Priyanka Gandhi wants to avoid people's questions, says Smriti Irani

The BJP leader slammed Gandhi for not being a part of the campaign

 

 

Election 2017 : Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Smriti Irani on Wednesday attacked Priyanka Gandhi saying the Congress leader is not campaigning in Amethi as she cannot face people's questions.

The Union textiles minister addressed rallies and press conference here, where she did not give direct reply when asked if she would be the party's chief ministerial candidate if it comes to power.

Every BJP worker wants that the party forms the next government in Uttar Pradesh, she said on the question of chief ministerial candidate.

She said that despite losing the Lok Sabha poll from Amethi in 2014 to Rahul Gandhi she has been working for the people of the constituency.

But, Priyanka Gandhi has not gone to campaign in Amethi because of the "unfulfilled" promises, she said.

"Priyanka wants to avoid people's questions," she said.

Asked if Samajwadi Party-Congress (SP-Congress) alliance has in any way affected the prospects of BJP in the state, she said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav went with Congress because he was not confident of a victory alone.(read more...)

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Assembly polls 2017: UP registers over 65% polling in second phase

EC had made cash seizure of Rs 16.5 crore, liquor worth Rs 9 crore and drugs worth Rs 1.1 crore

 

 

Election 2017 : Over 65 per cent voters cast their ballot in the second phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections across 67 seats on Wednesday, the Election Commission (EC) said in New Delhi.

"The polling was 65.5 per cent till 5 pm and was continuing," Deputy Election Commissioner Vijay Dev told reporters New Delhi.

He said that EC had made cash seizure of Rs 16.5 crore, liquor worth Rs 9 crore and drugs worth Rs 1.1 crore. The official said gold and silver have also been seized.

Officials in Lucknow said that maximum voting was reported from Saharanpur and Lakhimpur Kheri.

Barring some places where Electronic Voting Machines developed some snags, polling was smooth and peaceful in most of the 67 assembly constituencies across 11 districts.

(read more...)



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UP Elections 2017

UP assembly polls: Dimple Yadav campaigns for sister-in-law Aparna

Aparna Yadav is the SP candidate from Lucknow Cantt assembly seat

 

Election 2017 : Suggesting all is well in the first family of the Samajwadi Party (SP), Dimple Yadav, wife of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, on Wednesday campaigned for her sister-in-law Aparna Yadav in Lucknow Cantt Assembly seat.

Standing alongside Aparna, a reticent Dimple, who appeared more confident, cited various development works undertaken by the SP government against those of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led dispensation at the Centre, she said, did nothing but ban notes and force people to stand in queues outside banks and harm interests of small traders and artisans.

UP Election 2017 -Addressing a receptive crowd which also presented her with a sword, Dimple, attired in fawn colour saree, recalled as to how Taj City Agra has been linked with Lucknow through the only expressway of its kind in the country.

"This is an expressway of development, prosperity and improving the economy and it will be taken to Ballia (on SP returning to power)...Will you support us in it?" she said, asking people to raise their hands in support.

Amidst slogans and cheers, she referred to the Lucknow Metro project which she said was completed with the blessings of Netaji (Mulayam Singh) in two years' time... "Now even the prime minister has said he will come and sit in our metro," she said. (read more...)

UP Elections 2017: Questions for BJP's bikers

Even after 100 days of demonetisation, we don't know if we are better or worse off

 

 

Elections 2017 - Newspaper reports suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party plans to use bikers to explain the benefits of note ban to Uttar Pradesh voters – the state which is in the midst of an Assembly election. The question is what are the benefits that they can flaunt?

The voters, on their part, should also be ready to ask them questions when they flaunt the benefits, much like a tea advertisement on leading television channels.

Biker: The move led to unearthing of large amount of black money.
Voter: How much black money has been revealed? How many politicians, actors and builders were caught with black money?

Biker: The economy has been cleansed of its ill-gotten wealth (kaale dhan ka safaya ho gaya).
Voter: why are people still being caught with crores of new notes? How are they getting them? Isn’t black money being created again?

Biker: Pakistan-based counterfeiters were using notes to fund terrorism in India. Demonetisation has destroyed this.
Voter: How much money was in counterfeit notes? Recent reports say that Pakistan-based counterfeiters are already printing Rs 2000 notes. How will common man know the difference between counterfeit and new notes, given the huge change in their size, colour and features? (read more...)

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In Gujarat polls, Hardik Patel to be Shiv Sena's face

Uddhav Thackeray indicated that Sena might pull out of BJP-led dispensation

 

ELECTIONS 2017 : Seeking to corner BJP on a day he met Patidar quota leader Hardik Patel, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday put the Maharashtra government "on notice" even as chief minister Devendra Fadnavis saw "no danger" to his government and said it would complete its term. BJP is Bharatiya Janata Party.

Just ahead of Mumbai civic polls, Thackeray indicated that Sena might pull out of BJP-led dispensation as the government is on "notice period" as of now.

Thackeray, whose party is locked in a fierce battle with BJP in local body polls in Mumbai and other cities, said Patidar quota stir spearhead Hardik Patel will be Sena's face in neighbouring Gujarat, going to polls towards the end of this year.

Thackeray's statements came after Patel called on him at his residence Mathoshree, a visit being seen as significant since Sena has been trying hard to woo the Gujarati community in its battle to retain hold on Mumbai, the party's home turf since its formation decades ago.

"Our friendship with Hardik Patel will be lasting. Until the other person breaks relations with us, we do not leave their side. If needed, we will fight Gujarat assembly polls as well and Hardik will be our face," the Sena chief said, addressing a joint press meet with Patel. (read more...)

Punjab: Repolling Ordered At 48 Polling Stations On Feb 9 Over VVPAT Snag

EC had used VVPAT for the first time in Punjab at 6,668 polling stations in 33 assembly segments

 

 

Elections 2017 : The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday ordered repolling in 48 polling stations falling in Majitha, Muktsar and Sangrur assembly segments in Punjab following malfunctioning in the Voter-Verified Audit Paper Trail (VVPAT) EVMs on February 4.

The repolling will take place on February 9.

Besides, the repolling will also take place at polling stations in Moga and Sardulgarh segments where EVMs displayed the votes polled during mock polls.

"The  Punjab Elections  repolling will take place at 48 polling stations because of the malfunctioning in VVPAT on polling day. The repolling will take place on February 9," Punjab Chief Electoral Officer V K Singh said in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

He said polling stations where the repolling shall take place are in Majitha, Muktsar and Sangrur assembly segments where VVPAT developed snag.

Singh further said that repolling would also be held at polling stations in Moga and Sardulgarh assembly segments.

The repolling has been ordered at 32 polling stations of Majitha (12), Muktsar (9), Sangrur (6), Moga (1) and Sardulgarh (4)and 16 polling stations of Amritsar Lok Sabha bye-election, an official said.  (read more...)