Industrialists afraid to come to Bengal under Mamata Banerjee dispensation: Union minister

Industrialists afraid to come to Bengal under Mamata Banerjee dispensation: Union minister Maintaining that investors were afraid to come to West Bengal, Union minister Subhas Sarkar claimed that businesses will stay away from the state as long as the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government is in power. Sarkar said the TMCs land acquisition policy and allegations of across-the-board corruption were to blame for the poor job situation in Bengal. ''Industrialists shy away from coming to West Bengal. There is a dire need to change this government to attract investment in the state,'' Sarkar, the Union Minister of State for Education, told PTI in an interview. The TMC had risen to power in 2011 over its anti-forcible land grab policy plank, and agitations over land acquisition by the erstwhile Left Front government in Nandigram and Singur. The Left has repeatedly claimed that the acquisitions were meant for the re-industrialisation of the state and creating job opportunities for the youth. Stating that problems of unemployment and migration of labour from Bengal to other states will be resolved only if industries come, Sarkar said in the meantime, skill development programmes of the youth will be undertaken. Sarkar, the Bankura MP in the outgoing 17th Lok Sabha, said, ''In the next five years, we have plans to skill a large number of youths.'' He said that at the same time, cooperative and farm produce sectors will also have to be strengthened for a better interface with the related industries. Having been re-nominated by the BJP from the Bankura Lok Sabha seat, Sarkar expressed confidence of winning the seat by a margin more than the 1.74 lakh votes he secured over his nearest TMC opponent in the 2019 polls. Brushing aside murmurs among a section of BJP supporters as also the Bankura district's Hindu Mahasabha, alleging the doctor candidate's disconnect with base-level workers, Sarkar said, ''Our party is working very nicely. Sarkar asserted he is a son of the soil and that workers and supporters are steadfast with him. Claiming that the people of Bengal ''see the BJP as the only feasible and potential alternative'', he said the Narendra Modi government has led the country through a journey of development and social welfare. Sarkar also maintained that there have not been any allegations of corruption, both at the Centre and in BJP-ruled states. He accused the TMC in the state of ''corruption and oppression'' of people by goons owing allegiance to the ruling party in the state. Allegations of sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing of villagers by some local TMC leaders in Sandeshkhali region will ''definitely'' affect the TMC in Bankura, situated around 250 km away, Sarkar said. The incidents there (Sandeshkhali) will influence the women voters,'' he said. Sarkar also alleged that the TMC was supporting former party leaders accused in various cases, like Shajahan Sheikh in Sandeshkhali, Anubrata Mondal, who is lodged in Tihar jail in connection with a case of alleged cattle smuggling, and others. He said the BJP-led government at the Centre and the Mamata Banerjee government in Bengal cannot be compared. The TMC supremo's model is akin to the ''feudal system, he asserted. Sarkar alleged that ''cut money'' culture for getting government benefits, and a ''franchise system'' with goons and mafia, have become prevalent in West Bengal under the present dispensation. ''The PM's development work should not be compared with Mamata Banerjee's model. Modi's 'Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas' model was to ensure betterment of the lives of everyone, he said. Sarkar said that the central government was providing free ration to 80 crore people across the country. He added that the adivasis, who constitute a significant part of the electorate in the constituency's Jangal Mahal area, which was affected by Maoist activities more than a decade back, were with the BJP. ''The BJP-led NDA government has done a lot for them,'' the minister said, stating that it has enacted the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act (FCAA) 2023, and had included the Santhali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution in 2003 during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

Boat ferrying labourers capsizes in Bihar's Patna, several feared drowned

Boat ferrying labourers capsizes in Bihars Patna several feared drowned

In Bihar's Hajipur, it's PMs Hanuman vs Lalus Ram

Chirag Paswan's bid for the Hajipur Lok Sabha seat signifies a crucial moment as he seeks to assert his father's political legacy. Facing opposition from his uncle's faction and criticism over ticket distribution, Chirag navigates one of his toughest electoral battles yet. While he banks on NDA support and PM Modi's popularity, his opponent Tejashwi Yadav leverages his local roots and unity within the opposition. Despite challenges, Chirag remains determined, with PM Modi's recent visit underscoring strong support. The outcome of the election hinges on the complex political dynamics and voter sentiments in Hajipur.

80 candidates in fray for five LS seats in Bihar

Altogether 80 candidates, including 35 Independents, are in the fray, with three contestants being doctors.reports Asian Lite News The five Bihar seats going to polls in the fifth phase of... The post 80 candidates in fray for five LS seats in Bihar first appeared on India Daily Digital .

Lalu Yadav will never transfer power Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary attacks RJD supremo

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Heat wave conditions prevail in 20 places, mercury crosses 45

New Delhi: Extreme heat continues to wreak havoc in North-West India. Even though the highest temperature of 47.4 degrees Celsius was recorded in Delhi's Najafgarh on Friday, but on coming out on Saturday morning, it felt as if the entire body was burning. The Meteorological Department has issued a warning regarding the days full of extreme heat and heat wave and said that there is no hope of relief for another 5 days. Especially, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are facing severe heat wave. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday has also predicted severe heat in the plains of northwest India for the next five days. This situation is going to persist for three days in the eastern and central areas. Red alert has also been issued regarding heat wave in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and West Rajasthan. Orange alert has been issued for East Rajasthan, UP and Bihar. Besides, advice has also been given to keep a special eye on newborn children, elderly people and patients with chronic diseases. A warning of extreme heat at night for two-three days has also been issued in UP, Bihar and West Rajasthan. Mercury crossed 45 at 20 places: Delhi experienced severe heat for the second day and the average maximum temperature was recorded at 43.7 degrees Celsius, which is the highest temperature of the season. IMD has informed that along with Delhi, Haryana, Punjab,. At least 20 places in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh recorded temperatures above 45 degrees. In Rajasthan, the mercury has crossed 46 degrees in Jaisalmer, Barmer, Ganganagar and Pilani. Such a magical forest of India, which glows at night! These are the 3 most expensive bikes sold in India, the price is so much that you will buy Audi-BMW Lemon Rice: Learn to make South Indian dish 'Lemon Rice' in easy steps

Campaign ends for State's Ph-II poll, 102 CAPF units to be deployed

BHUBANESWAR: Curtains came down on the high-pitched campaign for five Lok Sabha constituencies and 35 Assembly segments that will go to polls in the states second phase on May 20. Voting will be held in Aska, Bargarh, Balangir, Kandhamal and Sundargarh Parliamentary constituencies and the Assembly seats under them. This round will also seal Chief Minister Naveen Patnaiks fate in two constituencies of Hinjili under Aska and Kantabanji under Balangir Lok Sabha seats. Keeping in view the pre-poll violence reported from several parts in the last few days, the Election Commission of India has ordered deployment of 102 companies of central armed police forces (CAPFs) for the phase. Chief electoral officer Nikunja Bihari Dhal said around 20 per cent of the 9,162 polling booths in phase two have been identified as critical while there is provision of web-casting in 60 per cent of the booths. Accordingly, 22 companies of CAPFs will be deployed in Maoist-affected Kandhamal district, while 20 will guard Ganjam. This apart 16 companies will be deployed in Sundargarh, 14 each in Bargarh and Bolangir, five each in Jharsuguda and Boudh, four in Sonepur and two in Nayagarh, he said. The pre-election violence in Ganjam district is a matter of concern. Police have already registered a case and apprehended some of the accused, while hunt is on to arrest the remaining persons. Clear instructions have been issued to police to act fast and restore normalcy at the earliest whenever such incidents occur, Dhal said. He said an additional DGP rank officer has already been appointed to oversee law and order arrangements in Ganjam, especially Aska Parliamentary constituency in view of pre-poll violence in Khalikote. A total of 79.69 lakh voters, including 40.33 lakh men and 39.35 lakh women, will exercise their franchise at 9,162 polling stations in the second phase to decide the fate of 265 MLA and 40 MP candidates. Around 1,541 will be model polling stations, while 1,041 will be managed by all-women personnel and 25 by differently-abled staff and officials. The ECI has appointed 10 general observers, 15 expenditure observers and three police observers for the phase. An air ambulance will be kept on standby at Balangir for emergency. With IMD predicting rise in temperature on May 20, the CEO said adequate drinking water, ORS and essential medicines will be made available at each polling station. Besides, paramedical staff, ASHA workers, ambulances and mobile health units will also be deployed, he said. In 2019, Bargarh Lok Sabha seat had recorded 77.87 per cent turnout, followed by Sundargarh at 71.67pc, Balangir at 74.75pc, Kandhamal 72.90pc and Aska 65.53pc. This time too we are taking various steps to ensure maximum voter turnout in these constituencies, the CEO said.

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.

Voter turnout less than my expectations in Central Kashmir: JKNC chief Farooq Abdullah

Voter turnout less than my expectations in Central Kashmir: JKNC chief Farooq Abdullah Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Chief Farooq Abdullah expressed concern over the low voting percentage in Central Kashmir, saying that he expected around 70 per cent polling percentage in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to ANI on Saturday, the JKNC chief said, I expected the percentage to be 70 per cent. I don't know the reason why it was so low. People are so eager to express themselves and send their representatives to the Parliament. Our children are taking drugs. An entire generation is in danger. The percentage is less than my expectations. It should have been 70 per cent, Abdullah further said. Jammu and Kashmir recorded low voter turnouts at 38.49 in the recently concluded fourth phase of Lok Sabha polls. The fourth phase of polling for Lok Sabha polls on May 13 in 96 constituencies saw a voter turnout of 69.16 per cent, the Election Commission said on Friday. It said 69.58 per cent of male voters, 68.73 per cent of female voters, and 34.23 per cent of third-gender individuals exercised their franchise. Andhra Pradesh recorded the highest voter turnout, with a total voter turnout of 80.66 per cent. West Bengal recorded the second-highest voter turnout at 80.22 per cent. Apart from Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar also recorded relatively low voter turnouts at 58.22, and 58.21 per cent, respectively. Voting was held in 96 Lok Sabha seats in the fourth phase, out of which 25 were from Andhra Pradesh, 17 from Telangana, 13 from Uttar Pradesh, 11 from Maharashtra, eight each from Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, five from Bihar, four each from Jharkhand and Odisha, and one from Jammu and Kashmir. The voting in Baramulla is set for May 20 while the Anantnag-Rajouri seat will vote on May 25. In the electoral battleground of Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, the upcoming Lok Sabha elections for Phase 5 present a compelling tripartite contest. Omar Abdullah, representing the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), faces off against Fayaz Ahmad Mir of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Sajjad Gani Lone from the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference (JKPC), allied with the NDA. Notably, the BJP is not contesting from any of Jammu and Kashmir's three Lok Sabha seats--Srinagar, Baramulla, and Anantnag. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP had six candidates in the fray in Jammu and Kashmir but failed to win a single seat in Kashmir. Voting for the Udhampur and Jammu seats concluded on April 19 and 26 respectively while in Srinagar, voting was concluded on May 13. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)

Bihar: Shahi litchi of Muzaffarpur to remain costly due to heatwave spells

Bihar: Shahi litchi of Muzaffarpur to remain costly due to heatwave spells The famous 'Shahi' Litchi of Muzaffarpur will remain heavy on the pockets of consumers due to the unfavorable conditions caused by severe heatwaves this year. The heatwave conditions swept across various districts of Bihar. Favorable weather is crucial for producing good-quality litchi. Unfortunately, this year, the weather in North Bihar has not been conducive to litchi production. Muzaffarpur, also known as the Litchi Kingdom or the Litchi Capital of India because of its high-quality litchi production, typically has favorable weather essential for producing good-quality litchi. Litchi is cultivated on about 12 thousand hectares in Muzaffarpur. The city is famous for two varieties of litchi: Shahi litchi and China litchi, known for their aroma and quality. Research has found that litchi production thrives in the climate and soil of Muzaffarpur. However, this year, the weather in North Bihar has not been favorable for litchi production. In Muzaffarpur district, the production of litchi orchards has reduced compared to last year. According to Budhan Saini, who oversees litchi plantations in Muzaffarpur Majhauli, litchi production this year has decreased significantly. He said that there is a 35 per cent decline in production compared to last year. Due to unfavourable weather, litchi will be harvested late this year. Protecting litchi from insects is also a challenging task. Although litchi is being harvested and sent to the market from many gardens in Muzaffarpur, it has not yet ripened properly, said Saini. According to records from past years, one lakh metric tonnes of litchi are produced every year. This year, the possibility of production has been considered to be limited to 75 to 80 thousand metric tonnes. The royal variety of litchi is the most affected. However, the Chinese variety of litchi orchards is less affected. Due to less rain this year, there is a possibility of producing around 75 to 80 thousand metric tonnes of litchi, he pointed out. With the reduced production, the Shahi Litchi of Muzaffarpur will command higher prices in the market this year. The Shahi litchi of North Bihar was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2018, becoming the fourth agricultural product from the state to receive the certification. The Litchi Growers Association of Bihar, based in Muzaffarpur, holds the GI registration for Shahi litchi. India is the second-largest producer of litchi in the world, after China. Thousands of litchi cultivators in Bihar, which alone produces more than half of the total litchi produced in the country, are facing losses as the heatwave has affected fruit production, cherished across the country in the summer months for its cooling properties. (ANI)

Would Hajipur shower its blessing on Modis Hanuman?

PATNA: For Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, merely winning the Hajipur (SC) Lok Sabha seat his legendary father Ram Vilas Paswan held for decades, would be a disgrace. He wants to register victory with an eye-popping margin so as to establish himself as the political heir of the Ram Vilas legacy. Chirags party is an ally of BJP-led NDA. He is locked in a straight fight with former state minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasads trusted lieutenant Shiv Chandra Ram. Unlike in 2019 when he lost to Chirags uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras from this seat, Ram, 53, is posing a stiff challenge to Chirag, 41, this time around. Chirags decision to shift from Jamui which elected him twice to the Lok Sabha to Hajipur put him on a collision course with Paras. Whether or not the sulking Paras would damage Chirags prospects remains to be seen. This time Chirag is set to create history by registering his victory by a record margin. He has his fathers legacy on the one hand and Prime Minister Narendra Modis blessings on the other. Modis Hanuman will be put to test in the true sense, said Deoki Nandan Singh, 65, a resident of Bidupur in Vaishali district. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had lampooned Chirag as Modis Hanuman recently. At a recent rally, Modi had lavished praise on Chirag, saying he considers him his son. Chirag is a true representative of Bihar, the future of Bihar. He is also a successful MP. If you vote for Chirag, it will directly go to Modis account, the PM said. Making a similar pitch, Tejashwi had told his party at a recent campaign address, If you want to see me as chief minister, then ensure victory of Shiv Chandra Ram from Hajipur. It was a clear message to RJD rank and file to rally around Ram. If social activist Navneet Kumars opinion is anything to go by, people in general are discussing local issues but it is the caste factor that will overshadow everything.

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Expect respite from heatwave by May 20: Met

Patna Sahib & Patliputra polling stations to have two ballot units

Pawan Singh remains a worry for NDA

Muz councillor,hubby detained

LS polls: Women voters outnumber men in state

Principal, son held for students death

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Rlys gears up for safetymeasures

Sunsets and son-rises in Bihar

The emergence of Bihars new political leadership signifies the swan song of stalwarts from the Jayaprakash Narayan movement. No corner of the states polity seems untouched by such a change of guard. Lets see how this handover might affect the states political calculus. Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal launched himself when his father Lalu Prasad was imprisoned on corruption charges. Lalu Prasad has mass appeal among the Yadavs and Muslims, who constitute 14.7 percent and 17.7 percent of the states population; he also has substantial support from the Other Backward Classes and Dalits. Therefore, Tejashwi has inherited a strong legacy. He established his leadership at the last assembly election, winning 75 seats out of the total 243 and emerging as the largest party. He impressed the masses by bringing back the issue-based politics of employment, education, health and inflation. Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party endeavours to continue the legacy of his father Ram Vilas. His support is among SCs, Dusadh and Dhari who have a 5.31 percent presence, followed by Chamar, Mochi, Rabidas, Rohidas and Charmakar at 5.26 percent, and Musahars at 3.09 percent. He is contesting for the Hajipur Lok Sabha seat against Shiv Chandra Ram, a popular Dalit leader from the RJD. LS polls: As his fathers shadow looms, Chirag Paswan faces a daunting task in Hajipur The BJP has recently lost Sushil Modi, a senior leader and popular face in Bihar. The party has negligible youth representation in the state at present. It has been experimenting on weakening RJDs base by earlier fielding Ram Kripal Yadav, Nityanand Rai, Upendra Kushwaha and now Samrat Choudhary; but it has not succeeded in snatching the vote base of Lalu Prasad. Its a similar situation for the Janata Dal (United), which is yet to launch a young person who can take charge after Nitish Kumar. All these prominent faces of Bihar, who emerged from the JP movement to restore democracy in 1974, are now near the end of their politics. Bihar has been a laboratory of politics for the people down the ages. The Champaran Satyagraha, radical peasant movements and JP movement are a few landmarks in that legacy. Although Bihar was one of the first states to implement a law abolishing zamindari, land reforms remained on the back seat. The socialist regime of Karpoori Thakur tried to address several issues of social justice, but left the land issues largely untouched. As a result, the state was engulfed in fierce land struggles and witnessed massacres by private armies in alliance with the state. JP held the ruling classes responsible for delaying land redistribution, which resulted in counter-retaliation too. Nobody from the private armies was found guilty. The courts neither passed a stricture against the investigating officers, nor instructed the reopening of cases. JPs mobilisation was the next landmark. Chhatra Sangharsh Vahini, Tarun Shanti Sena and other groups came together against the issues of unemployment, inflation and corruption. This mobilisation turned out to be the breeding ground for the mass leaders of todayLalu Prasad, Ram Vilas, Nitish Kumar and Sushil Modi. They have continued ruling the state with a few exceptions. INTERVIEW | Employment is main issue. Results will be surprising and shocking for BJP Lalu Prasad weakened the feudal clutches and empowered the voiceless. Backward classes and Dalits had never before felt so empowered to deal with the feudal forces, the bureaucracy and the police. He strongly dealt with communal forces too and stopped L K Advanis Rathyatra. This act made him a champion of minorities, particularly of Muslims. When V P Singh implemented the Mandal Commission report, Lalu Prasad made it an occasion to win the confidence of the backwards and Dalits in Bihar. Hence the MY support along with the OBCs. Lalus idea of Charvaha Vidyalay an experiment in holding classes in field settingsgot appreciated globally. However, it did not take off because of elitism among the bureaucrats, who were generally not happy with Lalus regime because of two reasons. One, the RJD cadres started interacting with the bureaucracy as alert citizens. Two, there was a curious pattern of public expenditure shooting up in the last quarter every financial year; Lalu stopped this March loot. However, Lalu was later implicated in the fodder scam and installed his wife Rabri Devi in the top seat. Ram Vilas tried to compete with Lalu, but could not excel in state politics although he won parliamentary election with a record margin from Hajipur. Though he was a seasoned leader and acceptable to everyone, he lost Hajipur later and got back to parliament through the Rajya Sabha. Nitish Kumar, despite belonging to the Kurmi caste that has a meagre 2.87 percent share of the population, has made himself indispensable in the states politics. The upper castes and the bureaucracy supported him as a substitute to Lalu. Reservation, stipend to students and prohibition made him more popular than others to the states women. Creating the Dalit Vikas Mission to weaken the Paswans and further segregating the OBCs were masterstrokes in social engineering. This is why Nitish has been important to all comers. Division of the secular vote makes the BJP comfortable and opponents weaker. However, changing his position time and again has dented his credentials. A recent mysterious display of BJPs election symbol has kept people guessing. That JD(U) leaders are showing indifference and Tejashwi is showing an extra-normal behaviour towards his Chacha Nitish are indications that a new political script is probably being written for post-election Bihar.

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

Sitamarhi, one of Bihar's 40 parliamentary constituencies, will go to polls on May 20, 2024. The Lok Sabha elections in Sitamarhi have key candidates from RJD and JD(U). The Election Commission of India announced the date of Lok Sabha elections on March 16. In the 2019 elections, Sunil Kumar Pintu of JD(U) emerged victorious, defeating Arjun Ray of RJD.

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

Madhubani, one of Bihar's 40 parliamentary constituencies, is set for Lok Sabha elections. The Election Commission of India announced voting dates for Bihar. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Ashok Kumar Yadav of BJP emerged victorious with 61.83% of the votes. Main parties include NDA alliance with BJP and JD(U) and Mahagathbandhan alliance with RJD and Congress.

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

Muzaffarpur, a crucial Bihar constituency, will vote on May 20, 2024. Ajay Nishad of BJP won in 2019 against Raj Bhushan Choudhary of VSIP. The NDA alliance and Mahagathbandhan alliance, with BJP, JD(U), RJD, and Congress, are the key players. Results will be announced on June 4.

19 held for arson at Bihar police station over custodial death

19 held for arson at Bihar police station over custodial death Nineteen people were arrested in connection with arson at a police station in Bihar's Araria district over the custodial death of a man and a girl, an official statement said on Saturday. According to the statement issued by the district police, the SHO of the Tarabari Police Station and three other officials were suspended in connection with the custodial death on Thursday. A mob ransacked the police station, set its properties on fire and hurled stones targetting the policemen, alleging that the man and ''his underage wife'', died after being beaten up by police in custody. During the violence, four police personnel were injured. The protesters allegedly fired, injuring three civilians, a district police officer said. The police claimed that the duo died by suicide by hanging themselves in the lockup at the police station. The police have so far arrested 19 people on the charges of violence and arson at Talabari Police station in Araria,'' the statement said. All arrests have been made based on the CCTV footage, it said. They were protesting against the death of Mitthu Singh (40) and a minor girl inside the police station at Tarabari. The police had to resort to baton-charge and opened fire in the air to disperse the mob, the statement said. Injured have been admitted to a hospital and their condition is reported to be out of danger, it said. Locals claimed that the man had lost his wife a year back and married his late wife's 14-year-old sister a few days ago, but the duo were detained by the police on Thursday afternoon. The police claimed that the man and the girl were detained on the basis of complaints filed by their parents.

LS polls: Campaigning ends for phase five; 49 seats to witness voting on May 20

LS polls: Campaigning ends for phase five; 49 seats to witness voting on May 20 The campaigning for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections ended on Saturday, as 49 constituencies across eight States and Union Territories will vote on May 20. The states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal will be going to polls in the fifth phase, along with two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir; and Ladakh. The last date of filing nomination for this phase was May 3. In this phase, Prime Minister continued attacking opposition parties on the reservation issue, saying that INDIA bloc will snatch away rights of reservation rights of ST, SC and OBC community. He also said that the Opposition will impose 'inheritance tax' and take away more than half of people's property. During his address at UP's Pratapgrah, PM Modi stepped up the attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said that after the announcement of Lok Sabha results on June 4, opposition's INDIA bloc will get scattered Khatakhat, Khatakhat, Khatakhat. This was a dig at Congress' Rahul Gandhi's earlier remarks that money will be credited to the bank accounts of women Khatakat Khatakat... after the formation of the INDIA bloc government. He also came down heavily against the Congress party's manifesto, Prime Minister Modi said that if the Maoist manifesto is implemented, the country will become bankrupt. On one hand, Modi has a report card of 10 years and a roadmap for the next 25 years. On the other hand, you have INDI Alliance: Where there are as many parties that many promises, as many PM candidates as many parties, he said at a public meeting in Mumbai. If the Maoist manifesto of the Congress party is implemented, the country will become bankrupt, he added. The Opposition attacked the government, highlighting issues of inflation, unemployment and alleging that BJP, if returns to power, will end Constitution. In Raebareli, one of the key seat going to polls in fifth phase, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi urged the people of Raebareli to accept his son Rahul Gandhi just like the way they accepted her while assuring that he won't disappoint them. Everything I have is yours...I am handing over my son to you. You have to accept him and keep him, just like you accepted me. Rahul will not disappoint you, she said. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah, during his address in Bandipora said that the Muslim community is being targeted in the nation and further questioned that do Muslims have no right to participate in development of the nation. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is seeking a third term from Lucknow, hit back at the opposition for accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of destroying democracy and reminded the Congress of the Emergency of 1975, when fundamental rights of citizens were suspended. Another notable issue ahead of this phase was Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal getting interim bail in the Delhi liquor policy case. He was given interim bail by the Supreme Court till June 1. Coming out of jail after 50 days, he attacked the BJP over his arrest, claiming that his fault was making schools and giving free electricity. Apart from Delhi, the AAP national convenor also held public meetings in Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. From Rahul Gandhi to Smriti Irani, from Karan Bhushan Singh to Chirag Paswan; many big names will have their fate at stake during the fifth phase of general elections. Other big names like Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference chief Omar Abdullah, and RJD leader Rohini Acharya will also be looking for electoral success. The general elections are being held across seven phases. The first four phases were held on April 19, April 26, May 7, and May 13, while the subsequent phases are scheduled on May 20, May 27 and June 1. The counting of votes will happen on June 4. While the Bharatiya Janata Party, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third straight term in power, while the Opposition INDIA bloc is aiming to form its government at the Centre. (ANI)

LS polls: 49 constituencies in eight states and UTs to vote in fifth phase on May 20

LS polls: 49 constituencies in eight states and UTs to vote in fifth phase on May 20 People from 49 constituencies across eight States and Union territories will be voting in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 20, during which several key candidates will be in the fray. The states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal will be going to polls in the fifth phase, along with two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir; and Ladakh. Notably, the fifth phase is the smallest in terms of number of seats being polled across all seven phases. The following seats will vote on May 20 across the eight states and Union Territories: Maharashtra: Dhule, Dindori, Nashik, Palghar, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Thane, Mumbai North, Mumbai North-West, Mumbai North-East, Mumbai North-Central, Mumbai South-Central and Mumbai South. Uttar Pradesh: Mohanlalganj, Lucknow, Raebareli, Amethi, Jalaun, Jhansi, Hamirpur, Banda, Fatehpur, Kaushambi, Barabanki, Faizabad/Ayodhya, Kaiserganj and Gonda. Bihar: Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Saran and Hajipur. Jharkhand: Chatra, Koderma, Hazaribagh. West Bengal: Barrackpur, Bangaon, Howrah, Uluberia, Sreerampur, Hooghly and Arambagh. Ladakh: The sole constituency of Ladakh, will go to polls first time since the abrogation of Article 370. Jammu and Kashmir: The Baramulla constituency will go to polls first time since the abrogation of Article 370. From Rahul Gandhi to Smriti Irani, from Karan Bhushan Singh to Chirag Paswan; many big names will have their fate at stake during the fifth phase of general elections. Other big names like Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference chief Omar Abdullah, and RJD leader Rohini Acharya will also be seeking electoral success. Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma, the Gandhi family's close aide, has been fielded against Smriti Irani in Amethi. Being tasked with wresting power from the BJP, KL Sharma has exuded confidence in winning the polls. He is up against incumbent MP and Union Minister Smriti Irani. She ended the Gandhi family's stint in 2019 by defeating Rahul Gandhi by over 55,000 votes. Rahul Gandhi, who also contested from Wayanad, will be aiming to retain the lone standing bastion of the party in the state -- Raebareli. On Friday, Sonia Gandhi in her public address, had urged people to vote for her son, Rahul Gandhi. I am handing over my son to you, you have to accept him just like you accepted me, he won't disappoint, she said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be aiming for a third straight win in Lucknow. He will face Samajwadi Party candidate Ravidas Mehrotra in this seat Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections for the first time is up against Congress' Bhushan Patil from the Mumbai North seat. BJP has fielded 26/11 special prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, replacing two-time MP Poonam Mahajan against Congress' Varsha Gaikwad from Maharashtra's Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat. After much contention, BJP dropped Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh from Kaiserganj after sexual harassment allegations by female wrestlers. The party has fielded his son Karan Bhushan Singh from the seat, who will be seeking to retain his family stronghold. LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan is aiming to carry forward his father Ram Vilas Paswan's legacy. He is pitted against RJD's Shiv Chandra Ram. Rohini Acharya, the daughter of Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, is contesting against BJP's Rajiv Pratap Rudy who registered resounding wins against Lalu Prasad's kin in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In the first general elections in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, Baramulla will go to polls on May 20. National Conference (NC) leader and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah is pitted against Sajad Lone of the Peoples Conference (PC) and Mir Mohammad Fayaz of the Peoples Democratic Party. Ladakh is going to polls as a separate union territory for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370 bifurcated the erstwhile state into UTs J-K and Ladakh. BJP's Tashi Galsyan is pitted against Congress candidate Tsering Namgyal. The general elections are being held across seven phases. The first four phases were held on April 19, April 26, May 7, and May 13, while the subsequent phases are scheduled on May 20, May 27 and June 1. The counting of votes will happen on June 4. While Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third straight term in power, while the Opposition INDIA bloc is aiming to wrest back power from the incumbent BJP. (ANI)

Bihar Lok Sabha Elections: It's Nishad against Nishad in battle of turncoats in Muzaffarpur

In Bihar's Muzaffarpur, known for its shahi litchi, the upcoming general election features an intriguing battle between two Nishads. The BJP's decision to replace its sitting MP, Ajay Nishad, with Raj Bhushan Choudhari Nishad, previously from the opposition, has added spice to the contest. Ajay, now with the Congress, is hoping to break his family's 28-year hold on the seat. The BJP, on the other hand, aims to secure the crucial Nishad votes, traditionally a VIP stronghold. With both alliances strategizing to expand their voter bases, the election outcome remains uncertain.

4 Drown In Ganga While Trying To Make Reels In Bihar: Police

Four youths drowned in the Ganga river while two others were saved by the locals in Bihar's Khagaria district on Saturday.

Anand Mishra fielded to cut BJPs vote: Assam CM Himanta BiswaSarma

Guwahati:Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmaduringan election meeting in BiharsBuxarclaimed that Lalu Prasad Yadav fielded former IPS officer Anand Mishra to cut votes of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate. Speaking atthe meeting, Himanta Biswa Sarma said, Anand Mishra came to my house and office in Guwahati and requested me to give him VRS (voluntary [] The post Anand Mishra fielded to cut BJPs vote: Assam CM Himanta BiswaSarma appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .

Phase 5 of Lok Sabha polls to decide fate of Rahul Gandhi, Smriti Irani, Rajnath Singh among others

Phase 5 of Lok Sabha polls to decide fate of Rahul Gandhi, Smriti Irani, Rajnath Singh among others Voting for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 will be held on May 20, which will cover 49 seats across 6 States and two Union Territories. Of the 49 Lok Sabha seats, 14 are from Uttar Pradesh, 13 from Maharashtra, 7 from West Bengal, 5 from Bihar, 3 from Jharkhand, 5 from Odisha and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The fifth phase will witness key contests in various constituencies. Leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam, Karan Bhushan Singh, LJP (Ramvilas) chief Chirag Paswan, JKNC chief Omar Abdullah, and RJD leader Rohini Acharya will be looking for electoral success. Key candidates and constituencies in Phase 5 polls Raebareli Rahul Gandhi, who also contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, is facing Congress defector and three-time MLC Dinesh Pratap Singh of the BJP in Raebareli. Rahul represented Amethi from 2004 until 2019. In her first public address in the ongoing election campaign for the Lok Sabha polls, Congress leader and AICC President Sonia Gandhi urged the people of Raebarelli to accept his son Rahul Gandhi just like they accepted her, while assuring that he won't disappoint them. I am very happy that I got the opportunity to come among you after so long...You all gave me the opportunity to serve you as an MP, this is the biggest treasure of my life. For the last 100 years, the roots of our family have been connected to the soil of this land. This relationship is as pure as Ganga Maa. It started with the farmer's agitation for Awadh and Raebareli, Sonia Gandhi said, addressing the public meeting. Sonia Gandhi held the seat for four consecutive terms since 2004, before she took the Rajya Sabha route to the Parliament this year. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday expressed confidence that BJP candidate Dinesh Pratap Singh will defeat Rahul Gandhi here and took a dig at the Congress leader, stating that he should have told people of Wayanad in Kerala that he will contest from two seats. Anyone can contest from anywhere but Rahul Gandhi should have said before the elections that he is going to contest on two seats. I think, from a democratic point of view, it is not right to hide it. He should have told the people of Wayanad about it and then asked them to make their choice. When you see a threat in a post-poll survey, and then you come to Raebaerli, I think it is not correct, he said. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that Uttar Pradesh paves the way for the country and BJP will face its heaviest defeat here. INDIA Alliance and Akhilesh Yadav are going to win here. I give it to you in writing, a storm of INDIA Alliance is coming to Uttar Pradesh. I give it to you in writing, BJP is going to face its biggest defeat in the country, here in Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi said. Uttar Pradesh has made up its mind that a change has to set in here, that a change has to set in in India and that is why the decision has been made. The public has made up its mind, he added. Amethi Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma, also the Gandhi family's close aide has been fielded against Smriti Irani in Amethi. Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma has expressed confidence in winning the polls.Not contesting to lose. I have faith in the alliance, Sharma said in an interview with ANI. He said that the Amethi constituency was developed by the Gandhi family and urged voters to vote for the INDIA bloc based on their development work.The Gandhi family developed this constituency. Vote for us based on our development work and our (the Gandhi family's) legacy. Vote for them (BJP) for development work they have done, he said. Kishori Lal Sharma, a close associate and loyalist of the Gandhi family, is originally from Punjab's Ludhiana. He has been working for the Congress Party in Amethi for years. BJP candidate Smriti Irani said that people in the constituency have understood that development is possible when the leader has good character and the government has clarity in its policies. The people of Amethi have accepted me as their family. I am a voter in Amethi now. The people have understood that if the government is clear with its policy and the leader has good character, then a lot of development is possible in very little time, Smriti Irani told ANI here on Monday. The Amethi seat has been represented by Rahul since 2004, and he remained a member of Parliament from the constituency until 2019. His father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, too, was an elected member of Amethi in the Lower House from 1981 till his death in 1991. Sonia Gandhi contested elections from there in 1999 before passing the baton on to Rahul in 2004. Lucknow Defence Minister and BJP candidate Rajnath Singh will face Samajwadi Party candidate Ravidas Mehrotra in this seat. Rajnath Singh will be aiming for a third straight win in Lucknow. Rajnath Singh in 2019 had defeated Samajwadi Party Poonam Shatrughan Sinha with over 6.3 lakh votes. He had defeated Congress candidate Rita Bahuguna Joshi by a margin of 2,72,749 votes in 2014. Rajnath Singh said that he tried to fulfil the dreams of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and left no stone unturned for the city's development. We have diligently worked towards realising Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji's vision for Lucknow, and we remain committed to advancing it further in the future. Lucknow currently ranks tenth globally, and we aim to elevate it to the fifth position, Singh said. Mumbai North The BJP has fielded Union Minister Piyush Goyal against Congress' Bhushan Patil from the Mumbai North seat. Union Minister and BJP candidate from Mumbai North, Piyush Goyal expressed confidence in the party's victory.I have faith in the work done under PM Modi's 10 years of governance. The public has made up its mind to give 400+ seats to PM Modi and the Mumbai North parliamentary seat will be won with a record margin, Goyal said. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Gopal Shetty from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the Lok Sabha seat, defeating Congress actor-politician Urmila Matondkar by over 4.65 lakh votes. There were 16.47 lakh eligible voters in the 2019 elections from this constituency. Congress candidate Bhushan Patil said that him being a local will benefit his constituency. There are a lot of issues which need to be solved in my constituency. Piyush Goyal is a high-profile personality and meeting him is a bit difficult for common people I am local and connected to the people of the area, which will be a beneficial thing for me, he said. Mumbai North Central In a bid to retain the sitting seat, the BJP has fielded 26/11 special prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, replacing two-time MP Poonam Mahajan against Congress' Varsha Gaikwad from Maharashtra's Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat. Varsha Gaikwad is currently serving as Dharavi MLA. Nikam, a senior Public Prosecutor, has appeared for the government in several high-profile cases, including the 26/11 Mumbai attack case. On his candidature, Nikam called it an important step in his life. For the common masses, Prime Minister Modi has worked a lot. He has increased the prestige of the country around the globe and he wants to contribute to his vision. No one can call our nation a banana country. I am not in politics for any gain. I have fought against organised crime, I have never fought from the accused side ever. A post as public prosecutor was not even well known in those days. I am glad I could put a stamp on it, Ujjwal Nikam told ANI during one of his campaigns. Kaiserganj After dropping sitting MP Brij Bhushan Singh from the Kaiserganj Lok Sabha seat and going with his son Karan Bhushan Singh, the move from the Bharatiya Janata Party retains the seat's contest within the family, highlighting the influence of the six-time Member of Parliament. The 67-year-old BJP's strong man was not given a ticket in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief has been accused of sexual harassment by six women wrestlers, who had protested against him for a long period last year. Earlier this month, a Delhi court ordered that charges be levied against him. Brij Bhushan Singh's son Karan Bhushan Singh is in the electoral fray against the Samajwadi Party's candidate Ram Bhagat Mishra, the elder brother of Shravasti zila panchayat president and former BJP MP from Shravasti, Daddan Mishra, while Bahujan Samaj Party has fielded Narendra Pandey. Karan, Singh's younger son, will look to keep the family's hold on the seat tight, with his father Brij Bhushan having won from there six times, while his mother Ketaki was also a former MP from Gonda. Brij Bhushan's elder son, Prateek, was also an MLA from Gonda twice. In the 2019 election, Brij Bhusan Singh got 5,81,358 votes, beating BSP candidate 3,19,757. Hajipur LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan is aiming to carry forward father Ram Vilas Paswan's legacy. He is pitted against RJD's Shiv Chandra Ram. From 1977 to 2014, the seat was won eight times by Ram Vilas Paswan, who lost only twice, in 1984 and 2009. Chirag's decision to shift his constituency from Jamui to Hajipur, which has been a stronghold for the LJP, is aimed at asserting his position as the political heir to his father. In the 2019 elections, LJP candidate and Chirag Paswan's uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras emerged victorious, securing the seat for the first time, defeating RJD's Shiv Chandra Ram with a margin of 2,05,449 votes. Saran Rohini Acharya, the daughter of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, is contesting against BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy. BJP's Rajiv Pratap Rudy recorded resounding wins against Lalu Prasad's kin in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In 2014, he defeated former CM Rabri Devi, wife of Lalu Yadav, from Saran. In the 2019 polls, he trounced Chandrika Rai, the father-in-law of Lalu's son Tej Pratap Yadav. Dismissing the Opposition claims, the BJP's Saran Lok Sabha candidate and former Union Minister, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, said the electoral outcome in Bihar was a foregone conclusion as his party was well on course to win all 40 seats in the state. As far as I can see, there is no election in Bihar as we are well on the way to winning all 40 seats in the state and are also confident of sailing past 400 seats across the country, he said. Meanwhile, RJD leader Rohini Acharya has criticised BJP's manifesto saying the issue of employment has disappeared from it. They should raise the issues of the people. The issue of employment has disappeared from the BJP's manifesto. They are only targeting Lalu Prasad's family, she said. Baramulla National Conference (NC) leader and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah is pitted against Sajad Lone of the Peoples Conference (PC) and Mir Mohammad Fayaz of Peoples Democratic Party. People's Conference President Sajad Lone slammed the National Conference leader, Omar Abdullah, and urged the people of Kashmir to stop him from humiliating the region by defeating him from the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat. Lone said, Let him stop humiliating the people of Kashmir. I am 100 per cent sure that for all this humiliation, he will get a gift on the result day. If there has been a saffron debut, then it was for Omar Abdullah. He was a minister whose party had passed an autonomy resolution that the Vajpayee government rejected in Parliament and he still stayed as a minister for two years. (ANI)

High-pitched campaigning ends for 5th phase, focus shifts to polling day on May 20

New Delhi, May 18: Campaigning for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections ended at 6 p.m. on Saturday. In the fifth phase scheduled for May 20, 49 seats across eight states and Union Territories will go to the polls to determine the fates of 695 candidates. The states participating in this phase include Bihar [] The post High-pitched campaigning ends for 5th phase, focus shifts to polling day on May 20 appeared first on The Shillong Times .

Northwest India endures punishing heat for 2nd day on trot

Northwest India, including Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, experiences a severe heatwave with temperatures surpassing 45 degrees Celsius for the second day. The India Meteorological Department issues red warnings for Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and west Rajasthan, and orange alerts for east Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, highlighting high health concerns for vulnerable populations.

Arvind Kejriwal took out money from treasury while in power: Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary

The News Mill

In DNA of current EC to not take cognisance of 'brazen' MCC violations by PM: CPI(M)

In DNA of current EC to not take cognisance of 'brazen' MCC violations by PM: CPI(M) The CPI(M) on Saturday slammed the Election Commission, alleging that it is in the ''DNA'' of the current panel to not take cognisance of the ''brazen'' violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Citing Modi's remarks that the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress will ''bulldoze the Ram temple'' and its poll code violation complaints to the commission, the Left party claimed that the election panel has completely ignored its complaints. Modi, while addressing a Lok Sabha election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki on Friday, alleged that the Congress will run a bulldozer on the Ram temple if the INDIA bloc comes to power. ''If the SP-Congress comes to power, it will send Ram Lalla once again to a tent, and a bulldozer will be rolled over the temple,'' he said. The CPI(M), SP and the Congress are among the constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc, formed to take on the BJP in the polls. Sharing a clipping of a headline in a post on X, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, ''It is in the DNA of the current ECI (Election Commission of India) not to take cognisance of such brazen violation of the MCC by PM Modi.'' ''Earlier my complaints on Modi's incendiary communal speeches in Ajmer on April 6, Nawada on April 7, Pilibhit on April 9 with video evidence and the speech of Banswara with clippings of newspaper reports were completely ignored without even the customary acknowledgment,'' he said. ''The ECI slogan, ''Desh ka garv'', to describe the current elections is totally hollowed out by such nonconduct of 'free and fair elections' with a level playing field,'' Yechury said. The CPI(M) has filed a number of complaints against Modi and other BJP leaders for violation of the Model Code of Conduct, including those related to his speech in Banswara in Rajasthan. While addressing a rally in Banswara on April 21, Modi had suggested that if the Congress comes to power, it would ''redistribute'' wealth to Muslims. He had also alleged that the Congress plans to give the people's hard-earned money and valuables to the ''infiltrators'' and ''those who have more children''. Yechury had written to the Election Commission on April 22 on the Banswara speech, calling it a violation of Section 123 (3) of the Representation of People's Act and the poll code. In another letter to the commission on April 13, the CPI(M) had raised various instances where Modi making references to the Ram temple in Ayodhya, levelled allegations against opposition parties and labelled them as ''opponents of the temple'', ''being against Lord Ram'' and ''insulting Lord Ram''. The letter gave references of speeches made by Modi in Nawada in Bihar on April 7, in Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh on April 9 and in Ajmer in Rajasthan on April 6.

In Bihars Muzaffarpur, Himanta tells Lalu and his two sons to go to Pakistan

The RJD chief should go to Pakistan and offer reservation for Muslims there, says the BJP leader, in response to a remark by Lalu Prasad

Bihar Lok Sabha Election Phase 5: Key constituencies to watch

Bihar Lok Sabha Election Phase Key constituencies to watch

BJPs Pasmanda outreach in Bihar thrown off rails by Modis campaign

Mr. Modis government at the Centre has twice now (in 2019 and 2022) refused to acknowledge the existence of caste discrimination within Islam in affidavits it has filed before the Supreme Court

Phase 5 Lok Sabha polls: Campaigning concludes; focus on high-profile seats

Polling will be held in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, J-K, and Ladakh on Monday.

'Bibhav only told Swati that he can't let her meet Kejriwal'

Rai also mentioned that Bibhav had studied at Banaras Hindu University and later practiced journalism in Delhi. Lal Sahib Yadav, a former village head from Bibhav's hometown of Khudru village in Bihar, vouched for Bibhav's character, stating that he comes from a social family and is not a person of criminal nature. Yadav believes that the incident is politically motivated and would not have occurred if elections were not being held.

Fifth phase: Campaigning ends for 49 seats; Amethi, Rae Bareli, Baramullah in limelight; WB sees highest security deployment

Fifth phase: Campaigning ends for 49 seats; Amethi, Rae Bareli, Baramullah in limelight; WB sees highest security deployment Campaigning concluded on Saturday for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls covering 49 constituencies in six states and two UTs including the high-profile Rae Bareli and Amethi seats from where former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Smriti Irani are in the fray respectively. In Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla, former chief minister Omar Abdullah, who is among 22 candidates in the fray, held a roadshow in Soibugh - a central Kashmir village that was once a hotbed of militancy- on the last day of campaigning. While temperatures soared across the country, there was no let up in the campaign heat as the Lok Sabha election season entered the last fortnight. The Election Commission on Tuesday said it expects star campaigners, particularly of the national parties, to lead by example in the remaining three phases of the Lok Sabha polls and not vitiate the delicate fabric of society. With over 40 of these seats with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Prime Minister Narendra and other BJP leaders tried to fend off the challenge posed by the INDIA bloc parties by raising the pitch on issues of appeasement, dynastic politics, Ram temple, Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), corruption and welfare initiatives taken by his government. ''If the SP and the Congress come to power, they will send Ram Lalla back to the tent and bulldoze the temple,'' Modi claimed. He also alleged that the opposition wanted to bring back Article 370. The Congress and other INDIA bloc parties accused the BJP of polarising voters with its ''Hindu-Muslim politics'', and not focusing on issues like unemployment and inflation. They also persisted with their offensive on the issues of reservations and protecting the Constitution. On Monday, polling will be held in 13 seats in Maharashtra, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, seven in West Bengal, five in Bihar, three in Jharkhand, five in Odisha and one each in J-K and Ladakh. This round covers the least number of seats (49) in the seven-phase election. The parties also wrapped up canvassing in 35 assembly constituencies in Odisha, where BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is among the candidates. Among other prominent candidates in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls are several Union ministers including Rajnath Singh (Lucknow, UP), Piyush Goyal (Mumbai North, Maharashtra), Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti (from Fatehpur, UP) and Shantanu Thakur (Bangaon, WB); LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan (Hajipur, Bihar), Shiv Senas Shrikant Shinde (Kalyan, Maharashtra ), and BJP's Rajiv Pratap Rudy and RJD president Lalu Prasad's daughter Rohini Acharya (both Saran, Bihar). Gandhi, who has contested from Wayanad in Kerala, is also in the fight for Rae Bareli, a Nehru-Gandhi family pocket borough that was represented by his mother Sonia Gandhi since 2004. The BJP has fielded UP minister Dinesh Pratap Singh. On Friday, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi tried to strike an emotional chord as she said at a rally that she is giving her son to the people of Rae Bareli and ''Rahul will not disappoint you''. ''My everything is all given by you. So, brothers and sisters, I am giving you my son'' said Sonia Gandhi, as Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stood by her side on the stage at the rally. Speaking before his mother, Rahul Gandhi said the ''youth across the country have made up their mind that they don't want Narendra Modi''. ''Narendra Modi will not remain prime minister after June 4 and the INDIA coalition government will be forme,'' he said. In Amethi, Union minister Smriti Irani, who had defeated Rahul Gandhi in 2019, is seeking a second term, while KL Sharma, an aide of the Gandhi family, has been fielded by the Congress. From Lucknow, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is eyeing a fourth term. He is up against sitting SP MLA (from Lucknow Central) Ravidas Mehrotra. During a rally in Lucknow, Singh said, ''These elections are also to see who has raised the country's stature in the world.'' In the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, which covers the temple town of Ayodhya, the electoral contest is mainly between sitting BJP MP Lallu Singh, who is seeking a hat-trick, and Awadhesh Prasad, the SP MLA from Milkipur (SC) assembly constituency in Ayodhya. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on May 15 announced that if the INDIA bloc is voted to power, it will double the quantity of free rations provided by the BJP government to the poor. Farmers' loans will be waived and Minimum Support Price will be guaranteed, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Tuesday. In Baramulla, besides Abdullah, former separatist Sajad Lone, former MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias 'Engineer Rashid', who is currently lodged in the Tihar jail, and the PDP's former Rajya Sabha member Fayaz Ahmad Mir are also contesting. With the separatist-sponsored boycott politics a thing of past now, the people are expected to participate in the elections in large numbers to chose their favourite. Political parties fielded their stalwarts as they gave the last push in Maharashtra where elections will conclude with polling in 13 constituencies in North Maharashtra and Mumbai Metropolitan Region on May 20. Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday addressed campaign rallies in Kalyan and Dindori in support of the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP Mahayuti coalitions candidates and also held a roadshow in northeast Mumbai. Modi was again back in Mumbai on Friday for a rally in the citys Shivaji Park. Opposition bloc INDIA also held a rally the same day at the city's Bandra Kurla Complex that was attended by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar and Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal. On the concluding day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held public meetings at Malegaon in Nashik district and Palghar to canvass for Mahayuti candidates. Security has been stepped up in West Bengal's seven constituencies, with over 57 per cent of the polling stations identified as sensitive in the fifth phase, the highest till now in this election. Over 60,000 personnel of central forces, besides around 30,000 personnel of the state police, have been deployed, which is more than in the four previous phases in the state, an official said. Star campaigners, including Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and her nephew and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, have held rallies for their respective party candidates. In Barrackpore, BJP candidate Arjun Singh is contesting against TMC's Partha Bhowmick and CPI (M)'s Debdut Ghosh. In Serampore, TMC's sitting MP Kalyan Banerjee is fighting against BJP's Kabir Shankar Bose. In Hooghly, actor-turned-politician Locket Chatterjee of the BJP is contesting against a fellow member of the film fraternity, Rachana Banerjee of the TMC. Voting will take place in Saran, Muzaffarpur, Hajipur, Sitamarhi and Madhubani Lok Sabha seats of Bihar. In Saran, former Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy's bid to score a hat-trick has been challenged by RJD president Lalu Prasad's daughter Rohini Acharya, who had donated her kidney to her father. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who has suffered a back injury, campaigned for his elder sister in Saran. The curtains also came down on Saturday over campaigning for three Lok Sabha seats and Gandey assembly by-poll in Jharkhand. With the conclusion of Phase 4, polling for general elections had crossed the halfway mark as it was completed in 23 states/UTs and 379 Lok Sabha constituencies out of 543. The sixth and seventh phases are on May 25 and June 1 respectively. The counting of votes is on June 4.

Tejashwi claims NDA govt broke its promises in the last 10 years

Tejashwi claims NDA govt broke its promises in the last 10 years Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav has targeted the National Democratic Alliance and alleged that its leaders have broken the promises they made to the public. Interacting with media persons in Bihars Chapra city on Saturday, Tejashwi said: The Narendra Modi government [] The post Tejashwi claims NDA govt broke its promises in the last 10 years appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Doctor's advice to cope with heatwave: Cover body parts while going out, keep yourself hydrated

Doctor's advice to cope with heatwave: Cover body parts while going out, keep yourself hydrated Amidst increasing mercury, Dr Deepak Maheshwari, Principal of SMS Medical College, has shared tips on how to protect oneself from heatwaves and rising temperatures, emphasising covering the body parts and staying hydrated. Speaking with ANI, Dr Deepak Maheshwari said, In such situation, small kids, old people, and those suffering from respiratory, cardiac or any other chronic issues are quite vulnerable. Hence, I would request everyone, common and vulnerable people to not go outside in extreme sunlight, unless and until it is necessary. He added further, If you want to go, then cover as much part of your body, wear full-sleeved clothes, white colour clothes, and caps. Stressing the importance of hydration, Dr Maheshwari said, Keeping your body hydrated will solve half of the problems... It is extremely important to keep yourself hydrated... Earlier in the day, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast a heatwave and a severe heatwave condition across vast swathes of North India, including several parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, between May 17 and 21. The premier weather forecasting agency said heatwave conditions were likely to prevail in parts of Uttar Pradesh from May 17-21; in isolated pockets of Gujarat between May 17 and 21; Bihar from May 17-20; Jharkhand between May 19 and 20; and north Madhya Pradesh from May 18-21; Gangetic West Bengal between May 18 and 20; and Odisha on May 20 and 21. While a red alert for severe heatwave was issued for west Rajasthan, an Orange alert was also out for Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, East Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat. A yellow alert for a heatwave-like condition was issued as well for Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha. Rajasthan's Barmer recorded a maximum temperature of 46.5C on Friday, while Delhi's Ayanagar logged 46.2C. Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh recorded 44.9C while Gujarat's Surendranagar and Punjab's Patiala logged 44.7C and 44.4C respectively. An area is considered to be in the grip of a heatwave if the maximum temperature at a weather station reaches at least 40C and at least 30C or more for hilly regions. (ANI)

Severe heat in northwest India for another five days; red warning issued

The Met office issued a red warning for Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and west Rajasthan and an orange alert for east Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

Bihar: Faiyaz, Gufran and others hurl casteist slurs and assault Maha Dalit villagers in Bisfi for asking not to consume intoxicant

In Bisfi in Bihar's Madhubani district, miscreants from the Muslim community assaulted villagers for asking them to not consume intoxicants in public

Former ULFA commander contests Lok Sabha election from Bihars Valmikinagar

Hira Sarania, founder of the Jan Suraksha Party, is confident of winning even though many in the electorate appear unaware that the two-time MP from the Kokrajhar reserved constituency in Assam is contesting in their midst

Gujarat BJP appoints migrant workers as campaigners to woo UP voters

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat BJP has launched a unique campaign to attract voters from Uttar Pradesh. Thousands of migrant workers residing in Surat, Gujarat, are calling 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 in this effort will have the opportunity to meet Gujarat BJP president CR Patil for lunch or dinner. This election campaign strategy is credited to Gujarat BJP president CR 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 regions. 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 the BJP through phone calls. North Indian BJP leader and former Surat BJP corporator Yajuvendra Dubey stated, For this campaign, small centers are set up near companies, factories, markets, or tea shops. After their work shifts, workers are provided with facilities to call their close contacts. Additionally, the name, mobile number, and locality information of the people they contact should be recorded. Dubey further added, 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 Gujarat BJP president CR Patil after the election results. Avadesh Mishra, who runs a Pan shop in Surat and is one of the callers reaching out to Purvanchal for BJP support, said, In many areas, people are unaware of the significant development projects in their own region. Many voters don't know about the development work done by the BJP central and state governments. We are sharing this information with our acquaintances and relatives, which has changed their perspective. It is worth noting that hundreds of thousands of people from UP and Bihar reside and earn their living in various cities across Gujarat. The BJP has leveraged them as brand ambassadors.

Tejashwi claims NDA govt broke its promises in last 10 years

Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav has targeted the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and alleged that its leaders have broken the promises they made to the public. Interacting with media persons in Bihars Chapra city on Saturday, May 18, Tejashwi said: The Narendra Modi government should give the details of the work during its 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 .

Go to Pakistan and then give reservations...: Assam CM slams RJD chief Lalu Yadav

Go to Pakistan and then give reservations...: Assam CM slams RJD chief Lalu Yadav Opposing the idea of providing reservations to Muslims, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday hit out at RJD chief Lalu Yadav over his advocacy forcomplete reservation for Muslims and suggested Lalu Yadav to move to Pakistan and then give reservations there. Addressing a public rally in Raghunathpur, Siwan, on Saturday, the Assam CM said that no reservations will be made on the basis of religion. Few days back I saw the statement of Lalu Yadav, where he said that 'Muslims should get reservations'. Do Hindus don't deserve to get reservations? Babasaheb Ambedkar gave us the Constitution. In the Constitution, it is mentioned that SC, ST, and OBC should get reservations. There will be no reservations on the basis of religion. I want to say this, Lalu Yadav, if you want to give reservations to Muslims, then I will buy you the tickets to Pakistan, go to Pakistan and then give reservations there. It will never happen in India. There is no law on this. Yeh Sapna bhi aap mat dekho (don't dream of this), Assam CM said. Citing examples from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the Assam CM alleged that such measures came at the expense of other backward classes. Karnataka's decision to grant reservations to Muslims was done after robbing the reservations of Backward classes, he said. The Assam CM asserted that to bring the entire Jammu and Kashmir to India, the Bharatiya Janata Party needs 400 seats in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. One part of Kashmir is in Pakistan. Give 400 seats to Modi ji and we will get Kashmir from Pakistan. We closed 700 madrassas in Assam and no one raised their voice against it. Why? Because this is a new India...Aaj mullah banane ka dukaan khulne nahi dunga. Doctor , engineer, banane ka kaam karunga...We need 400 seats so that we can bring the Uniform Civil Code, construct the Krishna Janambhoomi temple, construct the Gyanvapi temple and stop reservation to Muslims. That's why we need 400 seats, he said. Earlier on May 7, former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav came out in support of the Muslim quota, saying that they should get the reservation. Speaking to reporters, the former CM said, Muslims should get reservations (reservation toh milna chahiye Musalmano ko, pura'...). The 40 seats in Bihar are undergoing polls in all seven phases. In 2019, the BJP-led NDA swept the state by winning 39 out of 40 seats, while Congress won just one seat. RJD, a formidable force in the state, failed to open its account. The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), the opposition coalition in Bihar, including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties, recently announced that the RJD, its largest constituent, will contest 26 out of the state's 40 Lok Sabha seats. As part of the NDA, BJP and JD(U) will contest on 17 and 16 seats, respectively. Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will contest five seats, and Jitan Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha will contest one seat each. The voting in Siwan will be held in the sixth phase of the elections on May 25. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)

Patna High Court District Judge Recruitment 2023: Preliminary Exam Result 2024 Out for 30 Posts,

The High Court of Judicature at Patna, Bihar, announces the Bihar HJS District Judge Recruitment 2023, providing a golden opportunity for aspiring judicial professionals. With a total of 30 posts available, this recruitment aims to onboard talented individuals into the esteemed Bihar HJS cadre. Delve into the details below to kickstart your journey towards judicial excellence.

NEET Exam Fraud: Four Arrested in Paper Solver Scam

NEET Exam Fraud: Four Arrested in Paper Solver Scam Four people including two MBBS students were arrested for allegedly running a paper solver gang for NEET exams here, police said on Saturday. The matter came to the fore on May 5 when a student's biometric data was mismatched during the NEET exam at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan Mehta Vidyalaya located in Tilak Marg area, police said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla said the two proxy students Sumit Mandoliya and Krishan Kesarwani, were caught from the centre. Given the seriousness of the offence, the case was transferred to the Special Staff of New Delhi District and a dedicated team led by Inspector Sanjay Kumar Gupta was formed to conduct the investigations, the DCP said. During sustained interrogation, Sumit Mandoliya and Krishan Kesarwani, both MBBS students, revealed the names of their handlers -- Prabhat Kumar, 27, and Kishor Lal, 37 -- who were nabbed from a hotel in Noida on Friday. The officer said Kumar and Lal are residents of Rajasthan and Bihar, respectively. The duo, who works as medical school admissions consultants, would charge the amount of Rs 20 to 25 Rs lakhs from the aspirants to provide them proxy students for the NEET exams. They would also mix the photos of the proxy and original students to create another photo digitally to paste on the form. This helped them to mislead the examiners, the officer said. Another officer said, that Mandoliya and Kesarwani, hailing from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, respectively, are MBBS students from different colleges. Mandoliya is a second-year MBBS student at a Medical College in West Bengal and Kesarwani is a first-year student of MBBS at a Medical College in Uttarakhand, he said. The police have recovered four mobile phones and one Kia Seltos car from their possession. The police said the accused were further interrogated to know their involvement in previous exams. Investigation into the matter is underway.

BJP resorting to violence in face of defeat: Congress after 'attack' on Kanhaiya Kumar

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday deplored the BJP for esorting to violence and attacking its North East Delhi candidate Kanhaiya Kumar, saying this showed everyone in the saffron party was nervous in the face of a historic defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. Fearing defeat, the BJP MP from North East Delhi has now resorted to hooliganism. Remember, the Congress party is Gandhian, not Godse-wadi. Our identity is not of those who fear, but of those who fight for justice, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. From a common MP to the prime minister, from North to South -- the BJP is nervous. They are going to be wiped out on June 4, he said, adding the hashtag DaroMat. Kumar was allegedly assaulted and attacked with ink on Friday by some people in the constituency. The incident happened outside the AAP office in the New Usmanpur area as he was coming out after a party meeting with local Councillor Chhaya Sharma. Another AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said, The BJP is once again resorting to its usual attitude of thuggery and violence in the face of a historic defeat. , , , pic.twitter.com/1t2tZLXXpM Kanhaiya Kumar (@kanhaiyakumar) May 18, 2024 The cowardly attack by BJP goons on our North East Delhi candidate Kanhaiya kumar is highly deplorable and shows their desperation, he noted. They should know that Kanhaiya is a Congress 'babbar sher' who is not going to be rattled by such pathetic acts. All the workers of the INDIA alliance stand by him against this fascist and criminal regime's dirty tactics, Venugopal said. Pawan Khera, Congress spokesperson and head of media and publicity department, said, A person who has been an MP twice and has also been the president of the state unit of BJP should at least understand that there are wins and losses in elections. By resorting to violence like this, Manoj Tiwari will not be able to convert his defeat into victory, but yes he will definitely defeat democracy, Khera also said. Meanwhile, Kumar also addressed a press conference in Delhi and said, I am doing this press conference to ensure that democracy is protected, Constitution is protected. There is an electoral process in the country. There is Election Commission that has a responsibility to conduct elections in a fair manner. I am not worried about my own security. I was born on the land of Bihar, struggle is my life, the Congress nominee said. According to a complaint by Councillor Sharma, Some persons came and put garland around Kanhaiya Kumar. After garlanding him, some people threw ink on Kanhaiya Kumar and tried to assault him. When Sharma tried to intervene, they misbehaved and threatened her, the complaint said. Kanhaiya in a statement said the attack was ordered by his rival contender from the constituency Manoj Tiwari. He said Tiwari, the sitting MP, s frustrated with his rising popularity and that is why he sent goons to attack him.

Battleground Bihar: Nitish and Congress weak links, can Tejashwi be a match for Modi?

Battleground Bihar Nitish and Congress weak links can Tejashwi be a match for Modi

Severe Heat Wave Grips Northwest India: Health and Productivity at Risk

Severe Heat Wave Grips Northwest India: Health and Productivity at Risk The extreme heat scorching large parts of northwest India will continue for another five days, with Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh predicted to bear the maximum impact. A brutal heat wave swept swathes of north India on Friday, with the maximum temperature soaring to a scorching 47.4 degrees Celsius in southwest Delhi's Najafgarh, the highest this season in the country so far. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday predicted a severe heat wave over the plains of northwest India during the next five days and a heat wave over the east and central regions during the next three days. The Met office also issued a red warning for Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and west Rajasthan, stressing the need for ''extreme care for vulnerable people''. It issued an orange alert for east Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and emphasised ''high health concern'' for vulnerable people, including infants, the elderly and those with chronic diseases. The Met office said high humidity could add to people's inconvenience in Goa and sub-Himalayan West Bengal. The IMD also said warm night conditions are likely in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and west Rajasthan over the next two-three days. High night temperatures are considered dangerous because the body doesn't get a chance to cool down. Increasing nighttime heat is more common in cities because of the urban heat island effect, in which metro areas are significantly hotter than their surroundings. In view of the general elections in India, experts have warned of an increased likelihood of heat-related illnesses in people exposed to the sun for prolonged periods or engaging in heavy work. Researchers at Climate Central, a US-based group of climate scientists, said 543 million (54.3 crore) people in India will experience at least one day of extreme heat during May 18-21. ''Human-caused climate change has made this intense heat much more likely. The high overnight temperatures make this event particularly alarming,'' said Andrew Pershing, vice-president for science at Climate Central. Heat waves can be deadly, with the elderly and children particularly at risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1,66,000 (1.66 lakh) people died as a result of heat waves between 1998 and 2017. Extreme temperatures can also impact economies. People are less productive during hot weather, even if they work indoors, while children struggle to learn in extreme heat. A 2022 study said extreme heat resulted in labour productivity loss of USD 2.1 trillion equivalent in 2017. On Friday, maximum temperatures surged to 47.4 degrees Celsius in Najafgarh and 47.1 in Haryana's Sirsa. According to India Meteorological Data (IMD) data till 7:30 pm, Najafgarh was the warmest place in the country. Before this, Kalaikunda in the Gangetic West Bengal region had recorded a high of 47.2 degrees Celsius on April 30. The threshold for a heat wave is met when the maximum temperature of a weather station reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains, 37 degrees in the coastal areas, and 30 degrees in the hilly regions, and the departure from normal is at least 4.5 notches. A severe heat wave is declared if the departure from normal exceeds 6.4 notches. April witnessed record-smashing maximum temperatures in east, northeast, and southern peninsular India, prompting health warnings from government agencies and a few states to suspend in-person classes in schools. Several places recorded their highest-ever April day temperatures, with the mercury soaring to 47 degrees Celsius. At least two people died in Kerala due to suspected heatstroke during this period. On Wednesday, a group of leading climate scientists said similar heat waves could occur once every 30 years, and these have already become about 45 times more likely due to climate change. The scientists from the World Weather Attribution group emphasised that heat waves intensified by climate change are making life much tougher for people living in poverty across Asia. The IMD had earlier warned of extreme heat in India during the April-June period, coinciding with the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections that end on June 1.

`BJP Has Grown Beyond RSS, Runs Itself Now`: JP Nadda`s BIG Remark, Clears Air On Temple Plans In Mathura, Kashi

BJP national president J P Nadda said that that party has become Saksham (capable) from the time it needed the Rastriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) and the saffron party runs its own affairs now. Nadda said the RSS is an ideological front and minds its own business. In an interview to the Indian Express, the BJP chief, while answering a question on the contrast between the RSS' presence during former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and now said, Shuru mein hum aksham honge, thora kum honge, RSS ki zaroorat padti thi Aaj hum badh gaye hain, saksham hai toh BJP apne aap ko chalati hai (In the beginning, we would have been less capable, smaller and needed the RSS. Today, we have grown and we are capable. The BJP runs itself). Thats the difference.

Hajipur LS Polls: Chirag Paswan aims to carry forward father's legacy, is pitted against RJD's Shiv Chandra Ram

Hajipur LS Polls: Chirag Paswan aims to carry forward father's legacy, is pitted against RJD's Shiv Chandra Ram Hajipur, a seat reserved for Scheduled Castes, will go to the polls on May 20 and comprises six Assembly segments, including Hajipur, Lalganj, Mahua, Raja Pakar, Raghopur, and Mahnar. From 1977 to 2014, the seat was won eight times by Ram Vilas Paswan, who lost only twice, in 1984 and 2009. In the general elections of 2024, Ram Vilas Paswan's son, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Chirag Paswan, and Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) Shiv Chandra Ram will give each other stiff competition. Chirag's decision to shift his constituency from Jamui to Hajipur, which has been a stronghold for the LJP, is aimed at asserting his position as the political heir to his father. In the 2019 elections, LJP candidate and Chirag Paswan's uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras emerged victorious, securing the seat for the first time, defeating RJD's Shiv Chandra Ram with a margin of 2,05,449 votes. He defeated Shiv Chandra Ram who got 3,35,861 votes (33.33%). The total number of valid votes polled was 10,06,817. Independent candidate Raj Kumar Paswan stood third with 30,797 votes (3.06%). In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan won the seat for the eighth time. He polled 4,55,652 votes with a vote share of 50.31%. Congress candidate Sanjeev Prasad Toni got 2,30,152 votes (25.41%) and was the runner-up. Hajipur goes to polls on May 20 in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, while counting is due on June 4 along with the rest of the country. Notably, the 40 seats in Bihar are undergoing polls in all seven phases. In 2019, the BJP-led NDA swept the state by winning 39 out of 40 seats, while Congress won just one seat. RJD, a formidable force in the state, failed to open its account. The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), the opposition coalition in Bihar, including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties, recently announced that the RJD, its largest constituent, will contest 26 out of the state's 40 Lok Sabha seats. As part of the NDA, BJP and JD(U) will contest 17 and 16 seats, respectively. Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is contesting five seats, and Jitan Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) are contesting one seat each. (ANI)

Election Commission to deploy 102 companies of central forces for second phase of polls in Odisha

State Chief Electoral Officer Nikunja Bihari Dhal said that the highest of 22 companies of central forces would be deployed in Maoist-affected Kandhamal district, followed by Ganjam (20), Sundargarh (16), 14 each in Bargarh and Bolangir, five each in Jharsuguda and Boudh, four in Sonepur and two in Nayagarh.

Stifling heat in northwest India to continue for five more days

NEW DELHI: The extreme heat crippling large parts of northwest India will continue for another five days, with Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh predicted to bear the maximum impact. Swathes of north India stewed in brutal heat on Friday, with maximum temperatures soaring to a scorching 47.4 degrees Celsius in west Delhi's Najafgarh, the highest this season in the country so far. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday predicted severe heat wave over the plains of northwest India during the next five days and heat wave over east and central regions during the next three days. The Met office also issue a ed warning for Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and west Rajasthan, stressing the need for extreme care for vulnerable people. It issued an orange alert for east Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and emphasised high health concern for vulnerable people, including infants, the elderly and those with chronic diseases. In view of general elections in India, experts have warned of an increased likelihood of heat-related illnesses in people exposed to the sun for prolonged periods or engaging in heavy work. A US-based group of climate scientists called 'Climate Central' said 543 million people in India will experience at least one day of extreme heat during May 18-21. Human-caused climate change has made this intense heat much more likely. The high overnight temperatures make this event particularly alarming, Andrew Pershing, VP for science at Climate Central, said. Heatwaves can be deadly, with the elderly and children particularly at risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1,66,000 people died as a result of heatwaves between 1998 and 2017. Extreme temperatures can also impact economies. People are less productive during hot weather, even if they work indoors, while children struggle to learn in extreme heat. A study in 2022 said extreme heat resulted in labor productivity loss of USD 2.1 trillion equivalent in 2017. On Friday, the maximum temperature surged to 47.4 degrees Celsius in Najafgarh and 47.1 in Haryana's Sirsa. Before this, Kalaikunda in Gangetic West Bengal had recorded a high of 47.2 degrees Celsius on April 30. The threshold for a heat wave is met when the maximum temperature of a weather station reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains, 37 degrees in the coastal areas, and 30 degrees in the hilly regions, and the departure from normal is at least 4.5 notches. A severe heat wave is declared if the departure from normal exceeds 6.4 notches. April witnessed record-smashing maximum temperatures in east, northeast, and southern peninsular India, prompting health warnings from government agencies and a few states to suspend in-person classes in schools. Several places recorded their highest-ever April day temperatures, with the mercury soaring to 47 degrees Celsius. At least two people died in Kerala due to suspected heatstroke during this period. On Wednesday, a group of leading climate scientists said similar heat waves could occur once every 30 years, and these have already become about 45 times more likely due to climate change. The scientists from the World Weather Attribution group emphasised that heat waves intensified by climate change are making life much tougher for people living in poverty across Asia. The IMD had earlier warned of extreme heat in India during the April-June period, coinciding with the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections that end on June 1.

BPSC BAO Result 2024 Out, Block Agriculture Officer Result PDF

The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has released the results for the written exam held for the recruitment of Assistant Director, Block Agriculture Officer, and other vacancies. This notification marks a significant step for candidates who participated in the exam and are eagerly awaiting their results.

Prabhat Pheri in Bihars Gopalganj to spread voter awareness ahead of polls on May 25

The purpose of the initiative is to spread awareness about the importance of voting and inculcate a sense of responsibility among voters.

Bihar man, his minor 'wife' die in custody, mob sets police station ablaze

Bihar man his minor wife die in custody mob sets police station ablaze

Weather Office Predicts Heatwave In North India, Heavy Rains In South

The India Meteorological Department has issued a heatwave warning in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh over the next five days. It also predicted heatwave conditions in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. In south India, the weather office said 15 to 20 districts of Tamil Nadu can receive heavy rain till May 20.

Bihar, Jharkhand Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Phase 5 Voting Timing, Key Candidates And Polling Constituencies

The Lok Sabha elections for Phase 5are going tobe heldonMay 20 for 49 constituenciesincluding5states and Union territories. The voting for all the seats will begin at 7 am.

Modi's allegation of insult to Uttar Pradesh, a cheap tactic: Stalin

CHENNAI: DMK President and Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of picking up a cheap strategy of stoking confrontation between states as his propaganda of communal hatred did not help. Stalin slammed what he called Modi's imaginary tales and bags of lies by alleging that leaders of southern states including Tamil Nadu (INDIA bloc constituents) were speaking in a derogatory manner, against the people of Uttar Pradesh. Days ago, PM Modi had alleged in a poll rally that Samajwadi Party and the Congress's southern allies insulted Uttar Pradesh and Sanatana Dharma but the two parties remained quiet. The DMK president alleged that it was the BJP that supported and encouraged fake news items, such as the false claims made by YouTubers like Manish Kashyap of assault on guest workers in Tamil Nadu. Such fake claims were hate propaganda aimed at creating divisions in society. Kashyap was arrested last year by Tamil Nadu police for alleged circulation of fake videos on attacks in Tamil Nadu on migrant workers hailing from Bihar. Kashyap, who had been in jail in connection with that case, joined the BJP last month. Stalin lashed out at Modi saying he did not speak on removing the 50 per cent cap on reservation for Backward classes and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes people, a move that will be very beneficial for the people of Uttar Pradesh. However, Modi was keen on propaganda of hatred alone, the DMK top leader alleged. The BJP's divisive dreams will never come true! False narrative and hatred will be shattered, India will win, Stalin said in a statement. The Chief Minister said Modi was frustrated as hate propaganda has become useless and he does not have any achievements to tell the people from his ten-year tenure. Hence, PM Modi has gone to the extent of esmirching welfare schemes implemented in opposition-ruled states and he has demonstrated that he is always against the poor people. Stalin said the DMK government's fare-free town bus services scheme for women has benefited them in several ways, ensuring ravel freedom, and claimed that Modi has started a rumour that passenger traffic has witnessed a decline in Metrorail services. The Dravidian party chief, citing statistics said the patronage for Chennai MetroRail (CMRL) has increased significantly and accused Modi of scuttling the CMRL phase-II expansion in the Tamil Nadu capital city by not eleasing funds to the state as agreed by the Centre. PM Modi has reportedly spoken in an interview on bus and the Metro rail services and whether or not he made a specific reference to Tamil Nadu is not known. Stalin said the INDIA bloc was acing towards victory and accused Modi of making propaganda of lies and hatred, and people were witnessing Election Commission's silence with shock and grief.

Odisha: No place for violence in democracy, says Nikunja Bihari Dhal

BHUBANESWAR: A day after ordering deployment of 20 companies of CAPF in Ganjam in view of pre-poll violence in Khallikote, chief electoral officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal on Friday held talks with political parties seeking their cooperation in ensuring peaceful voting in the next three phases of elections. During the meeting, attended by leaders of major political parties, the CEO reiterated there is no place for violence in democracy and no law and order situation will be tolerated during the elections. He appealed political parties to be part of a free, fair, impartial and peaceful election process. The CEO also expressed his satisfaction over 75.68 per cent polling in the first phase elections to four Lok Sabha and 28 Assembly segments in the state and urged all stakeholders to work in the direction of ensuring maximum voter turnout in the next three phases of elections in the state. He asked political parties to nominate women agents for all-women or Sakhi booths during elections. Dhal also urged political parties and their candidates to ensure proper compliance to the model code of conduct issued for the polls.

Vodafone to prioritise 4G network growth over 5G; to spend Rs 55,000 crore

NEW DELHI: Even as other telecom service providers have been rolling out 5G, Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi), the countrys third-largest telecom operator, is still prioritising expanding its 4G networks. The telco on Friday announced that it will spend Rs 55,000 crore in the next three years in capex, and focus on 4G expansion. The capex will be spent on expansion of 4G coverage by rolling out more sites, capacity growth in 4G where sites have been deployed already. The third will be 5G where rollout must be started afresh and then there will be enterprise Our topmost priority is expanding 4G coverage, which is the only reason why we continue to lose customers, that capex will be fairly accelerated. The rest will happen as traffic grows, said Akshaya Moondra, Vodafone Idea CEO in its fourth quarter FY24 investor call. The telco has been losing its subscribers to the competitors for not investing in its network and improving 4G services. As per TRAI data, Vi has lost 16.25 million subscribers in the first 11 months of FY24. However, it earlier said the subscriber depletion is not due to not launching its commercial 5G services but not having a proper 4G network. Vi is the only private telco, other than Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio that is yet to come up with commercial 5G launches. The telco has only launched 5G networks in the country to meet Minimum Rollout Obligation to avoid penalties from the Department of Telecommunication (DoT). It has so far launched 5G in 4 circles - Maharashtra (Pune), Delhi, Chennai and Punjab to meet minimum rollout obligation. It will soon launch its 5G services in Bihar and Mumbai but not commercially.

Weather Update: Warning of severe heat from Delhi to UP-Bihar, when will there be relief rain; IMD told

Dr. Naresh Kumar, while talking to news agency ANI, has thrown light on the nature of the weather. He said, From April till recent days, western disturbances have continuously affected northwest India. Weather Update 18 May: Severe heat wave hit many parts of North-West India on Friday. The mercury crossed 45 degrees Celsius at 19 [] The post Weather Update: Warning of severe heat from Delhi to UP-Bihar, when will there be relief rain; IMD told first appeared on informalnewz .

BPSC Block Agriculture Officer Result 2024 released at bpsc.bih.nic.in, direct link to download

The Bihar Public Service Commission released the BPSC Block Agricultural Officer Result 2024 for Category-01 (Agronomy) Written Competitive Examination on March 01 and March 02, 2024.

IMD predicts severe heatwave days in north India

NEW DELHI: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast severe heatwave over plains of northwest, Bihar, east and central India in the next five days. The forecast indicates that northwestern India, including the National Capital Territory of Delhi, will experience a period of intense heat for five days. It will include unusually warm night time temperatures, which can intensify the risk of heat-related illness and death, IMD said in its forecast on Thursday. In its advisory, the weather department said intense heat will lead to high health concerns for vulnerable people, such as infants, elderly, and people with chronic diseases. It suggested avoiding heat exposure and dehydration. On Friday, 43 districts of northwest and central India reported temperature over 42 degrees Celsius, Agra Taj recording the highest at 46.9C. IMD observed heat wave conditions at most places over west and east Rajasthan, in some pockets over Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Punjab, and isolated pockets over east Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. The threshold for a heat wave is met when the maximum temperature of a weather station reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains, 37 degrees in the coastal areas, and 30 degrees in the hilly regions, and the departure from normal is 4.5C to 6.4C and more. In the case of a warm night, the minimum temperature departure from normal is 4.5C to 6.4C. In the meantime, US-based Climate Central organisation has released the latest climate shift index (CSI) a tool that quantifies the contribution of climate change to daily temperatures showing that western India, including Delhi, will experience a period of intense heat in the next three days. CSI levels above one indicate climate change. According to the index, daily high temperatures are expected to run 3C to more than 6C above average. The organisation has forecast that high temperatures will exceed 45C in many locations. In parts of Haryana state, maximum temperatures could surpass 47C. In addition to maximum temperatures, night time will also be warmer. According to CSI, night time low temperatures are not expected to fall below 34C and in parts of Rajasthan state, nighttime temperatures are not expected to fall below 37C. Experts say human-caused climate change made heatwave conditions more intense. Human-caused climate change has made this intense heat much more likely and the overnight temperatures make this event alarming, said Andrew Pershing of Climate Central.

LS polls: Battleground Bihar

PATNA: The five Bihar seats going to polls in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls on May 20 will witness new candidates on four seats, and a turncoat trying his luck from the remaining one. In Hajipur (SC) and Saran, RJD chief Lalu Prasads daughter Rohini Acharya and Ram Vilas Paswans son Chirag Paswan face the challenges of protecting their fathers pocket boroughs, respectively. Altogether 80 candidates, including 35 Independents, are in the fray, with three contestants being doctors. In high-profile seat Saran, Rohini Acharya is pitted against BJP MP and former Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy. Acharya, who hit the headlines for donating one of her kidneys to her father RJD chief and former chief minister Lalu Prasad, is making her debut in electoral politics. Saran is considered the home ground of Lalu Prasad, who had represented the seat four times before being disqualified after his conviction in cases linked to multi-crore fodder scam in 2013. In 2009, Lalu won after defeating Rudy. In 2014 polls, Rudy emerged victorious after defeating Rohinis mother and former chief minister Rabri Devi. In 2019, Rudy retained the seat by defeating Chandrika Rai, father in-law of Lalus eldest son Tej Pratap and also an influential leader of Yadavs in the region. Saran has an almost equal number of backward Yadav and upper caste Rajput voters. While Yadavs favour RJD candidate, Rajputs vote by and large to BJP candidate. Rudy, however, claimed that his real fight was with Rohinis father Lalu, who is in the fray from behind the scene. In Hajipur (SC) seat, there is a direct contest between Chirag Paswan, chief of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and Shiv Chandra Ram of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). For Chirag, it is more important to win election as Hajipur has been karmabhoomi of his father late Ram Vilas Paswan. Senior Paswan had represented the seat eight times before being nominated to the Rajya Sabha. In 2019, Chirags uncle and Ram Vilas younger brother Pashupati Kumar Paras had won by defeating Shiv Chandra Ram of RJD. This time, Chirag decided to contest from Hajipur and fielded his brother in-law Arun Bharti from Jamui from where he was elected in 2014 and 2019. Shiv Chandra, a former state minister, is confident of his victory as Chirag may fall victim of bhitarghat (internal conflict) due to strained relationship with his uncle. Paras, MP from Hajipur, was denied ticket and seat was allotted to Chirags party under seat-sharing arrangements among NDA constituents. Chiv Chandra is also popular among Ravidas community against whom Chirag had made some adverse comments. There is resentment among members of Ravidas community over Chirags remarks, said Pankaj Ram, a resident of Rajapakar in Vaishali district. From Sitamarhi, JD(U) MP Sunil Kumar Pintoo was dropped in favour of Devesh Chandra Thakur, a close confidante of chief minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar. Devesh, chairman of Bihar Legislative Council, is contesting election for the first time. He is pitted against former MP and RJD leader Arun Rai. In Madhubani, BJPs Ashok Yadav had won 2019 election by defeating Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) candidate Bardi Kumar Purbey. But this time, INDIA bloc changed its candidate and fielded former Union minister and influential RJD leader Md Ali Ashraf Fatmi, who had earlier unsuccessfully contested Ashoks father and four-time MP Hukumdeo Narayan Yadav. In Muzaffarpur, the contest is between Dr Raj Bhushan Choudhary of BJP and Ajay Kumar Nishad of Congress (read INDIA bloc). Ajay had won in 2019 on BJP ticket but but was denied ticket this time. He joined Congress, which fielded him from Muzaffarpur. Ajay Nishad, a turncoat, was rewarded with ticket by grand old party. While Ajay switched to Congress, Dr Raj Bhushan, who had fought from the seat on VIP ticket in 2019, joined BJP and was subsequently fielded.

Bihar Independent Candidate Takes A Donkey Ride To File Lok Sabha Nomination | Watch

Satyendra Baitha, contesting from the Gopalganj Lok Sabha seat as an Independent candidate, campaigns door-to-door riding a donkey.

Weather Update: India Reels Under Scorching Summer, Temp Nears 47 Degrees Mark In UP, Rajasthan

Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are likely to continue the heat wave condition, while IMD raised orange alerts for states like Bihar andGujarat.

LS polls fifth phase: Fate of 5 Modi Ministers at stake in 14 UP seats

LUCKNOW: The political heartland of India will witness voting on 14 seats, including a couple of high-profile constituencies and fate of five Union ministers, in the fifth phase on May 20. The 14 seats comprise not only Congress citadels Rae Bareli and Amethi but also Ayodhya, the nerve centre of BJPs Hindutva plank. In fact, this phase will decide the tone and tenor of the sixth and seventh rounds, which will be concentrated across 27 seats of Purvanchal. Moreover, four constituencies of Bundelkhand will decide whether to let BJP achieve a hat-trick or vote for change. The BJP had swept the phase in 2019 by winning 13 of the 14 seats in fray. While the BJP had wrested Amethi from Congress, Sonia Gandhi had retained Rae Bareli as the only party MP from UP in 2019. The SP and BSP drew a blank in 2019 and 2014. In 2024, while Congress is contesting on two seats, ally SP is contesting on rest 12 seats. Rae Bareli One of the most prominent seats of fifth phase is set for a fight between Rahul Gandhi and BJP MLC and Yogi minister Dinesh Pratap Singh who had switched over to the saffron party in 2018. BSP has fielded an OBC nominee. Amethi Another high-profile seat witnesses a battle of nerves between Union minister Smriti Irani and KL Sharma, a representative of Congress first family of four decades. Smriti had defeated Rahul Gandhi in 2019 in Amethi and she is seeking a second term. BSP has fielded Nanhe Singh Chauhan. Faizabad The seat of Ram temple is set to test BJPs Hindutva plank. However, Faizabad has never been the saffron stronghold in the true sense. The Congress captured the seat in 2009, BSP won it in 2004 and SP in 1998. The BJP won the seat in 1991, 1996, 2014 and 2019. In 2019, BJPs Lallu Singh, five-time MLA and an MP twice, retained it defeating SPs Anand Sen. This time the contest is multi-cornered with SP having fielded its nine-time MLA Awdhesh Prasad, CPI former IPS officer Arvind Sena and BSP Sachhidanand Pandey. Lucknow The real challenge before the BJP is winning margin of MP Rajnath Singh who is seeking a third term carrying forward the legacy of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had represented Lucknow five times in the Lok Sabha from 1991 and 2004. Lucknow parliamentary constituency is the BJPs citadel. The party has never lost this seat since 1991. Singh won the seat in 2014 and 2019. Mohanlal Ganj and Barabanki Both the reserve seats are adjacent to Lucknow with Pasi community holding the key. Mohanlal Ganj BJP candidate and Union minister of state Kaushal Kishore is trying his luck for the third term in a row. Challenging him are the SPs RK Chaudhary and the BSPs Rajesh Kumar. Barabanki Another seat adjoining Lucknow has have tendency of changing winners each time. However, the BJP won the seat in 2014 and retained it in 2019. Pasis among the SCs and Kurmi voters among OBCs are decisive in the constituency. There are over 20% Muslim voters. In 2024, BJP replaced its MP Upendra Singh Rawat with Rajrani Rawat and Congress fielded Tanuj Punia, son of former bureaucrat and Congress leader PL Punia. Gonda BJP MP Kirti Vardhan Singh, from the royal family, is in the fray for the third consecutive term. Challenging him is SPs Shreya Verma, the granddaughter of party stalwart Beni Prasad Verma, and BSP pitted a Brahmin Saurabh Mishra. Fatehpur BJP has repeated its MP Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti who had defeated BSPs Sukh Lal Verma, as the joint SP-BSP candidate, in 2019. The SP fielded its state chief Naresh Uttam, a Kurmi by caste, and the BSP put stakes on Manish Sachan. Kaiserganj BJP has fielded Karan Bhushan Singh, son of Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, SP has named Baghatram Mishra and BSP has made the contest interesting by fielding another Brahmin Narendra Pandey. Kaushambi The reserved seat is set for in interesting battle between BJP MP Vinod Sonkar and one of the youngest SP candidates Pushpendra Saroj, son of SP MLA Indrajeet Saroj. Bundelkhand Four seats Jalaun, Jhansi, Hamirpur and Banda.

INDIA bloc will get 300 seats, all set to form government after June 4

AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal claims that the INDIA bloc will win 300 seats and form the government after June 4. He tells Preetha Nair that all the constitutional bodies have been compromised under the BJP government and also accuses the Election Commission of being biased against Opposition parties. Excerpts: After the four phases, the INDIA alliance has been exuding confidence that the tide is in your favour. What is your assessment? We are confident that the INDIA alliance will get 300 seats and we will form the government after the election. The general mood in the Hindi heartland has changed in favour of the INDIA alliance. In the southern states, we are far ahead of the BJP. Out of the 28 seats in Karnataka, we expect to get a two-third majority. We secured only three seats in Telangana in the 2019 elections, but this time we will get 11-12 seats. In Kerala, the Congress will sweep the elections. The BJP will get zero seats in Tamil Nadu, and the alliance will sweep. In Maharashtra, too, the Maha Vikas Aghadi is poised to get at least half of the total seats. In Bihar also, we will score very well. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP will lose 15- 20 seats and the INDIA may get around 40 seats. Our calculation is that we may get 10 seats in Rajasthan and 5- 6 in Haryana. But the BJP claims that it has crossed 270-mark after the four phases... In the beginning of the election, PM Modi set a target of 400 seats for the BJP. But the ground reality is entirely different. Now the BJP realised that it is losing many seats that it has won last time. The party is in panic. That is why the PM resorted to low-level attacks on secularism and religious identities. This hasnt happened in the history of Indian politics. Elections will come and go. But people have to live together. The PM is the first person to think about that. But unfortunately, there is no thinking from his side. If they are confident of getting 400 seats, why are they stooping to such levels? They are only talking about polarisation agendas. There is no talk of pressing issues such as unemployment, price rise, womens safety or agrarian crisis. People are fed up with this government. Do you see a repeat of 2004 this time? I would say that it will be a repeat of the 2009 elections. The government granted citizenship to its first batch of 14 refugees under the Citizenship Amendment Act on Wednesday. PM Modi said nobody can remove CAA. What is your partys position on this? The PM doesnt want to talk about the real issues in this election. We dont want to follow his agenda. Our position is that we will give citizenship to genuine people who deserve citizenship. Their agenda is to divide the people based on religion and communities, The CAA was passed in 2019 and they framed the rules after five years in 2024, Now in the middle of the election, they implemented it. The Congress is contesting fewer seats than ever in this election to accommodate INDIA bloc partners. Will the party make compromises if the INDIA bloc wins this election? This is a hypothetical question. I dont want to comment on that. We made sacrifices to reduce the maximum number of seats for the BJP. We have made sacrifices during the process of alliance discussions. Our country is going through a dangerous period under this government. Entire constitutional bodies have been compromised including the Election Commission of India. The Prime Minister is making hate speeches daily and the EC is a mute spectator. The EC is only there to act against the Opposition parties. PM Modi said that if the INDIA bloc gets a majority to form a government then the alliance has plans of appointing five Prime Ministers with one PM every year. This brings up the question of the PMs face for the alliance.. The PM is making such statements out of desperation. We will decide our PM candidate within 24 hours of the announcement of results. The new PM will rule for five years. Is Congress pitching for Rahul Gandhi as PM face? This is not the time to talk about it. After winning the election, we will sit together and decide the Prime Minister candidate. The PM has been attacking the Congress with allegations of appeasing Muslims and being anti-Hindu. He claimed that 15% of the UPA governments budget was for Muslims. How can the Prime Minister tell such lies to the country? Hes talking about the Muslim community and the Congress wants to ask him what he has given to the Hindus. The majority of the Indian youth are Hindus and are unemployed. Take the case of farmers, women and others..I dont want to talk like the BJP, But for the sake of argument, I want to ask them. He is only concerned about two or three Hindus like Adani and Ambani. PM Modi says that Congress will provide reservations to Muslims from the quotas earmarked for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). At least four leaders of the BJP have spoken about changing the constitution if they get 400 seats in this election. Their idea is to give away this reservation system. When we complained to the Election Commission, then the BJP turned the table on us by saying that we will take away the SC/ST reservation. No one can change the OBC, SC/ST reservation system. We wont allow it, come what may. Will we see Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Congress top leaders campaigning together in the coming phases? State leaders are focusing on state-level programmes. There is no combined INDIA leaders programme anywhere. In Uttar Pradesh, we have an alliance with Samajwadi Party. That is why we are having joint programmes with Akhilesh today. Whenever we have joint programmes in Delhi, we will join the AAP leaders. INDIA bloc will win more than 300 seats in Lok Sabha elections: Uddhav

Custodial deaths in Kerala is a failure of system

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: If Article 21 of the Constitution states that no person can be deprived of their life or personal liberty unless in accordance with the law, the saga of custodial torture in the state speaks of a deep-seated infringement of basic human rights and dignity. From being spread-eagled in dark rooms and thwacked relentlessly using batons or sticks, to rolling heavy pipes over bodies and beatings with cloth-wrapped iron objects ... the horrors dont stop there. The torture and mental anguish, that only those who have endured it can totally comprehend, open a window to the custodial highhandedness of law enforcement that frequently leads to loss of life. Police can keep a suspect in detention for up to 24 hours or with the courts permission, for 15 days. And it is distressing that the excesses are played out in this short span of time. Shameer, Rajkumar, Sreejith, Vinayakan, P P Mathai, Ranjith Kumar, Suresh to the most recent case involving Tamir Jifri: the names of victims may vary, but the tale remains hauntingly familiar. When persons are booked for any offence they are placed in state custody. And the state and its machinery are responsible for their safety throughout the legal process. How then can law enforcement act as both judge and arbiter of fate? The counter is often: Dont teach us the law. While statistics may document deaths, there is no measure of the trauma inflicted by torture. For victims, it can seem like a death sentence -- each passing day more brutish than the last as they await their fate, removed from the rest of the world. The experience is equally agonising for their families at a physical, emotional, and psychological level. Custodial deaths are heinous crimes. People taken into custody are the responsibility of the state. It is the primary duty of the police to ensure the safety of the person in their custody. It is deeply disturbing that the number of cases is rising, says former chief justice of Patna High Court and former chairman of State Human Rights Commission, Justice J B Koshy. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data tabled in the Lok Sabha last August shows that there were a total of 16 custodial deaths reported in Kerala between 2016 and 2024. The first Pinarayi Vijayan government, which took office in 2016, took severe flak over incidents of custodial torture, which showed the home department, which oversees the police force, in poor light. The incidents were spread out, with no set pattern. While two cases were reported in 2016-17, there were none in 2017-18. This was followed by three cases in 2018-19, and two in 2019-20. This dropped to one in 2020-2021, before a spurt of six cases in 2021-22. Between 2022 and 2024, two cases were reported. People become unnecessary targets and channels for officialdom to vent their frustration. To maintain control, an effective director general of police (DGP) is essential. However, police associations at times hinder their duties. With the backing of the ruling dispensation, these associations often suppress cases. Another problem is the absence of a committee to address police concerns. They face excessive political pressure, financial constraints, and a shortage of civil police officers (CPOs), leading to increased workload and frustration. This unfortunately spills out into the public. While not justifiable, these are the underlying reasons, Justice Koshy points out. This poses a key question: who will investigate criminal cases against law enforcement? Thorough probes into custodial deaths have been far and few in between and convictions have been even sparse. There were over 40 injuries on the body of 31-year-old Shameer, who died on October 1, 2020, at a Covid quarantine facility following an alleged assault by police. Six jail officials were arrested by a crime branch special squad. But after posting bail, each of them were allowed to return to their jobs. Rajkumar, 49, of Nedumkandam, Idukki was subjected to police torture for four days in June 2019. Among the torture methods employed was falanga, which involves repeated beatings on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hand. The CBI charged nine police officers. An appeal filed with the Kerala Administrative Tribunal (KAT) ensured that they were not even fired. An autopsy conducted on 26-year-old Sreejith, from Varapuzha, who died in April 2018 reportedly as a result of abuse in custody, revealed injuries to the abdomen that resulted in multiple organ failure and his eventual death. Ten police officers were suspended. They were all reinstated in December 2018. Mathai of Chittar was found dead in a well after being taken into custody by a forest official in 2020. It is being probed by the CBI. CBI charges 4 police officers with murder in Tanur custodial death Jifri, 30-year-old, one of the five youths caught by the Tanur police in a drug trafficking case, died last August 1. The postmortem report revealed 21 wounds on his body and swelling in his lungs. The body also had many problems connected with regular drug use. On August 2, eight policemen including the sub-inspector of Tanur police station were suspended pending inquiry. A week ago, four police officers were arrested. Not all deaths in custody should be labelled as custodial deaths. Some die by suicide, others succumb to heart attacks due to panic, while some are highly intoxicated upon arrival in custody and experience withdrawal symptoms leading to death. In comparison to states like UP, Bihar and Maharashtra, Kerala reports significantly fewer custodial deaths. In many instances, there is no evidence of police torture, says Alexander Jacob, former jail DGP. When those entrusted with upholding the law resort to behaving like goons, it not only undermines the very foundation of justice.

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