Mumbai/Pune: Catapulted suddenly to the state political mainstream with a deafening anti-loudspeakers campaign, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray reached Pune on Friday for his much-anticipated rally in Aurangabad on Sunday.Raj, 53, is expected to chart out his fresh political voyage through the Aurangabad rally and hopes to rattle the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, headed by his estranged cousin, Shiv Sena President and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, along with Nationalist Congress Party-Congress.Shiv Sena Chief Spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut reiterated the MVA stance that the Centre should formulate a national policy on loudspeakers and accused "some abhongas" (loudspeakers) of attempting to foment strife in the state".Akin to his uncle, the late Shiv Sena founder, Balasaheb Thackeray, Raj started for Pune sporting a saffron shawl, and he occasionally adopts the patriarch's famed mannerisms and oratory styles that oft bring down the roof, but barely translate into votes at the hustings.The rally timing is considered strategic, as a series of top civic bodies in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Aurangabad, etc are slated to go to polls soon as a run-up to the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2024, where the MNS hopes to make a killing.Though cosy with the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the MNS is still shy of openly proclaiming their apolitical dalliance', but nevertheless attempting to grab a piece of the Hindutva cake that is claimed by both the BJP and Shiv Sena. After a night camp in Pune, Raj will get the blessings of a priest and then leave for Aurangabad on Saturday morning in a royal motorcade of over 400 vehicles, pay respects at the samadhi of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and then reach Aurangabad, where he will spend the night before the Big Rally day.Figuring on the world tourism map with several major historical monuments like the Ajanta-Ellora Caves, Aurangabad has a substantial Muslim population and is currently represented in Lok Sabha by All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen's Syed Imtiaz Jaleel.With Ramzan at the fag-end and Raj spearheading his anti-loudspeakers campaign on mosques with a deadline to yank them off by May 3, the Maharashtra government has geared itself to ensure the MNS rally passes off without untoward incidents.Raj has also plans to visit Ayodhya and pray at Lord Ram Temple there on June 5. On Thursday, he lavished praise on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for dismantling around 11,000 loudspeakers from different places of worship there.After the May 1 rally got conditional permission, 2,000 police personnel and other forces, CCTVs, dog squads, metal detectors, drone surveillance, etc. shall be on high alert at the sprawling S.M. Ground here.Sena's Raut, ex-MP from Aurangabad Chandrakant Khaire, NCP's Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, MP Supriya Sule and Congress leaders have scoffed at the MNS's much-hyped event, saying there are bigger problems confronting the state and the nation.In the past, the MVA leaders have openly sniggered at how the mercurial and maverick Raj got scared by "just one Enforcement Directorate notice" (August 2019), or the frequent changes in his stand that relegated the MNS to the state's political footpath for a large part of its 18-year existence.—IANS

Catapulted suddenly to the state political mainstream with a deafening anti-loudspeakers campaign, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray reached Pune on Friday for his much-anticipated rally in Aurangabad on Sunday. Raj, 53, is expected to chart out his fresh political voyage through the Aurangabad rally and hopes to rattle the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, headed by his estranged cousin, Shiv Sena President and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, along with Nationalist Congress Party-Congress.

Raj Thackeray Hopes To 'Shake' MVA Government From Aurangabad

Catapulted suddenly to the state political mainstream with a deafening anti-loudspeakers campaign, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray reached Pune on Friday for his much-anticipated rally in Aurangabad on Sunday.
Raj, 53, is expected to chart out his fresh political voyage through the Aurangabad rally and hopes to rattle the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, headed by his estranged cousin, Shiv Sena President and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, along with Nationalist Congress Party-Congress.




Istanbul: Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain's IBA World Championship campaign in the 70 kg category came to an early end after a disappointing loss in the pre quarter-finals, while compatriot Pooja Rani (81kg) cruised to the last eight stage in Istanbul on Friday.Lovlina, competing in her first international event since her podium finish in Tokyo last year, went down to Cindy Ngamba of Fair Chance Team (FCT) 1-4 in the pre-quarter finals.On the other hand, two-time Asian Champion Pooja notched a facile 5-0 win over Hungary's Timea Nagy in her opening bout.Pooja, the 2014 Asian Games bronze medallist, who is also competing in her first competitive tournament since her disappointing Tokyo Olympics appearance last year, looked completely in control against Nagy.The experienced Indian boxer blended defence and attack to out-punch the Hungarian, who is a two-time World Championships bronze medallist.The Bhiwani boxer will take on Australia's Jessica Bagley in the quarterfinal on Monday.In the first Indian bout of the day, Lovlina started aggressively but looked far from being at her best.The 24-year from Assam, going by her strategy of using her long hands to reach the opponent from afar, was unable to penetrate Ngamba defence.She fared better in the second round but the boxer from FCT defended tightly, avoiding Lovlina's punches while landing several sharp ones on the Indian.&nbsp;Lovlina had defeated former world champion Chen Nien-Chin in the first round.FCT is a team run by the International Boxing Association (IBA), formerly AIBA, from last year's men's World Championships, mainly comprising refugee athletes.The 2017 World Youth Champion Nitu (48kg) and 2019 Asian Championships bronze medallist Manisha (57kg) will play their respective pre-quarterfinal bouts on Saturday.Nitu will face Spain's Lopez Del Arbol while Manisha will square off against Bulgaria's Svetlana Staneva for a place in the quarter-final.—PTI

Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain's IBA World Championship campaign in the 70 kg category came to an early end after a disappointing loss in the pre quarter-finals, while compatriot Pooja Rani (81kg) cruised to the last eight stage in Istanbul on Friday.

Boxing Worlds: Lovlina bows out, Pooja advances to quarters

Brajrajnagar: The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has released a list of 40 star campaigners including five Union Ministers who will campaign for the party candidate in the byelection to the Brajrajnagar assembly seat. The list submitted to the Election Commission of India by the Odisha BJP unit included names of Union Ministers -- Piyush Goel, Dharmendra Pradhan, Pralhad Joshi, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Biseswar Tudu. The other prominent leaders in the list are Odisha BJP president Samir Mohanty, state in-charge D Purandeswari, national vice-president Baijayant Panda, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, former Union minister Pratap Sarangi, MP Suresh Pujari and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh. The saffron party has fielded its former MLA Radharani Panda for the May 31 by-poll to Brajrajnagar assembly segment. Panda had won the seat in the 2014 general elections.The ruling Biju Janata Dal has fielded former Brajrajnagar MLA Kishore Mohanty's wife Alaka Mohanty after the death of her husband in December last year while the Congress candidate is veteran leader and former assembly speaker Kishore Patel.The Congress was also planning to invite Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and youth leader Kanhaiya Kumar to campaign for its candidate. The ruling BJD is yet to announce its prominent campaigners. As per the notification the byelection will be held on May 31. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is May 17. The counting of votes has been scheduled for June 3. A total of 2,14,261 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the Brajrajnagar bypoll. There will be 279 polling booths for the bypoll. The byelection has been necessitated due to the death of BJD's Brajarajnagar MLA Kishore Kumar Mohanty on December 30 last year.—PTI

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has released a list of 40 star campaigners including five Union Ministers who will campaign for the party candidate in the byelection to the Brajrajnagar assembly seat.

5 Union ministers to campaign for BJP candidate in Odisha assembly bypoll

Paris: The French Open campaign of four-time Grand Slam champion Naoki Osaka ended in the first round on Monday as she went down to American No.27 seed Amanda Anisimova while World No. 1 and top seed Iga Swiatek progressed without breaking a sweat at the Roland Garros courts here. Swiatek needed just 54 minutes to get past her opening round opponent on Day 2 of the competition, beating Ukraine's Lesia Taurenko 6-2, 6-0 under the roof at the Court Philippe-Chatrier.The 2020 Roland-Garros champion extended her current streak to 29 match wins in a row and is searching for a sixth consecutive title this fortnight. Tsurenko now falls to 0-7 lifetime against reigning world No.1. Things however were not so easy for Japan's Osaka as she went down to Anisimova for a second consecutive major. Osaka's Australian Open title defence earlier this year ended at the hands of Anisimova, and the four-time major champion suffered the same fate in Paris on Monday, falling 7-5, 6-4 to the big-hitting American. After a hard-fought first set, the first three games of the contest went against serve before Anisimova consolidated her advantage for a 3-1 lead.The Japanese star broke back though, drawing level two games later and the pair remained neck and neck until Anisimova broke to edge ahead 6-5. The 20-year-old American wrapped up the set 7-5 on the 46-minute mark, said the official website of the competition,. Anisimova made her move in game seven of the second set, and despite seeing two match points slip as she was serving for the win, she fired a signature down-the-line backhand to secure her passage to round two. He will next qualifier Donna Vekic. Two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka, the No.15 seed, is down a set but up a break in the second on Court 14 battling Romanian Ana Bogdan, while double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, the No.32 seed, took out Hungarian Anna Bondar 7-6(0), 6-1. Former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu is on Court 7, facing Belgian qualifier Ysaline Bonaventure.After leading 2-0 in the first set, Andreescu fell behind 3-6, 0-2 to the left-handed Bonaventure, who came into the match battle-tested with three qualifying wins under her belt. Andreescu clawed her way back into the contest and took the second set 7-5. She opened up a 3-0 lead in the decider before play was interrupted due to rain.—IANS

The French Open campaign of four-time Grand Slam champion Naoki Osaka ended in the first round on Monday as she went down to American No.27 seed Amanda Anisimova while World No. 1 and top seed Iga Swiatek progressed without breaking a sweat at the Roland Garros courts here.

Swiatek cruises to second round, Osaka ousted by Anisimova

Bengaluru: Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar on Monday said the party's national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has agreed to campaign and spend time in the state, for the assembly elections next year. The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief's sudden New Delhi visit came amid talks about differences between him and Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah regarding probable candidates recommended to the high command for upcoming MLC polls in the state. Shivakumar said he had come the national capital for party work and the final list of candidates is likely to be announced by Monday evening.Tuesday is the last day to file nominations for the June 3 polls to seven seats of the Karnataka legislative council to be elected by MLAs and all the three major political parties in the state -- the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal-Secular -- are yet to announce their candidates. "Everyone will have the desire that their leader should come to their state, but as of now it has not been discussed," Shivakumar said in response to a question about several state leaders insisting that Priyanka Gandhi contest the Rajya Sabha polls from Karnataka.Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, he said, "We have said that she should spend time for the state during elections (assembly polls) and she has agreed to it. She has said that she will campaign in the state...no discussion has taken place regarding Rajya Sabha tickets."This comes amid speculation that a section of the Karnataka Congress leaders, including Shivakumar, wants Priyanka Gandhi to contest the June 10 Rajya Sabha polls from the state, as they feel it may benefit the party during the assembly polls, due next year.Shivakumar had recently said the party wants Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to "concentrate on the south, where elections are coming up".Stating that he and Siddaramaiah together had submitted a list of candidates to the high command for MLC polls, Shivakumar said, "We have given our opinion and the high command will decide. There were more than 200 aspirants for the two seats, so there is difficulty, there are also people who have the required qualification and ability but have not asked for tickets, they too had to be considered."He said, the list should be finalised and announced mostly by this evening, as Tuesday is the last day to file nominations"We have taken care of all aspects including social justice while recommending names," he added.The election is necessitated as the term of office of seven members is set to expire on June 14.The seats will be falling vacant, due to the retirement of MLCs -- Laxman Sangappa Savadi and Lahar Singh Siroya of BJP; Ramappa Timmapur, Allum Veerabhadrappa, Veena Achaiah S of Congress; and H M Ramesha Gowda and Narayana Swamy KV of JD-S.According to official sources, in this election, each MLC candidate will require a minimum of 29 votes to win, and on the basis of minimum votes required and tallying it with the strength of each party in the legislative assembly, the BJP will be able win four seats, Congress two and JD-S one. Responding to a question as to whether senior party leader and former Minister S R Patil is a probable candidate for the Rajya Sabha election, Shivakumar said, "Party will decide regarding his candidacy...at the party's recent Chintan Shivir (in Jaipur) it was decided that new faces should be given an opportunity from top to bottom level, so considering all aspects the high command will take a call."Regarding his sudden Delhi visit, he said he had come here to collect election forms and also to participate in a meeting regarding organising state-wide yatras and state-level Chintan Shivir&nbsp;as decided during the Jaipur meet.—PTI

Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar on Monday said the party's national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has agreed to campaign and spend time in the state, for the assembly elections next year.

Priyanka to spend time in K'taka for assembly poll campaign: Shivakumar

Manchester: Manchester United are set to play Atletico Madrid for a pre-season match before the start of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign. The match will take place on July 30, with kick-off at 14:00 local time, and will see United return to play at the Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, exactly three years to the day since the Red Devils' last played there against Kristiansund in 2019.Manchester United's football director, John Murtough, comments: "Pre-season is such an important part of the squad's preparations for the season ahead.Our players and coaching staff will be relishing the opportunity to play against such a high-calibre opponent in Atletico Madrid, as well as the chance to perform in front of a full stadium of passionate Norwegian fans." Manchester United's chief operating officer, Collette Roche, said: "Manchester United has a deep and long-standing relationship with Norway and we are delighted to be returning to play at the Ullevaal Stadium this summer. Our visit will coincide with the 40th anniversary of our official Norwegian supporters' club, reflecting the strength of support we have in the country. "We know that both our locally-based and travelling fans will provide a great reception for the team," she added.—ANI

Manchester United are set to play Atletico Madrid for a pre-season match before the start of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign. The match will take place on July 30, with kick-off at 14:00 local time, and will see United return to play at the Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, exactly three years to the day since the Red Devils' last played there against Kristiansund in 2019.

Manchester United to play Atletico Madrid in pre-season friendly

“HarGharDastak campaign 2.0” to accelerate the pace and coverage of COVID19 vaccination across States and UTs has commenced across the country. Being implemented in a ‘Mission Mode’, States and UTs have been advised to give an intensive push towards full COVID19 vaccination coverage by vaccinating all eligible beneficiaries.

Two months long “Har Ghar Dastak 2.0” campaign commences today

Mumbai: More than 1500 enthusiastic runners from across the city participated in the fifth edition of the Adidas India-organised "Run For The Oceans" campaign. The campaign attracted some well-known public figures and media personalities such as Anusha Dandekar, Saiyami Kher, Karanveer Bohra, Teejay Sidhu, Aditya Seal, Akash Gaurav, and Angad Bedi, who actively participated in the cause. Standing firm on the brand's commitment to end plastic waste and promote a sustainable future, Adidas India recently organised a "Run For The Oceans" campaign in which participants covered the three-km stretch around Versova Beach and followed it up with a clean-up drive of the beach recently.For every 10 minutes of running recorded by participants using the adidas Runtastic app, "Parley for the Oceans", the non-profit environmental organisation, vowed to clean an equivalent weight of plastic bottles from the beaches, remote islands, and coastlines before it reaches the ocean, adidas informed in a release on Thursday. While "Run For the Oceans" is a global movement, adidas in India has given momentum to the campaign by associating with Adv Afroz Shah, the UN Champion of Earth 2016. The sportswear brand has been supporting Shah's endeavour to clean the beaches and remove plastic waste from the coastline. His initiative has garnered support from India and the world, with people from all walks of life joining hands to make oceans free from plastics.Earlier this year, Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma wore customised adidas shoes created to spread awareness about using recycled plastic. The spikes carry the 'End Plastic Waste' slogans on them. Other successful campaigns of Mr. Shah include conserving the mangroves, running workshops to prevent litter, and promoting the segregation of plastic waste.—IANS

More than 1500 enthusiastic runners from across the city participated in the fifth edition of the Adidas India-organised "Run For The Oceans" campaign. The campaign attracted some well-known public figures and media personalities such as Anusha Dandekar, Saiyami Kher, Karanveer Bohra, Teejay Sidhu, Aditya Seal, Akash Gaurav, and Angad Bedi, who actively participated in the cause.

1500 participate in ‘Run For The Oceans’ campaign organised by Adidas

New Delhi (The Hawk): India has been able to secure a favourable outcome at the WTO after many years, despite a strong global campaign against our farmers &amp; fishermen, said Union Minister of Commerce &amp; Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food &amp; Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal, after conclusion of the WTO 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva today. Terming the just concluded MC12 as an “outcome oriented” success, Shri Goyal said the Indian delegation, guided constantly by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has been 100 percent successful in portraying before the world the priority issues for India and the developing world. Shri Goyal said the Indian delegation leveraged India’s strong relationship with the world, which the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has nurtured over the last few years.“Few countries attempted to create false campaign, initially on Sunday and Monday, that India is obstinate due to which no progress is being made. The real situation has emerged before us all, the issues raised by India, on which Prime Minister had asked us to focus upon, now the whole world acknowledges that was the correct agenda and ultimately India played a vital role in arriving at all solutions,” Shri Goyal told a press conference in Geneva.Stating that it is a proud day for 135 crore Indians at the WTO today, Shri Goyal said India took the lead and was at the center of the conference. “It turned the tide of negotiations from full failure, gloom &amp; doom to optimism, enthusiasm and consensus based decision. India’s efforts to bring members on a table to discuss issues irrespective of the existing geopolitical order has ensured that the world order is not broken,” he said.Admitting that India and the Developing countries accepted certain compromising decisions when the WTO was established 30 years ago and during the Uruguay Round of negotiations, Shri Goyal said India today bats on the front foot rather than being fearful on various issues be it Environment, Startups, MSMEs or gender equality. This is a result of the confidence of New India. India is able to build consensus &amp; get a Win-Win outcome for the world, he said.&nbsp;“Today as we return India there is no issue on which we have to be the least concerned, whether it is related to Agriculture such as MSP, reinforcing the relevance of the Public Stockholding Programme towards fulfilling the National Food Safety Programme or PM Garib Kalyan Scheme, TRIPS Waiver, e-Commerce moratorium, response to covid and fisheries,” said Shri Goyal, adding, “Similarly there have been no restrictions on fishing that our fishermen were deeply concerned about, that would bind artisanal and traditional fishermen of India in the future. India has been cent percent successful; no restrictions or terms have been placed on India or the Government, rather we have been successful in introducing checks on illegal fishing, under-reporting or outside regulation, viz IUU fishing.”Shri Goyal said India remains committed to supporting the World Food Programme (WFP). Citing India’s recent wheat supplies to Afghanistan, he said the Government has imposed no export restrictions on WFP purchases for food security in other countries; however, domestic food security takes priority.On the global fight against the Covid19, Shri Goyal said the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) decision will boost vaccine equity, accessibility &amp; affordability. It will enable ease of authorisation for production of patented vaccines and India can produce for domestic requirements and exports.On the WTO Reforms agenda, Shri Goyal said the basic structure and core principles of WTO including Consensus, S&amp;DT provisions, SDG goals, will be retained while making it more contemporary. “I believe it will be good for the WTO, and will be good for the Developing and Under-Developed countries in the future and foster global trade through transparent means,” he said.Shri Goyal said India’s motto of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ echoes in the WTO, India not only raised its issues but raised the issues of other developing countries, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), poor &amp; vulnerable with sensitivity and fought bravely for their cause.Outcomes at the WTO MC 12 MeetingOn fisheries, there would be a check on illegal unreported and unregulated fishing in our waters and elsewhere. There would be very strict controls on overfished areas so that fish stocks are restored. Additionally, no subsidies to be provided for fishing in areas outside EEZ or RFMOsThe TRIPS decision will boost export, vaccine equity, accessibility &amp; affordability. A country can authorize production of vaccines patented elsewhere and there would be no consent required as well as there would be no limit on exports. A decision on Diagnostics/Therapeutics would be taken in 6 months. There would be faster pandemic response in future and there would be fewer trade barriers in pandemicsThe agenda decided on WTO reforms will make the WTO a more efficient, agile body. The dispute settlement body will be revived and play its expected role in settling trade disputes. The reform would deliver better trade outcomes for developing countries. A reference to Gender, Environment &amp; MSME has been made in the WTO reform agenda.On e-Commerce, while agreeing to the temporary moratorium, India asked for intensifying discussions on the moratorium including on its scope, definition and impact for taking an informed decision on the same.The Food Security Declaration, focusses on making food available in developing countries while working towards increasing productivity and productionAs regards, the World Food Programme (WFP), there would be no export restrictions on WFP purchases for food security in other countries; However, domestic food security will take priority.

India has been able to secure a favourable outcome at the WTO after many years, despite a strong global campaign against our farmers & fishermen, said Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal, after conclusion of the WTO 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva today.

India Leads And Delivers At The WTO 12th Ministerial Conference: Piyush

Azamgarh: With just two days left for the campaigning in Azamgarh to end, a war of words between the contesting parties is intensifying every hour.Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday, blasted the Samajwadi Party for "betraying" the people of Azamgarh and ensuring that the area remains undeveloped."You have sent two former chief ministers to Lok Sabha but they left you without a word. Did they come to you during Covid pandemic? We have given Azamgarh a new identity. You have lived for long with an identity that gave you nothing to be proud of. I promise development if you promise to vote for BJP," he said.A day ago, on Saturday, UP BJP chief and Jal Shakti minister Swatantra Dev Singh drew religious analogy.Since Azamgarh has a sizeable population of Rajbhars, mostly considered loyal to Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) whose chief Om Prakash Rajbhar has been pitching for the SP here, Swatantra Dev began his campaign by invoking "Maharaja Suheldev" before referring to sage Durvasa."Azamgarh used to be the place where sage Durvasa prayed. Azamgarh may have given chief ministers, it may have sent Lok Sabha MPs, but the district's identity took a severe hit. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leadership of chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Azamgarh is well on way to becoming Aryamgarh," he said.UP minister A K Sharma termed the by-election as a 'dharma yuddh'. The Samajwadi Party that is fighting to retain the seat that was vacated by its president Akhilesh Yadav, is also leaving no stone unturned to ensure its victory.SP leader Mohammad Azam Khan, in his campaign, has been lashing out at the BJP."I have been watching what has been unfolding in the country over the past three-four days. Trains and buses have been set on fire, and police vans, government property vandalised across states in protests against the Agnipath scheme. I am waiting to see what action the government will take. How many posters of offenders will be put up and if damages will be recovered from them? The government has been targeting the weak," said Khan at a rally.Azam Khan said he suffered atrocities and injustice with patience."I was in jail for 27 months. If I think of taking revenge, it will only cause further harm to our community. Hence, I have decided to tolerate everything," he said and asked people to vote for SP candidate Dharmendra Yadav.The BSP candidate Shah Alam a.k.a Guddu Jamali also lashed out at SP. "Samajwadi Party wants the minority community to vote for them but does not share power with us. The SP does not want any Muslim leader to emerge, they want us to be their servants," he said.Jamali has been underlining the fact that his home is in Azamgarh while Dharmendra Yadav will fly off to Etawah-Mainpuri and Nirahua will go back to Mumbai."My association with Azamgarh and with you people will end only when you carry me to the burial ground," said Jamali.BJP candidate Dinesh Yadav Nirahua has been relying on star power, songs and slogans to take pots-shots at opposition leaders.Bhojpuri film stars and BJP leaders Manoj Tiwari and Ravi Kishan have campaigned for Nirahua over the past three days while Amrapali Dubey, Sanjay Pandey, Pravesh Lal, Manoj Tiger have also been seeking votes for him.Surprisingly, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati have not yet campaigned for their party candidates. —IANS

With just two days left for the campaigning in Azamgarh to end, a war of words between the contesting parties is intensifying every hour.

Azamgarh Campaign For Bypoll Touches A Crescendo

New Delhi: Various opposition parties on Thursday accused the Modi government of unleashing a relentless campaign against its political opponents through "mischievous" misuse of probe agencies.Ahead of Sonia Gandhi's questioning by the ED in the National Herald money laundering case, leaders of 13 political parties met at Parliament House and condemned the action."The Modi 'sarkar' has unleashed a relentless campaign of vendetta against its political opponents and critics through the mischievous misuse of investigative agencies. Prominent leaders of a number of political parties have been deliberately targeted and subjected to harassment in an unprecedented manner," the leaders charged in a joint statement."We condemn this and resolve to continue and intensify our collective fight against the anti-people, anti-farmer, anti-Constitution policies of the Modi 'sarkar' that is destroying the social fabric of our society," they also said in the statement.Leaders of the Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Communist Party of India-Marxist, the CPI, the Indian Union Muslim League, the National Conference, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Nationalist Congress Party, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, the Shiv Sena, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Revolutionary Socialist Party were present in the meeting.The Congress slammed the Modi government for "misusing" probe agencies against opposition leaders and staged protests against the Enforcement Directorate's summons to Sonia Gandhi.Senior Congress leader and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condemned the ED action of calling Sonia Gandhi for questioning, and said the probe agency should first hold a press conference to spell out under what charges she is being probed."I condemn the ED action of calling Sonia Gandhi for questioning," he told reporters at a press conference."The ED should have gone to her residence to take her responses to their questions," he said, citing past precedents, adding that this is being done to harass her.Sonia Gandhi is set to appear before the ED in Delhi for her questioning in the National Herald money laundering case.Referring to the questioning of Rahul Gandhi earlier, Gehlot said never has anyone questioned a leader for five days in a row and long hours of questioning."Their aim is to demoralise and create problems," he alleged.Gehlot said this action comes after the Udaipur declaration of the Congress party, which received a very encouraging response from the public.Earlier, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed the media was also being prevented from entering the Congress headquarters."From the early hours of this morning the Delhi Police—obviously taking orders from the Union Home Minister—is preventing the media from entering the Congress party headquarters. This high-handedness was only to be expected and reflects the mindset of the Modi Sarkar," Ramesh said on Twitter.He also said that the ED action comes to prevent the Congress raising issues of public like price rise and unemployment, which they will continue.The Congress has organised protests in the national capital and across the country.Gehlot alleged that there are two laws in India with one for the BJP and one for the opposition.He also alleged that the area around the Congress headquarters here has been turned into a police cantonment and no one is being allowed entry."They consider the opposition as their enemies and the target is to make the country opposition-free. Earlier their slogan was to make it 'Congress-mukt'," he said, alleging that the country is headed towards such times that all Indians should be worried.Gehlot also claimed that the ED is being used by the ruling BJP as a "big weapon to bring down governments of opposition"."There can't be anything more cheap and shameful than this," he said.<img src="https://newads.rediff.com/rediffadserver/www/delivery/lg.php?bannerid=6301&amp;campaignid=1829&amp;zoneid=385&amp;source=_blank&amp;loc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fmodi-sarkar-has-unleashed-oppn-on-sonias-ed-appearance%2F20220721.htm&amp;referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&amp;cb=bfa6aa7f7f">He said the ED has made 1,700 raids and their conviction rate is 0.5 percent as due processes and not followed.The Rajasthan chief minister said he wanted to meet the heads of the IT, CBI, ED and CBDT chairman as the credibility of these probe agencies in the eyes of the public is going down.—IANS

Various opposition parties on Thursday accused the Modi government of unleashing a relentless campaign against its political opponents through "mischievous" misuse of probe agencies.

'Modi sarkar unleashing...': Oppn on Sonia's ED appearance

Varanasi: Preparations have begun on a war footing for the Uttar Pradesh government's "Har Ghar Tiranga" campaign, scheduled to be held next month.Teachers in Varanasi have started crowd funding to collect money to buy around one lakh flags that will be distributed to children on the occasion.Basic Education Officer Rakesh Singh said, "The education department has been given a target of purchasing one lakh flags and distributing it among poor children for hoisting them under the campaign. We have to purchase the flags from the District Urban Development Authority (DUDA) against the payment of Rs 40 for each flag. To achieve the target of purchasing the flags, a fund of Rs 40 lakh is required. This fund is being arranged with public cooperation and through voluntary contribution."Though officials claimed that funds for flags have to be raised through public cooperation, the headmasters and teachers have been given a target for raising funds for the purpose.Uttar Pradesh Prathamik Shikshak Sangh's (UPPSS) district vice-president Sanat Kumar Singh said that his union's consent was not sought before issuing the order of fund raising by teachers.To mark the 75th year of independence, the Union government is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, and as a part of the same, 'Har Ghar Tiranga' has been adopted to inspire all countrymen to hoist the national flag at their homes. Under the programme, the national flag will be hoisted from August 13 to 15. After the district administration assigned the task to each department to make the programme a grand success, the basic education officer also issued a letter on July 18 to the block education officers mentioning the name of banks and account number for depositing funds raised for flag purchase along with the target for flag purchase.As per the target fixed in the letter, each of the eight blocks - Chiraigaon, Cholapur, Harahua, Kashi Vidyapeeth, Arazilines, Pindra, Sevapuri and Badagaon have to contribute Rs 4.40 lakh to purchase 88,000 flags, while city and Ramnagar have been given the target of contributing Rs 4.80 lakh to buy 12,000 flags.Referring to the same letter of the basic education officer, the block education officers of Harahua and Cholapur issued office orders fixing the target of flag purchase for each teacher of the primary schools.Regarding these orders, the basic education officer said, "Funds of around Rs 4 lakhs have to be contributed by each block and we are trying to collect it through public cooperation and donations. Flags will be purchased with the amount which would be raised for it." However, the basic education officer claimed that there is no pressure on anyone to contribute funds. The teachers have been given only three days' time for the fund collection.The teachers' union leader Sanat Kumar Singh said, "We welcome the Har Ghar Tiranga programme and teachers are also ready to take part in it with full enthusiasm. However, there should be voluntary financial support instead of issuing orders for fund raising as done by some block education officers without taking UPPSS in confidence. —IANS

Preparations have begun on a war footing for the Uttar Pradesh government's "Har Ghar Tiranga" campaign, scheduled to be held next month.

'Har Ghar Tiranga' Campaign: Teachers Asked To Collect Funds For Flags

Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress will launch special campaigns from August 9 to mark 75 years of India’s Independence.SP national president Akhilesh Yadav will launch ‘Tricolour on every home’ campaign from August 9 to August 15 from a village in Kannauj.“He will distribute Khadi Tricolour to the families in the village in Tirwa tehsil of the district under the party’s campaign ‘Har Ghar Fehrey Rashtradwaj Tiranga (National flag to hoist on every house),” the party stated in a press release.“With the distribution of the Khadi Tricolour to people of the village, the national president of the SP will make an appeal to all the citizens in the state to hoist the flag on their homes on August 15.The Congress, on the other hand, will organise ‘Azadi Ki Gaurav Yatras’ covering a distance of 75 kilometres in every Lok Sabha constituency from August 9.A state level programme will be organised in the state capital on August 15.“The Congress will hold Gaurav Yatras in all the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies of the state from August 9. They will cover a distance of 75 kilometres in each Lok Sabha constituency and will pass through all the 403 Assembly constituencies,” said Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) spokesman Ashok Singh.Akhilesh Yadav, on the other hand, will also meet the families of freedom fighters in the area and will felicitate them.He will also impress upon the people that it was during the SP regime that villages got concrete roads and schools, water filters and several other facilities that have been ruined under the BJP government.The Congress Gaurav Yatras, meanwhile, are being organised to mark 75 years of India’s Independence and in response to ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ programme of the Union government.The Congress proposes to launch and end the Gaurav Yatras at a place of cultural and historical importance in the state.The Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) has sent its observers and senior office- bearers to each district to make preparations for the Gaurav Yatras.There are indications that Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may launch or join the yatra at its culminating point in Lucknow or in any other district of Uttar Pradesh.—IANS

The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress will launch special campaigns from August 9 to mark 75 years of India’s Independence.SP national president Akhilesh Yadav will launch ‘Tricolour on every home’ campaign from August 9 to August 15 from a village in Kannauj.

 SP, Cong to launch special campaigns from Aug 9

New Delhi:&nbsp;A campaign to encourage people to quit drugs will be launched on Tuesday here as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Union minister Kaushal Kishore said. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will be the chief guest at the launch of Hindustaniyo Nasha Chhodo (Indians, quit drugs) campaign, while Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh will preside over by the event. Kishore, the minister of state for housing and urban affairs, would be the keynote speaker. Addressing a press conference, Kishore said, "I lost my son (Aakash Kishore) to alcohol in 2020 and I pledged to make India drugs free. Then I started a campaign and so far 18 lakh people have pledged to not do drugs and 10,000 have stopped using drugs." "As India is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mohastuv, we have decided to launch a campaign Hindustaniyo Nasha Chodo' on August 9 at Delhi University's Sports Complex," he added. As a part of the campaign, every person associated with it will pledge to add one person every month with the campaign and help in making India drugs free.—PTI

A campaign to encourage people to quit drugs will be launched on Tuesday here as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Union minister Kaushal Kishore said

Quit drug campaign to be launched from Delhi Tuesday

New Delhi: ITC Limited, the multi-business conglomerate with significant presence across all three sectors of the Indian economy — agriculture, manufacturing and services, has launched a series of integrated multidimensional initiatives to celebrate ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to mark 75 years of the country’s independence.&nbsp;
ITC has also contributed to the Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign through a corporate film, which salutes and celebrates the glorious contributions of India’s freedom fighters.&nbsp;
A film conceptualised by Ogilvy features children who have portrayed famous freedom fighters such as Bhagat Singh, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Lala Lajpat Rai, Ashfaqulla Khan, Chandra Shekhar Azad, and Subhas Chandra Bose, exhibiting the joy and pride of hoisting the national flag.
The film also reminds every Indian to bring home the beloved Tiranga and remember the countless heroes who fought for India’s Independence.
As part of the Har Ghar Tiranga celebrations, the company’s employees and its larger eco-system such as farmers, vendors, partners, communities, and self-help groups will be taking up large-scale programs across ITC’s offices, factories, hotels, FMCG outlets, distribution network, paperboards and paper mills, and agribusiness catchments across the country.
Apart from hoisting of the national flag across locations, ITC will be undertaking community and farmer engagements such as bullock cart rallies, tractor rallies, and organising employee activities, cultural programs, and digital campaigns. Further, several iconic buildings of the company will be illuminated with tricolor lightings. ITC’s Hotels will also offer Independence Day special menus with Tricolour servings.
ITC’s Nation First  Sab Saath Badhein’ credo underlines the company’s core belief in serving national priorities through unique and innovative business models that seek to synergize the building of economic, ecological, and social capital as a unified strategy. The philosophy has helped ITC transform into a resilient enterprise of tomorrow that generates shareholder value whilst serving national priorities in a synergistic manner. It also drives the company’s strategy to invest in world-class brands, manufacturing, hospitality and R&amp;D assets in India thereby creating and retaining larger value in the country.
ITC’s pioneering initiatives in agriculture including climate smart agricultural practices, large-scale digital adoption and livelihood creation have empowered millions of farmers.
Over the years, the company has made valuable contributions towards the nation through landmark achievements in the area of sustainability. ITC is the only enterprise in the world of comparable dimensions to be carbon-positive, water-positive, and solid waste recycling positive for over a decade. The company has created over 6 million sustainable livelihoods.
Nearly 42 per cent of the total energy consumed in ITC is from renewable sources, and the company has several green buildings to its credit. The company also undertakes large scale social initiatives across the country spanning areas such as watershed development, climate smart farming, social forestry, education, skill development, women empowerment, animal husbandry, solid waste management, sanitation, among others.&nbsp;
—IANS

ITC Limited, the multi-business conglomerate with significant presence across all three sectors of the Indian economy — agriculture, manufacturing and services, has launched a series of integrated multidimensional initiatives to celebrate ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to mark 75 years of the country’s independence. 

 ITC launches integrated initiatives to support Har Ghar Tiranga campaign

Ayodhya: Ayodhya is all set to be the focal point of BJP’s campaign for 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The 2024 elections are perfectly timed with the completion of the grand Ram temple and the various developmental projects earmarked for the holy city will also be near completion by then.
Ayodhya, therefore, will be the perfect showcase of BJP’s achievement — both in spiritual and developmental terms.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who has already positioned himself as a torch-bearer of Hindutva, will undoubtedly tout Ayodhya as a major achievement.
“Ayodhya will have the much-promised temple by the time general elections are held. Yogi Adityanath is pushing all developmental projects hard and this will present a new Ayodhya to the people. Without doubt, this will be our biggest and best report card for the 2024 elections,” said a senior BJP functionary.
There is no doubt that with a highly fragmented opposition, Modi’s continuing charisma and Yogi Adityanath’s Hindutva pull, the focus on Ayodhya will only add to the BJP’s strength in the general elections.
According to a senior official, Yogi Adityanath has visited Ayodhya innumerable times during the past five and a half years and is completely clued in with the progress of development in the holy city.
It is noteworthy that previous chief ministers, including Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have avoided visiting Ram temple because they feared that this would send a wrong message to their non-Hindu voters.
A senior official in the chief minister’s secretariat said, “Yogi Adityanath takes keen personal interest in matters related to Ayodhya. The annual ‘Deepotsav’ event has got bigger with every passing year and the renovation of Ghats has given an ethereal look to Ayodhya. He reviews the development work in Ayodhya at regular intervals and does not take excuses for lapses.”
Yogi Adityanath’s deep connect with Ayodhya is understandable.
Located 137 kilometres east of Ayodhya, the Gorakhnath Math in Gorakhpur — now headed by Yogi Adityanath — has been at the centre of the Ram temple movement since British rule. It played a pivotal role in the Ayodhya movement under three mahants — Digvijay Nath, Avaidyanath and Yogi Adityanath.
Digvijay Nath, who became mahant in 1935 not only made the mutt a centre of right-wing political activities, but also became a leading light of the temple movement.
After joining the Hindu Mahasabha in 1937, he started mobilising the Hindu community for the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
On the intervening night of December 22-23, 1949, when Ram idol was placed in the then disputed structure, Digvijay Nath was present in Ayodhya. He motivated volunteers to start prayers.
Till his death in 1969, Digvijay Nath gave the momentum to the Ram temple movement.
The next mahant, Avaidyanath, continued the movement for the Ram temple. In 1984, he constituted the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mukti Yagya Samiti to bring all the Hindu organisations and sadhus associated with the Ram temple movement on a single platform.
As a disciple of Avaidyanath, Yogi Adityanath started participating in meetings of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mukti Yagya Samiti headed by his guru.
The task to organise the meetings was entrusted to the young Adityanath who proved his mettle by inviting the sadhus, heads of various Hindu religious orders and scholars from across the country.
Contentious issues like construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, uniform civil code, ban on cow slaughter and anti- conversion campaign topped the agenda of these meetings organised in east Uttar Pradesh.
Yogi Adityanath kept the temple issue alive in east UP by organising Vishwa Hindu Mahasammelan and Virat Hindu Sangam in Gorakhpur and the adjoining districts.
After being appointed chief minister on March 19, 2017, Yogi Adityanath declared Ayodhya a municipal corporation, changed the name of Faizabad to Ayodhya and launched projects to promote tourism and amenities for pilgrims.
With the ‘Deepotsav’ programme in October 2017, Yogi Adityanath made it clear that Ayodhya would remain on the top of his political agenda.
The BJP, at the national level, does not promote the Hindu agenda in a blatant manner but Yogi Adityanath makes no bones about his Hindu leanings and it is this that endears him to his voters. He is pushing Ayodhya to the centre stage of politics.&nbsp;
—IANS

Ayodhya is all set to be the focal point of BJP’s campaign for 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The 2024 elections are perfectly timed with the completion of the grand Ram temple and the various developmental projects earmarked for the holy city will also be near completion by then.

 Ram temple opening timed perfectly for BJP's 2024 campaign

Ayodhya is all set to be the focal point of BJP’s campaign for 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The 2024 elections are perfectly timed with the completion of the grand Ram temple and the various developmental projects earmarked for the holy city will also be near completion by then.

Ahmedabad: The Congress on Wednesday said that it will launch its campaign for the Gujarat Assembly elections from September 5 and its first list of candidates will be out on September 15.
Addressing a press conference here, party General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said, "There is a clear cut anti-incumbency against the BJP government, people want change. Congress will be fighting the elections and we will win."
Rajasthan Chief Minister and Senior Observer of Gujarat Congress Ashok Gehlot shared a few glimpses of the party's manifesto, and said, "If Congress is elected to power, it will implement old pension scheme, will give power to agriculture consumers during day time, and in the urban areas we will implement the Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme."
The Congress will set up the English medium schools in the rural areas, Rajasthan model of Chief Minister Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme under which all health services, including organ transplants, major operations will be covered and free health services will be provided to citizens, said Gehlot.
The Congress has also promised to bring a separate Agriculture Budget for farmers and allied sectors.
—IANS&nbsp;

The Congress on Wednesday said that it will launch its campaign for the Gujarat Assembly elections from September 5 and its first list of candidates will be out on September 15.

 First list on Sep 15, campaign launch soon: Cong on Guj Assembly polls

New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that once again, efforts were being made to continue the nefarious and fabricated campaign against him for political mileage.
Gadkari’s comment follows a media report that he was removed from BJP Parliamentary Board with the approval of RSS.
In a series of tweets, Gadkari said: “Today, once again, efforts were being made to continue the nefarious &amp; fabricated campaign against me for political mileage on my behest by some section of mainstream media, social media and some persons in particular by concocting my statement…”
…at public programmes without context or correct reference. Although, I’ve never been disturbed by such malicious agendas of fringe elements but all concerned are hereby warned that If such mischief continue, I will not hesitate to take them to the law in the larger interest of our Government, Party and millions of our hardworking Karyakartas. Therefore, I’m sharing the link of what I had actually said,” Gadkari added.
Gadkari has also tagged the Prime Minister’s Office, the BJP chief JP Nadda and the party’s official handle in his tweets.&nbsp;
—IANS

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that once again, efforts were being made to continue the nefarious and fabricated campaign against him for political mileage.

 Efforts on to continue fabricated campaign against me: Gadkari

Mandi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick off the BJP's campaign on Saturday with an aim to woo the youths for the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly by addressing nearly one lakh youth in Mandi, also known as 'Chhoti Kashi'. He will be addressing the Yuva Vijay Sankalp rally, the first of the three rallies planned ahead of the poll announcement, in Mandi, the district with 10 Assembly segments, the state's second highest, with an expected gathering of over one lakh people below the age of 40. After Mandi, Modi is likely to address public meetings in Bilaspur and Chamba town at later dates. BJP leaders Amit Shah and J.P. Nadda will also visit the state separately. BJP state unit chief Suresh Kashyap said the visit of the Prime Minister to Mandi is a matter of pride for the people. "Narendra Modi's affection towards the people of Himachal is amazing and the people of Himachal also love him very much. Modi-ji has door-to-door contact and a deep relation with Himachal," Kashyap told IANS. He said the youth rally organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha would be a grand success and a large number of workers are coming to listen to Modi. "More than 1 lakh youths are going to participate in the rally that will infuse new energy in the BJP. Twenty youths from every booth of Himachal Pradesh will participate in this rally. Elated over Modi's visit, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who is personally monitoring arrangements relating to the Yuva Vijay Sankalp rally, said the Prime Minister's visit shows his benevolence towards the state and its people. He said the Prime Minister has sanctioned a Bulk Drug Pharma Park for the state even before his visit to the state. "This is a befitting reply to those who alleged that the Prime Minister has given nothing to the state," he told IANS. Thakur, under whose leadership the party will go to the polls, said a special assistance of Rs 800 crore was provided by the Prime Minister to the state, besides sanctioning developmental projects worth over Rs 10,000 crore for the state. He said Opposition leaders were perturbed by the decision of the state government to organize 75 events to thank the people of the state for their contributions over these years to make Himachal Pradesh as one of the frontrunner states in the country in development. He said the slogan of the BJP government regarding changing the tradition is also not going well with the Congress leaders. "This tradition (of retaining the helm for another consecutive term) has changed throughout the country and now it is the turn of Himachal Pradesh to do so," an optimistic Thakur told IANS. Normally in every public meeting, Thakur, who is currently on an inauguration spree by travelling to every nook and corner of the state, is missing no opportunity to remind the public about Modi's special bond and love for the people of the state where he spent a few years as the in-charge of the state's affairs in the late 90s. Getting nostalgic by speaking often in the local dialect, even Prime Minister Modi in his public addresses became vocal about his emotional bond and connection with the state that he says has had a very positive impact in shaping and giving direction to his life. Modi last visited the state on May 31 to address beneficiaries of the Central government's schemes to mark the eighth anniversary of his government from the historic Ridge -- once the promenade of the British colonial rulers when Shimla was their summer capital. Earlier, he addressed a rally in Mandi on December 27, 2021, to mark the fourth anniversary of the state government. Senior Cabinet Minister Suresh Bhardwaj told IANS that in the last five years there is a double-engine government in the state and at the Centre and the speed of development and the implementation of schemes has gained momentum. "Himachal proposes projects and the Centre approves the funds. Recently, the Centre approved a bulk drug park for Himachal, a major achievement for a small state. There are several projects and schemes that Himachal has benefitted from. If I talk about urban development, Shimla and Dharamsala have benefitted from the Smart City Mission while AMRUT-I and AMRUT-II are there for other cities." Despite the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) striving hard to make inroads ahead of the polls, the political scenario in Himachal Pradesh seems so far largely bipolar -- a tug-of-war between the two conventional archrivals -- the Congress and the saffron party. Himachal Pradesh was traditionally dominated by the Congress and saw its first non-Congress Chief Minister, Shanta Kumar, in 1977, when the Janata Party came to power. The BJP had won a majority in the 2017 Assembly polls with 44 seats in the 68-member Assembly.&nbsp;
—IANS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick off the BJP's campaign on Saturday with an aim to woo the youths for the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly by addressing nearly one lakh youth in Mandi, also known as 'Chhoti Kashi'.

 PM Modi to kick off BJP's campaign for Himachal Assembly polls

New Delhi: The central election authority (CEA) of the Congress has issued guidelines to all the state presidents to extend courtesy to both Shashi Tharoor and Mallikarjun Kharge who are contesting for the party presidential poll.
The guidelines says that Pradesh Returning Officer (PRO) will be the Polling Officer of their respective PCCs and shall be responsible for keeping order at the polling stations and to see that the election is fairly conducted.
"Shri Mallikarjun Kharge and Dr. Shashi Tharoor are contesting the election of Congress President in their personal capacity. Therefore, delegates are free to elect any one of them, as per their choice, through Ballot Paper.
"All the office-bearers are asked to resign first if they want to campaign. AICC General Secretaries/ In-charges, Secretaries/ Jt Secretaries, PCC Presidents, CLP Leaders, Heads of Frontal Org., Chiefs of Depts./Cells and all official Spokesperson shall not campaign for or against contesting candidates. If they wish to support any candidate they must first resign from their organisational post, after that they participate in the campaign process," said the guidelines.
CEA chairman Madhusudan Mistry has said that all the state presidents shall extend courtesy to the candidates during their visits to the respective states and arrange meeting hall, chairs and other equipment for the public announcement to the candidate who wishes to hold the meeting of the delegates.
"However, no such meeting can be called by the PCC Presidents in their personal capacity. Organising the meeting is the task of the proposer or the supporters of the contesting candidates."
As per the guidelines during the election "no candidate shall use a vehicle bringing the voters nor resort to any undesired pamphlet, any other kind of publication propaganda. Violation of these procedures shall render the candidates' election invalid and make them liable for disciplinary action".
It said, "Utmost care must be taken to ensure that there is no mala fide campaign against any candidate. The same would bring disgrace to the party. The sensitivity of the election process must be upheld at any cost."&nbsp;
—IANS

The central election authority (CEA) of the Congress has issued guidelines to all the state presidents to extend courtesy to both Shashi Tharoor and Mallikarjun Kharge who are contesting for the party presidential poll.

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