Khatima: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday will visit Champawat to seek support from the people, from where he will contest the upcoming by-election scheduled to take place on May 31.Dhami is not a member of the state legislative assembly and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Kailash Gehtori had resigned from the Champawat assembly seat to pave the way for Dhami to contest by-polls after he lost from the Khatima constituency during the polls held in February.While talking to ANI at his residence in Khatima, Dhami said, "Though Champawat is my new constituency but I have grown up here. I will visit it tomorrow, May 9 to seek support from people. There is a temple of mother Purnagiri, there is a ghat of mother Sharda ji, there is a pilgrimage site and in the coming time we will take Champawat forward."Dhami said that some of the Congress workers had joined BJP as they expressed their intention to work under the leadership of the successful Prime Minister Narendra Modi."All the workers want to work under the leadership of the successful PM Modi and they want the development of Champawat. So they joined BJP and I welcome them," he said.Despite the BJP winning the 2022 Assembly elections in Uttarakhand with a majority, Dhami lost the Khatima seat to Congress candidate Bhuwan Chandra Kapri.According to the Election Commission, the polling will be held on May 31 while the counting of votes will take place on June 3.Talking about the annual Chardham Yatra, which began on May 3, the Chief Minister said that the government is making all possible arrangements but devotees or tourists visiting the state are in huge numbers."Devotees' footfall in Chardham Yatra which is resuming after two years is more than expected. We are making all possible arrangements but people are more than capacity at all four dhams. We request devotees to make lodging, and other arrangements prior to their arrival," he said."Due to low temperature in the night, tourists are facing trouble. Though we have made sufficient arrangements and will continue making more, I urge tourists to make a planned tour so that they can stay for a long period and have darshan," he added.The annual Chardham Yatra began on May 3 on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya with the opening of the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri Temples in the Uttarkashi district.This year, it is not mandatory for pilgrims to carry a negative COVID-19 test report or vaccination certificate.Char Dham Yatra draws lakhs of tourists and devotees every year from across the country and abroad.&nbsp;—ANI

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday will visit Champawat to seek support from the people, from where he will contest the upcoming by-election scheduled to take place on May 31.

Dhami To Visit Champawat Constituency Ahead Of By-Polls

Kochi: As the Thrikkakara constituency here is all set to go for polling on May 31 for the byelection, the three major political fronts -- the LDF, the UDF and the NDA -- in Kerala have expressed confidence in winning the seat for which the high-octane campaign had ended on Sunday.While the ruling Left Democratic Front candidate, Dr Jo Joseph, believes that the voters of Thrikkakara, which is a traditional Congress bastion, will opt for a positive change and elect a ruling party MLA, the United Democratic Front candidate, Uma Thomas, said the constituency will be retained by her party.Meanwhile, BJP candidate A N Radhakrishnan is confident that with the support of senior politician P C George, who was recently arrested and released on bail in two hate speech cases, the National Democratic Front will win the polls."Ernakulam is an economic hub of Kerala and Thrikkakara is one of the most important constituencies here. But Thrikkakara does not have the proportionate development. Since its formation, the constituency has been ruled by the UDF. The Left government got a second term because of the developmental agenda. So, the people of Thrikkakara have understood this and will vote for the Left," Joseph told PTI.Uma Thomas, widow of former MLA P T Thomas, told PTI that she would like to carry forward the development dreams of her late husband."First of all, this is a UDF constituency. Secondly, this constituency was well looked after by PT (Thomas). This byelection was necessitated by his untimely death. He used to meet the people and used to take proactive steps for them. PT was like a family member for the people here. It's a huge factor," Uma said, expressing confidence that she will win the bypoll.Uma said she entered into the fray because the party workers urged her to take over her husband's development plans for the constituency."I want to continue what PT had started. I will follow his footsteps and policies. I have 100 per cent confidence that I will win this election. All the party workers have efficiently worked for the election here," she said.LDF's Joseph said the result of this election was not going to affect the government which was already ruling with a massive majority of 99 seats in the 140-seat Assembly."The choice before Thrikkakara is whether they need a ruling party MLA or an opposition MLA. The people of Thrikkakara will definitely stand with the LDF," Joseph said.Senior BJP leader and the party's state vice president Radhakrishnan, who took out a comparatively quiet campaigning process, however, on Sunday expressed confidence as George, despite being summoned by the Thiruvananthapuram police in a hate speech case, came to campaign for the NDA candidate on the last day."With the help of P C George, the BJP will win this election. The Communists and the Congress parties are silent of what George has said. The Communists and the Congress party want to appease the minority community. This time we will win the election and I will be elected to the Legislative Assembly," Radhakrishnan had told his supporters at Palarivattom on Sunday.The constituency, which was formed in 2011, had elected senior Congress leader Benny Behanan as its first MLA.In the 2016 assembly election, P T Thomas secured 61,268 votes, which was 45.42 per cent of the electorate while CPI(M)'s Sebastian Paul bagged 49,455 votes. That year, BJP's S Saji secured 21,247 votes.However, in 2021, Thomas won with a slightly reduced of 59,839 while CPI(M) backed Dr J Jacob got 45,510 votes. BJP had bagged 15,483 in the 2021 polls.Meanwhile, Twenty20, a political party backed by an industrial group here, had fielded a candidate in 2021 and secured 13,897 votes.Even though Twenty20 had entered into an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party this time, they have not fielded a candidate but asked the people to vote judiciously.The byelection was necessitated due to the death of P T Thomas last year.The Left party has deployed all its party mechanisms in the constituency which the Congress considers as its Impregnable fortress. Several Left front leaders, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his cabinet colleagues, and other MLAs were camping in the constituency to wrest back the seat from the Congress.The Congress leaders, however, are confident that its traditional seat that stood strong with it even when there was a Left wave in 2021 would elect Uma Thomas to the state Assembly.Both the parties have raked up the SilverLine project as an election campaign.While the Congress-backed UDF campaigned that the proposed K-Rail is an expensive project which will also evict people from their homes, the CPI(M) has projected the developmental aspects of the semi-high speed rail project.The election will take place on May 31 and the counting is on June 3.—PTI

 As the Thrikkakara constituency here is all set to go for polling on May 31 for the byelection, the three major political fronts -- the LDF, the UDF and the NDA -- in Kerala have expressed confidence in winning the seat for which the high-octane campaign had ended on Sunday.

Thrikkakara goes to polls tomorrow

As the Thrikkakara constituency here is all set to go for polling on May 31 for the byelection, the three major political fronts -- the LDF, the UDF and the NDA -- in Kerala have expressed confidence in winning the seat for which the high-octane campaign had ended on Sunday.



Bhubaneswar: Around 69 per cent polling was recorded till 5 p.m. in the by-election to Brajrajnagar assembly segment in Odisha's Jharsuguda district, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S.K Lohani said on Tuesday. The final voters' turnout in the by-poll will be known after polling parties returned from the booths, said Lohani. The assembly segment had recorded a polling of 78 per cent in 2019 general elections.No untoward incident was reported from any booth in the constituency till 5 p.m. However, due to some technical glitches, four EVMs have been replaced, he said.There was a good number of voters' turnout at the pink booths set up with only women polling agents, the CEO informed. To ensure free and fair voting, security arrangements were made in different booths for the poll while 1,228 polling officers were appointed in the booths. 1,000 police officials and three companies of central armed forces were deployed at different booths to maintain law and order. The voting started at 7 a.m. following Covid-19 norms with arrangements of sanitisers and thermal scanning at all polling booths. Moreover, liquor outlets have been closed for 48 hours for the election in the district.The by-poll was necessitated following the untimely demise of BJD's Kishore Mohanty in December 2021. There are 11 candidates in the fray, and the constituency will witness a triangular fight among BJD, BJP and Congress nominees. The BJD has fielded Alaka Mohanty as its candidate for the by-poll while the BJP nominated former MLA Radharani Panda. Congress nominee, ex-assembly speaker Kishore Patel, is also in the race for the MLA seat. The Assembly seat was with CPI and Congress till 2009 and went to BJP in 2014. Ruling BJD grabbed the seat in the last election held in 2019. Now, all eyes are on the by-poll result as all three parties have a strong hold in the constituency.—IANS

Around 69 per cent polling was recorded till 5 p.m. in the by-election to Brajrajnagar assembly segment in Odisha's Jharsuguda district, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S.K Lohani said on Tuesday.

69 per cent turnout recorded in Odisha bypoll

Bengaluru: Former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Saturday clarified his statement of retirement for electoral politics stating that in spite of his announcement, he will abide by the party diktat. "It is up to the party to provide an opportunity for B.Y. Vijayedra (his son) to contest from Shikaripura constituency (which he represents)," he said."There is a lot of confusion regarding my statement given in Shikaripura on Friday. Because of the pressure from the people of Shikaripura, I made those statements. However, the final decision will be taken by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The decision of top party leaders is final," Yediyurappa explained."I have given my suggestion. Vijayendra can contest from the old Mysuru region as well. He can win in any constituency from where he contests. I will abide by any party decision in this regard. I will follow the directions of PM Modi and BJP Party President J.P. Nadda," he said. Veteran BJP leader Yediyurappa on Friday announced his retirement from electoral politics. He had stated that he won't contest for next assembly elections from Shikaripura constituency from where he began his political career.He stated that he is backtracking to facilitate the contest of his son B.Y. Vijayendra, who is presently holding the post of vice-president in BJP. "I won't contest in the next elections from Shikaripura. Vijayendra will contest in my place. I appeal to people to ensure his resounding victory," he had stated.There was a demand from Mysuru region for Vijayendra to contest elections. "However, as I am vacating the constituency, he will represent it in the upcoming assembly elections," he said earlier.The statement has surprised the political circles especially BJP. His detractors were taken aback by the announcement. Party sources explain that ever since Yediyurappa stepped down from the post of CM, Vijayendra has not been given major responsibilities.—IANS

Former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Saturday clarified his statement of retirement for electoral politics stating that in spite of his announcement, he will abide by the party diktat. "It is up to the party to provide an opportunity for B.Y. Vijayedra (his son) to contest from Shikaripura constituency (which he represents)," he said.

Yediyurappa Now Says He Will Abide By Party Diktat

Jaipur: Amid the present uncertainty over the leadership in the Congress in Rajasthan, party MLA from Osian constituency, Divya Maderna, took a jibe at the leaders of the legislature party who had boycotted a meeting and said that all were with the party high command.
Divya Maderna tweeted and claimed that all MLAs were with the high command.
On her Twitter handle, she said, "Not many but all MLAs have changed their mood. every Congress MLA is with the high command and will remain so. Every MLA is identified with the Congress party and no one exists without the party's symbol," she added.
Maderna has been vocal since the beginning against those who boycotted the Congress Legislature Party meeting on September 25. Targeting these leaders, Maderna had called the boycott of the legislature party meeting by a few Congress MLAs as being against the party's discipline. Divya had said, "I am neither in the Ashok Gehlot camp nor in the Sachin Pilot camp, I have my own camp, I am with the high command."
It needs to be mentioned here that many MLAs boycotted the CLP meeting called by high command at the Chief Ministers residence on September 25. The Congress Disciplinary Committee soon after issued notices to UDH Minister Shanti Dhariwal, Water Minister Mahesh Joshi and RTDC President Dharmendra Rathod for boycotting the Legislature Party meeting.
All these leaders have replied to the notice. Now the disciplinary committee has to decide against these leaders.
Meanwhile, all eyes are set on the October 19 election for the Congress president. Sources said that all decisions regarding Rajasthan will be taken after these elections.&nbsp;
—IANS

Amid the present uncertainty over the leadership in the Congress in Rajasthan, party MLA from Osian constituency, Divya Maderna, took a jibe at the leaders of the legislature party who had boycotted a meeting and said that all were with the party high command.

 All Raj MLAs with high command, claims Cong MLA Divya Maderna

Hyderabad (The Hawk): In a car travelling to the Munugode Assembly constituency, where the by-election is slated to take place on November 3, police in Telangana's Nalgonda district recovered Rs 1 crore in cash.
The cash was discovered by the police in the automobile being driven by the husband of a BJP corporator from Karimnagar during a vehicle inspection at a checkpoint close to Chalmeda.
The cash was found during a check by "Dynamic teams" that the police in the Nalgonda district had assembled. According to the person transporting the money, a BJP leader had instructed them to transfer it to Munugode.
The money, according to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), was intended for distribution to voters.
The episode, according to the leaders of the ruling party, is unequivocal evidence that the BJP is buying voters with its financial might.
They reaffirmed their accusation that BJP candidate Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy promised to spend Rs 500 crore on the by-election.
Rajagopal Reddy allegedly defected from the Congress and joined the BJP in exchange for a contract for Rs 18,000 crore, according to the ruling party. Reddy recently claimed that the Center had given his company the contract six months prior.
In several separate occurrences, Hyderabad police recently confiscated Rs 8 crore in cash. The cash is thought to have been on its way to Munugode.
(Inputs from Agencies)

In a car travelling to the Munugode Assembly constituency, where the by-election is slated to take place on November 3, police in Telangana's Nalgonda district recovered Rs 1 crore in cash.

Telangana: Rs 1 crore in cash seized in election-bound Munugode

Hyderabad: In a jolt to the BJP in Telangana, senior leader Dasoju Sravan on Friday quit the party in protest against the distribution of money, meat and liquor among voters in Munugode Assembly constituency. His resignation came less than three months after he quit the Congress party and joined the saffron party. Sravan, a former national spokesman of Congress party, is likely to join Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) later in the day. In a letter to BJP's Telangana unit president Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Sravan conveyed his decision to resign from primary membership of the party. He alleged that the BJP is distributing money, meat and liquor among voters in Munugode Assembly constituency, where by-election is scheduled on November 3.
Sravan wrote that he had joined the BJP with the least expectations but was disappointed over the directionless politics pursued by the party. He said BJP promised to do alternative politics but its approach in the Munugode by-election was disgusting. He alleged that BJP with no social responsibility was resorting to distribution of money bags, encouraging big contractors and pursuing investment politics. "In such a situation it has become evident that there is no room for a leader like me coming from a weaker section of the society," he said. It was on August 5 that Sravan had resigned from the Congress party. Alleging that there is total disorder in the party under the leadership of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A. Revanth Reddy, he had said that he was not ready to live like a slave in the organisation and hence decided to resign. He recalled that he joined the Congress party in 2014 as out of gratitude to Sonia Gandhi for carving out Telangana state and after being impressed by Rahul Gandhi's speech at Jaipur chintan shivir. Sravan said he strived hard to reach the position of party's national spokesperson. He alleged that after Revant Reddy became PCC president, the party started giving priority to leaders on the basis of caste and money power. He later joined the BJP at a programme in New Delhi in the presence of BJP general secretary in-charge of Telangana Tarun Chugh. He had claimed that only BJP can provide an alternative to the TRS.
—IANS

In a jolt to the BJP in Telangana, senior leader Dasoju Sravan on Friday quit the party in protest against the distribution of money, meat and liquor among voters in Munugode Assembly constituency.

 Jolt to BJP in Telangana, Dasoju Sravan quits

In a jolt to the BJP in Telangana, senior leader Dasoju Sravan on Friday quit the party in protest against the distribution of money, meat and liquor among voters in Munugode Assembly constituency.


Kheda, Gujarat (The Hawk): Prabhatsinh Chauhan, a former BJP MP from Gujarat's Panchmahal constituency, joined the Congress on Tuesday in the presence of the party's general secretary Mohan Prakash and other state officials.
He joined the party before the Parivartan Yatra began in Fagvel, Kheda district.
Ajitsinh Dabhi, Panchmahal district Congress president, thought Chauhan's return into the party would help the Congress reclaim the Kalol assembly seat, which it has lost to the BJP since 1995.
Chauhan has a stronghold on the Kshatriya caste in the area, and he also has clout in some parts of the Godhra assembly constituency.
"His reappearance will assist the party in regaining lost ground in Panchmahal district," Dabhi remarked.
Prabhastinh Chauhan, a former Congress member, was elected to the state assembly on the Congress symbol in 1980 and 1985. He joined the BJP in 1995 and was elected to the legislature from the Kalol constituency in 1995, 1998, and 2002.
In 2009 and 2014, he was elected as a BJP MP from the Panchmahal constituency.
He was alleged to be dissatisfied with the BJP since, against his desires, the party nominated his daughter-in-law Suman for the Kalol seat in 2017.
"He returned to the Congress camp because he was unhappy in the BJP," a source claimed.
(Inputs from Agencies)

Prabhatsinh Chauhan, a former BJP MP from Gujarat's Panchmahal constituency, joined the Congress on Tuesday in the presence of the party's general secretary Mohan Prakash and other state officials.

Prabhatsinh Chauhan, a former BJP MP, has joined the Congress

Itanagar (The Hawk): Jambey Tashi, a BJP lawmaker from the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh's Lumla Assembly constituency, passed away on Wednesday after a brief illness.
Besides his wife, the 48-year-old BJP leader also leaves behind two children and a son. He passed away while receiving treatment in a hospital in Guwahati.
Tashi has served as a Lumla legislator three times.
He served as the state's Planning and Investment Minister's advisor.
Pema Khandu, the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, expressed her sorrow and grief over the abrupt passing of the lawmaker by saying: "My loss at the passing of my older brother Jambey Tashi is profound, and I am heartbroken by this tragedy. I offer prayers for the deceased along with the family. Dear Brother, may you experience the nirvanic joy."
In his message of sympathy, Khandu stated that Tashi was actively involved in social activities from the start and joined the Anchal Samiti in 2001.
"The Lumla constituency, which was formerly isolated and underdeveloped, is now one of the most developed in the state. Lumla and its surrounding areas must be seen to fully appreciate the transformation that Tashi has brought about "added the chief minister.
(Inputs from Agencies)

Jambey Tashi, a BJP lawmaker from the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh's Lumla Assembly constituency, passed away on Wednesday after a brief illness.

Jambey Tashi, a BJP lawmaker, is no longer

Lucknow (The Hawk): The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Monday declared Vikram Saini's Khatauli constituency vacant, nearly a month after a court in Muzaffarnagar sentenced him to two years in prison in connection with the 2013 riots.
The Assembly Secretariat's statement stated that the seat would be regarded as vacant as of October 11—the day Saini was given a prison sentence.
In a letter to Speaker Satish Mahana, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) President Jayant Chaudhary questioned why the seat of BJP MLA Vikram Saini, who was convicted in a Muzaffarnagar riots case, had not yet been declared vacant when action was swiftly taken in the case of SP MLA Azam Khan, whose seat Rampur Sadar was declared vacant.
The RLD leader argued that Saini did not suffer the same consequences as senior SP leader Azam Khan, who was sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty in a three-year-old hate speech case and lost his Assembly membership the same day. "This makes me wonder about your motivation... If it is conceivable, the RLD leader wrote to the Speaker, the statute might be interpreted differently for MLAs from the government and opposition parties. Mahana claimed that after receiving the letter, he contacted the State Election Commission and the Muzaffarnagar District Magistrate to get more details.
"A person convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years... shall be disqualified from the date of such conviction and shall continue to be disqualified for a further period of six years after his release," reads Section 8(3) of The Representation of the People Act, 1951.
However, BJP MLA Saini had argued that because he had already received a two-year prison sentence, his case was "not appropriate for disqualification." If I had been sentenced to three years in prison, I would have also lost my seat because "The seat is not announced empty for a jail term of two years." For more than two years, I haven't received a punishment at all, Saini had claimed.
(Inputs from Agencies)

The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Monday declared Vikram Saini's Khatauli constituency vacant, nearly a month after a court in Muzaffarnagar sentenced him to two years in prison in connection with the 2013 riots.

Vikram Saini, a BJP assemblyman, was expelled

New Delhi (The Hawk): The Khatauli Assembly Constituency in Uttar Pradesh will have by-elections on December 5, and the results will be released on December 8, according to a statement from the Election Commission on Tuesday.
Following BJP MLA Vikram Singh Saini's disqualification, the seat became vacant.
The empty assembly seat in Khatauli was announced by the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Monday.
According to the notification, the position would be vacant as of October 11, which was the day Saini was sentenced to two years in prison by the MP/MLA court in Muzaffarnagar.
The deadline to submit a nomination for the byelection is November 17, while the deadline to withdraw a candidacy is November 21.
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary asked Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana in a letter after the seat was declared vacant why Saini had not been disqualified after receiving a jail sentence while Rampur MLA Azam Khan had been disqualified just two days after the court had sentenced him.
(Inputs from Agencies)

The Khatauli Assembly Constituency in Uttar Pradesh will have by-elections on December 5, and the results will be released on December 8, according to a statement from the Election Commission on Tuesday.

EC declares a by-election for the Khatauli Assembly on December 5

Bengaluru (The Hawk): Through its "Pancharatna Ratha Yatra," the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) in Karnataka will sound the election bugle in the state on Friday from the Mulbagal assembly constituency of Kolar district.
Up until December 27, the Rath Yatra will be in effect. The yatra would travel through six districts and 34 assembly constituencies in its initial phase.
According to reports, the party is attempting to become the decisive force after the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka.
Before travelling to Mulbagal to begin the Ratha Yatra on Friday morning, former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy would perform an act of worship in Mysuru for the goddess Chamundeshwari.
The Rath Yatra would be officially launched by former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, who had promised to install JD-S into office following the upcoming elections.
After the inauguration, the leaders will also speak to a large gathering of people.
The party also intends to announce the 90 candidates on the ballot for the upcoming assembly elections. For the yatra, the party has created eight unique vehicles. Due to persistent rain, the party had to postpone the yatra twice.
It was confirmed by sources that Kumaraswamy would stay in a village while on the yatra.
With 25 to 35 seats in the upcoming assembly elections, the JD-S is hoping to become a major force.
Kumaraswamy wants to keep the Vokkaliga vote base in southern Karnataka even though the major party leaders have left and joined national parties, citing family dominance and anarchy.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has yet to win an assembly election with a simple majority, hopes to do well in the Vokkaliga belt.
The 108-foot-tall statue of the man who founded Bengaluru, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, was built by the BJP and recently unveiled on the grounds of Bengaluru International Airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
An iconic member of the Vokkaliga community is Kempegowda.
However, Kumaraswamy had claimed that by erecting Kempegowda's statue, the BJP would lose support.
In general, the dominant Vokkaliga community supported JD-S during the elections.
(Inputs from Agencies)

Through its "Pancharatna Ratha Yatra," the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) in Karnataka will sound the election bugle in the state on Friday from the Mulbagal assembly constituency of Kolar district.

K'taka: With the "Pancharatna Ratha Yatra," JD-S will sound the poll bugle

Bengaluru (The Hawk): A party leader announced on Friday that numerous events will be held throughout the state on Saturday to commemorate the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) founding day.
AAP, Founded on November 26, 2012.
In addition, the Constituent Assembly of India enacted the Constitution on November 26, 1949, and it went into effect on January 26, 1950.
AAP members from Bengaluru's Shivaji Nagar Assembly constituency will host a "greeting walkers" event at Cubbon Park early in the day.
In order to emphasise the ideals and guiding principles upon which the nation is founded, they will be handing out pocket cards with the Preamble to the Constitution to visitors to the park, according to an AAP leader.
Following that, volunteers on Yulu bikes will conduct a "Yulu-thon" across the Assembly, wishing thousands of locals and dispersing copies of the Preamble.
According to Mohan Dasari, city president of AAP Bengaluru, "We are happy that Aam Aadmi Party was launched on Constitution Day." What a better day to be born and serve the nation and the people of our wonderful country than today?
"The Aam Aadmi Party has unexpectedly risen to the third-largest party in the nation in just ten short years. Because of the work it has done in Delhi and the love that people have shown for it and its leader, Arvind Kejriwal, this party of mostly middle-class and poor people has risen like a rocket without the support of big businesses, big money, or family politicians "says Prakash Nedungadi, the Bengaluru AAP secretary.
(Inputs from Agencies)

A party leader announced on Friday that numerous events will be held throughout the state on Saturday to commemorate the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) founding day.

On November 26, K'taka AAP will mark the party's Foundation Day

<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">Lucknow: There is more of emotion than politics in the upcoming by-elections to two Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seats.
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">The campaign revolves around emotional bonds, betrayal and promises instead of political and social issues that should have been dominating the elections.&nbsp;
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">In the Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency, Samajwadi Party candidate Dimple Yadav is invoking memories of her father-in-law Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose demise necessitated the bypoll.
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">Her speeches remind the voters of the bond they shared with the late leader and promises to continue the tradition.&nbsp;
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">The patch-up between Akhilesh Yadav and his estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav continues to remain in focus of the campaign.
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">“We have decided to remain united and those who wanted to take advantage of the strained relationship, are in for a rude shock. The family and party are fully united and we will work together to realise the dreams of Netaji (Mulayam),” he said.&nbsp;
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">The BJP candidate Raghuraj Shakya, a former Shivpal acolyte, has received a jolt with Shivpal hitting out at him.
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">“If he is my ‘chela’ (disciple), he should not have contested against Dimple,” he said.
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">Shakya replied with, “People are watching. They unite when it is about their family and then separate again.”
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">In Rampur, the by-election that comes after Mohd Azam Khan was disqualified following his conviction in a hate speech case, is also riding high on emotions.
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">Azam Khan is whipping up a sympathy wave and reminding voters about the ‘atrocities’ that he and his family have faced in the past three years.
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">“They (the BJP) took away my membership of the Assembly, then they took away my voting right. If this is what elections are all about, they should simply declare the BJP candidate as winner,” he tells his voters.
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">The SP candidate Asim Raja has taken a back seat and it is actually Azam Khan’s battle that he is fighting by proxy.
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">In Khatauli Assembly seat, former BJP lawmaker Vikram Saini whose disqualification following his conviction in a 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case set up the bypoll, has been campaigning for his wife Rajkumari Saini, who has been named as a contestant by the BJP.
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">The Samajwadi Party-RLD nominee is Madan Bhaiya, who enjoys the reputation of being a strongman.
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">The BJP is using Madan Bhaiya’s candidature to lash out against the SP-RLD for fielding a ‘muscleman’.
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">This factor, however, is not cutting much ice as the region – known as wild west – is more than familiar and comfortable with such contestants.
<span style="color: rgb(44,47,52);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 16px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif;">However, UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary and organising secretary Dharampal are working overtime to ensure the party’s victory in Khatauli since both belong to this region and their own prestige is at stake.&nbsp;
—IANS

There is more of emotion than politics in the upcoming by-elections to two Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seats. The campaign revolves around emotional bonds, betrayal and promises instead of political and social issues that should have been dominating the elections. 

 More emotion than politics in UP bypolls

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party leader and son of Azam Khan, Abdullah Azam Khan's name was struck off from the electoral rolls of Rampur assembly constituency on Friday after he was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
The Electoral Registration Officer's decision came after Rampur's BJP MLA, Akash Saxena wrote to him to remove Abdullah Azam Khan's name from the voters' list.
As per the order issued by the ERO, Rampur, the name of the person who is disqualified will be struck off.
"As per the provisions of the Representation of the People's Act, the name of any person who becomes so disqualified after registration shall forthwith be struck off the electoral roll in which it is included," the order issued by Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), Rampur said.
"This provision makes it clear that after being disqualified, Abdullah Azam Khan's name be immediately struck off the voters' list," the order letter added. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court rejected Abdullah Azam Khan's review petition challenging its order upholding Allahabad High Court's verdict disqualifying the former legislator for not having attained the minimum qualifying age on the date of the election.
"We make it clear that what has been observed by this court is with reference to the election petition assailing the election of the returned candidate (Mohammad Abdullah Azam Khan) from 34, Suar Assembly Constituency of District Rampur," the apex court stated.
The court further stated that the result of the election was declared on March 11, 2017, and the criminal cases, if any, pending in reference to the selfsame subject may be decided on its own merits.
"The review petitions are accordingly dismissed," a bench of justices Ajay Rastogi and BV Nagarathna said in an order delivered on November 7, 2022.
The Supreme Court ruled that there was no manifest error by the Allahabad High Court, which annulled Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan's son Abdullah Azam Khan's election as Uttar Pradesh MLA, and it did not require any intervention by the top court.
The top court turned down the appeal filed by Abdullah Azam Khan challenging his disqualification as MLA by the Allahabad High Court order on the ground that he was underaged and not qualified to contest the poll in 2017.&nbsp;
The Allahabad High Court had declared the election of Azam Khan's son from the Suar Assembly segment of Rampur district null and void as he was less than 25 years of age. Abdullah Khan was elected as MLA on an SP ticket on March 11, 2017.&nbsp;
—ANI

&nbsp;

 Samajwadi Party leader and son of Azam Khan, Abdullah Azam Khan's name was struck off from the electoral rolls of Rampur assembly constituency on Friday after he was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

Abdullah Azam Khan's Name Struck Off From Rampur Electoral Rolls After Disqualification From UP Assembly

Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for India's first public transport ropeway in his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, on March 24.
The service will be operational from the Cantt Railway Station (Varanasi Junction) to the Godaulia intersection.
After the construction of the ropeway, the path of devotees going to the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor would be easier.
This project worth Rs 644.49 crore will take shape within two years, according to an official release.
Abhishek Goyal, vice-president, Varanasi Development Authority (VDA), said, "In the first phase, the country's first public transport ropeway will operate from Cantt to Godaulia in Kashi. When the project takes shape, pilgrims will be able to board the ropeway to reach Godaulia, Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Dashashwamedh Ghat. Through this service, they would not have to face traffic on the roads."
Anurag Tripathi, project director, National Highways Logistics Pvt Ltd said that India would be the third country in the world after Bolivia and Mexico City to have a ropeway for public transport.&nbsp;
—IANS

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for India's first public transport ropeway in his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, on March 24.

Modi To Lay Foundation For Ropeway In Varanasi

Kalaburagi (Karnataka): Former Karnataka minister Baburao Chinchansur, who recently joined Congress from BJP, was injured in a car accident in the city on Saturday.

While Chinchansur suffered serious injuries on face and legs, his gunman and the car driver escaped with minor injuries. He is undergoing treatment at the United hospital.

He is contesting from Gurmitkal constituency in Kalaburagi district on Congress ticket.

According to police, Chinchansur was travelling from Yadgir district to Kalaburagi at 1 a.m after campaigning. Near Akashwani building, his car turned turtle when the driver attempted to avoid a big pothole.

The locals rushed to the spot and rushed the Congress leader to a hospital in an ambulance. His condition is stated to be out of danger and he is responding well to the treatment, doctors said.

Chinchansur is a leader from Koli community and has vowed to defeat BJP in Hyderabad -Karnataka region.

He had played an important role in the defeat of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. IANS

Former Karnataka minister Baburao Chinchansur, who recently joined Congress from BJP, was injured in a car accident in the city on Saturday.

Ex-K'taka minister Baburao Chinchansur injured in car accident

Bengaluru: Mining baron turned politician Janardhana Reddy, who launched his own Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP), was leading in Gangawathy constituency in Koppal district.

Reddy has secured 25,585 votes whereas his closest rival Iqbal Ansari of Congress party polled 19,616 votes. Paranna Ishwarappa Munavalli of BJP polled 11,402 votes. Reddy was leading by 5,969 votes.

Reddy's wife Gali Lakshmi Aruna had secured 13,653 votes in Bellary city segment. Here, Somashekara Reddy, brother of Janardhana Reddy is the BJP contestant.

Somashekar Reddy was trailing at third position. He has so far polled 8,920 votes. Congress candidate Nara Bharath Reddy was leading with 18,854 votes. —IANS

Mining baron turned politician Janardhana Reddy, who launched his own Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP), was leading in Gangawathy constituency in Koppal district

Mining baron turned politician Janardhana Reddy leading in K'taka

Hyderabad: Kadapa MP Y. S. Avinash Reddy on Tuesday did not appear before the CBI in the former Andhra Pradesh minister Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy's murder case.

The MP, who is cousin of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, has sought four days' time to appear before the central agency.

Stating that he has pre-scheduled engagements in his parliamentary constituency, he conveyed to the CBI that he was unable to appear at the short notice.

Avinash Reddy on Tuesday left for Pulivendula in Kadapa district. In a notice served on Monday, he was directed to appear at CBI regional office in Hyderabad at 11 a.m.

The Kadapa MP, who was already questioned four times by the CBI, had last month approached Telangana High Court for anticipatory bail.

The High Court on April 28 adjourned the hearing to June 5. The court had refused to pass an order restraining CBI from taking any harsh measure against him in the case.

The Supreme Court had earlier set aside Telangana High Court's interim order, staying his arrest by the CBI till April 25.

The apex court pronounced the order on a petition filed by Vivekananda Reddy's daughter Suneetha Reddy.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha also extended the deadline for completing the investigation into the case till June 30. The Supreme Court had earlier fixed April 30 as the deadline for the CBI.

Vivekananda Reddy, brother of former chief minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and uncle of Jagan Mohan Reddy, was murdered at his residence in Pulivendula on March 15, 2019, weeks before the elections.

The 68-year-old former state minister and former MP was alone at his house when unidentified persons barged in and killed him.

The CBI took over the investigation into the case in 2020 on the direction of Andhra Pradesh High Court while hearing a petition of Suneetha Reddy, who raised suspicion about some relatives.

In November last year, the Supreme Court transferred the case to Hyderabad on a petition by Suneetha Reddy.

Last month, the CBI arrested Avinash Reddy's father Y. S. Bhaskar Reddy. IANS

Kadapa MP Y. S. Avinash Reddy on Tuesday did not appear before the CBI in the former Andhra Pradesh minister Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy's murder case.

Viveka murder case: Kadapa MP seeks time to appear before CBI

Kadapa MP Y. S. Avinash Reddy on Tuesday did not appear before the CBI in the former Andhra Pradesh minister Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy's murder case.


Patna: BJP chief J.P. Nadda will hold a rally in Jhanjharpur Lok Sabha constituency of Bihar's Madhubani district on June 24, while Union Home Minister Amit will address a public gathering in Lakhisarai district on June 29.
The saffron party's decision to hold two back to back rallies in Bihar comes at a time when the state is set to host a "mega meeting" of opposition parties, to be held on June 23, to discuss strategies for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Bihar BJP chief Samrat Chaudhary said on Wednesday that the decision was taken after a meeting of state party unit leaders with Shah and Nadda in the national capital earlier in the day.
Lakhisarai comes under Munger Lok Sabha constituency from where JD-U National President Lalan Singh is the sitting MP. It is considered as the stronghold of Singh.
Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly and BJP leader Vijay Sinha also hails from Lakhisarai Assembly constituency.
BJP's top leadership has directed its Bihar unit to start preparations for the rallies.
JD-U leader Ram Preet Mandal is the sitting MP from Jhanjharpur Lok Sabha constituency, where Nadda's rally will be organised.
Sources said that BJP "is worried about the opposition's unity meeting" and the rallies by Nadda and Shah, immediately after the meeting, "is being organised to counter the same".
—IANS

BJP chief J.P. Nadda will hold a rally in Jhanjharpur Lok Sabha constituency of Bihar's Madhubani district 

The Hawk

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