LIVE
Thu, 11 April 2019
In poll affidavit, Irani says not graduate
Timeline Refresh
23:55 In poll affidavit, Irani says not graduate
Union minister and BJP candidate from Amethi Lok Sabha seat Smriti Irani Thursday submitted to the Election Commission that she did not complete her graduation from Delhi University.
In her affidavit filed during her nomination, Irani, who is contesting against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, said she passed secondary school examination in 1991 and senior secondary school examination in 1993.
She has said she did not complete her Bachelor of Commerce (Part-I) -- a three-year degree course -- from Delhi University's School of Open Learning in 1994.
In her affidavit for 2014 polls, she had reportedly said she graduated from the university in 1994, triggering a row over the veracity of her claim, with opposition parties alleging she was not a graduate.
This year, she has declared assets worth over Rs 4.71 crore.
According to the affidavit, Irani has declared movable property worth over Rs 1.75 crore.
Her immovable assets are worth Rs 2.96 crore, which include an agricultural land valued at over Rs 1.45 crore and a residential building of Rs 1.50 crore.
In the movable category, she had cash in hand till March 31 totalling about Rs 6.24 lakh besides over Rs 89 lakh in bank accounts.
She also has over Rs 18 lakh in NSS and postal savings insurance and another Rs 1.05 lakh in other investments.
Irani has vehicles valued at Rs 13.14 lakh and jewellery worth Rs 21 lakh.
22:31 NaMo TV barred from airing political content by EC
The Election Commission has barred NaMo TV from broadasting any political content.
In a letter to Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, the poll panel states," It has been confirmed by you that there has not been any pre-certification of the content being displayed on NaMo TV/Content TV, by the MCMC Committee in your office. Any political publicity content, being displayed on electronic media without requisite certification from competent authority should be removed immediately and any political content shall only be permitted strictly in accordance with EC instructions in this regard."
The Aam Aadmi Party had complained to the EC, saying though a party can have its own channel, can permission be granted for its launch 'even after the model code of conduct is enforced'.
22:25 EC issues show cause notice to UP CM
The Election Commission Thursday issued a show cause notice to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his "Ali" and "Bajrang Bali" remarks while addressing a rally in Meerut.
Finding him prima facie guilty of violating the model code of conduct, the commission asked him to respond by Friday evening.
Adityanath had compared the Lok Sabha elections to a contest between 'Ali', a revered figure in Islam, and Bajrang Bali, the Hindu god Hanuman.
"Agar Congress, SP, BSP ko 'Ali' par vishwaas hai toh humein bhi 'Bajrang Bali' par vishwaas hai (If the Congress, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party have faith in Ali, we have faith in Hanuman)," the UP CM had said.
His statement came while referring to BSP chief Mayawati's speech at a rally in Deoband, where she urged Muslims to back the alliance. -- PTI
21:42 Court allows Peter Mukerjea to stay at hospital for recovery
A Mumbai court on Thursday allowed Peter Mukerjea, an accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, to stay for some more time at a city-based private hospital where he underwent a bypass surgery last month.
CBI court judge J C Jagdale allowed the former media baron to continue treatment at the hospital.
Earlier the court had rejected Mukerjea's bail plea on medical grounds.
"He has been allowed to stay at the Asian Heart hospital for the cardiac rehab programme," said his lawyer Amit Ghag.
Mukerjea is in jail since November 2015.
He had sought bail on the ground that conditions at the Arthur Road prison, where he was lodged before the surgery, were unhygienic and he could fall prey to infections if he returned there.
According to the CBI, 24-year-old Sheena Bora was killed by her mother and Mukerjea's wife Indrani Mukerjea with the help of her driver Shyamwar Rai and former husband Sanjeev Khanna in April 2012. Peter was allegedly party to the conspiracy. -- PTI
MUST READ: The Sheena Bora Murder Trial
21:39 After EC nod, HRD ministry appoints VCs to 3 varsities
The HRD ministry on Thursday appointed vice chancellors to three universities after the Election Commission gave its nod as the Model Code of Conduct is in place due to the Lok Sabha elections.
The three universities are Jamia Millia Islamia, Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari and Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya in Wardha.
"Najma Akhtar has been appointed as the VC of Jamia while names of Sanjiv Sharma and Rajaneesh Kumar Shukla have been approved for the top post at Motihari Central university and Wardha's Mahatma Gandhi varsity," a senior HRD ministry official said.
While no appointments are allowed during this period, the HRD Ministry had approached the Election Commission seeking its nod arguing that the selection process was complete before the model code came into place. -- PTI
20:37 Jet cancels all intl flights for Thursday
Cash-strapped Jet Airways has cancelled all international flights for Thursday, sources in the airline said.
The move comes in the midst of the airline grounding more than three-fourth of its 119-aircraft fleet.
All international flights of Jet Airways have been cancelled for Thursday, the sources said. -- PTI
20:24 Sonia Gandhi declares assets worth Rs 11.82 cr
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Thursday declared personal assets worth Rs 11.82 crore, according to the affidavit she submitted while filing her nomination papers in Rae Bareli.
During the 2014 general elections, she had declared total assets worth Rs 9.28 crore.
Gandhi's movable assets stand at Rs 4.29 crore, according to the affidavit.
She has given a loan of Rs 5 lakh to her son and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the affidavit says.
She has cash worth Rs 60 lakh and bank deposits of Rs 16.5 lakh.
In 2014, she had declared assets worth Rs 9.28 crore that comprised movable assets of Rs 2.81 crores including 1267.3 grams gold, 88 kg silver and Rs 66 lakh in bank accounts.
She has one criminal case against her, filed by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy. -- PTI
19:34 Assange charged in US with hacking conspiracy
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested in London on a United States warrant charging him over his alleged role in a massive leak of military and diplomatic documents in 2010, the Justice Department said on Thursday.
Assange faces up to five years in jail on a federal charge of 'conspiracy to commit computer intrusion for agreeing to break a password to a classified US government computer', according to a statement.
The indictment alleges Assange conspired with Chelsea Manning, a former US Army intelligence analyst, to crack a password stored on Department of Defense computers, leading to 'one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States," the statement said. -- Agencies
18:37 First phase polling ends in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh
Polling for seven Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra and the Naxal-affected Bastar constituency in neighbouring Chhattisgarh came to an end at 5 pm Thursday.
Following are the turnouts in various states till 5 pm:
Bihar: 50.26%
Telangana: 60.57%
Meghalaya: 62%
Manipur: 78.20%
Lakshadweep: 65.9%
Assam: 68%
Uttar Pradesh: 59.77%
18:27 Four injured in clash between supporters of NC, People's Conference
At least four persons were hurt on Thursday as supporters of National Conference and Peoples Conference clashed at a polling station in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency, officials said.
The incident took place at a polling station in Sumbal area of Bandipora district, they said.
Security personnel on polling duty quickly brought the situation under control, the officials said.
Polling was peaceful in other parts of the constituency, which is spread over three districts -- Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora, they said. -- PTI
17:57 Smriti's 'Man Friday' in Amethi joins Congress
Union Minister Smriti Irani's 'Man Friday' Ravi Dutt Mishra, at whose house she used to stay whenever she visited her constituency, Amethi, joined the Congress party on Thursday.
It is said that Mishra had brought BJP leader Smriti Irani to Amethi. "Irani used to stay at Mishra's house whenever she visited Amethi," said a Congress leader. Mishra was also a minister in the earlier state government of Samajwadi Party (SP).
Mishra joining the Congress party comes at a time when its president Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary and in-charge for the party's east UP affairs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are on tour of Amethi.
Congress president Rahul is contesting from two seats - Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, and Wayanad in Kerala.
Image: Smriti Irani used to stay at Ravi Dutt Mishra's house, whenever she visited Amethi. Mishra seen here with UP (East) General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
17:50 Naxal killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh on polling day
A Naxal was killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district on the day of polling for the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency on Thursday, police said.
The encounter took place in the restive Orchha area of the district when ultras attacked a team of security forces guarding a helipad, Director General (Anti-Naxal Operation) Girdhari Nayak told PTI.
Firing on security forces by the rebels triggered the gunbattle, which left one Naxal dead, he said. The ultras later escaped from the spot, from where the Naxal's body was recovered, Nayak said.
A combing operation was underway in the area, around 300 km from state capital Raipur, the IPS officer said. The Naraynpur assembly segment falls in the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency where polling was held Thursday.
Voting in the assembly segment ended at 3 pm after which polling personnel from interior pockets were airlifted to Naraynpur town by helicopters. -- PTI
17:36 'Laser' pointed at Rahul, MHA says mobile light
A green laser light pointed at Congress president Rahul Gandhi during his roadshow in Amethi on Wednesday created a scare, but the Home Ministry said there was no threat to his life.
However, sources said that a security breach was alleged when the laser light was seen pointed at the head of Rahul during the roadshow.
This led to security concerns within the party, but it was later found that the light was from a camera.
When contacted, a home ministry spokesperson said as soon as the ministry's attention was drawn to reports about the incident, the Director (Special Protection Group) was asked to verify the factual position.
"Director (SPG) has informed MHA that they have gone through the video clipping of the incident very closely.
"The 'green light' shown in the clipping was found to be that of a mobile phone used by the AICC photographer, who was videographing the impromptu press interaction of Rahul Gandhi near the collectorate at Amethi.
"Director (SPG) has also informed MHA that this position was conveyed to the personal staff of Rahul Gandhi. Director (SPG) has confirmed that there was no security implication whatsoever," the spokesperson said.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala the party has written no letter pertaining to alleged security breach to Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
The home ministry spokesperson corroborated this saying, "MHA has not received any letter from the Congress party." -- PTI
17:18 Assange won't be extradited to a country with death penalty, says Ecuador Prez
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, arrested in London on Thursday after Ecuador withdrew his political asylum, will not be extradited to any country where he could face 'torture or the death penalty', Ecuador's president said.
'I asked Great Britain the guarantee that Mr Assange will not be extradited to any country in which he could suffer torture or face the death penalty. The British government has confirmed this in writing (that they will meet this requirement),' President Lenin Moreno said in a video message posted on social media.
Moreno said Ecuador acted within its sovereign rights when it decided to withdraw diplomatic asylum from Assange.
Meanwhile, the lawyer of the Swedish woman who accused Assange of rape in 2010 said on Thursday that she and her client would ask Swedish prosecutors to reopen the investigation which was dropped in 2017. -- Agencies
17:13
Voter turnouts till 3 pm in various states going to polls today:
Jammu and Kashmir- 46.17%
Maharashtra - 46.13%
Andhra Pradesh - 55%
Arunachal Pradesh - 50.87%
Sikkim - 55%
Maharashtra - 46.13%
Andhra Pradesh - 55%
Arunachal Pradesh - 50.87%
Sikkim - 55%
Bihar - 41.73%
Uttar Pradesh - 50%
Telangana - 48.95%
16:47 Naxals trigger IED blast near polling booth in Maharashtra
Naxals triggered an improvised explosive device blast near a polling booth in Maharashtra's Gadchroli district on Thursday while voting for the Lok Sabha poll was underway, police said.
There were no casualties, a police official said.
The IED blast took place around 10.30 am in Waghezari area, around 150 metres from the polling booth where people were standing in queues to cast their votes for the Lok Sabha election, an official said.
"All polling and police personnel are safe. There are no casualties in the incident," Gadchiroli's Superintendent of Police Shailesh Balkawade said.
On Wednesday, Naxals denoted an IED at Gatta Jambia village in Etapalli tehsil of the district when a polling party was moving towards polling stations under protection of a police party and Central Reserve Police Force personnel.
A CRPF jawan was injured in the incident. A police official said Naxals were trying to disrupt the poll process and create panic among villagers, who came out in large numbers to vote on Thursday.
Gadchiroli is among the seven seats where polling is underway during the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. -- PTI
16:35 Yogiji, do read this story of Hindu-Muslim amity
The heartwarming story of the day and one that UP CM Yogi Adityanath should read. He had said on Tuesday, that if the opposition had faith in Ali, the BJP had faith in Bajrangbali.
So, this is the story of Saddam Hussain, a 27-year-old Muslim man, who has been cleaning and taking care of a Ram temple in Bengaluru, for the past three years.
Ahead of Ram Navami - the celebration of the birth of Lord Ram - Hussein is once again engaged in cleaning up the premises. Hussein says he finds peace of mind while working at the Lord's adobe.
The temple, situated in Rajajinagar area of the city, is thronged by a large number of devotes who also appreciate and encourage the work being done by Hussein. Speaking to ANI, Venkatesh Babu, an office-bearer in the temple committee, said, "He has been working with me at my shop for over 18 years. After I was elected as an office bearer of the temple committee, I gave him the responsibility of cleaning the temple. He comes every year before Ram Navami and cleans the temple."
"There are no issues between Hindus and Muslims in this region. We all live in complete harmony. This all is a political issue but the common man lives cordially," he added.
16:12 Sonia files nomination from Amethi
UPA chief Sonia Gandhi filed her nomination from Rae Bareli in the afternoon. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Robert Vadra were also present.
16:07 The Fadnavis' vote
Maharashtra: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his wife Amruta Fadnavis cast their vote at a polling station in Nagpur earlier today. Union minister and sitting MP Nitin Gadkari is facing Congress' Nana Patole in Nagpur constituency. Both Gadkari and Fadnavis hail from Nagpur. The chief minister arrived at the polling booth with his wife Amruta and mother Sarita Fadnavis at 12.20 pm. Speaking with media after casting his vote, he said, "India is the world's biggest democracy and democracy will be strengthened if people take part in the election process enthusiastically.
15:56 Modi charges Cong with Tughlaq Rd Chunav Ghotala
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday slammed the Congress for indulging in corruption and said a new scam "Tughlaq Road Chunav Ghotala" by it has come to the fore.
In the new scam crores of rupees meant for nutrition of poor children and expectant mothers have been seized even even as old cases og corruption against it are still on, he told an rally here.
The "naamdari parivar" (famed family) is engaged in corruption and has made it a way a life for which its members are now on bail, but they call the "chowkidar a chor", he said.
"There is a Tughlaq Road in Delhi and there is a bungalow there where a big leader lives. During the last few days, a game involving several crores of rupees is being played. Sack loads of currency notes are being recovered from those people who are connected with this bungalow," he said.
"This is the Tughlaq Road Chunav Ghotala and Congress indulges in corruption to win elections ... If they do not loot, how will they fight elections ? "It is a sin to vote for such people," Modi said adding Congress has compromised the security of the nation by demanding proof of attack on terrorist camps in Pakistan.
Criticising the Congress for indulging in vote bank politics, Modi said had it wanted they could have solved the problems in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir after the 1971 Indo-Pak war. "But they kept the issues burning deliberately for their vested interests." The Congress allowed infiltration to ensure that their vote bank remained intact. -- PTI
15:45 BJP's promise for a new India
BJP's version of the 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' promise of 2014, that has never been heard of again in the last couple of years. This tweet is from
@BJP4India, the party's official Twitter handle. "We will ensure implementation of NRC in the entire country. We will remove every single infiltrator from the country, except Buddha, Hindus and Sikhs: Shri @AmitShah #NaMoForNewIndia12:48 AM."
@BJP4India, the party's official Twitter handle. "We will ensure implementation of NRC in the entire country. We will remove every single infiltrator from the country, except Buddha, Hindus and Sikhs: Shri @AmitShah #NaMoForNewIndia12:48 AM."
15:42 Cops in Noida get meal from 'Namo Foods',
Some policemen on election duty in Noida were served meals in packets labelled "Namo Foods", following which officials clarified that those were procured from Namo Food Shop and not from any political party.
The food packets, brought in the boot of a hatchback car, were distributed around 9.30 am among personnel deployed in Sector 15A here, the officials said.
"Misinformation is being spread that some policemen have been distributed food from a political party. This is absolutely wrong. At local level, some food packets were procured from Namo Food Shop and not from any political party," Senior Superintendent of Police, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Vaibhav Krishna said.
"Some people are spreading wrong and politically motivated rumour. There is no official order to procure food from any particular food outlet," he said, and appealed to people not to pay heed to rumours being spread via social media.
The polling began at 7 am Thursday in Noida, under the Gautam Buddh Nagar constituency, and will continue till 6 pm, poll officials said. At 11 am, Noida assembly segment had a voter turnout of 20.8 per cent, while Dadri saw 22.4 per cent and Jewar 29.4 per cent polling, they said. A total of 22.97 lakh voters are eligible to cast their vote in the seat which has 13 candidates, including two Independents are in the fray. -- PTI
15:33 Violence, death mar 1st phase of polling in AP
Not a promising start for the Lok Sabha polls. Naxal ambushes, smashed EVM, BSF firing in the air to stop people voting with out an ID and finally, a TDP leader and a YSR Congress leader were killed in Andhra Pradesh.
A ruling Telugu Desam partyworker and another belonging to the main opposition YSR Congress were killed Thursday in a poll-related group clash in Anantapuramu district of Andhra Pradesh, police said.
The clash occurred at Veerapuram village under Tadipatri Assembly constituency in the afternoon. The deceased have been identified as Pulla Reddy of YSR Congress party and Sidda Bhaskar Reddy of the TDP, according to police sources.
TDP president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu condemned the killing of his party worker and accused the YSR Congress of indulging in violence to win the election.
Image: In Guntur, TDP leader Kodela Siva Prasada Rao was attacked at a polling booth in Sattenapalli.
14:54 Smriti files her nomination from Amethi
In Amethi, Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani files her nomination papers. Irani performed 'puja' ahead of filing her nomination. She is pitted against Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Her husband Zubin Irani was also present at the 'puja'.
Rahul Gandhi, a three-time Member of Parliament from Amethi, had filed his nomination papers yesterday. He was accompanied by his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and sister and Congress general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Priyanka's husband Robert Vadra and their two sons were also present.
Polling will be held in Amethi on May 6 during the fifth phase of the general elections.
14:34 Size matters
The world's smallest woman, Jyoti Amge, casts her vote at a polling station in Nagpur.
14:27 In 2004 Vajpayeeji seemed invincible, but we won: Sonia
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who is in Rae Bareli, when asked if she thinks PM Narendra Modi is invincible, said, "Not at all. Don't forget 2004. Vajpayeeji was invincible, but we won."
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who accompanied his mother as she is set to file her nomination papers in the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency added, "There have been many people in Indian history who had arrogance to believe that they're invincible and bigger than the people of India. Narendra Modi for the last 5 yrs has done nothing for the people of India. His invincibility will be in full view after election results."
The BJP has described the voter turnout in the first phase of the general election till 1 pm as "encouraging". "BJP workers are extremely enthused and motivated at the good voter turnout so far on the first day of polling. Everything seems to be going in NDA's favour," BJP leader and Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.
Voting has been largely peaceful and it augurs well for democracy. The feedback the BJP has been getting from its workers is very encouraging, she told reporters.
Citing the Election Commission figures, she said the voter turnout has been anywhere between 33 to 44 per cent till 1 pm.
This is what psephologists Dr Prannoy Roy and Dorab R Sopariwala have to say about high voter turnout: "We've done some work on this relationship between turnout and which party gains or loses and we arrive at some conclusions that low turnout benefits the BJP. However more research is needed.
"Low turnout helps cadre based parties, high turnout helps non-cadre based parties. But much more work needs to be done on this."
Read the interview with Rediff.com here.
14:17 Telangana decides today if KCR stays
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and his wife cast their vote at a polling booth in Siddipet district. Telangana registered 22.84 per cent polling till 11 am as polling in the first of the seven-phased general elections began on Thursday, according to an official communication.
Of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state, polling in 16 began at 7 am, while the voting process in Nizamabad started an hour later. "Polling process is going on peacefully across Telangana," state Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar said.
TRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha, former Union Minister Renuka Chowdary and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi are among the key candidates in the fray from the state. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan, K Chandrasekhar Rao, TRS working president K T Rama Rao, Kavitha, Owaisi and film actors Chiranjeevi, Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, Junior NTR and 'Baahubali' moviemaker S S Rajamouli were among those who cast their vote.
KCR, along with his wife, exercised his franchise in Chintamadaka village in Siddipet district.
Over 2.97 crore voters would decide the fate of 443 candidates in the state. In 13 Left Wing Extremism affected Assembly segments under five parliamentary constituencies polling would be held from 7 am to 4 pm.
In Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency, where 185 candidates, including more than 170 farmers, are in the fray, voting began from 8 am as mock polling took more time compared to other constituencies in view of the large number of candidates.
-- PTI
13:57 News updates
TDP leader S Bhaskar Reddy killed in clashes in Tadipatri town of Anantapur. TDP has alleged that YSRCP workers are behind the incident.
In Mumbai, the death toll in the 14th March incident of a foot overbridge collapse near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station rises to 7. A 57-year-old person succumbed to his injuries yesterday.
13:48 That's the UPA chief in Rae Bareli
Sonia Gandhi holds a roadshow ahead of filing her nomination papers.
13:36
And the original yogi, Baba Ramdev, casts his vote at a polling station in Haridwar.
13:34 VVIPs converge in Rae Bareli, Amethi
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath holds a roadshow in Amethi for Union minister Smriti Irani.
Around 60 km away in Rae Bareli, Sonia Gandhi is holding a road show as well.
13:12 Mehbooba: BSF manhandles voter who didn't vote BJP
And Mehbooba Mufti says, "A voter at a polling booth in Jammu was manhandled by the BSF because he refused to cast his vote for BJP. Using armed forces at polling stations to coerce people to vote for the BJP shows their desperation and hunger to usurp power by hook or crook."
13:09 Cong, BJP buttons on EVMs malfunction in J-K
The District Election Officer in Poonch (J&K) on Omar Abdullah's tweet that the Congress button was not working at Poonch polling stations: "There was an issue with the Congress button in Shahpur and our staff replaced the machine. At another polling station the BJP button wasn't working; we changed that also."
13:00 Made in havan: Sonia, Smriti bow to rituals
UPA chief Sonia Gandhi sat down to a 'havan' ahead of filing her nomination from the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency. With her were also Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The havan took place at the Congress party's office in Rae Bareli. She will then go on a 700-metre road show before filing the nomination. Sonia is trying to retain the seat for the fifth time. Even during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Sonia made it a point to sit down to a havan. Read the story here.
Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani also performed a 'puja' ahead of filing her nomination from the Lok Sabha seat in Amethi where she is pitted against Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Her husband Zubin Irani was also present at the 'puja'.
12:37 Andhra star Pawan Kalyan votes
Andhra Pradesh: Jana Sena Chief Pawan Kalyan at the polling booth set up at Chaitanya School in Vijayawada. His MLA Madhusudhan Gupta, was arrested today after he smashed an EVM at a polling booth in Gooty, in Anantapur district.
12:26 Renuka votes
Telangana: Khammam Congress candidate Renuka Choudhary casts her vote. "I am hopeful that we will be able to win this race, I am very optimistic."
12:19 Naxal ambush in C'garh, Maha; no casualties
The Indo Tibetan Border Police and Chhattisgarh Police joint party on Thursday came under a Naxal ambush in Narayanpur in the early morning hours while on their way to a polling booth.
No casualties have been reported so far."Naxals triggered an IED following which they fired on the 60 member party that was moving on foot to Dadwang for polling. ITBP jawans successfully broke the ambush and Naxals were pushed back after a brief encounter. No casualties were reported," officials said.
The ambush came at a time when the voting process was underway at the Bastar parliamentary constituency in the state.
"The incident occurred at around 04:30 am when the security forces were moving to Dadwang for polling. The forces were moving on foot from Farasgaon to Dadwang, 30 kilometres from Narayanpur," the officials added. Bastar recorded a voter turnout of 10.2 per cent till 9 a.m. -- ANI
Image: Voters turn up to exercise their franchise in Dantewada, a hotbed of Naxals.
12:15
Maharashtra: IED blast by naxals near a polling booth in Etapalli in Gadchiroli district, no injuries reported.
12:15
Maharashtra: IED blast by naxals near a polling booth in Etapalli in Gadchiroli district, no injuries reported.
12:04
24.32 per cent voter turnout recorded till 11 am in 8 parliamentary constituencies.
11:55 Honeytrap of another kind
In the season of elections, here's some relief. The Uttar Pradesh Police has broken the back of a gang that used to steal bees. Apparently stealing apiaries -- beehives in small boxes -- is widespread in the state and thieves make a lot of money doing this.
Ninety boxes of bees have been seized from thieves near Bulandshahar valued at Rs 3.5 lakh. The gang was active in Haryana, Rajasthan and Western UP. Because you can only steal apiaries at night (you are liable to be attacked by bees during the day), a specialised team of policemen led by the UP police lay in wait for the thieves night after night until they were caught.
The favourite stratagem for the theft was the deft use of cowdung, damp cotton wool and mud. The thieves are in jail on charges of dacoity. And the UP police is expecting to get a reward for their hard work.
-- Business Standard
11:52 Wannabe lawmaker takes law in his hands, smashes EVM
Lok Sabha candidate of Jana Sena Party (JSP), Madhusudan Gupta, on Wednesday broke an Electronic Voting Machine at a polling booth in Gooty town in Anantapuram alleging that the names of Assembly and Lok Sabha seats had not been properly displayed in the voting chamber.
Gupta reached the polling station at Girls' Higher School in Gooty which falls under Guntakal Assembly constituency, this morning.
He alleged that the names of Assembly and Lok Sabha seats had not been properly displayed in the polling chamber.
Election officials tried to pacify him but an angry Gupta threw an EVM on the floor and broke it.
He was later taken into police custody.Polling is underway for 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh. -- ANI
Image: Video grab of the smashed EVM
11:44 Assam CM votes
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal casts his vote at a polling station in Dibrugarh. Five seats in Assam will go to polls, with former CM Tarun Gogoi's son Gaurav Gogoi testing poll waters from Kaliabor.
11:25 Smriti Irani to file nomination from Amethi today
Meanwhile, in Amethi, Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani and her husband Zubin Irani perform pooja ahead of filing her nomination from the Amethi parliamentary constituency.
11:22 Turmeric decides who wins Nizamabad
The humble turmeric and red sorghum (a kind of millet like jowar) will decide who who wins the Nizamabad seat.
As polling got underway in Telangana for the 17 Lok Sabha constituencies on Thursday, it is Nizamabad that has become the cynosure of all eyes with a large number of candidates in the fray necessitating deployment of as many as 12 EVMs in each booth.
In the field are 185 candidates, including 178 farmers who jumped into the fray to support their demand for remunerative price for turmeric and red sorghum and setting up of a Turmeric Board based in Nizamabad.
"This is the first time in the world where elections are conducted with such a large number of candidates using (such a large number of) EVMs," said Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar.
The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) President and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha is seeking re-election from here.
Blaming the BJP, she had said it was the Centre which should take initiative for setting up the Turmeric Board.
While voting began at 7 am in other constituencies, it commenced in Nizamabad an hour later as planned due to mock polling in view of the large number of candidates in the fray and as also deployment of EVMs.
The contesting farmers have alleged that the TRS government failed to ensure minimum support price for turmeric and red sorghum produce and in getting Turmeric Board established.
In a normal situation, the EC drafts 15 to 16 engineers in a constituency, for troubleshooting, whereas for Nizamabad it has kept as many as 600 engineers. A helicopter would be kept on standby in case any large number of machines had to be airlifted. Over 26,000 ballot Units, 2,200 control units and about 26,000 VVPATs are being used for Nizamabad constituency.
11:04 Kashmiri Pandits vote at 'migrant' poll station
Kashmiri Pandits in Udhampur cast their votes for the Baramulla parliamentary constituency at a special polling station set-up at Municipal Town Hall. A voter says, "We are migrants here. It's our duty to vote. We want to return to Baramulla."
10:58 4 Naxals held, 3 firearms seized amid polling in Chhattisgarh
Four Naxals were arrested and three firearms seized from them in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district Thursday while polling was underway in the state's Bastar Lok Sabha constituency, a police official said.
The Naxals, belonging to Maad division of Maoists, were apprehended from Bedre area in the morning when a joint team of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and district force was out on an area domination operation, the official said. "Three weapons were also recovered from their possession," he added.
In the wee hours Thursday, Naxals detonated an IED (improvised explosive device) in Narayanpur district, which comes under Bastar constituency, police said. No casualty was reported in the blast.
A thick security blanket, comprising around 80,000 state and paramilitary personnel, has been thrown across the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency. Seven candidates are in fray in Bastar constituency. -- PTI
10:51 Voters rebuff Naxals, large turnout in Dantewada
People turned up in large numbers to cast their vote in the Naxal-affected parliamentary constituency of Bastar. Voters queued up to exercise their franchise in Dantewada and Sukma areas amid heavy security.
On Tuesday, Naxals triggered an IED blast in Dantewada, which killed sitting BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi, his driver and three personal security personnel.
Following the attack, security measures have been beefed up. The Election Commission has already stated that polling for Lok Sabha elections will be held as per schedule. Collectors and Superintendents of Police of affected districts have been instructed to take utmost precautions.
On Thursday, voting begins for 91 constituencies in 20 states and union territories in the first phase of the general elections.
In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, BJP's Dinesh Kashyap had registered victory from Bastar. This time the party has fielded its Bastar district chief and former MLA Baiduram Kashyap.
Earlier, BJP's Chhattisgarh unit had requested the party's Central Election Committee to field fresh candidates in the General elections. Sitting Congress MLA from Chitrakot, Deepak Baij is contesting against Kashyap. Chhattisgarh will witness Lok Sabha polls in the first three phases - April 11, April 18 and April 23 - for its 11 Parliamentary constituencies. -- ANI
10:31 Gadkari votes
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari votes at polling booth number 220 in Nagpur parliamentary constituency.
10:29 Faces of women in burqa not checked: BJP MP
Union Minister and Muzaffarnagar BJP candidate Dr. Sanjiv Balyan: Faces of women in burkhas are not being checked and I allege that fake voting is being done. If not looked into, I will demand a repoll.
Baliyan, who is a minister in the Yogi Adityanath government, is an accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots. He is accused of violating prohibitory orders and stopping public servants from doing their duties.
10:18 In Uri, voters have the josh
Voting began on a peaceful note Thursday in Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir, with voters in Kupwara, Handwara and Uri turning out early morning to exercise their franchise, officials said. Amid tight security, polling began across the constituency at 7 am and has been peaceful so far, the officials said.
While people in some pockets of the constituency like Kupwara, Handwara, Sumbal and Uri turned out early in the morning to exercise their franchise, there was lesser enthusiasm found among voters in the rest of the parliamentary seat, the officials said.
They said 13.12 lakh voters are eligible to decide the fate of nine candidates in the fray. Internet services in Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts, which constitute the LoK Sabha constituency, have been snapped till polling is over at 6.pm, the officials said. -- PTI
Image: Along with Uri, which is in Baramulla, Bandipora district is also going to vote.
10:06 Owaisi, Renuka, 170 farmers in fray in Telangana
Polling is underway in 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in Telangana on Thursday, where former Union minister Renuka Chowdary and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi are among the prominent candidates who are in the fray.
Polling in 16 constituencies began at 7 am, while voting process in Nizamabad started at 8 am. Over 2.97 crore voters will decide the fate of 443 candidates in the state. In 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-effected Assembly segments under five parliamentary constituencies polling would be held from 7 am to 4 pm.
In Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency, where 185 candidates, including more than 170 farmers, are in the fray, voting began from 8 am as mock polling took more time compared to other constituencies in view of the large number of candidates. The farmers have entered the fray in large numbers to highlight their demand for remunerative price to turmeric and red jowar.
The Election Commission decided to conduct polling in Nizamabad with EVMs despite the large number of candidates and made arrangements accordingly.
Former Union minister and Congress leader Renuka Chowdary (Khammam), AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi (Hyderabad), state Congress chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy (Nalgonda), the party's working presidents A Revanth Reddy (Malkajgiri) and Ponnam Prabhakar (Karimnagar), sitting TRS MP K Kavitha (Nizamabad) are among the prominent candidates in the fray.
As many as 145 companies of central paramilitary forces, besides over 55,000 state police have been deployed. -- PTI
09:58 Bangalore's silent candidate
Ambrose D'Mello, the Independent candidate from Bengaluru South, has been on maun vrat for 15 years. He does not own a house, does not wear footwear and sells books to earn a living. Rediff.com's Archana Masih met the activist who could perhaps be the poorest candidate in this election, but has the biggest heart. Read the report here.
09:55 Kashmir voter wants voice to be heard in Parliament
In Bandipora, Kashmir, Ghulam Mohammed (pictured alongside), standing in the queue to vote says, "This time we want to vote for someone who will raise our specific issues in Parliament. We want harmony in the region and as you can see voting is underway smoothly and in a peaceful manner." Polling began on Thursday morning in 91 constituencies spread across 18 states and two union territories in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections. Voting for two seats is on in Jammu and Kashmir.
Voting for the 543 Lok Sabha seats is be held in seven phases: April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19. Counting will be done on May 23.
09:43 Vote today for soul of India, tweets Rahul
The great festival of democracy - the Lok Sabha elections - has begun with 91 seats across 20 states going to vote in the first of the seven phase elections to elect the 17th Lok Sabha.
While many states will witness elections in multiple phases, states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha will witness elections in single phases. Over the seven phases, the elections will cover 543 constituencies. The results, or counting of votes, will take place on May 23.
As polling began, Congress national president Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "You vote today for the soul of India. For her future. Vote wisely."
09:27 How's the voter turnout so far...
>> 11% voter turn out recorded in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh in 2 hours between 7 am - 9 am.
>> 15% voter turn out recorded in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh in 2 hours between 7 am - 9 am.
>> 11% voter turn out recorded in Gaya, Bihar in 2 hours between 7 am - 9 am.
>> 21% voter turnout recorded till 9 am in Nagaland parliamentary constituency.
09:14 IED blast near Chhattisgarh polling booth
Voting has begun for Phase 1 of Lok Sabha election 2019, which will see ninety-one Lok Sabha constituencies spread across 18 states and two Union Territories, including all seats in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, choose their representatives today.
News18 reports that an IED blast took place in Narayanpur near polling booth early morning on Thursday when ITBP troops were going to the booth.
No casualty has been reported.
However, the area has been put on high alert. The blast comes two days after a BJP MLA was killed in a blast in Dantewada.
08:51
IMAGE: 95-year-old Shanti Devi casts her vote in Jammu-Kashmir's Samba. Photograph: @DDNewsLive/Twitter
08:38
IMAGE: Senior citizen voters cast their vote at a polling booth in Coochbehar during the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Photograph: ANI/Twitter
08:31 PM Modi appeals voters to exercise franchise
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday appealed to those casting their votes in the first phase of the 2019 general elections to turn out in large numbers.
"2019 Lok Sabha elections commence today. I call upon all those whose constituencies are voting in the first phase today to turn out in record numbers and exercise their franchise. I specially urge young and first-time voters to vote in large numbers," the PM tweeted.
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, who cast his vote in Nagpur at polling booth number 216, also appealed to voters to exercise their franchise.
"Voting is our duty, everyone should vote," he told the media.
Polling for 91 Lok Sabha constituencies, spread across 18 states and two Union Territories, began on Thursday morning amidst heightened security.
Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place for the Lok Sabha elections and tight vigil is being maintained at interstate borders.
-- ANI
08:06 When RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat cast his vote
Any guesses who he voted for?
The media throngs Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat after he cast his vote for the Nagpur parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha elections.
Speaking to the media, the RSS head said, "Voting is our duty, everyone should vote."
07:47 LS polls begins, 91 seats vote in 1st phase
Polling began this morning in 91 constituencies spread across 18 states and two union territories in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections.
Voting is also underway in 175 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, 32 in Sikkim and 28 seats in Odisha.
Polling in all the Lok Sabha constituencies of Andhra Pradesh (25), Telangana (17), Uttarakhand (5), Meghalaya (2) and Arunachal Pradesh (2) besides lone seats in Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar, and Lakshadweep is being held.
Eight seats in Uttar Pradesh, seven in Maharashtra, six in Bihar, five in Assam, four in Odisha, two each in Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal and one seat in Chhattisgarh are also going to polls.
Voting for the 543 Lok Sabha seats is be held in seven phases: April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19. Counting will be done on May 23.
-- PTI
00:14 Now, EC stops release of NTR, KCR biopics
The Election Commission Wednesday ordered the producers of 'Laxmi's NTR' and 'Udyama Simham', the two biopics based on the lives of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N T Rama Rao and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao respectively, not to release the movies till further orders.
It said any biopic material in the nature of biography/hagiography sub-serving the purpose of any political entity or an individual entity connected to it, which is intended to, or which has the potential to disturb the level-playing field during the elections should not be displayed in electronic media including cinematography during the operation of Model Code of Conduct.
The Election Commission in its order directing the producers of 'Laxmi's NTR', said the biopic of the late N T Rama Rao, which "purported" to depict incumbent state Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in a manner "allegedly diminishing the electoral prospects of his party".
In a separate order addressing the producers of 'Udyama Simham', the Election Commission said, "In view of facts and material available on record, this film being a biopic on Shri K Chandrashekar Rao, Chief Minister Telangana, and a political leader of a party which has fielded its candidates in the current general elections to the Lok Sabha cannot be exhibited in view of the Commission's aforesaid Order.
"Therefore, in view of the above, you are hereby directed not to exhibit the film titled 'Udyama Simham' till further order in terms of aforesaid order."
The poll body's action came after it received complaints regarding these two biopics.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission stalled the release of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's biopic, asserting that any biopic material with the potential to disturb the level playing field timing the elections should not be displayed.
The commission directed the producers "not to exhibit the film titled 'PM Narendra Modi' till further orders. -- PTI
TOP STORIES
© 2024 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances