Page 6 - Election News

Here's what's next for South Africa, key figures in coalition talks

South Africa's election has decided little, other than the African National Congress that liberated the country from apartheid in 1994 has lost its 30-year majority. It remained the biggest party, though. With no one holding a majority, South Africa's party leaders are embarking on coalition talks to form a government. South Africa has never had to do this due to the ANC's long dominance. There are four major political parties and at least eight with significant shares of the vote after last week's election. It'll be complicated. Here's a guide to some of the key figures and what might be coming next as South Africa enters uncharted territory. PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA Once a protege of Nelson Mandela, Ramaphosa (71) has now overseen the worst election result in the ANC's history. He is under pressure within his own party as well as with voters but he managed to laugh when an official made a slip on Sunday and referred to him as the "extinguished" president rather than distinguish

Assembly election result: SKM sweeps in Sikkim, wins 31 of 32 seats

The ruling SKM was leading in four of the 32 assembly seats, according to initial trends available from counting of postal ballots in Sikkim, officials said on Sunday. Chief Minister and SKM candidate Prem Singh Tamang was leading by 1,423 votes over his nearest SDF rival Som Nath Poudyal from the Rhenock assembly constituency. State minister and SKM nominee Sonam Lama established an initial lead by 98 votes over his nearest BJP rival Tseten Tashi Bhutia in Sangha. Sikkim Krantikari Morcha's Puran Kumar Gurung was ahead by 667 votes over Mani Kumar Gurung of SDF in the Chujachen assembly constituency. Delay Namgyal Barfungpa of SKM was also leading by 1,053 votes over BJP nominee Pema Aanchal Rinzing from the Gangtok assembly segment. Counting of votes for 32 assembly seats in Sikkim began at 6 am, amid tight security arrangements, officials said. The counting was underway at one location each in all six districts of the state. Postal ballots were taken up first for counting whi

People who kept 'hisab-kitab' for Pak, voted this time: J-K police chief

People who kept "hisab-kitab" (accounts) and acted as eyes and ears of the "enemy" in the past took part in the electoral process this time as the Jammu and Kashmir administration and the police ensured a safe space free from external threats, DGP Rashmi Ranjan Swain said. This year's Lok Sabha election saw a remarkable voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir which signalled towards a shift in the region's political landscape, Swain told PTI, highlighting a newfound sense of freedom from fear among the people. In the first major electoral battle in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into Union territories in August 2019, the three Lok Sabha seats in the Valley -- Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag-Rajouri -- recorded their highest-ever voter turnouts in the last three decades. Director General of Police (DGP) Swain commended the security forces for their efforts in monitoring potential threats from external elements particularly

Akhilesh questions 'pro-BJP' exit polls, asserts INDIA bloc's victory

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday questioned the veracity of the exit polls, saying the opposition had already said that "pro-BJP media" would show the ruling party crossing 300 seats in the Lok Sabha. The exit polls, which had been prepared months before and are only being shown on TV channels now, would create scope for "fraud", Yadav alleged. He further alleged that using the exit polls, the BJP wanted to benefit from the share market which opens on Monday, and added that "disappointed faces" of BJP leaders are telling the truth. Insisting that the INDIA bloc was winning the Lok Sabha polls, the SP chief also called on the candidates and their poll agents to closely "monitor" the EVMs on counting day. Several exit polls, which were aired on Saturday evening, predicated a comfortable majority for the BJP-led NDA. Counting of votes for the Lok Sabha polls will be held on Tuesday. "Understand the chronology of the exit poll. The opposition had already said that ..

LDF in Kerala rejects exit poll predictions, calls it politically motivated

The ruling Left in Kerala on Sunday termed as "suspicious" and "politically motivated" the exit poll predictions which said that the BJP-led NDA will open its account and end its electoral drought in a state dominated by the Congress-led UDF and the CPI(M)-led LDF. LDF convener and veteran CPI(M) leader E P Jayarajan said the exit poll predictions were not arrived at through some scientific findings or experiments, "it was not based on public sentiments" and was not an observation following a proper analysis of the elections. "I suspect it is politically motivated. All the exit polls have taken a stand that repeats and strengthens what the BJP has been saying till now (about the poll results). That is what makes it even more suspicious," he told a TV channel. Jayarajan said that, therefore, there should be extreme vigil during the counting process on June 4. The exit polls predicted that the BJP will nationally win over 350 seats and that it will open its account in Kerala. Reject

Sensex may target 80,000 levels post exit poll data. Check key levels here

However, in case, the BSE Sensex is unable to break past the 76,275 level, we may enter a consolidation range, wherein the support at 72,240 becomes a crucial level.

S Africa's election authority to declare results June 2 despite Zuma threat

South Africa's Independent Electoral Commission said it will continue to declare on Sunday afternoon the final results of the country's general and provincial elections despite threats to postpone the process to allow further submissions on alleged irregularities. At a media briefing late on Saturday, Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) CEO Mosotho Moepya confirmed that the authority will work through the night to resolve the 579 objections that have been received in order to proceed with the scheduled declaration, at which President Cyril Ramaphosa will speak. Moepya expressed confidence in the transparency of the systems put in place by the IEC to ensure "credible, free and fair elections". Earlier in the evening, former president Jacob Zuma, speaking on behalf of 26 of the smaller parties in the election, called on the IEC to allow them more time to lodge what he said were many more "serious" objections that the parties needed to prepare information on, although he did not sha

Counting of votes begins for 50 Assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh

Counting of votes for 50 assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh began on Sunday with a massive security cover in place, an election official said here. The counting commenced in 24 district headquarters at 6 AM amid heavy rain across the state and the final results are expected to be out by noon, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pawan Kumar Sain said. Assembly and Lok Sabha elections were held simultaneously in Arunachal Pradesh in the first phase of polls on April 19. The northeastern state has 60 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats. The ruling BJP has already won 10 assembly seats unopposed. Counting of postal ballots will be conducted first which would be followed by counting of votes in EVMs, Sain said. The counting process would be managed by over 2,000 officials. "A three-tier security arrangement has been made in all counting centres," he said. An estimated 82.71 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in the assembly polls while the turnout for the two Lok Sabha seats

ANC loses majority in Parliament for first time in South African democracy

The African National Congress (ANC) party lost its majority in the South African Parliament on Saturday for the first time since Nelson Mandela led it to victory in the first democratic elections in 1994 at the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule. With the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) having finished counting 99.8 per cent of the ballots cast on Wednesday, the ANC had garnered only 40 per cent of the votes, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) coming in at 22 per cent; Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the new party founded by former president Jacob Zuma, securing almost 15 per cent and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) dropping its share to just nine per cent. Analysts across the board said that there would now be intense negotiations to decide who would govern the country in a coalition. I don't think that the ANC membership, us as leaders of the ANC and our supporters must see this as a signal of the end of the ANC. This must be a learning point for the ANC. It's a

Will Prashant Kishor be proved right? Here is what exit polls suggest

Exit polls 2024: Five poll agencies predict a resounding victory for BJP, with two expected the party to meet its 400-mark

Elections 2024: Can the Congress stage a comeback? Insights from exit polls

Exit polls suggest a resurgence of the Narendra Modi government, with the NDA projected to secure over 350 seats, while the Congress-led INDIA bloc is anticipated to garner between 125 and 150 seats

'Abki baar 400 paar' may remain a mirage for BJP, suggest 2024 exit polls

A comprehensive analysis of exit polls reveals a projected seat count of 365 for the BJP-led NDA and 142 for the INDIA bloc

Chhattisgarh Exit Poll 2024: Five polls predict clean-sweep for BJP-led NDA

Chhattisgarh Exit Poll 2024: BJP expected to secure 59% of the vote share, Congress 32%

Lok Sabha elections Phase 7: 49.68% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm

Lok Sabha polls 2024 Phase 7 voter turnout: At more than 60 per cent, Jharkhand recorded the highest voter turnout at 3 pm, Bihar had the lowest at 42.95 per cent

Exit poll 2024: Date, time & where to watch Lok Sabha election exit polls?

Here's when and where to watch the Lok Sabha elections exit poll results 2024

Exit polls and the rules governing it in India: All your questions answered

Exit polls in India, regulated by the Election Commission, are surveys conducted after voting but before results are declared, with a prohibition period before elections

2024 Odisha Legislative Assembly elections: Here's all you need to know

As voting is currently underway in the fourth phase of the Odisha Assembly polls 2024, here's a quick look at the assembly seats, polling dates and key candidates

Lok Sabha polls 2024 Phase 7: Over 26.3% voter turnout recorded till 11 am

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Seventh phase will see voting in 57 of 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, across seven states and one UT

PM Modi to meditate at Vivekananda Memorial Rock: What makes it special?

The historical significance of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial adds depth to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit

PM Modi performs 'Surya Arghya' at Kanyakumari's Vivekananda Rock Memorial

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as part of his meditation exercise, on Friday performed 'Surya Arghya' during sunrise at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial here. Modi carried out 'Surya Arghya,' a ritual associated with spiritual practice involving salutations to the Almighty, manifested in the form of sun and offered prayers with folded hands. A short video clip, 'Sunrise, Surya Arghya, Spirituality,' posted by the BJP on its 'X' handle showed the PM pouring little water from a traditional, beaker-like small vessel into the sea as an offering (Arghya) and prayed using his prayer beads (Japa mala). The BJP also posted photographs of the Prime Minister, clad in saffron shirt, shawl and dhoti, engrossed in meditation at the Dhyan Mandapam, where incense sticks, in front of him, could be spotted burning slowly. Modi also walked around the mandapam with his japa mala in his hands. Photographs of Modi in meditating posture have been apparently clicked during different times and similar is the