BJP Minority Morcha leader criticises PMs remarks, expelled from party

JAIPUR: Bikaner BJP Minority Morcha district president Usman Ghani, who expressed displeasure with Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent remarks in Rajasthan, was on Wednesday expelled from the party for tarnishing its image. Ghani, while talking to a news channel recently in New Delhi, had said that the BJP was going to lose three-four Lok Sabha []

BJP Muslim morcha leader expelled for criticizing PM Modis hate speech

The district president of theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Muslim Minority Morcha, Usman Ghani in Bikaner, Rajasthan, found himself at the centre of a political storm after openly criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modis remarks during an election gathering in Rajasthan. Ghanis criticism of PM Modis comments, which were purportedly Islamophobic, led to his expulsion from the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

BJP Minority Morcha leader criticises PM, expelled

Ghani highlighted the challenges encountered while seeking votes from the Muslim community due to the Prime Ministers remarks. reports Asian Lite News Usman Ghani, the Bikaner BJP Minority Morcha district... The post BJP Minority Morcha leader criticises PM, expelled first appeared on India Daily Digital .

BJP expels minority cell chief in Bikaner for flaying PMs remarks

BJP minority morcha leader ousted for criticising PM

Bikaner BJP minority morcha district president Usman Ghani, who expressed displeasure with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks in Rajasthan, was on Wednesday expelled from the party for 'tarnishing' its image.

BJP Minority Morcha Leader Criticises PM Modi's Remarks, Gets Expelled

Bikaner BJP Minority Morcha district president Usman Ghani, who expressed displeasure with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks in Rajasthan, was today expelled from the party for arnishing its image.

Entertainment: Hema Malini on Lok Sabha Election!

Hema Malini on Lok Sabha Election: Hema Malini is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Mathura for the third time. Hema has been MP from this seat for the last 10 years. Meanwhile, actress and politician Hema Malini revealed many things during a recent interview. The actress told that Dharmendra never wanted her to enter politics. Dharmendra did not want Hema to contest elections. Hemar Malini recently talked about his political career in an interview with News 18. He said- 'Dharmendra did not want me to enter politics. He told me not to contest elections because it is very difficult. I took this statement of his as a challenge. Dharmendra had given this advice. Hema Malini further said- 'He gave me such advice because when he came into politics, he had to face many problems. He not only had to travel a lot and also work in films. In such a situation, all this seemed like a risk to them. Besides this, he was also insecure about my safety. He was upset because his experience was like this. Difficult to manage : The actress further said, 'When you are a film star and enter politics, people's craze for you increases further. Everyone knew Dharamji's craze. For this reason there was a lot of difficulty in managing them. I also face many problems, which he does not like at all. But I am a woman and so I manage everything properly. Let us tell you, Dharmendra has been the MP of Bikaner from 2004 to 2009. But he did not like politics much and left it. Although Hema Malini is still active in politics. Hema Malini is BJP's candidate from Madhura in the Lok Sabha elections. Voting here is in the second phase i.e. on 26th April.

Sink hole in Bikaner becomes 'Reel spot', Section 144 imposed

Sink hole in Bikaner becomes Reel spot Section imposed

'He Didn't Like It': Hema Malini Opens Up About How Dharmendra Told Her Not To Contest Elections

Dharmendra, who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the BJP from Bikaner, between 2004 and 2009, faced criticism for not attending Parliament sessions regularly.

Ridhi Dogra radiates elegance in Bikaner travel diary

Actress Ridhi Dogra shares delightful glimpses from her Bikaner trip on Instagram, posing elegantly with Ektaa Kapoor and co-stars against the backdrop of the majestic palace. Fans shower praise on her captivating pictures, welcoming her to Bikaner and complimenting her radiant smile. Ridhi's versatile performances in various mediums continue to earn her acclaim.

Grand celebration: A single ceremony for 17 grandchildren in Bikaner

The large-scale wedding attracted attention from locals and became a significant talking point within the community. The post Grand celebration: A single ceremony for 17 grandchildren in Bikaner appeared first on Fusion - WeRIndia .

Ridhi Dogra drops adorable Bikaner pics, poses with Ektaa Kapoor

The News Mill

Rain, hailstorm in Bikaner, Jodhpur divs; more likely today: Met

BJP set to win Bikaner by huge margin: Union Minister and candidate Arjun Ram Meghwal

The News Mill

Strong foundation of 'Viksit Bharat' will be laid today: Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on 1st phase voting

Strong foundation of 'Viksit Bharat' will be laid today: Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on 1st phase voting As the voting for the first phase of the 2024 general elections began on Friday, Union Minister and BJP candidate from Bikaner Lok Sabha seat Arjun Ram Meghwal said a strong foundation of 'Viksit Bharat' will be laid today. Rajasthan has 25 parliamentary constituencies and in Phase 1 of polling today, voting is being conducted for 12 seats. The remaining 13 seats in the state will be polled in the second phase on April 26. 114 candidates are in the fray in the first phase of the elections. It is the festival of democracy today. Voting will be done today on a total of 102 seats in the country and 12 seats in Rajasthan, including the Bikaner Lok Sabha seat. Today, a strong foundation of 'Viksit Bharat' will be laid. 'Viksit Bharat' is an overarching theme of the BJP under which the party is seeking votes in the election, Meghwa told ANI. The constituencies in the first phase include Churu, Nagaurm, Ganganagar, Jhunjhunu, Bikaner, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur and Dausa. Meghwal, a Dalit leader who has been representing the Bikaner Lok Sabha seat since 2009, is contesting the Lok Sabha elections for the fourth time. He is contesting against Congress candidate and former state minister Govind Ram Meghwal. Bikaner has remained a BJP bastion since 2004, when the seat was won by actor Dharmendra. In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the seat was won by Meghwal, who went on to become a minister in the Narendra Modi cabinet. While the Congress struggled to secure victories in the general elections post-1999, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has consistently dominated this constituency from 2004 to 2019. A Meghwal, the current Member of Parliament from Bikaner, clinched victories in 2009, 2014, and 2019, solidifying Bikaner as a fortress for the BJP. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he secured 62.84 per cent of the votes, defeating his Congress rival Shankar Pannu. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he won for the third consecutive time with a margin of 2,64,081 votes, defeating the Congress candidate and his cousin, Madan Gopal Meghwal. Voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 began at 7:00 am on Friday across 102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories. Voting will end at 6 pm. A total of 16.63 crore voters are going to vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls, deciding the fate of 1625 candidates, with Nitin Gadkari, Kiren Rijiju, Bhupendra Yadav, and Arjun Ram Meghwal among several Union ministers in the fray. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)

Live: Gadkari, Rijiju, Kanimozhi among star candidates whose fate will be decided in Phase-I

The world's biggest election -- with a whopping 970 million eligible voters -- kicks off in a few hours and will take a long and winding path across 44 days before culminating in the seventh phase on June 1. The first phase of the Lok Sabha polls will see 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union territories go to the polls on Friday. The biggest chunk of seats in the first phase is from Tamil Nadu where all 39 seats go to the polls. The other states which will see all of their seats going to the polls in Phase-I are Uttarakhand (all five seats), Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya (two seats each) and the sole seat in Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim. Apart from these, 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, four out of 40 seats in Bihar, three out of 42 seats in West Bengal, one out of 11 seats in Chhattisgarh and one out of two seats in Tripura will vote on Friday. 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. Separately, voting will also be held for 92 assembly seats in the state elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim on Friday. Among the prominent leaders trying their 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. Top leaders from Tamil Nadu whose fortunes will be decided on Friday include the DMK's Kanimozhi (Thoothukudi), Dayanidhi Maran (Chennai Central), TR Baalu (Sriperumbudur) and A Raja (Nilgiris) and the BJP's K Annamalai (Coimbatore) and Tamilisai Soundararajan (Chennai South). Rs 700 per vote: Inside India's record-breaking election! India's 969 million-odd voters have assumed a near-royalty status for a brief period. Political parties have been devoting significant energies and expense to make them feel special, even if it involves wheelbarrows full of cash worth some Rs 1 lakh crore, as per preliminary estimates. The projected expenditure far outstrips the 2019 poll spending, which itself topped out at Rs 55,000-60,000 crore, according to the Centre for Media Studies (CMS), which tracks election expenses. It almost equals the spending on the 2020 US elections that stood at $14.4 billion , or Rs 1.2 lakh crore, according to OpenSecrets.org, which too tracks election spending. In other words, the world's biggest elections happening in India will also be the most expensive ever. What it also confirms is that, power often costs too much.( Read more )

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 First Phase: 5 Talking Points

Hyderabad: Voting for the seven-phased 18th Lok Sabha election begins on Friday. Campaigning ended on Wednesday (April 17) evening for the 102 LS seats in the first phase. Nominations for this phase were completed on March 27. Vote counting will be done on June 4 after voting in all phases are over. Here are the top five talking points on the first phase of voting: 1. VITAL STATISTICS The first phase is the largest of the seven phases of voting. Over 1,600 candidates are in the fray in this phase, which will cover 102 parliamentary constituencies across 21 states and Union territories. This phase will cover 16.63 crore voters, including 8.23 crore women, 8.4 crore men, and 11,371 from the third gender. There are 35.67 lakh first time voters, besides 3.51 crore voters in the age group of 20 to 29 years. 2. BIG NAMES The first phase will see eight Union ministers, two former chief ministers and an ex-governor test their electoral fortunes. The Union ministers include Nitin Gadkari (Nagpur, Maharashtra), Kiren Rijiju (Arunachal Pradesh-West), Arjun Ram Meghwal (Bikaner, Rajasthan), Sarbanada Sonowal (Dibrugarh, Assam), Sanjeev Baliyan (Muzaffarnagar, western UP), Jitendra Singh (Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir) and Bhupendra Yadav (Alwar, Rajasthan). Former Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb will slug it out against state Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha in the West Tripura seat. Tamilisai Soundararajan, the former Governor of Telangana and Lt Governor of Puducherry is contesting from the Chennai South constituency. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath's son, Nakul is seeking reelection from the Chhindwara seat (Madhya Pradesh). Another key figure in the first phase is Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai, vying for the Coimbatore seat in Tamil Nadu. 3. ARRANGEMENTS Over 18 lakh polling personnel have been deployed across 1.87 lakh polling booths. They were sent to their respective polling stations via 41 helicopters, 84 special trains and nearly one lakh vehicles. 4. FAIRNESS Arrangements have been made for webcasting (live video broadcasting over the internet) in over 50 per cent of the polling stations. On top of that micro observers have been deployed in all polling stations. As many as 361 observers (127 generals, 67 police officials and 167 expenditure observers) had already reached their constituencies several days before the polls. 5. POLLING TIME Voting will start at 7 am and end at 6 pm. However, the closure of poll timing differs in some seats. Following is the list of states voting in the first phase: Tamil Nadu (All 39 seats) Rajasthan (12 of 25 seats) Uttar Pradesh (8 out of 80 seats) Madhya Pradesh (6 out of 29 seats) Maharashtra (5 out of 48 seats) Uttarakhand (All 5 seats) Assam (5 of 14 seats) Bihar (4 of 40 seats) West Bengal (3 of 42 seats) Arunachal Pradesh (Both of the 2 seats in the state) Manipur (Both of the 2 seats in the state) Meghalaya (Both of the 2 seats in the state) Chhattisgarh (1 out of 11 seats) Mizoram (sole seat) Nagaland (sole seat) Sikkim (sole seat) Tripura (1 out of 2 seats) Jammu and Kashmir (1 out of 5 seats) Andaman and Nicobar Islands (sole seat) Lakshadweep (sole seat) Puducherry (sole seat) On the day, voting will also be carried out for the 92 Assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

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.

Bikaner Lok Sabha Seat ... | NDTV India

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Eight union ministers, two former CMs, one ex-governor in fray in first phase of LS polls

NEW DELHI: Eight Union ministers, two former chief ministers and one ex-governor are among those who are set to test their electoral fate in the first phase of elections on April 19 when 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories will go to polls. Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari is seeking a hat-trick of win from the Nagpur seat. In 2014, he had defeated seven-time MP Vilas Muttemwar by a margin of 2.84 lakh votes and retained the seat in 2019 by defeating current Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole by 2.16 lakh votes. Union minister Kiren Rijiju is contesting from the Arunachal West seat. The 52-year-old has represented the constituency thrice since 2004. Rijiju's main rival is former chief minister and present president of Arunachal Pradesh Congress Nabam Tuki. Piyush Goyal, Anurag Thakur, Nitin Gadkari in BJP's second list of 72 candidates for Lok Sabha polls Sarbanada Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, is seeking a return to Lok Sabha from Dibrugarh in Assam. Sonowal, a Rajya Sabha member, was fielded from Dibrugarh after Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Rameswar Teli, was not given a ticket. Muzaffarnagar, known for its intricate caste dynamics, is witnessing a three-cornered electoral battle, with Union minister Sanjeev Baliyan locked in competition against Samajwadi Party's Harindra Malik and BSP candidate Dara Singh Prajapati. INTERVIEW| CAA won't impact Assam's indigenous people; IMDT was discriminatory: Union Minister Sonowal Jitendra Singh, a two-time parliamentarian and a junior minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet, is aiming for a hat-trick in Udhampur. Bhupendra Yadav, Union minister and Rajya Sabha member who replaced sitting MP Balak Nath, is in a contest with sitting Congress MLA Lalit Yadav, who belongs to Matsya region of Alwar district in Rajasthan and enjoys the support of the Yadav community. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is pitted against former Congress minister Govind Ram Meghwl from Bikaner parliamentary seat in Rajasthan. The Nilgiris Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu is witnessing one of the keenly watched battles between A Raja, the incumbent DMK MP, and former telecom minister, and L Murugan of the BJP, who is the Union Minister of State for Fisheries. This will be the first time that Murugan, who was elected to Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, is contesting from here. Fight in Nilgiris between Modiji and 2G, says BJPs Murugan, targets Raja Sivaganga MP Karti Chidmabaram is aiming for a re-election from a seat his father won seven times, competing against BJP's T Devanathan Yadav and AIADMK's Xavier Dass. Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai is set to take the ballot test in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore where she is pitted against DMK leader Ganapathy P Rajkumar and AIADMK's Singai Ramachandran. 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. Daughter of veteran Congress leader Kumari Anantha, Soundararajan had contested 2019 Lok Sabha elections against DMK's Kanimozhi, but lost by a huge margin in Thoothukudi. This time, Kanimozhi is seeking a re-election from the seat. Firebrand Annamalais duel in Coimbatore is TN head-turner NDA ally Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) has fielded SDR Vijayaseelan and AIADMK has fielded R Sivasami Velumani from the constituency. Nakul Nath, son of Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, is seeking a re-election Chhindwara. The seat has remained firmly with Kamal Nath, who has won the seat nine times since 1980. In the 2019 polls, the BJP bagged 28 seats out of the state's 29, but missed out on picking Chhindwara, where Nakul beat the BJP's candidate by 37,536 votes to emerge as the lone Congress MP in the state. Of the two Lok Sabha constituencies in Tripura, the seat of West Tripura that votes in the first phase on April 19 will see a high-voltage clash between former chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb and state Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha. Having won Lok Sabha elections twice since 2014 from Kaliabor constituency in Assam, Gaurav Gogoi, Congress' deputy leader in Lok Sabha and son of former chief minister Tarun Gogoi, finds himself as the new candidate in neighbouring Jorhat, where BJP's Topon Kumar Gogoi won in 2019. Gaurav Gogoi's shift to Jorhat came after the impact of delimitation exercise in his 2019 constituency, Kaliabor. Manipur Law and Education Minister Basanta Kumar Singh is BJP's nominee for the Inner Manipur constituency and is pitted against JNU professor and Congress candidate Bimal Akoijam. Singh, who belongs to the Meiti community, is the son of Thounaojam Chaoba Singh who served as the Union Minister of State for sports, youth affairs, culture and food processing in the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The BJP stronghold of Churu, in northern Rajasthan, is readying for an interesting match between BJP candidate Devendra Jhajharia, a two-time Paralympic gold medallist javelin thrower, and Rahul Kaswan from the Congress. Kaswan is a turncoat who has made the fight for Churu interesting. The two-time left the BJP only in March after he was denied a ticket by the party. Polling for the 543 seats for electing the 18th Lok Sabha will be held in seven phases.The votes will be counted on June 4.

First phase of LS polls sees prominent figures vying for seats

First phase of LS polls sees prominent figures vying for seats Eight Union ministers, two former chief ministers and one ex-governor are among those who are set to test their electoral fate in the first phase of elections on April 19 when 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories will go to polls. Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari is seeking a hat-trick of win from the Nagpur seat. In 2014, he had defeated seven-time MP Vilas Muttemwar by a margin of 2.84 lakh votes and retained the seat in 2019 by defeating current Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole by 2.16 lakh votes. Union minister Kiren Rijiju is contesting from the Arunachal West seat. The 52-year-old has represented the constituency thrice since 2004. Rijiju's main rival is former chief minister and present president of Arunachal Pradesh Congress Nabam Tuki. Sarbanada Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, is seeking a return to Lok Sabha from Dibrugarh in Assam. Sonowal, a Rajya Sabha member, was fielded from Dibrugarh after Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Rameswar Teli, was not given a ticket. Muzaffarnagar, known for its intricate caste dynamics, is witnessing a three-cornered electoral battle, with Union minister Sanjeev Baliyan locked in competition against Samajwadi Party's Harindra Malik and BSP candidate Dara Singh Prajapati. Jitendra Singh, a two-time parliamentarian and a junior minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet, is aiming for a hat-trick in Udhampur. Bhupendra Yadav, Union minister and Rajya Sabha member who replaced sitting MP Balak Nath, is in a contest with sitting Congress MLA Lalit Yadav, who belongs to Matsya region of Alwar district in Rajasthan and enjoys the support of the Yadav community. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is pitted against former Congress minister Govind Ram Meghwl from Bikaner parliamentary seat in Rajasthan. The Nilgiris Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu is witnessing one of the keenly watched battles between A Raja, the incumbent DMK MP, and former telecom minister, and L Murugan of the BJP, who is the Union Minister of State for Fisheries. This will be the first time that Murugan, who was elected to Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, is contesting from here. Sivaganga MP Karti Chidmabaram is aiming for a re-election from a seat his father won seven times, competing against BJP's T Devanathan Yadav and AIADMK's Xavier Dass. Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai is set to take the ballot test in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore where she is pitted against DMK leader Ganapathy P Rajkumar and AIADMK's Singai Ramachandran. 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. Daughter of veteran Congress leader Kumari Anantha, Soundararajan had contested 2019 Lok Sabha elections against DMK's Kanimozhi, but lost by a huge margin in Thoothukudi. This time, Kanimozhi is seeking a re-election from the seat. NDA ally Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) has fielded SDR Vijayaseelan and AIADMK has fielded R Sivasami Velumani from the constituency. Nakul Nath, son of Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, is seeking a re-election Chhindwara. The seat has remained firmly with Kamal Nath, who has won the seat nine times since 1980. In the 2019 polls, the BJP bagged 28 seats out of the state's 29, but missed out on picking Chhindwara, where Nakul beat the BJP's candidate by 37,536 votes to emerge as the lone Congress MP in the state. Of the two Lok Sabha constituencies in Tripura, the seat of West Tripura that votes in the first phase on April 19 will see a high-voltage clash between former chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb and state Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha. Having won Lok Sabha elections twice since 2014 from Kaliabor constituency in Assam, Gaurav Gogoi, Congress' deputy leader in Lok Sabha and son of former chief minister Tarun Gogoi, finds himself as the new candidate in neighbouring Jorhat, where BJP's Topon Kumar Gogoi won in 2019. Gaurav Gogoi's shift to Jorhat came after the impact of delimitation exercise in his 2019 constituency, Kaliabor. Manipur Law and Education Minister Basanta Kumar Singh is BJP's nominee for the Inner Manipur constituency and is pitted against JNU professor and Congress candidate Bimal Akoijam. Singh, who belongs to the Meiti community, is the son of Thounaojam Chaoba Singh who served as the Union Minister of State for sports, youth affairs, culture and food processing in the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The BJP stronghold of Churu, in northern Rajasthan, is readying for an interesting match between BJP candidate Devendra Jhajharia, a two-time Paralympic gold medallist javelin thrower, and Rahul Kaswan from the Congress. Kaswan is a turncoat who has made the fight for Churu interesting. The two-time left the BJP only in March after he was denied a ticket by the party. Polling for the 543 seats for electing the 18th Lok Sabha will be held in seven phases. The votes will be counted on June 4.

Stage set for desert storm

JAIPUR: The desert state of Rajasthan is witnessing a fierce political showdown as the traditional rivals the Congress and the BJP lock horns in a largely bipolar battle. With the BJP having bagged all 25 seats in the state in the last two Lok Sabha elections, the stakes are high for the saffron brigade. But the Congress is also making a determined bid to thwart a clean sweep by the BJP and has strategically formed alliances and fielded candidates on only 22 seats leaving three seats for its alliance partners. The coming Parliamentary polls pose a significant challenge for Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma of the BJP, who despite being a debutant MLA rose to the CMs office. The BJP has deployed a galaxy of its leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. In response, the Congress has also mobilised its key figures party president Mallikarjuna Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi. In the last two elections, the Congress failed to secure any seats but this time around, it is likely to gain some ground despite its loss of power in the state. However, cracks have emerged in the Congress alliance, especially in the Banswara seat in South Rajasthan. The BJP too faces internal challenges as the party changed 14 sitting MPs in the state. The BJP is mainly banking on Prime Minister Modis popularity to continue its stranglehold on the state in the polls. However, Sonia Gandhis active involvement in Rajasthan, after her absence in the last two elections, signals a strengthened opposition, particularly in key constituencies like Nagaur, Barmer, Sikar, Churu, and Kota. Notably, this election marks the absence of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, adding a new dynamic to the political landscape. Among the most contentious seats is Churu, where former BJP MP Rahul Kaswan, now contesting on a Congress ticket, faces BJP candidate Devendra Jhanjadia. The credibility of senior BJP leader Rajendra Rathod hangs in the balance amid traditional rivalries between the Rajput and Jat communities. Similarly, the Jalore seat has emerged as a pivotal battleground with former chief minister Ashok Gehlots son, Vaibhav Gehlot contesting against BJPs Lumbaram Chaudhary. Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat re-enters the fray in Jodhpur, and to face Congresss Karan Singh Uchiyarda. Sources suggest that Shekhawat also from factions within the BJP unhappy with his tenure at the Centre for a decade. The Congress has delegated the Nagaur seat to an alliance partner, RLPs Hanuman Beniwal who is battling Jyoti Mirdha, granddaughter of the influential Mirdha family, who defected from Congress to BJP. Another heated contest unfolds in Kota, where Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeks re-election. He faces Prahlad Gunjal, who recently switched allegiance from BJP to Congress. Despite Kota being a BJP stronghold, Gunjal an influential Gurjar community leader, enjoys support particularly from Vasundhara Rajes camp is dissatisfied with her exclusion from the CM post. Banswara-Dungarpur stands out as one of the seats where the Congress has faced major embarrassment. Rajkumar Raut of the Bharatiya Adivasi Party (BAP) is challenging BJPs Mahendrajit Malviya who recently defected from Congress and was considered close to former CM Gehlot. Though Congress initially fielded Arvind Damor as its candidate, the party ultimately threw its weight behind BAP. Shockingly, the partys candidate Damor refused to withdraw his nomination forcing the Congress to expel him from the party. Congress faced setbacks when Sudarshan Singh Rawat declined to contest from Rajsamand, prompting the transfer of Damodar Gurjar, originally the candidate from Bhilwara, to Rajsamand. Meanwhile, former assembly speaker CP Joshi was fielded from Bhilwara in a bid to court the influential Brahmin community. Joshis opponent from BJP is Damodar Agarwal. In Alwar, Union Minister Bhupendra Yadavs electoral prospects appear strong due to Congresss perceived lack of preparedness. Similarly, Union Minister Arjun Meghwal seeks reelection from Bikaner. Overall, the bipolar battle in Rajasthan has become more interesting as the Congress has aligned with partners like the CPM and RLP.

Battle for Bikaner: Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to contest against Congress' Govind Ram Meghwal

While the Congress struggled to secure victories in the general elections post-1999, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has consistently dominated this constituency from 2004 to 2019. Arjun Ram Meghwal, the current Member of Parliament from Bikaner, clinched victories in 2009, 2014, and 2019, solidifying Bikaner as a fortress for the BJP.

'Between Dreams': Artist Poonam Bhatnagar explores mythology, cityscapes in solo show

'Between Dreams': Artist Poonam Bhatnagar explores mythology, cityscapes in solo show From the bustling Oxford Street in London to the tranquil landscape of Ladakh, from the divine cosmic dancer Nataraja to the supreme form of Vishnu-Vishwaroopa, from Bollywood heartthrob Madhubala to Bengali great Madhabi Mukherjee, artist Poonam Bhatnagar's solo show here has explored the wide-ranging themes of 'Mythos', 'Cityscapes', 'Vriksha', 'Portraits Old and New' and 'Shunya'. Organised by Masha Art at Bikaner House, the exhibition, titled ''Between Dreams'', has featured 24 acrylic-on-canvas works by the Delhi-based artist. Curated by Uma Nair, the show features large canvases and Bhatnagar's own unique style 'web cast', inspired from a spider's web, that gives the paintings a three-dimensional effect. ''The 'Mythos' series appears as if they are needlework, while simultaneously giving the paintings a three-dimensional effect. A look at the paintings from a distance can effectively create multiple layers that create their own illusionary experience. When you look at the 'Cityscapes' or the 'Mythos' series, Id use the word 'illusion','' Nair said in a statement. In another grand canvas, measuring 6x4 feet, Bhatnagar has painted Saraswati, the goddess of learning, in a meditative posture, playing the veena. ''The geometric lines and squares, along with the intermingling waves, create a trance-like effect,'' Nair added. Similarly, Shiva Shakti, painted on a 4.5x4 feet canvas, creates a three-dimensional effect, as the vertical and horizontal geometric lines merge with the squares and waves. In the Mythos series, you will see that Poonam Bhatnagar has treated the works not just with form but she tells us that there is an illusion. She creates layers of illusion with her works, the curator said. Bhatnagar's 'Cityscapes' series of paintings encapsulates her experiences of global cities, including London, Venice, Zurich, as well as Ladakh. The artist has also painted the iconic actors of yesteryear, including Madhubala, Meena Kumari, Suchitra Sen and Madhabi Mukherjee, mostly painted in black and white. The exhibition will come to an end on April 17.

Arjun Ram Meghwal: Bikaner - ' '

. NDTV Exclusive BJP 2019 .

Meet IAS officer, who quit social media, lived like 'monk' to clear UPSC exam,securedAIR...

Among the extremely few who succeed in becoming a civil servant and serving the country is IAS Pari Bishnoi. Bikaner, Rajasthan, is the hometown of Pari Bishnoi. Her father is an advocate, while her mother works as a police officer for the GRP.

Between Dreams at Bikaner House celebrates myriad moorings

Opening at Bikaner House today a show that reflects an artists ability to capture the essence between dreams. Working across drawing, paintingand creating textures , the artist often obscures identifying details and specifics of time...

Bikaner Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Check key candidates, date of voting and other important details

Historically a stronghold of the BJP since 2004, Bikaner's political landscape has seen shifts over the years.

Joblessness biggest issue; inflation second: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi criticized BJP government for neglecting unemployment and inflation issues, emphasizing minimum support price for farmers, youth employment, and relief from inflation at a rally in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

Rahul Gandhi On Indian Media: Ambani Wedding Biggest Issue For Media, Not Poverty And Unemployment

Addressing a rally in Bikaner in Rajasthan, Rahul Gandhi said, if you follow the media, it will seem like the most important issue is Ambani's (son's) wedding.

PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi to address rallies in Rajasthan today

Shillong, April 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, will address a Vijay Shankhnad Rally in Karauli, supporting BJP candidate Indu Devi Jatav. Rahul Gandhi, on the same day, will be addressing rallies in western Rajasthans Anupgarh and Phalodi towns, under Bikaner and Jodhpur Lok Sabha constituencies respectively. PM Modi will be in Rajasthan on [] The post PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi to address rallies in Rajasthan today appeared first on The Shillong Times .

Honeymoon Tour Packages:- IRCTC's big gift for honeymoon couples, go travelling on a low budget through these packages

Many tour packages have been brought by Indian Railways for honeymoon couples. Through these packages, you can visit many places in the country and abroad. If you are planning to visit some beautiful place with your partner, where the expenses will be less, then this article will be useful for you. In today's article, we will tell you about some such packages where you can plan your honeymoon trip. You will not have to do any planning to visit this place. Because all the facilities from hotel to your travel ticket, tour bus and food are being provided by Indian Railways. Honeymoon tour packages are starting from Mumbai Through this package, you can celebrate your honeymoon in Ladakh, Leh, Nubra and Pangong. The package is starting from 20th May. After May 20, you can plan a trip for May 27, June 10 and June 24. This tour package is for 6 nights and 7 days. Package Fees If two people are travelling together, the package fee per person is Rs 58900. In this package, you will get a chance to travel on an Indigo flight. You will get a flight from Mumbai at 7:35 am. The package includes hotel, food and round-trip flight tickets. Also, it is the responsibility of Indian Railways to transport you in the package. You will not have to pay any separate fee for this. You can book the package from the official website of Indian Railways. Honeymoon tour packages are starting from Chandigarh Cherrapunji, Guwahati, Kaziranga, Mawlynnong and Shillong tour packages from Chandigarh are starting from 11th April. This package is for 6 nights and 7 days. The package fee per person for travelling with two people is Rs 46700. Through this package, you will get a chance to visit many famous places in Guwahati. Honeymoon tour packages starting from Hyderabad In the package, you will get a chance to visit Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg and Srinagar. The package is starting from 12th April. This tour package is for 5 nights and 6 days. The package fee per person for travelling with two people is Rs 52930. Apart from this, Ladakh and Leh tour packages are also being started from Hyderabad. The package is starting from 21st May. This is a tour package of 6 nights and 7 days. Package Fee The package fee per person is Rs 60755 if travelling with two people. Honeymoon tour packages are starting from Delhi From Delhi, you will get a chance to visit Ladakh and Leh. This tour package is starting from 27th April. This is a tour package of 6 nights and 7 days. Package Fees Tour package fees per person if travelling with two people is Rs 53,000 Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur You can plan your trip anytime with this tour package from Delhi. This is a tour package of 6 nights and 7 days. Package Fee The package fee per person travelling with 2 people is Rs 31,370. Image Credit- Wikipedia

Tips to travel Jodhpur -Jaisalmer in low budget: - If you want to visit Jodhpur-Jaisalmer on a budget then take the help of these tips

Now is the best time to visit Jodhpur-Jaisalmer. Due to the history and beauty of Jodhpur-Jaisalmer, lakhs of tourists keep visiting here every year. After a few months, summer will start and then it may be difficult to visit these places. In such a situation, if you are also planning to visit Jodhpur-Jaisalmer with your family, then we will tell you how you can do this trip on a low budget. How to visit Jodhpur-Jaisalmer A special package is offered by Indian Railways. In this package, you can visit Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Bikaner. This package is for 3 nights and 4 days. If you are going alone then you will have to pay Rs 13265. If three people are travelling through this package, then you have to pay Rs 10265. Places to visit in Jodhpur Mehrangarh Fort JaswantThada Mandore Garden UmaidBhavan Palace Castle of glass bell tower Khejarla Fort Places to visit in Jaisalmer Haveli of Patvas Big garden Jaisalmer Fort Gadisar Lake diameter umbrella Sam Sand Dunes Khaba Fort How to travel on a low-budget If you want to visit Jodhpur-Jaisalmer in a good way on a low budget, then you should not go to Jodhpur-Jaisalmer alone. If you travel with some friends, you can complete your journey on a very low budget. If you travel alone then you should book a hostel instead of a hotel. You will get a hostel for 200 to 300 rupees. Apart from this, you should eat local foods and not in any hotel. Image Credit- Instagram

Rahul Gandhi on Rajasthan tour on April 11 to address election meetings in Bikaner, Jodhpur LS seats

Shillong, April 10: Former Congress President and star campaigner of the party, Rahul Gandhi will be on a Rajasthan tour on Thursday. The senior Congress MP will address an election meeting in Anupgarh town in Bikaner Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency on Thursday at 12 noon. Rahul Gandhis public meeting in Anupgarh will be held at [] The post Rahul Gandhi on Rajasthan tour on April 11 to address election meetings in Bikaner, Jodhpur LS seats appeared first on The Shillong Times .

Caste politics replaced by politics of development under Modi, says Nadda

Caste politics replaced by politics of development under Modi, says Nadda BJP national president J P Nadda on Monday said earlier vote bank politics was done by dividing people into castes, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi started politics of development in the country. He said a few days ago, some people talked about caste census to divide the society. The BJP is not against caste census but their objective of having caste census done was less important and it was more to divide the people among castes. ''Today India's politics has changed under the leadership of Modi. What was seen 10 years ago is no longer the same today. ''Earlier, the government belonged to a particular caste group. It was not the government of every section,'' Nadda said, addressing a public meeting in Sangaria of Hanumangarh district in support of BJP candidate Priyanka Balan from Anupgarh. He said the elections were also conducted in such a way that caste played an important role. Politics was done by dividing the people, he added. ''Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed the definition and culture of politics. Today politics of development is being done. Our opponents also have to talk about development,'' he said. He said on one hand there is Modi who talks about removing corruption and on the other side there is a 'Ghamandia Gathbandhan', which says they will save the corrupt. There will be action against the corrupts, he added. He further said, ''All these corrupts have come together. This is the 'ghamandia' (arrogant) alliance. This is an alliance to save the corrupt.'' Nadda said India is now the fifth largest economy by defeating Britain which ruled over us for 200 years. In time to come, India will become the third largest economy of the world. He said, ''The manner in which work has been done in this country under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi ji for India's sovereignty and India's culture, India's cultural awakening was never done before.'' If anyone has worried about the villages, the poor, the deprived, the exploited, the Dalits, the women, the youth, the tribal brothers and the farmers, then Prime Minister Modi has done so, he said. He said India's name has been established in the world. New dimensions of development have been created. Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan will be held in two phases. In the first phase, voting will be held on April 19 in 12 seats -- Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur. Voting will be held in the second phase on April 26 in the remaining 13 seats of Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran. Byelection for Bagidaura assembly constituency will also be held in the second phase on April 26.

Rajnath seeks support for Meghwal, backs one poll

JAIPUR: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh strongly advocated for a unified election system in India during his campaign in Rajasthans Bikaner district on Sunday. Supporting Law Minister and BJP candidate Arjun Meghwal, Singh emphasised the benefits of one nation, one election, stating that it would significantly save resources and money. He also claimed that one of the Modi governments key achievements was curbing terrorist attacks, which were quite frequent during the Congress regime. There should be only one election in the country as it will save money and resources. Congress, as usual, opposes everything; its their nature. Previously, terrorist incidents occurred daily, but now, no one dares to threaten our nation, the minister asserted. He remarked, One country, one election will garner peoples support, yet Congress persists in its opposition. Additionally, he predicted that India would become the worlds third-largest economy by the beginning of 2027, following only America and China. Addressing the issue further, he mentioned, Assembly elections in Rajasthan occurred just three months ago, now followed by Lok Sabha elections, municipal elections, and Gram Panchayat elections. Our Prime Minister initiated the idea of synchronising elections nationwide, with a committee led by former President Ramnath Kovind submitting a report to current President Droupadi Murmu. This move will receive widespread support from the people. Despite Congress habitual opposition, I believe this will save money, resources, and time. In his attack on the grand old party, Singh claimed that corruption and Congress were synonymous and asked people to support the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi if they wish to see an India where the corrupt do not dominate but are punished strongly. Rajnath said, Prime Minister Modis political track record is excellent because we prioritise the public as our nation, unlike Congress, which prioritises its own members as a family. He expressed disappointment with Congress for questioning surgical strikes, stating, Congress doubts our army soldiers and demands proof of the surgical strike. While the entire world has seen the evidence, Congress remains skeptical. One nation one poll would save resources Defence Minister Rajnath Singh strongly advocated for a unified election system in India and emphasised the benefits of one nation, one election, stating that it would significantly save resources and money. There should be only one election in the country as it will save money and resources. Congress, as usual, opposes everything, he said.

Rajnath Singh bats for 'One Nation, One Election' at Bikaner rally

Union Minister Rajnath Singh advocates 'One Nation, One Election' at a Bikaner rally, aiming to enhance Indian democracy by aligning local and national elections. Singh praises PM Modi's global impact and highlights India's increasing influence under his leadership. He dismisses religious tension claims within BJP, citing international recognition for Modi.

There must be One Nation, One Election: Rajnath Singh at poll rally in Rajasthan

There must be One Nation, One Election: Rajnath Singh at poll rally in Rajasthan Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stressed on Sunday that there must be 'one nation and one election' to save time and resources for the nation, adding he said that the Congress party will only oppose it. There must be One Nation, One Election. Centre had formed a committee under the leadership of former President Ram Nath Kovind. The committee has submitted its reports to the President. I believe the people of the nation will support us, the senior BJP leader said. Lashing out at Congress, he said, However, the Congress party will only oppose it. It is their habit to oppose everything. This (one nation, one election) will save your time and resources. The statement was made by Rajnath Singh at a Vijay Sankalp Sabha in Rajasthan's Kolayat, a town in Bikaner district, on Sunday. He was accompanied by Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and other party leaders. He also slammed the previous Congress government in Rajasthan, alleging that there was no law and order in the state, which improved after the BJP government came to power. There was a Congress government here for the last five years. You know how they ruled. There was no law and order. People were killed by slitting their throats inside their houses. Such was the situation, he alleged. But after our government came to power, Bhajan Lal Sharma became the Chief Minister... I would like to congratulate him on the steps that his government has taken to improve the law and order situation in the state, Rajnath Singh said. He said that the prestige of Bharat has enhanced globally since the BJP government came to power at the Centre. Previously, we were not taken seriously at any international forums. But today, whenever Bharat speaks, the world listens with its ears open, saying what the Bharat is talking about, he said. The world used to say India was a country of poor and unemployed people. When the BJP government was formed in 2014, we were in the top 11 economies in the world. Now, we are in the top 5 economies in the world. The financial firms that conduct surveys and reviews of the world economy claim that India will be in the top 3 economies of the world by 2027, he said. Rajasthan will go to the polls in two phases, on April 19 and April 26. Polling for 12 Lok Sabha seats will be held in the first phase on April 19, while the remaining 13 seats will be polled in the second phase on April 26. The counting of votes for all 543 Lok Sabha seats across the country is scheduled for June 4. (ANI)

Congress treats one family as supreme, BJP people: Rajnath Singh

The track record of Modi ji's politics has been fabulous. And it was fabulous because we treat people as supreme whereas the Congress treats a family supreme, the senior BJP leader said addressing a public meeting in support of BJP candidate Arjun Ram Meghwal in Kolayat in Bikaner.

Modi govt's track record fabulous as BJP treats people as supreme whereas Cong treats family supreme: Rajnath Singh in Bikaner.

Modi govt's track record fabulous as BJP treats people as supreme whereas Cong treats family supreme: Rajnath Singh in Bikaner. Modi govt's track record fabulous as BJP treats people as supreme whereas Cong treats family supreme: Rajnath Singh in Bikaner.

Accused in Paper leak Case sent to police remand till April 15

Udaipur : The court on Saturday sent the arrested accused in the much-talked-about paper leak case in Udaipur to police remand till April 15. Kamlesh Dhaka, who was arrested by the Bikaner police station of the district in the paper leak case of General Knowledge and Educational Psychology of Competitive Examination-2022, was produced in the ... Read more

This election is a big opportunity..., says PM Modi in Ajmer

Polling for 12 Lok Sabha seats will be held in the first phase on April 19, while the remaining 13 seats will be polled in the second phase on April 26. In the first phase, voting will be held in 12 constituencies -- Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur.

Tata Power gains as its step down arm commissions 200 MW solar project in Bikaner

Tata Power is currently trading at Rs. 415.10, up by 2.95 points or 0.72% from its previous closing of Rs. 412.15 on the BSE. The scrip opened at Rs. 416.00 and has touched a high and low of Rs. 419.90 and Rs. 414.95 respectively. So far 418394 shares were traded on the counter. The BSE ... Read more

These elections are to change dynamics of the country: BJP leader Om Birla makes vote appeal in Kota

These elections are to change dynamics of the country: BJP leader Om Birla makes vote appeal in Kota Emphasising his commitment to the people of Kota, Rajasthan, BJP leader and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla on Wednesday made a vote appeal for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Addressing the crowd, Birla recounted his dedication to ensuring the welfare of Kota's citizens, particularly during the pandemic's peak. Even as Lok Sabha Speaker, I tried to be among you all the time. During the COVID-19 period, the whole world was suffering, but I made sure that the people of Kota, Rajasthan do not suffer for oxygen, he remarked. Underscoring the significance of the upcoming elections, Birla stressed the need for transformative change under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. These elections are to change the dynamics of the country. These elections are for the development of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, he asserted. Drawing upon his personal connection to Kota, Birla expressed gratitude for the unwavering support he has received from the community throughout his political career. I have started my politics from this place, and I can never forget the love I received from here. I have always tried to keep your belief in me alive, he affirmed. By voting with full strength on 26th (April), we will create history by giving more than 400 seats to Narendra Modi, he said. Earlier in the day, Om Birla filed his nomination from Kota, Rajasthan. Speaking to ANI, the BJP leader said, The people of Kota have always loved me and it is because of this that I am contesting the Lok Sabha elections for the third time and this time also the people of the area will make me win with a good majority. He also exuded confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party's victory in the general elections, contributing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's potential third term. People have liked the work done by Modi's government in the country. In these elections, once again, the people of the country will repose faith in the BJP and Modi government, he said. The 25 parliamentary constituencies of Rajasthan will go to the polls in two phases. In Phase 1 of polling in the state on April 19, which is also the opening phase of the seven-phased elections, voting will be conducted for 12 seats. The remaining 13 seats in the state will be contested in the second phase on April 26. Under Phase 1, on April 19, polling will be held in Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa, and Nagaur. Phase 2 of polling on April 26 will take place in Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota, and Jhalawar-Baran. (ANI)

PM Modi to address election rally in Rajasthan's Kotputli

PM Modi to address election rally in Rajasthan's Kotputli Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address an election rally in Rajasthan's Kotputli on Tuesday. A BJP spokesperson said that PM Modi will address a public meeting in Kotputli in support of the party's candidate from Jaipur Rural Lok Sabha seat, Rao Rajendra Singh. According to programme coordinator Arun Chaturvedi, PM Modi will reach the meeting venue in the Molahera village in front of the Eklavya Dental Medical College, in Kotputli at 1.50 pm on Tuesday. This will be the prime ministeri's first meeting for the Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan since the announcement of polls. Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan will be held in two phases on April 19 and 26. In the first phase, voting will be held on April 19 for 12 seats - Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur. In the second phase, voting will be held on April 26 for 13 seats - Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran.

Tata Power Renewable Energy commissions 200 MW solar project in Bikaner

Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd commissioned a 200 MW solar project in Bikaner, Rajasthan, generating 485 million units of green energy annually and offsetting 3,88,000 tonnes of carbon footprints. TPREL's total renewables capacity is 9,018 MW.

BJP will secure all 25 seats from Rajasthan in Lok Sabha elections: Union Minister Anurag Thakur

BJP will secure all 25 seats from Rajasthan in Lok Sabha elections: Union Minister Anurag Thakur Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday expressed confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party's victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, asserting that the party is poised to secure victory in all 25 seats in Rajasthan, thereby contributing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's potential third term. He also highlighted that there is a dearth of senior leaders in Congress willing to contest elections due to widespread corruption within their ranks. Whether it was the election of 2014 or 2019, the people of Rajasthan have always stood with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and this time BJP has formed government in the Rajasthan assembly election. I am fully confident that in order to make PM Modi the Prime Minister of this country third time, Rajasthan will make BJP win 25/25 seats and the lotus will bloom. In Congress, there are no more leaders who actually want to fight election. Corruption has hollowed Congress to the extent that they have run out of senior leaders, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said. The 25 parliamentary constituencies of Rajasthan will go to the polls in two phases. In Phase 1 of polling in the state on April 19, which is also the opening phase of the seven-phased elections, voting will be conducted for 12 seats. The remaining 13 seats in the state will be contested in the second phase on April 26. Bypolls for 26 Assembly seats in the state will also be held alongside the Lok Sabha elections. Nearly 96.8 crore people are eligible to cast their votes in the upcoming general elections at over 12 lakh polling stations. Under Phase 1, on April 19, polling will be held in Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa, and Nagaur. Phase 2 of polling on April 26 will take place in Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota, and Jhalawar-Baran. The BJP won all 25 parliamentary seats in Rajasthan in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. However, in 2019, the BJP bagged 24 seats while the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) managed to secure the other remaining seat. (ANI)

LS polls: Amit Shah holds road show in Rajasthan's Sikar

LS polls: Amit Shah holds road show in Rajasthan's Sikar Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday conducted a massive road show in Sikar Lok Sabha constituency, campaigning for the BJP candidate from the seat. Shah was accompanied by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and party candidate and two-time MP Swami Sumedhanand. Shah reached Jaipur and held a meeting of party leaders from five Lok Sabha constituencies of Dausa, Karauli-Dholpur, Nagaur, Churu and Jhunjhunu before going to Sikar for the road show. Shah, CM Sharma and Sumedhanand held the road show in an open vehicle. The road show began from Shree Kalyan temple and passed through New Dujod Gate, Ghantaghar, Jat Bazaar and culminated at Tapriya Bagichi, covering a distance of around two kilometres in over an hour. People showered flowers at the vehicle during the road show and raised slogans in support of the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders. Shah also greeted people and waved at them during the road show that attracted a huge crowd. In the general elections, the main opposition Congress has tied up with the CPI(M) in Rajasthan. Under the alliance, the CPI(M) has fielded former MLA Amraram from the Jat-dominated Sikar seat. Sikar is also the hometown of Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra, whose assembly constituency, Laxmangarh, falls under the Sikar Lok Sabha constituency. Of the eight assembly segments under Sikar Lok Sabha constituency, five are held by the Congress and three by the BJP. Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan will be held in two phases on April 19 and 26, and Sikar is among 12 seats where elections will be held in the first phase on April 19. The other Lok Sabha constituencies which will go to polls in the first phase are Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur. The remaining 13 seats of Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran will go to polls in the second phase on April 26.

LS polls: 114 candidates in fray in first phase in Rajasthan

LS polls: 114 candidates in fray in first phase in Rajasthan A total of 114 candidates are in the fray in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan. A total of 10 candidates from the constituencies, which will go to polls in the first phase have withdrawn their nomination papers. Polling in the first phase will be held in 12 out of 13 Lok Sabha seats on April 19. Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said that two candidates each from Sikar and Dausa Lok Sabha constituencies and one candidate each from Jaipur, Alwar and Nagaur constituencies withdrew their nomination papers on Saturday. After the deadline for withdrawal of nominations ended on Saturday, a total of 114 candidates are participating in the elections in 12 Lok Sabha constituencies. Maximum 15 candidates are contesting in Jaipur Rural, 14 in Sikar, 13 in Churu and Jaipur each, 9 in Ganganagar, Alwar, Bikaner and Nagaur each, 8 in Jhunjhunu, 6 in Bharatpur, 5 in Dausa and 4 in Karauli-Sawai Madhopur. On the other hand, 24 nomination papers were submitted by 17 candidates on Saturday for 13 Lok Sabha constituencies of the second phase. So far 27 candidates have submitted 44 nominations in 13 constituencies under the second phase. Gupta informed that for the second phase, three candidates each from Jodhpur, Kota parliamentary constituency, two candidates each from Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Banswara and Chittorgarh and one candidate each from Ajmer, Jalore and Udaipur submitted the nomination papers on Saturday. Union Minister and BJP candidate from Jodhpur Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Congress candidate from Kota-Bundi Prahlad Gunjal were among the other candidates who filed the nomination papers on Saturday. In the second phase, voting will be held in 13 Lok Sabha constituencies Tonk-Sawaimadhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Basanwada, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran on April 26. The last date of filing the nomination is April 4. The nomination papers will be scrutinized on April 5 and the names can be withdrawn till April 8. Counting of votes will take place on June 4.

LS Polls: Over 8,900 voters aged above 100 in 12 first phase constituencies in Rajasthan

LS Polls: Over 8,900 voters aged above 100 in 12 first phase constituencies in Rajasthan There are more than 8,900 voters aged above 100 years, 13 of which are above 120 years, in 12 constituencies which will go to polls in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 in Rajasthan, an official said. The state's election department has published integrated voter lists for these seats. According to the final voters' list published by the state Chief Electoral Office, a total of 8,679 voters are aged between 100 to 109 years, 239 are aged between 110-119, and 13 voters are aged above 120 years. The Lok Sabha elections will be held in two phases in Rajasthan on April 19 and April 26. Twelve of the 25 seats -- Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur -- will go to polls on April 19. The Jhunjhunu constituency has the highest number of 100-plus voters at 1,802, Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said. There are a total of 2.54 crore voters listed across the 12 constituencies which are slated to go to polls in the first phase, he said. According to the voter lists published for these constituencies, the total number of general voters is 2,53,15,541, of which 1,32,89,538 are male, 1,20,25,699 are female and 304 are third gender voters. A total of 7,98,520 voters, aged 18-19 years, will vote for the first time in Lok Sabha elections, Gupta said. There are a total of 2,51,250 voters who classify as persons with disability in these seats, he said. Jaipur has the highest number of voters at 22,87,350, while Dausa has the lowest at 18,99,304.

Cong releases list of star campaigners for 1st phase of LS polls in Rajasthan

Cong releases list of star campaigners for 1st phase of LS polls in Rajasthan The Congress on Friday released its list of star campaigners in Rajasthan for the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot feature in the list that has 40 names. The names of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sachin Pilot and Kanhaiya Kumar are also there in the list. According to the list available on the chief electoral officer's website, the star campaigners of the Congress include the party's state in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, state unit chief Govind Singh Dotasra, Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully, former Assembly speaker C P Joshi and senior leaders Mohan Prakash, Hemaram Chaudhary, Raghu Sharma and Harish Chaudhary. The names of several legislators, including Suratgarh MLA Dungarram, also feature in the list. The Congress has said it will release its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls at a public meeting here on April 6. The Lok Sabha polls in Rajasthan will be held in two phases on April 19 and April 26. In the first phase, voting will be held for the 12 seats of Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur. In the second phase, voting will be held for the 13 seats of Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran. Besides, bypoll for the Bagidora Assembly seat falling under the Banswara Lok Sabha segment will also be held in the second phase on April 26.

166 nomination papers of 124 candidates for 12 LS seats in Rajasthan found valid

166 nomination papers of 124 candidates for 12 LS seats in Rajasthan found valid Rajasthan Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta Thursday said 166 nominations were found to be valid after scrutiny of papers Thursday for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls for 12 seats in the state. Altogether, 179 nominations papers were filed by 131 candidates for the 12 seats. Out of them, 166 nomination papers of 124 candidates were found valid whereas 13 nominations of seven candidates were rejected during scrutiny, Gupta said in a statement. He said 17 in Jaipur Rural, 16 in Sikar, 14 each in Jaipur and Churu, 10 each in Alwar and Nagaur, nine each in Ganganagar and Bikaner, eight in Jhunjhunu, seven in Dausa, six in Bharatpur and nominations of four candidates in Karauli-Dholpur were found valid. He said the last date for withdrawal of names for the first phase of voting is March 30. Voting will take place on April 19 and the counting of votes will take place on June 4. In the second phase of elections in the state, voting will be held on 13 seats -- Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran -- on April 26. Apart from this, byelection on Bagidora assembly seat falling under Banswara Lok Sabha constituency will also be held in the second phase on April 26. This seat fell vacant after Congress MLA Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya left the Congress and joined the BJP a few days ago.

LS polls: PM Modi, 10 Union ministers, 5 CMs among BJP's star campaigners in Rajasthan

LS polls: PM Modi, 10 Union ministers, 5 CMs among BJP's star campaigners in Rajasthan The BJP has released its list of star campaigners for the Lok Sabha polls in Rajasthan. The list of 40 names includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 10 Union ministers and the chief ministers of five states. The names of Jhalawar MLA and former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje and former MLAs Rajendra Rathore and Satish Poonia also feature in the list. The Union ministers who would be campaigning in the desert state include Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Bhupendra Yadav, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Kailash Choudhary. The chief ministers of five states, including Rajasthan's Bhajanlal Sharma, will also campaign in support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates. Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Mohan Yadav Madhya Pradesh), Bhupendra Patel (Gujarat) and Nayab Saini (Haryana) are the other chief ministers who would campaign for the saffron party in the desert state. Besides Raje, state BJP president C P Joshi, Rajya Sabha MPs Ghanshyam Tiwari and Rajendra Gehlot, former state unit chiefs of the party Arun Chaturvedi and Satish Poonia and former leader of opposition in the state Assembly Rajendra Rathore are also the star campaigners for the saffron party. The names of Deputy Chief Ministers Diya Kumari and Premchand Bairwa, Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena also feature in the list. Tijara MLA Baba Balaknath is the lone BJP legislator from Rajasthan whose name figures in the list of star campaigners. Six Lok Sabha poll candidates from Rajasthan will be star campaigners for the BJP -- Meghwal (Bikaner), Shekhawat (Jodhpur), Bhupendra Yadav (Alwar), Om Birla (Kota), Choudhary (Barmer) and Joshi (Chittorgarh).

Mercury soars in Rajasthan, Phalodi hottest at 41.2 deg C

Mercury soars in Rajasthan, Phalodi hottest at 41.2 deg C The mercury levels soared in parts of Rajasthan on Wednesday and Phalodi district recorded the hottest temperature in the state at 41.2 degrees Celsius, an official said here. According to the meteorological centre in Jaipur, the maximum temperatures were recorded three to five degrees above normal in some parts of the Jodhpur division. The maximum temperatures in the rest of the state were recorded two to three degrees above the average, it said. No significant change is predicted for Thursday, after which the maximum temperatures will drop by one to two degrees, a Met department spokesperson said. Some places in the Ganganagar and Hanumangarh areas are likely to receive light rain on Wednesday, the official said. Due to the activation of a new western disturbance in some parts of the state on March 29 and 30, sudden strong winds with speeds of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour along with thunder and light rain are likely to hit some parts of Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Bharatpur divisions, according to the weather office.

Rainfall Alert: Rain-storm warning in 3 divisions in 24 hours, know the condition of your cities

The Meteorological Department has predicted isolated rain and hailstorm in Jaipur, Bharatpur, Kota, Bikaner and Shekhawati areas on March 29-30. Yellow alert of thunder and lightning has been issued. Rajasthan Weather Update Today: Due to the influence of western disturbance which will be active in the next 48 hours, the weather pattern of Rajasthan will [] The post Rainfall Alert: Rain-storm warning in 3 divisions in 24 hours, know the condition of your cities first appeared on informalnewz .

'Art de Vivre la Franaise' 2024 Exhibition : A Successful Endeavour in Bringing French Art of Living to India

Held at Bikaner House, New Delhi on 21-22 March 2024 NEW DELHI, March 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The highly anticipated French Art of Living exhibition held at the Bikaner House in New Delhi from March 20th to 22nd, has concluded successfully last friday. Organized by Business France in collaboration with the French Institute in India, the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and OGAAN-India Design Week, this event surpassed expectations bringing together over 30 French brands spanning various sectors, including living heritage enterprises (EPV), architectural agencies, tableware, furniture to name just a few along with more than 300 professional visitors each day ranging from architects, interior designers, art gallery, importer / distributor, royal families, HNIs and socialites from New Delhi. The grand opening night on March 20th, graced by His Excellency Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India, and Princess of Jaipur Smt Diya Kumari, Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, set the tone for the event: 70 VIPs have been invited at this occasion for an exclusive preview dinner and tour of the exhibition, enabling engaging and insightful conversations with brands. The evening concluded with a sophisticated French dinner hosted at the Bikaner House ballroom transformed in the mirror gallery of Versailles castle by Mathieu Lustrerie, Fau Boiseries, and Lesage Interieurs, marking a memorable start to the two-day event. The exhibition officially opened to the public on March 21st, filling Bikaner House with captivating French-inspired decors, with each room showcasing multiple brands. Notably, the ballroom featured a special exhibit by Fau Boiseries, Mathieu Lustrerie, and Lsage Interieurs, showcasing luxurious craftsmanship. Credits for the seamless flow and stunning scenography go to GCG Architects, a French Indian firm of Dev Gupta, who has developed a creative ambiance throughout the exhibition, highlighting the participating French brands inside and outside the Bikaner buildings. In addition to the exhibition, the event hosted a series of enlightening talks titled Creative Dialogue, organised by the French Institute in India, featuring renowned brands and designers discussing topics such as design history and the fusion of traditional craftsmanship with contemporary creation. With over 100 attendees, these discussions were a notable success. With continued enthusiasm from visitors eager to explore the exhibition, participating companies actively engaged with professional visitors, fostering meaningful connections with importers, distributors, and design enthusiasts. Reflecting on their presence in India, exhibitors unanimously praised the burgeoning luxury and lifestyle market and expressed optimism for future growth opportunities. The event concluded on March 22nd with a stylish dinner and cocktail event hosted by DLF at The Chanakya mall, a fitting setting that embodies luxurious lifestyle. All Brands from France had very positive feedback during and after the exhibition, and the selected public was very impressed by how the French did showcase their living, modern, contemporary, technological and heritage design in Delhi. Business France thanks all the exhibitors and sponsors that made this event a huge success. From bringing their most exquisite creations to engaging with a crowd of 300 + designers, architects and distributors in New Delhi, each exhibit truly embodied the essence of the French lifestyle. We also thank our sponsors AirFrance, MONIN, Galeries Lafayette, GCG Architectes, The Chanakya and DLF, CHANDON, Schneider Electrics along with our partners India Design ID, Ogaan Media, Elle Decor India, Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI), Design & Furniture Associations of France, l'Ameublement franais, Le FRENCH DESIGN, Francclat, Mobilier national - in collaboration with the Invisible Collection & Svres -, GCG Architectes, French Institute of India. About Business France Business France is the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy. Responsible for fostering export growth by French businesses, as well as promoting and facilitating international investment in France. It promotes France's companies, business image and nationwide attractiveness as an investment location, and runs the VIE international internship programme. Business France has 1,500 personnel, both in France and in 55 countries throughout the world, who work with a network of partners. For further information, please visit: www.businessfrance.fr or write to inde@businessfrance.fr / pristina.sashikumar@businessfrance.fr Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2373008/The_Library.jpg Photo : https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2373010/Princess_of_Jaipur.jpg Photo : https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2373011/Creative_Dialogue_Conference.jpg Photo : https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2373013/The_Dining_Room.jpg Photo : https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2373014/The_Ballroom.jpg Photo : https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2373017/The_Sitting_Room.jpg (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR Disclaimer: This article is published from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by the Deccan Chronicle team

40 candidates filed nominations for 1st phase of LS polls in Rajasthan so far, say officials

Jaipur/Sikar, Mar 26 (PTI) Forty candidates have filed nominations for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan so far, officials said on Tuesday. BJP candidates Jyoti Mirdha and Sumedhanand Saraswati filed nominations from Nagaur and Sikar Lok Sabha constituencies, respectively on Tuesday. INDIA bloc constituent the CPI(M)'s candidate Amraram filed his nomination from Sikar on the same day. Mirdha, a former Congress MP from Nagaur who joined the BJP ahead of the 2023 assembly elections, is pitted against Rashtriya Loktantrik Party convener Hanuman Beniwal who is contesting the elections in alliance with the Congress. Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan will be held in two phases on April 19 and 26. Nagaur and Sikar are among the 12 parliamentary constituencies where polling will be held in the first phase on April 19. The last date for filing nomination papers for the first phase is March 27. Scrutiny will be held on March 28 and the last date of withdrawal of nomination is March 30. Addressing a public meeting in Sikar after incumbent MP Sumedhanand Saraswati filed his nomination, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma accused the Congress of indulging in vote-bank politics and said that the BJP always works keeping in mind the welfare of the people and the country. The Congress has made making false promises a habit. Whatever they promised in the last five years was never fulfilled, he said. The Congress government meant corruption, appeasement, and terrorism. Until Narendra Modi came to power (at the Centre), anyone could bomb any city in our country. But, it's only PM Modi who ensured a secure and developing India that also made a place for itself on the global stage, Sharma said. In Sikar, CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat, while addressing a rally after the party's candidate Amraram filed his nominations, said, The BJP has sent our constitution to the ICU. The upcoming general election is not a fight for the chair, but for saving our democracy and constitutional rights. PM Modi might be dreaming of crossing 400 seats but the people who have faced torture under his rule in the last 10 years will not let it happen, she said. Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday targeted the BJP government at the Centre, claiming that democracy is in danger and the country is being ruled through federal agencies such as the ED and the CBI. In the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan, voting will be held in 12 Lok Sabha constituencies of Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur on April 19. The remaining 13 seats of Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran will go to polls in the second phase on April 26. PTI AG NSD NSD Disclaimer: This article is published from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by the Deccan Chronicle team

Nimrat Kaurs post Holi detox includes gujiya and subah ki dhoop

Shillong, March 26: Nimrat Kaur spent a splendid Holi in Bikaner, Rajasthan and for detox the actress is gorging on some gujiya and basking in morning sun. Taking to Instagram stories, Nimrat on Tuesday shared a string of pictures from her getaway in Bikaner. The actress first shared a picture of her coffee mug. The [] The post Nimrat Kaurs post Holi detox includes gujiya and subah ki dhoop appeared first on The Shillong Times .

LS polls: Congress declares four more candidates from Rajasthan

LS polls: Congress declares four more candidates from Rajasthan The Congress on Monday declared four more candidates from Rajasthan for the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress gave ticket to Prahlad Gunjal, a former BJP leader who joined the party recently, from Kota to take on BJP candidate and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Ajmer dairy chairman Ramchandra Chaudhary was given the ticket from Ajmer, former MLA Sudarshan Rawat from Rajsamand and local party leader Damodar Gurjar from Bhilwara. With the latest list, the Congress has so far declared 22 candidates and left two seats -- Sikar and Nagaur under alliance with the CPI (M) and RLP respectively. The announcement of candidate for Banswara Lok Sabha seat is pending. CPI (M)'s Amra Ram and RLP's Hanuman Beniwal are contesting the Lok Sabha elections on Sikar and Nagaur seats respectively under alliance with the Congress. The Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan will be held in two phases on April 19 and 26. In the first phase, voting will be held in 12 Lok Sabha constituencies -- Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur on April 19. In the first phase on April 19, 12 seats of Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur will go to polls. The remaining 13 seats of Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran will go to polls in the second phase on April 26. Also, the bypoll on Bagidora Assembly constituency under Banswara Lok Sabha constituency will also be held in the second phase on April 26. The seat fell vacant after Congress MLA Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya left the Congress and joined the BJP a few days back. Malviya is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Banswara seat as the BJP candidate.

IRCTC: IRCTC is providing tours to Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer for just this much rupees, know the details

If you are planning to visit some wonderful place in the month of March. In such a situation, this news is especially for you. Today we are going to tell you about a very wonderful tour package of IRCTC. Under this tour package of IRCTC, you are getting a chance to visit Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer. All these places are very popular in the country and the world. Here you will get to see many historical forts, which preserve the cultural heritage of the country within them. In such a situation, you should not miss this tour package of IRCTC. You are also getting many great facilities in this tour package of IRCTC. In this episode, let us know about this tour package in detail - Under this tour package of IRSTC, you will get to travel for a total of 5 nights and 6 days. This tour package of IRCTC is starting from Jaipur on March 27, 2024. Under this package you will be made to travel by cab. Its package code is NJH075. You will not have to face any kind of problems while travelling. In this tour package of IRCTC, all your breakfast, lunch and dinner will be arranged. Apart from this, hotel arrangements will also be made for your stay. If you want more information related to this tour. In such a situation, you can know all the important information by visiting this link https://www.irctctourism.com/pacakage_description?packageCode=NJH075. Here you can also find out about fares. (PC: ISTOCK)

From Baccarat's glassware to Lustrerie's chandeliers, best in French elegance on display in Delhi

From Baccarat's glassware to Lustrerie's chandeliers, best in French elegance on display in Delhi From an 18th-century manufacturer of fine crystal which has cast its light around the world to a 150-year-old Paris-based luxury interior designer firm that draws inspiration from antique decors, an exhibition of a range of designer products here showcases specimens of some of the best in French elegance. The two-day exhibition ''Art de Vivre la Franaise ('French Art of Living')'' hosted by the Embassy of France along with Business France in collaboration with the French Institute in India and other partners opened at the Bikaner House in New Delhi on Thursday. French Ambassador to India Thierry Mathou visited the exhibition in a special preview held on Wednesday evening. The event hosts an array of exhibitors, showcasing France's rich heritage in home decor and furnishing with the intention to celebrate design, craftsmanship, architecture, interior decoration and collaboration between the two countries. The exhibition is being held in the ''dynamic landscape of Indo-French relations''. Other collaborators include the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and OGAAN-India Design Week, according to a statement issued by the organisers. As a ''historical symbol of the glorious past of both France and India'', two tents have been set up in the Ballroom of the Bikaner House, they said. The tents house few luxury chandeliers designed by Mathieu Lustrerie, a company which specialises in ''replicating'' the designs of the original chandeliers of the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in France. Designer Rgis Mathieu, the owner of Mathieu Lustrerie, said his firm is ''a specialist of historical chandeliers''. ''We are able to reproduce exactly the original, because we restored the original. And, like that we have a huge quantity of chandeliers from 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries... But, we also have many other having Art Deco and Art Nouveau designs,'' Mathieu told PTI here. He said chandeliers in those days were akin to ''a piece of jewellery'' and showed the ''power of the owners''. The chandelier displayed in one of the two canopies at the exhibition here were designed mimicking the original ones at the Hall of Mirrors a the Palace, he said. The Hall of Mirrors is the most famous room in the Palace of Versaille. The whole length of the Hall of Mirrors (73 m) ''pays tribute to the political, economic and artistic success of France,'' according to an official website of the palace. Rgis Mathieu's daughter, Ins Mathieu, the third generation in the family business, says, ''Chandelier belong to an era that is very different from today. But, not only to that era''. ''These historical pieces have a place today as well because when you mix these chandeliers with new interiors, it goes super well,'' she told PTI. Asked if they have done projects for any Indian clients, Ins said, ''Some clients have asked for very special big, big chandeliers in India. And, for a client in Mumbai, a few years ago, we did a project to tell the life of (Lord) Krishna through chandeliers, big chandeliers going over a big staircase and telling the life of the God''. The organisers said that since 2008, Business France has been at the forefront of fostering creative partnerships between France and the world. And, with the Delhi exhibition, the spotlight is on the ''seamless fusion of French elegance and Indian vibrancy''. ''Meticulously curated by an Indo-French team from Business France and GCG Architects, the exhibition puts spotlight on France's expertise in interior design, blending timeless traditions with the cutting-edge technology,'' the statement said. Other French exhibitors include Alexandre Turpault, founded in 1847, which designs, produces and distributes household linen, manufactured in the purest French tradition; legendary glassware firm Baccarat, set up in 1764; Fau Boiseries, established in 1875 which is keeping the tradition of French-style interiors alive, and Mobilier National, known for its role in preserving and refurbishing state furniture in France. In 1855, for the first World Fair in Paris, Baccarat had unveiled its unique craftsmanship to the world, according to its website. At the exhibition, beautiful wood panels by Fau Boiseries have been displayed in the Ballroom, while a replica of an 18th century wood panel has been put up at the exhibition hall, where digital prints of vintage posters of Galeries Lafayette, one of the most historic shopping stores in Paris, have also been mounted on a panel. ''We are in existence for about 150 years and we have the largest inventory of beautiful antique rooms, from 17th century to the 1970s, and our main business is recreation, reproduction of beautiful rooms in French carpentry, inspired by antique rooms we have... We love the mix of French classic architecture with contemporary art,'' Guillaume Fau of the firm, told PTI. He said his company is ''opening a big showroom in New York'', adding, ''we are producing roughly 80 rooms a year. About 38 projects, from the West Coast of America to Japan''. Fau said he would ''love to mix my culture with Indian culture that could produce great designs''. The exhibition also features bedding and bathroom fixtures, kitchenware, lighting, and tableware, among a diverse range of design houses specialising in home furnishing and interior decoration.

Rajasthan: Police cane-charge NSUI workers protesting against Agniveer scheme, 2 injured

Jaipur, March 20 (IANS) The police on Wednesday cane-charged the National Students Union of India (NSUI) workers protesting against the Union governments Agnipath scheme in Bikaner, leaving two prominent student leaders from the organisation injured. NSUI workers on Wednesday had reached the collectorate premises post-lunch to stage their protest. However, police had to resort to []

Rajasthan: Process to file nomination paper for LS polls' first phase to begin tomorrow

Rajasthan: Process to file nomination paper for LS polls' first phase to begin tomorrow The process for filing nomination papers for the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls will begin from Wednesday in Rajasthan, an official said. Voting will be held in 12 Lok Sabha constituencies -- Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur -- on April 19, Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said in a statement. He said that nominations can be filed till March 27. Nomination papers will be scrutinised on March 28 and names can be withdrawn till March 30. For filing nominations, general candidates will have to deposit a security deposit of Rs 25,000 and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes candidates will have to deposit Rs 12,500, the statement said. Gupta said the process of filling nominations will start from 11 am and will continue till 3 pm. Counting of votes for the elections will take place on June 4.

India's biggest flop film, 60 VFX experts worked on it, not Ra.One, made for Rs 45 crore, earned just Rs..

In addition to the star-studded cast, 'Drona' also featured Indian martial arts including Kalaripayattu, Chhau, Gatka, and sword fighting. It was shot in multiple locations including Prague, Bikaner, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Namibia.

Travel tips: Along with food, Bikaner is also known for its sightseeing places, make a travel plan during summer holidays.

Bikaner is known for its food and its art culture. But do you know that there are many such tourist places in Bikaner whose beauty is worth seeing? There are many forts and temples here where you can spend time with your family. If you taste the variety of local food and namkeen here once, you will not be able to forget the taste here. Therefore, today especially we are going to tell you about some such places in this city of Western Rajasthan where you can enjoy your holidays. Karni Mata Temple This temple of Karni Mata is also famous in the entire country as the temple of Chuonwali Mata. There are a large number of rats here, but they do not harm any devotee. These Chuas are considered to be the servants of the Mother. There are more than 20,000 rats in this temple, which live in this temple complex only. There is a belief here that people believe that if you see a white rat while visiting, then it is considered very auspicious. This temple of Karni Mata is carved from white stones. Its specialty is that the temple has silver gates built by Maharaja Ganga Singh. Kodameshwara Mahadev Temple Rao Bika ji, who founded the city of Bikaner, had built this beautiful temple which is known as Kodammadeshwar Temple. Apart from being ancient, this temple is also famous for its beautiful structures. This temple is dedicated to the Bheronji form of Lord Mahadev, which is a form of Lord Shiva. Here an idol of Lord Bheron Nath ji is installed in the temple, which is surrounded by marble floors. A fair is held here in Bhadrapada once a year which is very popular among the people. Gajner Palace Gajner Palace of Bikaner is one of the major tourist places of Bikaner. Situated on the banks of the Gajner Fort lake, it is a magnificent royal palace of Bikaner. This palace has very beautiful carvings. Let us tell you that Gajner Palace was built by King Maharaj Ganga Singh Ji of Bikaner to stay here during the summer season. Now this palace has been converted into a hotel, so you can stay here by booking a room or can roam around the palace by taking a guest pass. Not only this, there are a total of four beautiful residences in the hotel which include Dungar Chowk, Gulab Niwas Champa Niwas, and Mandir Chowk. You can also enjoy boating in the lake built on the palace premises. Enjoy Camel Safari in Bikaner If you come to Bikaner and do not enjoy the Camel Safari, then your trip is incomplete. You can enjoy Camel Safari here in the morning and evening. Camel Safari will make your trip to Bikaner even more special and wonderful. By sitting on a camel in the sandy land of the desert, you can enjoy roaming in the golden sandy soil here. For this, you can also go to the Camel Desert Camp of Bikaner to enjoy Camel Safari. Maharaja Ganga Singh Museum Maharaja Ganga Singh Museum is one of the famous museums of Rajasthan. If you are interested in history, then in this museum you will get to see archaeological collections of the Harappan civilization and the early Gupta period. This museum was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh. Ganga Singh Museum exhibits paintings, terracotta, crafts, carpets, pottery, coins, and ancient Rajput weapons in various sections. The most important thing about this museum, There are paintings of gold leaves on the camel skin and silk robes of Prince Salim. (PC: Lifeberrys)

2024 elections: How BJP, Cong fared in last LS polls in east Rajasthan, Mewar, Marwar regions

2024 elections: How BJP, Cong fared in last LS polls in east Rajasthan, Mewar, Marwar regions Eyeing a repeat of its electoral performance of 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party will look to win all 25 seats in the Lok Sabha polls in Rajasthan, even as the Congress hopes to cause a dent in the saffron party's plans. Despite losing the Rajasthan assembly elections to the Congress in December 2018, and thus being in the opposition, the BJP had managed to win 24 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, with the only other seat going to its ally Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP). This time, the BJP is in power in the state and looks to have wind in its sails. The Congress, which had won a majority of the assembly seats in eastern Rajasthan in the 2018 assembly polls, suffered a bitter loss a few months later in the parliamentary polls. The Gurjar community had voted for the Congress in the assembly polls, hoping that Sachin Pilot, a member of the community, would become the state's chief minister. When that did not happen, votes for the Congress took a hit and the BJP won all the seats in the region in the Lok Sabha polls. However, the winning margin was relatively low on three eastern Rajasthan seats as compared to other seats in the state. In the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP's Jaskaur Meena won from Dausa with a margin of 78,444 votes, while Manoj Rajoria won the Karauli-Dholpur seat with a margin of 97,682 votes. In Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria won the election with a margin of 1,11,291. Pilot won his first assembly elections in 2018 from the Tonk assembly seat which comes under the Tonk-Sawai Madhopur Lok Sabha segment. In the Marwar region, the Congress faced a humiliating defeat from Jodhpur in the parliamentary elections where the then-chief minister Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav Gehlot lost to the BJP's Gajendra Shekhawat by 2,74,440 votes. Jodhpur is Gehlot's hometown and is considered a stronghold of the Congress. The party's loss was a major embarrassment for both Gehlot and the party. Shekhawat, a Union minister, is contesting again from the seat in 2024. He has been a Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur since 2014. The BJP had left one seat, Nagaur, for its ally Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP), which is headed by Hanuman Beniwal, in 2019. Beniwal defeated Congress candidate Jyoti Mirdha by a margin of 1,81,260 votes. Mirdha, who is now in the BJP, has been given the party ticket from Nagaur. The BJP's alliance with the RLP ended over the farmers' protest in 2020. In the Mewar region comprising the southern parts of the state, Bhartiya Tribal Party, which had emerged just ahead of the 2018 elections, won two assembly seats, causing considerable damage to both the Congress and the BJP particularly in the Banswara and Dungarpur areas. However, the BJP managed to swing the voters in its favour in the Lok Sabha elections that followed and won by very high margins in Banswara (3,05,464 votes), Chittorgarh (5,76,247), Udaipur (4,37,914 votes) and Rajsamand (5,51,916 votes). The BJP's assembly performance in the Mewar region, in which it had won many seats, also helped the party increase its winning margin in the Lok Sabha elections. The party retained its influence in the Hadoti region where it won the Kota-Bundi (Om Birla) and Jhalawar-Baran (Dushyant Singh) seats. Dushyant Singh, the son of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, won his seat with a margin of 4,53,928 votes. In northern Rajasthan (Bikaner, Ganganagar) and the Shekhawati region (Churu, Sikar, Jhunjhunu), the party had won comfortably with margins close to three lakhs in each seat.

Rajasthan to vote in Lok Sabha polls on April 19 and April 26

Jaipur, March 16 (IANS) Polling in Rajasthans 25 Lok Sabha constituencies will be held in two phases on April 19 and April 26, the Election Commission of India announced on Saturday. In 2019 also, elections were held in two phases in Rajasthan. A total of 12 parliamentary constituencies Ganganagar (SC), Bikaner (SC), Churu, []

Rajasthan Voting Schedule: Details of Polling Phases

Jaipur: T he Election Commission has announced the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections today (Saturday). The voting process will span across 7 phases from April 19 to June 1 for all 543 seats nationwide, with the results slated for declaration on June 4. The implementation of the Moral Code of Conduct has been initiated across the country following the election announcement. In Rajasthan, the Lok Sabha elections will be conducted in two phases for all 25 seats. The voting dates for the general elections in Rajasthan are set for April 19 and April 26. The state will witness polling on 12 Lok Sabha seats in the first phase and on 13 seats in the second phase. Voting for the first phase will take place on April 19, covering Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur, Jaipur Rural, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli Dholpur, Dausa, and Nagaur. Subsequently, the second phase on April 26 will encompass Ajmer, Banswara, Barmer, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Jalore, Jhalawar-Baran, Jodhpur, Kota, Pali, Rajsamand, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, and Udaipur. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party faced significant losses nationwide, including in Rajasthan. Despite emerging victorious in the December 2018 assembly elections, Congress was defeated in all 25 parliamentary seats in Rajasthan. BJP secured 24 seats, while one seat was claimed by Hanuman Beniwal's Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, which allied with BJP. The outcome of the 2019 elections echoed the results of the 2014 general elections, where the BJP alliance swept all 25 seats in Rajasthan, sidelining the Congress. Madhya Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Schedule and Phases Unveiled by Election Commission Madras High Court Orders YouTuber to Pay 50 Lakh in Damages to Seva Bharati Trust IAS Officer Abhimanyu Singh Appointed as Officer on Special Duty to Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini

Brookfield commissions 268 MW phase I capacity at Bikaner plant

Phase I of Bikaner has been commissioned with 268 MW and the park will total 550 MW of capacity when fully commissioned after phase II.The sites power output will cater to the energy requirements of the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) segment.

Brookfield Commissions 268 MWp Phase I Of Bikaner Renewable Energy Park

Brookfield is developing India's largest inter-state transmission system connected renewable energy park at Bikaner. When fully commissioned, it will have a total capacity of 550 megawatt peak power output.

Lok Sabha Polls: 5 Points On Arjun Ram Meghwal, BJP Candidate From Bikaner

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will contest Lok Sabha elections from Rajasthan's Bikaner seat. A three-time MP, Mr Meghwal is seeking re-election for the fourth term.

NLC India Limited signs MOU with Rajasthan for thermal and renewable energy

NLC India Limited signs MOU with Rajasthan for thermal and renewable energy NLC India Limited on Sunday signed an MOU with the Government of Rajasthan for the formation of a Joint Venture to set up a 125 MW Lignite Based Power Plant and 1000 MW Solar Power Plant. The MoU between NLC India Limited and Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RVUNL) entails a staggering investment of more than Rs 7,000 crores, according to an official statement. Among the notable projects, the MoU outlines the establishment of a 125 MW Lignite Pit-head Thermal Power Plant in Bikaner district and a massive 1,000 MW Solar Power Plant, further reinforcing NLCIL's commitment to renewable energy initiatives. Additionally, a Lol ( limitation of liability) for the setup of an 810 MW solar power plant has already been issued. This is in line with the corporate plan of NLC India to become a power major with 17 GW capacity with more than 6 GW renewable capacity by 2030. The MoU was ceremoniously exchanged between NLC India Limited and RVUNL in the presence of Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, CMD, NLC India Ltd, and Devender Singhvi, RVUNL, symbolising a collaborative step towards energy security commitment. In the ceremony, MOUs were also signed with Coal India Ltd, NTPC, PGCIL and REC for adding generation capacity and transmission system and financing. Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines, lauded the proactive vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the steadfast commitment of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma in expediting these transformative projects. He emphasised, The projects have turned into a reality because of the vision of Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji and the efforts by CM Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma ji in putting these projects and its MoUs on fast-track mode. Echoing sentiments of optimism, Amrit Lal Meena, Coal Secretary, Government of India, expressed confidence in the prowess of PSUs under the Coal Ministry, asserting that with the infrastructure and land support provided by the Rajasthan Government, the signed projects will significantly bolster the nation's energy security. The MoU exchange signifies a resolute step towards sustainable and robust energy infrastructure, aligning with the Nation's Ambitious Renewable Energy targets, said the statement. (ANI)

SJVN arm to supply 600 MW solar power to Rajasthan

SJVN arm to supply 600 MW solar power to Rajasthan A subsidiary of state-owned power producer SJVN, SJVN Green Energy, has entered into a long term pact to supply 600 MW solar electricity to Rajasthan. The Power Usage Agreement is for 500 MW Solar Power from Bikaner Solar Power Project and the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is for 100 MW Solar Power from Rajasthan Solar Power Project, both for a period of 25 years, a power ministry statement said. According to the statement SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of SJVN, has signed a Long Term Power Usage Agreement (PUA) for 500 MW Solar Power and a Long Term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 100 MW Solar Power, with Rajasthan Urja Vikas and IT Services Limited (RUVITL) in Jaipur on March 10, 2024. Under the Agreement, SGEL would supply 500 MW of power at a tariff of Rs. 2.57 per unit, from the 1,000 MW Bikaner Solar Power Project being developed by SGEL under Phase-II (Tranche-3) of the Central Public Sector Units Scheme. This project is the countrys largest single-location project. Being developed at village Banderwala, in Bikaner, Rajasthan, the 1000 MW Solar Project is expected to generate 2,454.84 million units of energy in the first year and a cumulative energy of about 56,474 million units over a period of 25 years. The project is being developed at a cost of Rs 5,491 Crores and is expected to be commissioned by September 30, 2024. With the signing of this PUA, SGEL has secured a tie-up of the full project capacity of 1,000 MW, with 200 MW to be supplied to Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) and 300 MW to Jammu and Kashmir Power Corporation Limited (JKPCL). SGEL will supply 100 MW Solar Power at a tariff of Rs. 2.62 per unit, from the project bagged by SGEL through competitive bidding for which Letter of Award was issued by RUVITL on October 6, 2023. The project is expected to generate 252 million units of energy in the first year and a cumulative energy of 5,866 million units over a period of 25 years. The project will be developed on 387.56 acres of land of Sambhar Salts Limited at Nawa, Rajasthan leased in favour of SGEL for a period of 28 years. The project will be developed on Build, Own and Operate (BOO) basis at a tentative cost of Rs. 550 Crores.

Spirit of brotherhood important to maintain equality in the country: CJI (Ld)

Bikaner, March 9 (IANS) The Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, on Saturday called for the need to maintain equality and the spirit of brotherhood in the country while respecting each other. Addressing the programme Hamara Sanvidhan, Hamara Samman, which was organised here under the aegis of the Ministry of Law, the CJI said the []

Mutual fraternity is necessary to maintain equality in country, says Chief Justice of India Chandrachud

Addressing a state-level 'Hamara Samvidhan Hamara Samman' campaign in Bikaner, the CJI asked how will the country progress if people fight with each other.

CJI launches e-court facility in Bikaner, bats for use of simple language in courts

Bikaner, March 9 (IANS) The Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, on Thursday announced the launch of an e-court facility in Bikaner, and said that the lawyers settled here will now be able to practice from the city itself. The Supreme Court of the country is located on Tilak Marg, Delhi. But it is not []

Mutual Fraternity Is Necessary To Maintain Equality In Country: CJI Chandrachud

Jaipur, Mar 9: Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Saturday said mutual fraternity is necessary to maintain equality in the country. Addressing a state-level Hamara Samvidhan Hamara Samman campaign in Bikaner, the CJI asked how will the country progress if people fight with each other. We should have respect for each other in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution, he said. Justice Chandrachud said that human dignity was of supreme importance in the minds of the makers [] The post Mutual Fraternity Is Necessary To Maintain Equality In Country: CJI Chandrachud appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman Campaign event to be held tomorrow in Bikaner: CJI, Meghwal to attend

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PM Modi to Strike Emotional Chord with Kashmiris

Srinagar : Ostensibly to strike an ecstatic chord with the people of predominantly Muslim Kashmir Valley, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will during his visit to capital Srinagar on Thursday apart from launching multiple developmental projects dedicate to the nation the integrated development of the Hazratbal Shrine. Srinagars lakeside Hazratbal shrine holds immense importance not only for the Valleys Muslim community, but it is revered by its minorities including Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs as well. The most prominent feature of this shrine is that it houses a relic of the hair of Prophet Muhammad, known as Moi-e-Muqaddas. An official spokesman here said that the project has been executed in an effort to create world-class infrastructure and amenities for pilgrims and tourists visiting the Hazratbal Shrine, and to enhance their holistic spiritual experience. The key components of the project include site development of the entire area including construction of boundary wall of the shrine, illumination of its precinct, improvement of ghats and Devri (stone) paths around the place of worship, construction of a Sufi interpretation centre and a tourist facilitation centre, installation of signages and construction of multilevel-storied car parking, public convenience block and entrance gateway of the premises. However, the Prime Minister will launch virtually from Srinagars Bakshi Stadium also about 43 other projects that will develop a wide range of pilgrimage and tourist sites across the country. These include Annavaram Temple in Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh, Navagraha Temples in Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal district of Puducherry, Sri Chamundeshwari Devi Temple in the Mysore district of Karnataka, Karni Mata Mandir in Bikaner district Rajasthan, Maa Chintpurni Temple in Una district of Himachal Pradesh and Basilica of Bom Jesus Church, Goa. The Prime Minister's vision is to improve the overall experience of tourists and pilgrims visiting prominent pilgrimage and tourism sites nationwide by building world-class infrastructure and amenities at these sites, an official statement released here said. These projects are part of over 1,400 crore Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme, the statement said. It would be the Prime Minister's first visit to the Kashmir Valley after the Centre abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its special status, and split it up into two Union territories in August 2019. While unprecedented security measures have been put in place for the Prime Ministers visit, the J&K administration and the BJP have made elaborate preparations to make his Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir programme a success. The BJP is hoping the Prime Minister's visit will increase its support base and boost its election prospects in the Kashmir Valley. The official statement said that Mr. Modi will dedicate to the nation about 5,000 crore worth programme- the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme - for boosting agri-economy in J&K. Elaborating on the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) to be dedicated to the nation by him, the statement said that it is an integrated program encompassing the full spectrum of activities in the three major domains of agri-economy viz horticulture, agriculture and livestock husbandry in J&K. The statement said that the programme is expected to equip about 2.5 lakh farmers with skill development via dedicated Daksh Kisan portal. Under the programme, about 2,000 Kisan Khidmat Ghars will be established and robust value chains will be put in place for the welfare of the farming community. The programme will lead to employment generation benefiting lakhs of marginal families in J&K, the statement said. The Prime Minister will apart from several other projects also launch the Dekho Apna Desh Peoples Choice Tourist Destination Poll and Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign, the statement read. He will also announce tourist destinations selected under Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) Scheme. Besides, the Prime Minister will distribute appointment orders to about 1,000 new Government recruits of J&K and will interact with beneficiaries of various government schemes, including the women achievers, the lakhpati didis, the farmers, the entrepreneurs, etc.

Bakshi Stadium draped in national tricolour for PM Modi's visit

Bakshi Stadium draped in national tricolour for PM Modi's visit The Bakshi Stadium here has been draped in national tricolour for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit on Thursday even as stringent security arrangements have been put in place to ensure the high profile event passes off peacefully. Prime Minister Modi will participate in the 'Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir' programme at the stadium. The officials said that tight security arrangements have been made for the visit of the prime minister, which will be his first to the valley since abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. The security forces have been deployed in numbers all along the routes to be taken by Prime Minister Modi during his stay in Srinagar while barricades have been established at many places to prevent movement of the people during the VVIP visit, the officials said. Drones and CCTV cameras are being used for surveillance while foot patrolling by the security forces has been intensified in a two kilometre radius around the venue. Marine commandos have been deployed in river Jhelum and Dal Lake to prevent the use of these water bodies for any subversive activities, they said. Several schools falling along the route to be taken by the prime minister have been closed for Wednesday and Thursday while board examinations scheduled to be held on Thursday have been postponed till next month. Prime Minister Modi, during the visit, will dedicate to the nation Rs 5,000 crore programme - the 'Holistic Agriculture Development Programme' - for boosting agri-economy in Jammu and Kashmir, an official handout said here on Wednesday. Modi will also dedicate to the nation and launch multiple projects worth over Rs 1,400 crore under Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme, including the project for 'Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine', Srinagar. He will also launch the 'Dekho Apna Desh People's Choice Tourist Destination Poll' and 'Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign'. The prime minister will also announce tourist destinations selected under Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) Scheme. Besides, Prime Minister Modi will distribute appointment orders to about 1,000 new government recruits of Jammu and Kashmir and will also interact with beneficiaries of various government schemes, including women achievers, lakhpati didis, farmers and entrepreneurs etc. The 'Holistic Agriculture Development Programme' (HADP) programme is expected to equip about 2.5 lakh farmers with skill development via dedicated Daksh Kisan portal. Under the programme, about 2,000 Kisan Khidmat Ghars will be established and robust value chains will be put in place for the welfare of the farming community, the official handout said. The multiple initiatives under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes to be dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Modi include development of 'Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine' in Srinagar, J&K; tourism facilities developed in Northeast circuit in Meghalaya; Spiritual Circuit in Bihar and Rajasthan; Rural and Tirthankar Circuit in Bihar; development of Jogulamba Devi Temple, Jogulamba Gadwal District, Telangana; and development of Amarkantak Temple, Annupur District, Madhya Pradesh. Prime Minister Modi will also launch about 43 projects that will develop a wide range of pilgrimage and tourist sites across the country. These include important religious sites like the Annavaram Temple in Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh; Navagraha temples in Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal district of Puducherry, Sri Chamundeshwari Devi Temple, Mysore District, Karnataka; Karni Mata Mandir, Bikaner District Rajasthan; Maa Chintpurni Temple, Una District, Himachal Pradesh; Basilica of Bom Jesus Church, Goa, among others. The projects also include development of various other sites and experience centres like Mechuka Adventure Park in Arunachal Pradesh; Rural Tourism Cluster Experience at Gunji, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand; Ecotourism zone at Ananthagiri forest, Ananathagiri, Telangana; Meghalayan Age Cave Experience and Waterfall Trails Experience at Sohra, Meghalaya; Reimagining Cinnamara Tea Estate, Jorhat, Assam; Ecotourism experience at Kanjli Wetland, Kapurthala, Punjab; Julley Leh Biodiversity Park, Leh, among others. During the programme, Prime Minister Modi will announce 42 tourist destinations selected under Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) Scheme. The innovative scheme, announced during Union Budget 2023-24, aims to provide end-to-end tourist experiences by catalysing development of tourist destinations while also promoting sustainability and ushering competitiveness in the tourism sector. The 42 destinations have been identified in four categories (16 in Culture & Heritage Destination; 11 in spiritual destinations; 10 in Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar; and 5 in Vibrant Village). Prime Minister Modi will launch the first ever nation-wide initiative to identify the pulse of the nation on tourism, in the form of 'Dekho Apna Desh People's Choice 2024'. The aim of the nation-wide poll is to engage with citizens to identify most preferred tourist attractions and understand tourist perceptions across five tourism categories - Spiritual, Cultural & Heritage, Nature & Wildlife, Adventure, and other categories. Besides the four main categories, the 'other' category is where one can vote for their personal favourites and help uncover hidden tourism gems in the form of unexplored tourism attractions and destinations like Vibrant Border Villages, Wellness Tourism, Wedding Tourism etc. The prime minister will launch the 'Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign' with an aim to inspire the Indian diaspora to become Incredible India ambassadors and promote tourism to India. The campaign is being launched based on the clarion call of the prime minister, wherein he requested the Indian diaspora members to encourage at least five non-Indian friends to travel to India. With more than three crore overseas Indians, the diaspora can serve as a powerful catalyst for Indian tourism, acting as cultural ambassadors, the handout reads.

Rajasthan govt grants financial approval to procure 500 e-buses for 7 cities

Rajasthan govt grants financial approval to procure 500 e-buses for 7 cities Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari Tuesday approved the procurement of 500 electric buses for the state's seven big cities, including capital Jaipur, at a cost of more than Rs 105 crore. According to an official statement, Diya Kumari said the electric buses will be made available for urban bus services in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer, Bikaner, Bharatpur and Udaipur. This will provide a pollution-free transportation facility for the common people, the minister said in the statement.

BJP nominates Arjun Ram Meghwal for fourth consecutive term from Bikaner Lok Sabha seat

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Desert Safari in India: Do not ignore these travel tips and tricks before going on a desert safari.

Desert safari tips and tricks: Almost everyone is fond of travelling. Therefore, whenever someone gets some time, he goes to some favourite place to visit. When it comes to travelling, many people like to roam in deserts apart from mountains and sea places. It is very rare to talk about travelling in the desert and not mention Desert Safari. Desert cleaning is considered a very fun activity in the desert. In such a situation, it becomes necessary to follow some important tips and tricks before enjoying a desert safari in India. In this article, we are going to tell you some best tips and tricks for desert safari, following which you can make your journey memorable. Choose the right place To enjoy the best of desert safari, it is important to choose the right place. Almost everyone knows that a desert safari can be best enjoyed in Rajasthan, but very few people know which city of Rajasthan should be reached to enjoy the desert safari. If you also want to enjoy desert safari in Rajasthan, then the best place can be Jaisalmer, because it is a city of Rajasthan, where tourists from all over the world come to enjoy desert safari. Apart from Jaisalmer, you can also go to Jodhpur or Bikaner. Book your ride first Maybe you know, if you don't know then let us tell you that you can enjoy desert safari in two ways in Thar Desert or the Great Indian Desert. Firstly, you can book a safari vehicle and secondly, you can book a camel for a desert safari. us also tell you that the charges for booking jeep safari and camel may be different. However, riding a cart or a camel can be a different kind of fun. Carry these things with you Yes, if you are going to the Thar Desert or Great Indian Desert for a desert safari, then you must keep water with you before leaving on safari. In the Great Indian Desert, you will not see any source of water far and wide. In such a situation, carry three to four bottles of water with you. Apart from water, you also need to keep many other things with you. For example, apart from glasses and hats, one should go out wearing lightweight clothes. Apart from this, some important medicines can also be kept nearby. Check accommodation If you are leaving for the Great Indian Desert Jaisalmer for a desert safari, then you should check the arrangements in advance. Try to book your room at a place where the Great Indian Desert is nearby. Around the Great Indian Desert Jaisalmer, you will find hotels or resorts where you can book rooms. It is said that there are many tent houses in the middle of the Great Indian Desert, in which rooms can be booked. Go for a desert safari in group If you are going on a desert safari in any city in Rajasthan, then you should not go alone, because no one knows what might happen. So if you are going for the Great Indian Desert Jaisalmer Desert Safari, plan in a group. There is a different fun in doing a desert safari in a group in the Great Indian Desert Jaisalmer. There is not much fear of anything in a group desert safari. Image-insta,shutterstocks

IRCTC Family Tour Packages: - If you want to go somewhere with family from Jaipur, plan your trip cheaply through these packages

If you are planning to travel somewhere with your family in March, then you can plan the trip through a package. Planning a trip through a package can be beneficial for you. Also, travelling through these packages is safe. This is because in this you do not need to worry about anything. Train tickets, hotel and food arrangements are also included in the package. Additionally, you also get travel guides and bus facilities to take you to places in the city. Many such packages have been brought by Indian Railways, through which you can plan your journey. Jodhpur and Mount Abu Tour Package This package is starting from Jaipur from 6th March. Through the package, you will get a chance to visit the famous places of Jodhpur and Mount Abu for 6 nights and 7 days. After March 6, you can take a bus or cab for this package every day. You will be able to visit Ajmer, Pushkar, Mount Abu and Jodhpur in the package. Package Fee- If you are planning a trip with two people, then you will have to pay Rs 19,090 per person. If a child aged between 5 to 11 years is also travelling with you, then you will have to pay Rs 13,155 separately. The package includes hotel, bus and food expenses. Bikaner and Jaisalmer Tour Package This package is starting from 6th March. You will get a bus for this package from Jodhpur. This is a tour package of 3 nights and 4 days. Package Fee- The travel fee for travelling with two people in the package is Rs 10390 per person. If a child aged between 5 to 11 years is also travelling with you, then Rs 8410 will have to be paid separately for this. Ajmer, Jaipur, Pushkar, and Udaipur Tour Package This package is starting from 6th March. The package will take you around for 4 nights and 5 days. This package is starting from Jaipur. Package Fee- If two people travel together through this package, then Rs 11,055 will have to be paid per person. If you travel with children aged between 5 to 11 years, you will have to pay Rs 8,210 separately. Image Credit- Freepik

From Hyderabad Haleem to lac bangles: Telanganas GI-tagged products

Hyderabad: After Hyderabad Haleem, Laad Bazaars lac bangles have received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. To date, a total of 17 products from Telangana have been granted the GI tag. In 2022, Hyderabad Haleem clinched the Most Popular GI award, surpassing other food items like Rasgulla, Bikaneri Bhujiya, and Ratlami Sev. Hyderabad Haleem, lac bangles 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 .

NDA's first list is our list, we will all work together: Sanjay Nishad on LS polls

NDA's first list is our list, we will all work together: Sanjay Nishad on LS polls Expressing his confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Minister and founder of Nishad Party, Sanjay Nishad has said that BJP is like a big brother and everyone will work together for the alliance. BJP like a big brother we are not different from them. We work together for NDA. NDA's first list is our list. We will all work together, he said. Nishad Party is an ally of the NDA. Notably, the BJP has fielded party leader Praveen Kumar Nishad (son of Sanjay Nishad) from the Sant Kabir Nagar seat in Uttar Pradesh. Currently, he is also an MP from this seat. BJP on Saturday announced its first list of 195 candidates, which included PM Modi from Varanasi again. This is the third time PM Modi will be contesting from the Varanasi seat. In 2014, he defeated AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and in 2019, won against Samajwadi Party's Shalini Yadav. Ravi Kishan, a well-known Bhojpuri actor, will run for office again from Gorakhpur, the stronghold of Yogi Adityanath. The current Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath held the seat till 2017. Of 195 candidates, 34 are Ministers from the Centre and States and two are the former Chief Ministers. With Prime Minister Modi urging senior ministers from Rajya Sabha to contest Lok Sabha elections, the party fielded Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav from Alwar in Rajasthan, Mansukh Mandaviya from Porbandar and Parshottam Rupala from Rajkot (Gujarat), Rajeev Chandrasekhar from Thiruvananthapuram, and V Muraleedharan from Attingal constituency. Union Ministers who are being fielded from their sitting seats are Gajendra Shekhawat in Jodhpur, Smriti Irani in Amethi, SP Singh Baghel in Agra, Sanjeev Balyan in Muzaffarnagar, Ajay Mishra Teni in Kheri, Arjun Ram Meghwal in Bikaner, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in Fatehpur, Subhash Sarkar in Bankura and Nishit Pramanik in Cooch Behar. (ANI)

PM Modi can fulfill aspirations of country: BJP's Tokhan Sahu on his candidature for LS Polls

PM Modi can fulfill aspirations of country: BJP's Tokhan Sahu on his candidature for LS Polls Following the announcement of his candidature from Chhattishgarh's Rajnandgaon for upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Santosh Pandey said on Saturday that he wanted to thank the people of Rajnangaon for this opportunity. Another party leader Tokhan Sahu, who has been fielded fromBilaspur constituency, asserted that only Narendra Modi can take the country forward and BJP can fulfill the aspirations of the country. Pandey has been serving the constituency since 2014. I thank the people of Rajnandgaon for the opportunity that I have got...The people have always supported and appreciated my work, he said while speaking to ANI. Earlier in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Santosh Pandey defeated Congress's Bhola Ram Sahu by securing 6,62,387 votes. Meanwhile, BJP leader Saroj Pandey has been fielded from Korba. She said, I thank the party for the opportunity & will live up to the trust of the party... On his candidature from Bilaspur constituency, BJP leader Tokhan Sahu said, I want to thank the central and state leadership... The whole country has faith in PM Modi. Only Narendra Modi can take this country forward. The government has worked in every sector. Only PM Modi government can fulfill the aspirations of the country... The party has announced its candidates on all the 11 seats in Chhattisgarh, which include--Chintamani Maharaj, Radheshyam Rathia, Kamlesh Jangde, Saroj Pandey, Tokhan Sahu, Santosh Pandey, Vijay Baghel, Brijmohan Agarwal, Roop Kumari Choudhary, Mahesh Kashyap and Bhojraj Nag. In the first list of 195 candidates, the BJP included 28 women, 47 youth, 27 Scheduled Castes, 18 Scheduled Tribes and 57 OBCs. The party announced 51 candidates in Uttar Pradesh, 24 in Madhya Pradesh, 15 each in Gujarat and Rajasthan, 20 for West Bengal, 12 in Kerala, 11 each for Assam, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, nine in Telangana, five for Delhi, two for Jammu and Kashmir, two for Arunachal Pradesh, one for Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Daman and Diu also. The first list of 195 candidates released by the BJP on Saturday, however, made some drastic changes in Delhi, it has decided to field only Manoj Tiwari, the sitting Lok Sabha member from northeast Delhi, and Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi has been replaced with young face Basuri Swaraj, daughter of late BJP veteran Sushma Swaraj, from New Delhi; former Madhya Pradesh Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has been chosen to contest from Vidisha constituency in the state; and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from Kota. With Prime Minister Modi urging senior ministers from Rajya Sabha to contest Lok Sabha elections, the party fielded Union ministers Bhupender Yadav from Alwar in Rajasthan, Mansukh Mandaviya from Porbandar and Parshottam Rupala from Rajkot (Gujarat), Rajeev Chandrasekhar from Thiruvananthapuram, and V Muraleedharan from Attingal constituency. Another Rajya Sabha member and national vice president of the BJP Saroj Pande will contest from the Korba Lok Sabha constituency in Chhattisgarh. Union Minister Rameshwar Teli is replaced by Cabinet minister and former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in Dibrugarh (Assam) constituency. Union Ministers who are being fielded from their sitting seats are Gajendra Shekhawat in Jodhpur, Smriti Irani in Amethi, S P Singh Baghel in Agra, Sanjeev Balyan in Muzaffarnagar, Ajay Mishra Teni in Kheri, Arjun Ram Meghwal in Bikaner, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in Fatehpur, Subhash Sarkar in Bankura and Nishit Pramanik in Cooch Behar. (ANI)

I look forward to...: PM Modi as BJP announces him to contest again from Varanasi

I look forward to...: PM Modi as BJP announces him to contest again from Varanasi Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is all set to contest for the third consecutive time from the Varanasi constituency in Uttar Pradesh in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, on Saturday expressed his gratitude to the party and its workers for showing a 'constant' faith in him. PM Modi, in a post on X, said that he is looking forward to 'serving the people of Varanasi' for the third time. I thank the @BJP4India leadership and bow to the crores of selfless Party Karyakartas for their constant faith in me. I look forward to serving my sisters and brothers of Kashi for the third time. In 2014, I went to Kashi with a commitment to fulfil people's dreams and empower the poorest of the poor, the PM said. He further said that the efforts made by the central government in the last ten years continue with even greater vigour. Over the last ten years, we have made significant progress across various sectors and worked towards a better Kashi. These efforts will continue with even greater vigour. I would also like to convey a special gratitude to the people of Kashi for their blessings, which I cherish greatly, the PM added. PM Modi, in another post on X, said that his party is going to the people on the basis of our track record of good governance and ensuring the fruits of progress reach the poorest of the poor. Our party has announced candidates for some of the seats and will be announcing the rest in the coming days. I congratulate all those who have been nominated as our party's candidates and wish them the very best. We are going to the people on the basis of our track record of good governance and ensuring the fruits of progress reach the poorest of the poor, he said. Further, the PM exuded his confidence in the people of the country to make his party manage another victory. I am sure that the 140 crore people of India will bless us yet again and give us even more strength in fulfilling their aspirations and creating a Viksit Bharat, PM Modi added. The BJP Saturday released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, days after a marathon meeting of the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) that was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the third time PM Modi will be contesting from the Varanasi seat. In 2014, he defeated AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and in 2019, won against Samajwadi Party's Shalini Yadav. Even before Modi, Varanasi had been a BJP stronghold, with the party retaining it consistently since 1991 except in 2004, when the Congress's Rajesh Kumar Mishra had won. In the first list of 195 candidates, the BJP included 28 women, 47 youth, 27 Scheduled Castes, 18 Scheduled Tribes and 57 OBCs. The party announced 51 candidates in Uttar Pradesh, 24 in Madhya Pradesh, 15 each in Gujarat and Rajasthan, 20 for West Bengal, 12 in Kerala, 11 each for Assam, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, nine in Telangana, five for Delhi, two for Jammu and Kashmir, two for Arunachal Pradesh, one for Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Daman and Diu also. The first list of 195 candidates released by the BJP on Saturday, however, made some drastic changes in Delhi, it has decided to field only Manoj Tiwari, the sitting Lok Sabha member from northeast Delhi, and Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi has been replaced with young face Basuri Swaraj, daughter of late BJP veteran Sushma Swaraj, from New Delhi; former Madhya Pradesh Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has been chosen to contest from Vidisha constituency in the state; and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from Kota. With Prime Minister Modi urging senior ministers from Rajya Sabha to contest Lok Sabha elections, the party fielded Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav from Alwar in Rajasthan, Mansukh Mandaviya from Porbandar and Parshottam Rupala from Rajkot (Gujarat), Rajeev Chandrasekhar from Thiruvananthapuram, and V Muraleedharan from Attingal constituency. Another Rajya Sabha member and national vice president of the BJP Saroj Pande will contest from the Korba Lok Sabha constituency in Chhattisgarh. Union Minister Rameshwar Teli is replaced by Cabinet minister and former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in Dibrugarh (Assam) constituency. Union Ministers who are being fielded from their sitting seats are Gajendra Shekhawat in Jodhpur, Smriti Irani in Amethi, S P Singh Baghel in Agra, Sanjeev Balyan in Muzaffarnagar, Ajay Mishra Teni in Kheri, Arjun Ram Meghwal in Bikaner, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in Fatehpur, Subhash Sarkar in Bankura and Nishit Pramanik in Cooch Behar. (ANI)