan have always stood with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and this time BJP has formed government in the Rajasthan assembly election. I am fully confident that in order to make PM Modi the Prime Minister of this country third time, Rajasthan will make BJP win 25/25 seats and the lotus will bloom. In Congress, there are no more leaders who actually want to fight election. Corruption has hollowed Congress to the extent that they have run out of senior leaders, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said. The 25 parliamentary constituencies of Rajasthan will go to the polls in two phases. In Phase 1 of polling in the state on April 19, which is also the opening phase of the seven-phased elections, voting will be conducted for 12 seats. The remaining 13 seats in the state will be contested in the second phase on April 26. Bypolls for 26 Assembly seats in the state will also be held alongside the Lok Sabha elections. Nearly 96.8 crore people are eligible to cast their votes in the upcoming general elections at over 12 lakh polling stations. Under Phase 1, on April 19, polling will be held in Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa, and Nagaur. Phase 2 of polling on April 26 will take place in Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota, and Jhalawar-Baran. The BJP won all 25 parliamentary seats in Rajasthan in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. However, in 2019, the BJP bagged 24 seats while the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) managed to secure the other remaining seat. (ANI)
Two-time MP, the BJPs Swami Sumedhanand, is pitted in the Jat-dominated Sikar seat against INDIA bloc candidate and CPI(M) leader Amra Ram
LS polls: Amit Shah holds road show in Rajasthan's Sikar
LS polls: Amit Shah holds road show in Rajasthan's Sikar Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday conducted a massive road show in Sikar Lok Sabha constituency, campaigning for the BJP candidate from the seat. Shah was accompanied by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and party candidate and two-time MP Swami Sumedhanand. Shah reached Jaipur and held a meeting of party leaders from five Lok Sabha constituencies of Dausa, Karauli-Dholpur, Nagaur, Churu and Jhunjhunu before going to Sikar for the road show. Shah, CM Sharma and Sumedhanand held the road show in an open vehicle. The road show began from Shree Kalyan temple and passed through New Dujod Gate, Ghantaghar, Jat Bazaar and culminated at Tapriya Bagichi, covering a distance of around two kilometres in over an hour. People showered flowers at the vehicle during the road show and raised slogans in support of the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders. Shah also greeted people and waved at them during the road show that attracted a huge crowd. In the general elections, the main opposition Congress has tied up with the CPI(M) in Rajasthan. Under the alliance, the CPI(M) has fielded former MLA Amraram from the Jat-dominated Sikar seat. Sikar is also the hometown of Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra, whose assembly constituency, Laxmangarh, falls under the Sikar Lok Sabha constituency. Of the eight assembly segments under Sikar Lok Sabha constituency, five are held by the Congress and three by the BJP. Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan will be held in two phases on April 19 and 26, and Sikar is among 12 seats where elections will be held in the first phase on April 19. The other Lok Sabha constituencies which will go to polls in the first phase are Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur. The remaining 13 seats of Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran will go to polls in the second phase on April 26.
Lok Sabha polls: 114 candidates in fray in first phase in Rajasthan
114 candidates vie in Rajasthan's first Lok Sabha phase with 10 withdrawals. April 19 polling across 12 seats, including Jaipur Rural, Sikar, and Churu. Notable candidates like Gajendra Singh and Prahlad Gunjal in the fray.
LS polls: 114 candidates in fray in first phase in Rajasthan
LS polls: 114 candidates in fray in first phase in Rajasthan A total of 114 candidates are in the fray in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan. A total of 10 candidates from the constituencies, which will go to polls in the first phase have withdrawn their nomination papers. Polling in the first phase will be held in 12 out of 13 Lok Sabha seats on April 19. Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said that two candidates each from Sikar and Dausa Lok Sabha constituencies and one candidate each from Jaipur, Alwar and Nagaur constituencies withdrew their nomination papers on Saturday. After the deadline for withdrawal of nominations ended on Saturday, a total of 114 candidates are participating in the elections in 12 Lok Sabha constituencies. Maximum 15 candidates are contesting in Jaipur Rural, 14 in Sikar, 13 in Churu and Jaipur each, 9 in Ganganagar, Alwar, Bikaner and Nagaur each, 8 in Jhunjhunu, 6 in Bharatpur, 5 in Dausa and 4 in Karauli-Sawai Madhopur. On the other hand, 24 nomination papers were submitted by 17 candidates on Saturday for 13 Lok Sabha constituencies of the second phase. So far 27 candidates have submitted 44 nominations in 13 constituencies under the second phase. Gupta informed that for the second phase, three candidates each from Jodhpur, Kota parliamentary constituency, two candidates each from Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Banswara and Chittorgarh and one candidate each from Ajmer, Jalore and Udaipur submitted the nomination papers on Saturday. Union Minister and BJP candidate from Jodhpur Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Congress candidate from Kota-Bundi Prahlad Gunjal were among the other candidates who filed the nomination papers on Saturday. In the second phase, voting will be held in 13 Lok Sabha constituencies Tonk-Sawaimadhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Basanwada, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran on April 26. The last date of filing the nomination is April 4. The nomination papers will be scrutinized on April 5 and the names can be withdrawn till April 8. Counting of votes will take place on June 4.
FatehpurSikri remained the capital of the Mughal Empire for 10 years, but in 1586 the capital was shifted from FatehpurSikri to Delhi due to inadequate water supply for the city. After this, it seemed as if people forgot it. FatehpurSikri, located near Agra, is a royal city built in the 16th century. The city embodies the ideals and heritage of the Mughal Empire. It was built by Mughal emperor Akbar in 1571. It is believed that many small and various monuments and forts were built here during the rule of the Shunga dynasty in the 12th century and later the SikarwarRajputs. Some of these monuments were demolished by Akbar while building FatehpurSikri. But PanchMahal has survived among some monuments. This palace is very beautiful, which is built in a pyramid structure and is made of 176 pillars in total. Its history has also been quite interesting, so what are we waiting for, let us know in detail. History of PanchMahal PanchMahal is a historical site, located in India. This building is located in Jaipur city of Amer state. This building was built by Raja Man Singh in the 18th century. PanchMahal gets its name from its five floors, each of which has multiple terraces on each floor. PanchMahal is located near the Amer Fort, which was one of the royal palaces of Rajput kings. It is an exciting structure, which reveals a unique flow of architecture and craftsmanship. The PanchMahal building is a living example of the grandeur of the Rajput style. Due to its height, style and beauty, it is a major tourist destination and works to attract tourists. The history of this place is linked with the emperors of Rajputana and their adventurous history. Apart from this, it is also seen as a symbol of Rajput's courage and bravery. Architecture of PanchMahal The major features of PanchMahal also include its architecture. The structure, roof and grand pillars of this palace are proof of its grandeur. The five storeys of this palace stand together, this is the speciality of this palace. Each floor has its own specialty and is given a different shape with pillars and structures. Specialty of PanchMahal PanchMahal is named after its five floors. This feature makes it unique and gives it a spectacular and grand view. The architecture of PanchMahal is a distinct blend, incorporating elements of Rajput, Mughal and Hindu architecture. Its special arches, pillars and lattices make it amazing. PanchMahal symbolizes the confluence between Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. It represents diversity and cultural heritage. Pancham Hal is a famous tourist destination, which provides an opportunity for people to experience its civilization and cultural importance. It is a symbol of Indian culture and heritage. PanchMahal was built during the period of Rajput courage and bravery. Therefore it holds an important place in Indian history. How to reach PanchMahal? PanchMahal is located in the American city of Jaipur, Rajasthan. To reach here you can follow the option mentioned below. Air route- The fastest and best option is the air route. You can go to Jaipur airport and take a taxi from there to PanchMahal. Rail route- The distance of PanchMahal from Jaipur Railway Station is about 12 kilometers. Jaipur has the best rail services from other cities in Rajasthan. By Road- Road is available from Jaipur to Amer city. You can use Amer buses and public transport from Jaipur bus stand. Taxi- PanchMahal can also be reached from Jaipur city by using a taxi or auto rickshaw. Image Credit- (@Freepik)
LS Polls: Over 8,900 voters aged above 100 in 12 first phase constituencies in Rajasthan
LS Polls: Over 8,900 voters aged above 100 in 12 first phase constituencies in Rajasthan There are more than 8,900 voters aged above 100 years, 13 of which are above 120 years, in 12 constituencies which will go to polls in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 in Rajasthan, an official said. The state's election department has published integrated voter lists for these seats. According to the final voters' list published by the state Chief Electoral Office, a total of 8,679 voters are aged between 100 to 109 years, 239 are aged between 110-119, and 13 voters are aged above 120 years. The Lok Sabha elections will be held in two phases in Rajasthan on April 19 and April 26. Twelve of the 25 seats -- Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur -- will go to polls on April 19. The Jhunjhunu constituency has the highest number of 100-plus voters at 1,802, Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said. There are a total of 2.54 crore voters listed across the 12 constituencies which are slated to go to polls in the first phase, he said. According to the voter lists published for these constituencies, the total number of general voters is 2,53,15,541, of which 1,32,89,538 are male, 1,20,25,699 are female and 304 are third gender voters. A total of 7,98,520 voters, aged 18-19 years, will vote for the first time in Lok Sabha elections, Gupta said. There are a total of 2,51,250 voters who classify as persons with disability in these seats, he said. Jaipur has the highest number of voters at 22,87,350, while Dausa has the lowest at 18,99,304.
Cong releases list of star campaigners for 1st phase of LS polls in Rajasthan
Cong releases list of star campaigners for 1st phase of LS polls in Rajasthan The Congress on Friday released its list of star campaigners in Rajasthan for the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot feature in the list that has 40 names. The names of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sachin Pilot and Kanhaiya Kumar are also there in the list. According to the list available on the chief electoral officer's website, the star campaigners of the Congress include the party's state in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, state unit chief Govind Singh Dotasra, Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully, former Assembly speaker C P Joshi and senior leaders Mohan Prakash, Hemaram Chaudhary, Raghu Sharma and Harish Chaudhary. The names of several legislators, including Suratgarh MLA Dungarram, also feature in the list. The Congress has said it will release its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls at a public meeting here on April 6. The Lok Sabha polls in Rajasthan will be held in two phases on April 19 and April 26. In the first phase, voting will be held for the 12 seats of Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur. In the second phase, voting will be held for the 13 seats of Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran. Besides, bypoll for the Bagidora Assembly seat falling under the Banswara Lok Sabha segment will also be held in the second phase on April 26.
166 nomination papers of 124 candidates for 12 LS seats in Rajasthan found valid
166 nomination papers of 124 candidates for 12 LS seats in Rajasthan found valid Rajasthan Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta Thursday said 166 nominations were found to be valid after scrutiny of papers Thursday for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls for 12 seats in the state. Altogether, 179 nominations papers were filed by 131 candidates for the 12 seats. Out of them, 166 nomination papers of 124 candidates were found valid whereas 13 nominations of seven candidates were rejected during scrutiny, Gupta said in a statement. He said 17 in Jaipur Rural, 16 in Sikar, 14 each in Jaipur and Churu, 10 each in Alwar and Nagaur, nine each in Ganganagar and Bikaner, eight in Jhunjhunu, seven in Dausa, six in Bharatpur and nominations of four candidates in Karauli-Dholpur were found valid. He said the last date for withdrawal of names for the first phase of voting is March 30. Voting will take place on April 19 and the counting of votes will take place on June 4. In the second phase of elections in the state, voting will be held on 13 seats -- Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran -- on April 26. Apart from this, byelection on Bagidora assembly seat falling under Banswara Lok Sabha constituency will also be held in the second phase on April 26. This seat fell vacant after Congress MLA Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya left the Congress and joined the BJP a few days ago.
Congress alliance in Rajasthan set to pose challenge to BJP in Jat belt
The party has extended support to RLP chief Hunaman Beniwal in Nagaur and CPI(M) candidate Amra Ram in Sikar, both of whom belong to the Jat community
Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma highlights development under PM Modi, slams Congress
Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma highlights development under PM Modi, slams Congress Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Tuesday highlighted the state's development under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging voters to reflect on India's pre-2014 era characterized by corruption, appeasement-based politics, and rising terrorism. Addressing the nomination filing event of BJP leader Swami Subedanand, Bhajanlal Sharma said, Swami Subedanand has filed the nomination for the third time from Sikar. You all need to remember the India that was before 2014. Before 2014, the way in which corruption in India, appeasement-based politics, and terrorism was at rise. After 2014, under the guidance of PM Modi, you all are witnessing the growth of the country. he said. Recalling the historical significance and presence of the BJP in the state of Rajasthan, Bhajanlal said former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee gave reservation to the Jatta from the Sikar soil, because he could understand the pain, he could feel the pain of farmers. During the tenure of the BJP in the central government of Rajasthan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ensured that various schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana and credit cards for farmers were effectively implemented to benefit them, Sharma said. Taking a dig at the Congress government, Sharma alleged that the Rajasthan Congress has consistently misled the public by claiming to address the Yamuna issue to secure electoral victories. The Rajasthan Congress has continuously fooled the people that they were doing something for the Yamuna issue and kept winning elections. They have always tried to fool the farmers. The Congress government hasn't even sent one letter to the central government citing the Yamuna issue, he said. The Rajasthan Chief Minister, earlier launched a scathing attack at the former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, for 'misleading' the people with the help of loot and lies. On one hand, Sonia Gandhi is busy worrying about Rahul Gandhi and Ashok Gehlot is busy worrying about Vaibhav Gehlot, they are not concerned about the people of the country and the state. The people of the state will never forget the 'Yuvraj'. Now the people of the state are not going to fall prey to the tricks of the Yuvraj of Congress. The public knows that this is the same leader who had made a false promise of complete loan waiver, he said, while making an address in Jaipur. (ANI)
40 candidates filed nominations for 1st phase of LS polls in Rajasthan so far, say officials
Jaipur/Sikar, Mar 26 (PTI) Forty candidates have filed nominations for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan so far, officials said on Tuesday. BJP candidates Jyoti Mirdha and Sumedhanand Saraswati filed nominations from Nagaur and Sikar Lok Sabha constituencies, respectively on Tuesday. INDIA bloc constituent the CPI(M)'s candidate Amraram filed his nomination from Sikar on the same day. Mirdha, a former Congress MP from Nagaur who joined the BJP ahead of the 2023 assembly elections, is pitted against Rashtriya Loktantrik Party convener Hanuman Beniwal who is contesting the elections in alliance with the Congress. Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan will be held in two phases on April 19 and 26. Nagaur and Sikar are among the 12 parliamentary constituencies where polling will be held in the first phase on April 19. The last date for filing nomination papers for the first phase is March 27. Scrutiny will be held on March 28 and the last date of withdrawal of nomination is March 30. Addressing a public meeting in Sikar after incumbent MP Sumedhanand Saraswati filed his nomination, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma accused the Congress of indulging in vote-bank politics and said that the BJP always works keeping in mind the welfare of the people and the country. The Congress has made making false promises a habit. Whatever they promised in the last five years was never fulfilled, he said. The Congress government meant corruption, appeasement, and terrorism. Until Narendra Modi came to power (at the Centre), anyone could bomb any city in our country. But, it's only PM Modi who ensured a secure and developing India that also made a place for itself on the global stage, Sharma said. In Sikar, CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat, while addressing a rally after the party's candidate Amraram filed his nominations, said, The BJP has sent our constitution to the ICU. The upcoming general election is not a fight for the chair, but for saving our democracy and constitutional rights. PM Modi might be dreaming of crossing 400 seats but the people who have faced torture under his rule in the last 10 years will not let it happen, she said. Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday targeted the BJP government at the Centre, claiming that democracy is in danger and the country is being ruled through federal agencies such as the ED and the CBI. In the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan, voting will be held in 12 Lok Sabha constituencies of Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur on April 19. The remaining 13 seats of Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran will go to polls in the second phase on April 26. PTI AG NSD NSD Disclaimer: This article is published from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by the Deccan Chronicle team
LS polls: Congress declares four more candidates from Rajasthan
LS polls: Congress declares four more candidates from Rajasthan The Congress on Monday declared four more candidates from Rajasthan for the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress gave ticket to Prahlad Gunjal, a former BJP leader who joined the party recently, from Kota to take on BJP candidate and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Ajmer dairy chairman Ramchandra Chaudhary was given the ticket from Ajmer, former MLA Sudarshan Rawat from Rajsamand and local party leader Damodar Gurjar from Bhilwara. With the latest list, the Congress has so far declared 22 candidates and left two seats -- Sikar and Nagaur under alliance with the CPI (M) and RLP respectively. The announcement of candidate for Banswara Lok Sabha seat is pending. CPI (M)'s Amra Ram and RLP's Hanuman Beniwal are contesting the Lok Sabha elections on Sikar and Nagaur seats respectively under alliance with the Congress. The Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan will be held in two phases on April 19 and 26. In the first phase, voting will be held in 12 Lok Sabha constituencies -- Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur on April 19. In the first phase on April 19, 12 seats of Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur will go to polls. The remaining 13 seats of Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran will go to polls in the second phase on April 26. Also, the bypoll on Bagidora Assembly constituency under Banswara Lok Sabha constituency will also be held in the second phase on April 26. The seat fell vacant after Congress MLA Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya left the Congress and joined the BJP a few days back. Malviya is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Banswara seat as the BJP candidate.
Folk dancer dies of electric shock in village in Rajasthan's Sikar
Folk dancer dies of electric shock in village in Rajasthan's Sikar A 24-year-old folk artiste died of an electric shock in the Sadar Police Station area of Sikar district, police said on Sunday. The man was identified as Ravindranath, a resident of Nagaur. According to police, the folk dancer received an electric shock when a pipe placed on his head touched the 11 KV power line passing above him. Sadar Police Station Officer Indraj Marodia said Ravindranath was performing the Gindad dance at a Holi Milan programme in Shyampura village late Saturday night when the incident happened. His body was handed over to his relatives after a post mortem on Sunday, he said.
Woman dancer dies after being electrocuted at event in Rajasthan's Sikar
Woman dancer dies after being electrocuted at event in Rajasthans Sikar
CBSE cancelled the recognition of 20 schools from 10 states...here is the list
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled the recognition of 20 schools in different states of the country. These 20 schools are in many states of the country including Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled the recognition of 20 schools in different states of the country. Apart from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, these 20 schools are also from Kerala and Uttarakhand. CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta said in this matter that these 20 schools were not only behaving against the rules but were also involved in malpractices. How many schools are there in which state? States whose schools have been cancelled. Among them, there are 5 schools in Delhi and three in Uttar Pradesh. There are two schools each in Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Whereas, there is one school each in Jammu-Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Assam whose recognition has been cancelled by the Central Board of Secondary Education. Recognition of these schools was cancelled Siddharth Public School, Delhi-81 Marigold Public School, Delhi-39 Bharat Mata SaraswatiBalMandir, Delhi-40 National Public School, Delhi-40 Chand Ram Public Senior Secondary School, Delhi-39 Loyal Public School, Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh Crescent Convent School, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh Trinity World School, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh Prince UCH Secondary School, Sikar, Rajasthan Global Indian International School, Jodhpur, Rajasthan Dronacharya Public School, Raipur, Chhattisgarh Vaikan School, VidhanSabha Marg, Raipur, Chhattisgarh Rahul International School, Thane, Maharashtra Pioneer Public School, Pune, Maharashtra PV's Public School, Malappuram, Kerala Mother Theresa Memorial Central School, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Kartar Public School, Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir SAI RNS Academy, Dispur, Guwahati, Assam Sardar Patel Public School, MisroadHuzur, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Gyan Einstein International School, Dehradun, Uttarakhand CBSE downgraded the recognition of these schools Among these three schools is Shri Ram Academy, Barpeta, Assam. The Vivekananda School, Narela, Delhi and The Shri Dasmesh Senior Secondary Public School, Talwandi Sabo, District Bathinda, Punjab.
LS polls: Cong announces 2 more candidates for Rajasthan, leaves Nagaur seat for RLP
LS polls: Cong announces 2 more candidates for Rajasthan, leaves Nagaur seat for RLP The Congress on Saturday announced its candidates for two more Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan and left one seat for its alliance partner the Hanuman Beniwal-led Rashtriya Loktantrik Party. The party gave the ticket to new face Anil Chopra from the Jaipur Rural seat and fielded former Rajasthan minister Bhajan Lal Jatav from the Karauli-Sawai Madhopur constituency. Chopra, a Rajasthan Congress secretary, has been the president of the students' union of the University of Rajasthan. Jatav was a cabinet minister in the former Congress government in the state. The party has left the Nagaur parliamentary seat for the RLP. Beniwal won the Nagaur Lok Sabha seat in 2019 in alliance with the BJP but separated from the NDA over the issue of farmers' protest in December 2020. With the latest list, the Congress has so far fielded candidates on 17 of the total 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state and left two for alliance partners Sikar for the CPI(M) and Nagaur for the RLP. The CPI(M)'s Amraram is contesting the Lok Sabha election on the Sikar seat. The Lok Sabha polls in Rajasthan will be held in two phases on April 19 and 26.
LS polls: Cong releases 4th list of candidates, fields Ajay Rai to take on Modi in Varanasi
LS polls: Cong releases 4th list of candidates, fields Ajay Rai to take on Modi in Varanasi The Congress on Saturday released its fourth list of 45 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, fielding its Uttar Pradesh unit chief Ajay Rai from Varanasi to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the Congress fielded its veteran leader Digvijaya Singh from Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh, it nominated newly-inducted leader Lal Singh from Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur to take on Union minister Jitendra Singh. Vikas Thakare will take on Union minister Nitin Gadkari in Nagpur, according to the list. In its fourth list, the party announced candidates for 12 seats of Madhya Pradesh, nine of Uttar Pradesh, seven of Tamil Nadu, four of Maharashtra, two each of Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir, and one each of West Bengal, Assam, Andaman and Nicobar, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh. The Congress has left the Nagaur parliamentary constituency in Rajasthan for the Hanuman Beniwal-led Rashtriya Loktantrik Party. For Uttar Pradesh, where the party is in alliance with the Samajwadi Party and is contesting on 17 seats, the Congress announced candidates for nine seats. These include Rai from Varanasi, Danish Ali from Amroha, Imran Masood from Saharanpur and Alok Mishra from Kanpur. Suspense over whether Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest from Amethi and Raebareli continued. There is speculation that Rahul Gandhi may also contest from Amethi, besides his declared seat of Wayanad in Kerala, and Priyanka Gandhi from Raebareli, a seat which was previously held by Sonia Gandhi. Both the seats in Uttar Pradesh are considered bastions of the Gandhi family and the local units of the Congress have demanded that the two scions of the Gandhi family should contest from there. In Uttar Pradesh, the Congress has also fielded Ram Nath Sikarwar from Fatehpur Sikri, Pradeep Jain Aditya from Jhansi, Tanuj Punia from Barabanki (SC), Akhilesh Pratap Singh from Deoria and Sadan Prasad from Basgaon (SC). In Tamil Nadu, the party has renominated Karti Chidambaram from Sivaganga, Manickam Tagore from Virudhunagar, S Jothimani from Karur and Vijay Vasanth from Kanniyakumari, among others. In Madhya Pradesh, the party fielded Digvijaya Singh from Rajgarh, Kantilal Bhuria from Ratlam (ST), Akshay Bam from Indore and Arun Shrivastav from Bhopal among others. With this, the Congress has now declared a total of 183 candidates for the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls beginning on April 19.
CPI-Ms Amra Ram to be INDIA candidate from Rajasthans Sikar
Jaipur: The CPI-M on Friday, March 22, announced party leader Amra Ram as its candidate from the Sikar Lok Sabha seat in Rajasthan. The Congress, which released its third list of Lok Sabha candidates on Thursday, announced it was leaving the Sikar seat for fellow INDIA bloc member, the CPI-M. The announcement was made at 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 .
CBSE disaffiliates 20 schools for enrolling dummy students; 5 of them in Delhi, 3 in UP
The disaffiliated schools include Sidhhartha Public School, Bharat Mata Saraswati Bal Mandir, National Public School, Chand Ram Public Senior Secondary School and Marigold Public School in Delhi, Loyal Public School (Bulandshahr), Trinity World School (Gautam Buddh Nagar), Crescent Convent School (Ghazipur) in Uttar Pradesh, Prince UCH Madhyamik Vidyalaya (Sikar) and Global Indian International School, (Jodhpur) in Rajasthan.
Congress names five more candidates for LS polls in Rajasthan
Jaipur, March 21 (IANS) The Congress on Thursday released its third list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, including five names for Rajasthan, which will vote in two phases on April 19 and April 26. The party also announced that it is leaving the Sikar seat for the CPI-M. As per the list []
Cong's 3rd list of LS poll candidates: Adhir from Berhampore, Kharge's son-in-law from Gulbarga
Cong's 3rd list of LS poll candidates: Adhir from Berhampore, Kharge's son-in-law from Gulbarga The Congress on Thursday released its third list of 56 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, fielding Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from Berhampore, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge's son-in-law Radhakrishna from Gulbarga and former Union minister Sushilkumar Shinde's daughter Praniti Shinde from Solapur. The Congress has left the Sikar constituency in Rajasthan for the Communist Party of India (Marxist). With this, the party has declared a total of 138 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls. In its third list, the Congress has declared candidates for two seats in Arunachal Pradesh, 11 in Gujarat, 17 in Karnataka, seven in Maharashtra, five in Rajasthan, five in Telangana, eight in West Bengal and one in Puducherry. Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Nabam Tuki has been fielded from Arunachal West. In Gujarat, the party has named Sonal Patel from Gandhinagar, Prabhaben Taviyad from Dahod (ST) and Nilesh Kumbani from Surat, among others. Kharge's son-in-law and the children of five ministers figure in the second list of 17 candidates for Karnataka announced by the Congress. It has fielded Priyanka Jarkiholi from Chikkodi, Radhakrishna from Gulbarga (SC), Vinod Asooti from Dharwad, M Rajeev Gowda from Bangalore North, Sowmya Reddy from Bangalore South, Mansoor Ali Khan from Bangalore Central and state minister Lakshmi Ravindra Hebbalkar's son Mrunal Ravindra Hebbalkar from Belguam, among others. The Congress has fielded Shahu Shahaji Chhatrapati, a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji, from Kolhapur in Maharashtra. It has also fielded Vasantrao Chavan from Nanded and Ravindra Hemraj Dhangekar from Pune. In Telangana, the party has fielded Sunitha Mahender Reddy from Malkajgiri, Danam Nagender from Secunderabad, Gaddam Vamsi Krishna from Peddapalle (SC), Gaddam Rajith Reddy from Chevella and Mallu Ravi from Nagarkurnool (SC). In Rajasthan, the Congress has fielded Sunil Sharma from Jaipur, Sangeeta Beniwal from Pali, Urmila Jain Bhaya from Jhalawar-Baran. The party has again fielded Chowdhury from Berhampore, setting up the much-anticipated clash between the veteran Congress leader and cricketer-turned-politician Yusuf Pathan, who has been fielded by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal. In West Bengal, the Congress has also fielded Pradip Bhattacharya from Kolkata North, Mostaque Alam from Maldaha North, Ali Imran Ramz (Victor) from Raiganj, Mohammed Murtoja Hossain (Bokul) from Jangipur, Nepal Mahato from Purulia and Milton Rashid from Birbhum. The party has renominated its incumbent MP from Puducherry, Ve Vaithilingam. Also, the Congress has fielded Isha Khan Choudhury, son of Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, from Maldaha South. Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury is the incumbent MP from the seat. Earlier, the Congress had announced 82 candidates in two lists for the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls beginning April 19.
Simpolo Vitrified Strengthens Position in Rajasthan with Opening of Simpolo Shopee in Sikar
Simpolo Vitrified Strengthens Position in Rajasthan with Opening of Simpolo Shopee in Sikar VMPL Sikar (Rajasthan) [India], March 20: Simpolo Vitrified, one of the leading players in the Indian ceramic industry recognized as most innovative player and pioneers of large format Sintered compact surfaces and 16/20mm thickness outdoor tiles, Kitchen platform tiles and many other categories. Simpolo Vitrified inaugurated its exclusive tiles and sanitary ware own showroom at Gravity Ceramics and Granito Jhunjhunu Bypass, Near Housing Board Crossing, Sikar, Rajasthan-332001 an area of over 2000 sq. ft. The showroom has on display Simpolo's best selling products like 1200x2400 Dry Granula first in class along with 1200x1800 Posh Surface adding style statement and enriching indoor space with 16mm Rockdeck series for outdoor applications, Kitchen top, & Glazed Vitrified tiles, etc. Simpolo also proudly announces the update of its acclaimed 'Ricco' collection with the introduction of 'Ricco-2.0'. This edition retains the signature Posh Surface, now enhanced with trend-setting subtle colour tones. Additionally, the incorporation of 'Glimmer Tech' introduces a subtle sheen to selected areas of the designs, adding a touch of elegance. This year, Simpolo introduced the groundbreaking 'StrongX' surface, setting a new standard for matte finishes with its zero shine and absence of reflection. Boasting an impressive surface hardness rating of 8, 'StrongX' delivers unparalleled durability, making it the ideal choice for high-traffic environments such as airports, malls, and institutions. Remarkably, despite its matte finish and exceptional hardness, the 'StrongX' surface remains remarkably easy to clean and maintain. This showroom meets all the tiling needs of every Classy House Builder and Architect. The showroom exhibits one of the most exquisite collections through state-of-the-art mock-up displays in appropriate ambiance. These mock-ups are designed to give customers a feel of how each tile will look in its actual use and inspire designers to go further from there. At the grand opening of the showroom, Bharat Aghara, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), expressed, 'This showroom is poised to redefine the tile shopping experience with its unparalleled richness in design and visual appeal. It's bound to compel even the most prestigious brands to reassess their competitive strategies in Sikar.' Speaking on the occasion, Ashwani Kumar (Sr. General Manager- NORTH 1) said Sikar is celebrated for its sophisticated taste and keen eye for aesthetics. Through our showroom, we aspire to cater to their demands by offering a curated selection of products tailored to their preferences and those of their discerning clientele, who always seek the pinnacle of home decor. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Rajasthan: Process to file nomination paper for LS polls' first phase to begin tomorrow
Rajasthan: Process to file nomination paper for LS polls' first phase to begin tomorrow The process for filing nomination papers for the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls will begin from Wednesday in Rajasthan, an official said. Voting will be held in 12 Lok Sabha constituencies -- Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur -- on April 19, Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said in a statement. He said that nominations can be filed till March 27. Nomination papers will be scrutinised on March 28 and names can be withdrawn till March 30. For filing nominations, general candidates will have to deposit a security deposit of Rs 25,000 and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes candidates will have to deposit Rs 12,500, the statement said. Gupta said the process of filling nominations will start from 11 am and will continue till 3 pm. Counting of votes for the elections will take place on June 4.
Rajasthan Voting Schedule: Details of Polling Phases
Jaipur: T he Election Commission has announced the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections today (Saturday). The voting process will span across 7 phases from April 19 to June 1 for all 543 seats nationwide, with the results slated for declaration on June 4. The implementation of the Moral Code of Conduct has been initiated across the country following the election announcement. In Rajasthan, the Lok Sabha elections will be conducted in two phases for all 25 seats. The voting dates for the general elections in Rajasthan are set for April 19 and April 26. The state will witness polling on 12 Lok Sabha seats in the first phase and on 13 seats in the second phase. Voting for the first phase will take place on April 19, covering Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur, Jaipur Rural, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli Dholpur, Dausa, and Nagaur. Subsequently, the second phase on April 26 will encompass Ajmer, Banswara, Barmer, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Jalore, Jhalawar-Baran, Jodhpur, Kota, Pali, Rajsamand, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, and Udaipur. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party faced significant losses nationwide, including in Rajasthan. Despite emerging victorious in the December 2018 assembly elections, Congress was defeated in all 25 parliamentary seats in Rajasthan. BJP secured 24 seats, while one seat was claimed by Hanuman Beniwal's Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, which allied with BJP. The outcome of the 2019 elections echoed the results of the 2014 general elections, where the BJP alliance swept all 25 seats in Rajasthan, sidelining the Congress. Madhya Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Schedule and Phases Unveiled by Election Commission Madras High Court Orders YouTuber to Pay 50 Lakh in Damages to Seva Bharati Trust IAS Officer Abhimanyu Singh Appointed as Officer on Special Duty to Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini
Watch the Official Teaser from Gujarati movie 31st starring Hitu Kanodia, Shraddha Dangar, Parikshit Tamaliya, Prachi Thaker, Chetan Daiya, Vandana Botadkar Vithlani, Vipul Vithlani, Prashant Barot, Parmeshwar S. Sirsikar, Akash Pandya, Tejas Davda, Jatan Pandya, Kalpesh patel, Dipika Raval, Hemang Dave, Ashish Rajput, Kinnary, Nikita sharma, Hardik Bhavsar, Anshu Joshi, Kavya Soni, Manin Trivedi, Zankhana Soni Patel, Nilesh Brahmbhatt, Krisha Limbachiya, Ronak Madgut. 31st movie is directed by Pranav Patel and produced by Bhaumik Patel, Jayesh Patel and Jayesh Parmar. To know more about 31st Teaser watch the video. Check out the latest Gujarati Teasers, new movie Teasers, trending Gujarati movie Teasers, and more at ETimes - Times of India Entertainment.
Watch the Official Trailer from Gujarati movie 31st starring Hitu Kanodia, Shraddha Dangar, Parikshit Tamaliya, Prachi Thaker, Chetan Daiya, Vandana Botadkar Vithlani, Vipul Vithlani, Prashant Barot, Parmeshwar S. Sirsikar, Akash Pandya, Tejas Davda, Jatan Pandya, Kalpesh patel, Dipika Raval, Hemang Dave, Ashish Rajput, Kinnary, Nikita sharma, Hardik Bhavsar, Anshu Joshi, Kavya Soni, Manin Trivedi, Zankhana Soni Patel, Nilesh Brahmbhatt, Krisha Limbachiya, Ronak Madgut. 31st movie is directed by Pranav Patel and produced by Bhaumik Patel, Jayesh Patel and Jayesh Parmar. To know more about 31st Trailer watch the video. Check out the latest Gujarati Trailers, new movie Trailers, trending Gujarati movie Trailers, and more at ETimes - Times of India Entertainment.
Three dead after car hits tree, catches fire in Rajasthans Sikar
The News Mill
Mumbai cops recover skull of boy day after his headless body found in mangroves
MUMBAI: Mumbai Police on Tuesday recovered the skull of a 12-year-old boy whose headless body was found in mangroves in Wadala area nearly 35 days after he went missing, an official said. The boy, identified as Sandeep Yadav, had been missing since January 28 after he went out with one Bipul Sikari, also a resident of Wadala. A day before Sandeep's headless body was found. Police said when Sandeep's father Bechai Yadav and others had confronted Sikari, he had told them that he handed over the boy to a transgender person. Sikari was thrashed and was subsequently taken to Wadala Truck Terminus police station. A cop told him to wash the blood but Sikari fled taking advantage of the circumstances, the official said. The deceased Sandeep was the only child of the Yadav couple born 14 years after their marriage. Meanwhile, police registered a case of kidnapping and continued the search for the boy. Police were informed on Monday that a headless body was lying in mangroves in the Wadala creek area, the official added. The deceased boy was identified by his father with the help of his clothes, footwear, and a 'kada' he was wearing. During a search on Tuesday, police found the skull lying 15-20 feet away from the spot where the corpse was found earlier. Police have added sections 302 (Punishment for murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of the evidence of the offence) of the Indian Penal Code and formed teams to nab Sikari. According to the official, Sikari is a resident of West Bengal and was arrested in a murder case earlier. He had jumped parole in the previous murder case and came to Mumbai, the official said.
Police Negligence Helps Murder Accused Escape in Mumbai
A case of police negligence has landed members of Mumbai's police force in the dock. The man who escaped. Bipul Sikari, was accused of kidnapping a 12-year-old boy, whose body was found on Monday.
