Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday visited Gujarat BJP's office in Gandhinagar. The PM visited the party headquarters of the state on Wednesday night after addressing an election rally in Himmatnagar town of neighbouring Sabarkantha district. After today’s massive rallies in Banaskantha and Sabarkantha, went to Kamalam, the @BJP4Gujarat Party office and spent time with fellow Karyakartas. Their energy and enthusiasm are outstanding. They are working hard to ensure our Government comes back for a third term. pic.twitter.com/aIHTd0r9IV — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 1, 2024 PM Modi, in a post on X, shared pictures from his visit and said that the energy of the BJP workers is "outstanding". "After today's massive rallies in Banaskantha and Sabarkantha, went to Kamalam, the @BJP4Gujarat Party office and spent time with fellow Karyakartas. Their energy and enthusiasm are outstanding. They are working hard to ensure our Government comes back for a third term," the PM said. Several key BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and state unit president CR Paatil, welcomed Modi. The PM is on a two-day Gujarat visit to seek voter support for party candidates ahead of the May 7 polling. Earlier in the day, PM Modi addressed two back-to-back poll rallies in Deesa town of Banaskantha and Himmatnagar town of Sabarkantha. In Banaskantha, the PM reiterated his stand on "religion-based reservation" on Wednesday and said that Congress, its "shehzada," and INDIA bloc parties should declare that they will not resort to religion-based reservations. "This Congress 'Jamaat' should listen, as long as Modi is alive, there will be no reservation based on religion. Reservations for SC, ST, and OBCs have been given by the Constitution, and no one can take them away," he added. Prime Minister Modi said in Gujarat's Sabarkantha on Wednesday that earlier, when terrorists attacked, the weak government used to send dossiers, but the New India today gives a dose to terrorists. PM Modi said, "The Congress used to scare people that if the Ram Mandir is constructed, then there would be chaos in the country... There was no chaos in the country but there is chaos in the heart of the Congress. "They said that if Article 370 is abrogated, then the country will break and there would be rivers of blood... But this is Modi. Now Article 370 is abrogated and the Tricolour is hoisted at the Lal Chowk with full glory," PM Modi added. 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
02 May,2024 08:18 AM IST | Gandhinagar (Gujarat) | ANIThe Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday increased the polling time for the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana by an hour in view of heat wave conditions prevailing in the state. The new timing would be 7 am to 6 pm against the earlier 7 am to 5 pm. Polling for all 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state will be held on May 13 in the fourth round of the seven-phase elections. While the extended time for voting will be applicable in all assembly segments of 12 Lok Sabha constituencies, in the remaining five parliamentary seats, the timing will apply in certain assembly segments, according to a notification issued by the commission. The hours of polling will be 7 am to 6 pm in the Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Zahirabad, Medak, Malkajgiri, Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Chevella, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool (SC), Nalgonda and the Bhongir Lok Sabha seat, it said. The new timing will also be applicable in five assembly segments of the Adilabad Lok Sabha seat, three of Peddapalle seat, six of Warangal (SC) seat, three of Mahabubabad (ST) seat and five of the Khammam Lok Sabha seat, the Election Commission said in its notification. The decision -- to change the timing -- was taken following a request from the Telangana chief electoral officer in view of representations received from various political parties and contesting candidates on the prevailing situation of heat wave in the state and its effect on voter turnout, according to the notification. 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
02 May,2024 08:15 AM IST | Hyderabad | PTIAmid the mounting suspense over the Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seats, the Congress on Wednesday asserted that “nobody is scared” and a decision on the matter would be announced in the next 24-30 hours. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that party’s central election committee has empowered Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to finalise the candidates for Amethi and Rarbareli. 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
02 May,2024 07:55 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesHassan MP and Lok Sabha election candidate of the BJP-JD(S) alliance Prajwal Revanna, who is facing an inquiry over the alleged sexual abuse of several women, said the truth will prevail. The MP, who left the country as soon as the election to his constituency ended, has also sought seven days’ time to appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Karnataka government to inquire into the huge cache of about 3,000 explicit videos and photos allegedly pertaining to him, which have gone viral on social media. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate shows a photograph featuring JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna. Pic/PTI “As I am not in Bangalore to attend the enquiry, I have communicated to CID Bangalore through my advocate. Truth will prevail soon,” Prajwal, grandson of former prime minister and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda, said in a Facebook post. A case has been registered against MLA and former minister H D Revanna and his son Prajwal at Holenarasipura on a complaint lodged by their former cook and relative for allegedly sexually harassing her. She also alleged that Prajwal made video calls to her daughter and spoke in an objectionable manner, which forced her to block him. Revanna tries to find remedy in rituals (Karnataka): Smoke billowed as ‘Havan’ (fire rituals) flames raged in the scorching summer at JD(S) MLA and former Karnataka Minister H D Revanna’s residence here on Wednesday. Conspicuous was a piece of paper pasted on the wall of his house. Speaking to reporters, Revanna said the SIT has pasted a notice on his house. Noting that he has no clue about the content of the notice, he said he will cooperate.“I have strength to face these conspiracies. I will face it. There is no need to bother. I did not do anything wrong. I am prepared for any investigation and will fight it in a legal manner,” Revanna said. ‘PM knew yet appealed for votes for him’ Congress Spokesperson Supriya Shrinate alleged that PM Modi knew about alliance partner JD(S)’s Prajwal’s alleged crime of sexually abusing several women, and yet he appealed for votes for him. At press conference here, she showed photos of PM with Prajwal and said, “He (Modi) not only appreciated him but also sought votes for him (Prajwal) on April 14.” ‘Cancel diplomatic passport of Prajwal’ Bengaluru: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said Prajwal used his diplomatic passport to travel abroad, and urged PM Modi to take swift action to cancel it. In a letter to Modi, he asked the PM to take other steps such as using diplomatic and police channels of the GOI as well as international police agencies to ensure swift return of absconding MP to face the full force of the law. Is Modi’s family a shield for criminals?: Rahul Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on PM Narendra Modi over the sexual abuse allegations against JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, asking whether being part of “Modi’s political family” a “guarantee of protection for criminals”. Police on Sunday booked Prajwal Revanna and his father H D Revanna on charges of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation based on a complaint from a woman, who worked in their household. In a post in Hindi, Gandhi said, “As always, Narendra Modi has maintained shameful silence on the gruesome crimes committed against women in Karnataka.” 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
02 May,2024 07:50 AM IST | Bengaluru | AgenciesNo cabbie in Kolkata has heard of Sandeshkhali. That’s our only spot-poll to do with the Bengal elections, arrived at from scoring the cheapest taxi, to take us into this minor island, off Sunderbans, about two and half hours from Kolkata. And not too far from the allegedly porous border by the rivers of India-Bangladesh. Most news junkies would have first heard of Sandeshkhali on January 5, when officials of the enforcement directorate (ED) got manhandled, and fended off. The house of dreaded don, Sheikh Shahjahan They’d come down to raid the home of Sandeshkhali’s panchayat-level politician, associated with Mamta Bannerjee’s TMC, evidently a dreaded don, Sheikh Shahjahan. Sandeshkhali has been in national news since, for mass protests, mostly fronted by local women, that followed, from a month thereafter. Shahjahan went MIA. His goons apparently continued to intimidate locals, who were hitting back in return. Sandeshkhali became a metaphor for TMC’s misrule in Bengal, for BJP, to exploit in the general elections. Nirapada Sardar at his CPM office in Sandeshkhali The said raid was in connection with a larger ‘ration scam’ in the state, involving its former food minister, Jyotipriya Mullick. What it blew up into is something else. Revealing the dark power structures of this ordinary hamlet, surrounded by soil-beds, turned into ponds, for cultivating fish. Island of mistrust There are, in fact, two Sandeshkhalis. We quickly crossed over from Dhamkhalito Sandeshkhali II, on a boat, which isn’t too different from taking a jetty from Versova to Madh Island in Mumbai. In that sense, there really is one Sandeshkhali. Which is also an Assembly constituency—reserved for scheduled castes (including Muslims)—that falls under the Basirhat Lok Sabha seat. Locals at the rickshaw rider’s union room watch a speech by Home Minister Amit Shah; A boat ferrying people to Sandeshkhali Our first introduction, fresh off the boat, is with the local, Binoy Sardar, wondering if we’re from the CBI. So not! He’s figured we’re journalists, observing us click pictures of a few state police personnel, ferrying arm-shields on a cart. Nonetheless, Binoy shares a list of police cases against him—dated February 9, IPC sections 147/148/353/332/323/186… for participating in the “gondogol”, referring to the said mass protests, and arson that followed, while he wasn’t apparently in town. He claims there are many like him. The picturesque village, in the harsh sunlight, ahead of us, would work best for a riverine scene in a Gautam Ghose art-house film. Except, a general sense of tension in the village, despite the state of slumber, is all too evident. “Bhoi anubhob korein (do you feel fair),” we generally ask, chit-chatting with locals. They say, not anymore. Meaning, Shahjahan and his closest henchmen, Shibprasad Hazra, Uttam Sardar, and others have been arrested; many have been sacked from TMC. Also, street protests and violent outbursts in Sandeshkhali have stopped, for now. The bad men “Sure, there’s temporary sudhaar (improvement). But the issues here of jor, jorum (injustice) remain,” says Nirapada Sardar, sitting in his bare but charming CPM office in Sandeshkhali, with an unarmed guard posted outside. Nirapada was the Sandeshkhali MLA until 2011, when TMC came to power and has remained since. He is fighting the Basirhat seat on the CPM ticket. He says, referring to Shahjahan and company, “These are dangerous men, bringing agni-shastra (fire-arms), from across the border, grabbing land for fishing, hurting women, and wreaking havoc for mass rigging of votes in panchayat elections. The fear spreads, because they receive support from the police.” Nirapada was also briefly arrested, subsequent to February’s violence in Sandeshkhali. In fact, for some time, he confesses to have tacitly aligned with the BJP’s members, up against “TMC’s goons”. In the sense that, he says, “We led a joint andolan (movement) here, without a flag. But once the BJP felt this could strengthen the red flag instead, gravitating the gareeb (poor), locally, they went on their own. For a general election, we have grave central issues—no teachers in our school, MNREGA payments getting denied…” A political analyst, affiliated to the TMC, suggests, “Local warlords naturally align with the power centre. The same party workers/volunteers comprised the CPM’s cadre once.” It’s a widely held perception. Though Nirapada blurts out a long list of the accused, Shahjahan, Hazra, onwards, showing us before-after image of another local goon’s home, for how much wealth they’ve amassed: “None of them were ever with the CPM.” Polls and the polarisation Electorally, Sandeshkhali is a Hindu-dominated area. Basirhat, its Lok Sabha constituency, is Muslim-majority. BJP has fielded Rekha Patra, a Sandeshkhali survivor, on the seat. TMC’s brought back trusted, old-hand, grassroots leader, Haji Narul Islam, to replace the sitting MP, Nusrat Jahan, a former film actor. The TMC office in Sandeshkhali, not too far from CPM’s, is half-shuttered. A relatively large, open room, packed with men on the floor, watching TV, if not enjoying their siesta, appears to be the BJP office. We deduce this from the television’s speakers at top volume, relaying the speech of Home Minister, Amit Shah, from a rally in Bengal. Who else would watch politics for afternoon entertainment, if not those actively involved in it; or karyakartas, as it were? Only, this is the resting room of the local auto-rickshaw riders’ union. We ask the usual “bhoy” (fear) question for a conversation-starter. They say that it’s all good now. Just that moment, the TV screen switches to news images of clashes between BJP and TMC workers, around Patra’s campaign, elsewhere in Basirhat; surely not too far from this room full of chillers. How does this political violence really take place? Rickshaw rider Sanatan Sardar explains, “There’ll be a rally. Workers from the other party will raise slogans, or manhandle those attending. Clashes will follow.” A political analyst says, “With Sandeshkhali, one, you’ve got the religion of the chief accused (Shahjahan)—although all others don’t belong to the same faith. Plus, women spoke up, and they’re Mamata’s strong vote bank. Both gave BJP an issue to suitably plan, and play up. Basirhat seat, per se, is not the point. Bengal is.” Which is how Sandeshkhali, otherwise known to no one in Kolkata, became a national flashpoint, from a politically charged Bengal. That, anyway, has a history of foisting similar metaphors: Naxalbari, Nandigram, Purulia, Singur… We drive down about 10 kilometres from Sandeshkhali II into Akunjipara More, where the scene swiftly shifts from an art-house film into a Bollywood potboiler—observing the majestic mansion of Shahjahan and family, the medieval king in Bengal’s boondock. Ah, this is where it all started. 2011Year TMC came into power in Sandeshkhali
02 May,2024 06:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharDays after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly targeted Sharad Pawar with a 'wandering soul' jibe, his estranged nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday said that he didn't know who was the target of PM Modi's diatribe, according to the PTI. PM Modi had said that a "bhatakti aatma" in Maharashtra spoils others' good work if it does not manage success, as per the PTI. "Though I was present at the PM's rally (in Pune), I don't know whom the remarks were referred to," Ajit Pawar told reporters on Wednesday, reported the PTI. When I get an opportunity to share the dais with the PM in the next rally, I will certainly ask him who was the target of his remarks and then I will answer your query, he said when asked about PM Modi's remarks, as per the PTI. "Some 'wandering souls' in Maharashtra ushered in an era of political instability 45 years ago for their ambitions," PM Narendra Modi had said, the news agency reported. He was apparently referring to Sharad Pawar's rebellion against the then chief minister of Maharashtra Vasantdada Patil in 1978, leading to the collapse of the government. Meanwhile, hitting back at PM Modi, the Nationalist Congress Party founder Sharad Pawar had on Tuesday said that his soul is restless for the cause of farmers and the common man, and he is ready to be restless "100 times" to highlight their plight. Notably, Ajit Pawar had rebelled against his political mentor Sharad Pawar last year and joined the Mahayuti government comprising the Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with his loyalist MLAs. Ajit Pawar had staked claim to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) name and its political symbol, a clock, which was allotted to him by the Election Commission of India. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP chose to be called as Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) and was allotted the 'man blowing Turha' symbol ahead of the the Lok Sabha elections 2024. The NCP (SP) is highlighting "betrayal" by Ajit Pawar in its campaigning for Lok Sabha elections 2024 with 83-year-old Sharad Pawar hitting the ground running and conducting rallies across Maharashtra, the PTI reported. (with PTI inputs)
01 May,2024 10:15 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentPresident Droupadi Murmu paid obeisance and performed "aarti" at the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Wednesday. In a video shared on the president's official X handle, she was seen kneeling down and bowing before the idol amid religious chants and the sound of cymbals and gongs. Before visiting the temple in the evening, Murmu took part in the Sarayu "aarti" and performed puja at the Hanumangarhi temple here. The president was seen offering a garland of flowers to the Sarayu river as part of the "aarti". "President Droupadi Murmu had darshan and performed puja at Shri Hanuman Garhi temple, Ayodhya," the president's official X handle said in a post on the microblogging platform. Earlier in the day, the president was received at the Ayodhya airport by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel. This was Murmu's first visit to Ayodhya since the newly-built Ram temple's consecration ceremony was held on January 22. 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
01 May,2024 09:11 PM IST | Ayodhya | PTIUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday accused Congress of coining the term "Hindu terrorism" and took a veiled swipe at veteran leader Sushilkumar Shinde who was a Union home minister during the UPA era. Speaking at a campaign rally here for Ram Satpute, the BJP candidate from Solapur Lok Sabha constituency, Adityanath credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with enhancing India's global stature and bolstering security on the country's borders. The Congress has fielded Praniti Shinde, Sushilkumar Shinde's daughter, from this south Maharashtra seat. "These are the same Congress people who cast doubts over the existence of Lord Ram, and these are the same people who coined the term Hindu terrorism to insult Hindus....During the UPA rule, they coined this word, and recall who was the Union home minister then and today his family member is contesting election here," he said, without naming Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister also claimed that attempts were made to drag his name in the Malegaon blasts case during the UPA rule. Congress could have made India a world power in the 65 years of its rule, he said. "It could have freed the country of Naxalism and terrorism, but it was Congress which was the root cause of terrorism and it was Congress which allowed Naxalism (to grow). It was Congress who gave us poverty and corruption and undermined national security," Adityanath said. The opposition party was now planning to rob the reservations of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Class, he claimed. The Congress-led UPA government set up a committee under Justice Ranganath Misra which recommended six percent reservation to Muslims from the 27 percent quota of OBCs, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said. The Congress government tried to put Muslims in the SC and ST categories by forming the Sachar Committee but the plan did not succeed due to the BJP's opposition, he claimed. "Today, the Congress is conspiring to break the quota of SCs, STs and OBCs. The Mahagatbandhan (grand alliance) led by Congress is actually a 'Mahasamasya' (grand problem) of the country," Adityanath said, calling the party a barrier to India's development. Referring to Congress' demand for a caste-based census, he said after such a survey is conducted, it will "pit Hindu communities against each other." Congress will then give quota to Muslims which will create "an outline for Islamization of India," he alleged. 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
01 May,2024 08:27 PM IST | Solapur | PTIAbove normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May and a significantly high number of heat wave days expected over the northern plains, central region, and adjoining areas of peninsular India, said IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra on Wednesday. A prolonged and intense spell of heat wave scorched swathes of east, northeast, and southern peninsular India in April, prompting health warnings from government agencies and some states to suspend in-person classes in schools. Five active Western Disturbances led to rain, thunderstorm, and hailstorms over north and central India at regular intervals in April, preventing heat waves, the India Meteorological Department's director general told a press conference. IMD data shows that the heat waves in April this year were far worse than in 2023, the warmest year on record so far. This trend is likely to continue in May, with around eight to 11 heat wave days predicted over south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Gujarat regions, Mohapatra said. The remaining parts of Rajasthan, east Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, north interior Karnataka, and Telangana may record five-seven heat wave days in the month, he said. Normally, the northern plains, central India, and adjoining areas of peninsular India experience around three days of heat waves in May. Above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May, except for most parts of northeast India, some parts of northwest and central India, and adjoining areas of northeast peninsular India where normal to below-normal maximum temperatures are likely, the IMD said. Above normal minimum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country except the northeast and some areas of northwest India, Indo-Gangetic plains, and the central region. Normal rainfall (91-109 per cent of the long-period average) is predicted in the country in May. Normal to above normal rainfall is likely over most parts of northwest India, and some parts of central, peninsular and northeast India. Below normal precipitation is likely in the remaining parts of the country, the IMD said.India saw two spells of heat waves in April ¿ from April 5 to 7 and April 15 to 30. Mohapatra attributed the prolonged heat wave spell over east, northeast, and south peninsular India in April to the absence of thunderstorms and a persisting anticyclone at lower levels over the west central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining eastern coasts of India. This caused the sea breeze to cut off over Odisha and West Bengal on most days, he said. The IMD said south peninsular India recorded an average maximum temperature of 31 degrees Celsius in April, which was the second-highest since 1901. The mean temperature (28.12 degrees Celsius) in April in east and northeast India was the highest since 1901, the weather office said. The IMD chief said above normal maximum temperatures have become frequent over south peninsular India since 1980s. The region recorded 12.6 mm of rainfall in April, which was the fifth lowest since 1901 and the second lowest since 2001. Mohapatra said the number of heat wave days this April was the highest in 15 years in Gangetic West Bengal and nine years in Odisha. Odisha also experienced the longest heat wave spell (16 days) in April since 2016. Amid the prevailing but weakening El Nino conditions, the IMD had earlier warned of extreme heat during the April-June period, coinciding with the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. Hundreds of thousands of voters had to cope with the searing heat when they stepped out to exercise their franchise in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26. Polling for 94 constituencies across 12 states will take place on May 7. The weather office had earlier expected four to eight heat wave days in different parts of the country in April against a normal of one to three days. Ten to 20 heat wave days are expected against a normal of four to eight in the entire April-June period. Following a decrease in turnout in the first phase of polling, the Election Commission (EC) set up a task force to review the impact of the heat wave. The task force includes officials of the poll panel, the IMD, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry. Given the Central government's contemplation of the 'one nation, one-poll' concept, the IMD chief had earlier told PTI that authorities must consider weather conditions and the climate in their planning. 'One nation, one poll' refers to the idea of holding simultaneous polls in the country to elect Lok Sabha and state assembly representatives. 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
01 May,2024 07:33 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIUnion Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency Narayan Rane on Wednesday exuded confidence in a sweeping victory for the BJP and said that there will be a "one-sided victory" for the BJP in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024, reported the ANI. Narayan Rane also expressed confidence that the BJP-led NDA will win 38-40 seats in Maharashtra. Speaking to ANI in Maharashtra's Ratnnagiri, Narayan Rane said, "I am already an MP from Rajya Sabha and a Union Minister, I am not going anywhere for the next 10 years. I am going to win elections one-sided, with a margin of around 3 lakh votes. In Maharashtra, we are going to get 38-40 seats. There are issues like rain, flood, and unemployment but these will be solved within 1 year." Meanwhile, Vinayak Raut, the incumbent Member of Parliament from the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha seat and candidate of Uddhav Thakre's Shivesena also expressed his certainty in securing a hat-trick of victories in the upcoming elections, as per the ANI. Vinayak Raut, a two-time MP from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, stressed that those who departed from Shiv Sena were opportunists seeking power while asserting that the public's support remains firmly with his party. Union Minister Narayan Rane is set to contest the Lok Sabha polls from the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency in Maharashtra. Narayan Rane will face the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and incumbent MP Vinayak Raut from the seat, as per the ANI. Narayan Rane is currently the Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the BJP-led Central government. The BJP and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are in the 'Mahayuti' alliance in Maharashtra for the Lok Sabha elections 2024. The tiff over the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency had been brewing for the past several months. In the 2019 general elections, Vinayak Raut from Shiv Sena emerged victorious gathering around 50.8 per cent. Narayan Rane, who fought after forming his party Maharashtra Swabhimaan Paksh gathered 31 per cent of the votes. Maharashtra, with its 48 Lok Sabha seats, is the second-largest contributor to the Lower House of Parliament after Uttar Pradesh. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 23 out of 25 contested seats, while the undivided Shiv Sena secured 18 out of 23 seats. Maharashtra sends 48 MPs to the Lok Sabha. The polling in the state is being held across five phases. Polling for 11 seats in Maharashtra will be held in the third phase on May 7. Of the 48 seats in the state, voting in 13 was conducted across the first and second phases. (with ANI inputs)
01 May,2024 07:12 PM IST | Ratnagiri | mid-day online correspondentA heatwave red alert has been issued for six districts of Karnataka by the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), as temperatures are likely to cross 46 degrees Celsius, reported the PTI. KSNDMC has quoted SHAR-ISRO as its source, as per the PTI. According to the news agency, Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri and Koppal districts in Karnataka will see temperatures ranging from 40 to 46 degrees Celsius between May 1 and May 9, according to KSNDMC. The monitoring centre also pointed out that when comparing the maximum temperature recorded in Karnataka in the past seven years 'between 2017 and 2024'. April 30, 2024 recorded the highest, 45.6 degrees Celsius, according to the PTI. Meanwhile, in a statement released by the India Meteorological Department in Bengaluru, the trough/wind discontinuity from southeast Madhya Pradesh to South Interior Karnataka (SIK), across Vidarbha, Marathawada and North Interior Karnataka (NIK) extending up to 1.5km above mean sea level persists. But as per IMD, the department issued a severe heat (red) alert only when the actual maximum temperature crosses 47 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperatures are likely to continue and also be around 40 to 46 degrees Celsius over parts of NIK districts, such as Raichur, Kalaburgi, Yadgir, Bellary and Vijayapura districts in Karnataka till May 6, the natural disaster management centre said on social media platform X. The remaining NIK districts, most of the SIK districts and Dakshina Kannada district are likely to experience maximum temperature between 40 and 44 degrees Celsius, it added, reported the PTI. Parts of Kodagu, Udupi, Hassan, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru and parts of Uttara Kannada districts are likely to experience between 33 and 40 degrees Celsius till May 6, according to the centre. From May 7, maximum temperatures are likely to come down by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius across the state, according to KSNDMC. Meanwhile, as per realised rainfall across the state data by KSNDMC, while isolated rains were observed in six districts -- Haveri, Dharwad, Gadag, Vijayapura, Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada -- dry/negligible rains were received in 25 districts, including Bengaluru rural and urban on April 30. Maximum rainfall of 35mm was recorded at Bhogavi in Haveri district. As per the cumulative date of rainfall from January 1 to April 30, only coastal Karnataka recorded an excess of 59% rainfall from usual, while the rest of Karnataka had deficit rainfall ranging from 13 per cent to 80 per cent, said a press release by KSNDMC, which compiles the data from telemetric rain gauge locations established by it across the state, the news agency reported on Wednesday. (with PTI inputs)
01 May,2024 06:25 PM IST | Bengaluru | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
