Page 3 - Assembly Elections

528 candidates in fray for second phase of Jharkhand Assembly polls

Altogether 528 candidates are in the fray for the second phase of Jharkhand assembly polls after 32 aspirants withdrew their nominations on Friday, an election official said. In all, 38 assembly constituencies will go to polls in the second phase on November 20. Initially, 634 aspirants submitted nomination papers from October 22 to 29, but after scrutiny, 74 nominations were rejected. On Friday, 32 candidates withdrew their papers leaving 528 nominees in the fray, Chief Electoral Officer K. Ravi Kumar said. Dhanwar assembly constituency registered the highest number of candidates at 24, while Deoghar recorded the lowest at 7, he said. In 2019, 583 candidates from 38 seats contested the polls. Disgruntled BJP leader and former Jharkhand minister Satyanand Jha 'Batul' also withdrew his nomination on Friday, reportedly following a meeting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who urged him to step aside in favour of the BJP. The elections to the 81-member assembly will tak

BJP raking up Waqf issue with eye on Assembly elections, bypolls: K'taka CM

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday alleged that BJP was raking up the "Waqf issue" with an eye on the upcoming assembly by-polls in the state and elections in neighboring Maharashtra. Following allegations by a section of farmers in certain parts of the state that their lands were marked as Waqf properties, he reiterated that none of them will be evicted, and notices issued to them will be withdrawn. "BJP is doing politics. Notices were issued during their (BJP) tenure too, what do they have to say about it? During BJP's tenure over 200 notices were given. One should not practice such dual politics," Siddaramaiah said. Speaking to reporters here, the CM said, "I have already said that the notices will be withdrawn, where is the issue? In case the notices are issued they will be withdrawn and no one will be evicted, where is the issue?" "Whichever district it is...They (BJP) had also given notices in several districts. Why did they give? Why are they doing such politi

Ahead of Assembly polls, Maharashtra govt reshuffles 260 police officials

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday reshuffled more than 260 policemen, including 150 from Mumbai, ahead of the November 20 assembly elections in the state, an official said. He attributed the transfers to a directive of the Election Commission about the relocation of officials who had served in their home districts or current posting for over three years. About 150 Mumbai police officials, including senior inspectors, have been moved to various districts, including Gadchiroli, Gondia, Bhandara, Nagpur and Washim. A few police officials from Navi Mumbai and Mira Bhayandar, Vasai Virar Police commissionerate have also been transferred, he said. Accordingly, police officials from various districts have been posted in Mumbai, which has 36 of the state's 288 assembly seats. Sending out a stern message, the Election Commission last month sought an explanation from the Maharashtra chief secretary and the state's police chief for failing to fully implement its orders on the transfer

Congress getting good signals for upcoming Maharashtra polls, says Baghel

Baghel said two days are left for the nomination filing and the process of ticket distribution is also in the final stage

Maharashtra polls: Ajit Pawar-led NCP releases list of 49 candidates

The candidate selection process was overseen by the NCP Parliamentary board, chaired by National President Ajit Pawar

NCP releases third list of candidates for Maharashtra Assembly elections

Notably, Sana Malik, daughter of NCP leader Nawab Malik, will contest from the Anushakti Nagar constituency

Maharashtra Assembly polls: Congress releases 2nd list of 23 candidates

The Congress on Saturday released its second list of 23 candidates for the November 10 Assembly elections in Maharashtra. The list came after the party's Central Election Committee met and discussed the names of the candidates for the polls. The Congress declared 48 candidates in its first list. With this list, the Congress has now announced 71 candidates. The opposition party had retained 25 incumbent MLAs in its first list of nominees. The Congress has also asserted that there were no differences in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition and the final seat-sharing arrangement among its constituents will be out by Saturday evening. Speaking to reporters after the CEC meeting on Friday, party leader Ramesh Chennithala said the Congress CEC held a discussion on the remaining seats of Maharashtra. "The MVA is contesting unitedly and we have no differences," Chennithala, who is the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Maharashtra, said. "We will fight together to realis

Maharashtra polls: Cong dismisses rift in MVA, says problem is in Mahayuti

All is well in MVA, We are going to fight the election together, said Congress

Cong leader Durg Singh joins BJP ahead of Rajasthan Assembly bypolls

Voting for bypolls on seven assembly seats in Rajasthan will be held on November 13

Leaders' relatives in the fray for bypolls on 48 Assembly seats on Nov 13

The INDIA bloc parties are contesting against each other on several of these seats, especially in Kerala and West Bengal

51 candidates file nominations for Nov 13 bypolls to 4 Bihar Assembly seats

A total of 51 candidates, including nine women, filed nominations for the November 13 bypolls to four Bihar assembly seats, which became vacant after the last Lok Sabha elections. The seats are Ramgarh, Tarari, Belaganj, and Imamganj, with results to be announced on November 23. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on October 28, and the last date for withdrawal of names is October 30, officials said. According to the Chief Electoral Officer (Bihar), "A total of 51 candidates, including nine women, filed their nominations till Friday, the last day for filing papers." Belaganj has the highest number of 17 candidates, including RJD's Vishwanath Kumar Singh and JD(U)'s Manorma Devi. A total of 14 candidates, including three women, have filed their nominations for Tarari, with prominent candidates such as CPI(ML) Liberation's Raju Yadav and BJP's Vishal Prashant. In Ramgarh, nine candidates have filed, including RJD's Ajeet Kumar Singh and BJP's Ashok Kumar Singh. Imamganj has 11

Maharashtra polls: I will get elected by good margin, says Fadnavis

Fadnavis' family applied tilak on his forehead and performed aarti ahead of his filing nomination

Former BJP leaders Nishikant Bhosale Patil, Sanjaykaka Patil join NCP

Sanjaykaka Patil and Nishikant Bhosale have received their AB forms and are now official candidates for the NCP

Jharkhand elections: Hemant Soren, Rameshwar Oraon among key candidates

Jharkhand Assembly elections: The elections will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20, with results on November 23

BJP Beed chief slams saffron party for ignoring him, joins NCP (SP)

BJP's Beed district president Rajendra Mhaske has resigned and joined the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), alleging that the saffron party did not nominate him for the Maharashtra assembly polls despite working hard for its growth. Mhaske, who quit the ruling BJP on Sunday, joined Sharad Pawar's outfit on Wednesday. The BJP has announced the names of 99 candidates so far for the November 20 elections. I was BJP's Beed district president for the past five to six years. I had worked hard for the party's growth, Mhaske told PTI on Thursday. Ever since Ajit Pawar's NCP became a part of the ruling Mahayuti coalition, the BJP has stopped paying attention to the Beed district, alleged Mhaske. He claimed that BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule had earlier hinted that the party would give him a ticket from the Beed assembly segment for the assembly polls. Instead, the BJP has given the entire district to NCP. Therefore, I have quit the BJP and joined NCP (SP), he added. Sandeep Kshirsa

Sena (UBT) contestants spread awareness about new symbol in poll campaign

With the Shiv Sena (UBT) contesting the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls on a new symbol after split, its three MLAs in Marathwada are making every effort to popularise it and also raising farmers issues as part of their campaign. In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the then undivided Shiv Sena bagged 12 seats in the Marathwada region. After the party split in June 2022, three MLAs - Udaysingh Rajput (Kannad), Kailas Patil (Dharashiv-Kalamb) and Dr Rahul Patil (Parbhani) - remained with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and have been fielded for the upcoming assembly polls. The Shiv Sena suffered a split in June 2022 when a section of MLAs, led by Eknath Shinde, revolted against Thackeray, the then-chief minister. The Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) was later allotted the 'mashaal' (flaming torch) symbol, while the Shiv Sena led by CM Shinde retained the original 'bow and arrow' symbol. Talking to PTI, Rajput said Thackeray's image is good in the minds of the people

Maharashtra Assembly elections: MVA allies agree to contest 85 seats each

Maha Vikas Aghadi of Congress, NCP (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday announced to contest 85 seats each in Maharashtra assembly elections even as deliberations to seal a final seat-sharing pact are still underway. Addressing a press conference, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said consensus has been reached on 270 out of total 288 seats for the November 20 elections. "We will include Samajwadi Party, PWP, CPI(M), CPI, and AAP. Discussions are still on for the remaining seats. We have amicably arrived at a consensus on 270 seats. MVA stands united to defeat the Mahayuti government," Raut said. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said the rest of the seats will be left for smaller parties.

Bid to include bogus voters in Maha seats to be contested by BJP: Shiv Sena

Ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls, the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday alleged there were attempts to include bogus names in the voters' lists across 150 assembly constituencies which it claimed the BJP was planning to contest. An editorial in 'Saamana', the mouthpiece of the Sena (UBT) led by former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, also claimed such "tampering" was being resorted to as the BJP fears a defeat in the state polls. Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly are scheduled on November 20, and vote counting will be held on November 23. The Shiv Sena (UBT) is a constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) along with the Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP). "The BJP has resorted to such unethical measures to tamper with the electoral roll due to the fear of losing the state. There are some 150 assembly constituencies that the BJP is planning to contest in this election. The party has scrutinised the voting patterns in the past and identified so

Allies meet Sharad Pawar as seat-sharing consensus for polls eludes MVA

Amid a stalemate in the Maha Vikas Aghadi over the sharing of seats for the Maharashtra assembly polls, allies Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) have met NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and held deliberations. MVA sources on Sunday said a seat-sharing deal is likely to be sealed in a day or two after arriving at consensus. Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held on November 20. The process to file nominations will start on October 22. The differences among MVA allies over certain seats had escalated into a war of words between state Congress chief Nana Patole and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, prompting Uddhav Thackeray to appeal to parties not to stretch matters to a breaking point. Sharad Pawar on Sunday stayed put at the YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai where Congress leader Naseem Khan, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Aaditya Thackeray, Sanjay Raut, Anil Parab, and NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh called on him. Senior Congress leaders from Maharashtra were in Delhi to attend the

Even if we go solo in J'khand polls, won't sabotage INDIA bloc: RJD

Expressing its disappointment with the JMM and Congress over seat-sharing for the Jharkhand assembly polls, the RJD on Sunday said it would not settle for less than 12 seats, but it will not sabotage the prospects of the INDIA bloc even if it goes solo. The JMM and Congress on Saturday announced that the two parties would contest 70 of the state's 81 assembly seats. "Less than 12-13 seats are not acceptable to us as the RJD has a strong hold on 18-20 seats. If we are asked to contest three-four seats, we are not ready to make any sacrifices," Rashtriya Janata Dal spokesperson Manoj Kumar Jha said. "Our sole aim is to defeat BJP, we will not sabotage the INDIA bloc," he said. Jha, a Rajya Sabha MP, said even if the party decided to go solo in the elections, it would extend its support to INDIA bloc candidates on 60-62 seats. Last time, RJD had contested seven seats and won one seat. Its MLA Satyanand Bhokta is a minister in the Hemant Soren cabinet.