LIVE! Congress may release LS poll manifesto on April 5

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Fri, 29 March 2024

Congress may release LS poll manifesto on April 5

Timeline Refresh

22:34 No exit poll from 7 am of Apr 19 to 6.30 pm of June 1: EC

The Election Commission has issued a notification banning the conduct, publication or publicising of exit polls between 7.00 am of April 19 and 6.30 pm of June 1 when votes will be cast for the Lok Sabha and four state assembly polls.

The notification issued on Thursday also made it clear that under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, displaying any election matter including results of any opinion poll or any other poll survey, in any electronic media, would be prohibited during the 48-hour period ending with the time fixed for the conclusion of the poll.

Besides Lok Sabha polls, assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim are going for elections.

Separately, bye-election to 25 assembly constituencies in 12 states are also being held in this period. -- PTI

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22:30 Temperature may be above normal, heat wave conditions likely in April, May: IMD

The India meteorological department has predicted that temperatures may be above normal and heat wave conditions are expected in the months of April and May.

IMD senior scientist Dr Naresh Kumar said that there is a forecast of heavy rainfall on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

The IMD said that very light rainfall is expected in Delhi in a in a few days.

Responding to a question relating to summer this year, IMD scientist Naresh Kumar said that it will be too early to say anything now but he expected that the temperature will be above normal and heat wave conditions are expected in the months of April and May.

"We are expecting above-normal temperatures as we are approaching April. In April, we will experience heat wave conditions over the central part of the country," he said.

"May is the warmest month of the seasons and the country may experience heat waves over northwest and central India," he further said while adding that "as per our long-term predictions, there will be abnormal temperatures and heat wave conditions may prevail over the central part of the country for the next two-three months."

While forecasting the temperature for next few days, the IMD official said that there is an active Western disturbance that is likely to influence Northwest India from Friday.

"Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal may experience heavy rainfall today and adjoining planes will experience light to moderate rainfall, even thunderstorm activity, even hailstorm activity," he said. -- ANI

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21:51 Congress may release LS poll manifesto on April 5

The Congress is likely to release its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections on April 5 in the presence of top leaders, including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, sources said on Friday.

They also said that Kharge and the Gandhis are likely to address public rallies in Jaipur and Hyderabad on April 6 where they will also highlight the key elements of the Congress manifesto.

According to the sources, the party leadership would launch the poll manifesto on April 5 at the All India Congress Committee headquarters.

The Congress' manifesto will lay emphasis on 'Paanch Nyay' or five pillars of justice, including 'Yuva Nyay', 'Naari Nyay', 'Kisaan Nyay', 'Shramik Nyay' and 'Hissedari Nyay' as well as the guarantees made by it to the people as part of its poll promises for 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The Congress will launch its 'Ghar Ghar Guarantee' campaign on April 3 under which party leaders will reach out to more than eight crore households across the country.

The campaign will focus more on social media and television and less on print and outdoor campaigning, the sources said.

The party has already launched its new slogan #HaathBadlegaHalaat -- referring to the Congress' poll symbol of hand -- on social media platforms, they added. -- PTI

BJP state chief and party's Wayanad LS candidate K Surendran

21:47 BJP candidate in Wayanad LS seat has 242 cases against him

BJP state chief K Surendran, who is also the NDA candidate pitted against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, has 242 criminal cases against him.

As part of the statutory requirements, Surendran had recently published the details of his cases in the party mouthpiece which ran for three full pages.

Similarly, the saffron party's Ernakulam constituency candidate K S Radhakrishnan has around 211 cases against him.

"Most of the cases are related to Sabarimala protests which were held in 2018. Most of the cases are in court. When party leaders call for a strike or a protest, the police register a case in connection with that," George Kurian, the state general secretary of the BJP told PTI.

He said it's mandatory to publish the details of the cases against the candidates.

Meanwhile, BJP national general secretary B L Santhosh on Friday tweeted details of the cases against Surendran, Radhakrishnan, the party's Alappuzha candidate Shobha Surendran and Vatakara candidate Praful Krishna and said it was "hard to be a nationalist in some parts of Bharath."

"It's hard to be a nationalist in some parts of Bharath. It's everyday struggle. But it's worth the struggle. Form C7 of Sri @surendranbjp, WAYANAD candidate. One personHundreds of cases," Santhosh posted on X.

Giving a breakdown of the number of cases against the BJP state chief, Kurian said 237 cases were related to Sabarimala protests while five were registered in connection with various agitations in Kerala. -- PTI

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21:29 Modi interacts with BJP workers in TN, discusses devising winning strategy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday interacted with BJP workers through the NaMo app and discussed fieldwork at the booth level for the Lok Sabha polls with them, encouraging them to devise a strategy for the party to win the elections.

Discussing ways to win the election at the Enathu Booth Valimaiyana Booth (My booth is the strongest) programme, he encouraged the party workers to strive towards ensuring victory for the BJP and NDA candidates.

"I understand you are facing a paucity of time owing to the general election scheduled for April 19 in Tamil Nadu. You hardly have 15-16 days left (since election campaigning ends 48 hours before polling day). Organise yourselves well, connect with the voters, highlight our achievements and hold tiffin or lunch meetings amongst you to discuss the next step," the prime minister said.

Referring to the government's focus on women-led development, Modi sought to know from a party worker the schemes that have been the most liked and talked about by women.

The PM expressed happiness that the party worker has been working at the grassroots level.

A woman participant from Tiruvarur spoke specifically about schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and Jal Jeevan Mission.

She said these schemes have helped her and other farm workers like her to carry on their work with ease. -- PTI

Pockets in south Mumbai plunged into darkness for a second consecutive day on late Friday evening following a snag, electricity officials said.

The snag was caused at a 33 kilovolt feeder of city power discom Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking near Crawford Market, they said.

Localities around the Mahapalika Marg, GT Hospital, Crawford Market and Marine Lines witnessed power failure at around 6.45 pm.

"The same location/area as yesterday (Thursday) experienced supply disruptions as a result of BEST's 33kv cable fault. The restoration work is being carried out by the BEST South team," a statement from Tata Power said.

A BEST spokesperson said efforts were on to restore the power supply.

On Thursday night, pockets in south Mumbai had faced electricity outage for more than 20 minutes following a snag.

BEST, a civic-run undertaking, had said a 33 kv feeder from Tata Power's Carnac Bunder facility, which comes to the G T Hospital receiving station operated by it, had tripped, resulting in the outage the previous day. -- PTI

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on April 1 the bail plea of former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last year in connection with a money laundering case.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan is scheduled to hear Balaji's plea challenging the February 28 order of the Madras High Court dismissing his second bail petition in the case.

The high court, while dismissing the bail petition, said that if he is let out on bail in a case of this nature, it will send a wrong signal and it will be against larger public interest.

It said the petitioner has suffered incarceration for more than eight months and therefore, it will be more appropriate to direct the special court to dispose of the case within a time frame.

"Accordingly, there shall be a direction to the principal special court, Chennai, to dispose of the case within a period of three months from the date of receipt of copy of this order," it had ordered.

The high court ordered that the trial shall be conducted on a day-to-day basis in accordance with the guidelines given by the top court. -- PTI

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20:42 Fresh I-T notices to Cong: Party to hold nationwide protests over weekend

The Congress will hold nationwide protests over the weekend against fresh income tax demand of over Rs 1,800 crore, which it has described as an "egregious attack" on democracy and imposition of "tax terrorism" amid the crucial Lok Sabha elections.

The Opposition party said it has received fresh notices from the income-tax department, asking it to pay Rs 1,823.08 crore, Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal has asked all Pradesh Congress Committees to hold massive public demonstrations at the state and district headquarters in their respective states on Saturday and the following day, involving senior leaders and party functionaries.

In his letter to all PCC presidents, Congress legislature party leaders, AICC general secretaries, in-charges and heads of frontal organisations, Venugopal said, "As you are well aware, the systematic process to thwart Indian democracy by the BJP proceeds at an alarming rate."

"An illegal attempt to freeze the bank accounts of the principal national opposition party the Indian National Congress last month in February has gone on for over a month on the eve of the national general election. Yesterday, we received fresh notices from the IT department to pay Rs 1823.08 crores. Already the IT department has forcibly taken away Rs 135 crores from our bank account," the Congress leader said. -- PTI

Congress MLA Kamlesh Shah joins BJP in presence of party leaders in Bhopal/ANI on X

20:07 Cong MLA from Kamal Nath's home turf joins BJP

In a setback to the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, its three-term MLA from Amarwara in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district, Kamlesh Shah, on Friday joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Bhopal.

Chhindwara, which goes to polls in the first phase on April 19, is the home district of Congress stalwart and former chief minister Kamal Nath.

Shah was welcomed into the BJP by the party's national joint general secretary Shiv Prakash, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and state party president Vishnu Dutt Sharma.

The three-term Congress MLA joined the BJP along with his wife, Harrai Nagar Palika chairperson Madhvi Shah, and sister, district panchayat member Kesar Netam.

Shah and his family members joined the saffron outfit as they were impressed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's developmental works, a BJP leader said. -- PTI

The Election Commission has ordered the transfer of IPS officer Rajesh Duggal, who is the husband of Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Sirsa Sunita Duggal, and directed that no election-related work be assigned to him till Lok Sabha polls conclude in the state.

Acting on the EC's directive, the Haryana government on Thursday issued the transfer order.

Rajesh Duggal, who was holding the charge as joint commissioner of police, Gurugram, has now been posted as deputy inspector general of police at the police headquarters in Panchkula with immediate effect.

"Further, as directed by the Election Commission of India, he shall not be assigned any election-related work till the completion of the current Lok Sabha election in the state," reads the order issued by Haryana's additional chief secretary (home department) TVSN Prasad.

Polling for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will be held in the sixth phase of elections on May 25. -- PTI

India's foreign exchange reserves rose for the fifth straight week to hit a fresh all-time high of $642.631 billion in the week ending on March 22, as per the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India.

Prior to the week that ended on March 22, the foreign exchange kitty rose by $6.396 billion.

Coming back to the latest week, India's foreign currency assets, the biggest component of the forex reserves, though, declined by $123 million to $568.264 billion, the central bank's weekly statistical data showed.

Gold reserves during the week rose from $347 million to $51.487 billion.

In the calendar year 2023, the RBI added about $58 billion to its foreign exchange kitty.

In 2022, India's forex kitty slumped by $71 billion cumulatively. -- ANI

After the completion of postmortem, gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari's body on Friday left for his native place in Ghazipur amidst heavy security from Banda, police officials said.

The ambulance carrying the body was accompanied by police vehicles to ensure security along the 400-kilometre-long route via several districts of Uttar Pradesh.

After the postmortem at the Rani Durgavati Medical College, Banda, a convoy of 26 vehicles carrying Mukhtar Ansari's body left for Ghazipur at 5.45 pm.

As many as 24 police vehicles along with the ambulance are in the convoy along with two vehicles of Ansari's family, the police said.

As per police officials, Mukhtar Ansari's son Umar Ansari and Abbas Ansari's wife and their two cousins were present inside the ambulance carrying the body.

The state government had in advance chalked out the route for taking the body following the gangster's death due to cardiac arrest on Thursday.

On the way to Ghazipur, the convoy will pass through districts including Prayagraj, Bhadohi, Kaushambi and Varanasi before reaching Ghazipur.

As per the family members of Mukhtar Ansari, the cremation will take place in Ghazipur. -- PTI

The National Investigation Agency on Friday announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh each for sharing information leading to the arrest of two key accused in Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe blast case.

The agency requested the general public for information on Mussavir Hussain Shazib alias Shazeb and Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taahaa alias Abdul Matheen Taha wanted in the case, according to a post on X.

In a major breakthrough, the NIA had on Wednesday arrested Muzammil Shareef, a key conspirator in the blast case.

NIA investigations have revealed that Muzammil Shareef had extended logistic support to the two wanted accused in the case, involving an IED explosion at the cafe located at ITPL Road, Brookefield, Bengaluru, on March 1.

Several people were injured in the blast. -- PTI

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18:49 K'taka: Rs 20.85 cr cash, alcohol worth Rs 27 cr seized in run-up to LS polls

The Election Commission on Friday said Rs 20.85 crore cash and alcohol worth over Rs 27 crore has been seized since the model code of conduct came into effect on March 16.

The Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka will be held in two phases on April 26 and May seven for 28 constituencies.

The value of seizures till date stood at Rs 62.42 crore, it said.

According to a statement issued by the office of Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer, since the Model Code of Conduct came into force, flying squads, static surveillance teams and police authorities have seized Rs 20.85 crore cash, Rs 70.86 lakh freebies, 8.63 lakh litres of liquor worth over Rs 27 crore, 211.23 kg narcotic substances worth over Rs 1.47 crore, more than 15 kg gold worth over Rs 9 crore, 59.04 kg silver worth over Rs 27 lakh and 21.17 carat diamonds worth Rs 9 lakh among others.

They have also registered 969 FIRs with regard to seizure of cash, liquor, drugs, precious metal and freebies. -- PTI

BJP candidate Arjun Singh seeks blessings of TMC veteran Mukul Roy/Courtesy Arjun Singh on X

18:44 BJP candidate seeks ailing TMC veteran's blessings

Arjun Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for Barrackpore Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal, on Friday visited Trinamool Congress veteran Mukul Roy and sought his blessings for the polls.

Roy, who is suffering from dementia and Parkinson's disease, has been inactive in politics and does not hold any portfolio or play any active role in the party at present.

Singh, who recently quit the TMC and returned to the BJP, which he had joined before the 2019 polls after leaving the ruling party in the state, said he respects Roy and hence, sought his blessings for the elections.

Roy, who had also joined the BJP before returning to the TMC, had worked together with Singh as political workers.

Singh said Roy recognised him and wished him luck, while he wished a long life for the TMC veteran.

"I sought his blessings for the polls," Singh said.

Roy had served as the railway minister and Minister of State in the Shipping Ministry in the second UPA government, of which the Trinamool Congress was a part. -- PTI

The Central Bureau of Investigation has concluded its investigation in the Himachal Pradesh multi-crore scholarship scam with the filing of charge sheets against 20 institutions and 105 persons, officials said on Friday.

The charge sheets have been filed against the owners of educational institutes, the staff of directorate of higher education, Shimla; bank officials and other private persons involved in the misuse of funds under scholarship and reimbursement scheme of fees launched by the Union government and implemented through the state government to help the students of SC, ST and OBC categories, a statement issued by the CBI said.

The scholarship scam started in 2012-13, when the scholarships for Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribe and Other Backward Class students of the state for pre-matric and post-matric students under 36 schemes were not paid to the eligible students.

Eighty per cent of the scholarship money was paid to the private institutions.

The scam was unearthed following reports that the students of the government schools in the tribal Spiti valley in Himachal's Lahaul and Spiti district had not been paid a scholarship for the past five years. -- PTI

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and his wife Gurpreet Kaur blessed with a baby girl/ANI Photo

17:47 Punjab CM brings newborn daughter home, names her Niyamat Kaur Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday brought his newborn baby daughter home and named her Niyamat Kaur Mann.

Accompanied by his wife Dr Gurpreet Kaur, who was discharged from a private hospital in Mohali after giving birth to their daughter on Thursday, Mann held the baby girl in his arms as he interacted with the media outside his residence.

"Today, it is a big day for my family and my wife. Our relatives have reached home and all are very happy. I thank Almighty for giving us a healthy baby," Mann said.

"Whether it is a boy or a girl, the first thing is that the child should be healthy. Secondly, the child should be given a good education and allowed to chase their dreams. Our daughters are no less and they are excelling in every field and I am happy that I have become father to a girl," he said.

Replying to a question, Mann said he visited Fortis hospital in Mohali on Wednesday evening when his wife got admitted there for the child's delivery.

He said during her visits to the hospital for check ups earlier he intentionally avoided not to accompany her as his visits involve security protocols and he did not want any inconvenience should be caused to patients. -- PTI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal/File Image/ANI Photo

17:12 Rahul, Kharge, Pawar among INDIA leaders to join AAP rally

Top INDIA bloc leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thakrey, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav among others will attend a 'Maharally' to be held by AAP at the Ramleela ground on March 31, senior party leader Gopal Rai said on Friday.

AAP has received permission of the authorities concerned for holding the rally, being held in the backdrop of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, at the Ramleela ground on Sunday for an attendance of more than 20,000 people, he said.

The call on whether Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal will address the 'Maharally' will be taken later, he said.

Other prominent political leaders and members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance INDIA like Derek O'Brian, Trichi Siva, Farooq Abdullah and Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren will also attend the rally, he said.

Kalpana Soren, the wife of former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, who is currently in jail, will also attend the rally, he said. -- PTI

The National Investigation Agency on Friday charge-sheeted a man for his role in radicalising "vulnerable youths" using Maoist ideology, an official statement said.

The probe agency had in May 2021 filed its original charge-sheet in the Munchingput conspiracy case of Andhra Pradesh.

Ramakkagiri Chandra is the eighth accused to be charge-sheeted in the case related to the radicalisation of "vulnerable youths towards the Maoist ideology and extension of support to the banned CPI-Maoist", it added.

He has been charged under the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act by the agency in its first supplementary charge-sheet filed before the special NIA court in Visakhapatnam, it said.

Chandra was a state committee member of the Pragathisheela Karmika Samakhya, a frontal outfit of the proscribed CPI-Maoist, the NIA said in the statement.

The NIA's investigation has revealed that Chandra had conspired with underground leaders of the CPI-Maoist to further the activities of the organisation. -- PTI

TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu/ANI Photo

16:13 TDP announces final list of candidates for LS polls in Andhra

The Telugu Desam Party on Friday announced its final list of candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls in Andhra Pradesh, which included a YSR Congress MP, who joined the party recently.

TDP fielded M Srinivasulu Reddy from Ongole, who recently quit the ruling YSRCP.

He was elected to the Lok Sabha from the same constituency on a YSRCP ticket in 2019.

The Opposition party also announced the candidature of K Appalanaidu from Vizianagaram, A Lakshminarayana from Anantapur and C Bhupesh Reddy from Kadapa.

TDP had finalised the candidates list after taking public opinion.

With the announcement of four names, TDP completed the process of choosing candidates for 17 Lok Sabha seats, it has been allotted as part of the NDA in the state. -- PTI

The Communist Party of India has received a notice from the income-tax department, asking it to pay "dues" of Rs 11 crore for using an old PAN card while filing tax returns during the last few years, sources said on Friday.

They said the Left party is consulting its lawyers to challenge the notice of the tax authorities.

The sources said the "dues" to be paid to the I-T department include penalties and interest due to authorities for "discrepancies" in the use of an old PAN card by the party.

"We are seeking legal assistance and consulting our lawyers," a senior CPI leader told PTI.

Earlier, the Congress said it has received I-T notices, asking the party to pay dues of more than Rs 1,823 crore for discrepancies in tax returns filed for previous years. -- PTI

Actor Kangana Ranaut began her Lok Sabha election campaign in Mandi constituency on Friday with a roadshow, hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi with "Jai Shri Ram" and asserting that the BJP's main agenda is development.

A large number of people turned up to see the Bollywood actor, a four-time National Award winner who was born in Mandi's Bhambla town.

Amidst the chants of "Jai Shri Ram", the BJP workers welcomed Ranaut by showering flowers on her and dancing to the beat of drums. Ranaut started the roadshow in her home town with "Modi Ji ko Jai Shri Ram".

She hailed other BJP leaders with similar slogans.

"Development is BJP's main agenda and we will spare no effort to win the elections under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi," she said, adding that the "people of Mandi will tell what is in their hearts".

This was Ranaut's first public appearance in her constituency after getting the BJP ticket on March 24.

In October 2022, Ranaut had said she was open to contesting from Mandi if the BJP offered her a ticket.

Crediting PM Modi with a "change in the country" since 2014, Ranaut had said a feeling of pride and nationalism prevails among every Indian.

At present, the Mandi Lok Sabha seat is being represented by Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Pratibha Singh, wife of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh and mother of public works minister Vikramaditya Singh.

She won the 2021 Lok Sabha bypolls. Earlier on Wednesday, Singh had announced that she would not contest the Lok Sabha elections as the situation was "not favourable" and that workers were disheartened. -- PTI

A chief judicial magistrate's court in Uttar Pradesh's Banda on Friday ordered a judicial inquiry into the death of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari, a senior official said.

Banda chief judicial magistrate Bhagwan Das Gupta appointed Garima Singh, additional chief judicial magistrate (MP-MLA Court Banda) as the investigating officer in the case, the official said.

The CJM has sought the probe report within a month.

The 63-year-old Ansari was brought to the Rani Durgavati Medical College in Banda from the district jail in "an unconscious state" on Thursday evening and died at the hospital following a cardiac arrest.

Afzal Ansari, who is also the Ghazipur MP, on Tuesday alleged that his brother was given slow poison in jail.

"Mukhtar said that he was given a poisonous substance in food in jail. This happened for the second time. Around 40 days ago also he was given poison. And recently, he was again given this (poison) due to which his condition is bad," Afzal Ansari had said. -- PTI

The Enforcement Directorate has issued fresh summons to Shiv Sena- Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Lok Sabha candidate Amol Kirtikar for questioning in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in distribution of 'khichdi' to migrants during the COVID-19 period, official sources said Friday.

Kirtikar has been asked to depose before the federal agency here on April 8.

He was first asked to appear on March 27, the day his party announced his name for contesting the polls from the Mumbai North-West seat.

His legal team had sought deferment of the summons the last time citing his official engagements.

Amol Kirtikar's father and senior politician Gajanan Kirtikar is now with the Eknath Shinde (Maharashtra chief minister) faction of the Shiv Sena and also the incumbent MP from the said seat.

The agency, according to sources, wants to question Amol Kirtikar with regard to certain financial transactions that took place in the alleged 'khichdi' scam. -- PTI

A special Central Bureau of Investigation court in Lucknow on Friday convicted seven people in the killing of former BSP MLA Raju Pal in 2005, a case in which murdered gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad was also an accused, officials said.

The proceedings against Atiq Ahmad, his brother and prime accused Khalid Azim alias Ashraf, and Gulbul alias Rafiq were abated after their death, they said.

Raju Pal, a Bahujan Samaj Party leader from Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, was gunned down on January 25, 2005, as a result of political rivalry with Atiq Ahmad's brother Ashraf, whom he had defeated in the 2004 bypoll to the Prayagraj West seat.

The BSP leader had lost the election to the seat to Atiq Ahmad in 2002 but when the latter vacated it after being elected to the Lok Sabha, Pal defeated Ashraf in the bypoll.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had taken over the probe into the case in 2016.

The special judge CBI, Lucknow, held Ranjeet Pal, Abid, Farhan Ahmad, Israr Ahmad, Javed, Gulhasan, and Abdul Kavi guilty in the case for criminal conspiracy and murder among other serious charges. -- PTI

The Election Commission on Friday said its C-Vigil mobile application has become an effective tool in the hands of people for flagging poll code violations and since the announcement of the Lok Sabha election, more than 79,000 complaints have been received.

More than 99 percent of the complaints have been resolved and close to 89 percent of those were resolved within 100 minutes, the poll panel said.

More than 58,500 complaints (73 percent of the total number of complaints) received were against illegal hoardings and banners, the EC said, adding that over 1,400 complaints received pertained to money, gifts and liquor distribution.

Close to 3 per cent of the complaints (2,454) were related to defacement of property.

Of the 535 complaints received for display of firearms and intimidation, 529 have been resolved, the poll panel said.

A total of 1,000 complaints were for campaigning beyond the prohibited period, including those related to the use of speakers beyond the permitted time.

The EC pointed out that at the press conference to announce the Lok Sabha poll schedule, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had urged citizens to be vigilant and use the app to report Model Code of Conduct violations and distribution of any kind of inducements among voters. -- PTI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba in New Delhi on Friday as part of a bilateral engagement. Kuleba, who arrived here on Thursday, is on a two-day visit to India.

"Welcome FM @DmytroKuleba of Ukraine to Hyderabad House. Look forward to our discussions today," Jaishankar posted on X ahead of their talks.

The external affairs minister also shared a photograph of him shaking hands with his Ukranian counterpart at the Hyderabad House. Kuleba's visit comes amid efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to the over two-year-old Russia-Ukraine conflict.

On Thursday, Kuleba had posted on X, "I began my visit to New Delhi upon @DrSJaishankar's invitation. The Ukrainian-Indian cooperation is important and we will be reinvigorating ties. Building on the dialogue between @ZelenskyyUa and @NarendraModi, we will pay specific attention to the Peace Formula."

During his weekly press briefing, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in response to a query on Kuleba's visit, on Thursday said there will be a "bilateral engagement with the external affairs minister in which they will go over a gamut of issues that lie in the domain of bilateral relations".

They will also "review the Inter-governmental Commission that was held earlier," he had said. -- PTI

The Mahagathbandhan, the opposition coalition in Bihar, on Friday announced that the Rashtriya Janata Dal, its largest constituent, will contest 26, out of the state's 40 Lok Sabha seats.

The Congress will contest nine seats, followed by CPI-ML 3 and CPI and CPI-M one each.

As per the announcement, the Congress has been made to give up the Purnea Lok Sabha seat, which recent entrant Pappu Yadav, husband of Rajya Sabha MP Ranjeet Ranjan, was hoping to contest, claiming that he had received assurance of Congress ticket from Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.

The seat will be contested by RJD, which recently gave the party ticket to JD-U turncoat Bima Bharti, but stopped short announcing it formally.

The Mahagathbandhan's seat-sharing announcement comes a day after the filing of nomination papers for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls was over.

The RJD has fielded its candidates in all four seats going to polls in the first phase, in what has been resented by allies as a "unilateral move". -- PTI

The toll charges on Mumbai's iconic Rajiv Gandhi Bandra Worli Sea Link will increase by about 18 percent from April 1, officials from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation said on Friday.

An MSRDC spokesperson told PTI that the new toll rates for one-way journeys for cars and jeeps will be Rs 100 from the beginning of next month, while minibuses, tempos and other similar vehicles will have to pay Rs 160 for it.

Two-axle trucks will be charged Rs 210 for a one-way trip on the cable-stayed bridge on the Arabian Sea.

Motorists using the eight-lane overpass now pay Rs 85 for cars and jeeps, Rs 130 for minibuses, tempos and light commercial vehicles, and Rs 175 for two-axle trucks and buses.

These rates have been in force since April 1, 2021.

The new toll rates on the sea link, which opened for traffic in 2009, will be applicable between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2027, he said.

Every day, scores of motorists use the sea link, connecting Worli in the Island City and Bandra in the Western suburbs of Mumbai for south-and-north-bound travel, avoiding traffic snarls in Mahim, Dadar, Prabhadevi and Worli areas.

As per the MSRDC official, motorists will get a rebate of 10 percent and 20 percent on the purchase of booklets containing 50 and 100 toll coupons in advance, respectively. -- PTI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita launched a WhatsApp campaign on Friday, urging people to support her husband, who is in the ED's custody in an excise policy-linked money-laundering case.

In a digital media briefing, Sunita Kejriwal said her husband has challenged the "most corrupt and dictatorial forces" in the country and asked people to support him through their blessings and prayers.

Issuing a WhatsApp number -- 8297324624 -- she said people can send their blessings, prayers or any other messages for the Aam Aadmi Party national convenor and she will communicate those to him. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in the money-laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy for Delhi.

A court on Thursday extended his ED custody till April 1. -- PTI

Shareholders of edutech major Think and Learn, owner of Byju's brand, raised no objection to the resolution to increase authorised share capital of the company in the extra-ordinary general meeting held on Friday, company sources said.

According to the sources, none of the miffed investors, who proposed to oust Byju's founder and family from the management seat, took part in the meeting.

"Meeting started at 10 am with approximately 20 investors representatives in attendance along with Think & Learn management. The requisite quorum required for EGM was there. Few questions regarding the postal ballot were asked and answered by the chairman and CS. Resolutions were called out. No objections raised," sources said.

Byju's held the EGM (extra-ordinary general meeting) to increase authorised share capital of the company to complete the process for raising USD 200 million through rights issue.

A group of four investors -- Prosus, General Atlantic, Sofina, and Peak XV -- along with support from other shareholders, including Tiger and Owl Ventures, have approached the National Company Law Tribunal against Byju's EGM.

The six investors jointly hold 32 per cent stake in the company. "Meeting ended at 10:30 AM. Further details on the voting and culmination of Rights Issue will be shared later post scrutinizer's report. Contrary to media reports, none of the miffed investors attended the EGM personally to raise any of their concerns," a Byju's source said.

12:53 Cong receives fresh IT notice for Rs 1,700 cr

The Income Tax department has served a fresh notice of Rs 1,700 crore to the Congress for discrepancies in tax returns for previous years, dealing another blow to the cash-strapped party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, sources said on Friday.

The tax penalties along with interest relate to discrepancies in tax returns for years 2017-18 to 2020-21, the sources said.

The fresh notice was received earlier this week.

The Congress is already facing a funds crunch after Income Tax authorities imposed a penalty of Rs 210 crore and froze its funds.

The party has not received any relief from the high court in the case and is likely to move the Supreme Court.

The party has accused the BJP of squeezing it financially and of using tax authorities against it ahead of Lok Sabha elections beginning April 19 -- PTI

The Punjab police on Friday arrested three key operatives of a gang who were wanted in a number of criminal cases and seized a pistol, cartridges and a vehicle from them.

"In a major breakthrough, SSOC (State Special Operation Cell) #Mohali has effectively dismantled the criminal network led by USA-based Pavittar Chaura and Husandeep Singh of Chaura Madhre gang, by arresting their three key operatives: Lovejit Khakh, Gursewak Bamb and Bahadur Khan -- along with seizure of one pistol, 15 cartridges and a Toyota Fortuner vehicle," Punjab's director general of police Gaurav Yadav posted on X.

He said all three arrested accused were wanted in a number of criminal cases, including murder, attempt to murder, dacoity, under Arms Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

They were living in Mohali by concealing their identities, the DGP said. -- PTI

Actor Suriya is teaming up with filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj for his next feature film.

The National Award-winning actor shared the news of the untitled movie on his official social media handles on Thursday evening.

"New beginnings..! Need all your good wishes! #LoveLaughterWar @karthiksubburaj," Suriya posted along with an announcement poster of the movie, which is the 44th project of his career.

Subbaraj, known for hits such as Jigarthanda, Petta and Jagame Thandhiram, also announced the movie on his official X page.

"My Next Film is with the Ever-Awesome. @Suriya_offl sir. So pumped up for this #Suriya44," the filmmaker posted.

The new film's announcement comes more than a week after the actor revealed that his next movie with Soorarai Pottru director Sudha Kongara has been delayed.

Suriya was also supposed to team up with director Vetrimaaran for Vaadi Vasal but that film has been put on hold as well.

His latest is fantasy-action film Kanguva from filmmaker Siva.

The movie, which will also star Bobby Deol and Disha Patani, will be released later this year. -- PTI

Sibgatullah Ansari, Mukhtar Ansari's elder brother, claimed on Friday that the latter has been 'unwell' for nearly two weeks, alleging that he was not being 'given any treatment despite raising an alarm again and again'.

He also claimed that the administration did not inform him and he learned about his brother's death through the media.

Speaking to ANI, Sibgatullah said, "I saw it in the media and came to know about it. The administration didn't inform me."

"He had been very unwell since March 18 and he was not being given any treatment despite raising an alarm again and again. On March 25-26, his health was in a very bad condition, so he was brought to medical college for a few hours as a formality. He was sent back and it was said that he was stable. He was not given any treatment."

On the apprehensions of the family, he said, "It was expressed months ago and was also given in writing to the high court as well as the Supreme Court but no cognisance was taken."

Mukhtar's son Umar Ansari had earlier claimed that his father was 'given poison in the food' and said they would move to the judiciary. -- ANI

IMAGE: Preparations underway for the funeral of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari at Kali Bagh Graveyard in Ghazipur, UP. Photograph: ANI

Ten people were killed after an SUV skidded off the Jammu-Srinagar national highway and fell into a gorge in Ramban district on Friday, officials said.

The vehicle was on its way to Jammu from Srinagar and it fell into a 300-feet gorge at the Battery Cheshma area of the district around 1.15 am, they said.

Ten people have died, the officials said.

Police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel are at the spot. The bodies of 10 passengers have been recovered amid heavy rains, the officials said.

They said that the car's driver, Balwan Singh (47) of Amb Ghrotha in Jammu, and Vipin Mukhiya Bhairagang of West Champaran in Bihar are among the deceased.

Rescue operation is underway, the officials said. -- PTI

Bahujan Samaj Party Chief Mayawati said on Friday that the serious allegations by Mukhtar Ansari's family regarding his death in jail require a 'high-level investigation' so that the facts related to his death 'can be revealed'.

In a post on X, the BSP chief said, 'The persistent apprehensions and serious allegations made by Mukhtar Ansari's family regarding his death in jail require a high-level investigation so that the true facts of his death can be revealed. In such a situation, it is natural for his family to be sad. May nature give them the strength to bear this sorrow.'

After the death of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari due to cardiac arrest, Umar Ansari, son of Mukhtar Ansari, claimed that his father was given poison in the food and said they would move to the judiciary. -- ANI

08:49 He was being given slow poison: Mukhtar's son

After the death of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari due to cardiac arrest, his son Umar Ansari claimed that his father was given poison in the food and said they would move to the judiciary.

"We have full faith in it," he added.

"I was not told anything from the administration side, I came to know about it through the media... But now the whole nation knows everything... Two days ago I came to meet him, but I was not allowed... We said earlier also and even today we will say the same about the allegation of giving slow poison. On March 19, he was poisoned in the dinner. We will move to the judiciary, we have full faith in it...," Umar said.

"Post-mortem will be conducted tomorrow, after that, they will give us the body. We will then follow with the further process (cremation)... My father alleged being given a slow poison... Around five doctors panel has been made (for carrying out the post-mortem)," Umar said.

Meanwhile, the Ansari's body has been sent for post-mortem at Banda Medical College Hospital, Banda.

After the death of the five time MLA, several political leaders extended their condolences.

On Thursday, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi expressed his grief in support of the family of Mukhtar Ansari.

'I pray to Allah to forgive Mukhtar Ansari and give patience to his family and his loved ones. The people of Ghazipur lost their favourite son and brother. Mukhtar Saheb had made serious allegations against the administration that he had been poisoned. Despite this, the government did not pay any attention to his treatment. Condemnable and regrettable,' Owaisi posted on X.

Samajwadi Party leader Ameeque Jamei demanded a thorough investigation of Mukhtar Ansari's death.

"We stand with the family of Mukhtar Ansari... Recently he said that he can be murdered anytime... Why he was not given a proper medical facility...We will demand a thorough investigation of the incident..."

Congress leader Surendra Rajput also questioned the death of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari due to cardiac arrest.

"Today Mukhtar Ansari's death in the jail raises a big question BJP-led UP Government...This should be investigated thoroughly so that everyone gets to know what is going on..." Rajput said. -- ANI

IMAGE: Mukhtar Ansari's body being taken for post-mortem at Banda Medical College Hospital.

00:06 Cong moves EC against 'misleading' BJP ads

The Congress has complained to the Election Commission against the Bharatiya Janata Party's 'misleading' advertisements and posters promoting various government schemes and sought their removal.

The opposition party also sought action against the alleged violation of poll code by senior BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying no action was taken by the EC on issues raised by them earlier.

A delegation of Congress leaders, including Mukul Wasnik, Salman Khurshid, Supriya Shrinate and Gurdeep Sappal, had met the EC and raised nine issues before the poll panel.

Khurshid had said the party complained to the EC on the manner in which campaigning is being done by the BJP during the Lok Sabha polls.

"People are pained at the manner in which the BJP is issuing advertisements and posters. We have objected to the manner in which the government schemes are being promoted with the prime minister's photograph and such a campaign during polls cannot take place. The EC has already taken note of such things and has assured us to take up our complaints," Khurshid said.

He hoped that the EC will come forward and use its powers to act against the complaints to ensure a level playing field during the polls.

Shrinate had said, "We have raised nine such issues before the EC and we hope that it will take action on such fake news and misleading advertisements to ensure a level playing field."

Shrinate also alleged that the BJP is running a campaign on 2G issue and is trying to create an illusion.

"The courts have also said that there is no culpability on the 2G issue, and running such a video after 10 years is objectionable. We have raised our complaint against the content and have urged the Election Commission to remove such a campaign.

"Secondly, the campaign that Modi ji has got the (Russia-Ukraine) war stopped. We have urged the EC to stop such kind of videos to misguide people. We have also raised misleading video using the army, which is banned as the model code is in force," she said.

Shrinate claimed that a letter seeking support for a 'Viksit Bharat' written by the prime minister is being circulated on social media and WhatsApp by the BJP and they had complained against it.

The EC has said that some issues have already been dealt with, she said.

She also alleged that the BJP is using religious issues and other leaders like the prime minister and union minister Shobha Karandlaje. -- PTI

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