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West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates: The Election Commission on Thursday sent a strongly-worded letter to the Trinamool Congress on its memorandum over injuries to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during campaign, saying it looks “undignified to even respond” to allegations that the poll panel is doing things in the state at the behest of a “particular party”. Responding to the TMC’s letter over the Nandigram incident in which West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was injured on Wednesday, the Election Commission of India said “It’s unfortunate that it is full of insinuations and averments,” said reports. The EC further said ’the unfortunate incident needs to be inquired into with promptitude and dispatch", but added that it is completely incorrect to state that EC has taken over law and order machinery in the name of conducting elections and appropriated the whole governance structure. The Congress and DMK reached an agreement on seat-sharing for the Puducherry Assembly elections. The Congress will contest in 15 Assembly constituencies, the DMK will field candidates in 13 seats, while the CPI and VCK will contest in one constituency each, said reports. Union minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday said the return of the Sarbananda Sonowal government in Assam with a decisive mandate is a foregone conclusion due to the all-round development carried out by it in the last five years and restoration of peace in the state. Singh, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), also said that the BJP-led government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had successfully pulled Assam out of a long nightmare of insurgency, road blockades, violence and misgovernance. “If you ask the common man in the streets, he will tell you without any doubt that the return of the BJP government is a foregone conclusion,” he told reporters. The AMMK has released its second list of 50 candidates, and TTV Dhinakaran will be contesting from Kovilpatti constituency in Thoothukudi. A delegation of six TMC MPs will meet the Election Commission in Delhi on Friday over Tuesday’s incident in which West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee suffered injuries, said TMC leader Partha Chatterjee. AIADMK MLA MSR Rajavarman on Thursday switched over to the rival Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam camp, a day after the ruling party did not re-nominate him from his Sattur constituency in southern Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK immediately expelled him from the party for anti-party activities, the party said in a statement. In a video message from the hospital, West bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that she has sustained bone and ligament injury. Banerjee urges TMC workers and the public to maintain peace and says she will be joining the field and resume meetings after resting for a few days, adding that she use a wheelchair if needed. The Union Health Ministry has applied filters in its Co-Win platform in poll-going states and a Union Territory to exclude the picture of the prime minister from the COVID-19 vaccine certificates, sources told news agency PTI on Thursday. In a letter to the Election Commission on 9 March, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan is learnt to have said that “technical measures to comply with the directions of EC have been explored promptly.” “Necessary filters” in Co-WIN have been applied for the vaccination centres situated in the four states of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Union Territory of Puducherry, as suggested by the Commission". Opposition Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has approached the Election Commission against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi VIjayan for allegedly violating the model code of conduct in his press meets after the declaration of the 6 April Assembly polls. In a letter sent to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Chennithala said the Chief Minister had held media conferences on 4 and 6 March at the CPM headquarters during which he announced new activities and policies of the government. The Trinamool Congress slammed the Election Commission for failing to provide security to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was injured during election campaign in Nandigram on Wednesday, and said the EC cant shun responsibility as it is in charge of law and ordersituation in the poll-bound West Bengal. Accusing the EC of acting “as per orders” of the BJP leaders, the TMC delegation after meeting the EC officials, alleged that the “Election Commission did nothing despite there being reports of a possible attack on Banerjee”. The BJP unit in West Bengal has written a letter to Chief Electoral Officer of Bengal on alleged attack on Mamata Banerjee on Thursday and demanded a proper investigation. BJP’s West Bengal unit president said on Thursday that it needed to be seen whether the incident was a “well-scripted drama” to garner votes. A BJP delegation will also meet the commission to demand a proper inquiry into the incident. The party had earlier alleged that Mamata was “spreading lies about attack for politics”. A Trinamool Congress’ delegation will meet Election Commission officials in Kolkata on Thursday to file a complaint about the alleged attack on party chief Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram yesterday. Ghosh is likely the first sitting JNUSU president to contest Assembly elections. Member of CPM’s student wing SFI, she became the president in 2019. Only 23 sitting MLAs including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan have found a place in the new list of candidates. The TMC supremo sustained injuries on her left leg and waist as she fell on the ground after she was allegedly pushed by unknown miscreants while campaigning for Assembly elections in Nandigram. Preliminary medical tests conducted on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee late on Wednesday night detected severe bone injuries in her left ankle and foot, and injuries in right shoulder, forearm and neck, a senior doctor of the state-run SSKM hospital said. Doctors at the hospital decided to closely monitor Mamata, who has been complaining of chest pain and breathlessness since the alleged attack at Nandigram in Purba Medinipore district earlier in the evening, for the next 48 hours, he said. The Trinamool Congress chief has slight fever and has been shifted to a special ward at the hospital’s VVIP Woodburn Block soon after the MRI at the Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, he added. “We will keep her under observation for the next 48 hours. There will be more tests needed to be done, and after evaluating her condition we will decide on our next course of treatment,” a doctor, part of the team treating Banerjee, told PTI. Doctors conducted x-ray on the chief minister as soon as she was taken there from Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district on Wednesday night. She is undergoing treatment at the 12.5 special cabin of Woodburn Block of the SSKM hospital. The state government has constituted a team of five senior doctors to treat her. The team consists of one cardiologist, an endocrinologist, a general surgery doctor, an orthopedist and a medicine doctor. The TMC supremo sustained injuries on her left leg and waist as she fell on the ground after she was allegedly pushed by unknown miscreants while campaigning for assembly elections in Nandigram. Earlier, she had filed her nomination to contest the ensuing assembly elections from Nandigram seat.
Election 2021 Updates: EC gives scathing response to TMC letter over ‘attack’ on Mamata; Congress accuses Kerala CM of MCC violation
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LIVE Updates: EC on Thursday sent a strongly-worded letter to the TMC on its memorandum over injuries to Mamata during campaign, saying it looks “undignified to even respond” to allegations that the poll panel is doing things at the behest of a “particular party”
 "Election 2021 Updates: EC gives scathing response to TMC letter over ‘attack’ on Mamata; Congress accuses Kerala CM of MCC violation")
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
From JNU to Jamuria: Aishe Ghosh to test her brand of politics in Bengal polls
Fielded by the CPI(M) from Jamuria Assembly seat, JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh said she will have Jawaharlal Nehru University in her heart and mind as she tests the politics she has practised so far in the coal fields of West Bengal.
The first sitting JNUSU functionary to fight assembly polls, Ghosh, a latecomer into politics, blossomed as the president of the union at a time when student politics saw a resurgence after Left leader Kanhaiya Kumar came into media limelight following a sedition case.
When asked what is it like to be catapult into national politics from JNU, she replied, “It is a big responsibility, but my politics will remain the same.”
“The issues we fight for in JNU are an extension of what is happening across the country. Be it reservations, communalism, our fight for better education, employment, better living conditions. The issues are the same everywhere in this country. I will carry these issues that I fought for in JNU to the people of West Bengal,” Ghosh told PTI.
Busy arranging her papers for travelling to Bengal for the election, Ghosh apologised for not being able to field calls while packing for a long and arduous battle that begins the day she arrives in Jamuria.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
HC sets aside rejection of TMC nominee’s candidature by returning officer
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday set aside the rejection of candidature of the Trinamool Congress nominee for the Joypur constituency, and directed the returning officer concerned to allow the candidate to take part in the election.
Joypur goes to polls on March 27 in the first of the eight-phase West Bengal assembly election.
The court directed the returning officer to permit petitioner Ujjwal Kumar to participate in the elections by treating his application of nomination for candidature and connected affidavit filed by him as valid and in accordance with the law.
Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya ordered that the rejection of Kumar’s candidature, “being contrary to law, is set aside”. (PTI)
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Congress and DMK agree upon seat-sharing pact
The DMK and Congress on Thursday reached an agreement on the 25 seats the latter will field its candidates from for the April 6 Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, with the national party set to lock horns with rival BJP in five segments including two in Kanyakumari, reports PTI.
The AIADMK allotted six seats to former Union Minister GK Vasan-led Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) and one segment to a local outfit, with candidates of both parties set to contest on the ruling party’s Two Leaves symbol.
With today’s allocations, AIADMK, eyeing a third record term, would face the polls from 189 of the 234 seats while two more are yet to be allotted. DMK and ally Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) agreed upon the six segments the latter will fight from, including four reserved constituencies.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
‘Undignified to respond to TMC’s allegations’: ECI on TMC’s letter over Nandigram incident
The Election Commission on Thursday sent a strongly-worded letter to the Trinamool Congress on its memorandum over injuries to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during campaign, saying it looks “undignified to even respond” to allegations that the poll panel is doing things in the state at the behest of a “particular party”.
The EC said at the outset, it needs to be stated that injuries sustained by Banerjee at Nandigram “is indeed an unfortunate incident and deserves to be inquired into with promptitude and dispatch.” “Having said that it is rather unfortunate that the memorandum in question is full of insinuations and averments, which in fact questions the very basis of creation and functioning of Election Commission,” the letter said.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Congress fields ex-BJP minister as its candidate from Diphu seat
Four days after BJP minister Sum Ronghang joined the Congress after denied ticket, the opposition party on Thursday nominated him to contest the forthcoming Assam Assembly polls from his Diphu constituency.
All India Congress Committee General Secretary Mukul Wasnik issued the fourth list for Assam containing two names, including Ronghang for the Diphu seat in Karbi Anglong district.
The other candidate is Raton Engti for the Bokajan constituency in the same district. Unhappy over denial of ticket, Ronghang, holding the portfolios of Hill Areas Development and Mines and Minerals, on Sunday joined the opposition Congress
-PTI
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Modi, Shah lacked courtesy to enquire about Bengal CM’s wellbeing after ‘attack’: TMC leader
The TMC on Thursday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah “lacked the courtesy” to enquire about the health condition of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who sustained injuries in Nandigram during a poll campaign the day before, reports PTI.
Party’s Secretary General Partha Chatterjee told reporters here that it would have taken a few minutes for the two BJP heavyweights to call up and find out about the TMC supremo’s wellbeing, but none of them made an effort.
Stressing that the Election Commission should “take note” of the security lapse and “attack on Banerjee”, veteran TMC MP Sougata Roy said some BJP leaders had shared provocative posts and memes on social media about the CM, prior to her Nandigram visit.
Referring to Modi’s assertion that “Didi’s scooty is destined to fall in Nandigram” during his recent Brigade rally here, Roy said, “Such comments show how crude, crass and tasteless they (BJP leaders) are.”
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
EC responds to TMC’s letter over Nandigram incident
Responding to the TMC’s letter over the Nandigram incident in which West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was injured on Wednesday, the Election Commission of India said “It’s unfortunate that it is full of insinuations and averments,” said reports. The EC further said ’the unfortunate incident needs to be inquired into with promptitude and dispatch", but added that it is completely incorrect to state that EC has taken over law and order machinery in the name of conducting elections and appropriated the whole governance structure. “This virtually tantamounts to undermine the very foundation and fabric of the Constitution of India,” it said.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
AGP releases second list of candidates
Ruling alliance member Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) on Thursday released its second list of candidates containing six names for the second phase of polling on 1 April. AGP General Secretary Ramendra Narayan Kalita issued the second list for the six constituencies, where the regional party did not have any MLA. The nominated AGP candidates are- Bishnu Das (Raha), Habibar Rahman (Dalgaon), Aziz Ahmed Khan (Karimganj South), Aptabuddin Laskar (Algapur), Saddikulla Bhuyan (Jamunamukh) and Sabbir Ahmed (Patharkandi).
PTI
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
KC(M) leader quits part over allocation of Piravom seat
A leader of the Kerala Congress (M) quit the party on Thursday alleging it has fielded a CPM member as candidate for the Piravom Assembly seat for the Kerala Congress (M) is a constituent of the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front The front had allocated the Piravom Assembly seat in Ernakulam district to the KC(M), which joined the LDF a few months ago after severing its decades-old ties with the Congress-led UDF. Jills Periappuram, who quit the KC(M), alleged that Sindhumol Jacob’s candidature in Piravom constituency was a case of “payment seat”. Periappuram claimed he was considered by the KC(M) as the LDF candidate for the constituency but party chairman Jose K Mani “ditched” him by handing over the seat to Sindhumol, a CPM member from Uzhavoor in Kottayam district.
Interestingly, Uzhavoor local committee of the CPI(M) on Thursday “expelled” Sindhumol Jacob from the party for “anti-party” activities, a day after the Kerala Congress (M) fielded her as the LDF’s Piravom Assembly candidate.
PTI
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Won’t indulge in politics over Mamata’s injuries, want probe, says Bengal BJP
A day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was admitted to a facility in Kolkata after getting hurt during her Nandigram visit, the Bengal BJP said
the party will not indulge in any politics over her injuries, and called for a comprehensive probe into the incident, as she had alleged conspiracy behind it. Noting that the fight with the TMC is a political one and on ideological and development issues, BJP spokesman Samik Bhattacharya wished her a speedy recovery and said, the party hoped for her return to the electoral arena as soon as possible. “We will not do any kind of politics over the chief minister’s injuries. We pray for her early recovery and return to the political stage,” he told a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Kolkata. According to information received by the BJP state leadership from local party workers and eyewitnesses, it was an accident, but a high-level inquiry is necessary when the chief minister herself has claimed that it was a conspiracy, he said.
PTI
Puducherry Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Congress, DMK finalise seat sharing deal
The Congress and DMK reached an agreement on seat sharing for the Puducherry Assembly elections. The Congress will contest in 15 Assembly constituencies, the DMK will field candidates in 13 seats, while the CPI and VCK will contest in one constituency each, said reports.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Akhilesh Yadav demands probe into ‘attack’ on Mamata Banerjee
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday demanded a probe into the alleged attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during electioneering in Nandigram and hoped that people would elect her their CM once again. Accusing the BJP of hatching pre-poll conspiracies against the Trinamool Congress and Banerjee, Yadav asserted that people in West Bengal know Mamata Banerjee has been the sole popular chief minister of the state. The BJP may hatch as many conspiracies as they want how many more such incidents might take place? Yadav said while talking to reporters at the residence of his party MP Shafiqur Rahman Burq in Sambhal.
PTI
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
AIADMK, DMK workers protest over allocation of seats to allies
A section of ruling AIADMK and DMK workers on Thursday protested against allocation of constituencies from their home turf to allies for the 6 April Assembly elections and wanted them to be set apart for partymen AIADMK workers protested against giving away the Egmore segment to ally Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, while DMK cadres raised slogans against parting with the Ponneri constituency to Congress. The ruling party workers also protested against allocation of Poonamalle and Gummidipoondi constituencies to ally PMK. Upset over omission of Labour Minister Nilofer Kafeel’s name in the AIADMK list so far, her supporters in Vaniyambadi said the ruling party should not expect the votes of people from the region. Similarly, in Sivaganga, Khadi Minister G Baskaran’s supporters protested against him being not nominated. AIADMK workers staged protest in other places as well including Srivilliputhur, Cheyyur and Chengelpet against the official nominees and wanted them to be replaced.
PTI
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Tamil Nadu Congress releases list of 25 seats
The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee released a list of 25 seats the party will field its candidates in. The 25 constituencies in which the Congress will contest as part of the alliance led by the DMK are — Coimbatore South, Velachery, Sriperumbudur, Aranthangi, Erode East, Thiruvadanai, Srivilliputhur, Vellore, Omalur, Salem, Killiyur, Nanguneri, Srivaikundam, Karaikudi, Vilavankodu, Uthangarai, Kolachel, Ponneri, Tenkasi, Sholingur, Vridhachalam, Udumalaipettai, Kallakurichi, Mayiladuthurai and Udhagamandalam.
According to reports, the Congress will face off with the BJP in five seats: Coimbatore South, Kolachel, Vilavankodu, Udhagamandalam and Karaikudi.
தமிழ்நாடு காங்கிரஸ் கமிட்டி போட்டியிடும் தொகுதிகள் பட்டியல் வெளியீடு.#VoteforCongress pic.twitter.com/w4yGCz4f6G
— Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (@INCTamilNadu) March 11, 2021
Return of Sonowal govt in Assam a ‘foregone conclusion’, says Jitendra Singh
Union minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday said the return of the Sarbananda Sonowal government in Assam with a decisive mandate is a foregone conclusion due to the all-round development carried out by it in the last five years and restoration of peace in the state.
Singh, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), also said that the BJP-led government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had successfully pulled out Assam from a long nightmare of insurgency, road blockades, violence and misgovernance.
“If you ask the common man in the streets, he will tell you without any doubt that the return of the BJP government is a foregone conclusion,” he told reporters.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Nomination papers of 284 contestants found valid: CEO office
Nomination papers of 284 contestants were found valid after scrutiny for the first phase of polling for 47 seats of Assam Assembly on 27 March, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said on Thursday Altogether 295 contestants had filed their papers for the first phase and upon scrutiny on Wednesday 284 papers were found valid, the CEO office said. The prominent candidates whose nominations papers were found valid from the ruling BJP are Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal (Majuli), Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami (Jorhat), ministers Ranjit Dutta (Behali) Naba Kumar Doley (Dhakuakhana-ST) and Sanjoy Kishan (Tinsukia).
NDA alliance partner AGP ministers Atul Bora (Bokakhat) and Keshab Mahanta (Kaliabor) papers were also found valid.
PTI
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
AMMK releases second list of candidates
The AMMK has released its second list of 50 candidates, and TTV Dhinakaran will be contesting from Kovilpatti constituency in Thoothukudi, said reports.
— TTV Dhinakaran (@TTVDhinakaran) March 11, 2021
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
TMC MPs to meet ECI in Delhi tomorrow
Six TMC MPs will meet the Election Commission in Delhi on Friday over Tuesday’s incident in which West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee suffered injuries, reports News18, quoting TMC leader Partha Chatterjee. “Derek O’Brien, Saugata Roy, Kakoli Gosh Dastidar, Shatabdi Roy will be part of the delegation meeting EC in Delhi. We will be wearing black bands as part of our protest against this incident,” the channel quotes Chatterjee as saying.
“We have noticed how Bengal is being ignored by the Election Commission. Other than Bengal all (the other three states and one UT that will go to polls) have minimum phases in the voting schedule,” ANI quotes the minister as saying.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Will contest six seats in alliance with AMMK, says SDPI
We're in alliance with AMMK. SDPI to contest in 6 constituencies in AMMK alliance - Alandhur, Ambur, Trichy west, Thiruvarur, Madurai Central & Palayankotai. We'd talked with Makkal Needhi Maiam but we decided to forge alliance with AMMK: Nellai Mubarak, SDPI Tamil Nadu President pic.twitter.com/Du14jsBYI9
— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2021
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
CPM pins hopes on young candidates
The CPM, which has fielded young candidates from its student and youth wings, is pinning hopes on budding leaders to take on the BJP and the TMC in the
2021 Assembly elections in West Bengal. JNU student leader Aishe Ghosh (Jamuria), Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) state president Minakshi Mukherjee (Nandigram) , Students’ Federation of India’s (SFI) national joint secretary Dipsita Dhar (Bally), SFI state president Pratikur Rahaman (Diamond Harbour), DYFI state secretary Sayandeep Mitra (Kamarhatti)are among those whose names feature in the list declared by Left Front chairperson Biman Bose on Wednesday.
Puducherry Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Won’t contest election, says Congress leader E Valsaraj
Senior Congress leader and former Puducherry health minister E Valsaraj on Thursday announced he would not contest the forthcoming Assembly polls in the Union Territory as he wanted to give opportunity to the youth. The former Mahe MLA, however, said he would remain in the party which is a ‘mass-based political outfit.’ “I wanted to give opportunity for youth to jump into poll fray and hence decided to retire from poll battle,” the vice-president of Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee told reporters at the party office. Valsaraj had won the lone Assembly seat in Mahe, an enclave of Puducherry in Kerala, every time since his maiden victory in 1990 and lost from the constituency in the 2016 polls.
PTI
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Congress releases list of two candidates
The Congress said it has fielded Ratan Engti from the Bokajan (ST) constituency and Sum Ronghang from Diphu (ST).
INC COMMUNIQUE
— INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) March 11, 2021
Important Notification regarding announcement of candidates for second phase of Assam elections pic.twitter.com/jOuMeA8IIo
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Over Rs 4 lakh cash seized in Cachar
Ahead of the Assembly elections in Assam, unaccounted cash of over Rs 4 lakh was seized by a flying squad from two places in Cachar district, according to
a release issued by the local administration. During a search operation in Silchar on Wednesday, the flying squad personnel recovered unaccounted cash of
Rs 2,63,850, it said. The surveillance team also seized Rs 1,36,960 during raids in the Katigorah area, the release said.
PTI
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
In video message, CM urges people to maintain peace
Ina video message from the hospital, West bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that she has sustained bone and ligament injury. Banerjee urges TMC workers and the public to maintain peace and says she will be joining the field and resume meetings after resting for a few days, adding that she use a wheelchair if needed.
দলনেত্রীর @MamataOfficial আবেদন pic.twitter.com/SPoD3m7Iu3
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 11, 2021
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Health Ministry to exclude PM’s photo from vaccine certificates in poll-bound states
The Union Health Ministry has applied filters in its Co-Win platform in poll-going states and a Union Territory to exclude the picture of the prime minister from the COVID-19 vaccine certificates, sources told news agency PTI on Thursday. In a letter to the Election Commission on 9 March, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan is learnt to have said that “technical measures to comply with the directions of EC have been explored promptly.” “Necessary filters” in Co-WIN have been applied for the vaccination centres situated in the four states of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Union Territory of Puducherry, as suggested by the Commission".
Following a complaint by the Trinamool Congress, the Commission had asked the health ministry to follow the model code in letter and spirit.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
AIADMK MLA MSR Rajavarman joins AMMK
AIADMK MLA MSR Rajavarman on Thursday switched over to the rival Amma Makkal Munnetra
Kazhagam camp, a day after the ruling party did not re-nominate him from his Sattur constituency in southern Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK immediately expelled him from the party for anti-party activities, the party said in a statement.
Tamil Nadu: Sattur AIADMK MLA Rajavarman joins AMMK party in Chennai.
— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2021
Rajavarman didn't get AIADMK ticket to contest this Assembly election from his seat. pic.twitter.com/RlwZxF9zK1
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
TMC protests in Belgarhia over ‘attack’ on Mamata Banerjee
North 24 Parganas, West Bengal: TMC leader Madan Mitra leads a protest march in Belgharia against the alleged attack on CM and party chief Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram. pic.twitter.com/vyWKdrGtd2
— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2021
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Chennithala urges CEO to prohibit CM from making announcements on govt initiatives
In his letter, Ramesh Chennithala requested the CEO, Teeka Ram Meena to “prohibit” Vijayan from making statements and announcements on government initiatives and policies. He also requested the CEO to direct the Chief Secretary to make any routine announcements, if any.
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Congress’ Ramesh Chennithala accuses Pinarayi Vijayan of violating poll code
Opposition Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has approached the Election Commission against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi VIjayan for allegedly violating the model code of conduct in his press meets after the declaration of the 6 April Assembly polls. In a letter sent to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Chennithala said the Chief Minister had held media conferences on 4 and 6 March at the CPM headquarters during which he announced new activities and policies of the government.
“In these press meets, he has announced new activities and policies of the government which is in violation of the model code of conduct,” the Congress leader alleged. He said as per established norms, either the Chief Secretary or the Public Relations Department is the authorised authority to talk about the government policies after the election date is announced. “However, the Chief Minister in violation of the norms and model code of conduct has announced new policies with an intention to lure voters,” the senior Congress leader alleged.
PTI
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Actor Senthil joins BJP
Actor Senthil joined the BJP in Tamil Nadu in the presence of BJP state unit president L Murugan on Thursday, said reports. Senthil was earlier with the AIADMK. According to a NewsMinute report, Senthil said he did not like being part of the AIADMK and that he had therefore withdrawn from the party and added that he will be campaigning for the BJP candidates.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
EC has to take responsibility for attack on Mamata Banerjee, says TMC
Claiming that several comments by senior BJP leaders had dropped enough indications that Banerjee might be attacked, Partha Chatterjee said “despite having those inputs the chief minister was left with no proper security”. “Who will take responsibility for attack on Mamata Banerjee, when EC is in charge of administration? EC has to take responsibility for the incident. “They are acting as per orders of the BJP leaders. The BJP is asking the EC to remove an official and they are removing him,” he alleged.
PTI
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
EC acting as per orders of BJP leaders, alleges TMC
The Trinamool Congress slammed the Election Commission for failing to provide security to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was injured during election campaign in Nandigram on Wednesday, and said the EC cant shun responsibility as it is in charge of law and ordersituation in the poll-bound West Bengal. Accusing the EC of acting “as per orders” of the BJP leaders, the TMC delegation after meeting the EC officials, alleged that the “Election Commission did nothing despite there being reports of a possible attack on Banerjee”.
“The law and order situation in Bengal was good. But, after announcement of elections law and order become responsibility of the EC.The EC removed DGP of the state police and the very next day she was attacked,” TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee said.
PTI
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
AIUDF announces second list of three candidates
Badruddin Ajmal’s AIUDF has released the second list of candidates for the Assam Assembly polls. The party has fielded Abdul Aziz from Badarpur, Jakir Hussain Lashkar from Hailakandi and Samsul Huda from Bilasipara East.
AIUDF has announced its second list of candidates for 3 constituencies for the upcoming Assembly election in Assam. I extend my best wishes to all the candidates. pic.twitter.com/5w1Q5f45bl
— Maulana Badruddin Ajmal (@BadruddinAjmal) March 11, 2021
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP demands probe over alleged attack on Mamata
The BJP unit in West Bengal has written a letter to Chief Electoral Officer of Bengal on alleged attack on Mamata Banerjee on Thursday and demanded a proper investigation.
BJP writes to Chief Electoral Officer in West Bengal demanding detailed enquiry into the unfortunate incident yesterday in which West Bengal CM #MamataBanerjee sustained injury. pic.twitter.com/jbpNeNTY52
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) March 11, 2021
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP leaders meet EC officials in Kolkata, demand detailed inquiry
A BJP delegation in West Bengal met Election Commission in Kolkata on Thursday and sought a detailed inquiry into incident that took place in Nandigram on Wednesday when chief minister Mamata Banerjee was allegedly attacked.
West Bengal: BJP delegation met Election Commission in Kolkata today requesting a detailed investigation in WB CM Mamata Banerjee's injury case.
— PB-SHABD (@PBSHABD) March 11, 2021
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mithun Chakraborty gets ‘Y+’ VIP security cover
The Centre has accorded ‘Y+’ VIP security cover to veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty who recently joined the BJP, official sources said on Wednesday.
They said the security cover will be provided by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) that has a dedicated wing for this task, called the special security group (SSG).
The 70-year-old actor had joined the BJP on Sunday at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mega rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata.
“Chakraborty has been given a ‘Y+’ cover and armed CISF commandos will accompany him during poll campaign in West Bengal,” a senior officer said.
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Police register case over ‘attack’ on Mamata
A case was registered on Thursday over the attack on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, following a complaint lodged by TMC leader Sheikh Sufian, police said.
The case was lodged under IPC sections 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) and 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), a senior police officer of the Purba Medinipur district said.
“We have received a complaint from Mr Sufiyan Our investigation is already underway and we are collecting evidence,” the officer said.
In the morning, District Magistrate Vibhu Goel, Superintendent of Police Praween Prakash and other officers visited the Birulia Bazar area where the incident happened.
The officers spoke to eye-witnesses, besides looking for any CCTV installed in the area to ascertain the exact sequence of events.
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Dilip Ghosh demands CBI probe into ‘attack’ on Mamata, says ‘drama’ won’t yield results
BJP’s West Bengal unit president Dilip Ghosh on Thursday demanded a CBI probe into the alleged attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying that it needs to be seen whether the incident was a “well-scripted drama” to garner votes.
Speaking to reporters, Ghosh said that the people of the state have seen such “drama” earlier as well.
“It needs to be probed what actually happened. How come a Z-plus protectee gets attacked is a matter that has to be looked into. The state should order a CBI probe to bring out the truth,” he said.
“It needs to be seen whether it was a true incident or a well-scripted drama,” Ghosh said, referring to Mamata’s photos on the hospital bed with her leg plastered.
Ghosh said that “such a drama” to garner sympathy votes, sensing defeat, would not yield any results this time.
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Rahul Gandhi instructs Kerala party leaders to include 50% young faces, women
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi instructed Kerala’s party leaders to include over 50 percent of young faces, women and newcomers, and instructions for the upcoming Assembly elections, said Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee Vice President PC Vishnunadh on Wednesday.
“Rahul Gandhi himself instructed the state’s leadership to include more than 50 percent young faces, newcomers and women. Instructions have already been given to the state’s leadership. I am sure that once that list is announced, over 50 percent of will be fresh faces,” Vishnunadh told ANI.
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP accuse TMC of politicising ‘attack’ on Mamata
The Trinamool Congress are politicising the issue. However, we believe such incidents should not be politicised. I hope Election Commission will send enough central forces to West Bengal to control the political violence, said BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on alleged attack on Mamata Banerjee.
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