Ensconced for hours in a Vienna hotel room, US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart tried today to resuscitate troubled talks about limiting Tehran's nuclear programme. 

Yemen's Shiite rebels seized more territory south of the capital today and set off deadly clashes with Al-Qaeda as they rapidly expand their area of control. Already in control of Sanaa since September 21 and the strategic port city of Hudeida since yesterday, the rebels on Wednesday appeared to have taken control of two more provinces, Dhamar and Ibb, security officials said.

President Barack Obama set aside a campaign trip today to lead a meeting at the White House on the US government's response to the Ebola outbreak, a spokesman said. The president's change of plans came after a second health care worker in Texas was diagnosed with the disease.

After more than two months of air strikes, American commanders have finally decided on a name for the US-led war on Islamic State jihadists -- "Operation Inherent Resolve." 

Libya's army threw its weight behind an ex-general who launched a new assault today to retake second city Benghazi from Islamist militias who have seized control of large parts of the turmoil-gripped country. 

In a major breakthrough in India's fight against black money allegedly stashed abroad, Switzerland today said it will examine Indian requests for banking information on a priority basis and provide requested details in a time-bound manner.

The Swiss authorities would also "assist in obtaining confirmation on genuineness of bank documents on request by the Indian side and also swiftly provide information on requests related to non-banking information". "

... the Swiss competent authority will provide the Indian side with the requested information in a time-bound manner or else indicate the reasons why the cases cannot be answered within the agreed timeline," a Swiss-Indian joint statement said after a high-level meeting between the officials of the two countries on tax matters.

A Pakistani-origin millionaire couple who kept a girl from Pakistan as a slave in their home in Britain have been ordered to pay her 100,000 pounds as compensation.

Ilyas and Tallat Ashar were jailed in October, 2013 after the girl was found in their cellar in the city of Salford in 2009. Now in her 20s, the woman, who is deaf, was repeatedly raped and forced to work at the family's many properties.

Manchester Crown Court ruled the couple must also repay more than 40,000 pounds of benefits falsely claimed in her name. According to a BBC report, it is believed to be the first time the Proceeds of Crime Act has been used in a case of modern slavery to reclaim that money.

Marking the 82nd anniversary of JRD Tata's first commercial flight from Karachi to Mumbai, Vistara today welcomed its first Airbus A320 aircraft painted with the airline's livery. 

A youth was arrested in Malda district of West Bengal on the charge of making a derogatory remark against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Facebook.

The police said that Bapi Pal, 25, of Janakinagar village, who worked as a Civic Police Volunteer, but now unemployed, was arrested last night after a Trinamool Congress supporter filed a complaint at Harishchandrapur police station.

Pal was produced before a local court today which remanded him in 14-day judicial custody. It was not immediately known as to what was the content of the post. The Civic Police Volunteer Force was introduced by the Kolkata civic body in 2008 to assist Kolkata Police in traffic management.

Amidst the ISL fever prevalent among the country's football fans, an ambitious India are also eyeing to host the glamorous FIFA Club World Cup.

"We will decide in the FIFA Executive Committee meeting in December in Morocco for 2015-16, 2017-18 Club World Cup," said FIFA Secretary-General Jerome Valcke at a function held in the national capital today. With India set to host the U-17 World Cup in less than three years time, the All India Football Federation is also gearing up to bid for hosting the prestigious U-20 World Cup.

"We will bid for U-20 World Cup. Initial steps have already been taken, besides we will also bid for 2017-18 Club World Cup," said an optimist AIFF President Praful Patel. Lauding India's efforts in bringing football in the global map, FIFA Secretary-General expressed satisfaction over the progress made by India in their lead up to the U-17 World Cup slated to be held in 2017.

Sri Lanka today barred foreigners from visiting its former war zone in the Tamil-majority northern province without prior approval, citing national security concerns amid reports of attempts to revive the LTTE.

Foreign passport holders will now have to inform the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development about the nature of their visit and the area they intend to visit for obtaining permission for visiting the northern province, military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said at a media briefing.

"The decision has been taken to restrict foreigners' visits to North following information received by government intelligence services that certain foreign nationals are engaged in spreading various opinions among different communities to incite public disturbance and conflicts among the civilians, thereby threatening the national security," Wanigasooriya said.

The new move came after foreign nationals were turned away at Omanthai, the army controlled entry point to the North on the A9 highway, last week ahead of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit to the province.

Come April next year, 85 per cent of space on cigaratte packs and other tobacco products in India will have to be mandatorily covered with graphic and text warnings of health hazard, making the country top ranker in terms of display of caution on packages.

After implementation of the decision, anyone selling cigarettes or tobacco products without the specified warning and the nicotine and tar contents will be liable to one-year imprisonment or a fine of Rs 1000 or both on first conviction.

For second or subsequent conviction, the term of imprisonment may extend to two years and with fine which may extend to Rs 3,000.

According to the notification issued by the union health ministry today, of the 85 per cent space, 60 per cent will be devoted to pictoral warnings while 25 per cent will be covered by textual warnings. At present, the space covered by the warning is 40 per cent.

DNA test of a child can be allowed to prove infidelity of a spouse despite opposition from his or her partner, the Supreme Court today held, saying that if such test is resisted then adverse inference can be drawn against the person opposing it.

A bench headed by Justice J S Khehar upheld a Calcutta high court order directing DNA test of child on a plea of a man making allegations of infidelity on his wife, saying that child was born out of relationship of his wife with other person.

"The respondent (husband) feels that it is only possible for him to substantiate the allegations levelled by him (of wife's infidelity) through a DNA test. We agree with him. In our view, but for the DNA test, it would be impossible for the husband to establish and confirm the assertions made in the pleadings. We are therefore satisfied, that the direction issued by the High Court was fully justified," the bench said.

A CRPF jawan was injured in firing by Naxals who ambushed a polling party triggering a landmine blast at Mahskapalli in Chamorshi tehsil in Gadchiroli district today, police said.

"The Naxlites triggered a landmine blast and opened indiscriminate firing on a polling party which was returning from the polling station after winding up polling which ended at 3 PM," Gadchiroli police said in a release issued tonight.

The CRPF jawans posted at the polling centre promptly returned the fire, it said, adding that the condition of the injured constable is stable and he is airlifted to Nagpur for treatment. Single-phase polling was held in Maharashtra today for all 288 seats.

Coast Guard today chased a Pakistani fishing boat that had intruded into Indian waters and arrested 14 fishermen on board near Mitha Port off the Gujarat coast.

The force apprehended fishing boat 'Gulsamal' and arrested 14 crew, including a Master, all of them Pakistani nationals, at 34 nautical miles West of Mitha port inside Indian waters for violation of Maritime Zones of India Act 1981, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

While operating in Indian waters and on sighting the Coast Guard Ship, the Pakistani fishing boat removed the nets and tried to flee, the statement said. The ICG ship challenged the Pakistani boat and fired five warning shots in the air to stop it before intercepting it six nautical miles away in a "hot pursuit".

"Subsequently, the Coast Guard boarded the Pakistani boat, Gulsamal, and carried out a thorough investigation and rummaging. Thereafter, the boarding party apprehended 14 crew members and seized the boat," it said.

An estimated 64 per cent of Maharashtra's 8.35 crore voters today cast their ballots in a bitterly-fought election that pollsters said will throw up a hung assembly with BJP emerging as the single-largest party but falling short of a majority in the 288-member House.

"Approximately 64 per cent polling has been recorded by 6 PM. The exact details are being worked out," sources in the office of the state's Chief Electoral officer said.

The poll, considered the first major test of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity after Lok Sabha election, passed off peacefully. Prominent among those whose electoral fate will be decided when counting takes place on Sunday include former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, his deputy and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar, state BJP president Devendra Fadnavis, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Eknath Khadse, his counterpart in Legislative Council Vinod Tawde (both BJP), Shiv Sena leader in the outgoing Assembly Subhash Desai and his MNS counterpart Bala Nandgaonkar.

If the Congress loses Haryana as well, then Congress will left with just a few states.

How caste affected the vote for the BJP in Haryana according to Chanakya...

Baniya/Brahmin 59%
Jat 22%
SC 31%
OBC 55%
Punjabi/Sikh 49%
Other 58%

If the exit polls figures are to be believed, it means there was a strong anti-incumbency factor against Cong-NCP govt: Tariq Anwar, NCP

So, if you go by Chanakya's figures, and we should, since they got it right in the LS polls, it's a BJP win in both Maharashtra and Haryana.

Today's Chanakya on Maharashtra figures:
BJP+ 151
Shiv Sena 71
Congress 27
NCP 28
MNS & Others 11 

So, exit polls suggest BJP may lead in Maharashtra but won't get an absolute majority and the state may well get a hung assembly.

The BJP-Sena ended its 25-year old alliance n Maharashtra, this meant ending a 25-year-old alliance after a stalemate over seat sharing and who becomes CM. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has already announced that if the party wins, he becomes CM.

In Haryana, the BJP decided to cut ties with the Haryana Janhit Congress, and also stayed away from the Indian National Lok Dal.

Exit polls predict a clear win for the BJP in Haryana with the INLD a close second.

Congress leader Navin Jindal believes the party will continue to rule the state despite exit polls predicting a BJP win. Jindal says the Congress has worked for the people, served the people, so if people bless the party, we will certainly form Govt in Haryana for the 3rd time. 

One opinion poll conducted by Hansa for The Week has predicted 154 seats for the BJP and just 47 for the Sena in Maharashtra.

Today's Chanakya poll gives BJP an absolute majority in Haryana.

This voter turnout is tentative as there was voting at some booths even after 6pm : Umesh Sinha,Election Commission #HaryanaPolls

CVoter poll predicts BJP nearing half way mark in Maharashtra. Modi magic may not have waned.

Today's Chanakya's prediction on the Haryana polls and an analysis of the voting pattern. Read this.

First reactions from the BJP: Good that all exit polls have give us a victory, BJP will form a govt with a clear majority, says party spox Devendra Fadnavis. 

Maharashtra

(Indian News/Axis)
BJP: 103, SS: 88, Cong: 45, NCP: 35, MNS: 3, Others: 4
(ABP News-Nielsen)
BJP+ 127, SS 77, INC 40, NCP 34, MNS 5
CVoter/India News and Times Now: BJP: 129 Shiv Sena: 56 Congress: 43 NCP: 36 MNS: 12
Others: 12

Haryana

Chanakya: BJP: 52, INLD 23, Cong 10, others 5.
Zee News: Cong: 15 INLD: 28 BJP 37 HJC: 6 OTH: 4
India TV/CVoter:  Congress: 15 BJP: 37 INLD: 28 HJC+: 6 Others: 4

Chanakya, who was the only one to get the figures right for the Lok Sabha polls says, it has not released any survey on Maharashtra."The figures circulated on social network "whatsapp" in our name are not our numbers. Pls RT," it says. 

Indian News/Axis exit polls for Maharashtra

BJP: 103, SS: 88, Cong: 45, NCP: 35, MNS: 3, Others: 4

Chanakya exit poll claims in #Haryana, BJP will get 52 seats , INLD 23, Cong 10, others 5.

Umesh Sinha, Election Commission says the voter turnout has been the highest ever in Haryana. Till 6pm it was about 73%.  

Provisional figures indicate over 72 per cent polling in Haryana.  Maharashtra records 55 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm, Mumbai 47 per cent till 5 pm. 

And while on glitzy toilets, nothing quite matches this -- a gold toilet that a Saudi king gifted his daughter on her wedding. 

An interesting booklet is being prepared by a BJP leader which will be circulated just before the Winter Session of Parliament -- basically in mid November.

The booklet  is expected to expose many union ministers in Dr Manmohan Singh's cabinet who have been living ostentatious lifestyles -- glitzy bathrooms and bedrooms fit for kings.

So, polling ends in Maharashtra and Haryana at 6 pm. BJP's JP Nadda says trends clearly in favour of BJP and that the party is confident that in both Maharashtra & Haryana BJP will form the government with absolute majority.

Jagbir was killed while another constable was injured when unidentified men allegedly opened fire on them in Outer Delhi's Vijay Vihar area at around 1:30 am on Saturday. 

Lt.Guv Najeeb Jung announces Rs1 Crore to the next of kin of Delhi Police Constable Jagbir Singh who was killed in Vijay Vihar area recently. This is the second time that a cop has been paid a Rs 1 crore compensation. In December 2013, when Arvind Kejriwal was the Delhi CM, he had announced a Rs 1-crore compensation for the family of a police constable who was allegedly beaten to death by suspected liquor mafia.

BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha's wife Poonam votes and said, "Like they say 'acche din aa gaye hain' I hope we form govt here."

Stray incidents of violence today marked the Assembly polls in Haryana leaving 32 persons including 10 policemen injured as 65 per cent of the 1.63 crore voters cast their ballots till 4:30 PM in a keen contest
involving Congress, BJP and INLD.

In Hisar district's Barwala, 30 persons including 10 policemen were injured and seven motorcycles were set on fire by a mob after a clash between polling agents of two rival parties, police said.

An argument broke out between two polling agents of rival parties leading to the violence. A case has been registered in this connection, they said.

In Sirsa, two persons were injured.
"Two persons were injured in firing during a clash between supporters of two groups in Sirsa," Sirsa SP, Mitesh Jain said.

Someone opened fire after a minor clash took place between INLD and BJP workers in Sirsa. A supporter from each side was injured in the incident and the seriously injured person was hospitalised.

In another incident, the window panes of a car belonging to a supporter of Haryana Lokhit Party Gopal Kanda were broken following a minor clash between the supporters of HLP and INLD in Sirsa.

Kanda, a former Haryana minister, is seeking re-election from Sirsa. Amid tight security, polling commenced in all the 90 Assembly seats at 7 am and would continue till 6 pm to decide the fate of 1,351 candidates.
Counting of votes will take place on October 19.

By 4:30 pm, nearly 65 per cent voters had cast votes, officials said. BJP is contesting for the first time on its own and is eyeing to wrest power from the ruling Congress.

In Narnaund, BJP candidate from the Assembly segment and chief ministerial aspirant Capt Abhimanyu alleged that attempts to capture booth were made in Baans village in the constituency at the behest of rival INLD, which vehemently denied the charge.

Pic: Shilpa Shetty votes in Mumbai

The BJP Parliamentary Board is meeting at 3 pm on Sunday - the day the results are declared for both Maharashtra and Haryana. For now, the SPG has taken over the BJP office, which means they do not allow anyone without an appointment or an ID. Mediapersons were asked not set up camp outside the BJP office.

60% voting recorded in Haryana till 4 pm.

Brisk polling was witnessed in most of the key constituencies of Haryana today from where top rung leaders are locked in contest.

Till 3:30 pm, voting percentage crossed the 60 per cent mark in these seats, according to Election officials.

At Garhi Sampla-Kiloi seat of Rohtak, from where two-time Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is seeking re-election, nearly 55 per cent voters had cast their vote till 3:30 pm.

In Ellenabad constituency, from where INLD senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala is seeking re-election, the voter turnout was heavy at close to 70 per cent at the same time.

In Kalanwali (SC) seat of Sirsa district, from where Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) has fielded its candidate, over 60 per cent voters had cast their votes in the first over eight hours.

In Uchana Kalan, where INLD's Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala is contesting with BJP's Prem Lata Singh, the voter turnout had exceeded 65 per cent during the same time period.

Haryana Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala's constituency Kaithal also witnessed a heavy voter turnout at over 60 per cent.

In Tosham in Bhiwani district, from where Haryana Minister Kiran Choudhary is seeking re-election, the turnout was at 62 per cent.

In Adampur in Hisar, from where HJC chief Kuldeep Bishnoi is contesting, the turnout had crossed 60 per cent. 

Exit Polls cannot be telecast before 6.30 pm today as per law, says the Election Commission. Voting ends at 6 pm in Maharashtra and Haryana.  According to Aaj Tak's exit poll, BJP would emerge as the single-largest party in Maharashtra, but would fall way behind the magic figure of 145. Out of 288 seats, it has predicted 93 to BJP, 59 to Shiv Sena, 47 to NCP, 40 to Congress and 27 to MNS.

Former Congress MP Gufran-e-Azam was expelled from the party on Wednesday for his public criticism of the national leadership, reports the Indian Express.

In July, he had accused Congress president Sonia Gandhi of forcing Rahul Gandhi on the party for the last 10 years though he lacked leadership quality.

The 68-year-old leader had said, "Rahul has developed neither the art of speaking nor imbibed political thinking.'In a letter addressed to Sonia, he had said, "You have shown excessive fondness for son rather than the party. All parents want their children to excel but not every son lives up to the expectation."

The veteran had pointed that rival parties attacked Rahul Gandhi by calling him "Munna', "Pappu' and "leader with low IQ'.

And Ranbir's gyan: "You have to choose the people you to want to give the responsibility to run your city, I request people to come out and vote."

And here's a pic of Ranbir Kapoor at the poll booth. 

Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor vote. SRK says, "There is no good reason not to vote."

Olympian and Asian Games gold medallist, boxer Mary Kom, who is Manipuri says of the attack on a Manipuri student in Bangalore: "Feels sad to hear this, such incidents shouldn't happen."

Just two hours before voting ends in Maharashtra and Haryana and here's a shout out from Amitabh Bachchan. The actor tweets, "Be a responsible citizen of the nation - Go Vote ! #GetInkedMumbai" and posts this message as well. 

And a break from poll news to tell you this: Australian author Richard Flanagan, who won 2014 Man Booker Prize for The Narrow Road to the Deep North, reveals he was so hard up he considered working in mines. Read

Leading lights of India Inc, including N Chandrasekaran, Deepak Parekh and Adi Godrej among others, today voted during the Maharashtra Assembly elections, saying their vote is for a stable government in the country's most industrialised state.

"What is more important is that one particular (party) government should come to power," Gitanjali Gems' chairman Mehul Choksi said after casting his vote.

Godrej Group chairman Adi Godrej was more vocal in rooting for the BJP, saying a saffron party victory bodes well for the state.

"I think the BJP's position will be good, especially after the campaigning done by the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) in Maharashtra. It will also be good for the state's progress if the state and the Centre are synchronised," he said, after exercising his franchise in a tony south Mumbai neighbourhood.

Others who voted included infra company HCC chairman Ajit Gulabchand, who has sizeable business interests in the state, including the controversial IPO-bound Lavasa project.

"Maharashtra is as big as Germany, hopefully we should be as good as or richer than Germany," Gulabchand said.

Others who voted included mortgage major HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh (scroll down to see the picture with Milind Deora) , who had missed out on voting in the Lok Sabha polls held in May as the voters' list did not have his name.

Polling for the 288-seat Assembly is being held in a single-phase today. Over 4,000 candidates are in the fray, whose political fortunes will be decided by over eight crore registered voters in a multi-cornered fight, with all the major parties avoiding pre-poll alliances.

After a lackadaisical start, brisk voting has been reported in both the Congress-ruled states of Maharashtra and Haryana. At 3 pm, Maharashtra polled 45.6 per cent, while Haryana polled a robust 52.4 per cent. Maharashtra had polled 56 per cent in the Lok Sabha elections.

Remember, a high voter turnout is seen as a sign that people are voting for change.  About 8.35 crore voters in the state will be sealing the fate of 4,119 candidates including prominent ones like former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, former deputy CM Ajit Pawar former ministers R R Patil and Chhagan Bhujbal of NCP, Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Khadse, Vinod Tawde and Pankaja Munde of BJP, Subhash Desai, Suresh Jain and Deepak Kesarkar of Shiv Sena.

Pic: The BJP's ad blitzkrieg across newspapers in Mumbai over the last two weeks. 

Three former UPA ministers will be vocal about their disenchantment with the Congress leadership -- soon. This will happen after the Maharashtra poll results (October 19) and after Diwali (October 23).

Here's the plan: One former MP will give an interview to a TV channel.
The second will release letters she had written  to Rahul Gandhi in 2013 and early 2014, which led to her sacking. The third will be have an interaction with the media at a press club which  was opened by him in a southern capital. 

Watch this space.

Two persons were injured in firing during a clash between INLD and BJP supporters in Haryana's Sirsa. A minor clash also occurred between the supporters of Haryana Lokhit Party of Gopal Kanda and INLD workers in the district. Kanda, a former Haryana Minister, is seeking re-election from Sirsa. There were glitches in EVM machines at a couple of places in the state, which recorded over 45 per cent polling at 2 pm. 

And in the hurly-burly of the elections in Maharashtra and Haryana, if you haven't read this, or are out watching a movie on this holiday, don't miss this.

Saif Ali Khan's column in the Indian Express today: I am the son of a sportsman, I grew up in England, Bhopal, Pataudi, Delhi and Mumbai, and I am more Indian than any Hindu or Muslim I know because I am both."  Read

Even if the BJP wins Maharashtra because of a division of votes, I want to be counted as one of those who voted against Modi, declares this 42-year-old Indian who voted for the first time on Wednesday. Read

Technical problems in electronic voting machines (EVMs) were reported from some polling booths in Nagpur city and Wardha district in Vidarbha, and Sewree in Mumbai.

Voters in a Nashik booth also complained that the voter rolls were not in order. A policeman on election duty was killed after being struck by lightning in Avdeghat polling station of Savner constituency in Vidarbha, where polling in some parts was marred by rains.

The highest voter turnout was witnessed in Kagal constituency of Kolhapur district while the lowest was at Bramhapuri constituency in Chandrapur district, officials said.

Meanwhile, in Manipur, three men have been arrested in Bangalore for attacking a Manipuri student. The student, T Michael Lamjathang, said three people beat him up saying, "you eat Kannada food, you should speak Kannada too."

Voting percentage in Maharashtra is 33 per cent, Haryana 42 per cent -- at 1:45 pm. Conventionally, a high voter turnout is seen as a sign that people are voting for change. 

Salman Khan votes and gives some free gyan: "People out on picnics right now enjoying this day as a holiday, are the ones who complain later on." 

The Congress Party office wore a deserted look in Delhi today. No leader can be seen in and around 24 Akbar Road,  the AICC headquarters, except for Digvijaya Singh. No camera crew jostling for bytes, no reporters, nothing.   Ajay Maken, the media cell convenor has asked TV crews to meet him at his residence.

About 8.35 crore voters in the state will be sealing the fate of 4,119 candidates including prominent ones like former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, former deputy CM Ajit Pawar former ministers R R Patil and Chhagan Bhujbal of NCP, Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Khadse, Vinod Tawde and Pankaja Munde of BJP, Subhash Desai, Suresh Jain and Deepak Kesarkar of Shiv Sena, former ministers Patangrao Kadam, Shivajirao Moghe and Rajendra Darda Congress and Bala Nandgaonkar of MNS.

Of the 4,119 candidates in the electoral fray, 3843 are male and 276 women. Of the 288 constituencies, including 36 constituencies in Mumbai, 234 are general, 29 reserved for scheduled castes and 25 for scheduled tribes.

Out of the total 83538114 voters, 44026401 are men and 39363011 are women. There are 984 voters in the "others" category. The number of service voters is 147718. While Nanded South has the maximum 39 candidates, Akole and Guhagar have the minimum number at five candidates each.

BJP has fielded 280 candidates, BSP 260, CPI 34, CPM 19, Congress 287, NCP 278, Shiv Sena 282 and MNS 219. Registered parties other than recognised state and national parties have fielded 761 candidates. There are 1699 independents also in the poll arena.

Pic: Need we say who that is, but here you go... Hema Malini and her daughter Esha after the fingers are inked.  

The overall turnout across Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha polls in April was well above 56.26%, where 338 candidates are testing electoral waters in 19 seats. While the percentage may go up, till 1 pm, the state polled a dismal 21 per cent in the assembly elections today. 

This will also be the first elections in Maharashtra after established political formations -- Shiv Sena-BJP and Cong-NCP -- crumbled and the parties will be contesting alone after 15 years.

Congress and NCP had ruled the state for 15 continuous years from 1999.

4,119 candidates are in the electoral fray, including to 276 women in the state with 8.35 crore voters eligible to exercise their right to franchise.

Pic: Sonali Bendre and her husband Goldie Behl urged people to vote

BJP MP from Mulund takes a picture with his family, and tweets, "Me & my family voted at Gawanpada school Mulund, Mumbai."  

42 per cent voting recorded in Haryana till 1:30 pm, while Maharashtra polled 21% till 1 pm.

Pic: That's actor Boman Irani and his family after the deed was done.

BJP Chief Amit Shah has a busy schedule ahead of him in November. After the poll rallies in Maharashtra and Haryana, Shah has ventured on to a new agenda -- to rejuvenate the rank and file -- by launching a  membership drive.

In each assembly segment, Shah aims to recruit between 5000 and 10000 new members between the age group 25 to 30.

Gujarat Bhavan where Shah stays when he is Mumbai, is crowded with BJP leaders -- aspirants for a berth in the Narendra Modi cabinet. You see, the speculation in Delhi is that by middle of November there will be a major cabinet expansion.

Pic: BJP's Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher votes and says "Modi-ji's wave was there, is still there and will always be there as he is an honest and hardworking PM."

And now for some gupshup.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted with flowers by a governor at an airport. The governor shall remain unnamed, but the PM turned around and asked him about his pilgrimage and why had he cut it short.

The governor, as you can imagine, was too shocked to reply. That the PM knew of his whereabouts was unexpected, obviously. 

Modi then walked to the Chief Minister and received an angavastram.

The governor was so taken aback at the PM's quip that he could not  think of other issues to be discussed and later narrated the incident to the CM. 

Till 11 am - Mumbadevi sees lowest turnout at 5.12. Malabar Hill comes as a surprise with 18.7 turnout, highest in Mumbai.

Pic: Milind Deora with HDFC chief Deepak Parekh

13.60% voting in Mumbai, 34% in Gadchiroli, 22% in Latur, 17% in Amravati, 22% in Sangli, 21% in Aurangabad. 

Narendra Modi's cautious, measured start has masked his discreet gradualism. Border and other provocations are moulding his policy approach, founded on the premise that preventing hostile actions hinges on India's capacity and political will to impose deterrent costs as a response. Read

BJP's Prakash Javdekar says, "People have voted with even more enthusiasm than Lok Sabha. If LS polls were Dhoom, assembly polls are Dhoom 2."

15.76% Polling in Mumbai city till 11am.
Dharavi 16.10
Mahim 17.80
Worli 16.18
Byculla 13.29
Malbar Hill 18.70
Mumbadevi 5.12
Colaba 14.13

We are sure NCP will do well in Maharashtra assembly polls and will play an essential role in Govt: Praful Patel, NCP.

PM Modi has addressed at least 14 rallies in Maharashtra so far, including some in NCP and Sena bastions.

With various surveys showing the BJP as the front-runner, the insecurity among other parties is palpable. The BJP has also been carpet bombed every single newspaper in Mumbai with advertisements of Modi with the tagline, Shivchhatrapati ka ashirwad, chalo chlein Modi ke saath. In other words, the BJP has usurped the Shiv Sena's Shivaji inheritence, whether successfully or otherwise, will be seen on October 19, when the results are announced. 

Shahnawaz Hussain, BJP, spokesperson has said that the Sena knows the truth, they know that Maharashtra has already decided to vote for BJP.

Pic: The Shiv Sena poster in a Mumbai newspaper today. Smart, but a little too late, considering it's voting day today.

A by-election is also being held in Odisha's communally sensitive Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency where an estimated 11.4 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise.

Amid tight security, polling commenced at 7 am in the Maoist-hit constituency spread over Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Boudh districts. The bypoll was necessitated following death of BJD MP Hemendra Chandra Singh on September 5.

Sachin Tendulkar said, "Voting is very important and every eligible person should exercise his vote. This is very important for our country."

Actor Abhishek Bachchan made a similar appeal. "I request all our fellow citizens. This is our right. This is your duty. Please come out. Please vote like I just have and do your duty. You want to make a change in the society, you should come out and vote," he said.

MP Supriya Sule said that even "a sigle vote can make a great difference".

Ajit Pawar's Constituency, Baramati, sees 26.57% till 11am.

Maharashtra's problems are a challenge, I've come with answers. That's why people in Maharashtra will make us win here. Common man is most powerful which is seen in Modi-ji who was "chai wala' is now PM, that same power will work here: Uddhav Thackeray.

Till 12 noon, Kurukshetra polls 36.3%, highest in Haryana. Fatehabad with 18.6% polling, is lowest.

Pitching himself for the top post in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said if a tea seller can rise to be the country's Prime Minister, he too can become the state Chief Minister.

"It is true that the Thackerays have never fought elections. But we have never backed out from responsibilities. If a common man like (Narendra) Modi, who started off as a chai wala (tea seller) goes on to become the PM, I can become the CM as well," Thackeray said in an interview to his party mouthpiece Saamana.

Criticising the BJP, Thackeray said Central ministers who have been campaigning for the party now, will forget Maharashtra post elections.

"A contingent of Central ministers have been brought in to campaign for the party for the (Maharashtra) elections. But they will not come back post elections. It is only the Sena that will stay here and continue to work for the people and people do realise this," he said.

Describing the BJP as "power-hungry", Thackeray accused the party of having harboured intentions to divide the state.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray casts his vote and tells reporters, "I am sure the turnout will increase, I am sure Maharashtra will vote for the leaders they trust."

The turnout till 9 am was a respectable 10 per cent in Mumbai.  

Former Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar votes at Katewadi, the ancestral village of the Pawar family. It is an open secret that he nurtured chief ministerial ambitions, and had once said, "Why be the Deputy CM when you can be CM?"

If you've just joined us, here's the big news.

Elections are being held for the Maharashtra and Haryana assemblies with moderate to brisk polling recorded in the first couple of hours.

People were queuing at polling stations before the voting began at 7am amid tight security to elect the 288-member Maharashtra assembly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people, especially youngsters, to ensure record voting in Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly polls.

 "Urging the people of Haryana and Maharashtra to go out and cast their votes. Youngsters must show the way & ensure recordturnout," PM tweeted. Modi campaigned extensively for his party in the polls and held a record number of rallies any Prime Minister had addressed for any state election.

#Did-You-Cast-Your-Vote

A day before the assembly polls, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray announced he wants to be the chief minister, if his party is voted to power.

"If a common man like Narendra Modi can become prime minister, can't a Thackeray become the chief minister," Uddhav said, in an exclusive interview to Saamana, the Sena's mouthpiece.

Uddhav said no Thackeray had ever contested the polls till now, but they have not relinquished duty either.

"The people of Maharashtra are supreme, they will decide. Delhi cannot decide who Maharashtra's chief minister will be,' Uddhav said.

Speaking to supporters in Beed, Pankaja Munde says, "Logon ki bhavna hai ki wo mujhe CM ke pad par dekhna chahate hai lekin maine aisa dava nahin kiya."

#Did-You-Cast-Your-Vote

Voter turnout in Mumbai less than 10% till 9 am. Sensitive poll booth in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar in Maharashtra sees high voter turnout.

#Did-You-Cast-Your-Vote

Urging the people of Maharashtra to come out and vote in huge numbers to bring much needed change in the state, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pankaja Munde on Wednesday expressed confidence that her party will be able to reach majority on its own.

"I want to say to the people of Maharashtra that this time they should bring change. Change of power in Maharashtra was my father's dream. Hope that the change that took place in the national elections will be reflected in the state elections as well. Unless the people come out and vote in huge numbers till then the nation won't change," Munde told ANI in Beed.

The daughter of late union minister Gopinath Munde was confident about BJP reaching majority. "I think BJP will be close to attain majority," she said.

Justifying his demand of more autonomy to the states, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Monday said that his party would not contest Lok Sabha polls in future.

As spelled out in his party's blue print, for Maharashtra's development, Thackeray said, "National parties should focus on Lok Sabha elections and leave state elections to regional outfits. I (his party) will not contest Lok Sabha elections henceforth," Raj said during an interaction with journalists here.

"When I say autonomous status, I am not talking about independence. States' issues can be dealt with by the state governments while inter-state matters should be left to the Centre," he said.

He also said that he would soon write to all the Chief Ministers about his demand of autonomy for the states. 

Sachin Tendulkar accompanied by his wife Anjali casts his vote in Bandra.

This is the first time that the Maharashtra Assembly elections has seen a four-cornered battle after the alliances -- BJP-Shiv Sena and Cong-NCP split.

As for the other state that's going to the polls, Haryana, it's a two-term incumbent vs jailed challenger vs biggest national player seeking to run the state.

Former Congress MP Milind Deora casts his vote

Two injured in clashes between BJP and INLD supporters in Sirsa, Haryana.  

Amol Palekar casts his vote in Bandra. Voting percentage till 9am, Bandra west -7.8%, Bandra east 5.68%

In Haryana, barring glitches in EVM machines at a couple of places, polling was going on smoothly.

However, BJP candidate from Narnaund assembly segment, Abhimanyu, alleged that attempts to capture booth were made in Baas village in the constituency at behest of INLD, which denied the charge.


Walgad said supervisory teams are keeping an eye on polling parties and would report from time to time during polling to their concerned senior officers.

Constant vigil was being maintained on persons and vehicles in all border areas of Haryana. Teams of flying squads were patrolling to ensure smooth conduct of elections.

Pic: Abhay Chautala (INLD) casts his vote in Dabwali, Sirsa

Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan cast his vote in Karad in western Maharashtra, from where he is a candidate. State BJP president Devendra Fadnavis, a front runner for chief ministerial post in case BJP comes to power, also cast his vote.

Polling was marred by rains in some parts of Vidarbha in Maharashtra. A policeman on election duty was killed after being struck by lightning in Avdeghat polling station of Savner constituency.

The numbers are beginning to come in. Mumbai recorded a 7 per cent turnout till 9 am as Maharashtra votes today.    

Will Haryana Chief Minister be third time lucky?

A relaxed Hooda was seen playing badminton this morning as Haryana goes to polls. "I am very confident the Congress will form government for the third time," he said. "All BJP candidates are the ones who left the Congress."

"We got the right to vote after long freedom struggle, people must cast their votes," he added. 

Photograph: ANI/Twitter

Actor Abhishek Bachchan along with mother Jaya heads to a polling booth in Juhu, suburban Mumbai to cast his vote.

"I request my fellow citizens to come out and cast their votes, this is our right and duty:  If you want change in the society, come out and cast your vote," said Abhishek after casting his ballot. 

Photograph: ANI/Twitter

In his most scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former ally BJP, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has questioned: "If a chaiwala (tea-seller) can become prime minister, why can't I become Maharashtra chief minister?"

In an interview to his party's mouthpiece Saamna, published today, on a day Maharashtra goes to polls, Thackeray attacked the PM without naming him. 

Modi's campaign for the country's top post was built around his modest beginnings as a young boy who sold tea on trains.

Among the early voters in Mumbai was yesteryear beauty Rekha.

The actress cast her vote in suburban Bandra, a home to a number of Bollywood celebrities.

For B-town lovers, this the beginning. There's lots more to come. 

Former Maharashtra deputy and NCP strongman Ajit Pawar was among the early voters in Baramati, the pocket borough of Pawars in the Pune district.

Ajit, the nephew of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, is seeking a sixth term to the assembly on his home turf. He has won all the assembly elections from here since 1991.

Photograph: ANI/Twitter

As the two important states of Maharashtra and Haryana began voting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his favourite platform -- Twitter -- to send out a message.

"Urging the people of Haryana & Maharashtra to go out & cast their votes. Youngsters must show the way & ensure record turnout," the PM tweeted this morning.

Early voters queue up outside a polling booth in Pune, as voting is underway in Maharashtra.

Photograph: ANI/Twitter

Voting began at 7 am today in the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana.

In Maharashtra, it is a five-cornered battle for 288 seats with the BJP, Shiv Sena, Congress, NCP and the MNS all trying to win the state for itself.

In Haryana, which has 90 seats, the BJP faces the ruling Congress and a  resurgent Indian National Lok Dal, which is headed by the 79-year-old O P Chautala.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said that he and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov have agreed to step up intelligence sharing over the Islamic State (IS) group. 

Accused of killing 25 policemen in an ambush in the peninsular Sinai region last year, eight Islamic militants, including a prominent leader, have been granted death sentence by an Egyptian court.

Under furious assault from conservative Catholics, the Vatican backtracked Tuesday on its surprisingly positive assessment of gays and same-sex relationships.

Hundreds of Hong Kong police officers moved in early Wednesday to clear pro-democracy protesters out of a tunnel outside the city government headquarters in the latest escalation of tensions in a weekslong political crisis.

A gunman shot dead one American and wounded another at a petrol station in the Saudi capital today, in a rare attack on Westerners in the kingdom, police said. The victims worked for Vinnell Arabia, a US-Saudi joint venture which provides training for the Saudi Arabian National Guard.

US Secretary of State John Kerry today said that Russian troops were withdrawing from Ukraine, one of several key steps needed for Western sanctions to be lifted against Moscow. 

A slight intensity earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale jolted the Nicobar Islands area. 

UN chief Ban Ki-moon demanded an independent probe into the deadly shelling of a school during the Gaza conflict and expressed shock at the extent of devastation during a visit today to the Palestinian enclave. 

President Pranab Mukherjee today arrived here on a two-day visit after completing his maiden visit to Norway. Mukherjee was received by Secretary of State Peter Stenlund at the airport. In the second leg of his tour, Mukherjee will visit Santa Claus village, making him the first Indian Head of State to ever cross the Arctic Circle.

Britain's ambassador to Israel has warned that the Jewish state is losing support in the UK, blaming the summer offensive in Gaza and increased settlement construction in the Occupied West Bank. His remarks came as a former Conservative minister described the situation in one Palestinian city as "apartheid'.

Hurricane Gonzalo gained greater strength as it moved over the open Atlantic today, leaving several people missing in the Caribbean, forecasters said. 

Shiv Sena's Hindi mouthpiece 'Dopahar Ka Saamna', today poured vitriol on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing that he and his party had forgotten Sena's contribution to their landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections. However, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray later distanced himself from the article in the newspaper.

Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters set up a new blockade in the city's business district after officers yesterday used chain saws and sledgehammers to clear barricades and reopen some roads.

The Ebola epidemic could get dramatically worse with the rate of infection soaring to 10,000 new cases every week unless drastic measures are not taken within the next two months, the World Health Organization said today.

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