 "Is Shashi Tharoor’s breakup with Congress inevitable?")
 "‘Naxalism will end in India by March 2026’: Amit Shah at CRPF Raising Day parade")
Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates: Baijayant Panda said that whenever Congress sees defeat staring at it in its face they start making these kinds of allegations and blow it out of proportion The Election Commission on Friday barred Assam minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma from campaigning for 48 with immediate effect for allegedly making threatening remarks against Bodoland People’s Front chief Hagrama Mohilary “For the first time in the country’s history, a chief minister sat on a dharna in a polling booth when polling was on. Before she (Mamata Banerjee) sat on her dharna, 74 percent votes were polled in Nandigram and the polling was by and large peaceful,” Prakash Javadekar told reporters after meeting the EC officials. West Bengal has recorded a voter turnout of 86.11 percent in the second phase of polling held in 30 assembly constituencies spread across four districts Prime Minister Narendra Modi had suggested at a rally in Uluberia that Mamata might contest from another seat in final phase of Bengal polls, where registration are still underway, as she is set to lose Nandigram. Linking the ongoing investigations in a gold smuggling case with the solar scam under UDF, Modi alleged that the UDF and LDF have committed their own seven deadly sins in Kerala Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said raiding the opposition is the BJP’s “coping mechanism” when it is facing defeat in elections. The saffron party has demanded that Udhayanidhi, who is the son of DMK chief MK Stalin, should be debarred from campaigning and his candidature should be cancelled The incident snowballed into a huge controversy on Friday morning with the Opposition Congress and AIUDF alleging that the EVM was being “stolen”, while the Election Commission suspended four poll officials and ordered a repoll at the booth as a video of the fiasco went viral on social media. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra announced that she is going into isolation after her husband Robert Vadra tested positive for COVID-19, adding that she will be cancelling her programmes planned to be held in the state on Saturday. The Election Commission has ordered a repoll for a polling station in the Ratabari Assembly seat of Assam after reports emerged of an EVM being transported in a private vehicle belonging to a BJP candidate. Amit Shah hit out at the Mamata Banerjee government, adding that it runs on a 3T model: Tanashahi (dictatorship), Tolabazi (manoeuvre) and Tushtikaran (appeasement), while Prime Minister Narendra Modi runs it on a 3V model: Vikas (progress), Vishwas (trust), Vyapar (business). Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the DMK and Congress for trying to turn peace-loving Madurai into a mafia district because of “complications in DMK’s first family”. This is the second such raid on those associated with the DMK ahead of the 6 April Tamil Nadu Assembly polls. Last month, DMK candidate EV Velu’s premises were searched in Tiruvannamalai and Chennai. A seven-member delegation of the Trinamool Congress comprising MPs and ministers will meet poll officials in Kolkata on Friday at 1.30 pm. The delegation is expected to discuss issues faced during the first two phases of elections in West Bengal. Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) candidate Rangja Khungur Basumatary Thursday joined BJP ahead of the third phase of poll in Assam when the constituency in which he is a contestant is slated to go to the poll. Basumatary had reportedly gone missing for two days and at around midnight on Wednesday, senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma had tweeted that he had met the BPF candidate, who would join the saffron party. BPF is an ally of the Opposition Congress in Assam, where two out of the slated three phased poll got over on Thursday. “Official candidate of BPF and so called Congress-led alliance from Tamulpur Assembly constituency, Sri Ram Das Basumatary met me a short while ago. He has expressed his desire to Join @BJP4India and retire from the election,” Sarma tweeted. Rangja Khungur Basumatary is also known as Ram Das Basumatary. Basumatary told a local TV channel that he had decided to resign from BPF as the party did not lend any helping hand to him during the campaign. Efforts made to contact him failed as his phone was switched off. A statement by the Congress confirmed that Basumatary has joined the BJP on Thursday. Tamulpur constituency is in Baksa district under Bodoland Territorial Region and will go to the poll during the third phase on 6 April. Reacting to the development, Congress MP Manish Tiwari said that Basumatary had gone missing due to threatening by BJPN and lambasted the saffron party for it. “Never in India did such immoral activities take place during elections - you (BJP) threatened to use the National Investigation Agency against the party and the candidate. You (BJP) want to win the poll by wrong means. This is a fascist mentality and it is BJP’s education. That party does not believe in democracy and democratic systems. This is absolutely the worst spectacle of fascism that is on display in the Assam polls,” he told a press conference in Guwahati. Tiwari demanded that the BJP government in the state tell the people what had happened to Basumatary for two days. “I demand a detailed probe into the incident by Election Commission. How come such an incident took place in front of the EC? Is the EC blindfolded?” the Congress leader said. AICC spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said a Congress delegation will meet the EC Thursday evening to seek deferment of voting in Tamulpur constituency and disqualification of Sarma, a senior Assam minister, from contesting and further campaigning for the state poll as he is a “repeat offender” of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). Vallabh questioned why the EC was not checking Basumatary’s call records to find his whereabouts. “We demand that the call records of Basumatary be made public so that the people of Assam get to know what coercion, intimidation or what proposal forced him to join hands with the BJP,” Vallabh said. Commenting on the EC notice to Sarma for allegedly threatening BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary with using the NIA against him, Tiwari said “The EC issued the notice because it is convinced that such threatening language is not acceptable.” “The EC prima facie found him guilty. It is a conspiracy against the candidate. It is an attempt to subvert the election process. They (BJP) don’t believe in democracy and that is why they are resorting to such practice of threatening a candidate who is in the poll contest,” he said. Sarma had said that he had got evidence of Mohilary’s alleged links with the recent recoveries of arms in Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) and the case was being given to the NIA for investigation. Later the state Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta had reportedly said that there was evidence of militant and his group in the arms recovery. “We ask the Gujarati Mama (referring to Sarma’s allegiance to BJP and that he is popularly called ‘Mama’) when did that evidence come? If it came before the MCC came into force, then why were you silent? It means you were indulging in a criminal offence. If it came after the MCC came into force, then how and who gave the evidence to you because police now reports to the Election Commission. Yesterday the DGP said that he has all the information. Is it a coincidence or deliberate? DGP Sir why are you not taking any action? Who has tied your hands? By making such statements, you are not strengthening the democracy, but weakening it,” Vallabh added.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 Updates: Sporadic violence in Nandigram day after poll; situation now peaceful, say police
Assembly Election 2021 LIVE Updates: Baijayant Panda said that whenever Congress sees defeat staring at it in its face they start making these kinds of allegations and blow it out of proportion
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West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update
Stray clashes in Nandigram a day after polling
A day after the polling, stray clashes took place between workers of the Trinamool Congress and the BJP on Friday in some parts of the Nandigram
seat, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been locked in a fight with protege-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikari of the saffron party, police said.
A woman, stated to be a BJP activist, was injured in one such incident at Bhekutia area in the constituency and she was admitted to Nandigram block primary health centre. The area is peaceful now, police said.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update
Congress urges EC to take strict action against BJP after polled EVM is found in candidate’s car
The Congress on Friday urged the EC to take strict action against BJP after a polled EVM was found in the car of the saffron party’s Patharkandi candidate in Assam and demanded that security be increased for the final phase of Assembly election in the state on 6 April.
Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala also sought the lodging of an FIR against the BJP candidate and his immediate interrogation to uncover the truth behind the incident. The Election Commission had said that the BJP candidate’s vehicle was used as the one being used by the poll body had broken down.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update
80.96 percent voting in 2nd phase according to updated figure
The final poll percentage for the second phase of assembly polls in Assam is 80.96 percent, 1.03 percent more than the first phase total of 79.93 percent, election officials said on Friday. The voting percentage was mentioned as 77.21 percent at the end of polling Thursday but as per the updated figure it has increased to 80.96 percent.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update
Baijayant Panda says EVM controversy protocol oversight
“Election Commission has conducted an inquiry and taken action. The fact is that one of the official vehicles broke down and they were offered some help by another vehicle. There was no political intent behind it. Perhaps there was some protocol that was not followed as a result of which EC has taken action against some officials & ordered re-poll. There is no involvement of BJP or any political motive. Whenever Congress sees defeat staring at it in its face they start making these kinds of allegations and blow it out of proportion. The truth of the matter is revealed in the inquiry and the report,” Baijayant Jay Panda, Assam in-charge of BJP told ANI
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update
Kamal Haasan a ‘super-NOTA’; his party will not win single seat: Karti Chidambaram
Congress leader Karti Chidambaram on Friday dubbed Kamal Haasan a “super-NOTA” and said the actor-turned-politician’s Makkal Neethi Maiam (MNM) will not win a single seat in the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls as it is “not a sustainable political party”.
The Congress MP from Sivaganga also slammed the AIADMK-BJP alliance and said the people of Tamil Nadu do not want a government that has any “stain, scent or shadow” of the BJP as its ‘Hindi-Hindutva’ agenda “irritates” them.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update
Amit Shah seeks EC probe into Assam EVM row
Union Home Minister Amit Shah Friday sought an inquiry by the Election Commission after a huge political row erupted over a polling team in Assam being found carrying an EVM in the vehicle belonging to the wife of a BJP candidate. Taking cognizance of the controversy, the poll panel suspended the presiding officer of the polling station, where the electronic voting machine was ballotted, and three other officials earlier in the day.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update
EC bars Himanta Biswa Sarma from campaigning for 48 hrs
The Election Commission on Friday barred Assam minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma from campaigning for 48 with immediate effect for allegedly making threatening remarks against Bodoland People’s Front chief Hagrama Mohilary.
“… The Commission hereby strongly condemns the impugned statements made by Himanta Biswa Sarma …
“The Commission … bars him from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows, interviews and public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media) in connection with ongoing elections for 48 hours from immediate effect on April 02 (Friday),” the order read.
The Congress had approached the EC demanding action against Sarma for his remark that Mohilary would be sent to jail through central probe agency NIA if he does “extremism” with rebel leader M Batha. The Bodoland People’s Front is an ally of the Congress in Assam
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update
Amid TMC allegations, Bengal governor congratulates central police forces
Amid allegations levelled by the ruling TMC of central police forces acting as per orders of Union Home minister Amit Shah, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday commended the central forces and the state police for their “excellent job” in the second phase of the assembly polls.
Polling was held for 30 seats, including the high-profile Nandigram constituency where Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee was pitted against her former lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari who has crossed over to the BJP, in the second phase of state elections on Thursday.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update
BJP accuses Mamata of inciting TMC cadre at Boyal booth in Nandigram
A BJP delegation Friday met Election Commission officials here and demanded action against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging she violated elections norms in her Nandigram constituency while votes were being cast during the second phase of polling on Thursday.
The delegation comprised Union ministers Prakash Javadekar, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav, and the party’s national media incharge Anil Baluni.
“For the first time in the country’s history, a chief minister sat on a dharna in a polling booth when polling was on. Before she (Mamata Banerjee) sat on her dharna, 74 per cent votes were polled in Nandigram and the polling was by and large peaceful,” Javadekar told reporters after meeting the EC officials here.
He further alleged as soon as the Trinamool Congress chief sat on the “dharna”, her party workers started pelting stones at the polling booth
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update
Bengal registers over 86% polling in Phase 2; Nandigram turnout above 88%
West Bengal has recorded a voter turnout of 86.11 per cent in the second phase of polling held in 30 assembly constituencies spread across four districts, Chief Electoral Officer Aariz Aftab said on Friday.
The Nandigram constituency, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been locked in a fight with protege-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, polled 88.01 percent votes, the CEO said.
Among the four districts, the highest voter turnout of 87.42 percent was registered in Purba Medinipur, followed by Bankura (86.98 per cent), South 24 Parganas (86.74 per cent), and Paschim Medinipur (83.84 per cent).
Among constituencies, Bankura district’s Kotulpur recorded the highest polling percentage of 90 per cent, while the lowest voter turnout of 72.68 per cent was registered in Kharagpur Sadar in Paschim Medinipur district, Aftab said.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
IT searches premises of MK Stalin’s son-in-law Sabareesan in Chennai
The Income Tax department is conducting searches at at least four premises of Sabareesan, who is the son-in-law of DMK president MK Stalin, media reports said. The department, however, is yet to confirm or deny these reports.
Meanwhile, Opposition leaders have slammed the BJP for being ‘vengeful’ and trying to misuse central agencies to harass opposition leaders.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update
Nandigram records 88% percent polling, says West Bengal governor
Congress delegation meets ECI
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update
In poll-bound Kerala, PM Modi mentions ‘seven deadly sins’ of LDF, UDF
With Good Friday being observed in poll-bound Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used a Biblical reference for targeting the ruling CPM-led LDF and Congress-headed UDF, saying the two fronts have committed the ‘seven deadly sins’ including greed and lust for power.
“You all have heard of the seven deadly sins.UDF and LDF have committed their own seven deadly sins in Kerala,” Modi said at an election rally here on Friday, attacking the two fronts which have been ruling Kerala alternatively over the years.
“The first sin is pride and arrogance.UDF and LDF feel that they can never be defeated. This has made their leaders very arrogant and disconnected from their roots, while the second sin is their greed for money,” he said, referring to the gold, dollar and solar cases, which has tainted the two fronts.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Update
Mamata slams Modi for ‘another seat’ jibe
Asserting that she was winning the election from Nandigram, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that she does not need his “suggestion” on contesting from an alternate seat. The prime minister had on Thursday asked Banerjee to clarify whether there is truth in “rumours” that she would file her nomination for another seat going to the polls in the last phase, maintaining that the TMC chief has admitted defeat in Nandigram.
“I want to tell the prime minister to control his home minister first and then try to control us. We are not your party’s members that you will control us,” Banerjee said at an election rally in Dinhata in the north Bengal district of Coochbehar.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Didn’t steal EVM, driver was only helping polling officials, says BJP candidate Krishnendu Paul
Speaking to India Today TV, BJP candidate from Ratibari Krishnendu Paul, in whose car an EVM was found leading to a massive controversy, said his driver was helping polling officials who sought his help.
“My driver was in the car. Polling officials asked him for help and he obliged. There was a pass pasted on my car that said I am a BJP candidate. I can’t say whether the polling officials were aware of this or not. We simply helped,” Paul told the news channel .
Meanwhile, the issue has lead to Opposition uproar and the Election Commission has ordered repolling in the concerned polling station.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
After TMC meets ECI, BJP panel complains to poll panel against Mamata Banerjee
Raiding opposition BJP’s coping mechanism when facing defeat, says Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said raiding the opposition is the BJP’s “coping mechanism” when it is facing defeat in elections. The Congress’ ally DMK condemned the Central government for alleged searches by income tax officials in the residence of party chief M K Stalin’s daughter Senthamarai in Chennai and claimed it has a ‘political objective’.
However, income tax officials neither confirmed nor denied the searches.
Puducherry Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP ‘will ditch’ NDA ally after polls, claims V Narayanasamy
Former Puducherry chief Minister and senior Congress leader V Narayanasamy on Friday said the AINRC, which is heading the NDA in the UT, will be “ditched
by the BJP” after the Assembly elections on 6 April. In a video message, Narayanasamy said AINRC leader N Rangasamy should be wary of the BJP as all his expectations of the Centre bringing developmental schemes to Puducherry will “be unfulfilled if the NDA wins the polls and formed the government”.
“If the BJP is really interested in the development of Puducherry, it could have brought several schemes when the AINRC had an alliance with the BJP between 2014 and 2016,” he said.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
If EC doesn’t wake up, it’ll be fatal for democracy: Congress
The Congress on Friday questioned the Election Commission after a BJP candidate’s vehicle was found transporting a polled EVM in Assam’s Karimganj district and said if the poll body does not wake up now and remains “complicit” it will be fatal for democracy.
Violence broke out in Karimganj district on Thursday night after a mob spotted a BJP candidate’s vehicle being used to transport a polled EVM to the strong room, forcing the police to fire in the air to bring the situation under control. The EC suspended four poll officials and ordered a repoll at the booth as a video went viral on social media.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the Election Commission, tweeting in Hindi that the “EC’s car has broken down, the BJP’s intentions are bad and the condition of democracy has worsened”.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
TMC delegation complains to EC of `partisan behavior’ by central forces
A high level Trinamool Congress delegation, led by Yashwant Sinha, former Cabinet minister and now TMC vice president and state minister Subrata Mukherjee, on Friday met the Election Commission with a complaint alleging central police forces acted with partiality in favour of the BJP at certain polling centers.
Sinha told reporters after meeting the Chief Electoral Officer Aariz Aftab that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are influencing the poll process by passing on instruction from Delhi.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP demands DMK’s Udhayanidhi Stalin’s disqualification
BJP has filed a complaint with EC demanding disqualification of Udhayanidhi Stalin’s candidature in Tamil Nadu elections over his statement on ex-union ministers late Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley. The party has also demanded that he be de–listed from list of DMK star campaigners and debarred from campaigning.
Udhayanidhi, the son of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief MK Stalin, had claimed that both Swaraj and Jaitley died due to “torture and pressure” exerted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Daughters of both former ministers have publicly denied the DMK leader’s claim and criticised him for making false statements.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
BJP candidate thrashed in Diamond Harbour, 2 arrested
A BJP candidate and his supporters were allegedly thrashed in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas during their election campaign on Friday morning, police said. BJP’s Diamond Harbour candidate Dipak Halder was campaigning in the Haridebpur area around 9.30 am when his supporters got engaged in a war of words with a few people, they said.
Amid the verbal duel, Halder and his supporters were allegedly thrashed with sticks, police said. Halder, a TMC MLA who joined the BJP ahead of the elections, was admitted to a hospital following the attack.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Violence in Assam’s Karimganj after EVM found in BJP candidate’s car
Violence broke out in Karimganj district of Assam on Thursday night after a mob spotted a BJP candidate’s vehicle being used to transport a polled EVM to the strong room, forcing the police to fire in the air to bring the situation under control.
The incident snowballed into a huge controversy on Friday morning with the Opposition Congress and AIUDF alleging that the EVM was being “stolen”, while the Election Commission suspended four poll officials and ordered a repoll at the booth as a video of the fiasco went viral on social media.
The vehicle of the polling party of the 149-Indira MV School in the Ratabari constituency broke down on their way to the strong room in Karimganj town, officials said.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Priyanka Gandhi goes into isolation, cancels Assam rally
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra announced that she is going into isolation after her husband Robert Vadra tested positive for COVID-19. She also said she will be cancelling her programmes planned to be held in the state on Saturday, ahead of the 6 April polls.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
EC orders repoll in Ratabri, after reports of EVM tampering
The Election Commission (EC) has ordered a repoll for a polling station in the Ratabari Assembly seat of Assam after reports emerged of an EVM being transported in a private vehicle belonging to a BJP candidate.
The EC acknowledged that there was a “violation of transport protocol” and issued a show-cause notice to the Presiding Officer and also suspended him along with three other officers for the lapse.
Last night, videos emerged showing a group of people intercepting a car, not belonging to the EC, in the Karimganj district’s Patharkandi carrying an EVM used for voting in Polling Station 149 Indira MV School.
According to a factual report released by the EC, the car carrying the polling party and EVM broke down, following which they hailed a passing vehicle without checking its ownership. “As reported by them, they moved towards Karimganj and as they reached Kanaishil, Karimganj at 11 pm, they had to slow down in traffic. As they slowed down, they were surrounded by a mob of about 50 people which started pelting stones at them. The mob also started abusing them and did not allow the vehicle to pass,” the EC report said.
It then turned out that the car belonged to Patharkandi BJP candidate Krishnendu Paul and the video of the attack on the car was also re-tweeted by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi.
As the crowd alleged that the EVM was being taken to be tampered with, the polling party was held hostage inside the car as the mob grew in size. “On examination, the polled EVM comprising of BU, CU and VVPAT was found to be with its seal intact without any damage whatsoever. All the items have been deposited in the strong room,” the EC said in a statement.
Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slam reports of EVM in BJP candidate’s car
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the BJP after reports emerged of an EVM being transported from a polling booth in Assam’s Ratabari in a private vehicle belonging to a BJP candidate.
While Rahul said in a tweet in Hindi, “EC’s car broke down, BJP’s intent is bad and the democracy’s condition is worsening”. Meanwhile, Priyanka sought that the EC needs to start “acting decisively on these complaints and a serious re-evaluation of the use of EVM’s needs to be carried out by all national parties”.
Acknowledging that there was a “violation of transport protocol,” the Election Commission, in a press statement released Friday morning, said that it has issued a show-cause notice to the Presiding Officer and also suspended him along with three other officers for the lapse. Repolling will be held at the booth.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mamata running Bengal with Tanashahi, Tolabazi and Tushtikaran: Amit Shah
Speaking at a rally in Cooch Behar, Home Minister Amit Shah said the state’s development will be the party’s topmost priority. “We’ll give Rs 2000 crores to the North Bengal development board for your development. There’ll also be a battalion of Rajbanshi youth, to pay tribute to Narayani Sena,” he said.
He hit out at the Mamata Banerjee government, adding that it runs on a 3T model: Tanashahi (dictatorship), Tolabazi (manoeuvre) and Tushtikaran (appeasement), while Prime Minister Narendra Modi runs it on a 3V model: Vikas (progress), Vishwas (trust), Vyapar (business).
Shah went on to say that the TMC chief has always meted out injustice to north Bengal and will lose in Nandigram. The BJP, he said, will completely stop cross- border infiltration, if elected.
“If there is any major disease in North Bengal, then one has to go to Kolkata for treatment. We have decided to create an AIIMS inside Cooch Behar in North Bengal to provide treatment facilities to the people of this region,” Shah said. He also announced a Rs 250 crore memorial for Thakur Panchanand Burman, an cultural icon from north Bengal. He also vowed that if elected, the BJP will end political violence in the state.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
TMC will form government, Mamata Banerjee says at Cooch Behar rally
Speaking at a rally in Cooch Behar, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said it is imperative that the party wins over 200 seats, failing which BJP will try to buy out traitors to form a government. “I will win in Nandigram. But it’s not about me, all our candidates have to win. Amit Shah is steering the Election Commission. Central forces are intimidating villagers at night. But, don’t be afraid if they threaten you, confront them,” she said, exuding confidence that the TMC will form a government in the state.
“BJP has no leader of its own in the state, they have borrowed leaders from us. After elections, I will bring everyone to justice. Minorities and ST/SC population should not allow their votes to get divided,” she further said.
She also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he is in no position to suggest to her to contest from another seat apart from Nandigram. “Control your Home Minister (Amit Shah) first, then try to control us,” she said
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
DMK-Congress guarantee neither ‘safety nor dignity’: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the DMK and Congress for trying to turn peace-loving Madurai into a mafia district because of “complications in DMK’s first family”.
Pointing out that the rival parties don’t understand the ethos of Madurai, Modi said, “In the 2016 Tamil Nadu Congress manifesto, there was a call for ban on Jallikattu. Congress and DMK should be ashamed of themselves. People sought a solution and wanted Jallikatu to continue. Our government then cleared ordinance by AIADMK, which allowed it to take place.”
The prime minister went on to say that the BJP will focus on the textile and food processing sectors. “A mega investment textile park scheme ‘MITRA’ has been announced in this year’s budget. Seven textile parks will come up in three years, he said.
“From the Red Fort last year, I had said that the Centre is going to spend Rs 100 lakh crore for creation of next-gen infrastructure which will cater to the needs of not just the present, but also the future generations. In this year’s Union budget, a series of economic corridors have been announced, and one of them is the Madurai-Kollam corridor. Funds allocated for railway infra projects in TN have increased by a record 238 percent compared to 2009,” Modi told crowds at the Madurai rally.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
At Madurai rally, Modi rakes up culture and water
Addressing a rally in Madurai ahead of the 6 April Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the city is closely associated with the world’s oldest language – Tamil. “Here, one thinks about the Tamil Sangams. I want to appreciate all those working to make Tamil culture and literature more popular. This land had a great influence on Mahatma Gandhi,” he said.
Invoking MGR’s legacy and hailing his “vision for an inclusive and prosperous society”, Modi said even though Congress dismissed his democratically-elected government in the 1980s, he won from Madurai. “South Tamil Nadu and especially Madurai has a special association with MGR. We all know TM Soundararajan lent his voice to MGR,” he further said.
Modi also pointed out that over 60 lakh water connections have been installed in Tamil Nadu since the launch of the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Narendra Modi address poll rally in Madurai
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing a poll rally in Madurai on Friday ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly election. Elections to 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu are slated on 6 April and the BJP is facing the polls in alliance with the ruling AIADMK.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Mithun Chakraborty campaigns in Pursurah
Actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty has arrived in Pursurah of Hooghly district on Friday. He will be campaigning will for party’s candidate Biman Ghosh ahead of the third phase of Bengal Assembly polls on 6 April.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
MK Stalin’s son-in-law’s home and office raided by I-T officials
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief MK Stalin’s son-in-law Sabareesan’s residence and office were raided by the Income Tax department on Friday. Several other places connected to him are also being searched, ANI reported.
This is the second such raid on those associated with the DMK ahead of the 6 April Tamil Nadu Assembly election. Last month, DMK candidate EV Velu’s premises were searched in Tiruvannamalai and Chennai.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
No disruption during polling at booth 7 in Nandigram: EC
The Election Commission cited the report of its general observer in West Bengal on Thursday to say voting was not disrupted at any moment at polling station number 7 in Nandigram, from where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting.
In a statement, the commission said “many sections of media have been covering the incident of alleged gherao of Chief Minister of West Bengal and crowding at Polling Station no. 7 at 210 Nandigram AC (assembly constituency) today that inter alia resulted in disruption of poll process”.
It said general observer Hemen Das, an IAS officer, and police observer Ashutosh Roy (IPS) were asked to go to the spot immediately. The panel said the general observer’s report was received at 4.06 pm.
West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
TMC delegation to poll officials in Kolkata today
A seven-member delegation of the Trinamool Congress comprising MPs and ministers will meet poll officials in Kolkata on Friday at 1.30pm, reported News18. The delegation is expected to discuss issues faced during the first two phases of elections in West Bengal.
Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
Modi to campaign in Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram today
Narendra Modi will also be visiting poll-bound Kerala on Friday. He is expected hold public meetings in Pathanamthitta and Thiruvananthapuram at 1.45 pm and 6.16 pm respectively.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates
PM to address rallies in Madurai and Kanyakumari today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Tamil Nadu to campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its alliance AIADMK for the upcoming state elections, will be addressing rallies in Madurai and Kanyakumari on Friday.