BJP hardsells Gujarat model to UP migrants
AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat BJP has launched a campaign to attract voters from Uttar Pradesh. Thousands of migrant workers living in Surat are calling up their relatives in the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh, urging them to vote for the BJP. During these conversations, they highlight the Gujarat model of development. As an incentive, participants will have the opportunity to meet state BJP chief CR Patil for lunch or dinner. The innovative campaign strategy is credited to Patil. During the campaign in Gujarat, he informed north Indian workers and supporters that their task was not only to secure victory for the party in Gujarat but also to campaign for the BJP in their native places. Workers who had the time were encouraged to visit their hometowns and campaign locally. Those unable to take leave due to job constraints were asked to stay in areas like Surat, Bharuch, and Ahmedabad and motivate their relatives to vote for BJP through phone calls. North Indian BJP leader and former Surat BJP corporator Yajuvendra Dubey said small centers were set up near companies, factories, markets and tea shops. After their shifts, workers are provided with facilities to call up their close contacts. Additionally, the name, mobile number, and locality information of the people they contact is recorded, said Dubey. The party has asked these worker-supporters to call at least 20 people, with no maximum limit. Those who perform exceptionally well will be allowed to dine with Patil after the election results, said Dubey. Avadesh Mishra runs a pan shop in Surat and is one of the callers reaching out to Purvanchal for BJP support. In many areas, people are unaware of the significant development projects in their own region. Many voters dont know about the development work done by the BJP, said Mishra. We are sharing this information with our acquaintances and relatives, which has changed their perspective, he added. Thousands of people from UP and Bihar earn their living in various cities across Gujarat. The Bhasha Bhashi cell of the Gujarat BJP has decided a task at hand ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections to persuade migrant workers working in the state who hail from various districts in Uttar Pradesh to go and cast their votes for BJP candidates.
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Two from Surat in Indian men's table tennis team for Paris Olympic - The Indian Express
Two from Surat in Indian men's table tennis team for Paris Olympic The Indian Express
Odisha: Attempt to free murder accused foiled
BERHAMPUR: A group of miscreants made a failed attempt to free a murder accused detained at Kodola police station in Ganjam district, resulting in a scuffle with police officers. The accused, Bikram Parida of Chachina village, is wanted in connection with the 2023 murder of Dipu Patra, a Surat returnee allegedly killed over illegal liquor trade disputes. Although five persons, including a juvenile, were arrested in October 2023, Bikram had been absconding until his arrest on Wednesday evening. During Bikrams interrogation at the police station, his supporters barged in and tried to forcibly take him away, leading to a confrontation with the police. The officers managed to retain custody of Bikram despite the altercation. The miscreants fled the scene, leaving behind four motorcycles, which are being investigated for owner identification via their registration numbers. The incident was captured on the police stations CCTV, and efforts are on to identify the assailants, said Ganjam SP Jagmohan Meena. Bikram was presented in the court on Thursday, and a manhunt is underway to apprehend the attackers, the SP added.
Two more equal seats have a striking common ground in Odisha
A distance of 335 km between two places can change many things. Two different geographies could mean different lives, livelihood, dialects, climate, cultural practices, food and a lot more. But, between Hinjili and Kantabanji, there are dissimilarities and equally, a common ground. Hinjili, for all the attention it garnered over the last two decades and a half, is like a reluctant celebrity. A quaint little semi-urban place, it has grown over the years into a municipal area with modern amenities. But life moves at its own pace and no one seems to be in a hurry. The cacophony of the modern day poll campaign is absent too, so muted is the election buzz in the Assembly constituency that has elected Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik five times since 2000. It has never been loud in Hinjili, says Dibya Ranjan Sahu, a banker who has lived there all his life. Sahu believes Naveens quiet dignity captures Hinjilis spirit. His constituency and constituents have reciprocated that sentiment. As you head into Sheragada block, driving past the sun-dried farm fields on the serpentine road, shepherds in the far horizon catch your eye. Vegetable farms and poultry rearing units do appear but they are few and far between. At Brahmanchhai gram panchayat, a small, dilapidated shop greets you right at the entry to the village. Shop-owner Krushna Pradhan is 70 and an affable man. Of his two sons, the younger one lives here and drives an auto-rickshaw for a living. The elder one works in Surat. Brahmanchhai has about 1,000 families. Many households have a member or two who have migrated to Surat, Bengaluru and Mumbai in search of work and livelihood. Twenty-nine-year-old Bauri Mallick belongs to one such family. He works in Bengaluru where he makes a decent Rs 25,000 as a loader. There is no shortage of work there. I came home for Dandakaali Jatra but stayed back for the elections. During these times, the employer offers higher wages to retain us, he says. Krushna is happy with the BJD government schemes, allowances and has no qualms about family members migrating outside the state for work. Our children will go where they find good opportunities. What matters to me is Naveen Babu is a good man, he says. Bauri likes it in Bengaluru though. He can bargain up to Rs 30,000 from his employer when demand for work is higher. Someswar Sahu studies MBA and works part-time. He was born in Hinjili around the time Naveen first came to contest from the Assembly seat and has since grown up with the tales of the BJD supremo. He adores the chief minister but wants better prospects in commensurate with his qualifications and generational aspirations. Only Bhubaneswar has grown and bears potential while the rest of Odisha does not. That must change, he says pointing at the global IT and consulting firms which have set up shop in the state capital. Over 330 km away, Banmali Palace is a plush hotel property on the edge of Kantabanji town of Balangir district. Over the last couple of years, it has acquired some reputation for playing host to destination weddings and attracts affluent families from across western Odisha. It represents Kantabanjis paradox. A 20-minute drive from the hotel takes you to Karuanmunda, a small village in Turekela block. Once there, knock on any door and you find a son, husband or brother away in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh or Telangana, working to provide for his family. Four months back, Tapan Chhura and his wife Tura left three of their teenage children back in the village and headed to Tirupati. Their eldest son, Khira (16) and youngest daughter Ria, all of six, have accompanied them to the brick kiln. Tapan wants to come back for the elections but cannot get away from his employer. Seven of us are in Tirupati. Could you help take us back home for the elections? he called over the phone one morning a few days back. He seems desperate but its unlikely he can come home to exercise his franchise. Thousands like him - some records put the total migrant's figure at 2.5 lakh in the western region - may not get to take part in the biggest democratic festival of the world this time. For all their geo-sociological dissimilarities, both Hinjili and Kantabanji are bound by the migration problem. In some parts of Ganjam, it might have been aspirational in nature but across the arid western belt, it is distress migration. Now these two Assembly constituencies have one more thing to share - Naveen Patnaik. After the BJD boss chose Kantabanji to be his second Assembly seat, his decision triggered a wave of speculations, political and otherwise. Opposition parties like BJP and Congress, have been using migration as a political weapon against Naveen and the BJD, and the CMs Kantabanji decision came at an opportune time. For voters like Tapan Chhura, Naveen brings some hope of deliverance from the vicious cycle of distress migration. Elderly villagers in Karuanmunda expect change to happen under Naveens watch. However, opponents want answers. Santosh Singh Saluja, who as Congress MLA has represented Kantabanji four times since 1995, says the BJD must explain what it has done for the region. Kantabanji has one of the highest BPL rates while the Turekela block embodies distress migration. Look at the irrigation coverage. The BJD is answerable for this regions prolonged impoverishment, he says before heading out for campaigning under the blistering sun. Kantabanji has long been a Congress bastion. Of the last 10 Assembly polls, it has gone to the grand old party six times, including the 2019 election which Saluja had won by just 128 votes, beating BJPs Laxman Bag. Bag, who has risen from a very modest background, appears confident about crossing the bridge this time. For him, the prime issue of unemployment and livelihood resonates with the voters of Kantabanji. There are no industries in this region, educated and skilled youth are forced to migrate. In absence of irrigation, farmers head out in search of livelihood in other states, he says. In a region which enjoys BJPs sway, Bag remains optimistic. However, Naveens entry might upset the whole electoral balance. In fact, the BJD decision to field him from Kantabanji is seen as a strategy to leverage the BJD supremos popularity in western Odisha. The Assembly constituency is almost the mid-point from Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir and Bargarh. If he can do an encore of Bijepur in 2019, the BJD would stand to gain from a stronghold of both BJP and Congress. Karuanmundas Tapan Chhura would be happy to know if it turns out to be much more than an electoral strategy. Siba Mohanty Resident Editor, Odisha sibamohanty@newindianexpress.com
Fissures in Gujarat BJP as MLAs voice concerns
AHMEDABAD: After the Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat, three MLAs of the ruling BJP have voiced their concerns regarding the working of the state government and registered their protests against officials. Kishor Kanani, the MLA from Varachha, has criticised arrangements for obtaining income and caste certificates at the Surat collectors office. Sanjay Koradia, the MLA from Junagadh, has written to the Chief Minister, questioning the slow progress in beautification of Narsingh Lake. Sanjaysinh Vijaysinh Mahida, the MLA from Mahudha, has written about purchase of coolers of inferior quality for schools. In his letter to the the Surat collector on May 14, Kanani said, After the Class 10 and Class 12 results, students for long queues to get income and caste certificates, but only a limited number of tokens are distributed, leaving many frustrated. Agents in collusion with office operators take money and arrange for the certificates to be issued within two hours, Kanani alleged that agents are operating illegally within the government office. Junagadh MLA Koradia has complained against contractors engaged in government work and officials. In a letter dated May 13 to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, I mentioned that the work on Narsinh Lake in Junagadh has been going on for the last two years. Its completion deadline was April, yet only 60 per cent of the first phase has been completed. Last time, inlet water entered residential areas due to the contractors negligence during the monsoon. Today, a year has passed, but work on the inlet has not started. If the work is not expedited, we will face the same issues during the rains. Koradia told this newspaper. I have written to the Chief Minister to expedite the work. It seems either the contractors are not working or they are ignoring the officials. I have raised this issue three-four times with the officials, but my concerns have not been addressed. Despite my submissions, there has been no impact. Koradia had last year alleged corruption in the approval of construction along river banks in Junagadh. He had then written to the Chief Minister demanding an investigation into the matter. In his letter, Mahudha MLA Mahida said, The taluka development officer is making arbitrary purchases. The RO plants and water coolers allocated to primary schools are of inferior quality. Days ago, a candidate backed by Union minister Amit Shah lost in the election to the post of the farmer-owned fertiliser cooperatives director in Gujarat, indicating discontent within the BJP unit in the state.
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Time has come to re-engineer the logistical map of India, says Jaishankar
NEW DELHI: A time has come to start re-engineering the logistical map of the world, says External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar. The world is today paradoxically rebuilding itself even as it is being disrupted. As new production and consumption centres emerged in the last few decades, there is an accompanying compulsion to create commensurate logistical corridors. From an Indian perspective, the time has now come to start re-engineering the logistical map of the world. Some steps have already been taken, such as the International North-South Transport Corridor that also involves the Chabahar port, said Dr Jaishankar on Friday, while speaking at an event organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). A more ambitious project is on the anvil in the form of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which was agreed to during the G20 Summit last September,'' the minister said. He said that India aspires to go up to the Baltic and even Atlantic, through various corridors. To the East, the resumption of work on the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway will provide us access all the way to the Pacific. We are even examining the viability of polar routes, initially with the Chennai-Vladivostok corridor. Think of the game changing implications that they all contain and the importance of diplomatically carrying others in our quest for economic betterment,'' Dr Jaishankar explained. He pointed out that the world is experiencing a 3F crisis of fuel, food and fertilizers. In Asia, new tensions have emerged in land and sea as agreements are dishonoured and rule of law disregarded. Terrorism and extremism have started to consume those who have long practised it. In many ways, we are actually going through the perfect storm, he said. For long, we have looked at Russia from a political or security perspective. As that country turns eastwards, fresh economic opportunities are presenting themselves. The spike in our trade and the new areas of cooperation should not be regarded as a temporary phenomenon. Many other recent partnerships also offer such possibilities, such as those with Australia and with Latin America, in addition to established ones like Indonesia, Africa and West Asia,'' Dr Jaishankar added. He said that the use of credit lines and grants to familiarize the world with Indian products and capabilities will also deepen. The minister expressed hope in the larger branding endeavour of the attractions of todays India that will make a case to the world regarding the benefits of partnership. Our Embassies will also continue extending their fullest support to our economic and employment interests abroad. On my part, I can certainly assure that the business delegations will continue to accompany me on travels abroad and that we, in MEA, will facilitate B2B2G events,'' he said.
Gujarat Police Bust Terror Module Planning Hits On Prominent Political Leaders, 3 Held
Surat (Gujarat), May 17: In a major terror bust, the Gujarat Police claimed to have busted a module that was planning to kill prominent political leaders across the country. Briefing media persons on the breakthrough, on Friday, Commissioner, Gujarat Police, Anupam Singh Gehlot said a maulvi (cleric), identified only by his first name Sohail, was arrested in connection with the matter and disgorged more leads on the terror module on being interrogated. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The [] The post Gujarat Police Bust Terror Module Planning Hits On Prominent Political Leaders, 3 Held appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
MLA highlights issues at Nagrik Suvidha Kendras
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Authentication and access management platform OTPless has raised $3.5 million in its pre-Series A funding round led by SIDBI, said its co-founder and chief executive officer Bhavik Koladiya. Venture Highway, FJ Labs, and Piper Serica also joined the firms maiden institutional round. With this, OTPless raised $6.5 million to date. The Surat-based startup raised $2.7 Continue reading Bhavik Koladiya-led OTPless raises $3.5 Mn led by SIDBI The post Bhavik Koladiya-led OTPless raises $3.5 Mn led by SIDBI appeared first on Entrackr .
Suratwwala Business board approves hike in borrowing - Check details
The company also said that the board will meet on May 24, 2024, to consider and approve the Audited Standalone and Consolidated financial results of the Company for the 4th quarter and year ending March 31, 2024.
New Diploma in Architecture Course to Begin at Veer Narmad Dakshin Gujarat University
BILKULONLINE Surat, May 16: In a significant development, the Department of Architecture, Interior Design, and Fine Arts at Veer Narmad The post New Diploma in Architecture Course to Begin at Veer Narmad Dakshin Gujarat University appeared first on Bilkul Online .
On CCTV, Brand New Mercedes Crashes In Railing On Surat Road
A brand new Mercedes rammed a roadside railing in Surat after the driver lost control of the speeding vehicle on Monday night, a CCTV video shows.
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Mason enters Odisha's electoral arena for cause of labourers
BHUBANESWAR: A mason with support of his family members - most of whom are daily wagers - has entered the poll fray for the cause of labourers and their rights. Rama Chandra Badatya of Haridapadar village under Ganjam district is contesting from Aska Assembly constituency on a CPI (ML) Red Star ticket. His fight is aimed at ensuring a policy for the welfare of daily wagers and labourers in the state. The 55-year-old has been into masonry for the last 40 years and earns a daily wage of Rs 700 with which he supports his family of six. My sole purpose of fighting this election is to get a political representation that would help me raise issues faced by all kinds of labourers in front of the government. Be it skilled or those in unorganised sectors, said the worker, a political greenhorn. Badatya is associated with CPI (ML) for the last 15 years and has been raising issues related to local daily wagers, migrant and MGNREGS workers with the district administration. In the last 25 years, several schemes have been announced for labourers and migrant workers but the latter have not benefitted from any of it so far. Migration has increased but the governments, both in Centre and the state, have no data on how many unskilled or skilled labourers are unemployed and migrating for employment every year, said the contender, who has studied up to Class V. While Badatyas wife Kumari works as a labourer in MGNREGS projects within the block, the couples sons - Narayan and Dandapani are also daily wagers. While Narayan migrates to Surat every year for work, Dandapani is also a mason and assists his father everyday. Badatyas two daughters are looking for jobs after completing their graduation last year. With a meagre savings of Rs 42,000 and immovable property worth Rs 2 lakh, Badatya is spending from his pocket to reach out to voters. His family also contributes towards meeting his campaign expenses. Unlike the popular candidates in fray for the Assembly constituency, Badatyas campaign has no huge convoys of vehicles or hordes of supporters. With a handful of party workers, family members and well-wishers, Badatya has been going door-to-door requesting people to vote for his cause. He has already covered every household in 25 panchayats within the constituency so far.
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Breaking! Seven Feared Drowned in Narmada River; Search Underway
A heartbreaking incident unfolded at Poicha in Gujarat's Narmada district as seven members of a family, including children, are feared drowned in the Narmada River. The devastating event occurred yesterday when they were reportedly swept away by the strong currents of the river. Local divers from the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) and the Vadodara fire team have commenced a rigorous search operation to locate the missing individuals. Despite their efforts, no signs of the victims have been found thus far. According to reports, the victims were part of a group visiting Poicha from Surat, situated on the border of Vadodara and Narmada districts. The tragedy struck on Tuesday morning, prompting swift action from authorities. Responding to the urgent situation, a unit of the 6BN NDRF from Jarod in Vadodara district promptly arrived at Poicha to aid in the search operation. Poicha, known for its scenic beauty, particularly during summer, attracts visitors for picnics and swimming in the Narmada River. Recent measures by the Narmada district administration have prohibited local boat operators from ferrying passengers without proper licensing. Despite regulations, boatmen continue to operate on the Vadodara district side of the river, raising concerns about safety protocols. Authorities are yet to provide further details as investigations into the incident continue. The community awaits updates on the tragic event, hoping for some positive news amidst the sorrow. Updates on Mumbai Hoarding Collapse: 2 more bodies found, Rescue operations Underway Mumbai Police Issue Traffic Guidelines for PM Modi's Ghatkopar Roadshow Strong Winds and Rain Cause Disruption Across Mumbai and Neighbouring Areas
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ROHL unveils The World, an all-suite 5-Star hotel in Surat
Royal Orchid Hotels Ltd has proudly launched The World, Gujarats largest All-Suite 5-star hotel, following the signing of a management agreement with Hindva Hospitality, LLP in March 2024. Situated in Surat, this debut hotel by ROHL offers opulent suites accommodating up to 6 people, strategically located near the Surat Diamond Bourse and the upcoming...
Six boys among seven feared drowned in Narmada river in Gujarat
NARMADA: Six boys and a man are feared to have drowned in the Narmada river at Poicha village in Narmada district of Gujarat on Tuesday as they went missing after entering the water, police said. The incident occurred at around 12 pm, they said. A search operation is underway to trace the six children, who are in the age group of seven to 15 years, and a 45-year-old man, a Narmada town police station official said. They were part of a group of 17 persons from Surat who were on a visit to Poicha village to take a holy bath in the Narmada river after offering prayers at a temple, he said. Fire brigade personnel from Rajpipla town and local swimmers are making efforts to trace and rescue them, the police said.
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ROHL unveils Gujarats largest All-Suite 5-Star Hotel in Surat, The World
Following the signing of the management agreement with Hindva Hospitality, LLP in March 2024, Royal Orchid Hotels Ltd, the leading hospitality chain today announced the launch of The World, the largest All-Suite 5-star hotel in Gujarat and the debut hotel by ROHL in Surat. Located near the Surat Diamond Bourse, the upcoming Bullet Train Station... The post ROHL unveils Gujarats largest All-Suite 5-Star Hotel in Surat, The World first appeared on Hospitality Biz India: Latest News & Analysis . The post ROHL unveils Gujarats largest All-Suite 5-Star Hotel in Surat, The World appeared first on Hospitality Biz India: Latest News & Analysis .
Karnavati Knights emerge inaugural champions of Gujarat Super League
Karnavati Knights emerge inaugural champions of Gujarat Super League Karnavati Knights emerged as the inaugural champions of the Gujarat Super League 2024, the first franchise-based football league in the state, after a penalty shoot-out victory over Vadodara Warriors in the final on Sunday, May 12, 2024, at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad. Karnavati Knights, who emerged as league-stage toppers with 11 points, took the lead in the 32nd minute as Irfan Abbasi let fly from 25 yards out and picked out the top corner. Vadodara Warriors equalised 10 minutes into the second half, with Manvir Singh drilling a low shot into the bottom corner from 12 yards. With the score locked at 1-1 until the end of 90 minutes, the final went into penalties, where Karnavati Knights converted all five of them to grab a 5-3 victory. Daniel Patel scored the winning penalty after goalkeeper Vishal Dube came up big to save Vadodara Warriors' Mohammed Rizwan's spot-kick. The six-team Gujarat Super League began on May 1, and was played in a single round-robin format. Karnavati Knights remained unbeaten with three wins and two draws, while Vadodara Warriors joined them in the final as runners-up with 10 points. Ahmedabad Avengers and Saurashtra Spartans missed out narrowly, finishing third and fourth, respectively, with nine points each. Gandhinagar Giants were fifth with three points, while Surat Strikers ended up bottom with a solitary point. Lalnghinglova Hmar, Minister of State of Sports and Youth Services, Govt. of Mizoram and AIFF League Committee Chairperson, was the chief guest at the final. The guests of honour included Mukesh Puri, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of Gujarat, Syed Husain Naqvi, AIFF Executive Committee Member, Vrajrajkumarji Mahodayshri of VYO. (ANI)
East Coast Railway to run more summer special trains
BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to cater to passengers needs, East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced special train services to avoid rush of passengers in regular trains during summer. These trains will connect important destinations, offering convenience, comfort, and safety for seamless journeys and memorable experiences throughout the season. The special summer train services will operate on convenient schedules allowing passengers to plan their trips according to their preferences. Whether it is a weekend getaway or an extended holiday, the special trains will provide a perfect solution for hassle-free travel. Apart from the summer special trains announced earlier, ECoR has planned to run more such trains towards important destinations to cater the travel needs of the passengers. The new special trains included Bhubaneswar-Mumbai LTT, Berhmapur-Secunderabad and Berhmapur-Surat. Apart from this, reviewing the passengers profile, ECoR is also planning to avoid heavy rush of passengers in regular trains by introducing single-trip special trains to important destination points. The trains to be introduced are Sambalpur-Kacheguda, Khurda Road-Secunderabad, Bhubaneswar-Pune, Bhubaneswar-Mumbai CSMT, Puri-Paldhi, Bhubaneswar-Chennai, Sambalpur-Chennai, Bhubaneswar-Bengaluru, Berhmapur-Kacheguda and Sambalpur-Bengaluru. Passengers have been urged to plan their journey accordingly and search for special trains from their boarding points for their destinations where they can get confirmed tickets for their comfort journey.
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Why Are Nurses So Vital to Our Well-Being?
by Joziea Farooq Calls for change echo from the corridors of new government medical colleges, where nurses demand more than empty applause. They seek tangible reforms: comprehensive service rules, equitable salaries, and recognition commensurate with their dedication. Nurses are the quiet weavers in the intricate tapestry of healthcare, tirelessly stitching together the healing fabric. Yet, [] The post Why Are Nurses So Vital to Our Well-Being? appeared first on Kashmir Life .
Polling in eight LS seats in MP on May 13; to decide fate of BJP's Lalwani, Congress' Bhuria
BHOPAL: Voting for the fourth of Lok Sabha polls will be held on Monday for eight seats in Madhya Pradesh where BJP's sitting MP Shankar Lalwani is in the fray from Indore and Congress strongman Kantilal Bhuria from Ratlam. Of the total 29 seats in MP, polling is over in 21 in the first three phases of the general elections. On Monday, polling will be held in the ST-reserved constituencies of Ratlam, Dhar and Khargone, SC-reserved seats of Dewas and Ujjain, and Mandsaur, Indore and Khandwa. Voting will take place from 7 am to 6 pm for which 18,007 polling stations have been set up in the eight constituencies, as per officials. A total of 74 candidates, 69 men and five women are in the fray in the fourth phase, Madhya Pradesh's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anpam Ranjan told reporters. There are 1,63,70,654 eligible voters, including 82,48,091 men, 81,22,175 women and 388 third gender persons, he said. The eight constituencies, spread over 64 assembly segments in 15 districts in the state's Malwa-Nimar region, are considered the bastion of the BJP. What is our fault if groom flees before marriage: MP CM on Congress candidate's withdrawal in Indore The Indore Lok Sabha seat has the maximum number of 14 candidates and Khargone has the least five nominees. Out of the eight seats, Indore also has the highest number of eligible voters at 25,26,803, while Ujjain has the least number of 17,98,704 electors, the CEO said. The fight between former Union minister Kantilal Bhuria (73) and state Forest Minister Nagar Singh Chauhan's wife Anita Chauhan, the BJP nominee, is as much for the Ratlam Lok Sabha seat as it is for supremacy in the tribal-dominated region between their families. The two families have left nothing to chance. Bhuria's son Vikrant quit as Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress chief last month. In his resignation letter to Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV, he said he needed to devote maximum time in Ratlam to help his father. Kantilal Bhuria, who was a minister in the Congress-led UPA government, has won from Ratlam five times. He was, however, defeated in 2014 and 2019. Why is PM nervous even in BJP bastions: Congress jabs Modi after setback in Indore, Surat In Indore, the 'None Of The Above (NOTA)' option has unexpectedly hogged the limelight after Congress candidate Akshay Kanti Bam withdrew his nomination at the last minute and joined the BJP. As Bam's move set the stage for a one-sided contest for BJP's Shankar Lalwani, who won from Indore by nearly 5.4 lakh votes last time, the Congress urged voters to hit NOTA. Earlier, 21 constituencies in MP voted in three phases on April 19, April 26 and May 7. Votes will be counted on June 4. 'Vote for NOTA': Congress appeals to Indore electors
PM's hat-trick of initiatives drives India towards 'Viksit Bharat': Anurag Thakur
PM's hat-trick of initiatives drives India towards 'Viksit Bharat': Anurag Thakur Asserting that continuity in governance is important for the country's progress, Union minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ready to hit an electoral hat-trick and move towards the target of building ''Viksit Bharat'' (developed India). In an interview to PTI, Thakur said no charges hurled by the Opposition can stick on Modi. Dubbing as ''laughable'' the opposition's claim of victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Thakur exuded confidence that the BJP was well on its way to achieving the goal of 370 seats which includes the 303 seats it won last time and 70 seats where it finished second. These 70 seats were part of 160 parliamentary segments that the BJP had identified after 2019 to launch an extensive ministerial outreach. ''I can say after the third phase of elections that Modi ji is on a hat-trick. I say this due to one-sided polling. Congress workers have retreated from the battlefield. In Surat and Indore, Congress candidates withdrew from elections. In Odisha, they returned tickets. Rahul Gandhi ran away from Amethi and fled to Wayanad in 2019. Now he has come to Rae Bareli. I don't know where he will go next,'' the minister noted. Thakur, a four-time MP from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh contesting for the fifth time in a row, said it is in Modi's name that he was seeking people's mandate once again and also in the name of development works initiated over the last few years as MP. ''Stability and continuity are key for the country's progress and enable the government to continue with policies and programmes to ensure India remains on track to become the third largest economy just as it has leaped from the 10th largest economy pre 2014 to the fifth largest under Modi rule,'' he said. The senior minister also flagged an old video of veteran Congressman Mani Shankar Aiyar urging India to respect Pakistan and asked, ''How come they remember Pakistan and how come Pakistan remembers Congress?'' He also asked why 'tukde tukde gang' people join the Congress and why PFI and SDPI support the Congress. ''When anti-India forces support the Congress, a natural question that arises is to what extent can the Congress fall for votes,'' Thakur alleged. On whether the charges against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald matter will be expedited, Thakur said probe agencies were independent to act. ''How much time the Court takes in punishing the culprits, no one can decide. From our side, action should have been taken against Rahul ji, Sonia ji and Chidambaram ji a long time back. Even in Nirbhaya rape case, the crime was committed in 2012 but the punishment was given in 2020. It is a legal process and courts have to decide,'' he explained.
Congress Betrayed Me... Disqualified Nominee From Surat Breaks Silence After 20 Days
Kumbhani claimed that the Congress had betrayed him first in 2017, but he was silent earlier as he respects the partys state president.
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Congresss Surat pick reappears, says 'party betrayed me first in 2017'
Congresss Surat pick reappears says party betrayed me first in
Congresss Surat pick back, says party betrayed him first in 2017
Kumbhani said he was silent all these days because of his respect for state party president Shaktisinh Gohil and the party's Rajkot Lok Sabha candidate Paresh Dhanani. Congress leaders are accusing me of betrayal. However, it was the Congress which betrayed me first in the 2017 assembly elections when my ticket for Kamrej Assembly seat in Surat was cancelled at the last moment. It was the Congress which made the first mistake, not me, Kumbhani told reporters here.
Congress Betrayed Me: 'Missing' Surat Candidate Reappears After 20 Days
Suspended Congress leader Nilesh Kumbhani, whose nomination form was rejected over discrepancies leading to BJP winning the Surat Lok Sabha seat, resurfaced on Saturday after 20 days and alleged it was Congress that had betrayed him first in 2017.
Cong Surat nominee resurfaces, says betrayed by party
Suspended Congress leader Nilesh Kumbhani, whose nomination form was rejected over discrepancies leading to Bharatiya Janata Party winning the Surat Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat unopposed, resurfaced on Saturday after 20 days and alleged it was the grand old party that had betrayed him first in 2017.
Congress's Surat candidate whose nomination form was rejected resurfaces, says party betrayed him
SURAT: Suspended Congress leader Nilesh Kumbhani, whose nomination form was rejected over discrepancies leading to BJP winning the Surat Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat unopposed, resurfaced on Saturday after 20 days and alleged it was the grand old party that had betrayed him first in 2017. Kumbhani said he was silent all these days because of his respect for state party president Shaktisinh Gohil and the party's Rajkot Lok Sabha candidate Paresh Dhanani. Congress leaders are accusing me of betrayal. However, it was the Congress which betrayed me first in the 2017 assembly elections when my ticket for Kamrej Assembly seat in Surat was cancelled at the last moment. It was the Congress which made the first mistake, not me, Kumbhani told reporters here. I did not want to do this but my supporters, office staff and workers were upset because the party is being run by five self-proclaimed leaders in Surat and they neither work nor allow others to work. Though AAP and Congress are part of INDIA alliance, these leaders raised objections when I used to campaign with AAP leaders here, he claimed. Asked if the turn of events in the ongoing Lok Sabha poll was his revenge on the Congress, Kumbhani refused to give a direct reply and reiterated his charge about cancellation of ticket in the 2017 state polls. Kumbhani, who had earlier served as a Congress corporator in the Surat Municipal Corporation, fought the 2022 assembly polls from Kamrej but lost to the BJP. On April 21, Kumbhani's nomination form was rejected after his three proposers submitted affidavits to the district returning officer claiming they had not signed on the document. Incidentally, the nomination form of the Congress' substitute candidate Suresh Padsala was also rejected, ending the party's presence in the fray. On April 22, BJP's Mukesh Dalal was declared elected unopposed from Surat after all other candidates, including one from the BSP, withdrew their nominations. Due to a pre-poll alliance with Congress, the AAP had not fielded its candidate from Surat. Kumbhani had gone incommunicado since April 22. He was later suspended by the Congress, which blamed him for the rejection of the nomination form and also accused him of connivance with the BJP. Lok Sabha polls were held in a single phase in Gujarat on May 7. Results for 25 out of the state's 26 seats will be declared on June 4.
Top 10 Unique Places To Visit In Surat - India.com
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The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSEB) has announced the GSEB 10th Result 2024 on May 11. Students can check their results on the official website, gseb.org. The exams were held from March 11 to March 26, with approximately 1.91 lakh students from Surat appearing for the exams. Students dissatisfied with their results can apply for re-evaluation. The passing criteria require a minimum of 33% marks in each subject and the aggregate. Supplementary exam details will be sent to schools along with the result. Students can also check their results via WhatsApp and SMS.
Man held in Muzaffarpur for issuing threats to Nupur Sharma, right wing leader
Man held in Muzaffarpur for issuing threats to Nupur Sharma, right wing leader Patna: In a joint operation, Surat and Muzaffarpur Police have arrested an accused for threatening the former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and a right wing leader named Updesh Rana on Friday. The accused was identified as Mohammad Shahnawaz Ali, a native [] The post Man held in Muzaffarpur for issuing threats to Nupur Sharma, right wing leader appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
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Indel Money Expands into Gujarat, Inaugurates 300th Branch in Naroda
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Budget tourism project a hit, KSRTC now eyeing expansion to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
KOCHI: KSRTCs budget tourism project is going great guns. Things are so rosy that the state-run carrier is now planning to expand its list of destinations in its tour packages by including popular spots in neighbouring Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. We have placed two proposals each before the RTCs of both the states, said Sunil Kumar, state coordinator, KSRTC (budget tourism). One proposal is that KSRTC applies for temporary permits for its buses to conduct destination tours to these states. The second proposes a collaboration, under which we will take tourists to the Kerala-TN or Kerala-Karnataka borders. From there, they will proceed to the destinations in buses arranged by the respective RTCs, Sunil said. Hill stations Ooty and Kodaikanal, besides Rameshwaram, Vellankanni and Kanyakumari, in TN, are the destinations shortlisted, said Sunil. As for the rates, he said, Since the proposals are mooted under our budget tourism project, the charges will be commensurate to the rates charged for present tours. KSRTC is expecting a very good response to its proposed tours to the neighbouring states once they are rolled out. As of now, KSRTCs budget tourism has been a huge success. From its inception in November 2021 to March this year, we have generated Rs 39 crore in revenue from 10,500 trips. A total 5.95 lakh people availed the trips, Sunil said. Meanwhile, KSRTC is also exploring a tourism collaboration with the IRCTC that covers inbound and outbound travellers, said Sunil. In the case of inbound travellers, KSRTC has proposed picking up tourists from railway stations and taking them to destinations listed in their tour packages. For outbound tourists, KSRTC will provide them the facility to book IRCTCs tour packages, he said. On the city tour programme started in Thiruvananthapuram, Sunil said the project, which employs a double-decker electric bus, has received wide acceptance in the two months of its launch. We are monitoring the progress of the project, but as of now, things are looking very good, Sunil said. Considering the programme's initial success, KSRTC is studying the viability of launching similar projects in Ernakulam and Kozhikode, he said. Studies are on to determine the most viable routes for the tours. In Ernakulam, it has been observed that people are more into visiting coastal areas. There is the question of getting buses though. The Thiruvananthapuram city tour bus was launched with the help of Smart City Mission. We are looking into something similar in Ernakulam and Kozhikode as the buses are very costly. Converting our old double-decker buses into electric vehicles and using them for the project is another possibility being explored, Sunil said. Like many things, KSRTCs budget tourism project also faced some setbacks in the past few months, Sunil said. Closure of tourist destinations in Wayanad and the heatwave did affect our operations to some extent, he said. KSRTC budget tourism Started: November 2021Revenue Rs 39 crore (Till March 2024) Trips conducted - 10,500 Passengers served - 5.95 lakh
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Rupala once again apologises for remark about Kshatriya community
Parshottam Rupala apologised to the Kshatriya community for his derogatory remark, facing backlash and demanding removal. Despite winning in Surat, the controversy affected BJP's image. Rupala urged forgiveness and took full responsibility for the incident.
Union Minister apologises for controversial remark about Kshatriya community
Union Minister apologises for controversial remark about Kshatriya community Union minister and BJP candidate for Rajkot Lok Sabha seat Parshottam Rupala on Wednesday apologised to the Kshatriya community for his alleged derogatory remark on erstwhile rulers, his fourth so far, terming the controversy the most difficult time of his public life. The apology came a day after Lok Sabha polls were concluded in Gujarat. Rupala said he had gone through the most difficult time of his public life due to his comment and urged the Kshatriyas, also known as Rajputs, to show generosity and forgive him. Though it was my mistake and I was solely responsible for whatever happened, my entire party got entangled in this controversy. It was very painful for me because the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi suffered because of me, said Rupala. Of the 26 constituencies in the state, 25 including Rajkot went to polls on May 7. The BJP nominee in Surat has already won unopposed. The Rajputs had demanded that the BJP drop Rupala as its nominee in Rajkot. Since I had apologised before voting, people might have thought it was due to the elections. Thus, I am once again apologising to the entire Kshatriya community. I urge the community and its women to embrace Kshama Virasya Bhushanam' (forgiveness is the virtue of the brave). My appeal is not politically motivated, he told reporters in Rajkot. According to Rupala, his remarks (oratory skill) used to be an asset for the BJP but this time, his one comment had put his party in trouble. I admit that and I take full responsibility. I want to tell you that I am ultimately a human and it is said that to err is human. I had apologised for my words immediately, that too when the Rajputs hadn't even started their protest. Later, I apologised in front of the community, said Rupala. The BJP had dropped two-time MP Mohan Kundariya to pick Rupala from Rajkot. Former MLA Paresh Dhanani was the Congress candidate for this Patidar-dominated seat, considered a stronghold of BJP since the late 80s. Rupala has angered Rajputs by claiming that erstwhile 'maharajas' succumbed to the persecution of foreign rulers as well as the Britishers. He further said these 'maharajas' broke bread with these rulers and also married off their daughters to them. Since majority of the erstwhile rulers in Gujarat were Rajputs, the community saw the remarks as an insult to them and had repeatedly asked the BJP to withdraw Rupala's candidature, warning that it would go against the ruling party in this election if it continued with him. When the BJP did not remove Rupala as its candidate from Rajkot, community leaders under the umbrella of the Rajput Coordination Committee had given a call to defeat the party's candidates on at least 10 seats, including Rajkot and Jamnagar. Two days before the elections, Kshatriya leaders associated with the BJP in Gujarat had also appealed to the community to forgive Rupala and vote for the saffron party in the nations interest.
Gujarat man live-streams from poll booth, detained for bogus voting
Vijay Bhabhor detained for fraudulent voting in Dahod Lok Sabha after viral Instagram video. Investigation ongoing. Gujarat's 26 Lok Sabha seats had BJP's unopposed win in Surat. Prabha Taviad challenges Jasvantsinh Bhabhor in constituency.
Gujarat Voter Turnout in LS Polls Reaches 59.51%, Says EC
Gujarat Voter Turnout in LS Polls Reaches 59.51%, Says EC Gujarat has recorded an estimated voter turnout of 59.51 per cent in the elections to 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state, as per the data shared by the Election Commission of India on Wednesday. The final figure would be available by evening after the addition of postal ballot data, an official said. This time, the voter turnout is 4.6 per cent less compared to the 2019 general polls in the state. In 2019, the state registered a voter turnout of 64.11 per cent in polls to the 26 Lok Sabha seats. Voting was held in 25 Lok Sabha seats of Gujarat on Tuesday as the BJP recently bagged the Surat Lok Sabha seat uncontested. ''Gujarat has recorded an estimated voter turnout of 59.51 per cent,'' said a statement by the EC. According to Gujarat's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P Bharathi, the final voter turnout figures would be available by evening after the addition of postal ballot data. ''Polling station-wise data is now being fed into the system and postal ballots are yet to be counted. So there will be a slight increase in the final figure, not much. This 59.51 per cent turnout is almost final,'' said Bharathi. The tribal-reserved Valsad constituency in south Gujarat recorded the highest turnout of 72.24 per cent, while the Amreli seat in Saurashtra region saw the lowest turnout of 49.44 per cent, as per the latest EC data. Valsad was on the top spot in 2019 also with an impressive turnout of 75.22 per cent. It is the only seat where more than 70 per cent voters turned up to exercise their franchise on Tuesday, while Amreli is the only seat with below 50 per cent turnout. Bharuch and Banaskantha seats, which witnessed a close battle between the BJP and the opposition INDIA alliance, recorded 68.75 per cent and 68.55 per cent polling, respectively. Except for the Valsad seat, voter turnout in three other ST-reserved seats - Chhota Udaipur, Dahod and Bardoli - saw a significant drop this time compared to the previous election. As against 73.44 per cent voter turnout in 2019, Chhota Udaipur this time recorded 67.78 per cent voting, a drop of 5.66 per cent. Dahod this time witnessed a voter turnout of 58.66 per cent compared to 66.18 per cent in 2019, a drop of 7.52 per cent. Bardoli seat recorded a drop of 8.99 per cent, as the voter turnout this time was 64.59 per cent compared to 73.58 per cent in 2019. Voting was also held on Tuesday for bypolls to five assembly seats in the state. The five assembly segments - Vijapur, Porbandar, Manavadar, Khambhat and Vaghodia - recorded a voter turnout of 62.37 per cent, as per the EC data. The five seats fell vacant after the resignation of sitting MLAs.
BJP aims for 400+ seats to amend Constitution: Uddhav Thackeray
BJP aims for 400+ seats to amend Constitution: Uddhav Thackeray Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray has claimed the BJP-led NDA wants to win more than 400 Lok Sabha seats so that it can change the Constitution. Thackeray was addressing an election rally on Tuesday for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidate Shobha Bacchav at Dhule in Maharashtra. ''For them (BJP) the Constitution of India is like a burden. They think why should they follow the Constitution written by a Dalit? They want 400-plus seats so that they can change the Constitution written by Dr B R Ambedkar,'' the former state chief minister claimed. He also accused the Centre of betraying farmers by not giving adequate prices for farm produce. ''I will restore the glory of Maharashtra which was robbed by these people after we return to power. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had looted Surat (for Swarajya) but now these two (persons) from Surat are looting Chhatrapati's Maharashtra,'' Thackeray alleged without taking any name.
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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.
BJP's Target of 400+ Seats May Lead to Constitutional Changes: Uddhav
BJP's Target of 400+ Seats May Lead to Constitutional Changes: Uddhav Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday claimed the BJP-led NDA wants a 400-plus seat mandate so that they can change the Constitution. ''For them (BJP) the Constitution of India is a burden. They think why should they follow the Constitution written by a Dalit? They want 400-plus seats so that they can change the Constitution written by Dr B R Ambedkar,'' Thackeray claimed. He accused the Centre of betraying farmers by not giving adequate prices to farm produce. ''I will restore the glory of Maharashtra which was robbed by these people after we return to power. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had looted Surat (for Swarajta) but now these two (persons) from Surat are looting Chhatrapati's Maharashtra,'' Thackeray alleged while addressing an election rally for MVA candidate Shobha Bacchav in Dhule.
Gujarat records provisional voter turnout of 56.91 pc in 25 seats
56.91% voter turnout in Gujarat's single-phase polling. Data awaited. Surat didn't vote. BJP won uncontested. CEO P. Bharathi overseeing. Shah contested. High temperatures. BU, CU, VVPAT replaced. Villages boycotted. Modi, Shah, Patel voted.
Feedback from today's polling confirms NDA's excellent momentum, says Assam CM Sarma
Feedback from today's polling confirms NDA's excellent momentum, says Assam CM Sarma Assam Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has gained an excellent momentum in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The feedback from today's polling confirms the excellent momentum NDA has maintained through all the phases till now, said Assam Chief Minister. CM Sarma further stated, In the 4 seats that went to polls today in Assam, NDA will win 3. He said that there would be a contest on the 4th one and for obvious reasons. Earlier in the day, Sarma cast his vote at a polling station in Barpeta Parliamentary Constituency. After casting his vote, the Assam Chief Minister expressed confidence in the victory of his party and its allies in the elections and said BJP and its alliance partners will get a good result. He also added that people will vote for progress and East India and the northeast will play a historic role in this election. Meanwhile, polling was held for 93 Lok Sabha seats across 12 states and union territories in the third phase of the general election on Tuesday. 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, were in the fray. Voting did 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. 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)
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.
