Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday sought a report from the state police on the alleged attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Nandigram constituency, in which she was injured, an official said. In a blow to the Congress in poll-bound Kerala, senior leader PC Chacko announced his resignation from the party, alleging group interest in deciding party candidates for the coming Assembly elections The Left-led Opposition Grand Alliance on Wednesday fielded CPM’s Minakshi Mukherjee from the high-stakes Nandigram seat where she will fight the upcoming Assembly elections against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is the TMC candidate, and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. The chief minister claimed that her leg got swollen because of the injury and she was feeling feverish. Speaking to reporters, she said that no local police personnel was present at the spot when the incident happened. Soon after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she had been attacked in Nandigram, state BJP Vice President alleged that Mamata was “doing drama to gain sympathy” reports news agency ANI. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has claimed that she was attacked in Nandigram, said reports. According to the Times of India, Mamata said she was manhandled and has injured her foot. There were no cops cordoning at Barulia Bazar in Nandigram, the report quotes her as saying. The CM is returning to Kolkata from Nandigram, reports said. The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday released its second list of 171 nominees for the April 6 assembly polls and identified the segments to be contested by its allies, the PMK and BJP. Together with its first list of six candidates, the AIADMK would be in fray in 177 constituencies and its partners in 43 while 14 more seats are yet to be allocated. Apart from them, Bengali actor Bonny Sengupta also joined the BJP. His close friend and actor Koushani Mukherjee recently joined the TMC and is a candidate from the Krishnanagar Uttar seat BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari told a rally in Nandigram that the chit fund scams were a thing under the TMC rule, adding that all the people who were cheated would get back their money if BJP comes to power Chacko had on Wednesday announced his resignation from the party, alleging groupism in deciding party candidates for the Kerala assembly elections due on 6 April Dhinakaran, nephew of Jayalalithaa’s close aide VK Sasikala, has decided to contest the elections despite his aunt announcing her decision to stay away from politics and urging her supporters to ensure the victory of the ruling AIADMK On Tuesday, Mamata Banerjee had recited passages of “Chandi-path” at a rally in Nandigram from where the former TMC leader is contesting the polls As a result of the CPM’s insistence on implementing a two-term policy for MLAs, at least 33 sitting MLAs, including five ministers, have not found a place in the list announced on Wednesday. Submitting his resignation to Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi, the senior Congress leader cited factionalism within the party. The TMC supremo is pitted against her former confidante Suvendu Adhikari, who recently joined the BJP, in Nandigram seat that will go to polls on 1 April in the second phase. TMC turncoat Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday claimed that people who lost their money to chit fund companies during Mamata Banerjee’s regime will be compensated if the BJP is brought to power. “Mamata Banerjee does not even cast her vote in Nandigram, she is an outsider there,” PTI quoted Adhikari as saying. For West Bengal Assembly election, the BJP released on Wednesday the list of star campaigners. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, TMC turncoat Suvendu Adhikari actor-turned-politicians Mithun Chakraborty and Payal Sarkar are among the star campaigners of the party. The process of submitting nomination papers for the first phase of Assam Assembly polls came to an end on Wednesday. A total of 263 candidates have filed nomination papers for the 48 constituencies to be held in the first phase. From CPM’s list for Kerala Assembly polls announced on Wednesday, 33 sitting MLAs and five ministers have been excluded in accordance to the party’s strict two-term policy. Among the prominent absentees from the list are: Finance minister TM Thomas Isaac, PWD minister G Sudhakaran, education minister P Raveendranath, industries minister EP Jayarajan. CPM has given up seven seats, including five sitting seats, to accommodate allies. The party has also accommodated 13 candidates from its youth and student bodies. CPI will be contesting in 25 of the 140 seats in the state, party state chief Kanam Rajendran told the media in Thiruvananthapuram, while announcing candidates for 21 seats. On Tuesday, Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) tied up with TTV Dhinakaran’s Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) for the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. The AMMK has allotted the AIMIM three seats - Vaniyambadi, Krishnagiri and Sankarapuram. Mamata is pitted against her former confidante Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP some time ago, in Nandigram seat that will go to poll on 1 April in the second phase. Those who have “sold their souls to outsiders from Gujarat” are insulting the Nandigram movement by playing the communal card, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday, and rejected the claim that she was an outsider in Nandigram. Mamata is pitted against her former confidante Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP some time ago, in the high-profile Nandigram seat that will go to poll on 1 April in the second phase. Without naming Adhikari even once, Mamata said she had made up her mind to contest either from the Singur or Nandigram - the two cradles of anti-land acquisition movement - that catapulted her to power in 2011. She said she decided to contest from Nandigram because of overwhelming response of the people. “I have heard some people are calling me an outsider in Nandigram. I am amazed. I was born and brought up in the neighbouring Birbhum district, and the person who is calling me an outsider was born in Midnapore. Today I have become an outsider, and those coming from Gujarat have become insiders in Bengal,” she told a gathering of TMC workers a day ahead of filing her nomination. “Going by that logic I shouldn’t have been the chief minister of the state for 10 years. Today Bengal’s daughter has become an outsider for some people. Have you ever heard the expression outsider chief minister? If the locals tell me not to contest, I will go back,” she said, drawing shouts of “Didi we want you” from the gathering. Adhikari has often called himself bhoomiputra (son of the soil) while seeking to get back at the TMC supremo who has been targeting the BJP with the “party of outsiders” barb. The TMC turncoat has announced that if he is not able to defeat the TMC supremo by 50,000 votes he will quit politics. Mamata said her decision to contest from Nandigram was prompted by the love for the local people. “Bhulte pari sobar naam, bhulbo nako Nandigram (I can forget everyone’s name but never forget Nandigram). When I had visited Nandigram in January, there was no MLA from here as the sitting MLA had resigned. I looked at the faces of common people and decided to contest from here.” She said her home constituency was Bhawanipore where she would require much less effort to win, but still chose Nandigram as she could see people’s love and enthusiasm. Accusing Adhikari of trying to incite communal passions, Mamata said, “Those who have sold their souls to outsiders are insulting the Nandigram land acquisition movement by playing the communal card.” “Some people are talking about 70:30 ratio (of Hindu-Muslim population). Those doing that are insulting the sacred Nandigram movement which people of both communities fought together. People of Nandigram will make BJP ‘April fool’ on 1 April when polling is held,” she asserted. Taking the fight to Adhikari’s backyard, the TMC supremo said the Nandigram movement wouldn’t have got the momentum it did had the Singur anti-land acquisition stir not taken place before that. “Singur movement took place months before the Nandigram movement. I had already completed 26 days of hunger strike against Singur land acquisition in December 2006. It was then that Nandigram happened in 2007. The Singur movement provided much-needed momentum to Nandigram movement,” she said. The chief minister said those claiming the legacy of the movement should not forget how she had been with the masses of the area risking her life. “At that time those who are lecturing us, where nowhere near the scene,” she said, apparently suggesting that Adhikari, who is seen as the face of the Nandigram movement, had no major role in the agitation. Referring to the BJP’s charge of being anti-Hindu, Mamata said she is a Brahmin and knows more Hindu rituals than the “fake Hindu leaders” of the saffron party. “I am a born Hindu. No one should question my identity. But I don’t believe in dividing communities on religious lines. If anyone has any doubt about my religion, I challenge them to a debate and competition on reciting Hindu shlokas. Khela Hobe (the game is on),” she said and recited a few shlokas before the crowd. Announcing that the TMC will unveil its election manifesto on 11 March, she said she will perform Shivaratri puja in Nandigram on Thursday morning before heading back to Kolkata. Mamata alleged the BJP has roped in CPM ‘goons’ who perpetrated violence during the Nandigram movement. “Resist them at any cost,” she said. She said she wanted a bridge to be constructed between Haldia and Nandigram, and develop Nandigram as a role model. “I do not want anyone in Nandigram to stay unemployed. We will build a university here. I have taken a house in Nandigram on rent for a year. Will keep coming here every three months. Later, I will build a small house here. I will keep my word,” she added.
Elections 2021 Updates: Mamata Banerjee 'attacked' in Nandigram, ECI seeks report; PC Chacko quits Congress
For the West Bengal Assembly election, the BJP released on Wednesday the list of star campaigners. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, TMC turncoat Suvendu Adhikari and Mithun Chakraborty are among the star campaigners of the party
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Governor Dhankhar visits Mamata at hospital; faces TMC supporters ire
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar reached the state-run SSKM hospital on Wednesday night to see an injured Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, amid ‘go back’ slogans shouted by hundreds of the TMC supporters gathered there, reports PTI.
Banerjee is undergoing treatment at the SSKM Hospital for injuries on her left leg after she was allegedly pushed by unknown miscreants during campaign in Nandigram. The CM alleged that neither the local police nor the SP was near her when four-five people deliberately pushed her causing the injury.
The Governor went inside the hospital amid slogan shouting against him by the Trinamool Congress supporters present there.
Will go to Kolkata, urge farmers to defeat BJP in polls, but won’t support any party: Tikait
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday said he will go to Kolkata this week to urge farmers to defeat the BJP in the West Bengal Assembly elections, but claimed he is not supporting any political party, reports PTI.
Farmers are distressed, and election will be discussed with them, Tikait said, adding that he is not going to West Bengal to seek votes. “I will go to Kolkata on March 13. The clarion call for a decisive struggle will come from Kolkata. We will talk to farmers there and urge them to defeat the BJP,” the BKU leader said. He was in Ballia to address a ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’.
Replying to a query if he would meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Tikait said there was no such programme. The farmer leader said a call has already been made to defeat the BJP in the five Assembly elections scheduled to begin from March 27, but asserted that he would not support any political party.
CPM workers stage protest over seat allotment in Kerala
A section of CPI (M) workers on Wednesday staged a protest near here protesting the party-led LDF earmarking the Kuttiadi Assembly seat to the Jose K Mani faction of the Kerala Congress.
The group demanded that the party retain the seat instead of handing it over to the KC(M) Jose K Mani faction.
Eyeing a second consecutive term, the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala today released a list of 83 candidates for the state assembly polls.
Sources said the dissidents are likely to field a rebel candidate in the constituency.
Sources close to the local leaders said a member of its Kuttyadi area committee is likely to be filing his nomination papers, if the party does not reverse its decision to give the seat to the KC(M).
Watch: Mamata Banerjee brought to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata after incident
No groups in Congress, party united in defeating BJP: Anand Sharma
There are no groups in the Congress and it stands united in the fight against the BJP and other opponents in the upcoming Assembly polls in four states and a Union Territory, senior party leader Anand Sharma said on Wednesday.
Sharma, a prominent member of the “Group of 23” leaders who wrote to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi demanding an organisational overhaul, said there should be no wrong impression about groupism in the party.
“There are no two groups. It is one Congress and the president is Sonia Gandhi. Right now, the only objective before the party is to fight the elections together to defeat the BJP and other opponents,” he told a press conference.
“Let there be no wrong impression that the Congress will not fight these battles together,” the former Union minister stressed, as per PTI.
Puducherry’s Chief Electoral Officer gets vaccinated against COVID-19
Chief Electoral Officer of Puducherry Shurbir Singh got vaccinated against COVID-19 at the GovernmentGeneral Hospital on Wednesday, reports PTI.
Later, he appealed to the staff drafted for election duty and also to the frontline workers to receive the vaccination as a preventive measure and ensure a safe election which would take place on 6 April.
The territorial administration, a press release said, has taken measures to see to it that the election was conducted in the safest manner and in strict compliance with the COVID-19 safety norms.
Awareness among the public is being generated through handbills, booklets and wall posters. Arrangements are underway for distribution of masks to voters on the day of polling, the release said.
ECI seeks report on Mamata’s attack
According to PTI, the Election Commission of India seeks report on ‘attack’ on Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram.
No local police present during incident, says Mamata
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Two BJP MLAs quit party
Denied poll ticket, Assam BJP MLAs Dilip Kumar Paul, Shiladitya Dev resign from party, reports news agency PTI. The two legislators also alleged that conspiracies were hatched against them by some leaders in the saffron party.
Mamata Banerjee shifted to back seat of car
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee shifted to the back seat of her vehicle after she claimed she was pushed by a few people and suffered a leg injury in Nandigram.
Mamata Banerjee doing drama, alleges BJP
Reacting to reports of Mamata Banerjee being attacked in Nandigram, state BJP vice president Arjun Singh alleged that Mamata was “doing drama to gain sympathy” reports news agency ANI. “Is it Taliban that her convoy was attacked? Huge police force accompanies her. Who can get near her? Four IPS officers are her security incharge and must be suspended. Attackers don’t appear out of nowhere, they’ve to be nabbed. She did drama for sympathy,” the news agency quotes Singh as saying.
Watch: Mamata Banerjee says she was pushed, has injured her leg
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP fields Hiran Chatterjee as Kharagpur Sadar candidate
The BJP on Wednesday named Bengali actor Hiran Chatterjee, who recently joined the party, as its candidate from Kharagpur Sadar assembly seat, ending
speculations whether party’s state party chief and MP Dilip Ghosh would be fielded from there. The party also fielded Supriti Chatterjee from Barjora seat, raising the number of women contestants to seven, for the 60 seats in the first two phases of the polls.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mamata Banerjee alleges she was attacked in Nandigram
Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has claimed that she was attacked in Nandigram, said reports. According to the Times of India, Mamata said she was manhandled and has injured her foot. There were no cops cordoning at Barulia Bazar in Nandigram, the report quotes her as saying. Accoridng to NDTV , the CM is returning to Kolkata from Nandigram
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Left-Congress-ISF alliance fields Minakshi Mukherjee from Nandigram
The Left-led Opposition Grand Alliance on Wednesday fielded CPM’s Minakshi Mukherjee from the high-stakes Nandigram seat where she will fight the upcoming Assembly elections against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is the TMC candidate, and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.
The election in Nandigram is being watched closely as Banerjee takes on her former aide, Adhikari, in a high-pitched battle. Mukherjee was announced as the Left-Congress-ISF alliance candidate by Left Front chairman Biman Bose at a press conference.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
PMK to contest 23 seats, BJP from 20
The PMK will contest from 23 constituencies while the BJP will try its luck from 20 constituencies. The BJP has been allotted the following seats: Thiruvannamalai, Nagarkovil, Kulachal, Vilavankodu, Ramanathapuram, Modakurichi,Harbour, Thousand Lights, Thirukovilur, Thittakudi (reserved), Coimbatore South, Virudhunagar ,Aravakurichi,Tiruvaiyaru ,Ooty, Thirunelveli,Thali, Karaikudi, Tharapuram(reserved),Madurai north.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
AIADMK releases list of 171 candidates
The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday released its second list of 171 nominees for the April 6 assembly polls and identified the segments to be contested by its allies, the PMK and BJP. Together with its first list of six candidates, the AIADMK would be in fray in 177 constituencies and its partners in 43 while 14 more seats are yet to be allocated. Tamil Nadu Assembly has 234 seats and the state would have a single phase poll on 6 April.
Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal, several ministers, including SP Velumani, P Thangamani, KA Sengottaiyan, and former ministers such as BV Ramana and TKM Chinnayya find a place in the list of candidates.
NDA going ahead with full coordination to win Puducherry polls: BJP
The NDA, comprising AINRC, the AIADMK and the BJP, is going ahead with a clear vision and in full coordination to romp home in the 6 April Assembly
elections in Puducherry, BJP in-charge of Puducherry Nirmal Kumar Surana said on Wednesday. “We are going ahead with full coordination and in a
smooth manner. Our alliance is now carrying out our poll- related works under the leadership of AINRC founder-leader and former Chief Minister N Rangasamy, who is an experienced leader and knows Puducherry fully,” he said.
Surana said, “Our aim is to ensure that the Congress-DMK alliance is totally defeated and should not garner even a single seat in the forthcoming polls.”
PTI
Baccha Hansda, Gouri Sankar Dutta switch over to BJP
West Bengal minister Bachchu Hansda and Tehatta MLA Gouri Sankar Dutta joined the BJP on Wednesday after being denied nominations for the Assembly
polls by the Trinamool Congress. Hansda, the Minister of State for North Bengal Development, joined the BJP in presence of its state president Dilip Ghosh. He is a two-time MLA from the Tapan seat in the Dakshin Dinajpur district. Dutta, the MLA from Tehatta in Nadia, is a veteran politician. He also switched over to the BJP as defections continued to rock the ruling Trinamool Congress weeks ahead of the high-stakes election.
PTI
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Sena targets BJP overcrowded rallies in poll-bound states
The Shiv Sena on Wednesday said central government leaders were addressing crowded rallies in poll-bound states, while opening suburban trains for the general public in Mumbai was being blamed for the rise in COVID-19 cases in the metropolis. An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ asked people to take care, saying otherwise a “lockdown is imminent”.
It said a partial lockdown has been enforced in some parts of Maharashtra, and many areas of cities like Thane and Nashik have been COVID-19 hot-spots.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Bengali actors Rajshree Rajbanshi, Bonny Sengupta join BJP
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Kerala CM, 7 ministers in fray; Thomas Isaac, Speaker dropped
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and seven of his cabinet colleagues were among the 83 candidates announced by the CPI(M) headed ruling LDF for the state assembly polls, while 33 sitting MLAs, including Thomas Isaac have been left out in line with the party’s two-term criteria.
Noting that the party has picked qualified persons as candidates, party spokesperson Vijayaraghavan said 42 of them are graduates,24 post-graduates, two Phd holders, an Architect and two practicing MBBS doctors. As many as 12 women and 4 youngsters below the age of 30 years are among the candidates. Twenty eight lawyers and 25 candidates below the age of 50 have found a place in the list.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Arms, ammunition recovered in Assam’s Chirang ahead of polls
A large number of arms and ammunition were found on Wednesday at a forest in Chirang district in poll-bound Assam, police said. Further investigation into the incident is underway, police said. Elections to the 126-member Assam assembly will be held in three phases with 47 constituencies going to polls on 27 March, the second phase for 39 constituencies is on 1 April and 40 seats in the third phase will be voting on 6 April
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
PC Chacko’s resignation ‘unwise’ ahead of crucial polls: Congress MP Hibi Eden
Congress’ Hibi Eden reacted to PC Chacko’s sudden resignation ahead of the Kerala Assembly Elections. He said that the party had given him enough opportunities over the years and his decision to quit just before election was not a wise thing to do.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Those defrauded in chit fund scam will get money back if BJP comes to power: Suvendu Adhikari
Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday asserted that people duped by chit fund companies in the state would get back their money if the saffron party is voted to power. The chit fund scam happened because of the TMC government and its leaders “looted public money”, he alleged.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
TTV Dhinakaran’s party releases first list of 15 candidates
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, led by TTV Dhinakaran on Wednesday released its first list of 15 candidates for the April 6 Tamil Nadu assembly elections. Former state Ministers, P Palaniappan, G Senthamizhan, and C Shanmugavelu would contest from Pappireddipatti, Saidapet and Madathukulam respectively, AMMK general secretary Dhinakaran said in a party release.
S Anbazhagan, and K Sugumar, both former MPs, have been fielded from Rasipuram and Pollachi segments respectively. Several former MLAs have also been named in the first list of the AMMK.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
‘Mamata’s mantras were wrong,’ says Suvendu Adhikari
TMC turncoat Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday mocked Mamataa Banerjee for her ‘Hindu girl’ comment and her recital of Chandi Path at a rally. Adhikari played the original rendition and replayed Mamata’s version while adding the Bengal CM’s version was muddled up and wrong.
On Tuesday Mamata had recited the prayers at a Nandigram rally in response to Adhikari’s ‘outsider’ comments, asserting that you ‘can’t teach a Brahmin to be a Hindu’
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Thomas Isaac, G Sudhakaran among five CPM ministers not to contest this year
As a result of the CPM’s insistence on implementing a two-term policy for MLAs, at least 33 sitting MLAs, including five ministers, have not found a place in the list announced on Wednesday.
Notable absentees include finance minister TM Thomas Isaac, PWD minister G Sudhakaran, education minister Prof G Raveendranath, culture minister AK Balan and industries minister EP Jayarajan.
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
PC Chacko quits Congress ahead of Kerala polls
Senior Congress leader PC Chacko submitted his resignation to party’s interim chief Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday and complained of “groupism” practiced by top leaders in the party.
“I’ve been arguing with high command that this should be ended. But the high command is also agreeing to the proposal given by both groups,” said Chacko.
“I’d been deliberating upon this decision for past many days. I come from Kerala where there’s no Congress party as such. There are 2 parties – Congress (I) and Congress (A). It’s coordination committee of two parties functioning as KPCC,” said the minister announcing his resignation.
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
AIADMK cadres protest over Coimbatore seat given to allies
Upset over Coimbatore seat given to allies, AIADMK cadres staged sit-in-protest in front of the party office in Coimbatore city on Wednesday, according to media reports .
The party workers demanded that Coimbatore South Assembly constituency seat be allotted to sitting MLA Amman K Arjunan.
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Posters appearing to brand Mamata as ‘outsider’ surface in Nandigram
Posters projecting West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee as an “outsider” surfaced in Nandigram on Wednesday, the high-profile constituency from where the TMC supremo filed her nomination for the Assembly polls.
The posters with ‘Nandigram-Medinipur wants the son of the soil and not outsiders’ written on them in Bengali were put up in the constituency.
Addressing a party workers’ meeting on Tuesday, she had said her decision to contest from Nandigram was prompted by the love for the local people.
Mamata also said those who have “bowed in front of outsiders” are insulting the Nandigram movement by playing the
communal card.
Mamata Banerjee files nomination from Nandigram
West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee filed her nomination from Nandigram on Wednesday, ANI reported.
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Those looted by chit fund companies in Bengal will be compensated if BJP voted to power: Suvendu
TMC turncoat Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday claimed that people who lost their money to chit fund companies during Mamata Banerjee’s regime will be compensated if the BJP is brought to power.
“Mamata Banerjee does not even cast her vote in Nandigram, she is an outsider there,” PTI quoted Adhikari as saying.
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Giriraj Singh targets after Mamata recited Sanskrit mantras in Nandigram
Giriraj Singh targeted Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee after she recited Sanskrit mantras at a public rally in Nandigram called her a “chunavi Hindu”, reported India Today.
Singh said the chief minister chanted these hymns under poll pressure. “Waah re Modi, aaj Didi Chandipath kar rahi hai. Waah re Modi, aaj didi chunav jo na karaye aapko (Today, Didi is reciting Chandipath. What not this election is making you do),” Singh told the news channel.
Referring to the BJP’s charge of being anti-Hindu, Mamata on Tuesday said she is a Brahmin and knows more Hindu rituals than the “fake Hindu leaders” of the saffron party.
This came as she tried to counter the BJP’s charge of Muslim appeasement in a state where the minority community comprises around 30 percent of the total voters.
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Pinarayi Vijayan to contest from Dharmadam
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will be contesting the 6 April Assembly polls from the Dharmadam constituency in Kannur. The CPM released list of 83 candidates for the upcoming Kerala Assembly polls on Wednesday.
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mamata faces do-or-die battle in high-stakes Bengal Assembly polls
A decade after she scripted history by defeating the longest-serving democratically elected communist regime of the world, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee is once again on the threshold of a watershed moment as she faces a do-or-die battle in the Bengal Assembly elections.
Stakes are high for the tempestuous TMC boss as losing the elections might put a question mark on the very existence of her “ideology-starved” party that has ruled the state since 2011, and winning it would place her in the league of leaders who have engineered the defeat of the formidable Narendra Modi-led BJP.
One of the fiercest critics of the Modi brigade, Mamata is not just single-handedly taking on the well-oiled election machinery of the BJP, but also grappling with unprecedented rebellion and exodus from her party just ahead of the elections.
– PTI
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP releases list of star campaigners for West Bengal
For West Bengal Assembly election, the BJP released on Wednesday the list of star campaigners. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, TMC turncoat Suvendu Adhikari actor-turned-politicians Mithun Chakraborty and Payal Sarkar are among the star campaigners of the party.
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Assam polls: 263 candidates file nominations for 48 seats in phase 1
The process of submitting nomination papers for the first phase of Assam Assembly polls came to an end on Wednesday. A total of 263 candidates have filed nomination papers for the 48 constituencies to be held in the first phase.
Kerala polls: 33 sitting MLAs and five ministers excluded from CPM’s list
From CPM’s list for Kerala Assembly polls announced on Wednesday, 33 sitting MLAs and five ministers have been excluded in accordance to the party’s strict two-term policy.
Among the prominent absentees from the list are: Finance minister TM Thomas Isaac, PWD minister G Sudhakaran, education minister P Raveendranath, industries minister EP Jayarajan.
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
CPM announces candidates for 83 seats in Kerala
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has released list of 83 candidates for the upcoming Kerala Assembly polls , acting state secretary A Vijayaraghavan said on Wednesday.
“The candidate list was prepared keeping in mind a continuation of the development works under the LDF government,” Vijayaraghavan said.
CPM has given up seven seats, including five sitting seats, to accommodate allies. The party has also accommodated 13 candidates from its youth and student bodies.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will be contesting from Dharmadam. The seat is seen as a red fortress that favoured CPM in 2011 and 2016 Assembly elections.