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Fri, 26 April 2024
Police to probe bribery charges against Cognizant
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23:53 NIA chargesheet 14th accused in Coimbatore car bomb blast case
The National Investigation Agency on Friday chargesheeted another accused in the 2022 ISIS-inspired Coimbatore car bomb blast case.
According to the NIA, "Thaha Naseer is the 14th accused to be charge-sheeted in the case under relevant sections of IPC, Explosive Substances Act, and UA(P)A."
NIA on Friday filed its third Supplementary Chargesheet in the case, relating to an explosion in front of the heritage Arulmigu Kottai Sangameshwarar Thirukovil Temple at Eswaran Kovil Street in Ukkadam, Coimbatore.
The blast was triggered on October 23, 2022, by a vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device, driven by accused Jamesha Mubeen, who was killed in the blast.
The explosion was aimed at avenging the alleged incarceration of Mohammed Azaruddin in prison. Azaruddin was arrested in 2019 for propagating ISIS ideology and had abetted his associates and hatched the conspiracy to target Kafirs (non-believers of Islam) while inside the prison, NIA stated.
NIA investigations have revealed that Thaha Naseer was a close associate of Jamesha Mubeen and Umar Faaruq, the Amir or leader of the terror attack. -- ANI
23:31 Firing outside Salman home: Lookout circular against Bishnoi's brother
A lookout circular was issued on Friday against Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, in connection with the firing outside actor Salman Khan's house in Mumbai's Bandra on April 14, a police official said.
The official also said police is likely to take custody of Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently lodged in a jail in Sabarmati in Gujarat, and was also contemplating invoking the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act in the case.
Anmol Bishnoi had claimed responsibility for the firing and a probe too showed his involvement, following which the LOC was issued by Mumbai police, the official added.
"Anmol and Lawrence Bishnoi have been named as wanted accused in the case. Anmol Bishnoi stays in Canada and travels to the USA. However, the IP address of the Facebook post, through which he claimed responsibility of the firing, was traced to Portugal," the official said. -- PTI
People attend a voting awareness event in Srinagar/ANI Photo
23:18 LS polls: Nomination papers of 10 candidates rejected in Srinagar
Election authorities on Friday rejected nomination papers of 10 candidates, leaving 29 aspirants in the fray for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, officials said.
The rejected candidates include National Conference leader Salman Sagar, who was the covering candidate of the party.
Other candidates whose papers were not in order included Sameer Parray, Bansi Lal Bhat Rakesh Handu, Fida Hussain Dar, Suraya Nissar, AK Raina, Shadib Hanief Khan, Shabir Ahmad Malik and Farooq Ahmad Bhat.
While 29 candidates are in the fray in the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, with National Conference leader Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and PDP youth wing president Waheed Parra being the main contenders.
Democratic Progressive Azad Party has fielded Mohammad Amir, while Apni Party has picked Mohammad Ashraf Mir as its candidate.
The last date for withdrawal of nomination papers is on April 29 and polling will be held on May 13 in the fourth phase of elections. -- PTI
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23:03 Police to probe bribery charges against Cognizant
The sessions court here has directed the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Maharashtra police to investigate allegations against IT major Cognizant Technologies that it paid a bribe through a contractor to local government officials to secure necessary permits and environmental clearances for its campus at Hinjawadi on the city's outskirts.
The bribe was allegedly paid between 2013 and 2014. The order was passed on April 19, on a complaint filed by Delhi-based environmental activist and retired police officer Prit Pal Singh through his lawyer Pratik Rajopadhye.
The complaint relied on proceedings of the Securities Exchange Commission of the USA against Cognizant Technology Private Ltd's parent firm Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, USA regarding alleged bribing and violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Singh had requested the Pune court to direct the ACB to register an offence under the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act against Cognizant, its Indian construction contractor, and Manikandan Rammurthy, former vice president (administration and real estate officer, Cognizant, India).
Additional sessions judge SB Hedaoo stated in the order that as the reference to the alleged transaction was found in the US SEC order, there was sufficient material to forward the complaint to the ACB Pune. -- PTI
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi
22:31 Rahul, Nadda to address poll rallies in Odisha on Sunday
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and BJP president JP Nadda will address election rallies in different parts of Odisha on April 28.
Rahul Gandhi will address a public meeting at Salepur in Cuttack district, and also visit Satyabhamapur to pay tributes to Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das, AICC general secretary and the party's Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar said on Friday.
People from across four Lok Sabha constituencies of Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur and Jagatsinghpur would be attending Rahul Gandhi's rally, he said.
Nadda, on the other hand, will address a public gathering in Berhampur and meet party workers at Nabarangpur, senior BJP leader Samir Mohanty said.
Berhampur Lok Sabha seat is expected to witness an intense electoral battle between BJP and BJD candidates, both of whom are turncoats.
While the saffron party has nominated Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi, a former BJD leader, the ruling party in the state has fielded former BJP leader Bhrugu Baxipatra. -- PTI
A woman votes at a polling station during the second phase of LS elections, in Barmer, Rajasthan/Adnan Abidi/Reuters
22:05 61% voter turnout in phase 2 of LS polls till 7 pm
Voter turnout of 60.96 percent was recorded till 7 pm in phase two of the Lok Sabha elections held on Friday across 88 constituencies spread in 13 states, the Election Commission said.
The poll panel described the voting as "peaceful".
In the second phase of Lok Sabha elections of 2019 held in 95 constituencies across 13 states, the turnout was much higher at 67.6 percent.
Heat wave is believed to have contributed towards several voters not turning up at polling stations in both the phases.
In the first phase, the turnout was 65.5 percent compared to 69.43 percent in phase one of the 2019 parliamentary polls.
Some of the constituencies were different then and the total number of seats which went to poll were 91.
The EC said polling is now complete in 14 states and Union territories.
The polling time was extended till 6 pm in many polling stations in Banka, Madhepura, Khagaria and Munger constituencies in Bihar to facilitate the voters in hot weather conditions.
Special arrangements were made to combat the heat, including provision of 'shamiyana', drinking water, medical kits and fans for the convenience of the voters. -- PTI
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21:59 K'taka: Voter on horseback delights voters in Udupi Chikmagalur constituency
In an unexpected yet memorable sight in Karkala, Eklavya R Kateel, the eldest son of international sportsperson Rohit Kumar Kateel, captured the attention of the public by arriving at Booth No. 87 at Government Pre-Graduation College astride his own horse to cast his vote.
Eklavya's unique mode of transportation to the polling station in Udupi Chikmagalur constituency surprised and delighted onlookers.
Party workers present there eagerly seized the opportunity to snap photographs with him amidst the excitement.
This striking display of civic duty combined with a touch of flair serves as a testament to the diverse and spirited ways in which individuals participate in the democratic process of voting. -- PTI
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21:25 LS polls: UP records over 53% voting in 8 constituencies
A voter turnout of 53.34 percent was recorded in the eight parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh where voting was held in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, according to the latest Election Commission figures.
The constituencies that went to polls in this phase are Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh and Mathura.
Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh Navdeep Rinwa told reporters, "Polling was held peacefully... no reports of any untoward incident."
According to the Voter Turnout app of the Election Commission of India, 62.36 percent polling was recorded in Amroha, followed by 55.49 percent in Meerut, 53.69 percent in Baghpat, 48.21 percent in Ghaziabad, 52.46 in Gautam Buddh Nagar, 54.34 in Bulandshahr, 56.62 percent in Aligarh and 47.45 in Mathura.
The final polling figures will be released later.
There are more than 1.67 crore voters, 7,797 polling stations and 17,704 polling booths in these eight parliamentary constituencies.
Among the 91 candidates in the fray are actor-turned-politician Hema Malini, seeking a third term from Mathura on a BJP ticket, and actor Arun Govil, who portrayed the role of Lord Ram in the television serial "Ramayan". -- PTI
21:16 11 members of organised crime gang arrested: Punjab DGP
The Punjab police anti-gangster task force has in a joint operation with the central agencies and the Jammu and Kashmir police arrested 11 members of an organised criminal gang.
"In a major breakthrough, #AGTF Punjab in a joint operation with Central agencies & J&K Police, has arrested 11 members of an organised criminal gang operated by Charanjit Singh @ Raju Shooter," Punjab director general of police Gaurav Yadav said in a post on X on Friday.
Raju Shooter is also among those arrested. Yadav said that the gang was involved in September 2023 in a failed attempt to loot a bank in Dhotian village in Tarn Taran during which a police officer was critically wounded in firing by the accused.
"On April 16, 2024 associates of Raju shooter had orchestrated his escape from Civil Hospital, Tarn Taran where he was admitted for treatment," the DGP said in his post.
He said that the arrested accused were involved in organised criminal activities such as attempt to murder, robbery and drug smuggling.
The DGP later in a statement said that the arrests were made during a 48-hour-long operation carried out in different parts of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
The police teams have also recovered four weapons, including one double barrel rifle, which got stolen from Tarn Taran-based gun house on February 28, and three pistols along with 26 live cartridges from their possession, he said.
Raju Shooter is the kingpin of an organised criminal gang active in the Majha region mainly in districts, including Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Amritsar Rural, he said. -- PTI
Arrested Myanmar national with drugs recovered from him/ANI Photo
21:06 Myanmar national arrested with heroin worth Rs 8 crore by Assam Rifles
Assam Rifles, special narcotics police station, CID (crime), Aizawl arrested a Myanmar national on Thursday and recovered heroin worth over Rs 8 crores, said Assam Rifles on Friday.
The operation was carried out by a combined team of Assam Rifles and special narcotics police station, CID (crime), Aizawl, based on specific information.
"Assam Rifles, along with special narcotics police station, CID (crime), Aizawl, Mizoram recovered 110 soap cases (1.206 kg) Heroin No. 04, with an approximate value of Rs 8,44,20,000 and one Honda car in General Area Tuikual North, Aizawl and apprehended one Myanmar's National on April 25," said a statement from headquarters Inspector General Assam Rifles (East).
The recovered consignment and apprehended individual were handed over to special narcotics police station, CID (crime), Mizoram, Aizawl on April 25, 2024, for further legal proceedings.
Ongoing smuggling of illegal drugs is a major cause of concern for the state of Mizoram and India.
Due to drug, respectively. Assam Rifles, rightly christened as the 'Sentinels of Northeast', has continued their efforts against illegal drug trafficking and has also doubled its efforts to nab the kingpins of the drug racket in Mizoram, according to the statement from Assam Rifles. -- ANI
Uddhav Thackeray
20:44 In a first, Uddhav to vote for foe-turned-friend Cong
Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray president Uddhav Thackeray will, perhaps for the first time, vote for the Congress, his political foe-turned-friend, a reflection of the churning Maharashtra polity has undergone since 2019, a year which saw realignment of parties.
The Congress, part of the opposition bloc, on Thursday fielded its city unit president Varsha Gaikwad from the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat, which covers the area where Thackeray is registered as a voter.
The former CM's residence, Matoshree, is in Vandre (Bandra) East assembly constituency, which falls under the Mumbai North Central seat.
"I am going to vote for Varsha Gaikwad as she is contesting from here (Mumbai North Central)," Thackeray told reporters on Friday.
Under the seat-sharing formula worked out between the Maha Vikas Aghadi allies, the Congress will contest on two Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai, including North Central, and the Shiv Sena-UBT on four.
The undivided Shiv Sena and the Congress were bitter political and ideological rivals until they came together to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance with the united Nationalist Congress Party in 2019 to keep the BJP out of power in Maharashtra.
However, their coalition government collapsed in June 2022 following a revolt in the Shiv Sena. -- PTI
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20:16 Woman killed, two others injured in elephant attack in Maha's Gadchiroli
A 55-year-old woman was killed, and two others were injured in an attack by a wild elephant in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, a forest official said on Friday.
The incident occurred in Hidur village in the Bhamragarh forest range on Thursday night, the official said.
The victims were returning to the village after attending a programme at a temple when an elephant attacked them, he said.
Raje Halami died in the attack, and two other women sustained injuries and were undergoing treatment in a hospital in Chandrapur, the official said.
There is a presence of a herd in the area, and it is moving towards neighbouring Chhattisgarh.
Villagers have been asked to take precautions and keep away from the elephant's path, he said.
A man was similarly killed by an elephant in the Kiyar forest of Bhamragarh in the district on Wednesday. -- PTI
19:47 Rupee falls 7 paise to settle at 83.35 against US dollar
The rupee declined 7 paise to close at 83.35 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday as a strengthening American currency overseas and a selloff in domestic equities weighed on the local unit.
Besides, rising crude prices in the international market and risk-averse sentiment dragged the local unit down, forex traders said.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened strong at 83.30 and moved in the range of 83.30-83.36 during the session.
The local currency finally settled at 83.35 (provisional) against the dollar, registering a fall of 7 paise from its previous close.
In the previous session, the rupee closed at 83.28 against the US dollar. -- PTI
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya/File image/ANI Photo
19:23 EC books BJP's Tejasvi Surya for poll code breach
Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has been booked for violation of the election code of conduct and "seeking votes" in the name of the religion.
"Case is booked against Tejasvi Surya MP and Candidate of Bengaluru South PC on 25.04.24 at Jayanagar PS u/s 123(3) for posting a video in X handle and soliciting votes on the ground of religion," chief electoral officer, Karnataka posted on X.
The case has been filed with Jayanagar police station in Bengaluru.
Meanwhile, Vasanth Kumar, advocate and BJP legal cell convenor said that five complaints were lodged with the Election Commission on Friday.
"Today 5 complaints were lodged with the Election Commission. One is canvassing and speaking to workers by CM Siddaramaiah inside a polling booth in Mysuru...another complaint is, in a polling booth in Kolar constituency, one ex-councillor Venkatesh is distributing cash to voters, another complaint is AICC youth president Srinivas is protesting...today is polling day so he is violating Model Code of Conduct," Vasanth Kumar said.
Earlier on Friday, Tejasvi Surya, cast his vote in Bengaluru and predicted that the Congress party may not win more than 30 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. -- ANI
File image/ANI Photo
19:11 24 more Indian fishermen detained in Sri Lanka repatriated to India
Twenty-four Indian fishermen who were detained by the Sri Lanka Navy for allegedly fishing in the island nation's waters were on Friday repatriated to India, two days after another group of five Indian fishermen were sent to their homeland.
"Twenty-four Indian fishermen repatriated from Sri Lanka. They have boarded from Colombo and are currently on their way home," the Indian high commission in Colombo said in a post on X.
On Wednesday, five Indian fishermen detained by the Sri Lanka Navy were repatriated to India.
Earlier this month, 19 Indian fishermen detained by the Sri Lanka Navy were repatriated to India, the Indian high commission said.
The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters.
The Sri Lanka Navy has so far held 23 Indian trawlers and 178 Indian fishermen for allegedly fishing in the island nation's waters thus far in 2024, and handed them over to authorities for legal action, the Sri Lankan Navy late last month confirmed in a statement.
On April 3, as many as 19 Indian fishermen detained by the Sri Lanka Navy were repatriated to India after being released by authorities in Colombo. -- PTI
18:55 Ticketless passenger arrested for hitting MSRTC bus conductor in Nagpur
A ticketless passenger allegedly assaulted a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation bus conductor in Nagpur on Friday, a police official said.
The accused, identified as Firoz Sheikh Noor Sheikh (32) hailing from Hingna in Nagpur, was arrested, the Kondhali police station official said.
"He hit conductor Yogesh Namdeo Kale following an altercation in the bus, which was on its way from Nagpur to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The incident took place at 9:30am after Kale asked Sheikh for his ticket. He hit Kale on the head with his steel 'kada'," the official said.
"Other passengers pinned down Sheikh and the driver brought the bus to the police station. Sheikh has been charged with obstructing a government servant from discharging duty, criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing harm," the official said. -- PTI
Image only for representation
18:46 EVMs destroyed as villagers clash in Karnataka
The electronic voting machines (EVMs) were destroyed at a polling station in Indiganatha village in Chamarajanagara district on Friday during a clash between two groups of people over whether to vote or not in the Lok Sabha elections.
According to the district administration, the villagers had earlier in the day decided to boycott the polls citing lack of adequate infrastructure development.
However, after assurances and efforts by the local officials, polling went underway. As per preliminary information, one of the groups wanted to vote while the other was keen to boycott leading to clashes between them during which they destroyed EVMs, and also indulged in stone-pelting.
"As per a preliminary report, we have received information that there was a clash between two groups of villagers. They were not affiliated to any political party but (they complained of) lack of infrastructure development - roads -- in the village," said Additional Chief Electoral Officer (Karnataka), Venkatesh Kumar.
All the furniture inside the polling booth has also been vandalised.
"EVMs have been completely destroyed. Polling officials did not sustain any hurt as they managed to escape. FIR is being filed in this regard. We are getting a detailed report after which the Election Commission will take the call," he said.
Those involved in the incident have absconded and police are trying to nab them, the officer said.
"The situation is under control now. However, since the EVMs have been destroyed, we need to check the status of polling, if the polling was started or not," he added. -- PTI
18:23 Pak urges to be left out of Indian election discourse
Pakistan on Friday urged Indian leaders to stop dragging the country in their speeches for political mileage during the election season.
Speaking at a press briefing in Islamabad, Pakistan's Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Islamabad rejects all the claims made by Indian leaders over Jammu and Kashmir.
"Indian politicians to cease their reckless practice of dragging Pakistan into India's populist public discourse for electoral motives," she said.
"We are witnessing an alarming surge in provocative statements from Indian leaders asserting unwarranted claims on Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan rejects these claims. Fuelled by hyper-nationalism, this inflammatory rhetoric poses a grave threat to regional peace and susceptibility," she said.
Zahra claimed that Indian claims were contrary to historical and legal facts.
"Historical and legal facts as well as ground realities refute India's baseless claims over Jammu and Kashmir," she said.
India has previously rejected such statements by Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.
India's Ministry of External Affairs has repeatedly asserted that 'The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh are and always will be integral and inalienable parts of India. No other country has locus standi to comment on the same'. -- PTI
17:59 Email threatens to blow up Kolkata airport
Authorities at the Kolkata airport on Friday received an email claiming bombs were planted at various places on its premises, triggering a frantic search across the facility, officials said.
However, the mail, which threatened that the bombs will explode at 12.55 pm, turned out to be a hoax, they said. Security agencies at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBIA) conducted a thorough search operation following the email, said Aishwariya Sagar, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Airport Division of Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate.
After carrying out an extensive search operation, the security personnel concluded that the threat was a hoax, she said. Airport authorities, the CISF and the Bidhannagar Police are jointly carrying out an investigation to determine the origin and sender of the email, the officials said. We are in the process of tracking the origin of the email, Sagar said. PTI
17:44 Was born in Bengal in previous birth: Modi
Expressing his gratitude for the "enthusiasm" and "love" of people during his rally in Malda in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said it appears that either he was born in Bengal in his previous birth or will be born to a mother in Bengal in his next birth.
There was huge enthusiasm at the rally with people cheering for PM Modi, waving at him, clapping and continuously raising "Modi, Modi" slogans.
"Your enthusiasm, your love... I am deeply grateful. you are giving so much love, it appears that either I was born in Bengal in my previous birth or I will take birth from the womb of a mother in Bengal in my next birth. Probably, this much love one never gets," PM Modi said during his rally in Malda as people loudly cheered 'Modi-Modi'.
Tearing into the ruling Trinamool Congress and the erstwhile Left Front government in the state for putting the brakes on development, the Prime Minister said they wrecked the greatness, global image, and dignity of Bengal under their rule.
"There was a time when Bengal was the engine of the country's development and progress. Be it social reforms, scientific advancements, as well as philosophical and spiritual thinking and awakening, Bengal led the way. However, the Left Front and the present TMC regime robbed Bengal of its greatness on the global stage and lowered its dignity and prestige in the eyes of the world. Only scams worth thousands of crores are flourishing in Bengal under TMC rule," he said.
He said that the ruling TMC and the Congress, which are partners in the INDIA bloc but appear to be contesting the ongoing Lok Sabha separately in the state as they are competing with each other in an attempt to get votes from a particular community as both are indulging in appeasement politics. -- ANI
17:24 Job-eater BJP: Mamata's jibe at 26,000 job losses
Taking a dig at the BJP, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday dubbed it a "job-eater" and said the people of West Bengal would not forgive its leaders for "conspiring to snatch" the livelihood of nearly 26,000 teachers.
Addressing an election rally in support of TMC's Ghatal candidate Dev, Banerjee also attacked the CPI(M) and Congress in the same breath, calling the two parties "eyes and ears" of the BJP in the state.
"You have heard about maneater tigers, but have you heard about the job-eater BJP? Did you see the glee on the face of the leaders of the BJP, CPI(M) and Congress after so many people were rendered jobless by the court?" she asked the people at the rally.
"I don't want to comment on the judgement or say anything about the judges. But after taking away the jobs of 26,000 youths, you are asking them to return the salary along with 12 per cent interest. Can you take jobs like that? Give them a chance to rectify. How can 26,000 people be treated in such a way?" she asked.
The Calcutta High Court on Monday ordered the cancellation of appointments of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff made through the recruitment process of State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in state-run schools, declaring the selection process as "null and void".
Banerjee said the "conspiracy" was evident from the reactions of the leaders of BJP, CPI(M) and Congress after the court gave its verdict. "The people of West Bengal will not forgive these parties for their roles. They also filed PILs in the court and stalled any new initiative by the state government to fix the anomalies," she said.
Banerjee alleged the opposition BJP was again "conspiring" to stall the state government's decision to recruit 10 lakh people. "They don't want to wipe the tears from the faces of the unemployed youth, but want to use them for winning the elections," she claimed.
"If 26,000 teachers go, who will teach in the state-run schools? Will RSS now take over?" she asked. She called the CPI(M) and Congress "eyes and ears of the BJP" in West Bengal. "The INDIA bloc does not exist in West Bengal. Voting for the CPI(M) and Congress will strengthen the hands of PM Narendra Modi. It is the TMC, which is fighting the communal and undemocratic BJP here," she claimed.
Banerjee also criticised the BJP, alleging that it forced the EC to hold a seve-phase election in West Bengal without caring about the scorching heat.
"If Tamil Nadu with 40 seats can have a single-phase poll, why should Bengal with 42 seats be subjected to such a grueling schedule? BJP does not care about the people," she said. Banerjee accused the Centre of depriving West Bengal of funds for social welfare schemes, and said that her government would arrange the money.
"What happened to the promise of giving Rs 15 lakh in people's bank accounts?" she questioned. She also alleged that the BJP was attempting religious polarisation.
Bengali superstar Dev is seeking re-election from the Ghatal seat for a third consecutive term. This time, he is up against BJP's Hiran Chatterjee, another film star who became an MLA in 2021 by winning the Kharagpur Sadar seat.
The CPI fielded Tapan Ganguly in Ghatal. Later in the day, Banerjee addressed a rally in Garbeta for the party's Jhargram candidate Kalipada Soren. She said leaders of the BJP never came to the region when blood-shed was a daily affair because of Maoist activities.
"It was me as the opposition leader who would come to stand with the people during those times. Now, they are talking big," she said. Banerjee said she always believed in the slogan of 'badla noy, badal chai' (want change, not revenge) that she gave during the 2011 assembly elections in which her TMC ousted the CPI(M)-led Left Front. PTI
BJP's Mukesh Dalal won the seat unopposed
17:12 Cong suspends Surat candidate who gave BJP 1st win
The Gujarat Congress on Friday suspended from the party for six years its Surat Lok Sabha candidate Nilesh Kumbhani, whose nomination form was rejected over discrepancies leading to the BJP's Mukesh Dalal getting elected unopposed.
A statement from the Congress said the party's disciplinary committee decided to suspend Kumbhani after thorough discussion, adding it had come to the conclusion that the nomination form was rejected due to gross negligence on his part or "in connivance with the BJP".
"To be fair to you we have given time to you to explain your case but instead of coming before the party disciplinary committee you have gone incommunicado. After your form was rejected by the authorities, BJP went ahead and got form of other eight candidates withdrawn. This has deprived people of Surat their voting rights," the Congress disciplinary committee headed by Balu Patel said.
"People of Surat and party workers have become very angry due to your action and are expressing their anger in different ways. The Congress party has decided to suspend you for six years from the party," the press note said.
Kumbhani's nomination form was rejected on April 21 after his three proposers submitted affidavits to the district returning officer claiming the signatures on the document was not theirs. The nomination form of Suresh Padsala, the Congress' substitute candidate from Surat, was also invalidated on the same grounds.
In his order, Returning Officer Sourabh Pardhi said the three nomination forms submitted by Kumbhani and Padsala were rejected after prima facie discrepancy was found in the signatures of the proposers and they did not appear to be genuine. Kumbhani, a former corporator from Surat, had unsuccessfully fought the 2022 Assembly polls from Kamrej there.
16:34 Sibal slams 'puppet' EC for not sending notice to PM
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Friday said the Election Commission seeking a response from the BJP instead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the opposition charge that he gave a divisive speech in Rajasthan showed that it is a "helpless puppet".
Taking cognisance for the first time of a model code violation complaint against a prime minister, the EC on Thursday issued the notice to BJP president J P Nadda seeking his response to complaints filed by Congress, CPI, CPI (ML) and civil society groups regarding the remarks made by Modi on April 21 in Banswara. These complaints had referred to Modi's allegations that the Congress wanted to redistribute the wealth of the people to Muslims and that the opposition party won't even spare the 'mangalsutra' of women.
In a post on X, Sibal said, "Election Commission(EC): No 'lal ankh' to Modi. Seeks BJP's response for Modi's openly communal utterances. Shows that EC: helpless puppet; dare not send notice to Modi; ignorant of its own MCC; exposes itself to ridicule."
Sibal, a former Congress leader who is an independent MP in the Rajya Sabha, alleged that the poll watchdog had "defected" to the BJP. The Congress had on Thursday claimed that public pressure forced the EC to issue the notice. The EC is "super, super cautious" when it comes to the prime minister, Congress general secretary in-charge Jairam Ramesh had said. PTI
16:11 Blind distrust impedes progress: SC on VVPAT
Democracy is all about striving to build harmony and trust among all its pillars through open dialogue, transparency in processes and continuous improvement of the system by active participation in democratic practices, Supreme Court judge Dipankar Datta said on Friday.
Justice Datta, who was part of the apex court bench which rejected pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), said regressive measures to revert to paper ballots or any alternative to the EVMs that does not adequately safeguard the interests of Indian citizens have to be eschewed.
Penning his views in a separate judgement while concurring with the opinion of Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who was heading the bench, Justice Datta said the issue of doubting the efficacy of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) has been previously raised before the top court and it is imperative that such issue is concluded definitively now.
"Going forward, unless substantial evidence is presented against the EVMs, the current system will have to persist with enhancements," he said.
Justice Datta observed that while maintaining a balanced perspective is crucial in evaluating systems or institutions, "blindly distrusting any aspect of the system can breed unwarranted scepticism and impede progress".
He said a critical yet constructive approach, guided by evidence and reason, should be followed to make room for meaningful improvements and to ensure the system's credibility and effectiveness.
"Be it the citizens, the judiciary, the elected representatives, or even the electoral machinery, democracy is all about striving to build harmony and trust between all its pillars through open dialogue, transparency in processes, and continuous improvement of the system by active participation in democratic practices," he said.
Justice Datta said our approach should be guided by evidence and reason to allow space for meaningful improvements. "By nurturing a culture of trust and collaboration, we can strengthen the foundations of our democracy and ensure that the voices and choices of all citizens are valued and respected. With each pillar fortified, our democracy stands robust and resilient," he said.
"I conclude with the hope and trust that the system in vogue shall not fail the electorate and the mandate of the voting public shall be truly reflected in the votes cast and counted," Justice Datta observed.
16:03 HM: Rahul baba do what you want for appeasement...
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that while the Congress party's poll manifesto promises to retain religious personal law, it is the BJP's promise and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantee to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country.
"For the Congress, Muslims have the first right over the country's resources, but for the BJP, the poor, Dalits, Other Backward Classes and tribals have the first right," he said while addressing an election rally in support of Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is BJP's candidate from the Guna Lok Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh.
"Read the Congress manifesto carefully. They have said that they will reintroduce personal law...They want to bring Muslim personal law. They want to bring back triple talaq...Can this country be run by Sharia (Islamic law)?" Shah asked.
Attacking Rahul Gandhi, he said, "Rahul baba do whatever you feel like doing for appeasement. As long as BJP is there, no personal law will be introduced. This country will be run by UCC and the Constitution. This is our Constitution's spirit. We have implemented UCC in Uttarakhand."
"It is our promise and Modiji's guarantee that UCC will be enforced in the entire country," he added.
PM Modi scrapped Article 370 on August 5, 2019 at once, Shah said.
"Rahul baba used to scare me saying rivers of blood will flow through Kashmir if Article 370 is abrogated. Rahul baba, this is not a Congress government, this is Narendra Modi's government. Leave aside blood, even a pebble could not be thrown there in the last five years," he said.
PM Modi eradicated terrorism and Naxalism in the country, he said, adding that the Naxal menace in Madhya Pradesh was also eliminated by the government. "For Congress, Muslims have the first right over the country's resources. But for BJP, the poor, Dalits, Other Backward Classes and tribals have the first right over them," he added.
"The Congress governments in the past kept sitting on the Mandal Commission's report that recommended reservation," Shah alleged.
He also accused the grand old party of creating hurdles on the Ram temple issue for 70 years.
"But within five years, the Modi government laid the foundation of the temple and also held the consecration ceremony. Congress former presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were invited for the event, but they did not have a time to attend it," Shah said.
"On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav took his cabinet colleagues along to Ayodhya to take darshan of Ram Lalla," he added.
In Guna Lok Sabha constituency, the Congress has pitted Yadvendra Singh Yadav against BJP candidate and Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
15:43 In a first, Bru voters exercise their franchise in Tripura
For the first time, the newly settled Bru voters of Tripura exercised their franchise for the General Elections to Lok Sabha 2024 on Friday. Earlier, they had voted in the assembly elections held last year in March.
The Bru migrants who had been staying in six relief camps of North Tripura district till 2020 now received permanent settlement in 12 locations across the state.
Since the morning, eligible voters from the Bru community turned up in large numbers at the polling stations. At the Goenang Para polling station in the Tirthamukh area under the Gomati district, hundreds of Bru voters cast their votes.
Speaking to media persons after casting his vote, a Bru community voter said, "We have never voted in the MP elections of Tripura. We are very happy to participate in the democratic exercise. The total number of voters in this particular polling station stands at 609."
15:39 Every vote counts
Tripura: Voters of 44/68 Raima Valley Assembly segment, in a remote area of the Dhalai district, use boats to arrive at their polling booth to exercise their franchise.
15:22 Modi is scared, he may cry on stage: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his attack on the grand old party, saying he is scared and may even shed tears on the stage.
"You have heard the Prime Minister's speeches. He is scared. It's possible that he may shed tears on stage," Gandhi said addressing a public gathering in this district headquarters town of Vijaypura in Karnataka.
Modi has targeted the Congress on a variety of issues in recent campaign rallies, including "mangalsutra", "redistribution of wealth" and "inheritance tax" charges.
The former Congress chief accused Modi of 'diverting public attention' through various means. "Modi tries to divert your attention. Sometimes he talks about China and Pakistan, and sometimes he will make you beat plates and ask you to switch on the torch light of your mobile phones," Gandhi said.
He pointed out that there are three to four core issues in India including poverty, unemployment and price rise. Gandhi claimed that only Congress can eradicate unemployment, contain price rise and give people their due share.
"Modi has only snatched money from poor people. He has made some billionaires. There are 22 people who have wealth equivalent to the 70 crore people of the country. Just one per cent people are controlling 40 per cent of the wealth of the nation," he alleged.
Gandhi said in the present scheme of things, there is "no scope" for Dalits, OBCs, tribals, minorities and poor general category people. "I will just tell you a clear thing in a simple one line. The wealth Modi has given to those billionaires, the same money we are going to give to the poor people of the country," he added.
The Congress leader also promised the youth that his party will scrap the Agniveer scheme if it is voted to power. He dubbed the Agniveer' scheme in the armed forces offering three years services to the youth from 18 years to 21 years as an insult to the Army and soldiers. "Narendra Modi snatched the Army jobs from the youth of India. He brought the Agniveer scheme, which is an insult to the Indian Army and soldiers. We will scrap it," Gandhi said. -- PTI
Nirmala Sitharaman is all smiles after voting
15:05 Phase 2 polls: Average 39% turnout till 1 pm
Over 39 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the first six hours of polling on Friday in phase two of the Lok Sabha elections covering 88 seats in 13 states and Union territories amidst reports of EVM glitches and bogus voting in some booths in Kerala and West Bengal.
Voters in four villages of Uttar Pradesh's Mathura, Rajasthan's Banswara and Maharashtra's Parbhani boycotted polls over various issues. Polling started at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.
Election officials said the highest voting percentage was recorded in Tripura which registered 54.47 per cent polling till 1 pm, while the lowest turnout was in Maharashtra at 31.77 per cent.
"Aggregate turnout at 1 pm in Phase 2 is 39.13 percent," the Election Commission said in a statement. Kerala reported brisk polling with 39.26 per cent voters exercising their franchise. However, electronic voting machine (EVM) breakdowns were reported in some booths of the state. Three elderly persons and a polling agent died during the polling in the state.
According to reports, one person each died at Palakkad, Alappuzha and Malappuram after casting their vote while a polling agent died after collapsing at a booth in Kozhikode. In Karnataka, an estimated 38.23 per cent turnout was reported in the first half of the day.
Out of 14 segments, the highest turnout of 48.10 per cent was recorded in Dakshina Kannada, followed by Udupi-Chikmagalur at 46.43 per cent, and the least 30.10 per cent in Bangalore Central.
Madhya Pradesh saw about 38.96 per cent of voters casting their ballots in six Lok Sabha constituencies, while voting for three Lok Sabha constituencies, having Naxalite presence, in Chhattisgarh saw 53.09 per cent of the electorate exercising their franchise.
A jawan of the Madhya Pradesh Special Armed Force deployed on poll duty allegedly shot himself dead with his service rifle in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district.
In Maharashtra, which has recorded low voter turnout so far, residents of a village in the Parbhani Lok Sabha constituency decided to boycott the elections to protest against the issue of encroachments.
West Bengal recorded nearly 47.29 per cent voters exercising their franchise in three Lok Sabha constituencies. The Election Commission registered 290 complaints, mostly related to EVM malfunctioning, in the state.
In Manipur, a voter turnout of 54.26 per cent was recorded, while in Bihar, 33.8 per cent of over 93 lakh voters in five Lok Sabha constituencies exercised their franchise. Congress's Kishanganj MP Mohd Javed, who is seeking re-election, filed a police complaint, alleging that his opponents issued a fake statement in his name asking voters to vote in favour of another candidate.
"It was an attempt by my opponents to mislead voters of Kishanganj. I filed a complaint against the suspects last night," he told reporters. In the north, Uttar Pradesh recorded an average voter turnout of 35.73 per cent in eight parliamentary constituencies Voters of four villages in Mathura are boycotting the polls alleging indifference of representatives towards their basic problems.
"The villagers are being persuaded to cast their votes with assurance that their problems would be given top priority," District Magistrate Shailendra Singh said.
In Bulandshahr, voting could not start at the primary school in Chhotabas village in the Pahasu area with villagers staying away over the non-construction of a road. However, after persuasion of the administrative officials, voting began there around 11 am. SDM, Shikarpur, Priyanka Goyal said the villagers have complained about the road and drainage problems which will be looked into. The villagers have now started arriving for polling, she added.
Rajasthan recorded nearly 40.39 percent voter turnout across 13 Lok Sabha seats and one assembly constituency. However, in Banswara, no voter reached the Adibheet polling booth in the initial hours. The locals have certain demands regarding compensation against land acquired for a power plant and have declared to boycott the elections.
The officials said are trying to convince the voters to exercise their franchise. Jammu saw over 42.88 per cent of the over 17.8 lakh eligible voters exercised their franchise. The highest voter turnout of 52.68 per cent was recorded in Reasi assembly segment till 1 pm while the lowest voter turnout was recorded in the Jammu West segment at 31.49 per cent. Union Minister Jitendra Singh said there is massive excitement among people.
"This is the base of successful democracy and that is why it is called a festival... All the phases will turn out to be great for the BJP," he told reporters. Assam saw 46.31 per cent voters turning out to exercise their franchise. -- PTI
14:45 Karara tamacha to Oppn: Modi on VVPAT verdict
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that the Supreme Court judgment on cross-verification of votes was a tight slap on the Congress-led opposition which must apologise for committing the sin of creating distrust against Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Addressing an election rally in Araria Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar, he also charged the opposition with trying to "steal" reservations meant for OBCs, SCs and STs "for the sake of their favourite vote bank of Muslims".
"When the Congress, the RJD and other INDIA bloc parties were in power, the poor, backwards and Dalits used to be deprived of their votes through booth capture. With the introduction of Electronic Voting Machines, they are no longer able to play their old game. Hence, they committed the sin of creating distrust against EVMs," alleged the prime minister.
"But today, the highest court of the country has delivered a verdict a few hours earlier which comes as a tight slap (karara tamacha) on these parties", said Modi, referring to the judgment by which pleas seeking cross-verification of votes cast through EVMs with VVPAT have been rejected.
The prime minister also accused the Congress of having "stolen" reservations meant for the OBCs and transferring the benefits to Muslims in Karnataka, where the party is in power. The grand old party wanted to replicate the "conspiracy" in the rest of the country, including in Bihar where its ally "has not spoken a word against" the move in the southern state, he alleged.
"Being an OBC myself, I know the hardships faced by the backward classes", said Modi, adding, "in future, they may loot reservations for SCs and STs as well".
Claiming that the previous government headed by Manmohan Singh had given its "assent" for reservations to Muslims, the prime minister slammed the Congress and its "ecosystem" for "trying to browbeat me, without success". Reiterating that the Congress manifesto bore "the imprint of Muslim League", Modi said the party's "injustice towards Hindus stands exposed".
"I say poor people have the first claim on the country's resources. Congress, RJD and their allies say the first claim is of their vote bank. They want to steal your belongings, even mangalsutras of women", alleged the Prime Minister." -- PTI
14:39 Mamata accuses Centre of depriving Bengal of funds
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused the Centre of depriving West Bengal of funds for social welfare schemes and said that her government will arrange the money.
Addressing an election rally in support of party candidate Dev in Ghatal, she alleged that the BJP was attempting religious polarisation. "What happened to the promise of giving Rs 15 lakh in people's bank accounts?" she questioned, taking a dig at the BJP. PTI
The new girder. Pic: Sahil Salvi
14:37 25,000-ton girder connecting Mumbai's coastal road and sea link installed
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) successfully launched a massive 25,000-ton girder connecting the south-bound corridor of the coastal road to the Bandra Worli Sea Link in the early hours of Friday, the civic body said.
In a release, the BMC said that the process to launch the bow-string-arch-type girder, spanning 136 metres, at Worli started at 2 am and was completed at 3.25 am.
According to the civic body, the engineering feat is the first in India to involve such installation in the sea. The girder, which is 18 to 21 metres wide, will connect the 10.5 kilometre stretch of the coastal road to the Bandra-Worli sea link.
The southbound corridor of the coastal road between Worli and Marine Lines was opened for traffic on March 11 this year but had not been connected with the sea link.
14:31 Mrs Kejriwal to begin roadshows from tomorrow
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi minister Atishi announced on Friday that Sunita Kejriwal, wife of the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, will step into the campaign to oppose his arrest.
According to Atishi, Sunita Kejriwal will personally lead a series of roadshows across Delhi, Punjab, Gujarat, and Haryana to seek blessings for her husband and campaign for the party's candidates.
"To oppose the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, seek blessings for him, and campaign for AAP's candidates, his wife Sunita Kejriwal will personally step into the campaign. She will ask for blessings for Arvind from the people of Delhi, Punjab, Gujarat, and Haryana," said Atishi in a press conference.
The campaign's initial focus will be on Delhi, with a roadshow in East Delhi Lok Sabha on April 27, followed by another in West Delhi Lok Sabha on April 28.
"Sunita Kejriwal's campaign will start tomorrow, beginning in Delhi. Tomorrow, April 27, Sunita ji will hold a roadshow in East Delhi Lok Sabha and seek blessings for Arvind Kejriwal from the people of East Delhi. On April 28, Sunita Kejriwal ji will conduct a roadshow in West Delhi Lok Sabha, seeking blessings from the people of West Delhi for Arvind Kejriwal," Atishi said.
Women in Sandeshkhali meet the WB guv in February
14:12 CBI seizes arms, ammunition during search ops in Sandeshkhali
The CBI seized arms and ammunition, including foreign-made pistols, during its searches at multiple locations in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali on Friday in connection with an attack on an Enforcement Directorate team by a mob allegedly instigated by local TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, officials said.
The team was attacked in Sandeshkhali -- a riverine delta bordering the Sundarbans -- on January 5 when it had gone to raid the premises of Sheikh in connection with an alleged ration scam. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) during its probe got inputs of a large cache of arms hidden in Sandeshkhali.
On Friday morning, a CBI team started a search operation during which the arms, including foreign-made pistols, were seized, the officials said. On the orders of the Calcutta High Court, the central agency had registered three FIRs related to the incidents on January 5 .
The FIRs pertain to alleged attack on ED officers by a mob on the complaint by officers, allegations against ED officials levelled by the guard of suspended TMC leader Sheikh and a suo motu case registered by the Nazat police station about the attack on ED officers.
Sheikh was arrested by the West Bengal Police on February 29 in connection with the attack. After the attack by a mob of around 1,000 people in which three ED officials were injured, a deputy director of the agency had given a complaint to the superintendent of police, Basirhat. PTI
PM Modi in Malda
13:34 TMC, Cong competing to woo certain community: PM
Tearing into the ruling Trinamool Congress and the erstwhile Left Front government in the state for putting the brakes on development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said they recked the greatness, global image and the dignity of Bengal under their rule.
Twisting the knife into the ruling TMC, which is under the spotlight again over alleged irregularities in appointments for teaching posts after the Calcutta High Court recently annulled over 25,753 such recruitments in the state, PM Modi said only 'scams' were flourishing in Bengal under the Mamata government.
Addressing a massive rally in Malda district, which is home to majority Muslim voters, PM Modi said, "There was a time when Bengal was the engine of the country's development and progress. Be it social reforms, scientific advancements, as well as philosophical and spiritual thinking and awakening, Bengal led the way. However, the Left Front and the present TMC regime robbed Bengal of its greatness on the global stage and lowered its dignity and prestige in the eyes of the world. Only scams worth thousands of crores are flourishing in Bengal under TMC rule.
"On the Calcutta High Order cancelling all appointments of teaching and non-teaching staff made by the 2016 School Service Commission (SSC) panel, PM Modi said the TMC played with the future of Bengal's youth.
Layng into the TMC over the verdict, which it has challenged in the Supreme Court, he said, "Not a brick is laid in Bengal without money changing hands. Corruption has become synonymous with the state. They (TMC) did not even spare farmers. They played with the future of the state's youth and have now rendered 26,000 families jobless. They are facing the burden of unpaid loans that they took to pay the TMC in exchange for these jobs."
He said the ruling TMC and the Congress, which are partners in the INDIA bloc but are contesting the ongoing Lok Sabha separately in the state, are competing with each other in their 'appeasement' politics and attempts to woo a 'certain' community.
"The Congress wants to grab your properties and the TMC hasn't spoken a single word against it. They are competing with each other for appeasement and attempts to win over a certain community or vote bank. While the TMC government has worked to grant permanent residency to infiltrators from Bangladesh, the Congress is talking about redistributing your assets among a certain vote bank," PM Modi added.
"The only glue that holds the TMC and the Congress together is appeasement. These parties can go to any lengths to advance their appeasement politics and reverse any decision taken in the national interest," he added.
13:06 No monkeying around
Maharashtra: A resident of Wardha, Vinod Kshirsagar arrives at a polling booth with his pet langur, 'Bajrang', to cast his vote.
13:03 If you're up for voting in phase 2 see this...
The fundamental right of food, clothing, shelter and the right to vote if you are eligible to vote. Don't let go of this opportunity, as this Amul ad rightly says.
Shashi Tharoor shares this pic with his volunteers in Thiruvananthapuram
12:55 Voter turnout from 18% to 36% till 11 am
A voter turnout ranging from 18.83 per cent to 36.42 per cent was recorded in the first four hours of polling on Friday in phase two of the Lok Sabha elections covering 88 constituencies in 13 states and union territories amid reports of EVM glitches in some booths in Kerala and West Bengal. Polling started at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.
Tripura recorded the highest voting percentage of 36.42 till 11 am, while the lowest voter turnout was in Maharashtra with 18.83 per cent.
Kerala reported brisk polling with 25.61 per cent voters exercising their franchise. However, electronic voting machine (EVM) breakdowns were reported in some booths of the state. One elderly person also reportedly died in Ottapalam area of Palakkad district after casting his vote. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan, BJP state president K Surendran, saffron party candidates Suresh Gopi and Anil Antony as well as Congress' K C Venugopal and Shafi Parambil were among the early voters.
In Karnataka, an estimated 22.34 per cent turnout was reported with long queues seen at polling booths. IT industry veteran N R Narayana Murthy, his wife and nominated member of Rajya Sabha Sudha Murty, cricketing legend Rahul Dravid, Union Finance Minister and Rajya Sabha member Nirmala Sitharaman, and Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena were among the early voters in Bengaluru city. The erstwhile Mysuru royal family scion and BJP candidate from Mysore Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, along with wife Trishika Kumari Devi and "Rajmata" Pramoda Devi Wadiyar voted in Mysuru.
Madhya Pradesh saw about 28.15 per cent of voters casting their ballots in six Lok Sabha constituencies while voting for three Lok Sabha constituencies, having Naxalite presence, in Chhattisgarh saw 35.47 per cent of the electorate exercising their franchise.
The early voters in Madhya Pradesh include Union minister Prahlad Patel in Damoh Lok Sabha seat, which he represented in 2019, and Union minister Virendra Kumar and his wife in Tikamgarh seat.
West Bengal recorded nearly 31.25 per cent voters exercising their vote in three Lok Sabha constituencies. However, the Election Commission registered 290 complaints, mostly related to EVM malfunctioning, in the state.
In Manipur, a voter turnout of 33.22 per cent was recorded till 11 am while in Bihar, 21.68 per cent of over 93 lakh voters in five Lok Sabha constituencies exercised their franchise.
In the north, Uttar Pradesh recorded an average voter turnout of 24.31 per cent in eight parliamentary constituencies while Jammu saw more than 26.61 per cent of the over 17.8 lakh eligible voters exercised their franchise. Rajasthan recorded nearly 26.84 percent voter turnout across 13 Lok Sabha seats and one assembly constituency.
Assam saw 27.43 per cent voters turning out to exercise their franchise. Prominent candidates who exercised their franchise are Assam Minister for Excise, Transport and Fisheries Parimal Suklabaidya and his Congress rival Surya Kanta Sarkar in Silchar (SC), Congress candidate Joyram Engleng in Diphu (ST) and sitting Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi in Nagaon.
Several senior BJP and opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor of the Congress, and Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Kailash Choudhary and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, are in the fray in the 88 seats where polling is underway.
In 2019, the BJP had won 52 and its existing allies 12 of these seats, including seven of eight in Uttar Pradesh, all 13, eight and seven in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh respectively, and four of the five seats each in Assam and Bihar.
The turnout in the first phase was recorded at 62.37 per cent which may still be revised upwards as votes are tallied. The voting percentage in the first phase in 2019 was 69.43 per cent when 91 seats went to the polls. PTI
Crowds at a Modi rally in Agra
12:38 TMC teachers' scam snatched 26,000 jobs: PM in WB
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed the TMC over the cancellation of around 26,000 jobs following a high court, stating that the youths of West Bengal have suffered due to the "cut-and-commission" culture of the party, which is now "synonymous with scams".
Addressing an election rally in Malda, the PM highlighted that the youths, who had taken loans to pay bribes to TMC leaders, are burdened by this situation. "The TMC indulges in scams for which the people of the state have to suffer. The party has been playing with the future of the youths of Bengal," he said.
"The teacher recruitment scam snatched the livelihood of around 26,000 families," he said.
Earlier this week, the Calcutta High Court declared the recruitment process of the State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided schools as "null and void," ordering the cancellation of all appointments made through it.
"Under TMC rule, only one thing exists - scams totalling thousands of crores. The culprit is TMC, but the entire state is forced to pay for its deception," he said.
Hitting out at the Congress and the TMC for spreading canards about CAA, Modi said the Citizenship (Amendment) Act "is about granting citizenship and not snatching it."
"There is a competition of appeasement going on between these two parties. The Congress wants to grab your property, and the TMC is not uttering even a single word against this. The state government is working to settle Bangladeshi infiltrators in Bengal, and the Congress is talking about distributing your wealth among those," he said. -- PTI
12:29 Who's the man in the pink T-shirt on the left?
He's none other than ISRO chief S Somanath! He queues up along with other votes at a polling station in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.
12:16 Modi uses LIC's slogan at Bengal rally
West Bengal: Addressing a public rally in North Malda, PM Narendra Modi says, "TMC and Congress are just pretending to be in a conflict in the state, but the truth is, character and ideology of both these parties is the same. Appeasement is the common thing between TMC and Congress, for which they can do anything and everything. They want to revoke each and every decision taken by us for the safety of our country.
"INDI alliance wants to revoke Article 370, TMC says it will abolish CAA... Many beneficiaries of the CAA include Dalits. For the sake of appeasement, TMC and Congress want to reject them... Congress has declared it will investigate all assets of the poor people.
"They have brought an X-ray machine from abroad and will conduct an X-ray of everyone in the country... They want to seize all assets, including jewellery and property, and give a part of it to their vote bank. But TMC did not speak a word against it and is supporting it by staying quiet... TMC settles illegal immigrants from Bangladesh in the state by giving them your lands, and Congress is talking about giving away your wealth to this vote bank... Congress' loot will continue 'Zindagi ke saath bhi, zindagi ke baad bhi'."
11:52 Why voters silence is making the BJP nervous
"The current general election, at least until phase one, has been characterised by an odd ennui and silence. This is partly reflected in the decreasing voter turnout. One should not over-interpret this. The BJP remains a front runner, with overwhelming odds in its favour. You could argue that the listlessness is a consequence of a foregone conclusion. But the contests in many seats are narrow. And for a party expecting 400 seats, the joyous surge is missing," writes Pratap Bhanu Mehta.
Read the column here.
11:46 Biocon chief votes
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson of Biocon Limited votes. "As a responsible citizen of our great country, I have cast my vote. Jai hind," she writes.
11:45 BJP spokes votes
BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla casts his vote in UP's Gautam Budh Nagar.
11:40 Every vote counts
Historian, columnist, author Ramachandra Guha votes and posts: "A vote for fraternity, against hate."
11:38 Vote for Constitution: Rahul, Priyanka's message
As voting for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections commenced on Friday, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi called on people to participate in voting in large numbers and emphasised that every vote counts.
In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi said, "This election is to save the country's democracy and constitution. This election is to provide relief to the people struggling with unemployment, inflation, corruption and economic hardship."
"I appeal to you, my countrymen, to vote in large numbers, vote on your issues and this time form a people's government that works only for you," she added.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi also said, "My dear countrymen! Today is the second phase of this historic election which is going to decide the fate of the country. Your vote will decide whether the next government will be of 'a few billionaires' or of '140 crore Indians'. Therefore, it is the duty of every citizen to step out of their homes today and become a 'soldier of the Constitution' and vote to protect democracy."
Meanwhile, sources in the Congress party have indicated that Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are likely to contest the Lok Sabha election from Rae Bareli and Amethi seats, respectively.
11:33 Siddaramaiah votes
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah casts his vote in Varuna under the Chamarajanagar Lok Sabha seat.
11:14 SC gives two directions on VVPAT slips
Update: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected petitions seeking 100 per cent verification of votes cast on Electronic Voting Machines with paper slips generated through the VVPAT method.
The apex court also rejects the prayers of petitioners to return to ballot paper voting. The two-judge bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta delivered a unanimous verdict.
The Supreme Court says it's has given two directions -- one direction is after the completion of symbol loading process, the Symbol Loading Unit (SLU) should be sealed and they should be stored at least for a period of 45 days.
The second direction issued by the apex court is there will be option for candidates to get the microcontroller program of EVMs to be checked by a team of engineers after the declaration of results, such a request to be made by the candidate within seven days after the declaration of results.
11:10 'People are not interested in salacious gossip'
"You want to distort the very fabric of Indian society because you are obsessed with vote bank politics," Thiruvananthapuram's BJP candidate and MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar speaks to Archana Masih and Nikhil Lakshman/Rediff.com. Watch the interview here.
AK Antony and his wife vote
11:04 Kerala registers turnout of 19% at 10.20 am
Brisk polling was seen in the 20 Lok Sabha seats during the initial few hours of voting with Kerala registering a turnout of 19.06 per cent by 10.20 am.
The election process, held amidst tight security arrangements, was primarily incident free except for electronic voting machine (EVM) breakdowns reported in some booths of the state.
The EVM breakdowns resulted in delaying the polling process in those booths, leading to several voters returning to their homes, according to Congress leader Anto Antony, who is contesting from Pathanamthitta LS seat, and his party colleague Chandy Oommen.
Both of them said that they have asked officials to extend the voting time in the affected booths. The voter turnout was 12.26 per cent at 9.20 am and rose to 16 per cent and then 19.06 per cent at 10 am and 10.20 am, respectively. The highest turnout till 10.20 am was recorded at Attingal LS constituency at 20.55 per cent.
One elderly person reportedly died in Ottapalam area of Palakkad district after casting his vote. According to reports, he collapsed after coming out of the booth and was rushed to a taluk hospital, but his life could not be saved. Kerala saw a voter turnout of 77.84 per cent in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
11:00 People have come to know PM lies: Gehlot
Amid voting for the second phase of Lok sabha elections on Friday, Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that he don't want to talk about the 'mangalsutra' issue, as election has to be fought on the "issues of the country, like unemployment and inflation."
Gehlot also claimed that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is deliberately talking about the 'mangalsutra' issue.
"It is just sad that where is democracy heading? What the Prime Minister has said...he himself was mocked...I don't want to get into what he said about 'mangalsutra', election has to be fought on the basis of development--on the issues of unemployment, inflation, widening gap between poor and the rich," Gehlot told ANI.
"He (PM Modi) is deliberately dragging it to 'mangalsutra'. What has that to do with the manifesto?...With the kind of language he is using. I think for the first time, the credibility of the Prime Minister has suffered a blow. People came to know that he lies..."
10:57 I voted for change from hate politics: Prakash Raj
Actor Prakash Raj, a known critic of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre, cast his vote in Bengaluru amid polling for the second phase on Friday. The actor, clad in a red printed shirt and white trousers, arrived at his designated polling station in Bengaluru to get his finger inked.
Speaking to media persons after casting his vote, the actor, who is not only a prominent face in the South film industry but also made character appearances in several Bollywood hits, said, "My vote is my right. It gives me the power to choose who will represent me, be my voice in Parliament. It is very important that you vote for a candidate you believe in. And, I voted for the candidate I believe in, the manifesto that promised change from the divisive and hate politics we have seen in the last decade."
10:54 BJP sure of historic mandate in Kerala: AK Antony's son
Anil Antony, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Pathanamthitta on Friday expressed confidence of a historic mandate for the BJP and its coalition in the ongoing Lok Sabha Election 2024.
Antony, after casting his vote in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, highlighted that this is the first time in India's history that a two-time sitting Prime Minister is seeking re-election for a third term with zero anti-incumbency.
"We are very sure of a historic mandate in Kerala. This is a national election that will decide who will be the PM for the next 5 years, and which party and coalition will be governing this country. This is the first time in India's history that a two-time sitting PM is going for a third election with zero anti-incumbency," said Antony, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bid for a third consecutive term.
10:50 Election 2024: The first winner speaks!
Mukesh Dalal, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate who won the Surat Lok Sabha election unopposed, stridently defends his victory even as he squarely blames the Congress for surrendering meekly in Surat.
"It is because of the Congress's cowardice that the voters of Surat won't get a chance this time to exercise their voting rights. Congress should accept the blame for being cowards," Dalal tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com.
Read the interview here.
10:46 SC dismisses pleas on 100% verification of VVPAT
The Supreme Court rejects all the petitions seeking 100 per cent verification of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) votes with their Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips.
Court says it has given two directions '" one direction is after the completion of symbol loading process, the Symbol Loading Unit (SLU) should be sealed and they should be stored at least for 45 days.
The second direction issued by Supreme Court is that there will be option for candidates to get the microcontroller program of EVMs to be checked by a team of engineers after the declaration of results, such a request is to be made by the candidate within seven days after the declaration of results.
10:44 Don't miss opportunity of democracy: Dravid
Former Indian skipper and current head coach of the Indian cricket team Rahul Dravid cast his vote in Bengaluru during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections and urged people to come out and vote. After casting his vote, Dravid spoke to the media and said, "Everyone must come out and vote. It is an opportunity we get in a democracy."
Dravid's former teammate and legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble also exercised his voting rights in Bengaluru.
10:41 Pappu Yadav votes
Purnea, Bihar: Independent candidate from Purnea, Pappu Yadav says, "Punea will write history, it will also give an answer to hatred...leaders from all political parties come together to finish Pappu Yadav but voters have come together for Pappu. Delhi and Patna have united. There were attempts to finish me...."
10:38 LS polls: WB highest turnout at 15%, Assam lowest
Karnataka: An estimated 9.21 per cent turnout was reported during the first two hours since voting began for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in 14 constituencies in Karnataka on Friday. Long queues were seen at polling booths, as people, especially senior citizens and morning walkers came out to vote during the early hours since the voting began at 7 am. According to election officials, voter turnout till 9 am was about 9.21 per cent.
Bihar: Around 9.84 per cent of over 93 lakh voters in five Lok Sabha constituencies of Bihar exercised their franchise till 9 am on Friday, an official said. Polling started at 7 am in Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnia, Bhagalpur and Banka and will continue till 6 pm, he said.
Assam: An estimated 9.15 per cent of 77,26,668 electors voted till 9 am in five parliamentary constituencies of Assam, where polling is underway in the second phase on Friday, officials said. The highest polling of 14.13 per cent was recorded in Diphu (ST), followed by 9.61 per cent in Karimganj, 9.16 per cent at Darrang-Udalguri, 9.07 per cent in Nagaon and the lowest 5.49 per cent in Silchar, they said.
West Bengal: Nearly 15.7 per cent of 51.17 lakh voters in three Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal exercised their franchise till 9 am on Friday, an Election Commission official said. Polling began at 7 am in Darjeeling, Balurghat and Raiganj constituencies and would continue till 6 pm. Raiganj registered the highest voter turnout of 16.46 per cent, while Darjeeling recorded 15.74 per cent and Balurghat 14.74 per cent, till 9 am, he said.
Madhya Pradesh recorded 13.82 per cent voting in the initial voter turnout trend till 9 am in the second phase of polling for six parliamentary seats in the state, according to the data released by the Election Commission of India.
Manipur: A voter turnout of 15.49 per cent was recorded till 9 am on Friday as polling was underway in the remaining parts of the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency amid tight security, officials said. Voting was underway at 857 polling stations, spanning 13 assembly segments in eight districts, they said.
10:30 Kumble votes
Former cricketer Anil Kumble casts his vote in Bengaluru. Karnataka is voting on 14 seats on Friday in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections.
10:27 Heat or rain, come out and vote: Tejasvi Surya
Bengaluru, Karnataka: BJP MP from Bengaluru South, Tejasvi Surya says, "I want to tell the BJP supporters and voters that we are 80%, but on the polling day we come out and vote 20%, whereas the Congress supporters are 20% and they come out and vote 80%. Each BJP voter must come out and vote because our vote matters. If you are not voting, Congress' 20% is coming out and voting. No matter the heat, or the rain, it is your vote which will decide the future of the nation for the next five years. Please come out and vote."
10:21 Lok Sabha Speaker and Kota candidate Om Birla votes
Rajasthan: BJP candidate from Kota, Om Birla, casts his vote in a school in the Shakti Nagar area of Kota. Congress has fielded Prahlad Gunjal against BJP's Om Birla in Kota. Rajasthan is voting on 13 seats today in the second phase.
10:18 Deve Gowda votes
Karnataka: Former PM and JD(S) president HD Deve Gowda casts his vote at a polling booth in Hassan.
10:15 Shashi Tharoor voted
Congress MP and candidate from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor cast his vote at a polling booth in the constituency. He is up against BJP candidate and Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekar.
Watch the Rediff.com interview with Mr Tharoor here.
10:09 Don't be swayed by lies; VOTE: Kharge
As polling for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections began, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday urged voters to come out and vote to protect democracy from the clutches of dictatorship.
In a fervent appeal to voters, he said this is not an ordinary election and they should not be swayed by any diversionary tactics.
He said the Constitution should reverberate in their hearts before they push to voting button. Kharge also appealed to first time voters to come out in large numbers and vote as they were the real changemakers in this movement for democracy.
"'We, the people of India' - this soul of the Constitution of India, should reverberate in your hearts and minds, before you push the voting button.Do not forget that this is not an ordinary election. It is an election to protect Democracy from the clutches of dictatorship," he said in his message on X.
"To all my dear citizens, from 89 Constituencies in 13 States and UTs, do not get swayed by any diversionary tactics and lies.
"Always make your vote count. For it may change the lives of 140 crore Indians by bringing the paradigm of Yuva Nyay, Nariman Nyay, Kishan Nyay, Shramik Nyay and Hissedari Nyay," Kharge said. Imagine a future where justice, freedom, equality and liberty is guaranteed, the Congress chief said, adding future where rapid inclusive growth and transformative policies are guaranteed.
"My dear first time voters, cut the clutter and distance the din, for you are the real changemakers and I welcome each one of you in this movement for Democracy," he added. -- PTI
09:47 Don't sit at home, come out and vote: Sudha Murty
Rajya Sabha MP, author, and philanthropist Sudha Murty cast her vote at the BES polling station in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on Friday during the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024.
Murty urged the citizens to exercise their right to vote.
"I want to tell everyone- don't sit at home, come out and vote, it's your right, choose your leader. I always feel that urban people vote less as compared to those in rural areas. I have seen more people of my age voting, so I request youngsters to come out and vote," Murty said after casting her vote alongwith her husband N R Narayana Murthy.
After casting his vote, Narayana Murthy said, "Once in every five years, we get an opportunity to execute the right given by our constitution, to choose whatever candidate from whichever party he/she is, to govern us. Today is a very happy day. Today is the day when we should all be enthusiastic to exercise our power." -- ANI
09:27 Your vote is your voice, participate in record numbers: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people on Friday to cast their votes in record numbers in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls and said a high voter turnout strengthens democracy.
Asserting that their vote is their voice, Modi especially told the young voters and women voters to turn up at the polling booths in great numbers.
"Urging everyone in constituencies voting today, in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, to participate in record numbers.
"A high voter turnout strengthens our democracy. I especially urge our young voters and women voters to turn out in great numbers. Your vote is your voice!" the prime minister said on X.
Voting in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls is underway for 88 seats in 13 states.
The Election Commission has been making all-out efforts to boost the voting percentage after a lower turnout in the first phase on April 19 compared to 2019. -- PTI
Journalist Avani Dias
09:02 India can...: US on Australian scribe's visa row
The United States on Thursday said India can speak about its visa policy and, as such, refrained from commenting on the allegation of denial of visa renewal of an Australian journalist.
"Look, the government of India can speak to its own visa policy. That is not something I am going to opine on from here," US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at a news conference.
He was responding to a question on the controversy surrounding the visa of Australian journalist Avani Dias.
"Broadly, we have been clear with countries around the world about the integral role that a free press plays in the fabric of democracy. That is why we come up here and take questions regularly. But I will let the officials in India speak to the specific," Patel said. -- PTI
08:27 LS polls phase 2: Voting underway in 88 seats
Voting for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls will be held on Friday for 88 seats in 13 states with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking a second-straight term from Wayanad in Kerala.
All 20 seats of Kerala will go to polls besides 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, eight seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, six seats in Madhya Pradesh, five seats each in Assam and Bihar, three seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir.
Though voting was to be held for 89 seats in the second phase, polling for the Betul seat in Madhya Pradesh has been rescheduled to the third phase due to the death of a candidate from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
The Election Commission (EC) said more than 16 lakh polling officials have been deployed across 1.67 lakh polling stations for over 15.88 crore voters.
Voters include 8.08 crore male, 7.8 crore female and 5,929 third gender electors.
As many as 34.8 lakh first-time voters are registered to cast their votes.
Additionally, there are 3.28 crore young voters in the age group of 20-29 years, the poll authority said.
Keeping in mind the heatwave, the EC has extended polling time in several polling stations of four constituencies in Bihar.
The India Meteorological Department has also warned of heatwave to severe heatwave conditions in parts of West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh during the next five days.
00:09 Pragya Thakur finally appears before Mumbai court
Bharatiya Janata Party's Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur, who is an accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, on Thursday finally appeared before a special court in Mumbai to record her final statement in connection with the case.
On several occasions in the past, Thakur had failed to appear before the court on the grounds of medical illness.
This prompted the special court to issue a warning, saying if Thakur fails to appear before it on April 25, then she would face action.
On Thursday, Thakur appeared before the special court hearing cases probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), but claimed she was still unwell.
Thakur submitted to the court her statement in a question-answer format. She also filed an application seeking permission to put her thumb impression on the statement as she was unable to sign the paper due to sudden loss of strength in her palms.
The court permitted the same.
Thakur, along with six others, is facing trial in the case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Explosive Substances Act, Indian Arms Act, and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
The court is currently recording the statements of the accused under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
These are final statements of the accused before final arguments are made and the case is closed for judgment.Special court judge A K Lahoti posted the matter for further recording of the statement on Friday.
Six people were killed and over 100 injured when an explosive device strapped on a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a town about 200 km from Mumbai in Nashik district of north Maharashtra, on September 29, 2008.
The case was initially probed by Maharashtra's Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) before being transferred to National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Last month, after she failed to appear before it, the special court had issued a bailable warrant against Thakur.
She later personally appeared before the court, following which the warrant was cancelled.
The court in the past had warned Thakur of action when she failed to appear before it to record her statement. -- PTI
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