Amid polling for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that these elections are going to decide the fate of the country adding that each vote will decide whether the next government will be of "a few billionaires" or of 140 crore Indians. In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said, "My dear countrymen! Today is the second phase of this historic election which is going to decide the fate of the country. Your vote will decide whether the next government will be of 'a few billionaires' or of '140 crore Indians'. Therefore, it is the duty of every citizen to step out of their homes today and become a 'soldier of the Constitution' and vote to protect democracy." Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called on people to participate in voting in large numbers and emphasised that every vote counts. In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "This election is to save the country's democracy and constitution. This election is to provide relief to the people struggling with unemployment, inflation, corruption and economic hardship." "I appeal to you, my countrymen, to vote in large numbers, vote on your issues and this time form a people's government that works only for you," she added. Voting began at 7 am on Friday. The Lok Sabha elections 2024 is being held in seven phases till June 1 and votes will be counted on June 4. According to the Election Commission of India, 88 constituencies across 13 states and union territories are set to go for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024. Initially, 89 constituencies were scheduled to go to polls today. However, the EC later announced that the voting in Madhya Pradesh's Betul would not take place during the second phase due to the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate. Kerala has the highest number of constituencies as all 20 seats will poll today, followed by Karnataka with 14 seats. The other states that will go to poll on Friday include Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tripura, and Manipur. The poll for the Jammu parliamentary seat will also be held on Friday. As many as 1202 candidates, including 1098 males and 102 females are in the fray. There are 8.08 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters among the electorates who will decide the fate of candidates. As many as 5,929 third-gender electors will also exercise their franchise in the second phase of polls. The first phase of voting for the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections 2024, the world's largest electoral exercise, was held on April 19 in 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs. According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout registered was over 62 per cent. The third phase election will be held on May 7. (With inputs from Agencies)
26 April,2024 11:45 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi urged people on Friday to cast their votes in record numbers in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 and said a high voter turnout strengthens democracy. Asserting that their vote is their voice, PM Modi especially told the young voters and women voters to turn up at the polling booths in great numbers. "Urging everyone in constituencies voting today, in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, to participate in record numbers. A high voter turnout strengthens our democracy. I especially urge our young voters and women voters to turn out in great numbers. Your vote is your voice!" the prime minister said on X. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also appealed to everyone to exercise their right to vote and participate in record numbers for a strong, secure, and prosperous nation. "Today is the voting day for the second phase of the Lok Sabha Election. I appeal to all of you, who are exercising your right to vote today, to participate in this celebration of democracy with full enthusiasm and cast votes in record numbers for a strong, secure, and prosperous nation," he said in the post on X. Shah added "Encourage your friends and family to vote to help build a stronger India." "Choose a government that prioritises the development of the country, ensures border security, restores heritage, and makes powerful decisions in the national interest. Every vote of yours will contribute to strengthening the foundation of a developed India. Encourage your friends and relatives to vote as well," Shah added in the post. Voting will begin at 7 am on Friday and conclude at 6 pm. The Lok Sabha elections 2024 is being held in seven phases till June 1 and votes will be counted on June 4. According to the Election Commission of India, 88 constituencies across 13 states and union territories are set to go for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024. Kerala has the highest number of constituencies as all 20 seats will poll today, followed by Karnataka with 14 seats. The other states that will go to poll on Friday include Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tripura, and Manipur. The poll for the Jammu parliamentary seat will also be held on Friday. As many as 1202 candidates, including 1098 males and 102 females are in the fray. There are 8.08 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters among the electorates who will decide the fate of candidates. As many as 5,929 third-gender electors will also exercise their franchise in the second phase of polls. The apex poll body further said that 34.8 lakh first-time voters are registered to cast their votes. "Additionally, there are 3.28 crore young voters in the age group 20-29 years," it added.There are over 14.78 lakh registered 85+ years old, 42,226 voters above 100 years and 14.7 lakh PwD voters for phase two who have been provided the option to vote from the comfort of their homes. (With inputs from Agencies)
26 April,2024 11:33 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentVoting for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 began at 7:00 am on Friday across 88 Parliamentary Constituencies spread over 12 States and Union Territories. 89 general observers, 53 police Observers and 109 expenditure observers have been deployed in the regions. IMD has forecast normal weather for phase two Lok Sabha polls. The polling time has been extended till 6 PM in many polling stations in Banka, Madhepura, Khagaria and Munger constituencies in Bihar to facilitate voters in hot weather conditions. For convenience for voters, meticulous arrangements have been made by the Election Commission at all polling stations including facilities, to deal with hot weather conditions. It may be recalled that polling for 29-Betul PC in Madhya Pradesh was rescheduled in the third phase due to the death of a candidate from the Bahujan Samaj Party. The polling for 102 seats in phase one was completed on April 19. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has said that adequate arrangements have been made for smooth polling in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls and urged voters to participate in the festival of democracy in maximum numbers. Over 16 lakh Polling officials will welcome over 15.88 crore voters across 1.67 lakh polling stations in the second phase. 34.8 lakh first-time voters are registered to cast their votes. Additionally, there are 3.28 crore young voters in the age group 20-29 years. 1202 candidates (Males - 1098; Females-102; third gender - 02) are in the fray. Three Helicopters, four Special trains and nearly 80,000 vehicles have been deployed to ferry polling and security personnel. Webcasting will be done in more than 50 per cent of the polling stations along with deployment of micro-observers in all polling stations. Webcasting is being done in over 1 lakh polling stations. A total of 4553 Flying Squads, 5731 Static Surveillance Teams, 1462 Video Surveillance Teams and 844 Video Viewing Teams are keeping surveillance round the clock to strictly and swiftly deal with any form of inducement of voters. Around 4195 Model polling stations are set up across the 88 PCs with local themes. More than 4100 Polling stations are being completely managed by women including security staff and at over 640 Polling stations by Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Polling stations in all States/UTs except Bihar and Kerala have less than 1000 average electors per polling station. Bihar has 1008 and in Kerala, it is 1102 electors per polling station. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking his third consecutive term, while the opposition bloc-INDIA- a coalition of opposing parties formed to take on the BJP in the general elections, is eyeing ousting him from power. The 2024 elections are taking place at a time when opposition leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, have been arrested on charges of corruption in the liquor policy case. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 April,2024 08:06 AM IST | New Delhi | ANITaking cognisance for the first time of a model code violation complaint against a prime minister, the EC issued a notice to BJP president J P Nadda on Opposition charge that PM Narendra Modi gave a divisive speech in Rajasthan. Separately, the poll panel also issued a notice to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, asking him to respond to the complaints filed by the BJP against him Rahul Gandhi regarding their remarks. In the notice sent to Nadda, the EC sought his response by Monday to the complaints filed by the Congress, CPI, CPI (ML) and civil society groups regarding the remarks made by Modi. These complaints had referred to Modi’s allegations that the Congress wanted to redistribute the wealth of the people to Muslims and that the opposition party won’t even spare the ‘mangalsutra’ of women. Congress accuses watchdog of bias towards Modi The Election Commission is “super, super cautious” when it comes to complaints against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress said on Thursday after the poll watchdog asked the BJP to respond to complaints filed by opposition parties, accusing the PM of delivering a divisive speech in Rajasthan. The EC has also asked the Congress to respond to complaints filed by the BJP against the main opposition party’s president Mallikarjun Kharge and its senior leader Rahul Gandhi regarding their remarks. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 April,2024 07:53 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe Congress Party released a list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections from Haryana, fielding Kumari Selja from Sirsa and Deepender Singh Hooda from Rohtak. Mahendra Pratap will contest the elections from Faridabad and Varun Choudhary from Ambala. The Congress has fielded Jai Prakash from Hisar, Divyanshu Budhiraja from Karnal, Satpal Brahmachari from Sonipat, and Rao Dan Singh from Bhiwani-Mahendragarh. The Lok Sabha elections for the 10 parliamentary constituencies of Haryana are going to be held in a single phase on May 25. Meanwhile, the Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana Anurag Aggarwal has taken a unique initiative of sending invitation letters to voters urging them to cast their vote to ensure maximum voting in the state which is going to polls in the sixth phase on May 25, authorities said on Thursday. They said that the booth-level officer will welcome voters to take the voter turnout to 75 per cent in the state. In a post in hindi on social media platform X, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Haryana said, "To ensure maximum voting in Haryana in the Lok Sabha General Elections- 2024, a unique initiative has been taken by the Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana, Mr. Anurag Aggarwal, under which invitation cards will be sent to the voters like a wedding to call them to vote this time". "Like a wedding ceremony, booth-level officers will welcome voters. This time the target is to take the voting percentage to 75 percent in Haryana. Voting is to be held on May 25 under the sixth phase in the state and the notification for the elections will be issued on April 29," DPR Haryana added in its post. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in the state, the BJP swept the state, capturing all 10 seats. In the 2014 elections, the BJP won 7 seats, while the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) won 2 seats and the Congress secured only one seat. The first phase of polling for the 18th Lok Sabha elections was held on Friday. The polling was held in 108 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories. The next round of voting will be held on April 26. The counting of votes and results will be declared on June 4. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 April,2024 07:51 AM IST | Gurugram | ANIDelhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is the “kingpin and key conspirator” of the excise policy scam and the arrest of a person for an offence based on material can never violate the concept of free and fair elections, the ED has told the Supreme Court. The Enforcement Directorate claimed that Kejriwal worked in collusion with his ministers and AAP leaders and was also involved in demanding kickbacks from liquor businessmen in exchange for favours granted in the policy. “Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of NCT of Delhi is the kingpin and key conspirator of the Delhi excise scam in collusion with ministers of the Delhi govt, AAP leaders and other persons,” the agency said in its 734-page reply affidavit. “Kejriwal was involved in the conspiracy of formulation of the excise policy to favour certain persons and also involved in the demanding kickbacks from liquor businessmen in exchange for favours granted in the said policy,” it said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 April,2024 07:50 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesVoting for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls will be held on Friday for 89 seats in 13 states with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking a second-straight term from Wayanad in Kerala. All 20 seats of Kerala will go to polls besides 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 7 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Bihar, 3 seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir. A total of 1,206 candidates with four from Outer Manipur constituency will contest elections in this phase, campaigning for which ended Wednesday evening. Polling officials leave for election duty on in Tripura. Pics/PTI Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and actor-turned-politician Arun Govil, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh (Cong), and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy (JDS) are among the key candidates while BJP’s Hema Malini, Om Birla and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seeking a hat-trick of wins from their respective constituencies. Glimpses of dispatch of polling parties in Imphal. Pic/PTI The first of the seven-phase elections held last Friday for 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories saw a voter turnout of around 65.5 per cent. After Friday’s phase, polling will be over in Kerala, Rajasthan and Tripura. In the first phase on April 19, polling was completed in all seats of Tamil Nadu (39), Uttarakhand (5), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Meghalaya (2), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Puducherry (1), Sikkim (1) and Lakshadweep (1). 1,206No of candidates that will contest This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 April,2024 07:48 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cautioned the public against using websites or applications, and parting with their money to any unauthorized entity. "It had come to the notice of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that TalkCharge Technologies Pvt Ltd (entity), a company having its registered office at Gurgaon, Haryana is issuing Prepaid Payment Instruments (Wallets) through its website and app (application) 'TalkCharge' without obtaining the required authorisation from RBI under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007", according to RBI's press release. Accordingly, the entity was issued directions dated April 02, 2024 (attached) to stop the issuance and operation of its Prepaid Payment Instruments or Wallets and refund the balances held in the wallets within 15 days (which was later extended on the entity's request to 45 days, i.e., by May 17, 2024). It has come to the notice of the Reserve Bank that the entity has issued a legal notice to its customers demanding the return of cashback, failing which the matter will be reported to the RBI. Thus, the entity has created an impression in the minds of its customers that demand for repayment of cashback amount is being made as per the directions of the RBI. It is clarified that the RBI has only directed the entity (TalkCharge Technologies Pvt Ltd) to refund the prepaid amount lying in the wallets, to the customers. Members of the public are urged to exercise utmost caution while using websites / application/s and parting with their money to any such unauthorised entity. Members of the public should verify and satisfy themselves that the website/application used or the entity they are dealing with is authorised to carry out the activity it performs. The list of authorised payment system providers/authorised payment system operators is displayed on the RBI website. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 April,2024 07:46 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIIn a significant step towards digitisation, Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud on Thursday announced that the Supreme Court will share information relating to cause lists and filing and listing of cases to advocates through WhatsApp messages, saying it will have a “big-bang impact” and will go a long way in saving paper and the earth. The announcement on integration of WhatsApp with its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services was made by the CJI before a nine-judge bench headed by him commenced the hearing on the vexed legal question arising from the petitions about whether private properties can be considered “material resources of the community” under Article 39(b) of the Constitution, which is a part of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP). This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 April,2024 07:45 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesPolling for the remaining part of the Outer Manipur parliamentary seat commenced on Friday morning, amid stringent security measures, an official said. Voting is underway in 857 polling stations, spanning 13 assembly segments in eight districts, Chief Electoral Officer PK Jha said. During the first phase of elections, parts of the Outer Manipur seat, covering 15 assembly segments, and 32 assembly segments of the Inner Manipur, went to polls on April 19. Four candidates are contesting in this phase - Naga People's Front candidate K Timothy Zimik, Congress' Alfred Kanngam Arthur, and independents S Kho John and Alyson Abonmai. The BJP has not fielded any candidate and is backing its ally, the NPF. Over 4.84 lakh voters, including 8,02,577 women and 246 transgender electors, are likely to cast their votes in this phase. Security measures have been significantly enhanced across all 13 assembly segments, with approximately 87 companies of central paramilitary forces and 4,000 state forces personnel deployed to ensure free and fair elections. In the 2019 elections, the NPF emerged victorious, defeating the BJP by a margin of 73,782 votes. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 April,2024 07:44 AM IST | Imphal | PTIThe best way to tell that you’ve crossed the border from Bengal to Bihar, driving down Siliguri’s Bagdogra airport—even without looking for the toll booth—is to casually study flags that line the highway, shops, constructions, all across. Simple vexillology, as it were. At some point, quite simply, the saffron-green of the BJP’s lotus, and obviously the tricolour with Trinamool Congress’s election symbol, simply recede to a zero. But for a few BJP flags, and fewer INC’s “haath chhaap” tricolour still. You know you’re in Bihar, specifically Kishanganj. What unites with Bengal, though, are the triangular ‘bhagwa dwaj’ (saffron flags)—with Lord Ram, or Hanuman, as with Chhatrapati Shivaji in rural Maharashtra—flying, throughout. The name Kishanganj is so generic, like the district itself, that a colleague in Mumbai told us they’d heard of it. Surely, in a Bollywood movie—to denote a typical small town/village, like Ramgarh in Sholay! That said, Kishanganj also remains among the most backward districts in India, and Bihar, at any rate, which is already the most backward among states. What’s so special? Top candidates Uniformly agrarian Kishanganj, in north eastern Bihar, was an outlier in 2019 elections. BJP-led NDA swept the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar, with 39/40 seats. What about the one seat that kept them from a clean sweep? That was Kishanganj. Kishanganj’s dilapidated Aligarh Muslim University campus The reason is kinda obvious. And for that too, you needn’t study demography as much as simply look at the top candidates in the fray, in 2024—INC’s Dr Mohammed Jawed; Mujahid Alam from Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), that’s now part of NDA; and Akhtarul Iman from Hyderabad’s AIMIM, that’s evidently made deep inroads into the rural parts. AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi had camped in Kishanganj for three days to wrap the campaign. Rahul Gandhi had walked through Kishanganj for his Bharat Jodo Yatra. It’s not like BJP has never won from here—Shahnawaz Hussain has been elected once (1999). INC’s Dr Jawed, locally called ‘Doctor Sahib’, is seeking re-election from the Muslim-majority constituency. The town goes to polls on April 26. Which explains why it looks even deader, the day before—whether at the eatery self-explanatorily named, Family Restaurant, or the plusher Hotel Daftari Palace. The cops, overestimating our worth, have checked the boot of our car for possible cash, more than once. Dr Jawed says he can’t meet, because that would be a violation of the electoral code. “All eyes, from the national to the regional party are on us,” his assistant tells us, offering to send over a volunteer, who’s on his way, to take us around. Only to return with another apology, “Somebody will certainly take a photo of him with you, and it’ll be another electoral code violation. The same gentleman has been fined eight times, already. He may not care for the ninth time. But you might get into trouble.” Fair point. Health and education As with several Indian Tier IV towns, the only thing architecturally majestic you come across in Kishanganj is the presence of the government—the railway station, the DM’s office, even the local post office. Despite a relatively low literacy rate, the town seems full of schools, including a top-end DPS (Delhi Public School), whose bus passes us by. The gamechanger, however, is a centre for Aligarh Muslim University, that’s come up in Kishanganj. We excitedly drive over to the campus. To find a small, dilapidated structure, with broken window panes, housing a girls’ hostel, along with an “academic block” inside the same building. No, this cannot be the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)! “No, it’s not,” Alam Mohd Shahzad, who works at the institute, tells us. “In 2013, we were granted an AMU by Central government. The 100-acre campus was supposed to come up. The land usage got blocked due to environmental concerns. This make-shift thing has been given to us since, by the state government. We only offer one course, an MBA, here. The girls in the hostel are mostly from Uttar Pradesh. They don’t have a vote in Kishanganj,” Shahzad says, pointing to a new girls’ hostel that should start soon. Likewise, an All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) was promised for Kishanganj: “These are jumlas. There is an AIIMS in (nearby) Darbhanga as well; still not operational,” Shahzad adds. Caste still central, of course In 2023, Bihar became the first state to release its caste composition survey. Among its revelations was how Muslims in the state identify themselves with their caste, first. A political volunteer, on condition of anonymity, tells us, “Most Muslims in Kishanganj are pasmandas (backward caste). There are also the same castes, between Hindus and Muslims. A key demand of Dr Jawed is reservation for the Surjapuri community.” For a town bordering Bengal, the question of “illegal migrants” comes up in the context of Kishanganj as well. You do bump into several Bengalis. They go by the Shershabadia community. “We don’t vote here,” they tell us. But Kishanganjis are equivocal on how “it’s such an aman-pasandi (peace-loving) place,” as the street vendor Chirag Ali also puts it. As do others. Ask them who’ll they vote for? The cryptic answers are hilarious: “Not teer [JD(U)],” as per Shahzad. “Full pant. Not jeans pant,” goes Pandit-ji, laughing, and then whispering into our ears, BJP, which is technically not even contesting from Kishanganj. April 26Day town goes to the polls
26 April,2024 07:35 AM IST | Kishanganj | Mayank ShekharADVERTISEMENT
