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It's not only the geographical and social features that sets the Bundelkhand region apart from the rest of Madhya Pradesh, leaders believe the electoral politics is also much different here with the fight not being limited to the arch-rivals BJP and Congress.&nbsp;

Just like its treacherous hill roads, the region is expected to see an interesting poll battle.

Some leaders claim that non-BJP parties have even resorted to 'friendly fights' on some seats to stop the saffron party from taking advantage of non-consolidation of votes for a joint opposition candidate due to complex caste equations in the area dominated by Dalits and other backward castes.

Given the geographical and cultural proximity of over two dozen assembly seats in this area to the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, two key political parties with a strong presence in the state across the border -- Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party -- are leaving no stones unturned in challenging the ruling BJP.

The four bordering districts of Bundelkhand region -- Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh and Panna -- and two districts of Chambal Zone -- Datia and Shivpuri -- together send 30 MLAs to the Madhya Pradesh assembly. Out of this, the BJP has got 22 and the Congress has 8 seats in the outgoing assembly.

As the election campaign heats up for the November 28 elections across 230 assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, where BJP has been in power for 15 years thwarting every challenge so far from the Congress, the observers feel it may not be a traditional direct fight between these two parties in the areas along the UP border.

The reasons cited by poll pundits range from caste equations to cultural and social influence of the neighbouring areas from Uttar Pradesh, as also a strong campaign being mounted by the SP and the BSP and what many political leaders call an 'undeclared understanding' these two parties have reached with the Congress to take on the saffron party unitedly without forging a "visible alliance".

The opposition leaders insist that the anti-incumbency factor against the 15-year BJP rule is much more prominent in the Bundelkhand region, as compared to the rest of Madhya Pradesh, being far off from the state capital Bhopal. Also, the region has larger dominance of the SC/ST and other backward classes.

Datia MLA Narottam Mishra, a prominent minister in the Shivraj Singh government, however, rejected the anti-incumbency factor, citing the development work done by the BJP Government.&nbsp;

Mishra said the election is going to be rather easy this time, compared to the last three assembly polls, as "historical development work" has been done by the state government in the Bundelkhand region.

He also dismissed any challenge from the 'joint' opposition challenge and said none of these parties would be visible after elections.

Mishra said these parties tried a similar strategy in last elections but voters rejected their "gimmicks" and voted for development schemes of the BJP government that helps all sections of the society.&nbsp;

He further said people in the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh are also praising the developmental work done in Bundelkhand and it is the rejected leaders of the SP and the BSP from Uttar Pradesh who are looking for a political future in Madhya Pradesh through this region.&nbsp;

The SP is focussing on all six districts of Bundelkhand in Madhya Pradesh (which include Damoh and Datia also) and the BSP has fielded candidates in the Chambal and Vindhya regions also, along with the Bundelkhand region.&nbsp;

The BSP has four MLAs in the outgoing assembly -- two from Satna district in Vindhya area and two from Morena district of Chambal area.&nbsp;

The party has given a ticket to all four sitting MLAs and two former MLAs too. The SP has fielded a former MLA from Niwari constituency in the Tikamgarh district.&nbsp;

BSP's Bundelkhand in-charge Mukesh Ahirwar said the party is contesting all 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh.&nbsp;

He said the party is in a strong position in Bundelkhand, therefore, a key focus area.

BSP president Mayawati will start a poll campaign on November 21 from Morena and will address public rallies over two days in Bundelkhand, Chambal and Vindhya region, Ahirwar said.

A senior SP leader said the party's main focus is to defeat the BJP, for which it has an understanding with the Congress and BSP for some seats, asserting a formal alliance was not preferable due to complex caste equations of the area.&nbsp;

He said a joint candidate against the BJP on all seats would have actually benefited the saffron party and therefore they have opted for a "friendly fight".

Balakram Yadav, a senior leader of Congress party's Bundelkhand unit, said he is confident of a "strategic success" in these elections.&nbsp;

He said the over-confidence of the ruling BJP would prove to be detrimental for the saffron party and the people's anger will reflect in their votes.

Rejecting the BJP's claims of development works in the region, Yadav said they were limited to a few cities and the farmers are facing a major crisis in the agriculture-dominated rural areas of Bundelkhand region due to drought and fuel price hike while youths are being compelled to migrate because of unemployment.

It's not only the geographical and social features that sets the Bundelkhand region apart from the rest of Madhya Pradesh, leaders believe the electoral politics is also much different here with the fight not being limited to the arch-rivals BJP and Congress.

It's not only the geographical and social features that sets the Bundelkhand region apart from the rest of Madhya Pradesh, leaders believe the electoral politics is also much different here with the fight not being limited to the arch-rivals BJP and Congress. Just like its treacherous hill roads, the region is expected to see an interesting poll battle. Some leaders claim that non-BJP parties have even resorted to 'friendly fights' on some seats to stop the saffron party from taking advantage of non-consolidation of votes for a joint opposition candidate due to complex caste equations in the area dominated by Dalits and other backward castes. Given the geographical and cultural proximity of over two dozen assembly seats in this area to the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, two key political parties with a strong presence in the state across the border -- Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party -- are leaving no stones unturned in challenging the ruling BJP. The four bordering districts of Bundelkhand region -- Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh and Panna -- and two districts of Chambal Zone -- Datia and Shivpuri -- together send 30 MLAs to the Madhya Pradesh assembly. Out of this, the BJP has got 22 and the Congress has 8 seats in the outgoing assembly. As the election campaign heats up for the November 28 elections across 230 assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, where BJP has been in power for 15 years thwarting every challenge so far from the Congress, the observers feel it may not be a traditional direct fight between these two parties in the areas along the UP border. The reasons cited by poll pundits range from caste equations to cultural and social influence of the neighbouring areas from Uttar Pradesh, as also a strong campaign being mounted by the SP and the BSP and what many political leaders call an 'undeclared understanding' these two parties have reached with the Congress to take on the saffron party unitedly without forging a "visible alliance". The opposition leaders insist that the anti-incumbency factor against the 15-year BJP rule is much more prominent in the Bundelkhand region, as compared to the rest of Madhya Pradesh, being far off from the state capital Bhopal. Also, the region has larger dominance of the SC/ST and other backward classes. Datia MLA Narottam Mishra, a prominent minister in the Shivraj Singh government, however, rejected the anti-incumbency factor, citing the development work done by the BJP Government. Mishra said the election is going to be rather easy this time, compared to the last three assembly polls, as "historical development work" has been done by the state government in the Bundelkhand region. He also dismissed any challenge from the 'joint' opposition challenge and said none of these parties would be visible after elections. Mishra said these parties tried a similar strategy in last elections but voters rejected their "gimmicks" and voted for development schemes of the BJP government that helps all sections of the society. He further said people in the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh are also praising the developmental work done in Bundelkhand and it is the rejected leaders of the SP and the BSP from Uttar Pradesh who are looking for a political future in Madhya Pradesh through this region. The SP is focussing on all six districts of Bundelkhand in Madhya Pradesh (which include Damoh and Datia also) and the BSP has fielded candidates in the Chambal and Vindhya regions also, along with the Bundelkhand region. The BSP has four MLAs in the outgoing assembly -- two from Satna district in Vindhya area and two from Morena district of Chambal area. The party has given a ticket to all four sitting MLAs and two former MLAs too. The SP has fielded a former MLA from Niwari constituency in the Tikamgarh district. BSP's Bundelkhand in-charge Mukesh Ahirwar said the party is contesting all 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh. He said the party is in a strong position in Bundelkhand, therefore, a key focus area. BSP president Mayawati will start a poll campaign on November 21 from Morena and will address public rallies over two days in Bundelkhand, Chambal and Vindhya region, Ahirwar said. A senior SP leader said the party's main focus is to defeat the BJP, for which it has an understanding with the Congress and BSP for some seats, asserting a formal alliance was not preferable due to complex caste equations of the area. He said a joint candidate against the BJP on all seats would have actually benefited the saffron party and therefore they have opted for a "friendly fight". Balakram Yadav, a senior leader of Congress party's Bundelkhand unit, said he is confident of a "strategic success" in these elections. He said the over-confidence of the ruling BJP would prove to be detrimental for the saffron party and the people's anger will reflect in their votes. Rejecting the BJP's claims of development works in the region, Yadav said they were limited to a few cities and the farmers are facing a major crisis in the agriculture-dominated rural areas of Bundelkhand region due to drought and fuel price hike while youths are being compelled to migrate because of unemployment.

Madhya Pradesh: No straight fight for Cong, BJP in Bundelkhand; SP, BSP add new twists and turns

A woman journalist and former colleague of MJ Akbar's came to his defence Monday, telling a Delhi court that Akbar was "a thorough journalist".&nbsp;

Joyeeta Basu, the editor of the Sunday Guardian, said she had worked with Akbar for 20 years and had not heard anything "untoward" from the staff of the organisation where they worked together.&nbsp;

Akbar is a founder editor of the Sunday Guardian.&nbsp;

He <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mj-akbar-resigns-as-minister-of-state-for-external-affairs-171938">resigned</a> as India's minister of state for external affairs after a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/20-women-demand-hearing-of-their-testimonies-against-mj-akbar-171959">multitude of women accused him of sexual misconduct, harassment, assault and rape</a>.&nbsp;

Akbar has sued the journalist Priya Ramani for criminal defamation — the case the court was hearing on Monday — saying she was the first one to name him.&nbsp;

Interestingly, Ramani herself had not accused Akbar of harassment, assault, or rape. She had written an article in Vogue magazine in October 2017 about her first job interview with Akbar which he conducted in a Mumbai hotel room.&nbsp;

Ramani did not name Akbar in the article.&nbsp;

She named him after she reposted the article on Twitter in October this year.&nbsp;This was after the actor Tanushree Dutta kicked of India's own #MeToo movement.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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I began this piece with my MJ Akbar story. Never named him because he didn’t “do” anything. Lots of women have worse stories about this predator—maybe they’ll share. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ulti?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ulti</a> <a href="https://t.co/5jVU5WHHo7">https://t.co/5jVU5WHHo7</a>
— Priya Ramani (@priyaramani) <a href="https://twitter.com/priyaramani/status/1049279608263245824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The accusations against Akbar tumbled out of the&nbsp;closet after that.&nbsp;

Akbar has not sued any of the women who have actually accused him of harassment, assault, or rape.&nbsp;

"I have seen tweets by Priya Ramani dated October 10, 2018 and October 13, 2018. I have overcome my doubts but I know from the number of questions raised by people, I know personally that his reputation has been destroyed and damaged irreparably," Basu told the court on Monday.&nbsp;

"After reading these tweets by Ramani, I believe that this vilification was conducted and the tweets were published intentionally by Ramani with a purpose to harm Akbar's good reputation and goodwill in the eyes of society," she added. &nbsp;

"I have always held Mr Akbar in high regard. He has been perfectly professional in his dealings with me. He has always been a tough taskmaster, a thorough professional and a brilliant teacher," Basu said.

She added that she considered Akbar to be "a brilliant journalist, a scholarly writer and a thorough gentleman with an impeccable reputation".&nbsp;

Basu said that she was "shocked, disappointed, embarrassed" to see Ramani's tweets against Akbar and "in spite of my experience with him, his image, his reputation took a beating in my eyes on reading these tweet/article".

"It was aggravated during my interaction with friends and colleagues who had read and heard about the widely publicised tweets and articles and asked me whether he was really like that? They questioned his character and said that his image has taken a severe beating and had been lowered in their eyes. They said that his reputation had been permanently damaged as far as they were concerned," she added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from PTI) 
&nbsp;

A woman journalist and former colleague of MJ Akbar's came to his defence Monday, telling a Delhi court that Akbar was "a thorough journalist". Joyeeta Basu, the editor of the Sunday Guardian, said she had worked with Akbar for 20 years and had not heard anything "untoward" from the staff of the organisation where they worked together.

A woman journalist and former colleague of MJ Akbar's came to his defence Monday, telling a Delhi court that Akbar was "a thorough journalist". Joyeeta Basu, the editor of the Sunday Guardian, said she had worked with Akbar for 20 years and had not heard anything "untoward" from the staff of the organisation where they worked together. Akbar is a founder editor of the Sunday Guardian. He resigned as India's minister of state for external affairs after a multitude of women accused him of sexual misconduct, harassment, assault and rape. Akbar has sued the journalist Priya Ramani for criminal defamation — the case the court was hearing on Monday — saying she was the first one to name him. Interestingly, Ramani herself had not accused Akbar of harassment, assault, or rape. She had written an article in Vogue magazine in October 2017 about her first job interview with Akbar which he conducted in a Mumbai hotel room. Ramani did not name Akbar in the article. She named him after she reposted the article on Twitter in October this year. This was after the actor Tanushree Dutta kicked of India's own #MeToo movement. I began this piece with my MJ Akbar story. Never named him because he didn’t “do” anything. Lots of women have worse stories about this predator—maybe they’ll share. #ulti https://t.co/5jVU5WHHo7 — Priya Ramani (@priyaramani) October 8, 2018 × The accusations against Akbar tumbled out of the closet after that. Akbar has not sued any of the women who have actually accused him of harassment, assault, or rape. "I have seen tweets by Priya Ramani dated October 10, 2018 and October 13, 2018. I have overcome my doubts but I know from the number of questions raised by people, I know personally that his reputation has been destroyed and damaged irreparably," Basu told the court on Monday. "After reading these tweets by Ramani, I believe that this vilification was conducted and the tweets were published intentionally by Ramani with a purpose to harm Akbar's good reputation and goodwill in the eyes of society," she added. "I have always held Mr Akbar in high regard. He has been perfectly professional in his dealings with me. He has always been a tough taskmaster, a thorough professional and a brilliant teacher," Basu said. She added that she considered Akbar to be "a brilliant journalist, a scholarly writer and a thorough gentleman with an impeccable reputation". Basu said that she was "shocked, disappointed, embarrassed" to see Ramani's tweets against Akbar and "in spite of my experience with him, his image, his reputation took a beating in my eyes on reading these tweet/article". "It was aggravated during my interaction with friends and colleagues who had read and heard about the widely publicised tweets and articles and asked me whether he was really like that? They questioned his character and said that his image has taken a severe beating and had been lowered in their eyes. They said that his reputation had been permanently damaged as far as they were concerned," she added. (With inputs from PTI)

#MeToo: MJ Akbar 'a thorough gentleman', woman journalist says in court

Three more Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) jawans were injured and at least five Naxals were killed in an encounter that broke out between security forces and Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur's Pamed area on Monday, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

According to reports, all CoBRA personnel are now out the danger. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-polls-naxal-violence-mars-voting-two-crpf-commandos-injured-176802">Two jawans were injured earlier on Monday</a> in the same encounter.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPDATE</a>: Three more personnel of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) are injured and around five Naxals are dead in the encounter that broke out between security forces &amp; Naxals in Bijapur's Pamed area today. All the CoBRA personnel are out danger. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chhattisgarh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chhattisgarh</a> <a href="https://t.co/TkhHF0pjpG">https://t.co/TkhHF0pjpG</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1061930060331081729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, security forces, earlier today, defused an IED detected on the road leading to Dwarapara polling booth, under PS Bairamgarh in Bijapur.&nbsp;

Earlier in the day, the security forces detected three IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device) near a polling booth in Konta's Banda in Sukma district.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chhattisgarh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chhattisgarh</a>: Security forces defused IED detected on the road leading to Dwarapara polling booth, under PS Bairamgarh in Bijapur.
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1061928494773481472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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As many as 18 assembly constituencies, out of a total of 90, have gone to polls today in the first phase of the electoral fight marred by Naxal attacks in Chhattisgarh.

The voter turnout in the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly election on Monday was <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-assembly-polls-nearly-50-voter-turnout-recorded-till-3pm-176837">recorded at 47.18 per cent till 3 pm</a>. By 2 pm the same was recorded at nearly 38 per cent.

The remaining 72 seats of Chhattisgarh assembly will go to vote on November 20 as part of a multi-phased voting across five states that also include neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram.

Three more Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) jawans were injured and at least five Naxals were killed in an encounter that broke out between security forces and Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur's Pamed area on Monday, news agency ANI reported.

Three more Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) jawans were injured and at least five Naxals were killed in an encounter that broke out between security forces and Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur's Pamed area on Monday, news agency ANI reported. According to reports, all CoBRA personnel are now out the danger. Two jawans were injured earlier on Monday in the same encounter. #UPDATE: Three more personnel of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) are injured and around five Naxals are dead in the encounter that broke out between security forces & Naxals in Bijapur's Pamed area today. All the CoBRA personnel are out danger. #Chhattisgarh https://t.co/TkhHF0pjpG — ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018 × Meanwhile, security forces, earlier today, defused an IED detected on the road leading to Dwarapara polling booth, under PS Bairamgarh in Bijapur. Earlier in the day, the security forces detected three IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device) near a polling booth in Konta's Banda in Sukma district. #Chhattisgarh: Security forces defused IED detected on the road leading to Dwarapara polling booth, under PS Bairamgarh in Bijapur. — ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018 × As many as 18 assembly constituencies, out of a total of 90, have gone to polls today in the first phase of the electoral fight marred by Naxal attacks in Chhattisgarh. The voter turnout in the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly election on Monday was recorded at 47.18 per cent till 3 pm. By 2 pm the same was recorded at nearly 38 per cent. The remaining 72 seats of Chhattisgarh assembly will go to vote on November 20 as part of a multi-phased voting across five states that also include neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram.

Chhattisgarh poll violence: 5 CRPF commandos injured, 5 Naxals killed in Bijapur encounter

People in India share <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/obama-warned-zuckerberg-over-fake-news-report-20605">fake news</a> stories with nationalistic messages for "nation building" purposes without any attempt at fact-checking, a BBC report released Monday said.

The findings come from extensive research in India, Kenya, and Nigeria into the way ordinary citizens engage with and spread fake news, the British public broadcaster said.

According to the report, there is also an overlap of fake news sources on Twitter and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's support networks.

The report, analysing the spread of fake news from the perspective of ordinary citizens, suggests an "overlap between fake news and pro-Modi political activity" in India.

The BBC said its first published study, providing an in-depth understanding of how fake news and disinformation are spreading within encrypted chat apps, reveals that emotion is trumping reason when it comes to sharing news.

"Whilst most discussion in the media has focused on 'fake news' in the West, this piece of research gives strong evidence that a serious set of problems are emerging in the rest of the world where the idea of nation-building is trumping the truth when it comes to sharing stories on social media," said Jamie Angus, Director, BBC World Service Group.

As part of the extensive research using big data and analytics, the BBC found that in Indian Twitter networks, known right wing sources of fake news seemed more closely aligned than left wing sources.

"This allows right leaning fake news to spread faster and wider than left leaning fake news," notes the extensive research carried out by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in the three countries.

The research forms part of the BBC Beyond Fake News project, a new international anti-disinformation initiative of programmes and discussions, which launches this week.

The research revealed that fake news was being unwittingly spread by people across India, Kenya, and Nigeria as they forward messages in the hope that someone else will check the truth of the story for them.

"In India people are reluctant to share messages which they think might incite violence, but feel duty bound to share nationalistic messages," the research notes.

"Fake news stories about India's progress, Hindu power and revival of lost Hindu glory are being shared widely without any attempt at fact-checking. In sharing these messages, people feel like they are nation building," it adds.

Whilst nationalism is driving the spread of fake news in India, the research tells a different story in Kenya and Nigeria.

There, fake news stories that get shared largely reflect national anxieties and aspirations, with scams related to money and technology contributing to an estimated third of fake news stories in WhatsApp conversations in Kenya. 
In Nigeria, stories relating to terrorism and the army are also widely shared within WhatsApp.

The latest research is part of the BBC's wider Beyond Fake News initiative, which has been described as a decisive step in its commitment to tackling the spread of disinformation, and the research provides "invaluable insights to aid this work".

"At the heart of this research is the question of why ordinary people are sharing fake news, even while they claim to be worried about the way fake stories spread. 
"This report combines in-depth qualitative and ethnographic techniques with digital network analysis and big data techniques to explore the fake news phenomenon in India, Kenya, and Nigeria from multiple angles," said Santanu Chakrabarti, Head of Audience Research, BBC World Service.

Chakrabarti said the project was one of the first in these countries to properly understand fake news as a technologically driven social phenomenon.

As part of a generational analysis, it reveals that young people are identifying along nationalistic lines, and this is driving their sharing behaviour as much as it is the older generation.

The research suggests that a significant amount of fake stories being shared are not written articles, but images and memes.

The report explains in depth how the nature of social media platforms, combined with the challenge people face in coping with the amount of information online, leads to the spread of fake news being carried through visual media.

The report comes on the same day when social media giants like Facebook, Google and Twitter are to appear together to talk about the impact of fake news on their platforms.

They will discuss the issue at the BBC Beyond Fake News conference in Delhi Monday, to be broadcast on BBC World News.

Among some of its wider findings, the report found that a sense of duty is behind the spread of fake news in Kenya and Nigeria rather than being motivated by a duty to "nation build" like in India.

In Kenya and Nigeria people are consuming mainstream media sources and known sources of fake news in equal amounts, even though the public's desire to know the original source of messages is far greater than in India, it said.

The report examines networks within Twitter and analyses how people are sharing encrypted messaging apps, after users gave the BBC unprecedented access to their phones.&nbsp;

People in India share fake news stories with nationalistic messages for "nation building" purposes without any attempt at fact-checking, a BBC report released Monday said.

People in India share fake news stories with nationalistic messages for "nation building" purposes without any attempt at fact-checking, a BBC report released Monday said. The findings come from extensive research in India, Kenya, and Nigeria into the way ordinary citizens engage with and spread fake news, the British public broadcaster said. According to the report, there is also an overlap of fake news sources on Twitter and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's support networks. The report, analysing the spread of fake news from the perspective of ordinary citizens, suggests an "overlap between fake news and pro-Modi political activity" in India. The BBC said its first published study, providing an in-depth understanding of how fake news and disinformation are spreading within encrypted chat apps, reveals that emotion is trumping reason when it comes to sharing news. "Whilst most discussion in the media has focused on 'fake news' in the West, this piece of research gives strong evidence that a serious set of problems are emerging in the rest of the world where the idea of nation-building is trumping the truth when it comes to sharing stories on social media," said Jamie Angus, Director, BBC World Service Group. As part of the extensive research using big data and analytics, the BBC found that in Indian Twitter networks, known right wing sources of fake news seemed more closely aligned than left wing sources. "This allows right leaning fake news to spread faster and wider than left leaning fake news," notes the extensive research carried out by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in the three countries. The research forms part of the BBC Beyond Fake News project, a new international anti-disinformation initiative of programmes and discussions, which launches this week. The research revealed that fake news was being unwittingly spread by people across India, Kenya, and Nigeria as they forward messages in the hope that someone else will check the truth of the story for them. "In India people are reluctant to share messages which they think might incite violence, but feel duty bound to share nationalistic messages," the research notes. "Fake news stories about India's progress, Hindu power and revival of lost Hindu glory are being shared widely without any attempt at fact-checking. In sharing these messages, people feel like they are nation building," it adds. Whilst nationalism is driving the spread of fake news in India, the research tells a different story in Kenya and Nigeria. There, fake news stories that get shared largely reflect national anxieties and aspirations, with scams related to money and technology contributing to an estimated third of fake news stories in WhatsApp conversations in Kenya. In Nigeria, stories relating to terrorism and the army are also widely shared within WhatsApp. The latest research is part of the BBC's wider Beyond Fake News initiative, which has been described as a decisive step in its commitment to tackling the spread of disinformation, and the research provides "invaluable insights to aid this work". "At the heart of this research is the question of why ordinary people are sharing fake news, even while they claim to be worried about the way fake stories spread. "This report combines in-depth qualitative and ethnographic techniques with digital network analysis and big data techniques to explore the fake news phenomenon in India, Kenya, and Nigeria from multiple angles," said Santanu Chakrabarti, Head of Audience Research, BBC World Service. Chakrabarti said the project was one of the first in these countries to properly understand fake news as a technologically driven social phenomenon. As part of a generational analysis, it reveals that young people are identifying along nationalistic lines, and this is driving their sharing behaviour as much as it is the older generation. The research suggests that a significant amount of fake stories being shared are not written articles, but images and memes. The report explains in depth how the nature of social media platforms, combined with the challenge people face in coping with the amount of information online, leads to the spread of fake news being carried through visual media. The report comes on the same day when social media giants like Facebook, Google and Twitter are to appear together to talk about the impact of fake news on their platforms. They will discuss the issue at the BBC Beyond Fake News conference in Delhi Monday, to be broadcast on BBC World News. Among some of its wider findings, the report found that a sense of duty is behind the spread of fake news in Kenya and Nigeria rather than being motivated by a duty to "nation build" like in India. In Kenya and Nigeria people are consuming mainstream media sources and known sources of fake news in equal amounts, even though the public's desire to know the original source of messages is far greater than in India, it said. The report examines networks within Twitter and analyses how people are sharing encrypted messaging apps, after users gave the BBC unprecedented access to their phones.

Nationalism behind spread of fake news in India: BBC report

Ahead of elections in the world's largest democracy, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Monday paid his maiden visit to India where he vowed to check spread of fake news but said there is no "one fix" solution for the "multi-variable" problem.

Twitter -- which counts India among its priority markets -- has a large number of politicians in the country on its platform, who engage with residents and extensively use it around elections.

"In a number of conversations, it's become more important that we scope the problem as tightly as possible because fake news or misinformation as a category is way too big," he said addressing a townhall at the IIT-Delhi.

He added that if certain content is found to be misleading, it is the company's job to ensure that such information is picked out and prevented from spreading.

"...If the intent (of the content) is to mislead, we need to understand and pick out this information and then it's our job to ensure it doesn't spread and our job is to ensure it doesn't gain the impressions beyond its given reach," he said.

Dorsey, who met Congress President Rahul Gandhi earlier in the day, pointed out that it was also important to understand the intent and context of the information to address the issue of fake news and misinformation.

"This is a multi-variable problem and there is not going to be one fix, it's like security. No one can build a perfect lock that no one can break," he said, adding that like with security, the company will have to stay ahead of those spreading misinformation.

Dorsey said Artificial Intelligence could help build a solution that may be near perfect.

Social media firms have been facing the menace of rumours and fake news floating on their platforms. Organisations like Facebook and WhatsApp have taken a number of steps, including sensitisation programmes among users across the country.

More recently, WhatsApp - which drew flak from the government over the circulation of certain fake and sinister messages that incited mob-fury in different parts of the country - has initiated measures to curb the circulation of misinformation on its platform.

Dorsey cited the example of a tweet on its platform, posted ahead of the 2016 Presidential elections in the US, that said voters could register themselves on the shortcode provided in the tweet.

In this case, the number of tweets flagging the said content as fake was 10 times that the original message.

The top executive, who arrived in India last week tweeted: "(my first time here after a lifetime of wanting to experience it). He visited Jaipur and also met the Dalai Lama, called him an "amazing teacher".

Twitter Monday also launched its '#PowerOf18' initiative aimed at encouraging Indian youth to contribute to public debate and participate in civic engagement in the upcoming election season.

According to a survey conducted by Twitter India, voting rights emerged as the top response when asked what people would consider the power of turning 18 years old.

The research, conducted with over 3,600 respondents aged 18-30-year-olds, found 94 per cent respondents indicating that they would vote in the upcoming elections, while 87 per cent said they believed that voting made them a responsible citizen.

About 53 per cent said they are voting because they want to make a difference.

The study also pointed towards the increasing importance of social media for information consumption as 69 per cent of Twitter users surveyed said they always stay up to date with political news and events versus 44 per cent of non-Twitter users.

Ahead of elections in the world's largest democracy, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Monday paid his maiden visit to India where he vowed to check spread of fake news but said there is no "one fix" solution for the "multi-variable" problem.

Ahead of elections in the world's largest democracy, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Monday paid his maiden visit to India where he vowed to check spread of fake news but said there is no "one fix" solution for the "multi-variable" problem. Twitter -- which counts India among its priority markets -- has a large number of politicians in the country on its platform, who engage with residents and extensively use it around elections. "In a number of conversations, it's become more important that we scope the problem as tightly as possible because fake news or misinformation as a category is way too big," he said addressing a townhall at the IIT-Delhi. He added that if certain content is found to be misleading, it is the company's job to ensure that such information is picked out and prevented from spreading. "...If the intent (of the content) is to mislead, we need to understand and pick out this information and then it's our job to ensure it doesn't spread and our job is to ensure it doesn't gain the impressions beyond its given reach," he said. Dorsey, who met Congress President Rahul Gandhi earlier in the day, pointed out that it was also important to understand the intent and context of the information to address the issue of fake news and misinformation. "This is a multi-variable problem and there is not going to be one fix, it's like security. No one can build a perfect lock that no one can break," he said, adding that like with security, the company will have to stay ahead of those spreading misinformation. Dorsey said Artificial Intelligence could help build a solution that may be near perfect. Social media firms have been facing the menace of rumours and fake news floating on their platforms. Organisations like Facebook and WhatsApp have taken a number of steps, including sensitisation programmes among users across the country. More recently, WhatsApp - which drew flak from the government over the circulation of certain fake and sinister messages that incited mob-fury in different parts of the country - has initiated measures to curb the circulation of misinformation on its platform. Dorsey cited the example of a tweet on its platform, posted ahead of the 2016 Presidential elections in the US, that said voters could register themselves on the shortcode provided in the tweet. In this case, the number of tweets flagging the said content as fake was 10 times that the original message. The top executive, who arrived in India last week tweeted: "(my first time here after a lifetime of wanting to experience it). He visited Jaipur and also met the Dalai Lama, called him an "amazing teacher". Twitter Monday also launched its '#PowerOf18' initiative aimed at encouraging Indian youth to contribute to public debate and participate in civic engagement in the upcoming election season. According to a survey conducted by Twitter India, voting rights emerged as the top response when asked what people would consider the power of turning 18 years old. The research, conducted with over 3,600 respondents aged 18-30-year-olds, found 94 per cent respondents indicating that they would vote in the upcoming elections, while 87 per cent said they believed that voting made them a responsible citizen. About 53 per cent said they are voting because they want to make a difference. The study also pointed towards the increasing importance of social media for information consumption as 69 per cent of Twitter users surveyed said they always stay up to date with political news and events versus 44 per cent of non-Twitter users.

Fake news a multi-variable problem, there is no 'one fix': Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in India

The voter turnout in the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly election on Monday was recorded at 56.58 per cent till 4.30pm. By 2pm the same was recorded at nearly 38 per cent, the figure rose to nearly 50 per cent by 3pm.

As many as 18 assembly constituencies, out of a total of 90, have gone to polls today in the first phase of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/naxals-denote-bomb-in-dantewada-as-polls-get-underway-in-chhattisgarh-176729">electoral fight</a> marred by Naxal attacks.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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56.58% voter turnout recorded till 4.30 pm in the first phase of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018</a> including 61.47% in Kondagaon; 63.51% in Keshkal; 62% in Kanker; 58% in Bastar; 49% in Dantewada; 60.5% in Khairagarh; 64% in Dongargarh; 65.5% in Khujji. <a href="https://t.co/NFm2aIAEcR">pic.twitter.com/NFm2aIAEcR</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1061942152341659648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Voting in nine seats of Bastar division and one seat in Rajnandgaon district began at 7am and concluded at 3pm, while in the other eight seats, it started at 8am and will culminate at 5pm, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

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47.18% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm in the first phase of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018</a>. <a href="https://t.co/dJVvqC53OZ">pic.twitter.com/dJVvqC53OZ</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1061920491089334272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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As many as 31 electronic voting machines (EVMs) and 51 voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines were replaced due to technical snags, an official said.

A thick security blanket comprising over 1.25 lakh police and paramilitary personnel were thrown across the 18 constituencies as they fall under the Naxal-hit areas of Bastar, Kanker, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Rajnandgaon districts.

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After the Nilwaya naxal attack, the challenges have gone up. Naxals had threatened villagers against voting. We assured the villagers of a secure environment, put in place a three level security so that people can vote without fear:CRPF official <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/gqV7H5Vb4F">pic.twitter.com/gqV7H5Vb4F</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1061910156584386560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, security forces detected three IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device) near a polling booth in Konta's Banda in Sukma district. According to reports, two jawans of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-polls-naxal-violence-mars-voting-two-crpf-commandos-injured-176802">were injured on Monday</a> in an encounter that broke out between security forces and Naxals in Bijapur's Pamed area.

As many as 190 candidates are in the fray and as many as 4,336 polling booths have been set up where 19,079 polling personnel are deployed in the first of Chhattisgarh assembly polls.

Among the prominent candidates are Chief Minister Raman Singh, state ministers Kedar Kashyap (Narayanpur) and Mahesh Gagda (Bijapur), and BJP Kanker Lok Sabha MP Vikram Usendi (Antagarh).

The remaining 72 seats of Chhattisgarh assembly will go to vote on November 20 as part of a multi-phased voting across five states that also include neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The voter turnout in the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly election on Monday was recorded at 56.58 per cent till 4.30pm. By 2pm the same was recorded at nearly 38 per cent, the figure rose to nearly 50 per cent by 3pm.

The voter turnout in the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly election on Monday was recorded at 56.58 per cent till 4.30pm. By 2pm the same was recorded at nearly 38 per cent, the figure rose to nearly 50 per cent by 3pm. As many as 18 assembly constituencies, out of a total of 90, have gone to polls today in the first phase of the electoral fight marred by Naxal attacks. 56.58% voter turnout recorded till 4.30 pm in the first phase of #ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018 including 61.47% in Kondagaon; 63.51% in Keshkal; 62% in Kanker; 58% in Bastar; 49% in Dantewada; 60.5% in Khairagarh; 64% in Dongargarh; 65.5% in Khujji. pic.twitter.com/NFm2aIAEcR — ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018 × Voting in nine seats of Bastar division and one seat in Rajnandgaon district began at 7am and concluded at 3pm, while in the other eight seats, it started at 8am and will culminate at 5pm, news agency PTI reported. 47.18% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm in the first phase of #ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018. pic.twitter.com/dJVvqC53OZ — ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018 × As many as 31 electronic voting machines (EVMs) and 51 voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines were replaced due to technical snags, an official said. A thick security blanket comprising over 1.25 lakh police and paramilitary personnel were thrown across the 18 constituencies as they fall under the Naxal-hit areas of Bastar, Kanker, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Rajnandgaon districts. After the Nilwaya naxal attack, the challenges have gone up. Naxals had threatened villagers against voting. We assured the villagers of a secure environment, put in place a three level security so that people can vote without fear:CRPF official #ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018 pic.twitter.com/gqV7H5Vb4F — ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018 × Meanwhile, security forces detected three IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device) near a polling booth in Konta's Banda in Sukma district. According to reports, two jawans of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were injured on Monday in an encounter that broke out between security forces and Naxals in Bijapur's Pamed area. As many as 190 candidates are in the fray and as many as 4,336 polling booths have been set up where 19,079 polling personnel are deployed in the first of Chhattisgarh assembly polls. Among the prominent candidates are Chief Minister Raman Singh, state ministers Kedar Kashyap (Narayanpur) and Mahesh Gagda (Bijapur), and BJP Kanker Lok Sabha MP Vikram Usendi (Antagarh). The remaining 72 seats of Chhattisgarh assembly will go to vote on November 20 as part of a multi-phased voting across five states that also include neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram. (With inputs from agencies)

Chhattisgarh assembly polls: 56.58% voter turnout recorded till 4.30pm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday attacked the Congress, targeting its president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia, saying the party's "politics begins and ends with one family".

Addressing a poll rally here ahead of the second phase polling in the state on November 20, PM Modi also made a strong pitch for development, saying the pace of development under the Congress regime in the state was "far slow" than the one under the BJP-led government.

Singling out the Gandhis, PM Modi said the "mother-son duo" was out on bail and hit out at them for questioning the government's demonetisation move. "They forget it was due to demonetisation that they had to seek bail," PM Modi said, adding "those seeking bail are giving a certificate to PM Modi".

PM Modi asserted the BJP was for development and that it was due to this commitment that the opposition was unable to understand how to compete with the ruling party in elections.

He also targeted the Congress president, saying when Congress released its 36-point manifesto for Chhattisgarh polls, Naamdaar (Rahul Gandhi) was referred to as Sir 150 times which shows he is more important for them (Congress) than Chhattisgarh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday attacked the Congress, targeting its president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia, saying the party's "politics begins and ends with one family".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday attacked the Congress, targeting its president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia, saying the party's "politics begins and ends with one family". Addressing a poll rally here ahead of the second phase polling in the state on November 20, PM Modi also made a strong pitch for development, saying the pace of development under the Congress regime in the state was "far slow" than the one under the BJP-led government. Singling out the Gandhis, PM Modi said the "mother-son duo" was out on bail and hit out at them for questioning the government's demonetisation move. "They forget it was due to demonetisation that they had to seek bail," PM Modi said, adding "those seeking bail are giving a certificate to PM Modi". PM Modi asserted the BJP was for development and that it was due to this commitment that the opposition was unable to understand how to compete with the ruling party in elections. He also targeted the Congress president, saying when Congress released its 36-point manifesto for Chhattisgarh polls, Naamdaar (Rahul Gandhi) was referred to as Sir 150 times which shows he is more important for them (Congress) than Chhattisgarh.

Congress politics begins and ends with one family: PM Modi in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh

The Centre on Monday complied with a Supreme Court order and handed over to petitioners, who sought a court-monitored CBI probe into the procurement of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/anil-ambanis-reliance-defence-tells-congress-to-behave-responsibly-while-talking-about-rafale-deal-160846">36 Rafale fighter jets</a> from France, the document detailing the decisions taken to procure the aircraft.

The document titled “Details of the steps in the decision-making process leading to the award of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rafale-deal-chidambarams-4-questions-to-bjp-161587">36 Rafale fighter aircraft order</a>” stated that the process as laid down in the Defence Procurement Procedure-2013 has been followed in the procurement of the Rafale aircraft.

It said the procurement process laid down in the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) has been completely followed for the procurement of aircraft and Approval of Defence Acquisition Council for aircraft taken for the same.

The documents said the Indian Negotiating Team was constituted which conducted negotiations with the French side for about a year and approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security, being the Competent Financial Authority, was taken before signing the Inter-Government Agreement.

The document was supplied to the petitioners as per the apex court’s October 31 order. The top court had said details, including the steps in the decision making process for the procurement of jets, which could “legitimately” be brought into the public domain, be made available to the parties who have filed petitions before it in the matter.

It had also asked the Centre to place before it in a sealed cover within 10 days the pricing details of 36 Rafale fighter jets India is buying from France.

The apex court, which had posted the matter for hearing on November 14, had categorically told the Centre that if the pricing detail was “exclusive” and could not be shared with the court then the Centre should file an affidavit in this regard and say so.

The petitions seeking the probe in the Rafale deal were first filed by advocates Manohar Lal Sharma and Vineet Dhanda. Later, AAP MP Sanjay Singh had also filed the petition. Former Union Ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan also filed a joint petition.

The Centre on Monday complied with a Supreme Court order and handed over to petitioners, who sought a court-monitored CBI probe into the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France, the document detailing the decisions taken to procure the aircraft.

The Centre on Monday complied with a Supreme Court order and handed over to petitioners, who sought a court-monitored CBI probe into the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France, the document detailing the decisions taken to procure the aircraft. The document titled “Details of the steps in the decision-making process leading to the award of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft order” stated that the process as laid down in the Defence Procurement Procedure-2013 has been followed in the procurement of the Rafale aircraft. It said the procurement process laid down in the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) has been completely followed for the procurement of aircraft and Approval of Defence Acquisition Council for aircraft taken for the same. The documents said the Indian Negotiating Team was constituted which conducted negotiations with the French side for about a year and approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security, being the Competent Financial Authority, was taken before signing the Inter-Government Agreement. The document was supplied to the petitioners as per the apex court’s October 31 order. The top court had said details, including the steps in the decision making process for the procurement of jets, which could “legitimately” be brought into the public domain, be made available to the parties who have filed petitions before it in the matter. It had also asked the Centre to place before it in a sealed cover within 10 days the pricing details of 36 Rafale fighter jets India is buying from France. The apex court, which had posted the matter for hearing on November 14, had categorically told the Centre that if the pricing detail was “exclusive” and could not be shared with the court then the Centre should file an affidavit in this regard and say so. The petitions seeking the probe in the Rafale deal were first filed by advocates Manohar Lal Sharma and Vineet Dhanda. Later, AAP MP Sanjay Singh had also filed the petition. Former Union Ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan also filed a joint petition.

Rafale deal: Government hands over document on decision process to petitioners in Supreme Court

CVC to submit probe report on CBI director to Supreme Court

Battle for 5 states: Election in 5 states vital before 2019 General Election

Battle for 5 states: First phase polling underway amid violence by Naxals

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Monday issued a stern warning to the youngsters who join terrorist organisations and said it is not worth joining militancy because you will not live long.

General Rawat made the statement while addressing reporters at an event at Mamun military station in Punjab.&nbsp;

“It is not worth joining militancy because you will not live long. We are giving you an opportunity to surrender and give up guns. If people do not behave and continue the violence, the only element left is to neutralise them,” the Army Chief said.

"Union govt is taking full action against external forces trying to revive insurgency in Punjab. CM is concerned and taking direct action so the violence doesn’t spread again. Outsiders will attempt but the people of Punjab will not let them do it," General Bipin Rawat added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Monday issued a stern warning to the youngsters who join terrorist organisations and said it is not worth joining militancy because you will not live long.

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Monday issued a stern warning to the youngsters who join terrorist organisations and said it is not worth joining militancy because you will not live long. General Rawat made the statement while addressing reporters at an event at Mamun military station in Punjab. “It is not worth joining militancy because you will not live long. We are giving you an opportunity to surrender and give up guns. If people do not behave and continue the violence, the only element left is to neutralise them,” the Army Chief said. "Union govt is taking full action against external forces trying to revive insurgency in Punjab. CM is concerned and taking direct action so the violence doesn’t spread again. Outsiders will attempt but the people of Punjab will not let them do it," General Bipin Rawat added. (With inputs from agencies)

It is not worth joining militancy because you will not live long: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday attacked the Congress, targeting its president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia, saying the party's "politics begins and ends with one family".

Addressing a poll rally in Chhattisgarh&nbsp;ahead of the second phase polling in the state on November 20, PM Modi also made a strong pitch for development, saying the pace of development under the Congress regime in the state was "far slow" than the one under the BJP-led government.

Singling out the Gandhis, Modi said the "mother-son duo" were out on bail and hit out at them for questioning the government's demonetisation move.&nbsp;

"They forget it was due to demonetisation that they had to seek bail," Modi said, adding "those seeking bail are giving certificate to Modi".

Modi asserted the BJP was for development and that it was due to this commitment that the opposition was unable to understand how to compete with ruling party in elections.

He also targeted the Congress president, saying when Congress released its 36-point manifesto for Chhattisgarh polls, 'Naamdaar' (Rahul Gandhi) was referred to as 'Sir' 150 times which shows he is more important for them (Congress) than Chhattisgarh.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday attacked the Congress, targeting its president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia, saying the party's "politics begins and ends with one family". Addressing a poll rally in Chhattisgarh ahead of the second phase polling in the state on November 20, PM Modi also made a strong pitch for development, saying the pace of development under the Congress regime in the state was "far slow" than the one under the BJP-led government. Singling out the Gandhis, Modi said the "mother-son duo" were out on bail and hit out at them for questioning the government's demonetisation move. "They forget it was due to demonetisation that they had to seek bail," Modi said, adding "those seeking bail are giving certificate to Modi". Modi asserted the BJP was for development and that it was due to this commitment that the opposition was unable to understand how to compete with ruling party in elections. He also targeted the Congress president, saying when Congress released its 36-point manifesto for Chhattisgarh polls, 'Naamdaar' (Rahul Gandhi) was referred to as 'Sir' 150 times which shows he is more important for them (Congress) than Chhattisgarh.

PM Modi attacks Sonia, Rahul Gandhi in Chhattisgarh poll rally

Management guru and now an author, Stuart Drew, has said that there is no place for discrimination of any sort in business let alone abuse, and in an ideal world the #MeToo movement should be unnecessary. 
&nbsp; 
"It is an indictment on corporate governance over many years that such movements needed to be created. Basically companies need to become absolutely dedicated to creating a corporate culture based on only one thing, a transparent meritocracy. The #MeToo movement is only one example of bias based harassment in the workplace," Drew tells exclusively to WION. 
&nbsp; 
No one would want to work at a place where toxic masculinity exists, he further adds. 
&nbsp; 
Drew, who has vast managerial experience, says the work environment today tests managers on new parametres and they are often faced with issues that burden them and limit their performance. 
&nbsp; 
"Businesses today require managers to prove themselves on a regular basis. This differs from past times where jobs were long term or for life. Also, team members are now much more demanding and are prepared to challenge the status quo and are no longer willing to put up with poor management. They want to be recognised as making a difference or will move on," he says. 
&nbsp; 
Drew has decades of experience in managing teams and has now forayed into launching a dotcom start-up. He has been a chairman of a private members club and chairman of a European trade association. 
&nbsp; 
"In any competitive market, the surprising thing is how similar companies' offerings are, and not how different they are. Furthermore in most high value procurements, external advisors are employed to use their procurement processes to ensure bids are able to do the job fairly evaluated and that the eventual winner provides best value for money. They seek to create 'a level playing field'. The question therefore is: If several bids are similar, how does a bidder expect to win more than a fair share of business?" he says. 
&nbsp; 
The answer, he says, lies in deploying a strategy that focuses on your bid being Differentiated, Innovative and Disruptive - an approach popularly known as DID. 
&nbsp; 
Drew explains, "Some examples for differentiation are creating a Customer Value Portal where value in excess of contractual commitments can be measured and signed off by the customer. I personally gave spoof cheques to customers with the value of signed off benefits. These frequently were in the millions of dollars. Creating a Customer Experience Room that brings to life the elements of your proposal. By demonstrating a complete understanding of the customer needs and objectives, through face to face discussions with no PowerPoint presentations, helped customers appreciate the individual nature of the proposal. This allows the customer to fully engage in debate on delivering best value for money. In the vast majority of cases this included the customer evaluation team lunching with the junior delivery team with no managers present. This unfailingly showed the customer team the depth and quality of the people, even juniors, delivering the proposed solution. 
&nbsp; 
"For innovation, the customer team was invited to engage in a betting game that was used to verify customer alignment around what benefits they were seeking from the proposed solution. This invariably led to a debate among the customer evaluation team on the priority of benefits. The last 'D' is Disruptive. This might seem strange as disruption is not always seen as a good thing. However in competitive markets it is the disrupters that generally produce superior performance. I contend that spending time on how your company can be a disruptive business partner will pay handsome dividends." 
&nbsp; 
He also stresses the need to understand 'cultural dynamics'. Having worked across global cultures and industries, Drew understands the need to be open to learn about different cultures, both in business and in life. "We live in a multi-cultural society where global travel is affordable for many people. Social media is the catalyst for international connections that were unavailable to previous generations. It is our duty to be open to learning about different cultures both in business and in life. Ignorance too often results in laughable outcomes, parodied by comedians or worse yet triggering international incidents," says Drew. 
&nbsp; 
"Making the effort to understand different cultures and, perhaps more importantly, to understand one’s own culture in the context of other cultures represent ‘table stakes’ for managers today. The word ‘yes’ can be used to illustrate cultural difference. In the USA ‘yes’ is most often assumed as ‘it will be done’. In the UK, it can mean ‘I understand’. In India there is a to and fro sideways head movement for ‘yes’ and a more vigorous movement for ‘very yes’. In other countries ‘yes’ can mean ‘I hear you’ or ‘that sounds reasonable’. Even this one simple word can be the cause of immense frustration," he further adds.

For measuring successful leadership, Drew formulated and introduced the Personal Share Price (PSP) model. "This is a concept that I created to better understand my own value to the business. The concept understands that success and influence are dynamic and can vary in the short term. The expression ‘you are as good as your last performance’ captures that idea. I propose there are three components that combined create a PSP, namely behaviour, presence and performance. These three elements work together to deliver superior value to the business," he says explaining the concept. 
&nbsp; 
During his tenure in India, Drew grew increasingly fond of jugaad (a Hindi term which means overcoming harsh constraints by improvising and effective solution using limited resources) and believes that it is crucial for the survival of start-ups. 
&nbsp; 
"In part of my career I was CEO of a dotcom business start up. I would argue that subconsciously most start up companies will only survive if they use jugaad techniques. For example building a solution based on software services to address a market need can be done from ‘a garage’. However to scale-up the solution takes investment that may be hard to obtain. As a given solution becomes successful, managing the balance of limited financial resources between investment and development becomes a key capability. Building the infrastructure ahead of demand can lead to bankruptcy. Building it after demand will lead to customer dissatisfaction. So using scarce resources to optimise performance requires, in my opinion, a jugaad mindset. This was the idea developed in the Harvard Business Review 2010 publication encouraging businesses in the USA to use the jugaad concept to do more for less," says Drew. 
&nbsp; 
Drew has come out with a book called 'The Liberated Manager' which shares his experiences of delivering differentiated and sustained performance over many years as a manager through releasing the hidden and potent potential in the teams under my management. The book covers how managers can liberate themselves from concerns including, having to have all the answers to team issues, liberation from risky hiring, liberation from worrying too much and negativity, liberation from one's own cultural heritage, liberation from coming second or worse too often in sales.

Management guru and now an author, Stuart Drew, has said that there is no place for discrimination of any sort in business let alone abuse, and in an ideal world the #MeToo movement should be unnecessary.

Management guru and now an author, Stuart Drew, has said that there is no place for discrimination of any sort in business let alone abuse, and in an ideal world the #MeToo movement should be unnecessary. "It is an indictment on corporate governance over many years that such movements needed to be created. Basically companies need to become absolutely dedicated to creating a corporate culture based on only one thing, a transparent meritocracy. The #MeToo movement is only one example of bias based harassment in the workplace," Drew tells exclusively to WION. No one would want to work at a place where toxic masculinity exists, he further adds. Drew, who has vast managerial experience, says the work environment today tests managers on new parametres and they are often faced with issues that burden them and limit their performance. "Businesses today require managers to prove themselves on a regular basis. This differs from past times where jobs were long term or for life. Also, team members are now much more demanding and are prepared to challenge the status quo and are no longer willing to put up with poor management. They want to be recognised as making a difference or will move on," he says. Drew has decades of experience in managing teams and has now forayed into launching a dotcom start-up. He has been a chairman of a private members club and chairman of a European trade association. "In any competitive market, the surprising thing is how similar companies' offerings are, and not how different they are. Furthermore in most high value procurements, external advisors are employed to use their procurement processes to ensure bids are able to do the job fairly evaluated and that the eventual winner provides best value for money. They seek to create 'a level playing field'. The question therefore is: If several bids are similar, how does a bidder expect to win more than a fair share of business?" he says. The answer, he says, lies in deploying a strategy that focuses on your bid being Differentiated, Innovative and Disruptive - an approach popularly known as DID. Drew explains, "Some examples for differentiation are creating a Customer Value Portal where value in excess of contractual commitments can be measured and signed off by the customer. I personally gave spoof cheques to customers with the value of signed off benefits. These frequently were in the millions of dollars. Creating a Customer Experience Room that brings to life the elements of your proposal. By demonstrating a complete understanding of the customer needs and objectives, through face to face discussions with no PowerPoint presentations, helped customers appreciate the individual nature of the proposal. This allows the customer to fully engage in debate on delivering best value for money. In the vast majority of cases this included the customer evaluation team lunching with the junior delivery team with no managers present. This unfailingly showed the customer team the depth and quality of the people, even juniors, delivering the proposed solution. "For innovation, the customer team was invited to engage in a betting game that was used to verify customer alignment around what benefits they were seeking from the proposed solution. This invariably led to a debate among the customer evaluation team on the priority of benefits. The last 'D' is Disruptive. This might seem strange as disruption is not always seen as a good thing. However in competitive markets it is the disrupters that generally produce superior performance. I contend that spending time on how your company can be a disruptive business partner will pay handsome dividends." He also stresses the need to understand 'cultural dynamics'. Having worked across global cultures and industries, Drew understands the need to be open to learn about different cultures, both in business and in life. "We live in a multi-cultural society where global travel is affordable for many people. Social media is the catalyst for international connections that were unavailable to previous generations. It is our duty to be open to learning about different cultures both in business and in life. Ignorance too often results in laughable outcomes, parodied by comedians or worse yet triggering international incidents," says Drew. "Making the effort to understand different cultures and, perhaps more importantly, to understand one’s own culture in the context of other cultures represent ‘table stakes’ for managers today. The word ‘yes’ can be used to illustrate cultural difference. In the USA ‘yes’ is most often assumed as ‘it will be done’. In the UK, it can mean ‘I understand’. In India there is a to and fro sideways head movement for ‘yes’ and a more vigorous movement for ‘very yes’. In other countries ‘yes’ can mean ‘I hear you’ or ‘that sounds reasonable’. Even this one simple word can be the cause of immense frustration," he further adds. For measuring successful leadership, Drew formulated and introduced the Personal Share Price (PSP) model. "This is a concept that I created to better understand my own value to the business. The concept understands that success and influence are dynamic and can vary in the short term. The expression ‘you are as good as your last performance’ captures that idea. I propose there are three components that combined create a PSP, namely behaviour, presence and performance. These three elements work together to deliver superior value to the business," he says explaining the concept. During his tenure in India, Drew grew increasingly fond of jugaad (a Hindi term which means overcoming harsh constraints by improvising and effective solution using limited resources) and believes that it is crucial for the survival of start-ups. "In part of my career I was CEO of a dotcom business start up. I would argue that subconsciously most start up companies will only survive if they use jugaad techniques. For example building a solution based on software services to address a market need can be done from ‘a garage’. However to scale-up the solution takes investment that may be hard to obtain. As a given solution becomes successful, managing the balance of limited financial resources between investment and development becomes a key capability. Building the infrastructure ahead of demand can lead to bankruptcy. Building it after demand will lead to customer dissatisfaction. So using scarce resources to optimise performance requires, in my opinion, a jugaad mindset. This was the idea developed in the Harvard Business Review 2010 publication encouraging businesses in the USA to use the jugaad concept to do more for less," says Drew. Drew has come out with a book called 'The Liberated Manager' which shares his experiences of delivering differentiated and sustained performance over many years as a manager through releasing the hidden and potent potential in the teams under my management. The book covers how managers can liberate themselves from concerns including, having to have all the answers to team issues, liberation from risky hiring, liberation from worrying too much and negativity, liberation from one's own cultural heritage, liberation from coming second or worse too often in sales.

#MeToo an indictment on corporate governance: Author Stuart Drew to WION

Two jawans of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were injured on Monday in an encounter that broke out between security forces and Naxals in Bijapur's Pamed area.

Eighteen out of 90 Assembly constituencies, including 12 ‘red zone’ seats, are up for polls in the first phase today.

The remaining 72 seats of Chhattisgarh assembly will go to vote on November 20 as part of a multi-phased voting across five states that also include neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram.

Polling in 18 assembly constituencies in the first phase of the Chhattisgarh elections began on a slow note with about 25.15 per cent of the electorate casting their votes in the first few hours, a poll official said.

Earlier in the morning, an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated in Dantewada district by Maoists, who had called for a boycott of the polls, the police said.

Meanwhile, a thick security blanket, comprising over 1.25 lakh police and paramilitary personnel, was thrown across the 18 constituencies as they fall under the Maoist-hit areas of Bastar, Kanker, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Rajnandgaon districts.

Sukma's Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena said voters from interiors areas in the district were coming out to exercise their right to vote, defying the Maoists to call for the election boycott.

In 'Bhejji 2' and Gorkha polling booths, zero voting was recorded in the 2013 polls, but this time 11 and 20 voters respectively had voted in the initial hours, he said.

In 'Bhejji 1' polling station, where last time only one vote was cast, 72 people had voted so far this time, the officer said.

In the first phase, 190 candidates were in the fray and as many as 4,336 polling booths had been set up and 19,079 polling personnel were deployed there.

(With inputs from agencies)

Two jawans of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were injured on Monday in an encounter that broke out between security forces and Naxals in Bijapur's Pamed area.

Two jawans of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were injured on Monday in an encounter that broke out between security forces and Naxals in Bijapur's Pamed area. Eighteen out of 90 Assembly constituencies, including 12 ‘red zone’ seats, are up for polls in the first phase today. The remaining 72 seats of Chhattisgarh assembly will go to vote on November 20 as part of a multi-phased voting across five states that also include neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram. Polling in 18 assembly constituencies in the first phase of the Chhattisgarh elections began on a slow note with about 25.15 per cent of the electorate casting their votes in the first few hours, a poll official said. Earlier in the morning, an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated in Dantewada district by Maoists, who had called for a boycott of the polls, the police said. Meanwhile, a thick security blanket, comprising over 1.25 lakh police and paramilitary personnel, was thrown across the 18 constituencies as they fall under the Maoist-hit areas of Bastar, Kanker, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Rajnandgaon districts. Sukma's Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena said voters from interiors areas in the district were coming out to exercise their right to vote, defying the Maoists to call for the election boycott. In 'Bhejji 2' and Gorkha polling booths, zero voting was recorded in the 2013 polls, but this time 11 and 20 voters respectively had voted in the initial hours, he said. In 'Bhejji 1' polling station, where last time only one vote was cast, 72 people had voted so far this time, the officer said. In the first phase, 190 candidates were in the fray and as many as 4,336 polling booths had been set up and 19,079 polling personnel were deployed there. (With inputs from agencies)

Chhattisgarh polls: Naxal violence mars voting; two CRPF commandos injured

As polling got underway in Chhattisgarh today,<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-one-ultra-killed-in-encounter-between-security-forces-and-maoists-176612"> security forces detected three IEDs</a> (Improvised Explosive Device) near a polling booth in Konta's Banda in Sukma district.

Polling began slowly as 14 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours. However, it picked up later as over 25 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1pm.

Thirty-one EVMs and 61 VVPAT machines were replaced due to technical snags, a poll official told PTI.

Earlier on Monday, Naxals denoted an IED&nbsp;near Tumakpal camp in Katekalyan block in Dantewada as poll booths opened today in Chhattisgarh for the first phase of voting.

Voting began in several Naxal-hit areas in&nbsp;Chhattisgarh with poll officials making elaborate security arrangements deploying upto one lakh personnel.

There are 18 seats mostly in the Naxal belt where polls will be held&nbsp;today. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel have already been put in place to secure the poll booths.

Despite the heavy security, in the last ten&nbsp;days&nbsp;over 300 IEDs have been&nbsp;recovered from the Bastar region and Rajnandgaon district by security forces. On Sunday, a BSF personnel was injured when Naxals detonated an IED&nbsp;in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district.

The fortunes of the 90 members due to be elected will be keenly followed in the runup to the general elections a few months away. Chhattisgarh has over 1.85 crore registered voters.&nbsp;There are 10 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes.

Janata Congress Chhattisgarh(JCC) supremo Ajit Jogi, who was the first chief minister of Chhattisgarh in 2000, has tied up with BSP chief Mayawati to give the ruling BJP a fight at the hustings. BJP chief minister Raman Singh has promised to make Chhattisgarh a "Naxal-free" state and give pension to small and marginal farmers.&nbsp;

The BJP has also promised to increase the minimum support price for several commodities and provide interest-free loans for women entrepreneurs. The Congress, on the other hand, has promised the people of the state of loan waiver within ten days of coming to power, higher minimum support price for crops and a ban on liquor.

Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases, today and on November 20th. The remaining 72 seats of Chhattisgarh assembly will go to vote on November 20th.

The results will be announced on December 11.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_mUHy80FeOI" width="560"></iframe>

As polling got underway in Chhattisgarh today, security forces detected three IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device) near a polling booth in Konta's Banda in Sukma district.

As polling got underway in Chhattisgarh today, security forces detected three IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device) near a polling booth in Konta's Banda in Sukma district. Polling began slowly as 14 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours. However, it picked up later as over 25 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1pm. Thirty-one EVMs and 61 VVPAT machines were replaced due to technical snags, a poll official told PTI. Earlier on Monday, Naxals denoted an IED near Tumakpal camp in Katekalyan block in Dantewada as poll booths opened today in Chhattisgarh for the first phase of voting. Voting began in several Naxal-hit areas in Chhattisgarh with poll officials making elaborate security arrangements deploying upto one lakh personnel. There are 18 seats mostly in the Naxal belt where polls will be held today. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel have already been put in place to secure the poll booths. Despite the heavy security, in the last ten days over 300 IEDs have been recovered from the Bastar region and Rajnandgaon district by security forces. On Sunday, a BSF personnel was injured when Naxals detonated an IED in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district. The fortunes of the 90 members due to be elected will be keenly followed in the runup to the general elections a few months away. Chhattisgarh has over 1.85 crore registered voters. There are 10 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes. Janata Congress Chhattisgarh(JCC) supremo Ajit Jogi, who was the first chief minister of Chhattisgarh in 2000, has tied up with BSP chief Mayawati to give the ruling BJP a fight at the hustings. BJP chief minister Raman Singh has promised to make Chhattisgarh a "Naxal-free" state and give pension to small and marginal farmers. The BJP has also promised to increase the minimum support price for several commodities and provide interest-free loans for women entrepreneurs. The Congress, on the other hand, has promised the people of the state of loan waiver within ten days of coming to power, higher minimum support price for crops and a ban on liquor. Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases, today and on November 20th. The remaining 72 seats of Chhattisgarh assembly will go to vote on November 20th. The results will be announced on December 11.

Chhattisgarh elections: Voter turnout increases amid heavy security

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Monday filed its preliminary probe report relating to CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma in a sealed cover in the Supreme Court.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul took the report on record and fixed the matter for next hearing on November 16.

During the hearing, interim CBI Director M Nageswar Rao also filed a report on decisions taken by him since October 23 to 26, when the apex court had ordered for the CBI probe.

Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CVC, told the court that former apex court judge A K Patnaik supervised the CVC inquiry which was completed on November 10.

The CJI observed that the Registry was open on Sunday also but no intimation was given to the Registrar regarding the filing of the report.

Later the SG tendered an apology and said though he was not explaining the circumstances there was a delay on their part in submitting the report.

On October 26, the top court had appointed Justice Patnaik to supervise the ongoing inquiry of CVC against Verma.

The apex court had also issued notices to the Centre and the CVC seeking their replies on Verma's petition challenging the government's decision to divest him of his powers as CBI chief and sending him on leave.

Verma's deputy Rakesh Asthana, Special Director CBI, was also sent on leave by the Centre.

The court on October 26 had also set a deadline of two weeks for the CVC to complete the preliminary inquiry against the CBI director.

It had also barred Rao, who has been given interim charge of the CBI, from taking any major decision.

It had said that a list of all the decisions taken by Rao since October 23 including decisions with regard to transfer of investigations, change of investigating officer(s) etc will be furnished to the court in a sealed cover on or before November 12, 2018 whereafter orders, as would be appropriate, will be passed by the court."

Mehta had said that the CVC has been conducting an inquiry into the allegations made in the August 24 note/letter of the Cabinet Secretary with regard to Verma.

Besides the plea filed by Verma, the court is also seized of the PIL filed by NGO Common Cause, which has sought a probe by special investigation team against CBI officers including Asthana, and had issued notices to the Centre, CBI, CVC, Asthana, Verma and Rao asking them to respond to it by November 12.

Asthana has also moved the Supreme Court with a separate petition in the matter and has sought removal of Verma from the post of CBI Director. 
Later, on November 4, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge had moved the top court contending that divesting Verma of his statutory powers and functions is "completely illegal and arbitrary".

In an interlocutory application filed in the pending petition, Kharge, who is also a member of the three-member selection committee which appoints the CBI director, said, "As a concerned stakeholder he brings to the attention of the court the brazen and illegal actions" of the political executive in interfering with the independent functioning of the CBI director.

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Monday filed its preliminary probe report relating to CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma in a sealed cover in the Supreme Court.

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Monday filed its preliminary probe report relating to CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma in a sealed cover in the Supreme Court. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul took the report on record and fixed the matter for next hearing on November 16. During the hearing, interim CBI Director M Nageswar Rao also filed a report on decisions taken by him since October 23 to 26, when the apex court had ordered for the CBI probe. Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CVC, told the court that former apex court judge A K Patnaik supervised the CVC inquiry which was completed on November 10. The CJI observed that the Registry was open on Sunday also but no intimation was given to the Registrar regarding the filing of the report. Later the SG tendered an apology and said though he was not explaining the circumstances there was a delay on their part in submitting the report. On October 26, the top court had appointed Justice Patnaik to supervise the ongoing inquiry of CVC against Verma. The apex court had also issued notices to the Centre and the CVC seeking their replies on Verma's petition challenging the government's decision to divest him of his powers as CBI chief and sending him on leave. Verma's deputy Rakesh Asthana, Special Director CBI, was also sent on leave by the Centre. The court on October 26 had also set a deadline of two weeks for the CVC to complete the preliminary inquiry against the CBI director. It had also barred Rao, who has been given interim charge of the CBI, from taking any major decision. It had said that a list of all the decisions taken by Rao since October 23 including decisions with regard to transfer of investigations, change of investigating officer(s) etc will be furnished to the court in a sealed cover on or before November 12, 2018 whereafter orders, as would be appropriate, will be passed by the court." Mehta had said that the CVC has been conducting an inquiry into the allegations made in the August 24 note/letter of the Cabinet Secretary with regard to Verma. Besides the plea filed by Verma, the court is also seized of the PIL filed by NGO Common Cause, which has sought a probe by special investigation team against CBI officers including Asthana, and had issued notices to the Centre, CBI, CVC, Asthana, Verma and Rao asking them to respond to it by November 12. Asthana has also moved the Supreme Court with a separate petition in the matter and has sought removal of Verma from the post of CBI Director. Later, on November 4, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge had moved the top court contending that divesting Verma of his statutory powers and functions is "completely illegal and arbitrary". In an interlocutory application filed in the pending petition, Kharge, who is also a member of the three-member selection committee which appoints the CBI director, said, "As a concerned stakeholder he brings to the attention of the court the brazen and illegal actions" of the political executive in interfering with the independent functioning of the CBI director.

CBI feud: CVC submits probe report in Supreme Court, hearing on November 16

A BSF assistant sub-inspector was injured in an <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-one-ultra-killed-in-encounter-between-security-forces-and-maoists-176612">encounter with security forces</a> in Chhatisgarh's Kanker today. A Maoist was gunned down and another apprehended.&nbsp;

The Maoists reportedly triggered 6 IEDs planted in a row.&nbsp;

This is the fourth IED blast triggered by Naxals in Chhattisgarh in the last 15 days.

They have also carried out six attacks, three of them major, in the last fortnight, which have left 13 people dead.&nbsp;

One of the attacks led to the death of a Doordarshan cameraman covering the upcoming elections. &nbsp;

The first phase of polling will be held in Chattisgarh tomorrow. The second phase of polling on November 20.&nbsp;

The Maoists have called for a boycott of the polls.&nbsp;

Two BSF jawans were injured in an IED blast in Kanker on November 2.&nbsp;

On October 27, four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and two others injured after Maoists blew up their bullet-proof bunker vehicle with an IED in Bijapur district.

On November 8, four civilians and a CISF jawan were killed when Naxals detonated an IED in Dantewada district.

Polling parties are being sent to their destination amid tight security, election authorities said.

The first phase of polls on Monday will cover 18 constituencies of eight Naxal-affected districts that include Bastar, Kanker, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Rajnandgaon.&nbsp;

(With inputs from PTI)&nbsp;

A BSF assistant sub-inspector was injured in an encounter with security forces in Chhatisgarh's Kanker today. A Maoist was gunned down and another apprehended. The Maoists reportedly triggered 6 IEDs planted in a row.

A BSF assistant sub-inspector was injured in an encounter with security forces in Chhatisgarh's Kanker today. A Maoist was gunned down and another apprehended. The Maoists reportedly triggered 6 IEDs planted in a row. This is the fourth IED blast triggered by Naxals in Chhattisgarh in the last 15 days. They have also carried out six attacks, three of them major, in the last fortnight, which have left 13 people dead. One of the attacks led to the death of a Doordarshan cameraman covering the upcoming elections. The first phase of polling will be held in Chattisgarh tomorrow. The second phase of polling on November 20. The Maoists have called for a boycott of the polls. Two BSF jawans were injured in an IED blast in Kanker on November 2. On October 27, four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and two others injured after Maoists blew up their bullet-proof bunker vehicle with an IED in Bijapur district. On November 8, four civilians and a CISF jawan were killed when Naxals detonated an IED in Dantewada district. Polling parties are being sent to their destination amid tight security, election authorities said. The first phase of polls on Monday will cover 18 constituencies of eight Naxal-affected districts that include Bastar, Kanker, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Rajnandgaon. (With inputs from PTI)

Chhattisgarh goes to polls tomorrow: Naxals have carried out 6 attacks in last 15 days

Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi will campaign in Telangana on November 23, reported news agency ANI.&nbsp;

The Congress leader will address a rally in Warangal during the campaign, the report added.&nbsp;

Similarly, Congress president Rahul Gandhi will campaign in Telangana's Mahbubnagar and Khammam on November 28, 29, the report added. &nbsp;

Telangana Assembly polls will be held on December 7.&nbsp;

Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar on Saturday said that the filing of nominations will start from November 12.&nbsp;

Telangana will go to polls on December 7.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao dissolved the Assembly on September 6 and called for early state elections. &nbsp;

Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi will campaign in Telangana on November 23, reported news agency ANI. The Congress leader will address a rally in Warangal during the campaign, the report added.

Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi will campaign in Telangana on November 23, reported news agency ANI. The Congress leader will address a rally in Warangal during the campaign, the report added. Similarly, Congress president Rahul Gandhi will campaign in Telangana's Mahbubnagar and Khammam on November 28, 29, the report added. Telangana Assembly polls will be held on December 7. Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar on Saturday said that the filing of nominations will start from November 12. Telangana will go to polls on December 7. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao dissolved the Assembly on September 6 and called for early state elections.

Sonia Gandhi to campaign in Telangana on November 23

The elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram to be held in November and December is all ready to set the stage for the political battle for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The polls in the states being held five months before the 2019 general elections hold strategic importance as it sends 83 members to the Lok Sabha. The elections will also act as a litmus test for the parties and their alliances.

The elections will commence from Chhattisgarh which has been <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-one-ultra-killed-in-encounter-between-security-forces-and-maoists-176612">reeling from the conflict</a> between the Maoists and the state.

The 90 seat state will hold elections in two phases. While the South Chhattisgarh’s 18 seats will go to polls on November 12, the remaining 72 seats of the North Chhattisgarh will hold elections on November 20.

The BJP came to power in Chhattisgarh in 2003 and has since then been ruling over the state under the leadership of Raman Singh.

The party, which ruled over the state for 15 years, is facing serious anti-incumbency. In the last elections held in 2013, BJP had gained a marginal victory by winning over 49 seats while the Congress got hold over 39 seats. BJP had got 41.04 per cent votes while the Congress received 40.29 per cent.

The party may also have to face the consequence as it failed to fulfil the electoral promise of the last election where it had assured a Minimum Support Price of Rs 2100 for paddy cultivation.

Chief Minister of the state Raman Singh has been urging the voters to not to compare the status of the state with the developments that have taken place since 2013 but to compare it with the Congress regime in 2003.

BJP, however, has an edge over the major opponent Congress as the BSP refused to form an alliance with the latter.

The state which has majorly seen a political battle between two parties is set to witness the entry of a new party in the state.

Mayawati’s BSP has decided to fight the elections in the state along with Ajit Jogi’s Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) refusing to form an alliance with the Congress.

Madhya Pradesh with 230 seats will go to polls on November 28. The state has been led by BJP for the past three terms. BJP ended the ten years of Congress rule in 2003 under the leadership of Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The party held a landslide victory in the state in 2013 by winning over 45 per cent of the votes which accounted for 165 seats. The Congress won 58 seats by gaining control over 36.38 per cent vote. The BJP has good control over the Hindu votes in the state and has assured to create a separate ministry for cow protection in its electoral promise.&nbsp;

The Congress is also adopting measures to picture itself as a party of Hindus. Besides Rahul Gandhi’s continuing temple visits, the Congress has also promised to develop the route taken by Lord Rama on his way to exile as Ram Van Gaman Path and build a gaushala on every panchayat.

Along with Madhya Pradesh, northeastern state Mizoram will also go to polls on November 28. Mizoram is one of the three states which is currently being ruled by Congress. In the last election, the Congress won 34 out of the 40 seats in the state, while the BJP, which has never been able to form a government in the state, could not win a single seat. The state is being ruled by Congress leader Lal Thanhawla since 2008. The major opposition party Mizo National Front (MNF) won five seats. MNF is hoping to win the elections due to the anti-incumbency factor present in the state.

The BJP is also working to change its anti-Christian image. They are planning to field a Mizo Christian candidate. The party has also said that it was ready to form an alliance with any regional party.

Rajasthan and Telangana will go to polls on December 7.

The 200 seats state Rajasthan will go to polls on December 20. Currently ruled by BJP leader Vasundhara Raje, BJP had won 163 seats out of the 200 in the last elections. The Congress, on the other hand, could manage only 21 seats. &nbsp;BJP's winning mandate in 2013 was the highest in Rajasthan’s election history. The incumbent government hopes to break the twenty-year-old tradition of the state, which has never allowed any existing government to repeat its victory in the consecutive election. The assembly elections in Rajasthan have always replaced the existing power. In the bypolls held in the state this year the BJP was defeated by Congress in three regions. Following this, the BJP launched damage control measures in the state. It changed its state unit president to MLA Kirodi Lal Meena who is known to have a popular hold over the large Scheduled Tribe community in east Rajasthan.

&nbsp;Telangana which was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014 will go to polls as TRS chief and state chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao dissolved the assembly this year. &nbsp;In the first assembly of the state, KCR’s Rashtra Samiti had won 63 seats, Congress-21, BJP-5 while the Telugu Desam Party had won 15 seats. The Congress which is accusing the TRS of betraying the people has formed an alliance with TDP and CPI for the upcoming polls in the state. While according to some reports, there seems to exist a possible rift between Congress and TDP. 
&nbsp;

The elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram to be held in November and December is all ready to set the stage for the political battle for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram to be held in November and December is all ready to set the stage for the political battle for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The polls in the states being held five months before the 2019 general elections hold strategic importance as it sends 83 members to the Lok Sabha. The elections will also act as a litmus test for the parties and their alliances. The elections will commence from Chhattisgarh which has been reeling from the conflict between the Maoists and the state. The 90 seat state will hold elections in two phases. While the South Chhattisgarh’s 18 seats will go to polls on November 12, the remaining 72 seats of the North Chhattisgarh will hold elections on November 20. The BJP came to power in Chhattisgarh in 2003 and has since then been ruling over the state under the leadership of Raman Singh. The party, which ruled over the state for 15 years, is facing serious anti-incumbency. In the last elections held in 2013, BJP had gained a marginal victory by winning over 49 seats while the Congress got hold over 39 seats. BJP had got 41.04 per cent votes while the Congress received 40.29 per cent. The party may also have to face the consequence as it failed to fulfil the electoral promise of the last election where it had assured a Minimum Support Price of Rs 2100 for paddy cultivation. Chief Minister of the state Raman Singh has been urging the voters to not to compare the status of the state with the developments that have taken place since 2013 but to compare it with the Congress regime in 2003. BJP, however, has an edge over the major opponent Congress as the BSP refused to form an alliance with the latter. The state which has majorly seen a political battle between two parties is set to witness the entry of a new party in the state. Mayawati’s BSP has decided to fight the elections in the state along with Ajit Jogi’s Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) refusing to form an alliance with the Congress. Madhya Pradesh with 230 seats will go to polls on November 28. The state has been led by BJP for the past three terms. BJP ended the ten years of Congress rule in 2003 under the leadership of Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The party held a landslide victory in the state in 2013 by winning over 45 per cent of the votes which accounted for 165 seats. The Congress won 58 seats by gaining control over 36.38 per cent vote. The BJP has good control over the Hindu votes in the state and has assured to create a separate ministry for cow protection in its electoral promise. The Congress is also adopting measures to picture itself as a party of Hindus. Besides Rahul Gandhi’s continuing temple visits, the Congress has also promised to develop the route taken by Lord Rama on his way to exile as Ram Van Gaman Path and build a gaushala on every panchayat. Along with Madhya Pradesh, northeastern state Mizoram will also go to polls on November 28. Mizoram is one of the three states which is currently being ruled by Congress. In the last election, the Congress won 34 out of the 40 seats in the state, while the BJP, which has never been able to form a government in the state, could not win a single seat. The state is being ruled by Congress leader Lal Thanhawla since 2008. The major opposition party Mizo National Front (MNF) won five seats. MNF is hoping to win the elections due to the anti-incumbency factor present in the state. The BJP is also working to change its anti-Christian image. They are planning to field a Mizo Christian candidate. The party has also said that it was ready to form an alliance with any regional party. Rajasthan and Telangana will go to polls on December 7. The 200 seats state Rajasthan will go to polls on December 20. Currently ruled by BJP leader Vasundhara Raje, BJP had won 163 seats out of the 200 in the last elections. The Congress, on the other hand, could manage only 21 seats. BJP's winning mandate in 2013 was the highest in Rajasthan’s election history. The incumbent government hopes to break the twenty-year-old tradition of the state, which has never allowed any existing government to repeat its victory in the consecutive election. The assembly elections in Rajasthan have always replaced the existing power. In the bypolls held in the state this year the BJP was defeated by Congress in three regions. Following this, the BJP launched damage control measures in the state. It changed its state unit president to MLA Kirodi Lal Meena who is known to have a popular hold over the large Scheduled Tribe community in east Rajasthan. Telangana which was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014 will go to polls as TRS chief and state chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao dissolved the assembly this year. In the first assembly of the state, KCR’s Rashtra Samiti had won 63 seats, Congress-21, BJP-5 while the Telugu Desam Party had won 15 seats. The Congress which is accusing the TRS of betraying the people has formed an alliance with TDP and CPI for the upcoming polls in the state. While according to some reports, there seems to exist a possible rift between Congress and TDP.

Assembly elections 2018: Litmus test for parties, alliances before 2019 elections

Former Union finance minister&nbsp;P Chidambaram Sunday asked the Centre what was its "tearing hurry" to "fix" the capital framework of Reserve Bank of India when the ruling dispensation had just four months to complete the term.

In a series of tweets, the senior Congress leader slammed the government for allegedly seeking funds from the RBI despite claiming that its (Centre) fiscal math was correct.

"The NDA government has completed 4 years and 6 months of its term. It has effectively 4 months left. What is the tearing hurry to 'fix' the capital framework of RBI?" he asked.

Chidambaram said if the government did not need any more money this financial year, why was it "mounting pressure" on the central bank in the last four months of its tenure.&nbsp;

"Why did it keep silent for 4 years and 6 months?" he said.

The Congress leader said the government had claimed that its "fiscal math is correct" and "boasts" that it had given up Rs 70,000 crore of borrowing for 2018-19.

"If so, why does it need money from the reserves of RBI this year?" he questioned.&nbsp;

The central government had on Friday said it was discussing an "appropriate" size of capital reserves that the central bank must maintain, but denied seeking a massive capital transfer from the RBI.

The RBI has a massive Rs 9.59 lakh crore reserves and the government, if reports are to be believed, wants the central bank to part with a third of that fund -- an issue which along with easing of norms for weak banks and raising liquidity has brought the two at loggerheads in recent weeks.

Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg took to Twitter on Friday to clarify that the government was not in any dire need of funds and that there was no proposal to ask the RBI to transfer Rs 3.6 lakh crore.

"There is no proposal to ask RBI to transfer (Rs) 3.6 or (Rs) 1 lakh crore, as speculated," he tweeted.&nbsp;

"Government's FD (fiscal deficit) in FY 2013-14 was 5.1%. From 2014-15 onwards, Government has succeeded in bringing it down substantially. We will end the FY 2018-19 with FD of 3.3 per cent.&nbsp;

Government has actually foregone (Rs) 70,000 crore of budgeted market borrowing this year," Garg said.

The official said the only proposal under discussion was to "fix appropriate economic capital framework of RBI".

Economic capital framework refers to the risk capital required by the central bank while taking into account different risks.&nbsp;

Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram Sunday asked the Centre what was its "tearing hurry" to "fix" the capital framework of Reserve Bank of India when the ruling dispensation had just four months to complete the term.

Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram Sunday asked the Centre what was its "tearing hurry" to "fix" the capital framework of Reserve Bank of India when the ruling dispensation had just four months to complete the term. In a series of tweets, the senior Congress leader slammed the government for allegedly seeking funds from the RBI despite claiming that its (Centre) fiscal math was correct. "The NDA government has completed 4 years and 6 months of its term. It has effectively 4 months left. What is the tearing hurry to 'fix' the capital framework of RBI?" he asked. Chidambaram said if the government did not need any more money this financial year, why was it "mounting pressure" on the central bank in the last four months of its tenure. "Why did it keep silent for 4 years and 6 months?" he said. The Congress leader said the government had claimed that its "fiscal math is correct" and "boasts" that it had given up Rs 70,000 crore of borrowing for 2018-19. "If so, why does it need money from the reserves of RBI this year?" he questioned. The central government had on Friday said it was discussing an "appropriate" size of capital reserves that the central bank must maintain, but denied seeking a massive capital transfer from the RBI. The RBI has a massive Rs 9.59 lakh crore reserves and the government, if reports are to be believed, wants the central bank to part with a third of that fund -- an issue which along with easing of norms for weak banks and raising liquidity has brought the two at loggerheads in recent weeks. Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg took to Twitter on Friday to clarify that the government was not in any dire need of funds and that there was no proposal to ask the RBI to transfer Rs 3.6 lakh crore. "There is no proposal to ask RBI to transfer (Rs) 3.6 or (Rs) 1 lakh crore, as speculated," he tweeted. "Government's FD (fiscal deficit) in FY 2013-14 was 5.1%. From 2014-15 onwards, Government has succeeded in bringing it down substantially. We will end the FY 2018-19 with FD of 3.3 per cent. Government has actually foregone (Rs) 70,000 crore of budgeted market borrowing this year," Garg said. The official said the only proposal under discussion was to "fix appropriate economic capital framework of RBI". Economic capital framework refers to the risk capital required by the central bank while taking into account different risks.

What is govt's 'tearing hurry' to 'fix' RBI capital framework: Chidambaram

Chhattisgarh's Congress vice president Ghanaram Sahu resigned from the party on Sunday, a day ahead of the first phase of polling in the state.

In his resignation letter addressed to the state's party president Bhupesh Baghel, Sahu has alleged that he was mentally harassed by Baghel due to personal grudges.

The first phase of elections comprises 18 seats distributed in eight Naxal-affected districts of the state.

Of these, 12 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes, while one is Scheduled Caste reserved seat.The polling for remaining 72 seats will take place on November 20.

The counting of votes will take place on December 11. A total of 1,291 candidates are in the fray for the two-phased state polls.&nbsp;

Chhattisgarh's Congress vice president Ghanaram Sahu resigned from the party on Sunday, a day ahead of the first phase of polling in the state. In his resignation letter addressed to the state's party president Bhupesh Baghel, Sahu has alleged that he was mentally harassed by Baghel due to personal grudges.

Chhattisgarh's Congress vice president Ghanaram Sahu resigned from the party on Sunday, a day ahead of the first phase of polling in the state. In his resignation letter addressed to the state's party president Bhupesh Baghel, Sahu has alleged that he was mentally harassed by Baghel due to personal grudges. The first phase of elections comprises 18 seats distributed in eight Naxal-affected districts of the state. Of these, 12 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes, while one is Scheduled Caste reserved seat.The polling for remaining 72 seats will take place on November 20. The counting of votes will take place on December 11. A total of 1,291 candidates are in the fray for the two-phased state polls.

Ahead of polls, Chhattisgarh's Congress VP Ghanaram Sahu resigns

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday received the panel of names for the post of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) from the Chief Secretary of Mizoram.

"Full commission comprising Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat, Election Commissioners Sunil Arora and Ashok Lavaasa will be meeting to review the names," said a poll body official.

Noting that the Commission will only appoint someone as CEO only if he or she is capable of conducting a 'free, fair and peaceful election', the functionary said the poll body may demand for another set of names if it has reservations.

"The commission will either take a call or it will seek another panel, but only after reviewing the names," he added.

Meanwhile, SB Shashank, the incumbent CEO will also be meeting the top poll body officials for briefing them on the status of the poll preparations in poll-bound Mizoram.

"The Commission will again be meeting SB Shashank to know what exactly the level is and what should be done in Mizoram because the new incumbent will have very little time to deliver polls in the hill state," said the official.

"It will be crucial to the know the important inputs that should be given to the new person if appointed," he added.

The EC had earlier sent a high-level team led by Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain to hold further talks with NGO Coordination Committee, who demanded removal of CEO Shashank.

The Commission will also be taking up the agreement between the ECI team and NGO Coordination Committee.

"In the agreement the coordination committee has agreed for conducting polling for Bru voters at convenient place in Mizoram and not outside the state," said a source.

"The agreement further states that CEO SB Shashank has lost the confidence of the civil society, so he should be changed," he added.

The senior poll official reiterated that it holds Mizo people in high regards and hopes that the election will be peacefully conducted in the hill state.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday received the panel of names for the post of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) from the Chief Secretary of Mizoram.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday received the panel of names for the post of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) from the Chief Secretary of Mizoram. "Full commission comprising Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat, Election Commissioners Sunil Arora and Ashok Lavaasa will be meeting to review the names," said a poll body official. Noting that the Commission will only appoint someone as CEO only if he or she is capable of conducting a 'free, fair and peaceful election', the functionary said the poll body may demand for another set of names if it has reservations. "The commission will either take a call or it will seek another panel, but only after reviewing the names," he added. Meanwhile, SB Shashank, the incumbent CEO will also be meeting the top poll body officials for briefing them on the status of the poll preparations in poll-bound Mizoram. "The Commission will again be meeting SB Shashank to know what exactly the level is and what should be done in Mizoram because the new incumbent will have very little time to deliver polls in the hill state," said the official. "It will be crucial to the know the important inputs that should be given to the new person if appointed," he added. The EC had earlier sent a high-level team led by Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain to hold further talks with NGO Coordination Committee, who demanded removal of CEO Shashank. The Commission will also be taking up the agreement between the ECI team and NGO Coordination Committee. "In the agreement the coordination committee has agreed for conducting polling for Bru voters at convenient place in Mizoram and not outside the state," said a source. "The agreement further states that CEO SB Shashank has lost the confidence of the civil society, so he should be changed," he added. The senior poll official reiterated that it holds Mizo people in high regards and hopes that the election will be peacefully conducted in the hill state.

Mizoram: Election Commission to review panel names received for CEO

A group of terrorists attacked a police party in Jammu and Kashmir's Handwara on Sunday, news agency ANI reported. According to reports, the police gunned down one terrorist, the exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists is underway.

Police retaliated when terrorists mounted an attack on a check-post at Handwara bypass, triggering a gunfight. The deceased terrorist has been identified as Ishtiyaaq from Pakistan, affiliated to terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuandKashmir?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuandKashmir</a>: One terrorist killed in the exchange of fire between terrorists and police in Handwara. Identity of the terrorist is being ascertained. Arms and ammunition recovered. (Visuals deferred by unspecified time) <a href="https://t.co/mNpDsagHA9">pic.twitter.com/mNpDsagHA9</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1061603280227389441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The Jammu and Kashmir police has registered a case, an investigation is underway. Arms and ammunition have been recovered from the deceased terrorist, more details are awaited.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Naik Gosavi Keshav Somgir, an Army soldier, lost his life in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) Jammu and Kashmir's Nowshera Sector, earlier today.

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The terrorist who was killed during an exchange of fire between terrorists &amp; police in Handwara's Chattipora today, has been identified as Ishtiyaaq from Pakistan. He was affiliated with terror outfit, Jaish-e-Mohammed. Case registered and investigation underway: J&amp;K Police
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1061644135902388224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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On November 10, two terrorists were killed during an encounter with security forces in Tikken area of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI)&nbsp;

A group of terrorists attacked a police party in Jammu and Kashmir's Handwara on Sunday, news agency ANI reported. According to reports, the police gunned down one terrorist, the exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists is underway.

A group of terrorists attacked a police party in Jammu and Kashmir's Handwara on Sunday, news agency ANI reported. According to reports, the police gunned down one terrorist, the exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists is underway. Police retaliated when terrorists mounted an attack on a check-post at Handwara bypass, triggering a gunfight. The deceased terrorist has been identified as Ishtiyaaq from Pakistan, affiliated to terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed. #JammuandKashmir: One terrorist killed in the exchange of fire between terrorists and police in Handwara. Identity of the terrorist is being ascertained. Arms and ammunition recovered. (Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/mNpDsagHA9 — ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2018 × The Jammu and Kashmir police has registered a case, an investigation is underway. Arms and ammunition have been recovered from the deceased terrorist, more details are awaited. Meanwhile, Naik Gosavi Keshav Somgir, an Army soldier, lost his life in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) Jammu and Kashmir's Nowshera Sector, earlier today. The terrorist who was killed during an exchange of fire between terrorists & police in Handwara's Chattipora today, has been identified as Ishtiyaaq from Pakistan. He was affiliated with terror outfit, Jaish-e-Mohammed. Case registered and investigation underway: J&K Police — ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2018 × On November 10, two terrorists were killed during an encounter with security forces in Tikken area of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. (With inputs from ANI)

J&K: One militant killed as Police, terrorists exchange fire in Handwara

The stage is set for the first phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly polls in 18 seats spread across eight Naxal-affected districts on Monday.&nbsp;

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is eyeing a fourth straight term in the tribal-dominated state as the opposition Congress seeks to return to power after 15 years.

Chief Minister Raman Singh, two state cabinet ministers and an incumbent BJP MP are among the 190 candidates contesting in 18 constituencies of the 90-member Assembly.

The constituencies of Khairagarh, Dongargarh (SC), Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Mohla-Manpur (ST), Antagarh (ST), Bhanupratappur (ST), Kanker (ST), Keshkal (ST), Kondagaon (ST), Narayanpur (ST), Bastar (ST), Jagdalpur, Chitrakot (ST), Dantewada (ST), Bijapur (ST) and Konta (ST) will go to polls on Monday.

Of these, 12 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and one for Scheduled Caste (SC) category.

The stakes are very high for the saffron party on these 18 seats as it had lost 12 of them in the last polls held in 2013.

Eyeing his fourth consecutive term as chief minister, Singh is contesting from Rajnandgaon seat where his main rival is Congress' Karuna Shukla, the niece of former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Singh had last time defeated Alka Mudliyar, wife of slain Congress leader Uday Mudliyar who was killed in the Jiram valley Naxal attack in 2013.

In Narayanpur segment, the Congress has renominated Chandan Kashyap against BJP minister Kedar Kahsyap. Chandan had lost to Kedar last time. 
 
The Congress has also given a second chance to Vikram Mandavi from Bijapur (ST) seat against state Forest Minister Mahesh Gagda. Mandavi had lost to Gagda in 2013.

Prominent BJP leader and Kanker Lok Sabha seat's incumbent MP Vikram Usendi is contesting from Antagarh (ST), where the Congress has fielded a fresh face, Anoop Nag.

Usendi had won Antagarh seat in 2013 polls. However, he resigned after he was elected as the Lok Sabha member from Kanker seat in 2014.

The ruling BJP has also fielded two sitting MLAs - Santosh Bafna (Jagdalpur) and Sarojani Banjar (Dongargarh).

The Congress has renominated its nine sitting MLAs - Manoj Singh Mandavi (Bhanupratappur), Mohan Lal Markam (Kondagaon), Lakheshwar Baghel (Bastar), Deepak Kumar Baij (Chitrakot), Devati Karma (Dantewada), Kawasi Lakhma (Konta), Girwar Janghel (Khairagarh), Santram Netam (Keshkal) and Daleshwar Sahu (Dongargaon).

Devati Karma, wife of Congress leader Mahendra Karma who was killed in the 2013 Jiram valley attack, had defeated Bhima Mandavi of the BJP. The BJP has again fielded Mandavi from the seat.

It also nominated Dhani Ram Barse, who was defeated by senior Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma, from Konta seat.

As many as 4,336 polling booths have been set up for the first phase of the state polls. There are 31,79,520 voters, including 16,21,839 males, 15,57,592 females and 89 of the third gender.

During the campaign for the polls, BJP leaders highlighted how Naxalism, which was at its peak during the Congress rule in the state, was contained during the last 15 years and also the development works taken up by the government.

Top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union minister Smriti Irani, campaigned for the saffron party and highlighted various achievements of the Raman Singh government.

On the other side, the Congress accused the BJP of "failing" to control the Naxal menace and referred to the chit fund and civil supply scams. It also targeted the chief minister's son Abhishek Singh over his alleged offshore assets.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi had held five rallies and a road show while campaigning for the first phase of the Assembly polls.&nbsp;

The stage is set for the first phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly polls in 18 seats spread across eight Naxal-affected districts on Monday. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is eyeing a fourth straight term in the tribal-dominated state as the opposition Congress seeks to return to power after 15 years.

The stage is set for the first phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly polls in 18 seats spread across eight Naxal-affected districts on Monday. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is eyeing a fourth straight term in the tribal-dominated state as the opposition Congress seeks to return to power after 15 years. Chief Minister Raman Singh, two state cabinet ministers and an incumbent BJP MP are among the 190 candidates contesting in 18 constituencies of the 90-member Assembly. The constituencies of Khairagarh, Dongargarh (SC), Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Mohla-Manpur (ST), Antagarh (ST), Bhanupratappur (ST), Kanker (ST), Keshkal (ST), Kondagaon (ST), Narayanpur (ST), Bastar (ST), Jagdalpur, Chitrakot (ST), Dantewada (ST), Bijapur (ST) and Konta (ST) will go to polls on Monday. Of these, 12 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and one for Scheduled Caste (SC) category. The stakes are very high for the saffron party on these 18 seats as it had lost 12 of them in the last polls held in 2013. Eyeing his fourth consecutive term as chief minister, Singh is contesting from Rajnandgaon seat where his main rival is Congress' Karuna Shukla, the niece of former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Singh had last time defeated Alka Mudliyar, wife of slain Congress leader Uday Mudliyar who was killed in the Jiram valley Naxal attack in 2013. In Narayanpur segment, the Congress has renominated Chandan Kashyap against BJP minister Kedar Kahsyap. Chandan had lost to Kedar last time. The Congress has also given a second chance to Vikram Mandavi from Bijapur (ST) seat against state Forest Minister Mahesh Gagda. Mandavi had lost to Gagda in 2013. Prominent BJP leader and Kanker Lok Sabha seat's incumbent MP Vikram Usendi is contesting from Antagarh (ST), where the Congress has fielded a fresh face, Anoop Nag. Usendi had won Antagarh seat in 2013 polls. However, he resigned after he was elected as the Lok Sabha member from Kanker seat in 2014. The ruling BJP has also fielded two sitting MLAs - Santosh Bafna (Jagdalpur) and Sarojani Banjar (Dongargarh). The Congress has renominated its nine sitting MLAs - Manoj Singh Mandavi (Bhanupratappur), Mohan Lal Markam (Kondagaon), Lakheshwar Baghel (Bastar), Deepak Kumar Baij (Chitrakot), Devati Karma (Dantewada), Kawasi Lakhma (Konta), Girwar Janghel (Khairagarh), Santram Netam (Keshkal) and Daleshwar Sahu (Dongargaon). Devati Karma, wife of Congress leader Mahendra Karma who was killed in the 2013 Jiram valley attack, had defeated Bhima Mandavi of the BJP. The BJP has again fielded Mandavi from the seat. It also nominated Dhani Ram Barse, who was defeated by senior Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma, from Konta seat. As many as 4,336 polling booths have been set up for the first phase of the state polls. There are 31,79,520 voters, including 16,21,839 males, 15,57,592 females and 89 of the third gender. During the campaign for the polls, BJP leaders highlighted how Naxalism, which was at its peak during the Congress rule in the state, was contained during the last 15 years and also the development works taken up by the government. Top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union minister Smriti Irani, campaigned for the saffron party and highlighted various achievements of the Raman Singh government. On the other side, the Congress accused the BJP of "failing" to control the Naxal menace and referred to the chit fund and civil supply scams. It also targeted the chief minister's son Abhishek Singh over his alleged offshore assets. Congress president Rahul Gandhi had held five rallies and a road show while campaigning for the first phase of the Assembly polls.

Stage set for high-stakes poll battle in Naxal-hit Chhattisgarh

Around 1 lakh security personnel have been deployed in Chhattisgarh for smooth conduct of the first phase of polling on November 12, a senior police official said Saturday.

The first phase of assembly polls will see voting in 18 seats spread over eight Naxal-affected districts in the state.

Naxal outfits have given calls for the boycott of the election and have also carried out three major attacks in the last fortnight which have claimed the lives of 13 people, including eight security personnel.

The security personnel, including central paramilitary force, have been deployed to ensure peaceful polling in the first phase, Chhattisgarh's Special Director General (Anti-Naxal Operations) D M Awasthi told.

In the last 10 days, over 300 IEDs were recovered from Bastar region and Rajnandgaon district by security forces, he said, adding that all necessary measures had been taken to thwart attempts by Maoists to disrupt the poll process.

A total of 650 companies, including those from paramilitary units like CRPF, BSF, ITBP and around 65,000 personnel from police forces of other states, have been sent by the Centre for the assembly polls, he said.

These units are apart from existing paramilitary personnel and 200 companies of state forces engaged in anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh, the Special DG said.

He informed that around 650 polling booth parties were airlifted by helicopters Saturday to remote areas while other teams would be sent by road Sunday.

Indian Air Force and BSF choppers were pressed into service for the purpose, he said.

"As of now, the challenge is to escort all the polling parties safely to their destination in Naxal-affected areas and later it will be to conduct polls and bring back them safely," he said.

He said there are inputs of Naxals planning to plant improvised explosive devices to target security forces and, therefore, a hawk-eye was being kept on roads in such areas.

He said forces that had arrived from other states have been advised to avoid using any road unless it had been sanitised by "road opening parties" (ROPs) or had been subject to a de-mining exercise to detect and clear IEDs.

These forces have also been asked to avoid patrolling on foot as Naxals are known to place iron spikes to inflict injuries, Awasthi said.

Police have been asked to maintain a strict vigil on the borders with Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, he said.

Polling in 10 constituencies Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Konta will start at 7 am and end at 3 pm.

In the other eight seats Khairgarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Bastar, Jagdalpur and Chitrakot the polling time will be 8 am to 5 pm.

On November 8, four civilians and a CISF jawan were killed when Naxals detonated a bus with an improvised explosive device in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district.

On October 30, three police personnel and a cameraman of national broadcaster Doordarshan were killed in a Maoist attack in Aranpur area of Dantewada.

On October 27, four CRPF personnel, belonging to 168th battalion were killed and two others injured after Maoists blew up their bulletproof bunker vehicle in Awapalli area of Bijapur district.&nbsp;

Around 1 lakh security personnel have been deployed in Chhattisgarh for smooth conduct of the first phase of polling on November 12, a senior police official said Saturday.

Around 1 lakh security personnel have been deployed in Chhattisgarh for smooth conduct of the first phase of polling on November 12, a senior police official said Saturday. The first phase of assembly polls will see voting in 18 seats spread over eight Naxal-affected districts in the state. Naxal outfits have given calls for the boycott of the election and have also carried out three major attacks in the last fortnight which have claimed the lives of 13 people, including eight security personnel. The security personnel, including central paramilitary force, have been deployed to ensure peaceful polling in the first phase, Chhattisgarh's Special Director General (Anti-Naxal Operations) D M Awasthi told. In the last 10 days, over 300 IEDs were recovered from Bastar region and Rajnandgaon district by security forces, he said, adding that all necessary measures had been taken to thwart attempts by Maoists to disrupt the poll process. A total of 650 companies, including those from paramilitary units like CRPF, BSF, ITBP and around 65,000 personnel from police forces of other states, have been sent by the Centre for the assembly polls, he said. These units are apart from existing paramilitary personnel and 200 companies of state forces engaged in anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh, the Special DG said. He informed that around 650 polling booth parties were airlifted by helicopters Saturday to remote areas while other teams would be sent by road Sunday. Indian Air Force and BSF choppers were pressed into service for the purpose, he said. "As of now, the challenge is to escort all the polling parties safely to their destination in Naxal-affected areas and later it will be to conduct polls and bring back them safely," he said. He said there are inputs of Naxals planning to plant improvised explosive devices to target security forces and, therefore, a hawk-eye was being kept on roads in such areas. He said forces that had arrived from other states have been advised to avoid using any road unless it had been sanitised by "road opening parties" (ROPs) or had been subject to a de-mining exercise to detect and clear IEDs. These forces have also been asked to avoid patrolling on foot as Naxals are known to place iron spikes to inflict injuries, Awasthi said. Police have been asked to maintain a strict vigil on the borders with Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, he said. Polling in 10 constituencies Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Konta will start at 7 am and end at 3 pm. In the other eight seats Khairgarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Bastar, Jagdalpur and Chitrakot the polling time will be 8 am to 5 pm. On November 8, four civilians and a CISF jawan were killed when Naxals detonated a bus with an improvised explosive device in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district. On October 30, three police personnel and a cameraman of national broadcaster Doordarshan were killed in a Maoist attack in Aranpur area of Dantewada. On October 27, four CRPF personnel, belonging to 168th battalion were killed and two others injured after Maoists blew up their bulletproof bunker vehicle in Awapalli area of Bijapur district.

Chhattisgarh elections: 1 lakh security forces deployed, says Special DGP

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