Post-Gaikwad meeting: Khan firm on stand not to campaign for Muslim candidates

Post-Gaikwad meeting: Khan firm on stand not to campaign for Muslim candidates Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad on Saturday met her disgruntled colleague Naseem Khan who a day earlier resigned from the party's poll campaign committee over lack of Muslim candidates. Incidentally, Khan was eyeing the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat but the Congress gave ticket to Gaikwad. Khan, a working president of the Maharashtra Congress, had lost the 2019 Assembly polls by 409 votes from Chandivali, which is part of Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat. The meeting between Gaikwad and Khan took place for 25 minutes. Talking to PTI, Khan said he was firm on his decision about not campaigning for the party. ''Varsha Gaikwad is my younger sister and can visit me anytime. But I am firm on my stand. Not just in Maharashtra, but even in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat there are no (Congress) Muslim candidates,'' he claimed. ''Where will Muslims go? They (community) say the Congress wants our votes but then why no representation. Even Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar have not fielded Muslim candidates,'' Khan said. The Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (SP) are Congress' allies in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. The Congress is yet to name its candidate for Mumbai North seat, while Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) have declared names for 21 and 10 seats, respectively, in Maharashtra.

CBI takes over probe in Bhuneshwar Sahu murder case

CBI takes over probe into killing during Chhattisgarh communal violence, registers FIR against 12 people

CBI takes over probe into youths murder in Bemetara in Chhattisgarh

Hyderabad: Following a request from the State government in Chhattisgarh, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has on Friday re-registered a case against 12 accused persons on allegations related to the murder case of a youth in Bemetara district in Chhattisgarh. With this, the CBI has taken over investigation of the case earlier registered vide FIR No. 87/2023 dated April 8, 2023 at Saja police station in Bemetara district against 12 named persons Under Sections 147, 148, 149, 336, 307, 302 and 120B of Indian Penal Code (IPC), on a complaint. It was alleged that the children studying in class seven and eight of a village were returning from school, when boys from a community working in the junk shop beat them up, on which a meeting was held. It was also alleged that when the victim along with his friends went to the locality of the said community in the afternoon, the members of the community started pelting stones from the roof. The victim fell down as a result sustained head injuries. Thereafter, the 12 accused and others allegedly killed the victim with a sharp knife or deadly weapons. During its investigation, local police found criminal evidence against 12 FIR named accused and arrested them. Subsequently, local police filed a Charge-sheet before the competent court. Presently, all the charge-sheeted accused persons are in judicial custody. The case was kept open for further investigation under Section 173(8) CrPc and has now been taken over by CBI for investigation. The 12 persons named in the FIR are as follows: Nawab Khan, Jalil Khan, Basir Khan, Mukhtar Mohd, Safiq Mohd, Abdul Khan, Akbar Khan, Mohammed Janab, Ayub Khan, Nizamuddin, Rashid Khan and Kallu Khan, all natives of Shaktighat Biranpur in Bemetara.

Chhattisgarh: Former Janpad Panchayat member hacked to death in Naxal-hit Dantewada

School Holiday: Relief news for students! Now schools will remain closed for so many days, changes in timings of many schools also

Let us tell you that in view of the scorching heat and heat wave, summer vacation has been announced from April in government and private schools of many states of the country like Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Bihar. The timing of classes has changed. School Holiday: There is relief news for school students. [] The post School Holiday: Relief news for students! Now schools will remain closed for so many days, changes in timings of many schools also first appeared on informalnewz .

Good trend in favour of BJP: Chhattisgarh CM after second phase polling

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IPL betting racket in Thane busted; three men held, search on for another

Efforts are on to trace one more accused, who partnered with the arrested trio and operated the racket from Chhattisgarh

IPL betting racket busted; three men held, search on for another

Thane: The police in Maharashtra's Thane district have busted an IPL betting racket by conducting a raid at a hotel in Bhiwandi, and arrested three persons hailing from Chhattisgarh in this connection, an official said. The operation was conducted jointly by the officials of the Special Task Force and the Anti-Extortion Cell of the Thane police's crime branch on April 25, Deputy Commissioner of Police Shivraj Patil said in a press conference on Friday evening. Efforts are on to trace one more accused, who partnered with the arrested trio and operated the racket from Chhattisgarh, he said. The police had received a tip-off that some persons were inviting people to place their bets on the ongoing IPL cricket matches. Accordingly, a raid was conducted at a hotel in Kongaon village in Bhiwandi between 7.30 pm and 11 pm on Thursday, he said. The accused trio was caught taking bets on the match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad. They were making use of the mobile applications and collected a total of Rs 11,86,811 from people, the official said. The fourth accused, who operated from Chhattisgarh, collected Rs 7,03,000 from people on the bets, he said. The trio had obtained SIM cards by forging documents. During the raids, the police seized 12 mobiles, one tablet and laptop each collectively valued at Rs 1.97 lakh from them, Patil said. Assistant Commissioner of Police Shekar Bagde said the police have launched an operation to nab the fourth who operated from Korba in Chhattisgarh. The arrested accused were identified as Shannu Lalit Berival (31), Rajat Babula Sharma (30) and Vijay Sitaram Devgan (40), he said. A first information report (FIR) was registered under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 420 (cheating), 465, 467, 468, 471 (all pertaining to forgery) and 34 (common intention) at the Kongaon police station, the official said.

PhD applications plummet in premier research institute Institute of Life Sciences

BHUBANESWAR: One of Indias premier research organisations, Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar is not getting enough PhD scholars it requires to carry out various research and development activities. The number of applicants has drastically dropped from around 258 in 2022 to 88 this year leaving many scientists and researchers worried. Several scholars, who get selected after a rigorous process either do not join or leave their research halfway. One of the 17 national institutions run by the Department of Biotechnology, ILS is known for its studies on infectious disease biology, cancer research and plant and microbial biotechnology. The institute has been a part of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), a multi-agency, pan-India network to monitor genomic variations in the novel coronavirus and carrying out genomic surveillance activities for states, including Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. Although PhD scholars are the main workforce who drive the R&D activities at ILS, the declining number of applicants and selected candidates have become a cause of concern. The institute had received over 250 applications each during the Covid pandemic period in 2020 and 2021. It is a concern for us as the applicants are declining, said a scientist. The phenomenon of dwindling PhD applications is not limited to one specific field and spans across core areas including infectious diseases, cancer biology, genetic and autoimmune disorders besides plant and microbial biotechnology. The situation was so precarious that the institute had received only 27 applications till the last date this session and the applicants went up to 88 only after the deadline was extended. The selection procedure has also come under scrutiny with many applicants flagging irregularities and questionable allocation of guides to prospective scholars. While only 49 applicants have been shortlisted this year, some meritorious students who have scored high and secured higher ranks have not been given the opportunity to work with the guides of their choice. They alleged that some candidates with lower ranks have been preferred.The selection and guide allocation are non-transparent and questionable. Apparently, malpractices during the PhD candidate selection has become a norm for last couple of years leading to disillusionment among hopeful scholars, alleged an aspirant. Sources said PhD candidates are at the mercy of guides and sometimes are subjected to harassment. A scholar had reportedly attempted to harm herself due to torture by a guide a few months back while another allegation is under investigation, sources added. ILS director Debasis Dash said the applicants in 2022 were high due to backlogs of previous year. The institute is one of the preferred organisations for PhD scholars. After Covid period many scholars moved out of the country and it may have impacted, he said. Dash, however, refuted allegations of irregularity in selection procedure. Students and guide selection is a matrix and students always have the first choice. Sometimes they leave if they do not get the guide of their choice, he added.

Lok Sabha elections: 65% turnout in 2nd phase

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

Two Maoists from Chhattisgarh surrender before police in Bhadrachalam

The duo surrendered before Bhadrachalam Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Paritosh Pankaj.

Two Maoists from Chhattisgarh surrender before police in Bhadrachalam - The Hindu

Two Maoists from Chhattisgarh surrender before police in Bhadrachalam The Hindu

Congress Top Leaders to Descend on TG for LS campaigning in May

Hyderabad: Top Congress leaders including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will campaign for the party candidates in Lok Sabha elections in the first week of May. Other national leaders will also join the campaign ahead of the May 13 polls. According to the preliminary schedule, Rahul Gandhi will campaign in North Telangana districts while Priyanka Gandhi will cover the southern parts of the state. Rahul Gandhi's election rallies are planned in combined Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad districts while Priyanka Gandhi's rallies are planned in undivided Medak, Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar districts. AICC president Kharge will also attend a few rallies in both parts of the state. The Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, Siddaramaiah and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhi, will also address a few election rallies. The former CMs of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh will also be invited to attend rallies, sources added. The Congress has set itself a target to win 14 Lok Sabha seats out of 17 in the state. In 2019, the Congress won Nalgonda, Bhongir and Malkajgiri. Having stormed back to power, the lead in several Assembly segments in the state polls is believed to help the party.

2nd Phase of LS Polls Witnesses 61 Per Cent Voter Turnout Amid EVM Glitches

NEW DELHI: The second phase of polling for Lok Sabha elections saw nearly 61 per cent voter turnout as people avoided venturing out of homes in the summer heat and voted largely in the morning and evening. Polling in the second phase covered 88 seats across 13 states and UTs amid complaints of EVM glitches and bogus voting in some states. The Election Commission of India (ECI) said polling remained largely peaceful though incidents of intimidation were reported from Manipur in the second phase too. The ECI data showed the highest voting percentage was recorded in Tripura which registered 79.25 per cent polling, followed by Manipur 77.32 per cent, while the turnout in Uttar Pradesh was at 54.85 per cent and Maharashtra at 56.63 per cent. Rajasthan registered 64.07 per cent, West Bengal 71.84 per cent, Assam 71.11 per cent, Bihar 55.08 per cent, Chhattisgarh 73.55 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir 71.91 per cent, Karnataka 68.26 per cent, Kerala 65.78 per cent, and Madhya Pradesh 57.76 per cent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the morning urged people to cast their votes in record numbers and said a high voter turnout strengthens democracy. Stressing on the importance of each vote, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi issued impassioned appeals asking people to step out and exercise their franchise. After the end of polling, Modi in a tweet said, Phase Two has been too good! Gratitude to the people across India who have voted today. The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more. Voters want NDAs good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and actor-turned-politician Arun Govil, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumars brother D.K. Suresh (Congress), and former Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy (JDS) are among the key candidates while BJPs Hema Malini, Om Birla and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seeking a hat-trick of wins from their respective constituencies. Polling was held in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 6 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Bihar, 3 seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir. After Fridays phase, polling is over in Kerala, Rajasthan and Tripura. In the first phase on April 19, polling was completed in all seats of Tamil Nadu (39), Uttarakhand (5), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Meghalaya (2), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Puducherry (1), Sikkim (1) and Lakshadweep (1).

LS polls: Brisk Polling in Chhattisgarh, Moderate in MP, Baghel Heckled

Bhopal: Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel was on Friday allegedly heckled by some BJP workers when he was visiting a booth under Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency in Chhattisgarh. Rajnandgaon along with Kanker (ST) and Mahasamund LS constituencies went to polls in the second phase polling in Chhattisgarh on Friday. The incident happened when Mr Baghel who is seeking election from Rajnandgaon seat was visiting the polling booth at Dedesera under his constituency after learning about a clash between workers of BJP and Congress there, a Congress leader in Raipur said. In his post in X, formerly Twitter, Mr Baghel alleged that he was prevented from visiting the booth by some BJP activists who indulged in hooliganism. An average voter turnout of 72.15 percent was recorded in the three LS constituencies that went to polls in the second phase, according to the chief electoral officers office in Raipur. The second phase polling in Madhya Pradesh however recorded moderate voter turnout of 54.83 percent by five pm on Friday. However, the polling percentage may increase since many voters were still seen waiting to exercise their franchise. Six LS constituencies in Madhya Pradesh went to polls in second phase polling on Friday.

NHRC seeks reports from Odisha, Chhattisgarh governments on boat tragedy in Mahanadi river

Kendrapara: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Chief Secretaries of Odisha and Chhattisgarh on the boat tragedy in the Mahanadi river which claimed eight lives. The NHRC also sought Action Taken Reports from the Superintendent of Police of Jharsuguda in Odisha and Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh on the incident. The []

Robust Voter Turnout Marks Second Phase of Indian Parliamentary Elections

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

BJP transformed 'Bimaru' Chhattisgarh into developed state: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the BJP's governance in Chhattisgarh, transforming the state from 'Bimaru' to developed in under two decades. He criticized the Congress for allegedly promoting Naxalism for political gain. Shah highlighted BJP's initiatives in food distribution, fair paddy prices, and anti-Naxal efforts. He urged support for PM Modi's re-election, promising further development and Naxalism eradication. Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh saw enthusiastic voter turnout despite the heat, emphasizing the importance of each vote in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Cgarh: Bodies of 3 Covid-19 victims cremated after 3 years

Raipur: The ghost of corona pandemic returned to haunt people here with the cremation of bodies of three people, who died of Covid-19 three years ago, in a crematorium here on Thursday evening. The three bodies, lay unclaimed in morgue of the Dr B R Ambedkar Medical College Hospital here for three years, were cremated in the Devendra Nagar crematorium here in the presence of a team of doctors, officials of local civic body and policemen. The Covid-19 protocols were followed during cremation of the three bodies, Subhra Singh, spokesman of the Dr B R Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital here said. It was a flashback of the horror of the Covid-19 tragedy when the hearse carrying the three bodies was passing through the thoroughfares of Raipur city to the crematorium, leaving passersby awestruck and terrified. The sight of apron-clad driver carrying the three bodies in hearse with two civic body officials accompanying him was literally a recreation of the horror of the Covid-19 pandemic that had left lakhs of people dead over a period of three years. A senior officer of the hospital, requesting not to be quoted, told this newspaper that the three people died of Covid-19 in 2020-21. The three bodies lay unclaimed in the morgue for three years since their families could not be traced out. The state government has recently constituted a seven-member- team of doctors to probe the matter and trace out the families of the three deceased. The team submitted its report on Tuesday, sources said. While families of two deceased, Jabbar Singh and Dukhalheen Bai, were identified, the kin of the third deceased Pankaj Kumar could not be found, sources said. The kin of Jabbar Singh, resident of Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh, and of Dukhalheen Bai, resident of Baloda Bazar in Chhattisgarh, were contacted by the police to take the bodies. They however refused to take bodies of their kin arguing that they were already given bodies in the names of their kin and had cremated them during the Covid-19 pandemic period, a senior officer of the hospital said, unwilling to be quoted. Finally, it was decided to cremate three bodies, he added. However, a bone of the deceased Pankaj Kumar has been preserved for DNA test in future when his family would be traced out, sources said.

Congress has Muslim Leagues agenda, says it will make separate law for minorities: Shah

Bemetara: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday claimed that Congress has said it would make a separate law for minorities, and asked whether the country should function on the basis of Sharia. Speaking at an election rally in Bemetara district of Chhattisgarh, he also said that those who refused invitation for the consecration of 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 .

BJP transformed Bimaru Chhattisgarh into developed state: Amit Shah

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Nearly 61% Turnout Till 5 pm As 88 Seats Vote In Lok Sabha's Phase 2 Today

Voting was held in 88 constituencies across 13 states and Union Territories amid a furious row between the Congress and the BJP over manifesto and inheritance tax. For Kerala, Rajasthan and Tripura, polling is over.Polling for the second phase was held for 20 seats in Kerala, 14 seats in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, seven in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, three each in Bengal and Chhattisgarh and one each in Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and Tripura. An average turnout of 60.7 per cent was recorded till 5 pm.

Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Voting Timing, Key Candidates And Phase-3 Polling Constituencies

The voting for these seats willbe heldbetween 7 AM to 6 PMandthe counting of votes will take place on June 4.

Poll Turnout Reaches 72.13% in Chhattisgarh's Three Lok Sabha Seats; Police Officer on Duty Ends Life

Poll Turnout Reaches 72.13% in Chhattisgarh's Three Lok Sabha Seats; Police Officer on Duty Ends Life More than 72 per cent of voters exercised their franchise till 5 pm in three Lok Sabha constituencies, all having Naxalite presence, in Chhattisgarh, where the second phase of the general elections was held on Friday, officials said While polling took place amid tight security, a policeman deployed on election duty allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a service weapon in Gariaband district during the day. Polling began in Kanker, Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituencies at 7 am and was held in different time slots. A turnout of 72.13 per cent was registered till 5 pm, an election official said. Of the eight assembly segments in the Kanker Lok Sabha constituency, polling ended at 3 pm in Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Keshkal and Kanker assembly segments, while in Sihawa, Sanjari-Balod, Daundilohara and Gunderdehi it concluded at 6 pm, he said. In the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency, polling in the Manpur-Mohla assembly segment ended at 3 pm, and in the seven other assembly segments, it concluded at 6 pm. The polling was held in the Mahasamund constituency till 6 pm, except in nine sensitive polling booths under the Bindranawagarh assembly segment, where it ended at 3 pm. The tribal-dominated Kanker seat recorded a 73.50 per cent turnout, Mahasamund 71.13 per cent and Rajnandgaon 71.87 per cent till 5 pm, the official said. The voting figure may go up as they are yet to receive the final data from several booths, he said. Among the early voters, state assembly speaker and former chief minister Raman Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, former MP Abhishek Singh cast their votes in Kawardha town (Rajnandgaon seat), BJP candidate Santosh Pandey and his wife at Sahaspur-Lohara in Rajnandgaon, BJP candidate Rupkumari Chaudhary in Harratar village in Mahasamund, BJP candidate Bhojraj Nag and his wife at Antagarh in Kanker. According to the police, a jawan of the Madhya Pradesh Special Armed Force deployed on poll duty allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle at a government school where he was stationed in Gariaband district under the Mahasamund seat. A polling booth at Sivni village in Balod district (Kanker seat) was decorated like a wedding 'mandap', with a display of rituals of traditional weddings. Brides and grooms, dressed in their wedding finery, cast their votes at several polling booths in the three seats. In all, 41 candidates, including former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and former state home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, are in the fray in three seats in a direct fight between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress. In the 2019 polls, the voter turnout in Kanker Lok Sabha seat stood at 74.27 per cent, Mahasamund at 74.51 per cent and Rajnandgaon at 76.04 per cent.

Phase 2 of Lok Sabha Polls: Over 60% Voter Turnout Till 5 PM Across 88 Constituencies | TOP UPDATES

New Delhi: The second phase of the 18th Lok Sabha Elections 2024 began at 7:00 AM on Friday in 88 Lok Sabha constituencies across 13 states and Union Territories. At 5PM 60.7% voter turnout was recorded across 13 states and Union territories. Manipur, Chhattisgarh, Bengal, Assam and Tripura recorded over 70% voter turnout while Uttar []

Congress has Muslim League's agenda, says it will make separate law for minorities: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized the Congress party during an election rally in Chhattisgarh, claiming that they intended to make a separate law for minorities, which he argued would be akin to functioning on the basis of Sharia law. He also criticized those who did not attend the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, suggesting they were prioritizing vote bank politics over national interests. Shah pledged to protect the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the prohibition of triple talaq, and the scrapping of Article 370.

Lok Sabha Phase 2: Braving heat, citizens turn up in large numbers to vote in Chhattisgarh

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PM Modi ended terrorism, safeguarded country; nobody can do in 1000 years what he has accomplished: Amit Shah in Chhattisgarh.

PM Modi ended terrorism, safeguarded country; nobody can do in 1000 years what he has accomplished: Amit Shah in Chhattisgarh. PM Modi ended terrorism, safeguarded country; nobody can do in 1000 years what he has accomplished: Amit Shah in Chhattisgarh.

50% Turnout Till 3 pm As 88 Seats Vote In Phase 2 Today

Voting is on in 88 constituencies across 13 states and Union Territories amid a furious row between the Congress and the BJP over manifesto and inheritance tax. Election will be held on all seats of Kerala, a chunk of Rajasthan and UP. Polling for the second phase is being held for 20 seats in Kerala, 14 seats in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, seven in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, three each in Bengal and Chhattisgarh and one each in Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and Tripura. An average turnout of 50 per cent has been recorded till 3 pm.

Lok Sabha Election 2024: 50% Turnout Till 3 pm As 88 Seats Vote In Lok Sabha Phase 2 Elections Today

Polling for the 2nd phase is being held for 20 seats in Kerala, 14 seats in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, seven in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, three each in Bengal and Chhattisgarh and one each in Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and Tripura. An average []

Lok Sabha Phase 2 Elections: Policeman On Poll Duty Kills Himself With Service Weapon In Chhattisgarh

Polling for the second round of the Lok Sabha elections is currently taking place in the Mahasamund Lok Sabha seat, which includes Gariaband.

Beyond Borders, A Soldiers Perspective on Naxalism

New Delhi (India), April 26:Dr. Vinod Kumar Tandonwas born on July 12, 1981 in Jaitpur village of Raipur district (presently new formed distt. Sarangarh-Bilaigarh). Author completed Graduation from Chhattisgarh College Raipur in the year 2001, Post-Graduated in Public Administration, in 2004 & qualified UGC (NET-JRF). After Completion of Education, the author selected as first Class []

If you make mistake of...: BJP's Shehzad Poonawalla warns against voting for Congress

If you make mistake of...: BJP's Shehzad Poonawalla warns against voting for Congress Cautioning people against voting for the Congress, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala on Friday said the grand old party will 'snatch 55 per cent' of their wealth and assets if they make the 'mistake' of putting their electoral trust in them. Speaking to media persons after casting his vote in Gautam Buddh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, Poonawala said, On one side, there is the mission and vision of PM Modi. This government lifted 25 crore people out of poverty over the last 10 years and is committed to bringing more out of penury if elected again. We have also underlined our commitment to building 3.5 crore more houses for the poor, new highways and expressways at double the rate while taking the total number of airports in the country to 70. On the other side, there is the Congress that neither has a mission nor vision. All it has to show to the people is corruption...one family's ambition, commission and the politics of division. They stand against Sanatana, have made a mockery of Shakti (women's power) and even questioned the existence of Lord Ram. However, the people will choose wisely again as they did in 2014 and 2019. Wading into the massive political uproar over the Congress' alleged promise of a wealth survey and redistribution, the BJP national spokesperson said, If you make the mistake of voting the Congress back, they will snatch 55 per cent of your wealth and assets. There is a lot of public anger over all this talk of wealth X-ray. Under the garb of appeasement, they want to snatch the rights of the OBC, SC and ST communities and give them to their favoured vote bank. The people will give them a befitting reply. He added that the BJP's campaign pitch of Abki baar 400 paar (let's aim for 400-plus seats) wasn't just limited to the party anymore but reflects the popular sentiment. Polling for Phase 2 of the general elections got underway at 7 am on Friday, with Tripura topping the voter turnout at 57.47 pc till 1 pm, according to data shared by the Election Commission (EC). Among the other states polling in Phase 2, Assam registered 46.31 per cent till 1 pm, Bihar 33.80 per cent, Chhattisgarh at 53.09 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir at 38.23 per cent, Kerala at 39.26 per cent and Rajasthan at 40.39 per cent. (ANI)

LS polls: People in remote Tripura district use boats to exercise their right to vote

LS polls: People in remote Tripura district use boats to exercise their right to vote Amidst the ongoing second phase of general elections, people residing in a remote area of Tripura's Dhalai district chose boats as their mode of travel for exercising their franchise rights. The Election Commission of India took to its official X handle and posted the photos of people coming by boats to cast their votes. Vote By Boat! Anchoring the choice: Voters of 44/68 Raima Valley AS remote area of Dhalai district, Tripura are coming to cast their votes by using boats, the EC said in a post. Meanwhile, there has been a substantial increase in voter turnout in Tripura, as the North-Eastern state recorded a 36.42 per cent voting percentage till 11:00 am, as per the Election Commission of India. Other states where there is high voter turnout are Chhattisgarh (35.47%), Manipur (33.32%), and West Bengal (31.25%). Maharashtra is witnessing low voter turnout, as the state has recorded 18.83 per cent. Voting percentages for other states participating in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls till 11:00 am are Assam (27.43%), Bihar (21.68%), Jammu & Kashmir (26.61%), Karnataka (22.34%), Kerala (25.61%), Madhya Pradesh (28.15%), Rajasthan (26.84%), and Uttar Pradesh (24.41%). The second phase has 88 Lok Sabha constituencies across 13 States/Union Territory including 13 in Rajasthan, 20 in Kerala, eight in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, six in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one each in Tripura, Manipur, and Jammu & Kashmir With weather conditions predicted to be within normal ranges, voters can cast their vote comfortably. For the convenience of voters, meticulous arrangements have been made at all polling stations including facilities, to deal with hot weather conditions, according to the Election Commission. According to the ECI, over 15.88 crore voters will be voting in the second phase which includes 8.08 crore male electors, 7.8 crore female electors, and 5929 third-gender electors. A total of 4553 flying squads, 5731 static surveillance teams, 1462 video surveillance teams and 844 video viewing teams are keeping surveillance round the clock to strictly and swiftly deal with any form of inducement of voters across the 1.67 lakh polling stations, as per the ECI press note. (ANI)

Policeman on poll duty kills himself in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district

GARIABAND: A jawan of the Madhya Pradesh Special Armed Force deployed on poll duty died allegedly by suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district on Friday, police said. Gariaband falls in the Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituency where polling is underway in the second phase of the general elections. The incident took place around 9.30 am at a government school in Kudedadar village under Piparchhedi police station limits where security personnel on poll duty have been stationed, a police official here said. Head Constable Jiyalal Pawar allegedly shot himself with his service rifle in a room at the school, he said. He was in the reserve team and was not deployed for active poll work, the official said. Pawar belonged to Batallion no.34 of the MP Special Armed Force, he said. Soon after being alerted, a police team reached the spot and shifted the body for the postmortem, he said. No suicide note was found at the spot, he said, adding that a probe was underway. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)

Policeman Dies by Suicide While on Poll Duty in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband District

Policeman Dies by Suicide While on Poll Duty in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband District A jawan of the Madhya Pradesh Special Armed Force deployed on poll duty died allegedly by suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district on Friday, police said. Gariaband falls in the Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituency where polling is underway in the second phase of the general elections. The incident took place around 9.30 am at a government school in Kudedadar village under Piparchhedi police station limits where security personnel on poll duty have been stationed, a police official here said. Head Constable Jiyalal Pawar allegedly shot himself with his service rifle in a room at the school, he said. He was in the reserve team and was not deployed for active poll work, the official said. Pawar belonged to Batallion no. 34 of the MP Special Armed Force, he said. Soon after being alerted, a police team reached the spot and shifted the body for the postmortem, he said. No suicide note was found at the spot, he said, adding that a probe was underway.

Ganja Seized From Coal Laden Truck At Odisha-Chhattisgarh Border, One Held

Nuapada: Police seized 1 quintal of ganja from a coal-laden truck at the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border while checking on Thursday. Because of the general elections, the police of Odisha and Chhattisgarh have tightened the security and checking of the vehicles at the border. Based on intelligence, the team of cops intercepted the coal-laden truck and seized [] The post Ganja Seized From Coal Laden Truck At Odisha-Chhattisgarh Border, One Held appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Rs 3.69 Lakh Seized From Pickup Van In Nuapada, One Detained

Nuapada: Police seized Rs 3.69 lakhs from a pickup van in Nuapada district on Friday and detained one person in this connection. Based on intelligence, the Jonk police intercepted the van and seized the money while checking. The money was being transported to Chhattisgarh from Nuapada in that van. Investigation is underway to find out [] The post Rs 3.69 Lakh Seized From Pickup Van In Nuapada, One Detained appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Around 27.5 Per Cent Voter Turnout Recorded Till 11 AM; Tripura, Chhattisgarh Lead With Over 35 Per Cent Polling

2024 Polls Phase 2: 9.3% Voter Turnout In 13 States, UTs By 9 AM

Voting commenced for 88 constituencies in the second phase of the 18th Lok Sabha elections across 13 states and union territories. Over 1,200 candidates, including 4 from Outer Manipur, are in contention. By 9 am, a 9.3% voter turnout was reported across these regions. Chhattisgarh and Manipur witnessed over 15%... The post 2024 Polls Phase 2: 9.3% Voter Turnout In 13 States, UTs By 9 AM appeared first on HW News English .

Bhatti dares BRS leaders to debate power purchase agreements

HYDERABAD : Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who also holds the Energy portfolio, gave a strong rebuttal to former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who had accused the Congress government of causing a power crisis in the state in just four months of coming to power. KCR had made certain allegations against the state government in regards to the power sector during a televised interview on Tuesday. On Thursday, Vikramarka gave point-wise replies to KCRs allegations. Vikramarka clarified that there were no power cuts in the state from December 2023. The Discoms have met the highest ever peak demand of 15,623 MW and 308.4 million units of energy in the state. The GHMC area has been supplied with a record-high power of 4,093 MW. There has been no occasion to impose power cuts in the state since December 2023. Poor quality and maintenance of lines, transformers and other assets in the last 10 years has led to interruptions due to technical faults, which are now being attended to by the Discoms, alongside strengthening of distribution infrastructure. On KCRs statement that the previous BRS government supplied electricity from Chhattisgarh for long-term requirements, Vikramarka recalled that an MoU was signed with Chhattisgarh on November 3, 2014, and the power scheduling started from May 6, 2017, to Discoms. Even though the MoU was signed for 1,000 MW, Chhattisgarh never supplied the full 1,000 MW, the deputy chief minister said. The average power supplied to Telangana Discoms was only 300 to 400 MW, he said, adding that the neighbouring state altogether stopped supplying power to our Discoms from April 2022 itself. Responding to KCRs statement that the Congress leaders resorted to spreading propaganda that the BRS government purchased power at Rs 13 per unit but it purchased power at only Rs 3.90 per unit, Vikramarka dared BRS leaders to a debate on the issue. The previous rulers had purchased power at Rs 20 per unit and it was noted in the records. I am ready for a debate on this, he said in a statement. On the BRS chiefs allegations that the present Congress government was paying more than Rs 13 per unit, Vikramarka said it was factually incorrect. The average price at which our Discoms have purchased power from the market from December, 2023 to March, 2024 is Rs 5.34 per unit, the deputy chief minister said. Responding to KCRs claims that the BRS government increased the installed power capacity from 7,700 MW to 19,000 MW, Vikramarka said that out of the total installed thermal capacity in the state, only 2,080 MW of capacity was initiated by the previous government. Of this 1,000 MW was procured from Chhattisgarh which stopped supplying power in April 2022 itself. The remaining 1,080 MW of thermal capacity was constructed at Bhadradri thermal power plant using subcritical technology at a high cost. All the remaining thermal and hydel projects were initiated by previous governments before 2014. Since December 2023, the state has supplied more power than at any time in the past, Vikramarka asserted. The deputy chief minister said the Hyderabad power islanding scheme was taken up after the 2012 grid collapse and was in place before the formation of Telangana and that the BRS could not credit for the same. Mismanagement by BRS spiked losses Vikramarka said that due to mismanagement by the BRS government, the accumulated losses incurred by Discoms increased from Rs 12K crore in 2014, to Rs 62K crore in 2023. There hasnt been a need for power cuts in the state since December 2023. However, poor line quality and maintenance over the past decade have caused occasional interruptions, he added.

Odisha: Two Naxals gunned down in Boudh, security beefed up

BHUBANESWAR/BERHAMPUR: Ahead of the elections, two Naxals were reportedly gunned down in an exchange of fire with the Special Operations Group (SOG) in Parhel reserve forest within Kantamal police limits in Boudh district on Thursday. The bodies of the two ultras, identified as Sunil and Santu, both from 8th company of CPI (Maoists) were recovered from the spot. Sunil and Santu are natives of Chhattisgarhs Sukma and Bijapur respectively. Arms and ammunition, grenades and other articles were recovered and combing operation is on, said ADG (Operations), Dev Datta Singh. The 8th company of the banned CPI (Maoist) comprises members of Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) division and other groups. Police had intelligence inputs that a group of around 12 to 14 red ultras were camping in deep forest following which the operation was launched. During the operation, an exchange of fire broke out between SOG personnel and the Naxals in the wee hours of Thursday. Security personnel seized a rifle, 17 ammunition, seven rocket-shaped barrels, wires and detonators, five handmade bombs and other articles from the spot. Police sources said the Naxals are using Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Boudh corridor to remain connected with the cadre from Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Our challenge is to check their movement in Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh axis. Security has been tightened in the region ahead of elections and adequate forces deployed to ensure polling process passes off smoothly, said a senior police officer. So far this year, seven incidents of exchange of fire have taken place in Boudh which goes to polls on May 20. Since January, the security forces have neutralised three Naxals and at least two incidents of exchange of fire each have taken place in Kandhamal and Gandhamardan Hills located between Bargarh and Balangir districts.

LS elections phase 2: Jammu, West Bengal, Assam, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh record over 60% voter turnout till 5 pm

Polling started at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm

LS elections phase 2: West Bengal, Assam, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh record over 50% voter turnout till 3 pm

Polling started at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm

Tragic Accident: Chhattisgarh Cop Killed, Colleague Injured in Accidental Firing at Former MLA's Residence

Tragic Accident: Chhattisgarh Cop Killed, Colleague Injured in Accidental Firing at Former MLA's Residence A policeman was killed and another injured due to an accidental discharge of a firearm in the bungalow of a former Congress MLA in Chhattisgarhs capital Raipur on Friday, police said. The incident occurred between 7 am and 8 am when the two personnel of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force were cleaning their service weapons in the barrack at the bungalow of former MLA Devti Karma here in the Civil Lines area, a police official said. As per preliminary information, a bullet accidentally discharged from a pistol pierced through a palm of assistant platoon commander Ram Kumar Dohare and hit the chest of head constable Ajay Singh, he said. The two were shifted to a government hospital where Singh succumbed to the bullet wound. Dohare is undergoing treatment, he said. While Singh belonged to Bijuri, Dohare hails from Bhind in Madhya Pradesh, he said. The two were posted on security duty of Ashish Karma, son of Devti Karma. Prima facie the incident seems to be a case of accidental firing. However, the investigation into it is underway, the official said. On Thursday, a District Reserve Guard (DRG) constable was killed and another policeman injured due to an accidental discharge of a firearm in the states Dantewada district.

Chhattisgarh cop killed in accidental firing at ex-MLA's bungalow

Lok Sabha polls: Tejasvi Surya offers prayers at Bengaluru residence before casting vote

Lok Sabha polls: Tejasvi Surya offers prayers at Bengaluru residence before casting vote Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Bangalore South constituency Tejasvi Surya offered prayers at his residence on Friday ahead of casting his vote for the phase 2 of the Lok Sabha polls which began earlier today. Congress has fielded Sowmya Reddy against Surya in the Bangalore South constituency. In a post on X, Tejasvi Surya appealed to the voters to cast their vote on the BJP symbol. Wishing all candidates of BJP Karnataka the very best! The people of Karnataka are nationalists. They've witnessed the State's growth under PM Narendra Modi in the last 10 years. Urge all of you to click on the lotus button and elect Modi Ji once again! Surya said. Karnataka is voting on 14 seats today in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections. Bangalore South has been a bastion for the BJP, the party has not been defeated from here since 1991. The late Ananth Kumar was elected to the Lok Sabha 6 times from this seat. In 2019, BJP's current Member of Parliament, Tejasvi Surya, secured victory with a significant margin of 27.87 per cent against Congress' BK Hariprasad and became the youngest BJP MP in Lok Sabha. In 2014, the seat was won by BJP's Ananth Kumar, defeating INC's Nandan Nilekani by a substantial margin. Earlier today, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy on Friday cast his vote at the BES polling station in Bengaluru. His wife, Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty, also cast her vote in Bengaluru today. Sudha Murty urged people, specifically youngsters, to exercise their right to vote and choose their leaders. The second phase has 88 Lok Sabha constituencies, including all 20 seats in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, six in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one each in Tripura, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir. Initially, 89 constituencies were scheduled to go to polls today. However, the EC later announced that the voting in Madhya Pradesh's Betul would not take place during the second phase due to the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate. As many as 1202 candidates, including 1098 males and 102 females, are in the fray.There are 8.08 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters among the electorate who will decide the fate of candidates. As many as 5,929 third-gender electors will also exercise their franchise in the second phase of the polls. The first phase of voting for the seven-phased Lok Sabha election, the world's largest electoral exercise, was held on April 19 in 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs. According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout registered was over 62 per cent. The third phase election will be held on May 7. (ANI)

Will block unholy alliance between BJP & CPM: Congress' K Muraleedharan

Will block unholy alliance between BJP & CPM: Congress' K Muraleedharan Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency candidate K Muraleedharan on Friday cast his vote at Jawahar Nagar LP School in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and said that the Congress will block unholy alliance between BJP & CPM in the state. While speaking to the reporters, K Muraleedharan said that the party will win all the seats in the state. We are going to win all 20 seats in Kerala. Unfortunately, there is a deal between CPM and BJP in Kerala. The news has come out that EP Jayarajan (LDF convener) met BJP leader Prakash Javadekar. Their link is clear. We will win but we will block an unholy alliance between BJP & CPM in Kerala. Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, where high-profile candidates are in the fray this time, is going to witness a fierce triangular contest between BJP, Congress, and the CPI. Congress has fielded K Muraleedharan, son of late Congress doyen K Karunakaran whose pocket borough was once Thrissur, the ruling Left Democratic Front nominated former Agriculture Minister in the previous LDF government in the state, VS Sunilkumar. The constituency, where both Congress-led UDF and CPM-led LDF interchangeably won multiple times in the past seven decades, is currently held by Congress. All 20 seats will vote in the second phase in Kerala. These include Kasaragod, Kannur, Vatakara, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ponnani, Palakkad, Alathur, Thrissur, Chalakudy, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Mavelikkara, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Attingal, and Thiruvananthapuram. The second phase has 88 Lok Sabha constituencies across 13 States/Union Territory including 13 in Rajasthan, 20 in Kerala, eight in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, six in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one each in Tripura, Manipur, and Jammu & Kashmir According to the ECI, over 15.88 crore voters will be voting in the second phase which includes 8.08 crore male electors, 7.8 crore female electors, and 5929 third-gender electors. A total of 4553 flying squads, 5731 static surveillance teams, 1462 video surveillance teams and 844 video viewing teams are keeping surveillance round the clock to strictly and swiftly deal with any form of inducement of voters across the 1.67 lakh polling stations, as per the ECI press note. (ANI)

Do not get swayed by any diversionary tactics and lies: Kharge to voters

New Delhi: Amid polling for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday urged voters not to fall for any 'diversionary tactics' of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), adding that it is an election to protect democracy from the clutches of dictatorship. Taking to his official X handle, Kharge posted, We, the people of India - this soul of the Constitution of India, should reverberate in your hearts and minds before you push the voting button. Do not forget that this is not an ordinary election. It is an election to protect Democracy from the clutches of Dictatorship. To all my dear citizens, from 89 Constituencies in 13 States and UTs, do not get swayed by any diversionary tactics and lies. Always make your vote count. Reminding people of the party's salient promises in its manifesto or 'Nyay Patra', the Congress national president also called on the people to come out in record numbers and exercise their democratic right. For it may change the lives of 140 Crore Indians by bringing the paradigm of YUVA NYAY NAARI NYAY KISAAN NYAY SHRAMIK NYAY HISSEDARI NYAY Imagine a future where Justice, Freedom, Equality and Liberty are guaranteed. A future where rapid inclusive growth and transformative policies are guaranteed. My dear first-time voters, cut the clutter and distance the din, for you are the real changemakers and I welcome each one of you in this movement for Democracy. Everyone, please come out and VOTE in large numbers. BADLEGA BHARAT, JEETEGA INDIA, Kharge posted on X. 'We, the people of India' - this soul of the Constitution of India, should reverberate in your hearts and minds, before you push the voting button. Do not forget that this is not an ordinary election. It is an election to protect Democracy from the clutches of Dictatorship. Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 26, 2024 Voting began at 7 am on Friday. The Lok Sabha election is being held in seven phases till June 1 and votes will be counted on June 4. According to the Election Commission of India, 88 constituencies across 13 states and union territories are set to go for the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls in 2024. Initially, 89 constituencies were scheduled to go to polls today. However, the EC later announced that the voting in Madhya Pradesh's Betul would not take place during the second phase due to the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate. Kerala has the highest number of constituencies as all 20 seats will poll today, followed by Karnataka with 14 seats. The other states that will go to poll on Friday include Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tripura, and Manipur. The poll for the Jammu parliamentary seat will also be held on Friday. As many as 1202 candidates, including 1098 males and 102 females are in the fray. There are 8.08 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters among the electorates who will decide the fate of candidates. As many as 5,929 third-gender electors will also exercise their franchise in the second phase of polls. The first phase of voting for the seven-phased Lok Sabha election, the world's largest electoral exercise, was held on April 19 in 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs. According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout registered was over 62 per cent. The third phase election will be held on May 7.

Lok Sabha polls: Chhattisgarh CM urges voters to come out in large numbers in second phase

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Election is country's pride, voters must participate in large numbers: CEC

New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has said that adequate arrangements have been made for smooth polling in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls and urged voters to participate in the festival of democracy in maximum numbers. In an interview with ANI, Kumar said various amenities have been provided to voters in polling booths and adequate security measures have been taken. We have made complete preparations for today's elections. Polling booths have been decorated. There is no possibility of any kind of violence at any booth nor has any such report been received, he said. He said voters must participate in large numbers in the voting festival. Voters should come to vote without any worry. The festival of democracy is the pride of the country and voters have to participate in it, Kumar said. He said there are facilities such as drinking water and toilets in the booths. All that is needed is that voters have to vote in maximum numbers. There are complete security arrangements. Everyone must come to vote today, he said. The CEC also referred to the meeting of the poll panel with officials of the India Meteorological Department, National Disaster Management Authority and Health Ministry ahead of the second phase of Lok Sabha polls. Before the second round of voting, we had called a meeting of the National Disaster Management Authority, Meteorological Department, and health officials. We also spoke to Chief Electoral Officers to assess the weather conditions, he said IMD has forecast normal weather for phase two Lok Sabha polls. He said recent rains have also lessened the impact of heat. Kumar said voters are like ambassadors of the Election Commission when they fulfil their duty to vote. Our request and appeal to the voters is to come out of their homes in large numbers and vote. Women, youth, elders, and all should come out of their homes and vote, he emphasized, expressing hope for high voter turnout. The voting for 88 seats across 13 states and UTs will be held in the second phase on April 26. The first phase of voting in 102 constituencies across 21 states/UTs was held on April 19. Five seats in Assam and Bihar, three in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, 14 in Karnataka, 20 in Kerala, seven in Madhya Pradesh, eight in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 13 in Rajasthan and one each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir will be voting in the second phase. The results will be announced on June 4.

Polling Begins for Bypolls in Three Lok Sabha Seats of Chhattisgarh

Polling Begins for Bypolls in Three Lok Sabha Seats of Chhattisgarh Polling began Friday morning in Naxal-affected Kanker, Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituencies in Chhattisgarh in the second phase of general elections.The polling comes days after 29 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Kanker district on April 16. Altogether 41 candidates, including former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and former state home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, are in the fray in a direct fight between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress. Of the eight assembly segments in Kanker Lok Sabha constituency, polling began in Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Keshkal and Kanker assembly segments at 7 am and will end at 3 pm, an election official said. In four other assembly segments, Sihawa, Sanjari-Balod, Daundilohara and Gunderdehi, the polling began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm. In Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency, except Manpur-Mohla assembly segment where polling is being held from 7 am to 3 pm, polling in all other seven assembly segments began at 7 am and will end at 6 pm. The polling time in the Mahasamund constituency is 7 am to 6 pm, except in nine sensitive polling booths under Bindranawagarh assembly segment, where it is being held from 7 am to 3 pm. In Kanker Lok Sabha constituency, extra vigil is being maintained by security forces in view of the Naxal threat, the official said. Of the 41 candidates, 15 are in Rajnandgaon, 17 in Mahasamund and 9 in Kanker Lok Sabha seat. There are 52,84,938 eligible voters, including 26,05,350 men, 26,79,528 women and 60 members of the third gender in the three seats. There are 7,363 service voters, 51,306 'divyang' (differently-abled) voters, 1,62,624 voters in the age group of 18 to 19 years, 16,643 in the age group of above 85 years of age and 498 voters above 100 years of age. Altogether 6,567 polling booths have been set up in the constituencies and of them, 330 will be 'Sangwari' (managed by women personnel) booths, 120 'adarsh' polling booths while 28 booths will be managed by 'diyangjan' and 117 by youth. While 23 polling booths have been categorised as vulnerable, 458 have been marked as critical, the official said. A total of 32,907 polling personnel have been deployed for the second phase. Helicopters were used to ferry 72 polling personnel for 9 polling booths of remote and sensitive areas of Kanker seat and 15 polling personnel in two polling booths of Mahasamund seat on Wednesday. The 6,556 polling teams were dispatched to their destinations through buses on Thursday, the official said. Voting for all the 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh is being held in three phases. Naxalite-hit Bastar (ST) constituency witnessed polling in the first phase on April 19. Seven seats will go to polls during the last phase in Chhattisgarh on May 7. The high-profile Rajnandgaon seat is seeing a contest between BJP MP Santosh Pandey and Congress' Bhupesh Baghel, former chief minister and incumbent MLA. The ruling BJP has dropped its sitting MPs in Mahasamund and Kanker seats and fielded former MLAs Rupkumari Chaudhary and Bhojraj Nag there respectively. Opposition Congress has fielded former state home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu in Mahasamund and senior leader Biresh Thakur in Kanker seat. Thakur lost the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Kanker. In 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP won 9 seats while Congress bagged two seats in Chhattisgarh. The high-octane campaign for the second phase of polls in Chhattisgarh saw acrimonious exchanges between the main rivals BJP and Congress over issues like corruption, Constitution and poll promises of the two parties. The saffron party's electioneering for the second phase saw rallies by prominent leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while for the Congress, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led the campaigning. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge did not make an appearance in the campaign for the second phase of general elections in the state. Modi and Shah targeted Congress over its leaders remarks on the Constitution and on that partys leaders skipping the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who addressed two rallies, mounted a counter offensive claiming her party was endeavouring to protect the interest of the poor while the BJP-led Central Government wanted to change the Constitution and curtail people's rights.

From Rahul Gandhi, Hema Malini to Arun Govil: Key candidates in fray in Lok Sabha polls Phase 2

The second phase has 88 Lok Sabha constituencies including all 20 seats in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, six in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal and one each in Tripura, Manipur and J&K.

Three new members sworn-in as Rajya Sabha MPs

NEW DELHI, Apr 25: Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday administered oath to three newly-elected members of the BJP. The new members, who took oath are Devendra Pratap Singh from Chhattisgarh, Tejveer Singh from Uttar Pradesh and Mahendra Bhatt from Uttarakhand. Vice-President of India and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankhar administered oath to the elected Members of Rajya Sabha in Parliament House today, the chairmans office said while sharing pictures of the oath taking. (PTI) The post Three new members sworn-in as Rajya Sabha MPs appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

LS polls phase-2 to decide fate of 1210 candidates including Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi, April 25 (UNI) Fate of 1210 candidates including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to be decided as electors spread across 89 constituencies in13 states/UTs cast their votes in phase two of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls on Friday. In this phase, elections are being held in Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, J&K, Karnataka, Kerala,... The post LS polls phase-2 to decide fate of 1210 candidates including Rahul Gandhi first appeared on Central India's Premier English Daily .

LS polls 2024: Stage set for round two; voting across 13 states and UTs on April 26

The second phase of the 18th Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will take place tomorrow, on April 26 (Friday). Voters in 88 Lok Sabha constituencies across 13 states and Union Territories will participate in this significant event, which stands as the largest festival of democracy in the world. This phase includes all 20 seats in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, 8 each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, 6 in Madhya Pradesh, 5 each in Bihar and Assam, 3 each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 each in Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, and Manipur. The first phase of the Lok Sabha polls had covered 102 seats spread across 21 states, with the Election Commission recording a voter turnout of around 62%. HIGHLIGHTS | LS polls 2024: Phase 1 voting ends with 62.37% nationwide turnout, TN records 72%

Bhatti Dares KCR to Debate Power Situation

Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Thursday slammed former chief minister and BRS president K. Chandrashekar Rao for spreading lies about the power sector in Telangana nd asked him if he was ready for a debate on the power situation. Bhatti, who holds the power portfolio, said in a statement that Rao was making several claims on the sector and blaming the Congress government. He says Congress leaders were accusing the then BRS government of buying electricity from Chhattisgarh at Rs 13 per unit while it paid paid Rs 3.90 per unit. Te actual price that the BRS government paid was Rs 20 per unit. I am ready for a debate on this with Rao, he said. He said that Rao was also lying on other issues related to the power sector including claims that soon after the BRS lost power, electricity cuts had become a norm. There have been no power cuts since the Congress came to power in December. Poor quality and maintenance of lines, transformers and other assets in the last 10 years led to interruptions due to technical faults which are now being attended to by discoms, Bhatti said. The Deputy Chief Minister said there was also no truth in the claim that it was the BRS government which had transformed Hyderabad into a power island. This scheme, Bhatti said, was taken up after the 2012 grid collapse and was in place before the formation of Telangana.

LS polls: BJP intensifies drive to boost voting, Ag operation cause of dip in first phase polling ? Shah to step up campaign in MP today

Bhopal: BJP has intensified its drive to boost voting in the coming three phases of Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh in the wake of the dip in polling percentage in the maiden round of elections in the state, held on April 19. Senior BJP leaders and cluster in-charges of the party have intensified the drive to mobilize the workers, particularly the booth level cadres, to start door-to-door campaigns to draw the voters to the polling booths on the polling day, sources said on Thursday. The party leaders have been holding workers meets at district, block and panchayat levels to mobilise grass root level workers to intensify the mass contact programme with an objective to increase the polling percentage in the next three phases of elections, a senior BJP functionary said. Sources said that the BJP leaders have been asked to focus on the national issues, instead of local issues, during their mass contact programme. State BJP secretary Rajneesh Agrawal however claimed that the decrease in voting in the first phase of elections in Madhya Pradesh has not impacted the BJPs vote share. He cited the increase in voting percentage in the first phase polling in the neighbouring BJP- ruled states like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to drive his point home. Even the polling percentage in Bastar (ST) seat, the lone Lok Sabha constituency that went to polls in the first phase polling in Chhattisgarh, has also not witnessed a dip in voting, he said. The Congress was missing in many places and even there were no polling agents of Congress in many booths in the first phase of elections in Madhya Pradesh. The dip in voting in the first phase polling was due to decrease in vote share of Congress, Mr Agrawal claimed. Six LS seats went to polls in the first phase polling in Madhya Pradesh on April 19. My study on the matter has led to disclosure that the Jewar festival which begins on the first day of the Navratri in some tribal belts of Madhya Pradesh marking the sowing season and continues for nine days had contributed to the dip in polling in these areas. Besides, the summer heat as well as the complacency in the BJP cadres induced by the partys 400 (seats) plus slogan has also contributed to it, the BJP functionary told this newspaper, unwilling to be quoted. In Chhattisgarh, the BJP has intensified the mass contact programme to further increase polling in the next two phases of elections in the state. Meanwhile, Union home minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive here late on Thursday night. He is scheduled to address two public meetings in the state on Friday.

3.2-magnitude earthquake hits Haryana's Sirsa

CHANDIGARH: Sirsa and adjoining areas experienced mild tremors Thursday evening after a 3.2-magnitude earthquake hit the Haryana district. The earthquake struck at 6.10 pm at a depth of 10 km, the National Center for Seismology said. On April 4, tremors were felt in parts of north India as a 5.3-magnitude earthquake hit Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. on Wednesday evening, a 2.6 magnitude tremor was recorded in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district. Mild tremor felt in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh

Ex-IAS Officer Anil Tuteja Accused of Masterminding Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam: ED

Ex-IAS Officer Anil Tuteja Accused of Masterminding Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam: ED Retired IAS officer Anil Tuteja is the ''kingpin'' of the liquor syndicate that was operating in Chhattisgarh leading to generation of proceeds of crime worth more than Rs 2,100 crore, the Enforcement Directorate alleged on Thursday. Tuteja, a 2003-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was arrested by the federal anti-money laundering agency in the state capital Raipur last week and is currently in the ED custody. Probe found that Tuteja is the ''kingpin'' of the liquor syndicate operating in Chhattisgarh, the agency claimed in a statement. ''Evidence documenting his direct involvement in managing the state administration for unhindered operations of the syndicate have been gathered and he was also found to be actively engaged with Anwar Dhebar, another co-accused in this matter,'' it said. Anwar Dhebar is the elder brother of Raipur Mayor and Congress leader Aijaz Dhebar. The agency claimed it has gathered evidence that while Tuteja ''was not officially a part of the Excise Department, yet he was actively involved with operations of this department.'' Digital evidence relating to receipt of Rs 14.41 crore by Tuteja has also been discovered during investigation, it said. The agency added that his role in the appointment of Arunpati Tripathi, a co-accused in the case, as the managing director of Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited has also allegedly been found. The ''complicit'' actions of Tuteja resulted in ''massive loss'' to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of the liquor syndicate with more than Rs 2,100 crore illegal proceeds of crime, the ED claimed, adding that Tuteja also received a ''substantial share in this loot''. The IAS officer retired from service last year. His last designation was that of joint secretary in the Industry and Commerce Department of Chhattisgarh. The ED had filed a fresh money laundering case in the alleged liquor scam case after the Supreme Court recently quashed its earlier FIR that was based on an Income Tax Department complaint. The apex court ruled there was no scheduled offence, and hence the money laundering case does not stand. The agency, just before this ruling, had shared details of its probe in the case with the Chhattisgarh EOW/ACB seeking registration of a criminal case and once they filed a FIR, the ED registered a new money laundering case taking cognisance of that complaint. The EOW/ACB registered this FIR on January 17, about a month after the BJP defeated the incumbent Congress government in the assembly polls, and named 70 individuals and companies, including former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma, former chief secretary Vivek Dhand and others. As per the ED's estimate, the ''proceeds of crime'' in the case stands at Rs 2,161 crore. Money was ''illegally'' collected from ''every'' bottle of liquor sold in Chhattisgarh and evidence of ''unprecedented'' corruption and money laundering of Rs 2,000 crore generated by an alcohol syndicate led by Anwar Dhebar has been unearthed, the ED had alleged. The alleged liquor scam, which ran between 2019 and 2022, was perpetrated in three broad ways, as per the ED. First was ''commission'' where bribe was collected from the distillers per bottle of liquor procured from them by the CSMCL (the state body for purchase and sale of liquor). The second was 'kacha' (off the books) sale of country liquor where ''not even a single rupee reached the state exchequer and all the sale proceeds were pocketed by the syndicate.'' This country liquor was sold from the state-run shops only, the ED alleged. The third part was ''bribes'' taken from distillers to allow them to make a ''cartel'' and have fixed market share apart from commission from FL-10A License holders who were introduced to earn in the foreign liquor segment, the ED said.

ED arrests ex-IAS Anil Tuteja in Chhattisgarh liquor scam case

The News Mill

NGT takes Suo motu cognizance of matters related to illegal sand mining in Bilaspur

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took Suo Motu cognizance of the matter related to illegal sand mining in different places in the Bilaspur District of Chhattisgarh. The Petition is registered suo-moto on the basis of the news item appearing in the daily newspaper dated 29.03.2024. As per the news item, Revenue and Mining Departments have []

Security Forces Neutralize Two Maoists in Odisha Encounter

Security Forces Neutralize Two Maoists in Odisha Encounter At least two Maoists were killed early on Thursday in a gun battle between red rebels and security forces in Odisha's Boudh district, police said. The exchange of fire between Maoists and personnel of Odishas elite Special Operation Group (SOG) took place in Parhel reserve forest under the Kantamal Police Station limits, Additional DG (Operation) Dev Datta Singh said. Two bodies of Maoists along with arms, grenades and other articles were recovered from the operation site, he said. The operation was going on till Thursday morning. The deceased Maoists were identified as Sunil and Santu, both belonging to the 8th Company of Maoists, Singh said. Sunil hailed from Sukuma in Chhattisgarh and Santu from Bijapur of the state, he said. ''During the operations, around 40 red rebels in the forest opened fire targeting the SOG personnel who retaliated. No report of injury of security personnel was received,'' another officer said. The operation was conducted ahead of the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the state between May 13 and June 1.

Tamannaah Bhatia Summoned by Maharashtra Cyber Cell in FairPlay App Probe

Tamannaah Bhatia has been summoned by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell for questioning regarding her alleged involvement in the illegal streaming of IPL matches on the Fairplay App. She is expected to appear for interrogation on April 29. Sanjay Dutt was also associated with the case, but due to his prior commitments, he was unable to attend the questioning session on April 23. Instead, he requested a different date to record his statement. FairPlay, a subsidiary of the Mahadev online gaming app, has been linked to illegal betting on various live games such as cricket, poker, card games, and tennis. The app made headlines last year when actors Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, who endorsed the app, were summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning. The app's reputation worsened following a lavish 200-crore wedding in the UAE last year, allegedly funded entirely in cash. The Mahadev Online betting app is operated from Dubai by Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, both from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. They used various strategies such as creating new websites and closed chat groups to attract new customers and ran paid advertisements on social media platforms. The ED has been investigating the money laundering case linked to the Mahadev app for over a year, alleging the involvement of high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats from Chhattisgarh. The estimated proceeds of crime in this case amount to approximately Rs 6,000 crore. Nora Fatehi Criticizes Paparazzi's Inappropriate Photography Mithun Chakraborty and Usha Uthup Receive Padma Bhushan When Dharmendra Fired a Real Bullet at Amitabh Bachchan, Big B Narrowly Escaped Death

ECI Issues Notices to PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi for Alleged Model Code Violation

The Election Commission of India (ECI) took cognizance today of the alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The poll panel has requested responses from both the BJP and Congress by April 29. Both parties accused each other's campaign speeches of inciting hatred against Rahul Gandhi and PM Modi, respectively. The ECI invoked Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act and held party presidents accountable as the first step to manage star campaigners. The ECI shared information regarding the alleged Model Code violation by PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi with BJP President JP Nadda and Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge. They have been asked to respond by 11 am on April 29. While issuing the notice, the ECI stated that campaign speeches by individuals in high positions have more serious consequences. The poll watchdog added that political parties must take primary and increasing responsibility for the conduct of their candidates, especially star campaigners. Congress filed a complaint with the Election Commission on April 21 regarding Prime Minister Modi's comments during a rally in Banswara, Rajasthan. At the rally, PM Modi stated that if Congress came to power, it might distribute the country's wealth among intruders and those who have more children. The Prime Minister repeated the accusations in later rallies in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Rahul Gandhi has been promising at his election rallies that, should Congress come to power, they will survey and redistribute the country's wealth. This was the point that PM Modi criticized. Rahul Gandhi's political mentor, Sam Pitroda, recently suggested implementing an inheritance tax in India. He cited the example of the United States, where 55% of a person's estate is taken by the government upon their death, with only 45% going to their children. In India, critics argue that such a policy would lead to an increase in black market activity, as people would begin hiding their assets and accumulating black money. They question why someone would want to hand over their lifelong earnings to the government instead of their children. Social media users have expressed that the government should support people's progress and create opportunities for the poor, rather than focus on redistributing wealth. They also criticize the Congress party for its opposition to counting illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants in India while emphasizing the redistribution of wealth. Mob Lynched Woman for BJP Vote in Tamil Nadu: DMK's Rising Intolerance? Indian Ambassador in Ireland Faces Backlash for Supporting Modi Regime Ruling PNC Secures Super-Majority in Maldivian Parliament

BJP strives to retain Rajnandgaon LS seat in Chhattisgarh as ex-CM from Congress poses challenge

BJP's Santosh Pandey is seeking his second straight term from Rajnandgaon, while the opposition Congress has fielded its firebrand leader and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel against him. Rajnandgaon is among three seats in Chhattisgarh which will go to polls on Friday.

2024 Lok Sabha elections: Phase 2 voting on April 26. Here's what's open and what's closed

The elections will be held in all 20 seats of Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Manipur, Tripura, and Jammu and Kashmir.

Battle for Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat: BJP seeks to fend off challenge from ex-CM

Battle for Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat: BJP seeks to fend off challenge from ex-CM The Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat in Chhattisgarh, which showed the influence of an erstwhile royal family in electoral politics and the journey of several powerful politicians in the state, is witnessing an interesting fight this time, with the sitting MP locking horns with a former chief minister. BJP's Santosh Pandey is seeking his second straight term from Rajnandgaon, while the opposition Congress has fielded its firebrand leader and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel against him. Rajnandgaon is among three seats in Chhattisgarh which will go to polls on Friday. This Lok Sabha seat derived its name from Rajnandgaon district, which is popularly known as 'sanskardhani' (cultural capital) of Chhattisgarh. But this seat has also been a witness to a member of Parliament losing his membership after being found guilty in the infamous 2005 cash-for-query scandal. Members of the erstwhile Khairagarh royal family have won the Rajnandgaon seat seven times as candidates of the Indian National Congress since the formation of the parliamentary constituency in 1957. So far, the Congress has won this seat in general elections eight times and once in a bypoll, while the BJP has won the poll seven times and the Janata Party once. Raja Virendra Bahadur Singh won the election from this seat in 1957 and 1962, followed by Rani Padmavati of the same family in 1967 as Congress candidates. However, in 1971, Congress sprung a surprise and fielded Ramsahai Pandey, then a businessman from Mumbai (then Bombay), prompting Padmavati Devi to rebel. But Pandey won the election. The equation changed in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections as Madan Tiwari of the Janata Party emerged victorious in this seat. Tiwari defeated Shivendra Bahadur Singh, a scion of the Khairagarh royal family. In 1980, the Khairagarh royal family made a comeback with Shivendra Bahadur Singh winning the seat, and retaining it in 1984. In the 1989 elections, BJP fielded Dharamlal Gupta, a financially-sound businessman from Durg district, in this seat against Congress' Shivendra Bahadur Singh. The slogan of 'Paise se paisa takrayega' (money will take on money) was famous during the electioneering. Gupta won that election. In the Lok Sabha elections in 1991, Shivendra Bahadur again grabbed this seat. In 1996, BJP's Ashok Sharma emerged victorious and in 1998, Congress' influential leader and former chief minister Motilal Vora was elected as the MP from Rajnandgaon. BJP fielded Raman Singh, then a low-profile leader and a former MLA, against Vora in the 1999 elections. Singh defeated Vora, following which he was made union minister of state in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government at the Centre. Later, Singh served as the chief minister of Chhattisgarh thrice (2003, 2008 and 2013) and he is presently the speaker of state assembly. Since then, the BJP has also never lost the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat in the last four general elections after formation of the state. But in 2007, the Congress won this seat in a bypoll. BJP's Pradeep Gandhi won this seat in 2004, Madhusudan Yadav in 2009, Abhishek Singh (son of Raman Singh) in 2014 and Santosh Pandey in 2019. Gandhi lost his membership after he was found guilty in the 2005 cash-for-query scam. A sting operation against the then MPs was conducted by two journalists which was telecast on a private news channel on December 12, 2005. The sting, which showed them taking cash for raising questions in Parliament, came to be known as the cash-for-query scam. Gandhi's expulsion necessitated the bypoll in Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat in which Devvrat Singh, a member of Khairagarh royal family, of Congress emerged victorious. Political analyst Purushottam Tiwari said that after Madan Tiwari was elected as MP from Rajnandgaon (in 1977 as Janata Party candidate), the political equations of this seat changed. People started looking at alternatives other than the Congress which gradually lost its hold over Rajnandgaon. The grand old party has tried its one of strongest and influential OBC leaders Baghel in this backward caste-dominated constituency this time, he said. However, caste factor has never influenced the outcome of the poll in this seat. During the last assembly polls, the BJP aggressively campaigned on the issue of Hindutva in Kawardha district falling in Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat, which virtually benefited the party, he said. This time, too, the Hindutva card is going to play a crucial role for the ruling party, he added. An alleged incident of removal of religious flags from a thoroughfare in Kawardha town in 2021 that had resulted in a clash between the two communities was extensively raised by BJP during assembly polls. Congress spokesperson Rupesh Dubey said the results of previous Lok Sabha elections have not been in favour of his party, but this time it is in a strong position. Exuding confidence in the party's victory, BJP spokesperson Neelu Sharma said, ''We do not consider any election easy. But the equation in Rajnandgaon seat is in favour of BJP.'' ''There is resentment among Congressmen themselves about not giving opportunities to local leaders. We had won only one assembly seat of the eight assembly constituencies in 2018, but won Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat in 2019 by more than one lakh votes,'' he said. A total of 18,68,021 voters, including 9,29,679 male, 9,38,334 female and 8 from third gender, will be able to exercise their franchise in this seat where 2,330 polling booths have been set up.

2nd phase: Rahul, Hema in fray as 89 seats go to polls

In the second phase of Lok Sabha polls on Friday, polling is scheduled in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, eight seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, seven in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, three seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir.

After Chhattisgarh, Anti-Maoist Operation Now In Odisha: Two Naxals Killed, One Injured In Encounter With Security Forces

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

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

2 Maoists killed in Odishas Kantamal forests, a few others retreat to forests

Bhubaneswar: Two suspected Maoist cadres were on Thursday eliminated and some others were feared injured during anti-insurgency operations in Odishas Kantamal forests. According to reports, security personnel launched a search operation after they got intelligence inputs that a group of Left-Wing Extremism elements had gathered in forest near the Padel Dam under Kantamal block in Bouth district. As soon as the security personnel entered the forests, the rebels assembled in a camp opened fire at them, prompting the former to retaliate. In the exchange of fire, two radicals were killed on the spot while others fled to the dense forests. Boudh district in Odisha has of late become a hotspot of Maoist activities. Maoist cadres from Chhattisgarh are believed to be hiding in the region and training the local youths to join their organization. Details are awaited.

Chhattisgarh Security Personnel Killed In Accidental Firing In Dantewada

A District Reserve Guard (DRG) constable was killed and another policeman injured due to an accidental discharge of a firearm in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, officials said on Thursday.

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

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

Telangana: Seethakka, MLA visit home of Maoist killed in encounter

BHUPALPALLY: Days after Maoist leader Siripelli Sudhakar, alias Sankaranna, was shot dead in an encounter in Chhattisgarh district, Panchayat Raj Minister Danasari Anasuya, alias Seethakka, along with Jayashankar Bhupalpally MLA Gandra Satyanarayana visited his residence in Challagarriga village of Chityal mandal and consoled his family on Wednesday. Sudhakar and his wife Sumana, alias Rajitha, were shot dead in a major encounter that took place on the Kanker border of Chhattisgarh on April 16. Sudhakar has gone underground decades ago, and married Sumana in the forest. On Wednesday, Seethakka and Satyanarayana reached Challagariga village to console Sudhakars mother Rajapochamma. They assured her that the Congress will help the family in all possible ways. The Congress government will help Sudhakars family, said Seethakka after paying tribute to the couple.

Congresss loot wont stop even after you die: Modi

RAIPUR/BHOPAL/BENGALURU: Congress leader Sam Pitrodas faux pas on inheritance tax in the US gave Prime Minister Narendra Modi fresh ammunition on Wednesday to attack the party over its proposed wealth redistribution. Indian Overseas Congress chairman Pitroda, in an interview, said that in the US, 55% of a persons wealth is grabbed by the government when he or she dies and only 45% goes to children. He called it an interesting law. Addressing a campaign rally in Chhattisgarh, Modi cited Pitrodas comment and said the Congress will loot people during their lifetime and even after death. Congress ka mantra hei Congress ki loot zindagi ke saath bhi, zindagi ke baad bhi, Modi said borrowing the Life Insurance Corporations famous tagline. To control the damage, the Congress distanced itself from Pitrodas comments. Party leader Jairam Ramesh said Pitrodas comment on inheritance tax does not reflect the partys views on the subject. I would like to categorically state that Congress has no plan on the inheritance tax, Ramesh said. In Madhya Pradeshs Sagar and Betul, both reserved constituencies for tribals, Modi recalled a three-decade-old Congress decision in Karnataka to add all Muslim castes to the backward caste basket. Congress has always been working at snatching the rights of SCs, STs and OBCs to bolster its vote bank, he charged. In his sharp riposte, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described it as an irresponsible statement. Siddaramaiah said based on the Chinnappa Reddy Commission report and taking consideration of the social and economic status, Muslims were brought under 2B of the OBC category in the state. But this has been there for the past three decades. During this period, the BJP in the state or Centre never questioned it, he pointed out. My own views Congress leader Sam Pitroda said his views on inheritance has nothing to do with the Congress party. I mentioned US inheritance tax in the US only as an example in my normal conversation on TV. Can I not mention facts? he asked

DRG Constable Killed, Colleague Injured in Accidental Firing in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada

DRG Constable Killed, Colleague Injured in Accidental Firing in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada A District Reserve Guard (DRG) constable was killed and another policeman injured due to an accidental discharge of a firearm in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, officials said on Thursday. The incident took place at around 11 pm on Wednesday when a joint team of the DRG and Bastar Fighter, both units of state police, was out on an anti-Naxal operation in Barsoor police station limits, a statement issued by the police said. Acting on an input about the presence of armed Naxalites in Handawada and Hitawada villages along the Dantewada-Narayanpur districts border, the security personnel had launched the operation, it said. ''During patrolling, two DRG constables - Jograj Karma and Parsuram Alami - suffered bullet injuries in an accidental firing,'' the release said. While being evacuated, Karma succumbed to his injuries due to excessive bleeding. Alami was administered preliminary treatment and then airlifted to Raipur for further medication, the police said. The statement did not specify whose weapon accidentally went off and said more details will be shared later.

Cong wants to implement quota on basis of religion and impose inheritance tax: PM

AMBIKAPUR (Chhattisgarh), Apr 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hit out at the Congress, saying the vote bank-hungry party wanted to implement reservation on the basis of religion. Addressing a poll rally in Ambikapur, the headquarters of Surguja district in Chhattisgarh, he also alleged that the Congress wanted to impose inheritance tax in the country and snatch the assets and rights of people and their children. Some forces want a weak Government of the Congress and INDI alliance to [] The post Cong wants to implement quota on basis of religion and impose inheritance tax: PM appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Campaign Ends for 2nd Phase LS Elections in MP, Cgarh

The final rallies taken out by the CPM, Congress and BJP converge at Peroorkada junction as the time for campaigning was about to end. (Photo: AVMUZAFAR) The final rallies taken out by the CPM, Congress and BJP converge at Peroorkada junction as the time for campaigning was about to end. (Photo: AVMUZAFAR) Bhopal : Campaigning for the second phase of polling in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, scheduled to be held on April 26, ended on Wednesday. While seven LS seats are going to polls in the second phase of elections in Madhya Pradesh, three LS constituencies in Chhattisgarh are going to elections in the second phase of polling. The LS seats that are going to polls in the second phase in Madhya Pradesh are Khajuraho, Tikamgarh, Damoh, Satna, Rewa, Hoshangabad, and Betul. In Khajuraho, state BJP president Vishnu Dutt Sharma is seeking re-election. The INDIA bloc had fielded Meera Yadav of Samajwadi Party (SP) to take on Mr Sharma in the seat. However, her nomination was rejected after scrutiny. The INDIA bloc has declared its support to All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) candidate R D Prajapati, a retired IAS officer, following rejection of nomination of the SP candidate in the seat. Elections were held in six LS constituencies including Chhindwara, Sidhi, Shahdol, Jabalpur, Mandla, and Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh in the first phase of polling on April 19. A voter turnout of 67.75 percent was recorded across the six LS constituencies that went to polls on April 19 which was 7.32 percent less than the voter turnout recorded in these six seats in the 2019 LS polls. BJP had won 28 out of 29 LS seats in Madhya Pradesh in 2019 polls. In Chhattisgarh, three LS constituencies, Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund, and Kanker (ST), are going to polls in the second phase of polling on April 26. All eyes are on the Rajnandgaon seat where former chief minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel is seeking election in the poll. Mr Baghel is a sitting MLA from Patan in Chhattisgarh. In the first phase of polling in Chhattisgarh, only one LS seat, Bastar (ST), went to the polls. BJP had won nine out of 11 LS seats in Chhattisgarh in the 2019 polls.

Election Special: Will BJP Clean Sweep In Madhya Pradesh

After the first phase of voting in the Lok Sabha Elections, the second phase of voting will take place on April 26. To gauge the election atmosphere and mood of the public, NDTV Election Carnival has travelled to Delhi, Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. On Wednesday, the Election Carnival reached Madhya Pradesh's capital Bhopal. This time voting is taking place in Madhya Pradesh in the first, second, third and fourth phases. Voting will be held in BJP's stronghold Bhopal in the fourth phase on May 7. This time too the contest is between BJP and Congress.

Mild tremor felt in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh

JAGDALPUR: A 2.6 magnitude tremor was recorded in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district on Wednesday evening, officials said. No damage or casualties were reported from the area, they said. The tremor was recorded around 8 pm with its epicenter located 5 km deep and 2 km in the north-east direction from Jagdalpur, the headquarter of the district, a meteorological department official said in Raipur. Aftershocks were also felt in Jagdalpur town, he said.

Mahadev app: Chhattisgarh probe agency arrests 2 persons

Raipur: Chhattisgarhs Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)/Economic Offence Wing (EOW) on Wednesday said it has arrested two persons in connection with the alleged illegal operations of the Mahadev online gaming and betting application that purportedly involved senior politicians and bureaucrats from the state. The duos arrest, made from New Delhi and Goa, came after the state probe 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 .

Eighteen Naxalites surrender in Chhattisgarh

The Naxals surrendered themselves as they were impressed by police`s rehabilitation drive `Lon Varratu` and disappointed with hollow Maoist ideology.

Chhattisgarh Probe Agency Arrests 2 In Mahadev Betting App Case

Chhattisgarh's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)/Economic Offence Wing (EOW) on Wednesday said it has arrested two persons in connection with the alleged illegal operations of the Mahadev online gaming and betting application that purportedly involved sen

Chhattisgarh Investigative Agency Nets Suspects in Mahadev Online Betting App Scam

Chhattisgarh Investigative Agency Nets Suspects in Mahadev Online Betting App Scam Chhattisgarh's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)/Economic Offence Wing (EOW) on Wednesday said it has arrested two persons in connection with the alleged illegal operations of the Mahadev online gaming and betting application that purportedly involved senior politicians and bureaucrats from the state. The duo's arrest, made from New Delhi and Goa, came after the state probe agency lodged a case on March 4 based on a report submitted to it by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is investigating money laundering angle in the scandal since more than a year. The ED has separately arrested nine persons so far as part of its probe. ''While (accused) Rahul Vakte was located in Delhi, (co-accused) Ritesh Yadav was found in Goa,'' an ACB/EOW statement said. The two were produced on Wednesday in a Raipur court which sent them to custody of ACB/EOW for six days, officials said. The duo was absconding since August last year when an assistant sub-inspector of state police, Chandrabhushan Verma, was arrested (by the ED) in the alleged scam, the statement said. ''Vakte was allegedly engaged in delivering money received through hawala (illegal channel for fund transfer) to Verma. Three firms were registered in the name of Vakte wherein huge amount of cash was deposited. Yadav was allegedly operating panel of the online betting app (Mahadev) and aided Verma and another man Satish Chandrakar after receiving money through Hawala. Rs 43 lakh of hawala money has been frozen,'' it said. Chandrakar was arrested by the ED last year in its money laundering case. Yadav was operating Mahadev betting app panel in Pune (Maharashtra). The state's ACB with support of the Pune police conducted raids there and arrested eight people involved in operating betting app panel. Further action against them is being taken by Pune police, the statement said. The ACB/EOW, in its FIR lodged in the alleged Mahadev betting app scandal, has named former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel of the Congress along with promoters of the app Ravi Uppal, Saurabh Chandrakar, Shubham Soni and Anil Kumar Agrawal and 14 others as accused. The case was registered under sections 120b (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and others of the IPC and sections 7 and 11 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, the ACB/EOW earlier said. The FIR, citing the ED report, had stated that Mahadev book app promoters Uppal, Saurabh Chandrakar, Shubham Soni and Anil Agrawal created online platform for live online betting and indulged in gambling through WhatsApp, Facebook and telegram and other social media platforms. The promoters created different platforms and conducted illegal acts of online betting through panel operators/branch operators. They kept 70 per cent to 80 per cent of illegal earnings with them and distributed the rest of the money to panel operators/ branch operators, the FIR said. The promoters and panel operators garnered around Rs 450 crore per month through the online betting app after the lockdown was imposed in 2020 (following COVID-19 outbreak), it said. The panel operators transferred illegal money to app promoters in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through various bank accounts, it said. Several police personnel, administrative officers and influential political persons have misused their positions and acquired illegal assets in the form of protection money from the promoters of Mahadev book app, it said. Provisional attachment of many immovable properties has been done by the ED, it said. In January, former CM Baghel, who lost power in December 2023, had termed the ED's action in the Mahadev betting app case as a ''political conspiracy'' and accused the federal agency of acting at the behest of its ''political masters''. So far, the ED has arrested nine people in the money-laundering-linked case. The ED has filed two chargesheets till now in a Raipur court, including against the two main promoters of the alleged illegal betting and gaming app, Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal. It had conducted multiple raids earlier. The projected proceeds of crime in the money laundering case have been pegged at about Rs 6,000 crore, according to the ED.

ITBP, CRPF, police stage flag marches to boost confidence in Naxal-hit Rajnandgaon ahead of Lok Sabha polls

ITBP, CRPF, police stage flag marches to boost confidence in Naxal-hit Rajnandgaon ahead of Lok Sabha polls Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Rajnandgaon constituency on April 26, security forces including ITBP, CRPF, and local police on Wednesday conducted a series of flag marches in the Naxal-affected Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki District. These proactive measures are aimed at instilling confidence among residents and ensure their safety during the electoral process. Speaking with ANI, S Jayavardhan, District Collector of Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki District said, Actually, in anticipation of the election of Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency on 26 April 2024, we have conducted flag march and also different SVEEP activities for voters' awareness. We are doing a flag march because we are LWE affected, so to be able to build the confidence of the people. To give support from the administration we do these flag marches. In this context, today this flag march has been conducted at the headquarters. This would be our 7th or 8th flag march. We have conducted flag marches in all the clusters and big villages. It has been done under the guidance of the Superintendent of Police. To conclude all these events from tomorrow onwards will be a silent period, that we wanted to conduct in the headquarters also we have done it today in the headquarters, Jayavardhan added. Yashpal Singh, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki said, As Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki District is a very sensitive district from Naxalite point of view in which various incidents have been carried out by Naxalites in the past during elections and its borders are also connected with Maharashtra's Gadhchirauli, and Bastar and Kanker district of Chhattisgarh. Flag march has been conducted to give confidence to the people and to make them fearless so that people can exercise their rights to the maximum extent. Central security forces like ITBP, CRPF, and District Police Force, Chhattisgarh Armed Force, Home Guard Force are included in this flag march, Singh added. The Naxalites have called for a bandh on 25 April to thwart this. So, to give confidence to the people, this flag march is being carried out in the streets and areas of the city and as a confidence-building measure, flag marches are being carried out in all the police stations of the district, Singh said. (ANI)

Campaigning ends for 89 seats in Phase 2 of LS polls

Polling is scheduled in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 7 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Bihar, 3 seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir.

Modi Slams Congress: Warns Against Inheritance Tax & Religious Reservation

Raipur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday waded into the raging debate on inheritance tax, triggered by Congress leader Sam Pitroda, saying that the grand old party wanted to loot the common people Zindagi ke saath bhi, zindagi ke baad bhi ( during their life time and after their death) by imposing it. Addressing a rally in Ambikapur, district headquarters of Surguja district in Chhattisgarh, the Prime Minister also said that the vote bank hungry Congress wanted to implement reservation on the basis of religion. Congress is about to set a dangerous precedent by imposing an inheritance tax which aims to impose unreasonable taxes on everything and anything, depriving people of their resources. This will shatter the financial backbone of the ordinary people, he said. Mr Modi warned that Congress is about to set a dangerous precedent by implementing inheritance tax. Congress wanted to loot the people zindagi ke saath bhi, zindagi ke baad bhi by implementing inheritance tax, he said. The dangerous intentions of Congress are now out in the open as it toys with the idea of introducing inheritance tax, he said and warned that They (Congress) want to snatch your assets and rights of children. Congress veteran Sam Pitroda has mooted the idea of implementing inheritance tax. His party has however distanced itself from his suggestion, saying that it was his personal view. Taking a dig at Congress for planning to implement reservation on the basis of religion, Mr Modi called it a Muslim League mindset. Today, when I have come to Surguja, I want to present the Muslim League mindset of the Congress in front of the country. When their manifesto was released, on the same day I had said, and am saying today also, that the Congress manifesto has the imprint of Muslim League, he said. He maintained that when the Constitution was being drafted, intellectuals and great personalities under the leadership of Babasaheb Ambedkar decided that there would be no reservation on the basis of religion in India. If there is a reservation, then it will be for my Dalit brothers and sisters and tribal brothers and sisters, he said. But, the vote bank-hungry Congress never bothered about the words of the great personalities, sanctity of the Constitution and the words of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Years ago, the Congress made an attempt to implement reservation on the basis of reservation in Andhra Pradesh. Then Congress has planned to implement it in the entire country, he said. Mr Modi said that the Congress planned to implement 15 percent reservation on the basis of reservation by curtailing the quota of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes. Congress had made similar pledges in its 2009 election manifesto and in the 2014 manifesto and had pledged not to leave the issue, he said and added that Congress would curtail reservation quota of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes to implement reservation on the basis of religion, he added. He said that earlier, a Congress government in Karnataka had implemented reservation on the basis of religion. But, it was quashed by the BJP government there later. The present Congress government in Karnataka has not only implemented reservation on the basis of religion but also included all the castes of the Muslim community into the OBC category, he said. This has hurt the OBC community, he added. Congress trampled social justice, murdered it and killed secularism there (Karnataka). This model of Karnataka is what Congress wants to implement in the entire country. Congress wants to give the rights of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes to its vote bank by changing the Constitution, Mr Modi said. It is BJP which alone can protect reservation of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes, he said. Mr Modi said that the Congress has also set its eye on the earnings, houses, farms and other properties of the common people. The Shehzada of Congress (apparently referring to Rahul Gandhi) says they will conduct an X-ray of the property of every house and every family in the country. The Congress will snatch all these things from you and they say that they will equally distribute them, Mr Modi said while addressing the public meeting. Do you know to whom they will distribute it after looting from you? Mr Modi asked to which people replied in affirmative. I need not tell you to whom they will distribute it to, he said.

Watch | The electoral trail with Bhupesh Baghel

The Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister is contesting for the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat

Campaigning ends for phase two of Lok Sabha polls in 89 seats

Polling is scheduled in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 7 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Bihar, 3 seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir.