Nagaland Jobs: Army Public School Rangapahar Recruitment 2024

Applications are invited for recruitment of various teaching positions or jobs in Army Public School Rangapahar Nagaland. Army Public School Rangapahar Nagaland is inviting applications from eligible candidates for recruitment to the post or jobs of Trained Graduate Teachers (TGT), IT Supervisor and Head Clerk on adhoc basis. Name of posts : Also Read : [] The post Nagaland Jobs: Army Public School Rangapahar Recruitment 2024 appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .

Indefinite Business Shutdown Cripples Nagaland in Anti-Extortion Protest

Indefinite Business Shutdown Cripples Nagaland in Anti-Extortion Protest Markets were shut and private offices were closed as an indefinite shutdown of business establishments began in Nagaland on Saturday to protest against extortion by underground groups. The shutdown was first observed in the state's commercial capital Dimapur on Friday, following which the other districts joined on a call given by the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce & Industries (CNCCI). The CNCI said harassment of the business community over extortion cannot be tolerated any further. It urged the government to take immediate steps to stop the ''unabated'' extortions, intimidations and summons by the underground groups. The CNCI said that banks, educational institutions, government offices and hospitals have been kept outside the purview of the shutdown. State Home Commissioner Vikeyie Kenya said that it has ''come to the notice'' of the government that ''rampant collection of taxes'' from businesses, particularly in Dimapur, by various groups, most of which have signed ceasefire agreements with the government, has created an unbearable situation. ''Such activities reflect adversely on the law enforcing agency as well as on the state government,'' he said, directing the police to take stringent measures. He instructed the district administrations and the police to report any violation of the ceasefire ground rules to the Ceasefire Monitoring Group for appropriate action. Police should continue arresting ''underground cadres'' found extorting under the National Security Act (NSA), Kenya said. The Dimapur police commissioner was asked to increase patrolling in market areas, and also deploy IRBn personnel to instill confidence among the people, he said. The government also directed that a special cell be formed by the police commissioner to exclusively deal with incidents of extortion, he added. The Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) said directions of such nature were issued by the state government in the past as well. ''However, considering the government's continued insincerity, it does not seem to hold any water,'' it said. The shutdown will continue as long as the government does not take any satisfactory steps, it added.

ULB elections, with 33% women reservation, in Nagaland on June 26

KOHIMA: The Nagaland government has approved to hold urban local bodies (ULB) elections in the state on June 26. Notably, ULB elections will be held in Nagaland after a gap of 20 years. Municipal elections in Nagaland were last held in 2004. The administrative approval for holding ULB elections was given by Nagaland Cabinet during [] The post ULB elections, with 33% women reservation, in Nagaland on June 26 appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .

Nagaland State Lottery Result 27.04.2024 : Check todays result here

Here are the latest results for the Nagaland State Lottery Result 27.04.2024 The Nagaland State Lottery draw results are announced three times a day, at 1:00 PM, 6:00 PM, and 8:00 PM. The results are available on the Nagaland State Lotteries website and YouTube channel. In Nagaland the Nagaland State Lottery is a popular lottery [] The post Nagaland State Lottery Result 27.04.2024 : Check todays result here appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .

Nagaland: Kohima District Emerges As Top Performer Among Government Schools In HSLC Exam

As the results are out for Nagaland Board of School Educations HSLC Examination 2024, Kohima district emerged as the top performer among government schools, achieving a remarkable 67 percent pass rate. Tseminyu and Phek districts followed closely, securing 61 percent and 60 percent pass rates, respectively. However, Shamator district is at the bottom with 3... The post Nagaland: Kohima District Emerges As Top Performer Among Government Schools In HSLC Exam appeared first on Northeast Today .

NBSE declares class 10, 12 exam results

KOHIMA, April 26: Girls outshone boys in the Class 10 and Class 12 examinations conducted by the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE), the results of which were declared on Friday. NBSE chairperson Asano Sekhose told reporters that in class 10 or High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) examination, out of 22,136 candidates, a total of []

Robust Voter Turnout Marks Second Phase of Indian Parliamentary Elections

Robust Voter Turnout Marks Second Phase of Indian Parliamentary Elections Over 63 per cent polling was reported in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections covering 88 seats across 13 states amid few complaints of EVM glitches and bogus voting in some states. Voters in some villages of Uttar Pradesh's Mathura, Rajasthan's Banswara and Maharashtra's Parbhani were boycotting the polls over various issues but were later persuaded by authorities to cast their franchise. Polling for the second stage of the seven-phase elections started at 7 am and ended at 6 pm. Several states experienced intense heat conditions. The first phase of polling was held on April 19 in 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories. The Election Commission (EC) said polling remained largely peaceful. The tentative figure at 8 pm of voter turnout was 63.50 per cent. It is likely to go upwards when reports from all polling stations are obtained, the EC said, adding voters reaching polling stations till the end of polling hour are allowed to cast their vote. The National Democratic alliance (NDA) under Prime Minister Modi is seeking a stronger majority for a third consecutive term, while the constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc are hoping for a rebound after facing reverses in the 2014 and 2019 elections. Election Commission data showed the highest voting percentage was recorded in Tripura which registered 79.46 per cent polling, followed by Manipur at 77.32 while the turnout was in Uttar Pradesh at 54.85 per cent and Bihar 55.08 per cent. Polling was held in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 6 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Bihar, 3 seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and actor-turned-politician Arun Govil, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's brother DK Suresh (Cong), and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy (JDS) are among the key candidates while BJP's Hema Malini, Om Birla and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seeking a hat-trick of wins from their respective constituencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the morning urged people to cast their votes in record numbers and said a high voter turnout strengthens democracy. Stressing on the importance of each vote, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi issued impassioned appeals asking people to step out and exercise their franchise in the second phase of the Lok Sabha election. After the end of polling, Modi in a tweet said, ''Phase Two has been too good! Gratitude to the people across India who have voted today. The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more. Voters want NDA's good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support.'' In Kerala, the turnout was 65.91 per cent. The election process, held amid tight security arrangements, was primarily incident free except for instances of bogus voting and breakdowns of electronic voting machines (EVMs) being reported in some booths of the state. Such incidents resulted in delaying the polling process in the affected booths. One person each reportedly died at Palakkad, Alappuzha and Malappuram after casting their vote and a polling agent died after collapsing at a booth in Kozhikode. Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency recorded a turnout of 79.46 per cent. Election officials said there were some complaints from a few booths but those were ''promptly addressed''. A jawan of the Madhya Pradesh Special Armed Force deployed on poll duty allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle at a government school where he was stationed in Gariaband district under the Mahasamund seat in Chhattisgarh, where a voter turnout of 73.62 per cent was recorded. A polling booth at Sivni village in Balod district (Kanker seat) was decorated like a wedding 'mandap', with a display of rituals of traditional weddings. Several brides and grooms, dressed in their wedding finery, cast their votes at several polling booths. The EC said people from 46 villages in Bastar and Kanker seats cast their votes in a polling booth set up in their own village for the first time in a Lok Sabha election. In neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, there was a turnout of 57.88 per cent. An estimated 71.11 per cent of the 77,26,668 voters exercised their franchise in the five parliamentary constituencies of Assam that went to polls in this phase. In restive Manipur, where polling is being held under high presence of security personnel, the turnout was a significantly high 77.32 per cent. There were reports of intimidation by suspected militants, altercation between Congress workers and NPF supporters and damage of EVM at a polling station in the Tangkhul Naga-dominated hill district. At KK Leishi Phanit polling station in Ukhrul, irate voters destroyed an EVM and other items after alleged disturbances by armed miscreants. The overall voting percentage in Karnataka was 68.30. A case was booked against BJP MP and Bangalore South Candidate Tejasvi Surya for allegedly posting a video on a social media platform and soliciting votes on the grounds of religion, the Election Commission said. Another BJP leader CT Ravi was booked for allegedly promoting hatred and enmity between citizens through his social media post. Various restaurants in Bangalore were offering free dosas, laddu, coffee and other food items at discounted rates to customers who cast their vote. A private hospital assisted 41 inpatients cast their vote with the help of city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Green corridors were created for the ambulances across constituencies to ensure easy, hassle-free voting. Some EVMs were destroyed at a polling station in Indiganatha village in Chamarajanagara district of Karnataka during a clash between two groups of people over whether to vote or not. Officials said an FIR is being filed the Election Commission will take a call after getting a detailed report. A voter turnout of 57.83 per cent was recorded in eight constituencies in Maharashtra, while in Rajasthan, the turnout was 64.07 per cent. Incidents of confrontation between the supporters of the Congress candidate and an independent candidate were reported at a couple of places during polling in Barmer-Jaisalmer Lok Sabha constituency of Rajasthan. Police said they were looking into the complaints besides some about fake voting from some places. The by-election for the Bagidora assembly constituency in Banswara district was also held simultaneously on Friday and 76.66 per cent voting took place. A voter turnout of 54.85 per cent was recorded in the eight parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. Senior citizens dominated the early hours of voting in Noida in the Gautam Buddh Nagar constituency. Some residents' welfare associations made arrangements for electric vehicles to ferry voters to and from the polling booths. In Bihar, the turnout was 55.08 per cent, 71.84 per cent in in West Bengal and 71.91 per cent in Jammu and Kashmir. The Lok Sabha polls are the first major electoral battle in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into Union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh -- on August 5, 2019. The Election Commission registered nearly 300 complaints in West Bengal, mostly related to EVM malfunctioning. After Friday's phase, polling is over in Kerala, Rajasthan and Tripura. In the first phase on April 19, polling was completed in all seats of Tamil Nadu (39), Uttarakhand (5), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Meghalaya (2), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Puducherry (1), Sikkim (1) and Lakshadweep (1). The third phase of elections for 94 seats across 12 states and Union territories will be held on May 7. Counting will be done on June 4.

DoNER Task Force meets for development of tourism in Northeast

Guwahati: The 4th meeting of the Task Force for the Development of Tourism in the North East was held in New Delhi on Thursday. Present in the meeting were the officials of all the North Eastern States Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. The other stakeholders were NITI Aayog, the Ministry [] The post DoNER Task Force meets for development of tourism in Northeast appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .

Himachal Pradesh: IMD predicts thunderstorms, rain in 10 districts during next 48 hours

Himachal Pradesh: IMD predicts thunderstorms, rain in 10 districts during next 48 hours The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday predicted thunderstorms, hail and rainfall in 10 districts of the state during the next 48 hours. Thunderstorms with lightning, hail and strong wind (30-40kmph) are very likely at isolated places over Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, Una during the next 48 hours, said IMD Shimla. Meanwhile, severe heatwave conditions are likely to continue over East and South Peninsular India during the next 5 days, the India Meteorological Department said on Friday. According to the IMD, heatwave to severe heatwave conditions will likely prevail in many places over Gangetic West Bengal, in some parts of Odisha, and in isolated pockets over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal during the next 5 days. The IMD has also predicted a fresh spell of rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds is likely to occur over the Western Himalayan region from April 26-29 and the plains of Northwest India from April 26-28 and adjoining Central India from April 26-27. IMD further said that fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall/snowfall accompanied by isolated thunderstorms and lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) is very likely over Arunachal Pradesh and scattered to fairly widespread rainfall over Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during April 26-30 2024. It added that isolated light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is very likely over Sikkim on April 28, 2024. It added that heavy rainfall is likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya on April 28-30, 2024. (ANI)

All you need to know about VVPATs

To enhance transparency and verifiability in the poll process, the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 were amended in 2013 to introduce the use of VVPAT machines. They were first used in the by-election to the Noksen assembly seat in Nagaland.

NBSE Results 2024: Nagaland Board Announces Results For Class 10, 12

Students are required to score at least 33 marks in each subject and overall to qualify the exam.

Satyam Kumar Jaiswal Tops Nagaland Boards HSSLC Examination Commerce Stream, Scores 98.40%

The Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) has declared the provisional results for Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) examinations for the year 2024 along with HSLC today. The results were unveiled this afternoon, marking a significant milestone in the academic journey of thousands of students across the state. In the HSSLC Commerce stream, Satyam... The post Satyam Kumar Jaiswal Tops Nagaland Boards HSSLC Examination Commerce Stream, Scores 98.40% appeared first on Northeast Today .

Mhachilo Yanthan Tops Nagaland Boards HSLC Examination, Scores 98.83%

The Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) has declared the provisional results for the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) for the year 2024, today. The results were reportedly unveiled this afternoon. Mhachilo Yanthan, a student of Christian Higher Secondary School Dimapur tops HSLCexamination 2024 under NBSE securing 98.83 per cent. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio... The post Mhachilo Yanthan Tops Nagaland Boards HSLC Examination, Scores 98.83% appeared first on Northeast Today .

VVPATs: From SC Verdict to Electoral Transparency

VVPATs: From SC Verdict to Electoral Transparency The Supreme Court's decision on Friday rejecting pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) has brought the focus back on the paper trail machines. To enhance transparency and verifiability in the poll process, the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 were amended in 2013 to introduce the use of VVPAT machines. They were first used in the by-election to the Noksen assembly seat in Nagaland. At least one ballot unit, one control unit and one VVPAT make up for an EVM. The tentative cost of an EVM comprised Rs 7,900 per ballot unit, Rs 9,800 per control unit and Rs 16,000 per VVPAT. Since 2019, VVPAT slips from five randomly selected polling stations per assembly constituency (or segment in the case of Lok Sabha seats) are matched with the EVM count for greater transparency. According to EC, so far there has hardly been a mismatch. As an elector votes for a candidate on the ballot unit, he or she can see a slip with the candidate's party symbol on a small window on the VVPAT unit for seven seconds. The slip then drops into a basket. As India follows the principle of secret ballot, the voter cannot carry the VVPAT slip home. The top court on Friday rejected pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with a VVPAT. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta delivered two concurring verdicts and dismissed all the pleas in the matter, including those seeking to go back to ballot papers in elections. The court issued two directives. Pronouncing his verdict, Justice Khanna directed the Election Commission to seal and store units used to load symbols for 45 days in strong rooms after the symbols have been loaded to the EVMs. The EVMs used in voting -- called polled EVMs -- and VVPAT slips are kept in strong rooms for 45 days. Since anyone can file an election petition in a high court challenging an election within 45 days of results, the EVMs and slips are stored for 45 days in case a court calls for election records while entertaining the petition. The apex court also allowed engineers of the EVM manufacturers to verify the microcontroller of the machines after the declaration of the results at the request of candidates who stood second and third. Request for the verification of the microcontroller can be made within seven days of declaration of the results after payment of fees, the court said. ''If EVM is found tampered during verification, fees paid by the candidates will be refunded,'' it said. The VVPAT, the ballot unit and the control unit are manufactured by two PSUs -- Electronics Corporation of India Ltd and the Bharat Electronics Ltd.

NBSE Nagaland Board HSSLC 2024 Results Released, 85.38% Pass; Check Stream-wise Toppers' List Here

The Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) has announced the results for the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) exams 2024, with an overall pass rate of 85.38%. Students can access the results on the official website. Additionally, the board has released the stream-wise list of toppers. The toppers list showcases outstanding performances across arts, commerce, and science streams, highlighting the academic excellence achieved by students in their respective fields of study.

NBSE Class 10 Toppers 2024: Pass Rate Increases Marginally, Check Nagaland Board HSLC Top 10 Performers Here

Step into the realm of academic excellence with the NBSE Class 10 Toppers List 2024. In a year marked by academic prowess, the overall pass rate has seen a marginal increase, reflecting the dedication and commitment of students across Nagaland. Delve into the achievements of the top 10 performers in the Nagaland Board HSLC examinations, where scholarly brilliance and determination shine brightly.

NBSE Results 2024: Nagaland board releases toppers list of HSLC and HSSLC exams

NBSE declared HSLC and HSSLC 2024 results with toppers Mhachilo Yanthan, Satyam Kumar Jaiswal, Keletsole Mekro, and Narola Imsong. Exam dates Feb 13-Mar 6. Pass rates: Govt 49.13%, Private 91.15%, Repeaters 70.32%. Check results online.

Nagaland board exam 2024: Scores released for class 10th and 12th

The Nagaland Board of Secondary Education (NBSE) has announced the results for the HSLC and HSSLC Board exams 2024. Students can access their scores via the official NBSE websites or through direct links provided. The NBSE also released performance statistics for 2023, revealing varying pass rates across school types and academic streams.

Nagaland Board HSLC, HSSLC Result 2024 declared. Direct link here

Nagaland Board HSLC HSSLC Result declared Direct link here

Nagaland Board class 10, 12 Result 2024: NBSE, HSLC, HSSLC results declared, direct link here

Nagaland Board class 10, 12 Result 2024 declared: Nagaland Board HSLC, HSSLC class 10, 12 results are available on the official website of Nagaland Board at nbsenl.edu.in.

Indefinite shutdown of business establishments begins in Nagalands Dimapur over extortion

The DCCI said the decision was taken as there was o end in sight to the unabated multiple taxation, intimidation and summons by the groups

Nagaland Board To Announce Results For Class 10, 12 Today

The overall pass percentage of students in 2023 Nagaland board exam was 70.32 per cent in class 10 and 82.62 per cent in class 12.

NBSE HSLC, HSSLC 2024 Results: Nagaland board to announce results of Class 10, 12 exams today

NBSE to announce HSLC and HSSLC 2024 results today. Class 10 exams held from Feb 13-23; Class 12 exams from Feb 12-Mar 6. Mark sheets distributed to schools between May 3-6. Centre Superintendents collect mark sheets. Last year's results categorized into Government, Private, Repeaters. Results can be checked online.

Nagaland: Business Body Calls For Indefinite Shutter-Down In Dimapur

All Shops and Business establishments in Dimapur have gone into an indefinite shutter-down from today. Initiated by Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), the shutter down has been called to protest against harassment meted out to the business community by Naga Political Groups, in the form of multiple taxations, intimidations and summon letters. The... The post Nagaland: Business Body Calls For Indefinite Shutter-Down In Dimapur appeared first on Northeast Today .

Nagaland Board Class 10, 12 Result 2024 to be out today. NBSE result direct link

Nagaland Board Class Result to be out today NBSE result direct link

Nagaland Guv encourages students to embrace entrepreneurship and innovation

DIMAPUR, April 25: Governor of Nagaland, La Ganesan said today that looking towards the future, the fact is that the landscape of the job market is evolving rapidly, and therefore there is an urgent need for young minds of the graduating students to lead this change. The Nagaland Governor said this while gracing the convocation []

Meghalaya officials attend tourism task force meet

The fourth meeting of the Task Force for the Development of Tourism in North East was held in New Delhi today. Present in the meeting were the officials of all the North East states Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. The other stakeholders were NITI Aayog, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry [] The post Meghalaya officials attend tourism task force meet first appeared on Highland Post .

Manipur Governor unveils Food Museum of Northeast in Imphal

Imphal: Governor of Manipur, Anusuiya Uikey on Thursday opened a Food Museum of Northeast states at Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal where food items from the seven northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura are being put on display. The museum is being developed as a component of the Agro-ecotourism [] The post Manipur Governor unveils Food Museum of Northeast in Imphal appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .

NBSE Result 2024 class 10, 12: Nagaland Board HSLC, HSSLC Result To Be Released Tomorrow At nbse.nic.in

The Nagaland Board of Secondary Education (NBSE) is set to release the results for the HSLC (Class 10) and HSSLC (Class 12) examinations tomorrow, April 26. Here's everything you need to know about checking your results and other important details.

Security Forces Intercept Suspected Brown Sugar Concealed Inside Pumpkins In Manipur

In a commendable coordinated effort, security forces intercepted a suspected brown sugar smuggling attempt concealed inside pumpkins. The 39th Assam Rifles (AR) team, in conjunction with Jiribam Police Station, Nagaland thwarted the illicit transportation of narcotics from a pickup truck en route from Tipaimukh, Pherzawl District, to Cachar. During the inspection, authorities discovered 30 soap... The post Security Forces Intercept Suspected Brown Sugar Concealed Inside Pumpkins In Manipur appeared first on Northeast Today .

Nagaland State Lottery Result 25.04.2024 : Check todays result here

Here are the latest results for the Nagaland State Lottery Result 25.04.2024 The Nagaland State Lottery draw results are announced three times a day, at 1:00 PM, 6:00 PM, and 8:00 PM. The results are available on the Nagaland State Lotteries website and YouTube channel. In Nagaland the Nagaland State Lottery is a popular lottery [] The post Nagaland State Lottery Result 25.04.2024 : Check todays result here appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .

Nagaland: Wokha To Hold U-14 Catch Them Young Sepaktakraw Tournament For Boys And Girls On May 4

Wokha District of Nagaland is set to hold the Under-14 Catch Them Young Tournament in Sepaktakraw for both boys and girls on May 4. In this regard, the District Sports Office has asked interested schools and participants to register before end of this month. The District Sports Office said, the best team selected from the... The post Nagaland: Wokha To Hold U-14 Catch Them Young Sepaktakraw Tournament For Boys And Girls On May 4 appeared first on Northeast Today .

Nagaland: KCCI & CCCTA Calls For Shutter Down Of Business Establishment In Kohima And Chmoukedima On Friday

The Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Chmoukedima Chamber of Commerce and Trade Association (CCCTA) have decided to call for a one day shutter down on 26th April, to show its solidarity and support to Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, DCCIs indefinite protest against harassment of business community by Naga political groups.... The post Nagaland: KCCI & CCCTA Calls For Shutter Down Of Business Establishment In Kohima And Chmoukedima On Friday appeared first on Northeast Today .

Bridge On Manipur's Lifeline Bombed By Insurgents, 150 Trucks Stranded

A key bridge on National Highway 2 in Manipur connecting the state capital Imphal and cities in neighbouring Assam and Nagaland was damaged in multiple bomb attacks by insurgents, the police said on Wednesday.

Nagaland: Kohima traders body joins DCCIs shutter-down protest on April 26

KOHIMA: The Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has announced a one-day shutter-down on April 26, from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, in solidarity with the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) in Nagaland. KCCI president Kezhazer Angami and general secretary Henry Chiste commended DCCI for its bold stance in expressing the grievances [] The post Nagaland: Kohima traders body joins DCCIs shutter-down protest on April 26 appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .

Fuel outlets in three Nagaland districts join DCCIs shutter-down protest against NPGs harassment

DIMAPUR: In solidarity with the indefinite shutter-down called by the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), fuel retail outlets in Dimapur, Niuland and Chmoukedima districts of Nagaland will remain closed from April 26. The Petroleum Dealers Association of Dimapur, Niuland, and Chmoukedima (PDADNC) has expressed support for the DCCIs initiative, denouncing the persistent issues [] The post Fuel outlets in three Nagaland districts join DCCIs shutter-down protest against NPGs harassment appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .

IMD Rainfall Alert: There will be heavy rain in these states between 24-28 April, storm warning issued

IMD Rainfall Alert: According to the Meteorological Department, there will be light to moderate rain in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura between April 24-28. Know the weather condition of other states also IMD Rainfall Alert: There is severe heat in various parts of the country including North India. Heatwave situation persists in [] The post IMD Rainfall Alert: There will be heavy rain in these states between 24-28 April, storm warning issued first appeared on informalnewz .

IED Explosion Damages Bridge Linking Manipur And Nagaland HW News English

IED Explosion Damages Bridge Linking Manipur And NagalandHW News English

IED explosion damages bridge on NH 2 in Manipur

IMPHAL: A bridge on the National Highway 2 in ethnic violence-hit Manipur's Kangpokpi district was partially damaged in an IED explosion early on Wednesday, disrupting traffic movement in the area, police said. The blast occurred on the bridge between Sapermeina and Koubru Leikha areas around 12. 45 am, an officer said. No casualties were reported so far in the improvised explosive device (IED) blast, he said. Three craters and cracks on both ends of the bridge were noticed, the officer said. Movement of heavy vehicles has been stopped on the bridge connecting Manipur's capital Imphal with Nagaland's Dimapur. Minutes after the explosion, police personnel rushed to the spot and cordoned off the bridge, he said, adding that an investigation into the IED blast has been initiated. Some two-wheelers, however, were seen plying on the bridge this morning. The IED explosion occurred hours after gunfights broke out between village volunteers of the two warring communities in Imphal West district. Over 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence in Manipur between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjacent hills-based Kukis since May last year.

Nagaland State Lottery Result 24.04.2024 : Check todays result here

Here are the latest results for the Nagaland State Lottery Result 24.04.2024 The Nagaland State Lottery draw results are announced three times a day, at 1:00 PM, 6:00 PM, and 8:00 PM. The results are available on the Nagaland State Lotteries website and YouTube channel. In Nagaland the Nagaland State Lottery is a popular lottery [] The post Nagaland State Lottery Result 24.04.2024 : Check todays result here appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .

Bridge linking Manipur to Nagaland suffers damage in IED explosion

Bridge linking Manipur to Nagaland suffers damage in IED explosion

More than 100 Civil Society Members of Northeast condemn PM Modis speech in Rajasthan

Guwahati: Renowned civil society members from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Manipur have condemned the speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rajasthan and have urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take appropriate actions against him for violating model code of conduct. A statement issued by members of the civil society includes [] The post More than 100 Civil Society Members of Northeast condemn PM Modis speech in Rajasthan appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .

Felicitation programme for Nagaland State Entrepreneur 2023 held

KOHIMA, APRIL 23: Felicitation programme for Nagaland State Entrepreneur 2023 and Nagaland State Handicraft Award 2023-24 was held at Conference Hall, directorate of industries & commerce in Kohima on Tuesday. Commissioner & secretary, industries & commerce, Kekhrievor Kevichusa said that it was very encouraging for the department to see such a variety and creativity of []

Nagaland: Dimapur traders body calls for indefinite shutter down against NPGs harassment

DIMAPUR: The Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has issued a call for an indefinite shutter down protest in Dimapur city of Nagaland starting from April 26, in protest against what it describes as unabated multiple taxation, intimidation and summonses by Naga Political Groups (NPGs). The trade body has announced that all shops and [] The post Nagaland: Dimapur traders body calls for indefinite shutter down against NPGs harassment appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .

Nagaland: HSLC & HSSLC exam results 2024 to be declared on April 26

KOHIMA: The Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) is set to release the results for the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) examinations 2024 on the afternoon of April 26. This was informed by NBSE chairperson Asano Sekhose. The results will be accessible through various online platforms, including the [] The post Nagaland: HSLC & HSSLC exam results 2024 to be declared on April 26 appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .

Assam Rifles Successfully Rescues A Child Fallen In Underground Drain In Kohima, Nagaland

The Assam Rifles, in a heartwarming and heroic act, came to the rescue of a child who had fallen into an underground drain near the Old NST terminal in Kohima, Nagaland. The incident, which occurred on April 22, 2024, drew immense gratitude from the local populace towards the Assam Rifles for their timely intervention. The... The post Assam Rifles Successfully Rescues A Child Fallen In Underground Drain In Kohima, Nagaland appeared first on Northeast Today .

Nagaland Board Of School Education To Declare HSLC And HSSLC Exams Results On April 26

Nagaland Board of School Education, NBSE, will declare the provisional results for High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) examinations 2024 on the afternoon of April 26. In a notification yesterday, NBSE said, the results will be made available on both print and digital modes. Soft copies of the results... The post Nagaland Board Of School Education To Declare HSLC And HSSLC Exams Results On April 26 appeared first on Northeast Today .

Constitution can never be changed... Congress creating confusion: BJP candidate from Kota Om Birla

Constitution can never be changed... Congress creating confusion: BJP candidate from Kota Om Birla Lok Sabha Speaker and BJP candidate from Kota constituency for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Om Birla, slammed the Congress for spreading confusion within the Scheduled Castes by saying that the BJP wants to change the Constitution and curtail the rights of people. The BJP candidate assured that the Constitution can never be changed. Speaking to ANI here on Monday, Birla said, Prime Minister Modi has clearly said that the Constitution can never be changed. No one is going to be fooled. The Congress is trying to spread false things and create confusion within the Scheduled Castes... Replying to a query, he said, If someone has secured and protected the rights of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Dalits, then it has been done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi said on Sunday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government wants to change the Constitution and curtail the rights of people. Their (BJP) leaders are saying to everyone that they should get 400 seats and they will change the Constitution. On the other hand, Narendra Modi says - We will not change the Constitution. This is a conspiracy. The Constitution gives the right to equality to women, and the right to 'jal, Jungle' for Adivasis. This is the same Constitution for which the great men of the country sacrificed themselves. They want to change the Constitution because the PM only wants power. They want to weaken the rights of the people. They want to weaken the reservations, Priyanka Gandhi said at a rally in Rajnandgaon. Voting for Lok Sabha polls in Rajasthan is being held in two phases. Polling for 12 seats was held in the first phase on April 19 and voting for the remaining 13 seats will be contested in the second phase on April 26. The counting will take place on June 4. In 2019, the BJP registered a sweeping victory, winning 24 out of 25 seats. Rashtriya Loktrantrik Party's Hanuman Beniwal also won a seat. The first phase of voting for 102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories was held on Friday with a voter turnout of nearly 64 per cent. In the first phase of LS polls, voting took place in the following states - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal. Polling was also held in the following Union Territories - Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry. The Lok Sabha polls are being held in India in seven phases, from April 19 to June 1 to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. (ANI)

Nagaland CM advisor calls on Australian Consul- general

KOHIMA, APRIL 22: Advisor to Nagaland the chief minister and chairman of Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland, Abu Metha called on Australian Consul-General, Hugh Boylan in Kolkata on Monday. He was accompanied by Chairman of TaFMA, Theja Meru. An official statement said the meeting is a follow-up of Boylans recent visit to Nagaland during []

NBSE HSLC, HSSLC Results 2024 to be out on April 26, check official notice here

The Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) has announced the release date for the results of the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) examinations for 2024. Scheduled for April 26, students who appeared for the Class 10 and 12 exams can anticipate their results. The exams for Class 10 were held from February 13 to 23, 2024, while Class 12 exams were conducted from February 12 to March 6, 2024. Mark sheets will be distributed to schools from May 3 to May 6, 2024, with Centre Superintendents overseeing the collection and distribution process.

Worrying: 30% people aged 18-54 do not know their BP reading, this is the main cause of heart attack-stroke.

To reduce the risk of heart disease, people of all ages have been advised to maintain healthy lifestyles and diets. Apart from this, it is also considered necessary to keep checking blood pressure and cholesterol regularly. But the things that have come to light in the recent report are worrying in many ways. A recent report by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has expressed concern over the lack of awareness among people about blood pressure in the country. Experts reported that about 30% of individuals in the 18-54 age group in India have never got their blood pressure checked. In states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Nagaland, people are not aware of checking blood pressure. It is noteworthy that uncontrolled blood pressure has been considered a major risk factor for heart disease - heart attack and stroke. Health experts say that everyone should keep taking blood pressure readings regularly, even if they have not had any blood pressure problems. Low awareness is being seen in many states The study, published in the International Journal of Public Health (IJPH), revealed that people are more aware of the need for regular blood pressure checks in the southern states of the country where on average 76% of the population had their blood pressure measured at least once. Whereas people of Central and North India do not pay any attention to this need. Health experts say these findings of the study focus on individual awareness regarding health. Regular blood pressure checks are important, especially among young adults, whose incidence of heart attacks has been rising rapidly in recent years. What do experts say? Talking to Amar Ujala, cardiologist Dr. Abhijat Sahay says, the problem of blood pressure can happen to a person of any age, so even if you feel healthy, still keep taking its readings at regular intervals. Checking blood pressure is not only helpful in protecting you from serious heart problems but it is also important to prevent the increasing risks of stroke in youth. People whose blood pressure is often high or low may be at risk of serious health problems, such people should consult a doctor for advice. Blood pressure can also cause kidney problems Health experts say, regular blood pressure checking provides many health benefits. Early detection of high blood pressure can prevent complications such as heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. Dr. Abhijat explains, that blood pressure not only increases heart problems, it also increases the risk of kidney failure. If we all take blood pressure readings every week and if any kind of discrepancy is seen in it, then seek medical advice in time. This can help protect you from serious diseases. Take the help of a digital monitor Health experts say, fortunately now monitoring BP at home has become easier and more convenient than before. Keep a digital BP monitor at home. Keep taking blood pressure readings every week and write them down. If there is a big difference in it every week, then be careful. This test is important to reduce the risk of increasing heart problems. (PC: ISTOCK)

Why six districts in Nagaland boycotted elections: Indian elections success story and where it falters

Lok Sabha Elections in West Bengal 2024 Phase 2: Schools and colleges to remain closed on April 26

Voting for the 18th Lok Sabha elections commenced on April 19th across 21 states and Union territories in India, witnessing a turnout of approximately 64% of eligible voters. States such as Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry participated in the electoral process.

Nagaland CM and Dy CM rally behind NPF candidate in Manipur LS poll campaign

HT Bureau GUWAHATI, April 21: Nagaland chief ministerNeiphiu Rioand deputy chief minister Taditui Rangkau Zeliang, leaders of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), a coalition partner of the BJP and the regional Naga Peoples Front, participated in Lok Sabha election campaigns in Manipur on Saturday. The twoNDPPleaders addressed the campaign event at Maram Bazaar in []

Oil tanker drivers in Manipur announce indefinite strike Nagaland Post

Oil tanker drivers in Manipur announce indefinite strikeNagaland Post

Nagaland: Day after abstaining from voting, Naga bodies lift indefinite shutdown call

Kohima, April 20: A day after abstaining from voting in the Lok Sabha elections in six districts of Eastern Nagaland, the Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation (ENPO) and its associate body on Saturday lifted the indefinite total shutdown call given across the six districts. ENPO, the apex body of seven tribes from the six districts, and [] The post Nagaland: Day after abstaining from voting, Naga bodies lift indefinite shutdown call appeared first on The Shillong Times .

Nagaland organisation lifts shutdown after responding to poll panels notice

The ENPO said that its public notice announcing the shutdown was to mitigate potential disturbances by anti-social elements

First day, First show and the polling begins

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

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Moderate polling in 1st phase

NEW DELHI: The first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday covering 102 seats across 21 states and Union Territories witnessed a moderate 62% voter turnout. The figure is expected to go up after reports come in from all polling booths. It was the biggest of the seven-phase festival of democracy. There were reports of sporadic incidents of violence in West Bengal, the strife-torn Manipur, Nagaland and Chhattisgarh. Elections were held for all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu, all five seats in Uttarakhand, 12 seats in Rajasthan, five in Maharashtra, and all seats in the Northeastern states and three Union Territories. Assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim were also held simultaneously. HIGHLIGHTS | LS polls 2024: Phase 1 voting ends with 62.37% nationwide turnout, TN records 72% Billed as the worlds largest electoral exercise, elections for the 18th Lok Sabha is crucial for the BJP as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third term in office. Riding on populist welfare schemes such as free ration, housing schemes and construction of the Ram temple, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance aims to reach the 400-seat mark in the 543-strong Lok Sabha. The Oppositions INDIA bloc, which is looking to dislodge the BJP from power, projects the rising employment, inflation and rural distress as the main issues to attack the government. Strife-torn Manipur records over 68% voter turnout in LS polls amidst incidents of gun fires, EVM damage, booth capturing One of the keenly watched contests is Tamil Nadu, where the BJP is hoping to make significant gains. All eyes are on Coimbatore, where the BJP has fielded state chief K Annamalai. The election to the eight states in Western Uttar Pradesh is also crucial for the saffron party as it is facing trouble from upper caste communities and farmers. Other high profile candidates who are seeking the mandate in the first phase include Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Bhupendra Yadav, Kiren Rijiju, Jitendra Singh, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Sarbananda Sonowal. The second phase of voting for 89 seats in 13 states will be held on April 26 and the seventh and last phase on June 1. The counting of votes will be on June 4. Home secretarys circular sparks furore, withdrawn A circular issued by the state home secretary P Amudha stating that one casual leave or earned leave will be deducted if staff fail to cast votes sparked a row. The circular was later withdrawn 3 voters die in three separate incidents Three voters died in three incidents in polling booths. Two victims, R Chinnaponnu (77) and N Palaniswamy (65), were from Salem, and K Kanagaraj (70), the third victim, was from Tiruttani Heat wave sweeps TN, Erode sizzles at 43C Heat wave swept TN on Friday with Erode recording the highest of 43C. Places with temperature in excess of 41C included Vellore (41.9), Karur (41.5), Tiruchy (41.3), Tiruttani (41.2) and Salem (41.2)

Not 1 of eastern Nagalands 4L voters turn up to vote

First phase of LS polls sees over 62% voter turnout

Sporadic violence at some places; voters in six districts of Nagaland boycott; Tripura records highest polling at 80.17% New Delhi: A voter turnout of over 62% was recorded in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections covering 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories amid sporadic incidents of violence at some places and an []

Turnout nil in 6 Nagaland districts after bandh call

Over 4 lakh voters in Nagaland boycott Lok Sabha elections due to ENPO's separate zone demand. 20 MLAs abstain. CM Rio cautious of confrontations. EC reports 0 turnout. Show-cause to ENPO.

Six eastern Nagaland districts abstain from voting amid shutdown call over frontier territory demand

Kohima: Election officials across 738 polling stations in six Eastern Nagaland districts waited for over nine hours Friday, but none of the 4 lakh (approx) voters from the region showed up due to a call to abstain from the electoral process given by the Naga organisations pressing for their demand for a separate Frontier Nagaland []

Candidates win or lose with power of single vote: Congress' Kuldeep Sharma casts vote in Port Blair

Candidates win or lose with power of single vote: Congress' Kuldeep Sharma casts vote in Port Blair Congress MP and candidate from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, cast his vote at a polling booth in Port Blair on Friday for the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress candidate stressed the importance of casting votes and explained how a single voter can determine the outcome of an election for any given candidate. Speaking to ANI, Kuldeep Rai Sharma said, I feel great. The power of a single vote of the people--candidates win or lose with one vote. The victory or loss of each candidate plays an important role in forming the government in the country. The public is God. With the work I have done in the last 28 years, I believe that the public will once again think and vote. Meanwhile, after casting his vote at a polling booth in Port Blair, Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Admiral DK Joshi, appealed to all the voters of the union territory to cast their vote. BJP candidate from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bishnu Pada Ray, also cast his vote at a polling booth in Port Blair on Friday and said that every resident of the island should celebrate this festival and cast their vote. Bishnu Pada Ray faces sitting MP and Congress candidate Kuldeep Rai Sharma here. The mega seven-phase electoral exercise commenced at 7 am today in 102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories. Voters will exercise their franchise until 6 pm today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking his third consecutive term, while the opposition bloc-INDIA- a coalition of opposing parties formed to take on the BJP in the general elections, is eyeing ousting him from power. Those voting in the first phase include seats in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. The second phase will be held on April 26 and the remaining phases will be May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1 accordingly. An estimated 8.4 crore male voters, 8.23 crore female voters, and 11,371 third-gender electors are eligible to vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls, according to the ECI data. (ANI)

Lok Sabha election phase 1: No voters turn out in six districts of Nagaland

Even the MLAs of 20 assembly segments in the Eastern Nagaland did not turn up to vote. There are over 738 polling stations in the six districts of Eastern Nagaland.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Zero voter turnout in 6 Nagaland districts over seperate territory demand

Of the 13.25 lakh voters in Nagaland, the six districts in Eastern Nagaland have over 4 lakh voters.

Strife-torn Manipur records over 68% voter turnout in LS polls amidst incidents of gun fires, EVM damage, booth capturing

IMPHAL/CHURACHANDPUR: Incidents of firing, intimidation, destruction of EVMs at some polling booths and allegations of booth capturing were reported from conflict-hit Manipur that recorded a turnout of over 68 per cent in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on Friday. Both the BJP and the Congress accused each other of unleashing violence and breaching the election Model Code of Conduct. The state which has been reeling under the conflict of ethnic violence since May last year has traditionally seen a very high voter turnout. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the state recorded a turnout of 82 per cent. Voting took place in two constituencies--Inner Manipur (32 assembly segments) and Outer Manipur (15 assembly segments)- on Friday while polling in the remaining 13 assembly segments in the Outer Manipur constituency will take place on April 26 in the second phase. A voter turnout of 68.82 per cent has been recorded. While the Inner Manipur constituency has recorded 72.3 per cent turnout, the poll percentage in Outer Manipur stood at 61.98 per cent, said Pradeep Kumar Jha, Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur. Keirao constituency in Imphal East district recorded the highest turnout among all the 32 constituencies of Inner Manipur with 83.81 per cent. For Outer, Chandel which has both Naga and Kuki voters recorded the highest turnout with 85.54 per cent turnout. Kuki-dominated Henglep in the Churachandpur district recorded an 80.70 per cent voter turnout while Saikul recorded the lowest with just 19.46 per cent. Chief Minister N Biren Singh's constituency Heingang recorded an 80 per cent turnout followed by BJP candidate Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh's Nambol constituency, which recorded 79.88 per cent. Manipur tribal bodys files plea in SC sensing fresh violence post-LS polls According to sources, the incidents of EVMs being destroyed were reported from at least four polling booths by unidentified miscreants in Imphal East and Imphal West. An EVM machine was set ablaze at Moirangkampu Sajeb in Khurai constituency in Imphal East district and a 65-year-old man was also shot at by some unidentified gunmen. There has also been vandalism in at least one more polling station, in Uripok in Imphal West, an official source said. He was standing near a polling station when some armed assailants opened fire. He has been taken to a hospital in Imphal for treatment, a police official said. Booth Level Officer for Moirangkampu Sajeb, Surbala Devi said, Suddenly two men came and asked for polling agents of the Congress and the BJP. They took the Congress agent outside by holding his hand.Then the two men fired shots at him from inside the car. In a separate incident, armed men also fired several rounds in the air near a polling booth in Thamnapokpi under the Moirang assembly constituency in Bishnupur district, prompting voters to flee, police said. They said additional security personnel were rushed to the spot to contain the situation. Police officials also said that some unidentified armed men intimidated election agents of a particular political party at different places, including Uripok and Iroishemba in Imphal West district, and asked them to leave the polling stations. Incensed with the intimidation, voters at Iroishemba forcefully entered polling stations and destroyed election materials and equipment, the official said. At Kiyamgei in Imphal East district's Keirao constituency, armed men fired blank shots and intimidated some polling agents. Earlier in the day, an altercation broke out between voters and unidentified men at Khongman Zone 4 in Imphal East district, leading to damage to EVMs. West Imphal: A broken EVM at a polling booth after incidents of violence during 1st phase of Lok Sabha polls in Manipur's West Imphal, Friday, April 19, 2024. ( Congress candidate Bimol Akoijam also got into an argument with police personnel in a polling station at Kyamgei Heibong Makhong High School in Imphal East, where he alleged that polling agents of his party were being threatened. BJP's state unit general secretary K Sarat Kumar alleged that Akoijam, accompanied by his supporters, visited several polling stations and provoked officials. Akoijam, accompanied by his supporters, visited several polling booths and disturbed the election atmosphere. We have filed a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer and Returning Officer, he told reporters. The Congress also blamed the BJP for violence during voting in Inner Manipur. Kh Devbrata, working president of the state unit of the Congress, told reporters: We strongly condemn the acts of armed unidentified men entering polling stations and intimidating voters and indulging in proxy voting. We haven't seen the government try to conduct the polling peacefully in a free and fair manner, Devbrata said. Girish Chodankar, the election in-charge of Manipur and Nagaland for AICC, wrote on X that violence and booth capturing by armed miscreants have been witnessed in several places despite a written submission to the Chief Electoral Officer of possible tension. They allowed frustrated BJP supporters to forcibly capture booths and prevent common people from exercising their voting rights, making a mockery of the elections. We have demanded repolling in such booths, he added. Several voters took to social media to claim that their votes were already found cast when they reached the poll booth. Manipur has witnessed sporadic, sometimes intense, ethnic clashes since May 3 last year between the majority Meitei community and the Kukis, resulting in the loss of more than 200 lives. While the Meiteis are now concentrated in Imphal city, the Kukis have moved to the hills. More than 24,000 displaced people living in the relief camps were identified by the Election Commission as eligible voters and 94 special polling stations were set up for them. No voting arrangements were made for those who left the northeastern state after the clashes. A group of women marched to a polling booth in the Churachandpur district, which was the epicentre of the violence last year. They flashed posters and raised slogans of No justice, no vote. Ahead of polls, several bodies and civil society organisations had launched campaigns pushing for an election boycott saying eed the right to live before the right to vote. HIGHLIGHTS | LS polls 2024: Phase 1 voting ends with 60% nationwide turnout, TN records 72%

Zero voter turnout in 6 Nagaland districts amid shutdown call; CM says no problem with demand

Officials said there is no movement of people or vehicles on major streets in eastern Nagaland except those of the district administrations and other emergency services. Additional Chief Electoral Officer of Nagaland Awa Loring said polling personnel were present between 7 am and 4 pm in the 738 polling stations in the region which comprises 20 assembly constituencies.

Tripura, West Bengal lead in Lok Sabha poll voter turnout at 3 pm; moderate polling in Bihar, Rajasthan

Tripura, West Bengal lead in Lok Sabha poll voter turnout at 3 pm; moderate polling in Bihar, Rajasthan Parliamentary seats in northeastern states and West Bengal recorded high voter turnout till 3 pm in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on Friday with polling percentage also picking up in constituencies in some other states and union territories which went to the polls. Polling percentage was relatively less in Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand. Voting is being held in 102 seats in the first phase of Lok Sabha election. Voting for India's parliamentary election, the largest democratic exercise in the world, began at 7 am with Election Commission urging people to exercise their franchise in maximum number. Of the 102 seats going to the polls on Friday, BJP-led National Democratic Alliance had won 43 seats and parties in INDIA bloc 48 seats in 2019 election. While the BJP-led NDA is seeking third consecutive term in office under leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the INDIA bloc is hoping to oust it from power. Polling is being held in 21 states and union territories in the first phase. These are - Arunachal Pradesh (two seats), Assam (five), Bihar (four), Chhattisgarh (one), Madhya Pradesh (six), Maharashtra (five), Manipur (two), Meghalaya (two), Mizoram (one), Nagaland (one), Rajasthan (12), Sikkim (one), Tamil Nadu (39), Tripura (one), Uttar Pradesh (eight), Uttarakhand (five), West Bengal (three), Andaman and Nicobar (one), Jammu and Kashmir (one), Lakshadweep (one) and Puducherry (one). According to Election Commission data at 3 pm, Tripura, which saw brisk polling in the initial hours, continued to maintain its lead with 68.35 poll percentage. It was 55.58 per cent for Arunachal Pradesh, Assam (60.70), Chhattisgarh (58.14), Jammu and Kashmir (57.09), Madhya Pradesh (53.40) Manipur (63.03), Meghalaya (61.95), Mizoram (49.97), Nagaland (53.38), Puducherry (58.86), Sikkim (52.72). Seats in West Bengal also witnessed a high voting percentage of 66. 34 per cent. In seats in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh, 47.44 per cent voters had cast their ballot by 3 pm. In Tamil Nadu, where all 39 Lok Sabha seats are going to the polls, voting percentage was 51.18 per cent till 3pm. In Uttarakhand, where polling is being held on all five parliamentary seats, the voting percentage was 45.62 per cent. The polling percentage was relatively low till 3 pm in Bihar (39.73 pc), Andaman and Nicobar islands recorded (45.48 pc), Lakshadweep (43.98), Maharashtra (44.12), Rajasthan (41.51). Polling is also being held on Friday for assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. According to Election Commission data at 3 pm, it was 56.19 per cent in Arunachal Pradesh and 52.73 per cent in Sikkim. Polling will be completed in a single phase today in Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, voting will take place across all seven phases starting April 19. The poll schedule was announced by the Election Commission on March 16. Bypolls to 26 assembly constituencies will also be held alongside the Lok Sabha and four state assembly polls. Voting for bypolls is being held in the Ramnagar seat in Tripura and the Vilavancode seat in Tamil Nadu today. The first phase has the highest number of parliamentary constituencies among all phases. An estimated 8.4 crore male voters, 8.23 crore female voters and 11,371 third gender electors are eligible to vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls. The Lok Sabha polls 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. (ANI)

Hridayapath, Dispatch 7: Meghalaya And Nagaland Voters Give A Big Thumbs Up To Central Government Schemes

Zero voter turnout in 6 Nagaland districts over separate state demand

Zero voter turnout in Nagaland districts over separate state demand

Annamalai, Kanimozhi: Heavyweights in first phase Of Lok Sabha 2024 Elections

Several political heavyweights were in poll fray in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls 2024 on Friday. The polling began at 8 AM where around 16.35 crore people are expected to exercise their franchise. Elections in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Andaman and Nicobar islands, Lakshadweep and Puducherry will conclude in a single phase. First phase of voting begins today on 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs and 92 Assembly Constituencies in the state assembly elections in Arunachal and Sikkim.Nitin Gadkari, Annamalai, Kanimozhi and Chirag Paswans fate will be sealed in the EVMs today.

LS polls: One village's polling officers are all women

The line was orderly at Government Middle School as people waited patiently to vote, even after one of the voting machines malfunctioned. The officers working at the polling station in Chedema village in India's tiny mountain state of Nagaland on Friday had arrived the day before, all of them women on electoral duty for the first time. The four women surveyed the polling station, secured the perimeter and started on the tedious paperwork involved with India's multiphase national election.

Lok Sabha elections: Tamil Nadu records 39.51 pc voter turnout by 1 pm

Lok Sabha elections: Tamil Nadu records 39.51 pc voter turnout by 1 pm The average voter turnout in 39 constituencies of Tamil Nadu where Lok Sabha elections are underway stood at 39.51 per cent till 1 pm as per the data released by the Election Commission of India. The south Parliament constituency of Chennai recorded a voter turnout of 28.92 per cent till 1 pm whereas the Chennai north constituency witnessed 29.05 and the voter turnout in central Parliament constituency was recorded 28.08 per cent. Voting percentages for the other constituencies participating in phase 1 elections are Arakkonam- 40.30 per cent, Arani- 44.16, Chidambaram-37.76 per cent, Coimbatore-35.89 per cent, Cuddalore-37.84 per cent, Dharmapuri-40.70 per cent, Dindigul-42.12 per cent, Eorde- 43.54 per cent, Kallakurichi-46.06 per cent, Kacheepuram-39.92 per cent, Kanniyakumari-37.86 per cent, Karur- 46.23 per cent, Krishnagiri-39.78 per cent, Madurai-35.79 per cent, Mayiladuthurai-40.50 per cent. Nagapattinam-42.05 per cent, Namakkal-46.31 per cent, Nilgris-40.88 per cent, Perambalur-45.86 per cent, Pollachi-40.08 per cent, Ramanathapuram-40.90 per cent, Salem-46.89 per cent, Sivganga-34.10 per cent, Sriperumbudur-30.65 per cent, Tenkasi-39.91 per cent, Thanjavur-41.14 per cent, Theni-41.28 per cent, Thoothukkudi-39.11 per cent, Tiruchirappalli-38.13 per cent, Tirunelveli-38.24 per cent, Tiruppur-44.08 per cent, Tiruvallur-38.55 per cent, Tiruvannamalai- 41.74 per cent, Vallore-39.5 per cent, Viluppuram-43.84 per cent and Virudhunagar-42.19 per cent. Meanwhile, there was a substantial increase in the voter turnout charts across the states in the country, with North-Eastern state of Tripura still leading at 53.04 per cent till 1 pm as per the data released by the ECI. Other Northeast states like Meghalaya (48.91) and Manipur (46.92) are also witnessing high voter turnout percentages. After Tripura, West Bengal is experiencing high voter turnout at 50.96 per cent. Voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 began on Friday across 102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories as the mega seven-phase electoral exercise commenced at 7:00 am. Voters will exercise the franchise until 6:00 pm. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking his third consecutive term, while the opposition bloc-INDIA- a coalition of opposing parties formed to take on the BJP in the general elections, is eyeing ousting him from power. In Tamil Nadu in the 2019 general elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, comprising the Congress, VCK, MDMK, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, MMK, KMDK, TVK, and AIFB, registered a landslide victory, winning 38 of the 39 seats in the state. Those voting in the first phase include seats in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. An estimated 8.4 crore male voters, 8.23 crore female voters, and 11,371 third-gender electors are eligible to vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls, according to the ECI data. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)

Northeast states record high voter turnout, Tripura leads with 53 percent turnout at 1 pm

Northeast states record high voter turnout, Tripura leads with 53 percent turnout at 1 pm There was a substantial increase in the voter turnout charts across the states in the country, with North-Easterm state of Tripura still leading at 53.04 per cent till 1 pm as per the data released by the Election Commission of India. Other Northeast states like Meghalaya (48.91) and Manipur (46.92) are also witnessing high voter turnout percentages. After Tripura, West Bengal is experiencing high voter turnout at 50.96 per cent. The lowest turnout till 1 pm has been recorded in Lakshadweep at 29.91 per cent. Voting percentages for the states participating in phase 1 elections are -- Andaman and Nicobar Islands - 35.70 per cent, Arunachal Pradesh - 37.39 per cent, Assam - 45.12 per cent, Bihar - 32.41 per cent, Chhattisgarh - 42.57 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir - 43.11 per cent, Maharashtra - 32.36 per cent and Madhya Pradesh- 44.43. Mizoram - 39.71 per cent, Nagaland - 43.62 per cent, Puducherry - 44.95 per cent, Rajasthan - 33.73 per cent, Sikkim - 36.82 per cent, Tamil Nadu - 39.51 per cent, Tripura - 53.04 per cent, Uttar Pradesh - 36.96 per cent, Uttarakhand 37.33 per cent. The voter turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was over 67 per cent. The commission led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu are also monitoring the progress of polling in Phase 1 of General Elections at ECI Headquarters today. Voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 began on Friday across 102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories as the mega seven-phase electoral exercise commenced at 7:00 am. Voters will exercise their franchise until 6:00 pm. According to the data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), a total of 1.87 lakh polling stations have been set up, while 18 lakh personnel have been deployed across the 102 constituencies going to the polls. The second phase will be held on April 26 and the remaining phases will be May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1 accordingly. The last general elections in 2019 were also held in seven phases. (ANI)

Northeast states record high voter turnout, Tripura leas with 53 percent turnout at 1 pm

Northeast states record high voter turnout, Tripura leas with 53 percent turnout at 1 pm There was a substantial increase in the voter turnout charts across the states in the country, with North-Easterm state of Tripura still leading at 53.04 per cent till 1 pm as per the data released by the Election Commission of India. Other Northeast states like Meghalaya (48.91) and Manipur (46.92) are also witnessing high voter turnout percentages. After Tripura, West Bengal is experiencing high voter turnout at 50.96 per cent. The lowest turnout till 1 pm has been recorded in Lakshadweep at 29.91 per cent. Voting percentages for the states participating in phase 1 elections are -- Andaman and Nicobar Islands - 35.70 per cent, Arunachal Pradesh - 37.39 per cent, Assam - 45.12 per cent, Bihar - 32.41 per cent, Chhattisgarh - 42.57 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir - 43.11 per cent, Maharashtra - 32.36 per cent and Madhya Pradesh- 44.43. Mizoram - 39.71 per cent, Nagaland - 43.62 per cent, Puducherry - 44.95 per cent, Rajasthan - 33.73 per cent, Sikkim - 36.82 per cent, Tamil Nadu - 39.51 per cent, Tripura - 53.04 per cent, Uttar Pradesh - 36.96 per cent, Uttarakhand 37.33 per cent. The voter turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was over 67 per cent. The commission led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu are also monitoring the progress of polling in Phase 1 of General Elections at ECI Headquarters today. Voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 began on Friday across 102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories as the mega seven-phase electoral exercise commenced at 7:00 am. Voters will exercise their franchise until 6:00 pm. According to the data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), a total of 1.87 lakh polling stations have been set up, while 18 lakh personnel have been deployed across the 102 constituencies going to the polls. The second phase will be held on April 26 and the remaining phases will be May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1 accordingly. The last general elections in 2019 were also held in seven phases. (ANI)

Almost 0% Voting In 6 Nagaland Districts Over Separate Territory Demand

Almost zero voting has been recorded across six districts in Nagaland so far today, after the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation - which is demanding a separate administration with more financial autonomy.

Nagaland Lok Sabha poll: Eastern districts observe shutdown, no votes cast in 20 segments

ENPO's shutdown call led to elections boycott in eastern Nagaland affecting 20 assembly segments. ECI data shows zero votes cast. ENPO justifies the shutdown for maintaining law and order.

Lok Sabha polls: West Bengal sees 15.09 per cent voter turnout, Madhya Pradesh 15 per cent till 9 am

Lok Sabha polls: West Bengal sees 15.09 per cent voter turnout, Madhya Pradesh 15 per cent till 9 am As of 9:30 am voter turnout percentages varied across states participating in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections with states like West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh leading the voter turnout charts. According to the data released by the Election Commission of India, West Bengal saw a 15.09 per cent voter turnout while Madhya Pradesh recorded a 15 per cent till 9 am. Voting percentages for the states participating in phase 1 elections are -- Andaman and Nicobar Islands - 8.64 per cent, Arunachal Pradesh - 6.29 per cent, Assam - 11.15 per cent, Bihar 9.23 per cent, Chhattisgarh 12.02 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir 10.43 per cent, Lakshadweep 5.59 per cent, Maharashtra 6.98 per cent. Manipur 11.91 per cent, Meghalaya 13.71 per cent, Mizoram 11.22 per cent, Nagaland 10.64 per cent, Puducherry 10.11 per cent, Rajasthan 10.67 per cent, Sikkim 7.92 per cent, Tamil Nadu 8.25 per cent, Tripura 15.21 per cent, Uttar Pradesh 12.66 per cent, Uttarakhand 10.54 per cent The voter turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was over 67 per cent. Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo informed that elections in the state are going smoothly. There are four to five places where the functioning of EVMs was delayed due to technical fault but all were rectified, he said. Voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 began on Friday across 102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories as the mega seven-phase electoral exercise commenced at 7:00 am. Voters will exercise their franchise until 6:00 pm. According to the data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), a total of 1.87 lakh polling stations have been set up, while 18 lakh personnel have been deployed across the 102 constituencies going to the polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking his third consecutive term, while the opposition bloc-INDIA- a coalition of opposing parties formed to take on the BJP in the general elections, is eyeing to oust him from power. The second phase will be held on April 26 and the remaining phases will be May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1 accordingly. The last general elections in 2019 were also held in seven phases. (ANI)

Voting begins on 102 seats in first of 7-phase polls

New Delhi: Voting has commenced for 102 Lok Sabha seats, constituting nearly a fifth of the total 543 seats, across 18 states and three Union Territories including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and [] The post Voting begins on 102 seats in first of 7-phase polls appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam casts his vote in Theni, says BJP alliance will win in Tamil Nadu

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam casts his vote in Theni, says BJP alliance will win in Tamil Nadu Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and candidate from Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha constituency, O Panneerselvam on Friday cast his vote at a polling booth in Theni. After casting his vote, Panneerselvam stated that the BJP alliance would win the Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha polls. The BJP alliance will definitely win. There is a BJP wave across the country. AIADMK will come back to me, he said. O Panneerselvam is contesting as an Independent candidate backed by the BJP-led NDA. Jayaperumal from AIADMK, K Navaskani from Indian Union Muslim League and Chandraprabha from Naam Tamilar Katchi are the prominent candidates for this seat. Voting is underway for all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu in the first phase of the general elections. The mega seven-phase electoral exercise commenced at 7 am today in 102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories. Voters will exercise their franchise until 6 pm today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking his third consecutive term, while the opposition bloc-INDIA- a coalition of opposing parties formed to take on the BJP in the general elections, is eyeing to oust him from power. In the 2019 general elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, comprising the Congress, VCK, MDMK, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, MMK, KMDK, TVK, and AIFB, registered a landslide victory, winning 38 of the 39 seats in the state. Those voting in the first phase include seats in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. The second phase will be held on April 26 and the remaining phases will be May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1 accordingly. An estimated 8.4 crore male voters, 8.23 crore female voters, and 11,371 third-gender electors are eligible to vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls, according to the ECI data. (ANI)

Pehle matdaan phir jalpaan... Uttarakhand CM Dhami urges people to vote in large numbers

Pehle matdaan phir jalpaan... Uttarakhand CM Dhami urges people to vote in large numbers As voting for the Lok Sabha elections began on Friday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami appealed to the people to vote in large numbers and choose a good government. Urging the people to prioritize their right to vote, CM Dhami said, Pehle Matdaan Phir Jalpaan'. Today is the mega festival of democracy. I appeal to everyone to cast their votes and choose a good government. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has seen new heights in the last 10 years and our country has got global recognition. PM Modi wants to create a strong India and a strong Uttarakhand. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and BJP candidate from Haridwar seat Trivendra Singh Rawat cast his vote along with his family at DAV School Defence Colony Dehradun polling booth. Polling for Uttarakhand's five Lok Sabha seats is underway, with the BJP hoping to retain all five seats for the third time and the Congress attempting to reclaim lost momentum in the state. Uttarakhand has traditionally witnessed a close contest between the BJP and Congress. Both parties see the state as an essential battleground for displaying and gaining supporters for their national narratives. In Uttarakhand, the BJP had won all the Lok Sabha seats in the elections in both the 2014 and 2019 elections. With 47 out of 70 assembly seats, the BJP dominated in the 2022 assembly polls, while Congress got 19 seats. BSP and Independents hold 2 seats each. This election, to be conducted from April 19 to June 1, is set to be the second longest polling exercise in the country's electoral history after the first general election, which was held over five months between September 1951 and February 1952. The last general elections in 2019 were also held in seven phases. A total of 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories will vote in the first phase today. Vote counting will be done on June 4. Those voting in the first phase include seats in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. (ANI)

LS polls: CEC Rajiv Kumar urges people to vote in maximum number

New Delhi: As the voting for the high-octane Lok Sabha Elections begins today, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar has urged people to participate in the general elections in maximum number, informing that around 16.86 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the first phase of polls for 102 constituencies and nearly 1.86 lakh polling stations have been set up for the purpose. The CEC told ANI in an interview that the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections started two years ago. From preparing the border list to preparing polling stations, finding their routes, deployment of forces, finding out vulnerable booths, creating amenities at the booths--light, shade, ramps, minimum facilities...it's a tremendous exercise that started over two years ago. He also referred to the poll panel using technological interventions for promoting inclusivity and wider participation in the polls. So everything is set. It is now time for voters to come and vote in large numbers at every polling station. Kumar said that it is essential for voters including women and youth to take part in the elections. We made an amendment in the Act where qualifying dates were made four instead of one - on January 1 of every year. There are a large number of young voters. There are voters who are transgenders. It's a truly inclusive voter list that has been prepared. The campaigning for the first phase is over. The silent period is over. Now this is the day of polling, the first one. It's for the voters to come, enjoy it at the polling station, he said. The CEC said that it's very enthusiastic to see young voters getting enrolled. We also did a lot of activities in the colleges and very youth-specific activities. We see a lot of enthusiasm. We have also done a lot of awareness-raising activities. So, if you keep using your finger on social media or on the phone the whole day, this is the time to spend five minutes and enjoy the power of voting at the polling station. Press the button on the electronic voting machine there. I'm sure this time our young voters are going to come ....we have appealed to them to become our ambassadors, to become our influencers, he said. Bring as many friends as possible including family members to the polling station. Enjoy the festival. Feel the responsibility of selecting and electing your own government, he added. Speaking on the ways to ensure the maximum participation of specially-abled and elderly people in the Lok Sabha election, the CEC said there is a facility for them to cast a vote from the comfort of their home. We have earmarked in our electoral rolls persons with disabilities, 40 per cent and above. There is a facility for them to cast a vote from the comfort of their home, if they so desire. But our experience is that many of them want to come to the polling station. And we provide them a volunteer, we provide them with wheelchairs, and it's not a question of physical comfort that we provide, it's a question of giving them the due respect and empowerment, he said. The Election Commission of India (ECI), for the first time in a Lok Sabha Election, has provided the facility of home voting for the elderly and Persons with Disabilities. Voters above 85 years of age and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) with 40 per cent benchmark disability can avail the optional home voting facility. There are over 81 lakh 85+ aged voters and 90 lakh + PwD voters registered across the country. We have issued great guidelines to political parties to be very sensitive while talking about people with disabilities...they are more capable than most of us. It's a question of just giving them those opportunities, Kumar added. He also talked of ease of voting in Manipur which has seen ethnic violence. We have made a special scheme for voting in the camps. There are more than 18,000 people who have already registered with us to vote from the camps. Our teams will take their vote wherever they are. Our attempt was and is that nobody is disfranchised, everybody is given a chance to vote. Postal ballet, through camp...wherever. So we have done something, and I' am sure people will vote and establish the point that it's the ballot that gives the answers, he said. Informing about the ways to tackle muscle power, money, misinformation and Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations, the CEC said that a large number of security and non-security measures are in place to ensure security and prevent violence. We are informing of all the steps we have taken to tackle the MCC violations and the money seizures done to the media and to everybody at large. So, everything is being reported and today is the day of voting. He said there are SSTs (strategic surveillance teams), FSTs (flying squad teams) apart from police personnel. A large number of security and non-security measures are in place. The only point is that people must come and vote. Whoever is listening, please come and vote. It's phase one, and there are six phases to come. Find out your polling station through our applications.We have distributed VIS (voter information slips), he said. More than 16 crore voter slips have been distributed in phase one. It's a kind of invitation that is reaching your house, saying this is your polling station. This is your voter list. Please come and vote. youth, male, female, old age, transgender, everybody we are looking for. Our staff is a very well trained. Teams are there at all the polling stations to welcome you very, very courteously. Please come, the CEC noted. In the first phase, polling will be held in seats in 21 states and union territories. These are - Arunachal Pradesh (two seats), Assam (five), Bihar (four), Chhattisgarh (one), Madhya Pradesh (six), Maharashtra (five), Manipur (two), Meghalaya (two), Mizoram (one), Nagaland (one), Rajasthan (12), Sikkim (one), Tamil Nadu (39), Tripura (one), Uttar Pradesh (eight), Uttarakhand (five), West Bengal (three), Andaman and Nicobar (one), Jammu and Kashmir (one), Lakshadweep (one) and Puducherry (one). 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.

LS poll: Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma reaches polling booth in West Garo Hills to cast his vote

LS poll: Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma reaches polling booth in West Garo Hills to cast his vote Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma reached a polling station in Tura, West Garo Hills, on Friday to cast his vote. A long queue of people was also seen waiting outside the Tura polling station in West Garo Hills to cast their votes. While speaking to ANI, the Meghalaya CM said, When I reached the polling station around 6:30 AM, there were around 200 people present at the polling station, which is a good message that people are participating in the voting process enthusiastically...A very good voter turnout can be seen in this election. Meghalaya is set to vote for its two Lok Sabha seats, Shillong and Tura, in the first phase of polling on April 19. The state has a total of 22.27 lakh voters, with female voters outnumbering males, totaling 11.27 lakh compared to 11 lakh male voters. Candidates vying for the Shillong (ST) seat include Vincent Pala from the Indian National Congress, the incumbent MP, Robertjune Kharjahrin from the United Democratic Party (UDP), and Ricky AJ Syngkon from the Voter's Party of India (VPP). Key political parties and alliances in Meghalaya include the INDIA bloc represented by the Indian National Congress, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), and the Regional Democratic Alliance. Meghalaya will witness a multi-cornered contest for its two Lok Sabha seats, with 10 candidates vying for victory. The BJP has chosen not to contest to keep the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) votes unified. The world's largest democratic exercise kicked off in the country today, with the first phase of a marathon exercise stretching out over seven phases to elect 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. This Lok Sabha election, to be conducted from April 19 to June 1, is set to be the second longest polling exercise in the country's electoral history after the first general election, which was held over five months between September 1951 and February 1952. The last general elections in 2019 were also held in seven phases. A total of 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories will vote in the first phase today. Vote counting will be done on June 4. Those voting in the first phase include seats in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. (ANI)

Voting begins in northeast amid boycott call in eastern Nagaland

Voting in northeastern states for the first phase saw over 1.6 crore voters. Long queues formed in Assam despite rain in Manipur. Security measures were in place for Assam LS seats. Ranjit Dutta voted first, while ENPO enforced a Nagaland shutdown.

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

The world's biggest election -- with a whopping 970 million eligible voters -- kicks off in a few hours and will take a long and winding path across 44 days before culminating in the seventh phase on June 1. The first phase of the Lok Sabha polls will see 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union territories go to the polls on Friday. The biggest chunk of seats in the first phase is from Tamil Nadu where all 39 seats go to the polls. The other states which will see all of their seats going to the polls in Phase-I are Uttarakhand (all five seats), Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya (two seats each) and the sole seat in Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim. Apart from these, 12 out of 25 seats in Rajasthan, eight out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, six out of 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh, five out of 48 seats in Maharashtra, five out of 14 seats in Assam, four out of 40 seats in Bihar, three out of 42 seats in West Bengal, one out of 11 seats in Chhattisgarh and one out of two seats in Tripura will vote on Friday. In the Union territories, one out of five seats in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the sole seats in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry will be up for grabs. Separately, voting will also be held for 92 assembly seats in the state elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim on Friday. Among the prominent leaders trying their luck in phase one are Union ministers Nitin Gadkari from Nagpur, Kiren Rijiju from Arunachal Pradesh (West), Arjun Ram Meghwal from Bikaner, Sarbanada Sonowal from Dibrugarh in Assam, Sanjeev Baliyan from Muzaffarnagar in western UP, Jitendra Singh from Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir and Bhupendra Yadav from Alwar in Rajasthan. Top leaders from Tamil Nadu whose fortunes will be decided on Friday include the DMK's Kanimozhi (Thoothukudi), Dayanidhi Maran (Chennai Central), TR Baalu (Sriperumbudur) and A Raja (Nilgiris) and the BJP's K Annamalai (Coimbatore) and Tamilisai Soundararajan (Chennai South). Rs 700 per vote: Inside India's record-breaking election! India's 969 million-odd voters have assumed a near-royalty status for a brief period. Political parties have been devoting significant energies and expense to make them feel special, even if it involves wheelbarrows full of cash worth some Rs 1 lakh crore, as per preliminary estimates. The projected expenditure far outstrips the 2019 poll spending, which itself topped out at Rs 55,000-60,000 crore, according to the Centre for Media Studies (CMS), which tracks election expenses. It almost equals the spending on the 2020 US elections that stood at $14.4 billion , or Rs 1.2 lakh crore, according to OpenSecrets.org, which too tracks election spending. In other words, the world's biggest elections happening in India will also be the most expensive ever. What it also confirms is that, power often costs too much.( Read more )

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).

LS polls: BJP aims to continue its north-east dominance against challenge of INDIA bloc, regional issues

LS polls: BJP aims to continue its north-east dominance against challenge of INDIA bloc, regional issues As the Bharatiya Janata Party has continued to expand its footprint in the north-east, it will be looking forward to continuing with its dominance, while the INDIA bloc which is aiming to stop the BJP juggernaut from seeking a third consecutive term, will try to inflict as much damage as possible to the ruling party in the region. The eight north-eastern states -- Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh -- will all go to polls in the first phase tomorrow, either fully or in phase. Assam The north-eastern state that sends the maximum number of MPs to the Lok Sabha -- 14, will undergo polls in three phases starting on April 19. Out of 14, five seats will go to polls tomorrow namely: Dibrugrah, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Kaziranga and Sonitpur. BJP is contesting on 11 out of 14 seats in Assam, while its ally parties, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), are contesting in two seats (Barpeta and Dhubri) and UPPL in one seat (Kokrajhar), respectively. Among the seats going to poll in the first phase Jorhat and Dibrugarh are of most significance because of high-profile contests on the seats. While in Jorhat, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi has decided to challenge BJP MP Topon Kumar Gogoi, the Dibrugarh presents another big clash with former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal taking on INDIA candidate Lurinjyoti Gogoi. Notably, the BJP has expanded its footprint in the state. From winning 5 seats in Assam in 2009, it has risen to 7 in 2014 and 9 in 2019. The party is also in power in the state since 2016. Mizoram Voting to elect the only MP Mizoram sends to the Parliament will take place in the first phase on April 19. Mizo National Front (MNF), which currently holds the seat, has fielded Vanlalvena this time from the only seat the state sends to the Parliament. In 2019, MNF's C Lalrosanga won the seat against the INC's Lalnghinglova Hmar by a margin of 8140 votes. Candidates of several major parties in the poll fray in the state, eyeing the sole LS seat; including Zoram People's Movement (ZPM)'s Richard Vanlalhmangaiha, Bharatiya Janata Party's Lalbiakzama, Mizo National Front's K Vanlalvena and Mizoram People's Conference (MPC), which has fielded Rita Malsawmi. The election comes in wake of issues of border fencing with Myanmar and suspension of Free Movement Regime between New Delhi and Naypyidaw. These issues are expected to play big role as in February, the Mizoram Assembly unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Centre's decision to fence the India-Myanmar border and scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) with the neighbouring country. Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced for immediate suspension of Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India's north-eastern states bordering Myanmar. In this regard, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also announced that the government has decided to construct a fence along the entire 1643-kilometre-long Indo-Myanmar border to facilitate better surveillance and ensure a patrol track along the border. The assembly polls were also conducted recently in the state, in which ZPM-led by Lalduhawma overthrew the MNF rule by registering a massive victory winning 27 out of 40 seats. Tripura The state of Tripura is another crucial front in the north-east, where the BJP will be looking forward to continue its recent momentum. There are two parliamentary seats in Tripura. The West Tripura parliamentary constituency will go to the polls on April 19 and polling for East Tripura is slated on April 26. Notably, BJP won both seats in the 2019 elections. The party is also in power in the state since 2018, when it formed the government under the leadership of Biplab Deb. The party decided to change the Chief Minister in 2022, and Manik Saha took over the post. BJP also won the 2023 assembly elections in the state winning 32 out of 60 seats. This time, BJP has fielded a strong face in former Chief Minister Biplab Deb from West Tripura. He is up against Congress' Asish Kumar Saha, who left BJP in 2022 and was made party's state chief. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said this week that 2024 Lok Sabha elections holds high significance in re-electing Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister for a third term and in making a corruption-free and developed nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recently emphasised the importance of north-east region and said that it is an issue of 'priority' for him and not just 'poltiics'. North East plays a major role in making India 'Viksit'. After years of Independence and during the rule of Congress justice was not done with the capabilities of the states in North East. Communists ruled in Tripura and they just destroyed the people of Tripura. But, today in Delhi there is a government that continuously thinks about North East and Tripura. North East 'mere liye politics ka nahi, prem aur prathmikta ka vishay hai, he said during a rally in Agartala.Arunachal Pradesh The state of Arunachal Pradesh also presents a high-profile contest with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in the poll fray. The state has two parliamentary constituencies, Arunachal East and Arunachal West. The Assembly elections will be held concurrently with the Lok Sabha elections for these two seats in Arunachal on April 19. The votes will be counted on June 4. The Minister of Earth Sciences is up against Nabam Tuki from the Indian National Congress (INC). Rijiju, a prominent figure in Arunachal Pradesh politics, has held this seat since 2014. Meanwhile, Nabam Tuki, a veteran leader and former state chief minister, is the candidate representing the Congress. BJP won one seat in 2014 while upped its tally and came out victorious on both seats in 2019. The state is going to polls at a time when neighbouring China has came up with its co-called renaming of 30 places in the state. Beijing's action has received strong condemnation from New Delhi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have repeatedly asserted that irrespective of what China does, Arunchal Pradesh is and will remain an 'integral' part of India. Sikkim Sikkim is another state which will undergo Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls simultaneously on April 19. In 2019, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM)'s Indra Hhang Subba won the lone Lok Sabha seat from the state in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The SKM also won 17 out of 32 seats in the Assembly polls while the Sikkim Democratic Front won 15 seats. This time, SKM has repeated Subba from the seat. BJP has fielded Dinesh Chandra Nepal while the Congress candidate from the seat is Gopal Chhetri. SDF, on the other hand, has fielded Prem Das Rai. Meghalaya Meghalaya has two Lok Sabha constituencies: Shillong and Tura, both of which will go for polling tomorrow. Key political parties and alliances in Meghalaya include the INDIA bloc represented by the Indian National Congress, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), and the Regional Democratic Alliance. The state will witness a multi-cornered contest for its two Lok Sabha seats, with 10 candidates vying for victory. The BJP is not contesting and NDA will be represented by National People's Party (NPP). In 2019, Congress' Vincent Pala and National People's Party candidate Agatha Sangma won the two seats in the state. This time Congress has repeated Pala from Shillong and fielded Saleng Sangma from Tura. NPP has repeated Agatha Sangma from Tura and fielded Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh from Shillong. TMC has also fielded its candidate Zenith M Sangma from the Tura constituency. Nagaland. The state of Nagaland sends only one MP to the Lok Sabha, which will go to polls tomorrow. In 2019, the NDPP-BJP coalition secured a significant victory over the Indian National Congress, emerging as the winner. The seat is currently being held by Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party candidate Tokheho Yepthomi. However, he has not been repeated from the seat. NDPP has fielded Chumben Murry as the NDA candidate from the seat. The Congress party has fielded Supongmeren Jamir from the seat. Earlier, BJP exuded confidence that their alliance would register a huge victory from the lone seat. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had visited Kohima as part of his Bharat Jodo Naya Yatra in January this year. Manipur The north-eastern state, which has been grappling with ethnic violence for close to a year, will also participate in the country's festival of democracy, but in a special manner. Manipur will poll in two phases, with Inner Manipur voting on April 19 and Outer Manipur in both phases, on April 19 and 26. While there is no official word on the rationale behind holding the polls in Outer Manipur in both the phases, it is believed that the decision was taken after assessing security concerns in the violence-hit state. A total of 15 assembly segments will see polling for the Lok Sabha on April 19, while another 13 assembly segments will poll on April 26. Significantly, the district of Churachandpur, which was epicentre of the ethnic violence that erupted last year, leaving many dead while displacing still more in the face of rampant violence and arsoning, will also go to polls in the opening phase on April 19. Currently, the two constituencies are held by Minister of State Rajkumar Ranjan Singh (Inner Manipur) and Naga People Front's Lorho Phoze (Outer Manipur). This time, however, the NPF is going into the polls as a partner in the BJP-led NDA. The BJP, earlier, announced its support for NPF candidate for Outer Manipur, Kachui Timothy Zimik. Zimik is up against Congress MLA Alfred K Arthur, who is the joint Opposition candidate of the INDIA bloc. BJP has fielded Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh from Inner Manipur and decided against repeating its MoS Rajkumar Ranjan Singh. He is up against Congress' Angomcha Bimol Akoijam. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha will be held in seven phases, from April 19 to June 1. The results will be announced on June 4. The Bharatiya Janata party will aim to hold and expand its dominance in the north-east while seeking a third consecutive term at the Centre. In its election manifesto, the party has said that it will continue its effective efforts to establish peace in the North-East and phase out the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. We will continue our efforts to address the issues in the disturbed areas and remove AFSPA in a phased manner. We will further work towards the resolution of inter-state border disputes amongst Northeastern states through sustained efforts, the party said in its manifesto. Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc, mainly led by Congress, will be looking to inflict some damage to NDA in these states riding on regional issues especially the situation in Manipur. (ANI)

Nagaland tribal body calls 'shutdown' ahead of polls

The polls for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland will begin on 7 am on Friday.

Polling tomorrow on 5 LS seats of Uttarakhand; BJP hopes to repeat 2019 feat, Congress looking to open its account

Polling tomorrow on 5 LS seats of Uttarakhand; BJP hopes to repeat 2019 feat, Congress looking to open its account Polling booths are being prepared, security arrangements have been made, helicopter services have been set up, polling parties have left for their respective stations and directions for essential services have been issued, all ahead of the first phase of voting in Uttarakhand's five Lok Sabha seats on April 19. Polling for Uttarakhand's five Lok Sabha seats will take place on Friday, with the BJP hoping to retain all the five seats for the third time and the Congress attempting to reclaim lost momentum in the state. Voting will begin at 7 am across 11,729 polling stations and continue until 5 pm, Additional Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Kumar Jogdande said. 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. More than 83 lakh voters will decide the fate of 55 candidates in the fray. Meanwhile, pulling parties left for their respective polling stations ahead of single-phase voting on 5 Lok Sabha seats scheduled for Friday (April 19). Hours before the first phase of Lok Sabha polls starts on April 19, Uttarakhand's Additional Chief Electoral Officer, Vijay Kumar Jogdande, provided information about the booths being prepared for the polls. Speaking to ANI, Jogdande informed that they have arranged two helicopters for emergency service, adding that the voting this time will be casualty-free and no emergency situation would arise. All polling parties are leaving and we have arranged two helicopters for their emergency service. One helicopter will be deployed in Garhwal and another one will be deployed in Kumaon. It will be used only for emergency purposes. Booth-level help management plans are also available with the numbers of Community Health Centres (CHCs) and ambulances, he said on Wednesday. Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer BVRCC Purushottam held a meeting with all the departments and agencies related to essential services in the Secretariat on Thursday. The Chief Electoral Officer directed in the meeting that medical staff should be present in all hospitals on the day of polling till the end of polling. Apart from this, the concerned departments related to electricity and drinking water supply should ensure arrangements at all polling stations. The Chief Electoral Officer has instructed the Public Works Department to keep all highways, roads, and connecting roads on alert mode given landslides or any other obstruction till the safe return of the polling parties to their destinations. Uttarakhand has traditionally witnessed a close contest between the BJP and Congress. Both parties see the state as an essential battleground for displaying and gaining supporters for their national narratives. In Uttarakhand, the BJP had won all the Lok Sabha seats in the elections in both the 2014 and 2019 elections. With 47 out of 70 assembly seats, the BJP dominated in the 2022 assembly polls, while Congress got 19 seats. BSP and Independents hold 2 seats each. The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases starting April 19. Nearly 97 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes in the general elections this time. The counting of the votes is scheduled for June 4. 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). (ANI)