LS polls 2024: BJP meeting hints at winning 225 out of 280 seats

After the third phase of polling of Lok Sabha elections ended, BJP National President JP Naddachaired a meeting of party' s senior leaders and some office bearers at party HQ on Tuesday. Nadda reviewing the election management and how polling went off in favour of the party also discussed further strategy for the upcoming next phases of pollings in remaining LS constituencies. According to a post of party national general secretary Vinod Tawde, Nadda also A gave guidance by discussing the action plan for the upcoming steps in detail. Meanwhile, sources in party further added that the feedbacks received from 94 LS constituencies on moods of electors and trend of polling were also discussed in detail. Upon reviewing the feedbacks, the party is well sure to win at least 80-85 seats out of 94 in the third phase of pollings, said a senior BJP functionary, adding that the voters rejected the INDIA bloc candidates in more than 87 seats. The BJP is confident of winning the Gandhinagar LS seat,which was contested by HM Amit Shah again,by a record margin of nearly 7-9 lakh of votes this time. At the meeting with select group of party leaders including railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Vinod Tawde and others,Nadda went through Evey details related to polling in the third phase. He was briefed about the significant turnout of women and youth voters besides the voters belonging to SCs,STs and OBCs whose quota for reservation is being planned to scrapped away by Congress for giving to a particular community, said a BJP source. Sources, quoting some discussions at the meeting, hinted that BJP is learnt to have received inputs of winning nearly 220-25 out of 280+ seats which went into polls in the first, second and third phases of pollings.

Phase 3 Polls See 62.45% Turnout

New Delhi : A nearly 62 per cent voter turnout was recorded on Tuesday in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections in 93 constituencies spread over 11 states and Union Territories. Assam recorded the highest turnout at 76.13 per cent followed by Goa (74.50) and West Bengal (73.93). While Maharashtra (56.40), Uttar Pradesh (57.34), Bihar (57.27), and Gujarat (57.04) had lower voter turnout, Chhattisgarh (68.15), Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (65.23), Karnataka (69.30) and Madhya Pradesh (65.11) witnessed moderate polling. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah were among those who exercised their franchise in Gujarat, where elections were held in 25 seats. While Modi cast his vote at a polling booth in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, Shah voted at a polling booth in Ahmedabad with his family. Shah (Gandhinagar) is among the bigwigs in the fray in this phase along with Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna), Mansukh Mandaviya (Porbandar), Parshottam Rupala (Rajkot), Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and SP Singh Baghel (Agra). After casting his vote, Modi mingled with the crowd waiting outside for him and also held a brief conversation with a visually impaired girl. Later, while talking to media Modi said, Today is the third phase of voting. There is great importance of Daan in our country and in the same spirit, the countrymen should vote as much as possible. Four rounds of voting are still ahead. As a voter in Gujarat, this is the only place where I vote regularly and Amit Bhai is contesting from here as a BJP candidate... However, despite the presence of such bigwigs, the voters in Gujarat did not show much enthusiasm to vote. In Uttar Pradesh, where several members of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadavs family are contesting, party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the BJP workers were trying to loot booths in Mainpuri and people from Opposition parties were being detained in police stations. Yadav cast his vote in Saifai (Etawah) in Mainpuri constituency where his wife and sitting MP Dimple Yadav is contesting. He also alleged rigging of votes at some places and said, information is coming from some places that the government is using force. It is heard that officers have been deployed outside polling booths. In Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, his wife Sunetra Pawar, who is the NCP candidate from the Baramati Lok Sabha seat, and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar were among those who cast their votes. Sharad Pawar was welcomed with a traditional aarti as he arrived at a polling booth in the Malegaon area of Baramati constituency in Pune district. Sunetra is pitted against her sister-in-law Supriya Sule, Sharad Pawars daughter and the sitting MP from there. In Karnataka, Pralhad Joshi, Bhagwanth Khuba, Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge were among those who came in early to cast their votes. Former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa along with sons his B.Y. Raghavendra, BJP candidate from Shimoga Lok Sabha segment and B.Y. Vijayendra, partys state chief -- and daughters-in-law cast their vote at Shikaripura in Shivamogga district. In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accompanied by his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma and daughter Sukanya Sarma exercised his franchise at Amingaon in Barpeta Lok Sabha seat.

High Voter Turnout in Third Phase; Clashes and Allegations Mar West Bengal and UP Voting

High Voter Turnout in Third Phase; Clashes and Allegations Mar West Bengal and UP Voting Nearly 65 per cent voter turnout was recorded on Tuesday in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections in 93 constituencies spread over 11 states and Union Territories with stray incidents of violence in West Bengal. Assam recorded the highest turnout at 81.71 per cent followed by West Bengal at 76.52 per cent and Goa at 75.20 per cent, while Uttar Pradesh witnessed the lowest at 57.34 per cent, with Bihar at 58.18 per cent, Gujarat at 59.51 per cent and Maharashtra at 61.44 per cent doing slightly better, according to the figures from the Election Commission at 12.15 am. The overall voting percentage was 64.58 per cent. According to the EC, the figures are an ''approximate trend'' and are likely to rise as data is being collected. While the official time for the voting to conclude is 6 pm, it can go beyond to enable voters who have come in the queue before the end of fixed polling hours to exercise their franchise. Among other states and UTs, Chhattisgarh recorded 71.06 per cent polling, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 69.87 per cent, Karnataka 70.41 per cent, and Madhya Pradesh 66.05 per cent, according to the EC. As many as 17.24 crore people, including 8.39 crore females, were eligible to vote in the third phase and 1.85 lakh polling stations manned by 18.5 lakh officials had been set up. With this, voting has been completed in 20 states/UTs and 282 Lok Sabha seats out of 543. The overall voting percentage in the first and second phases was 66.14 per cent and 66.71 per cent respectively. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were among those who exercised their franchise in Gujarat, where elections were held in 25 seats. While PM Modi cast his vote at a polling booth in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, Shah voted at a polling booth in Ahmedabad. Shah (Gandhinagar) is among the bigwigs in the fray along with Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna), Mansukh Mandaviya (Porbandar), Parshottam Rupala (Rajkot), Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and SP Singh Baghel (Agra). The stakes are high for the BJP in this round as it had won an overwhelming majority of these seats, including all in Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, in the last election. Both the BJP and the INDIA bloc claimed that they had the upper hand after the third phase. ''Across all the states and UTs, voters from all walks of life have placed their faith in the NDA and our development agenda. INDI Alliance is losing even more steam, thanks to their regressive economics and outdated votebank politics,'' Modi said on X. The Congress claimed that the BJP has been wiped out in the south and reduced to half of its strength after the three phases ''Its very clear that for the BJP, it is South mein Saaf, North mein Half,'' Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on X. In Uttar Pradesh, where several members of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav's family are contesting, party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the BJP workers were trying to ''loot booths'' in Mainpuri and people from opposition parties were being detained in police stations. Yadav cast his vote in Saifai (Etawah) in Mainpuri constituency where his wife and sitting MP Dimple Yadav is contesting. Sporadic incidents of violence marred the polling in the four constituencies in West Bengal as TMC, BJP and Congress-CPI(M) workers clashed with each other in various parts of Murshidabad and Jangipur seats. According to state election officials, Murshidabad registered the highest voter turnout of 80.13 per cent followed by Maldaha Dakshin (76.15 pc), Maldaha Uttar (75.92 pc), and Jangipur (73.71 pc). The TMC, BJP, and the Congress-CPI(M) alliance lodged separate complaints related to poll violence, voter intimidation, and assaults on poll agents. The EC received 182 complaints by 9 am, most of which were from Murshidabad and Jangipur constituencies. ''The TMC has unleashed a reign of terror in the entire constituency. Strict action must be taken by the Election Commission,'' Left-Congress combine candidate Mohammed Salim said in Murshidabad seat. In the Karimpur area of the seat, clashes were reported between the TMC and the CPI(M) supporters outside a few booths. Clashes were reported between the TMC and the Congress activists from the Domkol area. In some areas, TMC workers held protests alleging that central forces were assisting BJP workers in ''intimidating'' voters at booths in the Maldaha North constituency. In Uttar Pradesh, Agra witnessed 53.99 per cent polling, Aonla 57.08 per cent, Budaun 54.05 per cent, Bareilly 57.88 per cent, Etah 59.17 per cent, Fatehpur Sikri 57.09 per cent, Firozabad 58.22 per cent, Hathras 55.36 per cent, Mainpuri 58.59 per cent and Sambhal 62.81 per cent. ''In Mainpuri, BJP people are trying to loot booths. They are detaining opposition people in police stations,'' SP chief Yadav alleged without elaborating. ''There is information from some places that the government is using force. It is heard that officers have been deployed outside polling booths,'' he said. In Budaun, the villagers of Dhoranpur boycotted the polling to protest against the alleged non-fulfilment of their demand for a road. District Magistrate Manoj Kumar said the issue has come to his notice and a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) has been sent to the village. Not a single vote was also cast in three villages of Firozabad -- Nagla Jawahar, Neem Kheria and Nagla Umar -- as the villagers tried to draw the administration's attention to their problems. SP candidate Aditya Yadav in Budaun alleged that his party supporters were not being allowed to vote in some places. ''I have made a complaint in this regard with the EC observer and have given proof of police atrocities. We are only getting assurances,'' he said. Queues were seen at polling booths in most Lok Sabha segments in northern districts of Karnataka. Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Bhagwanth Khuba, and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge were among those who came in early to cast their votes. Former chief minister B S Yediyurappa along with sons B Y Raghavendra, BJP candidate from Shimoga Lok Sabha segment, and B Y Vijayendra, party's state president, along with other family members cast their vote at Shikaripura in Shivamogga district. Two government officials on poll duty died in Karnataka after suffering a heart attack, sources in the Election Commission said. A 45-year-old woman polling officer - Kaushika Babariya- deployed at a polling booth in Amreli district of Gujarat, also died of a heart attack. In Gujarat, the Banaskantha district collector ordered an inquiry after Congress Lok Sabha candidate Geniben Thakor alleged that electors were threatened and asked to vote for the BJP by some youngsters posing as Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel at a polling station. In Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, his wife Sunetra Pawar, who is the NCP candidate from the Baramati Lok Sabha seat, and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar were among those who cast their votes. Sharad Pawar was welcomed with a traditional 'aarti' as he arrived at a polling booth in the Malegaon area of Baramati constituency in Pune district. Ajit Pawar and Sunetra Pawar cast their votes at a polling booth in Katewadi area of Baramati. Sunetra is pitted against her sister-in-law Supriya Sule, Sharad Pawar's daughter and the sitting MP from there. In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accompanied by his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma and daughter Sukanya Sarma exercised his franchise at Amingaon in Barpeta Lok Sabha seat. Amid rains, people used different modes of transport, including boats, to reach the polling stations across Guwahati, Barpeta, Dhubri and Kokrajhar constituencies. With the BJP bagging Surat unopposed, 25 seats in Prime Minister Modi's home state of Gujarat went to polls on Tuesday, besides 11 seats in Maharashtra, 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, the remaining 14 of the 28 in Karnataka, seven in Chhattisgarh, five in Bihar, four each in Assam and West Bengal, and all two in Goa. Voting was held in two seats in Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and nine seats in Madhya Pradesh, including Betul where elections were earlier deferred. Over 1,331 candidates, including around 120 women, were in the fray in the third phase. The next four phases will be on May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. The counting of votes is on June 4.

PM Modi asking for '400-plus' seats as BJP intends to change Constitution, end reservation: Congress

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday alleged that the real intent of the BJP is to change the Constitution and end reservation, and that is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party's leaders are asking for 400-plus seats. The opposition party also hit out at the prime minister over his remark that the Supreme Court's Ram Mandir verdict would be overturned if the Congress came to power. The distraught prime minister today said the Supreme Court's verdict on Ram Mandir will be overturned if the Congress forms the government. He forgot that the Congress remained firm on its stand that if this dispute was not resolved through mutual reconciliation, the court's decision would be final. The BJP kept changing its stand every three-four years, Congress leader Pawan Khera said. Khera also claimed that the BJP was threatening opposition and independent leaders against contesting elections as was seen in Surat and Indore. The Congress leader added that even in Union Home Minister Amit Shah's constituency of Gandhinagar, candidates who don't even have the remotest chance of winning were getting threats to withdraw their nominations. He alleged that several BJP leaders, including Anant Kumar Hegde, Jyoti Mirdha, Diya Kumari and Arun Govil, have said they want to change the Constitution. BJP wants over 400 seats to help RSS succeed in 'conspiracy' to abolish reservation: Congress The Congress also shared Diya Kumari's video on its social media handle, Khera added. This is why they are after 400-plus seats. When one needs only 272 seats to form a government, why is the prime minister asking for 400-plus seats, he said. The one who has the confidence of crossing 400 is not allowing candidates to contest by threatening them. That is why we are saying that the Constitution is in danger, he told reporters. Khera further said that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written a letter to the leaders of the INDIA bloc as the data of voting in two phases of the Lok Sabha polls came quite late and some discrepancies were observed. You also saw that before the third phase. PM Modi was being interviewed, in which no questions were asked of him. An attempt is being made to portray him as great. It is very sad to see this condition of journalists, he added. Zero tolerance for Prajwal Revannas: PM Modi on sexual assault case Khera said people were trusting the words of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and that he earned this trust because of his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'. No matter how much Modiji lies and diverts attention, people now have faith in justice, he said. On several Congress leaders quitting and joining the BJP, Khera said, everything in the Modi government is borrowed. When they were forming the government, they borrowed schemes from the UPA government and renamed those, he said. It has been 10 years and now they are taking leaders and spokespersons on loan from us. You have no leader, no issue and no narrative. They should be ashamed, Khera said. The Congress leader said that by the end of the second phase of the election, a shameful incident came to light. Prajwal Revanna, who committed a sexual crime, turned out to be from 'Modi Ka Parivar'. The BJP had all the information about Prajwal Revanna, but PM Modi kept asking for votes for that rapist, he alleged. It feels strange to hear lies from the mouth of Prime Minister Modi. But, sometimes, he has to lie on electoral bonds and other times, he has to lie on our manifesto. This is the speciality of Narendra Modi's degree in 'Entire Political Science', in which he lies without studying, Khera said.

Congress lodges 19 complaints of poll irregularities in Gujarat with Election Commission

AHMEDABAD: The Congress has registered 19 complaints of poll irregularities during the voting for the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat on Tuesday. Gujarat Congress President Shaktisinh Gohil filed a complaint with the Election Commission, accusing the BJP's booth representatives across all polling stations in the state of violating the law by allegedly carrying pens bearing a lotus symbol and a photo of PM Narendra Modi. Gohil said that when he arrived at the Sector-19 polling booth to cast his vote, he found a BJP polling agent seated inside with a pen bearing a lotus symbol. He alleged, It is against the law for anyone to sit inside the polling booth with an election symbol. But BJP's polling/booth representatives in every polling station in Gujarat are violating this law by sitting inside the booth with a pen bearing a lotus symbol and a photo of a BJP leader. LS polls 2024 phase-3| Live| Gujarat turnout at 55.22% at 5 pm; UP's 10 seats at 55.13% He further stated, The ruling party is securing votes through money and power. Congress workers in Jamnagar have been detained by the local crime branch. The voting process has been disrupted due to pro-Congress voting at Vasan village in Gandhinagar. Gohil alleged that the Election Commission is not fulfilling its duties adequately. In another incident, Ganiben Thakor, the Congress candidate from Banaskantha Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat, has alleged that youths from outside the district used fake police plates on their vehicles outside the polling station in Siawada village of Danta taluka to coerce voters into supporting the BJP. Congress spokesperson Hiren Banker said the number of complaints may rise before the end of polling.

LS elections third phase: Around 50 per cent polling recorded till 3 pm

New Delhi: A voter turnout of 50.71 per cent was recorded till 3 pm in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections in 93 constituencies spread over 11 states and Union Territories on Tuesday with sporadic incidents of violence in West Bengal. West Bengal recorded the highest turnout at 63.11 per cent followed by Assam at 63.08 per cent, while Maharashtra witnessed the lowest at 42.63 per cent. According to the Election Commission, a voting percentage of 50.71 was recorded till 3 PM. The voting which started at 7 am will continue till 6 pm. A voter turnout of 47.03 per cent was recorded in 25 Lok Sabha seats of Gujarat, an Election Commission (EC) official said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were among those who exercised their franchise the state. While PM Modi cast his vote at a polling booth in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, Shah voted at a polling booth in Ahmedabad. Shah (Gandhinagar) is among the bigwigs in the fray in this phase along with Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna), Mansukh Mandaviya (Porbandar), Parshottam Rupala (Rajkot), Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and SP Singh Baghel (Agra). In Uttar Pradesh, where several members of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav's family are contesting, close to 46.78 per cent polling was recorded in 10 seats. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the BJP workers were trying to loot booths in Mainpuri and people from opposition parties were being detained in police stations. Yadav cast his vote in Saifai (Etawah) in Mainpuri constituency where his wife and sitting MP Dimple Yadav is contesting. Among other states, Assam recorded 63.08 per cent polling, Bihar 46.69 per cent, Chhattisgarh 58.19 per cent, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 52.43 per cent, Goa 61.39 per cent, Karnataka 54.20 per cent, and Madhya Pradesh 54.09 per cent, according to the EC. Sporadic incidents of violence marred the third phase of Lok Sabha polls in four constituencies in West Bengal as TMC, BJP and Congress-CPI(M) workers clashed with each other in various parts of Murshidabad and Jangipur seats. According to officials, Murshidabad registered the highest voter turnout with 65.40 per cent followed by Maldaha Dakshin (62.90), Jangipur (62.57), and Maldaha Uttar (61.50). The TMC, the BJP, and the Congress-CPI(M) alliance lodged separate complaints related to poll violence, voter intimidation, and assaults on poll agents. The EC received 182 complaints by 9 am, most of which were from Murshidabad and Jangipur constituencies. In Murshidabad seat, Left-Congress combine candidate Mohammed Salim claimed that he caught hold of a fake booth agent in the Rabinagar area of the constituency. Salim faced go back slogans as he tried to enter a booth there following allegations of CPI(M) booth agents being heckled by alleged TMC goons. The TMC has unleashed a reign of terror in the entire constituency. Strict action must be taken by the Election Commission, Salim said. In the Karimpur area of the seat, clashes were reported between the TMC and the CPI(M) supporters outside a few booths. Clashes were reported between the TMC and the Congress activists from the Domkol area. BJP candidate Dhanajoy Ghosh faced protests by TMC cadres in the Jangipur area as he tried to enter some of the booths in the constituency. In Uttar Pradesh, Agra witnessed 43.67 per cent polling, Aonla 46.75 per cent, Budaun 45.44 per cent, Bareilly 45.96 per cent, Etah 48.93 per cent, Fatehpur Sikri 46.18 per cent, Firozabad 47.80 per cent, Hathras 44.63 per cent, Mainpuri 46.80 per cent and Sambhal 52.24 per cent In Mainpuri, BJP people are trying to loot booths. They are detaining opposition people in police stations, SP chief Yadav alleged without elaborating. He also alleged rigging of votes at some places and said, Information is coming from some places that the government is using force. It is heard that officers have been deployed outside polling booths. In Budaun, the villagers of Dhoranpur boycotted the polling to protest against the alleged non-fulfilment of their demand for a road. District Magistrate Manoj Kumar said the issue has come to his notice and a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) has been sent to the village. Not a single vote was also cast in three villages of Firozabad -- Nagla Jawahar, Neem Kheria and Nagla Umar -- as the villagers tried to draw the administration's attention to their problems. SP candidate Aditya Yadav in Budaun alleged that SP supporters were not being allowed to vote in some places. I have made a complaint in this regard with the EC observer and have given proof of police atrocities. We are only getting assurances, he said. SP candidate Zia-ur-Rehman Barq also alleged that a circle officer snatched voter slips from SP workers and detained them. He requested the EC to remove the officer immediately. Queues were seen at polling booths in most Lok Sabha segments in northern districts of Karnataka. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and Bhagwanth Khuba, and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge were among those who came in early to cast their votes in Karnataka. Former chief minister B S Yediyurappa along with sons B Y Raghavendra, BJP candidate from Shimoga Lok Sabha segment and B Y Vijayendra, party's state President -- and daughters-in-law cast their vote at Shikaripura in Shivamogga district. Two government officials on poll duty died in Karnataka after suffering a heart attack, sources in the Election Commission said. In Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, his wife Sunetra Pawar, who is the NCP candidate from the Baramati Lok Sabha seat, and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar were among those who cast their votes. Sharad Pawar was welcomed with a traditional 'aarti' as he arrived at a polling booth in the Malegaon area of Baramati constituency in Pune district. Ajit Pawar and Sunetra Pawar cast their votes at a polling booth in Katewadi area of Baramati. Sunetra is pitted against her sister-in-law Supriya Sule, Sharad Pawar's daughter and the sitting MP from there. In Assam, people lined up in large numbers across four Lok Sabha constituencies to cast their vote. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accompanied by his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma and daughter Sukanya Sarma exercised his franchise at Amingaon in Barpeta Lok Sabha seat. People used all modes of transport, including boats, to reach the polling stations across Guwahati, Barpeta, Dhubri and Kokrajhar constituencies to exercise their democratic franchise amid rain. Over 1,300 candidates, including around 120 women, are in the fray in the third phase. Voting was completed in 189 seats out of 543 seats in the first two phases. The next four phases will be on May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. The counting of votes is on June 4.

Somabhai Modi, PM's Brother, Overwhelmed by Emotion on Polling Day, Reminisces about Mother's Memory

Somabhai Modi, PM's Brother, Overwhelmed by Emotion on Polling Day, Reminisces about Mother's Memory Prime Minister Narendra Modi's elder brother Somabhai Modi on Tuesday turned emotional while remembering their mother late Hiraba and said she would be showering her blessings on the PM from heaven. Somabhai Modi said just like the people, he also wants his brother to become the prime minister for the third time. PM Modi used to meet his mother at her residence in Gandhinagar in Gujarat and take her blessings before coming here to cast his vote. Hiraba passed away in December 2022. ''My mother is no more. But she must be giving her blessings to Narendrabhai from heaven right now,'' said a teary-eyed Somabhai outside a polling booth in Ranip locality here under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency where PM Modi cast his vote in the morning. Somabhai Modi met PM Narendra Modi outside the polling booth in Ranip. He said both of them enquired about each other's well-being and health. ''Just like people of this area, I also want Narendra Modi to become the PM for the third time after this election,'' he said. He also appealed to the people to exercise their franchise and not miss this opportunity, and choose the right person and the right party.

HM Amit Shah casts vote, urges people to accept voting as duty

Ahmedabad, May 7: Union Home Minister and BJP candidate from Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, Amit Shah cast his vote on Tuesday and appealed to voters to accept voting as a duty towards contributing to nation-building. He was accompanied by his son, Jay Shah, who is the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in [] The post HM Amit Shah casts vote, urges people to accept voting as duty appeared first on The Shillong Times .

Phase 3 Voting Begins in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Key Candidates and States

Today marks the commencement of the third phase of voting in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with polls opening at 7 am across 93 constituencies spanning 11 states and Union Territories in India. Notable contenders in this phase include Amit Shah, the Union home minister, seeking re-election from Gandhinagar in Gujarat, along with Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia, Mansukh Mandaviya, and Pralhad Joshi contesting from various regions. Of significant interest is the electoral battle in Baramati, Maharashtra, a stronghold of the influential 'Pawar family', where Supriya Sule, daughter of NCP founder Sharad Pawar, faces competition from Sunetra Pawar, wife of Maharashtra's deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. The late Mulayam Singh Yadav's family also features prominently in this phase, with three members entering the electoral fray. This includes Dimple Yadav, wife of Akhilesh Yadav, contesting for a seat, Akshay Yadav vying to regain the Firozabad Lok Sabha seat, and Aditya Yadav making his electoral debut from Budaun, previously held by his cousin Dharmendra Yadav. In total, 1351 candidates are contesting across these constituencies, with 17.24 crore eligible voters, including 8.39 crore females. The states and union territories participating in this phase are Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. The BJP has secured the Surat seat uncontested. Following today's voting, the next phases are scheduled as follows: Phase 4: May 13 Phase 5: May 20 Phase 6: May 25 Phase 7: June 1 Vote counting for all 543 seats is slated for June 4, marking the culmination of the electoral process. PM Modi's Transit Visit: Meeting Booth Workers, Public Meeting in Dhar-Khargone Bengal Leads Voter Turnout at 14.6% by 9 AM; Maharashtra Lags Behind at 6.64%

India Lok Sabha Elections 2024: What's at Stake in Phase 3?

As India's Lok Sabha elections continue, millions head to the polls on May 7 for the third phase of the seven-phase election. Notable figures like Amit Shah, India's Minister of Home Affairs, and Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, are in the fray alongside personalities like Badruddin Ajmal, owner of the perfume brand Ajmal. The third phase covers 93 seats in the Lok Sabha across 11 states and union territories. Gujarat, Modi's home state, is a focal point with 25 seats, although one seat in Surat won't be contested as the ruling BJP candidate already secured victory due to withdrawals by opponents. The previous phases saw lower-than-average voter turnout and concerns over hate speeches and Election Commission impartiality. Despite this, the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintains popularity, with inflation and job shortages cited as growing concerns. Key constituencies include Gandhinagar, Gujarat, a BJP stronghold since 1989, contested by Amit Shah. Jyotiraditya Scindia, having switched from the Congress to the BJP, contests from Guna, Madhya Pradesh. Badruddin Ajmal vies for reelection from Dhubri, Assam, advocating for Muslim rights in a region with a significant Muslim population. Phase 3 voters hail from states like Karnataka, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and union territories. Voting starts at 7 am and ends at 6 pm, with results expected on June 4. The BJP governs several states in this phase, while West Bengal is under the All India Trinamool Congress Party. In 2019, the BJP secured 80 seats out of the 93 being contested in Phase 3, with Congress and allies claiming 11. One independent candidate also won in Assam. With 190 MPs already decided in the first two phases, the nation progresses through this democratic exercise, shaping the future leadership and direction of India. Phase 3 of Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Voter Turnout and Key Contestants Update Phase 3 Voting Begins in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Key Candidates and States PM Modi's Transit Visit: Meeting Booth Workers, Public Meeting in Dhar-Khargone

Amit Shah votes in Gandhinagar, urges people to elect stable govt

Ahmedabad: Union Home Minister Amit Shah cast his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat on Tuesday and appealed to voters to elect a stable government committed to make the country prosperous. Shah, the BJP candidate who is contesting to retain the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, greeted his supporters, interacted with them and signed autographs as he approached the polling booth at a sub-station in Naranpura locality here. He was accompanied his wife Sonal Shah, son Jay Shah and other family members as they exercised their franchise. After casting his vote, Amit Shah showed his inked finger and the victory sign. I would like to appeal to all voters across the country and also the voters of Gujarat to participate enthusiastically in this festival of democracy. Choose a stable government which is dedicated to make the country safe and prosperous, which works for the welfare of the poor and India's pride, the Union minister told reporters. He also appealed to the people to elect a government which is against corruption and wants to eradicate poverty, make the country self-reliant, developed and number one in every field in the world. The BJP leader said the voting trend in Gujarat in the morning has been very encouraging. He said he has full faith that the people will elect a government which will provide stability, security and will make India free of poverty. I offer many good wishes to all the people in the country on this festival of democracy. And I once again appeal to them to participate in this festival of democracy by voting enthusiastically, he added. After emerging from the polling booth, the Union minister greeted the people and proceeded to a nearby temple to offer prayers along with his family members as part of the tradition he has followed on every voting day.

PM Modi congratulates EC for conducting first two phases of LS polls almost violence-free

AHMEDABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated the Election Commission for conducting the first two phases of Lok Sabha polls with hardly any violence and asked the people to come out in large numbers to vote. He said violence during elections was very common in the past. After casting his vote at Nishan School in Ranip area of Ahmedabad city under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat, PM Modi also said the way the Indian elections are being conducted could be a learning process for other democracies. #ElectionsWithTNIE | Third Phase voting begins, PM #NarendraModi casts his vote. #LokSabhaElection2024 pic.twitter.com/GzbSztz8RW The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) May 7, 2024 Matdaan samanya daan nahi hai, hamare desh main daan ka mahatva hai (voting is not a common gift, in our country importance is given to donation). People of the country should vote in large numbers keeping this feeling in their hearts, Modi told reporters. The third phase of voting is underway on Tuesday and campaigning will go on for almost three weeks and four more phases of polling, he noted. LS polls 2024 phase-3| Live updates|10.57% voter turnout for Phase 3 till 9 am As a voter from Gujarat, I have been voting here (Nishan School) for the last many years, and our Amitbhai (Shah) is the BJP candidate from here, Modi said. Today is the day of celebration of democracy. I congratulate the Election Commission, security forces and officials involved in conducting the first two phases of polls almost violence-free. In the past, violence during elections was very common, he said. Modi also congratulated the Election Commission for conducting the polls in a voter-friendly manner. The conduct of our election, our election management is such that it can be a learning process for other democracies. Big universities of the world should carry out a case study on the Indian elections, he said. This year, almost 64 countries in the world are going to polls. There should be a comparison of elections between India and other countries. This year's festival of democracy is not only in India but around the world, Modi said. Modi congratulated the Election Commission for adopting good poll practices from the world in the elections in India. He also lauded the EC for adopting modern technology for conducting the polls. Modi reached the polling booth at Nishan Public School in Ranip locality of Ahmedabad city soon after the polling began at 7 am and cast his vote. Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah, who is contesting to retain the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, was present when Modi reached the polling booth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with supporters after casting his vote at a polling station during the third phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Ahmedabad. Modi greeted people, signed autographs on his way to the polling booth. He bowed down to his elder brother Somabhai Modi before entering the polling booth. After coming out of the polling booth, PM Modi waved to the crowd and showed his inked finger. The prime minister is a registered voter from Ranip area. Somabhai Modi lives near Nishan School, which falls under Sabarmati assembly segment of the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency. Polling began at 7 am in all the 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in Gujarat.

Old woman tying rakhi to Modi playing with kid: Heartwarming scenes after PM cast vote in Ahmedabad (VIDEO)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi cast his vote on Tuesday in the third phase of Lok Sabha election here in his home state. Union Minister Amit Shah, who is in the fray from Gandhinagar, also exercised his franchise.

Lok Sabha Elections in Pics: PM Modi casts vote in Gandhinagar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday voted at a polling booth in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in the single-phase voting for 25 seats in Gujarat.

Shah urges voters to elect stable govt for India's prosperity

Shah urges voters to elect stable govt for India's prosperity Union Home Minister Amit Shah cast his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat on Tuesday and appealed to voters to elect a stable government committed to make the country prosperous. Shah, the BJP candidate who is contesting to retain the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, greeted his supporters, interacted with them and signed autographs as he approached the polling booth at a sub-station in Naranpura locality here. He was accompanied his wife Sonal Shah, son Jay Shah and other family members as they exercised their franchise. After casting his vote, Amit Shah showed his inked finger and the victory sign. ''I would like to appeal to all voters across the country and also the voters of Gujarat to participate enthusiastically in this festival of democracy. Choose a stable government which is dedicated to make the country safe and prosperous, which works for the welfare of the poor and India's pride,'' the Union minister told reporters. He also appealed to the people to elect a government which is against corruption and wants to eradicate poverty, make the country self-reliant, developed and number one in every field in the world. The BJP leader said the voting trend in Gujarat in the morning has been very encouraging. He said he has full faith that the people will elect a government which will provide stability, security and will make India free of poverty. ''I offer many good wishes to all the people in the country on this festival of democracy. And I once again appeal to them to participate in this festival of democracy by voting enthusiastically,'' he added. After emerging from the polling booth, the Union minister greeted the people and proceeded to a nearby temple to offer prayers along with his family members as part of the tradition he has followed on every voting day.

Despite scorching heat, voting trends are very encouraging says Amit Shah, urges people to elect 'stable govt'

Despite scorching heat, voting trends are very encouraging says Amit Shah, urges people to elect 'stable govt' Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted that despite the scorching heat, the voting trends are very encouraging and appealed to the voters to come out in large numbers and vote for a stable government. Speaking to reporters, Amit Shah appealed to all the voters across the country and also to the voters of Gujarat to come forward and participate in this festival of democracy Today is the voting for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections. I would like to make a heartfelt appeal to all the voters across the country and also to the voters of Gujarat to come forward and participate in this festival of democracy and elect a stable government that provides a safe, prosperous country. Elect a government which is against corruption, wants to eradicate poverty, wants to make a self-reliant India, wants to make a developed India and wants to take India number one in every field in the whole world, Amit Shah said. Shah further said that the voting trends in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections are very encouraging. Despite the scorching heat, the voting trends are very encouraging. As far as Gujarat is concerned, about 20 per cent of voting has been completed by the voters of Gujarat in just 2.5 hours. I have full confidence that the voters will elect a government that will provide stability, security, and prosperity and will make India free from poverty. Today, on the occasion of this festival of democracy, I convey my best wishes to all the countrymen and appeal to them to participate in this festival of democracy, he added. Earlier, Amit Shah, along with his wife Sonal Shah, also offered prayers at the Kameshwar Mahadev temple in Ahmedabad. Shah also showed the victory sign after casting his vote. Amit Shah cast his vote in Ahmedabad, Gujarat for the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections. He was accompanied by his wife, his son and BCCI Secretary Jay Shah at the polling booth at the Sub-Zonal office near Kameshwar Mahadev Temple, Naranpura area. Earlier this morning, Amit Shah urged voters to step out and vote for the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections and asked voters to elect a government that has experience in public welfare and a lueprint for a developed India. In the third phase of the Lok Sabha Election, I appeal to all the voters who are going to cast their votes today to accept voting as a duty towards contributing to nation-building. Once again, vote for a corruption-free, caste-free, and dynasticism-free system. Elect a government that has experience in public welfare and a blueprint for a developed India, Amit Shah posted on X. Your vote will lay the foundation of good fortune for not only you but also for the entire nation for decades to come, he said. Shah is the party's candidate for the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat. Congress has fielded its party secretary, Sonal Patel, from Gandhinagar. Shah is seeking his second term from the seat of Gandhinagar. The seat is considered one of the prestigious bastions of the party, it has been represented by veterans like LK Advani. Polling is on for 93 Lok Sabha seats across 12 states and union territories in the third phase of the general election today at 7:00 am. The states and union territories where the elections are being held in this phase are Assam (4), Bihar (5), Chhattisgarh (7), Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (2), Goa (2), Gujarat (25), Karnataka (14), Maharashtra (11), Madhya Pradesh (8), Uttar Pradesh (10) and West Bengal (4). The BJP has bagged the Surat seat unopposed. In this phase, more than 1300 candidates, including around 120 women, are in the fray. A total of 17.24 crore voters are eligible to cast their franchise in this phase at 1.85 lakh polling stations. In the 2019 general election, the BJP won 72 of the 93 seats that go to the polls today. The Lok Sabha elections are being held across seven phases, from April 19 to June 1. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4. (ANI)

Amit Shah Casts Vote At Polling Booth In Gandhinagar Lok Sabha Constituency

Amit Shah greeted his supporters, interacted with them and signed autographs as he approached the polling booth at a substation in Naranpura

Amit Shah casts vote at polling booth in Gandhinagar LS constituency

Ahmedabad: Union Home Minister Amit Shah cast his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat on Tuesday morning. Shah, who is contesting to retain the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, greeted his supporters, interacted with them and signed autographs as he approached the polling booth at a sub-station 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 .

Polling underway on all 25 Guj LS seats; Shah in fray, PM votes

Gandhinagar, May 7 (UNI) Voting started simultaneously for all 25 parliamentary seats and five assembly by-elections in Prime Minister Narendra Modis home state Gujarat at 7 am on Tuesday. PM Narendra Modi casts his vote at Nishan Higher Secondary School in Ranip, Ahmedabad. The BJP has fielded home minister Amit Shah from the Gandhinagar constituency.... The post Polling underway on all 25 Guj LS seats; Shah in fray, PM votes first appeared on Central India's Premier English Daily .

Home Minister Amit Shah casts his vote for third phase of Lok Sabha elections in Ahmedabad

Home Minister Amit Shah casts his vote for third phase of Lok Sabha elections in Ahmedabad Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday cast his vote in Ahmedabad, Gujarat for the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Amit Shah was accompanied by his wife, son Jay Shah, at the polling booth at the Sub-Zonal office near Kameshwar Mahadev Temple, Naranpura area. He, along with his family members, stand in a queue as they await their turn to cast their votes. Earlier, Amit Shah urged voters to step out and vote for the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections and asked voters to elect a government that has experience in public welfare and a lueprint for a developed India. In the third phase of the Lok Sabha Election, I appeal to all the voters who are going to cast their votes today to accept voting as a duty towards contributing to nation-building. Once again, vote for a corruption-free, caste-free, and dynasticism-free system. Elect a government that has experience in public welfare and a blueprint for a developed India, Amit Shah posted on X. Your vote will lay the foundation of good fortune for not only you but also for the entire nation for decades to come, he said. This morning, the Union Home Minister met people at a residential society in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Amit Shah is the party's candidate for the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat. Congress has fielded its party secretary, Sonal Patel, from Gandhinagar. Shah is seeking his second term from the seat of Gandhinagar. The seat is considered one of the prestigious bastions of the party, it has been represented by veterans like LK Advani. Earlier this morning Prime Minister cast his vote at Nishan Higher Secondary School in Ahmedabad, Gujarat for the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Polling started for 93 Lok Sabha seats across 12 states and union territories in the third phase of the general election today at 7:00 am. The states and union territories where the elections are being held in this phase are Assam (4), Bihar (5), Chhattisgarh (7), Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (2), Goa (2), Gujarat (25), Karnataka (14), Maharashtra (11), Madhya Pradesh (8), Uttar Pradesh (10) and West Bengal (4). The BJP has bagged the Surat seat unopposed. In this phase, more than 1300 candidates, including around 120 women, are in the fray. A total of 17.24 crore voters are eligible to cast their franchise in this phase at 1.85 lakh polling stations. Seventy-five delegates from 23 countries will see the poll process, the poll panel said.Voting will not take place for Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat on Tuesday as the Election Commission of India (ECI) has postponed the polling to the sixth phase to be held on May 25. Originally, voting was scheduled to be held on 94 Lok Sabha seats in the third phase. However, elections were rescheduled from the second to the third phase in the Betul Lok Sabha seat of Madhya Pradesh due to the death of the BSP candidate. The BJP candidate in Surat has been declared the winner unopposed and due to the revised polling schedule in the Anantnag-Rajouri seat, the total seats now going to poll are 93. In the 2019 general election, the BJP won 72 of the 93 seats that go to the polls today. The Lok Sabha elections are being held across seven phases, from April 19 to June 1. The counting is scheduled for June 4. (ANI)

BJP President Amit Shah Casts Vote in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha Constituency

BJP President Amit Shah Casts Vote in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha Constituency Union Home Minister Amit Shah cast his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat on Tuesday morning. Shah, who is contesting to retain the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, greeted his supporters, interacted with them and signed autographs as he approached the polling booth at a sub-station in Naranpura locality here. The senior BJP leader was accompanied by his wife Sonal Shah, son Jay Shah other family members as they exercised their franchise. After casting his vote, Amit Shah showed his inked finger and the victory sign. He greeted the people after emerging from the polling booth and offered prayers at a nearby temple along with his family members as part of the tradition he has followed on every voting day. Voting is underway from 7 am on Tuesday in 25 Lok Sabha seats of Gujarat.

India's Modi casts his vote as giant election reaches half-waymark

India's Modi casts his vote as giant election reaches half-waymark Prime Minister Narendra Modi voted early as India held the third phase of a massive general election on Tuesday, and called for a strong turnout although he warned of the scorching summer heat. The world's most populous nation began voting on April 19 in a seven-phase election in which nearly one billion people are eligible to vote, with ballots set to be counted on June 4. Modi is seeking a rare, third straight term in a vote which pits his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against an alliance of more than two dozen opposition parties. Surveys suggest he will win a comfortable majority. I urge all citizens to vote in large numbers and celebrate the festival of democracy... To all those working in the heat, I urge you to take care of your health and drink adequate water, he said shortly after voting in his home state of Gujarat. Modi cast his ballot in the Gandhinagar constituency where his number two, Home Minister Amit Shah, is the BJP candidate. Clad in saffron and white, Modi was surrounded by hundreds of supporters and party members, signing autographs and talking to children on the way to the polling booth. He was received by Shah as people beat drums and rang bells. Modi's campaign began by showcasing his economic record, welfare measures, national pride and personal popularity. But it changed tack after the first phase of voting on April 19 and focused more on firing up BJP's Hindu base by attacking rivals as pro-Muslim, even as surveys say jobs and inflation are the main concerns of voters. In an interview with broadcaster Times Now aired on Monday, Modi said he does not oppose Islam or Muslims and wants the community to think about their future growth as they vote. Tuesday's polling covers 93 seats in 11 states and territories, with Gujarat and Maharashtra in the west and Karnataka in the south accounting for 50 seats. That would complete voting for 283 of parliament's 543 elected seats. In the 2019 elections, the BJP won more than 70 of 93 seats up for grabs on Tuesday, but faces tougher contests this time as the main opposition Congress party has gained strength in Karnataka and a regional partner has split in Maharashtra. Voter turnout of 66.14% and 66.71% respectively in the first two phases has been marginally lower than corresponding phases five years back, with analysts blaming the summer heat and the lack of a single strong issue to motivate voters. The Election Commission has since stepped up a campaign to encourage people to vote while consulting with weather officials and health and disaster management agencies to deal with the impact of the heat wave on Tuesday's vote. Weather conditions are predicted to be within normal ranges, it said in a statement on the eve of the vote, calling on voters to urn out in greater numbers at polling stations and vote with responsibility and pride. It is also pushing voter awareness to raise participation through messages and songs during Indian Premier League cricket matches, Facebook alerts, announcements at train stations and on flights, messages on train tickets, milk pouches, at gas stations, and films and songs at cinema theatres, among others. Music app Spotify has created an election playlist to motivate voters, and celebrities are being used to make appeals through radio and TV commercials, it said.

Modi Lauds EC for Peaceful Conduct of First Two Phases of LS Polls

Modi Lauds EC for Peaceful Conduct of First Two Phases of LS Polls Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated the Election Commission for conducting the first two phases of Lok Sabha polls with hardly any violence and asked the people to come out in large numbers to vote. PM Modi also said the way the Indian elections are being conducted could be a learning process for other democracies, and it has been the subject of case study for many universities. ''Matdaan is Mahadaan (voting is a great gift). I appeal to the people to vote in large numbers,'' Modi told reporters after casting his vote at a polling booth in Ranip area of Ahmedabad city under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat. ''I congratulate the Election Commission for conducting the first two phases of elections almost violence-free. I also congratulate the Election Commission for conducting the polls in a voter-friendly manner,'' he said. People across India should celebrate this ongoing ''festival of democracy'' by voting in large numbers, the PM said.

Indian Prime Minister Modi Votes in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha Constituency

Indian Prime Minister Modi Votes in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha Constituency Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday voted at a polling booth in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in the single-phase voting for 25 seats in Gujarat. Modi reached the polling booth at Nishan Public School in Ranip locality of Ahmedabad city soon after the polling began at 7 am and cast his vote. Union minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah, who is contesting to retain the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, was present when Modi reached the polling booth. Modi greeted people, signed autographs on his way to the polling booth. He bowed down to his elder brother Somabhai Patel before entering the polling booth. The PM, who arrived in Ahmedabad on Monday night, cast his vote in the polling booth after getting his finger inked. After coming out of the polling booth, Modi waved to the crowd and showed his inked finger. Polling began at 7 am in all the 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in Gujarat. Modi is a registered voter from Ranip area. Somabhai Patel lives near Nishan School, which falls under Sabarmati assembly segment of Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

PM Modi urges record voter turnout in third phase of Lok Sabha elections

PM Modi urges record voter turnout in third phase of Lok Sabha elections Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to vote in record numbers in the third phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls on Tuesday and said their active participation will make the election more vibrant. Voting is being held in 93 constituencies spread over 11 states and Union territories in the third phase of the parliamentary polls. ''Urging all those who are voting in today's phase to vote in record numbers. Their active participation will certainly make the elections more vibrant,'' Modi said in a post on X. The prime minister also posted the message on the microblogging platform in Bengali, Assamese, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi and Hindi. More than 1,300 candidates, including around 120 women, are in the fray in the third phase of the election. Among the bigwigs are Union ministers Amit Shah (Gandhinagar), Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna), Mansukh Mandaviya (Porbandar), Parshottam Rupala (Rajkot), Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and S P Singh Baghel (Agra). As many as 17.24 crore people, including 8.39 crore women, are eligible to vote and 1.85 lakh polling stations manned by 18.5 lakh officials have been set up.

Vote In Large Numbers, Celebrate Festival Of Democracy: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated the Election Commission for conducting the first two phases of Lok Sabha polls with hardly any violence and asked the people to come out in large numbers to vote. PM Modi also said the way the Indian elections are being conducted could be a learning process for other democracies, and it has been the subject of case study for many universities. Matdaan is Mahadaan (voting is a great gift). I appeal to the people to vote in large numbers, PM Modi told reporters after casting his vote at a polling booth in Ranip area of Ahmedabad city under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat.

PM Modi Votes In Ahmedabad During Third Phase Of Lok Sabha Polls

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday voted at a polling booth in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in the single-phase voting for 25 seats in Gujarat.PM Modi reached the polling booth at Nishan Public School in Ranip locality of Ahmedabad city soon after the polling began at 7 am and cast his vote.

PM Modi votes at polling booth in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency

Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday voted at a polling booth in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in the single-phase voting for 25 seats in Gujarat. Modi reached the polling booth at Nishan Public School in Ranip locality of Ahmedabad city soon after the polling began at 7 am and cast his vote. STORY | 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 .

LS polls 2024: Stakes high for Kharge, BSY, NCP in Phase 3

NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: The electoral fate of half-a-dozen Union ministers and two former chief ministers will be sealed on Wednesday in the third phase of the general elections is 93 constituencies in 11 states and Union territories. The BJP sees the third phase as one of consolidation as compared to the first two phases. Prominent among the heavyweight candidates in this phase are Union home minister Amit Shah in Gandhinagar, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya (Porbandar), civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia (Guna), former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh (Rajgarh), NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar)s Supriya Sule (Baramati), and Adhir Ranjan Choudhary (Berhampur). In Uttar Pradesh, representatives of the Mulayam Singh Yadav clan are contesting in this phase Dimple Yadav from Mainpuri, Akshaya Yadav, son of Ram Gopal Yadav, from Firozabad and Aditya Yadav, son of Shivpal Yadav, from Budaun. In Karnataka, the last of the 14 seats will go to polls in what is being seen as a high-stakes battle for Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. For, most of the seats are in North Karnataka, which is regarded as his home turf. The elections are equally important for former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, whose son Vijayendra is the state BJP president. Prominent among those in the fray in Karnataka are former CMs Basavaraj Bommai (Haveri) and Jagadish Shettar (Belgaum), Union ministers Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and Bhagwant Khuba (Bidar), Yediyurappas son Raghavendra (Shivamogga), and Kharges son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani (Gulbarga SC). According to sources, around 30-40 constituencies in the third phase will witness triangular contests, giving sitting Lok Sabha members a really tough time. Most of the sitting MPs are from the ruling BJP. Phase 3 factoids 93 seats for which polling will be held in 11 states/UTs 1,300 candidates including around 120 women, in the fray 11 crore people eligible to vote Entire Gujarat and Goa, 11 seats in Maharashtra, 10 in UP, 14 in Karnataka, 7 in Chhattisgarh, 5 in Bihar, 4 each in Assam and West Bengal to go to polls

PM Modi Casts His Vote in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha Constituency

PM Modi Casts His Vote in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha Constituency Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday voted at a polling booth in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in the single-phase voting for 25 seats in Gujarat. Modi reached the polling booth at Nishan Public School in Ranip locality of Ahmedabad city soon after the polling began at 7 am and cast his vote. Union minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah, who is contesting to retain the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, was present when Modi reached the polling booth.

Gujarat Lok Sabha Polls Begin: Voting Underway in 25 Constituencies

Gujarat Lok Sabha Polls Begin: Voting Underway in 25 Constituencies Polling began Tuesday morning for 25 of the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat, and for bypolls in five assembly constituencies in the state. Voting began at 50,788 polling booths across the state at 7 am and will end at 6 pm, an official said. The BJP has already drawn first blood with Mukesh Dalal winning the Surat Lok Sabha seat unopposed after the nomination of the Congress' Nilesh Kumbhani was rejected over irregularities in the signature of proposers and other candidates withdrew. The BJP is looking to repeat its sweep of 2014 and 2019 in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Modi and Shah will cast their votes at booths in Ahmedabad city that fall under Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat. Modi will exercise his franchise at a booth in Nishan Public School in Ranip locality, while Shah will vote at Naranpura sub-zonal office in the city. As per poll officials, a total of 4.97 crore persons, comprising 2.56 crore males, 2.41 crore females and 1,534 from the third gender, are eligible to vote in 50,788 polling booths in the single-phase Lok Sabha elections in the state. These comprise 17,275 polling booths in urban areas and 33,513 in rural areas, EC data showed. The EC said it has deployed 50,960 ballot units, 49,140 control units and 49,140 VVPATs for the Lok Sabha polls and assembly bypolls in the state. Keeping in view the possibility of a heat wave on polling day, arrangements have been made to provide sufficient shade at all polling stations, an official said. Voter assistance booths have been set up at all polling stations, he said. Of the 25 seats, Ahmedabad (East) has the highest number of candidates at 18, making it necessary for the poll body to use two ballot units across its 1,820 polling stations. The lowest number of candidates, at three, is in Bardoli. Navsari has the highest number of voters at 22 lakh followed by Gandhinagar and Rajkot, while the lowest is in Bharuch, as per EC data. Among the prominent candidates in the fray are Union Home Minister Shah from Gandhinagar, as well as his cabinet colleagues Mansukh Mandaviya and Parshottam Rupala from Porbandar and Rajkot, respectively. During the campaign, the BJP had to face the ire of the Kshatriya community over a remark made by Rupala in Rajkot. He had claimed several rulers from the community had ''roti and beti'' (marriage and trade) relations with the British and other foreign invaders. Rupala is up against former Congress MLA Paresh Dhanani, who had defeated him in the 2002 assembly polls. Several leaders from the community had recently made an appeal to their brethren to forgive Rupala for the remark and vote for the BJP for the sake of the nation and PM Modi. Voting is also being held in bypolls for five state assembly seats in the state, namely Khambhat, Vijapur, Waghodia, Porbandar, and Manavadar. The Congress, which is fighting the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party, hopes this move to prevent division of opposition votes will stop the BJP from repeating its sweeping performance of 2014 and 2019. As part of the alliance, the Congress, which has fielded four sitting and eight former MLAs, got 24 seats (including Surat), while the AAP has been given Bhavnagar and Bharuch. The BJP's campaign was led by PM Modi and Shah. For the Congress, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were among the star campaigners, along with Mallikarjun Kharge, who recently addressed a rally in Ahmedabad. Others who campaigned included Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Nirmala Sitharaman for the BJP and Ashok Gehlot, Shashi Tharoor, Abhishek Sanghvi and Pawan Khera etc for the Congress. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP's campaign saw rallies by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as well as senior leaders Sanjay Singh and Gopal Yadav. Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of the Delhi CM who is in jail in connection with an excise policy linked case, also held a road show in Bharuch. The Congress tried to corner the BJP by claiming unemployment, inflation were at an all-time high. The Congress also tried to impress upon the voters that the BJP would change the Constitution if it retained power, while the ruling party hit back claiming the opposition party planned to snatch quotas of Dalits, tribals and OBCs and give them to Muslims.

Gujarat Elections 2024 Live Updates: Polling To Begin In 25 Seats; PM Modi, Amit Shah To Vote In Gandhinagar

Stay informed with live updates on Phase 3 of the Gujarat Lok Sabha Elections 2024, focusing on crucial constituencies like Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara. Follow real-time voting data and analysis

93 seats go to polls in third phase of elections

Modi, Shah to cast vote in Gandhinagar Ahmedabad/Bengaluru: Voting will be held in 93 constituencies spread over 11 states and Union territories on Tuesday in the third phase of Lok Sabha polls, with stakes being high for the BJP, which had won an overwhelming majority of these seats, including all in Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya []

LIVE: LS Polls 2024 PHASE 3 | Lot at stake for BJP in India's Super Tuesday

Lok Sabha elections 2024 is heating up with all indications being now that the contest is turning out to be closer than was initially expected. In the backdrop of this comes the third phase of voting on Tuesday covering 93 constituencies spread over 11 states and Union Territories. The Surat Lok Sabha seat has already seen Mukesh Dalal of the BJP being elected unopposed in controversial circumstances. The constituencies that will be voting in the third phase include-- 25 seats in Gujarat, 11 seats in Maharashtra, 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, 14 in Karnataka, seven in Chhattisgarh, five in Bihar, four each in Assam and West Bengal and all two in Goa. The BJP particularly has a lot at stake since it had won an overwhelming majority of these seats, including all in Gujarat, Karnataka, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh in the last elections. In all, over 1300 candidates, including around 120 women, are in the fray. The fight for the 14 seats in Karnakata happens at a time when the flames of the Prajwal Revanna sex scandal are engulfing the JD(S) that had allied with the BJP. Among the star candidates whose fates will be sealed in the ballot boxes are Union ministers Amit Shah (Gandhinagar), Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna), Mansukh Mandaviya (Porbandar), Parshottam Rupala (Rajkot), Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and SP Singh Baghel (Agra). Follow live updates here. Campaigning ends for Gujarat LS polls: BJP aims to repeat sweep despite Cong-AAP alliance Election Commission officers check EVMs and VVPATs before their distribution to polling officials on the eve of the third phase of voting for Lok Sabha elections, in Sangli. In Karnataka, the fate of former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai (Haveri) and the AIUDF's Badruddin Ajmal (Dhubri) will be decided on Tuesday. In Uttar Pradesh, the current phase is important for the Mulayam Singh Yadav family, with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple Yadav aiming to retain the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat. Dimple Yadav had won the seat in bypolls following the demise of her father-in-law Mulayam Singh Yadav. Akshaya Yadav, son of Ram Gopal Yadav, the national principal general secretary of SP, will try to reclaim the Firozabad seat, which he had won in 2014. Aditya Yadav, the son of SP national general secretary Shivpal Yadav, is making his electoral debut from the Budaun Lok Sabha seat, which was represented by his cousin Dharmendra Yadav in 2014. Polling and security officials with EVMs and VVPATs cross the Brahmaputra river enroute to their polling station on the eve of the third phase of voting for Lok Sabha elections, at Goroimari in Kamrup dstrict. After the third phase, voting will be completed in 283 out of 543 seats in Lok Saba. PM Modi and Shah will cast their vote at booths in Ahmedabad city under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat. The next four phases will be on May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. Counting of votes is on June 4. BJP won't cross 150 seats; INDIA bloc will foil its attempt to scrap Constitution: Rahul Gandhi Two former CMs and that fight in Baramati Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Vidisha) and Digvijaya Singh (Rajgarh) have returned to the Lok Sabha electoral fray this time. Another riveting contest will be in Maharashtra's Baramati between Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar, wife of the veteran leader's estranged nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Baramati LS constituency will witness what they have not seen in last several years. Blatant misuse of power, threat & use of money for vote was hardly seen in Baramati but in this Lok Sabha election, all unheard things are being used in large scale that no one can even imagine. Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) May 6, 2024 Election officials carry EVMs and other materials on a tractor to their respective polling booths on the eve of 3rd phase of voting for Lok Sabha elections, in Kamrup district. Phase III of Lok Sabha polls in UP puts Samajwadi Party to test in 'Yadav land'

Polling in 93 Lok Sabha seats on Tuesday; PM Modi, Shah to cast vote in Gandhinagar

AHMEDABAD/BENGALURU, May 6: Voting will be held in 93 constituencies spread over 11 states and Union Territories on Tuesday in the third phase of Lok Sabha polls, with stakes being high for the BJP which had won an overwhelming majority of these seats, including all in Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, in the last election. [] The post Polling in 93 Lok Sabha seats on Tuesday; PM Modi, Shah to cast vote in Gandhinagar appeared first on Northlines .

Polling in 93 Lok Sabha seats on Tuesday; PM Modi, Amit Shah to cast vote in Gandhinagar

With the BJP bagging Surat unopposed, 25 seats in Prime Minister Modi's home state of Gujarat will go to polls on May 7, besides 11 seats in Maharashtra, 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, the remaining 14 of the 28 in Karnataka, seven in Chhattisgarh, five in Bihar, four each in Assam and West Bengal, and all two in Goa.

Gandhinagar Lok Sabha election 2024: Date of voting, result, candidates, main parties, schedule

Micron Foundation, United Way of Hyderabad Collab for Education URAM Scholarships

Hyderabad : The Micron Foundation has partnered with the United Way of Hyderabad (UWH) to provide scholarships to 60 of the brightest students from Indias leading engineering institutions, offering them a path towards academic excellence and a brighter future. These scholarships, which will be awarded as part of the University Research Alliance Micron (URAM) initiative, help ensure that each student has an opportunity to unlock their potential, pursue their chosen fields of study, and embark on a fulfilling career journey. The scholarships are specifically tailored to support students in their B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) third semester and M.Tech (Master of Technology) first year, in the fields of Computer Science Engineering, Electronics & Electrical Engineering, and Electronics & Computer Engineering. Among the 60 recipients,16 are women, and 10 are part of the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category, reflecting Microns dedication to inclusivity and the breadth of talent nurtured by the scholarship program. These students represent some of Indias leading institutions including IIT Delhi, IIIT Bangalore , IIT Gandhinagar, IIIT Hyderabad, BITS Pilani, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW), NIT Trichy , and the JNTUH College of Engineering. The selection process included an extensive on-campus activation and nationwide college campaigns with 2,677 applications from 494 institutes across the nation. Following a meticulous review process conducted by UWH, based on predefined selection criteria along with a comprehensive technical assessment, 60 exceptional candidates emerged as recipients of the scholarship, each demonstrating outstanding merit and promise in their respective fields of study. With a value of up to 80,000 per student, the scholarships aim to alleviate deserving students from financial burden, empowering them to pursue their academic aspirations with renewed vigor. The Micron Foundation is committed to supporting students in their pursuit of in-demand careers that provide the opportunity to enrich their lives, said April Arnzen, Micron executive vice president, chief people officer and president of the Micron Foundation. We believe that access to higher education, delivered through initiatives like the URAM Scholarship Program, and working with partners like UWH, will prepare them for future technology careers while creating a lasting impact on communities throughout India. Our URAM scholarships underscore our focus on promoting diversity and fostering excellence in education, said Anand Ramamoorthy, vice president and managing director, Micron India. With the wealth of talent within India, these students will be at the vanguard of Indias rise as a semiconductor powerhouse in line with the dynamic evolution of the technology industry. According to Rekha Srinivasan, CEO, United Way of Hyderabad, We are pleased to be working with the Micron Foundation to empower deserving students through this URAM scholarship initiative. These scholarships ensure that every student has equitable access to opportunities to unlock their potential, pursue their chosen courses, and forge a career they cherish. Through the scholarship program, we aim to create a fair platform for all students. URAM is an integrated framework to build stronger partnerships with Indian universities, focusing on fostering research, innovation, and collaboration, with some of the best minds in the country. At its core, the alliance brings together academic institutions and key faculty experts, advanced research labs, student communities, industry associations, startups and government agencies to further research, education, and innovation in memory design.

'I'm giving my all in this fight, want you to do the same': Rahul issues appeal to party workers

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday urged the party workers to go door to door with the 'Nyay' guarantees and underline the threat posed by the BJP's ideology and its agenda of hate. In an appeal to the Congress workers a day before the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls, Gandhi said he is giving his all in this fight and wants them to do the same. He asserted that this election is not an ordinary election or a fight between political parties, but one to save democracy and the Constitution. On one side is the Congress' ideology of love and justice and on the other side is the ideology of fear, hatred and division of the Modi government, the BJP and the RSS, Gandhi said in his message to the workers posted on X. The biggest strength of the Congress Party in this fight is dedicated to workers like you. You are fierce and fearless, because the ideology of Congress is in your hearts, in your thoughts and in your actions. You are the backbone of the party and we cannot win without you, the former Congress chief said. , - , - , , pic.twitter.com/2zjgYmhLEW Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 6, 2024 He thanked the Congress workers and said it is because of them that the party was able to prepare a revolutionary manifesto by listening to the people of India. We have fought well in the first two phases of the elections. We have been able to oppose the lies and distractions of the BJP and forced them to answer us, Gandhi said. Now is the time for another month of hard work to ensure that our guarantees reaches every Indian, and to ensure that everyone turns out to vote. Let us all together take the message of the Congress and our guarantee to every village, locality, street and every house. Now the time has come for us to go door to door. We have to reach every youth, woman, labourer, farmer and deprived family, he said. Gandhi urged the workers to make the people aware of the hreat posed by the BJP's ideology and their agenda of hate. He said he knows that as long as even a single Congress worker stands for the truth, hatred cannot win in India. And we are not one but millions. We all will fight together, win and change the situation of the country, he said. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, After walking 4,000 kms from Kanyakumari to Kashmir on the Bharat Jodo Yatra, after travelling 6,600 km from Manipur to Mumbai on the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Rahul Gandhi has now embarked on the 'Samvidhan Bachao Yatra'. He asserted that the Congress is the party of Indian constitutionalism and Indian nationalism. We will protect its principles, its values and its basic structure till our dying breath, he said. Voting will be held in 93 constituencies spread over 11 states and Union Territories on Tuesday in the third phase of Lok Sabha polls, with stakes being high for the BJP which had won an overwhelming majority of these seats, including all in Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, in the last election. Over 1,300 candidates, including around 120 women, are in the fray. Among the bigwigs are Union ministers Amit Shah (Gandhinagar), Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna), Mansukh Mandaviya (Porbandar), Parshottam Rupala (Rajkot), Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and S P Singh Baghel (Agra).

Shah, Scindia among key contestants in third phase

Among the bigwigs are Union ministers Amit Shah (Gandhinagar), Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna), Mansukh Mandaviya (Porbandar), Parshottam Rupala (Rajkot), Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and SP Singh Baghel (Agra).

Landmark Polling in 93 Lok Sabha Seats; Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Shah Set to Vote in Gandhinagar

Landmark Polling in 93 Lok Sabha Seats; Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Shah Set to Vote in Gandhinagar Voting will be held in 93 constituencies spread over 11 states and Union Territories on Tuesday in the third phase of Lok Sabha polls, with stakes being high for the BJP which had won an overwhelming majority of these seats, including all in Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, in the last election. Over 1,300 candidates, including around 120 women, are in the fray. Among the bigwigs are Union ministers Amit Shah (Gandhinagar), Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna), Mansukh Mandaviya (Porbandar), Parshottam Rupala (Rajkot), Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and SP Singh Baghel (Agra). With the BJP bagging Surat unopposed, 25 seats in Prime Minister Modi's home state of Gujarat will go to polls on May 7, besides 11 seats in Maharashtra, 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, the remaining 14 of the 28 in Karnataka, seven in Chhattisgarh, five in Bihar, four each in Assam and West Bengal, and all two in Goa. The Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (2 seats) and nine seats in Madhya Pradesh, including Betul where elections were deferred, will also go to polls on Tuesday. Over 11 crore people will be eligible to vote in this phase. PM Modi and Shah will cast their vote at booths in Ahmedabad city under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat. Former Madhya Pradesh chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Vidisha) and Digvijaya Singh (Rajgarh) have also returned to the Lok Sabha electoral fray this time. A riveting contest is on in Maharashtra's Baramati between Sharad Pawars daughter Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar, wife of the veteran leaders estranged nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. In Uttar Pradesh, the current phase is important for the Mulayam Singh Yadav family, with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple Yadav aiming to retain the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat. Dimple Yadav had won the seat in bypolls following the demise of her father-in-law Mulayam Singh Yadav. Akshaya Yadav, son of Ram Gopal Yadav, the national principal general secretary of SP, will try to reclaim the Firozabad seat, which he had won in 2014. Aditya Yadav, the son of SP national general secretary Shivpal Yadav, is making his electoral debut from the Budaun Lok Sabha seat, which was represented by his cousin Dharmendra Yadav in 2014. The fate of former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai (Haveri) and AIUDF Badruddin Ajmal (Dhubri) will also be decided on May 7. After the third phase, voting will be completed in 283 out of 543 seats in Lok Sabha. The next four phases will be on May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. The counting of votes is on June 4. In West Bengal, the four seats going to polls are Muslim-majority. The division of minority votes among the Left-Congress combine and the TMC and the narrative on the Citizenship Amendment Act could shape the outcome in the intense electoral battle in Maldaha Uttar, Maldaha Dakshin, Jangipur and Murshidabad. The Murshidabad and Jangipur Lok Sabha seats are held by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has renominated its sitting MPs Abu Taher and Bidi baron Khalilur Rehman respectively. The Bharatiya Janata Party has again fielded Khagen Murmu for the Malda Uttar seat against TMC candidate Prasun Banerjee and former Congress MLA Mostaque Alam. In the Malda Dakshin seat, the Congress has fielded Isha Khan Choudhury from the family of ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury. The third phase saw the BJP-led NDA and the INDIA bloc fiercely attacking each other on issues like reservations and sexual harassment charges against JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the BJP charge, asking the Congress to give in writing that it will not hand over the quota for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes to Muslims. The Congress and its allies accused the BJP of trying to tamper with the Constitution and do away with reservations. The principal opposition party, which has promised to remove the 50 per cent cap on reservations, also asked the BJP to clear its stance on the issue. The BJP leaders targeted the Congress over wealth redistribution and inheritance tax issues and accused it of pursuing appeasement politics, while the Congress reiterated its commitment to conduct a caste census and economic survey if voted to power. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP had swept all these 14 seats in Karnataka, defeating Congress and JD(S), which were in alliance and ruling the state then. Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have attacked the BJP over allegations of sexual abuse against Prajwal Revanna, Hassan MP and leader of the JD(S) - an ally of the BJP. Hitting back, BJP leader Amit Shah and others questioned why the Congress government in Karnataka delayed the action against Revanna. The JD(S) joined the BJP-led NDA in September last year. Prajwal Revanna is the grandson of former prime minister and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and was the JD(S)-BJP alliance candidate from the Hassan seat which went to polls on April 26. Prajwal's father H D Revanna was arrested by Special Investigation Team on Saturday in a kidnapping case linked to sexual abuse allegations against Prajwal, soon after a court here rejected his anticipatory bail plea. In Gujarat, BJP's Mukesh Dalal has already won from Surat unopposed after the nomination of Congress' Nilesh Kumbhani was rejected over irregularities in the signature of proposers and other candidates withdrew. The party had swept all 26 seats in 2019. In Chhattisgarh, the BJP had bagged nine seats and Congress two seats out of the total 11 in 2019. In Assam, the BJP has put up only one candidate in this phase for the Guwahati seat, while its alliance partners AGP are contesting in two - Dhubri and Barpeta - and the UPPL in Kokrajhar. The Congress is fighting in all four seats. The constituencies going to the polls in the third phase in Bihar are Araria, Jhanjharpur, Supaul, Madhepura and Khagaria, all currently held by the NDA.

Polling In 93 Lok Sabha Seats On Tuesday; PM Modi, HM Shah To Cast Vote In Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD/BENGALURU, May 6: Voting will be held in 93 constituencies spread over 11 states and Union Territories on Tuesday in the third phase of Lok Sabha polls, with stakes being high for the BJP which had won an overwhelming majority of these seats, including all in Gujarat, Karnataka, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, in the last election. Over 1,300 candidates, including around 120 women, are in the fray. Among the bigwigs are Union ministers Amit Shah (Gandhinagar), Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna), Mansukh [] The post Polling In 93 Lok Sabha Seats On Tuesday; PM Modi, HM Shah To Cast Vote In Ahmedabad appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Lok Sabha elections Phase 3: PM Modi to cast vote at Nishan Higher Secondary School in Ahmedabad tomorrow

Lok Sabha elections Phase 3: PM Modi to cast vote at Nishan Higher Secondary School in Ahmedabad tomorrow Prime Minister Narendra Modi will cast his vote at Nishan Higher Secondary School in Ahemdabad in the third phase of Lok Sabha polls on Tuesday. Preparations for polling arrangements are underway at the school which has been designated as a polling booth. Earlier, a 'Run for Vote' marathon was organised in Gujarat's Ahmedabad on Sunday morning to create awareness among youth to cast their votes in the third phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The marathon was organised as part of the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) drive to promote the importance of 100 per cent voting. Joint CEO, SVEEP, Ashok B Patel said, Today, 'Run for Vote' marathon was organised to create awareness among youth to cast their votes on May 7 for the Lok Sabha Elections. The Election Commission is running a voting awareness campaign to encourage people to vote more in this Lok Sabha election. BJP in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls swept all 26 seats on offer. The Congress is in alliance with the AAP in Gujarat where it will contest from 24 seats while the AAP will contest in Bhavnagar and Bharuch constituencies. Voting for 25 out of 26 seats in Gujarat is set to take place in the third phase of the ongoing general elections on May 7. The third phase will include constituencies from Kutch, Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad East, Ahmedabad West, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Anand, Kheda, Panchmahal, Dahod, Vadodara, Chhota Udaipur, Bharuch, Bardoli, Navsari, and Valsad. However, voting will not take place in Surat as BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal was declared elected unopposed last week. This decision came after the nomination of Congress' Nilesh Kumbhani was rejected, and other candidates withdrew from the contest. The election results will be announced on June 4. (ANI)

In absence of heavyweight challenger, BJP eyes record win for Shah in Gandhinagar LS seat

With the Congress lacking a strong contender in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, the BJP aims for a record margin of over 10 lakh votes for Amit Shah. Past representatives L K Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee made it a BJP stronghold. Shah, seeking reelection, faces Sonal Patel. Voting for Gujarat's seats occurs in the third phase.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 3: Amit Shah, Jyotiraditya to Dimple Yadav; Top candidates and constituencies

As Phase 3 of the Lok Sabha elections approaches, 93 seats in 11 states and Union Territories are gearing up for voting on May 7. This phase will witness key battles including Amit Shah in Gandhinagar, Dimple Yadav in Mainpuri, Jyotiraditya Scindia in Guna, Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Vidisha, and Supriya Sule in Baramati. Here's a glimpse of the major candidates and the constituencies that will shape the outcome of this phase.

Surat, Indore and Gandhinagar - The Week

Surat, Indore and Gandhinagar The Week

BJP and Congress Spar in Crucial Third Phase of Lok Sabha Elections

New Delhi: The high-octane campaign for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections that saw the BJP-led NDA and the I.N.D.IA. bloc attacking each other on issues like reservations and sexual harassment charges against JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna concluded on Sunday in 92 seats spread over 11 states and Union Territories. The stakes are significant for the BJP in this round as the party had in 2019 won an overwhelming majority of these seats, including all in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, that will go to polls on May 7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led the BJP charge, asking the Congress to give in writing that it will not hand over the quota for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes to Muslims. The Congress and its allies accused the BJP of trying to tamper with the Constitution and do away with reservations. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge along with party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra focused on issues of social justice, unemployment, injustice to farmers and alleged favourable treatment to select businessmen. Over 1,300 candidates, including around 120 women, are in the fray. Among the bigwigs are Union ministers Amit Shah (Gandhinagar), Mansukh Mandaviya (Porbandar), Parshottam Rupala (Rajkot), Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and SP Singh Baghel (Agra). The fate of former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai (Haveri) and Badruddin Ajmal (Dhubri) will also bedecided on May 7. Several members of Mulayam Singh Yadavs family are also contesting in this phase in Uttar Pradesh. The Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (2 seats) will also go to polls in the third phase while the election in the Anatnag-Rajouri seat has been put off to the sixth phase due to logistic reasons. In Maharashtra, where 11 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats will go to polls, a riveting contest is on in Baramati between Sharad Pawars daughter Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar, wife of the veteran leader's estranged nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. In Madhya Pradesh, four-time chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Congress veteran Digvijay Singh are seeking election from Vidisha, Guna and Rajgarh seats respectively. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday reiterated that the BJP is going to win all the 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state. He said, This time, it will be 11 out of 11 in Chhattisgarh. I can say it confidently based on the feedback received from across the state. Meanwhile, in the Congress-ruled Karnataka which changed the campaigning track with the Hassan sex scandal, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah exuded confidence in the partys prospects and said, In the first phase of the election for 14 constituencies, our information and inputs from local workers indicate a potential win of 8-9 seats. Looking ahead to the second phase on May 7, we anticipate securing more than 10 seats. In total, we are poised to clinch at least 20 seats in the state.

REC gets RBI nod to set up subsidiary in GIFT City

According to the statement, REC Ltd, under the Ministry of Power and a leading NBFC, has received a 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for setting up a subsidiary in Gujarat International Finance Tech-City (GIFT) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

REC Subsidiary to Establish Presence in GIFT City with RBI Approval

REC Subsidiary to Establish Presence in GIFT City with RBI Approval State-owned REC Ltd on Sunday said it has received RBI's approval to set up a subsidiary in GIFT City, Gujarat. The proposed subsidiary will engage in a range of financial activities as a finance company within GIFT, including lending, investment, and other financial services, a company statement said. According to the statement, REC Ltd, under the Ministry of Power and a leading NBFC, has received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for setting up a subsidiary in Gujarat International Finance Tech-City (GIFT) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The decision to expand operations into GIFT, a burgeoning hub for financial services in India, comes as REC continues to diversify its portfolio and explore new avenues for growth, it stated. Vivek Kumar Dewangan, CMD, REC Ltd said in the statement, The GIFT City platform offers a conducive environment for international lending activities coupled with world-class infrastructure. We are confident that REC will harness these advantages to carve a niche for itself in the global market.''

Campaigning ends for Gujarat LS polls: BJP aims to repeat sweep despite Cong-AAP alliance

AHMEDABAD: Campaigning for polls to 25 of 26 Lok Sabha seats and bypolls to five assembly constituencies ended in Gujarat at 6 pm on Saturday, with voting scheduled for May 7. The BJP's Mukesh Dalal has already won from Surat unopposed after the nomination of Congress' Nilesh Kumbhani was rejected over irregularities in the signature of proposers and other candidates withdrew. Among the prominent candidates in the fray are Union Home Minister Amit Shah from Gandhinagar, as well as his cabinet colleagues Mansukh Mandaviya and Parshottam Rupala from Porbandar and Rajkot, respectively. During the campaign, the BJP had to face the ire of the Kshatriya community over a remark made by Rupala in Rajkot. He had claimed several rulers from the community had oti and beti (marriage and trade) relations with the British and other foreign invaders. Rupala is up against former Congress MLA Paresh Dhanani, who had defeated him in the 2002 assembly polls. The Congress has fielded four sitting and eight former MLAs. It is contesting the polls in alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party. As part of the agreement, the Congress got 24 seats (including Surat), while the AAP has been given Bhavnagar and Bharuch. Geniben Thakor, sitting MLA from Vava in Banaskantha district, has been fielded from Banaskantha against BJP's Rekha Chaudhary, making it the only seat in the state where the main contest is between two women. The BJP's campaign, in a state considered its strongest base, was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. For the Congress, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were among the star campaigners, along with Mallikarjun Kharge, who recently addressed a rally in Ahmedabad. A host of senior leaders from the BJP and the Congress also took part in the campaign in the state, where the ruling party blanked out the grand old party in 2014 and 2019. These leaders included Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Nirmala Sitharaman for the BJP and Ashok Gehlot, Shashi Tharoor, Abhishek Sanghvi and Pawan Khera etc for the Congress. The AAP has fielded sitting MLAs Chaitar Vasava from Bharuch and Umesh Makwana from Bhavnagar, and the Arvind Kejriwal-led party's campaign saw rallies by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as well as senior leaders Sanjay Singh and Gopal Yadav. Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of the Delhi CM who is in jail in connection with a excise policy linked case, also held a roadshow in Bharuch for Vasava. On the last day of campaigning on Sunday, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, BJP state unit president CR Paatil and minister Harsh Sanghavi participated in motorcycle rallies. While the presence of PM Modi towered over all else in the campaign, the Congress tried to corner the BJP by claiming unemployment, inflation were at an all time high. The Congress also tried to impress upon the voter that the BJP would change the Constitution if it retained power, while the ruling party hit back claiming the opposition party planned to snatch quotas of Dalits, tribals and OBCs and give them to Muslims. As per poll officials, a total of 4.97 crore persons, comprising 2.56 crore males, 2.41 crore females and 1,534 from the third gender, will vote in 50,788 polling booths. They said intensive voter awareness drives were carried out under the guidance of Chief Electoral Officer P Bharathi. On Sunday, just before the campaign period ended, the Election Commission organised a 'Run for Vote' event across all the districts in the state, they pointed out. To address the potential challenges posed by heat waves, polling booths across the state will be equipped with essential amenities such as drinking water, seating arrangements, adequate shade as well as baby care centres, the CEO informed. Of the 25 seats that will go to polls on May 7, Ahmedabad (East) has the highest number of candidates at 18, while the lowest is in Bardoli, where three contestants are in the fray, as per EC data. Navsari has the highest number of voters, while the lowest is in Bharuch. Out of 50,788 polling stations, 17,275 are in urban areas and 33,513 in rural areas, EC data showed. Those on election duty have exercised their franchise for the Lok Sabha poll and five assembly bypolls through 2,23,052 postal ballots at voting facilitation centres across the state.

Gujarat LS Polls: BJP Targets Repeat Victory Amidst Congress-AAP Challenge

Gujarat LS Polls: BJP Targets Repeat Victory Amidst Congress-AAP Challenge Campaigning for polls to 25 of 26 Lok Sabha seats and bypolls to five assembly constituencies ended in Gujarat at 6pm on Saturday, with voting scheduled for May 7. The BJP's Mukesh Dalal has already won from Surat unopposed after the nomination of Congress' Nilesh Kumbhani was rejected over irregularities in the signature of proposers and other candidates withdrew. Among the prominent candidates in the fray are Union Home Minister Amit Shah from Gandhinagar, as well as his cabinet colleagues Mansukh Mandaviya and Parshottam Rupala from Porbandar and Rajkot, respectively. During the campaign, the BJP had to face the ire of the Kshatriya community over a remark made by Rupala in Rajkot. He had claimed several rulers from the community had ''roti and beti'' (marriage and trade) relations with the British and other foreign invaders. Rupala is up against former Congress MLA Paresh Dhanani, who had defeated him in the 2002 assembly polls. The Congress has fielded four sitting and eight former MLAs. It is contesting the polls in alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party. As part of the agreement, the Congress got 24 seats (including Surat), while the AAP has been given Bhavnagar and Bharuch. Geniben Thakor, sitting MLA from Vava in Banaskantha district, has been fielded from Banaskantha against BJP's Rekha Chaudhary, making it the only seat in the state where the main contest is between two women. The BJP's campaign, in a state considered its strongest base, was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. For the Congress, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were among the star campaigners, along with Mallikarjun Kharge, who recently addressed a rally in Ahmedabad. A host of senior leaders from the BJP and the Congress also took part in the campaign in the state, where the ruling party blanked out the grand old party in 2014 and 2019. These leaders included Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Nirmala Sitharaman for the BJP and Ashok Gehlot, Shashi Tharoor, Abhishek Sanghvi and Pawan Khera etc for the Congress. The AAP has fielded sitting MLAs Chaitar Vasava from Bharuch and Umesh Makwana from Bhavnagar, and the Arvind Kejriwal-led party's campaign saw rallies by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as well as senior leaders Sanjay Singh and Gopal Yadav. Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of the Delhi CM who is in jail in connection with a excise policy linked case, also held a roadshow in Bharuch for Vasava. On the last day of campaigning on Sunday, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, BJP state unit president CR Paatil and minister Harsh Sanghavi participated in motorcycle rallies. While the presence of PM Modi towered over all else in the campaign, the Congress tried to corner the BJP by claiming unemployment, inflation were at an all time high. The Congress also tried to impress upon the voter that the BJP would change the Constitution if it retained power, while the ruling party hit back claiming the opposition party planned to snatch quotas of Dalits, tribals and OBCs and give them to Muslims. As per poll officials, a total of 4.97 crore persons, comprising 2.56 crore males, 2.41 crore females and 1,534 from the third gender, will vote in 50,788 polling booths. They said intensive voter awareness drives were carried out under the guidance of Chief Electoral Officer P Bharathi. On Sunday, just before the campaign period ended, the Election Commission organised a 'Run for Vote' event across all the districts in the state, they pointed out. To address the potential challenges posed by heat waves, polling booths across the state will be equipped with essential amenities such as drinking water, seating arrangements, adequate shade as well as baby care centres, the CEO informed. Of the 25 seats that will go to polls on May 7, Ahmedabad (East) has the highest number of candidates at 18, while the lowest is in Bardoli, where three contestants are in the fray, as per EC data. Navsari has the highest number of voters, while the lowest is in Bharuch. Out of 50,788 polling stations, 17,275 are in urban areas and 33,513 in rural areas, EC data showed. Those on election duty have exercised their franchise for the Lok Sabha poll and five assembly bypolls through 2,23,052 postal ballots at voting facilitation centres across the state.

Voter awareness run in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, over 5,000 participate

BILKULONLINE Ahmedabad, May 5 : To raise awareness on voting, a Run For Vote campaign was organised in Gujarats Ahmedabad The post Voter awareness run in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, over 5,000 participate appeared first on Bilkul Online .

Rashtriya Raksha University launches Corporate Security Management Course for Retiring Junior Commissioned Officers

BILKULONLINE Gandhinagar, May 5: School of Private, Industrial, and Corporate Security Management (SPICSM)at Rashtriya Raksha University is pleased to announce The post Rashtriya Raksha University launches Corporate Security Management Course for Retiring Junior Commissioned Officers appeared first on Bilkul Online .

35 Muslim Candidates in Gujarat Assembly Elections; Congress Abstains from Fielding Any

35 Muslim Candidates in Gujarat Assembly Elections; Congress Abstains from Fielding Any Thirty-five Muslim candidates are contesting the Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat but the Congress has this time broken its tradition and not fielded a single person from the community in the state. The Congress has argued that the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat, from where it used to traditionally field a Muslim candidate, has this time gone to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as part of the seat sharing agreement among the opposition INDIA bloc constituents. Among national parties, only the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded a Muslim candidate from Gandhinagar for the May 7 polls in the state. The BSP had also fielded a Muslim candidate in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Panchmahal. This time, 35 Muslim candidates are in the fray for the Lok Sabha polls to be held in 25 out of the 26 seats in Gujarat, compared to 43 nominees from the community in 2019, according to Election Commission data. Most of the candidates from the community are either contesting independently or have been fielded by lesser-known parties. Gujarat Congress's minority department chairman Vajirkhan Pathan told PTI, ''The party has traditionally fielded at least one candidate from the Muslim community in the Lok Sabha elections in the state, especially from Bharuch. This time it was not possible as the seat went to the AAP.'' The Congress had offered to field a candidate from one seat in Gujarat, but the community members declined given a slim chance of victory, he claimed. ''There is no scope for a Muslim candidate to contest from any other seat. Two seats - Ahmedabad West and Kutch - with sizable Muslim population are reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates,'' Pathan said. Apart from Bharuch, the Congress has in the past fielded Muslim candidates from Navsari and Ahmedabad (when it was not divided into Ahmedabad East and West seats). In 1977, the Congress sent two Muslim candidates to Parliament - Ehsan Jafri from Ahmedabad and Ahmed Patel from Bharuch. Patel went on to win two subsequent elections in 1980 and 1984 from Bharuch. His son Faisal Patel and daughter Mumtaz Patel were among the contenders for the seat this time and had even expressed unhappiness after it went to the AAP which fielded tribal leader Chaitar Vasava. In the past, the Congress fielded Muhammad Patel, Aziz Tankarvi and Sherkhan Pathan from Bharuch in the 2004, 2009 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, respectively. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, it fielded Maksud Mirza, its only Muslim candidate, from the Navsari seat. The Mayavati-led BSP has this time offered ticket to Mohammad Anis Desai to contest from Gandhinagar, where he is pitted against BJP heavyweight and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Out of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat where elections will be held, Gandhinagar has the highest number of eight Muslim candidates. Jamnagar and Navsari have five Muslim candidates each, Patan and Bharuch four each, Porbandar and Kheda two each, and Ahmedabad East, Banaskantha, Junagadh, Panchmahl and Sabarkantha one each, according to Election Commission data. While a majority of them are contesting as independents, some smaller parties such as the Right to Recall Party, Bharatiya Jan Nayak Party, Social Democratic Party, Garib Kalyan Party and Log Party have also fielded Muslim candidates from different seats. Ismail Patel, the sarpanch of Sarod village in Bharuch's Jambusar taluka who is contesting as an independent candidate from Bharuch Lok Sabha seat, said he tried for a ticket for the 2022 state assembly elections, but it was denied by the Congress. ''Big political parties ignore Muslim leaders because of which we have to find a way out and contest the election as independent candidates. People in our area face a lot of issues but the local leaders do not come to their aid, because of which locals want a leader from their community,'' he claimed. A total of 266 candidates are in the fray for the May 7 elections in Gujarat, according to the final list of candidates published on April 22. Out of the 26 seats in Gujarat, Surat has gone to the BJP after its candidate Mukesh Dalal was last week declared elected unopposed.

The Leaders of Congress Are Giving False Guarantees to Voters: NVSS Prabhakar

Telangana BJP vice-president and former MLA NVSS Prabhakar (File image) Telangana BJP vice-president and former MLA NVSS Prabhakar (File image) Hyderabad: TS BJP vice-president N.V.S.S.Prabhakar said that the star campaigners of the Congress and the INDI alliance partners were either on bail or were serving jail sentences. As these leaders had no credibility, voters were not ready to trust their guarantees and promises. Addressing a press conference at the state party office here, Prabhakar said INDI alliance leaders were giving guarantees for votes while Prime Minister Narendra Modis guarantees were a sankalp patra for development of the country and effective implementation of welfare schemes for the poor. Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, two Chief Ministers, a former CM and other leaders of the INDI alliance are on bail on personal bond or were in jail. They are giving guarantees to gullible people and misleading them for the sake of votes, the BJP leader said. He said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was also on bail on personal bond in the cash for vote case in which he still faces charges. He said Rahul Gandhi was involved in different cases and was on bail, adding that the Congress leader was convicted and sentenced to two-year jail in a defamation suit in a Gujarat court. Rahul Gandhi had secured bail in this case. Besides, Rahul Gandhi was on bail in cases registered in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Gandhinagar, Guwahati and Surat.

Is Gandhinagar seat really a BJP fortress?

Is Gandhinagar seat really a BJP fortress

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Big Names Face Critical Tests

The Lok Sabha elections for 2024 are in full swing, with Phase 3 set to take place on May 7th. This phase encompasses 95 seats across 12 states and Union Territories. Among the contenders are notable figures such as Union Home Minister Amit Shah, rebel BJP leader KS Eshwarappa, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Dimple Yadav, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Supriya Sule. The key players in Phase 3 hail from prominent political parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Congress, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), among others. Let's take a closer look at some of the top contenders: Amit Shah: Union Minister Amit Shah seeks re-election from Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat. He faces competition from Congress' Sonal Patel. The BJP has maintained a stronghold on this seat since 1989, with Shah securing victory in 2019 by a significant margin. Dimple Yadav: SP candidate Dimple Yadav is contesting from the 'Mainpuri' constituency in Uttar Pradesh, a stronghold of her party. Following the passing of SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, Dimple Yadav won the seat in a bypoll. She now faces BJP candidate Jaiveer Singh in a bid to uphold Mulayam's legacy. Jyotiraditya Scindia: Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia represents the BJP in the Guna Lok Sabha constituency of Madhya Pradesh. He goes head-to-head with Rao Yadvendra Singh of the Congress, aiming to reverse his defeat in the 2019 polls. Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the BJP's candidate from Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency. Chouhan, a five-time MP from Vidisha, competes against Pratap Bhanu Sharma of the Congress. Supriya Sule: NCP leader Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar, contests from the Baramati seat in Maharashtra. Her candidacy sparks interest as she faces Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, who recently joined the BJP-led NDA. The constituencies participating in Phase 3 cover a wide geographical spread across India, including states like Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, along with Union Territories like Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu. The Election Commission reports a total of 1,351 candidates vying for seats in this phase, with Gujarat and Maharashtra leading in the number of nominations. Notably, Osmanabad constituency in Maharashtra and Bilaspur seat in Chhattisgarh witness significant participation, indicating the intense competition characterizing Phase 3 of the Lok Sabha elections 2024. BJP's Post-Election Strategy: Focus Shifts to West Bengal Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mega Campaigning in Ayodhya: All You Need to Know PM Modi Vows Justice for Victims of the West Bengal Teacher Recruitment Scam

Kharge: We convinced Rahul Gandhi to run from Raebareli, a constituency his family has long represented

Kharge: We convinced Rahul Gandhi to run from Raebareli, a constituency his family has long represented Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday said Rahul Gandhi was persuaded to contest Lok Sabha polls from Raebareli as several members of his family had represented the seat in the past. Gandhi filed his papers from Raebareli barely an hour before nominations closed for the Lok Sabha seat on Friday. It has been held by his mother Sonia Gandhi for the past two decades. Gandhi is contesting from Kerala's Wayanad as well, from where he is sitting MP. ''Our leader Sonia Gandhi has been elected to the Rajya Sabha, so we requested Rahul Gandhi that Raebareli has been an old constituency which served as the seat of Rajiv Gandhi, Firoz Gandhi and several of his family members,'' Kharge told reporters. ''He was at Shivamogga (for election campaign). So last night we held a discussion and finally we filed the nomination. I also went there. There is no question of fear,'' the Congress president added. Kharge's comments came after PM Modi took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi saying he decided to contest from Raebareli because he knew he would lose in Wayanad. When asked about Modi's statement over Gandhi's nomination from Raebareli, Kharge said that such a statement does not suit a prime minister. ''By making such cheap statements he reduces the dignity of a prime minister. Even Indira Gandhi contested from another seat like Chikmagalur and Medak...Ask him (Modi) why he went there (Varanasi) after leaving Gandhinagar,'' Kharge added. On Modi's accusation that people of Pakistan want to make Rahul Gandhi the prime minister, Kharge said it does not happen like this. ''It is our country, where our people will cast their vote. We did not fly to Pakistan for a hug without an invitation. He (Modi) does such a thing and then accuses Congress of taking help from Pakistan. Congress has given leaders who have sacrificed their lives for the unity of the country,'' he said. Despite this, Modi asks what the Congress has done for the country, Kharge said. ''I give them (BJP) an account of what the Congress did but he refuses to take it,'' Kharge added. Queried about the Congress claiming the BJP would change the Constitution after coming to power, Kharge said such claims were being made from open platforms by BJP and RSS leaders. ''We are not the ones who are saying we will change the Constitution. Their Member of Parliament Anant Kumar Hegde said give us two-third majority and we will change the Constitution. Mohan Bhagwat also said the same, even after the 2019 election. Should we trust these leaders,'' Kharge asked. The BJP has destroyed autonomous bodies formed under the Constitution, adding that the Congress was fighting to save democracy and the Constitution. He also expressed surprise over Modi's interpretation of Congress' manifesto as having an imprint of Muslim League. ''How can a Congress manifesto be a Muslim League manifesto? Our manifesto talks about five 'nyay','' he said. Addressing a public meeting in Ahmedabad later, Kharge said Modi was the chieftain of liars since he had not fulfilled promises like giving Rs 15 lakh in the accounts of the people, and doubling farmers' income. ''We are only saying what you yourself promised, we did not add a word. He talked about bringing a bullet train in two years. Have you taken a ride on the bullet train coming up at a cost of Rs 1 lakh crore? It is meant for the rich and not the poor because of the high fares,'' Kharge claimed. He also said the BJP government got MPs from the opposition thrown out when they talk about issues of the poor, like inflation and unemployment. ''The BJP tries to suppress our voice. Remember, we will not bow even when we have to sacrifice our lives. We are fighting for values which are for the good of the country,'' he asserted.

Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat: Amit Shah eyes victory in BJPs bastion, to face Congress Sonal Patel

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Free Ride to Home after Voting

Rapido and Gujarat Election Commission Offer Free Bike Taxi Rides for General Elections 2024, Revolutionizing Voter Transport BILKULONLINE Gandhinagar, May The post Free Ride to Home after Voting appeared first on Bilkul Online .

CC Avenue Teams Up with Shivalik Bank to Enhance Payment Options

BILKULONLINE Gandhinagar, May 2: Infibeam Avenues Ltd, a leading AI-powered listed fintech company and provider of innovative payment solutions, is The post CC Avenue Teams Up with Shivalik Bank to Enhance Payment Options appeared first on Bilkul Online .

GUJCET 2024 result expected soon at gseb.org. Here is how you can check your marksheet and other details

The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, Gandhinagar, are slated to announce the results of the Gujarat Common Entrance Test (GUJCET) 2024 today, May 2, 2024. Aspiring candidates who took the entrance exam can access their results on the official website at gseb.org.

Congress Accuses BJP Government of Enabling Drug Trafficking from Pakistan in Gujarat

Congress Accuses BJP Government of Enabling Drug Trafficking from Pakistan in Gujarat The Congress on Thursday alleged that the BJP government has made Gujarat a hub for drug traffickers from Pakistan and asked what is Prime Minister Narendra Modi doing to confront the rise of drug smuggling in the state. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions to Prime Minister Modi ahead of his rallies in Gujarat. ''Who is the PM protecting in the rampant drug smuggling trade into Gujarat? Who is responsible for the lakhs of families affected by inaccurate land records? Why is Gujarat still suffering from water shortage after all these years of BJP rule?'' Ramesh said in a post on X. Elaborating on what he said were ''jumla details'', Ramesh alleged that the BJP government has made Gujarat a hub for drug traffickers from Pakistan. ''Just a few days ago, the Indian Coast Guard, Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad, and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized a Pakistani boat carrying 86 kg of heroin (worth Rs 600 crore) off the coast of Gujarat. Two days prior, mephedrone valued at Rs 230 crore was seized from two labs located in Gandhinagar, one in Amreli, and three in Rajasthan's Sirohi,'' he said. In March, Pakistani nationals carrying narcotics worth Rs 480 crore were apprehended off the Porbandar coast and in February, the Indian Navy and NCB had seized 3,300 kg of drugs near Porbandar in the largest drug bust in recent history, Ramesh said. In some cases, weapons and ammunition were seized along with the narcotics, he said. ''While these smuggling attempts were detected, dozens if not hundreds of others have made their way to Indian soil. The PM's narrative of reducing terrorism and drug trafficking during his tenure stands exposed by these worrying developments,'' the Congress leader said. ''What is the PM doing to confront the rise of drug smuggling through Gujarat? Have the larger and wider links of the drug smugglers, that enable them to carry on their trade so brazenly - especially through ports - ever been probed?'' Ramesh said. He claimed lakhs of families have been thrown into turmoil by the BJP's botched effort to digitise land records in Gujarat. By December 2021, the state government had received more than five lakh complaints from families demanding a verification of the resurvey of their land, he said. ''The private agencies hired to conduct the resurvey had frequently cut corners, resulting in the creation of lakhs of erroneous records. These inaccurate records can have wide-ranging impacts, from delaying property transactions, to hampering farmers' access to credit, to creating heated disputes within families and among neighbours,'' Ramesh said. To make matters worse, litigation over property records can drag on for decades. A 2017 NITI Aayog paper estimated that it takes an average of 20 years for land disputes to be resolved in India, he said. ''The government was quick to deflect blame to private agencies but has made no effort to help the lakhs of families who were affected. The agencies themselves have also been allowed to walk free,'' he alleged. Why has the PM abandoned the lakhs of families who are now stuck with inaccurate land records, he asked. ''Are those responsible for this blunder ever going to face the consequences?'' Ramesh said. As the PM visits Gujarat, he must address the state's deepening water crises, he said. ''In the 207 water reservoirs in Gujarat, the water level is an alarming 62.38%, with only 10 reservoirs in the state have a water level of more than 80%. The region-wise split reveals an even more worrying picture: the water level is 43.77% in 15 reservoirs of north Gujarat, 38.31% in 20 reservoirs of Kutch, and 36.42% in 141 reservoirs of the drought-prone region of Saurashtra,'' he pointed out. ''Some reservoirs in the state had already dried up before the onset of summer. The water levels of Gadhki and Sani in Devbhumi Dwarka, Advana and Amipara in Porbandar, and Prempara in Junagadh have reached ZERO,'' he said. In addition to drinking water shortages for Gujarat's people, the crisis is also affecting farmers, who were promised irrigation water from the Narmada but have failed to reap benefits due to years of corruption and mismanagement, Ramesh alleged. ''Why has Gujarat reached this state of affairs under the BJP's rule? How is the PM going to address these issues?'' he said and asked the prime minister to break his ''silence'' on these issues.

Gujarat: BJP set to retain saffron citadel

AHMEDABAD: After ruling the state for more than two-and-a-half decades, the party consolidated its power by winning all 26 Lok Sabha seats in the past two elections. The party believes a hat-trick is in sight. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, four BJP candidates won with more than 40% margin votes and seven others with over 30% margin votes. While the partys state unit president, C R Patil, won the Navsari Lok Sabha seat with 6,89,668 votes; Union Home Minister Amit Shah bagged the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat with a margin of 5,57,014. Winning with the lowest margin of 12% votes was Dahod candidate Jashvantsinh Bhambhor. This time, Patil has set a target to win all 26 seats with a thick margin of 5 lakh votes on every seat. Recently, a confident Patil, during a public speech, claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hit a hat-trick in his office. However, despite the partys confidence in winning all the parliamentary constituencies, it is facing trouble on a few seats, owing to stronger rivals, the partys internal factionalism and the cadres opposing the candidature of a few. Congress candidate Geniben Thakor(48) from Banaskantha district is the sole woman Congress MLA in the current Gujarat Assembly. She is aggressively campaigning and giving a tough time to BJP candidate Rekhaben Chaudhary. In her statement, Geniben directly attacked the district police forces, saying they function like puppets at the hands of the ruling party. Giving the party a tough time in North Gujarat is Sabarkanthas official candidate, Sobhana Bariaya. BJP leaders are against her nomination because they see her as an outsider. Her husband, Mahendra Baraiya, joined the BJP two years ago. Just a day before her name was announced, she resigned as a government teacher. Besides, the feeling that the party leadership was sidelining their needs had also gripped a section of the party. Adding to the troubles are internal conflicts that are rife within the party over candidates in five seats in the state. Though the party leaders are trying their best to douse the fire, success seems to evade them in a few seats, said a party worker from central Gujarat wishing anonymity. BJP chief spokesman Yamal Vyas expressed confidence in winning all seats because of Modi magic, the Ram temple and abolition of Article 370 in J&K. All these will surely fetch the desired public support, he added. Two candidates replaced In a rare occurrence, the BJP changed Baroda and Sabarkantha candidates. Ranjanben Bhatt, a two-term MP, initially got the ticket for Baroda but faced opposition, leading to her withdrawal. Speculation was rife that her removal stemmed from state presidents disapproval. Similarly, Bhikhaji Thakor was nominated for Sabarkantha, but in the face of protests, his candidature was changed. The shift is viewed as part of the evolving political landscape. In Amreli and Surendra Nagar, rift surfaced, intensifying challenges over allocation of tickets to lesser-known leaders. Five troublesome seats Bharuch: Traditionally held by senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, the seat was allocated to the AAP as part of the Congress-AAP seat-sharing agreement. There were demands within the Congress for a ticket to someone from Ahmed Patels family. Fielded by AAP, Chetan Vasava enjoys significant support among tribals. BJPs six-time MP Mansukh Vasava is contesting against him. Rajkot: Controversy stemming from Rupalas statement on Kshatriyas has stirred unrest not only in Gujarat but in other states also. While agitations were staged in Rajkot and Saurashtra, the extent of Kshatriya influence is unclear. Rupala has apologised for his statement, urging voters not to direct their anger towards PM Modi. Bhavnagar: Despite being a BJP stronghold in Saurashtra, the party faces difficulties for two reasons: AAP has fielded a candidate in alliance with Congress, and the Kshatriya stir involving Rupala. Banaskantha : The contest is between two women Genie Bain of Congress and BJPs Rekha Chaudhary. Bain is a formidable leader with solid local connections, while Chaudhary is from the family that founded Banas Dairy. Bains grassroots connect, unique style of filing nomination papers on a tractor, and emotive campaigning have garnered attention. She is also a two-time MLA. Junagadh: Strong opposition surrounds BJPs candidate Rajesh Chudasama in Junagadh. He faces scrutiny regarding a case related to the murder of a doctor.

PM Modi visits Gujarat BJP office in Gandhinagar

The News Mill

Gujarat's Statehood Day: PM Modi, Amit Shah Extend Greetings

Gandhinagar (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed his warm wishes to the people of Gujarat on the occasion of Gujarat's Statehood Day.In a message shared on his official X account, the Prime Minister tweeted, On this special day marking Gujarat's Statehood, we celebrate the rich cultural heritage, impressive accomplishments, and the vibrant spirit of the people of Gujarat. He expressed his hope for the continued prosperity of the state, stating, May Gujarat keep prospering, flourishing, and serving as an inspiration for generations to come, with its values of entrepreneurship, resilience, and inclusive growth. My heartfelt best wishes to the people of Gujarat. In another tweet, PM Modi remarked, Greetings on Gujarat Sthapana Diwas. Gujarat stands out for its overall progress and distinctive culture. I pray for the state to reach new heights of development in the future. Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah also extended his greetings on Gujarat's Statehood Day via Twitter, saying, Warm wishes to all Gujaratis on the occasion of Gujarat Foundation Day. Appreciating Gujarat's contributions, Shah highlighted its rich culture and significant role in the nation's development. Gujarat, known for its vibrant culture, warm hospitality, and natural beauty, has played a pivotal role in the nation's integration since the independence movement. Today, Gujarat continues to contribute significantly to the country's progress through its diligence, dedication, and cooperation. On this foundation day, I wish the people of Gujarat continued prosperity and comprehensive development, he tweeted. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who is contesting from Porbandar in the Lok Sabha elections, also conveyed his wishes to the people of Gujarat.In my Gujarat, the land of pride and devotion to Somnath Mahadev and Dwarkadhish, there exists a transformative energy. Every particle here exudes positivity, making Gujarat the preferred destination for people worldwide. Warmest regards on Gujarat Foundation Day, he shared on X. Gujarat Foundation Day, also known as Gujarat Sthapana Divas, is celebrated annually on May 1st. Following the partition of Bombay based on language in 1960, two new states, Maharashtra and Gujarat, were established. Google Honors Labours Worldwide with Labour Day Doodle

President Murmu was invited: Temple trust chief trashes Rahul claim

Champat Rai, the general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, refuted the claim made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that President Droupadi Murmu was not invited to the consecration of Ram Lallas idol at the Ayodhya temple because she is a tribal. Referring to Rahuls allegation reported in this daily from Gandhinagar, Rai said they are completely false, baseless and misleading.

Amit Shah: PM Modi Can Eliminate Naxalism in Two Years if Given Third Term

Amit Shah: PM Modi Can Eliminate Naxalism in Two Years if Given Third Term If voted to office for a third term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will completely eliminate Naxalism from the country within two years, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Tuesday. Shah claimed the BJP and its NDA allies are winning at least 100 seats in the first two phases of the Lok Sabha elections (covering 190 constituencies) which have concluded and added ''BJP's chariot is moving towards achieving the target of 400-plus seats''. Addressing a poll rally in Ahmedabad city's Naroda area, Shah said before the BJP came to power at the Centre, Naxalites were ''dreaming about creating a red corridor from Pashupatinath in Nepal till Tirupati'' in Andhra Pradesh, but their activities are now confined to just parts of Chhattisgarh. During the last five years, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have become free from the Naxal menace, noted the senior BJP leader. ''Naxalites still exist in some parts of Chhattisgarh. The BJP has formed a government in that state recently. Just today (Tuesday), the Chhattisgarh police eliminated nine Naxalites. Give a third term to PM Modi and I assure you that Modiji will eliminate Naxalism completely from the country in two years,'' declared Shah. Referring to the BJP's manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, Shah said the Modi government will provide free healthcare to every individual above 70 years of age under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. ''Those above 70 years of age, whether crorepati or roadpati (rich or poor), won't have to spend a rupee on medical treatment if PM Modi wins a third term,'' the Union minister told the gathering. He underscored that though former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was an economist, he could not improve India's ranking in the world economy despite being in power for 10 years (2004-14). ''The country's economy remained on the 11th spot during Singh's ten-year tenure. It was PM Modi who turned our country into the fifth largest economy. Just give him a third term and he will take our economy to the third spot,'' said Shah. He alleged that instead of functioning as a constructive opposition, the Congress always opposed pro-people projects in Gujarat, be it BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System), metro rail or Sabarmati Riverfront. Shah addressed the rally in support of BJP candidate from the Ahmedabad-East Lok Sabha seat, Hasmukh Patel. Voting on 25 Lok Sabha seats (BJP candidate from Surat has been elected unopposed) in Gujarat will take place on May 7 in a single phase. Shah is the BJP candidate from the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, from where he is seeking a second term. In 2019, the BJP had won all the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat, the home state of Modi.

ICG & ATS Gujarat Seize Indian Fishing Boat Carrying 173 Kg Of Narcotics; Apprehends Two Crew Members

Gandhinagar: In a coordinated effort, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) seized an Indian fishing boat in the Arabian Sea carrying 173 kg of narcotics and arrested two perpetrators on board. Acting on specific and credible intelligence provided by ATS Gujarat, ICG strategically deployed its assets ensuring comprehensive surveillance to [] The post ICG & ATS Gujarat Seize Indian Fishing Boat Carrying 173 Kg Of Narcotics; Apprehends Two Crew Members appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Another drug lab unearthed in Rajasthan, 6 more held

A total of 149 kgs of mephedrone or 'meow meow' drug (both in powder and liquid form), 50 kg ephedrine, and 200 litres of acetone was recovered from the three labs located in Bhinmal of Jalore district and Osian in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan and Gandhinagar in Gujarat, the officer said.

Six More Arrests and Fourth Narcotics Lab Dismantled in Rajasthan's Inter-State Drug Bust

Six More Arrests and Fourth Narcotics Lab Dismantled in Rajasthan's Inter-State Drug Bust The NCB and ATS have arrested six more persons in Rajasthan in connection with an inter-state drug racket and unearthed a fourth manufacturing lab in Sirohi district with the seizure of narcotics worth Rs 45 crore, officials said on Monday. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), after about three months of ''intensive'' technical and ground surveillance, had on April 27 busted three ''clandestine'' drug manufacturing labs in Rajasthan and Gujarat leading to the seizure of 300 kg of narcotics and arrest of seven persons, according to NCB Deputy Director General (Operations) Gyaneshwar Singh. A total of 149 kgs of mephedrone or 'meow meow' drug (both in powder and liquid form), 50 kg ephedrine, and 200 litres of acetone was recovered from the three labs located in Bhinmal of Jalore district and Osian in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan and Gandhinagar in Gujarat, the officer said. On Sunday, six drug dealers, including the mastermind of the Rajasthan network, who were part of the same network were arrested. These persons were involved in the purchase of raw materials from suppliers in Gujarat for making mephedrone drug, the officials said. During interrogation, it was revealed that the accused used to manufacture drugs in their laboratories and dispose of this entire material in just a month. For this, they used nail polish or paint remover, which has deleterious effects on the human body, as the base material, they said. Joint Director (NCB) Ghanshyam Soni, in a statement on Monday, said drugs worth Rs 45 crore have been seized from the lab in Sirohi. Soni said the drugs seized from Jodhpur's Osian are being investigated by teams of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and added, ''Only after the completion of this investigation, the worth of the drug could be ascertained''. Those arrested on Sunday have been identified as mastermind Kuldeep Singh Rajpurohit and his accomplices Rajaram Meghwal, Bajrang Lal Bishnoi, Deepak Solanki, Shiv Ratan Agarwal and Rampratap, the officer added. Jodhpur (Rural) Superintendent Dharmendra Singh Yadav said the team is also trying to nab Jagdish Bishnoi, who is an aide of Rampratap. Rampratap ran a medical store in Osian and the drug manufacturing lab was set up in the same premises behind the shop. Yadav said the police picked up Rampratap from his house early morning following an input that he had been operating a laboratory for manufacturing narcotic drugs in Osian. ''Rampratap disclosed that they had set up the drug manufacturing lab in Osian nearly three months ago and had brought chemicals from Gujarat to manufacture mephedrone, but they were apprehended before they could start preparing the drug,'' said Yadav. During interrogation, it came to light that the drug supply had already begun from the lab in Jalore district's Sanchor, falling near Rajasthan-Gujarat border, while manufacturing in Osian was yet to begin. According to the accused, both these labs were set up three to four months ago. They used to procure raw materials from Gujarat on Rajpurohit's instructions and prepare the drug to be sold in local areas. The local police along with the NCB and ATS have now swung into action to get to the roots of this racket. The mastermind of the drug gang operating in Rajasthan, Kuldeep Singh, would operate the labs in Sanchore and Osian in Rajasthan, and Amreli and Pipalaj in Gujarat. Rajpurohit had a vast knowledge on drugs and used to guide others in their preparation at the different labs.

Karnataka: Man votes just hours before surgery

TUMAKURU: Sixty-three-year-old Nasir Ali Khan set an example of sorts on Friday, as he exercised his franchise for the Lok Sabha polls just a few hours before undergoing a bypass heart surgery. Khan visited the polling centre at Bharat Matha School in Gandhinagar here, along with his family members, and cast his vote. Around 1 pm, he was already on the operation table. He underwent Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery successfully at Kardiac Frontida, at Sri Siddhartha Medical College. Cardiac surgeons Dr Tamim Ahmed and Dr Suresh performed the procedure. Khan is now agile and recuperating, and also has the satisfaction of not missing out on casting his franchise. When Khan braved it to exercise his right to vote, amid the preparations being made for surgery, Dr Tamim gave the go-ahead with some advice. Khan, who works as a logistics manager at a company in Saudi Arabia, had come to his hometown to undergo the surgery. I exercised my right, not for my own sake, but for the 140 crore citizens, who could bring about change in the country. When we vote, we should think about the farmers, labourers, the present and the future generations, he remarked.

High-tech drug labs unearthed, contraband worth Rs 300 crore seized in Gujarat, Rajasthan, 7 arrested: NCB

NEW DELHI : The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted three state-of-the-art laboratories in Gujarat and Rajasthan where synthetic drugs were being manufactured, and arrested seven people involved in the drug cartel in this connection. The NCB said they have also seized contraband valued at more than Rs 300 crore during multiple raids and even identified the kingpin of this racket. NCB Deputy Director General (OEC) Gyaneshwar Singh said information was received by Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Gujarat Police from a confidential source regarding clandestine mephedrone manufacturing units operating out of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Mephedrone, scientifically 4-methylmethcathinone or 4-MMC is a synthetic stimulant of amphetamine and cathinone categories. Street names include drone, M-CAT, white magic, meow-meow and bubble. To unearth these labs, a joint team of ATS Gujarat Police and the NCB Headquarters Operations Unit (HOU) was constituted by higher-ups. In an operation spanning over three months, intensive technical and ground surveillance was mounted to identify the persons involved in this network as well as locations of clandestine labs, the NCB DDG said. He said on April 27 at around 4 am, simultaneous raids were conducted by joint teams of ATS Gujarat police and NCB HOU, NCB Jodhpur zone and NCB Ahmedabad Zone at three suspected locations, Bhinmal in Jalore, Rajasthan, Osian in Jodhpur, Rajasthan and Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The official said the raids have led to a total recovery of 149 kg mephedrone (in powder and liquid form), 50kg ephedrine and 200 litres acetone and the arrest of seven accused till now. Based on the interrogation of the apprehended persons in Gandhinagar, another site has been identified in Amreli (Gujarat), where raids are in progress. More recoveries are expected, the official said. He added that the kingpin of the network has been identified and will be nabbed soon. Efforts are on to track and identify the sources of chemicals as well as the distribution network, national and international links, Singh added. Drugs worth Rs 300 crore siezed The NCB said they have also seized contraband valued at more than Rs 300 crore during multiple raids and even identified the kingpin of this racket, who will be arrested soon. The NCB DDG said the raids led to a recovery of 149 kg mephedrone (in powder and liquid form), 50kg ephedrine and 200 litres acetone; arrest of seven till now

Karnataka: Leaders try to predict results on poll turnout

BENGALURU : Soon after polling for 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state on Friday, debates over the likely outcomes based on the urban-rural voting pattern has begun. The most talked about is Bengaluru Rural, where the stakes are high. Whether the low voter turnout in urban spaces benefit Congress or BJP is also the talking point. In the Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituencies, Assembly segments of Bengaluru South and RR Nagar registered 56.08%and 56.06% turnout, in semiurban Anekal it was 60.69%, in Kanakapura 84.77%, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumars home constituency Channapatna registered 84.61%, Magadi 84.96%, Ramanagara 84.56% and Kunigal 85.26%. But the average for the entire constituency is 68.30%. Women at 69.03% fared better than men at 67.60%. Both BJP and Congress threw accusations at each other about distribution of big inducements to voters. On the polling trend and low voter turnout in some areas, Shivakumar said, I would like to thank all the voters for peaceful polling. Our (Congress) tally will reach double digits in the first phase itself. Wins in Bengaluru Congress leaders felt that their candidate DK Suresh has an edge over BJPs Dr CN Manjunath. But BJP-JDS leaders claimed that the good polling percentage in Assembly constituencies that have big rural voters is because the alliance has worked. The difference in polling percentage in rural and urban spaces will have no bearing on the results. We will win eight seats out of 14, including Bengaluru, because of the five guarantees and women voters tilted in our favour, claimed Ramesh Babu, KPCC media and communication chief. Ramesh Babu blamed the ECI for low polling percentage as it failed to keep the electoral list in Bengaluru in good health with some names being deleted in areas like Gandhinagar. Rajajinagar BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar attributed the low voting percentage in his constituency to some voters having their right to vote in multiple places.When a voter was requested to vote, he replied that his name is in three different constituencies and will vote in Bengaluru Rural as he liked the candidate, Dr CN Manjunath, he said. Rajajinagar registered 51.1% polling. Suresh Kumar claimed that PC Mohan, the BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Bengaluru Central, will get over a 40,000-vote lead from Rajajinagar. Congress leaders, however, are hoping for a photo finish as its candidate Mansoor Ali Khan campaigned aggressively. Similar predictions have been made in Bengaluru North (54.45% polling), where Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje is contesting against former RS member Prof MV Rajeev Gowda and Bengaluru South (53.17%), where BJP Yuva Morcha national president Tejasvi Surya faces a stiff challenge from Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddys daughter Sowmya Reddy.

BJP seeking votes in name of Lord Ram, won't benefit: Gujarat Congress Chief

BJP seeking votes in name of Lord Ram, won't benefit: Gujarat Congress Chief Gujarat Congress President Shaktisinh Gohil, on Saturday, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of seeking votes in the name of Lord Ram, claiming that they won't benefit from this as they are exposed before the public. In a democracy, votes are given on work, but in the name of work, BJP has done mischiefs. So they are seeking votes on the name of Lord Ram. But they are exposed to people, and they are not going to benefit from this, Gohil said while speaking to the media in Valsad. Gohil spoke to the media after Congress leaders held a public rally in Valsad in support of Ananthbhai Patel, the party's candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The constituency will go to polls on May 7. Further raising questions on the timing of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Shaktisinh Gohil said, For Hindus, words made by Shankaracharya are last. Shankaracharya has said that a temple where 'Kalash' was not placed and construction work is not completed, Prana pratishtha can't be done. But as elections were approaching, they did it just for the sake of votes. And now their candidates are getting flak for it in Gujarat. When asked about his expectations and the kind of response they are getting in the state, Gohil said, Me, my party, and all my candidates are getting full support from the people of Gujarat, and that's why the BJP is frustrated, and their candidates are scared even of contesting elections. They said black money will return and everyone will get Rs 15 lakh. Nobody got it, but the BJP's account got all the black money. Farmers' income was not doubled but expenses doubled. We have a positive agenda; we talked of five 'Naya' and 25 guarantees, he added. Earlier in the day, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressed a rally at Valsad and said that the BJP wants to weaken democracy in the country and has pressured every institution in the last 10 years to not comment against it. They (BJP) want to weaken democracy and the people of the nation. Institutions that protect your rights, be it media, have been weakened. The media used to ask us every day, but nothing of that sort is happening today, she said. All 26 parliamentary seats in Gujarat will go to the polls in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 7. BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal was elected unopposed in Surat after the nomination papers of the Congress party's candidate Nilesh Kumbhani were rejected, as his three proposers claimed in an affidavit to the district election officer that they had not signed his nomination form. The third phase will include constituencies from Kutch, Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad East, Ahmedabad West, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Anand, Kheda, Panchmahal, Dahod, Vadodara, Chhota Udaipur, Bharuch, Bardoli, Navsari, and Valsad. (ANI)

Narcotics Bust: 13 Arrested in Gujarat and Rajasthan with Mephedrone Worth Rs. 230 Crore

Narcotics Bust: 13 Arrested in Gujarat and Rajasthan with Mephedrone Worth Rs. 230 Crore The Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad and Narcotics Control Bureau jointly raided four units in the state and neighbouring Rajasthan and nabbed 13 persons allegedly with mephedrone worth Rs 230 crore, an official said on Saturday. The raids were carried out on Friday after the ATS received a tip off that Ahmedabad-resident Manoharlal Enani and Kuldeepsinh Rajpurohit of Rajasthan had set up mephedrone manufacturing units. A watch was kept on the movements of Enani and Rajpurohit as well as their accomplices, following which raids were carried out on units in Sirohi and Jodhpur in Rajasthan and Piplaj village in Gandhinagar and Bhaktinagar industrial area of Amreli district in Gujarat, an ATS release informed. ''The ATS recovered 22.028 kilograms of mephedrone and 124 kilograms of liquid mephedrone, collectively worth Rs 230 crore. Rajpurohit was nabbed during the raid at Gandhinagar and Enani was held from Sirohi,'' it said. As per the probe, Enani was in jail for seven years after he was nabbed by DRI in 2015 for his involvement in the production of mephedrone at an industrial unit in Rajasthan. All the accused are inter-connected and were procuring the raw material from a company in Vapi industrial area of Valsad district, the release informed. ''Investigations are on to find out since when they have been producing the drug, whether they have sold it in the past and who else were part of the entire cartel,'' said the release.

Gandhinagar | Amit Shah at home

Gandhinagar Amit Shah at home

BJP wants to weaken democracy and people of nation...: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

BJP wants to weaken democracy and people of nation...: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party wants to weaken the democracy in the country and has pressurised every institution in the last 10 years to not comment against it. Addressing an election rally in Valsad, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, They (BJP) want to weaken the democracy and people of the nation. Institutions that protect your rights be it media have been weakened. Media used to ask us every day but nothing of that sort is happening today. Referring to remarks of BJP leader Anantkumar Hegde on ewriting constitution, Priyanka Gandhi said that it is a dangerous trend. You must have seen, the BJP leaders have said that they want to change the Constitution and PM Modi contradicts that statement. This is a dangerous trend. This constitution has given you all the rights, then what's the need to change it? she asked. She further went on to slam the BJP for argeting opposition leaders. PM Modi is weakening the democracy. He is attacking the opposition daily. He froze Congress' bank accounts. Two Chief Ministers are in jail, my brother (Rahul Gandhi) was also almost kicked out of Parliament. 150 members were suspended in the Winter session recently, only Modiji is honest, she said. Gujarat will vote on all 25 seats out of 26 in a single phase, which is slated for the third phase on May 7, 2024. BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal was elected unopposed in Surat after nomination papers of the Congress party's candidate Nilesh Kumbhani were rejected after his three proposers claimed in an affidavit to the district election officer that they had not signed his nomination form. The third phase will include constituencies from Kutch, Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad East, Ahmedabad West, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Anand, Kheda, Panchmahal, Dahod, Vadodara, Chhota Udaipur, Bharuch, Bardoli, Navsari, and Valsad. (ANI)

Gandhinagar CID crime PSI caught taking 40,000 bribe - The Times of India

Gandhinagar CID crime PSI caught taking 40,000 bribe The Times of India

Gujarat: Former AAP leader Alpesh Kathiriya to join BJP

Gandhinagar: In a blow to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Alpesh Kathiriya, the key architect behind the AAPs 27-seat win in the 2021 Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) elections in Gujarat, is set to join the BJP on Saturday (April 27), along with his close aide Dharmik Malaviya. Kathiriya, a former ABVP member, termed his decision 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 .

Gujarat govt transfers, hands new postings to 12 IPS officers

BILKULONLINE Gandhinagar, April 26: The Gujarat government on Thursday announced immediate transfer and appointment of several IPS and SPS officers The post Gujarat govt transfers, hands new postings to 12 IPS officers appeared first on Bilkul Online .

Gujarat administration reshuffles senior police officers, assigning new roles

Gujarat administration reshuffles senior police officers, assigning new roles The Gujarat government on Thursday transferred or gave new postings to 10 Indian Police Service (IPS) and two state police service (SPS) officers through a notification. As per the state home department's order, 2004-batch Gujarat cadre IPS officer Gagandeep Gambhir, who was awaiting posting after her repatriation from the CBI, was appointed as Inspector General of Police (IGP), Administration, in Gandhinagar. Senior IPS officer Raghavendra Vatsa, who was also awaiting posting, has been posted as Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) in Surat city, whereas 2006-batch IPS officer Sharad Singhal has been appointed as JCP of Ahmedabad crime branch replacing Neeraj Kumar Badgujar, who has been made Additional CP of Ahmedabad Sector-1. IPS officer Chaitanya Mandlik, who was awaiting posting, has been made Superintendent of Police with the state CID-Crime in Gandhinagar, as per the order. Ajit Rajian, currently serving as DCP, Cyber Crime, in Ahmedabad city has been posted as DCP of Ahmedabad Crime Branch. Rajian was replaced by 2017-batch IPS officer Lavina Sinha.

IIT Gandhinagar sees 161% increase in CSR Support

BILKULONLINE Ahmedabad, April 25: In a notable development for education, research, and community development, the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar The post IIT Gandhinagar sees 161% increase in CSR Support appeared first on Bilkul Online .

BJP dismisses Congress' inheritance tax proposal as politically motivated

BJP dismisses Congress' inheritance tax proposal as politically motivated Gujarat BJP president CR Paatil on Thursday said the Congress has the habit of robbing people, but the ruling party will not let it succeed in its intentions of taking away people's assets and distributing them to a specific community. He was targeting the Congress over its leader Sam Pitroda's remarks on inheritance tax. Pitroda had spoken about inheritance tax in the US while delving into the issue of redistribution of wealth. Addressing a press conference in Gandhinagar, Paatil said, ''Pitroda suggested snatching 55 per cent of the hard-earned properties of people and giving it to whom? Former prime minister Manmohan Singh had once said minorities have the first right on our country's resources. For more clarity, he said Muslims have the first right.'' ''Rahul Gandhi made a similar remark recently. He said the Congress government will take away people's properties after a survey and distribute it to others,'' he said. The BJP leader said Hindus have the habit of saving money by having less children and reducing unnecessary expenditure so that the next generation can live a comfortable life. ''But, Rahul Gandhi wants to distribute this property. To whom? To the infiltrators and those who put burden on the country by giving birth to several children. The country can not tolerate this,'' he said. Paatil said people associated with the Congress are rattled because they are not getting anything after Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought the direct benefit transfer (DBT) system, stopping the diversion of funds by middlemen. ''Now, to get votes, the Congress is floating such ideas. But, the BJP will not let them succeed,'' he said. ''There is an age-old system wherein people create wealth through hard work and hand it over to their legal heirs. But the Congress party, which has the habit of robbing people, does not agree to this idea. Now, they want a share in that property too,'' he said. Paatil said Pitroda is the Congress' policy maker and an adviser to a party leader, thus his views are a reflection of Congress' views. ''The BJP will not let the Congress succeed in its intentions. We will not allow the Congress to tax people just to appease a specific community. This has proved that Congress' intentions are not good,'' he said. Paatil said though the Congress has now distanced itself from Pitroda's views on inheritance tax, every leader of the grand old party backed the idea and they tried to implement it in the past too.

Gujarat CM to lead BJP campaign in Telangana on April 25

Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, is set to visit Telangana on Thursday to campaign for BJP candidates ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state. During his visit, the Chief Minister will attend the Karimnagar nomination-filing event of BJP candidate Sanjay Kumar Bandi, early in the day. Also ReadPM Modi to campaign 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 .

Woman Hospitalized After Alleged Domestic Abuse and Suicide Attempt

Visakhapatnam: A woman from Tota Guru in Gandhinagar, identified as Mamata, is currently receiving treatment at Arilova VIMS Hospital after attempting suicide by consuming insecticide. The incident, reported to the Arilova Police Station, has brought to light allegations of domestic abuse by her husband, Bhandari Santhosh, and extended family members. According to reports, Santhosh, who is employed in catering, along with his sister Mahalakshmi, brother-in-law Ramana, daughter-in-law Pavani, and Pavani's husband Naveen, allegedly subjected Mamata to abuse. The details of the abuse have not been disclosed by the police at this time. The Arilova Police have registered a case and are investigating the allegations.

Look forward to more Indian students coming to Australia next year: Envoy Philip Green

Look forward to more Indian students coming to Australia next year: Envoy Philip Green By Ayushi Agarwal The Australian High Commissioner to India, Philip Green on Tuesday said that he is looking forward to having more Indian students coming to Australia next year for their education. The High Commissioner said that it is wrong to say that there's been a surge in visa rejections of Indian students by Australian universities as reported by some media recently, and that they are giving a rethink to their higher education plans. He stressed the fact that the statistics have been seen by himself, and underlined that 'they are very similar this year to what they were last year' and that 'there hasn't been a surge in rejection of students.' 'There has not been a surge in rejection of students. I have looked at these statistics myself and they are very similar to this year to what they were last year. Unlike some other countries, Australia has not put a cap on the number of foreign students coming to our country. Yes, we want to make sure that students coming forward from reputable institutions will have a good experience in Australia,' said Envoy Green during an interview with ANI. 'We make apologies for the fact that we want good students and we want to make sure that they are paired with the right courses. This is utterly wrong to say that there has been a surge in rejections; we look forward to as many or perhaps even more Indian students coming to Australia in the next year,' he added. Lauding the cooperation between India and Australia in the field of Education and skill development, the High Commissioner hailed the Australian university's foreign branch opening in India which marked the first time a foreign university opened its campus in India. The country's Deakin University earlier inaugurated its branch campus in GIFT City, Gujarat. 'A large number of Indians choose to come to Australia as part of their education, and we normally work on that, and there will be more of it. But frankly, this country if it's to fulfill its development possibilities, we'll need more skills. And that's why we together with the Indian Government are saying that this shouldn't be a one-way street,' envoy Green said. 'Australian education should be available more here in India so that Indians can fulfill their possibilities. That's why I'm delighted that the first two foreign branch campuses in the world that have come to India have come from universities in Australia, and they won't be the last,' he added. This move was poised to strengthen educational ties between the two nations and provide Indian students with access to world-class Australian education. Through the new education policy brought in in 2020, India has opened floodgates for foreign educational institutes to set up brick-and-mortar infrastructure. Notably, in January this year, Vice Chancellor of Australia's Deakin University Iain Martin met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gandhinagar, where they had a productive discussion on enhancing collaboration between government and academic institutions about cybersecurity. In a post on X, the Prime Minister welcomed Deakin University to collaborate with Indian universities to promote research and innovation. Last year in November, Union Minister for Education and Skill Development, Dharmendra Pradhan held a bilateral meeting with his Australian counterpart, Jason Clare, MP, Education Minister. Both the Ministers then comprehensively reviewed the bilateral cooperation in education and skilling and agreed to further strengthen knowledge and skilling partnerships for greater mobility, employability, and prosperity of people in both our countries. During the meeting, Pradhan highlighted 2023 as a landmark year for Australia and India, particularly for cooperation in the areas of education and skill development. He then said that education and skills as a primary and priority area of our bilateral engagements reflect PM Narendra Modi's and Australian PM, Anthony Albanese's commitment to strengthening knowledge bridges. Meanwhile, Jason Clare, MP in his address mentioned how the future of the countries will be shaped with the help of meaningful partnerships in the areas of education and skilling. He mentioned the 450 existing research partnerships between the two countries. He also commented that collaboration at the governmental, institutional, and industry levels will further strengthen the tie-up and benefit both countries. (ANI)

Shikha Mukerjee | BJP dominance in political discourse sees adjustments

Intriguingly, the Bharatiya Janata Partys dominance over the political discourse by establishing the frames of meaning and the order or even disorder of things, including interpretations and contexts, seems to be undergoing a not-so-subtle change. Instead of telling the voters that there is only a singular order of things and the rest is irrelevant, the BJP is reacting to the relentless, consistent Opposition attack on its intentions and actions. New guarantees are popping out that were never on the list. The two most significant are, first, the guarantee that the Constitution will not be rewritten and the word secular, over which controversy has raged for decades between the BJP and the secular Opposition, will not be amended and erased. The other not quite guarantee, but nevertheless a confirmation of commitment, is on democracy. The second guarantee that has been added as the election process unrolls is reservations and quotas for tribals on the scheduled list. The chinks in the BJPs armour are not all on account of the ferocity and multiplicity of a unified Oppositions counter offensive. It is in trouble with its vote banks among the Kshatriyas or the Rajputs, a caste that is spread across several key states in the Hindi heartland. The assiduously cultivated tribals by the RSS Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram as a vote bank are also vocal in questioning the BJPs intentions on removing reservation quotas. Whether a Narendra Modi government in its third term will extinguish reservations is not material; tribals are suspicious of what will happen in the future. In recent public speeches and in one-on-one interviews, the two major campaigners and masterminds of the BJP, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, have been at pains to tell voters that the Opposition attack is unfounded that a third term for the regime would usher in an end to democracy and discarding the existing Constitution. There are, however, missteps that the party has taken, over nominations to certain caste categories and statements on reservations by the RSS that appear to have queered the pitch of the campaign. The coverup may or may not work, but its necessity suggests that the BJP, despite its organisation and masterminds and backrooms, has problems. This may not be the same as conceding that the Modi government and the BJP are accountable to the voters and the Opposition for everything that has been said and done, it is, nevertheless a concession that seems almost conciliatory. From a party and a leader who declared in 2014 that India would be liberated from the yoke of Congress rule, recall the slogan Congress Mukt Bharat, the need to clarify, explain and placate suggests a climbdown. As examples of how much more the BJP is committed to the Constitution, Amit Shah in the course of an interview on television the day he filed his nomination in Gandhinagar, talked about implementing the non-justiciable Directive Principles of State Policy as enshrined in Part IV such as the ban on triple talaq and its promise to bring in a Uniform Civil Code. The 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign of all the parties in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance -- the Congress, the Left, the DMK, the Trinamul Congress, the Samajwadi Party the Rashtriya Janata Dal and others -- has centred around the danger to the Idea of India as the founding generation constructed it from the BJP and the Sangh Parivar, intent on establishing a Hindu Rashtra, hollowing out democracy and institutionalising autocracy. By reacting to the attack and making a public declaration, a Modi ki guarantee, that the Constitution would not be changed, the BJP is no longer dominating the discourse; it is reacting to an alternative discourse. The strength of the alternative discourse may or may not be reflected in the final seat tally on June 4, but its existence is undeniable. The other issue on which the BJPs reaction to the Opposition is significant is electoral bonds. It suggests that the Oppositions dogged pursuit -- Rahul Gandhi labelling it as extortion to the entirely personal attack by DMK leader and Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalins branding of Modi as Vasool (fund recovery) Raja -- has paid off probably because it has captured voters attention to the extent that clarifications and explanations are strategically necessary to reassure some sections of the public. The clarifications have ranged from Mr Shahs aggressive reaction that if it was extortion, then the electoral bond funding to the Congress and other Opposition parties was also extortion, and Nirmala Sitharamans follow-up that revisions would be made to the electoral bonds scheme after consultations and reintroduced in the BJPs third term. For a party that railroaded the Opposition by suspending a total of 146 Members of Parliament in the 2023 winter session, expelling Rahul Gandhi, passed 65 per cent of the 221 new laws with less than three hours of discussion, including the abrogation of Article 370, triple talaq and the three farm laws, the BJPs newfound faith in consultative politics is tweaking the narrative to nullify Opposition criticism of the Modi government as autocratic. Pitches to win a third term are notoriously difficult: the first five honeymoon years are a distant memory and there is a buildup of frustrations or disappointments over the total 10 years. Unveiling visions of Viksit Bharat 23 years down the road will not obviously satisfy the voter who is subsisting on five kilogrammes of free foodgrain every month. Youth who joined up under the 2022 Agnipath scheme of short-term recruitment in the Army are preparing to plan for a future outside the military as they near retirement. Voters will weigh these lived realities against the guarantees made earlier and new ones offered in 2024 by the Modi government. It is not just the steady stream of denunciations from the collective Opposition that is contributing to the pressure on the BJP to revise, modify and modulate its campaign. After 10 years in office, anti-incumbency and indifference are factors, especially as Phase 1 of the seven-stage process of the general election indicates voter turnout has been significantly lower across the country, with an average decreases of four per cent. As polling for the next six phases proceeds, the tweaks and adjustments in the BJPs campaign will be worth tracking. Will there be more unseen stumbling blocks? In campaign mode, the problem is that the leadership has to maintain a steady flow of words on everything, unlike in Parliament where silence or brevity is possible as a strategic retreat.

Traffic Advisory for Hanuman Jayanthi in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: City police commissioner K. Sreenivasa Reddy has imposed traffic restrictions and diversions in connection with the Hanuman jayanti Vijaya Yatra on Tuesday. The restrictions will be in place from 11.30 am till 8 pm. The main procession that will start from Gowliguda Ram Mandir and proceed 12 km to the Hanuman Mandir at Tadbund. There will be restrictions or diversions on route from Gowliguda, Ram Mandir to the Tadbund Hanuman Temple via Putlibowli crossroads; Andhra Bank crossroads; Koti, DM & HS; Sultan Bazaar crossroads; Ramkote crossroads; Kacheguda crossroads; YMCA Narayanguda; Chikkadpally crossroads; RTC crossroads; Ashoknagar; Gandhinagar; the road behind Viceroy Hotel; Kavadiguda; Bansilalpet Road; Bible House; City Light Hotel; Bata Showroom; Ujjaini Mahankali Temple; Old Ramgopalpet PS; Paradise crossroads; CTO Junction; Le Royal Palace; Brooke Bond; Imperial Garden and Mastan Caf. A procession from Karmanghat Hanuman Temple in Rachakonda limits will enter city limits at Champapet and pass through Champapet crossroads; IS Sadan; Dhobi Ghat; Saidabad Y Junction; Saidabad Colony Road; Sankeshwar Bazaar; Saroornagar tank; Dilsukhnagar Rajiv Gandhi statue; Moosarambagh Junction; Malakpet; Nalgonda crossroads; Azampura Rotary; Chaderghat crossroads and join the main procession at DM&HS 9 am till 2 pm: Suggested route for fommuters from Lakdikapul towards Dilsukhnagar OR south zone via Koti, Bank Street and Chaderghat: Basheerbagh, Old MLA Quarters, Himayatnagar Y Junction, Narayanguda flyover, Barkatpura, Tourist Jn., Nimboliadda, Chaderghat causeway, Nalgonda crossroads. Commuters from Dilsukhnagar towards Mehdipatnam via Koti: Alternative route LB Nagar, Uppal, Tarnaka, Secunderabad or via LB Nagar, Chandrayangutta, Aramghar, Attapur, Mehdipatnam. 2 pm till 7 pm: Commuters from Lakdikapul towards Secunderabad or Uppal: Alternative route via VV Statue, Somajiguda, Greenlands, Begumpet, Prakashnagar and Paradise flyovers.

Amit Shah, wife own more than Rs 1 crore worth of shares in these 10 stocks

The home minister and top BJP leader, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Gujarat's Gandhinagar, has declared in an affidavit before the Election Commission that he owns shares of around 180 companies which includes unlisted ones as well. His wife Sonal has stakes in around 80 companies.