West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry Assembly elections 2021 Live Updates:
Tamil Nadu elections: TTV hoped seat in bag, CPM man with jhola stands in the way
Kovilpatti in southern Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district may be one of the most-watched constituencies in this Assembly election in Tamil Nadu, with AIADMK rebel T T V Dhinakaran — who has a lot more at stake than just this poll win — announcing his candidature from here. Also in the race is powerful AIADMK minister Kadambar Raju. But, several voters in Kovilpatti have their eyes on a third candidate — the self-effacing K Srinavasan, contesting on the ticket of the CPM, which is a part of the DMK-led alliance, who has been working here quietly since long.
Ashok Lahiri: An economist and a candidate in waiting
One of the most surprising names in the BJP’s list for the West Bengal Assembly elections has been Ashok Lahiri. Lahiri is the first person to have served as the chief economic adviser to the Government of India to contest an election. He served in the post between October 2002 and June 2007, appointed under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government and continuing under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
O Rajagopal: 'Left seems to have a slight edge'
When asked by The Indian Express whether Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan can buck the trend of Kerala alternating between two coalitions, and the Left retaining power, O Rajagopal said, "There is such a feeling among some people, but I won’t be able to say it conclusively. The Congress is going down and nobody can help it revive. Its days are over."
With the West Bengal Assembly elections to kick off on March 27, a full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) visited the state for a two-day trip to oversee poll preparations.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora said all basic facilities will be provided at polling booths, all polling stations will be on the ground floor, and there will be arrangements for wheelchairs, drinking water, electricity, and ramps for the specially abled.
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On Tuesday, the full bench held video conferences with the district administration and the police of all the eight districts of North Bengal, over law and order and poll-preparedness. Read More
A day after BJP national president J P Nadda announced that Citizenship (Amendment) Act will be implemented, the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) on Wednesday staged a 11-hour dharna across Assam in protest against the law.
AASU held demonstrations in dozens of towns apart from capital Guwahati and in various sub-divisions of the state.
AASU general secretary Sankarjyoti Barua said, "J P Nadda yesterday insulted the sentiment of the Assamese people when he said CAA will be implemented. Even our chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal is saying the same."
The announcement to implement the CAA amidst the election season is "most unfortunate" for the Assamese society, its culture, language and identity, he added. (PTI)
The DMK on Wednesday moved the Madras High Court with a plea to restrain the Election Commission from using electronic voting machines (EVMs) that were beyond the expiry period of 15 years, in the April 6 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls.
The other prayers of the DMK, represented by its Organisation Secretary R S Bharathi, were to provide CCTV live coverage/web-stream during voting in all the polling booths and voting centres, to instal jammers at the strong rooms where EVMs are stored and at the counting centres.
However, the court said it does not appear that EVMs can be tampered with without touching them.
The Opposition party also wanted the court to direct the Returning Officers to count at least 50 per cent of VVPATS, simultaneously. (PTI)
The Election Commission on Wednesday decided to keep in abeyance the schedule of elections to fill three Rajya Sabha seats from Kerala after the Law Ministry flagged some issues.
"The commission... had announced schedule for biennial election for three seats to Council of States (Rajya Sabha) from Kerala... In the meanwhile, a reference has been received from the Ministry of Law and Justice. Pending examination of the reference, the commission has decided to keep the aforementioned proposed notification and schedule in abeyance till further orders," the commission said in a statement.
Election to three Rajya Sabha seats from Kerala falling vacant next month was to be held on April 12. (PTI)
DMK leader Dindigul I Leoni has come under fire after making a sexist remark at an election campaign rally in Coimbatore.
In a video clip of the speech doing the rounds on social media, Leoni can be heard saying women “have lost their figures, putting on weight after consuming the milk of foreign cows”. People present at the event can be seen clapping and laughing.
The incident took place when Leoni, TV talk show judge and DMK’s propaganda secretary, was campaigning for the party’s Thondamuthur candidate, Karthikeya Sivasenapathy. Sivasenapathy is the managing trustee of Senaapathy Kangayam Cattle Research Foundation (SKCRF), an NGO working for the welfare of native cattle breeds. Read this report by Janardhan Koushik
Describing the Congress-led Mahajoth (grand alliance) as a ‘Mahajooth’ (grand lie), Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said the grand old party neither has a neta (leaders) nor neeti (principles).
Addressing a poll rally at Bihpuria in Lakhimpur district, PM Modi said, “This Mahajooth doesn’t have neta (leaders) or neeti (principles), neither does it have sanskaar (culture) or vichar (ideas).”
He further said that the alliance was only capable of “guaranteeing” corruption and infiltration. Read the full report by Tora Agarwala from Assam here
Ahead of Kerala polls, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury today campaigned for party candidate P A Mohammad Riyaz from Beypore constituency in Kozhikode.
'Metroman' E Sreedharan, who is contesting from Palakkad on a BJP ticket in Kerala Assembly elections, has declared his assets worth Rs 7.79 crore in his nomination form. The octagenarian is contesting for the first time.
Here are the full details:
Total assets: Rs 7.79 crore (contesting for the first time)
Movable assets (with spouse): Rs 3.58 crore
Immovable assets (with spouse): Rs 4.21 crore
Total income (ITR 2019-20): Rs 82.37 lakh
Loans and liabilities: Nil
With just three days to go ahead of the first phase of polling in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday addressed a rally in Kanthi of East Midnapore district, kilometres away from Suvendu Adhikari’s house ‘ShantiKunja’.
Assuring people that a “son of soil will be made the BJP Chief Minister in Bengal,” the PM took a swipe at the TMC’s ‘outsiders’ charge against the BJP. “Bengal brought together India through Bande Mataram. On this land, Mamata didi is talking about ‘bahiragata (outsider).’ No Indian is an outsider here. All are children of Bharat Mata,” the PM said.
Almost half of PM Modi’s speech on Wednesday was in Bangla. “Didi, even the children of Bengal now understand your khela. Thus, on May 2, people of West Bengal will show the door to Didi. TMC’r khela sesh hobe. Bikash arombho hobe (The TMC’s game will end and development will begin). We will work hard for the future of Bengal,” he said. Read this report here
BJP's Himanta Biswa Sarma leads a roadshow in Assam's Naharkatia ahead of Saturday's polling.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren today campaigned for Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress in West Bengal.
Priyada Gogoi is 84 years old and has many ailments, but she is walking the narrow lanes on a campaign trail amidst all the hullabaloo of Assembly polls in Assam for the last 10 days only to free her son -- Akhil Gogoi.
Moved by her determination, social activists Medha Patkar and Sandeep Pandey have also joined her from Wednesday to campaign for the jailed anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act leader, who is contesting from the Sivasagar constituency.
Priyada Gogoi, who hails from Selenghat in neighbouring Jorhat district, has been camping in Sivasagar district for the last seven days and leading the campaigning of Raijor Dal, the newly floated political outfit of her son.
"I am campaigning only for my son. I want to see my son free. I know that only the people can free my son from jail. Winning this election will be the first step for him to come out of the caged life," she told PTI.
PM Modi in Siphajhar: "An industrial corridor is being built near Guwahati, which will be longer than 150 kms. In the next few years, several thematic, food & bamboo parks will also be built. This will directly benefit the farmers, as well as the youth of Assam."
Addressing a poll rally in Assam's Siphajhar, PM Modi said, "There were days of Congress corruption when the ration of the poor used to be eaten by someone else, now the ration cards of the poor are being digitalized, the loot of the ration of the poor is being stopped. The Congress neither has leaders nor true intentions today."
"The Congress is now following the same policy - lie, spread confusion, and gain power at any cost. So you have to be careful with the Congress, be cautious," he added.
Amid speculations that the BJP wants former India captain Sourav Ganguly to drive its fortunes in the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections, his former teammate and the saffron party's nominee from Moyna seat, Ashok Dinda, feels that the BCCI president would "clean bowl" the ruling TMC if he makes the much-anticipated move of joining the BJP.
Though Ganguly has been reportedly linked with the BJP since he became the BCCI president in October 2019, the most popular sports figure from West Bengal has not yet made any political commitments.
Well aware of Ganguly's leadership acumen, former West Bengal pace spearhead Dinda, who is fighting from the Moyna constituency in Purba Medinipur district, said the BJP desperately wants 'Dada' to join the party.
"Clean bowled hoe jabe (TMC will be clean bowled)... If he (Ganguly) joins, we are not looking at just crossing the 200-mark; even (full seats of) 294 is possible," Dinda, who has played 13 ODIs and nine T20Is, told PTI in an interview.
"Of course, we want Dada to join the BJP, because if he comes, it will be a landslide victory for us," he said. (PTI)
Senior Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, son of three-time Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, on Wednesday said that he is not after the top post in the state government and will not represent his father's constituency Titabar as per his last wish.
"I am not after the chief minister's post. I was never in politics for my personal ambition. I am only concerned about forming the Congress-led 'Mahajot' government in Assam," Gogoi told PTI in an interview.
"I have been very grateful for all the opportunities that the party has given me. They made me deputy leader of Lok Sabha and AICC in-charge. I am always there for any responsibility they give me," Gogoi said.
On contesting the elections from Titabar in the Jorhat district, he said it was his father's one of the last wishes that his successor should be from outside the family but a native of the constituency.
"Titabar was represented by my father for 20 years. We wanted that the successor should be someone who has contributed to the public service and not from our family. That is why I am not contesting the polls from the seat. I am glad that AICC leadership has also accepted my father's wishes," Gogoi said. (PTI)
Targeting the Congress-AIUDF alliance in Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday alleged that the Congress is taking help from a group that promotes infiltration in the state and wants to destroy Assam's identity.
Addressing a poll rally at Bihpuria in Assam, PM Modi said, "Congress can do anything for votes. This is not 'Mahajot', it's a 'Mahajhoot' which neither has a representative nor policy. Such an alliance can only guarantee infiltration and corruption."
Addressing a poll rally in Kerala, Home Minister Amit Shah said, "BJP believes that governments should not intervene in issues related to temples. It should be left on devotees. Communist party cadres have mistreated Sabrimala devotees, dressed in police attire: Union Home Minister & BJP leader Amit Shah in Chathannoor."
(ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday took a strong swipe at the Prime Minister saying, "I respect PM's chair but sorry to say, Narendra Modi is a big liar".
Addressing a rally in Bishnupur, Mamata alleged that Modi only talks big and makes false promises. "Modi only talks big, makes false promises like crediting Rs 15 lakh to everyone's bank accounts but LPG prices are touching the roof.
Further taking on Modi's 'bohiragoto' (outsiders) remark, Mamata said, "We don't label people of other states staying in Bengal for ages as outsiders". She, however, maintained that "pan masala-chewing and tilak-sporting people sent from states like UP before the elections to foment trouble are outsider goons for us."
Amit Shah has alleged that the ruling LDF government in Kerala has converted the entire administration into their cadre. "The left parties run Public Service Commission via remote controls to provide government posts to their cadre," he said in Kanjirappally.
Amit Shah, during his rally in Kanjirappally, further challenged chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to give an answer to the question if the prime accused of the gold scam work in his office or not.
Firing a series of questions, the Union minister asked: "Did your government give this accused monthly remuneration of Rs 3 lakh? Did your Principal Secretary make phone calls to help these accused or not? Did this accused woman make foreign trips on state funds and the Principal Secretary's permission? Why did this accused woman come to the CM's residence regularly?
Addressing a public meeting in Kerala's Kanjirappally, Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged that the LDF and UDF governments have made Kerala a hub of corruption. 'When UDF comes to power, there is a solar light scam and during LDF's tenure, there are donor and gold scams,' he said.
Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday criticised West Bengal BJP president for allegedly asking at a public meeting why Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was wearing a saree, adding that she should be wearing 'Bermuda” shorts to display her injured leg better.
MNM president Kamal Haasan on Wednesday released a new campaign video attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu.
'A person sitting above is telling us what to eat, which language to speak and how to love our nation and our representative is listening to these things with folded hands,' he says as he lights a torch, which is also the party symbol.
Alleging that the Trinamool Congress government has only spread darkness in Bengal, PM said the BJP's double engine government will give 'Sonar Bangla' to the people.
PM Modi today said that the Central government is taking steps to modernise the Petuaghat Fishing Harbour.
'The sea's coast has immense economic activities associated to tourism. There are also possibilities of cruise tourism. You have assets such as the Digha beach,' he said in Kanthi.
Stating that the Central government is promoting tourism with several initiatives, he said Medinipur will benefit a lot from such initiatives with a double-engine govt in place.
Further attacking the TMC government, the PM said the coastal ecosystem of West Bengal has been ruined by syndicate and corruption and added "They (TMC) have destroyed Haldia's economy."
"It is time to free our coastal people from cut money culture and corruption and it depends on the power of your votes," Modi said.
Targeting Mamata over PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, the PM said the farmers of Bengal will "not forget how cruel Didi has been with them as she has kept them away from PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi." He added that the farmers of Bengal will break all walls on the state's development on May 2.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a public meeting in Bengal's Kanthi said the state connected the people of the nation through 'Vande Mataram', and on this land, Mamata didi is talking about 'bohiragoto' (outsiders).
He further said that false accusations are being made to malign Nandigram and the people will give befitting reply for the insults.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday exuded confidence that the BJP will perform well in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections.
Speaking to ANI during a roadshow in Kerala's Thrippunithura, he said: 'I am sure we will perform well in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections... Congress party and its leadership is confused.'
Asserting that the development of Bengal is BJP's commitment, PM said: "We will work very hard for Bengal's future." He added that the BJP will put a full stop to scams in schemes and cut commission.
Once again targeting Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee over Amphan relief, PM Modi said the relief sent by the Central government has "got stuck in the nephew window." "Today, the entire West Bengal is asking: Who looted the relief material of Amphan? Who looted the foodgrains sent for the poor?"
Alleging that the Amphan relief was looted through 'bhaipo (nephew) window', PM said the BJP will free every scheme of scams in Bengal when voted to power.
Prime Minister Modi says that everyone in Bengal has understood TMC's game. He alleged that CM Mamata only appears when elections come knocking on the door. PM Modi further added that the women in Bengal are walking in huge numbers to punish the TMC.
Further attacking Mamata Banerjee, Modi said, "Didi talking about 'government at doorstep' but she will be shown the door on May 2."
Asserting that this is a very crucial time for the first-time voters and youth aged around 25 in Bengal, PM Modi said they have the responsibility to build the future of the state and thus, 'Asol Poriborton' is the need of the hour.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah holds a roadshow in Thrippunithura, Kerala.
On May 2, Didi jacche, ashol poriborton asche, can be heard across Bengal, says PM Narendra Modi in Kanthi.
Prime Minister Narendra addresses rally in West Bengal's Kanthi.
AICC leader Rahul Gandhi and DMK President MK Stalin will address an election meeting together on March 28 in Tamil Nadu's Salem. All leaders of the Secular Progressive Alliance have been invited to take part in the mega event.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will today hold four public meetings in poll-bound Kerala.
With the assembly elections set to begin to March 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public meeting in West Bengal and two rallies in Assam today.
At Thiagarajar colony, on the outskirts of Madurai, CPM Tirupparankundram candidate S K Ponnuthayi’s evening campaign is about to begin. Minutes before she arrives, her husband R Karunanidhi drives in, in an autorickshaw carrying flags along with a few party workers. It’s the same autorickshaw that he rides around town to earn his living.
Ponnuthayi, 46, who has had a long career as a CPM) worker, smiles when asked about the photograph of the couple in their autorickshaw that went viral on social media recently. Read more
“In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, I voted for the UDF to stop the BJP from coming back to power. When Rahul Gandhi contested from Wayanad, we wanted him to be the Prime Minister,” says Abdur Rehman, a self-proclaimed LDF supporter.
However, the Congress disappointed, he says. “It failed to stop the BJP, never took a stand to give us hope or confidence.” Read more
Uttar Pradesh CM and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath Tuesday accused Congress of indulging in "divisive politics" that led to the Partition of the country in 1947 and "having the same mindset" now as evident from its alliance with the AIUDF to fight the coming state polls in Assam.
Addressing a series of election rallies in Barak valley of poll-bound Assam, Adityanath asserted that the country was "forced" to be divided in 1947 because of the Congress' pursuit of power.
"I can see a lot of Bengali-speaking people here in the rally. In their pursuit of power, the Congress, due to its divisive policy, made your ancestors experience Partition in 1947 when (present-day) Bangladesh and Pakistan were a part of India," Adityanath was quoted saying by PTI.
The BJP on Tuesday announced its final list of candidates contesting in 11 seats for the West Bengal Assembly elections and also changed its candidates in two other constituencies. Former Chief Economic Advisor Ashok Lahiri, who was earlier taken out from the Alipurduar seat in north Bengal following protests by local leaders, will now contest from Balurghat Assembly seat as a BJP candidate. Full details here.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday alleged that "Bhatija (nephew) and company" had swindled central funds sent for Amphan relief and said that probe will be ordered into it and culprits will be booked after BJP comes to power in West Bengal.
He criticised TMC's "cut money culture" and claimed that the Mamata Banerjee government in the state had swindled money sent for relief.
He also accused the ruling TMC of making scams out of the pro-people schemes brought by the Narendra Modi government.
Seeking to reach out to residents of the Sunderbans, the top BJP leader promised that the region will be made into a new district within a year if the party is voted to power. (PTI)
Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah Tuesday said that BJP will win over 200 seats out of 294 in West Bengal. He also said that the party will improve its tally in Assam. In an interview with news agency PTI, Shah also said that Congress' alliance with Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF will be the factor in BJP's win in Assam.
BJP national president JP Nadda Tuesday was seeing requesting supporters to make way for an ambulance amid a packed roadshow in West Midnapore, West Bengal. Watch the video here:
"You ask the Parliamentary Board, why are you asking me? We are BJP workers, our target is to form BJP government in the state. That's our highest level of satisfaction. Who becomes CM is not the question," Sarbananda Sonowal told ANI on Tuesday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is currently doing a road show in Medinipur, West Bengal. Watch live here:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address an election meeting on March 30 at Dharapuram from where BJP State unit president L Murugan is contesting the April 6 assembly elections, party sources said on Tuesday. Modi, who launched the party campaign here on February 25, is expected to arrive at the city airport at 10.20 AM and leave by helicopter for Dharapuram in Tirupur district, the sources said. After the meeting, the prime minister will return to the city around 2.20 PM and leave for Chennai. (PTI)
Speaking to ANI, Assam CM and BJP leader Sarbananda Sonowal said: "When we started five years back, we had challenges like corruption, good governance, make Assam extremists and illegal migrants free. Congress has proved to be a failure, what they couldn't do in their 60-year rule, we've done that in 5 years."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Tuesday promised people in poll-bound Kerala that the minimum income guarantee scheme (NYAY) will be "tested" in the southern state if Congress-led UDF is voted to power
"I have a selfish reason to test it," Gandhi was quoted as saying by PTI during an election corner meeting organised at Manarcad in Puthuppally Assembly constituency.
Gandhi said that he wanted to "test" the scheme because if it works in Kerala, he wanted to replicate it in all the Congress-ruled states in the country. "And Kerala is going to show the rest of India how to fight poverty once and for all," he said.
Targetting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek, Home Minister Amit Shah accuses them of swindling the money the Centre had directed to the state for Amphan relief. "The Centre sent Rs 10,000 crore but none of you got it," Shah told the crowd in Gosaba. "We will form a SIT and send the culprits to jail," he added.
During the address, Shah also announced that Sunderbans will be a new district after BJP comes to power.
Kanimozhi, Lok Sabha MP and DMK leader, campaigns in Thiruverumbur constituency for candidate Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi. Here are some pictures from her Twitter handle:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is addressing election meetings in Lumding (1.15 pm) and Hojai (2.40 pm) today, while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is in Udharbond, Silchar (12.15 pm) and Borkhola (2 pm). Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, meanwhile, is holding four public meetings in Batadrava, Kaliabor, Golaghat and Dhakuakhana.
BJP president J P Nadda has released the party's election manifesto for the Assam polls. Speaking in Guwahati at an event attended by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and state Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Nadda listed 10 committments for the state:
1. Mission Brahmaputra, under which the BJP will build big reservoirs around Bramhaputra to conserve extra water and save the people from floods
2. Orunodoi Scheme, under which 30 lakh deserving families will be paid financial support of Rs 3,000 per month
3. BJP has committed to stop illegal encroachments from Namghars and help them with Rs 2.5 lakh each for proper reconstruction
4. Mission Shishu Unnayan, under which BJP is committed to providing quality education of children. For girl children after class VIII, BJP to provide cycles
5. BJP to work towards a "corrected NRC" and protect "genuine Indian citizens" and "detected infiltrated people".
Nadda says, "We will work on a corrected NRC for Assam's protection. We will protect genuine Indian citizens and detect infiltrators to ensure the Ahom civilization stays safe."
6. Speed up delimitation process
7. Assam Aahar Aatmanirbharta initiative to make Assam self-sufficient
8. Job opportunities for youth: Assam will become the fastest job creator state in the country, says Nadda. BJP has committed to provide 2 lakh jobs in the public sector, of which 1 lakh will get jobs by March 31, 2022. It will also provide 8 lakh jobs in private sector.
9. Entrepreneur schools will be developed, along with the right financial support and environment.
10. BJP committed to empowering citizens with land rights
BJP president J P Nadda is in Guwahati this morning, where he is releasing the party's election manifesto for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections. Watch live:
DMK chief M K Stalin is in Vepanahalli, Palakod and Salem North today. Here's his campaign schedule for the week
One of Mamata Banerjee’s oldest aides, Jyotipriya Mallick holds the Food & Supplies portfolio in the state Cabinet. An MLA from Habra constituency in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, Mallick will contest from the same seat in the upcoming elections.
Popularly known as ‘Balu Da’, Mallick belongs to Burdwan’s ‘Agoori’ community – a warrior community with links to Burdwan’s maharaja whose ancestors came from Rajasthan. Over the years, he has gained considerable influence over the state’s Matua community, the majority Scheduled Caste community in West Bengal, which has impact over poll results in about 70 constituencies in Bengal.
The Congress’s list of star campaigners for West Bengal elections looks also like an attempt to try and douse some flames within the party. Besides the usual inclusions – Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi – it also has Manish Tewari, who was one of the 23 writers of the letter seeking organisational changes in the party. Tewari had also attended a meeting of these leaders in Jammu. He is in the star campaigner list along with Jitin Prasada – although Prasada, too, was part of the ‘G-23’, he was earlier appointed party’s Bengal in-charge. Read Delhi Confidential