Nishikant Dubey, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) lawmaker from Jharkhand, said on Wednesday that he had filed a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) against a presiding officer for allegedly "favouring a ruling party candidate" in Madhupur Constituency during the second phase of polling in the state elections. According to news agency PTI, Dubey claimed that following his complaint, the officer was arrested. "I filed a complaint with the Election Commission against the presiding officer at booth number 111 in Madhupur, Deoghar district, for favouring Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate and Minister Hafizul Hassan. The commission took my complaint seriously and arrested the officer," Dubey told reporters in Deoghar. However, the Deoghar administration said the officer, identified as Ramanand Kumar Paswan, was replaced after being found too close to the voting compartment, which is against the rules of EC, reported PTI. An official statement from Deoghar administration clarified that the presiding officer at booth number 111 had been replaced. During monitoring in the webcasting room, the presiding officer was found too close to the voting compartment, which violates Election Commission rules and demonstrates gross negligence in performing duties," the statement read. The returning officer has been instructed to conduct a thorough investigation and take legal action if necessary, the statement added. Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Neha Arora said a first information report (FIR) has been lodged against the presiding officer. Deoghar Superintendent of Police (SP) Ambar Lakra said, "A probe has been initiated in this regard and action will be based on the investigation report." The JMM alleged that the officer was removed following a baseless complaint. "The officer was removed on a baseless complaint, which will be proven false in the investigation. What's interesting is that the Election Commission acts quickly on Dubey's complaints, but when we file complaints, they go unheard," said JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey. Meanwhile, Presiding Officer Pramod Kumar at booth number 338 in Gandey assembly constituency was replaced and an FIR was lodged against him for violating secrecy to vote, Arora said. Kalpana Soren, the wife of chief minister Hemant Soren, is contesting from Gandey Assembly seat, while BJP has fielded Muniya Devi from the constituency. Polling for 38 assembly seats in the second and final phase of the Jharkhand elections is underway on Wednesday, with tight security arrangements in place. Voting began at 7 am across 14,218 booths in 12 districts and will continue until 5 pm. (With PTI inputs)
20 November,2024 06:12 PM IST | Deoghar | mid-day online correspondentA large number of voters turned out to cast their votes in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 in Gadchiroli district on Wednesday, since 7 am. One voter who stood out among the rest was 111-year-old Phulmati Binod Sarkar from Govindpur village in Mulchera. Despite the Election Commission of India giving citizens above the age of 85 the option of home voting, Sarkar made her way to the polling station to exercise her franchise and send out a message to voters, especially the youth. Sarkar, who was born on January 1, 1913, was assisted by the local administration at the polling booth, who arranged a four-wheeled vehicle and a wheelchair to help her, as she could no longer walk unaided. Her participation in the election created a wave of enthusiasm among the voters at the polling centre as she demonstrated a remarkable commitment to democracy. Speaking in her mother tongue Bengali, Sarkar urged fellow citizens to vote and exercise their franchise. At the polling station, Sarkar was warmly welcomed by schoolchildren, villagers, and local officials. The administration showered flowers on her as a mark of respect after her arrival at the voting centre. Aheri's Additional Collector, Vijay Bhakre, presented Sarkar with a shawl, cocount, and a bouquet. District Development Commissioner LB Juware, District Collector K Vijayakarthikeyan, District Revenue Officer R Sukumaran, Joint Collector K Sivakumar, and other officials were also present to honour her. This is not the only time Sarkar has made an appeal to citizens in interest of the nation. During the Covid-19 pandemic, when there was initial resistance to vaccination in Gadchiroli, she urged the locals to get vaccinated and come forward for the inoculation drive. 101-year-old woman defies age, casts vote in Latur city In an inspiring display of commitment to democracy, a 101-year-old woman cast her vote on Wednesday in Central Maharashtra's Latur city, proving that age is no barrier to fulfilling one's public duty. According to news agency PTI, Narmadabai Madanlal Toshniwal, arrived for voting with her family members in tow and exercised her franchise at booth No 334 at Venkatesh Primary School in Solapur Galli. After fulfilling her democratic right, she emphasised on the importance of every vote. Toshniwal was brought to the polling centre in an autorickshaw by her grandson Mahesh Zanwar. (With PTI inputs)
20 November,2024 05:41 PM IST | Gadchiroli | mid-day online correspondentAmid cryptocurrency scam allegation against NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule by former IPS officer Ravindra Patil, party chief Sharad Pawar said on Wednesday that the person who had alleged was in jail and only BJP can make false allegations by taking that person along. Sharad Pawar also cast his vote at a polling booth in Baramati. Afterwards, speaking to the media persons, he said, "The person who made the allegations was in jail for several months and taking that person along and making false allegations, only BJP can do this," reported ANI. "People should vote and I am confident that the people of Maharashtra will peacefully vote in large numbers. After 23 November, it will be clear who will be given the responsibility of forming the government in the state," the NCP (SP) Chief added, reported ANI. Notably, Supriya Sule on Wednesday refuted all cryptocurrency scam allegations levelled against her saying all the allegations are completely false. Speaking to ANI, Sule said, "I have filed a defamation case and a criminal case. I am ready to answer his (Sudhanshu Trivedi) 5 questions wherever he wants. Time of his choice, place of his choice and platform of his choice. I am ready to answer him because all the allegations are completely false. All lies" Earlier today, Sule's brother and NCP Chief, Ajit Pawar claimed that he could recognize the voice of his sister in the purported Audio clips that the former IPS officer Patil had alluded to as proof of Sule's involvement in the scam. The Deputy CM also promised an investigation into the scandal. "Whatever audio clip is being shown, I just know that I have worked with both of them. One of them is my sister and the other is someone with whom I have worked a lot. The audio clip has their voices; I can figure out from their tone. An inquiry will be done and everything will be clear. An inquiry will be done and the truth will come in front of the people," Pawar said, reported ANI. One of the most anticipated battles in these elections is taking place in Baramati. Where Ajit Pawar is contesting against the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Chandra Pawar faction) Yugendra Pawar, the son of his younger brother, Shrinivas Pawar. Baramati also drew attention in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when the wife of Ajit Pawar, Sunetra Pawar challenged Supriya Sule, who ultimately won by a margin of 1.5 lakh votes. The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction), while the opposition MVA comprises the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction). In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and the Congress won 44. In 2014, the BJP claimed 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42. (With inputs from ANI)
20 November,2024 02:36 PM IST | Baramati | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters in Jharkhand and Maharashtra to participate with full enthusiasm in the voting taking place on Wednesday. "Today, votes will be cast for all the seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. I urge the voters of the state to participate with full enthusiasm and add to the splendour of this festival of democracy. On this occasion, I appeal to all the youth and women voters to come out in large numbers to vote," PM Modi posted on X. Voting in Maharashtra also began at 7 a.m. on Wednesday and will conclude at 6 p.m. Polling is taking place across 288 assembly constituencies. A total of 4,136 candidates are contesting the elections, including 2,086 independents. The BJP is contesting 149 seats, Shiv Sena 81, and the NCP 59. The Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) 86. The BSP is contesting 237 seats, while other smaller parties are also in the fray. The state has approximately 9.7 crore registered voters, reported ANI. Meanwhile, voting for the second phase of Jharkhand assembly elections commenced on 7 am. on Wednesday covering the remaining 38 seats. Earlier, mock polling was conducted in Jamtara, Deoghar and several booths around 5 pm. "Today is the second and last phase of the great festival of democracy in Jharkhand. I urge all voters to participate in it enthusiastically and create a new record of voting. On this occasion, I specially congratulate all my young friends who are going to vote for the first time. Your every vote is the strength of the state," PM Modi wrote on his post on X. The first phase of voting took place on November 13 for 43 of the 81 assembly seats. The elections see a fierce contest between the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-Congress alliance, seeking to retain power, and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA, aiming to unseat the Hemant Soren-led government. The BJP-led coalition is targeting key constituencies, with prominent candidates such as former Chief Minister Champai Soren and Congress leader Ajoy Kumar in the fray, reported ANI. (With inputs from ANI)
20 November,2024 11:40 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentCongress leader and candidate from Brahmapuri Assembly seat, Vijay Wadettiwar cast his vote in Maharashtra elections 2024 on Wednesday. Wadettiwar cast his vote at a polling station in Brahmapuri. The Brahmapuri seat falls under the Gadchiroli-Chimur Lok Sabha constituency. Vijay Wadettiwar is the sitting MLA from the seat and is in the electoral fray against BJP's Krishnalal Bajirao Sahare. Wadettiwar has represented the seat twice from 2014. BJP is looking to break the hat-trick of the Congress candidate from Brahmapuri seat. Earlier Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge urged young voters to come out and exercise their Franchise, reported news agency ANI. "Our citizens from Maharashtra and Jharkhand have started casting their votes. All the voters of Maharashtra following the ideology of Shivaji-Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar are requested to vote in maximum numbers. Preserve the pride of Maharashtra, the prosperity of the state and the development that has taken place over decades. Keep opportunistic politics, policies to benefit select capitalists and forces that endanger the future of farmers and youth away from Maharashtra. Politics of money and muscle power has never happened in Maharashtra, before voting on EVM you will have to think how much such falling political standards have hurt the self-respect of Maharashtra. The people of Jharkhand voted for public welfare, protection of water, forest, land and tribal civilization in the first phase, you have to protect your rights in this phase too. The victory of social justice is certain, the defeat of polarization is certain. We appeal to our young friends to definitely vote, we welcome them on this festival of democracy," he said in a post on X. Meanwhile, voting began at 7 am on Wednesday for the single-phase of Maharashtra elections 2024 and will conclude at 6 pm. Polling is taking place across 288 assembly constituencies. A total of 4,136 candidates are contesting the elections, including 2,086 independents. The BJP is contesting 149 seats, Shiv Sena 81, and the NCP 59. The Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) 86. The BSP is contesting 237 seats, while other smaller parties are also in the fray. The state has approximately 9.7 crore registered voters. Shifting alliances, ideological conflicts, complex caste dynamics, and emotional appeals have characterised the battle for power in the Maharashtra Assembly. The primary contest is between the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction), while the opposition MVA comprises the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction). In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and the Congress won 44. In 2014, the BJP claimed 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42. (With inputs from ANI)
20 November,2024 11:02 AM IST | Brahmapuri | mid-day online correspondentPolling for 38 assembly seats in the second and final phase of the Jharkhand elections is underway on Wednesday, amid tight security arrangements, officials said. Voting began at 7 AM in 14,218 booths across 12 districts and will continue till 5 PM. However, polling in 31 booths will end at 4 PM though people standing in the queue at that time will be able to exercise their franchise, the officials said. The ruling JMM-led INDIA bloc is seeking to retain power riding on its welfare schemes, while the BJP-headed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is trying to wrest it. A total of 1.23 crore voters, including 60.79 lakh women and 147 third-gender electors, are eligible to exercise their franchise on Wednesday, the officials said. Altogether 528 candidates, including Chief Minister and JMM leader Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri of the BJP, are trying their luck in the second phase of the elections. Taking to X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Today is the second and last phase of the great festival of democracy in Jharkhand. I urge all voters to participate in it enthusiastically and create a new record of voting. On this occasion, I especially congratulate all my young friends who are going to vote for the first time. Your every vote is the strength of the state." The CM also said the second phase of polling would "play an important role in the creation of golden Jharkhand". "To save Jharkhand from breaking up, we have to unite and vote in large numbers. Today again, voters have to exercise their franchise with the same enthusiasm and zeal," he wrote on X. "Today the second and final phase of the great festival of democracy is being organised in Jharkhand. Today voting is being held in 38 assembly seats...In the first phase of voting, people of 43 assembly constituencies exercised their franchise with enthusiasm. All sections voted for their rights and a strong Jharkhand. Those who were conspiring against Jharkhand were given a befitting reply," Soren said on the microblogging site. Urging people to vote, he said, "On this important occasion, an appeal is made to all of you to reach your booth centres in large numbers and exercise your right to vote and inspire everyone else too. Many best wishes and greetings to all the voters, polling officials, and soldiers of JMM and INDIA alliance who are participating in the voting today." Eighteen of the 38 constituencies are in the Santhal Pargana region comprising six districts - Godda, Deoghar, Dumka, Jamtara, Sahibganj and Pakur. The remaining 18 seats are in the North Chotanagpur division and two in South Chotanagpur. Of the total 14,218 polling stations, the responsibility of the entire voting process at 239 is in the hands of women and 22 are manned by persons with disabilities (PwDs), Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar said. The ruling JMM-led INDIA bloc is seeking to retain power riding on its welfare schemes, while the BJP-headed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is trying to wrest it. The first phase of elections was held on November 13, and the counting of votes will take place on November 23. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 November,2024 10:37 AM IST | Ranchi | PTIMaharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP candidate from Baramati Assembly constituency, Ajit Pawar on Wednesday expressed confidence in winning the Maharashtra elections 2024, saying that he trusts the voters will send him to the Assembly for the eighth time, reported news agency ANI. Speaking to ANI, Ajit Pawar said, "We have done the work, we want to work and we have the vision for future developments. I have faith in the voters of Baramati that they will make me victorious and send me to the Assembly for the 8th time." Pawar said that the next chief minister of Maharashtra will be decided in a meeting by all the elected MLAs of Mahayuti. "We will have a meeting with all the elected MLAs of Mahayuti and then we will decide who will be the Chief Minister," Pawar told ANI. Amid allegations by IPS officer Ravindra Patil that NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule and Congress state chief Nana Patole funded their campaigns with money linked to the Bitcoin scam, Pawar assured that an investigation will be conducted to uncover the truth. "An inquiry will be done and the truth will come in front of the people," Pawar told ANI. One of the most anticipated battles in these elections is taking place in Baramati. Where Ajit Pawar is contesting Yugendra Pawar, the son of his younger brother, Shrinivas Pawar. Baramati also drew attention in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when Sunetra Pawar challenged Supriya Sule, who ultimately won by a margin of 1.5 lakh votes. Voting began at 7 am on Wednesday for the single-phase of Maharashtra elections 2024 and will conclude at 6 pm. Polling is taking place across 288 assembly constituencies. Shifting alliances, ideological conflicts, complex caste dynamics, and emotional appeals have characterised the battle for power in the Maharashtra Assembly. The primary contest is between the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction), while the opposition MVA comprises the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction). In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and the Congress won 44. In 2014, the BJP claimed 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42. (With inputs from ANI)
20 November,2024 09:45 AM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentSamajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said the BJP and its allies have started to distance themselves from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's "Batoge toh katoge" slogan. Yadav termed the slogan -- given by Adityanath in a call apparently to Hindus to stay united -- as "unconstitutional" and the "most negative" in the history of the country. Addressing a gathering in the Bakshi Ka Talab area here, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, "The chief minister's slogan is like the British's divide and rule policy. The British have left but people with their thinking are taking their ideas forward". "Batoge to katoge is the most negative and unconstitutional slogan in the country's history. The BJP leaders and its allies are distancing themselves from the slogan," he added. Taking a veiled jibe at Adityanath, the SP chief said without taking any names that one becomes a 'yogi' by one's thoughts and words, not clothes. He said the BJP knows that it is going to face a massive defeat in the by-elections and was misusing the administration in a bid to discourage people from going out to vote. "The government is making district magistrates work like district presidents of the BJP. It (BJP) is misusing power to stop people from casting their votes. This is an attack on the right to vote of the people. BJP wants to paint the constitutional institutions with one idea and one colour. We all have to take a pledge that we have to unite and save the Constitution," he said. Alleging that employment generation was not on the agenda of the BJP, he accused the ruling party of conspiring to take away reservation benefits. "The government does not want to give jobs to the youth. It is snatching away reservation through conspiracy and is involved in anti-constitutional work," he said. He said the BJP's policies are anti-youth, anti-farmer and anti-PDA. PDA is the term coined by Yadav during the 2022 Assembly polls for Pichhde (backwards), Dalits and Alpsankhyak (minorities). "Till now Baba Saheb's constitution has protected PDA. Now it is the responsibility of PDA and all of us to protect the constitution made by Dr Ambedkar. As long as BJP is in power, the Constitution will remain under threat. BJP wants to run the country not by the constitution but its own way," Yadav said. "We all have to keep fighting unitedly to save the Constitution and it is possible when the BJP government is removed from Delhi and Lucknow," he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 November,2024 09:04 AM IST | Lucknow | PTIA fire broke out early Wednesday morning in the slum area of Rani Garden in Shahdara. Visuals from the scene showed the slum engulfed in flames. According to the fire department, several fire tenders were dispatched to the spot immediately after receiving the information. Efforts are currently underway to bring the fire under control. "The call was received at 12:06 AM. Seven fire tenders reached the spot. The area consists of 10-12 shanties and a warehouse for scrap materials," Fire Officer Yashwant Singh Meena said. Further details are awaited. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 November,2024 08:57 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIThe Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully rescued seven Indian fishermen apprehended by a Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) vessel near the India-Pakistan Maritime Boundary, according to an official release. At approximately 1530 hours on November 17, an ICG ship on patrol received a distress call from an Indian fishing boat (IFB) operating near the No-Fishing Zone (NFZ). The call reported that another Indian fishing boat, *Kal Bhairav*, had been intercepted by a PMSA vessel, and seven Indian crew members had been taken into custody. In response, the ICG ship immediately proceeded to the reported location at maximum speed, the release stated. Despite efforts by the PMSA vessel to retreat, the ICG ship intercepted it and persuaded the crew to release the Indian fishermen. The ICG ship successfully rescued the seven fishermen, all of whom were found to be in stable medical condition. Unfortunately, the Indian fishing boat *Kal Bhairav* was reported to have been damaged and had sunk during the incident, the release added. The ICG ship returned to Okha Harbour on November 18, where a joint investigation involving the ICG, state police, intelligence agencies, and fisheries authorities was initiated to examine the circumstances leading to the incident and the subsequent rescue operation. This successful effort underscores the ICG's continued commitment to safeguarding the safety and interests of Indian fishermen at sea, showcasing its resolve to protect the Indian maritime community, the release stated. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 November,2024 08:52 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIA group of families claiming to have lost their kin or suffered side effects of Covid vaccines asked the government to set up fast-track courts to provide justice to them and also sought financial compensation. The families, along with doctors and lawyers, demanded action against officials who “misguided and coerced” people into taking the vaccines. They urged the government to provide full disclosure of all the side effects. While there was no immediate official response, the government and several doctors in the past have rejected the claims of side effects of Covid jabs. “Compensate all the victims of Covid vaccines including their family members through a mechanism that involves vaccine manufacturers as well,” a family member of a vaccine victim said. The group also alleged that the current adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) system is severely flawed. It sought to implement active surveillance and monitoring mechanisms besides reviewing the science behind all Covid vaccines and auditing their commercialisation. Renowned interventional cardiologist Dr Deepak Natarajan said, “The last five years have tragically taught us that the ‘safe and effective’ vaccines were actually unsafe and ineffective.” Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan said, “The government hasn’t implemented the Supreme Court judgment in spirit in the Jacob Puliyel case when it mandated an accessible virtual platform where the vaccine recipients can themselves register their adverse events and these reports were supposed to be publicly accessible. “What instead was delivered was a sham of a website which just had a form to record adverse events without any status updates back to the registering person,” he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 November,2024 07:37 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
