Maharashtra Political Parties Use 42 MLC Vacancies to Pacify Rebels

Mumbai: Political parties in Maharashtra are dangling the carrot of legislative council membership to keep the disgruntled party leaders in check. There are 21 vacant seats in the legislative council and the vacancies will double by the end of July this year. According to sources, all parties have promised the leaders, who were eager to contest Lok Sabha but denied tickets, a seat in the state legislative council. Some have been promised Rajya Sabha membership. Maharashtra has a total 78 members of the Legislative Council. Of these, 31 are elected by members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), 21 members are elected by local body authorities (like Municipal Corporations), seven members each are elected by graduates and teachers from Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Konkan, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Amravati divisions. In addition to this, 12 members are nominated by Maharashtra Governor. The governor has not nominated 12 members in the Legislative Council. These nominations are done on the recommendations of the state government to the Governor. Besides this, six members, who were elected by local authorities, are retiring by June 21 of this year. Two members each from graduates and teachers constituencies are retiring by July 7 of this year. In addition to this, out of the total 31 members elected by MLAs in the Legislative Council, the tenure of 11 members will end by July 27 of this year. There are already nine vacant seats, which are elected by local bodies, in the council. An official of the state legislature said that the members elected by the MLAs, who are retiring, include BJP's Nilay Naik, Ramrao Patil, Ramesh Patil and Bhai Girkar, NCP's Babajani Durrani, Congress's Wajahat Mirza, Dr. Pradnya Rajiv Satav, Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena (UBT) Anil Parab, Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena's Manisha Kayande, PWP's Jayant Patil and RSP's Mahadev Jankar. They are going to retire by July 27, 2024. We are going to conduct an election on 11 seats, which are elected by the MLA, after the Lok Sabha election, the official said. Nine vacant seats are not being filled due to non-existence of local bodies for more than a year. Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has denied ticket to its sitting MPs Hemant Patil from Hingoli, Bhavana Gawali from Yavatmal-Washim and Krupal Tumane from Ramtek. The three are reportedly upset with their party. BJP leader Harshvardhan Patil had opposed supporting the Ajit Pawar faction due to traditional political rivalry in Baramati. In addition to this, Shiv Sena leader Vijay Shivtare's decision to challenge Ajit Pawar in Baramati had caused tension among Mahayuti. Subsequently, Mr Patil and Mr Shivtare have been pacified by Mr. Fadnavis and Mr. Shinde. A Mahayuti leader said that chief minister Eknath Shinde held meetings with Gawali, Patil and Tumane individually. All of them have been assured about their rehabilitations. We have asked the disgruntled leaders to ensure the victory of our candidates in Lok Sabha. We will do their proper political rehabilitation. They will be given an opportunity to go to the Legislative Council or they can get a ticket in the upcoming assembly elections later this year, the Mahayuti leader said. A BJP office bearer said that Harshvardhan Patil will be given an MLC ticket after Lok Sabha election if Mahayuti candidate wins Baramati Lok Sabha seat.

Opposition 'INDIA' bloc leaders should apologise after apex court's verdict on EVMs: PM

PATNA: Hours after the Supreme Courts judgement on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asked the opposition INDIA bloc to apologise to the people for allegedly instilling doubts in their minds about the authenticity of the machines and demanding return to the ballot paper system. The Supreme Court earlier rejected the plea for 100 percent verification of votes cast on electronic voting machines with slips printed by the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines or a return to the ballot system. Addressing an election rally in Forbesganj in Araria district of Bihar, Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress and its ally RJD said, INDI leaders have committed a sin by creating doubts among minds of people about EVMs. Supreme Court has slapped on the face of Congress and RJD as the opposition wanted restoration of ballot paper system for holding election. They cannot look up after the Supreme Court's order. We have Vijay Diwas for democracy, he added. SC rejects all petitions seeking 100% verification of EVM votes with their VVPAT slips Earlier during the regime of RJD-Congress in the state, there used to be instances of booth capturing and loot of ballot papers but when a honest system of holding elections through EVMs was introduced, the opposition leaders started creating distrust against EVM's. Sharpening his attack, Modi alleged that RJD, Congress and INDIA bloc leaders had no care for the democracy and constitution. For decades, poor people were even prevented from reaching polling booths. Dreams of those intending to loot ballot boxes have been dashed. Entire world is applauding India for its robust democracy, election process and use of technology in the election process but people with vested interests are defaming the country`s defaming the country's election system, he added. While referring to Jungle Raj allegedly prevailing during former RJD-Congress regime, Land was grabbed for providing jobs and if somebody has job, his salary was also forcibly taken. Cars were grabbed and prosperous people were kidnapped during the previous RJD-Congress regime. This is PM Modis fourth visit to Bihar in the past two months. Earlier, he had addressed election rallies in Aurangabad, Jamui, Nawada and Purnea to canvas for NDA candidates.

447 Candidates Nominated for 11 Tripura Assembly Seats Up for Grabs on May 13

447 Candidates Nominated for 11 Tripura Assembly Seats Up for Grabs on May 13 A total of 447 candidates have filed nomination forms for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha polling in Maharashtra on Thursday, which was the last date for the process, an official said. Eleven constituencies in north Maharashtra, western Maharashtra and Marathwada will go to polls in the fourth phase on May 13. As per poll officials, 18 candidates have filed their papers in Nandurbar, 24 in Jalgaon, 31 in Raver, 47 in Jalna, 51 in Aurangabad, 38 in Maval, 42 in Pune, 46 in Shirur, 43 in Ahmednagar, 31 in Shirdi and 76 in Beed.

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What did you give to Bihar in 10 years: Tejashwi Yadav asks PM Modi

What did you give to Bihar in 10 years: Tejashwi Yadav asks PM Modi A day before 2nd phase of voting, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday levelled a series of allegations against the prime minister and asked, What PM Modi has given to Bihar in last 10 years? Five Lok Sabha constituencies Bhagalpur, Banka, Purnia, Kishanganj, and Katihar will go to polls in the second phase of voting on Friday. I want to ask Prime Minister Modi, why do you want to end the Constitution and democracy? Why do you want to snatch away the reservation and jobs of Dalits, backwards, deprived and poor? Yadav said in Hindi in a post on 'X.' Why do you (PM Modi) want to make the poor poorer and the rich richer? Bihar gave you 39 out of 40 MPs but what did you give to Bihar in 10 years? Why don't you come to Bihar and talk about work? he further asked. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the NDA won 39 out of 40 seats in Bihar. Earlier, Yadav has alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda brought five bags of cash to distribute among the voters during his recent visit to Bihar ahead of the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 26. Speaking to reporters in Patna on Wednesday, Tejashwi Yadav said, I have received news that he (BJP chief JP Nadda) has brought several bags with him. He is distributing them at places where elections are taking place. Get this checked, the allegations are true. I am not lying. Agencies are helping him openly. He is coming from Delhi and bringing five bags with him. Out of 40 Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar, four seats Jamui, Nawada, Gaya, and Aurangabad went to polls during the first phase of voting on April 19. The rest of the seats will go to polls in the remaining six phases of the general elections, with 2nd phase on April 26. Overall, the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections will witness voting in 89 constituencies spread across 13 states and union territories. (ANI)

Maharashtra Independent Candidate Rides Camel On Busy Streets To Lok Sabha Nomination Filing: WATCH

Independent candidate from Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat rode on a camel to file his nomination for the upcoming polls.

Indian Railways introduces Economy Meals at Rs 20 for general passengers

VIJAYAWADA: To provide quality, affordable and hygienic meals to rail passengers, Indian Railways in collaboration with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has introduced the concept of Economy Meals. Anticipating the surge in passenger traffic during summer, rail passengers, particularly for those travelling in general coaches, are provided with two types of meals at an affordable cost. These meal counters are now operational at over 100 stations across Indian Railways. On South Central Railway, economy meals are being served at 23 counters in 12 railway stations. These stations include Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Renigunta, Guntakal, Tirupati, Rajahmundry, Vikarabad, Pakala, Dhone, Nandyal, Purna and Aurangabad railway stations. Over Vijayawada Division, the meals are being sold at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry Station Refreshment Rooms and Jan Ahaar units. The initiative offers a two-pronged approach. One can avail Economy Meals, which is priced at Rs 20, providing a satisfying and affordable for passengers on the go. If one seeks a lighter bite, one can opt for Snack Meals priced at Rs 50. Vijayawada DRM Narendra A Patil said these meals are available at counters conveniently located near general second-class (GS) coaches on platforms. He said that the initiative aims to cater to passengers dietary needs while ensuring convenience and affordability during their journey. Earlier, this service was successfully piloted at about 51 stations last year across Indian Railways.

SCR and IRCTC launch affordable meal counters across key stations

HYDERABAD: As a part of an Indian Railways initiative, the SCR, along with IRCTC, is providing meals at affordable prices across 23 counters at 12 stations, including Hyderabad and Vikarabad stations. The meals have been named economy and snack meals. While the former is priced at Rs 20, the latter costs Rs 50. These meals, along with water facilities, are available at counters located near general second-class (GS) coaches on platforms. The zone is also providing the meals at Vijayawada, Renigunta, Guntakal, Tirupati, Rajahmundry, Pakala, Dhone, Nandyal, Purna, and Aurangabad railway stations. Based on the success of a pilot project across around 51 stations last year, the Indian Railways decided to expand the programme, with counters operational at over 100 stations and nearly 150 counters in total. The initiative is slated for further growth, encompassing even more stations in the near future.

Nanded: Little ground clearance for ex-CM

MUMBAI: Two months ago when former Maharashtra Congress chief minister Ashok Chavan joined the BJP, the saffron camp went euphoric about its forgone victory prospect in the Lok Sabha polls. A red zone turned safe zone in Nanded in the saffron parlance. Today, the constituency is anything but safe for the BJP even though Congress has fielded fresh and new candidate Vasant Chavan against BJPs Lok Sabha MP Prataprao Chikhalikar. In 2019, BJPs Chikhalikar won the Nanded Lok Sabha seat by over 40,000 votes against Congress Ashok Chavan. Interestingly, Prakash Ambedkar-led party candidate polled 1,65,341 votes that is 14.9% of the total votes while Ashok Chavan lost by mere 3.6% vote share. This was the second defeat of Ashok Chavan in Lok Sabha elections in his political career. Historical links Nanded holds a significant historical importance. The 10th and last Sikh Guru Sri Gobind Singh spent his last days in Nanded and passed on the mantle to the sacred Guru Granth Sahib before his passing in 1708. During the Marathawada Mukti Sangram, Shankarrao Chavan, the father of Ashok Chavan, who originally belonged to Paithan in Aurangabad, shifted base to Nanded and contested the first municipal corporation election and won. The Chavan family became Nanded residents. Later, Shankarrao Chavan and Ashok Chavan became CMs twice. The Chavan family nurtured Nanded as it grew into a Congress bastion. It was breached in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Given the age-old ties, Nanded continued to support the Congress ideology. 2019 equations In the previous Lok sabha polls, the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) turned out to be a spoiler for Congress Ashok Chavan by grabbing 1,65,341 votes while Chavan lost by 40,000 votes only. This time too, the VBA factor is important as it is giving headaches to the BJP and Ashok Chavan who has taken the responsibility of this seat. The VBA has fielded a Lingayat community candidate in Nanded; the community has over 1.5 lakh votes, most of which predominantly comprise BJP supporters. The demography of the Nanded is very interesting. Out of the total 18 lakh voters, eight lakh are Maratha while 4.5 lakh are Dalit and Muslim and 1.5 lakh Lingaya. The remaining belong to various communities. Saffron spoiler This time too, VBA candidate Avinash Bhosikar may turn out to be a spoiler, not for Congress but for the BJP. Put together, the Lingayat vote can change the poll outcome which would not be good for the BJP. This time, Dalits could be rallying behind the Congress candidate given the narrative around the so-called changes in the Constitution whose chief architect was Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar said an observer. Muslims, too, could be looking at the Congress due to a campaign of hatred launched by sections of Hindu outfits, he added. The stance of the Maratha community is not very clear, making the Nanded contest tough. The first sign of disturbance for the saffron camp emerged a few days ago when reports came in that Ashok Chavan and his wife have started facing adverse reactions from people, particularly the Maratha community during Chavans campaign meetings. The couple was even barred from entering some villages in Nanded. At one place, the mob was so huge that the elderly Congressman of that particular village came out for Chavans rescue. The former CM has never faced this kind of public wrath. A video of Chavan speech being disturbed by Maratha community youths went viral. In the latest video, Chavan is seen addressing barely 50-80 people, as most chairs of the audience are seen empty. Chavan is seen pleading with the people that that he has given his word to the top BJP leadership that party candidate Prataprao Chikalikar would win from Nanded. If BJP loses Nanded, my political support will go down within the BJP. People should trust his guarantee even if they dont believe in Modis guarantee, Chavan has told villagers. Difficult situation The BJPs initial exuberance is somewhat calmed down as party leaders campaign rallies are scheduled one after another. Initially, it was planned that BJP chief JP Naddas rally would compensate for the voter anger. But ground reality. To encourage the cadre further, Union minister Amit Shahs rally was also planned. That, too, has helped little. An internal survey continued to give an edge to Congress candidates. Finally, the BJP state leadership decided to organise PM Narendra Modis rally in Nanded. It is rarely in the BJP that both Shah and Modi address the same election campaign rally. It was necessary because each seat is important in such a closely fought political battle, said a senior BJP leader, adding that the BJP gave a Rajya Sabha seat to Chavan to secure Nanded, but it turned out that the decision was wrong. The BJP leader said the reason people are not coming out in BJP support is that PM Modi raised the Adarsh housing scam which took place during Ashok Chavans tenure -- and a few days later, Chavan was not only inducted into the party but was also given the Rajya Sabha seat. Losing steam In the last 15 years, the BJPs committed workers fought against Ashok Chavan and Ajit Pawar. Both Chavans Adarsh housing scam and Ajit Pawars Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam were hammered time and again to get votes. These leaders were termed as epitome of corruption, but have now become the strength of the party. For loyal party workers, it is like losing trust in the party, said a BJP leader. We not only lost the perception battle but also the ground support, which is now visible in Nanded and other parts of the state, he said. Congress candidate Vasant Chavan says Ashok Chavan left the Congress, but not the Congress workers. When he was in Congress, he was one of the most sought-after campaigners across the state, but sadly, Chavan cannot freely campaign in his home town, said a senior Congress leader who worked with Ashok Chavan.

Indian Railways Introduces Affordable Economy Meals at Select Stations

Hyderabad: The railways will provideeconomymeals at affordable pricesto rail passengersin the summer. The facility will be available at 12stationsnear the general coaches, a statement said. There are two categories, the economy meal which costs `20 and thesnackmeal which comes at `50. Passengers can buy their refreshments directly from these counters, eliminating the need to search for vendors or venture outside the station In the South Central Railway (SCR) zone, the facility will be available atHyderabadandVikarabad in Telangana; Vijayawada, Renigunta, Guntakal, Tirupati, Pakala, Rajahmundry, Dhone and Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh and Purna and Aurangabadin Maharashtra. SCR General ManagerArun Kumar Jainsaid a pilot project of the servicewasrunsuccessfully at 51 stations last year acrosstheIndian Railways. Overall, these meal counters are operational at over 100 stations and nearly 150 counters across Indian Railways, and the facility will be expanded further.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Khaire, Maharashtra minister Bhumre file nominations

Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Chandrakant Khaire and Maharashtra Minister Sandipan Bhumre on Monday filed their nomination papers from Aurangabad seat for Lok Sabha elections

Bombay HC`s Aurangabad bench annuls marriage due to husband`s relative impotency

A 27-year-old man appealed to the Bombay High Court after his wife filed for annulment, which was denied by the family court.

HC annuls marriage as couple fails to consummate it due to mans relative impotency

HC annuls marriage as couple fails to consummate it due to mans relative impotency The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has annulled the marriage of a young couple that could not consummate it due to the mans relative impotency, noting their agony of frustration cannot be ignored. A division bench of justices Vibha Kankanwadi and S G Chapalgaonkar in the judgment on April 15 also noted that this was a fit case to help young sufferers of marriage who could not connect with each other mentally, emotionally or physically. A 27-year-old man had approached the bench after a family court in February 2024 refused an application filed by his 26-year-old wife, seeking to annul the marriage on the admission stage itself. The high court in its order said the expression relative impotency is a known phenomenon and is different from the normal impotency, which means the inability to copulate in general. Relative impotency broadly points to a situation where a person might be capable of having intercourse but incapable of performing it with the spouse. The court said there could be various physical and mental causes for such relative impotency. In the present case, it can be easily gathered that the husband has relative impotency qua (towards) the wife. The reason for non-consummation of the marriage is this apparent relative impotency of the husband, the HC said. The high court said it could not ignore the fact that this was a matter concerning a young couple who faced the agony of frustration in the marriage. The man may have initially blamed his wife for non-consummation as he was hesitant to admit he had relative impotency towards her, it said. However, subsequently, he candidly admitted the same, being satisfied with the fact that it would not put lifelong stigma on him. The relative impotency is somewhat different than the general notion of impotency and the acceptance of relative impotency would not brand him impotent in general parlance, the HC said. The couple got married in March 2023 but separated after 17 days. The couple said their marriage was not consummated. The woman claimed the man had declined physical relations with her. In her plea seeking for annulment of marriage filed before the family court, the woman said the man had relative impotency. She said they could not connect with each other mentally, emotionally, or physically. The man initially filed an affidavit before the family court stating that the marriage was not consummated but blamed the woman for it. He later submitted a written statement admitting relative impotency. The man claimed he was unable to establish physical relations with his wife but otherwise he was normal. In the statement, he said he did not want any stigma that he was impotent in general. Following this, the wife filed an application seeking the family court to decide the divorce plea at the admission stage itself as per provisions of the Civil Procedure Code instead of conducting a trial. The family court, however, rejected the application claiming the man and woman had raised collusive claims. The HC bench quashed the family court order and annulled the marriage declaring it null and void.

LS Polls: Shiv Sena fields cabinet minister Sandipan Bhumre from Aurangabad seat

The News Mill

Modi Talks Like BJPs PM, Not Indias: Sharad Pawar

MUMBAI: NCP founder Sharad Pawar on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for talking like BJPs PM. Taking a dig at Mr. Modis speeches in the election campaign, Mr. Pawar said that after listening to Mr. Modi, the conclusion can be drawn that he is talking like BJPs Prime Minister. The Prime Minister belongs to the whole country. After listening to his speeches, one thing is very clear that he is not the Prime Minister of the country but of the BJP, the veteran leader said. The 83-year-old NCP founder was canvassing for the MVA candidates Chandrakant Khaire, who is contesting from the Aurangabad Lok Sabha constituency on a Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena (UBT) ticket, and Congresss Kalyan Kale from the Jalna seat. Mr. Pawar said that the PM is only criticising him, Jawahar Lal Nehru and Rahul Gandhi, but is not informing people about his plans for the country. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru contributed a lot during the freedom struggle. By criticising Nehru, the incumbent Prime Minister is expressing his mentality, he said. The former Union agriculture minister slammed Mr. Modi for failing to control inflation and unemployment in the country. He referred to a report of ILO (International Labour Organisation) and stated that after completing higher education, 87 per cent of students did not get jobs. It means that 87 per cent of students are unemployed in the country, Mr Pawar said. He was referring to the ILO report published last month, which said that more than 80 per cent cent of Indias unemployed workforce comprises its youth. The report said that that the proportion of young individuals with secondary or higher education among the total unemployed youth surged from 35.2 per cent in 2000 to 65.7 per cent in 2022. Mr. Pawar further said that Maharashtra is witnessing a drought-like situation, there is no fodder for the cattles, but the ruling parties are not speaking about how to address this issue. The NCP leader alleged that Mr. Modi had promised to reduce the rate of inflation and cost of fuels within 50 days after coming to power but he failed to deliver. Instead of slashing prices of LPG cylinders, he has doubled them. The women are facing hardship to manage household expenses. The Prime Minister and his government do not take any measures to curb the prices of the essential commodities, he said.

Modis speeches project him as PM of BJP, not country: Sharad Pawar

Modis speeches project him as PM of BJP, not country: Sharad Pawar NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar on Saturday said Narendra Modis speeches suggest he is BJPs PM and not India's and accused the BJP of being high on power which will bring dictatorship in the country. Modi should tell the people what he and his party will do for the country instead of attacking the opposition, he said at a campaign rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad LS constituency). Addressing a rally at Parbhani, Pawar attacked the BJP over agrarian distress in the country and unemployment. Notably, PM Modi on Saturday held rallies in Nanded and Parbhani constituencies in the state and attacked the opposition, particularly the Congress. I was listening to Narendra Modis speech before I came here (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar). The prime minister belongs to the entire country. If we listen to Modis speeches, it seems he is the prime minister of BJP and not the country,'' Pawar said. He canvassed for opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates Chandrakant Khaire, who is contesting from the Aurangabad Lok Sabha constituency on a Sena (UBT) ticket, and Congress Kalyan Kale from Jalna. The central Maharashtra constituencies, located in the states Marathwada region, will go to polls in the fourth phase on May 13. The NCP (SP) chief said PM Modi and BJP should tell the people what they will do for the country. ''But sometimes they criticise Nehru (country's first PM Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru), sometimes Rahul Gandhi and also me at times, he said. Nehru spent over ten years of his life in jail fighting against the British. He encouraged science, said Pawar. Addressing a rally in Parbhani for Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Sanjay Jadhav, Pawar said the BJP is high on power and misusing Central agencies. He referred to the arrests of former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who runs his administration efficiently, criticised the Centre is behind bars. His ministers are in jail, Pawar said. The ones, who are serving people hold an opinion that is different from yours, have to go behind bars, then we have to deal with them because they will bring dictatorship in the country and we will not allow this, he said. Pawar also criticised the government over its handling of the protest by farmers on the outskirts of Delhi over three farm laws, which were later repealed. During his rallies, he alleged the Centre and state governments have no time to address the severe drought in Marathwada region as well as in other parts of the state. Meanwhile, speaking in Parbhani, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray alleged that the BJP wants to win 400 seats to change the Constitution. This is not a simple election. This will determine your future and the direction the country will head to, Thackeray said. He exhorted people to vote for the Shiv Sena (UBT) which he said would work in the interest of the state.

Shiv Sena fields Minister Sandeepan Bhumre from Aurangabad LS seat

Bhumre, who helms the Employment Guarantee Scheme and Horticulture ministries, will take on Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Chandrakant Khaire and AIMIM`s Imitiaz Jaleel from the Aurangabad seat (now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar)

BJPs Maharashtra Target Hangs in Balance Due to Indecision on Candidates

MUMBAI: With less than a month left for the last phase of polling in Maharashtra, the BJP-led Mahayuti is still struggling to reach consensus over six Lok Sabha seats in the state. Several alliance leaders are now skeptical about achieving their target of winning at least 45 Maharashtra seats because of the delay in announcing candidates. The alliance of BJP, chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party had launched their campaign a month ago by setting a target of winning 45 out of 48 seats. The voting in Maharashtra will conclude in the fifth phase on May 20 when 13 seats will go to polls. Out of these 13 the alliance is yet to declare candidates on six seats including three Mumbai seats due to differences among the alliance partners. Chief minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday announced the candidature of state minister Sandipan Bhumre for the Sambhaji Nagar Lok Sabha constituency, which was also under dispute. The voting in Sambhaji Nagar will be held on May 13 and the last day for filing the nomination is April 24. A triangle contest is expected in the city, earlier known as Aurangabad. Shiv Sena UBT has fielded two-term MP Chandrakant Khaire while sitting MP Imtiyaz Jalil is contesting as AIMIM candidate. The Shiv Sena UBT and AIMIM candidates have already started their election campaigns. Mr. Bhumres campaign will start now. It is the same situation for the six seats where the opposition candidates have started campaigning while Mahayuti is yet to decide its candidate. This could prove to be our disadvantage, a senior alliance leader said. The alliance is yet to break a deadlock on Mumbai South, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North Central, Thane, Nashik and Palghar seats. Thane is the home turf of CM Shinde and Shiv Sena has always contested the seat as a member of Sena-BJP alliance. However, this time the BJP is putting pressure on its alliance partner to give up the seat as sitting MP Rajan Vichare has remained with the Uddhav Thackeray faction. A Shiv Sena leader said, Mr. Shinde is not going to give the Thane seat to BJP. We have already given the Ratnagari-Sindhudurg seat. We have accepted several suggestions in the interest of Mahayuti. But the Thane seat has been Shiv Senas stronghold for almost four decades now and we are not going to compromise on it. The decision on Nashik has been delayed because the Shiv Sena, which has sitting MP Hemant Godse, is not willing to give the seat to the NCP. Similarly, the party is fighting with the BJP over Palghar and two Mumbai seats while the BJP is still trying to find a suitable candidate for Mumbai North Central seat. Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Friday announced that he is withdrawing from the race for the Nashik seat because of the delay in taking the decision. Mr. Bhujbal said that Union home minister Amit Shah wanted him to contest the Nashik seat, but the alliance could not announce his candidature even after three weeks of discussions. The MVA declared its candidates (Shiv Sena UBTs Rajabhau Waje) three weeks ago and he has started campaigning. The more time we take the more loss we will face.This deadlock had to be broken and therefore I decided that I will not be the candidate. Now the Mahayuti must announce its candidate at the earliest, Mr. Bhujbal said while announcing his decision.

Low Voter Turnout Worries NDA Leaders in Bihar

Patna: NDA leaders in Bihar are concerned about the low voter turnout in the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Both the BJP and JDU have become active and have alerted their workers to this issue. They have instructed their workers to intensify campaigning at the grassroots level. JDU has asked booth committees and Panchayat Samitis to reach out to the people and urge them to cast their votes. Similarly, BJP has assigned the task of door-to-door canvassing to their workers, starting from booth chiefs. The opposition party RJD has also brainstormed ways to increase the voting percentage. In the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, held on Friday, voting took place in four seats of Bihar: Nawada, Jamui, Aurangabad, and Gaya. The voter turnout in this phase was only 48.23 percent, which is five percent lower than the previous Lok Sabha elections in 2019. This low voter turnout has posed challenges for political parties and may impact the election results. Consequently, all parties have started emphasizing the importance of maximum voter turnout in the upcoming phases of the Lok Sabha elections. Following the low voter turnout, JDU reviewed the situation and emphasized the need to intensify their public awareness campaign. They have tasked their workers at the booth and Panchayat levels with increasing awareness about voting. Similarly, Bihar BJP has instructed its lower units to be more proactive. Booth chiefs and Panna chiefs have been asked to increase their public outreach efforts. Party leaders have been instructed to appeal to the people to cast their votes during the election campaign. In a meeting at the state office of the opposition party RJD, it was decided to increase the participation of the poor, laborers, and people belonging to extremely backward and backward classes. After the meeting, the state RJD chief spokesperson, Shakti Singh Yadav, stated that efforts will be intensified to increase voter turnout at the party level. Female YouTuber Dies After Jumping from Second Floor of PG Accommodation in Delhi School Principal Faces Investigation After Being Caught Getting Facial Instead of Teaching Teenage Grandmaster D Gukesh Takes the Lead in Candidates Chess Tournament

Modi's speeches project him as PM of BJP, not country: Sharad Pawar

Sharad Pawar criticized PM Modi for focusing on BJP in speeches instead of addressing national issues. Pawar supported Maha Vikas Aghadi, Chandrakant Khaire in Aurangabad, Kalyan Kale in Jalna, and mentioned Nehru, Rahul Gandhi, Nanded, and Parbhani.

BJP's '400-paar' film has flopped on day 1 of the polls: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav

BJP's '400-paar' film has flopped on day 1 of the polls: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav After the completion of the first phase of the Lok Sabha election, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party and said that the BJP's 400 paar film has become a super flop on the first day itself. Tejashwi Yadav told ANI that there is no competition in the first phase as Bihar will give shocking results this time. The Mahagathbandhan is winning all four seats in the first phase. We have held block wise meetings and the feedback that has come is very good the BJP's 400 paar film has become a super flop on the first day itself. The people of Bihar are aware and will teach them a lesson, he said. There is no competition in the first phase. We have said many times before that Bihar will give shocking results this time. They have not done anything for the people of Bihar. The promises made by Modi ji in 2014 and 2019 were not fulfilled. Now the public is tired of their statements and false promises. We have promised that we will give special package to Bihar along with special status, Tejashwi added. Further, former Bihar Chief Minister pointed out that the local issues hold dominance in this election. Today our rally is with Rahul Gandhi ji in Bhagalpur. The entire Mahagathbandhan and INDIA bloc are working together. Unemployment is the biggest issue in Bihar. Inflation, poverty, investment in the state is an issue. Migration and floods are also issues. This time the people of BJP are very worried. They say that they will abolish the Constitution. Those who destroy the Constitution will themselves be destroyed, Tejashwi said. Meanwhile, according to the Election Commission, voter turnout in Bihar was recorded at 48.88 per cent in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election. In Phase 1, voting on four seats- Jamui, Nawada, Gaya, and Aurangabad concluded on Friday. The state will witness polling on five seats from Phase 2 to Phase 5. In Phases 6 and 7, elections will be held for eight seats each. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA, composed of the BJP, JD(U) (Janata Dal-United), and LJP (Lok Janshakti Party), secured victory by winning 39 out of 40 seats. While the Mahagathbandhan, led by RJD Rashtriya Janata Dal), INC (Indian National Congress), and RLSP (Radhtriya Lok Samta Party), only managed to win one seat. (ANI)

First day, First show and the polling begins

The first round of 7-phase parliamentary polls was held across 21 states, with sporadic incidents of violence being reported from Manipur and West Bengal. In the biggest round of the elections, all 39 seats of Tamil Nadu, 12 of Rajasthan and 8 of Uttar Pradesh went to polls. With PM Modi eyeing a third term in office, the BJP hopes to win 22 of the 25 seats in Northeast, hold on to its 2019 tally in the Hindi heartland and Maharashtra and better its show in West Bengal as well as in the South. The Opposition INDIA bloc insists that it will do well across the country, especially in the saffron bastion of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar this time. The counting of votes will take place on June 4 Rajasthan: Total seats - 25 1st phase - 12 It was subdued enthusiasm among voters in 12 seats. Voting was largely peaceful in most constituencies, though some witnessed sporadic clashes. In Kuchera, Nagaur, one of the hot seats, supporters of BJP candidate Jyoti Mirdha and INDIA Alliance candidate Hanuman Beniwal of RLP clashed with each others, injuring Tejpal Mirdha, the chairman of Kuchera municipality. Nagour is a Jat-dominated seat. In another hot seat of Jhunjhunu in the Shekhawati region, BJP candidate Shubhakaran Chaudhary fought with security personnel and in Churu, an MLA was involved in altercation with a policeman Uttar pradesh: Total seats - 80 1st phase - 8 The overall turnout seemed to be lower than the 2019 elections. The eight constituencies which went to the polls included Saharanpur (63.29%),Pilibhit (60.2%), Kairana (58.68%), Nagina (SC) (58.05%), Moradabad (57.65%), Muzaffarnagar (54.91), Bijnor (54.68%), Rampur (52.42%). No major incident was reported during the polling. Last time, a turnout of 66.47% was recorded in the eight constituencies. Overall turnout in Uttar Pradesh during 2019 was 59.21%. In the Neuria area of the district, villagers said they would not vote as they are peeved at man-animal conflict Bihar: Total seats - 40 4 A low turnout of 48.23% was recorded in four constituencies where 38 candidates were in the fray. In 2019, 53.47% voters had exercised their franchise. Gaya has the highest 14 candidates in the fray. There is a decrease of around 5.24% of turnout in 2024. According to chief electoral officer H R Srinivasa, Gaya (SC) recorded the highest 52% turnout, Jamui (SC) and Aurangabad 50% each. In Nawada, only 41.50% voters exercised their franchise. In 2019, Aurangabad had recorded 53.63% turnout, Gaya 56.16 %, Nawada 49.33% and Jamui 55.21%. Voters called for poll boycott in six stations, there was no report of clashes or violence though, according to Srinivasa. WEST BENGAL: Total seats - 42 1st phase - 3 Sporadic incidents of violence marred the first phase, with TMC and BJP workers clashing in Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri. Three reserved seatsJalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Beharin North Bengal went to polls. The TMC and the BJP lodged 80 and 39 complaints, respectively, related to violence, voter intimidation, and assaults on poll agents in Cooch Behar and Alipurduar. Union MoS Nisith Pramanik is contesting from Cooch Behar. TMC leader Udayan Guha said that the BJP, along with central forces, unleashed a reign of terror to rig the elections. The BJP, however, denied the allegations. chhattisgarh: Total seats - 11 1st phase - 1 The voters defied the Maoist threat, as the encouraging turnout eclipsed the terror that haunted Bastar zone ahead of the polling. A CRPF personnel, Devendra kumar, was killed in an IED blast at Usoor in an edgy district of Bijapur during an area domination operation. He died of his injuries while on the way to Raipur in a chopper. In the same district, an assistant commandant of CRPF was injured during a poll-related duty at Bhairamgarh. Barring the two incidents, the polling across Bastar remained peaceful. For the first time, 102 new polling stations were set up for the convenience of voters. Madhya Pradesh: Total seats - 29 1st phase - 6 Six constituencies recorded around 67% turnout till 6.30 pm and the figure is likely to go up. The six seats had registered 75.23% polling in. The high-profile Chhindwara seat (where ex-CM Kamal Naths MP son Nakul Nath took on BJPs Vivek Sahu) stood on top in terms of poll percentage with 78.67% as shared by chief electoral officer Anupam Rajan. Another key constituency Mandla-ST (where sixth-time BJP MP and Union minister Faggan Singh Kulaste was pitted against ex-minister and fourth-time Congress MLA Omkar Markam) reported 72.92% polling. The Maoist-hit Balaghat seat reported 72.60% polling Jammu & Kashmir: Total seats - 5 1st phase - 1 For the first-time in over three decades, residents at the International Border in Hira Nagar sector of Kathua district exercised their right to vote for the Udhampur seat without any fear or threat of cross-border firing. It was the first major electoral exercise in J&K since the abrogration of Article 370 and bifurcation of erstwhile J&K state into two Union Territories. People men, women, including young and old thronged at the polling station in Kadyala village close to International Border. India and Pakistan on February 24, 2021, announced to strictly uphold the November 2003 border ceasefire pact between the troops of two countries. Residents said due to the ceasefire, more people have come to vote in this election UTTARAKHAND 5 5 Despite clear weather and relatively low temperature, the turnout was below expectation. Villagers of Jalal in Nainital and Tehri parliamentary constituency boycotted the election for lack of infrastructure, posing risks to their travel and safety. Newlywed couples, dressed in their wedding attire, arrived at several polling stations to cast their votes. However, around 350 were not able to vote on polling day due to wedding ceremonies. Bhagwan Singh, father of the groom from village Chhedi in Srinagar, expressed regret for not being able to vote on polling day due to clash over marriage date Maharashtra: Total seats - 48 1st phase - 5 Voting for the five seats took place without untoward events in Maharashtra. The voting began on a slow pace due to the scorching heat in the Vidarbha region. The tribal and Naxalite district of Gadchiroli witnessed the highest turnout at 64.95%, while Nagpur reported lowest at 47.91% till 5pm. In Ramtek-SC seat, 53.38% turnout was reported, 56.87% in BhandaraGondia and 55.11% in Chandrapur seat. To avoid technical snags cropping up in EVMs in the remote polling booths in Gadchiroli, three spare EVMs were dispatched by a helicopter to the Sironcha area of the district, said an official. Manipur: Total seats - 2 1st phase - 2 Sporadic incidents of gunfire and intimidation of voters as well as Congress workers by armed miscreants marred Lok Sabha elections in ethnic violence-hit Manipur on Friday. The turnout was 72.32% in the Inner Manipur seat and 61.98% in Outer Manipur. The violence occurred in places falling under the Inner Manipur seat which straddles the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley. The armed men fired several rounds outside a polling station at Thamnapokpi in Bishnupur district. Three persons were reportedly injured.The voters and the Congress polling agents were intimidated by the armed miscreants Tamil Nadu: Total seats - 39 1st phase - 39 The polling began at 7am amid tight security in most of the 39 constituencies. Argument broke out between voters and officials in some polling stations as authorities did not allow people to carry their smartphones/mobiles inside the booths. People belonging to Parandhur village with over 1,000 voters near Sriperumbudur did not turn up to vote till 9.30 am. Around 1,000 voters of Ennore who had called for boycott of the election over the ammonia gas leak incident at Ennore Creek withdrew their decision and decided to vote Puducherry: Total seats - 1 1st phase - 1 The Union Territory gets to elect their lone representative to the Lok Sabha. A visit to some of the polling stations in rural areas brought to the fore a mixed picture. Pink booths were the centre of attraction. The green environment at a booth housed on the premises of the more-than-century-old VOC Government Boys school in the town added to the lustre of the arrangements. Gruel, nutritious cereals, millets and buttermilk were given to the voters Lakshadweep: Total seats - 1 1st phase - 1 Nearly 60% voter turnout was recorded until 5pm in the Lakshadweep constituency spanning across 10 inhabited islands of the Lakshadweep Archipelago, with an electorate of 57,784, as per data shared by the Election Commission. Out of this total, 28,506 are women. The polling began at 7.30am across the 10 inhabited islands and concluded at 6.30 pm. An official said that the figures provided are preliminary, as voters who were in line by this deadline were given the opportunity to cast their votes Andaman & Nicobar islands: Total seats - 1 1st phase - 1 Around 3,15,148 voters in Andaman and Nicobar Islands have exercised their franchise till 3pm for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the Union Territory. Seven members of the Shompen tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTGs) of the Great Nicobar Islands, on Friday exercised their voting rights for the first time, an election official said. Other two primitive tribes, too, exercised their voting rights like in 2019, the CEO said Arunachal Pradesh: Total seats - 2 1st phase - 2 The unique Malogam polling station in Anjaw district of the state recorded cent per cent polling with the lone female voter, exercising her constitutional right on Friday, officials said. Supporters of two candidates clashed at the Bameng Assembly constituency in East Kameng. Irate mobs damaged EVMs in polling stations elsewhere in the state. Miscreants tried to snatch EVMs in three polling stations in the Nacho constituency in Upper Subansiri and in one in Kurung Kumey district, where polling was also suspended Assam: Total seats - 14 1st phase - 5 Long queues were seen outside booths since morning as polling was underway for five constituencies. Poling began at 7 am in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur and Kaziranga seats, and 86.5 lakh voters are eligible to vote. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal of BJP and Congresss deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi were among those who cast their votes in the first hour Meghalaya: Total seats - 2 1st phase - 2 Voters at numerous polling stations were seen queuing up as early as 6 am, underscoring their enthusiasm to participate in the electoral process. The first five voters were rewarded with mementoes and first-time voters were also felicitated. Voters in a model polling station planted trees after casting their votes. Polling was being held at 3,512 polling stations in which 10 candidates are in the fray Mizoram: Total seats - 1 1st phase - 1 At least 6,500 polling personnel, over 3,500 policemen and 12 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) have been deployed for the polls in the state. All international borders and inter-state borders have been sealed to ensure peaceful elections, a senior police officer said. Although there are six contenders, it is believed that the fight will be mainly among ZPM, MNF and Congress Nagaland: Total seats - 1 1st phase - 1 Polling personnel in six eastern districts of Nagaland waited for nine hours in booths, but not one of the four lakh voters of the region turned up following a shutdown call given by an organisation to press for its demand for Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT). Of the 13.25 lakh voters in Nagaland, 50.41 per cent have exercised their franchise, the officials said. Nagaland Governor La. Ganesan exercised his franchise at Model Polling Station Sikkim: Total seats - 1 1st phase - 1 Over 50% of the 4.64 lakh voters in Sikkim exercised their franchise in the 32 Assembly seats and in the lone Lok Sabha constituency till 3 pm on Friday, an official said. Thirteen companies of CAPF have been deployed in Sikkim, of which five companies are from ITBP and eight from SSB, he added. Former Indian Football captain and SDF vice president Bhaichung Bhutia who is contesting from Barfung (BL) assembly seat voted Tripura: Total seats - 2 1st phase - 1 The opposition Congress and CPM alleged that largescale rigging in several places across the constituency, with the Election Commission saying that it received some complaints and was looking into those. In the bypolls to the Ramnagar assembly seat, which was being held simultaneously, a turnout of 56.68% was recorded. Altogether 14.61 lakh people are eligible to vote in this phase of Lok Sabha polls in Tripura

Rise above caste, religion and vote... Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary

Rise above caste, religion and vote... Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary As the first phase of polling commenced on Friday, Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary appealed to the voters to cast their votes based on the developments done in the state. He requested the people eligible to vote to rise above caste and religion and vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Polling is taking place on the four Lok Sabha seats in Bihar regarding that I want to make a special request from the voters to cast their votes on 'development, development and development.' With the progressive work done by PM Modi in the last 10 years and the fight that he (PM) picked up against corruption, therefore common people have to rise above caste and religion and vote for PM Modi, he said. People of Bihar are quite smart, they know very well whom to give the mandate and this time 40/40 seats will be accorded to BJP by them (people), the BJP leader added. Voting for four parliamentary seats in Bihar- Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui, and Nawada- is underway. Bihar will see polling in all the seven phases. The second phase of polling in the state will be held on April 26, the third phase on May 7, the fourth phase on May 13, the fifth phase on May 20, the sixth phase on May 25, and the seventh phase on June 1. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. Mahagathbandhan, the opposition coalition in Bihar, comprising the RJD, Congress, and Left parties, announced that the RJD, its largest constituent, will contest 26 out of the state's 40 Lok Sabha seats in the elections. The NDA is also in a seat-sharing agreement in Bihar with the Janata Dal-United (JDU) and the LJP for the Lok Sabha polls. The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to contest 17 seats and JD-U 16. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA, comprising the BJP, JD (U), and LJP, dominated by winning 39 out of 40 seats. In the last general elections, all four seats went to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) -- the BJP in Aurangabad, the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) in Gaya, and the then-united Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) from both Jamui and Nawada. With 40 Lok Sabha seats, Bihar is seen as among the most significant states in Indian politics. (ANI)

Uproar over abusive language used against Chirag Paswans mother at RJD's Bihar poll rally

PATNA: A day ahead of Bihars four Lok Sabha constituencies going to polls, a video purportedly showing RJD workers using abusive language against LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswans mother Reena Paswan in RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadavs election rally has gone viral. RJD workers allegedly made adverse comments against Chirags mother during the rally in Jamui constituency from where Chirags brother-in-law Arun Bharti is contesting. RJD candidate Archana Ravidas was also present on the dais when party workers used the alleged offensive language. Reacting sharply, Chirag said, Tejashwi was present on the dais when RJD workers used abusive language against my family. Instead of stopping his party workers from making comments, Tejashwi was standing quite to make sure that his party workers finished making unsavoury comments against my mother and my sister. It is very unfortunate. When mediapersons approached Tejashwi, he asked, Have I used abusive language? I have also seen that video. Nobody present on the dais was involved in it but somebody from the gathering did it. He added, I would not have tolerated had I heard such a language being used against Chirags mother. Former CM and Hindustani Awam Morcha patron Jitan Ram Manjhi wrote on X, Till now, RJD goons used to attack Dalits behind the camera and played with our honour, but in Jamui, a Dalit leader like Chirag was abused along with his mother and sister on the instructions of Tejashwi. It is shameful. People of Bihar will take revenge for every insult of yours on the day of elections. Bihar all set for first phase of Lok Sabha polls The stage is set for the first of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections in Bihar on Friday. Four Lok Sabha constituencies Aurangabad, Gaya (SC), Nawada and Jamui (SC) are going to polls in the initial stage for which foolproof security arrangements have been made. Over 7.6 million voters are eligible to vote for 38 candidates in the fray in the first phase. A total of 7903 polling stations have been set up in all the four Lok Sabha constituencies. A total of 92602 first time voters will exercise their franchise in the first phase. Of the 7.6 million voters, 39,63,223 were male and 36,38,151 were female voters.

Elections 2024: 21 states, UTs set for polling in phase one; 102 LS seats in fray

The first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will see 102 constituencies across 21 states and union territories go to polls on Friday. The first phase of polling will take place across all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu, all five seats in Uttarakhand, both seats in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Meghalaya, and the sole seat in Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, respectively. Polling will also take place for 12 out of 25 seats in Rajasthan, eight out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, six out of 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh, five out of 48 seats in Maharashtra, five out of 14 seats in Assam, and four out of 40 seats in Bihar. Additionally, three out of 42 seats in West Bengal, one out of 11 seats in Chhattisgarh, and one out of two seats in Tripura will be contested. In the union territories, one out of five seats in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the sole seats in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry, will be up for grabs. Voting for the 543 Lok Sabha seats will take place across seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with the counting of votes slated for June 4. Separately, voting will also be held for 92 assembly seats in the state elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim on Friday. Of the 102 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP had won 39 in 2019, with the ruling alliance NDA bagging 12, five and three of them in Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, respectively. The BJP's existing allies hold seven of them. And in Tamil Nadu, the DMK-led alliance had swept 38 of the 39 seats in 2019 general elections. Amongst the prominent leaders trying their electoral luck in phase one are Union ministers Nitin Gadkari from Nagpur, Kiren Rijiju from Arunachal Pradesh (West), Arjun Ram Meghwal from Bikaner, Sarbanada Sonowal from Dibrugarh in Assam, Sanjeev Baliyan from Muzaffarnagar in western UP, Jitendra Singh from Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir and Bhupendra Yadav from Alwar in Rajasthan. Tamilisai Soundararajan, who recently resigned as governor of Telangana and Lt Governor of Puducherry to return to active politics, is contesting from Chennai South Lok Sabha constituency. Nakul Nath, son of Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, is seeking reelection from Chhindwara. Will the BJP's lotus bloom in Tamil Nadu? Tamil Nadu is gearing up for polls a mid fierce campaigning and an intense three-way political battle between the alliances led by state heavyweightsthe DMK and the AIADMKand the BJP, respectively. With elections for 39 Lok Sabha seats looming, approximately 6.23 crore voters are poised to cast their ballots across nearly 68,000 polling stations. The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has made unprecedented efforts to gain ground in the Dravidian stronghold. Modi's exhaustive campaign across Tamil Nadu, including rallies in Chennai, Coimbatore, Vellore, and Tirunelveli, underscores the BJP's determination to break its electoral jinx in the state. From raking up alleged corruption and 'parivarvad' politics of the DMK-Congress alliance to the Katchatheevu issue, Modi left no stone unturned in his nine visit to the state Coimbatore, the hub of western Tamil Nadu, is the most keenly watched constituency in the state and the BJP's K Annamalai is slogging to emerge victorious, battling against Dravidian giants the DMK and AIADMK. Meanwhile, the DMK, led by Chief Minister Stalin, has campaigned on platforms of social justice and welfare measures, portraying the elections as a battle against the BJP's divisive politics. Throughout the campaign, Stalin has repeatedly emphasised the importance of these elections, likening them to a second independence movement aimed at freeing the nation from the BJP's influence. In contrast, the AIADMK, under the leadership of Edappadi K Palaniswami, has staunchly defended its record in governance and taken a strong stance against the DMK's campaign. Palaniswami has vigorously addressed various issues, including law and order, and has accused the BJP of discrimination based on caste and religion. Despite facing challenges from both the DMK and BJP, the AIADMK remains confident in its ability to weather the storm, with Palaniswami asserting that the party will emerge victorious with the support of the electorate. UP: Eight seats up for grabs in India's largest state The first phase of the seven-phase parliamentary election in western Uttar Pradesh sees voters in eight Lok Sabha constituencies exercising their constitutional right. These constituencies, falling in the Jat and sugarcane belt, include Saharanpur, Bijnor, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit, spread across nine districts. The contest is three-cornered, primarily between the ruling BJP-led NDA, the Samajwadi Party (SP), and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The BJP has allied with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), while the SP has partnered with INDIA bloc ally Congress. The BSP, however, decided to go solo. Key issues for voters include employment, education, and development. A total of 80 candidates, including seven women, are in the fray. The eligible voter count stands at 1.43 crore, with a significant Muslim voter presence ranging from 35 to 50 percent. Notable candidates include Jitin Prasada from Pilibhit, who got the ticket over sitting BJP MP Varun Gandhi , Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan from Muzaffarnagar, and Azad Samaj Party chief Chandra Shekhar Azad from Nagina. In the previous 2019 polls, the BJP secured victories in Muzaffarnagar, Kairana, and Pilibhit, the BSP won in Saharanpur, Nagina and Bijnor, while the SP won in Moradabad and Rampur, the stronghold of its jailed leader Azam Khan. However, the party later lost Rampur to BJP in a bypoll. Cracking the Jat code: BJP's strategic courting of RLD and what it means in western Uttar Pradesh Maharashtra: Polls in 5 LS seats; Gadkari among 97 nominees in fray More than 95 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise on Friday in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra , covering five of the 48 constituencies, where 97 candidates, including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari of the BJP, are in fray. Polling will be held in the constituencies of Nagpur, Ramtek (SC), Bhandara-Gondia, Chandrapur and Naxal-hit Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST), all located in the easternmost parts of the state. There are 95,54,667 voters in the five Lok Sabha constituencies in the Vidarbha region where voting will take place on Friday. Of these, 48,28,142 are male, 47,26,178 are female and 347 are transgender voters, according to a statement from the state electoral office. In Nagpur, which houses the RSS headquarters, a direct fight is on cards between Gadkari, who is seeking a third term, and Congress candidate Vikas Thakre. First phase of LS polls in Maharashtra: It's Congress party's 'caste calculations' vs BJP's 'Modi charisma' In Chandrapur, BJP candidate and Maharashtra minister Sudhir Mungantiwar is facing Congress nominee Pratibha Dhanorkar, wife of late parliamentarian Suresh Dhanorkar, who was the lone MP from the grand old party to be elected from Maharashtra in 2019 from the seat. In Bhandara-Gondia, the BJP has fielded sitting MP Sunil Mendhe, who is pitted against Congress candidate Dr Prashant Patole. Two-time Lok Sabha MP of BJP, Ashok Nete, is contesting against Congress nominee Dr Namdev Kirsan in Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST), where some areas are affected Naxal insurgency. In the 2019 elections, Nete had defeated Congress candidate Dr Namdev Usendi. In Ramtek (SC), the fight is between Shyamkumar Barwe of the Congress and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena's candidate Raju Parwe. Maharashtra, which has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh, will vote in five phases between April 19 and May 20. Rajasthan: 12 seats in fray; will BJP's dominance continue? In the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan, 12 out of 25 seats will be contested. Polling will be held in Churu, Nagaurm, Ganganagar, Jhunjhunu, Bikaner, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur and Dausa. According to chief electoral officer Praveen Gupta, a total of 2.54 crore voters are set to vote in the first phase on Friday. Notably, a Union minister is among the 114 candidates in the fray. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is contesting from Bikaner against Congress candidate Govind Ram Meghwal. The Bharatiya Janata Party won all 25 seats in Rajasthan on its own in 2014, and in 2019, the NDA won 25 seats, the saffron party won 24 seats and the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) won one seat. Key constituencies include Nagaur, witnessing a contest between the RLP, now in alliance with Congress, and the BJP, and Churu, with former BJP MP Rahul Kaswan contesting as a Congress candidate. In Sikar, the CPI(M) is challenging the BJP's incumbent MP. The ruling BJP focused its campaign on PM Modi's popularity and its infrastructure work, while the Congress raised issues of central agency misuse and unemployment. Notable campaigners include PM Modi, Amit Shah, and Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. The second phase of the elections in Rajasthan will be held on April 26. In the second phase, polls will be held in 13 Lok Sabha constituencies: Tonk, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar. MP: Six LS seats in action, including Kamal Nath's bastion Six constituents will be in action during the first phase of the four phases for the Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh. The constituencies include Shahdol, Mandla, Jabalpur, Balaghat, Chhindwara, and Sidhi, covering 13 districts and 27 assembly segments. A total of 88 candidates are in the fray, with Jabalpur having the highest number at 19 and Shahdol the lowest at 10. The total number of registered voters across the six constituencies is 1,13,09,636, with arrangements made for shelter, water, and medical assistance at polling booths due to the hot weather. In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured 28 out of 29 Lok Sabha seats, while the Congress won only one seat in Chhindwara, held by Nakul Nath, the son of former Chief Minister Kamal Nath. The second, third and fourth phases of the elections will take place on April 26, May 7 and May 13. Kamal Nath fighting lone battle to help son win Chhindwara and protect home turf Over 75 lakh voters to decide four seats in Bihar In Bihar, the stage is set for the first phase more than 75 lakh voters will decide the fate of 38 candidates standing in four constituencies: Nawada, Aurangabad, Gaya and Jamui. Tight security arrangements are in place at Nawada and Aurangabad, besides reserved seats in Gaya and Jamui, where a majority of nearly 5,000 polling booths have been marked as sensitive, given these districts' long history of naxal violence. Nawada, with 20.06 lakh voters, sees a tough battle primarily between the BJP's Vivek Thakur and the RJD's Shravan Kushwaha, with Independent candidate Binod Yadav adding complexity. Gaya, with 18.18 lakh voters, witnesses 14 candidates, including former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, an NDA ally, and RJD's Kumar Sarvajeet. Jamui, with 19.07 lakh voters, features a showdown between Arun Bharti from Chirag Paswan's LJP (Ram Vilas) and RJD's Archana Ravidas. The party's president Chirag Paswan, whose sister is married to Bharti, has shifted base to Hajipur after having represented the seat for two consecutive terms. Aurangabad, with over 18 lakh voters, sees BJP's Sushil Kumar Singh facing RJD's Abhay Kushwaha. 76.01 lakh voters, including 36.38 lakh females and 255 belonging to the third gender, are expected to cast their votes. Uttarakhand: Can BJP 'three-peat' clean sweep? Uttarakhand's all five Lok Sabha seats go into polling in phase one, with the BJP aiming to retain the seats for the third time and the Congress looking to regain lost ground in the state. The five seats going to polls on Friday are Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar and the lone reserved seat of Almora. The BJP won all five seats in Uttarakhand in the 2014 and 2019 general elections. More than 83 lakh voters will decide the fate of 55 candidates in the fray. Sitting BJP MPs Ajay Bhatt, Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah and Ajay Tamta have been fielded by the party from Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar, Tehri Garhwal and Almora, respectively. The BJP has replaced its candidates in Haridwar and Pauri Garhwal. Former chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat is contesting in place of Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank from Haridwar and Anil Baluni in place of Tirath Singh Rawat from Pauri Garhwal. The Congress has fielded former PCC president Ganesh Godiyal from Pauri Garhwal, former chief minister Harish Rawat's son Virendra Rawat from Haridwar, Jot Singh Gunsola from Tehri Garhwal, Prakash Joshi from Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar and Pradeep Tamta from Almora. Candidates from the Bahujan Samaj Party, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal and relatively smaller outfits and independents are also in the fray, but straight contests are likely between traditional rivalsthe BJP and Congressin all the seats. Experts say that Haridwar's demography, which has substantial minority and Dalit votes, may also not be a cakewalk for the BJP's Trivendra Rawat, despite his advantage over his rival in terms of experience, as Congress veteran Harish Rawat, who had won the seat in 2009, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure his son's victory from the seat. If the Modi factor works again as it did in 2014 and 2019, overriding all other factors, the BJP will obviously reap the benefits but if unemployment, inflation, continued migration from the hills and performance of BJP MPs over the past 10 years outweigh the national issues, the Congress will gain, political analyst Jaisingh Rawat said. Bengal: Triangular tussle between TMC, BJP and Cong-Left In the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, all attention is on Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduars constituencies in north Bengal. A total of 56,26,108 voters are eligible to vote in 5,814 booths in this phase. Coochbehar, where Union Minister Nisith Pramanik faces TMC's Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, remains significant due to past violence and political rivalries. The deployment of central forces is higher in Coochbehar compared to the other two constituencies. Both BJP and TMC have intensified their campaigns, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee addressing rallies. Key issues include corruption allegations against ruling party leaders, denial of central funds, and the 2021 Sitalkuchi firing incident. The BJP won all three constituencies in the 2019 general elections and maintained its grip in Coochbehar and Alipurduars in the 2021 assembly polls. But, the TMC had the upper hand in Jalpaiguri in the 2021 assembly polls, winning five and the saffron party managed to win two. The Left Front and Congress are contesting together, having secured only single-digit vote shares in 2019. The BJP has renominated Jayanta Roy in Jalpaiguri and Pramanik in Cooch Behar, but replaced last time's winner John Barla with the party's Madarihat MLA Manoj Tigga in Alipurduars. The TMC has, however, changed candidates in all three seats, fielding Prakash Chik Baraik in Alipurduars, Nirmal Chandra Roy in Jalpaiguri and Sitai MLA Basunia in Coochbehar. Direct, triangular contests in Assam's five LS seats Assam gears up for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in five constituencies, with 35 candidates vying for victory, including Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal . The electorate of 86,47,869, comprising 43,64,859 women and 42,82,887 male voters, will cast their votes in 10,001 polling booths under tight security with 60 companies of security forces deployed. The BJP is contesting in all five seats, the Congress in four and supporting the Assam Jatiya Parishad contestant in one, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in two and the All India Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) in one seat each. A direct contest is on the cards between the BJP and Congress in Jorhat, Kaziranga and Lakhimpur, while in Dibrugarh and Sonitpur, there is likely to be a triangular fight among the ruling party, Congress, AJP and AAP. The prestigious Dibrugarh constituency has three candidates in fray: BJP's Sonowal, a Rajya Sabha MP, pitted against the United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA) candidate Lurinjyoti Gogoi of the AJP and AAP's Manoj Dhanowar. In Jorhat, four candidates are in contention, with Lok Sabha's Deputy Leader of the Opposition Gaurav Gogoi locked in a direct contest with sitting BJP MP Topon Gogoi. Gogoi had to shift his constituency to Jorhat from Kaliabor, which has been renamed Kaziranga following a delimitation exercise in the state last year. In Kaziranga, BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa is locked in a direct contest with former Congress MLA Roselina Tirkey, with both candidates belonging to the tea workers' community. Kaziranga has the highest number of 11 candidates in the fray. In Sonitpur, also renamed from the earlier Tezpur after delimitation, there are eight nominees, with a triangular contest likely between BJP MLA Ranjit Dutta, Congress candidate Prem Lal Ganju and AAP's Rishiraj Kaundinya. Lakhimpur has nine contestants, prominent among them being sitting BJP MP Pradan Baruah and Uday Shankar Hazarika of the Congress. Two LS seats in strife-torn Manipur go to polls Manipur gears up for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections amid tight security measures, particularly in the wake of recent ethnic violence. The Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat, which comprises 32 of the 60 assembly segments in the state, and 15 assembly segments of the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat will go to polls in the first phase on Friday. Six candidates, including state Education Minister Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh of the BJP and Angomcha Bimol Akoijam of the Congress, are in the fray for the Inner Manipur seat. Outer Manipur, which is reserved for Scheduled Tribes, will witness a four-cornered contest between Naga People's Front's K Timothy Zimik, Congress' Alfred Kanngam Arthur and independent candidates Kho John and Alyson Abonmai, with all the candidates being Nagas. A total of 9.91 lakh voters are eligible in Inner Manipur and over 10.22 lakh voters in Outer Manipur. Special arrangements have been made for people displaced due to ethnic strife, with special polling stations set up. The campaigning has been subdued due to the prevailing tensions, and security has been heightened with the deployment of central armed police forces, especially in vulnerable and critical polling stations. Polling personnel have been dispatched to their respective stations, with special provisions for internally displaced people. The election authorities have ensured gender diversity in the management of polling stations, with some stations being exclusively manned by women. Despite the challenges posed by the recent unrest, efforts are underway to conduct the elections in a free, fair, and peaceful manner. Tripura and Nagaland In Tripura, the first phase of Lok Sabha polls will see voting for the Tripura West Parliamentary constituency and a by-poll in the Ramnagar Assembly. The main contest in Tripura West is between the BJP's Biplab Kumar Deb and state Congress president Asish Kumar Saha. With 14.61 lakh eligible voters, including 7.33 lakh males and 7.28 lakh females, the constituency has 1682 polling booths. Central paramilitary forces will secure all booths, with webcasting from each. In the Ramnagar Assembly by-election, BJP's Agartala Mayor Dipak Majumer faces former CPI(M) MLA Ratan Das, with 54,669 electors deciding their fate. In Nagaland, over 13.25 lakh voters will decide the fate of three candidates. Congress nominee S Supongmeren Jamir, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) candidate Chumben Murry and Independent Hayithung Tungoe Lotha are contesting the elections. BJP President J P Nadda, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, and Deputy Chief Ministers T R Zeliang and Y Patton addressed several rallies in support of their candidate. Polling will run from 7 am to 4 pm, with 13,25,383 eligible voters, including 19,999 first-time voters and 6,707 people with disabilities. Female voters slightly outnumber male voters. In 2019, NDPP's Tokheho Yepthomi won against Congress's K L Chishi. J-K: Udhampur LC seat in action amid ceasefire The Udhampur seat in Jammu and Kashmir will go to polls on Friday in the first phase of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. In view of the ongoing ceasefire between India and Pakistan and the heavy deployment of paramilitary forces, the voting process is expected to be peaceful in 2,637 polling stations in the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency, a senior election official said. Union Minister Jitendra Singh is eyeing a third consecutive term in the constituency after winning the seat for BJP in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, facing a major challenge from Congress candidate Choudhary Lal Singh, who had also won the seat twice in 2004 and 2009. Democratic Progressive Azad Party's (DPAP) candidate G M Saroori, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Amit Kumar and six independents will also be contesting the elections from the Udhampur constituency. According to officials, there are 16,23,195 eligible voters. Among them, 845,283 are men, 777,899 are women and 13 are third-gender voters. There are a total of 84,468 potential first-time voters, aged 1819, of whom 45,825 are men, 38,641 are women and two are third genders, the officials said. Lone Puducherry segment all set for three-way fight The fate of the 26 candidates in fray for the Lok Sabha polls will be sealed on Friday when voters spread across four regions will pick the lone MP from this union territory, where the fight is largely confined between the ruling BJP and Congress. BJP leader and Home Minister A Namassivayam, fielded on behalf of the AINRC-BJP combine, will face off Congress MP and PCC president V Vaithilingam, while AIADMK's G Tamizhvendhan is also testing his luck as a debutant. The Union Territory has a total of 10,23,699 voters spread over Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions. Andaman's lone seat in action The lone seat in Andaman and Nicobar Islands will see 3.15 lakh voters get an opportunity to exercise their franchise. A total of 12 candidates, including two women and five independents, are in the fray for the polls. Of the 3.15 lakh voters, 1.64 lakh are men and 1.51 lakh are women, while there are four third-gender voters. The electorate also includes 39 voters from the Great Nicobarese tribe of the Strait Islands, 68 members of the Onge tribe at Hut Bay and 98 members of the Shompen tribe of Great Nicobar Island. Special polling stations have been established for them. This time, the saffron party has nominated Bishnu Pada Ray as its candidate, while the Congress has fielded its sitting MP, Kuldeep Rai Sharma. Ray was first elected to Lok Sabha in 1999, when he defeated Congress candidate Sharma by 2,990 votes. He was re-elected in 2009 and again in 2014. In the 2019 elections, however, Sharma secured a victory against BJP's Vishal Jolly (Ray was denied a ticket) by a narrow margin of 1,407 votes.

Lok Sabha polls: Bihars Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui, Nawada to vote in first phase tomorrow

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Bihar Lok Sabha 2024 Elections Phase 1 April 19: Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui, Nawada to go to polls. Check key candidates

Bihar gears up for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections in seven phases starting from April 19. Candidates from various parties like BJP, RJD, and Lok Janshakti Party contest in the first phase for seats in Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui, and Nawada.

ECI issues notification for 4th phase for 11 LS seats in state

Mumbai: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday issued notification for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 for 11 constituencies, including Aurangabad, in the fourth phase election to be held on May 13. These constituencies include Aurangabad, Beed, and Jalna in the Marathwada region. Pune,Shirur, Maval, Ahmednagar, and Shirdi are in the []

Aurangabad Lok Sabha Constituency: BJPs Sushil Kumar Singh to take on RJDs Abhay Kumar Kushwaha

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Centre Was Not Prepared for Covid Pandemic: Owaisi

Hyderabad: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi blamed the Centre for its lack of preparedness during the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in oxygen shortages and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. Owaisi criticised Prime Minister Modi's absence from the public eye for 20 days during the second wave of Covid-19. Asserting citizens' right to vote for their preferred political party, Owaisi pointed to the devastating impact of the pandemic, with millions succumbing to the virus. He highlighted the failures of the government, including the grim scenes of bodies floating in rivers and migrant labourers perishing on railway tracks due to a lack of oxygen and support. We had bodies of people floating on various rivers. We have seen migrant labourers walking in Aurangabad. They died on railway tracks. The government failed to provide oxygen, he said. Owaisi further accused the government of neglecting crucial issues such as unemployment, rising prices, increased instances of mob lynching, communalism, and growing hostility towards minorities. He raised concerns about threats to constitutional values and pluralism in the country, questioning the government's claims of economic prowess against the backdrop of persistent challenges like low per capita income.

Bengaluru airport sees highest passenger traffic of 37.53 million in 2024

BENGALURU: The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) recorded its highest ever passenger traffic as well as cargo growth during the financial year 2023-2024. It catered to a whopping 37.53 million passengers and 4,39,524 metric tonnes of cargo. An official release said the airport catered to 32.6 million domestic and 4.67 million international passengers during this period. The airports domestic sector recorded a growth of 17% while the international sector recorded a growth of 23%. The overall growth reached 18%, it said. The highest daily passenger figure since its inception in May 2008 was recorded on April 29, 2023, at 1,16,688. Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Operating Officer of airport operator Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), said, As we reflect on the past financial year, its been a landmark period with the highest passenger and cargo figures ever recorded in our airports history. We have also seen an increase in the number of airlines as well as destinations we connect to. Our position as the No.1 airport for processing perishable cargo for the third consecutive year highlights our steadfast commitment to advancing cargo development facilities. With the successful launch of Terminal 2 and partnerships with leading airlines and cargo operators, we are poised to solidify our position as the premier gateway to South and Central India. KIA also saw a remarkable increase in air traffic movements (ATMs) of 2,45,880 recorded during FY 24. New routes FY 24 saw the launch of several new airlines and routes, including Air India Express, Alliance Air, and Fly91 on the domestic front and Manta Air, Maldivian Airlines and Thai Lion Air contributing to enhanced international connectivity. Internationally, new routes to Munich, Dhaalu, Phuket and Denpasar have been introduced. In addition, Virgin Atlantic started daily flights from Bengaluru to London Heathrow in the last week of March 2024. On the domestic front, it has expanded its routes to destinations such as Salem, Shivamogga, Aurangabad, Jharsuguda, Ayodhya, Hirasar Rajkot, Nanded and Sindhudurg.

PM Modi claims 90 percent of Constituent Assembly members were 'Sanatanis' in Bihar poll rally

PATNA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday refuted the oppositions allegation that the BJP was trying to change India's Constitution and reiterated that even Baba Saheb BR Ambedkar, who had drafted the Constitution, cannot alter it . PM Modis reactions came a day after Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former Union minister Lalu Prasad alleged that the BJP was planning to change the Constitution . The RJD chief had remarked that Dalits, poor and backwards would not forgive the BJP and PM Modi if it happened. Addressing an election rally in Bihars Gaya, PM Modi took a jibe at Lalu and other opposition leaders by contending that they were using the Constitution as a political weapon and spreading lies that the BJP would change the Constitution if voted to power for the third consecutive term. Those who want to use the Constitution as political power and spread distorted narratives for the last three decades with an intention to intimidate and scare people like the country will burn and will not survive if the BJP and RSS come to power, the prime minister claimed, adding: ...even Dr BR Ambedkar, who had drafted the Constitution, cannot change the Constitution of India. Stop spreading lies. Those insulting the Constitution do not have the right to remain in public life. Election 2024 is to punish those who are against Constitution: PM Modi in Bihar Modi further said, When I brought the proposal to Parliament to observe the Sambhidhan Diwas, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge opposed it by arguing what the need for it was when we celebrated Republic Day. Kharge could not understand that we should constantly keep generating 'shraddha' and creating 'sanskar' towards the Constitution. Modi highlighted that Dr Rajendra Prasad had led the Constituent Assembly, with Dr BR Ambedkar chairing the drafting committee, supported by Sanatanis. He emphasised the inclusion of numerous eminent figures in the assembly who diligently worked to shape the constitution, considering the sentiments of the people. In the Constituent Assembly, more than 8090 percent of the members were Sanatanis as they extended their support to Ambedkar to draft such a great Constitution of India, he remarked. Meanwhile, Modi claimed that global instability necessitated a strong government capable of making bold decisions. He also appealed to the people to make the BJP candidate from Aurangabad Sushil Kumar Singh and NDA ally Jitan Ram Manjhi victorious in the election. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had last month alleged that the ultimate goal of Narendra Modi and the BJP is to destroy Babasaheb's Constitution after BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde's statement that the party needs a two-thirds majority to amend the Constitution . On Monday, RJD chief Lalu accused the BJP and PM Modi of trying to change the Constitution of India. Lalu had alleged that the people of the country, especially Dalits, OBCs and EBCs, would not forgive the BJP and PM Modi if the Constitution was changed for political gains. Congress slams BJP after its Nagaur candidate Jyoti Mirdha campaigns on 'constitutional change' Country's democracy in danger, conspiracy being hatched to change Constitution: Sonia Gandhi

Yogis new slogan: 80 banega aadhaar, NDA 400 paar...

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who led the ruling partys campaign in neighbouring Bihar, unveiled a new slogan while explaining the BJPs manifesto in the state capital on Monday: 80 banega aadhaar, NDA 400 paar, phir ek baar Modi sarkar. 80 refers to the number of LS seats in Uttar Pradesh. The BJPs star campaigner also launched a scathing attack on the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal in Aurangabad and Nawada, appealing to the people to reject nepotism and caste-based politics. Addressing the media at the BJP office, Yogi called the BJP manifesto Modis guarantee. It reaffirms our dedication to building a developed India while reinforcing our firm stance against corruption, he said. Yogi said the first four copies of the BJP manifesto released on the birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution were to represent the four social pillars of the country, which are the poor (Garib), youth (Yuva), farmers (Annadata), and women (Nari). He added that the BJP was more than just a political entity, embodying the aspirations of 140 crore people with a commitment to realising Indias vision on a mission mode. The aspirations of the nation today align with PM Modis vision, which guides our mission. The country places its trust in Modis Guarantee, he remarked. Yogi said the BJPs manifesto served as the blueprint for a new, great, self-reliant and developed India. Besides declaring a resolute war on corruption, it reaffirms the commitment to elevate India from Antyodaya to Sarvodaya and position it as a global leader, he added. Four social pillars Yogi said the first four copies of the BJP manifesto released on the birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar were to represent the four social pillars of the country, which are the poor (Garib), youth (Yuva), farmers (Annadata), and women (Nari).

Vote for NDA to put an end to 'goonda raj', 'dynasty politics': Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed a rally in Bihar's Aurangabad, urging voters to support the NDA to end 'goonda raj' and 'dynasty politics'. He criticized the RJD and highlighted BJP's achievements in UP, emphasizing the need for a third term for PM Modi. Aurangabad will vote on April 19.

Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui and Nawada prepare to vote on April 19 in the first of the seven-phase election in Bihar

While all four constituencies went to the NDA in 2019, the Opposition mahagathbandhan too is geared up for the complex voter composition, with the BSP candidate creating a tough battle for both major alliances in Aurangabad

Bihar: Choose NDA to end Goonda Raj, dynasty politics, says Yogi

Aurangabad/Nawada: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday, April 15, urged people in Bihar to vote for the NDA to put an end to goonda raj and dynasty politics in the state. Addressing election rallies in Bihars Aurangabad and Nawada districts, Adityanath, without mentioning the Samajwadi Party by name, alleged, Like the RJD here, 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 .

Maharashtra's Aurangabad LS seat to see 2019 rerun of contest between key candidates

Maharashtra's Aurangabad LS seat to see 2019 rerun of contest between key candidates The Lok Sabha constituency of Aurangabad, which has undergone a name change, will see a repeat of the fight witnessed in 2019 when the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) caused a big upset in Maharashtra by dislodging the undivided Shiv Sena from its citadel. Though the district has been rechristened Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar by the state government, in records of the Election Commission (EC), the prestigious Lok Sabha constituency in the Marathwada region is still known by its old name of Aurangabad. Aurangabad had been won by the undivided Shiv Sena six times since 1989, but five years ago the Bal Thackeray-founded party suffered a setback when its veteran leader Chandrakant Khaire faced an unexpected defeat at the hands of AIMIM candidate Imtiaz Jaleel by a narrow margin of less than 4,500 votes. The central Maharashtra constituency, which goes to polls in the fourth phase on May 13, will see Khaire, now the candidate of the Shiv Sena (UBT) post-split in the party, and Jaleel, re-nominated by the AIMIM, locking horns again for electoral supremacy. However, much has changed in Maharashtra politics between 2019 and 2024. The Shiv Sena suffered a split in June 2022 and the faction headed by former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has acquired a new identity and got a new poll symbol. Khaire is with the group led by Thackeray. It remains to be seen if the Hyderabad-based outfit led by Asaduddin Owaisi retains hold over the constituency or the Shiv Sena (UBT), facing first Lok Sabha polls post-split, stages a comeback. Aurangabad, an industrial hub, is the biggest city of the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. This constituency consists of the rural assembly segments of Kannad, Gangapur, Vaijapur and urban seats of Aurangabad Central, West and East. The Lok Sabha constituency comprises 30,52,724 voters, including 16,00,169 men, 14,52,415 women and 140 third gender persons. Aurangabad was initially a Congress stronghold with the grand old party winning the seat multiple times in elections post-independence. It acquired saffron hue in the late 1980s and 90s when the Shiv Sena made inroads and established itself as a prominent political player. The seat became one of the bastions of the undivided Shiv Sena after Mumbai and Thane. As a result, all six assembly segments of the Lok Sabha constituency were bagged by the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in the October 2019 polls. Suresh Chandra of the Indian National Congress (INC) was the first Lok Sabha MP from Aurangabad (1952 to 1957). Later, freedom fighter and prominent leader of Hyderabad freedom struggle Swami Ramanand Teerth, also a Congressman, became the second MP from Aurangabad. The seat remained with the Congress till 1971. However, the tide turned in 1977 when Bapusaheb Kaldate of the Janata Party defeated the Congress candidate with a margin of 57,089 votes. Sahebrao Dongaonkar of the Indian Congress (Socialist) won the seat in 1984. Shiv Sena corporator and then-Mayor Moreshwar Save bagged the Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat in 1989 and retained it in 1991. Save, a Hindutva leader, was associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. After 1991, the seat remained with the Shiv Sena till 2019 barring in 1998 when Ramkrushna Baba Patil of the Congress won it in mid-term polls. Then-Shiv Sena MLA Khaire emerged as a formidable figure and won Lok Sabha polls four straight times from the seat - in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014. In the interim, Jaleel, a journalist-turned-politician, joined the AIMIM and started cultivating a voter base in Aurangabad district, which has a significant presence of Muslim electors. Jaleels efforts paid off in 2014, when he won the Aurangabad Central assembly seat by defeating Shiv Sena candidate Pradeep Jaiswal. In 2019, the journalist-turned-politician was rewarded by the AIMIM with a Lok Sabha poll ticket and he did not disappoint his party as he emerged victorious by defeating Khaire by a margin of 4,492 votes. That was first time the AIMIM won a Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra, which sends 48 MPs to the Lower House of Parliament, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh (80). In 2024, Aurangabad will see a different battle following the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena, whose voter base is now divided between the two rival factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. After the split, three out of the four Shiv Sena MLAs from the district, representing Aurangabad (Central), Aurangabad (West) and Vaijapur, joined the Shinde camp. The fourth MLA, Udaysingh Rajput (Kannad), is with the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT). The ruling BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance (Mahayuti) is yet to announce its nominee, but the main fight is likely to be between Jaleel and Khaire. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Ambadas Danve, who is Leader of Opposition in the legislative council, wanted to contest Lok Sabha polls from Aurangabad, but the party once again reposed faith in Khaire to wrest the seat from the AIMIM. Water shortage remains one of the key issues in the city whose residents get supply once every eight days. A water pipeline is being laid from the Jayakwadi dam, located 55km south of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city, to meet the water shortage. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is an industrial hub and houses breweries, pharma, automobile, seed and steel units. It is listed among the top 30 exporting cities of the country. The district is also home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites -- Ajanta and Ellora Caves -- which are popular tourist destinations.

Telangana: Trans woman, 17-yr-old held for extortion

HYDERABAD: In a joint operation, Task Force sleuths along with Trimulgherry police arrested a trans woman and a 17-year-old boy for allegedly extorting money from shopkeepers at the Lothukunta Traffic Signal. The cops also seized Rs 3,490 in cash and a mobile phone. According to the police, the accused Swapna Kumari, 37, who hails from Aurangabad in Maharashtra, and the boy, who hails from Murshidabad in West Bengal, would demand payments from shopkeepers and street vendors at the junction apart from commuters passing by. The cops said the boy was impersonating a trans person. Meanwhile, the police have urged the public to call on 100 or approach the nearest police station if they come across instances of trans persons or individuals pretending to be transgender engaging in beggary, extortion or causing public nuisance.

BIhar: Shah calls for BJP win in all 40 seats, 3rd term for Modi

PATNA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah attacked Congress for its appeasement policy and accused it of working to re-divide the country. He also cornered the grand old party on corruption, saying those who have looted money of the poor would not be spared. Addressing an election rally at Guraru in Bihars Gaya district, Shah alleged that the Congress could go to any extent for votes. The country was divided in 1947 by the Congress. Today, the party is inclined to repeat it. The BJP and PM Modi will not allow it to do so, he said. Shah referred to the remarks of a Congress leader who spoke of the countrys division into north and south. He accused the Congress leadership of maintaining silence over such remarks and alleged that the party has favoured the appeasement policy for generations starting with Jawaharlal Nehru to Rahul Gandhi. On corruption, he said: The RJD-Congress alliance doesnt know that the BJP and PM Modi will not spare the corrupt. They will have to return the money at all costs. Calling upon people to elect Modi for a third term, he said this election was important because if the BJP returns to power, the country would become the third-largest economy in the world. He reminded the people of his partys slogan of Abki baar 400 ke paar and said Bihar had given 31 out of 40 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 and 39 seats to the NDA in the 2019 elections. I renew my appeal to the people to give 40 out of 40 seats in this election to make Modi Prime Minister for a third term, he said. Shah highlighted the NDA achievements, saying Maoist activities are contained to a large extent across the country and development works were underway in the Maoist-hit areas. Taking a jibe at Lalu Prasads RJD for making derogatory remarks against Ramcharitmanas and other religious books of the Hindus, he said: These people are anti-sanatana dharma and even opposed to chanting Vande Matram. Maoist hotbeds Polling is due in Bihars Aurangabad in the first phase on April 19. The state will witness polling in seven phases. NDAs Sushil Kumar Singh (BJP) faces Abhay Kumar Kushwaha of RJD from Aurangabad while Jitan Ram Manjhi from Gaya will take on Kumar Sarvajeet. These areas are Maoist hotbeds where armed men of the extremist group CPI (Maoist) are involved in political killings.

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

RJD releases list of 22 candidates for LS polls in Bihar

PATNA: In a late evening development, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) released a list of its 22 candidates, including party president Lalu Prasads two daughters, for the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. The elections are to be held in seven phases in the state and the first phase of voting will take place on April 19. Lalus daughters Misa Bharti and Rohini Acharya have been fielded from Patliputra and Saran Lok Sabha seats. Rohini, who remains active on social media platforms, came into limelight after she donated one of her kidneys to his ailing father. She is making debut in electoral politics from Saran from where Lalu had earlier been elected to Lok Sabha. Misa, a Rajya Sabha member, has unsuccessfully contested parliamentary elections from Patliputra twice. She was defeated by former union minister Ram Kripal Yadav. While Misa is pitted against Ram Kripal once again from Patliputra, Rohini is fighting against former union minister and BJP sitting MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy from Saran. The party has given tickets to a turncoat Bima Bharti from Purnea. A don-turned politician Vijay Kumar Shukla alias Munna Shukla, whose name had figured in the killing of former state minister Brij Bihari Prasad, has been fielded from Vaishali. He is pitted against LJP (Ram Vilas) nominee Veena Devi. Shahnawaz Alam has been fielded from Araria while Ritu Jaiswal will contest from Sheohar. Kumar Sarvajeet has been fielded from Gaya, Shravan Kushwaha from Nawada, Archana Ravidas from Jamui and Abhay Kumar Kushwaha from Aurangabad, respectively. All the four constituenciesJamui, Nawada, Aurangabad and Gayawill go to polls in the first phase on April 19. Jai Prakash Yadav will be party nominee from Banka , Lalit Yadav from Darbhanga, Sudhakar Singh from Buxar, Chandrahas Chaupal from Supaul, Shivchandra Ram from Hajipur, Surendra Prasad from Jehanabad, Anita Devi Mahto from Munger and Alok Kumar Mehta from Ujiarpur seats. Similarly, Arun Rai has been nominated from Sitamarhi, Md. AA Fatmi from Madhubani, Dipak Yadav from Valmikinagar and prof. Kumar Chandradip from Madhepura seats. Notably, RJD is contesting 23 seats. Grand alliance in Bihar, which is part of opposition INDIA bloc, comprises RJD, Congress, VIP, CPI-ML, CPI and CPI(M). Congress has been given nine seats under seat-sharing arrangements among constituents of grand alliance.

BJP leaders and PM Modi are most scared of Bihar...: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav

BJP leaders and PM Modi are most scared of Bihar...: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, said on Tuesday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are most scared of Bihar. Notably, PM Modi is likely to visit Bihar on April 16 for an election campaign for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Responding to this, Tejashwi said, During elections, everyone comes; let him (PM Modi) come. In this kind of situation, even if the PM comes 365 days, their defeat is certain. BJP leaders and PM Modi are most scared of Bihar; they will put all their energy and have kept their investigative agencies here only. Let Union Home Minister, PM Modi come, but I request them with folded hands to speak on topics of farmers, special status to Bihar, jobs; will industries be set up in Bihar or not? he said. They come to elections and make big promises but everything goes to Gujarat, he added. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address his first election rally in Bihar at Gaya district under the Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat on Wednesday in favour of BJP candidate Sushil Kumar Singh and NDA allies Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) candidate Jitan Ram Majhi. Sushil Kumar Singh is a BJP candidate from the Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat, and former Chief Minister of Bihar and HAM candidate Jitan Ram Majhi is contesting the Lok Sabha election from the Gaya reserve seat as an NDA candidate. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA, comprising the BJP, JD (U), and LJP, dominated the 2019 elections by winning 39 out of 40 seats. In the first phase, voting is to be held in 4 seats of Bihar on April 19. Those 4 Lok Sabha seats are Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada and Jamui. Bihar will see polling in seven phases. The first phase of polling will be held on April 19, the second phase on April 26, the third phase on May 7, the fourth phase on May 13, the fifth phase on May 20, the sixth phase on May 25, and the seventh phase on June 1. The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will be held in seven phases, starting on April 19. Counting of votes on June 4. (ANI)

MVA seals poll pact in Maharashtra; Sena (UBT) gets 21 seats

Mumbai: The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi on Tuesday announced its seat-sharing formula for the Lok Sabha polls with the Shiv Sena (UBT) getting the major chunk of 21 seats, while the Congress will contest 17 seats and the NCP (SP) 10. The Congress gave up its claim on the contentious Sangli and Bhiwandi seats, which will now be contested by the Sena (UBT) and the NCP (SP), respectively. While the Sena (UBT) said the goal of the alliance was to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress said it has decided to be large-hearted to achieve this objective. NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and state Congress president Nana Patole announced the poll pact for the 48 parliamentary seats in the state after weeks of hectic negotiations. Addressing a press conference at 'Shivalaya', the Shiv Sena (UBT) office in south Mumbai, party head and former state chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said the seat-sharing deal has been reached and in an alliance, winning is important and defeating the BJP is the goal. When victory against the BJP is the larger goal, we have to set aside certain differences, he said when asked about the Shiv Sena (UBT) refusing to give Sangli seat to the Congress. Thackeray said there was a strange coincidence of surya grahan (solar eclipse), amavasya (new moon) and the BJP rally on the same day (Monday). Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech yesterday was not that of a prime minister. When we respond, please don't take it as an insult of the prime minister. Our criticism will be about a leader of a corrupt party, Thackeray said to a query on Modi referring to his party as fake Shiv Sena. It is not right for a leader of the party of extortionists to call us fake, he said. The BJP is a party of extortionists and this was seen after the electoral bonds scam was exposed, Thackeray claimed. Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said his party has decided to be large-hearted to achieve the final goal of defeating PM Modi and the BJP. The Congress workers will fight the BJP and ensure victory of the MVA candidates in Sangli and Bhiwandi, he said. Our workers will never forget how the BJP ill-treated our leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, he said. Patole said the parties of Thackeray and Sharad Pawar were hijacked by rebels. Leaders of both the original parties are with us and Modi calls the Uddhav Thackeray-led party as fake Shiv Sena, he said. As part of the deal, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has got Jalgaon, Parbhani, Nashik, Palghar, Kalyan, Thane, Raigad, Maval, Osmanabad, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, Buldhana, Hathkanangkale, Aurangabad, Shirdi, Sangli, Hingoli, Yavatmal-Washim, Mumbai South, Mumbai South Central, Mumbai North West and Mumbai North East seats. The Congress has got Nandurbar, Dhule, Akola, Amravati, Nagpur, Bhandara-Gondia, Gadchiroli-Chimur, Chandrapur, Nanded, Jalna, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai North, Pune, Latur, Solapur, Kolhapur and Ramtek seats. The NCP(SP) will contest Baramati, Shirur, Satara, Bhiwandi, Dindori, Madha, Raver, Wardhan, Ahmednagar South and Beed seats. The Lok Sabha polls will be held in the state in five phases from April 19 to May 20.

Bihar: Whats common between INDIA & NDA? The rebels

PATNA : In the emerging battle between the opposition Grand Alliance and the ruling NDA, a threat common to both sides is looming: rebels. From the RJD-led front, which is yet to announce its full list of candidates, two dissidents have already gone their ways. First is MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, and second Rajballabh Yadav. In the NDA camp, BJP MP from Muzaffarpur Ajay Nishad has resigned from the party and joined Congress. The buzz is that Congress may field him from Muzaffarpur. Another party MP from Buxar and Union minister Ashwini Choubey is questioning the leadership why he is replaced. I want to know the offence that I have committed for which I have not been given the ticket from Buxar, he said on Monday. Pappu Yadav raises banner of revolt as grand alliance list to be out today Bihar will have seven-phase polls. Jamui, Nawada, Gaya and Aurangabad are going to the polls in the first phase. While Pappu is a serious threat to the GAs official candidate Bima Bharti in Purnea, RJD rebel Vinod Yadav is also adding to the headache of the RJDs official candidate Shravan Kumar in Nawada. Pappu is likely to cut into not only the Yadav and other castes votes but also a substantial number of Muslim votes in Purnea. Pappu has not withdrawn despite warnings by the Congress leadership. So, RJD candidate Bharti faces a tough battle. JD(U) candidate and MP Santosh Kushwaha appears to have an edge in the given situation. Purnea goes to the polls in the second phase on April 26. Similarly, RJD official candidate Shravan Kushwaha is grappling with the challenge from rebel candidate Vinod Yadav, brother of rape convict and muscleman Rajballabh Prasad alias Rajballabh Yadav. In 2019, Rajballabhs wife Vibha Devi contested as an RJD candidate. She was pitted against Lok Janshakti Partys Chandan Singh who was elected. Similarly, former RJD MP and muscleman late Mohammad Shahabuddins wife Hena Shahab is contesting from Siwan as an Independent. Although she never demanded the RJD ticket, she is likely to eat into Muslim votes and would mar the prospects of RJD nominee Awadh Bihari Choudhary. The NDA, too, is beset with the rebel threat. BJP MP from Muzaffarpur Ajay Nishad has quit the party and joined Congress. He hopes Congress would field him from Muzaffarpur. Another BJP MP from Sasaram Chedi Paswan is not happy with the party leadership after being denied the ticket from the seat. He was the winner against Congress Meira Kumar in 2019. Chedi is replaced by former MLA Shivesh Ram. The saffron rebel is learnt to have sought an appointment with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. There is a buzz that he may join Congress and fight against Shivesh Ram. The Congress is yet to take a decision. In Buxar, Mithilesh Tiwary, a former MLA from Baikunthpur (in Buxar district) is a BJP candidate from where Ashwini Kumar Choubey won twice. Tiwary is BJPs state general secretary. He won the state polls from Baikunthpur in 2015 but lost in the 2020 assembly polls.

Mahagathbandhan rattled ahead of PM Modi's Bihar visit: BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain

Mahagathbandhan rattled ahead of PM Modi's Bihar visit: BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain Senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said on Sunday the grand Opposition alliance or 'Mahagathbandhan' in the state is rattled as Prime Minister Narendra Narendra Modi arrives to address an election rally in Bihar's Nawada on Sunday. PM Modi has been holding campaign events across the country, braving a hectic schedule as the polling dates near. On Saturday, PM Modi addressed election rallies in Saharanpur and Ajmer, followed later in the day with a roadshow in Ghaziabad. The RJD and the Mahagathbandhan are rattled as PM Modi is visiting Bihar. He is visiting Bihar because the state holds a special place in his heart and the people, too, love him back, Hussain told ANI. Expressing confidence of the NDA winning all 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the BJP leader added, This time, the Mahagathbandhan won't even get even one seat in the elections. The people of Bihar have decided to give all 40 seats in the state to PM Modi. At one of his rallies on Saturday, PM Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress, saying its manifesto was a 'bundle of lies'. He added that every page in the 'Nyay Patra' of the grand old party reeks of a mentality to 'tear India apart'. Yesterday, the Congress Party released its manifesto, a bundle of lies. Every page of this smells of breaking India into pieces. The Congress manifesto has echoes of the views that the Muslim League held at the time of independence. Congress wants to impose the views of the Muslim League of that time on the India of today, PM Modi said. The ruling National Democratic Alliance, earlier, reached a seat-sharing agreement in Bihar for the Lok Sabha polls as part of which the BJP would contest 17 seats and the JD-U 16. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA, comprising the BJP, JD (U), and LJP, dominated the standings, winning 39 of the 40 seats in the state. In the first phase of polling on April 19, voting is to be held for 4 seats of Bihar. These are Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada and Jamui. Bihar, along with neighbouring Bengal, will poll across all seven phases--April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4. (ANI)

PM Modi to address election rally in Bihar's Nawada

PM Modi to address election rally in Bihar's Nawada Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold an election rally in Bihar's Nawada district on Sunday. This will be his second rally in the state after the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections. ''Once again, a massive wave of BJP-NDA is being seen in Bihar. I will have an opportunity to meet my family members, who are excited about voting, in the public meeting in Nawada around 11 am today,'' Modi posted on X ahead of the rally. The state police have put in place a multi-tier security cover at the venue ahead of the PM's rally. The BJP has fielded Vivek Thakur, the party's Rajya Sabha MP and son of senior BJP leader and former Union minister C P Thakur, from Nawada Lok Sabha constituency. Earlier on April 4, Modi had launched the Lok Sabha election campaign of the NDA in Bihar through a rally in Jamui constituency. Polling will be held in Nawada, Gaya, Aurangabad and Jamui Lok Sabha constituencies in the first phase on April 19. As per the NDA's seat-sharing arrangement in Bihar for the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP is contesting 17 seats and its ally JD (U) 16. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will contest from five Lok Sabha seats in the state. Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) will contest from one seat each.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to Start Election Campaign with PM Modi's Rally in Nawada

Patna: B ihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has kicked off his campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He is scheduled to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Nawada on April 7, followed by a roadshow in Gaya on April 9 in support of former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi. On April 11, Nitish will hold another roadshow in Aurangabad to endorse BJP candidate Sushil Kumar Singh. Recently, Nitish also participated in PM Modi's public meeting in Jamui on April 4. The voting for these four seats is slated for April 19 in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, although none of them are JDU quota seats. During PM Modi's public meeting in Jamui, Nitish reiterated his commitment to the NDA and expressed confidence in achieving PM Modi's goal of securing over 400 seats nationwide. PM Modi is set to visit Bihar for the second time within four days, with a rally planned in Nawada on April 7 in support of BJP candidate Vivek Thakur, where Nitish will also share the stage. According to the JDU's campaign schedule, Nitish will conduct roadshows in Gaya on April 9 and Aurangabad on April 11 to support NDA candidates Jitan Ram Manjhi and Sushil Kumar Singh, respectively. The relationship between Nitish Kumar and Jitan Ram Manjhi had strained during the RJD-Congress rule, with Manjhi eventually leaving the Grand Alliance and joining the NDA. However, their relationship has since normalized, evident from Nitish's campaign support for Manjhi. JDU leaders have confirmed Nitish's plans to campaign across all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. JDU is contesting on 16 seats, BJP on 17, LJP on 5, RLM on 1, and WE on 1. Efforts are underway to demonstrate unity within the Bihar NDA during the Lok Sabha elections, with all NDA leaders prominently featured in various election rallies. RLJP chief Pashupati Paras, previously upset over not receiving a seat in the NDA, has also been placated and may participate in campaigning for the allies soon. Tragic Drowning Incident in Barabanki: Five Children Lose Lives Action on 5 Pakistani Cops Over Suicide Blast That Killed 5 Chinese Engineers Unconventional Training: Pakistani Cricket Team's Military-Style Drills

Litmus test for RJD's social outreach

PATNA: RJDs consistent attempts to move beyond its traditional Muslim-Yadav (MY) vote bank will face the first field test during the first phase of Lok Sabha election, scheduled to be held in four seats on April 19. RJD has fielded two Kushwahas in the first phase as the party has fielded Abhay Kushwaha from Aurangabad and Shravan Kushwaha from Nawada. They are pitted against BJP candidates Sushil Kumar Singh and Vivek Thakur, both from upper castes. Beside Aurangabad and Nawada, Jamui and Gaya will also go to the polls in the first phase of Lok Sabha election. Significantly all the four constituencies are by and large hit by Maoist menace. In Gaya Lok Sabha constituency, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) patron and former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and former minister and RJD candidate Kumar Sarvjeet are in the electoral fray. The seat was earlier represented in parliament by Vijay Kumar alias Vijay Manjhi of JD(U). Though Gaya seat has been reserved for scheduled caste for the last 25 years, political parties mainly focus on votes of EBCs, OBCs and Upper castes. Over 2.5 lakh voters belonged to Manjhi (read Mushahar) community. In addition, members of Dusadh (Paswan), Dhobis (washermen) and Pasi (who sale toddy) are in sizable numbers. On the other hand, LJP (Ram Vilas candidate) Arun Bharti, brother-in-law of the party president and MP Chirag Paswan will take on the RJD candidate Archana Ravidas are locked in a direct fight with each other. Chirag, who won elections from this seat twicefirst in 2014 and 2019has vacated the seat for his relative. Ahead of the polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Jamui on April 4 while Nawada on April 7. PM Modi had launched his election campaign from Jamui in 2019 election too. This shows Modis close relations with senior Paswans family. Aurangabad MP Sushil Singh who belongs to Rajput caste has represented the seat for three successive terms by winning elections in 2009, 2014 and 2019 and is considered to be having an edge over his rival RJD candidate. Although Singh is also facing an anti-incumbency factor, Modis rallies are likely to nullify it. RJD candidate is likely to face the heat of Congress workers, especially supporters of former MP Nikhil Kumar, who had raised a banner of revolt against party symbol allotted to RJD candidate much before official announcement of seat-sharing deal. However, RJD is trying to dent into EBC-OBC votes by giving ticket to Kushwaha instead of any Upper caste Rajput. Aurangabad is known as Chittaurgarh of Bihar due to sizable population of Rajputs in the constituency. Denial of ticket to Nikhil Kumar, son of former Bihar chief minister Satyendra Narayan Sinha, may prove suicidal for RJD. Aurangabad has been traditional seat of Congress. RJD has fielded its candidate for the first time in recent past. Similarly, BJP candidate from Nawada Vivek Thakur, who like Singh also belongs to upper caste, Bhumihar, has an initial edge over RJD candidate Shravan Kushwaha in view of the sizable population of Bhumihars in the constituency. BJP candidate is son of former union health minister and noted physician Dr C P Thakur. The seat was earlier held by Chandan Kumar (Singh) of LJP. Chandan, a Bhumihar by caste, is the brother of a don-turned politician Surajbhan Singh. In 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Vivek Thakur has been fielded by BJP. In 2014, Giriraj Singh (BJP) had won the seat. In Jamui, Chirags brother-in-law Bharti is new to the constituency but since he has the strong backing of the LJP (Ram Vilas) chief, he is expected to romp to victory. Chirag has represented Jamui Lok Sabha constituency twice by winning elections in 2014 and 2019. Gaya Lok Sabha constituency is likely to witness a keen contest between Manjhi and Sarvjeet. In the last Lok Sabha election, JD (U) candidate had defeated Manjhi by a margin of more than 1.52 lakh votes. Manjhis HAM was part of grand alliance in the last election. Aurangabad Known as Chittorgarh of Bihar, the seat has been represented by candidates belonging to the Rajput community since 1955. Not a single non-Rajput has won the election from this seat till date. A big statue of Maharana Pratap sitting on his horse Chetak greets the visitors to the town. The constituency has about 12.5% Rajputs, 11.2% Muslims, 9.6% EBCs, 15.5% Yadav and 6.5% Kushwaha (OBCs). Rajputs and Muslims could decide who will win the seat Gaya has its religious significance as its based on the river Falgu. International acclaimed Mahabodhi Mahavihara (Temple), where Gautam Buddha got enlightenment, is located here. The seat is being represented by candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste (ManjhiMusahar) for the last 25 years and so. Muslims constitute 10.58% of the population while SCs have 17.15% of votes in the reserved constituency. In addition, STs have only 3.27% population. Scheduled Caste voters play a decisive role in the victory of the candidates. Nawada The seat is being represented by upper caste candidates as the Bhumihars play a significant role in the victory of the candidate. Muslims constitute 10.17% of the population while SCs have 24.66% votes. SCs have only 0.01% population in the constituency Jamui Formerly known as Jambhyagram, Jamui is steeped in history dating back to the era of the Mahabharata. Its association with Jainism, particularly as a place where Lord Mahavir is believed to have attained divine knowledge, adds to its religious prominence. While Muslims constitute 10% of the population, SCs constitute 17.09%. STs have only 3.45% population in the seat

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PM to address rally in Bihar's Jamui on Thursday, Tejashwi attacks him on 'Parivarvad'

PATNA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick-start his campaign blitzkrieg for Lok Sabha election in Bihar by addressing an election meeting in Jamui Lok Sabha constituency on Thursday even as RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav accused the former of doublespeak on Parivarvad (dynastic politics). In Jamui constituency, LJP (Ram Vilas) chief and MP Chirag Paswans brother-in-law Arun Bharti is pitted against RJD candidate Archana Ravidas. While speaking to media persons, Tejashwi contended that PM Modi in his election campaigns always attacked dynastic politics but in his very first rally, he will seek voters for a candidate who is a product of dynastic politics. It only reveals differences in PM`s words and deeds, he added. After Jamui, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to address an election rally in Nawada on April 7. In Nawada, BJP candidate Vivek Thakur is pitted against RJD candidate Shravan Kushwaha. Thakur is the son of veteran party leader and noted physician Dr C P Thakur. Modi may address one more election rally on April 16 before the first phase of Lok Sabha election will be held on April 19. Besides Jamui and Nawada, Aurangabad and Gaya constituencies will go to the polls in the first phase. The PM is likely to address more than 12 rallies in Bihar which will have Lok Sabha elections in seven phases. Meanwhile, RJD's consistent attempts to move beyond its traditional Muslim-Yadav (MY) vote bank will face the first test on ground during the first phase of Lok Sabha election. The party has fielded two Kushwahas in the first phase as the party has given tickets to Abhay Kushwaha from Aurangabad and to Shravan Kushwaha from Nawada. Former Bihar deputy CM Sushil Modi will not be part of election campaigning, cites health reason While Abhay is pitted against BJP candidate Sushil Kumar Singh in Aurangabad, Shravan is in the electoral fray against Vivek Thakur in Nawada. Both Singh and Thakur are from upper castes. In Gaya Lok Sabha constituency, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) patron and former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and former minister and RJD candidate Kumar Sarvjeet are in the electoral fray. In the last Lok Sabha election, JD (U) candidate Vijay Kumar had defeated Manjhi by a margin of more than 1.52 lakh votes. Manjhi`s HAM was part of the grand alliance in the last election.

2 Children Among 7 Killed After Massive Fire Broke in Maharashtra's Aurangabad, Probe On

The fire started in a clothing shop around 4 am, creating panic in the neighbourhood

Seven killed in major fire at clothing store in Maha

A major fire broke out at a clothing store in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Aurangabad's cantonment area. Further details are awaited as firefighters work to control the blaze.

7 Dead After Massive Fire In Maharashtra's Aurangabad, Probe On

Seven people were killed after a massive fire broke out in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar today.

Ambedkar-led VBA fields Vasant More in Pune, supports Sule in Baramati

Ambedkar-led VBA fields Vasant More in Pune, supports Sule in Baramati The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) led by Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar on Tuesday announced former MNS leader Vasant More as its candidate for the Pune Lok Sabha constituency. The VBA, whose talks for seat-sharing with the opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra fell through last month, also declared candidates for Nanded (Avinash Bosikar), Parbhani (Babasaheb Ugle), Aurangabad (Afsar Khan) and Shirur (Mangaldas Bagul). In Baramati, it will support the candidate of NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), the VBA said. NCP (SP) has fielded sitting MP and Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule from Baramati. Vasant More, who recently quit the Raj Thackeray-led MNS, had met Ambedkar and expressed the wish to contest from Pune where the BJP's Murlidhar Mohol would be taking on the Congress's Ravindra Dhangekar.

HC rejects PIL plea seeking directions to EC to create voter awareness on NOTA option

TheAurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court said the EC and the Maharashtra State Election Commission have taken enough steps to create awareness about the NOTA option in EVMs.

Bangladesh Tourist Places: Popular tourist places of Bangladesh, where Indians feel at home

A new railway line has been inaugurated between India and Bangladesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurated three projects through video conferencing, including a rail link connecting Nischintpur in the north-eastern state of Tripura and Gangasagar stations in Bangladesh. Apart from this, there is also the world's largest cruise Ganga Vilas for the India-Bangladesh tour. Apart from air routes, waterways and land routes are also open between India and Bangladesh, opening the way for travelers from both countries. There are many tourist places in Bangladesh, where you can experience the culture, forests like Sundarban, thrilling islands, and the hustle and bustle of Dhaka. From temple visits to boat rides, I learned about the tourist places in Bangladesh and set out to visit this country. These are the popular tourist places of Bangladesh, where Indians can easily visit. Lalbagh Fort Recollecting the memories of the Mughal era, Aurangabad Fort, also known as Lalbagh Fort, is an incomplete Mughal masterpiece. A collection of mosques, tombs, and historical buildings can be seen in this fort. The best time to visit here in winter is from October to March. The ticket to the fort is around Rs 100. Ahsan Manzil (Pink Palace) Ahsan Manzil is a palace located in the Kumartoli area of Dhaka, Bangladesh, which is built of pink-colored stones. That's why it is also called 'The Pink Palace'. The court of the Nawabs of Dhaka was held in this palace. It has now been converted into a museum. The construction of this palace started in 1859 and was completed in 1872. Sonargaon, the old capital of Bengal Sonarangao is part of medieval Bengal. The place houses a folk art museum filled with various bamboo artefacts and traditional dolls. Sonargaon houses the Bangladesh Folk Art Museum, which is open to tourists from 10 am to 5 pm from Friday to Wednesday. Paharpur Buddhist Monastery Paharpur Buddhist Vihar is a historical monastery in the Naugaon district, whose history dates back to the 8th century. This place was declared a World Heritage by UNESCO in 1985. You can go on a tour here to connect with spirituality and peace. (PC: Social media)

Ex-Bihar CM and NDA nominee Jitan Ram Manjhi owns movable assets worth Rs 11.32 lakh: Affidavit

Ex-Bihar CM and NDA nominee Jitan Ram Manjhi owns movable assets worth Rs 11.32 lakh: Affidavit Former Bihar chief minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi, who is the NDA nominee from the Gaya seat, owns movable assets worth Rs 11.32 lakh and has Rs 49,000 cash in hand, according to the affidavit filed by him. Manjhi filed his nomination for the Gaya constituency on Thursday. Voting for the first phase of elections in Gaya, Nawada, Jamui and Aurangabad is scheduled to be held on April 19. As per the affidavit, he owns immovable assets worth Rs 13.50 lakh, while his wife Shanti Devi has immovable assets to the tune of Rs 5.38 lakh. In the 2019 polls, the former CM had declared movable assets worth Rs 10.2 lakh and Rs 40,000 cash in hand. Manjhis movable assets include four bank accounts, two four-wheelers, a double-barrel breech loading (DBBL) gun and two cows. His wife has one bank account, gold jewellery worth Rs 3.78 lakh and silver jewellery valued at Rs 76,500. The affidavit showed he has no self-acquired immovable asset, and owns a parental house worth Rs 13.50 lakh. The HAM-S founders income for the year 2023-2024 was Rs 4,87,330 till the date of filing his nomination. He is pitted against RJDs Kumar Sarvjeet, who also filed his nomination on Thursday. Manjhi has been unsuccessfully contesting from the Gaya seat since 2014, when he was the JD(U) candidate and finished third. In 2019, he fought on his party's symbol, but lost by a margin of more than 1.5 lakh votes.

Oppn deal: RJD 26, Cong 9 and Left 5

PATNA : The RJD-led Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, which is a part of INDIA bloc at the national level, on Friday announced seat-sharing arrangements for the Lok Sabha elections in the state. As per the seat-sharing deal, the RJD will contest 26 out of the 40 seats in the state. While the Congress will nominate its candidates on nine seats, CPI-ML will field its candidates on three followed by CPI and CPM on one seat each. The RJD has already nominated the candidates for the first phase of election to be held on April 19. Former state minister and senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui announced the seat-sharing arrangements among constituents of the grand alliance in the presence of RJD state president Jagadanand Singh and Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh. Former deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav was, however, conspicuous by his presence. Earlier, he was scheduled to announce the seat-sharing deal among constituents of the grand alliance. RJD, Congress, CPI-ML, CPI and CPM are allies of the grand alliance. RJD will contest Gaya, Nawada, Jehabanabad, Aurangabad, Buxar, Patliputra, Munger, Jamui, Banka, Valmikinagar, Purvi Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Vaishali, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, Ujiarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Jhanjharpur, Supaul, Madhepura, Purnea, Araria and Hajipur seats. Congress has been allocated Kishanganj, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur (SC), Paschimi Champaran, Patna Sahib, Sasaram (SC) and Maharajganj seats. CPI-ML will field its candidates on Ara, Karakat and Nalanda seats, CPI on Begusarai seat and CPI(M) on Khagaria seat. RJD Rajya Sabha member and spokesperson Manoj Jha, who was present at the press conference, said that the names of the candidates would also be announced soon. He claimed that the seat-sharing agreement has been reached through consensus and the INDIA bloc would win all 40 seats. Disagreements over some seats among allies, however, delayed the official declaration of the agreement. Pappu says wont rebel over purnea Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who joined the Congress last week hoping to contest from Purnea in Bihar, on Friday ruled out the possibility of fighting as a rebel candidate, after the seat went to RJD. However, he spoke of friendly fights in several seats among INDIA bloc partners.

RJD to Fight 26 LS seats in Bihar, Cong. 9, Left 5

'Bihar has been ranked at bottom as per Public Affairs Index 2018. We will tell the people that Nitish Kumar has destroyed Bihar completely,' Tejaswi said. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) 'Bihar has been ranked at bottom as per Public Affairs Index 2018. We will tell the people that Nitish Kumar has destroyed Bihar completely,' Tejaswi said. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) Patna: The I.N.D.I.A. bloc in Bihar on Friday finalised its seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha elections, giving 26 seats to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), nine to the Congress and five to the left. The announcement was made in the presence of Mahagathbandhan partners, signaling unity in the bloc. In a joint media interaction at the RJD office in Patna, it was announced that the RJD would contest, among others, Purnea, Saran, Hajipur, Aurangabad, Ujiyarpur, Supaul, Madhepura, and Araria. The Congress will contest Kishanganj, Katihar and Patna Sahib. The seat-sharing announcement followed RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's participation in the I.N.D.I.A. bloc meeting in New Delhi. Reports suggest that the allocation of Purnea and Katihar seats sparked contention between the RJD and Congress, especially as both seats are held by Nitish Kumars JD(U). Key to this development is Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, who has been insistent on contesting from Purnea. Yadav recently merged his Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) with the Congress. Sources hint that Yadav may engage in a friendly contest for Purnea, adding complexity to the electoral dynamics. Recently, former JD(U) MLA Bima Bharti announced receiving the RJD's symbol from Purnea.

Bihar's Grand Alliance announces seat-sharing pact: RJD to contest 26 seats, Congress 9, CPI-ML 3, CPI and CPI(M) one seat each

PATNA: The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), the opposition coalition in Bihar including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and Left parties on Friday announced that the RJD, its largest constituent, will contest 26 out of the states 40 Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming elections. The Congress will contest nine seats, followed by CPI(ML) on 3 seats, and CPI and CPI(M) with one seat each. Former state minister and senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui announced the seat-sharing arrangements among constituents of grand alliance in the presence of RJD state president Jagadanand Singh and other leaders. The RJD will contest the following seats: Gaya Nawada Jehabanabad Aurangabad Buxar Patliputra Munger Jamui Banka Valmikinagar Purvi Champaran Sheohar Sitamarhi Vaishali Saran Siwan Gopalganj Ujiarpur Darbhanga Madhubani Jhanjharpur Supaul,Madhepura Purnea Araria Hajipur The Congress has been allocated Kishanganj, Katihar Bhagalpur Muzaffarpur Samastipur (SC) Paschimi Champaran Patna Sahib Sasaram (SC) Maharajganj Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (MarxistLeninist) Liberation will field its candidates from Ara, Karakat, and Nalanda seats. The CPI and CPI(M) will contest Begusarai and Khagaria seats, respectively. Friday's announcement has come as a rude shock for former MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav who recently joined the Congress by merging merged his party - Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) - with the grand old party. He had staked his claim on the Purnea seat, which has now been given to the RJD. Bima Bharti, who resigned from JD(U) and joined RJD, has been nominated as the RJD candidate from Purnea. However Yadav told media he was happy with the decision. No one can separate me from the Congress' flag. I welcome the decision of Congress leadership to strengthen the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. I will go amidst the people with the resolve of establishing the flag of Congress in Purnea. Jan Adhikar Party leader Pappu Yadav joins Congress, merges his outfit VIDEO | Here's what Congress leader Pappu Yadav ( @pappuyadavjapl ) said on Purnea Lok Sabha seat being given to the RJD. No one can separate me from the Congress' flag. I welcome the decision of Congress leadership to strengthen the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. I will go amidst pic.twitter.com/vUPll6MYR8 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 29, 2024 (With Online Desk inputs)

Mahagathbandhan announces LS seat-sharing for Bihar; RJD to contest 26, Cong 9

Mahagathbandhan announces LS seat-sharing for Bihar; RJD to contest 26, Cong 9 The RJD-led Mahagathbandhan in Bihar on Friday announced its formula for seat-sharing, with Lalu Prasad's party laying claim on nearly two-thirds of the state's 40 parliamentary constituencies, virtually steamrolling allies - the Congress and three Left parties. The RJD will be contesting 26 seats, nine more than it had fought in 2019 when it drew a blank. The Congress has got nine seats, as many as it had contested in the last elections, followed by CPI(ML) Liberation (three) and CPI and CPI(M) (one each). The belated announcement, coming a day after filing of nomination papers for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls was over, was made at a press conference here addressed by RJD national spokesman and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha, state Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh and state-level leaders of CPI(ML) Liberation, CPI and CPI(M). Tejashwi Yadav, the Mahagathbandhan's leader in the state legislature, was scheduled to address the press conference but remained conspicuous by his absence. Jha said names of candidates would be announced soon and claimed: ''We have arrived at a unanimous decision, demonstrating a cohesiveness that you may not find in the NDA. We will defeat them at the hustings''. Notably, the RJD had fielded its candidates for the four seats of Gaya, Aurangabad, Jamui and Nawada, which go to polls in the first phase, much to the annoyance of its allies, particularly the Congress which wanted to give ticket to former MP Nikhil Kumar. Moreover, CPI and CPI(M) have already announced their candidates for Begusarai and Khagaria seats. According to the seat-sharing formula, the RJD has also wrested from the Congress Purnia, a seat the latter has been contesting in the past few Lok Sabha polls. Recently, Lalu Prasad, the RJD president, gave party ticket for the seat to JD(U) turncoat Bima Bharti, stopping short of making a formal announcement. The Congress had last week inducted Pappu Yadav, a three-term former MP from Purnea, whose wife is also a Rajya Sabha MP of the party. Yadav had been hopeful of getting the ticket from the seat claiming that an assurance to the effect was given to him by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. There were murmurs that Prasad, whose ''blessings'' Yadav had sought before he went to Delhi and merged his Jan Adhikar Party with the Congress, was suggesting that the former Purnea MP try his luck from Madhepura, which he had won on an RJD ticket in 2014, or Supaul which his wife had represented more than once. However, that option, too, seems closed as both seats have been claimed for itself by the RJD and it remains to be seen what is going to be the next move of Yadav who has been dropping hints that he will not flinch from fighting as an Independent from Purnea if the need arose. Among the seats given to the Congress are Kishanganj, Bihar's lone Muslim-majority constituency that the party has been winning for some time, and adjoining Katihar where senior leader Tariq Anwar lost by a thin margin in 2019, having won in 2014 on an NCP ticket. Other seats given to Congress include Patna Sahib, where the BJP has been seemingly invincible, Bhagalpur, where party MLA Ajeet Sharma wanted to field Bollywood actress daughter Neha Sharma, who has refused, and reserved constituency Sasaram, a bastion of late Deputy Prime Minister Jagjivan Ram, whose daughter and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, has won the seat a few times but reportedly excused herself this time on account of old age. Other seats assigned to the Congress are Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, West Champaran and Maharajganj. The CPI(ML) Liberation has been given Nalanda, a pocket borough of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, whose JD(U) has had an uninterrupted run on the seat for decades. The Left party has also been given Arrah, where the sitting BJP MP is Union minister RK Singh, and Karakat, which the NDA has assigned to former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha. However, the RJD has denied the CPI(ML) Liberation Siwan, where the Left party has for long been involved in a bloody feud with late strongman Mohammed Shahabuddin. Having fielded Shahabuddin's widow Hina Shahab in the last two general elections, without success, the RJD is now understood to have given up on her and looking for other candidates. Hina Shahab has, meanwhile, received support from Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM which has said it will campaign for her if she contested as an Independent or on ticket of ''a like-minded party''. The RJD has also kept with itself Saran, formerly represented by Lalu Prasad, where his Singapore-based daughter Rohini Acharya is likely to make her debut. Also in the RJD kitty is Pataliputra, where his eldest daughter Misa Bharti may again try her luck after tasting defeat two times on the trot. A high-decibel contest seems on the cards in Hajipur, where the RJD will be challenging Chirag Paswan's bid to claim his late father Ram Vilas Paswan's political legacy, amid fears that estranged uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, the sitting MP, could play spoilsport. RJD will also contest Munger, which it seeks to wrest from former JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh ''Lalan''. The party has given ticket to the wife of gangster Ashok Mahto for the seat. Other RJD seats are Buxar, Banka, Valmiki Nagar, Purvi Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Vaishali, Gopalganj, Ujiyarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Jhanjharpur and Araria.

Bihar: Over 70 candidates file nomination papers for four seats going to polls in Phase 1

Bihar: Over 70 candidates file nomination papers for four seats going to polls in Phase 1 More than 70 candidates have filed their nomination papers for the four seats in Bihar where voting will take place in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls, the election department said on Thursday. The maximum number of candidates were in Gaya (22), followed by Aurangabad (21), Nawada (17) and Jamui (12). Scrutiny is scheduled for March 30 while April 2 is the last date for withdrawal. All the four seats are likely to witness a straight contest between the ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc and three candidates each from both sides filed nomination papers on the final day. The NDA candidates were former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi (Gaya), Vivek Thakur (Nawada) and Arun Bharti (Jamui). Nomination papers were also filed by Abhay Kushwaha (Aurangabad), Archana Ravidas (Jamui) and Kumar Sarvajeet (Gaya), all candidates of the RJD, which is a part of the INDIA bloc but has ruffled many feathers by giving party tickets for a number of seats without taking allies, particularly the Congress, into confidence. Notably, former Congress MP Nikhil Kumar was expected to be the INDIA candidate from Aurangabad where the RJD has fielded a JD(U) turncoat. Sitting BJP MP from Aurangabad, Sushil Kumar Singh had filed his nomination papers earlier this week. Manjhi, 79, who heads Hindustani Awam Morcha, filed his nomination papers for the reserved Gaya seat in the presence of state BJP chief Samrat Choudhary, who is also a deputy CM, minister Shravan Kumar, who belongs to the JD(U), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan. The NDA leaders also addressed a public meeting organised on the occasion, before heading for Jamui, which is also a reserved seat. Arun Bharti, married to Chirag Paswan's sister, has been fielded by the party of his brother-in-law who is shifting base to Hajipur after having represented Jamui in Lok Sabha for two consecutive terms. In Nawada, Rajya Sabha MP and BJP candidate Vivek Thakur filed nomination papers in the presence of the aforementioned leaders, besides Union minister Giriraj Singh, who had made his Lok Sabha debut from the seat in 2014 but moved to Begusarai five years later. Thakur's principal rival is RJD candidate Shravan Kumar Kushwaha who had filed his nomination papers earlier this week. In all the four seats, NDA leaders asserted that they were aiming to win ''all 40 seats in Bihar'' to help Prime Minister Narendra Modi achieve the target of ''370 for BJP'' and ''400 plus'' for the coalition. In contrast to the fanfare with which NDA candidates filed their nomination papers, it was a low-key affair for nominees of the RJD, with top party leaders Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav away in Delhi. The Mahagathbandhan, the INDIA bloc's prototype, though confined to Bihar, is yet to make a formal announcement of seat-sharing among RJD, Congress and three Left parties. CPI and CPI(M), both of which are likely to settle for one seat each, have announced their respective candidates from Begusarai and Khagaria. Mahagathbandhan leaders in Bihar, meanwhile, said a press conference will be addressed by Tejashwi Yadav here on Friday when a formal, albeit belated, announcement was likely. Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party has also fielded candidates in all the four seats. Meanwhile, in a related development, two-term JD(U) MP Santosh Kushwaha also filed his nomination papers for the Purnea Lok Sabha seat which goes to polls in the second phase.

Uttar Pradesh: Battle to protect political legacies

LUCKNOW : Be it Samajwadi Partys Ikra Hasan from Kairana, Ziaur Rehman Barq from Sambhal, four candidates of Mulayam Singh Yadav clan, including Dharmendra Yadav from Azamgarh, Shivpal Yadav from Badaun, Dimple Yadav from Mainpuri and Akshay Yadav from Firozabad, BJP candidate Kirtivardhan Singh from Gonda, the infamous Ansari clans Afzal Ansari from Ghazipur, TMC candidate Lalitesh Pati Tripathi from Bhadohi, swords are out for the political legacies that are at stake. Kairana SP candidate Ikra Hasan from Kairana, to vote in the first phase, is working hard to protect the legacy of three generation of her family. Her grandfather Chaudhury Akhtar Hasan had won from Kairana on Congress ticket in 1984 defeating BSPs Mayawati, as it was her debut in electoral politics. Ikras father Munnawar Hasan was elected from the same seat as SP candidate in 1996. After his death in a road accident in 2008, his wife Tabassum Hasan (Ikras mother) took the baton and won the seat in 2009 and also in 2018 by-poll. Ikras brother Nahid Hasan is an SP MLA from Kairana Assembly segment but he is in jail due to multiple criminal cases. Sambhal SP MP late Shafiqur Rehman Barq represented the constituency for five times in the Lok Sabha. He had also represented the assembly segment of Sambhal four times. He was announced the party candidate for ensuing elections as well but the party chose his grandson Ziaur Rahman Barq as its candidate from the seat following the death of Shfiqur Rehman Barq, 92, due to old age. Zia is the SP MLA from Kundarki seat of Moradabad. Etawah The Yadav clan rules the roost here and is counted among the biggest political families of the country. This family of SP patriarch late Mulayam Singh Yadav is striving hard from western to eastern UP to protect its political legacy. Four members of Yadav clan have already taken command of four Lok Sabah seats including Akhilesh Yadavs cousin Dharmendra Yadav in Azamgarh, Dimple Yadav in Mainpuri, Akshay Yadav (son of SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav) in Firozabad and Akhileshs uncle Shivpal Yadav in Badaun. Some more seats could be assigned to the family members. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav may also test the poll waters from Kannauj himself or field his nephew Tej Pratap Yadav. Ghazipur The infamous family of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari calls the shots here. This time, BSP MP Afzaal Ansari, Mukhtars brother, switched sides and is riding the cycle as SP candidate. The political influence of the family in Ghazipur and adjoining areas can be gauged from the fact that all the three Ansari brothersMukhtar, Afzaal and Sigbatullahand their sons have won 16 elections altogether during the last 39 years. Afzaal himself has represented Mohammadabad assembly segment five times (1985-2002). He has won from Ghazipur LS seat twice. Youngest Mukhtar has been a five-time MLA from Mau Sadar seat, which is now represented by his son Abbas. Eldest Sigbatullah has been a two-time MLA from Mohammadabad in 2007 and 2012. Now his son Suheb Ansari is SP MLA from Mohammadabad seat. Bhadohi The prestige of Congresss one of the most prominent political families of yore is at stake in the carpet town of Bhadohi from where Laliteshpati Tripathi is contesting as Trinamool Congress candidate. Lalitesh left Congress and joined TMC in 2021 breaking a century-old ties with the grand old party when Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was party in-charge of eastern UP. Lalitesh is the great-grandson of Kamlapati Tripathi, a former Congress stalwart and former UP CM. Lalitesh belongs to one of the most illustrious political families of Congress and his ancestral houseAurangabad house in Varanasiused to be the nerve centre of Congress activities in UP. He has been Congress MLA from Madihaan seat of Mirzapur. Gonda This seat is likely to witness a fierce battle between two political families. The scion of Mankapur royal family and BJP MP Kirtivardhan Singh will be facing SP candidate Shreya Verma, grand-daughter of prominent SP leader Beni Prasad Verma who had his clout among Kurmi caste group. While Kirtivardhan is making all-out efforts to make a hat-trick as BJP MP from Gonda and fifth term in th Lok Sabha from the same seat. He had won 1998 and 2004 election from Gonda as SP candidate. His father Anand Vardhan Singh represented the seat in 5th, 7th, 8th and ninth Lok Sabha as Congress MP. On the other, Shreya Verma is trying hard to reclaim her grandfathers territory as he had won it in 2009 as Congress candidate.

Battle to protect political legacies on cards in UP

LUCKNOW: With the stage set for the biggest battle of ballots for 18th Lok Sabha, the political parties have started announcing their warriors to command the fronts belonging to high profile political families and the challenge is to protect their legacies. Be it SPs Ikra Hasan from Kairana, Ziaur Rehman Barq from Sambhal, four candidates of Mulayam Singh Yadav clan including Dharmendra Yadav from Azamgarh, Shivpal Yadav from Badaun, Dimple Yadav from Mainpuri and Akshay Yadav from Firozabad, BJP candidate Kirtivardhan Singh from Gonda, the infamous Ansari clans Afzal Ansari from Ghazipur, TMC candidate Lalitesh Pati Tripathi from Bhadohi, swords are out for the political legacies are at stake. Ikra Hasan Kairana: The SP candidate Ikra Hasan from Kairana, to vote in the first phase, is toiling hard to protect the legacy of three generation of her family. Her grandfather Chaudhury Akhtar Hasan had won from Kairana on Congress ticket in 1984 defeating BSP candidate Mayawati, as it was her debut in electoral politics. Ikras father Munnawar Hasan was elected from the same seat as SP candidate in 1996. After his demise in a road accident in 2008, his wife Tabassum Hasan (Ikras mother) took the baton and won the seat in 2009 and also in 2018 by-poll. Ikras brother Nahid Hasan is an SP MLA from Kairana Assembly segment but he is in jail due to multiple case of criminal offences registered against him. Sambhal: SP MP late Shafiqur Rehman Barq represented the constituency for five times in Lok Sabha. He had also represented the assembly segment of Sambhal four times. He was announced the party candidate for the ensuing elections as well but the party chose his grandson as its candidate from the seat following the demise of Shfiqur Rehman Barq, 92, after prolonged illness due to old age. Zia is the SP MLA from Kundarki seat of Moradabad. Ziaru Rehman Barq Etawah: The Yadav clan rules the roost here and is counted among the biggest political families of the country. This family of SP patriarch late Mulayam Singh Yadav is striving hard from western to eastern UP to protect its political legacy in Uttar Pradesh. Four members of Yadav clan have already taken command of four Lok Sabha seats including Akhilesh Yadavs cousin Dharmendra Yadav in Azamgarh, Dimple Yadav in Mainpuri, Akshay Yadav (son of SP RS MP Prof Ram Gopal Yadav) in Firozabad and Akhileshs uncle Shivpal Yadav in Badaun. Some more seats could be assigned to the family members. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav may also test the poll waters from Kannauj himself or field his nephew Tej Pratap Yadav. Akshay Yadav Dimple Yadav Akshay YadavGonda: This seat is likely to witness a fierce battle between two political families. The scion of Mankapur royal family and sitting BJP MP Kirtivardhan Singh will be facing SP candidate Shreya Verma, grand-daughter of prominent SP leader Beni Prasad Verma who had his clout among Kurmi caste group. While Kirtivardhan is making all out efforts to win make a hat-trick as BJP MP from Gonda and fifth term in Lok Sabha from the same seat. He had won 1998 and 2004 election from Gonda as SP candidate. His father Anand Vardhan Singh has represented the seat in 5th, 7th, 8th and ninth Lok Sabha as Congress MP. On the other, Shreya Verma is trying hard to reclaim her grandfathers territory as he had won it in 2009 as Congress candidate. Ghazipur: The infamous family of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari calls the shots here. This time, the sitting BSP MP Afzaal Ansari, Mukhtars brother, has switched sides and is riding the cycle as SP candidate. The political influence of the family in Ghazipur and adjoining areas can be gauged from the fact that all the three Ansari brothersMukhtar, Afzaal and Sigbatullahand their sons have won 16 elections altogether during the last 39 years. Afzaal himself has represented Mohammadabad assembly segment five times (1985-2002) in UP Assembly. He has won from Ghazipur LS seat twice. Youngest Mukhtar has been a five-time MLA from Mau Sadar seat which is now represented by his son Abbas. Eldest Sigbatullah has been a two-time MLA from Mohammadabad in 2007 and 2012. Now his son Suheb Ansari is SP MLA from Mohammadabad seat. Bhadohi: The prestige of Congresss one of the most prominent political families of yore is at stake in the carpet town of Bhadohi from where Laliteshpati Tripathi is contesting as Trinamool Congress candidate. Lalitesh had left Congress and joined TMC in 2021 breaking a century-old ties with grand old party when Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was party in-charge of eastern UP. Lalitesh is the great grandson of Kamlapati Tripathi, a former Congress stalwart and former UP CM. Lalitesh belongs to one of the most illustrious political families of Congress and his ancestral house Aurangabad house in Varanasiused to be the nerve centre of Congress activities in UP. He has been Congress MLA from Madihaan seat of Mirzapur.

Nitish knew allies would be humiliated by Lalu, so he dumped RJD: JD(U) leader

Nitish knew allies would be humiliated by Lalu, so he dumped RJD: JD(U) leader Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pre-empted attempts of RJD president Lalu Prasad to ''humiliate'' allies ahead of Lok Sabha polls by calling off the alliance, a senior JD(U) leader claimed on Wednesday. Neeraj Kumar, MLC and chief spokesperson of the JD(U) made the claim referring to the RJD riding roughshod over the Congress. ''The Congress has been a dependable ally of the RJD, though the alliance has caused it to lose its own vote share over the years. The only time the Congress saw a rise in its vote share in recent times was in the 2015 Bihar Assembly polls when we too were part of that alliance,'' said the leader of the JD(U) headed by Nitish Kumar. RJD president Lalu Prasad has unilaterally given party tickets to candidates for about a dozen seats in Bihar, leaving the Congress virtually blindsided and hoping against hope that the domineering ally will address its concerns. Neeraj Kumar asked, ''What type of alliance do the RJD and the Congress have that the former is giving away party tickets to people at will, paying scant regard to the interests of the latter?'' Among the seats for which Prasad has given tickets is Aurangabad, where Congress wanted to field former MP Nikhil Kumar. Besides, the RJD is understood to have promised party ticket to JD(U) turncoat Bima Bharti from Purnea, a seat from which former MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav is said to have got assurance of Congress ticket when he merged his Jan Adhikar Party last week. Neeraj Kumar said, ''It was not for nothing that our leader Nitish Kumar had been seeking early seat-sharing in the INDIA bloc. He had sensed the RJD's plans to humiliate allies. So he taught them a lesson''. The allusion was to Kumar's exit from the opposition alliance that robbed RJD of power and stripped Tejashwi Yadav, son and heir apparent of Lalu Prasad, of the deputy chief minister's post. Fishing in troubled waters, the JD(U) leader added: ''It is now for the Congress to show that it has spine. Rahul Gandhi has undertaken a country-wide padayatra, becoming the first leader to have done so since the 1990s''. He pointed out that in the last Lok Sabha polls, it was the Congress that managed to win a seat in Bihar while the RJD, despite seeming formidable, drew a blank. ''Hopefully, the RJD will be taught a lesson by its ally in the Lok Sabha polls. Even if that does not happen, the party will be taught a lesson by the people of Bihar,'' the MLC said. Meanwhile, leaders of the RJD and the Congress maintained that seat-sharing will be ''announced in an amicable fashion'', pointing to the joint statement by Tejashwi Yadav and BPCC president Akhilesh Prasad Singh in Delhi on Tuesday when they had said the candidates will be formally declared upon their return to Patna.

Amid talk of unease, Tejashwi says consensus reached in Bihar

NEW DELHI/PATNA : While there had been talks of unease between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress over seat-sharing in Bihar, former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday said that both the parties, along with the Left parties, have reached an agreement to contest Lok Sabha elections together and an announcement would be made in a day or two. Our alliance has been the oldest. We have been together under different circumstances and contested elections against the ideology of the BJP. We are together and the news about the breaking of our alliance is BJPs agenda being circulated, said the RJD leader after holding a meeting with Congress leaders at the residence of MP Mukul Wasnik in Delhi. Talks of unease between Congress and Lalu Prasads RJD was rife when the latter allocated symbols to candidates before finalising seat allocations. Meanwhile, five seats in the state are being seen as the source of seat-sharing discord between the grand alliance allies. Congress, RJD and three Left parties have staked claims to Aurangabad, Begusarai, Katihar, Purnea and Siwan. Lalu fielded JD(U) turncoat Abhay Kushwaha from Aurangabad, infuriating Congress leader Nikhil Kumar, a claimant to the seat. RJD and Congress are staking claim to Purnea seat. While RJD wants to field former MLA Bima Bharti from Purnea, Congress wanted to give ticket to Pappu Yadav from the seat. Similarly, RJD wants to give ticket to former assembly speaker Awadh Bihari Choudhary from Siwan, but CPI (ML) is also adamant on the seat. Congress want to field Kanhaiya Kumar from Begusarai, but CPI named its three-time MLA Awadhesh Kumar Rai. RLJP prez meets BJP brass Meanwhile, trouble has not ended for Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) chief Pashupati Kumar Paras, who was recently sidelined by the BJP in favour of his nephew and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan. After Chirag, Bihar RLJP president Prince Raj had a meeting with a senior BJP leader on Tuesday. Prince is the son of former LJP MP (late) Ram Chandra Paswan, younger brother of LJP founder (late) Ram Vilas Paswan.

Aurangabad BJP MP files nomination papers

Aurangabad BJP MP files nomination papers BJP MP Sushil Kumar Singh, who will be running for a fourth consecutive term from Bihar's Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat, on Monday filed his nomination papers. Singh filed his nomination papers a day after the BJP announced its candidates for all 17 seats, out of 40, it will be contesting in Bihar. Singh, who had made his debut on a JD(U) ticket and aims at a hat-trick for BJP, filed his nomination papers in the presence of a number of party leaders and allies like former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, the founder of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), and the latters son and state minister Santosh Suman. Manjhi is the MLA from Imamganj, which falls under the Aurangabad Lok Sabha constituency. The HAM founder will himself contest from the adjoining reserved Gaya constituency, the lone seat assigned to the NDA partner. After filing of nomination papers, the leaders exuded confidence that the NDA ''will win all 40 seats in Bihar and cross the 400 mark in Parliament''. Lok Sabha polls in Bihar have been staggered across all seven phases and voting will take place for four seats -Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada and Jamui - in the first phase on April 19. Filing of nominations will come to a close on Thursday, though so far the Aurangabad MP has been the only NDA candidate in Bihar to have done the needful. Manjhi and Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Thakur, whom the BJP has named its candidate from Nawada, are likely to file their nomination papers in the next few days. Thakur's principal rival is expected to be Shravan Kumar Kushwaha of RJD, who has filed his nomination papers. The RJD has given tickets to Archana Ravidas for Jamui, currently held by Chirag Paswan, who is shifting base to Hajipur and likely to field his brother-in-law Arun Bharti, though a formal announcement is yet to be made by the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), which is also an NDA partner. Manjhi's bid to enter the Lok Sabha, from a seat where he has tried his luck twice with no success, will be challenged by Kumar Sarvajeet, the RJD MLA from Bodh Gaya. In Aurangabad, JD(U) turncoat Abhay Kushwaha has got the RJD ticket, evoking protests from the Congress which wants the seat for retired Delhi Police Commissioner Nikhil Kumar, who had won the seat in 2009.

BJP announces candidates for 17 LS seats in Bihar, drops Union minister among 3 sitting MPs

BJP announces candidates for 17 LS seats in Bihar, drops Union minister among 3 sitting MPs The BJP on Sunday announced its candidates for 17 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, dropping three sitting MPs, including Union Minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey. According to a list of nominees released by the party in New Delhi, Choubey, who was elected from Buxar for the second consecutive term in 2019, was replaced by Mithilesh Tiwari, a senior BJP leader and a former MLA. The party also dropped its incumbent MPs Chedi Paswan and Ajay Kumar Nishad from Sasaram and Muzaffarpur constituencies respectively. The BJP fielded former MLA Shivesh Ram for Sasaram, while Raj Bhushan Nishad, a greenhorn in the Lok Sabha polls, would contest the Muzaffarpur seat on a party ticket. Vivek Thakur, a Rajya Sabha member, was fielded from Nawada, where the BJP would be contesting this time, instead of its ally Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). All the remaining 14 candidates are sitting MPs, who will seek re-election from their respective seats. Union ministers R K Singh, Giriraj Singh and Nityanand Rai will seek re-election from Ara, Begusarai and Ujiarpur Lok Sabha seats respectively. Former union ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad was renominated from Patna Sahib, Radha Mohan Singh from Purvi Champaran, Rajiv Pratap Rudy from Saran and Ram Kripal Yadav from Patliputra. Sanjay Jaiswal will contest from Paschim Champaran, Ashok Kumar Yadav from Madhubani, while Pradeep Kumar Singh from Araraia, and Gopal Jee Thakur from Darbhanga will seek re-election. Janardan Singh Sigriwal from Mahrajganj and Sushil Kumar Singh from Aurangabad were also fielded again. Nine of the candidates are from the upper castes, who are known to be, by and large, BJP supporters in Bihar. BJP sources were also tight-lipped over the party's failure to field a woman candidate in Bihar. In the outgoing Lok Sabha, the party's lone woman MP from the state, Rama Devi, represented Sheohar, a seat which has gone to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) this time.

Upset with RJD, Congs Nikhil Kumar says will contest Aurangabad LS seat in Bihar

Patna, March 24:In a blow to the INDIA bloc ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the RJD and Congress have locked horns over seat-sharing in Bihars Aurangabad. Former Governor and senior Congress leader Nikhil Kumar on Sunday said that he will contest the election from Aurangabad. The statement comes after the RJD gave the ticket [] The post Upset with RJD, Congs Nikhil Kumar says will contest Aurangabad LS seat in Bihar appeared first on The Shillong Times .

RJD and Left Parties Forge Ahead with Candidate Announcements, Congress Left in the Dark

New Delhi: S eat sharing in the grand alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Bihar remains unresolved, with the RJD led by Lalu Prasad and left parties proceeding to announce their candidates and allocate symbols. In contrast, the Bihar Congress leadership has maintained silence on the matter. The contention primarily revolves around the Aurangabad and Begusarai Lok Sabha seats, where the Congress sought to field its candidates. Despite its claims to these seats in the seat-sharing discussions, the RJD and Communist Party of India have moved forward with their candidates. Abhay Kushwaha has been designated as the RJD candidate from Aurangabad, while the Communist Party of India has nominated Awadhesh Rai from Begusarai.It is speculated that the Congress intended to field former Aurangabad MP Nikhil Kumar as its candidate. However, Lalu Prasad's decision to allocate the party symbol to Abhay Kushwaha seemingly blindsided the Congress. The voting for the Aurangabad seat is scheduled for April 19, during the first phase of Lok Sabha elections. In the case of Begusarai, Congress aimed to nominate Kanhaiya Kumar, a prominent leader, but was caught off guard by the Communist Party of India's decision to field Awadhesh Rai.Following these developments, former MP Nikhil Kumar criticized the RJD, urging the Congress to intervene and prevent Lalu Prasad from making unilateral decisions regarding Congress seats. The announcement of Awadhesh Rai's candidacy in Begusarai further compounds Congress' woes. Kanhaiya Kumar, who was previously the Communist Party of India's candidate in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, has since joined Congress, prompting the party to consider fielding him in Begusarai. However, this plan was disrupted by the Left Party's decision. Amid continuous neglect within the Bihar Grand Alliance, questions arise regarding Congress' ability to contest a significant number of seats. The party finds itself in a state of shock as RJD and the Left unilaterally announce their candidates, potentially limiting Congress' electoral presence in the region. Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav Appeals for Participation in Earth Hour Aam Aadmi Party Headquarters Sealed During Protests, Claims Minister Atishi Jasprit Bumrah Returns: Mumbai Indians' Key Player for IPL 2024

Congress Leader Says BJP Wants 1 Nation, 1 Election, No Opposition

Mumbai: Mahayuti the alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, has finalised distribution of 42 Lok Sabha in Maharashtra. The alliance will hold a meeting to resolve differences on the remaining six seats. The BJP has already declared candidates for 20 seats. A BJP insider informed that the party has got five more seats, while Shiv Sena has got 13 seats and NCP has got four out of 42 seats where the agreement has been reached. The source from BJP said that so far the party has decided to contest 25 seats including 23 seats, which were won in 2019. Of these, the party has already announced 20 seats and remaining five seats including Mumbai North Central, Bhandara-Gondia, Solapur and Amravati would be declared in next 48 hours. BJP's Central Election Committee, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is expected to discuss names of the remaining seats at New Delhi on Saturday. After the CECs meeting, the party is likely to declare the candidates including five candidates for five seats of Maharashtra, he said. The Shiv Sena would contest 13 seats, while the NCP would get four seats including Shirur, Baramati, Raigad and Satara. We will hold a meeting in the next two days to discuss the remaining six seats including Parbhani, Dharashiv (Osmanabad), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Thane, Ratnagiri Sindhudurg and South Mumbai, a BJP leader said.

Bajaj Group's Rs 5K crore towards CSR initiatives to benefit over 2 crore Indians

Hyderabad/Pune: The Bajaj Group today committed Rs. 5,000 crore to social impact initiatives over 5 years, with a sharp focus on skill development, under Bajaj Beyondthe Groups new identity for all its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and charitable programs. This will benefit over 2 crore of tomorrow's youth and enable them to take advantage of the employment and entrepreneurial opportunities offered by Indias growing economy. Social responsibility is deeply entwined in the Bajaj Familys businesses and its philanthropic endeavours through generations. In the last 10 years alone, the Bajaj Group has contributed close to Rs. 4,000 crore towards CSR initiatives largely focused on skilling and education, health, livelihood, water conservation, and several other areas of development. The Bajaj Group's humanitarian efforts are channeled through several institutions. The Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation, Jankidevi Bajaj Gram Vikas Sanstha, and the Kamalnayan Bajaj Hospital, among others, have worked unceasingly to uplift and empower communities. The Group stays firmly committed to co-creating a thriving and inclusive future for all Indians. The Bajaj Groups key CSR initiatives: The Bajaj Engineering Skills Training (BEST) program, launched in 2023, aims to enhance the skills of engineering and diploma graduates in the latest technologies relevant to Industry 4.0. The program has successfully inaugurated its flagship centre in Pune, enrolling 120 students. It is now scaling up with a plan to establish 15 centres across India. Bajaj Finserv Ltds Certificate Program in Banking, Finance and Insurance (CPBFI), works to bridge the skilling gap, by linking industry with academia, enabling young first-generation students from tier 2 & 3 towns to take advantage of employment opportunities in the financial services sector. With a presence in 140 towns, the CPBFI program has trained and benefited over 53,000 fresh graduates across India. Bajaj Finserv has forged a partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and AICTE, under the aegis of the Ministry of Education. The Bajaj Water Conservation Project, which empowers communities to manage water resources, was launched in 2015, across 161 villages in the Aurangabad district. Over Rs. 140 crore was dedicated to communities for preventive healthcare, water, and sanitation in the water-scarce regions of Vidharbha. Hamaara Sapna, a Jamnalal Bajaj Trust initiative launched in 2012, endeavours to transform the lives of marginalised women residing in Mumbai's slums through education and entrepreneurship. Regular development activities encompass communication, computer skills, legal and social knowledge, finance management, personality enhancement, health, hygiene, and yoga. Expressing his views on the initiatives, Shekhar Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director, Bajaj Electricals Ltd., Our initiatives have demonstrated the transformative impact of empowering India's youth. Today, we unveil Bajaj Beyond, continuing our mission to equip future generations with the tools they need for success. Sharing his thoughts about the initiative, Niraj Bajaj, Chairman, Bajaj Auto Ltd., said: As stewards of the Bajaj legacy, we recognize our responsibility of giving back to society. Our new initiative, Bajaj Beyond, truly goes beyond mere training programs. What we have launched is a holistic approach that trains and prepares first-generation graduates from smaller towns and cities to realize their full potential. By addressing all aspects of employabilityattitude, skills, and knowledgeBajaj Beyond equips them to build successful careers. We are not just closing the skill gap; we are creating a versatile pool of skilled resources that will drive Indias growth story in a comprehensive manner and strengthen the economy to compete in the global arena. Speaking at the launch of the initiative, Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, Bajaj Auto Ltd., said: Launching the Bajaj Engineering Skills Training (BEST) last year has been a valuable learning experience for us. It gave us a very clear picture of the critical gap between theoretical education and practical skills needed in the manufacturing industry. The insights gained through BEST acted as a cornerstone in laying down the groundwork. With Bajaj Beyond, we will expand our skilling efforts across the group. Together, we will design future-proof curriculums, provide real-world, hands-on experiences, and equip our youth with the adaptability and innovation required to thrive in the ever-evolving mobility landscape. Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman & Managing Director, Bajaj Finserv Ltd, said, Inspired by our founder, Jamnalal Bajaj, the Bajaj Group has a legacy of working for the common good of society and of serving the nation. Skilling has been at the heart of our social impact initiatives and we have seen the positive multiplier effect it has on the well-being of youth and their families. Our Certificate Programme in Banking, Finance and Insurance (CPBFI) prepares youth for employment in the fast expanding financial services sector which is currently seeing a shortage of talent. With Bajaj Beyond, we commit to strengthening Indias skilling ecosystem, especially in the hinterland, enabling greater access to economic prosperity.

Bihar: Retired Delhi top cop and former Congress MP cries foul over RJD claiming his seat

Senior Congress leader Nikhil Kumar on Friday accused ally RJD of breaching coalition ethics by allocating party tickets for constituencies where its partners had rightful claims. Expressing his expectation for a party ticket from Aurangabad, a constituency he secured for the Congress in 2004, Kumar claimed that if the alliance with the RJD came apart, it would be a greater loss for the regional ally.

Bihar Congress President Meets Lalu Yadav

Patna: Amid speculation that the RJD distributed tickets for the Lok Sabha polls to four candidates, Congress state president Akhilesh Prasad Singh on Thursday met RJD Chief Lalu Yadav at his residence in Patna. Mahagathbandhan insiders have revealed that the Congress leadership was upset with the RJD for allocating tickets to candidates without an official announcement on seat sharing. Reports suggest that Lalu Yadav personally met candidates and distributed party symbols and tickets for the Constituencies Gaya, Aurangabad, Nawada, and Jamui. After a meeting with the RJD Chief, the Congress leader said that the seat-sharing issue will be resolved shortly. However, he refrained from responding to queries about reports suggesting that Lalu Yadav allocated tickets for all four Lok Sabha constituencies going to polls in the first phase. I came here to meet him (Lalu Yadav). This is not the first time, I keep meeting him regularly, Congress state president Akhilesh Prasad Singh said. He also added that the seat sharing among the alliance partners will be decided in a few days. Besides the RJD and Congress, the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar comprises three left parties CPI(ML), CPI, and CPM. The development follows a decision by the RJD parliamentary board to empower Lalu Yadav to make decisions regarding the partys candidates and alliance partners. Following a meeting of its state and national parliamentary party, the RJD reportedly assigned the party symbol to Kumar Sarvajeet for the reserved Gaya Lok Sabha seat. According to sources, Lalu Yadav also tipped Abhay Kushwaha to prepare to contest from Aurangabad seat. Mr. Kushwaha, a former JD(U) MLA joined the RJD on Wednesday. The allocation of Aurangabad to RJD candidates may upset the Congress party, which believes that it has a strong chance of winning from the constituency. RJD insiders said that Lalu Yadav has also decided to field party state president Jagdanand Singhs son Sudhakar from Buxar seat. He is also likely to consider gangster turned politician Munna Shukla from Vaishali.

NIA arrests absconding close associate of Naxal's North Region Bureau Chief

NIA arrests absconding close associate of Naxal's North Region Bureau Chief The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested an absconding close associate and distant relative of Naxal's North Region Bureau Chief and Politburo member in the conspiracy to revive and strengthen the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation in Bihar's Magadh Zone, the agency said on Thursday. The accused, identified as Vinod Mishra alias Binod Mishra, was arrested from Dhanbad district in Jharkhand by a NIA team which was trailing him for several days after receiving inputs about his hideouts in Jharkhand. Mishra is named in the First Information Report (FIR) related to the case and had been on the run for the past eight months. As per the NIA, Mishra had provided shelter and logistics to senior Naxal leaders in his house. NIA has been investigating the case since August 31, 2023 and has so far chargesheeted Pramod Mishra alias Sohan Da alias Banwari Ji alias BB Ji alias Baba, a Politburo Member, along with Anil Yadav alias Ankush alias Lavkush, a Sub-Zonal Committee Member of CPI (Maoist), who were arrested earlier in the case. The state police had registered a case initially, on August 10, 2023, following their arrest from the house of Vinod Mishra, from where they were conspiring to reactivate and strengthen the proscribed terror outfit in Magadh Zone (Gaya and Aurangabad areas). All three were named in the FIR registered at Tekari police station in Bihar. (ANI)

Travel tips: These 8 locations become the favorite places of couples in Maharashtra, they are perfect for honeymoon.

If you are newly married and are planning to go on a honeymoon, then you can head to Maharashtra. To travel with our partner, we often look for a romantic destination that we can enjoy to the fullest. There is no dearth of nature's beautiful places, beaches, and places for adventure in Maharashtra, but at the same time, there are many places here that create a romantic atmosphere. We are going to tell you about some famous places in Maharashtra that will help you spend quality time with your partner away from the crowd. The places mentioned here will become perfect locations for a romantic trip. Let us know about these locations in Maharashtra... Lonavala This place is close to Pune and Mumbai, one can see many waterfalls, and hills here. Along with this, it is one of the most popular hill stations of Maharashtra, let us tell you that it is situated at an altitude of 624 meters above sea level. At the same time, it is considered better suited for couples because dense forests, waterfalls, and lakes are present in abundance here, in such a situation, you can plan and do a lot of adventures here. Along with this, you can also spend peaceful moments in the lap of nature. Mahabaleshwar Mahabaleshwar is a hill station located in the Western Ghats in the Satara district of Maharashtra. Apart from strawberries, Mahabaleshwar is also known for its many rivers, spectacular waterfalls, and majestic peaks. It is one of the most visited weekend destinations from Pune and Mumbai, located about 120 km south-west of Pune and 285 km from Mumbai. Mahabaleshwar is also a sacred pilgrimage site for Hindus as the Krishna River originates from here. Mahabaleshwar, once the summer capital of the British, is now famous among the people for its ancient temples, boarding schools, lush green dense forests, waterfalls, hills, and valleys. Kolad This is one of the important places in Maharashtra. Well, it is famous for White River rafting. Along with this, there are places of greenery, grasslands, rappelling, etc., where this can be a better place for couples. Along with this, this place looks even more beautiful during monsoon. Here you can also see forts, dams, and waterfalls. Tamini Hill Station About 50 kilometers away from Pune city, Tamini Hill Station, surrounded by high mountains, dense forests, lakes, and beautiful views, is a great option for a romantic long drive and weekend celebration with your partner. You get to see beautiful views of nature from Tamini Hill Station, where you can spend quality time with your partner. Alibaug Alibaug, located in the Konkan region of Raigarh district of Maharashtra, is a beautiful small town situated on the vast sea coast. Situated away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the beautiful view of Alibaug attracts couples. You can head here for a romantic trip. By the way, this place is also known as Mini Goa because the views of the beach here are amazing. Alibaug, surrounded by the sea on three sides, has a historical fort built by Shivaji Maharaj in the middle of the sea. Apart from this, there are many things worth seeing here which couples can enjoy with each other. Ratnagiri The name Ratnagiri is famous because of the hills. Along with this, one can enjoy both forests and waterfalls here. This beauty also makes it the best honeymoon destination. Along with traveling, one can enjoy the delicious dishes here. Little Kashmir One of the best places to visit in Maharashtra for couples, Chhota Kashmir is located in Goregaon. Compared to other parts of Mumbai, Chhota Kashmir is blessed with lush greenery and natural beauty which is like a paradise for lovers. Even from its name, you can guess how beautiful this place can be. There is also a picturesque lake in Chhota Kashmir where you can enjoy boating or paddling with your lover. Boating and paddling remain the center of attraction for couples coming here. If you are planning to come here with your couple, then visit in the evening, during this time the views of the lake are very attractive which you can see while boating and paddling. Aurangabad This place is known as the cultural center of Maharashtra. Along with this, the silk and cotton clothes here are famous throughout the country. Ajanta and Ellora caves are also located near Aurangabad, where you can easily go there from this place. If we talk about other places of this place, the places worth seeing are Bibi Ka Maqbara, Himayat Bagh, Salim Ali Lake, etc. (PC: Lifeberrys)

Local production of EVs a work in progress: Audi India Head

Local production of EVs a work in progress: Audi India Head Luxury automaker Audi India is looking to commence local assembly of electric vehicles, a move which would help it roll out models at an affordable price helping expand its customer base in the country. The automaker currently imports its entire EV range comprising Q8 50 e-tron, Q8 55 e-tron, Q8 Sportback 50 e-tron, Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron, e-tron GT, and RS e-tron GT, into the country. It, however, assembles petrol models like Q3, Q3 Sportback, Q5, Q7, A4, and A6 at its Aurangabad (Maharashtra) based manufacturing plant. In an interaction with PTI here, Audi India Head Balbir Singh Dhillon said the local manufacturing of EVs is a work in progress with active discussions going on with its global headquarters. ''We are working with Audi AG very positively and hopefully at some point in time we will be able to announce this (local assembly of EV models),'' he noted. When asked about the expected timeline of commencing the process, Dhillon did not share any specific date but stated that the India unit is discussing the matter with the global headquarters very ''positively''. ''Hopefully we should have some solution at some point in time. That is the time when you can reach even more (set of customers) because then you will get the best advantage in terms of price point,'' he said. He further said, ''I think the next 2-3 years will be very crucial (2024-2026). These years will see many more new electric cars coming at different price points. Then I think our reach to our existing customers or first-time buyers will go up.'' The company's current EV model lineup is priced over Rs 1 crore thus serving a very niche set of customers. Currently, cars imported into India as Completely Built Units (CBUs) attract customs duty ranging from 60 per cent to 100 per cent. The country's customs duty system treats electric cars and hydrocarbon-powered vehicles equally, imposing significant tariffs to encourage domestic manufacturing. Audi, globally, is looking to introduce multiple electric models in the next 2-3 years many of which would also come to India thus helping the Indian operations to choose which ones to localise. In order to rev up sales volume, Audi India would look out for models which sit below the current range in price terms. The company currently gets around 2 per cent of its total sales from EVs. It reported 89 per cent growth in retail sales in India at 7,931 units last year as compared with a total of 4,187 units in 2022. Audi on Monday evening globally premiered the Q6 e-tron, a new EV model which would sit below the Q8 e-tron range. To be manufactured at the company's Ingolstadt plant, the model is expected to roll out in various markets globally this year. It is also expected to make its way to Indian shores early next year. Dhillon said the model would help in widening the company's customer base in India. ''That's the expectation that our penetration in electric mobility should go up with this model (Q6 e-tron),'' he noted. Audi expects 50 per cent of its sales in India to come from electric vehicles by 2030. Globally, Audi has decided to become a fully electric vehicle manufacturer from 2033 onwards. The Q6 e-tron is the first production model on the company's Premium Platform Electric (PPE), marking the next step in the company's transformation into a provider of premium electric mobility. The electric SUV will be available to order from this month with deliveries expected to customers in the third quarter of 2024. The Q6 e-tron comes with a range of up to 625 kms. ''The PPE shows how we are pooling expertise within the Volkswagen Group and thus making electric mobility scalable,'' Audi AG Chairman of the Board of Management Gernot Dollner said. Thanks to the PPE, the company is able to launch high-volume models with high technical standards in different segments, he added.

BJP to win all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, claims Shahnawaz Hussain

BJP to win all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, claims Shahnawaz Hussain Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shahnawaz Hussain on Tuesday expressed confidence that the BJP-led NDA would secure victory on all the 40 seats in Bihar in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There are no political differences between the parties and everyone is happy, he said. We are going to win 40 seats in Bihar. No one is angry with us. People of Bihar are happy with us and when the public is happy then everyone is happy, Hussain told ANI. The BJP will contest the Bihar elections in alliance with the HAM, the Rasthriya Lok Morcha and Chirag Paswan's LJP., Shahnawaz Hussain said that the alliance in Bihar is strong and good. It is a very good alliance in Bihar, last time BJP was fighting on 17 seats, this time also BJP is fighting on 17 seats. JDU had 16 MPs last time. Chirag Paswan's party has been given 5 seats, one seat has been given to Upendra Kushwaha and one seat has been given to Jitan Ram Manjhi's Ham Party. It is an excellent alliance, he added. Some of the seats that we had earlier too have been exchanged, there has been a change among ourselves, but most of the seats are the same which were fought last time. This time there is a double-engine government, so we are working on how to win 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. We have to win 40 seats in Bihar under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and this time NDA will win 400 seats. Bihar will contribute 10th per cent to this mission, he added. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest on 17 seats, Janata Dal-United (JDU) on 16 seats, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) (Ram Vilas) on 5 seats, Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Morcha on one seat each in 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) President Pashupati Kumar Paras resigned from the post of Union Minister on Tuesday and said that injustice has been done with us and our party. The seat-sharing arrangement was announced by Vinod Tawde, BJP's General Secretary, at a joint press conference held by members of the Bihar NDA alliance on Monday. Bihar will see polling in seven phases. The first phase of polling will be held on April 19, the second phase on April 26, the third phase on May 7, the fourth phase on May 13, the fifth phase on May 20, the sixth phase on May 25, and the seventh phase on June 1. The BJP will field candidates in key constituencies including Pashchim Champaran, Purvi Champaran, Aurangabad, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Maharajganj, Saran, Begusarai, Nawada, Patna Sahib, Patliputra, Aara, Buxar, and Sasaram In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA, consisting of BJP, JDU ( (Janata Dal-United), and LJP (Lok Janshakti Party), secured victory by taking the lead on 39 out of 40 seats. Meanwhile, the Mahagathbandhan, led by RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal), INC (Indian National Congress), and RLSP (Rashtriya Lok Samta Party), only managed to secure one seat. The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will be held in seven phases from April 19. Counting of votes on June 4. (ANI)

Allies-turned-foes fight it out for 40 seats in battle for Pataliputra

PATNA : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections with Bihar going to the polls in seven phases. Former allies-turned-foe RDJs Lalu Prasad and JD(U)s Nitish Kumar will be seen battling it out for 40 seats in the polls. The main opposition party RJD, however, faces a challenge to put up a good show in the election after drawing a blank in the 2019 general elections. As per the schedule issued by the EC, the first phase of election will be held on April 19, second -- April 26, third -- May 7, fourth -- May 13, fifth -- on May 20, sixth -- on May 25 and seventh phase on June 1. Nitish puts off cabinet rejig, RJD links delay to NDA berth pangs The first phase will be held in the districts which have been identified as Maoist hit. The notification for the first phase will be issued on March 20. Last date of filing of nomination for the first phase is March 28. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. A total of 7,64,33,329 electorate are eligible to exercise their franchise in the state. Of them, 4,29,00,136 are male and 3,64,01,903 female. There are 2,209 transgenders. In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA had won 39 out of 40 seats. The lone seat of Kishanganj had gone to Congress. RJD had failed to open its account in the election. BJP faces problems of plenty to clinch deal for Bihar seats By-election to the Agiaon assembly constituency in Bhojpur district will be held in the seventh phase. The bypoll was necessitated after the incumbent CPI(ML) MLA Manoj Manjil lost membership of the assembly following his conviction in a murder case. The Parliamentary constituencies of Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada and Jamui will go to the polls in the first phase. Bihar cabinet gets 21 more ministers in much-awaited expansion

Seven-phase LS polls in Bihar from Apr 19

Seven-phase LS polls in Bihar from Apr 19 Lok Sabha polls to 40 constituencies in Bihar will be conducted in seven phases, the Election Commission said on Saturday. Voting will take place in the state on April 19, 26, May 7, 13, 20, 25 and June 1, it said. The results will be declared on June 4. The bye election for Agiaon (Bhojpur) assembly constituency will also be held on June 1. In the first phase on April 19, the Lok Sabha constituencies that will go to polls include Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, whereas elections will be held in Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnia, Bhagalpur, Banka in the second phase on April 26. In the third phase on May 7, Jhanjharpur, Supaul, Araria, Madhepura and Khagaria will go to polls, and on May 13, elections would be conducted in Darbhanga, Ujiarpur, Samastipur, Begusarai and Munger Lok Sabha seats, the EC said. While the Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Saran and Hajipur seats will go to polls in the fifth phase on May 20, Valmiki Nagar, Paschim Champaran, Purvi Champaran, Sheohar, Vaishali, Gopalganj, Siwan and Maharajganj will see voting on May 25 (sixth phase). Nalanda, Patna Sahib, Pataliputra, Arrah, Buxar, Sasaram, Karakat and Jahanabad will go to polls in the seventh and final phase on June 1, the commission said. The by-poll in Agiaon (Bhojpur) has been necessitated following the disqualification of sitting CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation MLA Manoj Manzil. The total number of electorate in Bihar is 7,67,77,731, including 3,65,97,674 females.

SpiceJet Expands Fleet with A340 Planes for Haj Operations

SpiceJet announced on Friday its plans to lease two A340 planes to facilitate Haj operations, with flights scheduled to operate from Srinagar and Guwahati. The first phase of these operations is set to begin on May 9th, heading to Medina. Each of these wide-body aircraft will accommodate up to 324 passengers. According to SpiceJet, the flights are scheduled to depart from seven cities across India, including Srinagar, Gaya, Guwahati, Bhopal, Indore, Aurangabad, and Vijayawada. Last year, SpiceJet's Haj operations generated revenues amounting to Rs 337 crore. Chandan Sand, Head of Leasing and Legal at SpiceJet, confirmed the finalization of the lease agreement for the induction of A340 aircraft. He further stated that the airline is actively seeking opportunities to expand its fleet through long-term lease agreements. The Haj operation comprises two phases: pilgrims journeying from India to Saudi Arabia (KSA) and then returning to India. The Ministry of Minority Affairs oversees the organization of the Haj pilgrimage in India. The Haj Committee of India (HCOI), a statutory body under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, manages various aspects of the pilgrimage, including: Assessing past Haj arrangements Setting airfare rates Instructing pilgrims to pay airfare to the HCOI Finalizing flight schedules Allocating flights Informing pilgrims of their departure dates Advising pilgrims to arrive at the Embarkation Point two days before departure Operating Haj flights from 21 Embarkation Points. SpiceJet Secures Lease for 10 Aircraft Ahead of Busy Summer Travel Surge

Shinde Cabinet Renames District, Train Stations

Mumbai: The Maharashtra cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal to change the name of Ahmednagar district to Ahilya Nagar after Maratha queen Ahilyabai Holkar. Ahmednagar is the third district after Aurangabad and Osmanabad to be renamed. The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting, which could be the last before the model code of conduct comes into force for Lok Sabha elections. The Eknath Shinde government also approved the name change of seven railway stations in Mumbai. Addressing an event in Ahmednagar in May last year, chief minister Eknath Shinde had announced that Ahmednagar is set to be renamed as Ahilya Nagar. He announced X that he has fulfilled his promise. In September last year, the Maharashtra government issued a notification renaming the Aurangabad and Osmanabad Revenue Divisions to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Dharashiv Revenue Divisions, respectively. Velha tehsil in Pune district will also be renamed as Rajgad, which was the first capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said that the wish of the residents of Velhe taluka and Pune district has been fulfilled. He also congratulated all the Gram Panchayats and Zilla Parishad members who supported this demand. The Shinde cabinet also cleared the proposal to rename seven railway stations in Mumbai which were earlier given British era names. Following the approval, Curry Road will be renamed Lalbaug, Sandhurst Road will now be known as Dongri, and Marine Lines will be renamed Mumbadevi. Others including Cotton Green station will be renamed Kalachowki, Charni Road will be renamed Girgaon, Dockyard Road to Mazgaon, and King Circle will be renamed Tirthakar Parshivnath. The proposal to rename Mumbai Central station as Nana Jagannath Shankarsheth station has been sent to the railways ministry. The Maharashtra cabinet also approved the purchase of 2.5 acres of land near Srinagar to construct a Maharashtra Bhavan there. The proposal was already announced in the interim state budget presented last month.

We have decided to contest on 11 seats in Bihar, says AIMIM MLA Akhtarul Iman

We have decided to contest on 11 seats in Bihar, says AIMIM MLA Akhtarul Iman AIMIM will contest 11 out of 40 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. The announcement was made by party MLA Akhtarul Iman at a media interaction on Wednesday in Bihar. We have decided to contest 11 seats in Bihar, the AIMIM MLA said. We tried a lot to save the secular votes in Bihar and at the national level. But these people stabbed us in the back and took away our people But in the interest of the nation, minorities, and Dalits, it is important to support them, he said. The seats are Araria, Purnia, Katihar, Kishanganj, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Ujiarpur, Karakat, Buxar, Gaya and Bhagalpur. The announcement came months after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was at the forefront of the INDIA bloc, joined hands with the BJP-led NDA. Nitish Kumar, after parting ways with the BJP in 2022, took on the initiative of uniting all opposition forces to jointly take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling party in the national election. Taking a swipe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, he said, Nitish ji did the work by mistake (by joining the NDA). And he wrote the story of his hundreds of offences. Responding to a query, he said, Our fight is not for power. But for the deprived class of the state and the nation. AIMIM had won 5 seats in the 2020 Assembly elections in Bihar, but in 2022 four of its legilsators left the party and joined hands with the RJD. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election AIMIM contested just 1 seat of Kishanganj in Bihar. The AIMIM had contested on 3 seats across India winning from Aurangabad and Hyderabad. The Lok Sabha elections are expected to be held in April-May. (ANI)

AIMIMidentifies 6 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra to contest

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: All India Majlis E Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Imtiaz Jaleel on Monday said the party has identified six Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra to field candidates. Jaleel, the MP from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) and also the partys state unit chief, however, did not give details of these six seats. He also said 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 .

Addict Doctor Roams Naked Inside Maharashtra Hospital, Video Is Viral

A doctor of a state-run hospital in Maharashtra was seen on video roaming inside the hospital naked. The incident happened in the state's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, earlier known as Aurangabad.

ED attachment of Baramati Agro assets politically motivated: Rohit Pawar

ED attachment of Baramati Agro assets politically motivated: Rohit Pawar Maharashtra MLA Rohit Pawar, who belongs to the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), on Saturday described the ED attachment of assets of a sugar mill owned by his company Baramati Agro Limited as politically motivated, wrong'' and illegal. A total of 161.30 acres of land, plant, machinery and building of the Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Limited (Kannad SSK) located in Kannad village of Aurangabad district has been provisionally attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the ED said in a statement on Friday. Rohit Pawar has been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) twice in the past after it searched the premises of Baramati Agro, Kannad SSK and some others in January. In a statement issued by Baramati Agro, the Karjat-Jamkhed MLA and Sharad Pawars grandnephew said that the case by the ED is based on an FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai police. The EOW had alleged Kannad SSK was fraudulently sold by the then officials and directors of Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) at throwaway prices to their relatives and private persons ignoring due procedure, it said. The MSCB had acquired the assets of the sugar mill in 2009 to recover an outstanding loan of about Rs 80 crore, as per the ED. Rohit Pawar said that while the EOW named Baramati Agro as an accused in its FIR, it also filed a blanket C Summary (closure) report. A C Summary report suggests that the probe is complete and that no offence is made out against the accused. According to the 38-year-old MLA, the C Summary report states that during the investigation it was found that the process of sanctioning loans by MSCB and the sale of sugar mills are carried out in tune with legal provisions and the ''bank has not caused loss for itself or the directors and that its officials haven't benefitted''. It was also found that the events of violation of guidelines of NABARD, RBI do not amount to criminal acts. It is submitted that the investigation does not reveal acts of commission of cognizance offence by the MSCBs directors or officials. Allegations are of civil nature No criminal offence has been made out as alleged, said the statement, referring to the EOW probe. The closure report was brought to the notice of ED, but the agency still attached the assets, said the statement. The action seems to be politically motivated, it claimed. When Baramati Agro acquired the assets of Kannad SSK in 2012, the statement said, MSCB was run by a board of administrators appointed on the recommendation of RBI and not by officials of MSCB. There is no question of there being any relation of officials with the stakeholders of Baramati Agro, the release said, adding that the ED claims are factually incorrect. The statement said that the provisional attachment order will not adversely affect farmers, workers and other stakeholders who have contributed to Kannad sugar unit. NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule on Friday had termed the ED action misuse of power''.

Assets of sugar mill owned by Sharad Pawar kin attached

MUMBAI : Ahead of Lok Sabha election, the ED on Friday attached assets valued at Rs 50.20 crore of Kannad cooperative sugar mill owned by NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, grand nephew of former union minister Sharad Pawar. Kannad cooperative sugar mill, located in Sambhaji Nagar, is owned by Baramati Agro Ltd and the NCP MLA (SP) owns the latter. ED in its note stated they attached the 161 acre premises of Kannad sugar mill under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA), alleging that the sugar mill was illegally sold by Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank (MSCB) in 2002 by devaluing its assets and premises cost. Reacting to the ED actions, Pawar revealed that he read EDs social media post and remarked, EDs action against my company, so should I join the BJP now? He pointed out that due to the pressure of central agencies, people who were ready to surrender and had no spine had already left the party and joined the BJP. But BJP should remember, I will never succumb and surrender because I have self-respect. I will continue to fight and approach the court against the illegal actions of ED against my firm. The people who are working in our sugar mill should not be worried at all. The question is why action was only taken against me? This is gross misuse of power by the BJP, alleged Rohit. The attached assets are 161.30 acres of land, plant and machinery and building of the sugar unit in Kannad, Aurangabad. ED initiated investigations on the basis of an FIR registered by Economic Offence Wing, under sections of IPC.

ED attaches Pawar's grandnephew's assets worth Rs 50 cr

A total of 161.30 acres of land, plant, machinery and building of the Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Limited (Kannad SSK) located in Kannad village of Aurangabad district has been provisionally attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED said in a statement.

ED attaches Rohit Pawars company assets worth Rs 50 crore

Enforcement Directorate attaches Rs 50 crore assets of NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar's sugar mill in Kannad, Aurangabad. ED questioned Rohit Pawar in connection with the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam and the purchase of the mill through his company Baramati Agro Pvt Ltd.

Enforcement Directorate attaches sugar mill of Sharad Pawar's grandnephew

A total of 161.30 acres of land, plant, machinery and building of the Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Limited (Kannad SSK) located in Kannad village of Aurangabad district has been provisionally attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED said in a statement.