21:10 (IST)
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP expels 7 Assam leaders for contesting as independent candidates
The BJP in Assam on Sunday said that it has expelled seven leaders from the primary membership of the party for six years for contesting as independent candidates in the assembly election after being denied tickets, reports PTI.
"The state party president Ranjeet Kumar Dass has expelled the seven persons for six years with immediate effect for contesting as independents against the party's nominated candidates," Assam BJP general secretary Rajdeep Roy said in a statement.
20:54 (IST)
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Congress seeks action against BJP's advertisement
Congress on Sunday submitted a memorandum to Election Commission here seeking action against BJP and six newspapers of Assam for publishing an advertisement in a news report format claiming that the saffron party is winning all the constituencies in the Upper Assam.
The memoramdum was given by the Assam unit of Congress to Chief Electoral Officer Nitin Khade.
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee alleged that the "advertisement with the BJP symbol" has been published in the six newspapers in a news report format to influence voters in the remaining two phases of voting.
"The publication of the advertisement in the news report format is violation of the Election Commission guidelines.
"The advertisement was published in newspapers with headlines like 'BJP to win all constituencies of Upper Assam', 'BJP's well wishers and workers are delighted', 'BJP ensures victory in all constituencies of Upper Assam' to influence voters and deceive them in the remaining two phases of polls," APCC legal group chairman Niran Borah told reporters.
-PTI
20:36 (IST)
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Congress urges EC to register FIRs against Nadda, Sonowal for ads predicting outcome of polls
With the BJP advertising claims of winning all seats in upper Assam, the Congress on Sunday said it is in violation of the Representation of the People Act and urged the Election Commission to register FIRs against BJP chief J P Nadda and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
In a complaint to the Election Commission (EC), Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik sought directions and action against top BJP leaders for giving advertisements in newspapers claiming victory in all upper Assam seats.
They said such advertisements are in clear violation of the directions given by the EC that no one can make predictions of the results during the prohibited period.
"We pray to the EC to take all such actions as may be necessary and required in law, including direction for registration of offences against Sarbananda Sonowal, J P Nadda and Ranjit Kumar Dass for the blatant violation of Model Code of Conduct and the RP Act, 1951," the Congress stated.
20:21 (IST)
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
'BJP can only offer communalism', claims Shashi Tharoor
The BJP can "only offer communalism, tired scare-mongering over love Jihad and a hate-filled politics of division that will never go far in pluralist Kerala", senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said on Sunday and asserted that the BJP's high-profile recruit 88-year-old E Sreedharan cannot be the answer to the state's political future.
He also dismissed suggestions that not having a chief ministerial face could dent the Congress-led United Democratic Front's (UDF) chances in the Kerala Assembly polls and said the party is "richly endowed" with experienced and capable leaders, any of whom could assume the mantle of chief ministership.
In an interview with PTI, Tharoor said the trend in Kerala is clearly in favour of the UDF and he expects a "strong victory" when the results are announced on 2 May.
20:12 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
'Chase away outsiders', Mamata Banerjee says in poll rally
"They (BJP) have a lot of money so they are trying to purchase people. Modi is taking land. He will snatch away everything as Adani is his friend. Chase away outsiders and BJP like you chased away CPM," West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was quoted as saying in a poll rally on Sunday.
19:59 (IST)
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
DMK MP A Raja booked for 'vulgar comments' against Tamil Nadu CM
DMK MP A Raja has been booked by the city police over a complaint from the ruling AIADMK for allegedly making vulgar personal remarks against Chief Minister K Palaniswami, a senior official said on Sunday. The case was filed based on a complaint to the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) which was forwarded to the Greater Chennai Police, Commissioner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal told reporters.
"On the basis, the case was filed under Indian Penal Code and Representation of People Act," he said, without divulging details.
19:26 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
'Has Amit Shah entered the EVM?', asks Mamata after '26 out of 30' claim
"Home Minister said they will win 26 out of 30 seats where voting took place in the first phase. Have you (HM Amit Shah) entered the EVM? Why didn't you say BJP will win all 30 seats. Let's wait for 2 May. TMC will win. Outsiders can't rule Bengal," said West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in response to the Union Home Minister's assertion that the BJP will win big in the seats that voted on Saturday.
19:07 (IST)
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Rajnath Singh's roadshow in Ernakulam cancelled due to bad weather
Union Defence Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh's roadshow in Ernakulam was cancelled on Sunday evening because his aircraft couldn't land due to bad weather, ANI reported.
18:23 (IST)
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
'Guarantee' that MK Stalin will be CM, says Rahul Gandhi
"No Tamil person wants to touch Amit Shah or Mohan Bhagwat's feet, so the question is why has the chief minister submitted to RSS and Amit Shah. The chief minister doesn't want to bow in front of Modi but he has to as Narendra Modi controls ED, CBI and the chief minister is corrupt," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said at a rally in Tamil Nadu's Salem.
"I can guarantee that Stalin will be the chief minister. Decision has been made, now elections will formalize it. But the fight doesn't stop here as RSS and BJP have unlimited money. To stop them, we've to first oust them in Tamil Nadu &then remove them from Delhi," he added.
18:08 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mamata slams Amit Shah for claiming BJP will win 26 of 30 seats
Deriding Union Home Minister Amit Shah's assertion that the BJP will win 26 of the 30 seats for which polling was held in the first phase of West Bengal Assembly elections, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee said that "the people's verdict will be evident after votes are counted."
Without naming Shah, who made the assertion at a BJP press conference in New Delhi earlier in the day, Banerjee questioned how such a claim could be made just a day after the elections were held. "A leader today said that the BJP will win 26 of 30 seats, why did he not claim all 30, did he leave the rest for Congress and CPM?" Banerjee quipped, addressing a rally in the Chandipur constituency, adjacent to Nandigram, from where she is contesting.
17:31 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
TMC urges EC to revert to rule on appointment of polling agents
The Trinamool Congress has written to the Election Commission urging it to withdraw a recent order that relaxed a rule on the appointment of polling agents, and alleged that the EC had taken the step to help the BJP. According to a March 2009 rule by the EC, polling agents who are appointed by the contesting candidates shall have to be electors in the same polling stations or from neighbouring polling stations falling in the same constituency.
However, the provision was amended recently to allow an elector from any part of an Assembly constituency to be appointed as a polling agent.
17:09 (IST)
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Rajnath Singh says voters must 'save Kerala' from LDF, UDF
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing a rally in Kerala's Thrissur, quoted US president Joe Biden in the 'Quad meeting' as saying that "India, under Narendra Modi's leadership, is strengthening".
"I urge you to save Kerala from LDF and UDF, and their regressive ideologies and make the state glorious again," he added.
16:37 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
People's verdict is 'clearer' after first phase, says Mamata Banerjee
ভোটের প্রথম পর্যায়ে আমাদের উল্লেখযোগ্য ফলাফলের পরে, বাংলার মানুষের রায় এখন আরও স্পষ্ট - #BanglaNijerMeyekeiChay#TMCSweepsPhase1 pic.twitter.com/65oE8RFtK3
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 28, 2021
16:21 (IST)
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
AMMK candidate campaigns with person dressed as MGR
G Muniyasamy, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam candidate from Ramanathapuram Assembly constituency, on Sunday campaigned with a person dressed as AIADMK's founder MG Ramachandran in Rameswaram, ANI reported.
Tamil Nadu: G. Muniyasamy, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) candidate from Ramanathapuram assembly constituency, today campaigned with a person dressed as AIADMK's founder MG Ramachandran in Rameswaram. pic.twitter.com/8a5jCHGxO2
— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2021
16:08 (IST)
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP will form govt in Bengal, claims Amit Shah
"Yesterday, after many years, the polling process was held without any incident of violence in West Bengal. I want to thank the women of West Bengal for polling in favour of the BJP. BJP will form government in West Bengal with more than 200 seats," Union Minister Amit Shah said.
15:41 (IST)
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
LDF, UDF spar over free rice distribution in Kerala
As the ruling and Opposition fronts continued to spar over distribution of subsidised rice during the festival season ahead of the 6 April Assembly polls, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday alleged that the Congress-UDF had "misled" the Election Commission over the matter.
The Opposition was playing "dirty politics" by trying to block supply of ration rice and food kits to the people,Vijayan said a day after the EC ordered to stop the distribution following the Opposition's complaint. The LDF, which will ride back to power, is committed to transform Kerala into a hunger-free state where shelter would be made a right of every citizen, Vijayan told reporters.
15:31 (IST)
Puducherry Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Congress manifesto promises free COVID-19 vaccination, scrapping of NEET
Free COVID-19 vaccination for all; scrapping of NEET and the new education policy; Rs 1,000 as assistance for homemakers; re-opening of mills; and enhanced pension for martyrs' kin are some of the promises made by the Congress party in its poll manifesto. The manifesto was released on Sunday by former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily. The manifesto promised free vaccination against COVID-19 the expenses of which would be borne by the government. A homemaker in every family would get a monthly assistance of Rs 1,000, the manifesto said. Steps would be taken to scrap NEET mode for medical admission, and the new education policy, the manifesto said. The manifesto said the party would reiterate the demand for statehood for Puducherry and take action to persuade the Centre for waiver of loans due from Puducherry to the Centre over the years. The manifesto said steps would be intensified for inclusion of Puducherry as a member of the Central Finance Commission.
15:26 (IST)
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mind games won't work, tweets Derek O'Brien after Shah's presser
Following Amit Shah's press conference where the BJP leader said the saffron party will win more than 26 of the 30 seats in Bengal and 37 of the 47 seats that went to polls in Assam in the first phase, TMC leader Derek O'Brien targetted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah, tweeting," Mind games won’t work, Mo-Sha. Try your seat prediction stunts at the Gujarat Gymkhana. This is Bengal."
Mind games won’t work, Mo-Sha. Try your seat prediction stunts at the Gujarat Gymkhana.
— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) March 28, 2021
This is Bengal. #KhelaHobe #TMCSweepsPhase1
15:12 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Voter turnout of 84.13% recorded in phase-1
14:58 (IST)
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Modi's visit to Bangladesh to strengthen bilateral ties, nothing to do with polls, claims Shah
14:54 (IST)
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Amit Shah addresses press conference
Asked about a reported meeting with Sharad Pawar in Ahmedabad, Amity Shah says everything cant' be made public. When asked about the arrest of TMC's Chhatradhar Mahato, Shah says Mahato was free, voting concluded in his area yesterday.
14:39 (IST)
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP will form govt in Bengal with over 200 seats, says Amit Shah
Amit Shah congratulated for the election commission for the peaceful polling in the state, saying that in the previous election, violence had become a normal occurrence. I want to thank the women of West Bengal for polling in favour of the BJP "BJP will form government in West Bengal with more than 200 seats," he asserted. The BJP leader also said that the party will return to power in Assam with more seats.
14:32 (IST)
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP will win over 26 seats in Bengal, over 37 in Assam says Amit Shah after phase-1 polling
Addressing a press briefing, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that voting in the first phase of elections for West Bengal and Assam Assembly elections was carried out peacefully and not even a single life was lost. Citing feedback from party workers on the ground, Shah said the BJP will win over 26 seats of 30 in West Bengal. The party's seats in the state will increase and so will the margin by which it wins the seats, he said. Shah said there are clear indications that the BJP will win over 37 seats of the 47 which went to polls in Assam on Saturday.
13:46 (IST)
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Rajnath Singh holds roadshow in Pambady
Defence Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh holds a roadshow in Pambady. "Our policy is 'justice to all, appeasement of none'. When we come to power, we will make a law against 'love jihad'," news agency ANI quotes him as saying.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh holds a roadshow in Pambady, Kerala.#KeralaElections pic.twitter.com/mgJgT99lSq
— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2021
13:36 (IST)
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Pinarayi Vijayan hits back at Ramesh Chennithala over distribution of subsidised rice
13:23 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mithun Chakraborty holds roadshow in Bishnupur
West Bengal: Actor Mithun Chakraborty, who recently joined Bharatiya Janata Party, holds a roadshow in Bishnupur
— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2021
"The voter turnout recorded yesterday shows that 'poriborton' (change) is coming," he says. pic.twitter.com/qjLh89gISs
13:13 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
TMC replaces candidate from Matigara-Naxalbari
Trinamool Congress replaces candidate for Matigara-Naxalbari Assembly constituency, names Rajen Sundas as its nominee, reports new agency ANI.
Trinamool Congress replaces candidate for Matigara-Naxalbari Assembly constituency, names Rajen Sundas as its candidate pic.twitter.com/f4EGbDvQr9
— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2021
12:48 (IST)
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
There is a full scale assault on idea of Tamil Nadu, alleges Rahul Gandhi
"Tamil Nadu's politics requires transformation It will not be enough in the current time to give your governments as earlier. Tamil Nadu is going through big challenges. A dynamic state with the most intelligent youth cannot give jobs to its children. the economy is in a disastrous situation. Tamil Nadu needs a new imagination, a new way of doing things. Im confident that the alliance government which comes will be such a government, It is going to be government that is going to respect the people of Tamil Nadu. It will be a government that will not be controlled by delhi. There is a full-scale assault on the idea of Tamil Nadu. Dont underestimate this assault, it has a huge amount of money behind it. It is conceptualised by the RSS and Narendra Modi. they want a Tamil Nadu which bows in front of them. They do not understand the Tamil Nadu," Rahul Gandhi alleged. "India cannot exist without Tamil Nadu,"Gandhi asserted.
12:40 (IST)
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Want state to be run from Tamil Nadu, not Delhi, says Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the BJP, saying, "I couldnt see the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, of such great civilsation, of s such a great language, bowing in front of and touching the feet of Modi, Shah and the RSS. It made me angry that the leader of such a great history, such a great people is bowing in front of these people and that is why Im here today. I want a relationship with the Tamil people that is equal, that is respectful and I want a Tamil Nadu that is run from Tamil Nadu, not Delhi."
"Upright people will not bow down before others. The Tamil Nadu chief minister is forced to do so because he is corrupt," Times of India quotes Gandhi as saying.
12:36 (IST)
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Rahul Gandhi addresses rally in Chennai
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses rally in Chennai's Shastri Nagar. I want to explain very simply what this election is about. And Im going to use a story from my experience. And then you will understand why Im standing here and why I so aggressively fought the AIADMK and the BJP. And why I have put all my energy into fighting them.
"Some time back when I was a Congress MP from Amethi, a local leader left Congress and joined BJP. The day he joined BJP, because he was joining from nearby my constituency, the senior ranks brought him into the party. I saw the picture of this leader meeting Amit Shah. He was a democratically elected leader who had gone to the BJP. In the picture, Amit Shah was sitting on sofa while the democratically elected leader was touching his feet. It was not a relationship pf respect but of disrespect. Elected person touching the feet and grovelling in front of a more powerful person. And that is the only relationship possible in the BJP. If you are in alliance with the BJP, the only relationship possible is where you have to touch the feet of the BJP and bow down before Narendra Modi or Amit Shah. they don't understand any other relationship. For us, a relationship which is not equal is a useless relationship. The only relationship we want is of mutual respect and affection.
12:20 (IST)
Asssam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav campaigns with Congress' Shakeel Ahmed Khan in Silchar
असम के सिलचर जिला के चुनावी सभा में माननीय तेजस्वी यादव जी के साथ और अखिल भारतीय महिला कांग्रेस की अध्यक्ष सुष्मिता देव के साथ प्रचार करते हुए।@yadavtejashwi @sushmitadevinc #AssemblyElections2021 pic.twitter.com/dvpp01UogF
— Dr. Shakeel Ahmad Khan (@ShakeelkhanINC) March 28, 2021
12:13 (IST)
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Judicial probe against Central agencies "unfortunate", says Rajnath Singh
11:58 (IST)
Puducherry Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Congress releases manifesto for Puducherry polls
Congress releases its manifesto for upcoming Puducherry assembly elections
— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2021
Puducherry to go to polls on April 6 pic.twitter.com/LimoJxahjk
11:25 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Prakash Ambedkar criticises Modi's visit to Matua temple in Bangladesh
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his visit to a Matua shrine in Bangladesh, during the Assembly elections in West Bengal. "Shame ! Prime Minister in order to win Bengal elections is now wooing the Matua community in Bangladesh by postering before Matua's holy shrine. Has Modi ever bowed down to SC saint Ravidas? Just Vote Rajniti," the VBLA leader said on Twitter.
On Saturday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also alleged that the prime minister's speech at the Matua temple at Orakandi in Bangladesh was with an eye on elections in West Bengal. The TMC supremo also alleged that Modi violated the model code of conduct through his speech at the temple, holy to the Matua community spread over India and Bangladesh. However, Modi in his speech at the temple had not made any election promises.
With inputs from PTI
Shame ! Prime Minister in order to win Bengal elections is now wooing the Matua community in Bangladesh by postering before Matua's holy shrine. Has Modi ever bowed down to SC saint Ravidas? Just Vote Rajniti.
— Prakash Ambedkar (@Prksh_Ambedkar) March 28, 2021
11:01 (IST)
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Rajnath Singh holds roadshow in Thiruvananthapuram
Defence Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh holds a roadshow in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala#KeralaElections pic.twitter.com/PyHfqtiaS8
— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2021
10:56 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Bengal BJP nominee claims being under pressure not to contest, threatens to self-immolate
10:30 (IST)
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
LDF and UDF playing 'friendly match' in Kerala, alleges Rajnath Singh
10:20 (IST)
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Rajnath Singh to campaign in Kerala today
Defence Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh is slated to address a public meeting in Irinjalakadu and hold three road shows at three places in Kerala today.
Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh’s election campaign schedule in Kerala. He will address election meeting and hold road shows tomorrow. @BJP4Keralam pic.twitter.com/ye8J3zJ59o
— Rajnathsingh_in (@RajnathSingh_in) March 27, 2021
09:58 (IST)
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Rahul Gandhi to address two public meetings today
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to campaign in Tamil Nadu today, with two public meetings scheduled in Chennai's Shastri Nagar (11.15 am) and Seelanaickenpatti, Salem ( 3.45pm), said the party in a Twitter post.
Shri @RahulGandhi will be among the people of Tamil Nadu, today and interact with them through public meetings.
— Congress (@INCIndia) March 28, 2021
Watch him live on our social media platforms.
TW: https://t.co/NGgQ2sohWz
FB: https://t.co/NPOcx48kHN
YT: https://t.co/jpjBr4Zm3P
Insta: https://t.co/C0Mr9TzMxd pic.twitter.com/9tuoKR2ueA
09:55 (IST)
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
At least 10 arrested for violence during first phase of polls
At least 10 people were arrested for allegedly being involved in incidents of violence that occurred in two of the 30 constituencies of West Bengal where polling was held in the first of the eight-phase election on Saturday, state Chief Electoral officer Aariz Aftab said. Seven people were arrested from Salboni seat in Paschim Medinipur district, where CPM candidate Susanta Ghosh was heckled and stones were hurled at his car allegedly by the ruling TMC supporters. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's younger brother Soumendu was attacked and his car was vandalised at Kanthi in Purba Medinipur district allegedly by TMC supporters and three persons were arrested. "Other than some sporadic incidents of violence, polling was held in a peaceful manner in 30 assembly constituencies in West Bengal," Aftab told reporters.
PTI
Assembly Election 2021 Latest Updates: With the BJP advertising claims of winning all seats in upper Assam, the Congress on Sunday said it is in violation of the Representation of the People Act and urged the Election Commission to register FIRs against BJP chief J P Nadda and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
"They (BJP) have a lot of money so they are trying to purchase people. Modi is taking land. He will snatch away everything as Adani is his friend. Chase away outsiders and BJP like you chased away CPM," West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was quoted as saying in a poll rally on Sunday.
"Home Minister said they will win 26 out of 30 seats where voting took place in the first phase. Have you (HM Amit Shah) entered the EVM? Why didn't you say BJP will win all 30 seats. Let's wait for 2 May. TMC will win. Outsiders can't rule Bengal," said West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in response to the Union Home Minister's assertion that the BJP will win big in the seats that voted on Saturday.
"No Tamil person wants to touch Amit Shah or Mohan Bhagwat's feet, so the question is why has the chief minister submitted to RSS and Amit Shah. The chief minister doesn't want to bow in front of Modi but he has to as Narendra Modi controls ED, CBI and the chief minister is corrupt," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said at a rally in Tamil Nadu's Salem.
"I can guarantee that Stalin will be the chief minister. Decision has been made, now elections will formalize it. But the fight doesn't stop here as RSS and BJP have unlimited money. To stop them, we've to first oust them in Tamil Nadu &then remove them from Delhi," he added.
The Trinamool Congress has written to the Election Commission urging it to withdraw a recent order that relaxed a rule on the appointment of polling agents, and alleged that the EC had taken the step to help the BJP. According to a March 2009 rule by the EC, polling agents who are appointed by the contesting candidates shall have to be electors in the same polling stations or from neighbouring polling stations falling in the same constituency.
However, the provision was amended recently to allow an elector from any part of an Assembly constituency to be appointed as a polling agent.
The Trinamool Congress has written to the Election Commission urging it to withdraw a recent order that relaxed a rule on the appointment of polling agents, and alleged that the EC had taken the step to help the BJP.
According to a March 2009 rule by the EC, polling agents who are appointed by the contesting candidates shall have to be electors in the same polling stations or from neighbouring polling stations falling in the same constituency.
However, the provision was amended recently to allow an elector from any part of an assembly constituency to be appointed as a polling agent.
The reason for the same has been stated to be based on inputs and for the convenience of the candidates.
Such reasoning is not only ambiguous in nature but also leads us to a conclusion that it has been implemented to help certain political parties, namely the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), due to them not possessing the strength to muster enough polling agents, the Trinamool Congress alleged in a letter to the EC dated 26 March. The party released the letter on Sunday.
It claimed that the new instructions were made with a mala fide intention to benefit the candidates of Bharatiya Janata Party.
Such instruction passed by the Election Commission of India just before the scheduled date of election to take place in West Bengal is arbitrary, motivated and biased, it alleged and urged the EC to withdraw the direction and restore the earlier rule.
While the first of the eight phases of assembly polls in West Bengal was conducted on March 26, the second phase is on April 1.
A TMC delegation led by MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay had on Saturday raised the issue at a meeting with Chief Electoral Officer Aariz Aftab
in Kolkata.
Free COVID-19 vaccination for all; scrapping of NEET and the new education policy; Rs 1,000 as assistance for homemakers; re-opening of mills; and enhanced pension for martyrs' kin are some of the promises made by the Congress party in its poll manifesto for Puducherry.
Addressing a press briefing, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that voting in the first phase of elections for West Bengal and Assam Assembly elections was carried out peacefully and not even a single lie was lost. He expressed confidence that the BJP will win over 26 seats of 30 in West Bengal. The party's seats in the state will increase and so will the margin by which it wins the seats, he said. Shah said there are clear indications that the BJP will win over 37 seats of the 47 which went to polls in Assam on Saturday.
The Congress manifesto for the Puducherry polls was released by Congress leaders Nitin Raut and Veerappa Moily and others and the first copy was received by former chief minister of the UT V Narayansamy.
Addressing a rally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the BJP, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah and said he wants Tamil Nadu to be run from the state, and not from Delhi. The Congress leader alleged there was a full scale assault on the idea of Tamil Nadu.
BJP leader Rajnath Singh held a roadshow in Thriuvananthapuram. The Union minister is also scheduled to to hold roadshows in Puthupally and Ernakulam constituencies and address a public meeting in Irinjalakuda.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday hit out at the ruling CPM-led LDF and the Opposition Congress headed UDF saying they were playing a "friendly match" in poll-bound Kerala.
While the Congress and Left are opposing each other tooth and nail in Kerala, 2,000 km away in West Bengal, they are allies, Rajnath, who is in Kerala for campaigning for the 6 April Assembly polls told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to campaign in Tamil Nadu today, with two public meetings scheduled in Chennai's Shastri Nagar (11.15 am) and Seelanaickenpatti, Salem ( 3.45 pm), said the party in a Twitter post.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the Matua temple at Orakandi in Bangladesh was with an eye on elections in West Bengal.
The TMC supremo also alleged that Modi violated the Model Code of Conduct through his speech at the temple, holy to the Matua community spread over India and Bangladesh.
However, Modi in his speech at the temple had not made any election promises.
Banerjee said at a public meeting in Kharagpur, "Modi is delivering a speech at a temple in Bangladesh with an eye on elections in West Bengal." The first phase of voting of an eight-phase poll was completed today."This is total violaton of election code of conduct, we are taking up the issue with Election Commission," she said.
The Matua community in West Bengal is estimated to be 30-million strong.
Modi during his two day trip to Bangladesh to attend Bangladesh's 50th anniversary of Independence, had visited the temple at Oranakandi, birthplace to the Matau community's spiritual guru Harichand Thakur as well as the temple of Jessoreshwari at Ishwaripur in Satkhira.
The chief minister said "our prime minister goes to a foreign country and speaks with an eye on a section of voters, what about that?"
She alleged that Modi had earlier canvassed for Donald Trump's bid for re-election to the President's post in the US. Modi had at a rally in Texas in 2019, come up with the slogan "Ab ki baar , Trump Sarkar" (This time, Trump Government).
"And now during Assembly polls in Bengal you are going to Bangladesh to peddle lies before a section of people, to mislead a section of voters here," she said rhetorically addressing the Prime Minister.
Banerjee recalled the scrapping Bangladeshi actor Firdaus's visa during 2019 Lok Sabha elections "as he took part in a rally here" and wondered why Modi's visa should not be dealt with in a similar manner.
"Firdaus had just attended one rally and said few lines before a crowd being a popular star in both countries and someone from BJP complained against him to the Union home ministry and his visa was cancelled," Banerjee pointed out.
Pointing out that the BJP often accused her of bringing in Bangladeshi "infiltrators", she wondered why Modi "now goes to Bangladesh to do marketing (sic)" for votes.
March 28, 2021 at 09:17PM
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