Elections 2021 Live Updates: The results of the Assembly polls to West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry will be declared on May 2.The Bharatiya Janata Party Monday released its manifesto for the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections. The manifesto was officially unveiled by Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and VK Singh, with Gadkari saying it gives the “highest priority to farmers”. The saffron party promised to create 50 lakh new jobs in the state and make it number one in ease of doing business. It also promised to set up multi-speciality government hospitals in every district. For women drivers, BJP promised a free driver’s license to girls between 18 and 23.
The Election Commission on Monday banned ‘bike rallies’ 72 hours before the date of polling and on the polling day in all election bound states for the upcoming assembly polls. This announcement comes amid reports that “anti-social elements” use motor bikes to intimidate voters.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday addressed rallies in Dhemaji and Maujli in Assam and said that BJP’s priority of development and security has changed the state in the last 5 years. If Congress comes to power, Shah said, infiltration and terrorism would increase. “Congress party’s policy is to “quarrel, break and rule” whereas BJP believes in “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,” Shah said in Dhemaji.
Meanwhile, addressing more rallies in Dibrugarh and Jorhat, BJP President JP Nadda said that since NDA came to power, “it changed the face of Assam” and that BJP has been at the forefront of contributing to the state’s progress. This, he said, was prevented during Congress’s regime who “neglected the region, preventing the wheel of development here.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is on a two-day visit to Kerala, where he will be addressing poll rallies in Ernakulam district on Monday.
BJP’s manifesto for the Assembly polls in West Bengal was released on Sunday. The manifesto, called ‘Sankalp Patra’, promised to implement CAA and stated that refugees, who have been staying in Bengal for 70 years, will be given citizenship.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election campaign rally, ahead of West Bengal assembly polls, in Purulia district. (PTI)
State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday released the party’s election manifesto titled ‘Banglar Disha’ for the upcoming Assembly polls in West Bengal.
The manifesto has eight distinct promises for the people of the state and focuses on long-term development.
Chowdhury said this manifesto has been made in line with the vision of late Bidhan Chandra Roy, the second chief minister of West Bengal, who played an important role in the state’s development. Read more
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked the Narendra Modi government over the fuel price hike and its economic policies, accusing it of taking money from the pockets of people instead of putting it in their hand, as launched his second leg of campaign for the April 6 assembly elections in Kerala. He also slammed the LDF government in the state over its alleged bid to strike a deal with a US-based company on "deep sea fishing", saying "it shows the intention" of the CPI(M)- led dispensation. --PTI
Senior RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Monday alleged that the 'double- engine' governments run by the BJP at the Centre and in Assam are 'useless' as they indulged in corruption spread hatred among people. Addressing his first election rally in Assam at Tinsukia, the former deputy chief minister of Bihar claimed that the saffron party practises the politics of hate. "Inflation is at its peak. BJP governments are there in Assam and at the Centre. That means it is a double-engine government. But it is useless. Everywhere corruption is taking place and they are creating enmity between brothers. Politics of hate is happening," he said. --PTI
For Assembly by-elections in the state of Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has chosen the Ajay Tondon for Damoh constituency(MP) and PC Laltlansanga(Mizoram) for Serchhip-ST constituency.
Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday released its manifesto for the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections. In its manifesto, the saffron party promised to create 50 lakh new jobs in the state and make it number one in ease of doing business. It also promised to set up multi-speciality government hospitals in every district.
For women drivers, BJP promised a free driver's license to girls between 18 and 23. Under the Jal Jeevan mission, pure drinking water through pipelines will also be provided free of cost, the manifesto read. (With Janardhan Koushik )
Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday released its manifesto for the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections. The manifesto was officially unveiled by Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and VK Singh. The manifesto gives “highest priority to farmers” Gadkari said after releasing the document.
DMK President MK Stalin on Monday campaigned in Ramanathapuram assembly constituency. For the upcoming assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Stalin will contest from Kolathur constituency. This will be the third time the DMK leader will be contesting from the constituency after winning the previous two elections.
BJP's election manifesto for West Bengal has promised a Rs 1500 crore package for the ailing jute sector whose workers and farmers are seen as a vote bank for the party. Some 3 lakh workers mostly Hindi speaking, toil in Bengal's jute mills and are seen as a potential vote bank by the saffron party. The Jute sector also supports some 35 lakh farmers spread over 18 out of 23 major districts. "We will revamp the jute industry with a SPV (special purpose vehicle) having a corpus of Rs 1500 crore.
The amount will be used for financial restructuring of jute mills, modernizing infrastructure of mills, production linked incentives and marketing centers," the manifesto said. The manifesto also promises to continue with rules on compulsorily using jute packaging for foodgrains and sugar. The TMC manifesto on the other hand offers sops for all farmers and not specifically for the jute sector. (PTI)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is set to address a public meeting in Puthupally shortly. Puthupally is the pocket borough of former Congress CM Oommen Chand.
Addressing a rally in Assam, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday slammed BJP for not being able to announce a chief ministerial candidate till now. "BJP has not been able to decide who will be their chief ministerial candidate. They are not able to respect their own chief minister and spell out the name. If there is no stability and unity in the party, then how will it bring stability to Assam and assure the people to give a stable government? (With PTI)
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday alleged the ruling BJP in Assam was functioning like a mafia and running syndicates. Addressing a rally here, the Congress general secretary said, the saffron party in the state has two "factions", both of which have betrayed people.
The Congress leader compared Assam's BJP leadership with 'Dritarashtra' and 'Shakuni', characters in the epic Mahabharata, without naming whom she meant. Dhritarashtra was known to be a blind ruler while Shakuni was a political manipulator. "...in the Assam government, there is a Shakuni Mama- like leader and a Dritarashtra. Both of them and the BJP have betrayed the people of Assam." "The 'Dritarashtra' who was at one time called 'Jatiya Nayak' (people's leader) betrayed the six ethnic communities whom he had promised to get included in the Scheduled Tribes list. But did not do so," she said. (PTI)
The Election Commission on Monday banned ‘bike rallies’ 72 hours before the date of polling and on the polling day in all election bound states for the upcoming assembly polls. This announcement comes amid reports that “anti-social elements” use motor bikes to intimidate voters.
In a directive issued to chief electoral officers of poll-bound West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry, the poll body pointed out that it has been brought to its notice that "in some places bikes are used by anti-social elements to intimidate the voters before the poll day and/or on poll day."After considering the reports, the Commission has decided that "bike rallies shall not be allowed at any place 72 hours before date of poll or on the poll day in all poll-going constituencies," the directive said. (With PTI)
Addressing a rally in Majuli, Assam, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that in 15 years that Congress ruled Assam “many terror outfits killed people and security personnel in that state and that there was no probe done on such incidents. Under the BJP rule,however, Shah says, that “terrorists surrendered, left terrorism and entered mainstream.”
'BJP can do the work of preventing infiltration under the leadership of PM Modi.Only Modi ji can do the work of keeping Assam free from terrorism, ' Shah added.
In campaigning for the upcoming assembly polls in Kerala, parties have been consistent with their poster wars. While, UDF and NDA avoid the portrayal of their national leaders on the posters, LDF posters are dominated by Pinarayi Vijayan. (With Liz Mathew)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused the BJP of making a false promise to supply free ration ahead of the assembly elections in the state and said the saffron party will "never fulfil this".
Addressing a rally here in Bankura district, she described the BJP as a "party of outsiders", and alleged that it is bringing "goondas to create terror" in the state. "The BJP has made a false promise of free supply of ration. It will never fulfil this. (PTI)
Addressing a rally in Jorhat, Assam, BJP President JP Nadda on Monday said that BJP increased border security in the state by “satellite surveillance and smart fencing.”
Speaking at Kotulpur poll rally, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that goons from CPI(M) have unleashed terror in parts of the state and attacked her when she was in opposition.
In a setback to the Congress in poll-bound Kerala, KPCC Vice-President and veteran AICC member K C Rosakutty on Monday announced her resignation from the primary membership of the party.
"I have taken this decision after long deliberations. I am fed up with the faction wars in the party and hence decided to resign", Rosakutty told reporters.Former Chairperson of the Kerala Women's Commission, Rosakutty had represented Wayanad's Sulthan Bathery in the Assembly from 1991-96. (PTI)
Addressing a rally in Dhemaji, Assam, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that if Congress comes to power, “infiltration in the state would surge” as Congress’s rule brings “instability and violence.” BJP on the other hand, he said, brings prosperity and development.
Shah also slammed Congress for forging an alliance with Badruddin Ajmal. “We worked for the development whereas Congress is forging an alliance with Badruddin Ajmal. If they come to power infiltration in the state will surge. Do you want to stop infiltration? Congress party should be ashamed for coming together with Ajmal,” Nadda said.
Addressing a rally in Dhemaji, Assam, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that Congress party’s policy is to “quarrel, break and rule” whereas BJP believes in “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.” Shah said that while his party believes in development, Congress like to play politics.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressing a public meeting in Dhemaji, Assam, said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Naredendra Modi, the health services in Assam were improved and today it was one of the lowest Covid cases in the country. “This is the kind of transformation brought about in the state by the right leadership,” Nadda added.
Addressing a rally in Assam, BJP President JP Nadda on Monday said that it was the BJP who took the initiative to secure the Namghars in order to preserve Assam’s culture. “After the coming of the BJP government in Assam, there has been the task of securing the Namghars. The BJP government has given 2.5 lakh rupees for every Namghar, Nadda said.
“Like Assam Darshan, about 9,000 Namghars are in operation. This is happening with a view to preserving the culture,” he added.
BJP President JP Nadda on Monday, addressing a rally in Assam, said that Assam's security was compromised due to Congress and it hurt the “culture and traditions” of the state. “They neglected it and hampered its growth.Congress never prioritized security in Assam which continued to increase,” Nadda said.
BJP President JP Nadda on Monday, addressing a rally in Dibrugarh, Assam, said that since NDA came to power, “it changed the face of Assam” and that BJP has been at the forefront of contributing to the state’s progress. This development, he said, was prevented during Congress’s regime who “neglected the region, preventing the wheel of development here.”
"Congress was deeply hurt by the development here. When our government came, we protected the culture and language of Assam. Here we have tried to bring prosperity and provide security," Nadda said.
DMK's Udhayanidhi Stalin Monday said the party will win over 200 seats in the upcoming assembly polls. "DMK will win over 200 seats in upcoming polls. We'll definitely talk about Jayalalithaa's death (in poll campaign)," he said.
Udhayanidhi further said AIADMK has approached Election Commission seeking them to direct DMK to avoid any reference to former CM Jayalalithaa's death in poll campaigns.
He also reacted to MNM chief Kamal Haasan's comment that both AIADMK & DMK are not support-worthy and said he doesn't want to comment on Kamal Haasan. "I don't want to comment on Kamal Haasan. We don't take him seriously." he said.: Udhayanidhi Stalin
Congress leader Rahul Gandghi is on a two-day visit to Kerala. he will address poll rallies in Ernakulam district today.
The Election Commission Monday asked to restrain political appointees holding office of Administrators/Head of Board of Administrators in Municipal Corporations of West Bengal on appointment basis after the end of their term, from exercising functions of Board while the Model Code of Conduct is in force.
"Committee headed by Chief Secy, WB, Principal Secy Urban Development & Principal Secy Personnel as members shall appoint govt officials, keeping in view EC’s instructions to discharge functions of Administrators/Head of Board of Administrator, as case may be, during the period," it said.
DMK candidate from Karur, Senthil Balaji has been booked under 6 sections of IPC for making remarks against government officials, news agency ANI reported.
Senthil Balaji had reportedly said in a poll campaign, "Tell me if any official stops you from mining sand in bullock cart, he won't be there again."
West Bengal minister and TMC leader Firhad Hakim Monday resigned as the Chairman of Kolkata Municipal Corporation after Election Commission's advice, as he is contesting in the state assembly polls, news agency ANI reported.
Kerala Cheif Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Monday asked Left party workers to work to ensure the party's victory in polls and not get carried away by the pre-poll surveys that have predicted that the LDF will come to power.
"Pre-poll surveys have predicted that LDF will come to power. But I want to tell the Left workers to not get carried away by the figures. It's just an indication. Everyone should work properly to ensure Left's victory in the polls," he said.
Vijayan said both the BJP and Congress don't have any responsibility towards people's issues. "Prices of petrol, diesel & cooking gas are rising. Congress gave oil companies the right to hike prices. BJP protested against it by riding bullock carts but after they to come power the same is happening. They both don't have any responsibility towards people's issues," he added.
The Kerala CM alleged that some Congress leaders are indulging in vote trading. "Some prominent Congress leaders are trying to reach Kerala Assembly with the help of BJP. They are into vote trading. In the coming days, more details will come out," he further said.
Assam BJP chief Ranjit Kumar Dass said the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is not going to cause any harm and they will implement it.
"This has been passed (by the Parliament). There is no question of stepping back, this is an ideological commitment of BJP. CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) is not going to cause any harm. We will definitely implement it, rules will be formed," he said.
Doubling down on its “outsider” jibe at the BJP, the Trinamool Congress on Sunday said the saffron party’s manifesto for the Assembly polls was “jumla-laden” (rhetoric) and “full of lies”.
“Absurd how the Tourist Gang released their jumla-laden manifesto for Bengal polls in the hands of a Gujarati! A party that cannot find sufficient candidates for all 294 seats in Bengal is now faltering to find local leadership for such key events!#BengalRejectsGujaratiManifesto,” tweeted TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee. Read more
The BJP has made it one of its main weapons against the Mamata Banerjee government, saying that, if it comes to power, it will build a “Sonar Bangla”, ending “Syndicate Raj” and “Cut Money” culture. From Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah to junior BJP leaders, all have raised the issue. Read more
“Give me a comb,” Lathika Subhash tells her nephew, following him into a room. Soon, she returns with a grin, “I did it again! I forgot I don’t have any hair.”
Until March 14, 56-year-old Lathika, who headed the Mahila Congress in Kerala, had short salt-and-pepper hair, quite like the late Indira Gandhi. That day, as it became evident that the Congress was not going to give her the ticket for her home constituency of Ettumanoor, Lathika resigned from party posts and proceeded to tonsure her head in front of the Congress office in Thiruvanantha- puram, while raising slogans in favour of Rahul and Sonia Gandhi. Her protest was against the state leadership, she said, and the poor representation of women — 10 out of 92 — in the Congress list. Read more
It is the first sunny day in a week, but it does little to lift Pardeep Daimari’s mood. As a cavalcade of state government cars passes by his grocery shop in Kachari Pathar village in Upper Assam’s Dibrugarh district, Daimari shrugs dispassionately: “It’s all the same.” Read More
SHE EMERGES from atop her campaign vehicle, her hands folded — the imagery not lost on a Tamil Nadu electorate with strong memories of J Jayalalithaa still. She works the crowd with her oratory, and she is clear about the future of the DMDK, a party led by her ailing husband Vijayakanth, that she is now shouldering: the baton, she says, has been picked up by son Vijay Prabhakar, 29. Read more
Doubling down on its “outsider” jibe at the BJP, the Trinamool Congress on Sunday said the saffron party's manifesto for the Assembly polls was “jumla-laden" (rhetoric) and “full of lies”.
“Absurd how the Tourist Gang released their jumla-laden manifesto for Bengal polls in the hands of a Gujarati! A party that cannot find sufficient candidates for all 294 seats in Bengal is now faltering to find local leadership for such key events!#
Minutes after the manifesto release, TMC leaders and supporters started tweeting against the BJP with #
TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar predicted that the people of Bengal would snub the manifesto. "You know how @BJP4Bengal plans to make a ‘Sonar Bangla’? By Renaming Kisan credit card to Rupay card (with no real credit inside)? Bengal cannot and will not accept this sham!," said Dastidar. ENS
Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan held a roadshow at Kannappan Nagar in Coimbatore earlier today. (ANI)
Both (AIADMK and DMK) are not worthy of support, says Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan. He adds, “They (people) should make a decisive move towards politics, which means not leaving a Hung Assembly. Everyone should come out and vote.” (ANI)
CPI(M) MP P R Natrajan on Sunday took a dig at Makkal Neethi Maiam (MNM) chief and film actor Kamal Hassan, saying by not criticising the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and the BJP during his election campaign he was functioning like a 'B' team of the latter.
Taking on Hassan, who had criticised DMK MLA N Karthik and himself for not doing anything for Coimbatore, the MP said instead of criticising the AIADMK and BJP, which heads the NDA government at the Centre, for lack of infrastructure, the actor was targeting the CPI(M) and DMK, which proved that he was the 'B' team of the BJP.
There was no increase in the prices of petroleum products in the last 20 days, considering the elections in four states and the union territory of Puducherry, he said, adding this clearly showed that Centre wanted to gain votes from the general public, by not hiking the rates. (PTI)
Trinamool Congress MP Dev on Sunday claimed that the work done by the Mamata Banerjeegovernment in West Bengal is unparallel, asserting that she would score 10 goals in the upcoming elections even with a broken leg.
Addressing an election rally at Silda in the Jhargram district, the Tollywood superstar hit out at the BJP over the rise in fuel prices.
"The work done by Mamata Banerjee in the last 10 years is unparalleled. No other chief minister in any other state has done such great work ever. Because of the work done by her, 'Didi' can score 10 goals even with this broken leg," Dev said amid chants of 'Khela Hobe' (game will happen) from the crowd.
"It will be a game to take people on the path of development, and people will ensure to end the game of those who play politics of religion. The people of Bengal will win the game," he said at the rally, which saw a massive gathering to see the superstar amid sweltering heat. (PTI)
Nomination of key leaders for the April 6 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, including that of Chief Minister K Palaniswami and DMK president M K Stalin have been accepted by election authorities.
Of the 7,255 total nominations received, 4,526 were accepted and 2,726 rejected, according to the updated data hosted on Sunday on the official website of the Chief Electoral Officer, Tamil Nadu, following scrutiny.
After filing of nominations opened on March 12, as many as 6,183 men, 1,069 women and three transpersons (total 7,255) submitted their papers till 3 pm on March 19, the last date to file nominations. (PTI)
BJP's firebrand leader Sobha Surendran has likened arch-rival and LDF candidate in the April 6 assembly polls — Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran to Hindu mythological character "Poothana" as she attacked him over the Sabarimala issue.
Sobha Surendran, during an election meeting at her Kazhakootam constituency on Saturday night attacked the minister saying he has come as "Poothana" to harm the Ayyappa devotees, who will transform into 'Krishnas' to annihilate him in the electoral arena.
According to the Hindu mythology, "Poothana", who assumed the disguise of a beautiful young woman, had tried to breastfeed Krishna with poison when she was killed by the infant god.
The minister's expression of regret on the Sabarimala issue was just a ploy during the polls, she said. (PTI)
Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Puducherry V Narayanasamy on Sunday said he was not contesting the April 6 Assembly elections as there was a need to coordinate poll-related works and programmes of the party in the Union Territory.
He told reporters at the PCC office here that the president of the Pradesh Congress Committee A V Subramanian was contesting the poll from Karaikal (north) and so he (Narayanasamy), along with the Congress Member of Parliament V Vaithilingam, had to coordinate election-related party activities.
"This is the reason for my not contesting the poll," he said. (PTI)
Cash, gold jewels and other items worth Rs 1.37 crore have been seized from 65 people over the last 20 days in different parts of Erode district, said its Collector-cum-Election Officer C Kathiravan on Sunday.
The seizure was made in view of the election code of conduct that came into effect from February 26.
The Election Commission had ordered that cash totalling above Rs 50,000 and other items without receipt or documents should be in possession of anyone as the valuables could be used to bribe voters. (PTI)
The BJP on Sunday released its manifesto for West Bengal promising to implement the CAA at the first Cabinet meeting if it came to power. It also promised to provide one job per family in the state, with “chakri” emerging as a major poll issue.
While the CAA was passed by the Modi government in December 2019, it is still to come into force as rules have not been notified. With poll-bound Assam opposed to the CAA even as large sections in West Bengal support it, the BJP has been walking a tightrope on the matter.
Unveiling a ‘Sonar Bangla Sankalpa Patra’, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the BJP will take strict measures against illegal infiltration, while ensuring Rs 10,000 per year for every refugee family for five years through direct benefit transfer, to ensure an “infiltration-free” and “appeasement-free” Bengal. (Read full report here)
Senior Congress leader Rajeev Shukla on Sunday said that the government to be formed by the party in Assam after the assembly election will be run by and for the people of the state and will not be remote-controlled from Delhi.
The BJP-led government in Assam has played with the emotions and fortunes of the tea garden workers for the last five years, he alleged while addressing a press conference in Guwahati.
"The Congress government is going to be run by the people of Assam, for the people of Assam and not on the instructions of people from Delhi," Shukla said.
Describing the BJP as the "Chunaavi Jumla Party" (electoral fake promise party), he alleged that reneging on promises has become a hallmark of the saffron party. (PTI)
A digital countdown clock has been installed at the entrance to the DMK party headquarters in Chennai in the run-up to the Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu. (ANI)
Karunanidhi himself didn’t believe Stalin, says Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi Palaniswami. “During his last two years when he was ill, he did not hand over the party to Stalin. He did not trust his son. In such a case, how will people believe him?” he adds. (ANI)
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Sunday charted out a bigger role for his son and BJP state vice-president B Y Vijayendra to make a dent into the Congress and JD(S) citadel in old Mysuru region.
Ruling out fielding Vijayendra from Basavakalyan where Assembly bypolls are due on April 17 along with Maski assembly segment and Belagavi Lok Sabha segment, Yediyurappa said his son would camp in Mysuru to strengthen the party base.
"There is no element of truth in fielding Vijayendra from Basavakalyan. Seniors have the expectations that he should go to Mysuru and reside there to cover four to five districts," Yediyurappa told reporters at Sindhanur Taluk in Raichur district.
The Chief Minister said Vijayendra would camp in Mysuru after the bypolls are over. (PTI)
The Congress, which faces an imminent defeat in the Assam polls, has become desperate and might resort to politics to divide the society in the state but the BJP will never allow this, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Sunday.
Referring to the grand alliance of opposition parties, including Congress, Left parties and AIUDF, formed for the three-phase state elections, he said the Congress' leadership has thoroughly exposed itself by turning away from its ideological position by seeking the “support offered by an overtly communal outfit headed by Badruddin Ajmal”.
“The BJP is a party with a consistent ideology of justice to all sections of society without appeasement. The Congress may have become desperate enough to resort to politics of dividing the society in Assam, but we shall never allow this to happen," Singh, the minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office, said. (PTI)
Referring to the promises in the manifesto, “We will work with the Central Government to ensure efforts are made at the international level to make Bengali one of the official languages in the United Nations”
“We will constitute the following separate Task Forces to curb the problem of arms racketeering, unchecked narcotics trade, land grabbing, fake currency circulation and cattle smuggling,” he says.
He adds, “We will establish a Sonar Bangla fund worth Rs 11,000 crore which will promote art, literature and other such sectors… We will constitute an SIT to investigate cases of political killings & take strict action against those responsible. We'll provide up to Rs 25 lakhs as a rehabilitation package to each of the victims of political violence.” (ANI)
Continuing with the promises in the manifesto, Amit Shah says, “We have decided to provide free education to women from KG to PG. Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented in the first Cabinet and refugees who have been staying here for 70 years will be given citizenship. Each refugee family will get Rs 10,000 per year for 5 years.”
He adds, “Three new AIIMS hospitals will be built in North Bengal, Jangalmahal and Sundarban so that locals don't have to travel to Kolkata to avail healthcare facilities. We will also start a Common Eligibility Test for all state government jobs to keep a check on corruption.” (ANI)
Outlining the promises in the manifesto, Amit Shah says, “We have decided that no infiltrators will be allowed in Bengal and border fencing will be strengthened.”
He adds, “Continuing with the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, Rs 18,000, which Mamata didi didn't give to farmers for three years, would be transferred to 75 lakh farmers' bank accounts without any cut.” (ANI)
Women to be given 33% reservation in state government jobs, BJP promises its manifesto for the West Bengal polls. (ANI)
We have decided to call our manifesto a 'Sankalp Patra', says Union Home Minister Amit Shah, adding, "It is not just a manifesto but a resolution letter for West Bengal by the country's largest party." (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah releases BJP’s manifesto for the West Bengal Assembly polls, in Kolkata.
Speaking at Nandakumar in East Midnapore district, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “BJP means Bharatiya Joghonno (bad) Party. I was Lok Sabha MP seven times and I have seen many prime ministers. But I have never seen such a ruthless, cruel PM. BJP is a party of monsters, demons, Ravana, Duryodhana, Dushasana, unrest and terror.” (ANI)
Former Bengal minister and BJP's assembly poll candidate from Domjur, Rajib Banerjee, was on Sunday shown black flags by TMC supporters in the constituency, when he was out campaigning from door to door with other activists of his party, police sources said.
Several agitators, holding posters that referred to Banerjee as a "traitor", also blocked his way and raised slogans against him, prompting the police to mildly lathicharge them, the sources said.
The BJP nominee, on his part, said the "TMC workers had hurled stones at saffron party activists". (PTI)