Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president JP Nadda | Twitter/@BJP4India2022 Assembly Election Highlights, Punjab Voting, UP 3rd Phase Polls: Days after a court convicted 49 people for the Ahmedabad serial blasts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he had vowed to punish the perpetrators even if they took refuge in “paatal”, and accused the Samajwadi Party of being sympathetic to such terrorists. Addressing a BJP campaign rally in Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh, he said he had wondered why the terrorists had opted for “bicycle”, the Samajwadi Party’s election symbol, to plant bombs in the initial blasts in Ahmedabad. According to PTI, he slammed the Samajwadi Party for being sympathetic towards terrorists and claimed that the previous government headed by it had sought to withdraw cases against several terror accused as “a return gift”.
Meanwhile, BJP president J P Nadda also attacked Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, saying he took oath to protect the Constitution, but instead tried to protect terrorists. He accused the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and the BJP’s rivals in the state of patronising goons and the mafia. Accusing Yadav of “withdrawing cases of terrorists accused of bomb blasts”, Nadda said, “The court did not spare these accused. The court said that you cannot withdraw the cases, these terrorists cannot be released”. “The terrorists, whom Akhilesh wanted to save, were sentenced by the court,” he said while addressing an election rally in the Shravasti assembly constituency on Sunday for party candidate Ram Pheran Pandey. Similarly, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan also accused the Samajwadi Party of having a nexus with terrorists and said it should tell people about its relations with the father of a convict in the Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts case. Chouhan was addressing an election rally in Rampur Karkhana’s Bairiyapur in Deoria district, where polling will be held on March 3.
Meanwhile, Punjab, on Sunday, witnessed a voter turnout of over 65 per cent in the assembly polls, while Uttar Pradesh saw nearly 60 per cent voting in the third phase of the elections. Punjab is expected to witness a multi-cornered contest among the ruling Congress, AAP, SAD-BSP alliance, BJP-PLC-SAD (Sanyukt) and the Sanyukt Samaj Morcha. Among the prominent faces contesting in Punjab are CM Charanjit Singh Channi, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, Aam Aadmi Party’s chief ministerial face Bhagwant Mann, former CMs Amarinder Singh and Parkash Singh Badal, and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal. In the third of the seven-phase elections in UP, a total of 627 candidates are in the fray. This phase will see Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav contesting from the Karhal assembly seat in Mainpuri district. The BJP has pitted Union minister S P Singh Baghel from there.
Two personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on election duty in Manipur sustained injuries in an IED blast in the Kakching district on Sunday.
The police said the incident occurred at around 9 pm along the Imphal-Sugnu road in the Wangoo area when the ITBP personnel were on routine patrol duty. Read More
The third phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh recorded 57.8 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm, as per the Election Commission (EC). In the last election, the 13 districts that went to polls Sunday had recorded 62.36 per cent voter turnout. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav were among the candidates whose fate got sealed in Sunday’s polling.
As per EC data, Lalitpur polled the highest with 67.38 per cent voter turnout, followed by Etah with 63.58 per cent. The lowest voter turnout of 50 per cent was recorded in Kanpur. In the previous election as well, Lalitpur had recorded the maximum voting percentage of 72.05 per cent while Kanpur Nagar had the lowest voter turnout of 57.65 per cent. Read More
Sardulgarh constituency saw 83.45 per cent polling, according to EC data.
Punjab has registered a voter turnout of 64.48 per cent in the assembly elections. Further revision to take place.
Goddess Lakshmi does not visit people on a bicycle or an elephant but goes around sitting in a lotus, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said here on Sunday, seeking to link peoples' prosperity and state's development with the BJP's poll symbol. Addressing an election rally in Jagdishpur near here, Singh said only the BJP is the true well-wisher of the poor and the weak.
"Goddess Lakshmi never goes to anyone's house riding a cycle or an elephant or on (someone's) hand. Goddess Lakshmi visits people only sitting on a lotus. The PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, Ujjwala Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana are the indicators of goddess Lakshmi's arrival," said Singh. The defence minister said even international agencies have said only the BJP is running a good government in India. The BJP has fulfilled whatever promises it had made, he added. (PTI)
At the designated place for protests in Lakhimpur Kheri which the locals call ‘Bilobhi Gate’, three youths are waiting for their order of noodles. While Rahul Singh (28), a bank employee, says it is time for change as “this government knows only how to invoke emotions in the name of religion and caste”, friends Vaibhav Gupta (27) and Pushpendra Verma (28) are not sure whom to vote for.
One thing they agree on: that the killing of farmers in Tikunia in Lakhimpur Kheri, in which the son of Union MoS Ajay Mishra’s son is an accused, was “never our issue”. Says Verma: “Most of those who were killed were outsiders. It was a big event for the media, but it didn’t affect us, and neither will it affect the voting pattern here.” Read More
109-year-old Naseeban cast her vote in booth number 141 of Malerkotla. She was given a grand welcome at the booth. She insisted to visit the polling booth to exercise her right to vote.
"Around 2.06 crore voters turned up to cast their votes till 5 pm for the third phase of UP Assembly elections. Wherever we got complaints, EVMs & VVPATs were replaced immediately. There was no incident of violence," says Ajay Kumar Shukla, Chief Electoral Officer, UP. (ANI)
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav holds a Samajwadi Vijay Yatra in Lucknow.
Third phase voting concluded in Kanpur. EVM closing visuals from a polling booth number 34-40.
Attacking Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the CM-candidate is "insecure" about his seat and had to plead to his father, whom he had "humiliated" to capture the party, to save him from defeat in the constituency. "You can gauge the direction of wind... The seat, which these people were considering as the safest, is also getting out of their reach," Modi said in an apparent reference to the Karhal seat from where Yadav is contesting in the family-stronghold of Mainpuri.
Ahead of polling in the third phase, SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav had campaigned for his son Akhilesh Yadav on the seat though he has maintained a low profile during this election.
Modi targeted Akhilesh Yadav who was seen in a video purportedly pushing Mulayam Singh Yadav on the stage during a power struggle within the party before 2017 assembly elections. "You must have seen, the father who was pushed from the stage was humiliated and the party was captured, he had to plead to him for saving the seat," the prime minister said. (PTI)
Voting concludes in Punjab. Polling officials seal Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPATs at a polling booth in Moga Assembly constituency.
Voters of Basiala village in the Garhshankar Assembly segment boycotted the polling on Sunday in protest against the closing of a railroad crossing. They refused to vote despite efforts by the administration, demanding that first the railroad on the Jalandhar-SBS Nagar-Jaijon rail track near their village be reopened.
Basiala village sarpanch Hardev Singh said the crossing was closed three years ago for the reasons best known to the railway authorities. He said it caused difficulties to the inhabitants of Basiala, Bakapur Guru, Rasoolpur, Chauhra, Denowal Kalan and Dogarpur villages falling under Anandpur Lok Sabha constituency. Due to the closing of the gates, commuters have been forced to travel a distance of about 2 km to reach the village. There are so many sharp turns on this alternative narrow route and it is very difficult to move tractor-trailers and school buses, he added.
The sarpanch said they had made a number of representations to MP Manish Tewari, Union Railway Ministry, Ferozepur Railway Division authorities and the district administration in this regard but nothing has been done so far. They had also sent a proposal to the railway authorities that the salary to the railway guard and other expenses for the opening of the railroad crossing will be met by panchayats of the affected villages, he said. (PTI)
Citing the decline in Covid-19 cases, the Election Commission Sunday restored the number of star campaigners a party can field for campaigning in the ongoing polls in five states. Now, recognised national and state parties can field a maximum of 40 star campaigners. Other parties which are registered but not recognised can now have 20 star campaigners.
The Commission had in October 2020 reduced the number of star campaigners for recognised national and state parties from 40 to 30, as large gatherings were witnessed during campaigning in Bihar assembly elections and bypolls in several states amid the coronavirus pandemic. For unrecognised registered political parties, the maximum number of star campaigners was brought down to 15 from 20. (PTI)
Voting time concludes in Punjab. Only those who had entered the polling stations before 6 pm to be allowed to cast vote now.
Jalandhar DC presented plants to the elderly voters at the Super Model Booth.
Uttar Pradesh has registered a voter turnout of 57.44 per cent in the third phase polling of the assembly elections till 5 pm.
Chief Minister Charan Singh Chann's constituencies: Bhadaur - 71.30 per cent, Chamkaur Sahib - 68 per cent
AAP CM candidate Bhagwant Mann’s constituency: Dhuri - 68 per cent
Sukhbir Singh Badal’s constituency: Jalalabad - 71.50 per cent
Parkash Singh Badal’s constituency: Lambi - 72.40 per cent
Capt. Amarinder Singh’s constituency: Patiala city - 59.50 per cent
Punjab has registered 63.44 per cent polling in the assembly elections till 5 pm. Highest polling in Gidderbaha constituency at 77.80 per cent and lowest in Amritsar South at 48.06 per cent.
SSP Mohali Harjeet Singh takes out a flag march in Nayagaon following tension between Akali Dal and AAP workers.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday said BJP has forgotten it's “raj dharma” of serving the common people and is only working for big businesses. She said this while addressing a rally in Jagatpur area of Raebareli asking people to watch out for those who use "religion and caste" to get votes.
"BJP leaders have forgotten their religion of serving people. The religion for them has become a means to instigate people to get votes. The government is not following 'raj dharma' of serving people," Priyanka said. Talking about inflation, she said the prices of gas cylinder and musterd oil have gone up. "You earn Rs 200 daily and a bottle of mustard oil is of Rs 240," she said. She spoke of unemployment among youths and the plight of farmers in the state accusing the government of stoking religious sentiments to divert people's attentions from these issues.
The leader also alleged unnecessary expenditure by the centre overlooking the money it owed to the farmers. "The entire due amount of sugarcane farmers is Rs 14,000 crore but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has bought two aeroplanes worth Rs 16,000 crore for himself. He is visiting the world in them but not paying the dues of the farmers. Congress government waived of loans of farmers but these days the loans of big businessmen are being waived," the leader said. (PTI)
Congress' Manipur in-charge Bhakta Charan Das on Sunday accused the BJP of reducing AFSPA to an "organised violence" act to target citizens, and asserted that the demand for its repeal was a "big issue" in Manipur but the BJP was "not respecting" people's views. The Congress, which has promised to work towards the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, if voted to power in Manipur assembly polls, has slammed the BJP for being “silent” on the act in its manifesto.
In an interview with PTI, Das rejected suggestions that not having announced a chief ministerial face could hamper the Congress' chances in Manipur and said the party has several capable leaders, including former CM Okram Ibobi Singh who is active and a "very strong face" for the leadership of the state.
The Congress' Manipur in-charge exuded confidence that the party would form government in Manipur and get around 35-40 seats in the 60-member assembly. (PTI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday, addressing an election rally, said, 'After 3rd phase voting, BJP will get so many seats that SP, BSP and Congress bails will be seized. Earlier electricity was also politicized. There would be electricity on Eid & Muharram but not on Holi, Diwali. But no such discrimination today. We believe in Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'. (ANI)
A case was registered against BJP leader and party’s MLA in Telangana T Raja Singh over his comments for threatening people to vote for his party in Uttar Pradesh, police said on Sunday.
The Election Commission on Saturday censured Raja Singh and barred him from campaigning for 72 hours. Read More
BJP candidate from Gill, SR Ladhar, alleges Congress workers manhandled his workers at Bhattian Bet. Police on spot.
Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu alleges SAD workers attacked Congress booth staff in Ludhiana East constituency of sitting MLA Sanjay Talwar. Police on spot.
AAP has levelled allegations against SAD for attacking their booth agent. More details awaited. Police are looking into the issue.
"An Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) commando center will be established in Deoband, Kanpur, Bahraich, Rampur, Azamgarh... let jail people stay in jails & send people on bail to jail," BJP president JP Nadda addressing a public meeting in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh has registered 48.81 per cent polling in the third phase of the assembly elections till 3 pm.
Punjab has registered 49.81 per cent polling in the assembly elections till 3 pm. Highest polling was recorded in Gidderbaha constituency at 61.4 per cent and lowest at Amritsar East at 33.70 per cent.
Labh Singh Ugoke is contesting against Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi of Congress in Bhadaur constituency. Express photo by Gurmeet Singh.
Punjab police on Sunday impounded the vehicle of actor Sonu Sood and instructed him to stay at home after receiving a complaint from Shiromani Akali Dal that he was visiting polling booths in Moga district and allegedly trying to influence voters. Sonu Sood’s sister Malvika Sood Sachar is the Congress candidate from Moga constituency.
Addressing a rally in UP's Hardoi, PM Modi said, "The earlier governments helped the mafia and criminals. People of Hardoi have made preparations to play Holi twice, the first being after BJP's bumper victory on March 10.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi, said: “I am sad that from 2014-2017, these paraivarvadis did not support me. I am an MP from UP, but till 2017, they didn't let me work. If you bring them to power, will they let me work for you? Should such people be re-elected?"
Punjab, on Sunday, witnessed a voter turnout of 34.10 per cent till 1 pm, while the corresponding number in Uttar Pradesh stood at 35.88 per cent. Voting for the third phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, in 59 assembly seats, began at 7 am on Sunday, while polling in Punjab started at 8 am.
Actor Sonu Sood, whose sister Malvika is contesting from Moga, has been asked to stay inside his house after the Akali Dal issued a complaint that he was roaming across booths and trying to influence voters. “A flying squad team has been deputed outside Sood’s house,” returning officer Satwant Singh said.
While 59 seats in Uttar Pradesh were voting, BJP president JP Nadda, addressing a rally in Shravasti said: “Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were born with silver spoons and used to mock Jan Dhan accounts. Now, they have understood the true meaning of it. Rs 2,000 each will be transferred the to the accounts of 10.50 crore farmers every 3 months.”
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, while speaking to reporters in Saifai at Etawah, said: “People are unhappy with the BJP and this time, the elections are about removing them from Uttar Pradesh. They (BJP) are anxious that people are angry with them, and hence, their language and behaviour have changed.”
Former Punjab chief minister and founder of Punjab Lok Congress Captain Amarinder Singh said: “I am certain of winning in Patiala. I think we will win the elections...They (Congress) live in a different world and will be wiped out of Punjab.”
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who is contesting from Amritsar East, said, “People will win, their issues will win and public will reject Sidhu's arrogance and hate politics. There has not been any development of industries and issues of business, unemployed and poor labours have not been addressed.”
Balwinder Singh, a groom in Punjab, casts his vote at a polling booth at Longowal Polytechnic College in Punjab. “I think it’s my responsibility to cast my vote to bring a change in Punjab. I took out time from my marriage and have come here as it is a priority to cast one’s vote.”
Punjab, on Sunday, witnessed a voter turnout of 17.77 per cent till 11 am, while the corresponding number in Uttar Pradesh stood at 21.18 per cent. Voting for the third phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, in 59 assembly seats, began at 7 am on Sunday, while polling in Punjab started at 8 am.
An FIR has been lodged against Kanpur Mayor Pramila Pandey under relevant sections for the breach of secrecy of voting at Hudson School polling station, says DM Kanpur Nagar. She had shared pictures from inside the polling booth showing the EVM.
Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, after casting his vote, said: “Kejriwal calls himself Bhagat Singh’s disciple. Will Bhagat Singh’s disciple make compromises, show his back to riots in his city? Why should we join hands with people who hide their truths and show their fake said? You got to know that my opponents are distributing money, but they have unaccounted money, money that has been earned by betraying Punjab.”
Jatinder Singh, a farmer from Rampur Ballan in CM Charanjit Singh Channi’s Chamkaur Sahib constituency, said: "I have voted for development. We hope a good candidate will come to power and studies and education will improve in our village. I have also voted with the hope that medical services are improved."
The Election Commission made special arrangements for Amritsar-based conjoined twins Sohan Singh and Mohan Singh to ensure that secrecy is maintained among them while they cast their vote in the single-phase Punjab Assembly elections that began on Sunday. The Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab, S Karuna Raju, had said that the EC had considered Sohna and Mohna as separate voters and decided to give individual voting rights to both of them. Read More
As Punjab goes to the polls, state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu says: “On one side is the mafia raj of the Badal family and Captain Amarinder Singh. On the other side are those who love Punjab. We lost one generation to terrorism, the second to drugs. So today, we have to vote very carefully. People vote this time to bring about change in the state.”
Allegations against AAP’s candidate in Mohali for distributing refrigerators. Police are investigating the claim. A vehicle carrying the refrigerators has been found in Phase 4 of Mohali.
Congress leader Sunil Jakhar casts his vote at polling booth number 126-128 in Panjkosi Assembly constituency in Fazilka district’s Abohar. “I am confident that the voters of Punjab will give a befitting reply to those dreaming of dividing and ruling the state.”
Punjab, on Sunday, witnessed a voter turnout of 4.80 per cent till 9 am, while the corresponding number in Uttar Pradesh stood at 8.15 per cent. Voting for the third phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, in 59 assembly seats, began at 7 am on Sunday, while polling in Punjab started at 8 am.
Voters in Punjab say they have exercised their franchise looking towards progress of the state and not for the sake of freebies. “There are parties which say they’ll give out free electricity, rides, LPG cylinders, but they are actually using the taxpayers’ money to do that. We have voted for progress, not freebies.”
Monika, a first-time voter from Kharar, says that she has voted for change. “There are no proper roads, education facilities and the youth are simply moving abroad. There should be a change so that people would want to stay in the state.”
Kiranjit Kaur, after casting her vote, said the agrarian crisis needs immediate attention. “Farmers are not getting enough for their produce. The cost of inputs is very high. Only we know how we are making do.”
The 2017 Punjab results in a nutshell: Congress: 77 seats; AAP: 20 seats; Akali Dal: 15 seats; and BJP: 3 seats. The runners-up: SAD in 44 seats, Congress 27, AAP 26 and the BJP 18.
As Punjab started voting, Aam Aadmi Party’s chief ministerial candidate Bhagwant Mann said: “It is a big day for Punjab today. The Congress and BJP have come together to make up allegations against my party and me, but the people of Punjab know everything.” Mann is contesting from Dhuri in Sangrur.
2.14 crore voters to decide fate of 1,304 candidates in Punjab, with elaborate security arrangements in place. Of the 1,304 candidates, 231 are from National Parties, 250 from State Parties, 362 from Unrecognised Parties, while 461 are Independents. As many as 315 contesting candidates have criminal antecedents. Sahnewal and Patiala rural have the maximum number of candidates with 19 each while Dinanagar has the least number of candidates at five.
Voting for all the 117 Assembly seats of Punjab has started. Over 2.14 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,304 candidates including 93 women. Among the prominent faces contesting in Punjab are CM Charanjit Singh Channi, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, Aam Aadmi Party’s chief ministerial face Bhagwant Mann, former CMs Amarinder Singh and Parkash Singh Badal, and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal.
As Punjab goes to the polls today, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, after offering his prayers at Gurudwara Sri Katalgarh Sahib in Kharar, said: “It's the leadership of the party that is behind our success. It'll now be the will of the almighty and the people. We’ve given all our efforts.” The CM is contesting from Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur constituencies.
Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid and his wife Louise Khurshid, who is also the party’s candidate from Farrukhabad Sadar, cast their vote at a polling booth in the constituency. “I am feeling euphoric. All the women that I have interacted with are interested in casting their vote,” Louise said.