The duo alleged that Sapna alias Rakshanda Khan used to encourage Hindu girls to befriend Muslim boys and do Nikah with them after converting to Islam. They also alleged that Rakshanda used to keep Hindu girls in groups with Muslim boys at the academy situated on Kanth Road. The duo said that Rakshanda Khan was originally a Hindu, however, converted to Islam before marrying a Muslim man named Shahnawaz Khan 17 years ago.
Much at stake for NDA, Yogi in upcoming bypolls in 10 Uttar Pradesh Assembly seats
LUCKNOW: The high-stakes bypoll to 10 assembly segments is a litmus test for both the NDA which suffered a huge setback in the Lok Sabha elections in the state and the INDIA bloc which faces the challenge of consolidating its position in UP after an emphatic comeback in the recent polls. Moreover, the outcome of the bypolls to 10 assembly seats, necessitated by the victory of sitting MLAs in the Lok Sabha elections, will not only be decisive for the political atmosphere of the state but will also set the tone for the 2027 Assembly elections. The BJP-led NDA dwindled to 36 seats from 64 in Uttar Pradesh in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. On the other hand, the Samajwadi Party won 37 seats, its highest Lok Sabha tally ever, and the Congress raised its tally from one in 2019 to six of the 17 seats it had contested. The NDA, which had sitting MLAs in five of the 10 seats up for grabs, will try its best to breach some of the strongholds of the opposition bloc, especially the SP which had sitting MLAs in the other five seats. It would certainly give a much-needed boost to the ruling alliance energising the cadre and helping it to overcome the disappointment. If the ruling alliance fails to give an impressive performance, it could be taken as a referendum on the performance of Yogi Adityanath as his prestige will be at stake and it could intensify ongoing rumblings in the BJP. If the INDIA bloc continues its victory trail in the bypolls as well, its game plan to oust the BJP government from power in 2027 will get a boost. While the Lok Sabha election was contested by the NDA in Modis name based on Amit Shahs strategy, the responsibility of putting up a robust show in the bypolls will be entirely on the UP CM who has been under the scanner for the Lok Sabha debacle in the state. However, Yogi, getting into poll mode, has already appointed a team of 30 ministers to oversee poll preparations in the 10 assembly constituencies. The ministers have been directed to visit constituencies regularly, interact with local people and party workers and redress grievances on priority. A group of three ministers has been constituted and each group was allotted one constituency. On the other hand, the INDIA partners -- SP and Congress -- have also commenced deliberations over seat-sharing for the upcoming challenge as both the parties have decided to contest the bypolls also in alliance. Even the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), in a departure from its traditional stand of not contesting bypolls, has said it would field candidates in all the 10 seats making the contest three-cornered. Mayawati had reinstated her nephew Akash Anand as the partys national coordinator and had announced in June that Akash would lead the byelection campaign. Nine assembly seats, including Karhal, Katehri, Kundarki, Khair, Manjhwa, Meerapur, Milkipur, Phulpur and Ghaziabad Sadar, have been vacated after the sitting MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha. The Sisamau seat was vacated following the disqualification of sitting SP MLA Irfan Solanki, who has been awarded a seven-year jail term by a court in a criminal case. In the 2022 assembly election, the Samajwadi Party bagged five of these seats Karhal, Katehri, Kundarki, Milkipur and Sisamau. The BJP won three seats -- Khair, Phulpur and Ghaziabad Sadar. The NDA ally RLD, who was then with the SP, won Meerapur and the NISHAD party bagged the Manjhwa seat. However, this time, the BJP's allies are demanding a bigger share of the seats. While the RLD is demanding three seats, the NISHAD party is also trying to go beyond one. No 'major surprise' in UP amid speculations of leadership changes KARHAL An SP stronghold in Mainpuri district. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav won the seat in 2022. Akhilesh vacated it after winning the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat. The SP is likely to field a Yadav family member in the byelection. A difficult seat for the ruling alliance. KATEHRI Once a BSP stronghold and laboratory of Dalit politics in UP, Katehri in Ambedkar Nagar was vacated by Lalji Verma, the sitting SP MLA after winning the Ambedkarnagar Lok Sabah seat. The SP may field a Verma family member or an OBC leader to retain it. The presence of the BJP and BSP will make the contest three-cornered. MILKIPUR The Milkipur assembly seat in Ayodhya district is in the limelight after sitting MLA Awadesh Prasad defeated BJP candidate Lallu Singh from the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat. The SP may field Awadhesh Prasads son in the bypoll which is likely to witness an interesting contest as the BJP will try to wrest the seat from the SP. MANJHWA The Manjhwa seat in Mirzapur district fell vacant after sitting Nishad Party MLA Vinod Kumar Bind won the Bhadohi Lok Sabha seat on the BJP ticket. A traditional BSP seat, the BJP won it in 2017. The riverine community vote is decisive here. PHULPUR The Phulpur seat in Prayagraj was vacated by sitting MLA Parveen Patel after winning the Phulpur Lok Sabha constituency. The seat is likely to witness a tough contest between the SP and BJP for OBC votes in the by-election. SISAMAU The Sisamau seat in Kanpur district was vacated after SP MLA Irfan Solankis disqualification after a court convicted him in a criminal case. Solanki won the seat in the 2012, 2017 and 2022 consecutive assembly elections. The SP may field Solankis wife from here. The BJP is working to wrest the Sisamu seat from the SP. KUNDARKI A SP stronghold, Kundarki seat in Moradabad was vacated after by sitting SP MLA Zia-ur Rehman Barq after winning to Sambhal Lok Sabha seat. There is speculation that the BJP might field a Muslim candidate for the seat. KHAIR Assembly seat in Aligarh vacated after election of sitting BJP MLA Anoop Pradhan Valmiki to the Hathras Lok Sabha seat. With Dalits and Jats dominant, BJP hopes to retain the seat with the RLDs support. The Congress may stake claim to the seat. GHAZIABAD SADAR Vacated after election of sitting MLA Atul Garg to the Lok Sabha from Ghaziabad constituency. An urban seat, considered to be a BJP stronghold. The BJP is confident of retaining the seat in the byelection. The Congress is likely to stake its claim in the bypoll. MEERAPUR Assembly seat in Muzaffarnagar vacated by sitting RLD MLA Chandan Chauhan, who won the Bijnor Lok Sabha seat. The seat may go to the RLD. The SP is working to wrest Meerapur from the RLD.
In Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district, four people, including a Christianpastor from Uttarakhand, were arrestedfor converting people to Christianity
The hospital's staff told the officialsthat DrSalma Nasir runs the hospital. The health department teamalso found an illegal pathology lab being run in the hospital.
Congress, SP begin seat-share talks for UP Assembly bypolls
LUCKNOW: After making an impressive comeback in recently concluded Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, the INDIA Alliance partners Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) have reportedly commenced the deliberations for a seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming bypoll to 10 assembly segments to be held later this year. Both political parties, which had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election as partners of opposition bloc, had announced to fight the bypoll, necessitated by the victory of sitting MLAs in Lok Sabha polls, in alliance. However, a decision over the number of seats that each partner will contest is yet to be decided. Notably, of the 10 Assembly seats which will go to polls, five were held by the SP, three by the BJP, one each by BJP allies RLD and NISHAD party. As per the UPCC chief Ajai Rai, the discussion over the seat sharing were on at the highest level as the two partners would fight the bypoll in alliance. Although the number of seats to be shared between the two is still unknown, the buzz among the senior Congress leaders is that the grand old party will seek those seats which were held by the BJP and its allies. UP assembly had declared these 10 seats vacant between June 7 and 18 and the bypoll there will be held within six months from the date of vacancy. The ECI may hold the bypoll there along with the election to assemblies of Haryana and Maharashtra, later this year. The five seats held by SP comprise of Katehari (Ambedkar Nagar), Karhal (Mainpuri), Milkipur (Ayodhya), Kundarki (Moradabad) and Sisamau (Kanpur). The seat of Sisamau has been vacated by sitting SP MLA Irfan Solanki who has been disqualified owing to his conviction and a sentence of seven years in a criminal case. Of them, Katehari has been vacated by SP MLA Lalji Verma who got elected to Lok Sabha from Ambedkar Nagar Lok Sabha seat. Similarly, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav resigned from Karhal (Mainpuri) assembly seat after winning from Kannauj Lok Sabha seat. CPI seeks proper seat deal The Communist Party of India (CPI) is expecting that it will get more seats to contest in the upcoming assembly elections in three states Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Haryana under proper seat-sharing arrangement as part of the INDIA alliance. Buoyed by the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls, party general secretary D Raja said that there should be a proper seat-sharing arrangements among the INDIA bloc members for the polls.
It is important to note that the death of Maulana which happened due to a gunshot was peddled by Islamists as a murder. Several Islamists on social media insinuated that Maulana Mohammed Akram's death might be a religiously motivated hate crime.
UP govt to monitor Kanwar Yatra with helicopter, to shower flowers
The state government will monitor the upcoming Kanwar Yatra with a helicopter and also shower flowers on kanwariyas, an official statement issued here said on Saturday. According to the statement, Chief Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh government Manoj Kumar Singh and Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar convened a review meeting ahead of the yatra with officials of different states in Meerut Divisional Commissioner Auditorium. The meeting was attended by senior police and administrative officials of Meerut, Saharanpur, Aligarh and Moradabad divisions along with officials from Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan. During the month on Sawan, which begins from July 22, people from Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan walk to Rishikesh and Haridwar in Uttarakhand to collect water from the Ganga river and bring it back to be offered in Shiva temples. In the review meeting, the chief secretary said that the entire yatra will be monitored by a helicopter and flowers will be shower
UP rains: Roads submerge as Moradabad experience heavy downpour; rain lashes parts of Noida
UP: Mob assaults 25-yr-old doctor, Istekhar, after learning his name
A 25-year-old doctor faced the wrath of an angry Hindutva mob while returning home after work in Uttar Pradeshs Moradabad district on June 30. The victim, Dr Istekhar, was returning home when he stopped at a petrol pump to refuel his vehicle. He was approached by a group of men who asked his name. Upon 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 .
UP: Body of 27-year-old university professor found in Moradabad
MORADABAD: The body of a 27-year-old assistant professor was recovered with knife marks on the neck from a private university here on Monday, police said. Police said prima facie it looks to be a case of suicide, they said. The body of Dr Aditi Mehrotra (27), working as an Assistant professor in the pathology department of Teerthanker Mahaveer University (TMU), located on Delhi Road, was found dead in a room in the guest house, Superintendent of Police (City) Akhilesh Bhadoria. On receiving information about the incident, police reached the spot and took the body in its custody, Bhadoria said, adding there were knife marks on her neck. He said the body was later sent for post-mortem and the family was informed. Initial investigation suggests that it is a case of suicide but the actual reason of the death can only be confirmed after the post-mortem, Bhadoria said. The forensic team is collecting evidence from the spot, he said. Police said that Mehrotra, a resident of Haryana's Rewari district joined the university on June 16 this year, and since then, she has been staying at the guest house on campus. On hearing the news of Mehrotra's death, the family reached Moradabad from Rewari. Her father Dr Navneet Mehrotra said he had called her last night but she neither received the call nor called him back. Senior Superintendent of Police Satpal Antil also reached the spot. Further investigation in the matter is underway, officials said.
In the Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh, an accused named Asif raped a girl, who is his cousin by relation and recorded her obscene videos.
Who will win Dalit votes BSP or Azad in UP bypolls?
LUCKNOW : After drawing a blank in the recent Lok Sabha polls, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), in a departure from its long-standing stance, has decided to contest the upcoming assembly by-polls to 10 seats vacated during general elections in UP. This has set the stage for a trial of strength among Dalit voters as the Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad-led Azad Samaj Party (ASP-Kanshiram) has also pulled up its socks to try its fate in bypolls which are likely to be held along with assembly elections to three states. Emerging as a prominent Dalit leader by winning the Nagina Lok Sabha seat by a margin of over 1.5 lakh votes in his electoral debut against Om Kumar of the BJP, Chandrashekhar has appointed in-charges on four assembly seats - Khair (Aligarh), Meerapur (Muzaffarnagar), Kundarki (Moradabad) and Ghaziabad Sadar (Ghaziabad). On the rest of the seats mainly from central and eastern UP, including Milkipur (Ayodhya), Sisamau (Kanpur), Phulpur (Prayagraj), Katehri (Ambedkar Nagar), Manjhwa (Bhadohi) and Karhal (Mainpuri), he will appoint in-charges soon. On the other hand, addressing her party leaders at a national level meeting in Lucknow recently, BSP chief Mayawati also made her intentions of contesting the assembly bypolls in Uttar Pradesh clear. The BSP chief said that she would field candidates on all 10 seats, of which, nine fell vacant after the election of sitting legislators to the Lok Sabha and Sisamau seat in Kanpur got vacant after the disqualification of sitting MLA Irfan Solanki who was convicted and sentenced by a local court in a criminal case. Mayawati also made it clear that the party would go it alone in the bypolls. With Azad leading the ASP campaign, the fight for Dalit votes between both Dalit-based parties BSP and ASP will intensify in UP. Buoyed by the Nagina success, the ASP has also decided to go solo in the bypolls, said the party sources. It will give an opportunity to us to expand our base in other parts of the state as well, says a senior ASP leader. Dalit politics The assembly bypolls to 10 seats vacated during the general election in UP are due in July 10. Chandrashekhar Azad emerged as a prominent Dalit leader by winning the Nagina LS seat by a margin of over 1.5 lakh votes in his electoral debut against BJP.
BSP-ASP tussle for Dalit votes on the cards in upcoming UP bypoll
LUCKNOW: After drawing a blank in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), in a departure from its long-standing stance, has decided to contest the upcoming assembly bypolls to 10 assembly seats vacated during general elections in Uttar Pradesh. This has set the stage for a trial of strength among Dalit voters as Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad-led Azad Samaj Party (ASP-Kanshiram) has also geared up to try their fate in the bypolls, which are likely to be held along with assembly elections to three states. Emerging as a prominent Dalit leader by winning the Nagina Lok Sabha seat by a margin of over 1.5 lakh votes in his electoral debut against Om Kumar of the BJP, Chandrashekhar has appointed in-charges for four assembly seats - Khair (Aligarh), Meerapur (Muzaffarnagar), Kundarki (Moradabad), and Ghaziabad Sadar (Ghaziabad). On the rest of the seats, mainly from central and eastern UP, including Milkipur (Ayodhya), Sisamau (Kanpur), Phulpur (Prayagraj), Katehri (Ambedkar Nagar), Manjhwa (Bhadohi), and Karhal (Mainpuri), he will appoint in-charges soon. On the other hand, addressing her party leaders at a national-level meeting in Lucknow recently, BSP chief Mayawati made her intentions of contesting the assembly bypolls in Uttar Pradesh clear. BSP draws a blank, vote share hits all-time low The BSP chief said that she would field candidates on all 10 seats, of which nine fell vacant after the election of sitting legislators to the Lok Sabha and the Sisamau seat in Kanpur got vacated after the disqualification of sitting MLA Irfan Solanki, who was convicted and sentenced by a local court in a criminal case. Mayawati also made it clear that the party would go it alone in the bypolls. While the senior leaders of the party were asked to start preparations by holding meetings in all the assembly segments set to go to bypoll, coordinators were directed to identify winnable candidates. With Chandrashekhar Azad leading the ASP campaign, the fight for Dalit votes between both Dalit-based parties - BSP and ASP - will intensify in UP. Buoyed by the Nagina success, the ASP has also decided to go solo in the bypolls, said party sources. It will give us an opportunity to expand our base in other parts of the state as well, said a senior ASP leader, adding that the party would also contest bypolls in nagar panchayats and nagar palika parishads. As per political experts, BSPs decision to contest the bypoll might have resulted from the palpable shift of Dalit voters to the ASP in its stronghold of Nagina, where the BSP candidate was relegated to the fourth position in the Lok Sabha elections. In 2019, BSP had emerged victorious in Nagina, considered a bastion of the BSP chief. Political scientists also believe that the assembly bypoll would be a trial of the political aptitude of Akash Anand, who has recently been reinstated as BSPs national coordinator and Mayawatis successor. The BSP has already announced Akash as the star campaigner for the bypolls in Uttarakhand and Punjab. Once the Election Commission of India announces the schedule for the bypoll on 10 assembly seats in UP, Akash will lead the party campaign on all 10 seats, said a BSP leader. BSP supremo Mayawati reinstates nephew Akash Anand as her successor
Monsoon Reaches Delhi, Says Indian Meteorological Department
NEW DELHI, June 28: The monsoon has finally arrived in Delhi after a long and severe heat spell in the city, the IMD announced on Friday. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp In an official statement, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into the entire Delhi region. The Northern Limit of Monsoon passes through 26 N/65 E, Jaisalmer, Churu, Bhiwani, Delhi, Aligarh, Kanpur, Ghazipur, Gonda, Kheri, Moradabad, Dehradun, Una, Pathankot, Jammu, [] The post Monsoon Reaches Delhi, Says Indian Meteorological Department appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
SHOCKING! Man rapes cow in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad, VIDEO goes viral
A disturbing video has surfaced on social media showing a man allegedly raping a cow at his home in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. The accused has been arrested for the heinous act.
In the Moradabad case of cruelty against animals, it is alleged that in the absence of cows, Bhura used to prey on female dogs and goats to satisfy his lust.
Demolition underway at Lucknow's Kukram riverbed to rejuvenate river on lines on Sabarmati Riverfront Demolition work is underway at the Kukrail riverbed at Lucknow where efforts are on to rejuvenate the river on the lines of the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad. Earlier on Thursday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted that there are encroachments on the banks of Ramganga river in Moradabad and such a condition exists in districts like Kashi and Saharanpur. There is encroachment on the banks of Ramganga river in Moradabad. A similar situation can be seen in districts like Kashi, Saharanpur etc, the Chief Minister's Officer said in a post on 'X' quoting Yogi Adityanath. The Chief Minister instructed his officials to ensure that there is no settlement in the Kukrail river basin. He said that illegal settlements have been removed and rehabilitated elsewhere. At present, the revival of the Kukrail river is underway in Lucknow. Illegal settlements have been removed and rehabilitated elsewhere. Similarly, work should be done in other districts as per local requirements. It should be ensured that there is no settlement in the river basin. Old ponds/ponds and other water bodies should be preserved. If there is encroachment, it should be removed immediately, the CM's office added. (ANI)
Congress, SP to fight bypolls in alliance
LUCKNOW: After the conclusion of the Lok Sabha election, Uttar Pradesh is preparing for another electoral battle with nine MLAs from the state reaching Parliament, necessitating bypoll in their respective assembly segments, setting the stage for another round of a bipolar NDA vs INDIA bloc contest in the state. Buoyed by their performance in the recent polls, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) have hinted at continuing their alliance in the upcoming bypolls to nine assembly seats, of which four each have been vacated by the BJP and SP MLAs and one by the RLD MLA. Though none of the two opposition partners have come out clearly on the seat-sharing as the Congress has no stakes in the bypoll, UPCC chief Ajai Rai confirmed that the tie-up would continue and that there could be seat-sharing discussions as well. Notably, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has quit Karhal assembly seat to retain the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat. The other seats that have fallen vacant as the sitting MLAs have been elected to Lok Sabha include Anoop Valmiki from Khair (Aligarh), Praveen Patel from Phulpur (Prayagraj), Atul Garg from Ghaziabad (Ghaziabad), Dr Vinod Bind from Majhawan (Mirzapur) of BJP. Similarly, besides Akhilesh Yadav from Karnal, other SP MLAs include Ziaur Rehman Barq from Kundarki (Moradabad), Lalji Verma from Katehari (Ambedkar Nagar), and Awadhesh Prasad from Milkipur (Faizabad). Meanwhile, Chandan Chauhan of RLD from Meerapur (Muzaffarnagar) assembly seat has also vacated it as he has won from Bijnor Lok Sabha seat. While the Congress had not won any of these nine seats in 2022 UP assembly polls, it had contested Ghaziabad and Khair seats unsuccessfully under the SP-Cong pre-poll pact in 2017 assembly polls. In 2024 LS polls also, the SP gave Ghaziabad Lok Sabha seat to the Congress but it lost. As per a Congress source, the party may seek at least Khair and Ghaziabad seats from SP owing to its harmonious equation with the ally SP. On the other hand, SP leadership also confirmed that the allies may have seat sharing discussions for the bypolls. At present SP has 107 MLAs in theAssembly and the ruling BJP has 252.
Remove encroachments on banks of rivers, ponds: CM Yogi to officials
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked officials to immediately remove encroachments on the banks of rivers and ponds. He issued the instructions at a meeting on Thursday. There are encroachments on the banks of Ramganga river in Moradabad. A similar situation can be seen in Kashi, Saharanpur and other districts, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a post on X quoting Adityanath. At present, efforts are being made for the revival of the Kukrail river in Lucknow. Illegal settlements have been removed and (their residents have been) rehabilitated elsewhere. Similarly, work should be done in other districts as per local requirements, he said. The chief minister asked the officials to ensure there are no settlements in the river basin. Old ponds, ponds and other water bodies should be preserved. If there are any encroachments, they should be removed immediately, he said. A drive to demolish illegal constructions in Akbarnagar I and II along the Kukrail riv
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Orders Swift Action Against Riverbank Encroachments
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Orders Swift Action Against Riverbank Encroachments Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to expedite the removal of encroachments from river and pond banks across the state. The instructions were issued during a high-level meeting on Thursday. The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) highlighted ongoing efforts for the revival of the Kukrail river in Lucknow, where illegal settlements have already been dismantled and residents relocated. A similar situation was cited in districts like Moradabad, Kashi, and Saharanpur. Adityanath emphasized the importance of preserving old ponds and other water bodies, urging prompt action to remove any existing encroachments. This move follows a recent court order mandating the demolition of over 1,000 illegal residences and commercial establishments in Akbarnagar I and II, Lucknow.
19-year-old shot dead in UPs Moradabad; family protests demanding action
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19-year-old shot dead in UP's Moradabad; family protests demanding action
19-year-old shot dead in UP's Moradabad; family protests demanding action A 19-year-old youth was shot dead in the Katghar area of Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad, police said on Thursday. According to officials, the victim was identified as Harsh alias Sidhu, a resident of Dawal Phatak Valmiki Mohalla in the Galshaheed police station area. The victim had gone to attend a birthday party with his friend, Sumit, in Mehbulla Ganj on Wednesday night. On his way back home, the victim got into an argument with two persons, identified as Rajesh Rastogi and his son Lakshya Rastogi, in the Joshiyan Mohalla area over overtaking their vehicle. Their argument soon turned heated, and the accused, Rajesh and Lakshya, allegedly opened fire at Harsh. The victim sustained bullet injuries and was later rushed to the district hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Soon after the incident, the victim's family and relatives, along with a large number of people from their community, reached Katghar police station and staged a protest. The protesting members also blocked the road, demanding action against those involved. This prompted the arrival of senior police officials, including SSP Hemraj Meena and SP City Akhilesh Bhadauria, along with forces from multiple police stations. The police authorities assured the family of strict action against the perpetrators and promised their swift arrest, which helped to pacify the agitated crowd. Meanwhile, Harsh's body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. SP City Akhilesh Bhadauria said that a case has been registered based on the family's complaint and that the accused will be arrested soon. Reportedly, this was the second incident in which a person was shot dead in Moradabad. Earlier, a cleric was shot dead in the early hours of Tuesday, June 11. (ANI)
Imam of village mosque shot dead by unidentified assailants in Moradabad
Moradabad (UP), June 11 (IANS) The Imam of a mosque was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Tuesday morning in Bhensia Village of Moradabad District. The assailants, apparently known to the deceased, first called him out of the mosque and then shot him dead from a point-blank range. The deceased Maulana Akram was a resident []
College student dies by suicide at hostel in UPs Moradabad
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Despite being declared Smart City, Moradabad faces many issues: Samajwadi Party MP Ruchi Vira
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Will raise issues of infrastructure, medical facilities in Moradabad: Samajwadi Party MP Ruchi Vira
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Samajwadi Party In-fighting: Fatima Raps Newly Elected MP Nadvi over Remarks on Azam Khan
Samajwadi Party In-fighting: Fatima Raps Newly Elected MP Nadvi over Remarks on Azam Khan Tazeen Fatima, wife of the incarcerated Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, has openly condemned the recent remarks made by the newly elected MP from Rampur, Mohibullah Nadvi, regarding her husband. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Nadvi mentioned that 'people are sent to jail for correction' and prayed for Khan, who is jailed in Sitapur. Fatima, however, rebuked Nadvi's statement, accusing him of having too much experience with jails. Nadvi's nomination by the SP was a move that ignored Asim Raja, a loyalist of Khan. In related developments, Ruchi Vira, the victorious SP candidate from Moradabad, met with Fatima and backed her criticism, stating that Azam Khan has greatly contributed to the party. Vira emphasized Nadvi should respect Khan's sacrifices.
It seems that Mohibullah Nadvi has good experience of going to jail: SP leader Tazeen Fatma
It seems that Mohibullah Nadvi has good experience of going to jail: SP leader Tazeen Fatma Hitting out at the newly elected Samajwadi party MP Mohibullah Nadvi for his jails are correction home remarks, Samajwadi Party leader Tazeen Fatma on Thursday said that it might be possible that the Mohibullah has a good experience of going to jails. He (Mohibullah) said that jails are correctional homes. It seems that he has good experience of going to jail and that he has visited jail earlier, Tazeen Fatma told ANI. Mohibullah Nadvi who is a cleric in a mosque at Parliament Street, New Delhi was the INDIA bloc's candidate on the SP ticket from the Rampur seat. He defeated BJP's Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi by a margin of more than 87,000 votes. Rampur has been a bastion for Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan who has been an MLA from Rampur Sadar seat 10 times. Khan reached the Uttar Pradesh Assembly for the first time in June 1980 from Rampur on a Janata Party (Secular) ticket. He also became MP from this seat in 2019. Azam Khan is currently lodged in the Sitapur jail. Fatma who is the wife of Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan also congratulated Ruchi Vira for her victory from the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat. I congratulate Ruchi Vira for her victory. I also want to thank the people of Moradabad for contributing towards strengthening the Samajwadi Party, she said. Ruchi Vira defeated BJP's Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar by a margin of 1,05,762 votes in the Lok Sabha polls. The Moradabad seat witnessed a drama recently when two Samajwadi party candidates ST Hasan and Ruchi Veera both filed their nominations from the seat. However, SP's choice was Ruchi Veera. Afterwards, Hasan stepped back and said that it was the choice of the party. It can choose whoever it wants. In a major setback to the BJP, it gained only 33 seats against 63 in the 2019 LS polls, with the vote share being 41.37 per cent. Some of the most-watched seats which the BJP lost include -- Faizabad, Amethi, and Raebareli. The Samajwadi Party, on the other hand, secured 37 seats by itself, thus witnessing a massive improvement in the state. The vote share of the SP stood at 33.59 per cent. (ANI)
Loss of 38 seats in 5 states: Has BJP paid the price for ignoring farmers?
NEW DELHI: The BJP got a major setback in Lok Sabha polls in states marked by farmers protests, resulting in the party falling short of the majority mark. The Narendra Modi-led government had ignored the farmers demands and the ruling party lost seats which it had won in 2019 in different states. Moreover, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Arjun Munda lost by a big margin in Jharkhand. The BJP has lost around 38 seats mostly confined to protesting farmers belts, such as western UP, Punjab, Haryana, northern Rajasthan and onion-growing belt in Maharashtra. In many places the BJP leaders had not been able to conduct their campaign. Farmers resumed their protest in February to march towards Delhi but they were halted at Punjab-Haryana border. Farmers from Haryana and western UP had not been allowed to enter the capital. Experts say the impact of farmers protests has hurt the BJPs prospects in other states too. In western UP, the BJP lost polls in Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Kairana, Nagina, Moradabad, Sambhal, Rampur, and also Lakhimpur Kheri where BJP minister Ajay Mishra Tenis son ran over protesting farmers. The BJP lost its two seats it had won in the previous election in Punjab, besides 11 seats in Rajasthan and five in Haryana. The party lost 12 out 13 seats in onion-growing belt of Maharashtra. Farmers have been protesting for the past four years to get legally guaranteed price for their produce as per Swaminathan Commissions recommendation. They also demand debt waiver and repeal of privatisation of the power sector. In Maharashtra, government had first curbed the export and later put a ban on onion export to control domestic price in 2023. Maharashtra is the largest producer of onion in the country where onion farmers clout expands to 14 parliamentary constituencies. Onion farmers protested the move but government ignored them. Government had taken a series of decisions which were against the interest of onion farmers and traders. It led to a crash of price which hit traders and farmers, said Khandu Kaka Devre, president of Nashik District Onion Traders Association. He said anger of onion farmers is still simmering and they will again act against the government in upcoming assembly elections. Farmers organisation Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has congratulated people for denying the BJP a majority in the Lok Sabha.
Election trends show moral defeat for Modi; he should resign, head to Himalayas: Congress
NEW DELHI: With latest trends showing the BJP falling below the majority mark, the Congress on Tuesday said it has become clear that it will be a staggering political and decisively moral defeat for Narendra Modi and he should resign and head to the Himalayas. Counting of votes are underway for the Lok Sabha elections, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party but not getting a majority on its own. He used to pretend that he was extraordinary. Now it has been proved that the outgoing prime minister is going to become former. Take moral responsibility and resign. This is the message of this election, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X in Hindi. He said on December 3, 2016, in Moradabad, the outgoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said - What at the most can they do to me? What can they do? I am a faqir (poor man), I will just pick up my bag and leave. Do you remember this statement of yours, outgoing prime minister? The time has come. Take your bag and head towards the Himalayas, Ramesh said in a swipe at Modi. Exit polls on Saturday predicted that Prime Minister Modi will retain power for a third straight term, with the BJP-led NDA expected to win a big majority in the Lok Sabha polls. Ramesh in a post on X said the exit polls have been completely exposed for what they were -- a total sham. Trends for all 543 seats are now available. The following have become clear: It will be a staggering political and decisively moral defeat for Mr. Narendra Modi, Ramesh said. He said it has also become clear that, he exit polls that he orchestrated have been completely exposed for what they were--a total sham. Early trends from counting of votes on Tuesday threw up disappointing results for the BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha elections, which appears to be losing heavily in its strongholds of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan although it is expected to form the government with about 290 seats. On its own, the BJP appeared to be falling below the majority mark with leads in 240 seats despite significant gains in Odisha, Telangana and Kerala, giving some solace to the party after the unexpected losses in the Hindi belt.
Moradabad Election Result 2024 Live Updates: Counting of Votes Starts Today
Moradabad Election Result Live Updates: Get all the latest news and updates on Lok Sabha elections 2024 results on The Quint.
UP cop falls off moving train, dies
Shahjahanpur (UP), June 2 : A woman constable died after falling off a moving train at the railway station here, police said on Sunday. The constable was returning to Shahjahanpur from Moradabad when she fell down while trying to alight from the moving train. Constable Kiran Katiyar, 27, posted at Chowk police station had gone [] The post UP cop falls off moving train, dies appeared first on The Shillong Times .
Bridging the Financial Gap for India's LGBTQIA+ Community: Max Life's Landmark Survey
Bridging the Financial Gap for India's LGBTQIA+ Community: Max Life's Landmark Survey The flagship study of Max Life Insurance Company Limited (Max Life), the India Protection Quotient Survey (IPQ), in partnership with KANTAR, has revealed insights into the financial preparedness of the LGBTQIA+ community in India from the perspective of life insurance. This pioneering initiative, conducted in partnership with Pride Circle, one of India's premier Diversity and Inclusion Advisory firms, represents a significant step forward in understanding and addressing the specific financial needs of the diverse community. Under the vision of 'One India-Protection for All', the PAN-India survey includes the LGBTQIA+ community for the first time to understand their financial preparedness. With a population estimated to be around 135 million people, or around 10% of India's 1.4 billion population, the LGBTQIA+ community represents a significant segment whose financial preferences and challenges cannot be overlooked.1, 2 With a Protection Quotient of 37 points, the LGBTQIA+ community exhibited a 17-point difference in financial preparedness, as compared to the digitally-savvy urban Indian at 54 points. In contrast, the LGBTQIA+ community has displayed a commendable level of awareness, understanding, and proactive engagement in financial planning, with 99% individuals aware of life insurance products. Despite high awareness, ownership of life insurance in the community stands at 68%, as opposed to 80% ownership in the digital cohort. Prashant Tripathy, CEO and Managing Director, Max Life said, ''As India advances towards a more inclusive and sustainable future, the need to create comprehensive financial solutions for all is more critical than ever. At the heart of this mission is our flagship India Protection Quotient survey, which not only measures awareness levels of life insurance but also strives to achieve a deeper, more unbiased understanding of financial protection. This year, with the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community, the India Protection Quotient reaffirms our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equitable access to financial security for all Indians. We are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has the protection they deserve, driving forward a vision where every life is valued and safeguarded.'' Ramkrishna Sinha, Co-Founder, Pride Circle said, ''The inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community in Max Life's India Protection Quotient study is an important step to uncovering the gaps and challenges faced. We are optimistic that this will lead to enhanced attention, addressing the needs of this community, and a deeper understanding of the importance of life insurance. We at Pride Circle remain committed to working for the enablement of the LGBTQIA+ community, and this is a step toward financial wellbeing.'' Awareness, Ownership and Barriers of the Indian LGBTQIA+ Community The LGBTQIA+ community demonstrates exceptional levels of awareness regarding life insurance products, with 82% awareness of Term Life Insurance, and 88% awareness of Savings Life Insurance products. These figures surpass the slightly lower awareness levels (81% and 79% for Term Life Insurance and Savings Life Insurance products, respectively) observed in the digital segment. However, high premiums (35%) and a higher inclination towards health insurance (48%) remain the top barriers for the community to adopt life insurance offerings. Additionally, more than 80% of the respondents have made parents nominees in their life insurance policies, in stark contrast to overall India, where 15%-25% of respondents have parents as nominees. Overall, the cohort remains acutely aware of Term products but lags in ownership compared to the digital audience. Further, ownership and awareness of ULIPs and market-linked products remain lower within the community, presenting an opportunity for focused education and outreach efforts for the industry. Concerns and attitude towards financial prudence Concerns voiced by LGBTQIA+ respondents underscore their high awareness of financial vulnerabilities, particularly regarding rising medical expenses, mental health, and inflationary pressures. Despite these challenges, the community remains steadfast in their commitment to financial discipline, with 9 in 10 respondents prioritizing savings over spending, embodying a forward-thinking approach to securing their financial future. A significant portion of the community allocates a substantial portion of their income towards savings - 30% as compared to 36% by the digital respondents, albeit with higher proportions dedicated to luxury (19% vs. 14%) and basic expenses (33% vs. 28%) as compared to the digital cohort. Preference of Life Insurance Players The LGBTQIA+ community has a strong preference for private companies in the life insurance sector, with close to 80% expressing an inclination, while only 40% of the IPQ digital respondents favour private companies. The respondents also revealed that they are highly influenced by LGBTQIA+ support groups and forums, believing and following influencers from the community while making financial decisions. Max Life continues to remain keenly attuned to the evolving demands of its consumers across all cohorts and social groups. Through initiatives like the India Protection Quotient survey, the company remains committed to derive valuable insights into the financial preparedness of the nation and develop tailored financial security solutions that meet the needs of modern consumers. 1 https://orfonline.org/expert-speak/indias-pink-economy (Kinsey scale) 2 https://kinseyinstitute.org/research/publications/kinsey-scale.php About India Protection Quotient Instituted in 2019, India Protection Quotient is an annual property by Max Life Insurance in association with KANTAR aimed at understanding the pulse of Indian consumers in the financial protection space. Launched with the underlying objective of increasing penetration of term insurance as the most fundamental and economical form of life insurance, the survey aims to reveal the state of urban Indians with regards to current financial security levels, changing savings and investment patterns, key anxieties, and triggers of financial protection in a contemporary world. The India Protection Quotient is a proprietary tool developed by Max Life in partnership with KANTAR to gauge the degree to which Indians feel protected from future uncertainties on a scale of 0 to 100. It is based on attitudes, mental preparedness around future uncertainties, awareness, and ownership of life insurance product categories (term, endowment, and ULIP). Disclaimer: The study is conducted in partnership with KANTAR in the top 25 Urban metros, Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities; hence, its findings are representative of metro, Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities in Urban India only. Metro Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai Tier 1 Ludhiana, Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, Bhubaneshwar, Vizag, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Pune Tier 2 Dehradun, Moradabad, Guwahati, Bokaro, Kolhapur, Jamnagar, Raipur, Ujjain, Hubli-Dharwad, Tiruchirappalli IPQ 6.0 vs IPQ 5.0 data comparison is amongst 25 markets only (6 metros, 9 Tier 1 and 10 Tier 2) The minimum sample to conclude any findings of the study is 270 with an error margin of +-5.964% *Findings represented here are as per the IPQ 6.0 survey and Max Life doesn't assume responsibility or liability for any contradictions. **The LGBTQIA+ edition of IPQ 6.0 was administered digitally and hence the comparison with online results of the mainstream IPQ 6.0 Survey. About Max Life Insurance Max Life is a Joint Venture between Max Financial Services Limited (''MFSL'') and Axis Bank Limited. Max Life offers comprehensive protection and long-term savings life insurance solutions through its multi-channel distribution, including agency and third-party distribution partners. Max Life has built its operations over two decades through a need-based sales process, a customer-centric approach to engagement and service delivery and trained human capital. As per the annual audited financials for FY2022-23, Max Life has achieved a gross written premium of INR 25,342 Cr. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.maxlifeinsurance.com. About KANTAR KANTAR is the world's leading marketing data and analytics business and an indispensable brand partner to the world's top companies. We combine the most meaningful attitudinal and behavioral data with deep expertise and advanced analytics to uncover how people think and act. We help clients understand what has happened and why and how to shape the marketing strategies that shape their future. For more information, visit www.kantar.com. About Pride Circle India's Premier Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Consultancy with a mission of Social Equity by affirmative action for LGBTQIA+ community in India. They have partnered with over 450 companies across India to provide Executive Leadership Development, comprehensive Diversity & Inclusion Training, Sensitization, Consultation, Industry Roundtables, Research & Publications, job placements and professional networking opportunities that build safe, inclusive, and welcoming work environments. With their experience and growing roster of national and international partner companies, government & non-profit organizations, Pride Circle is leading the LGBT+ inclusion revolution in India. They conduct Audits & Assessments, Training & Sensitization, Industry Roundtables, Job Placement, Research & Publications. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1992948/4492032/Max_Life_Insurance_Logo.jpg
No wave, no anger: It could work both ways for NDA and INDIA in UP
As most parts of India, especially northern states, are wilting under a relentless heatwave, the 80-day campaign for the Lok Sabha election came to an end on May 30 with the last round of polling scheduled for June 1. Uttar Pradesh is among the three states (besides Bihar and West Bengal) where polling took place in all seven rounds that started on April 19 and stretched over 43 days. With everyone waiting for the results on June 4, some significant takeaways and trends have emerged that may help in decoding what lies ahead in terms of the number of seats for the major parties. UP has 80 seats, and in 2019, the BJP had won 62, its ally Apna Dal (S) won 2, Bahujan Samaj Party 10, Samajwadi Party 5, and Congress 1. In this election, the SP, Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) contested as part of the INDI Alliance, fighting on 62, 17 and 1 of the 80 seats, respectively. The BJP-led NDA has the NISHAD party, Apna Dal (S), Rashtriya Lok Dal and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) as partners, collectively fighting in all 80 seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his ministers including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Piyush Goel, Anurag Thakur and others, BJP president JP Nadda, and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and many of his ministerial colleagues and state BJP functionaries addressed hundreds of rallies and meetings across the state. Rs 700 per vote: Inside India's record-breaking election! Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Vadra and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, meanwhile, were the main campaigners for the Congress while Sonia Gandhi made a single brief appearance in Rae Bareli to seek votes for her son. The burden of the Samajwadi Party's campaigning was borne mainly by Akhilesh Yadav. Leaders like Shivpal Yadav, Ram Gopal Yadav and Dimple Yadav were visible only for short periods in limited areas while Jaya Bachchan stayed away. For the Bahujan Samaj Party, Mayawati addressed a limited number of rallies (as compared to those by Congress and BJP) and she pressed her nephew Akash Anand into the campaign. However, his overzealous attack on the BJP made a nervous Mayawati hastily withdraw him from electioneering, further impacting the party's campaign. While the BJP aims at a good performance in UP with 60-plus seats to help it in the national tally, the INDI-Alliance claims to have limited the BJP to below 50. While one has to wait for a few more days for the results, the entire campaign has thrown up some interesting trends as mentioned below: Polarisation among the people along political lines has got deeper and more apparent. Political discussions right from drawing rooms to wayside shops to religious gatherings to academic deliberations inevitably ended in participants taking clear sides and without any consensus. Those with committed views have voted for their favoured party - not the candidate. This may ensure that there is no one-sided result. Those who did not have such clear-cut opinions have voted along caste lines, especially in rural areas . This is unlike the scenario in 2014 and 2019. For this section of voters, if the party and person were not strong enough attractions this time, then they chose a candidate of their own creed regardless of party. This may mean a reduced victory margin in some seats. There is no discernible anger against the present Modi government, but questions have indeed arisen over what the BJP government could do if it gets another term. Allegations by opposition parties that the next BJP government could tamper with the Constitution and the reservation matrix have found resonance with people. Yogi Adityanath as Chief Minister continues to enjoy the trust of the people, therefore he will be the main contributor to the BJP's tally at least in Uttar Pradesh. His utterances reflected his approach in dealing with organised crime gangs and the ulldozer tactics have earned him a huge fan following. Akhilesh Yadav tried too hard and fervently to display a chemistry with Rahul Gandhi and the effort showed whenever the two shared the stage. However, Rahul overshadowed him throughout. This was not lost on SP supporters. The Dalit community is by and large disappointed in Mayawati, but the sections loyal to her have nonetheless voted for the BSP candidates. The party has carefully chosen its candidates in several constituencies so as to damage the prospects of both the BJP and Samajwadi Party. This might impact the SP's chances in Amroha, Rampur, Sambhal, Moradabad, Pilibhit, Aonla, Saharanpur and Basti, and pose a challenge to BJP in Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Baghpat, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Mathura, Aligarh and Ghaziabad. Regardless of the urgency of issues like stray cattle menace, erratic delivery of government services and high-handedness of government functionaries at the district and village level, the farmers and rural workers did not show their anger, and the low turnout also suggests this. Muslim voters may have overwhelmingly voted for the Samajwadi Party since this party positioned itself as the main rival to the BJP. In some places, including Lucknow and Varanasi, women of the community may have voted out of their own volition. The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is an accepted part of the country's cultural and religious space as much as any other place of pilgrimage; therefore, it is no longer an election issue. It was widely believed by BJP supporters and critics alike that had the election been announced immediately after the temple's consecration, the BJP would have received the benefit of the positive fallout from the issue. The repeated mention of matters related to faith does not appear to have gone down well with the people. Every election ends with a huge pile of socio-political learning for the people. Uttar Pradesh has been a laboratory of sorts for political experiments especially related to caste, community, faith and religion. This time too, regardless of results, a few takeaways will be remembered for a long time. Summer of discontent in the Hindi heartland
BMW with Himachal Pradesh registration number hits trio on bike in Zirakpur, 1 dead
Zirakpur: One person died and two others were seriously injured when a speeding BMW hit their bike at the Lohgarh light point around 11 pm on Wednesday. Sahib of Moradabad in UP) died while Pabhat residents Sumit and Rajvir were seriously injured. The car driver fled the spot, leaving behind the vehicle. Eyewitnesses said the [] The post BMW with Himachal Pradesh registration number hits trio on bike in Zirakpur, 1 dead appeared first on Northlines .
Watch: Water sprinkled on overheated transformers in UP's Moradabad amid heatwave
Watch Water sprinkled on overheated transformers in UPs Moradabad amid heatwave
INTERVIEW| 'It will be 2004 moment' on June 4; 'hugely impressive' turnaround in UP: Jairam Ramesh
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said a 2004 moment will be witnessed on June 4 with the INDIA bloc getting a clear mandate in the Lok Sabha polls and asserted that a primary factor in the alliance's strong performance would be a hugely impressive turnaround in Uttar Pradesh. In an interview with PTI , Ramesh also used cricketing terminology to claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was nurturing a communal pitch, but his party had refused to play on it and had also successfully navigated his googlies and bouncers. The Congress general secretary exuded confidence that the June 4 results day would be reliving of the 2004 moment when the saffron party was unseated from power despite its 'shining India' campaign. This is a 2004 moment, you will see. People keep asking me who will be the prime minister, I must remind you that the results of the 2004 election came out on May 13, 2004. By May 17, it was clear that Manmohan Singh was going to be the prime minister. This time it may be even quicker, and in any case, elections in India are not a beauty contest, not a 'kaun banega PM', it is about which coalition will get a mandate, Ramesh told PTI. We are a party-centred democracy. We are not like the American system, it is not a beauty contest between individuals, it is a choice between parties. This is a 2004 moment. In 1962, a film was released based on the Sherlock Holmes mystery -- 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' -- 'Bees saal Baad' starring Waheeda Rehman and Biswajeet...what happened in 2004, 'bees saal baad', you will see that repeating, he said. Ramesh also expressed confidence that there would be a dramatic turnaround in Uttar Pradesh. Noting that the road to Delhi is through Lucknow because Uttar Pradesh has 80 seats, Ramesh pointed out that the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra had gotten a tremendous response in places such as Prayagraj, Varanasi, Pratapgarh, Lucknow, Amethi, Rae Bareli, Aligarh, Moradabad, Amroha and Sambhal. In Uttar Pradesh, youth, women, SCs, STs, and OBCs came out in support of the yatra, he said. I think there has been complete disenchantment and disillusionment with the PM because the people are fed up with him. He (Modi) is tired, he is jaded and he is faded. One of the primary contributing factors in our strong performance on June 4, when the results come out, would be a hugely impressive turnaround in UP, Ramesh said. In the 2019 polls, the BJP had won 62 seats, NDA ally Apna Dal got 2 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan (SP, BSP, RLD) had won 15 seats and the Congress got one. PM will never tell you this...: Jairam Ramesh INDIA bloc confident of stopping BJP from getting majority: Kharge 'Hindu-Muslim rhetoric and no Viksit Bharat' Ramesh alleged that Modi had been indulging in polarisation throughout the election and preparing a communal pitch, but the Congress refused to play on that and pursued its 'paach nyay' agenda. Ramesh's attack came over Modi's remarks in an interview with PTI in which he had said that he has never uttered a word against minorities and the BJP has ot just today but never acted against them. I don't want to use the cricketing language too much. There is a pitch which he nurtures every day, and we still have nine days more. The campaigning ends on May 30. What new things he will bring on the communal pitch, only he knows, because he is the 3D masterthe master of distortion, diversion and defamation, Ramesh said. He (PM Modi) is trying to bowl googlies, he is trying to bowl bouncers; he is doing 'bodyline' but we have successfully navigated his googlies and bouncers. We've bowled a few googlies and bouncers back at him, which he has tried to avoid but has not been able to avoid, Ramesh said in a lighter vein. Ramesh claimed that Modi's entire campaign from April 19 has been based on communalisation with Hindu-Muslim rhetoric throughout and o talk of Viksit Bharat, Modi ki guarantee, or issues of the farmers, youth, women, workers, SCs, STs and OBCs. Asked about the remarks, Ramesh told PTI , What nonsense is he talking about? This prime minister is fast losing his memory. He has never had any adherence to the truth. He is 'jhoothjeevi' , but now what he says today, he forgets tomorrow and says he never said it. Of course he has been attacking the Congress party and has been talking of Hindu-Muslim, he said. Ramesh said the PM had raised the issue of the 'Muslim League' imprint on the Congress manifesto, the mangalsutra remarks and the allegation that the Congress will give reservations on the basis of religion, which were all ogus statements. This is the prime minister who, when asked some years ago whether he had any remorse at the killings during the Gujarat riots, said even when a small puppy comes under a car, one feels bad. This is the language that he has used, Ramesh said. Speak on inflation, jobs, not mangalsutra, Priyanka dares Modi Meanwhile, Ramesh said that the combined effort of the 'paanch nyay pachchees guarantee' programme, the campaigning by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who have campaigned so magnificently, that has worked in the party's favour. Ultimately, it is the people who want to vote for us. It is 'people versus Modi', not just the INDIA 'janbandhan' versus Modi; it is the farmers versus Modi, women versus Modi; it is labour versus Modi; it is youth versus Modi; it is the social engeneering, the SCs, STs, and OBCs against Modi, the Congress general secretary said. This is an election when people are rising up very quietly and sending a message to this jaded and faded prime minister. You are the outgoing PM and on June 4, you will be going out, Ramesh said. Elections have been held on 428 seats, but just after two phases, it was clear that the INDIA bloc will get a decisive mandate and the BJP will be 'saaf' in the South and half in the North, West, and East, he said, adding that his assessment is based on the feedback from workers and social organisations. After April 19, PM Modi's language has changed. He did not talk about viksit bharat but started his Hindu-Muslim rhetoric, mangalsutra, religion-based reservations, buffaloes, what all he has not said... he is preparing a communal pitch but we are not leaving our pitch of 'paanch nyay pachchees guarantees', he said. I think the PM is rattled. He used to talk about 400 paar and Modi ki guarantee, but has forgotten about that. He is the outgoing Prime Minister and INDIA bloc will get a clear and decisive mandate on June 4, Ramesh said. After the fifth phase on Monday, voting has been completed in 428 constituencies out of 543 in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Two more phaseson May 25 and June 1are remaining now. The counting of votes is on June 4. Interview | BJP to score big in South, NDA will cross 400, says PM Modi Why is Modi 'silent' on caste census? On Prime Minister Modi's remarks in the interview, asserting that even if one assumes he acts out of self-interest, his own welfare lies in the welfare of the Constitution, Ramesh said that on November 26, 1949, the Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly and BR Ambedkar made a speech a day before in which he said that without the Congress, the Constitution would not have been made possible. Four days after the Constitution was adopted, the Organiser, which is an RSS publication, says there is nothing Indian about the Constitution because there are no 'manuvadi values'. Subsequently, MS Golwalkar, Deen Dayal Upadhyay, Mohan Bhagwat, Bibek Debroy, so many spokespersons have been attacking this Constitution, saying the time for this Constitution is over, Ramesh alleged. The Congress leader said the Constitution is a flexible document that can be amended, but to do away with the document altogether lock, stock and barrel is another thing. Ramesh claimed that when Atal Bihari Vajapayee became the prime minister, LK Advani and company wanted a committee to review the basic structure of the Constitution. They appointed Justice JMNR Venkatachaliah, a very distinguished former chief justice, to head the panel but he said I am not going to be a party to doing away with the basic structure of this Constitution, he said. Subsequently, the BJP-led dispensation had to change the nature of the committee to one that would review the workings of the Constitution, he said. We (the Congress) of course boycotted that commission. So this has always been the objective of the BJP and the RSS. They are deeply uncomfortable and hostile to the idea of BR Ambedkar's Constitution because one of the pillars of this Constitution is social justice and the road to social justice is through reservation, he said. Ramesh asked why Prime Minister Modi is silent on the issue of the caste census. He also asked the prime minister to clarify his stance as to whether he will remove the 50 percent cap on reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs. Why has the PM not said a word on this? He is going around spreading an epidemic of lies that the Congress is giving reservations based on religion. Where have we given reservations based on religion? The 1994 reservations in Karnataka, which he keeps referring to, were given to minoritiesMuslims, Christians, Jains, and Buddhistsbased on socio-economic criteria, and that is how they were introduced in the reservation law, he said. Subsequently, the PM, in an interview to a TV channel had said he himself given reservation to Muslims by adding them to the OBC list. If the PM does it, it is not a religion-based reservation; if the Congress does it, even though it is based on socio-economic criteria, it is religion-based, Ramesh said. Asked about the prime minister's remark that his Adani-Ambani comments were validated by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's comments, Ramesh said he does not know what the context of Chowdhury's remarks was but Modi should be asked why action has not been taken against the two businessmen. Congress provided quotas to minorities but not on basis of religion: Jairam Ramesh
Modi's 'Communal Pitch' vs. Congress' '2004 Moment': A June 4 Showdown
Modi's 'Communal Pitch' vs. Congress' '2004 Moment': A June 4 Showdown Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said a ''2004 moment'' will be witnessed on June 4 with the INDIA bloc getting a clear mandate in the Lok Sabha polls, and asserted that a primary factor in the alliance's ''strong performance'' would be a ''hugely impressive'' turnaround in Uttar Pradesh. In an interview with PTI, Ramesh also used cricketing terminology to claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was nurturing a ''communal pitch'' but his party had refused to play on it and had also successfully navigated his ''googlies and bouncers''. The Congress general secretary exuded confidence that the June 4 results day would be reliving of the ''2004 moment'' when the saffron party was unseated from power despite its 'India Shining' campaign. ''This is a 2004 moment, you will see. People keep asking me who will be the prime minister, I must remind you that the results of the 2004 election came out on May 13, 2004. By May 17, it was clear that Manmohan Singh was going to be the prime minister. This time it may be even quicker, and in any case, elections in India are not a beauty contest, not a 'kaun banega PM', it is about which coalition will get a mandate,'' Ramesh told PTI. ''We are a party-centred democracy. We are not like the American system, it is not a beauty contest between individuals, it is a choice between parties. This is a 2004 moment. In 1962, a film was released based on the Sherlock Holmes mystery -- 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' -- 'Bees saal Baad' starring Waheeda Rehman and Biswajeet...what happened in 2004, 'bees saal baad', you will see that repeating,'' he said. Ramesh also expressed confidence that there would be a ''dramatic turnaround'' in Uttar Pradesh. Noting that the road to Delhi is through Lucknow because Uttar Pradesh has 80 seats, Ramesh pointed out that the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra had gotten a tremendous response in places such as Prayagraj, Varanasi, Pratapgarh, Lucknow, Amethi, Rae Bareli, Aligarh, Moradabad, Amroha and Sambhal. In Uttar Pradesh, youth, women, SCs, STs, OBCs came out in support of the yatra, he said. ''I think there has been a complete disenchantment and disillusionment with the PM because the people are fed up with him. He (Modi) is tired, he is jaded and he is faded. One of the primary contributing factors in our strong performance on June 4 when the results come out, would be a hugely impressive turnaround in UP,'' Ramesh said. In the 2019 polls, the BJP had won 62 seats, NDA ally Apna Dal got 2 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan (SP, BSP, RLD) had won 15 seats and the Congress got one. Ramesh alleged that Modi had been indulging in polarisation throughout the election and preparing a ''communal pitch'', but the Congress refused to play on that and pursued its 'paach nyay' agenda. ''I don't want to use the cricketing language too much.There is a pitch which he nurtures everyday, we still have nine days more. The campaigning ends on May 30. What new things he will bring on the communal pitch only he knows, because he is the 3D master -- master of distortion, diversion and defamation,'' Ramesh said. ''He (PM Modi) is trying to bowl googlies, he is trying to bowl bouncers, he is doing 'bodyline' but we have successfully navigated his googlies, bouncers...we've bowled a few googlies and bouncers back at him which he has tried to avoid but he has not been able to avoid,'' Ramesh said in a lighter vein. However, more seriously, it is the combined effort of 'paanch nyay pachchees guarantee' programme, the campaigning by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has campaigned so magnificently, that has worked in the party's favour, he said. ''Ultimately it is the people who want to vote for us. It is 'people versus Modi', not just the INDIA 'janbandhan' versus Modi, it is the farmers versus Modi, women versus Modi, it is labour versus Modi, it is youth versus Modi, it is the social engineering, the SCs, STs, OBCs against Modi,'' the Congress general secretary said. ''This is an election when people are rising up very quietly and sending a message to this jaded and faded prime minister '-- you are the outgoing PM and on June 4 you will be going out,'' Ramesh said. Elections have been held on 428 seats but just after two phases only it was clear that the INDIA bloc will get a decisive mandate and the BJP will be 'saaf' in the South and half in North, West, and East, he said, adding that his assessment is based on the feedback from workers and social organisations. ''After April 19, PM Modi's language has changed. He did not talk about viksit bharat but started his Hindu-Muslim rhetoric, mangalsutra, religion-based reservations, buffaloes, what all he has not said... he is preparing a communal pitch but we are not leaving our pitch of 'paanch nyay pachchees guarantees','' he said. ''I think the PM is rattled...he used to talk about 400 paar and Modi ki guarantee, but has forgotten about that. He is the outgoing Prime Minister and INDIA bloc will get a clear and decisive mandate on June 4,'' Ramesh said. After the fifth phase on Monday, voting has been completed in 428 constituencies out of 543 in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Two more phases -- on May 25 and June 1 -- are remaining now. Counting of votes is on June 4.
NCLT allows IL&FS Transportation Networks to offload shares in an expressway project
The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has granted permission to IL&FS Transportation Networks to sell its shares in Moradabad Bareilly Expressway to Roadstar Infra Investment Trust. The transfer involves 3,21,40,691 equity shares, representing a 14.5% stake. The transaction, approved by IL&FS's new board and ITNL Board in October 2023, received no objection from Union Bank of India. The tribunal allowed IL&FS to proceed with the sale as per the terms of the share purchase agreement with Axis Trustee Services Limited and Roadstar Investment Managers.
After doing Gharwapsi, both of them stated that they had faith in the Hindu religion for a long time and declared themselves free from the fear of Triple Talaq and Halala.
Three killed as car crashes into tanker while trying to save a monkey in UP
Three people died when a tanker collided with a car on the Moradabad-Aligarh National Highway in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, reports said. The victims have been identified as Axis Bank manager Saurabh Srivastava, cashier Divyanshu and one Amit Rana. According to a report, Saurabh Srivastava and his co-workers were heading towards Chandausi in a car when he swerved the car to save a monkey which suddenly appeared on the road. As a result, the car crashed into a tanker coming in the opposite direction. The tanker driver fled the spot soon after the accident. Police retrieved the bodies crushed inside the mangled remains of the car and sent them for post-mortem. Further investigations are on.
3 Bank Employees Die In UP Car Crash Caused By Monkey On Road
Three people died after a speeding tanker collided with a car on the Moradabad-Aligarh National Highway in Uttar Pradesh on Monday. The accident took place in the Domghar area of Moradabad.
Many times the attendants of patients have to face problems in government-run hospitals because after getting blood and urine tests done, they have to stand in long queues for the reports, sometimes even going from one department to another to get the reports. One has to take rounds, due to which one sweats, but now there is relief news for you. The test report will be available on mobile UP government has started a new facility for patients in its hospitals, now no one will have to run from door to door to get test reports. They can be obtained online only. You can download it through mobile. This will save time and effort and you will be saved from unnecessary problems. The facility in 75 hospitals of UP Till now this facility has been started in 75 government hospitals of UP, you will get an alert of getting the test report through SMS on your mobile phone. According to the information, in the future 18 more hospitals in the state will be added to the list of this facility, where the trial is still going on. 'No need to come to the hospital for reports' Principal Secretary of Health and Medical Education Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma says that the facility of providing lab test reports in government hospitals on mobile through SMS will help many patients and their families. Their time will be saved and they will not have to come to the hospital and stand in line again just to get the report. Presently this facility has been started in 75 such hospitals and we will endeavor to start such service in other hospitals also. These hospitals of the capital Lucknow are included This facility is being provided to patients in Balrampur Hospital, Lokbandhu, Civil Hospital, Jhalkari Bai, Rani Lakshmi Bai Hospital, Thakurganj District Hospital, and Ram Sagar Mishra Hospital in Lucknow, the capital of UP. Apart from this, this facility has been started in 30 government hospitals of Eastern UP, 7 government hospitals of Central UP, and 31 government hospitals of Western UP. Where are the facilities available in East UP? Talking about East UP, there are 4 hospitals each in Prayagraj and Varanasi, 3 hospitals each in Ayodhya and Basti, 2 each in Balrampur, Mau and Barabanki, Azamgarh, Ballia, Gonda, Jaunpur, Kushinagar, Bhadohi, Chandauli, Rae Bareli, Sant Kabir Nagar. Patients have got freedom from long queues in 1-1 hospitals of Shravasti and Sitapur. Where is the facility available in Central and West UP? Talking about Central UP, this facility has been started in 2-2 hospitals in Kanpur and Mahoba, and 1-1 hospital in Unnao, Orai, and Mainpuri. In West UP near Delhi, 3 each from Ghaziabad and Rampur, 2 each from Bareilly, Etawah, Agra, Farrukhabad, Hathras, Muzaffarnagar, Lalitpur, Moradabad and Sitapur, Amroha, Badaun, Bijnor, Kannauj, Pilibhit, Bulandshahr, Saharanpur, In every hospital of Gautam Buddha Nagar, reports have started being received on mobile through SMS, due to which the attendants are getting a lot of relief. (PC: Freepik)
Accused Samajwadi Party MLA kept taking advantage of the victim's helplessness and raping her by threatening to make the photos viral
Five engineering students dead as car falls into gorge near Mussoorie in Uttarakhand
DEHRADUN: Five people were killed in a road accident after a vehicle fell down into a deep gorge near Chunakhal on the Mussoorie-Dehradun road at around 5 am on Saturday. Four of the victims are identified to be engineering students while a fellow woman passenger survived the fall with minor injuries. Speaking to The New Indian Express, Fire Station Officer Dheeraj Singh Tadiyal said, On receiving the information of the incident at around 5:30 a.m., we rushed to the accident scene with the police force. The relief and rescue operations are currently underway with the help of locals. The injured are being taken to nearby hospital The victims have been identified as Aman Singh Rana, 22, (IMS University), Dingyash Pratap Bhati, 23, (IMS University), Tanuja Rawat, 22, (IMS University), Ashutosh Tiwari resident of Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh), Hridyansh Chandra, 24, (D.I.T. University). Meanwhile, the injured woman who survived the crash has been identified as 24-year-old Nayanshree, a student of IMS University, a native of Meerut.
What are UP's Muslim voters up to in this Lok Sabha election?
Till about a decade ago, the voting behaviour of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh used to be a decisive factor in about two dozen Lok Sabha seats. The main political parties in those elections, such as the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress, whether in alliance or separately, used to bank heavily on the support of Muslims. This used to be the norm from the 1970s till the general election of 2014, when the Narendra Modi wave made all such factors redundant. Riding high on it, the Bharatiya Janata Party got the majority community to vote in such numbers so as to make the Muslim vote bank irrelevant. However, ten years of BJP rule at the Centre has taken away much of the wind from beneath that wave. With two phases of polling having already been completed in the state, the significance of the electoral heft of Muslim voters has once again come into play with both the SP-Congress alliance and the BSP renewing their efforts to wrest Muslim support. UP's Muslims have over the last few years and till this election been caught in a dilemma as they have not been able to consider any one party in the state their benefactor. Earlier, from the heydays of Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party used to be their go-to party since the late former CM had made the welfare of Muslims nothing short of a sacred political pledge for himself and his party. But as Akhilesh Yadav inherited the party in 2017, he very quietly shelved the pro-Muslim policy and started pursuing a brand of ambivalent-- often so-called soft -- Hindutva. In the recent past, Akhilesh vociferously backed the construction of a statue of Parashuram, the deity revered by Brahmins, proposed the construction of a huge Krishna temple in Vrindavan, inaugurated a Lord Krishna statue in Saifai, and generally avoided having Muslim leaders in his core team of Samajwadi Party after the jailing and subsequent sidelining of Azam Khan. All this changed ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In order to counter the charge of ignoring Muslims, Akhilesh skipped the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, visited the family residence of late Mukhtar Ansari in Ghazipur to pay condolences (albeit belatedly) and risked disaffection in the party by ignoring upper caste-Hindus for key bye-elections. The importance of being Akhilesh Yadav in this Lok Sabha election Mayawati, meanwhile, had appeared to be softer towards the BJP in the beginning, but her Bahujan Samaj Party has still stuck to fielding Muslims in key elections in the past few years, and the trend is highly visible in this year's list as well. The party's candidates for 54 seats so far includes 14 Muslims. Then there is the AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, who had declared his intention to fight from all seats in collaboration with Apna Dal (K) and some smaller parties with much fanfare, but the initiative seems to have lost steam. The Muslim vote in UP According to several estimates, Muslims account for 19% to 23% of the state's population. Based on figures from various organisations and development programmes, the districts with high Muslim population (above 25%) are: Rampur 50.57%, Moradabad 47.12%, Bijnor 43.04%, Saharanpur 41.95%, Muzaffarnagar 41.30%, Amroha 40.78%, Balrampur 37.51%, Bareilly 34.54%, Meerut 34.43%, Bahraich 33.53%, Shrawasti 30.79%, Baghpat 27.98%, Ghaziabad 25.35%, and Siddharthnagar 29.23%. Polling was completed in the first phase on April 19 in eight constituencies -- Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit. The eight constituencies where voting took place on April 26 were Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahar, Aligarh, Gautam Buddha Nagar, and Mathura. Of these 16 constituencies, at least 11 constituencies have a Muslim population above 20%. There are indications that in these two phases, Muslim voters may have resorted to voting to bring about a change, and the candidate's faith may not be a factor. This has been often referred to as actical voting where the sole aim is to ensure the defeat of a candidate whose party is considered to be apathetic to Muslims interests. Advantage INDIA bloc? In this case, voting to ensure the BJP's candidates defeat could have led Muslim voters to support either the SP-Congress INDIA bloc, or the BSP. It appears that the community could have preferred the former in most places, while the BSP could be preferred only in places where the INDIA combine is thought to be weaker. This is endorsed by Professor Hilal Ahmad, a veteran political analyst and social scholar. He says that Muslim voters appear to be in favour of the INDIA bloc, regardless of the result. In many districts, there have been reports of voters, including women, having voted in favour of the SP-Congress combine, he said, but added emphatically that the Muslim voter is totally silent with no proclamations from community leaders whatsoever. This, however, does not mean that the results will be follow the same pattern in all the Muslim-dominated seats. For the record, the 2014 Lok Sabha election saw the BJP winning at least eight such seats, including Amroha, Bijnor, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina, Rampur, Saharanpur and Sambhal. But in 2019, the SP-BSP fighting in alliance, won 15 seats including in Muslim-dominated Amroha, Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur and Sambhal. Another fact to be remembered is that despite general perception that Muslims were voting against the BJP, the party succeeded in getting a percentage of the Muslim votes in the 2022 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. This came out in a post-election survey by CSDS-Lokniti which suggested that least eight per cent of the Muslim votes went to the BJP. Also, the BJP has gone into the 2024 election in alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal which has been favoured by Muslim voters in its stronghold areas. Even during the campaign for the first phase, BJP leaders accompanied RLD leaders in Muslim-dominated areas. UP battle shifts from Jat land to Yadav stronghold All this could mean on the one hand that Muslims are disillusioned that no party has shown faith in them, but rather than abstaining, they will vote for the candidate considered to be the BJP's strongest rival. On the other hand, they could also accept the BJP candidate for the simple fact that the state has a BJP government headed by Yogi Adityanath and no purpose may be served in getting identified as a non-BJP voter till 2027 (when the next Assembly election is scheduled). According to Anshuman Shukla, a veteran political analyst and columnist, although Muslims have increasingly voted in a unified way, political and social mobilization has highlighted divisions along sub-identities like caste and sect among them. This explains the BJP's outreach -- and success -- with Pasmanda Muslims, a term that includes backwards, Dalits and tribal Muslims. According to many researchers, the held belief of Muslims voting en bloc may not be completely true, an idea also suggested in a study Mapping Muslim Voter Behaviour in India by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Even some Muslim scholars agree that Muslims are increasingly getting divided along caste and sectarian lines, an example of which is the lukewarm response to Asaduddin Owaisi after he announced his decision to contest in UP with the Apna Dal (K). Anshuman Shukla says that even though figures show that Muslims could play a crucial role in deciding the result in more than 25 seats in UP, the results will show a different picture. Kashi: A date with the present
Shravan Kumar took the burden of his blind parents on his shoulders and took them on a trip. However, now if parents have to be taken on a pilgrimage, the burden may not fall on their shoulders but on their pockets. There are many pilgrimage sites in the country, which extend from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. It is easy to go on a trip to these pilgrimage sites but due to the possibility of high expenses, the plan keeps getting postponed. IRCTC comes up with many tour packages from time to time, which let you tour the country and the world on a budget. IRCTC also takes you on temple tours. During this summer holidays, you can take your parents to visit the seven Jyotirlingas. IRCTC is coming up with the best tour packages to visit the seven Jyotirlingas. Let us know the complete information about the tour package to visit Jyotirlingas. Where will the journey start Jyotirlinga darshan by IRCTC will start from Yoganagari Rishikesh railway station. Bharat Gaurav will be taken to visit 7 Jyotirlingas on a tourist train. Passengers can join the yatra from Rishikesh, Haridwar, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Orai, Veerangana Laxmibai, Lalitpur. Which Jyotirlingas will we get darshan of? During the yatra, Omkareshwar, Mahakaleshwar, Somnath, Bhent Dwarka, Dwarkadhish Temple, Nageshwar, Trimbakeshwar, Ghrishneshwar and Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga will be visited. Facility This tour package includes 2 AC, 3 AC, and Sleeper class travel, breakfast and vegetarian lunch and dinner, and AC/non-AC buses to local places. When does the journey start? The tour package will commence from 22nd May 2024 to 2nd June 2024. The tour package will be of 11 nights and 12 days, in which you will be taken from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand to Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra to visit the Jyotirlingas. Pilgrimage expenses The ticket price for sleeper class during the journey will cost Rs 22150 per person and a child (5 to 11 years) staying with one/two or three persons will cost Rs 20800. For 3 AC passengers, you may have to spend Rs 36700 per person and for 2 AC passengers, you may have to spend Rs 48600 per person. If you want, you can pay the ticket expense of the tour package in EMI. EMI facility of Rs 1074 per month is also available. (PC: ISTOCK)
Phase III of Lok Sabha polls in UP puts Samajwadi Party to test in 'Yadav land'
LUCKNOW: As Uttar Pradesh gears up for third phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on May 7, all eyes are on the Braj and Rohilkhand regions, commonly dubbed the 'Yadav land.' Here, 10 key seats featuring a fascinating Yadav-Muslim dynamic will undergo scrutiny, posing a significant test to the Samajwadi Party's reputation and influence. The general elections in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted across all seven phases, with the first and second phases being held for 16 seats in the 'Jat belt' of Western UP on April 19 and April 26, respectively. In the 2019 elections, out of the 10 seats contested in phase III, the ruling BJP secured victory in eight, while the main opposition Samajwadi Party (SP), despite forming a formidable alliance with arch-rival Bhaujan Samaj Party (BSP), managed to win only two seats. This time, the SP has forged an alliance with the Congress under the Opposition's INDIA bloc. Conversely, the BSP has opted for a solo approach, setting the stage for a three-way showdown against the BJP-led NDA, echoing the political dynamics of the 2019 elections. The upcoming Phase III of voting will be pivotal for the SP, with 10 crucial seats up for contention. These include Sambhal, Hathras, Etah, Aonla, Bareilly, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Mainpuri, Badaun, and Firozabad. Significantly, three members of the Yadav family are participating in this phase of the elections. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's wife, Dimple, is contesting from Mainpuri, while his two cousins, Aditya Yadav from Badaun and Akshay Yadav from Firozabad, are also in the fray. Although the seats going to the polls in phase III fall under the Yadav belt, the ruling saffron brigade has been performing exceptionally well here since 2014. The BJP had won seven of 10 seats, restricting the SP to just three: Mainpuri (Mulayam Singh Yadav), Badaun (Dharmendra Yadav) and Firozabad (Akshay Yadav) in the 2014 general elections. In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured an additional seat, bringing their total to eight out of the 10 seats in this phase. Meanwhile, the SP retained Mainpuri and emerged victorious in Sambhal. The seats going to the polls in the third phase have the Muslim-OBC combination as the dominant force influencing the outcome across various constituencies. In constituencies such as Etah, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Badaun, and Sambhal, Yadav voters form a significant and influential bloc. Conversely, Muslim voters play a decisive role in Sambhal, Aonla, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, and Firozabad, comprising 6 percent to 13 percent of the population, except in Bareilly, where the Muslim population exceeds 33 percent. Likewise, in Etah, a stronghold of former UP CM Kalyan Singh, non-Yadav communities, particularly the Lodhs, emerge as a significant and decisive force. In other constituencies, the Kachhi, Shakya and Murao communities hold sway, shaping the electoral landscape. Lok Sabha polls 2024: How to crack UPs reserved seat puzzle Uttar Pradesh: RLD onboard, BJP looks for dominance SEAT-WISE DYNAMICS Sambhal Sambhal, considered to be the Yadav pocket borough as it has sent SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav to Lok Sabha twice in 1998 and 1999 and SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav in 2004, the BJP wrested the seat in 2014. While the BSP won the seat twice, in 1996 and 2009, the Congress last won it in 1984. In 2024, the SP had reposed faith in its sitting veteran MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq who had won the seat in 2019. However, even before the commencement of the poll process, Barq, 92, passed away after a prolonged illness. Consequently, SP fielded his grandson Zia-ur-Rahman Barq, the sitting SP MLA from Kundarki in Moradabad. The BJP has reposed faith in an OBC candidate Parmeshwar Lal Saini, who contested against Barq in 2019, to reclaim the seat, while the BSP has made the contest triangular by fielding a Muslim candidate Shaulat Ali. Hathras (Sc) Hathras, a reserved seat considered a BJP bastion since 1991, has been an impregnable fort for the SP and BSP, who have never registered a victory here. In 2009, the RLD won this seat as a pre-poll ally of the BJP, while the Congress last won here in 1971. In 2019, despite the horrific gangrape and murder case that had created widespread uproar, the BJP's Rajvir Singh Diler defeated the SP's Ramji Lal Suman. Diler died of heart attack last week. In 2024, the BJP replaced the sitting MP with Anoop Valmiki, the party's sitting MLA, while the SP and BSP have given the ticket to Jasveer Valmiki and Hembabu Dhangar, respectively. Agra (Sc) Agra, known as the Dalit capital of the state, has nearly 21 percent of its electorate comprised of Dalits. The BJP has won this reserved seat five times since 1991 and thrice in a row since 2009. It has retained sitting MP Professor SP Singh Baghel for 2024, who had won the seat for the first time in 2019. The Samajwadi Party has fielded Suresh Chandra Kardan, while the BSP has fielded Pooja Amrohi. Fatehpur Sikri The BJP won this seat twice, in 2014 and 2019. Before that, in 2009, the seat was with the BSP. In 2019, the BJP's Raj Kumar Chahar won this seat, defeating the Congress's Raj Babbar. The BJP has retained Raj Kumar Chahar and the Congress has fielded Ramnath Sikarwar as the INDIA bloc candidate, while the BSP has fielded Brahmin candidate Ram Niwas Sharma, making the contest interesting. Mainpuri The Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat, a stronghold of the Samajwadi Party, has remained under the control of Mulayam Singh Yadav's family since 1996. The SP patriarch himself represented it five times in the Lok Sabha, while the Congress last won here in 1984. In 2019, Mulayam Singh Yadav won by defeating the BJP's Prem Singh Shakya. Following his demise in 2022, Dimple Yadav, the wife of Akhliesh Yadav, won the seat in a by-poll. In 2024, the BJP's Jaiveer Singh is challenging Dimple Yadav, while Gulshan Dev Shakya is the BSP candidate. Budaun After a few flip-flops , the Samajwadi Party finally fielded Aditya Yadav, the son of party leader Shivpal Yadav. It is Adtiyas electoral debut. Initially, the SP had named Dharmendra Yadav for the seat but replaced him with Shivpal, who wanted the ticket for his son and the party finally succumbed to his demand. Budaun seat has been with SP continuously from 1996 to 2014. It was wrested by the BJP in 2019. This time, BJP has replaced the sitting MP Sanghmitra Maurya with Durvijay Shakya. Firozabad Known as the city of glass, Firozabad is another citadel of the Samajwadi Party. However, it lost to the BJP in 2019. This seat elected SP chief Akhilesh Yadav in 2009 and his cousin Akshay Yadav in 2014. The Congress's Raj Babbar defeated Akhilesh's wife, Dimple Yadav, in the 2009 by-poll. In 2024, the BJP has announced Vishwadeep Singh as its candidate, while the SP has repeated Akshay Yadav, son of SP veteran Ram Gopal Yadav. Etah The BJP has been winning here since 1989, while the SP won it twice, in between, in the 1999 and 2004 elections. In 2009, former UP chief minister Kalyan Singh won as an independent, supported by the SP, while the BJP's Rajveer Singh, the son of Kalyan, won this seat in 2014 and 2019. The party has retained Rajveer as its candidate again in 2024, while Davesh Shakya is the candidate for SP. Bareilly In Bareilly, the BJP has replaced its eight-time MP and former Union Minister Santosh Gangwar, who continuously won the seat from 1989 till 2019, barring 2009 when then Congress leader Praveen Aron, now with the Samajwadi Party, defeated him by a thin margin. This time, the BJP has replaced him with Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar, who will take on Aron. The BSP got a jolt when the nomination of its candidate, Chhote Lal Gangwar, was rejected in Bareilly. Anola The BJP has won this seat six times since 1989 and three times since 2009. The SP has won the seat twice, while the Congress last won it in 1984. Dharmendra Kashyap of the BJP, Neeraj Maurya of SP and BSP's Abid Ali are the main contestants. Phase III: The key numbers Total Seats: 10 Date of Poll: May 7 Total Districts covered: 12 Total voters: 1.89 crore Male voters: 1.01 crore Female voters: 87.48 lakh Third gender voters: 752 Total polling centres: 12,339 Total Polling booths: 20,415 Mixed feelings for Gandhis in UPs rice bowl Meerut: Battle of perception with Ram chant in land of revolution
BJP with its 400 paar slogan misunderstood public mood: Akhilesh
Sambhal/Moradabad: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday, April 28, claimed the BJP will not win any seat in the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls and that the ruling party misunderstood the direction of the wind when it made its slogan of 400 paar. Addressing a rally in Sambhal, Yadav also said 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 .
UP: Samajwadi Party candidate from Ballia booked for spreading hatred
Ballia/Moradabad: Police have booked Sanatan Pandey, the Samajwadi Partys (SP) candidate from the Ballia Lok Sabha constituency, for allegedly spreading enmity and threatening the district election officer, officials said on Sunday, April 28. District officials said an FIR was lodged against Pandey over his statement to reporters on Saturday. Reacting to the FIR, Samajwadi Party 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 .
SP candidate from UP's Ballia booked for spreading hatred
SP candidate from UP's Ballia booked for spreading hatred Police have booked Sanatan Pandey, the Samajwadi Party's candidate from the Ballia Lok Sabha constituency, for allegedly spreading enmity and threatening the district election officer, officials said on Sunday. District officials said an FIR was lodged against Pandey over his statement to reporters on Saturday. Reacting to the FIR, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav asked if the Election Commission will take action against those who make comments on the Constitution, ''Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb'' and brotherhood from ''big stages''. During the interaction with reporters, Pandey can be heard saying that he had been winning the election last time but the administration cost him his victory. ''I accepted my defeat last time because I didn't want to challenge the Election Commission,'' he told the reporters. ''During the last elections, I was attacked outside the counting centre and my vehicle was damaged by people on the side of the government,'' he alleged. Pandey also said that he would not allow anything similar to happen this time. ''I have taken an oath this time. If the people of Ballia want to defeat me, I will accept it. But if the people of Ballia want to make me the victor, then the local administration or the BJP will not be able to stop me from getting my winning certificate,'' he further said. ''If they do so, either my body or the collector's body will come out...,'' Pandey said. A clip of the statement has become widely circulated on social media. Superintendent of Police Dev Ranjan Verma said an FIR has been lodged against Pandey under sections 171 F (exercising undue influence in elections), 189 (threatening a public servant), 186 (obstructing a public servant in public work), 505 (2) (spreading hatred and animosity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Representation of the People Act on the basis of a complaint filed by Sub Inspector Makhan Singh in Ballia city. He said Pandey, while commenting on the tenure and works of the current dispensation on Saturday, was accused of spreading enmity, hatred and animosity among different sections of society and threatening the district election officer. Samajwadi Party chief Yadav, when asked about the FIR, said registering a case against Pandey is natural based on the remarks he made. Pandey could have expressed his feelings in some other way, he said in Moradabad. ''Cases should also be registered against those who, from big stages, are making comments on the country's Constitution, the 'Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb' and brotherhood. Will the Election Commission take action against them?'' Yadav asked. ''We witnessed in the last polls that in Saharanpur, Bijnor and (neighbouring) Rampur, the administration snatched votes by deploying the police. If he (Pandey) said this, then he must have some suspicion because he had lost by a very ordinary margin last time (2019 Lok Sabha elections),'' he added. Pandey contested the Lok Sabha elections on a Samajwadi Party ticket in 2019, losing to the BJP's Virendra Singh Mast by 16,000 votes. This time, he is pitted against former Ballia MP Neeraj Shekhar of the BJP. Ballia will go to the polls in the last phase on June 1.
BJP's '400 Seats' Promise Backfired, Party Set to Lose in Phase 3 Elections: Akhilesh Yadav
BJP's '400 Seats' Promise Backfired, Party Set to Lose in Phase 3 Elections: Akhilesh Yadav Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday claimed the BJP will not win any seat in the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls and that the ruling party misunderstood the direction of the wind when it made its slogan of 400 paar. Addressing a rally in Sambhal, Yadav also said the Samajwadi Party had an advantage in the third phase, saying that elections on May 7 will be held between Sambhal and his home in Etawah and Mainpuri. ''BJP people did not know the direction of the wind, so they kept saying 400 paar (winning over 400 seats) and when they realised the public sentiment after the two phases of the election, BJP forgot its slogan, the former UP chief minister said. ''The wind that came from the west (western UP) in the first phase will change the BJP government. The similar trend was seen in the second phase also. People are not accepting the BJP, the SP chief said. It is now your responsibility in the third phase, he added to those gathered for the rally taken out in support of party candidate Zia ur Rahman Barq. ''These elections are being held from this part till our home. Netaji (SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav) has also been an MP from this area (Sambhal). Voting is going to take place from here to Mainpuri. I can say that the BJP is not going to open its account in any Lok Sabha seat here, Yadav said. Mulayam Singh, an ex-CM and the SP chief's father, was elected an MP from Sambhal Lok Sabha constituency twice in 1998 and 1999. ''Next to you, Samajwadi Party is winning in Rampur and Moradabad and if all the Lok Sabha seats nearby are winning, then will the people of Sambhal be left behind?'' ''When the seats where BJP lost with the highest number of votes are counted, the name of Sambhal Lok Sabha should be included in that count also, he further urged the voters. Yadav also said the election in Sambhal are an opportunity to pay tribute to party MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq, who was declared as the SP candidate but died earlier this year. We gave the ticket to the very popular Shafiqur Rahman Barq Saheb but he is no longer with us. This is an opportunity to pay tribute to him He always stood for the rights of his people, he said. The SP chief also said that the Lok Sabha polls are a fight between those that want to abolish the Constitution and the INDIA bloc and the socialists who want to protect the Constitution. ''Bharatiya Janata Party is conspiring to abolish the Constitution and take away our and your right to vote. So this is an election to save the Constitution and our rights, he said. Those who are out to change the Constitution will be changed by the public, the SP leader said. Asserting that the BJP insulted the farmers, Yadav said, ''The INDIA alliance government will waive off the loans of farmers. We will provide facilities to farmers.We will guarantee MSP for crops. He added that the BJP betrayed the youth just like the farmers. It was promised to provide two crore jobs every year to the youth. Ever since BJP came to government, papers of every recruitment exam are being leaked, the SP leader said. Yadav said that the BJP government has ''abolished permanent recruitment in the Army'' and ''introduced the Agniveer scheme and made it a four-year job''. Yadav said he was worried that under the current government, even policemen may be asked to serve for only three years like the Agniveer. In Uttar Pradesh, voting took place on eight seats in the first phase on April 19 and eight seats in the second phase on April 26, and most of these seats were in Western Uttar Pradesh. In the third phase, voting will be held on 10 seats in Sambhal, Hathras, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Badaun, Amla and Bareilly on May 7. Voting is scheduled to be held in all seven phases on 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh.
Congress intends to allow unrestricted cow slaughter: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi
Congress intends to allow unrestricted cow slaughter: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Training his guns on the INDIA bloc and its key constituent Congress on Friday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that these parties aim to grant minorities the freedom to consume 'food of their choice,' that is, they are talking about 'giving freedom to cow slaughter.' Addressing a huge election rally in Bilari, Moradabad, in favour of BJP candidate Parmeshwar Lal Saini, Yogi Adityanath said, 'Yeh besharm log humari gaay ko khaane ki chhut denge, jabki humara shashtra gaay ko vishwamata kehta hai' (These shameless people will allow our cows to be eaten, whereas our scriptures hail the cow as the mother of the world). They will hand over the cow to the butchers. Will India ever accept this? The Chief Minister also alleged that Congress wants to confiscate the properties of countrymen and women and redistribute them among Rohingyas and Bangladeshi infiltrators. The Chief Minister asserted that Congress talks about getting the property of the countrymen X-rayed. This implies that if someone owns a four-room house, they will grab two of them. Furthermore, the Congress suggests seizing women's jewellery as well. India will vehemently oppose such measures, he said. He further remarked that similar initiatives were undertaken during the UPA government's tenure from 2004 to 2014, aimed at undermining the reservations for SC, ST, and OBC communities. Referring to the Sachar Committee and Justice Ranganath Mishra Committee, he said that Congress wants to implement this and give 6 per cent of the backward caste reservation to Muslims. The Chief Minister accused the Congress of once again making schemes to divide the nation. Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, he said, It has been heard that both the brother and sister wish to visit Ayodhya. When they were in power, they denied the existence of Ram, and now they claim Ram belongs to everyone. This reveals their dual character. We shouldn't place our trust in them. They will deceive whenever they find an opportunity. We don't desire a government tainted with deceit and corruption, but one that will lead India to greater prosperity, he added. The Chief Minister urged voters not to support those who hesitate to chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Vande Mataram,' as doing so would amount to honouring those who conspire against India. He further emphasized the necessity of electing a government committed to making India self-reliant and developed for the bright future of the upcoming generation. He noted that since the formation of the BJP government in UP, rioters have realized that their actions will be met with consequences. BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Sambhal Parmeshwar Lal Saini, Anamika Yadav, Lok Sabha in-charge Rakesh Singh, coordinator Pankaj Gupta, Bhuvnesh Raghav, and BJP and RLD officials were present on the occasion. (ANI)
Lohia Global Ventures into Real Estate Sector; Plans Rs 1,000 Crore Investment for Housing Projects
Lohia Global Ventures into Real Estate Sector; Plans Rs 1,000 Crore Investment for Housing Projects Lohia Global, which is mainly into handicrafts exports and automobile businesses, on Thursday said it has entered into the real estate business and will invest Rs 1,000 crore over the next five years to develop projects across Delhi-NCR and Uttar Pradesh. Delhi-based Lohia Global is a privately held company with an annual revenue of around Rs 1,200 crore from four businesses - handicraft exports, electric vehicles, tiles and solar energy. It has formed a separate entity Lohia Developers Pvt Ltd for real estate business. The company has a land bank of around 200 acres across various cities in North India. ''We are entering into the real estate business as we feel it is the right time to monetise our land bank. Market condition is supportive,'' Lohia Developers Director Piyush Lohia told reporters here. ''We will be investing Rs 1,000 crore over the next five years to develop housing projects in Delhi, Moradabad and Lucknow. This will be funded through a mix of debt and equity,'' he said. The company plans to develop 3-4 housing projects in Moradabad and one each in Lucknow and Delhi over the next 4-5 years. In total, it is targeting to develop more than 1,500 apartments with a total area of 30-35 lakh square feet. ''We will be launching our first housing project at Moradabad in July this year. The price range will be around Rs 1-1.5 crore,'' Lohia said. He said the company is acquiring more land for future development. ''Real estate will be contributing significantly to our total group turnover,'' Lohia said. He noted that housing demand would sustain in the coming years as consumers prefer to invest in property both for end-use and investment purposes.
Another Tragedy For BJP After Moradabad, Party`s Hathras MP Rajveer Diler Dies Of Heart Attack
Rajveer Diler won the 2019 Lok Sabha election on the BJP ticket and became a Member of Parliament. However, he was not given the ticket to contest the Lok Sabha polls this time.
Uttar Pradesh: CM Yogi visits late Kunwar Sarvesh Singh's residence to condole his demise
Uttar Pradesh: CM Yogi visits late Kunwar Sarvesh Singh's residence to condole his demise Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the residence of late BJP candidate Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh in Moradabad on Tuesday to offer his condolences to the bereaved family members. Paying homage to Singh, Yogi Adityanath placed flowers on his portrait and consoled the family members. Kunwar Sarvesh Singh, the BJP's contender for the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat, breathed his last at AIIMS on Saturday at 71. The electoral contest for this constituency was drawn to a close on Friday, April 19, marking the culmination of the first phase of Lok Sabha elections. A seasoned politician, Singh had represented the Thakurdwara constituency in Moradabad as an MLA for four consecutive terms. Additionally, he clinched the MP seat for Moradabad under the BJP banner in 2014. Despite his setback in 2019, the BJP reaffirmed its trust in Singh's candidature by again nominating him for the Lok Sabha ticket. (ANI)
NGT Directs Prompt Demarcation of Ganga's Floodplain in Uttar Pradesh
NGT Directs Prompt Demarcation of Ganga's Floodplain in Uttar Pradesh The National Green Tribunal has directed the authorities concerned to expedite the demarcation of floodplain zones of the Ganga and the Ram Ganga in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district. The green panel was hearing a plea alleging a state-owned company in the energy sector is carrying out illegal construction in the rivers' floodplains in the Milak Kharakpur Baaje village of the district's Munda Pandey block. A tributary of the Ganga, the Ram Ganga originates in Uttarakhand and enters Uttar Pradesh in Bijnor district. In February, a report by the Moradabad district magistrate and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board said a pipeline was being constructed by GAIL. A bench of National Green Tribunal Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said in pursuance of the tribunal's earlier directions, the district magistrate filed another report, saying Rs 1.12 crore had been paid to the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) in Roorkee for demarcation of the floodplain. According to the NIH, the determination of geo-coordinates for demarcating the floodplain would be completed within 12 months, following which the demarcation process would begin, the bench -- also comprising Judicial Member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member A Senthil Vel -- said noting the report. In an order passed on April 12, the bench noted that according to the authorities concerned, it could be ascertained whether the construction work was within the floodplains only after the process of demarcation was completed. ''Hence, we dispose of the original application, directing the authorities to expedite the process of demarcation of floodplain zone in question and submit a quarterly report before the tribunal disclosing the progress till it is demarcated and to take action against the project proponent (GAIL), if required, after demarcation, and submit final action taken report thereafter,'' the tribunal said.
UP: SP supporter held for derogatory post on death of BJP's Moradabad candidate
UP: SP supporter held for derogatory post on death of BJP's Moradabad candidate Police here on Sunday arrested a Samajwadi Party supporter for making a derogatory remark on the death of Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar, BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Moradabad, officials said. SHO of Kotwali police station Sushil Saini said Faizan, a resident of Bijnor, had uploaded a post on social media with praised for the Moradabad SP candidate and a derogatory remark on the death of Kumar. The SHO said a case was registered against Faizan under Section 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act. The Samajwadi Party had fielded Ruchi Vira from Moradabad in the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP candidate from the seat, who was unwell for some time, died at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Saturday, according to a senior party leader. Kumar was 72. He was among the 12 candidates in the fray from the Moradabad parliamentary constituency that went to polls in the first phase on April 19.
Congress is history, new opposition of clean people will emerge says UP Dy CM Maurya
Congress is history, new opposition of clean people will emerge says UP Dy CM Maurya Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday slammed opposition and said that the challenge named Congress used to be there in history, not at present and in their place, a new opposition consisting of clean people will emerge. The challenge of the name Congress used to be there in history, but not at present. In their place will come a new opposition consisting of clean people. Akhilesh Yadav has scored the boundary of defeats. He lost in 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2022. Now he will also hit six of defeats when he loses in 2024 and 2027. Even after losing so many times, he is still fighting, I admire his courage. People are now busy eliminating the Samajwadi Party and Congress has no importance left in Uttar Pradesh, he said. Further, speaking on the INDIA bloc's 'Ulgulan Rally', Maurya said all the opposition parties do not have anything to show in comparison with the works of the BJP. INDIA alliance started from Karnataka and by the time it reached Mumbai it remained half. Now whatever rally they hold, the BJP government has done such a good job that the opposition is not able to get space. Once upon a time, everyone would have come together against Congress and today the entire opposition has come together against BJP but still cannot stop our victory. The big targets set for 2024-2029 are our strength. Youth power, women power, and farmers are our strength, UP Deputy CM said. Exuding confidence in winning the Lok Sabha elections, Keshav Prasad Maurya said, BJP and our allies will win eight seats in the first phase with a huge margin. Preparations for the second and third phases are going on in full swing and we are confident that BJP will win 80 seats in 2024. Eight seats in western Uttar Pradesh, including Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur, and Saharanpur, went to polls in the first phase of the general elections on Friday. The most populous state, which sends the most members to the Lower House of Parliament, at 80, will poll across all seven phases. In the 2019 elections, turning the arithmetic of the SP-BSP 'Mahagatbandhan' in Uttar Pradesh upside down, the BJP and its ally Apna Dal (S) won 64 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats. The partners in the alliance, Akhilesh Yadav's SP and Mayawati's BSP, could only muster 15 seats. (ANI)
BJP's Moradabad Lok Sabha Candidate Kunwar Sarvesh Singh Passes Away
Lucknow: BJP's candidate for the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh, Kunwar Sarvesh Singh, passed away on Saturday following a prolonged illness. Singh breathed his last at AIIMS in Delhi around 6.30 pm. Despite voting for the Moradabad seat taking place in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, the late BJP nominee couldn't participate in his election campaigns due to his health conditions. UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary informed the media, Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar has passed away. He had some problem in his throat and had an operation. Yesterday, he had gone to AIIMS for a check-up. Expressing his condolences, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took to social media, praying for strength for Singh's supporters and bereaved family. I am shocked by the demise of BJP candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency and former MP Kunwar Sarvesh Singh ji. This is an irreparable loss for the BJP family. My condolences are with the bereaved family. I pray to Lord Ram to give a place to the departed soul in his feet and provide strength to the bereaved family and their supporters to bear this loss, Adityanath wrote on Twitter. I pray to Shri Ram Chandra Ji to give a place to the departed soul in his feet and give strength to his supporters and bereaved family to bear this unbearable loss. My condolences are with the bereaved family, he added. Kunwar Sarvesh Singh, a businessman, was a prominent leader of the party in Uttar Pradesh. He belonged to the Thakur caste and had been elected MLA four times from the Thakurdwara Assembly seat before becoming an MP. Sarvesh Kumar's son, Kunwar Sushant Singh, is an MLA from the Badhapur assembly seat, which falls under the Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency. Sarvesh Kumar was also in the news during the loudspeaker controversy in the Kanth assembly constituency in 2014. A little over 60 per cent voter turnout was recorded in eight western Uttar Pradesh seats that went to polls in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, with Moradabad recording a turnout of 60.60 per cent. Enhanced Efficiency of Enforcement Directorate under NDA Government, says PM Modi Truck Drivers in Manipur Launch Steering Wheel-Down Strike West Bengal CID Busts Multi-State Cyber Fraud Gang, Mastermind Arrested in Gujarat
Security Forces Encounter Naxalites in Chhattisgarh, One Killed
Raipur: Chhattisgarh Police reported an encounter with Naxalites in the Keshkutul area of Bhairamgarh, Bijapur district, resulting in the death of one Naxalite. Police confirmed the recovery of weapons from the site. Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav stated that the encounter operations are ongoing, and further details are awaited. This incident follows a recent encounter earlier this week in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district, where 29 Naxals were killed, and three security personnel sustained injuries. Bastar Inspector General of Police (IG) P Sundarraj declared that 71 Naxals have been neutralized since January 2024, marking significant progress in the fight against Naxals. 71 Naxals have been gunned down to date since January 2024. This is one of the major breakthroughs in Chhattisgarh on the Naxal front. The fight against Naxals is at a decisive step. Our endeavor in the future will be to build on what we have accomplished against the Naxalites. Preparations have started to give a new identity to the area and its people, said IG Sundarraj. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai commended the District Reserve Guard and BSF personnel after the encounter in Kanker district, terming it a significant achievement. The operation resulting in the death of 29 Naxals is considered one of the most significant counter-Naxal operations in recent times. Father Allegedly Murders Children, Found Dead on Railway Tracks; Mother Seriously Injured BJP's Moradabad Lok Sabha Candidate Kunwar Sarvesh Singh Passes Away Enhanced Efficiency of Enforcement Directorate under NDA Government, says PM Modi
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Flags Off Mahavir Jayanti Yatra in Rajkot
Surat: Vijay Rupani, former Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP leader, flagged off the Mahavir Jayanti Yatra in Rajkot on Sunday and extended his best wishes to everyone. On the auspicious day of Mahavir Jayanti, with all excitement, Jain society across the country celebrates with the principles of Lord Mahavir. I extend my best wishes to everyone, Rupani told the media. Claiming victory for his party in Gujarat, Rupani stated, The environment is heating up as the election is going forward. BJP is ahead in campaigning across the nation, and in Gujarat, 26 out of 26 seats BJP will win, he told the media.Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat's 26 parliamentary constituencies are scheduled to be held on May 7, 2024, in a single phase during the third phase.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah Extend Wishes Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended greetings to the countrymen on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, stating that the messages of Lord Mahavir are an inspiration for the country in building a developed India.In a post on social media, PM Modi said, On the auspicious occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, my best wishes to all the families of the country. Lord Mahavir's messages related to peace, restraint, and goodwill are an inspiration for the country in building a developed India. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended wishes on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti and said that Lord Mahavir's principles of non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possession will guide generations.In a post on social media, Amit Shah said, Infinite wishes to everyone on Lord Mahavir Jayanti. Lord Mahavir Ji, the eternal symbol of sacrifice, penance, truth, and non-violence, paved the way for the welfare of the entire human race through his teachings. His Panchsheel principles of non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possession will guide generations. Significance of Mahavir Jayanti Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir, who was given the name of 'Vardhamana' in his childhood. Born in 615 BC in a royal family, Mahavira renounced his princely status at the age of 30 to start his spiritual journey in search of truth and enlightenment. He practiced austerities and meditated for 12 years in a forest to achieve 'Kevala Jnana.' He then propagated the Dharma known as Jainism. The festival of Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated with rituals such as praying at Jain temples, processions, singing hymns adoring Lord Mahavira, fasting to purify the body and soul, charity, cultural programs, and lectures by religious scholars and leaders. Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated to highlight the significance of Jainism in the world, especially in India. The core teachings of Mahavira, including non-violence, non-stealing, chastity, and non-attachment, hold great importance in the world today. Delhi Police Special Cell Arrests Alleged Kingpin of Interstate Firearms Racket BJP's Moradabad Lok Sabha Candidate Kunwar Sarvesh Singh Passes Away Security Forces Encounter Naxalites in Chhattisgarh, One Killed
Cong against development, stalled canal project, says Shah
JAIPUR/MATHURA: At a rally in Rajasthans Kota, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday sharply criticized the Congress, branding it as anti-development. Shah was in the town to garner support for Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Had the electorate voted for Congress in 2019, Kota would have been a stronghold for the Popular Front of India (PFI), a banned Islamic outfit. However, due to our support for Prime Minister Modi, the PFI influence has been eradicated, said Shah. He accused the former Ashok Gehlot-led government of hindering the states development. The Gehlot government halted the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) for five years. In contrast, the Bhajan Lal administration advanced the ERCP work within just three months. PM Modi is committed to ensuring water in every village through the ERCP, said the minister. He expressed confidence in the BJP sweeping all seats. All 12 seats contested in the state will be won by Narendra Modi, Shah said. Om Birla has won from Kota twice with a margin of over two lakh votes. He faces Congress Pahlad Gunjal, who recently switched from BJP to Congress. Every vote cast for Om Birla in Kota-Bundi directly supports Modi ji, he added. Earlier, Shah attended a Vijay Sankalp Mahasabha in Bhilwara to support BJPs Damodar Agarwal. Sonia Gandhi aims to make her son Rahul Gandhi the PM, while Modi strives to elevate the nation. Congress politicized Ram Lalla for vote banks, neglecting the true sentiment of the people, he said. Addressing another rally in Mathura in support for party candidate Hema Malini for a third term, Shah said the Congress-SP combined was wiped out in the first phase. The voting in Saharanpur, Bijnor, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit seats took place on Friday. Cong failed to protect national security: Yogi UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted a roadshow supporting BJPs CP Joshi from Chittorgarh Lok Sabha constituency. Yogi criticized Congress, saying, During their tenure, terrorists were pampered with biryani. They even questioned Lord Rams existence. Those disrespecting faith and failing to bolster national security shouldnt govern. He also expressed confidence in BJPs victory.
BJP Moradabad candidate, a 5-time MLA, dies day after polling
JP Nadda condoles death of BJP candidate from Moradabad LS seat Sarvesh Kumar Singh
JP Nadda condoles death of BJP candidate from Moradabad LS seat Sarvesh Kumar Singh BJP national president JP Nadda offered his heartfelt condolences to the party's Moradabad candidate, Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh, who passed away on Saturday. In a post on X, JP Nadda said, The news of the demise of senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, former MP, and our candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency Kunwar Sarvesh Singh ji is extremely sad. My condolences are with the bereaved family. As a public leader of Uttar Pradesh and Moradabad, your life full of public service and dedication to the society is unforgettable. I pray to God to give strength to the grieving family and give a place to the departed soul on his feet. Om peace! he added in the post. Earlier, speaking to ANI on Saturday, Ritesh Gupta, the sitting BJP MLA from Moradabad, said Kunwar Sarvesh passed away after a heart attack. He was rushed to AIIMS, Delhi, but couldn't be revived, the BJP MLA added. Condoling the demise of the party's Moradabad candidate, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took to his official X handle to post, I am shocked to learn of the demise of our Moradabad candidate and former MP, Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh-ji. This is an irreparable loss for the BJP Parivaar. In this hour of grief, my thoughts and prayers go out to his family members and loved ones. I pray that Prabhu Shri Ram grants eternal peace to the departed soul while giving his family the strength and forbearance to bear this loss. Om Shanti! Kunwar Sarvesh was pitted against Ruchi Veera of the INDIA bloc in the battle for Moradabad, voting for which was concluded on Friday. (ANI)
BJP candidate from Moradabad seat Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar dies
BJP candidate from Moradabad seat Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar dies BJP candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha seat Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar, who was unwell for some time, died at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Saturday, a senior party leader said. He was 72. Kumar is survived by his wife Sadhna Singh, a son and a daughter. ''Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar has passed away,'' UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary told PTI. ''He had some problem in his throat and had an operation. Yesterday, he had gone to AIIMS for a check-up,'' Chaudhary said. Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar was among the 12 candidates in the poll fray from Moradabad parliamentary constituency that went to polls in the first phase on April 19. He won the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat in the 2014 general elections but lost in 2019 to the Samajwadi Party's S T Hasan. He has also been a five-time BJP MLA from the Thakurdwara assembly segment in Moradabad from 1991 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2014. Condoling his death, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a post in Hindi on X, said, ''I am shocked by the demise of BJP candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency and former MP Kunwar Sarvesh Singh ji. This is an irreparable loss for the BJP family. My condolences are with the bereaved family.'' ''I pray to Lord Shri Ram to give a place to the departed soul in his feet and provide strength to the bereaved family and their supporters to bear this loss. Om Shanti,'' he said. Both deputy chief ministers --- Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak -- also expressed grief over the death of Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar. In a post in Hindi on X, Maurya said, ''The news of the sudden demise of former MP from Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency and hardworking and popular BJP leader Kunwar Sarvesh Singh ji is extremely sad. His demise is an irreparable loss for the BJP and the political world. I pray to God to give a place to the virtuous soul in his feet and give strength to the grieving followers to bear this sorrow. Om Shanti!'' Pathak expressed shock over the death of the BJP candidate from the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat. ''My condolences are with the bereaved family. May God give peace to the departed soul and strength to the family members. Om Shanti!'' he said. UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary and General Secretary (Organization) of UP BJP Dharampal Singh have expressed deep condolence on the demise of Kunwar Sarvesh Singh. In a statement issued from the UP BJP headquarters, Chaudhary said, ''The untimely demise of Kunwar Sarvesh Singh ji, a hard-working leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, a source of inspiration for BJP workers and former MP from Moradabad, is extremely sad and painful.''
Sarvesh Singh was contesting Lok Sabha elections from the Moradabad seat which went into polls in the first phase of elections held on April 19.
Condoling the demise of the party's Moradabad candidate, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took to his official X handle to post, I am shocked to learn of the demise of our Moradabad candidate and former MP, Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh-ji.
First day, first flop show by BJP: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav recently held a joint rally in UP's Amroha. Yadav expressed optimism about the first phase of polling, labeling the BJP's efforts on the first day as a flop. Gandhi highlighted Congress' promises, such as the Mahalakshmi scheme, which he believes will be revolutionary. The alliance has fielded sitting MP Danish Ali for the Amroha seat. BJP's candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha seat, Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar, passed away at the age of 72 after being unwell for some time.
BJP candidate from UP's Moradabad Kunwar Sarvesh Singh passes away a day after polling
LUCKNOW: In major turn of events, BJP candidate from Moradabad, Kunwar Sarvesh Singh passed away on Saturday. He had not being keeping well for sometime. He breathed his last in Delhi's AIIMS. He was 72. Moradabad had voted in phase -I on Friday and the BJP candidate had cast his vote. As per the initial reports, the demise of the BJP candidate was attributed to a cardiac arrest, however, the official confirmation was yet to land. However, BJP state president Bhupendra Chaudhury confirming Singh's demise, stated that he had a medical condition in his throat and had undergone surgery. He had gone to AIIMS for a follow-up on Friday. Pall of gloom descended in the ruling party camp with the news of Singh's demise. Significantly, Kunwar Sarvesh Singh had been the five-time MLA of the BJP from Thakurdwara assembly segment of Moradabad. He represented the seat in UP assembly in 1991,1993,1996, 2002 and 2012. He was elected MP from Moradabad in 2014 after the seeping saffron wave. However, he failed to retain the seat in 2019 and lost it to Samajwadi party candidate Dr ST Hasan. Condoling his death, UP Chief Minister in a post on X in Hindi said, I am shocked by the demise of BJP candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency and former MP Kunwar Sarvesh Singh ji. This is an irreparable loss for the BJP family. My condolences are with the bereaved family. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to give a place to the departed soul in his feet and provide strength to the bereaved family and their supporters to bear this loss. Om Shaanti. Yogi Adityanath ( ) (@myogiadityanath) April 20, 2024 Kunwar Saresh Singh's son, Kunwar Sushant Singh is the BJP MLA from Barhapur. As per Moradabad DM Manvendra Singh, the demise of the BJP candidate would not hamper the poll process. The counting of votes of Moradbad would be held as per the schedule on June 4. Only If the BJP candidate wins, bypoll would be held. BJP leader and party's candidate for the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh died on Saturday. Notably, voting on Moradabad seat took place in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday. Kunwar Sarvesh Singh, born on December 23, 1952, was a businessman and strong leader of the party in Uttar Pradesh. He belonged to Ratupura Village of Thakurdwara in Moradbad. His father Raja Rampal was a 4-time MLA of Congress from Thakurdwara and once an MP from Amroha.
Day after polls, BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Moradabad Kunwar Sarvesh Singh passes away at 72
BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Moradabad, Kunwar Sarvesh Singh, has passed away at the age of 72 due to a heart attack at Delhi's AIIMS. The voting for the Moradabad constituency took place on Friday during the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed shock at the news, offering condolences to the bereaved family.
Day after polls, BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Moradabad, Kunwar Sarvesh Singh passes away at 72
BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Moradabad, Kunwar Sarvesh Singh, has passed away at the age of 72 due to a heart attack at Delhi's AIIMS. The voting for the Moradabad constituency took place on Friday during the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed shock at the news, offering condolences to the bereaved family.
Day after polling, BJPs Moradabad candidate Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar dies
Voting in Moradabad constituency in Uttar Pradesh took place in the first phase
BJP's Moradabad Candidate Sarvesh Singh Dies A Day After UP Constituency Went To Polls
BJP's Moradabad candidate Sarvesh Singh, who was undergoing treatment in Delhi, died a day after his Uttar Pradesh constituency went to polls in phase one of general elections.
A day after polling for Moradabad LS seat, BJP candidate dies of heart attack, CM Yogi reacts
The News Mill
BJP's Moradabad Candidate Dies A Day After UP Constituency Went To Polls
BJP's Moradabad candidate Sarvesh Singh, who was undergoing treatment in Delhi, died a day after his Uttar Pradesh constituency went to polls in phase one of general elections.
BJP candidate from UP's Moradabad Kunwar Sarvesh Singh dies
BJP candidate from UPs Moradabad Kunwar Sarvesh Singh dies
Congress-SP combine wiped out in first phase: Amit Shah in Mathura
Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that the Congress-SP combine was defeated in the first phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh. Polling was held for eight seats, including Saharanpur, Bijnor, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina (reserved), Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit. Speaking at an election rally in support of BJP candidate Hema Malini in Vrindavan, Shah asserted that Congress and SP were wiped out in the first phase. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav claimed a change in the state's atmosphere, stating that people had rejected the BJP after the initial polling.
Rae Bareli: BJP may field Varun against Priyanka
New Delhi: With the possibility of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi contesting from the Gandhi bastion, Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, saffron corridors are abuzz with speculations that the BJP could field Varun Gandhi from this high-profile seat. The BJP had replaced Varun Gandhi with Jitin Prasada from the Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency. After his replacement, talks of parleys between Varun Gandhi and Congress emerged, with some claiming that Congress was considering fielding him from Rae Bareli. However, sources close to Varun Gandhi revealed that the top BJP leadership was now contemplating making it a Gandhi vs Gandhi battle in Rae Bareli. When asked, BJP officials remained tight-lipped on the issue. It may be recalled that recently, the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee and Rae Bareli Congress passed resolutions stating that the party should field Priyanka or any other member of the Gandhi family from Rae Bareli. Reports from UP indicated that some top Congress leaders, including Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, rooted for Varun Gandhi. We will be happy if Varun Gandhi joins Congress. He is a tall leader and a well-educated politician. His image exudes transparency, and he has relations with the Gandhi family. We want Varun Gandhi to join the Congress now, Chowdhury told the media. Meanwhile, as the BJP replaced Varun Gandhi, the party fielded his mother, Maneka Gandhi, from Sultanpur. While polling in Bareli is slated for May 20, Sultanpur will vote on May 25. Polling in the Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency was held today. It was learned that the party began sidelining Varun Gandhi following his alleged anti-party stand on various issues. In 2021, going against the party line, Varun Gandhi demanded the arrest of the perpetrators in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, where farmers agitating against the contentious farm laws were mowed down by a vehicle driven by BJP leader and Union minister Ajay Mishra's son. He also clashed with the Yogi government in UP following the suspension of the licence of Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Amethi. There had also been an influential section in the BJP targeting Gandhi, sources revealed. This particular section mounted pressure on the BJP high command to drop Gandhi and replace him with any other candidate. Jitin Prasada, who was seeking to contest from Kheri, was brought in by the party to contest from Pilibhit. Earlier, breaking her silence on her son being dropped by the party, Maneka Gandhi had said, He (Varun Gandhi) was a very good MP, even issue-wise and for his constituency. But I am sure whatever he does will be good for the country. As polling for the first phase kicked off this morning, a section of BJP leaders indicated that this particular phase could be tricky for the BJP in UP. It may be recalled that of the eight seats that went to polls on Friday, the BJP had won only three during the last general elections, namely Pilibhit, Kairana, and Muzaffarnagar. Samajwadi Party had won Moradabad and Rampur.
Lok Sabha elections: Data shows over 55 pc voting at all 8 seats in Uttar Pradesh
Lok Sabha elections: Data shows over 55 pc voting at all 8 seats in Uttar Pradesh A total of 57.90 per cent voter turnout was recorded in all eight parliamentary constituencies of western Uttar Pradesh, where voting was held on Friday in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election, according to the Election Commission of India. A total of 80 candidates--73 men and seven women--are contesting in the first phase in the state. According to the ECI, Saharanpur recorded 63.29 per cent of voter turnout while Rampur recorded 52.42 per cent, Muzaffarnagar recorded 54.91 per cent and Pilibhit recorded 60.23 per cent. Today, the first phase of elections was held peacefully in eight Lok Sabha constituencies. At most places, voting began at 7 am and concluded by 6 pm but at some places, voting is still going on. According to information received till 5 pm, the average voting percentage in Uttar Pradesh is 67.54 per cent, Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa said. He also said that the state poll body office also received complaints from various political parties and candidates of malfunctioning of EVMs through emails. Complaints of malfunctioning EVMs were received from various political parties and candidates through various mediums, mainly through emails. All the complaints were promptly sent to the districts. There was no incident of violence anywhere, there was a minor scuffle between two parties outside a booth, but prompt action was taken by the police there, he added. The voter turnout in Bijnor was recorded at 54.68 per cent, Kairana at 60.39 per cent, Moradabad at 58.25 per cent, Nagina at 59.17 per cent. Voting for phases two will be held on April 19 and April 26. Next, the state will once again poll in phases three and four on May 7 and May 13. (ANI)
Who Is Isha Arora? Saharanpur Polling Agent Goes Viral; Know All About Her
A total of 21 states are voting today in the first phase of the Lok Sabha Elections. Let us inform you that, of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, voting is being conducted on 8 of those seats in the first round - Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, and Rampur. Ahead of the voting, a polling official has gone viral for her looks and opinion for the elections.
List of Uttar Pradesh MPs representing Lok Sabha phase 1 seats
Uttar Pradesh, which sends the maximum number of MPs to the Lok Sabha, is witnessing polling on eight seats in the first phase of the general elections, which is being held on Friday. These constituencies include Pilibhit, Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, and Rampur. List of MPs of Uttar Pradesh Phase 1 Lok Sabha 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 .
102 LS Seats in 21 States Vote Today
NEW DELHI: In another few hours, the curtain will finally lift from the Lok Sabha battleground for 2024. One hundred and two Lok Sabha seats across 21 states and Union territories will go to the polls in the first phase Friday. During the last general election, the Opposition had won 45 of these 102 Lok Sabha seats, while the BJP-led NDA had won 41. With 39 seats in Tamil Nadu and one in Puducherry, the largest number of seats which will vote in the first phase is from South India. In 2019, the DMK-led alliance won 39 of the 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Armed with the potent arsenal of Lord Ram, Sanatan Dharma, the Citizenship Amendment Act and the unyielding promise of Modis guarantees, the BJP aims to unsettle its main rival, the I.N.D.I.A. bloc. With rising unemployment, inflation, communal tension, caste census and the farmers agitation emerging as the frontline battlegrounds, the I.N.D.I.A. bloc is all set to engage its adversaries head-on. There are a few wrinkles on the saffron forehead as the 2024 CSDS-Lokniti pre-poll survey indicated that unemployment and price rise remained the main concern of the electorate. As the BJP sought to emphasise issues like the inauguration of the Ram temple and went into a high decibel campaign on Sanatan Dharma, these issues failed to click with voters in comparison to livelihood concerns. Regardless, the survey indicated that the BJP and its allies have a comfortable 12 per cent lead over the I.N.D.I.A. bloc. Meanwhile, all eyes are on Tamil Nadu where the BJP is desperate to open its account. Besides the charisma and popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP is also banking heavily on its newfound Tamil star and state unit chief, former IPS officer K. Annamalai, his constituency Coimbatore will be going to the polls on Friday. His seven-month long En Mann, En Makkal (My land, my people) padayatra culminated in a rally attended by the Prime Minister. In Coimbatore, Annamalai is locked in a triangular fight with the DMK and AIADMK. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP led by Modi had been repeatedly hitting out at the DMK leaders for insulting Sanatan Dharma. Under Annamalai in Tamil Nadu, the BJP is contesting 23 seats on its own, a departure from its approach to contest as an ally. Speaking to this newspaper, a senior BJP leader sounded somewhat cynical. He argued: The BJP has no traditional vote bank in Tamil Nadu. We only gained when the party aligned with the Dravidian players. It was further argued that Tamil Nadu might not positively respond to the BJPs call for one language, one nation, one poll. Tamil Nadus electoral dynamics are crucial for the BJP's broader electoral objectives, whether it aims to retain its current seats or make significant gains towards achieving a landmark majority in the Lok Sabha. Of its 80 Lok Sabha seats, the first phase of polling will be held in eight seats in Uttar Pradesh. The state which has often been electorally viewed as the gateway to Delhi, will be involved in all seven phases of the general election. It may be recalled that of the eight seats voting on Friday, the BJP had managed to win only three in the last general election. These were Pilibhit, Kairana and Muzaffarnagar. The Samajwadi Party had won Moradabad and Rampur. The Bahujan Samaj Party won Saharanpur, Bijor and Nagina. Of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan, polling in the first phase will be held in 12 seats. Securing 24 of 25 seats, it was a clean sweep for the BJP in the desert state during the last general election. Even as the BJP is banking on religion and the CAA to woo the voters, the Opposition is stoking the fire of farmers protests, which it believes is simmering in the desert state. Of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, polling will be held in five seats on Friday. In the fray will be Union minister Nitin Gadkari' on his home turf Nagpur. Given the context of the intense political manipulation in the state, the situation may become tricky for the BJP. During the last general election, it had won 23 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats. Its ally, the Shiv Sena (before the split), secured 18 seats. Sources revealed that in the case of the Uddhav Thackery-led Shiv Sena, the fallout with the BJP and subsequent political maneuvering to oust it, could potentially elicit sympathy from certain sections of voters. Unemployment has also emerged as a major electoral issue in the state, a Congress leader claimed. Other states and union territories going to polls in the first phase include: Madhya Pradesh (6) Bihar (4), Assam (5),Uttarakhand (5), West Bengal (3), Chhattisgarh (1), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Manipur (2), Meghalaya (2), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Sikkim (1), Tripura (1), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1), Jammu and Kashmir (1), Lakshadweep (1) and Puducherry (1).
Elections 2024: 21 states, UTs set for polling in phase one; 102 LS seats in fray
The first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will see 102 constituencies across 21 states and union territories go to polls on Friday. The first phase of polling will take place across all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu, all five seats in Uttarakhand, both seats in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Meghalaya, and the sole seat in Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, respectively. Polling will also take place for 12 out of 25 seats in Rajasthan, eight out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, six out of 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh, five out of 48 seats in Maharashtra, five out of 14 seats in Assam, and four out of 40 seats in Bihar. Additionally, three out of 42 seats in West Bengal, one out of 11 seats in Chhattisgarh, and one out of two seats in Tripura will be contested. In the union territories, one out of five seats in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the sole seats in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry, will be up for grabs. Voting for the 543 Lok Sabha seats will take place across seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with the counting of votes slated for June 4. Separately, voting will also be held for 92 assembly seats in the state elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim on Friday. Of the 102 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP had won 39 in 2019, with the ruling alliance NDA bagging 12, five and three of them in Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, respectively. The BJP's existing allies hold seven of them. And in Tamil Nadu, the DMK-led alliance had swept 38 of the 39 seats in 2019 general elections. Amongst the prominent leaders trying their electoral luck in phase one are Union ministers Nitin Gadkari from Nagpur, Kiren Rijiju from Arunachal Pradesh (West), Arjun Ram Meghwal from Bikaner, Sarbanada Sonowal from Dibrugarh in Assam, Sanjeev Baliyan from Muzaffarnagar in western UP, Jitendra Singh from Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir and Bhupendra Yadav from Alwar in Rajasthan. Tamilisai Soundararajan, who recently resigned as governor of Telangana and Lt Governor of Puducherry to return to active politics, is contesting from Chennai South Lok Sabha constituency. Nakul Nath, son of Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, is seeking reelection from Chhindwara. Will the BJP's lotus bloom in Tamil Nadu? Tamil Nadu is gearing up for polls a mid fierce campaigning and an intense three-way political battle between the alliances led by state heavyweightsthe DMK and the AIADMKand the BJP, respectively. With elections for 39 Lok Sabha seats looming, approximately 6.23 crore voters are poised to cast their ballots across nearly 68,000 polling stations. The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has made unprecedented efforts to gain ground in the Dravidian stronghold. Modi's exhaustive campaign across Tamil Nadu, including rallies in Chennai, Coimbatore, Vellore, and Tirunelveli, underscores the BJP's determination to break its electoral jinx in the state. From raking up alleged corruption and 'parivarvad' politics of the DMK-Congress alliance to the Katchatheevu issue, Modi left no stone unturned in his nine visit to the state Coimbatore, the hub of western Tamil Nadu, is the most keenly watched constituency in the state and the BJP's K Annamalai is slogging to emerge victorious, battling against Dravidian giants the DMK and AIADMK. Meanwhile, the DMK, led by Chief Minister Stalin, has campaigned on platforms of social justice and welfare measures, portraying the elections as a battle against the BJP's divisive politics. Throughout the campaign, Stalin has repeatedly emphasised the importance of these elections, likening them to a second independence movement aimed at freeing the nation from the BJP's influence. In contrast, the AIADMK, under the leadership of Edappadi K Palaniswami, has staunchly defended its record in governance and taken a strong stance against the DMK's campaign. Palaniswami has vigorously addressed various issues, including law and order, and has accused the BJP of discrimination based on caste and religion. Despite facing challenges from both the DMK and BJP, the AIADMK remains confident in its ability to weather the storm, with Palaniswami asserting that the party will emerge victorious with the support of the electorate. UP: Eight seats up for grabs in India's largest state The first phase of the seven-phase parliamentary election in western Uttar Pradesh sees voters in eight Lok Sabha constituencies exercising their constitutional right. These constituencies, falling in the Jat and sugarcane belt, include Saharanpur, Bijnor, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit, spread across nine districts. The contest is three-cornered, primarily between the ruling BJP-led NDA, the Samajwadi Party (SP), and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The BJP has allied with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), while the SP has partnered with INDIA bloc ally Congress. The BSP, however, decided to go solo. Key issues for voters include employment, education, and development. A total of 80 candidates, including seven women, are in the fray. The eligible voter count stands at 1.43 crore, with a significant Muslim voter presence ranging from 35 to 50 percent. Notable candidates include Jitin Prasada from Pilibhit, who got the ticket over sitting BJP MP Varun Gandhi , Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan from Muzaffarnagar, and Azad Samaj Party chief Chandra Shekhar Azad from Nagina. In the previous 2019 polls, the BJP secured victories in Muzaffarnagar, Kairana, and Pilibhit, the BSP won in Saharanpur, Nagina and Bijnor, while the SP won in Moradabad and Rampur, the stronghold of its jailed leader Azam Khan. However, the party later lost Rampur to BJP in a bypoll. Cracking the Jat code: BJP's strategic courting of RLD and what it means in western Uttar Pradesh Maharashtra: Polls in 5 LS seats; Gadkari among 97 nominees in fray More than 95 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise on Friday in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra , covering five of the 48 constituencies, where 97 candidates, including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari of the BJP, are in fray. Polling will be held in the constituencies of Nagpur, Ramtek (SC), Bhandara-Gondia, Chandrapur and Naxal-hit Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST), all located in the easternmost parts of the state. There are 95,54,667 voters in the five Lok Sabha constituencies in the Vidarbha region where voting will take place on Friday. Of these, 48,28,142 are male, 47,26,178 are female and 347 are transgender voters, according to a statement from the state electoral office. In Nagpur, which houses the RSS headquarters, a direct fight is on cards between Gadkari, who is seeking a third term, and Congress candidate Vikas Thakre. First phase of LS polls in Maharashtra: It's Congress party's 'caste calculations' vs BJP's 'Modi charisma' In Chandrapur, BJP candidate and Maharashtra minister Sudhir Mungantiwar is facing Congress nominee Pratibha Dhanorkar, wife of late parliamentarian Suresh Dhanorkar, who was the lone MP from the grand old party to be elected from Maharashtra in 2019 from the seat. In Bhandara-Gondia, the BJP has fielded sitting MP Sunil Mendhe, who is pitted against Congress candidate Dr Prashant Patole. Two-time Lok Sabha MP of BJP, Ashok Nete, is contesting against Congress nominee Dr Namdev Kirsan in Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST), where some areas are affected Naxal insurgency. In the 2019 elections, Nete had defeated Congress candidate Dr Namdev Usendi. In Ramtek (SC), the fight is between Shyamkumar Barwe of the Congress and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena's candidate Raju Parwe. Maharashtra, which has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh, will vote in five phases between April 19 and May 20. Rajasthan: 12 seats in fray; will BJP's dominance continue? In the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan, 12 out of 25 seats will be contested. Polling will be held in Churu, Nagaurm, Ganganagar, Jhunjhunu, Bikaner, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur and Dausa. According to chief electoral officer Praveen Gupta, a total of 2.54 crore voters are set to vote in the first phase on Friday. Notably, a Union minister is among the 114 candidates in the fray. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is contesting from Bikaner against Congress candidate Govind Ram Meghwal. The Bharatiya Janata Party won all 25 seats in Rajasthan on its own in 2014, and in 2019, the NDA won 25 seats, the saffron party won 24 seats and the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) won one seat. Key constituencies include Nagaur, witnessing a contest between the RLP, now in alliance with Congress, and the BJP, and Churu, with former BJP MP Rahul Kaswan contesting as a Congress candidate. In Sikar, the CPI(M) is challenging the BJP's incumbent MP. The ruling BJP focused its campaign on PM Modi's popularity and its infrastructure work, while the Congress raised issues of central agency misuse and unemployment. Notable campaigners include PM Modi, Amit Shah, and Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. The second phase of the elections in Rajasthan will be held on April 26. In the second phase, polls will be held in 13 Lok Sabha constituencies: Tonk, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar. MP: Six LS seats in action, including Kamal Nath's bastion Six constituents will be in action during the first phase of the four phases for the Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh. The constituencies include Shahdol, Mandla, Jabalpur, Balaghat, Chhindwara, and Sidhi, covering 13 districts and 27 assembly segments. A total of 88 candidates are in the fray, with Jabalpur having the highest number at 19 and Shahdol the lowest at 10. The total number of registered voters across the six constituencies is 1,13,09,636, with arrangements made for shelter, water, and medical assistance at polling booths due to the hot weather. In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured 28 out of 29 Lok Sabha seats, while the Congress won only one seat in Chhindwara, held by Nakul Nath, the son of former Chief Minister Kamal Nath. The second, third and fourth phases of the elections will take place on April 26, May 7 and May 13. Kamal Nath fighting lone battle to help son win Chhindwara and protect home turf Over 75 lakh voters to decide four seats in Bihar In Bihar, the stage is set for the first phase more than 75 lakh voters will decide the fate of 38 candidates standing in four constituencies: Nawada, Aurangabad, Gaya and Jamui. Tight security arrangements are in place at Nawada and Aurangabad, besides reserved seats in Gaya and Jamui, where a majority of nearly 5,000 polling booths have been marked as sensitive, given these districts' long history of naxal violence. Nawada, with 20.06 lakh voters, sees a tough battle primarily between the BJP's Vivek Thakur and the RJD's Shravan Kushwaha, with Independent candidate Binod Yadav adding complexity. Gaya, with 18.18 lakh voters, witnesses 14 candidates, including former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, an NDA ally, and RJD's Kumar Sarvajeet. Jamui, with 19.07 lakh voters, features a showdown between Arun Bharti from Chirag Paswan's LJP (Ram Vilas) and RJD's Archana Ravidas. The party's president Chirag Paswan, whose sister is married to Bharti, has shifted base to Hajipur after having represented the seat for two consecutive terms. Aurangabad, with over 18 lakh voters, sees BJP's Sushil Kumar Singh facing RJD's Abhay Kushwaha. 76.01 lakh voters, including 36.38 lakh females and 255 belonging to the third gender, are expected to cast their votes. Uttarakhand: Can BJP 'three-peat' clean sweep? Uttarakhand's all five Lok Sabha seats go into polling in phase one, with the BJP aiming to retain the seats for the third time and the Congress looking to regain lost ground in the state. The five seats going to polls on Friday are Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar and the lone reserved seat of Almora. The BJP won all five seats in Uttarakhand in the 2014 and 2019 general elections. More than 83 lakh voters will decide the fate of 55 candidates in the fray. Sitting BJP MPs Ajay Bhatt, Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah and Ajay Tamta have been fielded by the party from Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar, Tehri Garhwal and Almora, respectively. The BJP has replaced its candidates in Haridwar and Pauri Garhwal. Former chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat is contesting in place of Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank from Haridwar and Anil Baluni in place of Tirath Singh Rawat from Pauri Garhwal. The Congress has fielded former PCC president Ganesh Godiyal from Pauri Garhwal, former chief minister Harish Rawat's son Virendra Rawat from Haridwar, Jot Singh Gunsola from Tehri Garhwal, Prakash Joshi from Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar and Pradeep Tamta from Almora. Candidates from the Bahujan Samaj Party, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal and relatively smaller outfits and independents are also in the fray, but straight contests are likely between traditional rivalsthe BJP and Congressin all the seats. Experts say that Haridwar's demography, which has substantial minority and Dalit votes, may also not be a cakewalk for the BJP's Trivendra Rawat, despite his advantage over his rival in terms of experience, as Congress veteran Harish Rawat, who had won the seat in 2009, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure his son's victory from the seat. If the Modi factor works again as it did in 2014 and 2019, overriding all other factors, the BJP will obviously reap the benefits but if unemployment, inflation, continued migration from the hills and performance of BJP MPs over the past 10 years outweigh the national issues, the Congress will gain, political analyst Jaisingh Rawat said. Bengal: Triangular tussle between TMC, BJP and Cong-Left In the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, all attention is on Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduars constituencies in north Bengal. A total of 56,26,108 voters are eligible to vote in 5,814 booths in this phase. Coochbehar, where Union Minister Nisith Pramanik faces TMC's Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, remains significant due to past violence and political rivalries. The deployment of central forces is higher in Coochbehar compared to the other two constituencies. Both BJP and TMC have intensified their campaigns, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee addressing rallies. Key issues include corruption allegations against ruling party leaders, denial of central funds, and the 2021 Sitalkuchi firing incident. The BJP won all three constituencies in the 2019 general elections and maintained its grip in Coochbehar and Alipurduars in the 2021 assembly polls. But, the TMC had the upper hand in Jalpaiguri in the 2021 assembly polls, winning five and the saffron party managed to win two. The Left Front and Congress are contesting together, having secured only single-digit vote shares in 2019. The BJP has renominated Jayanta Roy in Jalpaiguri and Pramanik in Cooch Behar, but replaced last time's winner John Barla with the party's Madarihat MLA Manoj Tigga in Alipurduars. The TMC has, however, changed candidates in all three seats, fielding Prakash Chik Baraik in Alipurduars, Nirmal Chandra Roy in Jalpaiguri and Sitai MLA Basunia in Coochbehar. Direct, triangular contests in Assam's five LS seats Assam gears up for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in five constituencies, with 35 candidates vying for victory, including Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal . The electorate of 86,47,869, comprising 43,64,859 women and 42,82,887 male voters, will cast their votes in 10,001 polling booths under tight security with 60 companies of security forces deployed. The BJP is contesting in all five seats, the Congress in four and supporting the Assam Jatiya Parishad contestant in one, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in two and the All India Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) in one seat each. A direct contest is on the cards between the BJP and Congress in Jorhat, Kaziranga and Lakhimpur, while in Dibrugarh and Sonitpur, there is likely to be a triangular fight among the ruling party, Congress, AJP and AAP. The prestigious Dibrugarh constituency has three candidates in fray: BJP's Sonowal, a Rajya Sabha MP, pitted against the United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA) candidate Lurinjyoti Gogoi of the AJP and AAP's Manoj Dhanowar. In Jorhat, four candidates are in contention, with Lok Sabha's Deputy Leader of the Opposition Gaurav Gogoi locked in a direct contest with sitting BJP MP Topon Gogoi. Gogoi had to shift his constituency to Jorhat from Kaliabor, which has been renamed Kaziranga following a delimitation exercise in the state last year. In Kaziranga, BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa is locked in a direct contest with former Congress MLA Roselina Tirkey, with both candidates belonging to the tea workers' community. Kaziranga has the highest number of 11 candidates in the fray. In Sonitpur, also renamed from the earlier Tezpur after delimitation, there are eight nominees, with a triangular contest likely between BJP MLA Ranjit Dutta, Congress candidate Prem Lal Ganju and AAP's Rishiraj Kaundinya. Lakhimpur has nine contestants, prominent among them being sitting BJP MP Pradan Baruah and Uday Shankar Hazarika of the Congress. Two LS seats in strife-torn Manipur go to polls Manipur gears up for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections amid tight security measures, particularly in the wake of recent ethnic violence. The Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat, which comprises 32 of the 60 assembly segments in the state, and 15 assembly segments of the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat will go to polls in the first phase on Friday. Six candidates, including state Education Minister Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh of the BJP and Angomcha Bimol Akoijam of the Congress, are in the fray for the Inner Manipur seat. Outer Manipur, which is reserved for Scheduled Tribes, will witness a four-cornered contest between Naga People's Front's K Timothy Zimik, Congress' Alfred Kanngam Arthur and independent candidates Kho John and Alyson Abonmai, with all the candidates being Nagas. A total of 9.91 lakh voters are eligible in Inner Manipur and over 10.22 lakh voters in Outer Manipur. Special arrangements have been made for people displaced due to ethnic strife, with special polling stations set up. The campaigning has been subdued due to the prevailing tensions, and security has been heightened with the deployment of central armed police forces, especially in vulnerable and critical polling stations. Polling personnel have been dispatched to their respective stations, with special provisions for internally displaced people. The election authorities have ensured gender diversity in the management of polling stations, with some stations being exclusively manned by women. Despite the challenges posed by the recent unrest, efforts are underway to conduct the elections in a free, fair, and peaceful manner. Tripura and Nagaland In Tripura, the first phase of Lok Sabha polls will see voting for the Tripura West Parliamentary constituency and a by-poll in the Ramnagar Assembly. The main contest in Tripura West is between the BJP's Biplab Kumar Deb and state Congress president Asish Kumar Saha. With 14.61 lakh eligible voters, including 7.33 lakh males and 7.28 lakh females, the constituency has 1682 polling booths. Central paramilitary forces will secure all booths, with webcasting from each. In the Ramnagar Assembly by-election, BJP's Agartala Mayor Dipak Majumer faces former CPI(M) MLA Ratan Das, with 54,669 electors deciding their fate. In Nagaland, over 13.25 lakh voters will decide the fate of three candidates. Congress nominee S Supongmeren Jamir, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) candidate Chumben Murry and Independent Hayithung Tungoe Lotha are contesting the elections. BJP President J P Nadda, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, and Deputy Chief Ministers T R Zeliang and Y Patton addressed several rallies in support of their candidate. Polling will run from 7 am to 4 pm, with 13,25,383 eligible voters, including 19,999 first-time voters and 6,707 people with disabilities. Female voters slightly outnumber male voters. In 2019, NDPP's Tokheho Yepthomi won against Congress's K L Chishi. J-K: Udhampur LC seat in action amid ceasefire The Udhampur seat in Jammu and Kashmir will go to polls on Friday in the first phase of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. In view of the ongoing ceasefire between India and Pakistan and the heavy deployment of paramilitary forces, the voting process is expected to be peaceful in 2,637 polling stations in the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency, a senior election official said. Union Minister Jitendra Singh is eyeing a third consecutive term in the constituency after winning the seat for BJP in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, facing a major challenge from Congress candidate Choudhary Lal Singh, who had also won the seat twice in 2004 and 2009. Democratic Progressive Azad Party's (DPAP) candidate G M Saroori, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Amit Kumar and six independents will also be contesting the elections from the Udhampur constituency. According to officials, there are 16,23,195 eligible voters. Among them, 845,283 are men, 777,899 are women and 13 are third-gender voters. There are a total of 84,468 potential first-time voters, aged 1819, of whom 45,825 are men, 38,641 are women and two are third genders, the officials said. Lone Puducherry segment all set for three-way fight The fate of the 26 candidates in fray for the Lok Sabha polls will be sealed on Friday when voters spread across four regions will pick the lone MP from this union territory, where the fight is largely confined between the ruling BJP and Congress. BJP leader and Home Minister A Namassivayam, fielded on behalf of the AINRC-BJP combine, will face off Congress MP and PCC president V Vaithilingam, while AIADMK's G Tamizhvendhan is also testing his luck as a debutant. The Union Territory has a total of 10,23,699 voters spread over Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions. Andaman's lone seat in action The lone seat in Andaman and Nicobar Islands will see 3.15 lakh voters get an opportunity to exercise their franchise. A total of 12 candidates, including two women and five independents, are in the fray for the polls. Of the 3.15 lakh voters, 1.64 lakh are men and 1.51 lakh are women, while there are four third-gender voters. The electorate also includes 39 voters from the Great Nicobarese tribe of the Strait Islands, 68 members of the Onge tribe at Hut Bay and 98 members of the Shompen tribe of Great Nicobar Island. Special polling stations have been established for them. This time, the saffron party has nominated Bishnu Pada Ray as its candidate, while the Congress has fielded its sitting MP, Kuldeep Rai Sharma. Ray was first elected to Lok Sabha in 1999, when he defeated Congress candidate Sharma by 2,990 votes. He was re-elected in 2009 and again in 2014. In the 2019 elections, however, Sharma secured a victory against BJP's Vishal Jolly (Ray was denied a ticket) by a narrow margin of 1,407 votes.
Lok Sabha election: Stage set for close contest in western Uttar Pradesh
All three main parties face challenges in this region owing to the sizable presence of Muslims, Scheduled Castes (SCs) and other backward classes (OBCs) across the eight Lok Sabha seats Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit which will go to the polls in the first phase on April 19.
Lok Sabha election: Stage set for close contest in western Uttar Pradesh
All three main parties face challenges in this region owing to the sizable presence of Muslims, Scheduled Castes (SCs) and other backward classes (OBCs) across the eight Lok Sabha seats Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit which will go to the polls in the first phase on April 19.
Lok Sabha elections: Keen contest on the cards as eight seats in western UP vote in Phase-I
LUCKNOW: The battle lines have been formally drawn in Uttar Pradesh for the high stakes Lok Sabha election with eight seats in the western region of the state set to vote in Phase-I on Friday. A total of 80 candidates are in the fray and 1.44 crore voters are set to decide their fate. Of the eight seats, the BJP had lost five Saharanpur, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad and Rampur in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when the SP, BSP and RLD were contesting in a grand alliance. The saffron outfit had to be satisfied with Kairana, Muzaffarnagar and Pilibhit. While Saharanpur, Bijnor and Nagina (SC) were won by the BSP, the SP had emerged victorious in Moradabad and Rampur. This time, while the BJP has accomplished a big strategic victory by winning over the Jayant Chaudhury-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which has a strong influence on the Jat vote, the Congress and SP have joined hands in the INDIA bloc and the Mayawati-led BSP is going it alone. As per the Congress-SP seat-sharing arrangement, the Congress will contest only one seat -- Saharanpur -- of the eight in the first phase, with the SP contesting the remaining seven. While the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is relying on the popularity of PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath in UP and beyond, improved law and order, beneficiaries of welfare schemes besides the consecration of Ram Lalla in his abode in Ayodhya, the SP has been harping on caste census while pitching for the Pichhda (OBC) Dalit (SC) Alpsankhyak (Muslim) narrative. Yogis new slogan: 80 banega aadhaar, NDA 400 paar... On the other hand, the Congress is looking for a revival in the state where it has been reduced to a non-entity. Across all eight seats set to vote on Friday, Muslims, Dalits and OBC (primarily Jats, Gurjar and Sainis) hold a sizable presence. However, some of the most watched-out contests would be in Pilibhit where the Gandhis Varun and mother Maneka are not in the scene for the first time since 1989 and the saffron party has pinned its hopes on Jitin Prasada against the SPs Bhagwat Saran Gangwar, a five-time MLA from Nawabganj assembly seat in Bareilly. The BSP, on the other hand, has fielded Anees Ahmad Khan, aka Phool Babu, a three-time MLA from Bisalpur. The BJP is finding it tough to sail through in Muzaffarnagar, the sugar bowl of UP, where its sitting MP and union minister Sanjiv Baliyan, is seeking a straight third term. With the RLD becoming part of the BJP-led NDA, all eyes will be on the challenge thrown by the SPs Harendra Malik, a Jat. The BSP has fielded Dara Singh Prajapati, an OBC, who could potentially consolidate both the OBC and Dalit vote. In Kairana, the BJPs sitting MP Pradeep Chaudhary, a Gurjar, is facing a stiff challenge from SPs Ikra Hasan, sister of SP MLA Nahid Hasan. The BSP has fielded Sripal Singh -- a Thakur -- in what is being perceived as a move to nudge the BJP in the west UP region. In 2019, Chaudhary had defeated Ikras mother Tabassum Begum. Polarisation seems to be the high point in Kairana. On what basis is BJP claiming 400 seats: Priyanka Gandhi smells a rat in NDA slogan In Rampur, another interesting contest is in the offing. Touted to be a pocket borough of senior SP leader and 10-time lawmaker Azam Khan, Rampur was wrested by the BJP in the 2022 by-polls necessitated after Azam vacated the seat following his election to the UP assembly. BJP candidate Ghanshyam Lodhi, the sitting MP, is now pitched against the SPs Mualana Mohibullah Nadvi and BSPs Zeeshan Khan who is reported to be invoking Azam and his legacy while campaigning. In Saharanpur, the contest is expected to be intense, with BJPs Raghav Lakhan Pal Sharma, Congresss Imran Masood and BSPs Majid Ali in the fray. This time, the BSP has replaced Fazlur Rehman, its sitting MP, with Majid Ali. Moradabad, the brass city, is also set for an interesting contest as the SP has replaced sitting MP ST Hasan with Ruchi Veera against the BJPs Kunwar Sarvesh Singh. The BSP has fielded Irfan Saifi, who could potentially eat into the Muslim vote bank of the SP. In Bijnor, the RLDs Chandan Chauhan, a Gurjar, is pitched against the SPs Deepak Saini. In 2019, the seat was won by the BSPs Malook Nagar who is now in the RLD. The BSP has fielded Chaudhary Vijendra Singh, a Jat. In Nagina reserved seat, the BJP has fielded its sitting MLA Om Kumar, who will be up against the SPs Manoj Kumar, a former district judge. The seat was won by the BSPs Girish Chandra in 2019. This time, the BSP has fielded Surendra Pal Singh. Moreover, Azad Samaj Party chief Chandra Shekhar Azad too is contesting from here.
8 LS seats in western UP to go to polls on Friday
8 LS seats in western UP to go to polls on Friday The voters of eight Lok Sabha constituencies in western Uttar Pradesh, falling in the Jat and sugarcane belt, are set to exercise their constitutional right as polling for the first phase of the seven-phase parliamentary election begins on Friday. The seats going to polls on Friday are Saharanpur, Bijnor, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina (reserved for Scheduled Castes), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit. The seats are located in nine districts of western Uttar Pradesh. The poll campaign for the first phase ended on Wednesday evening. Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa said no campaign-related activity by candidates is allowed in these eight constituencies now and the final preparations for polling are on. The stage is set for a three-cornered poll contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Employment, education and development are among the leading issues for the voters in these constituencies. While the BJP has pitched its campaign on development and the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the opposition leaders have raised the issues of farm bills and unemployment in the region. According to poll officials, the presence of the workers of all political parties has been restricted in these constituencies with the conclusion of the campaign. ''Flying squads, excise teams, static surveillance teams and the District Control Room are active in these constituencies,'' an officer said. A total of 14,849 polling booths and 7,689 polling centres have been set up for the first phase of voting. According to information provided by the Uttar Pradesh Police headquarters, 6,018 inspectors and sub-inspectors, 35,750 constables and 24,992 home guard personnel, along with 60 companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and 220 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed. A total of 80 candidates -- 73 men and seven women -- are in the fray in the first phase of polling. According to the Election Commission (EC), 1.43 crore people are eligible to cast their votes in the first phase. Of them, 76.23 lakh are men, 67.14 lakh women and 824 are transgender persons. According to data compiled by political parties, Muslim voters account for 35 to 50 per cent of the electorate in these constituencies. Twelve candidates are in the fray from Moradabad, 14 from Kairana, 11 each from Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor, 10 each from Saharanpur and Pilibhit and six each from Nagina and Rampur. The BJP has joined hands with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and the SP has allied with the Congress for the election, while the BSP has decided to go solo. The poll campaign was launched in the region by Prime Minister Naredra Modi with a massive rally on March 31. On April 9, Modi held his second rally in Pilibhit, where the BJP has fielded Jitin Prasada, neglecting two-time member of Parliament Varun Gandhi. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has addressed more than 20 rallies in the constituencies going to polls in the first phase. SP president and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has addressed rallies in Pilibhit, Bijnor, Muzaffarnagar, Moradabad and Nagina while BSP supremo Mayawati, also a former chief minister, and her nephew Akash Anand have addressed several election meetings. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra held a roadshow in Saharanpur on Wednesday, garnering support for Imran Masood, who is in the fray as the INDIA opposition bloc candidate. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP bagged Muzaffarnagar, Kairana and Pilibhit, while the SP emerged victorious in Moradabad and Rampur, and the BSP in Saharanpur, Nagina and Bijnor. Subsequently, the BJP wrested back Rampur in a bypoll. Prominent candidates in this phase are Prasada from Pilibhit, Union minister Sanjeev Balyan from Muzaffarnagar and Azad Samaj Party chief Chandra Shekhar Azad from Nagina. The SP's Muslim face in Rampur, Azam Khan, is conspicuous by his absence in the constituency as he is lodged in a jail in Sitapur.
UP Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 1: Uttar Pradesh prepares for its first phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 19, covering eight key constituencies out of the total 80 constituencies. These include Pilibhit, Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, and Rampur, with intense competition among candidates from various alliances.
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Campaigning ends for first phase in 102 seats
NEW DELHI: Campaigning for 102 parliamentary constituencies distributed across 21 states and Union territories, where voting will be held in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 19, concluded on Wednesday. In the first phase, polling will be held in Arunachal Pradesh (2 seats), Assam (5), Bihar (4), Chhattisgarh (1), Madhya Pradesh (6), Maharashtra (5), Manipur (2), Meghalaya (2), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Rajasthan (12), Sikkim (1), Tamil Nadu (39), Tripura (1), Uttar Pradesh (8), Uttarakhand (5), West Bengal (3), Andaman and Nicobar (1), Jammu and Kashmir (1), Lakshadweep (1) and Puducherry (1). Campaigning for the first phase of polling on April 19 in Uttar Pradesh concluded Wednesday evening, with candidates closing up their campaigns for eight parliamentary seats. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, both members of the opposition's INDIA bloc, held rallies in Saharanpur and Moradabad on the final day of the campaign. On what basis is BJP claiming 400 seats: Priyanka Gandhi smells a rat in NDA slogan The seats going to the polls in the first phase on Friday are Saharanpur, Bijnor, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit. Likewise, campaigning drew to a close in Uttarakhand at 5 pm this evening, Chief Electoral Officer B VRC Purushottam said. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a roadshow in Haldwani on the last day of the election campaign, earlier on Wednesday. After winning all five seats in Uttarakhand in the 2014 and 2019 general elections, the BJP is attempting to retain them for a third term. Six personnel for four voters -- a unique polling booth in Uttarakhand Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the BJP's campaign, built around the development plank, in Madhya Pradesh for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections that ended on Wednesday. With the first phase scheduled for April 19, the fate of 88 candidates contesting six seats in the MP will be sealed by voters. As TN gears up to vote, poll boycott decisions in the Vengaivayals of the state fail to draw attention In Maharashtra, campaigning for Lok Sabha elections came to an end in five constituencies of the Vidarbha region on Wednesday evening. Polling will be held in the constituencies of Nagpur, Ramtek, Bhandara-Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli in the first phase on April 19. The campaigning in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur parliamentary constituency ended on Wednesday evening. It is witnessing its first major electoral battle since the abrogation of Article 370. The polling is slated for the Udhampur Lok Sabha seat in the first phase on April 19 and will decide the fate of 12 contestants. Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Commissioner Saloni Rai said, On April 17 at 6 pm, we suspended all election-related campaigning, and political parties have been directed to not hold campaigning, roadshows, or canvassing other than door-to-door campaigning. Section 144 is also imposed. Flying squad and static surveillance teams have been deployed. Our main objective is a free and fair and inducement-free election, said Rai. Asaduddin Owaisi's Uttar Pradesh gambit and why it has left the BJP chuckling in delight Meanwhile, campaigning for three Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal - Cooch Behar (SC), Jalpaiguri (SC) and Alipurduars (ST) -- going to polls in the first phase on April 19 came to an end at 6 PM on Wednesday. Altogether 14 candidates, including sitting MP and Union minister Nisith Pramanik, are contesting the parliamentary elections from Cooch Behar. Verbal exchanges between main rivals Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress over issues such as corruption, poverty, and pre-poll promises dominated the campaigning for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Chhattisgarh, which concluded on Wednesday evening. Naxal-affected Bastar is the only seat among the 11 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state that will vote in the first phase on April 19, an exercise that will take place in the shadow of the major counter-insurgency operation in Kanker district on April 16. In Mizoram, the campaigning for the lone Lok Sabha seat ended on Wednesday with political parties making last ditch efforts to sweep the voters. Campaigning for the April 19 simultaneous polls in Arunachal Pradesh came to an end on Wednesday evening, setting the stage to elect two Lok Sabha MPs and 50 lawmakers for the state assembly. The BJP has already opened its account by securing 10 seats in the assembly in Arunachal. Campaigning for five Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam, which are due to go for polling on April 19, including the high-profile constituency of Dibrugarh, ended on Wednesday. Congress gave problems to Northeast, BJP made it a source of possibilities: PM Modi in Assam The Lok Sabha poll campaigning for 2024, for the first phase of elections, ended at 5 pm on the five Lok Sabha seats in Assam, including the high-profile seat of Dibrugarh, where Union Minister and former Chief Minister of Assam are contesting. The voting for the Lok Sabha election in the first phase is to be held across 21 states in 102 seats, including five seats in Upper Assam. The campaign for the Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency and the Ramnagar Assembly constituency by-poll also ended at 5 pm on Wednesday. Modi says Congress 'loot' policy would have led to Rs 5,000 mobile bills in northeast All preparations, including security arrangements, have been made for the polling to be held on April 19, an election department official said. Rallies, public meetings and roadshows marked the two-week-long high-decibel campaign. In the meantime, speaking on the preparations for Lok Sabha elections in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, South Andaman SP Niharika Bhatt says, The election campaign will be banned from 6 PM today and no political gathering or street processions will be allowed, that's called the 'Silent' period. Only door-to-door campaigning will be allowed and that too without speakers. DC has also given orders regarding Section 144 to maintain law and order. Voting will start at 7 in the morning on April 19 and go until 6 p.m. A few pink polling booths have been established where all the officials will be women, said the official. The 2024 general elections will be held in India in seven phases, from April 19 to June 1, to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. The results will be announced on June 4. From backroom boys to consultants: Poll strategists turn campaign makers in India's political war rooms
