Highlights of the day: LS election counting on Jun 4 after 6 wks of voting

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10:56 PM

Campaign song titled 'Mai Modi ka parivar hun' released ahead of Lok Sabha polls

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday released a campaign song titled, 'Mai Modi ka parivar hun', showcasing his commitment to all. The campaign song 'Main Modi Ka Parivar hu' described how India's situation has become better after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister.

10:56 PM

Would be better if elections were conducted in 3-4 phases, says Mayawati

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Saturday said that it would have been better if the Lok Sabha elections were held in three or four phases. In a statement issued by Mayawati on X in Hindi, Mayawati said, "Our party welcomes today's announcement of dates for the Lok Sabha General Elections 2024, but it would have been much better if the elections were held in a shorter period of time, in about three or four phases, so that both time and resources could have been saved, and it would have also been possible to reduce election expenses."

9:48 PM

SC to deliver order on bail plea of former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain in money laundering case on March 18

Supreme Court to deliver order on the bail plea of former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain in money laundering case on March 18, Monday.

9:46 PM

People eager to make Modi Prime Minister again, says MP CM Yadav

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday said people are enthusiastic about making Narendra Modi the prime minister once again, while his party colleague and MP BJP chief VD Sharma asserted they will win all 29 seats in the state with 'Modi ki Guarantee'. Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases beginning April 19 and votes will be counted on June 4, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday. The polls in MP be held in four phases, between April 19 and May 13.

9:45 PM

First Apache attack helicopter raised

First Apache attack helicopter Squadron of Army Aviation raised in the presence of Director General Army Aviation Lt Gen AK Suri, under Thar Raptors in the Western Sector on Friday. "This marks a significant enhancement in our defence capability, boosting operational reach & Aerial Strike capability, " said Indian Army officials.

9:40 PM

Elections should have been completed in three or four phases, says Congress President Kharge

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said a seven phase election for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls meant that "Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to tour everywhere". Kharge opined that the polls should have rather been completed in three or four phases. "We are not anxious about what is going to happen, but Modiji putting seven phases, it means that he wants to tour everywhere.

9:39 PM

BJP government has only served capitalists, friends, says Cong leader Pawan Khera

Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the country, Congress leader Pawan Khera lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying that the government has served only the capitalists and some of their friends during their tenure. "All the sections of the society including women, middle-class, adivasis and other marginalised communities have been ignored," he added further. He lashed out saying, "The government has not worked on unemployment which has broken the 45-year-record. Issues like women's safety and farmers protesting over MSP have not been paid attention."

9:19 PM

Polls to be held in 2 phases in Outer Manipur, voting allowed from relief camps

Voting in the Outer Manipur constituency will be held in two phases, and those living in camps in violence-hit state will be allowed to vote from their camps, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday.

 

As the Election Commission announced the dates for Lok Sabha polls, queries were raised over the number of seats totalling up to 544, instead of 543.

 

Kumar said the increase was due to Outer Manipur being counted twice, since polls will be held there in two phases.

 

The elections for two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur will be held in two phases on April 19 and 26.

 

While Inner Manipur and some segments of Outer Manipur will vote in the first phase on April 19, the remaining segments of Outer Manipur will vote in Phase 2 on April 26.

 

Asked about the situation in Manipur, the Chief Election Commissioner said, "we will make all arrangements."

9:18 PM

Not surprised at EC's decision not to hold Assembly, LS polls together in J&K: Omar Abdullah

National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Saturday said he was a bit "disappointed but not surprised" at the Election Commission's (EC) decision not to hold the much-awaited Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir with the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

 

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also said the Congress should not be blamed for everything that has gone wrong in the INDIA opposition bloc and suggested avoiding personal attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during campaigning.

 

Abdullah said this while taking part in a debate on the INDIA bloc -- "India's opposition: The search for a narrative and strategy" -- at the "India Today" conclave.

9:06 PM

Over 100 workers injured in boiler blast at Dharuhera factory in Haryana’s Rewari

More than 100 workers at a factory in Dharuhera industrial area of Rewari district in Haryana were injured due to a reported boiler blast on Saturday evening.

 

Dozens of workers sustained burn injuries in the blast and at least 30 of them were rushed to local hospitals.

7:04 PM

Model Code of Conduct kicks in as Election Commission announces poll dates

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into effect from Saturday after the Election Commission of India announced the dates for elections to the Lok Sabha and four state assemblies, with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar asking all political parties and their leaders to strictly adhere to the poll code.

7:03 PM

Crucial test for Sukhu, bypolls to six Himachal assembly seats to be held on June 1

Bypolls will be held in six assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh on June 1, coinciding with the seventh phase of Lok Sabha polls, on the vacancies that arose due to the disqualification of six Congress MLAs who had cross-voted in Rajya Sabha election last month and defied the party whip in the House during cut motion.

7:03 PM

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Debates on national, state issues set to impact voter sentiments in Kerala

Ahead of the April 26 Lok Sabha election in Kerala, the political scene in the southern state is buzzing with debates on various key national issues that have the potential to sway voter sentiments significantly. The upcoming elections are poised for a heated contest as critical issues such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), electoral bond controversies, Manipur's unrest, and human-animal conflicts in the state dominate the electoral landscape, setting the stage for a showdown between the CPI(M)-led LDF, the Congress-led UDF, and the BJP-led NDA.

6:30 PM

Andhra Assembly polls: Stage set for fierce poll battle between YSRCP and TDP

With the EC on Saturday announcing the poll schedule for the Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh on May 13, the poll bugle has been sounded in the southern state for a double battle.

 

With an electorate of 4.08 crore voters--two crore male, 2.07 crore female and 3,482 third gender voters, Andhra Pradesh is poised to elect members to its 16th Legislative Assembly, constituting 175 constituencies, besides 25 Lok Sabha members.

 

The Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP which got nearly 50 per cent vote share with 151 seats in the last assembly polls is deploying all its might to retain power. TDP secured just 23 while Janasena, one in 2019.

 

The Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP on Saturday announced the list of candidates for all the 175 Assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies, coinciding with the date of the election notification announcement by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

6:30 PM

Amit Shah appeals all to vote for leadership which has vision, track record of doing work

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the country has witnessed a historic decade of good governance, security, welfare of all sections under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and appealed to everyone to vote for a leadership which has a track record of doing work and a vision to make India developed.

 

He also appealed to youths, women and all voters of the country to participate in this great festival of democracy by voting in maximum numbers to elect the BJP-led NDA which will put the nation first.

 

"The 2024 Lok Sabha elections have been announced today by the Election Commission. Elections are a great festival for the world's largest democracy. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has witnessed a historic decade of good governance, security, welfare of all sections and reconstruction of cultural heritage.

 

"To maintain the pace of India's development journey, cast your vote for a leadership which has a track record of doing work and a vision to make India developed," he wrote in Hindi on 'X' with the hashtag 'Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar'.