Category: Politics

Shekhar Suman recently joined the BJP at Delhi headquarters and video of the actor from the press conference goes viral

Renowned actor and beloved television host, Shekhar Suman, made headlines as he officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party’s headquarters in Delhi on a momentous Tuesday, coinciding with the fervor of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. This move comes at a time when Shekhar is basking in the success of his acclaimed web series, Heeramandi, which has garnered widespread acclaim.

Having contested the Lok Sabha elections back in 2009 from Patna Sahib under the Congress banner, Shekhar faced a defeat against the seasoned actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha. Reflecting on his unexpected journey to the BJP, Shekhar expressed gratitude, remarking, “Till yesterday I did not know that I would be sitting here today because many things in life happen knowingly or unknowingly. I have come here with a very positive thinking and I would like to thank God that he ordered me to come here.”

Reports suggest that Shekhar had been awaiting the success of Heeramandi before taking this significant step into the realm of politics. Addressing speculations about his motives, the versatile actor-comedian asserted, “People might say that I had nothing else to do, which is why I joined politics. Heeramandi has now become a global hit.” His decision to align with the BJP comes amidst a wave of political transitions within the entertainment industry, exemplified by television actress Rupali Ganguly’s recent induction into the party.

Source: https://www.spotboye.com/trending/trending-news/shekhar-suman-joins-bjp-amid-ongoing-lok-sabha-elections-2024-says-i-have-come-here-with-a-very-positive-thinking/663a183bcf73121842d3369b

The Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government in Haryana landed in crisis after three Independent MLAs on Tuesday withdrew their support and announced they would campaign for the Congress party in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

The 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana are going to polls in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 25.

The three MLAs — Sombir Sangwan, Randhir Gollen and Dharampal Gonder— wrote to Haryana governor Bandaru Dattatreya, stating they were withdrawing their support to the Saini-led government.

HOW NUMBERS STACK IN HARYANA ASSEMBLY AFTER 3 INDEPENDENTS WITHDRAW SUPPORT?

• Following Tuesday’s development, the BJP now has 40 MLAs in the 90-member Haryana Assembly.
• BJP also has the support of two other independent MLAs – Nayan Pal Rawat from Prithla and Rakesh Daulatabad from Badshahpur and Haryana Lokhit party’s Gopal Kanda.
• With a total of 43 MLAs, the BJP is short of two from the halfway mark of 45.
• ⁠BJP, however, claims the unofficial support of 4-5 JJP MLAs saying it is actually at 47 and safe.
• The JJP MLAs haven’t announced support due to anti-defection law.
• On the other hand, the Congress has 30 MLAs, BJP’s former ally JJP has 10 MLAs and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has one.
• Another independent MLA Balraj Kundu from Meham, is yet to make his position clear.

CRISIS FOR NAYAB SINGH SAINI-LED BJP GOVERNMENT IN HARYANA?

The last No-confidence motion was brought in March 2024, wherein the Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government had won the floor test by a voice note.

Since a gap of six months is needed before the next No-confidence motion can take place, the BJP denies any crisis to the present government.

Haryana Assembly elections are scheduled for October-November this year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday cast his vote in Ahmedabad in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections amid much fanfare.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday cast his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The single-phase voting for 25 seats in Gujarat is underway.

Dressed in a white kurta and saffron Nehru jacket, Modi arrived at the Nishan Higher Secondary School polling booth in Ahmedabad’s in Ranip locality, which falls under the Gandhinagar constituency, to cast his vote amid much fanfare. Security in Gujarat has been tightened over the high-profile presence of the prime minister and Home Minister Amit Shah, who is expected to his cast vote soon. Shah is contesting the polls from the Gandhinagar constituency.

Ahead of their arrival, preparations were underway at Nishan Higher Secondary School.

After coming out of the polling booth, Modi greeted people and interacted with people. He even gave his autograph to people who had gathered outside the polling booth.

“Today is the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections. I appeal to everyone to cast their vote in this democracy. The election campaign will run for three to four weeks more. I always cast my vote here in Gujarat. Amit Shah is contesting the election from here as a BJP candidate. I came here yesterday from Andhra Pradesh and need to go to Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana (today),” he said after he got his finger inked.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/lok-sabha-elections-2024-prime-minister-narendra-modi-casts-his-vote-first-visuals-out

Voting begins at 7 am and concludes at 6 pm. The prevailing heatwave conditions and the lack of pre-monsoon rains have added to the challenges. Political parties have been requesting voters to turn up at the polling booths early to avoid the afternoon heat.

Heatwave conditions prevailing in most of north Karnataka have brought new challenges for good voter turnout in the constituencies where Lok Sabha elections are scheduled on Tuesday.

Of the 14 constituencies in the state going to polls on Tuesday, 10 had seen a drop in turnout in the 2019 general elections, compared to the 2014 numbers.

As per data from the election commission, the average turnout in the 14 constituencies went up by about 2 per cent to 68.65 per cent. A major part of this boost came from Bidar (63 per cent), Koppal (68.56 per cent) and Bellary (69.76 per cent), a significant improvement compared with the 51 per cent, 53 per cent and 53.3 per cent in 2014. Haveri, too, saw a 14 per cent increase, with 74.21 per cent of its electors turning up to vote.

However, the voter participation saw a major drop in three constituencies with Raichur slipping to 58.34 per cent from 77.7 per cent in 2014. It was followed by Gulbarga (-15 per cent) and Bijapur (-7.2 per cent). Other constituencies also saw dip in voter participation ranging from -0.5 per cent to -6.56 per cent.

The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) on Monday said that maximum temperatures are likely to be high on Tuesday.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/india/heatwave-poses-big-challenge-to-voter-turnout-in-14-ls-seats-today-3010850

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered prayers at the Ram temple in Ayodhya before holding a mega roadshow in the holy town. The Prime Minister’s first visit to Ayodhya since the consecration at the shrine on January 22 came two days ahead of the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

In a televised ceremony, Modi was seen prostrating before the Ram Lalla idol at the newly constructed temple. After paying obeisance to Lord Ram, PM Modi took to X and wrote, “At Ayodhya, prayed to Prabhu Shri Ram for the well being of my fellow 140 crore Indians.”

For PM’s visit, the entrance gates to the temple were decorated with flowers. Replicas of a bow and an arrow made using flowers were also seen at various places. According to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, Ram Lalla seated in the temple wore a light pink attire on Sunday.

PM Modi later participated in a roadshow, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Amit Shah, seeking support for the sitting BJP MP from Faizabad, Lallu Singh and those contesting from the neighbouring districts.

People from different walks of life lined the road as Modi’s motorcade passed through.

Voting in the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, under which the Ayodhya district falls, will take place in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20.

Earlier on Sunday, the Prime Minister latched on to a slip of the tongue of Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav, saying that now the Mulayam Singh Yadav’s brother is appealing to “make BJP win”.

Source : https://www.news18.com/elections/prayed-for-140-crore-indians-pm-modi-offers-prayers-at-ram-temple-holds-mega-roadshow-in-ayodhya-8878844.html

In the final hours of campaigning on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP stepped up the attack on the Congress and its INDIA bloc allies, while the Opposition leaders hit back in equal measure.

Campaigning ended on Sunday for the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections, the run-up to which saw the Constitution and reservation issue dominating the poll discourse. With the first two phases registering a dip in voter turnout as compared to 2019, the question is whether the third phase will buck the trend.

While 94 constituencies across 12 states and Union Territories were scheduled to vote on Tuesday, the BJP has already won Surat in Gujarat unopposed, and the poll for Anantnag-Rajouri seat in Jammu and Kashmir has been deferred to May 25. However, polling in Betul in Madhya Pradesh, which was to be held in the second phase on April 26, was postponed to May 7 after the death of the BSP candidate.

In the final hours of campaigning on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP stepped up the attack on the Congress and its INDIA bloc allies, while the Opposition leaders hit back in equal measure.

Modi, who offered prayers at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and held a roadshow, addressed rallies in Uttar Pradesh where he lashed out at the “dynastic politics” of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, saying that while their leaders work to benefit only their own families, he was building a better future for the coming generations.

Referring to himself and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said: “We don’t have children. We are working for your children.”

Modi also reiterated his charge that the Congress wanted to carve out a quota for its “Muslim vote bank”. “They (Congress) now want to do across the country what they did in Karnataka. They want to rob the reservation of SC/ST and OBC on the basis of religion,” he said.

PTI adds: In Telangana, addressing a rally at Nirmal under Adilabad Lok Sabha constituency, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated his charge that Modi was against reservation. “Narendra Modiji is against reservation. He wants to take away reservation from you. The biggest issue before the country is increasing reservation from 50 per cent,” he said.

Rahul claimed that the ongoing general elections was between two ideologies in which the Congress was trying to safeguard the Constitution, while the BJP-RSS combine wanted to end it and people’s rights. He said the BJP leaders have said that if their party wins the elections, they will change and finish the Constitution. “If the Constitution is finished, reservation will end,” he said, adding that the BJP wants backward classes, Dalits and Adivasis to remain backward.

The reservation issue dominated the campaign discourse in the run-up to the third phase, as the NDA and INDIA bloc levelled charges and counter-charges. The Opposition continued its pitch that the BJP wanted to win more than 400 seats so that it could make changes in the Constitution and snatch away the reservation benefits of SCs, STs and OBCs. Modi countered with the argument that the Congress, if voted to power, would divert the SC, ST and OBC quota to its “Muslim vote bank”.

The stakes are significant for the BJP and its allies, which had, in 2019, won 75 of the 93 seats going to polls on Tuesday, while the INDIA bloc parties had won only 11. Four seats had gone to the undivided Shiv Sena, two were won by independents, and one by the AIUDF.

The BJP also pounced on Sam Pitroda’s comment that the US inheritance tax was an interesting idea, alleging that the Congress would redistribute property to its “vote bank”. The Congress, on its part, continued to promise a caste census and an ‘X-ray’ of resources to deliver justice to Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs.

Source : https://indianexpress.com/elections/constitution-quota-at-centre-stage-phase-3-of-lok-sabha-election-campaign-for-93-seats-ends-9310243

Rahul was accompanied by his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/india/lok-sabha-elections-2024-rahul-gandhi-files-nomination-from-raebareli-3006380

Away from accusations of sexual harassment, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh organised a Dabdaba Pradarshan (Show of Strength) event in Uttar Pradesh’s Kaiserganj ahead of his son’s nomination for the Lok Sabha polls on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party. 500-700 SUVs were parked at a rally ground and more than 10,000 people took part in the nomination meet, including MLAs, MLCs, zila panchayat heads, BJP’s local leadership from nearby districts, and religious leaders from Ayodhya’s prominent akhadas on the dais.

Brij Bhushan, wearing a yellow kurta, an orange scarf, and dhoti was handling the arrangements with a microphone in his hand amid excited workers. He sat on a couch in the middle of the dais like a “king” while others had to make do with regular chairs. However, Brij Bhushan deliberately tried not to be the centre of attention and did not go near deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya or his son throughout the event and kept himself busy attending to the dignitaries and religious leaders. He also did not go for the filing of his son’s nomination.

“Five people were allowed to go. I was looking after the arrangements here while others have gone for the nomination filing,” he said on being asked about this. “I usually keep myself away from the limelight. I focus on the arrangements. There was no instruction to do so from anywhere; it is my routine practice.”

Brij Bhushan, a six-time MP, suffered a massive political setback due to sexual harassment allegations against him that saw some of the country’s top wrestlers hit the streets. The former president of the Wrestling Federation of India has denied the charges.

The BJP’s rivals had been attacking the party, arguing that while it says “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao”, it then gives election tickets to people like Brij Bhushan. Reacting to this, he said, “I don’t want to name anyone but a senior Congress leader approached me and asked me to join the party, saying they would take a seat from ally Samajwadi Party and I could then contest, and there would be an impact on nearby constituencies as well. I am saying this with full responsibility.”

On the question of his role in the party since he will not be an MP anymore, he said, “Hoihi soi jo Ram rachi rakha (Whatever Lord Ram has written will happen). I used to contest elections, now I am managing one. I am in the position of a kingmaker now.”

He refused to answer questions regarding the cases against him, saying that the matter was in court.

Since Brij Bhushan’s arrival at the rally venue with a convoy of over 15 cars and till his exit, he was completely surrounded by workers. The programme ended only after he left.

Of his sons, while Karan Bhushan was being greeted by people, Prateek Bhushan, who is an incumbent MLA, was receiving guests like deputy CM Keshav Maurya and others.

Source: https://www.news18.com/elections/brij-bhushan-holds-show-of-strength-in-kaiserganj-with-700-suvs-and-10000-supporters-as-son-karan-gets-lok-sabha-ticket-8877246.html

Raebareli, the constituency was held by Sonia Gandhi who became a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is likely to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Raebareli with the party announcing his candidature for the seat on Friday, the last day of filing nomination, the sources said.

As per the sources, Congress’ loyalist KL Sharma will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Amethi, the seat Rahul Gandhi lost in the 2019 general elections to BJP leader Smriti Irani.

Friday is the last date for filing nominations for the seats that will go to polls on May 20 in the fifth round of the seven-phase general elections.

The Congress has not yet put out any official statement on its choice of nominees from Amethi and Raebareli, which were considered the party’s strongholds until the 2019 elections.

Raebareli, the constituency was held by Sonia Gandhi who became a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Traditional strongholds of the Gandhi-Nehru family

The party has won the Congress bastion in all but three Lok Sabha elections since 1951. Before Sonia Gandhi, former PM Indira Gandhi had won from Raebareli three times. The constituency also elected Indira’s husband and Congress leader Feroze Gandhi twice, in 1952 and 1957. A member of the Nehru-Gandhi family has not contested the seat just twice, in 1962 and 1999.

Both constituencies are traditional strongholds of the Gandhi-Nehru family, with its members holding these seats for decades.

Seat-sharing arrangement in the state

The Congress, which is contesting 17 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh as part of the seat-sharing deal with the Samajwadi Party (SP), has announced candidates for all the seats barring Amethi and Raebareli.

Amethi is scheduled to poll in the fifth phase on May 20, with the last date for filing nominations scheduled on May 3.

Rahul’s defeat in Amethi, once considered a Congress ‘pocket borough’, at the hands of Smriti Irani in the 2019 polls was seen as a significant blow to the party’s national prestige.

Rahul represented Amethi in the Lok Sabha from 2004 to 2019. His father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, too, was an elected member of Amethi in the Lower House from 1981 till his death in 1991. Sonia Gandhi contested elections from here in 1999 before passing the baton on to Rahul in 2004.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/lok-sabha-elections-2024-rahul-gandhi-likely-to-file-nomination-from-raebareli-kl-sharma-from-amethi

Rangeela shared a video on ‘X’ where he said he is doing it to uphold the democratic freedom of the country’s electoral process. He was referring to the unopposed win for the BJP candidates in Surat and Indore after Congress candidates withdrew their nominations.

Shyam Rangeela (L) and PM Narendra Modi.

The holy town of Varanasi is all set to witness some excitement as it votes in the last leg of the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections on June 1. Also famous as the seat which BJP’s biggest face and country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has represented twice and is seeking a third time from, the constituency is all set to see comedian and ‘Modi comic’ Shyam Rangeela contest against the PM.

Rangeela, who rose to fame with his mimicry of politicians including Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi among others, confirmed announced on Wednesday on his social media handles the news. Rangeela shared a video on ‘X’ where he said he is doing it to uphold the democratic freedom of the country’s electoral process.

Rangeela was referring to the unopposed win for the BJP candidates in Surat and Indore after Congress candidates withdrew their nominations.

There is however, no confirmation as of yet whether the comedian will contest from any particular party or as an Independent.

“I have come here to share with you my mann ki baat. Yes, I am contesting from Varanasi and I am doing it to because we all saw what happened in Surat and Indore… I am afraid the same might happen in Varanasi. Even if one person wants to vote against someone, they should be able to do that, there should be an option on the EVM,” Rangeela said in Hindi on the video.

Rangeela said that his choice of seat will ensure that his voice reaches the people of Varanasi as it is a prestigious seat and said that people have shown him a lot of love and support since the news broke of him contesting in the Lok Sabha polls.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/india/lok-sabha-elections-2024-comedian-shyam-rangeela-says-he-will-contest-against-pm-modi-from-varanasi-3003996

Accusing the state government of not taking action in this case purposely till the completion of polling of Lok Sabha elections in the Vokkaliga belt, Shah said the Congress government played politics even in this terrible crime and allowed him (Prajwal) to flee.

Charging that the Congress government in the state allowed Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna allegedly involved in sex videos and abuse of women to ‘flee’, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said those, who commit such acts (sexual abuse of women), should be given the harshest punishment and there should be no delay in it.

Shah was addressing a public gathering in Hubballi on Wednesday evening, campaigning for BJP candidate Pralhad Joshi.

“BJP cannot be with anybody who commits atrocity on women. We may be alliance partners, but our stand is clear. Those who commit such acts should be given the harshest punishment without making any delay,” he said.

Accusing the state government of not taking action in this case purposely till the completion of polling of Lok Sabha elections in the Vokkaliga belt, Shah said the Congress government played politics even in this terrible crime and allowed him (Prajwal) to flee. “The government is yours and steps have to be taken by you. Tell the truth if you (Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar) have courage. Because of you, those who committed heinous crimes fled,” he said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/karnataka/bjp-cant-remain-with-those-who-commit-atrocities-against-womenamitshahon-prajwal-revanna-3003685

This incident has dented the reputation of the Gowda family, whose head HD Deve Gowda is a former PM. The JD(S), too, has been hit hard in their leader’s fiefdom of Hassan, which he has carefully built over the past 60 years

The moment polling ended in Karnataka’s Hassan Lok Sabha constituency last Friday (April 26), its sitting MP and NDA candidate Prajwal Revanna drove to the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and boarded a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt in Germany.

The next day, the police found out that he had fled the country the night before while the state government formed a special investigation team to probe serious charges of sexual predation against him. Only a few days before polling, sex videos allegedly featuring him and a number of women – young and old – surfaced on social media leaving the public in Hassan as well as the rest of the state shocked.

The Gowda clan made a feeble attempt to dismiss the horrifying images as fake, but there were not many takers. The video clips seemed to have hurt his re-election bid and a panicked Prajwal fled the country fearing serious backlash.

Reputation dented, JD(S) hit hard

This incident has dented the reputation of the Gowda family, whose head HD Deve Gowda is a former prime minister. The JD(S), too, has been hit hard in their leader’s fiefdom of Hassan, which he has carefully built over the past 60 years. Some of his party leaders and workers have gone to the police against his grandson, aggravating the situation.

The most unexpected and shocking response for the family has come from Prajwal’s uncle and former CM HD Kumaraswamy. Reacting to the incident, he welcomed the SIT and said: “Those who ate salt should drink water, this is the law of the land. If he has fled the country, the police will bring him back. I have nothing to do with this incident.”

His hyper-aggressive older brother and Prajwal’s father HD Revanna has so far kept quiet and is yet to come out of his home since voting day. His politically ambitious mother Bhavani Revanna has switched off her phone since the video clips surfaced.

According to the police, there are hundreds of video clips while dozens of women have come forward to lodge complaints against Prajwal. A majority of them have alleged that he sexually assaulted them using his political and money power.

It is well known that Deve Gowda himself worked the phones to save his grandson before he fled. Chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar expressed their shock over the revelations and assured a free and fair investigation into the matter.

The SIT is headed by additional director general of police BK Singh, and has two women IPS officers – Suman D Pennekar and Seema Latkar. A team headed by Singh is also credited with successfully cracking the sensational murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh a few years ago.

Source : https://www.news18.com/elections/prajwal-revanna-sex-scandal-karnataka-gowdas-fight-survival-anti-jds-environment-8870964.html

PM Modi to News18: “First of all, whoever understands the Constitution of India, whoever knows the federal structure of India, and whoever knows what is in whose jurisdiction, won’t ever say such things. Because this is not in their jurisdiction… I challenge the Congress party to hold a press conference and say they will restore 370.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an exclusive interview to News18 Network, challenged the Congress or state governments to bring back Article 370.

Responding to Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi’s question on the scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s claims that she won’t allow the enforcement of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Modi said, “First of all, whoever understands the Constitution of India, whoever knows the federal structure of India, and whoever knows what is in whose jurisdiction, won’t ever say such things. Because this is not in their jurisdiction. If Modi is the chief minister of a state, he can’t do such things. The central government will do what is in its ambit. A state government will do whatever is in its ambit. But fooling the people is a trend nowadays – to keep them in the dark. That’s why they keep saying anything at all.”

“Second, I challenge the Congress party to hold a press conference and say they will restore 370. They talk big about the Constitution. They talk about Babasaheb Ambedkar. They abuse us so much. But Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution was not applicable for the entire nation. For 70 years, the Indian Constitution was not applicable in Jammu and Kashmir. There, Dalits are getting reservation for the first time [after the Article 370 move]. The Valmiki community is getting reservation for the first time. What are they talking about? Do they have the courage to hold a press conference and say, “We’ll bring back Article 370?” Can any party dare say that?” Modi said.

The Centre, in March 2024, announced the implementation of the CAA. The purpose of this bill is to give Indian citizenship to refugees of six communities (Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Parsis), who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The CAA was an integral part of the BJP’s manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. While the government maintains the law is not against Muslims or will not take away citizenship of India’s Muslims, the exclusion of the community has led to criticism from the Opposition. The National Register of Citizens (NRC), which is in place in Assam, looks to maintain a record of citizens. Earlier, the Centre had said that those left out of the Assam NRC could get reprieve if they apply for citizenship under CAA.

Source : https://www.news18.com/elections/pm-modis-reply-to-opposition-challenge-any-party-to-bring-back-article-370-caa-not-state-subject-exclusive-8869619.html

Amid uncertainty from both seats, UP Congress requested the top leadership to field Rahul Gandhi from Amethi and Priyanka Gandhi from Raebareli.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Saturday urged the top party leadership to field Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Amethi and Raebareli, respectively for the Lok Sabha polls, but no decision was taken at the meeting of the central election committee (CEC).

Sources said AICC in-charge of party Affairs in Uttar Pradesh Avinash Pandey and CLP leader in the state Aradhana Mishra urged Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Sonia Gandhi to give tickets to both Rahul and Priyanka from the Uttar Pradesh seats.

During the meeting of the CEC chaired by Kharge, various members of the all-important panel also supported the views of the party leaders from Uttar Pradesh and left the decision on the top leadership, the sources said.

The sources said the decision on whether Rahul Gandhi will contest from Amethi or not will be taken in a day or two.

There is a speculation that Rahul Gandhi could be fielded from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat.

The Lok Sabha candidates for the remaining five seats in Punjab were also discussed during the meeting of the CEC.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/up-congress-urges-party-leadership-to-field-rahul-gandhi-from-amethi-priyanka-from-raebareli-101714244877663.html

A purported video shows West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee boarding a helicopter. She tripped and fell as she moved ahead to take a seat.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slipped and fell while boarding a chopper in Durgapur, Paschim Bardhaman, on Saturday. She reportedly suffered a minor injury.

A purported video of the incident was shared by news agency ANI. The video shows Banerjee boarding the helicopter. She fell as she moved ahead to take a seat. Security personnel rushed to help her. She, however, continued with her journey to Asansol.

Earlier this month, Banerjee attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre over the Lok Sabha elections being held in the state in seven phases amid ‘scorching heat’. Her statement came after Union minister Nitin Gadkari fainted while speaking during a poll campaign in Maharashtra’s Pusad.

In March this year, Banerjee was hospitalised after suffering a major injury. She had sustained injuries including a deep gash on her forehead and a cut on her nose during the incident.

“Our chairperson @MamataOfficial sustained a major injury. Please keep her in your prayers,” the Trinamool Congress (TMC) had posted on X along with pictures of Banerjee bleeding from her forehead.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/trends/laapataa-ladies-on-netflix-kiran-raos-directed-film-captivates-audience-netizens-say-big-reality-check-to-society-11714269177437.html

Modi said the Congress wants to extend the ‘Karnataka model wherein Muslims were inducted in the 27 per cent quota for OBCs’, in the entire country.

Kolhapur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday targeted the Congress-led I.N.D.I.A. alliance, saying it is mulling to have five prime ministers in five years if voted to power.

Addressing a rally at Kolhapur in western Maharashtra, Modi said the opposition bloc cannot even reach a three-digit figure or ‘at the doorstep of forming a government, but has plans to have one prime minister every year if they get a chance’.

“In Karnataka, Congress has planned to rotate the post of the chief minister by handing it to the deputy chief minister after 2.5 years. They had this arrangement in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan as well,” he said.

Modi said the Congress wants to extend the ‘Karnataka model wherein Muslims were inducted in the 27 per cent quota for OBCs’, in the entire country.

‘The Congress-led alliance has vowed to murder social justice,’ he said and accused the Congress of stooping low for appeasement and vote bank politics.

‘Congress wants to change the Constitution and rob Dalits, OBCs of quota benefits for religion-based reservation,’ he said.

Modi said the Congress had not only opposed the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya but also declined the invitation for its consecration.

Targeting Rahul Gandhi over wealth distribution, Modi said, ‘The Congress shehzade wants to search your wealth and distribute it to those who the party had said to have the first right on the country’s resources’.

‘The Congress wanted to impose inheritance tax and rob people of their inheritance. Such people shouldn’t get even a slight chance of coming to power,’ he added.

He said the NDA is leading 2-0 in the first two phases of Lok Sabha elections.

‘Kolhapur is known as a football hub. With the second phase of polling completed, I will say the NDA is leading 2-0 while the Congress alliance engaged in anti-India policies and politics of hate has scored two self-goals,’ he added.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/india/lok-sabha-elections-2024-you-will-have-five-pms-in-5-years-if-congress-led-india-bloc-wins-poll-says-modi-2997883

Polling for the second phase began at 7 am and concluded at 6 pm, with several states experiencing intense heat conditions.

In the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections that covered 88 seats across 12 states and a union territory, a voter turnout of 63.50 per cent was reported. The Election Commission (EC) stated that polling was mostly peaceful.

The tentative voter turnout figure at 8 pm was 63.50 per cent, which is expected to increase as reports from all polling stations are received. Additionally, voters arriving at polling stations until the end of polling hours were allowed to cast their votes.

In some villages in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura, Rajasthan’s Banswara and Maharashtra’s Parbhani, voters initially boycotted the polls but were later convinced by authorities to participate.

Polling for the second phase began at 7 am and concluded at 6 pm, with several states experiencing intense heat conditions. The first phase of polling took place on April 19 in 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories.

Voting took place across all 20 constituencies in Kerala, 14 out 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.

Here are the key takeaways:

1. The voter turnout, at the conclusion of polling on Friday, stood at approximately 63 per cent, a decrease from the 65 per cent recorded in the first phase last week and the 68 per cent reported during the second phase in 2019.
2. According to Election Commission data, Tripura recorded the highest voting percentage at 79.46 per cent, followed by Manipur at 77.32 per cent. Uttar Pradesh recorded a turnout of 54.85 per cent, and Bihar recorded 55.08 per cent. The polling in the Tripura East (ST) constituency concluded peacefully with two polling stations reporting voter turnouts of over 100 per cent. This was attributed to the use of Election Duty Certificates (EDC), according to a statement by the Chief Election Officer of Tripura on Friday.
3. In Manipur, which has seen a heightened presence of security personnel during polling, the voter turnout was notably high at 77.32 per cent.
4. Uttar Pradesh’s voter turnout was 7 per cent less than the 62 per cent voting witnessed for the same seats in 2019.
5. In Kerala, the voter turnout stood at 70.21 per cent. The voter turnout in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala was recorded at 72.70 per cent.
6. In Madhya Pradesh, the voter turnout was recorded at 57.88 per cent.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-2024-second-phase-tripura-highest-voter-turnout-up-lowest-top-points-101714178365750.html

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is contesting from the Guna-Shivpuri Lok Sabha seat as a BJP candidate.

A video of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia’s wife, Priyadarshini Raje Scindia, has taken the internet by storm, in which she can be seen interacting with local women.

The viral video depicts Priyadarshini Raje Scindia telling the local women, “Do your work yourselves.”

The video has drawn criticism from every quarter, with many social media users pointing out her rude behavior with local voters.

According to reports, the incident was captured on camera in Madhya Pradesh’s Guna, where Priyadarshini was seeking votes for her husband.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is contesting from the Guna-Shivpuri Lok Sabha seat as a BJP candidate.

The Scindia family is leaving no stone unturned to ensure Jyotiraditya’s victory. His wife and son are intensively campaigning for him by going from village to village.

During election campaign, a video of Priyadarshini Raje is going viral on social media. In the video, Prayadarshini Raje is seen sitting in a car, seemingly getting irritated while listening to some local women.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/khud-apna-kam-karna-sikho-jyotiraditya-scindiaa-wife-to-local-women-raising-water-issue 

Lok Sabha election 2024: Polling for Phase 2 is underway for 88 seats across 13 states and union territories on Friday, April 26.

Voting for the second phase of the Lok Sabha election 2024 is underway in 88 seats across 13 states and union territories on Friday, April 26. The polling began at 7am and will continue till 6pm.

The counting of 543 Lok Sabha seats votes and the result announcement will take place on June 4.

Initially, 89 constituencies were scheduled to go to polls on April 26. However, the Election Commission of India later announced that the voting in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul would not take place during the second phase due to the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate.

Kerala has the highest number of constituencies as all 20 seats went poll on Friday, followed by Karnataka with 14 seats. The other states which are voting on Friday include Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tripura, and Manipur. The poll for the Jammu parliamentary seat will also be held on Friday.

Lok Sabha election 2024: 5 about phase 2 polling

1. As many as 1,202 candidates, including 1,098 males and 102 females are in the fray. There are 8.08 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters among the electorates who will decide the fate of candidates. As many as 5,929 third-gender electors will also exercise their franchise in the second phase of polls.
2. According to the Election Commission of India, 34.8 lakh first-time voters are registered to cast their votes.
3. There are over 14.78 lakh registered 85 years old, 42,226 voters above 100 years and 14.7 lakh PwD voters for phase two who have been allowed to vote from the comfort of their homes.
4. Women, including security staff, will completely manage more than 4,100 polling stations, and over 640 polling stations by persons with disabilities (PwDs). Polling stations in all states and UTs except Bihar and Kerala have less than 1000 average electors per polling station.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/lok-sabha-election-2024-88-seats-kerala-highest-5-facts-about-phase-2-polling-april-26-101714103186002.html

Kerala Lok Sabha Election 2024: Kerala goes to polls today with 194 contestants across 20 seats. Notable figures, including Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, and BJP’s Rajeev Chandrasekhar vie for voter support amid heightened political fervour.

A total of 194 contestants in 20 Lok Sabha seats are vying for voters’ support as Kerala goes to polls on Friday, after over a month of fierce campaigns by the Communist Party Of India (Marxist)-led ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), Congress-headed United Democratic Front (UDF), and the BJP-led NDA.

Several senior BJP and Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor of the Congress, and Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Kailash Choudhary and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, are in the fray in the 88 seats.

While Rahul Gandhi is seeking a second straight term from Wayanad, Chandrasekhar is pitted against three-time MP Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram.

BJP vs CONGRESS

Following the first phase polls in 102 seats on April 19, PM Modi has stepped up his attack on the Congress, accusing it of seeking to provide nationwide reservations to Muslims in the quotas meant for Other Backward Classes.

He also warned voters in his poll rallies that a Congress government at the Centre will snatch their assets, including women’s ‘mangalsutra’, to benefit those who are “intruders” and have more children, as he cited a speech by his predecessor Manmohan Singh to back his claim.

The Congress, in turn, has accused him of lying and spreading communal divide, claiming that he has been rattled by the BJP’s poor show and complaining to the Election Commission against him.

The BJP also has filed complaints against Congress leaders, including Gandhi, prompting the poll watchdog to issue notices to the presidents of the two parties seeking their replies.

Will the BJP’s drought in Kerala finally end and will a spike in political temperature following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attack on the Congress boost the turnout after a relatively muted voter enthusiasm, are some of the questions weighing on people’s minds.

POLLING IN KERALA
More than 2.75 crore voters are set to cast their votes as polling began at 7 am today.

The mock polls were conducted at 6 am in the presence of representatives of political parties to ensure that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were working properly, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjay Kaul told news agency PTI.

He also said that 30,238 EVMs will be used in the state for this Lok Sabha election, and if any of the machines fail, reserve ones will be provided by the respective sector officers.

To ensure a free and transparent election, a webcasting system has been put in place for live monitoring of all booths in eight of Kerala’s 14 districts, namely Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/story/lok-sabha-election-2024-kerala-elections-rahul-gandhi-shashi-tharoor-gajendra-singh-shekhawat-kailash-choudhary-rajeev-chandrasekhar-2531844-2024-04-26

PM Modi says Opposition party aims at snatching rights and properties; it has plans to implement a 15% reservation on the basis of religion by reducing quota of SCs, STs & OBCs, he alleges in three rallies

Doubling down on his attacks against the Congress’ promises on social justice and alleged wealth redistribution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 24 claimed that the “dangerous intentions” of the Congress were coming to the fore one by one.

Addressing poll rallies in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Modi reiterated his assertion that the Congress’ plan for social welfare and reducing inequality amounted to a “dangerous game” of wealth redistribution and “snatching people’s rights and properties”.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha/pm-slams-congress-on-pitrodas-inheritance-tax-remark-says-its-dangerous-intentions-coming-to-fore/article68101582.ece

The Congress and the Samajwadi Party are contesting the polls together, the former in 17 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state

The Congress’s decision to hold off on announcing candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli – the constituencies, both in Uttar Pradesh, are closely associated with the Gandhis – coupled with ill-timed comments have resulted in confusion and speculation.

In the case of Amethi, where Rahul Gandhi lost to the BJP’s Smriti Irani in 2019 (she has already been announced as the party’s candidate and has been camping in the constituency), the expectation among local Congress workers is that his candidature will be announced again – perhaps over the weekend. Gandhi is contesting from Wayanad, which he represents, and which goes to polls on Friday. It is believed that Gandhi’s candidature from the Kerala constituency boosted the Congress’s prospects in 2019, helping the grouping led by it to win 19 of the state’s 20 Lok Sabha seats; analysts say the party may not want to affect this in any way by announcing Gandhi’s candidature from Amethi.

But the delay has resulted in speculation. On Wednesday, posters suggesting Robert Vadra, Gandhi’s brother-in-law, be given a chance this time came up in Amethi. While Congress leaders have accused the BJP of orchestrating this, it is a fact that Vadra, on April 4, said: “The people expect me to represent Amethi if I decide to contest elections.”

Meanwhile, in Rae Bareli, the expectation of the local Congress is that Gandhi’s sister and Vadra’s wife, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, will contest in the constituency that her mother, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi represented between 2004 and 2024. Sonia Gandhi is now a Rajya Sabha member from Rajasthan.

That, in turn, has resulted in speculation that the BJP has not announced its candidate in the constituency because it could, if Gandhi Vadra contests, field her cousin and BJP leader Varun Gandhi against her. Varun Gandhi is the incumbent MP at Pilhibit but the party chose not to field him from there this time.

Varun Gandhi declined comment on the issue. District BJP president Buddhilal Pasi said he is not aware of any move to field Varun Gandhi. “The people of Rae Bareli want a local leader as the BJP candidate from the seat.”

The only constant in all this appears to be Irani, who has been campaigning in her constituency, and on Wednesday, reacted to the Vadra poster by saying “Jija ho ya saala, Amethi ka voter, Modi ka matwala”.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-congress-silence-on-rae-bareli-amethi-sparks-buzz-101714018794114.html

Study author tells Fox News Digital that findings are ‘warning tale’ about facial recognition technology

Researchers are warning that facial recognition technologies are “more threatening than previously thought” and pose “serious challenges to privacy” after a study found that artificial intelligence can be successful in predicting a person’s political orientation based on images of expressionless faces.

A recent study published in the journal American Psychologist says an algorithm’s ability to accurately guess one’s political views is “on par with how well job interviews predict job success, or alcohol drives aggressiveness.” Lead author Michal Kosinski told Fox News Digital that 591 participants filled out a political orientation questionnaire before the AI captured what he described as a numerical “fingerprint” of their faces and compared them to a database of their responses to predict their views.

“I think that people don’t realize how much they expose by simply putting a picture out there,” said Kosinski, an associate professor of organizational behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.

“We know that people’s sexual orientation, political orientation, religious views should be protected. It used to be different. In the past, you could enter anybody’s Facebook account and see, for example, their political views, the likes, the pages they follow. But many years ago, Facebook closed this because it was clear for policymakers and Facebook and journalists that it is just not acceptable. It’s too dangerous,” he continued.

“But you can still go to Facebook and see anybody’s picture. This person never met you, they never allowed you to look at a picture, they would never share their political orientation … and yet, Facebook shows you their picture, and what our study shows is that this is essentially to some extent the equivalent to just telling you what their political orientation is,” Kosinski added.

For the study, the authors said the images of the participants were collected in a highly controlled manner.

“Participants wore a black T-shirt adjusted using binder clips to cover their clothes. They removed all jewelry and – if necessary – shaved facial hair. Face wipes were used to remove cosmetics until no residues were detected on a fresh wipe. Their hair was pulled back using hair ties, hair pins, and a headband while taking care to avoid flyaway hairs,” they wrote.

The facial recognition algorithm VGGFace2 then examined the images to determine “face descriptors, or a numerical vector that is both unique to that individual and consistent across their different images,” it said.

“Descriptors extracted from a given image are compared to those stored in a database. If they are similar enough, the faces are considered a match. Here, we use a linear regression to map face descriptors on a political orientation scale and then use this mapping to predict political orientation for a previously unseen face,” the study also said.

The authors wrote that their findings “underscore the urgency for scholars, the public, and policymakers to recognize and address the potential risks of facial recognition technology to personal privacy” and that an “analysis of facial features associated with political orientation revealed that conservatives tended to have larger lower faces.”

“Perhaps most crucially, our findings suggest that widespread biometric surveillance technologies are more threatening than previously thought,” the study warned. “Previous research showed that naturalistic facial images convey information about political orientation and other intimate traits. But it was unclear whether the predictions were enabled by self-presentation, stable facial features, or both. Our results, suggesting that stable facial features convey a substantial amount of the signal, imply that individuals have less control over their privacy.”

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ai-can-predict-political-orientations-blank-faces-researchers-fear-serious-privacy-challenges

Lok Sabha election 2024 phase 2: Voting for phase 2 of the general election, where 89 constituencies in 13 states will go to polls, will take place on April 26.

The second phase of voting for the 18th Lok Sabha elections is scheduled for April 26, following the initial phase held on April 19, which saw a turnout of approximately 64 per cent. This phase will cover 89 Lok Sabha constituencies across 13 states, including Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jammu & Kashmir.

The first phase of the polling covered 102 constituencies of 21 states and union territories (UTs). Ten states and UTs were fully covered, while 11 states and UTs were partially covered.

Lok sabha election phase 2 timing and full schedule

Voting for the second phase of elections will start at 7 am and end at 5 pm on April 26. According to the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) timetable, the third phase is set for May 7, the fourth for May 13, the fifth for May 20, the sixth for May 25, and the final phase for June 1. Vote counting will take place on June 4. The assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will be held on May 13.

Which constituencies will vote in phase 2?

LS polls phase 2: Who are the key candidates?

Wayanad in Kerala: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is standing as a candidate from the Wayanad constituency in Kerala. His opponents in this constituency include Annie Raja from the CPI and K Surendran, the president of the BJP in Kerala.

The veteran politician’s comment came after the BJP on Monday expelled him for a period of 6 years “for embarrassing the party”.

Expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader KS Eshwarappa on Tuesday said that he is not scared of any expulsion and was positive about his electoral prospects as an independent candidate from Karnataka’s Shivamogga constituency.

The veteran politician’s comment came after the BJP on Monday expelled him for a period of 6 years “for embarrassing the party”. BJP state disciplinary committee president Lingaraj Patil said in the expulsion order that Eshwarappa’s decision to contest as an independent candidate is “violation of party discipline.”

“I have decided to contest as a non-party candidate, I still have hope, I do not fear any expulsion. I will contest elections and win and will go back to BJP again. I have competed five times with the lotus sign,” Eshwarappa was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The decision to relieve Eshwarappa comes after he rebelled against the saffron party and said he is no longer with it and doesn’t fear any disciplinary action. The former BJP state unit President was miffed with his son KE Kantesh being denied a ticket from the Haveri Lok Sabha seat in the southern state, from where former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai is contesting.

Eshwarappa blamed former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa and his son as well as Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra for his son Kantesh not getting a Lok Sabha ticket.

Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/karnataka-lok-sabha-election-2024-i-do-not-fear-any-expulsion-says-expelled-bjp-leader-ks-eshwarappa-426487-2024-04-23

NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar said that no one in history can forget the contribution of former PM Jawaharlal Nehru but the prime minister (Modi) continuously criticises him.

NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar on Monday claimed former prime ministers worked to make a new India but PM Narendra Modi only criticises others and doesn’t speak about what his government had done for the people in the last ten years.
Addressing a campaign rally in Amravati for a Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate, Mr Pawar said former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s contribution to the country cannot be questioned.

He claimed some BJP leaders had spoken publicly about changing the Constitution and appealed to the people to not allow autocracy to take shape in India.

A high-profile poll battle is shaping up in the Amravati Lok Sabha constituency where the BJP has fielded Navneet Rana, the sitting MP who won the 2019 polls as an Independent candidate, against Balwant Wankhede of Congress.

Mr Pawar alleged PM Modi was trying to create fear and emulating Russian President Vladamir Putin.

Mr Pawar said he has come to apologise to the people of Amravati for the “mistake” he had committed in the 2019 elections by supporting the candidate (Navneet Rana).

“In the last elections, I had sought the support of people and made an appeal (to elect Rana). People elected the candidate I had appealed for. Time has come to amend that mistake,” he said.

Wankhede, who belongs to Congress, is contesting the election as a candidate of the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), and Congress.

“After Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, I saw the working of almost all PMs ranging from Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Narasimha Rao to Manmohan Singh. Their efforts were to make a new India, but the incumbent PM only criticises,” Mr Pawar said.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sharad-pawar-alleges-pm-narendra-modi-trying-to-create-fear-emulating-vladimir-putin-5501660#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The nomination of Congress candidate was rejected after the district returning officer prima facie found discrepancies in the signature of the proposers.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Mukesh Dalal was on Monday elected unopposed from Surat Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat after all other nominees withdrew from the fray, over a fortnight before the state will vote on May 7 in the third phase of the general elections, making it the first electoral success for any political outfit in the ongoing polls.

The development came a day after nomination of Congress candidate Nilesh Kumbhani was rejected after the district returning officer prima facie found discrepancies in the signature of the proposers. The party’s substitute candidate from the seat, Suresh Padsala, also had his nomination form rejected.

“As all the candidates who had successfully filed their nomination forms for the Surat Lok Sabha seat have withdrawn their candidature, Dalal has been elected unopposed. We have handed over the election certificate to him,” district collector cum returning officer Sourabh Pardhi told HT over the phone.

Voting for all 26 Gujarat constituencies was schedule for May 7, but with the result of Surat seat already out, polling will now be held on 25 seats.

“Surat has offered the first lotus to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congratulations to Surat Lok Sabha candidate Mukeshbhai Dalal for being elected unopposed,” Gujarat BJP chief CR Patil said in a post on X.

The filing of nominations for the third-phase elections started on April 15 and continued till April 19. On Monday, which was the last date for withdrawal of nominations, a total of eight candidates withdrew from the poll fray, with Bahujan Samaj Party’s Pyarelal Bharti being the last one to do so around 2 pm, the poll officer said. Besides Bharti, four independents and three nominees from smaller parties also withdrew their nomination papers on the last day.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Congress leaders on Monday met the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners and demanded that the election process in Surat be restarted, alleging that “wrong and undue influence” was being exerted. “This is the case of no election by complete subordination of the democratic will of several contestants and several proposals. It is a case of patent bad faith and undue pressure,” Congress leader and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters in Delhi.

Source:https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bjp-candidate-wins-surat-lok-sabha-constituency-unopposed-after-8-contenders-withdraw-101713815849199.html

Lok Sabha elections 2024: “Manmohan Singh’s government had said Muslims have the first right on the country’s assets,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at an election rally in Rajasthan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election speech in Rajasthan’s Banswara has raised a controversy over his references to Muslims, with leaders of the Opposition bloc INDIA calling the speech an attempt to divert attention from “real issues”.
“This ‘urban Naxal’ mindset, mothers and sisters, they will not even leave your ‘mangalsutra’. They can go to that level… The Congress manifesto says they will calculate the gold with mothers and sisters, get information about it, and then distribute that property. They will distribute it to whom – Manmohan Singh’s government had said Muslims have the first right on the country’s assets,” PM Modi said at the rally on Sunday.

“Earlier, when their (Congress) government was in power, they had said that Muslims have the first right on the country’s assets. This means to whom will this property be distributed? It will be distributed among those who have more children. It will be distributed to the infiltrators. Should your hard-earned money go to the infiltrators? Do you approve of this?” he said.

“Is it acceptable to you? Do governments have the right to confiscate your property which you have earned through hard work? The gold with our mothers and sisters is not for showing off; it is related to their self-respect. The value of their mangalsutra is not in gold or its price, but is related to her dreams in life. And you are talking about snatching it?” PM Modi said.

Fortifying PM Modi’s claim, the BJP posted a 22-second video of Dr Singh’s speech from December 2006. “The Congress doesn’t trust their own Prime Minister?” the BJP said.

PM Modi in the speech was alluding to a comment by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in December 2006 at a meeting of the National Development Council on fiscal priorities of the government. Then too, a huge controversy had broken out, after which the office of the then Prime Minister had issued a clarification on what it called a “deliberate and mischievous misinterpretation”.

According to the then Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Dr Singh had said, “I believe our collective priorities are clear: agriculture, irrigation and water resources, health, education, critical investment in rural infrastructure, and the essential public investment needs of general infrastructure, along with programmes for the upliftment of SC/STs, Other Backward Classes, minorities, and women and children.

“The component plans for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will need to be revitalised. We will have to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities, particularly the Muslim minority, are empowered to share equitably in the fruits of development. They must have the first claim on resources. The Centre has a myriad other responsibilities whose demands will have to be fitted within the overall resource availability.”

The PMO had said it would be seen from the above that the Prime Minister’s reference to “first claim on resources” refers to all the “priority” areas listed above, including programmes for the upliftment of SCs, STs, OBCs, women and children and minorities.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, reacting to PM Modi’s attack on Dr Singh, in a post on the microblogging website X said the Prime Minister now wants to divert the attention of the public from issues.

“After the disappointment in the first phase of voting, the level of Narendra Modi’s lies has fallen so much that out of fear, he now wants to divert the attention of the public from the issues. Trends have started coming regarding the immense support that Congress’s ‘Revolutionary Manifesto’ is receiving,” Mr Gandhi said in the post.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-2024-pm-narendra-modi-invokes-manmohan-singhs-muslim-remark-to-jab-congress-party-rebuts-5492647#pfrom=home-ndtv_bigstory

In Rajasthan, PM Narendra Modi claimed that if Congress came to power, it would give people’s valuables to “those who have more children”.

Row over PM Modi’s Rajasthan rally: Several Opposition leaders, including Asaduddin Owaisi and Mallikarjun Kharge, have hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his “redistribution of wealth” remarks targeting the Congress during an election rally in Rajasthan’s Banswara on Sunday.

PM Narendra Modi claimed that if the Congress came to power, it would give people’s hard-earned money and valuables to “infiltrators” and “those who have more children”.

Reacting to the prime minister’s speech All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi wrote on social media platform X (formally Twitter), “Modi today called Muslims infiltrators and people with many children. Since 2002 till this day, the only Modi guarantee has been to abuse Muslims and get votes. If one is talking about the country’s wealth, one should know that under Modi’s rule the first right to India’s wealth has been of his wealthy friends. 1% of Indians own 40% of the country’s wealth. Common Hindus are made to fear Muslims while their wealth is being used to enrich others.”

Hitting back at the PM, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that in the history of India, no prime minister has lowered the dignity of his post as much as Modi.

“Today, Modi ji’s desperate speech showed that INDIA is winning the first phase. What Modi ji said is definitely a hate speech, but it is also a deliberate ploy to divert attention,” Mallikarjun Kharge said on Sunday.

Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that today, the prime minister did what he has got in the values of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

“Lying for power, making false references to things and making false allegations against opponents is the specialty of the Sangh and the BJP’s training,” the Congress chief added.

“Our manifesto is for every Indian. It talks about equality for all. Talks about justice for all. The Nyaya Patra of Congress is based on the foundation of truth, but it seems that the chair of the dictator like Goebbels is now shaking,” Mallikarjun Kharge wrote in Hindi on X.

Rahul Gandhi reacts to PM Modi’s speech
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also reached to the speech saying after facing “disappointment” in the first phase of voting, “the level of lies of Narendra Modi has fallen so much that he now wants to divert the people from the issues as he is rattled”.

The trends of immense support for Congress’ “revolutionary manifesto” have started emerging, Rahul Gandhi posted in Hindi on X.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/asaduddin-owaisi-congress-react-sharply-to-pm-modis-wealth-to-infiltrators-remarks-101713743576249.html

Nirmala Sitharaman has said in an interview that ‘we’ will bring back electoral bonds and it was also said in the interview that when electoral bonds were introduced, they were introduced for the sake of transparency.

Congress leader Kapil Sibal has criticised Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intended to reintroduce electoral bonds.

The BJP intended to bring back electoral bonds in some form after consultation with all stakeholders if the party comes back to power in the 2024 general elections, Sitharaman told a newspaper. What electoral bonds brought in was transparency. What prevailed earlier was just free-for-all. We still have a lot of consultation to do with stakeholders. We have to see what we have to do to make or bring in a framework that will be acceptable to all, primarily retain the level of transparency and remove black money from the equation, Sitharaman said in an interview with a newspaper.

She also said that it has not yet been decided whether the Union government will seek a review of the Supreme Court verdict scrapping the scheme. Sibal, however, pointed out that the Supreme Court had, while scrapping the scheme, termed it unconstitutional.

On February 15, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court scrapped the Centre’s electoral bonds scheme of anonymous political funding, calling it unconstitutional, and ordered disclosure by the Election Commission of the donors, the amount donated by them and the recipients. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also hit out at the BJP over the restoration of the electoral bond scheme. We know that the BJP looted Rs4 lakh crore of public money in the #PayPM scam…. if they win and restore the electoral bonds, how much will they loot this time? he asked.

Nirmala Sitharaman has said in an interview that ‘we’ will bring back electoral bonds and it was also said in the interview that when electoral bonds were introduced, they were introduced for the sake of transparency.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/lok-sabha-elections-2024-fm-nirmala-sithraman-faces-flak-over-electoral-bonds

Home Minister Amit Shah, while conducting a roadshow in Rajasthan’s Udaipur on Friday evening, took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and mocked him over his earlier remarks that the removal of Article 370 will lead to turmoil in Kashmir. The BJP leader said that under Prime Minister Modi’s government, no one has the guts to throw a stone in the state.

The roadshow was held hours after voting for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections got over.

While addressing the rally, Shah said, “In Kashmir, (Peoples Democratic Party chief) Mehbooba Mufti and (Congress leader) Rahul Baba (Gandhi) used to say there would be bloodbath here once Article 370 is removed.”

He further said, “Rahul Baba, five years have passed (since the abrogation of Article 370). This is the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Leave alone the talk of the bloodbath, no one has the guts to throw a stone there.”

Shah held a roadshow in support of BJP candidate from Udaipur Lok Sabha seat, Mannalal Rawat, in the city on Friday night. He was accompanied by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma in an open vehicle and the roadshow was carried out from Delhi Gate chauraha to Surajpole chauraha.

In the roadshow of about one kilometer, the two BJP leaders greeted the workers and the public by waving hands.

Source: https://www.news18.com/politics/amit-shah-attacks-rahul-gandhi-over-kashmir-8859224.html

Voting for the 102 parliamentary seats across 21 states and Union Territories has begun along with polling for state assemblies of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Sikkim has 32 assembly seats while Arunachal is voting for 60 assembly constituencies.

“The 2024 Lok Sabha elections commence today! As 102 seats across 21 States and UTs go to the polls, I urge all those voting in these seats to exercise their franchise in record numbers. I particularly call upon the young and first time voters to vote in large numbers. After all, every vote counts and every voice matters! “the PM said in a post on X.

Voting for the 102 parliamentary seats across 21 states and Union Territories has begun along with polling for state assemblies of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Sikkim has 32 assembly seats while Arunachal is voting for 60 assembly constituencies.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also took to X and explained the importance of day in an special appeal to first-time voters.

“It is an important day today, as the first phase of voting is taking place in the country. I appeal to all the voters who are voting in this phase to vote in large numbers because every vote of yours has the power to create a secure, developed, and self-reliant India,” the Home Minister said.

“Your vote is not only meant to determine the fate of a Lok Sabha or a candidate but also to shape a bright future for India. My appeal is to choose a strong and decisive leadership that has shown the determination to free the country from corruption, nepotism, and appeasement while fulfilling its promises,” he added.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections-2024-pm-modis-every-voice-matters-vote-in-record-numbers-request-to-voters-as-lok-sabha-polls-begin-article-109416846

Lok Sabha Election Phase 1 Voting: Backed by a high-octane campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, the BJP is aiming to win 370 of 543 Lok Sabha seat, a steep rise from its score of 2019. The Prime Minister has set the NDA a target of 400.

New Delhi: Lok Sabha polls 2024 – billed by the BJP as a milestone to 2047 and the Opposition as a battle for democracy’s survival – began today. In the first of the 7-phase exercise, voting is being held in 102 seats across 21 states and Union Territories

Here are top 10 points on this big story:

The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is a campaign led by Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Its aim is to unite India through justice. The campaign seeks to understand the challenges and anyay faced by the poor, labourers, farmers, women, youth, backward classes, Dalits, tribals, and minorities and seeks to find a solution for them.

The Yatra was initiated due to the anti-people policies of the current Central Government, which have resulted in difficult times for every section of society and the country. Youth are struggling to find employment, and farmers are unable to make a living from their labor. A small group controls the country’s resources and government. The Constitution, designed to hear every citizen’s voice and protect their rights is being watered down, a fact evident in Manipur.

The aim of the Yatra is to find ways by which justice can be delivered to every Indian. Every woman should be respected, every youth should have opportunities for education and employment, every farmer should get the right price for his hard work and his crop, every laborer should get the right income, there should be provision of education and medicine for every citizen. The aim of this journey is to create an India where every section has a stake in resources and institutions.

The goal of the Yatra is to identify methods to deliver justice to every Indian. Every woman deserves respect, each young person should have access to education and job opportunities, every farmer should receive the right price for their hard work and crops, every worker should earn a suitable income, and every citizen should have access to education and healthcare. The purpose of this Yatra is to establish an India where all sectors have a share in resources and institutions.

During the Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra, Rahul Gandhi not only met with lakhs of people but listened attentively to their concerns. He reached out to them, inviting some while visiting others. He interacted with families and groups alike. Based on these interactions, he has announced guarantees for farmers such as implementing MSP as per the Swaminathan Committee’s recommendations, conducting caste census, and abolishing the 50% reservation limit.

Source: https://paanchnyay.com/?utm_source=New18English&utm_medium=ROSAllVoters&utm_campaign=INCMarch24Phase2&utm_term=DisplayBannersNaari1

Despite the crucial timing, no significant rally or public meeting featuring Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge has been organised in this region.

With just a day left for campaigning to end before the first phase of polls in Uttar Pradesh, INDIA bloc constituents, Congress and Samajwadi Party, have failed to coordinate a joint rally in western Uttar Pradesh. Scheduled for April 19, the first phase of voting encompasses eight seats in the state, with campaigning set to conclude on April 17.

Despite the crucial timing, no significant rally or public meeting featuring Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge has been organised in this region.

‘Yet to project a unified front’

A leader from the Samajwadi Party expressed disappointment, stating, “We have yet to project a unified front. A collective rally in western UP was imperative, considering its significance in the initial phase of polling. The absence of such an event underscores the lack of coordination between the allies, even at the grassroots level.”

While Akhilesh Yadav has addressed several rallies in western Uttar Pradesh, the absence of a joint rally with Congress leaders is conspicuous. However, there is a ray of hope for the Opposition as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is set to lead a roadshow in Saharanpur on April 17 in support of party candidate, Imran Masood, from Gol Kothi. Notably, Samajwadi Party leaders have decided not to participate in this roadshow.

The Congress, allied with the INDIA bloc in the state, is contesting only one seat in Saharanpur in this phase, where eight constituencies will go to polls. As the election fervour escalates, the lack of significant programmes in western Uttar Pradesh exacerbates the challenge.

Nevertheless, preparations are underway for Priyanka Gandhi’s forthcoming roadshow, as confirmed by Dr CP Rai, chairman of the Congress Party’s Media Department. Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav are also expected to address a joint press conference in Ghaziabad on April 17.

Political analyst Rajesh N Bajpai stressed the importance of presenting a united front in electoral contests, highlighting the necessity for effective vote transfer. He noted the absence of joint rallies at the grassroots level and emphasised that voters often feel alienated in the absence of such unity.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/lok-sabha-election-2024-congress-samajwadi-party-miss-joint-rally-opportunity-ahead-of-uttar-pradesh-polls

Lok Sabha elections: Rahul Gandhi attacked PM Narendra Modi at a joint press conference with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.

Ghaziabad: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi “the champion of corruption”. Reacting to PM Modi’s recent remarks on the scrapped electoral bonds scheme, Gandhi said it was the “biggest extortion scheme in the world”.

Addressing a joint press conference with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, the Wayanad MP alleged that PM Modi’s recent interview to ANI was “scripted and a flop show”.

“A few days ago, the Prime Minister gave a very long interview to ANI. It was scripted, but it was a flop show. The Prime Minister tried to explain electoral bonds in it. The Prime Minister said that the system of electoral bonds was brought for transparency, to clean politics. If this is true then why was that system cancelled by the Supreme Court. And secondly, if you wanted to bring transparency, why did you hide the names of those who gave money to BJP. And why did you hide the dates on which they gave you the money?,” Rahul Gandhi said.

The electoral bonds scheme was scrapped by the Supreme Court earlier this year. Last month, the court made the State Bank of India reveal the names of individuals and entities that bought electoral bonds.

“This is the biggest extortion scheme in the world. All the businessmen of India understand and know this and no matter how much clarification the Prime Minister wants to give, it will not make any difference. Because the entire country knows that the Prime Minister is the champion of corruption,” Rahul Gandhi added.

What PM Modi said on electoral bonds
In the interview, PM Narendra Modi had accused the Opposition of spreading lies on the electoral bonds scheme and said that “everyone will regret it when there is an honest reflection”.

PM Modi said the scheme was formulated with the aim of curbing black money in politics.

“There has been a discussion in our country for a long time that (through) black money is a dangerous game in elections. The play of black money in the country’s elections ends, this discussion has been going on for a long time. Money is spent in elections; no one can deny this. My party also spends, all parties, candidates spend and money has to be taken from people. I wanted us to try something, how can our elections be free from this black money, how can there be transparency? There was a pure thought in my mind. We were looking for a way. We found a small way, we never claimed that this was the absolute way,” he added.

PM Modi pointed out that out of the total donations made by the 16 companies which bought electoral bonds after action by probe agencies, only 37 per cent of the amount went to the BJP and 63 per cent to Opposition parties.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-is-champion-of-corruption-rahul-gandhi-claims-modi-interview-scripted-101713330652749.html

The 15-second clip shows two party leaders engaged in a physical altercation while a police officer attempts to intervene and calm the situation.

A video showing a clash between two BJP leaders has gone viral on social media. According to reports, the video captures an incident that occurred during a press conference held by Uttar Pradesh Minister Brijesh Singh.

The 15-second clip shows two party leaders engaged in a physical altercation while a police officer attempts to intervene and calm the situation.

It is noteworthy that on Monday afternoon, Minister Brijesh Singh arrived at the party district office in Amroha to conduct a press conference regarding the BJP’s manifesto. BJP leaders and workers were also in attendance. It is reported that shortly after the press conference concluded, a verbal altercation ensued between the district media coordinator Ramesh Kalal and district vice-president Krishna Kumar.

The situation quickly escalated to physical violence. Due to the commotion caused by the presence of district president Udaygiri Goswami and other party leaders, the situation became chaotic. Efforts were made to resolve the dispute by district secretary Rakesh Verma and BJYM district president Shubham Chaudhary from both sides.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/up-viral-video-brawl-erupts-between-bjp-leaders-during-minister-brijesh-singhs-press-conference-in-amroha

Accusing PM Modi of taking a soft stance against China’s aggression at the borders, he said, “Modi has betrayed Bharat Mata.”

Former Union minister and BJP veteran Subramanian Swamy launched yet another broadside at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday over the border dispute with China.

Accusing PM Modi of taking a soft stance against China’s aggression at the borders, he said, “Modi has betrayed Bharat Mata.”

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Subramanian Swamy wrote, “While Modi has betrayed Bharat Mata by crawling before China, along with his waiter monkey, thus losing 4065 sq Kms of Ladakh since 2020, hence BJP should distance itself from him and must strive to obtain a majority. Modi is a liability for the party’s credibility.”

In another tweet on the same day, he questioned why PM Modi is not ordering the prosecution of Rahul Gandhi.

In his tweet, Swamy leveled a serious allegation against former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. “Why is Modi not ordering the prosecution of Bambino alias Rahul Gandhi for organizing and participating in the gang rape by three other foreigners, of Youth Congress office bearer Sukanya, in Amethi in 2006? CM Adityanath should be having the files. Times Now had a video of her post-rape,” wrote Swamy.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/modi-is-liability-for-bjps-credibility-subramanian-swamy-asks-saffron-party-to-distance-itself-from-pm-over-border-issue-with-china

Raj Sud, 94, has voted in almost every election held in independent India, bearing witness to the eventful journey of a diverse, and now the world’s most populous, democracy over the last 76 years.

Nearly 970 million people are eligible to vote in India’s 6-week national election starting Friday, and the elderly homemaker has a clear favorite in the race.

Most polls have predicted a victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party for a third straight five-year term.

“I like Modi very much. Modi is working honestly. And he is doing very good work and wants to make the whole country absolutely beautiful,” said Sud.

Modi is considered a champion of the country’s Hindu majority and has overseen rapid economic growth during his last two terms. But critics say he’s also undermined India’s democracy and its status as a secular nation with attacks by Hindu nationalists against the country’s minorities and a shrinking space for dissent and free media.

Political parties have tried to divide the voters, said financial consultant Dhiren Singh, 58, adding that “there will be a very subversive attempt to polarize them on the basis of multiple parameters.”

For the country’s 200 million young voters, the worries lie elsewhere. According to the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy, the unemployment rate stood at more than 7% in March.

“I’m very aware of the need to find stable employment, and I’ll be looking at each party’s track records and plans in that area before deciding who to vote for,” said Manya Sachdev, 22, a student and a first-time voter.

Another first-time voter, Ankita Jasra, said that going abroad is “more attractive” for students and “the skill and all the talents that India holds is going out to countries that are not ours.”

Many of New Delhi’s urban voters say corruption, lack of good governance and inflation are issues that need immediate attention but the opposition has failed to raise them effectively.

Riven by rivalries and political defections, an alliance of opposition parties has been further crippled by a series of arrests and corruption investigations of key leaders.

Ajay Jasra, 56, a service professional, said the opposition is “completely paralyzed” and “not doing the work of the opposition at all.”

Others, like Niranjan Kapasi, blame the entire political class for “manipulating the system by getting all the benefits with taxpayers’ money.”

“I’m completely disillusioned the way the politics is, the way they are fleecing us,” said the 89-year-old retired journalist.

One thing that New Delhi’s voters, cutting across age and political inclinations, agree on is a desire to clean up the political system and make it accountable.

Yoga instructor Ajay Sud, 63, said he would like to see more honesty and ethical behavior among the

politicians.

“I would like them to be more educated. And less corrupt,” said Dhiren Singh, a financial consultant.

Kuldip Chadha, 82, said that despite the scams and corruption scandals, elections in a democracy are all about hope for the future generations. “You want to see that your children, your grandchildren, they have a good way of living and how they can manage and how they can progress in an honest system.”

Source: https://apnews.com/article/india-election-voices-photo-gallery-79038bb02d02679ec7cff91a4b30e1e9

AAP MP Sanjay Singh read out a message from jailed Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh on Tuesday said Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who worked “like a son and a brother for the country and the people of Delhi”, sent out a message from Tihar hail. “My name is Arvind Kejriwal and I am not a terrorist,” Sanjay Singh said at a press conference.

“The three-time elected CM of Delhi is made to meet Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann through a glass. It is clear from this that the prime minister has a feeling of hatred against Arvind Kejriwal…,” claimed the AAP MP.

Sanjay Singh alleged that efforts are being made 24 hours to demoralise Arvind Kejriwal. “This is Arvind Kejriwal, he is made of a different clay… The more you try to break him, the stronger he will come back…Yesterday, CM Bhagwant Mann became emotional during the meeting. This is an emotional matter for all of us but it is a matter of shame for BJP and PM Modi,” the AAP MP alleged.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/my-name-is-arvind-kejriwal-and-i-am-not-a-terrorist-sanjay-singh-on-jailed-delhi-cms-message-101713243924982.html

Rahul Gandhi had said at an election rally that if Congress is voted to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, it would ensure that “poverty is erased in one stroke”.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (April 14) took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and termed him a “royal magician” over his remark to eradicate poverty “with a single stroke” and said the country doesn’t take him seriously. The Prime Minister said that what the Congress leader said was “laughable” and reminded that his grandmother had given the slogan of ‘Garibi Hatao’ decades ago. Addressing a rally at Pipariya town in Madhya Pradesh’s Hoshangabad Lok Sabha constituency, Modi also targeted the opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc over one of its constituents being in favour of nuclear disarmament and said they cannot protect the country.

Kanhaiya Kumar (37), who has served as the president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union, will take on Bhojpuri actor-singer and incumbent BJP MP Manoj Tiwari from North East Delhi.

Kanhaiya Kumar (37), who has served as the president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union, will take on Bhojpuri actor-singer and incumbent BJP MP Manoj Tiwari from North East Delhi when the capital city goes to poll on May 25.

In 2019, Kanhaiya Kumar contested on a Communist Party of India (CPI) ticket from Bihar’s Begusarai, wherein he had lost to Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Giriraj Singh. Later, he joined the Congress in 2021.

Meanwhile, Manoj Tiwari is BJP’s two-time MP from North East Delhi seat after he defeated former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Additionally, Congress has fielded senior leader Jai Prakash Agarwal from Chandni Chowk. Agarwal will take on Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Secretary Praveen Khandelwal, who is contesting on a BJP ticket, replacing two-time MP and former Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

The party has also fielded Udit Raj from North West Delhi. The BJP has fielded Yogendra Chandolia from the seat, replacing its sitting MP Hans Raj Hans.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/story/kanhaiya-kumar-north-east-delhi-charanjit-channi-jalandhar-sc-congress-list-of-candidates-2527157-2024-04-14

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday released its poll manifesto ‘Sankalp Patra’ with the tagline “Modi ki Guarantee”. The BJP’s 69-page manifesto ‘Sankalp Patra’ promises to cover transportation for common man- road, water or air.

Waterways 

The party, if returns to power, promises the expansion of water metro services across the nation, wherever feasible. It also promises improving the connectivity and networks of water-based public transportation. As of now, India’s first water metro is functional in Kerala’s Kochi.

“We will integrate inter-ministry initiatives like the National Waterway Project, Namami Gange, the National River Conservation Plan, Jal Marg Vikas Project and Arth Ganga, among others, to double the share of Inland Water Transport in transportation,” the manifesto promised.

Roadways

The party’s manifesto promises to take PM Gram Sadak Yojana “to the remotest areas” and improve remote areas’ access and connectivity to healthcare and other government services.

“We will focus on further improving safety on roads through a series of techno legal interventions, training and behavioural change to improve road safety,” party’s manifesto said, adding that it will increase fleet of EVs and push more EV charging stations.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/water-metros-international-airports-gram-sadak-yojana-what-modi-ki-guarantee-promises-in-bjp-manifesto-article-109287229

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy sustained injuries on Saturday evening after stones were hurled at his convoy during an election campaign in Andhra Pradesh’s Vijaywada.

A group of miscreants started pelting stones at the CM’s bus during the rally which led him and another person to sustain injuries. The attack injured Reddy on his left eyebrow.

“The stone struck the CM while he was acknowledging the crowds as part of his bus tour at Vivekananda School Centre in Singh Nagar, Vijayawada,” said a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

The stone hit Reddy at a very high velocity and officials are suspecting that it could have been launched from a catapult, prompting the people standing around him atop the bus to wipe his forehead with a handkerchief initially.

The chief minister was administered first aid inside the bus immediately by a doctor.

However, unfazed by the stone pelting, he resumed his tour in the city, where he has been canvassing for nearly four hours.

Meanwhile, YSRCP leaders alleged that the TDP was behind this “attack”.

Political Leaders Condemns Attack

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his X account and wished for the Chief Minister’s speedy recovery and good health.

TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu also condemned the attack on the chief minister the rally on Saturday. Taking to X, he said, “I strongly condemn the attack on @ysjagan. I request the @ECISVEEP to initiate an impartial and unbiased inquiry into the incident and punish the responsible officials.”

BRS leader K.T Rama Rao strongly condemned the attack on the Chief Minister. Taking to his official X account, Rao said, “Violence has no place in democracy and I hope strict preventive measures are put in place by ECI.”

YSRCP leader Hafeez Khan also spoke on the attack on CM and said that TDP is behind this cowardly act because they cannot bear to see the massive response that CM Jagan is receiving during his Memantha Siddham Yatra in their so called bastions (Vijayawada).

Source : https://www.news18.com/politics/andhra-pradesh-cm-jagan-mohan-reddy-injured-bus-stone-pelting-vijayawada-rally-ysrcp-tdp-8850465.html

In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah alleged that MLAs of the ruling Congress in the state were offered Rs 50 crore as part of ‘Operation Lotus’ ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah alleged that the BJP is trying to carry out ‘Operation Lotus’ in the southern state ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. In an exclusive interview with India Today TV’s Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai, the Chief Minister claimed that the BJP “offered Rs 50 crore” to the MLAs of the ruling Congress to jump ship.

The response came after Siddaramaiah was asked about the BJP, alleging that the Congress government under him would collapse if the grand old party loses the Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka.

“They have been trying to break my government for the past year. Rs 50 crore was offered to our MLAs. They tried and failed,” Siddaramaiah told India Today TV.

When asked if it would be easier for the Congress-headed government to fall after the elections should they lose the same, Siddaramaiah staunchly dismissed it.

“Not possible. Our MLAs will not leave. Not a single MLA will leave our party,” the Chief Minister told Rajdeep Sardesai.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/chief-minister-siddaramaiah-alleges-operation-lotus-in-karnataka-bjp-offered-rs-50-crore-to-mlas-2526677-2024-04-13

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responded to charges made by BJP leaders that West Bengal has become a “safe haven for terrorists”. “What about Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat, and Bihar. Are these places safe,” she asked

The arrest of two accused in the Bengaluru cafe blast case from West Bengal on Friday ahead of the Lok Sabha polls triggered a war of words between the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the State.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was quick to respond to charges made by BJP leaders that West Bengal has become a “safe haven for terrorists”.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/arrest-of-bengaluru-blast-accused-from-west-bengal-triggers-war-of-words-between-trinamool-congress-and-bjp/article68058984.ece

Kanhaiya Kumar, who is presently in-charge of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections against Bhartiya Janata Party leader Giriraj Singh from Bihar’s Begusarai as a Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate.

Prime Minister Modi attacks Congress over claims that BJP will change Constitution if voted to power

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday attacked the Congress over its accusations that the BJP will change the Constitution if voted to power for the third term, saying that the “Constitution can’t be abolished even by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar himself”.

Addressing a rally in Rajasthan’s Barmer, PM Modi said, “The people of the country talk of 400 seats (for the BJP) because for 10 years, you, the Congress, constantly tried to stop me from doing good work in Parliament and so the nation wants to punish you. It has made up its mind to wipe you out.” The rally was organised in support of the BJP candidate and Union Minister of State Kailash Chaudhary, who is contesting from the Barmer Lok Sabha seat.

“Aur jahan tak samvidhan ka sawal hai, aap maan ke chaliye, aur Modi ke shabd likh ke rakhiye, Babasaheb Ambedkar khud aa jaayein toh bhi samvidhan khatm nahi kar sakte hain (As far as the Constitution is concerned, keep Modi’s words in writing, if Babasaheb Ambedkar comes back himself, he too can’t abolish the Constitution). For the government, our Constitution is Gita, Ramayan, Mahabharat, Bible and Quran,” he said.

In the past few weeks, the Congress has cited remarks by BJP leaders Anantkumar Hegde and Jyoti Mirdha to claim that the “BJP will change the Constitution if voted back to power”.

“The Congress, which has been discriminating against the brothers and sisters of SC/ST and OBCs for decades, is playing an old record today. Lying in the name of the Constitution has become a fashion for all the constituents of the INDI alliance whenever elections come. The Congress, which made Babasaheb (Bhimrao Ambedkar) lose the election, did not allow him to receive Bharat Ratna, and tried to destroy the Constitution by imposing Emergency in the country, is today resorting to lies in the name of the Constitution to abuse Modi,” the PM said.

He said it was his government which “for the first time started celebrating Constitution Day in the country – the Congress opposed it in Parliament – and developed the Panchteerth associated with Babasaheb. Therefore, there is a need to be cautious of the Congress and its INDI alliance, which insults Babasaheb and the Constitution”.

He reiterated that the Congress manifesto has an “imprint of the Muslim League”. Referring to the manifesto of Communist Party of India (Marxist), the PM said, “Now INDI alliance says we will destroy Bharat’s nuclear weapons and drown them in the river… Is it right for a country like India whose neighbours on both sides have nuclear weapons?”

The CPI(M) manifesto states that the party works for “complete elimination of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological weapons”.

“I want to ask the Congress, under whose instructions is your INDI alliance partner working? What kind of alliance is this which wants to disempower Bharat. On one hand, Modi is busy in making India a powerful nation, and on the other hand, the INDI alliance is announcing that Bharat will be weakened,” the PM said.

Attacking Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge once again over his remarks on mention of Kashmir in PM’s Rajasthan speeches, Modi said, “Jis Rajasthan mein, Kashmir mein janme Babosa Ramdev (a folk deity) ji ki ghar ghar pooja hoti ho, ussey poochhte ho ki Kashmir se kya rishta hai (In Rajasthan, where Kashmir-born Babosa Ramdev ji is worshipped in homes, you are asking what relation it has to Kashmir)?”

The Congress party pointed out that the PM confused Kashmir in Barmer, the birthplace of Baba Ramdev, with the Kashmir in J&K. Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra said, “In the race to build relationships everywhere, the Prime Minister turned Baba Ramdev-ji’s birthplace, Barmer’s ‘Undoo Kashmir’ village, into Jammu and Kashmir. O Ramsa Peer Baba, please forgive him.”

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/for-us-constitution-is-gita-bible-quran-even-babasaheb-cant-abolish-it-now-modi-hits-out-at-congress-9266959/

BJP Lok Sabha Candidate Kangana Ranaut advocates for giving new people a chance in politics and film industry. Criticizes INDIA alliance for indecisiveness and lack of political issues. Emphasizes on Ayurvedic lifestyle and the need for an airport in Mandi for tourism.

Hitting out at the INDIA alliance, BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Mandi Kangana Ranaut on Thursday said the INDIA bloc parties have no political issues to fight for.

She also said that new people should be given a chance in the politics.

In a post on X, Kangana Ranaut said: “New people and outsiders should be given a chance. In the film industry also, I had to struggle with dynasties. They (the INDIA alliance) are not able to decide on their candidate. They seem to be nervous and scared… They have no political issues left… I follow an Ayurvedic and Yogic lifestyle… We need an airport here for tourism…”

Reacting to Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s remarks that “who lives there” on Katchatheevu Island, Kangana Ranaut also said that due to such a thought process, development could not take place in the remote areas of the country under the Congress’ tenure.

“Nehruji’s thinking of calling ‘Aksai Chin a barren land’ is still alive in Congress. Digvijay ji’s statement regarding Kachchativu island reflects the same thinking. Due to this mentality, development could not take place in the remote areas of India under Congress rule…There will be no compromise with the geographical integrity of the country, and the country will definitely give a reply to those who have such thinking,” Ranaut wrote on X.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/lok-sabha-elections-kangana-ranaut-bjp-mandi-himachal-pradesh-bollywood-congress-11712831127366.html

Arvind Kejriwal arrest: Rajnath Singh accused the Opposition of misleading the people of the country.

New Delhi: Reacting to the Opposition’s charge that the BJP government at the Centre had misused agencies to get Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal arrested, defence minister Rajnath Singh wondered why courts didn’t grant relief to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief.

In an interview, Rajnath Singh accused the Opposition of misleading the people of the country.

“Even if it is assumed that Arvind Kejriwal went to jail because of us, why is he not getting relief? Have we taken control of the courts also? What are these people trying to say? Let them have the audacity to say we have captured courts also…is it possible?” Rajnath Singh told ANI.

Singh said the Enforcement Directorate, CBI and the Income Tax department were doing their jobs. He said if the Opposition thought their leaders were being jailed over baseless allegations, they could get protection from courts.

Rajnath Singh said if AAP leader Sanjay Singh could get bail, why other leaders weren’t able to get similar relief from courts.

“India has to be made corruption-free, this is the resolve of our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi). If they (Opposition parties) feel that they have been framed, their leaders are in jail on baseless allegations, they can get protection from courts. If Sanjay Singh (AAP leader) can get bail, why other (party leaders) have not been able to get similar relief,” he told ANI.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh recently got bail in a money laundering case linked to the liquor policy scam. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in October last year.

His party colleague Manish Sisodia, however, has been languishing in jail over similar charges since February 2023. Several courts have dismissed his bail applications since his arrest.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rajnath-singh-on-arvind-kejriwal-arrest-there-is-no-washing-machine-if-sanjay-singh-can-get-bail-why-not-101712880324632.html

Special Secretary Vigilance YVVJ Rajshekhar passed the order citing a 2007 case pending against Kumar.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/directorate-of-vigilance-terminates-services-of-arvind-kejriwals-private-secretary-bibhav-kumar-2973673

The Court said that Kejriwal, instead of using the meetings for discussing litigation strategy with his lawyers, was using it for giving directions to be passed on to the Water Minister.

A Delhi court on Wednesday rejected a plea by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking permission to hold five meetings a week with his legal team instead of two meetings which he was allowed earlier.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of Rouse Avenue court said that Kejriwal, instead of using the meetings for discussing litigation strategy with his lawyers, was using it for giving directions to be passed on to the Water Minister.

“The Applicant has failed to satisfy this court that he has been using the two permitted legal meetings per week solely for the purpose of discussing the pending litigations with his counsels. The status report/note filed by the Investigating Agency indicates that the Applicant had dictated certain directions for being passed on to the Water Minister, to one of his lawyers (whose name he refused to disclose to the Investigating Agency) during the course of a legal meeting,” the Court noted in its order.

It thus appears that Kejriwal is not even utilizing the permitted two legal interviews per week with his counsel solely for discussing his pending litigation and has rather used the allotted time for purposes other than legal interviews, the Court concluded while dismissing the plea.

Kejriwal is currently under judicial custody in Tihar jail after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case connected to the Delhi excise policy scam.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 and then produced before Judge Baweja, who initially remanded him to ED custody till March 28.

The ED’s custody over him was later extended till April 1. Thereafter, he was sent to judicial custody till April 15.

In response to Kejriwal’s application for five legal meetings a week, judge Baweja also noted that even Kejriwal had said that there are about 30-35 litigations regarding which he needs to have consultations and discussions with his counsels.

However, there does not appear to be any objective criteria for assessing whether five meetings with his lawyers per week would be sufficient to address the concern of the accused or that two meetings, which are permitted as per Jail Rules, would be sufficient, the Court said.

“In the absence of any such objective criteria for assessment, the prayer of the applicant for five legal interviews with his lawyers per week not only appears to be whimsical but also seems to have been made without any statistical basis or objective standards for assessment,” the Court said.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/delhi-court-rejects-arvind-kejriwal-plea-allow-5-meetings-jail-week-legal-team-instead-two

The Delhi High Court dismissed chief minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest and Enforcement Directorate remand in the excise policy case on Tuesday. After the setback from the High Court, the Aam Aadmi Party said that Kejriwal will move the Supreme Court for relief.

Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, in its order today, said Kejriwal collected kickbacks as the AAP’s national convenor.

“The material collected by ED reveals Mr Arvind Kejriwal conspired and was actively involved in use and concealment of proceeds of crime. The ED case also reveals that he was involved in his personal capacity as well as convenor of AAP,” read the court order.

The HC said there cannot be any specific privilege for any one including the Chief Minister.

“This court is of the opinion that the accused has been arrested and his arrest and remand has to be examined as per law and not as per timing of elections,” the High Court said.

‘JUDGES ARE BOUND BY LAW NOT POLITICS’: HC
The HC further said that Kejriwal’s challenge to timing of arrest before General elections in absence of any mala fide on part of ED is “not sustainable”.

It said that casting aspersions on process of pardon and approver is like questioning the credibility of the judge. “We hold that judges are bound by law not politics. Judgements are given on legal principles not political considerations,” the HC remarked.

The High Court further said that the ED was in possession of enough material which had led them to arrest Kejriwal. “Non joining of investigation by Kejriwal, delay caused by him was also impacting those in judicial custody,” it said.

“The present case is not a case between the Central government and Mr Kejriwal but between Mr Kejriwal and ED. The Court must remain vigilant that it is not influenced by any extraneous factors,” it said.

The Delhi High Court, last week, had reserved the order on Kejriwal’s plea. The chief minister had challenged his arrest and his remand in the Enforcement Directorate’s custody.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/arvind-kejriwal-delhi-cm-arrest-high-court-dismisses-plea-enforcement-directorate-ed-excise-policy-case-latest-news-8845503.html

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Monday announced “unconditional support” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing the Gudi Padwa rally from Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, Thackeray also announced that the MNS will not contest for Lok Sabha polls but asked his supporters to be ready for Maharashtra Assembly elections which are due later this year.

“I don’t want Rajya Sabha or Vidhan sabha, I told Fadnavis. I told them, I have no expectations and no conditions. My full support for Modi, BJP, NCP (Ajit Pawar), Sena (Eknath Shinde),” he said.

The MNS leader’s meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s last month sparked speculations that he might not join the Mahayuti – an alliance of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction in Maharashtra.

“For the last one and a half year, CM of Maharashtra has been saying we should work together. Fadnavis too said the same thing. So I went to meet Amit Shah to understand what was the proposal… We spoke of seat distribution. The last time I sat for negotiations was in 1995. I don’t have the temperament of negotiations,” he added.

However, Thackeray said that he would not compromise on his party symbol and would contest elections using party symbol. “I have gained our symbol with a lot of hard work. No compromise on symbol,” he said.

The MNS chief said that the Lok Sabha election will decide the future of the country. “Whether we prosper or we go to the dungeons,” he said.

Raj Thackeray separated from the undivided Shiv Sena and floated the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in 2006. Despite being recognised as a compelling speaker with a dedicated following, his MNS did not achieve significant influence. His contentious remarks against North Indians in the past provoked strong condemnation from leaders of different political parties, including the BJP.

Source: https://www.news18.com/politics/mns-chief-raj-thackeray-declares-unconditional-support-for-pm-modi-bjp-for-lok-sabha-elections-8845983.html

At the first rally in Maharashtra for the general election, the PM says Congress opposed Ram temple construction, accuses the party of being soft on terrorism for the sake of vote-bank politics

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 8 took a sharp dig at the Congress, likening it to bitter gourd whose flavour, he said, remains unchanged even when it is “fried in ghee or sweetened with sugar”.

The BJP leader attributed many of the country’s problems to the grand old party and framed the upcoming election as a battle between “stability and instability”.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha/modi-takes-bitter-gourd-jibe-at-congress-blames-party-for-the-many-problems-plaguing-country/article68043943.ece

Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Kerala together account for 204 seats in the Lok Sabha.

The BJP, besides making big gains in the South, will emerge as the top party in both West Bengal and Odisha in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Prashant Kishor, election strategist-turned-activist who now heads the Jan Suraaj Abhiyan, said Monday.

“They (BJP) will either be first or second party in Telangana which is a big thing. They will be number one in Odisha for sure. You would be surprised as, in all likelihood, to my mind, the BJP is going to be the number one party in West Bengal,” he said during an interaction with news agency PTI.

However, Kishor stated that the saffron party will not be winning 370 seats, a target that they have set.

Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Kerala together account for 204 seats in the Lok Sabha. However, in 2014 and 2019, they had cumulatively won 29 and 47 seats respectively.

Talking about Andhra Pradesh, where Assembly polls will be held alongside the Lok Sabha elections, Kishor said that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy will find it “very difficult” to make a comeback. “Reddy, like former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, has gone into a provider mode for his constituents, instead of being a fulfiller of people’s aspirations,” he added.

On the overall polls, Kishor said that the BJP will only be feeling pressure if the Opposition alliance, especially the Congress, can ensure that it loses at least around 100 seats in its strongholds of north and west India. “However, by and large, the BJP will be able to hold its ground in these regions,” he added.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/elections/lok-sabha-polls-2024-bjp-bengal-odisha-prashant-kishor-9257834/

A 10-member delegation of the TMC sat on a dharna outside the EC office after meeting a full bench of the Election Commission.

A delegation of party leaders also raised issues such as the use of Modi’s cut-outs in government buildings and colleges, use of armed forces in BJP’s poll campaigns

The Congress on April 8 raised a complaint with the Election Commission of India (EC) against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comment that the Congress manifesto carried the imprint of the Muslim League, with “every page reeking of breaking India”.

In a separate post on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that the BJP’s electoral graph was plummeting and that was why “the Rashtriya Swayansevak Sangh (RSS) is remembering its best friend: the Muslim League”.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha/indian-national-congress-leaders-meets-election-commission-of-india-to-complain-against-prime-minister-narendra-modi/article68042961.ece

On April 1, the Rouse Avenue Court sent him to judicial custody till April 15.

The Delhi High Court will pronounce on Tuesday its verdict in Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal‘s petition challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the excise policy case.

As per the cause list uploaded on the court’s website, a single-judge bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma will pronounce the judgment on April 9 at 2.30pm.

Apart from his arrest, Kejriwal has also challenged his subsequent remand in the ED’s custody. On April 1, the Rouse Avenue Court sent him to judicial custody till April 15.

On March 27, Justice Sharma had issued notice in the CM’s main petition against the arrest on March 21 as well as his application for interim relief seeking immediate release, listing it on April 3 for “final disposal”. On April 3, Justice Sharma, after hearing both sides for around four hours, had reserved the verdict.

Opposing his “illegal” arrest, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the CM, had argued that the arrest was intended to disable him from any active role in politics, further impinging on the level-playing field and the Basic Structure of the Constitution.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/high-court-verdict-arvind-kejriwal-petition-challenging-arrest-ed-tomorrow-9258755/

Kumar, who heads the JD(U) and returned to the BJP-led coalition less than three months ago, made the faux pas at a rally in Nawada district where he spoke before Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was on Sunday trolled on social media for predicting that the NDA will win “more than 4,000 seats”, several times the sanctioned strength of Lok Sabha.

Kumar, who heads the JD(U) and returned to the BJP-led coalition less than three months ago, made the faux pas at a rally in Nawada district where he spoke before Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a portion of his speech that has gone viral, Kumar can be heard fumbling “char lakh (four lakh)”, before correcting himself and uttering “char hazaar se bhi zyada (more than 4,000)”, while turning towards the PM whom he has been wishing a “400 plus tally” in the elections.

Predictably, many RJD leaders, including its spokesperson Sarika Paswan, shared the video of Kumar who had lambasted the party’s president Lalu Prasad and the latter’s wife Rabri Devi for their alleged dismal performance as chief ministers of Bihar.

“The chief minister wanted to wish more than four lakh MPs to the PM. Then he probably thought it would be too much and 4,000 would be sufficient,” Paswan wrote on X in a post in Hindi.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nitish-kumar-trolled-predicts-nda-will-win-over-4000-seats-lok-sabha-polls-9256959/

Political strategist Prashant Kishor said Rahul Gandhi is running Congress and has been unable to either step aside or let somebody else steer the party despite his inability to deliver in the last 10 years.

Political strategist Prashant Kishor or PK has suggested that Rahul Gandhi should consider stepping back if the Congress does not get the desired results in the Lok Sabha polls.
In an interaction with PTI editors, he said Mr Gandhi, for all practical purposes, is running his party and has been unable to either step aside or let somebody else steer the Congress despite his inability to deliver in the last 10 years.

“This according to me is also anti-democratic,” said Mr Kishor, who had prepared a revival plan for the opposition party but walked out due to the disagreements between him and its leadership over the execution of his strategy.

“When you are doing the same work for the last 10 years without any success, then there is no harm in taking a break… You should allow someone else to do it for five years. Your mother did it,” he said, recalling Sonia Gandhi’s decision to keep away from politics following her husband Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination and let P V Narasimha Rao take charge in 1991.

A key attribute of good leaders the world over is that they know what they lack and actively look to fill those gaps, he said.

“But it seems to Rahul Gandhi that he knows everything. Nobody can help you if you do not recognise the need for help. He believes he needs someone who can execute what he thinks is right. It is not possible,” Mr Kishor said.

Citing Mr Gandhi’s decision to resign as the Congress president following the party’s drubbing in the 2019 polls, he said the Wayanad MP had then written that he would step back and let somebody else do the job. But, in effect, he has been doing contrary to what he had written, he added.

Many Congress leaders will admit privately that they cannot take any decision in the party, even about a single seat or seat sharing with alliance partners “unless they get the approval from xyz,” he said, referring to their need to defer to Rahul Gandhi.

However, a section of Congress leaders also privately say the situation is in fact the opposite and Rahul Gandhi does not take decisions, which they wish he would.

Mr Kishor said the Congress and its supporters are bigger than any individual and Mr Gandhi should not be stubborn that it must be him who will deliver for the party despite repeated failures.

Questioning the former Congress president’s contention that his party has been facing poll setbacks because institutions like the Election Commission, judiciary and the media have been compromised, he said this may be partly true but is not the complete truth.

The Congress, he noted, was reduced from 206 seats to 44 in the 2014 polls when it was in power and the BJP had little influence over various institutions.

The ace strategist, who has been associated with successful poll campaigns of several major parties, however, emphasised that the main opposition party suffers from “structural” flaws in its functioning and addressing them is essential for its success.

The Congress has been in a secular decline since 1984 in terms of its vote share and Lok Sabha and assembly seats and this is not about individuals, he said.

Asked about his view on the claims that the party is in a terminal decline, Mr Kishor refuted such a claim saying those saying so do not understand the country’s politics. Such an assertion is nothing more than solganeering, he said.

“The Congress should not be merely seen as a party. The space it represents in the country can never be finished off. It is not possible. The Congress has evolved and reincarnated itself several times in its history,” he said.

The last time it did so was when Sonia Gandhi took over and plotted its return to power in the 2004 polls, he added.

Asked about what went wrong after he was roped in by the party for its revival plan, he said the Congress wanted an Empowered Action Group, which is not its constitutional body, to implement his plans and he did not agree with the proposal.

How an EAG can reform its constitutional body like the Congress Working Committee, he said. It is like a PA’s office working on a plan to reform the chairperson’s functioning, he added.

Though the Congress did form an EAG, he noted, and asked if anyone knows what it has done.

Mr Kishor ruled out the possibility of the Aam Aadmi Party, which has become a national party after tasting successes to varying degrees in different states, taking up the space of the Congress and replicating its Delhi model in other states.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/it-seems-to-rahul-gandhi-that-he-knows-everything-prashant-kishors-dig-at-congress-leader-5393139

Yogi Adityanath also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, crediting him for the ongoing infrastructure development across the nation.

Warning criminals, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that whoever poses a threat to the security of society, their ‘Ram Naam Satya’ (last rites) is certain.
He said this on Friday while addressing a massive poll rally in Aligarh for BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate Satish Kumar Gautam.

“No one ever thought that daughters and businessmen could venture out at night without worry. We ensure ‘Ram Naam Satya’ (last rites done) for the danger posed to the safety of daughters and businessmen. We live our lives chanting Lord Ram’s name. Without Ram, nothing is possible. But when someone poses a threat to the security of society, ‘Ram Naam Satya’ is also certain,” Yogi Adityanath said.

He emphasised the importance of voting for continued progress and development.

“What was a dream 10 years ago is now becoming a reality, and it’s happening because of the value of your vote. A wrong vote would have led the country into the depths of corruption. There was anarchy, curfews, and lawlessness earlier. Our daughters, our youth were under threat,” Yogi Adityanath said.

Yogi Adityanath praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, crediting him for the ongoing infrastructure development across the nation.

“When you gave your vote to Modi ji, it’s under Modi ji’s name, you ensured the guarantee of your future. Whether it’s world-class structures, highways, airports, defense corridors, medical colleges, or universities, they are all being built,” Yogi Adityanath said.

Yogi Adityanath expressed confidence in the outcome of the upcoming elections, stating that people have already decided in favour of a third term for the Modi government.

“For the first time, while the election process is underway, people are already confident about the outcome. They have already decided that it will be Modi government for the third time (Tisri baar, Modi Sarkar),” Yogi Adityanath said.

If PM Narendra Modi secures a third term, India is poised to become the world’s third-largest economy within the initial three years, he said.

“India will develop only when Uttar Pradesh develops and Uttar Pradesh will develop only when Aligarh also develops. Given PM Modi a third term, India will become the third largest economy in the world within the first three years.”.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/yogi-adityanaths-ram-naam-satya-warning-to-those-involved-in-crimes-5384684

Congress Manifesto 2024: The opposition Congress party in India on Friday (Apr 5) launched its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Addressing the manifesto launch event, senior Congress leader and former Union minister P Chidambaram said, “The broad theme of the manifesto is justice. Every aspect of justice has been threatened, weakened in the last 10 years, especially in the last five years.”

“I have always accused the BJP Govt and said that Modi Govt is the government of the rich, by the rich and for the rich. This Govt is driven only by the interests of the top 1% of this country but we have to look at the bottom 50%. The bottom 50% is as important as those who are well off. It has been estimated that 23 crore people are still poor in this country,” Chidambaram added.

“The people of Amethi expect me to represent their constituency if I decide to become a member of Parliament…For years, the Gandhi family worked hard in Rae Bareli, Amethi and Sultanpur…The people of Amethi are really troubled by the current Member of Parliament, they think they have made a mistake by electing her,” he told ANI.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/india/robert-vadra-hints-at-contesting-lok-sabha-elections-people-of-amethi-expect-me-to-represent-them-2965600

In reaction to being denied a ticket, former MLA and national general secretary Satish Kumar said that the dissenting LJP leaders will now throw their weight behind the INDIA bloc. He condemned the LJP Supremo for allocating tickets to unqualified candidates and pledged allegiance to the INDIA alliance.

In a major setback before the Lok Sabha polls, 22 leaders of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) have resigned in protest against the ticket distribution for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. Expressing their dissatisfaction, the resignations come amid allegations of ticket distribution in exchange for money within the party ranks.

Among the prominent figures who stepped down are former minister Renu Kushwaha, former MLA and national general secretary Satish Kumar, state organisation minister Ravindra Singh, Ajay Kushwaha, Sanjay Singh, and State General Secretary Rajesh Dangi.

Former MP Renu Kushwaha, expressing her disappointment, stated, “Ticket should be given to the party workers instead of people from outside. Tickets were given to the outsiders which means that able people are not there in your party. Are we the labour class people in your party who will work for you, make you a leader? Our devotion was questioned when an outsider was given a ticket. We are not here to serve as labourers for the party.”

Former MLA and national general secretary Satish Kumar, in response to not receiving a ticket, emphasised that the rebel LJP leaders will now support the INDIA bloc. He criticised the LJP Supremo for giving tickets to undeserving candidates and vowed to support the INDIA alliance.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/in-mass-exodus-22-leaders-quit-chirag-paswans-party-they-will-now-support-india-bloc-article-109018758

“I have joined the BJP in interest of the nation and to serve the people. I want to help more and more people,” Singh said on joining the BJP

Vijender Singh, India’s first Olympic medallist in boxing and a Congress leader, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

“I have joined the BJP in interest of the nation and to serve the people. I want to help more and more people,” Singh said on joining the BJP.

The Olympic medal-winning boxer justified his switch to the BJP, saying he made a “well thought out decision” after connecting with the saffron party through a common friend.

In the 2019 general election, Singh had fought unsuccessfully from the South Delhi constituency as a Congress candidate. His name was doings the rounds for the last few days as the party’s nominee from Mathura, from where actor and incumbent MP Hema Malini is contesting again.

Source: https://www.moneycontrol.com/elections/lok-sabha-election/boxer-vijender-singh-likely-to-join-bjp-article-12568061.html

During his questioning, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said by accessing his iPhone data and chats, the ED would be privy to details of AAP’s ’election strategy’ and pre-poll alliances

Apple has reportedly denied to unlock and give the Enforcement Directorate (ED) access to the iPhone used by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The Cupertino-based tech-giant has reportedly said the data can only be accessed with the password set by the owner of the device.

A report by The Indian Express quoted sources saying that during ED’s raid on the night of Kejriwal’s arrest on March 21, the agency just found Rs 70,000 and four mobile phones, including the CM’s smartphone, which were confiscated. The Delhi CM, allegedly, had switched off his iPhone and denied sharing his password.

Why Kejriwal did not share his iPhone’s password with ED?

As per reports, Kejriwal, during his questioning, said that by accessing his mobile phone data and chats, the ED would be privy to details of AAP’s “election strategy” and pre-poll alliances.

Apple’s history of not unlocking devices for law enforcement

This isn’t the first time where Apple has refused to unlock the device at the request of a country’s investigating agencies.

In 2020, Apple refused to unlock the device of one Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, a second lieutenant with the Saudi Air Force after he three Americans to death at Pensacola Naval Air Station. American authorities called this an act of terrorism, and the FBI had asked Apple to unlock the device and share the data with them to aid their investigation.

However, Apple refused to unlock the device but provided the investigative authorities with a wide variety of information that was associated with Alshamrani. Upon further requests, Apple provided more information including what they could retrieve from iCloud backups, account information and transactional data for multiple accounts.

Similarly, in 2016, a federal judge asked Apple to assist the FBI in unlocking the iPhones of two suspected terrorists, Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, the 2015 San Bernardino attack.

Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/apple-enforcement-directorate-delhi-arvind-kejriwal-iphone-13755283.html

We take a look at the different stages at which proceedings are currently pending against other AAP leaders.

Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh on Tuesday became the first Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader to be granted bail by the Supreme Court in the Delhi Excise Policy case after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) did not object to his release.

Even so, Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and AAP communications head Vijay Nair are still behind bars.

With the Lok Sabha elections just weeks away, CM Arvind Kejriwal was sent to judicial custody on April 1 after the ED arrested him in connection with the same case.

With Singh getting bail from the top court in an unexpected development today, we take a look at the different stages at which proceedings are currently pending against other AAP leaders.

Background of case and status of accused

The ED case against the AAP leaders originated out of a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2022 alleging that there were irregularities in framing and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy of 2021-22. It was stated that AAP leaders received kickbacks from liquor manufacturers through this policy.

The central agency alleged that some part of the money was used as expenses for the State Assembly elections in Goa, in 2022.

One of the questions raised was whether AAP can also be added as an accused in the case.

The AAP leaders have denied the allegations against them, terming it a politically motivated witch hunt by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

A total of six prosecution complaints – one main and five supplementary – have been filed by the ED since 2022. A total of 32 persons have been named as accused for offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

While cognizance of the complaints has been taken by the trial court, the matter has not yet reached the stage of arguments on charge.

At least 16 persons have been arrested in the case so far. Apart from AAP leaders Kejriwal, Sisodia, Singh and Nair, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha has also been arrested.

Kavitha has also been described as a kingpin by the ED and is alleged to have paid the bribes to AAP leaders in exchange of undue favours for herself and the “South Group” of liquor lobbyists.

Why AAP leaders are in the dock

After arresting the Delhi CM, the ED had told the trial court that Kejriwal was “intrinsically involved in the entire conspiracy” and also had a role in utilisation of “the proceeds of crime”.

Out of three statements connecting Kejriwal to the alleged kickbacks from South Group, two are of accused who have turned approvers and the other is of Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, the Lok Sabha candidate of BJP-ally Telugu Desam Party.

The other allegation against Kejriwal is with regard to utilisation of funds for the Goa elections by AAP.

The ED has claimed that a “part of the proceeds of crime to the tune of cash of Rs 45 Cr approx” was utilised in the election campaign and thus AAP has committed the offence of money laundering “through” Kejriwal.

“Arvind Kejriwal was at the time of offences under PMLA, incharge of and responsible for the said “company” i.e. AAP for conduct of business of AAP. Therefore, not only the AAP but Sh Arvind Kejriwal shall be deemed to be guilty of offences punishable u/s 4 ofPMLA and shall be liable to be prosecuted and punished as provided u/s 70 of PMLA,” the ED told Delhi High Court today in response to the petition challenging Kejriwal’s arrest.

Besides looking into Kejriwal’s digital devices, the ED is also going through his financial documents and details of movable and immovable properties.

Kejriwal is to be produced before the Special Judge Kaveri Baweja on April 15.

Delhi’s former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was arrested first by the CBI and then ED in February and March last year.

The ED in its case against Sisodia has alleged that since he was not only the head of the Group of Ministers related to the policy, but also the Excise Minister, he had “played a key role” in modifying the terms of the policy in a “manner which would benefit the cartel members.”

He is particularly also accused of favouring a company Indo Spirits, which is claimed to have received major profits due to the implementation of the scheme.

Sisodia’s bail petitions have been dismissed right from the trial court to the Supreme Court.

At present, his bail is being argued again before the trial court and was listed today for arguments. The ED is expected to respond to Sisodia’s argument on April 6.

Vijay Nair was the first AAP leader to be arrested in the case by the CBI in September 2022. He was the party’s communication in-charge and as per the ED, the man at the centre of the whole conspiracy. The ED has even called him the “kingpin” of the whole “liquor scam”.

Though he was granted bail in the CBI case, he was later arrested by the ED and continues to remain in prison. His bail petition in the ED case was dismissed by Delhi High Court in July last year.

According to ED, Nair held meetings on behalf of the AAP with liquor industry players, particularly the “South Group”. Dinesh Arora’s statement is one of main pieces of evidence against him.

In particular, the central agency has accused Nair of receiving ₹100 crore from the South Group as an advance kickback on behalf of AAP.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/sanjay-singh-first-aap-leader-get-bail-delhi-excise-policy-case-what-status-other-accused

Party general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi and K.C. Venugopal, Kerala Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, KPCC acting president M.M. Hassan, and senior party leader Ramesh Chennithala will accompany Mr. Gandhi.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will reach the district on April 3 to submit his nomination papers at the collectorate here for the Wayanad parliamentary constituency after leading a roadshow at Kalpetta in Wayanad.

Mr. Gandhi will arrive in a helicopter at Thalakkal ground at 10 a.m. and then head for new Municipal bus stand by car. The roadshow will begin from the bus stand premises at 11 a.m.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi and K.C. Venugopal, Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) acting president M.M. Hassan, and senior party leader Ramesh Chennithala, along with other State leaders, will accompany Mr. Gandhi.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha/rahul-gandhi-to-submit-nomination-papers-for-wayanad-constituency-on-april-3/article68020567.ece

BJP leaders dismiss Atishi’s claim of BJP’s coercion as baseless. They highlight internal power struggles in AAP for the Chief Minister’s post. The BJP MPs raise allegations of corruption and involvement in scams against AAP members

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi Minister Atishi on April 2 alleged that she was approached by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to join them or else she would be arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the coming days. While addressing a press conference, she said, “The BJP, through one of my close aides, approached me to join their party to save my political career, and if I do not join the BJP, then in the coming month, I will be arrested by the ED.”

Calling her allegations ‘baseless,’ BJP leader RP Singh said, “I too can make such baseless allegations. I, too, can say that Saurabh Bharadwaj called me up and requested me to protect them from Arvind Kejriwal, who wants to put them behind bars and make Sunita Kejriwal the CM.”

‘Internal tussle for Delhi CM’s post’, says BJP leader RP Singh
Singh further said that it was their party’s internal tussle which was surfacing, and the fight for the CM post had commenced within AAP. He said Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi are on one side, and Sunita Kejriwal and Arvind Kejriwal are on the other side.

He said, “This is their internal tussle, which is coming out again and again in different manners. The truth is that action will be taken against all whose names are involved in the matter. It is clear that the fight for the CM post has begun in AAP. Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi are on one side & Sunita Kejriwal and Arvind Kejriwal are on the other side.”

Another BJP MP, Manoj Tiwari, said, “People of Delhi are understanding it very well; there is a saying in English that thieves have been exposed. Their CM, Arvind Kejriwal, said Vijay Nair used to report to Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj. Nair, who is a key factor in the liquor scam, used to report to them. If the kingpin of this entire scam is saying that these people are involved, they should be interrogated. BJP has zero tolerance against corruption. PM Narendra Modi, BJP’s stand is to remove corruption.”

BJP leader and senior advocate Nalin Kohli says, “Atishi must be worried that the Aam Aadmi Party supreme leader Arvind Kejriwal seems to have taken her name and Saurabh Bharadwaj’s name, saying the middlemen used to meet them. If that is the case, their own leader is pointing a finger towards them. His two colleagues and other ministers are already in jail. He has already taken their resignation. Perhaps he has some other plans in mind to remove these ministers. But you just can’t turn around and attack the BJP on some false allegation or false narrative in the hope that the questions that are being asked will not be asked. Ultimately, they have to answer on the scam, which is the liquor scam in Delhi and on which the investigative agency obviously seems to have collected some credible material.”

‘Arvind Kejriwal fooled you,’ says BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said Arvind Kejriwal is the only person who has fooled her. “No one except Arvind Kejriwal has fooled you. He has destroyed several lives before her. When Arvind Kejriwal gave their names to the ED, they felt that they are the next in turn because Kejriwal has given them away.”

Sirsa, in the video message, also asked Atishi to reveal the name of her close aide, from whom she claims she got the blackmail threat from the BJP. He added, “Atishi claims that he has gotten a message. She should reveal the name of her close aide so that the ED can arrest him. BJP will not take in such a corrupt leader like Atishi and even will not allow her to walk outside its office.” Hinting at a power struggle in the AAP, Sirsa said, “This is because Arvind Kejriwal does not want to make them Chief Minister. He wants to put them in jail. So they are scared.”

Source: https://www.livemint.com/politics/arvind-kejriwal-has-fooled-you-bjp-dismisses-atishis-claims-calls-it-aaps-internal-tussle-for-cm-post-11712041225091.html

INDIA Bloc Maharally: Reminding the BJP of “the 1000-year-old (Ramayana) epic and its message”, Priyanka Gandhi spoke about how Lord Ram defeated Ravan despite having no army, chariot or resources.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said on Saturday that she wants to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the message of Lord Ram that “power does not last forever” and “ego is shattered one day”. She was speaking at the INDIA bloc’s rally held in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan.

Gandhi was the last speaker at the grand rally organised by the Opposition to protest the “misuse” of central agencies at the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- ruled Centre.

She said, “Those in power call themselves Ram Bhakt…I believe they are trapped in an illusion.”

Reminding the BJP of “the 1000-year-old epic and its message”, Priyanka Gandhi spoke about how Lord Ram defeated Ravan despite having no army, chariot or resources.

“When Lord Ram was fighting for the truth. He did not have power or resources. He did not even have a chariot. Ravan had a chariot, resources, an army and gold. Lord Ram had the truth, hope, faith, love, modesty, patience and courage…,” Gandhi said.

“I want to tell those sitting in power, I want to remind PM Modi the message of Lord Ram: power does not last forever, power comes and goes; ego is shattered one day. This was the message of Lord Ram and his life,” she added.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/india-bloc-maharally-priyanka-gandhi-cites-ramayana-at-india-rally-tells-pm-modi-that-ravan-had-army-but-ram-11711881264415.html

Refuting allegations by the opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is an independent agency and it is working independently while underlining that the government does not interfere with its work.

In an interview with Thanthi TV weeks before the Lok Sabha polls, the Prime Minister said that opposition parties are trying to use courts as a “weapon” to hinder the ED’s work because they know that Modi will not stop fighting against corruption.

“Did we create ED? Or PMLA? They were there before we formed the government. ED is an independent agency. It is working independently. Neither do we stop them, nor do we send them. They have to be right in the eyes of the law… ED has around 7,000 cases. They have only 3% of cases related to politicians. During UPA, ED seized Rs 35 lakh cash,” he said.

“During our government, Rs 2200 crore cash has been seized by the ED. Bundles of cash are being seized. Notes are being found in washing machines and pipes in houses. Rs 300 crore cash was seized from Congress MP. In Bengal, cash has been seized from many ministers. Will the people tolerate all this? No, they won’t,” he added.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, his deputy Chowna Mein and eight others were elected unopposed after the closure of the nomination withdrawal period today.

Guwahati: The BJP has won as many as 10 assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced, weeks before the scheduled election date. Chief Minister Pema Khandu, his deputy Chowna Mein and eight others were elected unopposed after the closure of the nomination withdrawal period today.

“We have won 10 seats uncontested, this is a big victory even before the vote has been cast, this just goes to show the massive support of people for our developmental work. People want us to continue, our government formation is confirmed. We will also win both Lok Sabha seats with a thumping majority,” said Mr Khandu.

The BJP has put up candidates for all 60 seats of the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly. The assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh will be held on April 19. The Congress is contesting on 34 seats.

The BJP supporters bursted firecrackers in the capital Itanagar to celebrate the development.

Besides the Chief Minister and his deputy, BJP leader Dasanglu Pul’s nomination also went uncontested after her sole opponent, Bafutso Krong of the Congress, withdrew from the contest. Dasanglu Pul is the wife of former chief minister Kalikho Pul.

There was no candidate against Chief Minister Pema Khandu at the Mukto assembly constituency, similarly, first-timer Techi Rotu of BJP is the only candidate who filed a nomination for the Sagalee assembly constituency.

At Tali in Kra Daadi, BJP candidate Jikke Tako is set to be elected unopposed for his second term and Nyato Dukam is the lone candidate to file nomination at Taliha in Upper Subansiri and Roing MLA Mutchu Mithi, who recently joined BJP, is likely to win unopposed from Roing again.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/arunachal-assemble-elections-how-bjp-won-10-arunachal-assembly-seats-weeks-before-voting-5341161

The Delhi Police said that it has made elaborate arrangements with checking at every gate and the deployment of paramilitary personnel in and around the Ramlila Maidan for the rally.

I.N.D.I.A. Bloc Rally: The opposition’s I.N.D.I.A bloc is set to hold a “Loktantra bachao rally” on Sunday at Delhi’s Ramlila ground. Ahead of the ‘maha rally’, the Congress has asserted that it is aimed at saving the Constitution and democracy and not any particular person.

The announcement came after Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to the alleged irregularities in the implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy in the national capital.

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi took to social media platform X on Saturday and lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he wants to strangle democracy and take away the option from the people to choose the government of their choice. The Wayanad MP said that it seems as if the country is being run not by a government but by a criminal gang.

On Saturday, the Delhi Police said that it has made elaborate arrangements with checking at every gate and the deployment of paramilitary personnel in and around the Ramlila Maidan for the rally organised by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), news agency PTI reported, citing officials.

According to the officials, the Delhi Police has allowed the Opposition to hold the rally with certain conditions, including no march, no tractor trollies, and no weapons in central Delhi. A strict action will be taken if any violations takes place.

Here Are Top Points:

• Top leaders of the Opposition bloc, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav are expected to attend the rally. It is being held in the backdrop of Kejriwal’s arrest and allegations of misuse of agencies against the opposition by the BJP-led central government.
• Speaking on the I.N.D.I.A. Bloc’s rally, Rahul Gandhi said that tomorrow the opposition is going to hold a big meeting in Delhi to tell the truth about this false, arrogant, and corrupt government. “This fight is between BJP and the rights of the people, in which we stand with the people. India’s victory lies only in the victory of democracy,” he said in a post on X.
• Addressing a press conference on the rally, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi will address the rally, among other senior leaders. “It is not a person-specific rally. That is why it is called the Loktantra Bachao Rally. This is not one party’s rally, about 27–28 parties are involved in it,” Ramesh said, as quoted by ANI.
• An officer said that although the rally is allowed, Section 144 will remain imposed at the DDU Marg, where the offices of political parties are located, as reported by PTI. “We have made elaborate security arrangements so that the general public doesn’t face any inconvenience due to the rally,” a senior police officer said, as quoted by PTI.
• The traffic police will also remain deployed to regulate the traffic and parkings near the ground. About a dozen companies of paramilitary personnel will be deployed around the Ramlila Maidan and other parts of central Delhi, including DDU Marg, PTI reported, citing sources. The administration has allowed 20,000 people to come for the rally, but police expects it to exceed 30,000.
• According to a Delhi Police official, seven gates have been prepared for entry and exit at the Ramlila Maidan. “Among these seven, one is for VIPs and another for the media,” the official said, as quoted by PTI. Every visitor will be checked with door frame metal detectors and hand-held machines at the entry gates, he said.
• The Delhi Police has also installed CCTV cameras and set up a control room centre from where they could watch the activities at the Ramlila Maidan. The police said the organisers have made the seating arrangements for visitors. Officials said that the facilities for drinking water and washrooms will be provided at the ground.
• JKPDP President Mehbooba Mufti reached Delhi on Saturday to attend the rally. She was received by AAP leader and minister Imran Hussain at Delhi airport.
• Former Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said “Tomorrow, a mega rally of the INDIA alliance is taking place in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. The way two sitting CMs have been arrested and leaders of the opposition are being targetted, it seems that PM Modi is scared of fighting elections… He does not want anyone to stand against him…When leaders are in opposition, actions are taken against them and when they join BJP they are given a clean chit,” as quoted by news agency ANI.

Source : https://news.abplive.com/elections/i-n-d-i-a-bloc-mount-attack-modi-govt-mega-delhi-rally-kejriwal-arrest-aap-congress-rahul-gandhi-mallikarjun-kharge-sharad-pawar-1676075

The Bharatiya Janata Party released the 8th list of candidates for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections on Saturday. The list includes the names of 11 candidates including former IPS officer Debashish Dhar from West Bengal’s Birbhum and Preneet Kaur from Punjab’s Patiala.

Debasish Dhar, a 2010 batch IPS officer resigned from his service on March 20 to join politics. In his resignation, he wrote that due to personal reasons and to achieve social goals in his life, he is resigning.

The BJP on Sunday named two candidates from West Bengal, three from Odisha and six from Punjab. It has so far announced its candidates for 411 seats.

The saffron party has still has not given any candidate for Diamond Harbour and Asansol seats. This time, the party has replaced actor Sunny Deol and has given Gurdaspur ticket to Dinesh Singh Babbu.

Government doctor, Pranat Tudu resigned from his position and will now contest from BJP ticket from West Bengal’s Jhargram. Other candidates include Ravneet singh Bittu from Ludhiana, Hansraj Hans from Faridkot, Taranjeet Sandhu from Amritsar, Sushil Kumar Rinku from Jalandhar, Sukanta Kumar from Kandhamal among others.

Former Indian ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu will be making his poll debut from Amritsar.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kickstart the BJP’s Lok Sabha poll campaign in Uttarakhand by addressing a public meeting at Rudrapur in Udham Singh Nagar district on April 2. Elections to the five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand are scheduled to be held in the first phase on April 19. All the five seats are with the ruling BJP since 2014.

Source : https://www.news18.com/elections/bjps-8th-list-of-candidates-for-ls-polls-out-former-ips-officer-debashish-dhar-preneet-kaur-make-the-cut-8834211.html

Govinda joined Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and called it the ‘blessing of God’. “I thought I would not enter politics again,” the actor said.

Bollywood actor Govinda joined Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena on Thursday adding a splash of glamour to the upcoming Lok Sabha election in Maharashtra. Govinda is likely to be fielded from Mumbai North West as he makes a comeback to politics after a hiatus. Govinda, in 2004, contested from Mumbai North Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket and earned the moniker of a giant-slayer as he defeated BJP’s Ram Naik. Later, he resigned from the party and took a break from politics altogether.

“I am joining Shiv Sena and it is a blessing of God. I thought I would not enter politics again,” Govinda said as he was officially inducted into the party by Eknath Shinde. On Mumbai under Eknath Shinde, Govinda said the city looks cleaner and better now. Govinda’s parents, the actor said, had a good relationship with Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govinda-joins-eknath-shindes-sena-likely-to-contest-from-mumbai-north-west-101711625345237.html

“We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal,” US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

After India summoned a senior US diplomat to lodge a protest over remarks on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Washington on Wednesday stressed that it encourages fair, transparent, timely legal processes and “we don’t think anyone should object to that”.
“We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal,” US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

Miller was responding to a question during the State Department briefing over India summoning Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena in New Delhi earlier in the day as well as on freezing of Congress party’s bank accounts.

“We are also aware of the Congress party’s allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections. And we encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of these issues.

“With respect to your first question, I’m not going to talk about any private diplomatic conversations, but of course, what we have said publicly is what I just said from here, that we encourage fair, transparent, timely legal processes. We don’t think anyone should object to that. We’ll make the same thing clear privately,” Miller said.

Ministry of External Affairs officials summoned the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena at its office in South Block in Delhi and lodged a strong protest against a US State Department official’s remarks on Mr Kejriwal’s arrest.

The meeting lasted for more than 30 minutes.

Reports suggested that a US State Department official had said that Washington “encouraged a fair, transparent and timely legal process for chief minister Kejriwal”.

The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Mr Kejriwal in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy ‘scam’.

The case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 which was later scrapped.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/after-arvind-kejriwal-remarks-us-speaks-on-congress-frozen-accounts-5323334

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) offered her ticket to fight the Lok Sabha election 2024, however, she declined the proposal citing a lack of funds required for fighting polls. The minister said that the BJP chief JP Nadda gave her the option to contest either from Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu.

“After thinking over a week or ten days, I just went back to say… maybe not. I do not have that kind of money to contest. I also have a problem whether it is Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu. It’s also going to be a question of various other winnability criteria that they use…Are you from this community or are you from that religion? Are you from this? I said no, I do not think I am going to able to do it,” she said.

Sitharaman, the Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, was speaking at the TIMES NOW Summit 2024 in Delhi.

“I am very grateful that they accepted my argument…So I am not contesting,” she stated.

When asked why even the finance minister of the country does not have enough funds to fight Lok Sabha elections, she said that the Consolidated Fund of India does not belong to her.

She said, “My salary, my earnings, my savings are mine and not the Consolidated Fund of India”.

Source: https://www.news18.com/elections/nirmala-sitharaman-declines-bjp-ticket-lok-sabha-poll-dont-have-money-8830359.html

The seats on offer to the Congress are Sasaram, Muzaffarpur, Bettiah, Katihar, Kishanganj, Nawada, Patna Sahib and Samastipur. However, sources say that the Congress also wants the seats of Purnia, Karakat and Aurangabad.

The Bihar Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) may not be near any consensus as far as seat sharing deal for the Lok Sabha elections is concerned. Sources say that that the Congress is seeking 11 seats to contest on, but Lalu Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is willing to concede only 8.

The seats on offer to the Congress are Sasaram, Muzaffarpur, Bettiah, Katihar, Kishanganj, Nawada, Patna Sahib and Samastipur.

However, sources say that the Congress also wants the seats of Purnia, Karakat and Aurangabad.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is likely to meet Congress leaders in Delhi today to finalise the seat sharing deal. The Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) is also expected to meet at 6 pm today and discussion on Bihar is said to be on the cards.

An announcement on the seat-sharing deal is likely expected tomorrow, sources said.

In 2019, the Congress contetsted nine seats but won only one. The RJD didn’t win any. The BJP-led NDA won 39 out of 40 seats, with the BJP securing 17 seats. Nitish Kumar’s Janta Dal United (JDU) got 16, while Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) won all six they contested.

Nitish Kumar is now back in the NDA after briefly being with the Grand Alliance. The BJP has also finalised seat-sharing deal with Paswan.

Last week, the NDA announced its seat distribution in Bihar. The BJP will contest 17 seats, JD(U) 16 and the LJP five, while Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustan Awam Morcha and Upendra Kushwaha’s RLM will each contest one seat.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/bihar-grand-alliance-seat-sharing-standoff-congress-pushes-for-11-rjd-offers-8-meeting-today-article-108804665

The BJP has been actively organising political rallies across various states, featuring prominent national leaders such as Prime Minister Modi, Party President Nadda, and Amit Shah.

As the country gears up for the Lok Sabha elections, the verbal attacks and counterattacks between political parties have intensified. Leading up to the upcoming elections, the ruling party at the center, BJP, released a video mocking opposition leaders. Many found this video hilarious, saying it truly depicts the infighting between leaders of the I.N.D.I.A bloc.

Watch the video here.

The video advertisement depicts the prominent figures of the opposition gathered for a meeting with a woman regarding marriage. Rahul Gandhi, a Congress MP, is seated in the center, giving an explanation about the family.

BJP Campaign strategy

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut released a list of 17 candidates for Lok Sabha elections.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday released the party’s first list of 17 candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Anil Desai will contest from the Mumbai South Central parliamentary constituency.

Sanjay Raut said the Uddhav Thackeray-led party is going to contest a total of 22 seats in the general elections and the remaining five names will be announced in a day or two. He also said in Hatkanangale, farmers’ leader Raju Shetti has asked for the support of the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Of the names declared on Wednesday, 11 names were already announced by party chief Uddhav Thackeray during his visit to respective Lok Sabha constituencies in the last month.

The party has also renominated all five sitting MPs. Sitting MP Arvind Sawant will contest from the Mumbai South constituency, Sanjay Patil from Mumbai North East and Amol Kirtikar from the Mumbai North West constituency.

Rajan Vichare will contest from Thane, while Vinayak Raut has been given a ticket from Ratnagiri Sindhudurg. Sitting MPs Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani) and Omraje Nimbalkar (Osmanabad) have also been renominated.

The party will also contest Aurangabad, fielding former MP Chandrakant Khaire from the seat.

Interestingly, wrestler Chandrahar Patil has been fielded from Sangli, the seat that the Congress, a partner in the Maha Vikas Aghadi, was insisting on.

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar said the decision to go solo is based on feedback from public and party workers

The BJP will go solo in the election for 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, state party chief Sunil Jakhar said in a video message today, putting an end to speculation on a possible tie-up between the BJP and its estranged ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
“The BJP will be contesting the Lok Sabha polls in Punjab alone. The party has taken this decision on the basis of feedback from the people, party workers and leaders,” Mr Jakhar said, stressing that the Narendra Modi government had worked tirelessly for Punjab and the work is not hidden from anyone.

While it is the BJP that has officially pulled the plug, the Akali Dal had dropped broad hints on its plan to go solo after a meeting of its core committee this Friday.

The key reason behind the two parties not joining hands appears to be a mismatch in their core ideological planks. The Akali Dal’s panthic agenda to reach out to Sikhs appears to clash with the BJP’s nationalist posturing. Also, unlike in 1996, when the Akali Dal joined hands with BJP for an alliance that lasted over two decades, the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led party set conditions for another tie-up.

The party resolution said that the Centre must honour its commitment to release all Sikh prisoners who had completed their terms and fulfil all promises made to farmers.

“The party will continue to put principles above politics, and it will never deviate from its historic role as a champion of the interests of Khalsa Panth, all minorities as well as all Punjabis,” the resolution said.

“As the sole representatives of the Sikhs and of all Punjabis, the party will continue its fight for more powers and genuine autonomy to the states,” it added.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-akali-dal-sukhbir-badal-sunil-jakhar-bjp-to-go-solo-in-punjab-stage-set-for-4-way-fight-for-13-lok-sabha-seats-5312163

A major controversy erupted after an offensive post was made from Supriya Shrinate’s Instagram handle against Kangana Ranaut.

Bollywood actor and BJP’s Mandi Lok Sabha candidate Kangana Ranaut has said that she was hurt by the now-deleted controversial post from Congress leader Supriya Shrinate against her.

Ranaut said that she was particularly pained by Congress leader’s comments on Mandi from where she is contesting the Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket.

“Every woman deserves dignity, no matter what profession she is in,” Kangana told reporters at Chandigarh airport, according to ANI. “The most I am hurt by is the ‘Mandi’ thing, which is known as Chota Kashi and has been the land of several Rishis,” she added.

Asked whether she plans to take any action against the Congress leader, Ranaut said she had been called to Delhi by BJP president JP Nadda and would respond only after meeting him.

“I have to maintain the dignity of the party. I can’t walk before it. I have to walk with them and follow their instructions,” she said, according to PTI.

A major controversy erupted after an offensive posts was made from Supriya Shrinate’s and Congress leader HS Ahir’s Instagram handle targeting Ranaut.

Shrinate claimed that many people have access to her Facebook and Instagram accounts, and someone from them made the post in question. Ahir also gave a similar ‘explanation.’

“Anyone who knows me will know I would never say that for a woman. However, a parody account that I have just discovered misusing my name is being run on Twitter ( @Supriyaparody ) which started the whole mischief, and is being reported,” Shrinate said.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kangana-ranaut-says-she-was-hurt-by-supriya-shrinates-post-ncw-urges-sonia-gandhi-to-take-action-101711443768835.html

The BJP has dropped Varun Gandhi from the Pilibhit Lok Sabha seat. Former Congress leader Jitin Prasada, who joined the BJP in 2021, replaces Varun Gandhi from Pilibhit.

The BJP on Sunday released its fifth list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. The party has dropped Varun Gandhi from the Pilibhit Lok Sabha seat but retained his mother, Maneka Gandhi, from Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

Former Congress leader Jitin Prasada, who joined the BJP in 2021, has been given the ticket from Pilibhit in place of Varun Gandhi.

Varun Gandhi allegedly fell out of favour with the BJP after he criticised the party’s governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh on several occassions.

Last year, in an apparent dig at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Varun Gandhi advised people not to “disrupt a nearby sadhu” as nobody knows “when ‘maharaaj ji’ will become the Chief Minister”.

In September 2023, he derided the Uttar Pradesh BJP government over the suspension of the licence of Amethi’s Sanjay Gandhi Hospital after the death of a patient.

In 2021, Varun Gandhi was ousted from the BJP’s national executive, allegedly after his remarks calling for fixing accountability and bringing the culprits to justice in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.

Earlier this year, there were reports that Varun Gandhi may join the Congress after he met his estranged cousin and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand a few months ago.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bjp-drops-varun-gandhi-from-pilibhit-retains-maneka-in-sultanpur-lok-sabha-polls-2519011-2024-03-24

The New York attorney general’s office has filed judgments in Westchester County, the first indication that the state is preparing to try to seize Donald Trump’s golf course and private estate north of Manhattan, known as Seven Springs.

State lawyers entered the judgments with the clerk’s office in Westchester County on March 6, just one week after Judge Arthur Engoron made official his $464 million decision against Trump, his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization.

The decision against Trump and the difficulty the former president is having securing a bond while he appeals the verdict strikes directly at Trump’s image as a billionaire as he attempts to raise more cash for both his legal bills and third run for the White House.

Entering a judgment would be the first step a creditor would take to attempt to recover property. Additional steps, such as putting liens on assets or moving to foreclose on properties, or taking other actions in court would follow, if the asset is going to be seized.

The judgment is already entered in New York city where Trump’s properties including Trump Tower, his penthouse at Trump Tower, 40 Wall Street, his hotel abutting Central Park, and numerous apartment buildings are located.

Judgments have not been entered in Florida counties including Miami or Palm Beach where Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property and the Trump National Doral Golf Club and resort are located or Cook County, Illinois, where Trump’s hotel in Chicago is located, according to a review of records Thursday by CNN.

Trump now has four days to satisfy the judgment or sway an appeals court to allow him to post a smaller amount or defer posting the payment until after the appeal.

In a new Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said that putting up the money is “VERY EXPENSIVE” and said it was “not possible for bonding companies to do in such a high amount.”

The attorney general’s office will be allowed to file a written response to Trump’s claims, a New York appeals court said Friday.

The process to seize assets would not be quick or easy. Trump has structured his business by setting up limited liability companies for nearly every property or asset – over 300 in total – which ultimately are controlled by his trust.

“They are complexly organized and he is not on paper the owner and therefore a judgment against him would not be executable directly against certain properties. Sorting this out is not going to be simple and it’s not going to be quick,” said Nikos Passas, a professor of criminology and criminal justice at Northeastern University.

“In the meantime, she could also obtain bank levies and go after the bank assets. She could put liens on properties. There are all kinds of things that she’s able to do in an effort to collect,” Passas said.

“All this is completely undermining the brand, which he uses for the most part for making any kind of money around the world not just the United States,” Passas said. “In the end I think this could very much mean the end of Trump business in New York and not only – it could spell trouble in other jurisdictions too.”

Trump attorneys push back on AG’s bond ideas
Separately, Trump’s lawyers pushed back Thursday on several of the suggestions the New York attorney general’s office made about how he can pay bond.

That includes the idea that Trump could get several underwriters to secure bonds totaling the judgment – saying it would still require Trump to post half a billion dollars in cash or stock – money he doesn’t have.

Trump’s legal team argued in the filing that the New York attorney general’s office shouldn’t be able to challenge their claims.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, March 9, 2024, in Rome, Georgia.

If no arrangement is met, New York Attorney General Letitia James has said she will take steps to seize assets.

The attorney general’s office on Wednesday said that it’s common for large companies to post billion-dollar bonds and suggested Trump should have posted real estate with the court.

“The suggestion is both impractical and unjust. The Attorney General cites no New York case law to support this contention. In any event, from the perspective of risk, the Attorney General’s proposal of a ‘court-appointed officer’ to ‘hold real estate’ is functionally equivalent to what Supreme Court has already imposed through the requirement of a court-appointed monitor to oversee Defendants’ business operations,” Trump’s lawyers wrote.

Trump’s lawyers also said to be forced to sell properties at a fire sale would cause irreparable injury because they could not later recover the property if they were to win an aspect of the appeal.

“By demanding an undertaking in the full amount of the judgment in order to appeal, the Attorney General and Supreme Court have sought to impose a patently unreasonable, unjust, and unconstitutional (under both the Federal and New York State Constitutions) bond condition,” they wrote.

Judge gives monitor expansive duties including review of efforts to obtain bond

Thursday, Engoron expanded the role of the monitor overseeing the Trump Organization to include more expansive oversight of Trump’s real estate business’ internal financial practices.

Engoron also ordered the Trump Organization to supply detailed information to the monitor about its efforts to obtain bonds to cover judgments.

“The Trump Organization shall inform the monitor, in advance, of any efforts to secure surety bonds, including any financial disclosures requested or required, any information provided in response to such requests, any representations made by Trump Organization in connection with securing such bonds any personal guarantees made by any of the defendants, and any obligations of the Trump Organization required by the surety,” the judge ordered.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/21/politics/trump-calls-ny-attorney-generals-bond-suggestions-impractical-and-unjust/index.html

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The current challenge for the AAP is to identify a capable leader who can effectively manage both the party’s internal affairs and the governance of Delhi in the absence of Arvind Kejriwal.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 took a major step by arresting Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the alleged liquor scam case, which has caused upheaval within his decade-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and raised doubts about his continuation in office. The ED’s action came shortly after the Delhi High Court rejected Kejriwal’s plea for protection against coercive measures by the agency. This move followed the ED’s issuance of nine summons to Kejriwal, asking his cooperation in their investigation into the excise policy issue.

At present, the real challenge for the AAP lies in identifying a competent leader who can successfully navigate both the party’s affairs and the governance of Delhi in the absence of Kejriwal. The AAP leadership faces a daunting task in identifying a leader whose stature even remotely matches that of Kejriwal, who has served as the party’s convener since its inception in 2011 and held the post of Delhi Chief Minister for three consecutive terms spanning nearly a decade.

More significantly, the urgency of this task is further heightened as the AAP prepares to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls in Punjab, Delhi, Gujarat, Assam, and Haryana, where Kejriwal was expected to play a key role as the party’s key campaigner.

9 Key Facts About Atishi: AAP’s Prominent Leader

(1) Amid the evolving political dynamics, the spotlight has turned towards Sunita Kejriwal, Arvind Kejriwal’s wife and a former IRS officer, as well as AAP government minister Atishi for the role of Delhi Chief Minister. Atishi, 43, entrusted with a diverse array of portfolios within the Delhi government such as education, finance, PWD, revenue, and services, is widely seen as closely aligned with Kejriwal.

Following a reshuffle in June last year, Atishi was assigned a remarkable 12 departments, the most for any minister within the AAP. This significant allocation positioned her as the second-in-command in Kejriwal’s cabinet, highlighting her growing influence and responsibilities within the party and the government.

(2) Additionally, Atishi plays a crucial role as a frontline spokesperson for the party, vigorously defending the AAP government and Kejriwal while launching scathing attacks on the BJP. Her regular appearances in press conferences and on news channels underscore her proactive stance in advocating for the party’s agenda and countering opposition narratives.

(3) Born in 1981 to Delhi University (DU) professors Vijay Singh and Tripta Wahi, Atishi pursued her education in Delhi. She completed her schooling and undergraduate studies in History at DU’s St Stephen’s College in 2001, following which she attended Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Before entering politics, she taught History and English at the Rishi Valley School in Andhra Pradesh.

(4) Reports suggest that her father named her Atishi Marlena, combining letters from ‘Marx’ and ‘Lenin’. During the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign, Atishi dropped the word “Marlena” from her name due to concerns that it might suggest she was of Christian faith. However, Atishi, who comes from a Punjabi Rajput family, now writes her name as Atishi on social media platforms.

(5) Prior entering into politics, Atishi and her husband Praveen Singh, who holds degrees from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, founded a commune in 2007. Their aim was to champion the ideals of “gram swaraj” (village self-governance) and “humanistic education.” Based primarily in Madhya Pradesh, they dedicated their efforts to fostering communal living and promoting comprehensive educational values, according to report in the Times of India.

Source: https://www.moneycontrol.com/elections/lok-sabha-election/atishi-leads-the-race-to-be-arvind-kejriwal-successor-in-aap-what-we-know-about-the-delhi-fm-article-12506271.html

The New York attorney general’s office has filed judgments in Westchester County, the first indication that the state is preparing to try to seize Donald Trump’s golf course and private estate north of Manhattan, known as Seven Springs.

State lawyers entered the judgments with the clerk’s office in Westchester County on March 6, just one week after Judge Arthur Engoron made official his $464 million decision against Trump, his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization.

The decision against Trump and the difficulty the former president is having securing a bond while he appeals the verdict strikes directly at Trump’s image as a billionaire as he attempts to raise more cash for both his legal bills and third run for the White House.

Entering a judgment would be the first step a creditor would take to attempt to recover property. Additional steps, such as putting liens on assets or moving to foreclose on properties, or taking other actions in court would follow, if the asset is going to be seized.

The judgment is already entered in New York city where Trump’s properties including Trump Tower, his penthouse at Trump Tower, 40 Wall Street, his hotel abutting Central Park, and numerous apartment buildings are located.

Judgments have not been entered in Florida counties including Miami or Palm Beach where Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property and the Trump National Doral Golf Club and resort are located or Cook County, Illinois, where Trump’s hotel in Chicago is located, according to a review of records Thursday by CNN.

Trump now has four days to satisfy the judgment or sway an appeals court to allow him to post a smaller amount or defer posting the payment until after the appeal.

In a new Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said that putting up the money is “VERY EXPENSIVE” and said it was “not possible for bonding companies to do in such a high amount.”

The attorney general’s office will be allowed to file a written response to Trump’s claims, a New York appeals court said Friday.

The process to seize assets would not be quick or easy. Trump has structured his business by setting up limited liability companies for nearly every property or asset – over 300 in total – which ultimately are controlled by his trust.

“They are complexly organized and he is not on paper the owner and therefore a judgment against him would not be executable directly against certain properties. Sorting this out is not going to be simple and it’s not going to be quick,” said Nikos Passas, a professor of criminology and criminal justice at Northeastern University.

“In the meantime, she could also obtain bank levies and go after the bank assets. She could put liens on properties. There are all kinds of things that she’s able to do in an effort to collect,” Passas said.

“All this is completely undermining the brand, which he uses for the most part for making any kind of money around the world not just the United States,” Passas said. “In the end I think this could very much mean the end of Trump business in New York and not only – it could spell trouble in other jurisdictions too.”

Trump attorneys push back on AG’s bond ideas

Separately, Trump’s lawyers pushed back Thursday on several of the suggestions the New York attorney general’s office made about how he can pay bond.

That includes the idea that Trump could get several underwriters to secure bonds totaling the judgment – saying it would still require Trump to post half a billion dollars in cash or stock – money he doesn’t have.

Trump’s legal team argued in the filing that the New York attorney general’s office shouldn’t be able to challenge their claims.

If no arrangement is met, New York Attorney General Letitia James has said she will take steps to seize assets.

Source : https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/21/politics/trump-calls-ny-attorney-generals-bond-suggestions-impractical-and-unjust/index.html

Arvind Kejriwal is the first sitting chief minister to be arrested , in office. His arrest came hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant protection to the AAP national convenor from any coercive action by the federal agency. The AAP has called for a nationwide protest against the BJP following the arrest.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on Thursday evening after two hours of questioning by the ED in the Delhi liquor scam case (File photo)Delhi Excise Policy scam case

The arrest, the first of a sitting chief minister, came hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant protection to the AAP national convenor from any coercive action by the federal agency.

The AAP has called for a nationwide protest against the BJP following the arrest. AAP’s Delhi unit convenor Gopal Rai said Kejriwal’s arrest is the “murder of democracy” and an “announcement of dictatorship”.

The ED arrested Kejriwal in an excise policy-linked money-laundering case on Thursday evening and took him to the agency’s headquarters here, officials said.

“I appeal to the countrymen to protest outside BJP offices across the country against this dictatorship. We will gather at the AAP office at 10 am on Friday and then protest outside the BJP headquarters,” Rai, a minister in the Delhi government, said.

“If Kejriwal can be arrested, anyone can be arrested and their voice can be suppressed. From today, the fight has begun. Arvind Kejriwal is not a person, but an ideology,” he added.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/arvind-kejriwal-arrest-the-16-suspects-arrested-by-ed-in-delhi-excise-policy-scam-case-article-108691398