Terming the Congress and the Samajwadi Party as "supporters of terrorists", UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused the previous SP government in UP of withdrawing cases against terrorists.

"The first task, the Akhilesh-led SP government undertook, was taking back all the cases against terrorists. Cases were withdrawn against terrorists who attacked the Ram Janmbhoomi in Ayodhya and Sankatmochna temple in Kaashi," Yogi Adityanath said while addressing a rally here on Friday.

Adityanath was seeking votes for the BJP candidate from Gorakhpur Lok Sabha constituency and Bhojpuri film star, Ravi Kishan.

Taking on the Congress party over its manifesto promise of repealing the sedition law, UP Chief Minister said, "The Congress says that their government will repeal the sedition law. In other words, their government will support terrorists and Naxals."

Yogi also urged voters to teach a lesson to the Congress, SP, and BSP for "playing with the national security."

Commending PM Modi for striking terrorist camps inside Pakistan, Adityanath said, "Pulwama attack happened and the next day, Modiji trampled on the head of Pakistan and destroyed all terrorist camps."

"In contrast, Congress government remained silent when Pakistan chopped the head of one of our soldiers. Today when Modi starts speaking in Delhi, Pakistan PM gets worried in Islamabad," he added.

Gorakhpur will go to polls in the last phase of the general elections on May 19.

Five of the seven phases of the general election in the country have been concluded while two remaining phases are scheduled on May 12 and 19.

Counting of votes will take place on May 23.&nbsp;

Terming the Congress and the Samajwadi Party as "supporters of terrorists", UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused the previous SP government in UP of withdrawing cases against terrorists.

Terming the Congress and the Samajwadi Party as "supporters of terrorists", UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused the previous SP government in UP of withdrawing cases against terrorists. "The first task, the Akhilesh-led SP government undertook, was taking back all the cases against terrorists. Cases were withdrawn against terrorists who attacked the Ram Janmbhoomi in Ayodhya and Sankatmochna temple in Kaashi," Yogi Adityanath said while addressing a rally here on Friday. Adityanath was seeking votes for the BJP candidate from Gorakhpur Lok Sabha constituency and Bhojpuri film star, Ravi Kishan. Taking on the Congress party over its manifesto promise of repealing the sedition law, UP Chief Minister said, "The Congress says that their government will repeal the sedition law. In other words, their government will support terrorists and Naxals." Yogi also urged voters to teach a lesson to the Congress, SP, and BSP for "playing with the national security." Commending PM Modi for striking terrorist camps inside Pakistan, Adityanath said, "Pulwama attack happened and the next day, Modiji trampled on the head of Pakistan and destroyed all terrorist camps." "In contrast, Congress government remained silent when Pakistan chopped the head of one of our soldiers. Today when Modi starts speaking in Delhi, Pakistan PM gets worried in Islamabad," he added. Gorakhpur will go to polls in the last phase of the general elections on May 19. Five of the seven phases of the general election in the country have been concluded while two remaining phases are scheduled on May 12 and 19. Counting of votes will take place on May 23.

Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Adityanath terms SP-Congress as 'supporters of terrorists'

As campaigning for the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections in 59 constituencies ended Friday evening, over 10.17 crore voters across seven states will decide the fate of 979 candidates by casting their votes on May 12.

Phase 6: 10 Cr Indian voters to cast their vote on May 12

In this segment of WION, we ask: Is Western-Media agenda driven? Watch the full video to know more.

Is Western-Media agenda driven?

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday claimed that BJP will see a reduced seat count in Uttar Pradesh and draw a blank in seven other states and the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are losing confidence about winning the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

She said BJP is looking at West Bengal for votes as it has fared badly in the last five phases of the Lok Sabha polls.

"Where will BJP get the numbers from? In Uttar Pradesh, its seat count will reduce from 73 to 13 or 17. In other states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Punjab and Odisha the party will draw a blank. Its seats will reduce in Madhya Pradesh also", Banerjee claimed while addressing a public meeting here in support of Trinamool Congress candidate Nusrat Jahan.

Modi is losing confidence, she said and urged the electorate not to vote for BJP.

"In Bengal, Trinamool Congress should win all the 42 seats which will help it to have some control in the formation of the new government," Banerjee who has been claiming that her party would play an important role at the Centre after the general elections, said.

"We do not want BJP. Show the door to the party through votes," the Trinamool Congress supremo said.

She alleged that BJP, Congress and CPI(M) are of the same ilk. "Some people are supporting BJP in the morning, Congress in the afternoon and CPI(M) in the night. So voting any of the three will be a waste. Vote for TMC, it is the only party which has the guts to fight BJP.

"BJP has kept the entire country petrified. Captured institutions like RBI, CBI, Income Tax and the ED... Instead of giving food, shelter and clothing, it has dismantled Planning Commission with Niti Aayog and shown how to create riots ... It started cow vigilantism and lynching syndicates", she said.

Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have often attacked the TMC by accusing it of running 'syndicates raj'.

Continuing her tirade against Modi, Banerjee said in the last parliamentary polls he had said a lot of things and became the prime minister. "But what work has he done in the last five years?"

Prices of commodities had risen during BJP's rule and are going to increase more after the elections.

"The BJP has forgotten Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose who gave the Jai Hind slogan. Nathuram Godse (who killed Mahatma Gandhi) is now its leader," she added.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday claimed that BJP will see a reduced seat count in Uttar Pradesh and draw a blank in seven other states and the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are losing confidence about winning the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday claimed that BJP will see a reduced seat count in Uttar Pradesh and draw a blank in seven other states and the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are losing confidence about winning the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. She said BJP is looking at West Bengal for votes as it has fared badly in the last five phases of the Lok Sabha polls. "Where will BJP get the numbers from? In Uttar Pradesh, its seat count will reduce from 73 to 13 or 17. In other states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Punjab and Odisha the party will draw a blank. Its seats will reduce in Madhya Pradesh also", Banerjee claimed while addressing a public meeting here in support of Trinamool Congress candidate Nusrat Jahan. Modi is losing confidence, she said and urged the electorate not to vote for BJP. "In Bengal, Trinamool Congress should win all the 42 seats which will help it to have some control in the formation of the new government," Banerjee who has been claiming that her party would play an important role at the Centre after the general elections, said. "We do not want BJP. Show the door to the party through votes," the Trinamool Congress supremo said. She alleged that BJP, Congress and CPI(M) are of the same ilk. "Some people are supporting BJP in the morning, Congress in the afternoon and CPI(M) in the night. So voting any of the three will be a waste. Vote for TMC, it is the only party which has the guts to fight BJP. "BJP has kept the entire country petrified. Captured institutions like RBI, CBI, Income Tax and the ED... Instead of giving food, shelter and clothing, it has dismantled Planning Commission with Niti Aayog and shown how to create riots ... It started cow vigilantism and lynching syndicates", she said. Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have often attacked the TMC by accusing it of running 'syndicates raj'. Continuing her tirade against Modi, Banerjee said in the last parliamentary polls he had said a lot of things and became the prime minister. "But what work has he done in the last five years?" Prices of commodities had risen during BJP's rule and are going to increase more after the elections. "The BJP has forgotten Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose who gave the Jai Hind slogan. Nathuram Godse (who killed Mahatma Gandhi) is now its leader," she added.

BJP will see reduced seat count in UP, draw blank in seven other states: Mamata Banerjee

Aam Aadmi Party has sent legal notice to BJP and its East Delhi candidate <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/he-is-above-all-this-harbhajan-singh-and-vvs-laxman-vouch-for-gautam-gambhir-in-pamphlet-row-217489">Gautam Gambhir</a> over "derogatory" pamphlet against AAP leader Atishi Marlena.

AAP has immediately sought an apology from them in writing and also asked them to publish the same 'along with true and correct facts'&nbsp;in newspapers within 24 hours.

The notice alleged that the "offending publication (pamphlet) on Atishi " was issued either by them (BJP and Gautam Gambhir) or the persons authorised by them.

"In view of the above, you are hereby called upon to render immediately a complete, express, unqualified and unambiguous apology to our client, its leaders and its candidate for inflicting the libel upon them, which must be tendered to our client personally in writing by you as well as well as printing the same along with true and correct facts in Delhi as well as across India within 24 hours," the legal notice by AAP read.

It also warned that if they fail to do so, legal proceedings both criminal (for the "offence" of criminal defamation and civil suit (for recovery of damages) will be initiated against them.

This comes a day after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/gautam-gambhir-sends-defamation-notice-to-kejriwal-sisodia-atishi-demands-unconditional-apology-217366">Gautam Gambhir had sent defamation notice to AAP leaders</a>-- Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Atishi demanding an unconditional apology from making "defamatory" comments against him.

The row started with AAP leaders accusing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/will-tender-resignation-drafted-by-kejriwal-if-proven-guilty-gautam-gambhir-217400">Gautam Gambhir</a> of circulating pamphlets with derogatory and casteist remarks against his rival candidate Atishi.

On Thursday, Delhi's deputy chief minister Sisodia had accused the cricketer-turned-politician of distributing pamphlets in an attempt to defame Atishi.

"Language in this pamphlet, distributed in East Delhi, is so abusive and low that everybody will feel ashamed while reading it. This letter with derogatory remarks is distributed by Gautam Gambhir to make himself win. We never, in our worst dream, had thought that he (Gambhir) would stoop to this low to win polls," Sisodia had said.

AAP chief Kejriwal also reiterated the charges and raised similar questions."How can women expect safety if people with such mentality are voted in? Atishi, stay strong. I can imagine how difficult it must be for you. It is precisely this kind of forces we have to fight against," he had tweeted.

Gambhir and Atishi are in a three-cornered battle along with Congress candidate Arvinder Singh Lovely from the east-Delhi parliamentary constituency which will go to polls on May 9.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Aam Aadmi Party has sent legal notice to BJP and its East Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir over "derogatory" pamphlet against AAP leader Atishi Marlena. AAP has immediately sought an apology from them in writing and also asked them to publish the same 'along with true and correct facts' in newspapers within 24 hours.

Aam Aadmi Party has sent legal notice to BJP and its East Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir over "derogatory" pamphlet against AAP leader Atishi Marlena. AAP has immediately sought an apology from them in writing and also asked them to publish the same 'along with true and correct facts' in newspapers within 24 hours. The notice alleged that the "offending publication (pamphlet) on Atishi " was issued either by them (BJP and Gautam Gambhir) or the persons authorised by them. "In view of the above, you are hereby called upon to render immediately a complete, express, unqualified and unambiguous apology to our client, its leaders and its candidate for inflicting the libel upon them, which must be tendered to our client personally in writing by you as well as well as printing the same along with true and correct facts in Delhi as well as across India within 24 hours," the legal notice by AAP read. It also warned that if they fail to do so, legal proceedings both criminal (for the "offence" of criminal defamation and civil suit (for recovery of damages) will be initiated against them. This comes a day after Gautam Gambhir had sent defamation notice to AAP leaders-- Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Atishi demanding an unconditional apology from making "defamatory" comments against him. The row started with AAP leaders accusing Gautam Gambhir of circulating pamphlets with derogatory and casteist remarks against his rival candidate Atishi. On Thursday, Delhi's deputy chief minister Sisodia had accused the cricketer-turned-politician of distributing pamphlets in an attempt to defame Atishi. "Language in this pamphlet, distributed in East Delhi, is so abusive and low that everybody will feel ashamed while reading it. This letter with derogatory remarks is distributed by Gautam Gambhir to make himself win. We never, in our worst dream, had thought that he (Gambhir) would stoop to this low to win polls," Sisodia had said. AAP chief Kejriwal also reiterated the charges and raised similar questions."How can women expect safety if people with such mentality are voted in? Atishi, stay strong. I can imagine how difficult it must be for you. It is precisely this kind of forces we have to fight against," he had tweeted. Gambhir and Atishi are in a three-cornered battle along with Congress candidate Arvinder Singh Lovely from the east-Delhi parliamentary constituency which will go to polls on May 9.

Pamphlet row: AAP sends legal notice to BJP, Gambhir; demands 'unconditional' apology

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/vajpayee-government-conducted-nuclear-tests-20-years-back-other-governments-never-had-similar-courage-pm-modi-217767">Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday</a> said that he might come from a low caste but he is "trying day and night to uplift each and every person from the lower caste and every poor person in the country.

"Claiming that the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) all through their campaign targeted him for coming from a "lower" caste, Prime Minister Modi said, "I might come from a low caste but I am trying day and night to uplift each and every person from the lower caste and every poor person in the country."

Prime Minister Modi was addressing an election rally in favour of Union Minister Manoj Sinha, who is seeking re-election from this seat. Ghazipur goes to poll on May 19, the last phase of seven-phased Lok Sabha polling. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

Expressing his dismay over the Congress government in Rajasthan for allegedly burying Alwar gang rape case due to polls, Modi said, "You must have heard of the incident from Rajasthan's Alwar district in the past two-three days."

"A Dalit girl was gang-raped by thugs. Instead of catching the accused the Congress government is trying to bury the case. This happened because there were elections in the state then. They delayed justice. This is the truth of Congress'&nbsp;justice," he said.

"I also want to ask why the Congress' darbaris are silent now. Why there is no candle march for Alwar's rape victim today. I want to ask the 'Award Wapsi'&nbsp;gang why are they silent when injustice has been caused to Alwar's daughter," he said.

A woman was allegedly gang-raped by five men while her husband was beaten up in Thanagaji area of Alwar district in Rajasthan on April 26. The woman and her husband were on a bike, when about five men aged between 20-25 years, stopped them and took the couple to a deserted place.

The husband was allegedly assaulted and tied up while the woman was gang-raped. The culprits, reportedly, also threatened the couple not to report the matter to the police or they would make the video public.

Earlier addressing an election rally at Sonbhadra, Prime Minister Modi said, "SP-BSP, who first ruined UP, are now hugging each other to save themselves from falling apart. Those who wanted to send each other to jail now want to send them to the palace today."

"The leaders of SP and BSP do not tell the people what is their policy for the nation. Whatever they talk about, abusing Modi is at the top of it. What will be their strategy to deal with terrorism - Naamdar, Behen ji and Babua ji will not speak anything about this," he said.

Arch-rivals in Uttar Pradesh - SP and BSP - have forged an alliance after the BJP swept Lok Polls in 2014 and registered landslide victory in Assembly elections of 2017.

Reiterating his poll campaign for a 'strong government'&nbsp;at the Centre, Prime Minister Modi said, "When there is an adulterated government at the Centre, then national security is put at stake. When there was a Third Front government, Samajwadi Party was in the Cabinet. What had they done to the country?"

"Many people have written about this before. They have said that the adulterated government had destroyed had intelligence system. The country has to suffer for that. What third front government had done is nothing less than crime," he said.

Calling the UPA government, which was in power from 2004 to 2014 as a "remotely controlled" government, Modi said, "After the government of Atal ji, the country saw such a weak government again, saw the government of such great people, who put the credibility of the country on the stake. Then remote-control government destroyed ten years of the country."

The Prime Minister also underlined that India had tested its first nuclear test on this day 21 years ago.

"21 years back on this day, India successfully carried out nuclear test - operation Shakti. I salute scientists who brought laurels to the country with hard work. This historical incident in 1998 proves what strong political willpower can do for national security," he said."India always had such ability but governments prior to Vajpayee government did not have the courage to take such a decision. You can achieve this only if your priority is national security. Only then can you have the courage to take a decision for the nuclear test," said Prime Minister Modi.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that he might come from a low caste but he is "trying day and night to uplift each and every person from the lower caste and every poor person in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that he might come from a low caste but he is "trying day and night to uplift each and every person from the lower caste and every poor person in the country. "Claiming that the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) all through their campaign targeted him for coming from a "lower" caste, Prime Minister Modi said, "I might come from a low caste but I am trying day and night to uplift each and every person from the lower caste and every poor person in the country." Prime Minister Modi was addressing an election rally in favour of Union Minister Manoj Sinha, who is seeking re-election from this seat. Ghazipur goes to poll on May 19, the last phase of seven-phased Lok Sabha polling. The counting of votes will take place on May 23. Expressing his dismay over the Congress government in Rajasthan for allegedly burying Alwar gang rape case due to polls, Modi said, "You must have heard of the incident from Rajasthan's Alwar district in the past two-three days." "A Dalit girl was gang-raped by thugs. Instead of catching the accused the Congress government is trying to bury the case. This happened because there were elections in the state then. They delayed justice. This is the truth of Congress' justice," he said. "I also want to ask why the Congress' darbaris are silent now. Why there is no candle march for Alwar's rape victim today. I want to ask the 'Award Wapsi' gang why are they silent when injustice has been caused to Alwar's daughter," he said. A woman was allegedly gang-raped by five men while her husband was beaten up in Thanagaji area of Alwar district in Rajasthan on April 26. The woman and her husband were on a bike, when about five men aged between 20-25 years, stopped them and took the couple to a deserted place. The husband was allegedly assaulted and tied up while the woman was gang-raped. The culprits, reportedly, also threatened the couple not to report the matter to the police or they would make the video public. Earlier addressing an election rally at Sonbhadra, Prime Minister Modi said, "SP-BSP, who first ruined UP, are now hugging each other to save themselves from falling apart. Those who wanted to send each other to jail now want to send them to the palace today." "The leaders of SP and BSP do not tell the people what is their policy for the nation. Whatever they talk about, abusing Modi is at the top of it. What will be their strategy to deal with terrorism - Naamdar, Behen ji and Babua ji will not speak anything about this," he said. Arch-rivals in Uttar Pradesh - SP and BSP - have forged an alliance after the BJP swept Lok Polls in 2014 and registered landslide victory in Assembly elections of 2017. Reiterating his poll campaign for a 'strong government' at the Centre, Prime Minister Modi said, "When there is an adulterated government at the Centre, then national security is put at stake. When there was a Third Front government, Samajwadi Party was in the Cabinet. What had they done to the country?" "Many people have written about this before. They have said that the adulterated government had destroyed had intelligence system. The country has to suffer for that. What third front government had done is nothing less than crime," he said. Calling the UPA government, which was in power from 2004 to 2014 as a "remotely controlled" government, Modi said, "After the government of Atal ji, the country saw such a weak government again, saw the government of such great people, who put the credibility of the country on the stake. Then remote-control government destroyed ten years of the country." The Prime Minister also underlined that India had tested its first nuclear test on this day 21 years ago. "21 years back on this day, India successfully carried out nuclear test - operation Shakti. I salute scientists who brought laurels to the country with hard work. This historical incident in 1998 proves what strong political willpower can do for national security," he said."India always had such ability but governments prior to Vajpayee government did not have the courage to take such a decision. You can achieve this only if your priority is national security. Only then can you have the courage to take a decision for the nuclear test," said Prime Minister Modi.

I may come from low caste, but trying to uplift every poor person: PM Modi

In villages of Purulia that are awash with summer hues, the orange palash flowers blend with political parties' symbols, even as the BJP's 'lotus' and TMC's 'grass and two flowers' vie for attention -&nbsp;and political space.

With elections in the constituency scheduled for Sunday, the BJP's lotus appears on the walls of many mud house, side-by-side with the Trinamool Congress' symbol, signifying the BJP's emergence as a force to reckoned with.

In some places, the tiger symbol of the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) makes its presence felt as it roars from the red flags that can be seen from a distance.

Following its impressive show in the 2018 panchayat elections in Purulia, the BJP is upbeat about wresting the Lok Sabha seat from the TMC. Left Front constituent AIFB, which held the seat from 1977 to 2011, before losing it to the TMC, is also positive about regaining its lost glory.

But TMC candidate Mriganka Mahato is sure he will win from Purulia for the second consecutive term. He is up against BJP's Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato, AIFB's four-time MP Bir Singh Mahato and Congress' Nepal Mahato.

"The huge amount of development work done under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, including roads, electricity connections and many welfare schemes, is there for everybody to see," Mriganka Mahato told PTI.

He is a doctor who was brought to electoral politics by the TMC chief in 2014.

Large parts of Purulia became Maoist strongholds for a few years towards the latter part of 34-year Left Front rule in the state. Subsequently, the Jangalmahal area, which comprises forested areas spread over the districts of Bankura, Purulia, West Midnapore and Jhargram, was freed from red terror by joint forces.

With the TMC government ushering in 'parivartan' (change) in 2011, smooth metalled roads have replaced the red soil-topped roads that used to turn into slush and pond-sized craters during the monsoons.

There have been several developments and welfare schemes and electricity has reached small villages in the area.

Life in the once-neglected district in the western part of West Bengal, bordering Jharkhand, is generally better than it was 10 years ago, said villagers.

But with change and development has come corruption and the wealth of a section of local Trinamool Congress leadership has risen manifold in just a few years, they alleged.

Amal Mahato, the owner of a small tea stall on the outskirts of Purulia town, said the arrogance of the leaders is alienating people.

Admitting that a small percentage of local party leaders and workers have become greedy in Jangalmahal, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee had said that action was taken against them and urged people not to turn towards an opposition party out of anger.&nbsp;

In a state with a volatile political history, Purulia has been largely free of poll-related violence. But the 2018 panchayat elections, in which the BJP emerged as the new opposition to the TMC, changed the scenario. At least 12 people were killed in the violence.

While the TMC won 234 seats in panchayat samitis in Purulia, the BJP bagged 142 seats, leaving the Congress with 33 and the Left with 25 seats as distant third and fourth place holders.&nbsp;

In the gram panchayats in the three-tier election, the TMC won 838 seats, the BJP 644, the Left 178 and the Congress 150.

The BJP, with its RSS and Bajrang Dal wings, appears to have made inroads among the indigenous people. The TMC leadership also seems worried as a section of the influential Mahato community is inclining towards the BJP, party workers said.

The BJP, which came fourth in the 2014 general elections, is the biggest challenger to the TMC in Purulia.

The seat was with the Forward Bloc since 1977 till 2014 when TMC's Mriganka Mahato defeated the Left party in a wave for the Mamata Banerjee-led party.&nbsp;

The TMC won 34 of 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in the last general elections.

With Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressing a rally in Purulia, the party's candidate Nepal Mahato did get a boost but the party doesn't stand much a chance of now, political observers and villagers said.

According to BJP candidate Jyotirmoy Mahato, "People are not with the TMC. They only have goons in their fold. The general public will resist if they try to loot votes." 
He claimed the Left has been wiped out from Purulia and most of their supporters have joined the BJP.

AIFB contestant Bir Singh Mahato, who has been a four-time MP from the seat, said the so-called BJP wave has been artificially created.

"It has no proper leader in the constituency and its supporters have been left directionless, though the party had won quite a good number of seats in the panchayat elections," he said.

TMC candidate Mriganka Mahato said he expects a better fight from the Left which has a support base all over the constituency. The BJP and the Congress, he claimed, have only some pockets of influence.

"The BJP is using religion to divert the attention of people from the basic requirements of job, food and development, which it could not provide in the last five years," he said.&nbsp;

In villages of Purulia that are awash with summer hues, the orange palash flowers blend with political parties' symbols, even as the BJP's 'lotus' and TMC's 'grass and two flowers' vie for attention - and political space.

In villages of Purulia that are awash with summer hues, the orange palash flowers blend with political parties' symbols, even as the BJP's 'lotus' and TMC's 'grass and two flowers' vie for attention - and political space. With elections in the constituency scheduled for Sunday, the BJP's lotus appears on the walls of many mud house, side-by-side with the Trinamool Congress' symbol, signifying the BJP's emergence as a force to reckoned with. In some places, the tiger symbol of the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) makes its presence felt as it roars from the red flags that can be seen from a distance. Following its impressive show in the 2018 panchayat elections in Purulia, the BJP is upbeat about wresting the Lok Sabha seat from the TMC. Left Front constituent AIFB, which held the seat from 1977 to 2011, before losing it to the TMC, is also positive about regaining its lost glory. But TMC candidate Mriganka Mahato is sure he will win from Purulia for the second consecutive term. He is up against BJP's Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato, AIFB's four-time MP Bir Singh Mahato and Congress' Nepal Mahato. "The huge amount of development work done under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, including roads, electricity connections and many welfare schemes, is there for everybody to see," Mriganka Mahato told PTI. He is a doctor who was brought to electoral politics by the TMC chief in 2014. Large parts of Purulia became Maoist strongholds for a few years towards the latter part of 34-year Left Front rule in the state. Subsequently, the Jangalmahal area, which comprises forested areas spread over the districts of Bankura, Purulia, West Midnapore and Jhargram, was freed from red terror by joint forces. With the TMC government ushering in 'parivartan' (change) in 2011, smooth metalled roads have replaced the red soil-topped roads that used to turn into slush and pond-sized craters during the monsoons. There have been several developments and welfare schemes and electricity has reached small villages in the area. Life in the once-neglected district in the western part of West Bengal, bordering Jharkhand, is generally better than it was 10 years ago, said villagers. But with change and development has come corruption and the wealth of a section of local Trinamool Congress leadership has risen manifold in just a few years, they alleged. Amal Mahato, the owner of a small tea stall on the outskirts of Purulia town, said the arrogance of the leaders is alienating people. Admitting that a small percentage of local party leaders and workers have become greedy in Jangalmahal, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee had said that action was taken against them and urged people not to turn towards an opposition party out of anger. In a state with a volatile political history, Purulia has been largely free of poll-related violence. But the 2018 panchayat elections, in which the BJP emerged as the new opposition to the TMC, changed the scenario. At least 12 people were killed in the violence. While the TMC won 234 seats in panchayat samitis in Purulia, the BJP bagged 142 seats, leaving the Congress with 33 and the Left with 25 seats as distant third and fourth place holders. In the gram panchayats in the three-tier election, the TMC won 838 seats, the BJP 644, the Left 178 and the Congress 150. The BJP, with its RSS and Bajrang Dal wings, appears to have made inroads among the indigenous people. The TMC leadership also seems worried as a section of the influential Mahato community is inclining towards the BJP, party workers said. The BJP, which came fourth in the 2014 general elections, is the biggest challenger to the TMC in Purulia. The seat was with the Forward Bloc since 1977 till 2014 when TMC's Mriganka Mahato defeated the Left party in a wave for the Mamata Banerjee-led party. The TMC won 34 of 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in the last general elections. With Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressing a rally in Purulia, the party's candidate Nepal Mahato did get a boost but the party doesn't stand much a chance of now, political observers and villagers said. According to BJP candidate Jyotirmoy Mahato, "People are not with the TMC. They only have goons in their fold. The general public will resist if they try to loot votes." He claimed the Left has been wiped out from Purulia and most of their supporters have joined the BJP. AIFB contestant Bir Singh Mahato, who has been a four-time MP from the seat, said the so-called BJP wave has been artificially created. "It has no proper leader in the constituency and its supporters have been left directionless, though the party had won quite a good number of seats in the panchayat elections," he said. TMC candidate Mriganka Mahato said he expects a better fight from the Left which has a support base all over the constituency. The BJP and the Congress, he claimed, have only some pockets of influence. "The BJP is using religion to divert the attention of people from the basic requirements of job, food and development, which it could not provide in the last five years," he said.

BJP emerges as force to reckon with in West Bengal's Purulia

"I condemn the allegations. I have never discussed anything related to my candidature with my son," Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) West Delhi candidate Balbir Singh Jakhar said on Saturday after his son Uday Jakhar levelled charges of "cash-for-ticket" against him.

"He stays at his maternal parents` home from the time of his birth and I divorced my wife in 2009. She stayed with me only for 6-7 months. His custody was granted to my wife after the divorce. I condemn the allegations. I have never discussed with my son anything about my candidature. I speak to him very rarely," Balbir told media persons, a day before New Delhi is slated to vote in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

AAP candidate's comments came after his son accused him of giving AAP chief and Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai Rs 6 crore in exchange of the West Delhi ticket.

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Balbir Singh Jakhar, AAP candidate from West Delhi: He stays at his maternal parents' home from the time of his birth and I divorced my wife in 2009. She stayed with me for only 6-7 months. His custody was granted to my wife after the divorce. <a href="https://t.co/hHbhXq0Gxr">https://t.co/hHbhXq0Gxr</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1127157894477168646?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"Six crore rupees were given to Arvind Kejriwal and Gopal Rai by my father in exchange of the West Delhi ticket. He joined politics in January and prior to that, he had no experience in the political arena. I have credible evidence that he gave 6 crores to fight from this ticket," Uday said.

Claiming that his father tried to bail out former Congress leader and 1984 anti-Sikh riots accused Sajjan Kumar, he said, "He refused to give me money for my education and said that he would use it for his political endeavours. He was ready to use that money to give bail to Yashpal Singh and Sajjan Kumar, accused and convicts in 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He was ready to fight a case for them. He personally told me this."

Delhi, where 7 Lok Sabha seats are at stake, will go to poll on May 12.&nbsp;

"I condemn the allegations. I have never discussed anything related to my candidature with my son," Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) West Delhi candidate Balbir Singh Jakhar said on Saturday after his son Uday Jakhar levelled charges of "cash-for-ticket" against him.

"I condemn the allegations. I have never discussed anything related to my candidature with my son," Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) West Delhi candidate Balbir Singh Jakhar said on Saturday after his son Uday Jakhar levelled charges of "cash-for-ticket" against him. "He stays at his maternal parents` home from the time of his birth and I divorced my wife in 2009. She stayed with me only for 6-7 months. His custody was granted to my wife after the divorce. I condemn the allegations. I have never discussed with my son anything about my candidature. I speak to him very rarely," Balbir told media persons, a day before New Delhi is slated to vote in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. AAP candidate's comments came after his son accused him of giving AAP chief and Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai Rs 6 crore in exchange of the West Delhi ticket. Balbir Singh Jakhar, AAP candidate from West Delhi: He stays at his maternal parents' home from the time of his birth and I divorced my wife in 2009. She stayed with me for only 6-7 months. His custody was granted to my wife after the divorce. https://t.co/hHbhXq0Gxr — ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2019 × "Six crore rupees were given to Arvind Kejriwal and Gopal Rai by my father in exchange of the West Delhi ticket. He joined politics in January and prior to that, he had no experience in the political arena. I have credible evidence that he gave 6 crores to fight from this ticket," Uday said. Claiming that his father tried to bail out former Congress leader and 1984 anti-Sikh riots accused Sajjan Kumar, he said, "He refused to give me money for my education and said that he would use it for his political endeavours. He was ready to use that money to give bail to Yashpal Singh and Sajjan Kumar, accused and convicts in 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He was ready to fight a case for them. He personally told me this." Delhi, where 7 Lok Sabha seats are at stake, will go to poll on May 12.

AAP candidate Balbir Singh Jakhar refutes 'cash-for-ticket' allegations by son

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India was able to successfully carry out nuclear test - Operation Shakti - over two decades ago on this very day because the government was courageous enough to undertake such a task.&nbsp;

Other governments didn't have similar courage, Modi said&nbsp;while addressing an election rally in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. &nbsp;

"You can achieve this only if your priority is national security. Only then can you have the courage to take a decision for a nuclear test," he added.&nbsp;

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PM in Sonbhadra: 21 yrs back on this day, India successfully carried out nuclear test - operation Shakti. I salute scientists who brought laurels to the country with hardwork. This historical incident in 1998 proves what a strong political willpower can do for national security. <a href="https://t.co/Fl0eSzMDPV">pic.twitter.com/Fl0eSzMDPV</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1127151551636754432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"I salute the scientists who brought laurels to the country with their hard work. This historical incident in 1998 proves what strong political willpower can do for national security," PM Modi said.&nbsp;

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PM Modi in Sonbhadra: India always had such ability but govts prior to Vajpayee govt didn't have courage to take such decision. You can achieve this only if your priority is national security. Only then can you have courage to take a decision for nuclear test. <a href="https://t.co/RnfJa1P2xw">https://t.co/RnfJa1P2xw</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1127151705097940992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"India always had such an ability but the governments prior to the Vajpayee government didn't have the courage to take such a decision," he noted.

Slamming the opposition, the prime minister said that they were only interested in "asking what is the caste of Modi".

"Modi has only one caste - the caste which all the poor of this country belong to. Those who consider themselves poor, I belong to their caste," he added.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India was able to successfully carry out nuclear test - Operation Shakti - over two decades ago on this very day because the government was courageous enough to undertake such a task.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India was able to successfully carry out nuclear test - Operation Shakti - over two decades ago on this very day because the government was courageous enough to undertake such a task. Other governments didn't have similar courage, Modi said while addressing an election rally in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. "You can achieve this only if your priority is national security. Only then can you have the courage to take a decision for a nuclear test," he added. PM in Sonbhadra: 21 yrs back on this day, India successfully carried out nuclear test - operation Shakti. I salute scientists who brought laurels to the country with hardwork. This historical incident in 1998 proves what a strong political willpower can do for national security. pic.twitter.com/Fl0eSzMDPV — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 11, 2019 × "I salute the scientists who brought laurels to the country with their hard work. This historical incident in 1998 proves what strong political willpower can do for national security," PM Modi said. PM Modi in Sonbhadra: India always had such ability but govts prior to Vajpayee govt didn't have courage to take such decision. You can achieve this only if your priority is national security. Only then can you have courage to take a decision for nuclear test. https://t.co/RnfJa1P2xw — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 11, 2019 × "India always had such an ability but the governments prior to the Vajpayee government didn't have the courage to take such a decision," he noted. Slamming the opposition, the prime minister said that they were only interested in "asking what is the caste of Modi". "Modi has only one caste - the caste which all the poor of this country belong to. Those who consider themselves poor, I belong to their caste," he added.

Vajpayee govt conducted nuclear tests 20 years ago, other governments never had similar courage: PM Modi 

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/uttar-pradesh-yogi-adityanath-terms-sp-congress-as-supporters-of-terrorists-217652">Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath</a> Saturday tore into the SP-BSP alliance by likening <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/phase-6-polls-akhilesh-yadav-maneka-gandhi-among-key-candidates-in-uttar-pradesh-217752">SP chief Akhilesh Yadav</a> to Aurangzeb, who had imprisoned his father emperor Shahjahan.

He said the "'mahamilawatis' are behaving like snakes, frogs and scorpions who come together during floods.

In a tweet in Hindi, the chief minister said, "The one who dethroned his father, like Aurangzeb, joined hands with the sworn enemy. After May 23, they will again abuse each other. These 'mahamilavati' people are behaving today like scorpions, frogs and snakes which come together during floods."

Adityanath, who addressed an election meeting in Ballia on Saturday, said in another tweet, "When I and (Narendra) Modiji put a lock on the shops of 'Bua' (Mayawati) and 'Babua' (Akhilesh), they opened another counter to sell 'mahamilavati' goods and cheat the people.

"This counter will also be closed by the people on May 23 and they will again abuse each other. So do not waste your votes. Think, understand and get involved in the setting up a new and strong India."

Adityanath had earlier called Akhilesh 'goondon ka sartaj' (king of goons) and has often accused him of taking development works and extending basic facilities on caste and communal lines.&nbsp;

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Saturday tore into the SP-BSP alliance by likening SP chief Akhilesh Yadav to Aurangzeb, who had imprisoned his father emperor Shahjahan.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Saturday tore into the SP-BSP alliance by likening SP chief Akhilesh Yadav to Aurangzeb, who had imprisoned his father emperor Shahjahan. He said the "'mahamilawatis' are behaving like snakes, frogs and scorpions who come together during floods. In a tweet in Hindi, the chief minister said, "The one who dethroned his father, like Aurangzeb, joined hands with the sworn enemy. After May 23, they will again abuse each other. These 'mahamilavati' people are behaving today like scorpions, frogs and snakes which come together during floods." Adityanath, who addressed an election meeting in Ballia on Saturday, said in another tweet, "When I and (Narendra) Modiji put a lock on the shops of 'Bua' (Mayawati) and 'Babua' (Akhilesh), they opened another counter to sell 'mahamilavati' goods and cheat the people. "This counter will also be closed by the people on May 23 and they will again abuse each other. So do not waste your votes. Think, understand and get involved in the setting up a new and strong India." Adityanath had earlier called Akhilesh 'goondon ka sartaj' (king of goons) and has often accused him of taking development works and extending basic facilities on caste and communal lines.

Yogi Adityanath likens Akhilesh to Aurangzeb, says dethroned his father

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Union minister Maneka Gandhi are among key contestants in the second-last phase of polling in 14 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

Polling will be held in Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/a-battle-of-turncoats-in-phulpur-allahabad-lok-sabha-seats-217034">Phulpur, Allahabad</a>, Ambedkarnagar, Shrawasti, Domariyaganj, Basti, Sant Kabirnagar, Lalganj, Jaunpur, Machchlishahr, Bhadohi and Azamgarh constituencies in Purvanchal region of the state.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had won 13 of these 14 constituencies in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. The only exception was Azamgarh, won then by SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav.

However, the BJP had to bite the dust in the bypolls in Phulpur and Gorakhpur constituencies last year. While, the anti-BJP alliance would like to retain its grip over both the seats, the saffron party is looking to wrest them from the opposition.

Their importance can be gauged from the fact that Gorakhpur was represented by Yogi Adityanath in Lok Sabha from 1998 to 2017 before he became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Similarly, Phulpur was won for the first time by the BJP in 2014, when Keshav Prasad Maurya emerged victorious from the seat once represented by Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister. Maurya vacated the seat after he became the deputy chief minister of the state in 2017.

The BJP had swept the 2014 polls winning 71 of the total 80 seats in the state, with two others being won by ally Apna Dal (Sonelal). The Congress won two and the SP five.

In Azamgarh this time, Akhilesh Yadav is trying to retain his father's seat against Bhojpuri film star Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirahua' of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In 2016, Akhilesh Yadav had conferred the state's prestigious Yash Bharti award on Nirahua, who says that he too was getting a good response from youth and the middle-income group in the constituency.

The SP president's decision to contest from his father's bastion is being touted as a move to consolidate the Yadav, Dalit and Muslim voters in the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh.

The constituency has a substantial population of Yadavs, Jatavs and Muslims -- the three communities which form the crux of the SP-BSP alliance in the politically crucial state.

Since 1996, only Muslims and Yadavs have won the Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat.

Azamgarh has over 17 lakh voters. Estimates say that about four lakh of them are Yadavs, three lakh Muslims and around 2.75 lakh Dalits.

Sultanpur too is seeing an interesting contest as the BJP has fielded Union minister Maneka Gandhi for the seat won by her son Varun Gandhi in 2014.

The seats appear tricky for Maneka Gandhi as BJP strategists are relying on a division of Congress and gathbandhan votes, besides possible counter-polarisation of non-Yadav and non-Jatav Dalit and OBC votes.

The party is also hoping that the Modi factor and central welfare schemes will make the voters' repose faith in the BJP yet again in the seat vacated by Maneka Gandhi's son Varun Gandhi.

The Union minister faces Chandra Bhadra Singh of the BSP and Sanjay Singh of the Congress, who was the Sultanpur MP from 2009-14.

Sanjay Singh did not contest in 2014 but fielded his wife Ameeta Singh who ended fourth.

The constituency has a total of 1,430,955 eligible voters out of which 764,314 are males and 666,641 females.

Altogether, 177 candidates are contesting in these 14 constituencies, where 2.53 crore people are eligible to vote at 16,998 polling centres.&nbsp;

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Union minister Maneka Gandhi are among key contestants in the second-last phase of polling in 14 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Union minister Maneka Gandhi are among key contestants in the second-last phase of polling in 14 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. Polling will be held in Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Phulpur, Allahabad, Ambedkarnagar, Shrawasti, Domariyaganj, Basti, Sant Kabirnagar, Lalganj, Jaunpur, Machchlishahr, Bhadohi and Azamgarh constituencies in Purvanchal region of the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party had won 13 of these 14 constituencies in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. The only exception was Azamgarh, won then by SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav. However, the BJP had to bite the dust in the bypolls in Phulpur and Gorakhpur constituencies last year. While, the anti-BJP alliance would like to retain its grip over both the seats, the saffron party is looking to wrest them from the opposition. Their importance can be gauged from the fact that Gorakhpur was represented by Yogi Adityanath in Lok Sabha from 1998 to 2017 before he became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, Phulpur was won for the first time by the BJP in 2014, when Keshav Prasad Maurya emerged victorious from the seat once represented by Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister. Maurya vacated the seat after he became the deputy chief minister of the state in 2017. The BJP had swept the 2014 polls winning 71 of the total 80 seats in the state, with two others being won by ally Apna Dal (Sonelal). The Congress won two and the SP five. In Azamgarh this time, Akhilesh Yadav is trying to retain his father's seat against Bhojpuri film star Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirahua' of the Bharatiya Janata Party. In 2016, Akhilesh Yadav had conferred the state's prestigious Yash Bharti award on Nirahua, who says that he too was getting a good response from youth and the middle-income group in the constituency. The SP president's decision to contest from his father's bastion is being touted as a move to consolidate the Yadav, Dalit and Muslim voters in the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh. The constituency has a substantial population of Yadavs, Jatavs and Muslims -- the three communities which form the crux of the SP-BSP alliance in the politically crucial state. Since 1996, only Muslims and Yadavs have won the Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat. Azamgarh has over 17 lakh voters. Estimates say that about four lakh of them are Yadavs, three lakh Muslims and around 2.75 lakh Dalits. Sultanpur too is seeing an interesting contest as the BJP has fielded Union minister Maneka Gandhi for the seat won by her son Varun Gandhi in 2014. The seats appear tricky for Maneka Gandhi as BJP strategists are relying on a division of Congress and gathbandhan votes, besides possible counter-polarisation of non-Yadav and non-Jatav Dalit and OBC votes. The party is also hoping that the Modi factor and central welfare schemes will make the voters' repose faith in the BJP yet again in the seat vacated by Maneka Gandhi's son Varun Gandhi. The Union minister faces Chandra Bhadra Singh of the BSP and Sanjay Singh of the Congress, who was the Sultanpur MP from 2009-14. Sanjay Singh did not contest in 2014 but fielded his wife Ameeta Singh who ended fourth. The constituency has a total of 1,430,955 eligible voters out of which 764,314 are males and 666,641 females. Altogether, 177 candidates are contesting in these 14 constituencies, where 2.53 crore people are eligible to vote at 16,998 polling centres.

Phase 6 polls: Akhilesh Yadav, Maneka Gandhi among key candidates in Uttar Pradesh

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/taxonomy/term/92505?page=119">Rashtriya Janata Dal </a>(RJD) leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, who is also the "grand-alliance" candidate from Vaishali, has claimed that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have been a voter from here, he (Modi) too would have voted for him."Some people are saying Modi-Modi. People are saying that if Modi would have been a voter from here, he would have voted for Raghuvansh Prasad Singh," RJD leader said on Friday while talking to ANI.

Asserting that election is a one-sided fight in favour of "grand-alliance", he said, "People have decided to vote for "mahagathbandhan". It will be wrong to say that there is a fight. It is one-sided. People from all party including good people from BJP and JDU are supporting me."

He also termed the recent decision of Central government to give reservation to the upper caste people as "dangerous". Meanwhile, NDA candidate from Vaishali, Veena Devi said that this election is a fight for the country.

''People want Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I am a local here. People know me from 18-20 years here. This election is a fight for the country," she said.

Vaishali will go to polls on May 19. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.&nbsp;

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, who is also the "grand-alliance" candidate from Vaishali, has claimed that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have been a voter from here, he (Modi) too would have voted for him.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, who is also the "grand-alliance" candidate from Vaishali, has claimed that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have been a voter from here, he (Modi) too would have voted for him."Some people are saying Modi-Modi. People are saying that if Modi would have been a voter from here, he would have voted for Raghuvansh Prasad Singh," RJD leader said on Friday while talking to ANI. Asserting that election is a one-sided fight in favour of "grand-alliance", he said, "People have decided to vote for "mahagathbandhan". It will be wrong to say that there is a fight. It is one-sided. People from all party including good people from BJP and JDU are supporting me." He also termed the recent decision of Central government to give reservation to the upper caste people as "dangerous". Meanwhile, NDA candidate from Vaishali, Veena Devi said that this election is a fight for the country. ''People want Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I am a local here. People know me from 18-20 years here. This election is a fight for the country," she said. Vaishali will go to polls on May 19. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

If Modi was a voter from here, he would have voted for me: RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh

The stage is set as the national capital goes to Lok Sabha polls on Sunday where the incumbent BJP, Delhi's ruling AAP and the Congress are locked in a fight on all seven seats.&nbsp;

The Congress is looking to bounce back after ending up at the third spot in the 2014 elections.&nbsp;

The lead up to the polls has not been without drama, with allegations and counter-allegations flying, and it had all the trappings of a soap opera that could give the daily shows a run for their money.

The high-octane poll campaigning in the national capital ended on Friday but not before it saw a plethora of stars descending here to campaign for their respective parties.

If Hema Malini and Sunny Deol provided the Bollywood quotient to the saffron party's campaign, Raj Babbar and Nagma added the star quotient to the Congress. Prakash Raj, Swara Bhaskar and Gul Panag campaigned for the AAP.

From <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/gautam-gambhir-sends-defamation-notice-to-kejriwal-sisodia-atishi-demands-unconditional-apology-217366">Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal </a>being slapped to AAP's East Delhi candidate Atishi breaking down at a press conference over "derogatory pamphlets" to BJP's Udit Raj leaving the party and joining the Congress after being denied a ticket from northwest Delhi, the last two months been quite eventful and have kept everyone on their toes.&nbsp;

The seven seats will see 164 candidates battling it out of which 18 are women. Prominent among them are former chief minister Sheila Dikshit from northeast Delhi, BJP's incumbent MP Meenakshi Lekhi, who is contesting from New Delhi, and Atishi.

BJP's incumbent MP Manoj Tiwari is up against Dikshit for the Northeast Delhi seat and has already said that her entry has made the poll contest "one of the most interesting in the country". AAP's Dilip Pandey is also in the fray from the seat.

Other prominent candidates in the race include veteran Congress leader Sheila Dikshit, Olympian boxer Vijender Singh, who is making his electoral debut from South Delhi, Union minister Harsh Vardhan from Chandni Chowk, and cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir.

Voting will begin at 7 am on May 12 and it is scheduled to go on till 6 am.

The 48 hour-period from 6 pm Friday to 6 pm Sunday, known as the silence period, will also be observed as 'dry day'.

A total of 13,819 polling stations will be set up at 2,700 locations in Delhi, with one model polling station in each of the 70 assembly segments. Seventeen polling stations will be staffed only by women.

As many as 523 polling locations have been identified as critical and 60,000 personnel, including those of the Delhi Police, Home Guards and paramilitary, will be on their toes to ensure that there is no untoward incident.

The campaign got off to a slow start as alliance talks between the AAP and the Congress lingered on till the last days of nomination, but it gained momentum over the last fortnight with senior leaders drawing huge crowds at mega rallies and road shows in the national capital.

The campaign reached a crescendo in its last lap, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding a massive rally at the iconic Ramlila Maidan here, Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressing two public meetings, and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra taking out two roadshows in the city.

From trying to strike a personal chord with voters in parks at six am to holding door-to-door campaigns till late night, the candidates literally sweated it out in the oppressive heat as mercury crossed the 40-degree Celsius mark.

While the BJP's campaign revolved around the party's high-pitched nationalism narrative and the popularity of Modi, the Congress kept him in the crosshairs and sought to hard sell its minimum income guarantee scheme, Nyay.

The AAP, on the other hand, focus on the demand for full statehood for Delhi.

Candidates also tried to out-manoeuvre each other before the poll body. AAP candidates Atishi and Raghav Chadha sought rejection of nomination papers of their BJP rivals Gautam Gambhir and Ramesh Bidhuri, respectively.

Poll officers were also hard-pressed as several violations of the Model Code of Conduct were reported.

In a security breach, Kejriwal was slapped by a man during a roadshow in Moti Nagar and allegations of horse trading flew thick and fast as two AAP MLAs, Anil Bajpai and Devinder Sehrawat, crossed over to the BJP.

The campaigning also saw South Delhi BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri allegedly using a Hindi slur against Kejriwal. On a penultimate day, the AAP and the BJP sparred over a derogatory pamphlet that targeted Atishi.

The AAP alleged her rival Gautam Gambhir was behind it, a charge vehemently denied by him.

According to the summary of the electoral roll published on April 23, there are over 1.43 crore voters in Delhi, 78,73,022 male and 64,42,762 female, while 669 belong to the third gender.

While 2,54,723 voters are in the age group of 18 and 19, there is 40,532 electorate with a disability who would be provided pick up and drop facility.

Nearly 270 FIRs and daily diary (DD) entries were registered against political parties and others here till date for violation of the poll code.&nbsp;

The stage is set as the national capital goes to Lok Sabha polls on Sunday where the incumbent BJP, Delhi's ruling AAP and the Congress are locked in a fight on all seven seats.

The stage is set as the national capital goes to Lok Sabha polls on Sunday where the incumbent BJP, Delhi's ruling AAP and the Congress are locked in a fight on all seven seats. The Congress is looking to bounce back after ending up at the third spot in the 2014 elections. The lead up to the polls has not been without drama, with allegations and counter-allegations flying, and it had all the trappings of a soap opera that could give the daily shows a run for their money. The high-octane poll campaigning in the national capital ended on Friday but not before it saw a plethora of stars descending here to campaign for their respective parties. If Hema Malini and Sunny Deol provided the Bollywood quotient to the saffron party's campaign, Raj Babbar and Nagma added the star quotient to the Congress. Prakash Raj, Swara Bhaskar and Gul Panag campaigned for the AAP. From Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal being slapped to AAP's East Delhi candidate Atishi breaking down at a press conference over "derogatory pamphlets" to BJP's Udit Raj leaving the party and joining the Congress after being denied a ticket from northwest Delhi, the last two months been quite eventful and have kept everyone on their toes. The seven seats will see 164 candidates battling it out of which 18 are women. Prominent among them are former chief minister Sheila Dikshit from northeast Delhi, BJP's incumbent MP Meenakshi Lekhi, who is contesting from New Delhi, and Atishi. BJP's incumbent MP Manoj Tiwari is up against Dikshit for the Northeast Delhi seat and has already said that her entry has made the poll contest "one of the most interesting in the country". AAP's Dilip Pandey is also in the fray from the seat. Other prominent candidates in the race include veteran Congress leader Sheila Dikshit, Olympian boxer Vijender Singh, who is making his electoral debut from South Delhi, Union minister Harsh Vardhan from Chandni Chowk, and cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir. Voting will begin at 7 am on May 12 and it is scheduled to go on till 6 am. The 48 hour-period from 6 pm Friday to 6 pm Sunday, known as the silence period, will also be observed as 'dry day'. A total of 13,819 polling stations will be set up at 2,700 locations in Delhi, with one model polling station in each of the 70 assembly segments. Seventeen polling stations will be staffed only by women. As many as 523 polling locations have been identified as critical and 60,000 personnel, including those of the Delhi Police, Home Guards and paramilitary, will be on their toes to ensure that there is no untoward incident. The campaign got off to a slow start as alliance talks between the AAP and the Congress lingered on till the last days of nomination, but it gained momentum over the last fortnight with senior leaders drawing huge crowds at mega rallies and road shows in the national capital. The campaign reached a crescendo in its last lap, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding a massive rally at the iconic Ramlila Maidan here, Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressing two public meetings, and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra taking out two roadshows in the city. From trying to strike a personal chord with voters in parks at six am to holding door-to-door campaigns till late night, the candidates literally sweated it out in the oppressive heat as mercury crossed the 40-degree Celsius mark. While the BJP's campaign revolved around the party's high-pitched nationalism narrative and the popularity of Modi, the Congress kept him in the crosshairs and sought to hard sell its minimum income guarantee scheme, Nyay. The AAP, on the other hand, focus on the demand for full statehood for Delhi. Candidates also tried to out-manoeuvre each other before the poll body. AAP candidates Atishi and Raghav Chadha sought rejection of nomination papers of their BJP rivals Gautam Gambhir and Ramesh Bidhuri, respectively. Poll officers were also hard-pressed as several violations of the Model Code of Conduct were reported. In a security breach, Kejriwal was slapped by a man during a roadshow in Moti Nagar and allegations of horse trading flew thick and fast as two AAP MLAs, Anil Bajpai and Devinder Sehrawat, crossed over to the BJP. The campaigning also saw South Delhi BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri allegedly using a Hindi slur against Kejriwal. On a penultimate day, the AAP and the BJP sparred over a derogatory pamphlet that targeted Atishi. The AAP alleged her rival Gautam Gambhir was behind it, a charge vehemently denied by him. According to the summary of the electoral roll published on April 23, there are over 1.43 crore voters in Delhi, 78,73,022 male and 64,42,762 female, while 669 belong to the third gender. While 2,54,723 voters are in the age group of 18 and 19, there is 40,532 electorate with a disability who would be provided pick up and drop facility. Nearly 270 FIRs and daily diary (DD) entries were registered against political parties and others here till date for violation of the poll code.

Triangular contest in Delhi as it goes to polls on Sunday

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav Saturday accused the Congress of spreading rumours about the SP-BSP alliance and said he has faith in workers of both the parties that they will not pay heed to them.

"Recently, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/election-commission-issues-fresh-notice-to-sidhu-over-objectionable-comments-against-pm-modi-217655">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> said Samajwadi Party is assisting other parties and is not with the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/election-commission-not-strict-against-leaders-using-derogatory-language-for-women-mayawati-217721"> BSP</a> and now we have come to know that the Congress is also spreading similar rumours," Yadav told reporters here.

"I want to say the SP-BSP alliance is strong. It is my appeal to the workers of both the parties to remain alert. We have faith in SP workers, the leadership and workers of the BSP that they will pay no heed to them," he said.

The SP chief said both the BJP and the Congress were the same in spreading rumours.

Referring to the language being used by BJP leaders in electioneering, he said such words should not be used.

"Our Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says that others are the chiefs of 'goondas', but the biggest criminal of Bihar Rajan Tiwari is made to join the BJP clandestinely in Lucknow," he said.

Yadav also alleged that 'red cards' were being issued only to Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party leaders and workers and accused the BJP of conspiring to scare people against voting.

"Will red cards be issued to SP-BSP only? Is everyone in the BJP clean, is there no one with a criminal background who was issued a red card?" he asked.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav Saturday accused the Congress of spreading rumours about the SP-BSP alliance and said he has faith in workers of both the parties that they will not pay heed to them.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav Saturday accused the Congress of spreading rumours about the SP-BSP alliance and said he has faith in workers of both the parties that they will not pay heed to them. "Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Samajwadi Party is assisting other parties and is not with the BSP and now we have come to know that the Congress is also spreading similar rumours," Yadav told reporters here. "I want to say the SP-BSP alliance is strong. It is my appeal to the workers of both the parties to remain alert. We have faith in SP workers, the leadership and workers of the BSP that they will pay no heed to them," he said. The SP chief said both the BJP and the Congress were the same in spreading rumours. Referring to the language being used by BJP leaders in electioneering, he said such words should not be used. "Our Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says that others are the chiefs of 'goondas', but the biggest criminal of Bihar Rajan Tiwari is made to join the BJP clandestinely in Lucknow," he said. Yadav also alleged that 'red cards' were being issued only to Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party leaders and workers and accused the BJP of conspiring to scare people against voting. "Will red cards be issued to SP-BSP only? Is everyone in the BJP clean, is there no one with a criminal background who was issued a red card?" he asked.

Akhilesh Yadav accuses Congress of spreading rumours about SP-BSP alliance

Gorakhpur and Phulpur seats, which will vote in the last two phases of Lok Sabha polls, are again in the limelight as electoral battle intensifies in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh.

The BJP had to bite the dust in the bypolls in these constituencies last year. While, the anti-BJP alliance would like to retain its grip over both the seats, the saffron party is looking to wrest them from the opposition.

Their importance can be gauged from the fact that Gorakhpur was represented by Yogi Adityanath in Lok Sabha from 1998 to 2017, before he became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Similarly, Phulpur was won for the first time by the BJP in 2019, when Keshav Prasad Maurya emerged victorious from the seat once represented by Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister. Maurya vacated the seat after he became the deputy chief minister of the state in 2017.

However, this time, the giant killer in the Gorakhpur bypoll, Praveen Kumar Nishad, has switched over to the BJP, and he has been fielded from the Sant Kabir Nagar parliamentary constituency in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

There are 14 candidates in the fray in Phulpur, which has 19.75 lakh voters, and 10 candidates are contesting in Gorakhpur, which has 19.54 lakh voters.

The prominent candidates in Phulpur are Keshari Devi Patel from the BJP, Pandhari Yadav of the SP and Pankaj Patel of the Congress.

In Gorakhpur, the fight is mainly among Madhusudan Tripathi of the Congress, Ravindra Shyamnarayan Shukla alias Ravi Kishan of the BJP and Rambhual Nishad of the SP.

Exuding confidence that the SP candidate will retain the seat, party spokesperson Rajpal Kashyap said, "Bypolls in Phulpur, Gorakhpur and Kairana changed the narrative of UP politics... All these seats will definitely vote for mahagathbandhan whose aim is to herald a 'mahaparivartan' (grand change)."

Rebutting SP's claims, state BJP media coordinator Rakesh Tripathi said, "It was the low polling percentage which led to BJP's defeat in the bypolls. However, in the past one year, a large number of first-time voters have become with the party. I am confident that both the BJP candidates will emerge as victorious."

The opposition parties defeated the ruling BJP in three Lok Sabha bypolls last year in the state which sends 80 MPs to the Lower House of Parliament.

In the Kairana Lok Sabha by-elections in May, the BJP lost to the joint opposition candidate, RLD's Tabassum Hasan. The seat had fallen vacant following the death of the BJP candidate Mriganka Singh's father Hukum Singh.

Tabassum Hasan was supported by the Congress, the SP and the BSP.

In March, the BJP lost the Lok Sabha bypolls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur.

In the last parliamentary elections in 2014, the BJP had won 71 seats in the state, securing 42.63 per cent of the votes. BJP ally Apna Dal bagged two more.

Samajwadi Party won five seats with a vote share of 22.35 per cent. The BSP did not win any seat while securing 19.77 per cent votes. The Congress registered wins on two UP seats in 2014, bagging 7.53 per cent of the votes.

Gorakhpur and Phulpur seats, which will vote in the last two phases of Lok Sabha polls, are again in the limelight as electoral battle intensifies in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh.

Gorakhpur and Phulpur seats, which will vote in the last two phases of Lok Sabha polls, are again in the limelight as electoral battle intensifies in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. The BJP had to bite the dust in the bypolls in these constituencies last year. While, the anti-BJP alliance would like to retain its grip over both the seats, the saffron party is looking to wrest them from the opposition. Their importance can be gauged from the fact that Gorakhpur was represented by Yogi Adityanath in Lok Sabha from 1998 to 2017, before he became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, Phulpur was won for the first time by the BJP in 2019, when Keshav Prasad Maurya emerged victorious from the seat once represented by Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister. Maurya vacated the seat after he became the deputy chief minister of the state in 2017. However, this time, the giant killer in the Gorakhpur bypoll, Praveen Kumar Nishad, has switched over to the BJP, and he has been fielded from the Sant Kabir Nagar parliamentary constituency in eastern Uttar Pradesh. There are 14 candidates in the fray in Phulpur, which has 19.75 lakh voters, and 10 candidates are contesting in Gorakhpur, which has 19.54 lakh voters. The prominent candidates in Phulpur are Keshari Devi Patel from the BJP, Pandhari Yadav of the SP and Pankaj Patel of the Congress. In Gorakhpur, the fight is mainly among Madhusudan Tripathi of the Congress, Ravindra Shyamnarayan Shukla alias Ravi Kishan of the BJP and Rambhual Nishad of the SP. Exuding confidence that the SP candidate will retain the seat, party spokesperson Rajpal Kashyap said, "Bypolls in Phulpur, Gorakhpur and Kairana changed the narrative of UP politics... All these seats will definitely vote for mahagathbandhan whose aim is to herald a 'mahaparivartan' (grand change)." Rebutting SP's claims, state BJP media coordinator Rakesh Tripathi said, "It was the low polling percentage which led to BJP's defeat in the bypolls. However, in the past one year, a large number of first-time voters have become with the party. I am confident that both the BJP candidates will emerge as victorious." The opposition parties defeated the ruling BJP in three Lok Sabha bypolls last year in the state which sends 80 MPs to the Lower House of Parliament. In the Kairana Lok Sabha by-elections in May, the BJP lost to the joint opposition candidate, RLD's Tabassum Hasan. The seat had fallen vacant following the death of the BJP candidate Mriganka Singh's father Hukum Singh. Tabassum Hasan was supported by the Congress, the SP and the BSP. In March, the BJP lost the Lok Sabha bypolls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur. In the last parliamentary elections in 2014, the BJP had won 71 seats in the state, securing 42.63 per cent of the votes. BJP ally Apna Dal bagged two more. Samajwadi Party won five seats with a vote share of 22.35 per cent. The BSP did not win any seat while securing 19.77 per cent votes. The Congress registered wins on two UP seats in 2014, bagging 7.53 per cent of the votes.

Spotlight on Gorakhpur, Phulpur in last two phases of Lok Sabha polls

Continuing bitter criticism of the Congress party, BSP supremo Mayawati on Saturday alleged that the party's government in Rajasthan attempted to suppress the case of gang-rape with a Dalit woman in Alwar till elections in the state.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also lashed out at the Election Commission stating that they are not taking appropriate action against politicians using derogatory language against women.

"The Election Commission is not taking appropriate and strict action against the big and small leaders of some political parties, who are using filthy, derogatory and abusive language against women," said Mayawati told ANI.

She added that the Supreme Court should take suo-moto cognizance of such matters and give strict punishment to leaders who cross the limit so as to set an example for the future.

Accusing the Rajasthan government the gang rape of Dalit girl for political gains, she said, " The Congress government suppressed the matter of gang rape for their politics. They didn't let it come to fore till elections were over and even threatened the victim`s family. Our party had to struggle given the very little action Congress government took in the case."The BSP leader said her party believes the victim will not get justice under the Congress regime and demanded a Supreme Court inquiry along with a death penalty for culprits. "

Supreme Court should take suo-moto cognizance and hear it in a fast track manner. All accused should be given death penalty and state government, police, and administration should also be held accountable for the delay and given strict punishment," said Mayawati.

A woman was allegedly gang-raped by five men while her husband was beaten up in Thanagaji area of Alwar district in Rajasthan on April 26. A video was also shot by an alleged accused.

Without naming Bhim Army, she alleged that few organisations running in the name of Bhim Rao Ambedkar are doing politics of vested interest and are serving the BJP and Congress.

"Our workers and party members should be very careful about such organisations which are running in the name of Ambedkar movement but are not concerned with Dalits and are only worried about their bread and butter," she said.

"In Uttar Pradesh, one such organisation is running in the name of Bhim movement. This organisation sometimes serves the interest of Congress while sometimes they serve the interest of BJP. They asked for votes for Congress in Bharatpur Lok Sabha Constituency in Rajasthan and after elections went to Jaipur at the behest of BJP to raise the matter of Alwar gang rape," Mayawati said.

Continuing bitter criticism of the Congress party, BSP supremo Mayawati on Saturday alleged that the party's government in Rajasthan attempted to suppress the case of gang-rape with a Dalit woman in Alwar till elections in the state.

Continuing bitter criticism of the Congress party, BSP supremo Mayawati on Saturday alleged that the party's government in Rajasthan attempted to suppress the case of gang-rape with a Dalit woman in Alwar till elections in the state. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also lashed out at the Election Commission stating that they are not taking appropriate action against politicians using derogatory language against women. "The Election Commission is not taking appropriate and strict action against the big and small leaders of some political parties, who are using filthy, derogatory and abusive language against women," said Mayawati told ANI. She added that the Supreme Court should take suo-moto cognizance of such matters and give strict punishment to leaders who cross the limit so as to set an example for the future. Accusing the Rajasthan government the gang rape of Dalit girl for political gains, she said, " The Congress government suppressed the matter of gang rape for their politics. They didn't let it come to fore till elections were over and even threatened the victim`s family. Our party had to struggle given the very little action Congress government took in the case."The BSP leader said her party believes the victim will not get justice under the Congress regime and demanded a Supreme Court inquiry along with a death penalty for culprits. " Supreme Court should take suo-moto cognizance and hear it in a fast track manner. All accused should be given death penalty and state government, police, and administration should also be held accountable for the delay and given strict punishment," said Mayawati. A woman was allegedly gang-raped by five men while her husband was beaten up in Thanagaji area of Alwar district in Rajasthan on April 26. A video was also shot by an alleged accused. Without naming Bhim Army, she alleged that few organisations running in the name of Bhim Rao Ambedkar are doing politics of vested interest and are serving the BJP and Congress. "Our workers and party members should be very careful about such organisations which are running in the name of Ambedkar movement but are not concerned with Dalits and are only worried about their bread and butter," she said. "In Uttar Pradesh, one such organisation is running in the name of Bhim movement. This organisation sometimes serves the interest of Congress while sometimes they serve the interest of BJP. They asked for votes for Congress in Bharatpur Lok Sabha Constituency in Rajasthan and after elections went to Jaipur at the behest of BJP to raise the matter of Alwar gang rape," Mayawati said.

Election Commission not strict against leaders using derogatory language for women: Mayawati

Bharatiya Janata Party's East Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir on Saturday said he really hopes that the best candidate ends up winning the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi.

Gambhir visited Bangla Sahib gurudwara a day before Delhi is scheduled to go on polling.

"I wished that who so ever is the best candidate from the East Delhi constituency should win the election. I believe in god, and I really hope that the best candidate ends up winning the election. I am not here to boost my candidature, I really hope the best candidate wins," Gambhir told ANI.

"The type of response we have received, I really think the hard work will pay for us. I am new in politics, so I am not aware of the support one gets. The type of hard work we have put in, I think it has paid off for us, rest depends on the people. There`s one message that winning or losing will go on, but one should not stoop so low that you fail to recognise your conscience," he added.

Gambhir has been surrounded by controversy as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused him of distributing defamatory pamphlets targeting his opponent Atishi Marlena.

The AAP leader broke down while addressing a press conference on Thursday, where she along with a party colleague and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia lashed out at Gambhir.

Soon, Gambhir rubbished the allegations saying if proven guilty, he would quit politics.

He also sent a defamation notice to Atishi, Kejriwal, and Sisodia, demanding an unconditional apology for making "defamatory" comments against him.

AAP, responding to Gambhir`s notice, sent a legal notice to him and the BJP over the derogatory pamphlet.

Bharatiya Janata Party's East Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir on Saturday said he really hopes that the best candidate ends up winning the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi.

Bharatiya Janata Party's East Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir on Saturday said he really hopes that the best candidate ends up winning the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi. Gambhir visited Bangla Sahib gurudwara a day before Delhi is scheduled to go on polling. "I wished that who so ever is the best candidate from the East Delhi constituency should win the election. I believe in god, and I really hope that the best candidate ends up winning the election. I am not here to boost my candidature, I really hope the best candidate wins," Gambhir told ANI. "The type of response we have received, I really think the hard work will pay for us. I am new in politics, so I am not aware of the support one gets. The type of hard work we have put in, I think it has paid off for us, rest depends on the people. There`s one message that winning or losing will go on, but one should not stoop so low that you fail to recognise your conscience," he added. Gambhir has been surrounded by controversy as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused him of distributing defamatory pamphlets targeting his opponent Atishi Marlena. The AAP leader broke down while addressing a press conference on Thursday, where she along with a party colleague and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia lashed out at Gambhir. Soon, Gambhir rubbished the allegations saying if proven guilty, he would quit politics. He also sent a defamation notice to Atishi, Kejriwal, and Sisodia, demanding an unconditional apology for making "defamatory" comments against him. AAP, responding to Gambhir`s notice, sent a legal notice to him and the BJP over the derogatory pamphlet.

Really hope the best candidate wins Lok Sabha polls: Gautam Gambhir

With two of the seven-phased 2019 general election left to go, the Election Commission (EC) has reported countrywide confiscation of cash, gold, liquor and drugs. The haul, at the last count, is valued at over Rs 5,000 crore.&nbsp;

By the time polling concludes on May 19, this figure could go up significantly. Since the announcement of the election schedule on March 10, money has been impounded in drives by the authorities. The EC figures say that cash amounting to Rs 142 crore was seized between March 11 and 25 this year, the first 15 days of the general elections being announced.

Interestingly, what is confiscated is likely to be less than five per cent of what is being spent by candidates and parties in this general election. &nbsp;These are extremely worrying trends. The total approximate expenditure in this election — as calculated by me and now being confirmed by the news media — is Rs 50,000 crore. This is arguably the largest sum of money ever spent in an election, the American presidential polls included. Yet, there is scarcely a word on the subject by any political party or leader; a subject that poses a threat to the very fundamentals of the Republic. At the same time, leaders and candidates continue to accuse each other of bribing voters.&nbsp;

The news media, particularly TV channels, have been prominently reporting the confiscations with all the imagery at their command. Based on a survey conducted during the 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the Centre for Media Studies (CMS) had demonstrated that extravagant media coverage of the seizures heightened the expectations of the voters sky high. With more billionaires than before contesting the polls, the expectation of the money spent too has skyrocketed.

According to the Commission, with gold, silver, liquor and cash taken together at the end of the second phase, Gujarat topped with seizures worth Rs 1,000 crore, followed by Punjab and Delhi. Only a case study can tell us why Gujarat, dominated by one party, has to unleash so many lures to keep the electorate in good humour. &nbsp;

On cash confiscations alone, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka top the table. Now Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal too have joined this note-for-vote race. In Andhra Pradesh, a week before the first phase of polling on April 11, the EC had identified 116 of the 175 assembly constituencies as money guzzlers. In other states too, the Commission has shortlisted constituencies where the money is likely to play a dominant role in the elections.&nbsp;

Yet, despite EC’s expenditure observers scanning the political landscape with a fine microscope, no breakthrough in reversing this trend is evident. That so much cash, liquor, gold and silver (now even drugs) is flowing extensively in so many different directions, does not bother anyone. It is clear that the percentage of voters who are being seduced with such lures is on the increase. &nbsp;

Two major studies conducted by the CMS in 2005 and 2007 in 20 or more states, and select studies since then in every round of elections, have confirmed that the note-for-vote trend continues unabated, never mind the lip service politicians pay to wage a historic battle against corruption. The studies had indicated that cash was in distribution, irrespective of class, both in urban and the rural areas.

CMS studies on corruption over the 15 years have proved beyond any doubt that election-time expenditure of candidates is the mother of all corruption.

Without addressing this malaise, no other initiative or measure taken by the government is going to make any difference. That most — if not all — of this election money remains unaccounted, is of no concern to India’s political parties and their leaders. On the contrary, they seem to like it. &nbsp;&nbsp;

There is another, larger issue at stake here. Despite such intense campaigning by candidates and parties, whirlwind visits and public meetings of top leaders and saturation media coverage, why do contestants still have to rely on enticements and cash doles? If politicians genuinely believed that their campaigns motivated voters, they would not be throwing away money like this.

They might as well bid for votes and let the richest among them win! After all, that is where things are coming down to. It is also likely that our leaders secretly believe that money is more important than controversies, personal accusations and irrelevant rhetoric.

In this particular paradigm, it is difficult to see better sense prevail. It is also ambitious to expect an elected public representative who can strengthen democracy and represent peoples’ concerns in an effective manner. &nbsp; 
 
The 2019 Lok Sabha polls will go down as a watershed election. Quid pro quo has become the norm, with corporates and businesses becoming the major source of electoral funding.&nbsp;

Citizen or voter contribution to candidates and parties is no longer sought. The question is are we even aware of this change and its implications, or even whether this shift has taken place transparently?&nbsp;

Under the circumstances, news media can play a more positive and proactive role, making a difference to reverse the present trend, if only they are determined enough to pursue it as a strategy. But if the media itself is drowned in a conflict of interest and in an obliging mood, even that would be difficult.&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-the-note-for-vote-syndrome-2747667">original article</a>)

 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.) 
&nbsp;

With two of the seven-phased 2019 general election left to go, the Election Commission (EC) has reported countrywide confiscation of cash, gold, liquor and drugs.

With two of the seven-phased 2019 general election left to go, the Election Commission (EC) has reported countrywide confiscation of cash, gold, liquor and drugs. The haul, at the last count, is valued at over Rs 5,000 crore. By the time polling concludes on May 19, this figure could go up significantly. Since the announcement of the election schedule on March 10, money has been impounded in drives by the authorities. The EC figures say that cash amounting to Rs 142 crore was seized between March 11 and 25 this year, the first 15 days of the general elections being announced. Interestingly, what is confiscated is likely to be less than five per cent of what is being spent by candidates and parties in this general election. These are extremely worrying trends. The total approximate expenditure in this election — as calculated by me and now being confirmed by the news media — is Rs 50,000 crore. This is arguably the largest sum of money ever spent in an election, the American presidential polls included. Yet, there is scarcely a word on the subject by any political party or leader; a subject that poses a threat to the very fundamentals of the Republic. At the same time, leaders and candidates continue to accuse each other of bribing voters. The news media, particularly TV channels, have been prominently reporting the confiscations with all the imagery at their command. Based on a survey conducted during the 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the Centre for Media Studies (CMS) had demonstrated that extravagant media coverage of the seizures heightened the expectations of the voters sky high. With more billionaires than before contesting the polls, the expectation of the money spent too has skyrocketed. According to the Commission, with gold, silver, liquor and cash taken together at the end of the second phase, Gujarat topped with seizures worth Rs 1,000 crore, followed by Punjab and Delhi. Only a case study can tell us why Gujarat, dominated by one party, has to unleash so many lures to keep the electorate in good humour. On cash confiscations alone, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka top the table. Now Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal too have joined this note-for-vote race. In Andhra Pradesh, a week before the first phase of polling on April 11, the EC had identified 116 of the 175 assembly constituencies as money guzzlers. In other states too, the Commission has shortlisted constituencies where the money is likely to play a dominant role in the elections. Yet, despite EC’s expenditure observers scanning the political landscape with a fine microscope, no breakthrough in reversing this trend is evident. That so much cash, liquor, gold and silver (now even drugs) is flowing extensively in so many different directions, does not bother anyone. It is clear that the percentage of voters who are being seduced with such lures is on the increase. Two major studies conducted by the CMS in 2005 and 2007 in 20 or more states, and select studies since then in every round of elections, have confirmed that the note-for-vote trend continues unabated, never mind the lip service politicians pay to wage a historic battle against corruption. The studies had indicated that cash was in distribution, irrespective of class, both in urban and the rural areas. CMS studies on corruption over the 15 years have proved beyond any doubt that election-time expenditure of candidates is the mother of all corruption. Without addressing this malaise, no other initiative or measure taken by the government is going to make any difference. That most — if not all — of this election money remains unaccounted, is of no concern to India’s political parties and their leaders. On the contrary, they seem to like it. There is another, larger issue at stake here. Despite such intense campaigning by candidates and parties, whirlwind visits and public meetings of top leaders and saturation media coverage, why do contestants still have to rely on enticements and cash doles? If politicians genuinely believed that their campaigns motivated voters, they would not be throwing away money like this. They might as well bid for votes and let the richest among them win! After all, that is where things are coming down to. It is also likely that our leaders secretly believe that money is more important than controversies, personal accusations and irrelevant rhetoric. In this particular paradigm, it is difficult to see better sense prevail. It is also ambitious to expect an elected public representative who can strengthen democracy and represent peoples’ concerns in an effective manner. The 2019 Lok Sabha polls will go down as a watershed election. Quid pro quo has become the norm, with corporates and businesses becoming the major source of electoral funding. Citizen or voter contribution to candidates and parties is no longer sought. The question is are we even aware of this change and its implications, or even whether this shift has taken place transparently? Under the circumstances, news media can play a more positive and proactive role, making a difference to reverse the present trend, if only they are determined enough to pursue it as a strategy. But if the media itself is drowned in a conflict of interest and in an obliging mood, even that would be difficult. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

2019 Lok Sabha polls will go down as the most expensive election in the history of democracy

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Friday said that he will send a defamation notice to Bharatiya Janata Party's East Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir.

"We are being defamed and they (BJP) are saying they will file defamation against us? We are going to send defamation notice to them today," news agency ANI quoted Sisodia as saying.

On Thursday, Gambhir's AAP rival Atishi Marlena alleged&nbsp;that pamphlets containing derogatory remarks on her as well as her family were being distributed by him at housing complexes.&nbsp;

Atishi, who was accompanied by Sisodia during a press conference, also read out the pamphlet in front of reporters following which Chief Minister Kejriwal tweeted "never imagined Gautam Gambhir to stoop so low".&nbsp;

During the conference, Atishi said, "I had welcomed Gambhir myself when he joined politics but I never imagined that he would stoop to this level in the Lok Sabha polls."

Hours after the conference, cricketer-turned-politician Gambhir sent a defamation notice to Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Atishi and demanded their unconditional apologies.

Slamming Kejriwal he also said that he would withdraw from the Lok Sabha contest if the charge was proved against him.

"I declare that if it is proven that I did it, I will withdraw my candidature right now. If not, will you&nbsp;quit politics?" he said in a tweet.

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My Challenge no.2 <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ArvindKejriwal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AtishiAAP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AtishiAAP</a> 
I declare that if its proven that I did it, I will withdraw my candidature right now. If not, will u quit politics?
— Chowkidar Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) <a href="https://twitter.com/GautamGambhir/status/1126428838588608512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Gambhir said he is "ashamed" to have him as the chief minister of Delhi.

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I feel ashamed to have a CM like <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ArvindKejriwal</a>
— Chowkidar Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) <a href="https://twitter.com/GautamGambhir/status/1126430497641361408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"I abhor your act of outraging a woman's modesty @ArvindKejriwal and that too your own colleague. And all this for winning elections? you are&nbsp;filth Mr CM and someone needs your very own Jhadu (broom) to clean ur dirty mind," Gambhir tweeted.

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I abhor your act of outraging a woman’s modesty <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ArvindKejriwal</a> and that too your own colleague. And all this for winning elections? U r filth Mr CM and someone needs ur very own झाड़ू to clean ur dirty mind.
— Chowkidar Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) <a href="https://twitter.com/GautamGambhir/status/1126428217319944192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Gambhir claimed that the "petty politics" exhibited by the AAP was the reason why people with good intentions stayed away from mainstream politics.

Delhi, where seven Lok Sabha seats are at stake will go to poll on May 12. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Friday said that he will send a defamation notice to Bharatiya Janata Party's East Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir. "We are being defamed and they (BJP) are saying they will file defamation against us?

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Friday said that he will send a defamation notice to Bharatiya Janata Party's East Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir. "We are being defamed and they (BJP) are saying they will file defamation against us? We are going to send defamation notice to them today," news agency ANI quoted Sisodia as saying. On Thursday, Gambhir's AAP rival Atishi Marlena alleged that pamphlets containing derogatory remarks on her as well as her family were being distributed by him at housing complexes. Atishi, who was accompanied by Sisodia during a press conference, also read out the pamphlet in front of reporters following which Chief Minister Kejriwal tweeted "never imagined Gautam Gambhir to stoop so low". During the conference, Atishi said, "I had welcomed Gambhir myself when he joined politics but I never imagined that he would stoop to this level in the Lok Sabha polls." Hours after the conference, cricketer-turned-politician Gambhir sent a defamation notice to Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Atishi and demanded their unconditional apologies. Slamming Kejriwal he also said that he would withdraw from the Lok Sabha contest if the charge was proved against him. "I declare that if it is proven that I did it, I will withdraw my candidature right now. If not, will you quit politics?" he said in a tweet. My Challenge no.2 @ArvindKejriwal @AtishiAAP I declare that if its proven that I did it, I will withdraw my candidature right now. If not, will u quit politics? — Chowkidar Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 9, 2019 × Gambhir said he is "ashamed" to have him as the chief minister of Delhi. I feel ashamed to have a CM like @ArvindKejriwal — Chowkidar Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 9, 2019 × "I abhor your act of outraging a woman's modesty @ArvindKejriwal and that too your own colleague. And all this for winning elections? you are filth Mr CM and someone needs your very own Jhadu (broom) to clean ur dirty mind," Gambhir tweeted. I abhor your act of outraging a woman’s modesty @ArvindKejriwal and that too your own colleague. And all this for winning elections? U r filth Mr CM and someone needs ur very own झाड़ू to clean ur dirty mind. — Chowkidar Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 9, 2019 × Gambhir claimed that the "petty politics" exhibited by the AAP was the reason why people with good intentions stayed away from mainstream politics. Delhi, where seven Lok Sabha seats are at stake will go to poll on May 12. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

Will send defamation notice to them today: Deputy CM Manish Sisodia on derogatory pamphlets distribution row

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that the Aam Aadmi Party will support "whoever will be forming the government at the Centre except for Modi ji and Amit Shah" on the promise that "Delhi will be given statehood".

Last month, the party chief had accused the Congress of unsuccessful alliance talks between the two parties, saying they tried hard but the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/aap-congress-alliance-aap-accuses-congress-of-backtracking-212277">Congress 'backtracked'</a>.

"We tried very hard to forge an alliance with the Congress. We were ready to accept their every demand for Haryana and Punjab, but still, they backtracked. We cannot do anything more, the talks of alliance with Congress are over. We know, this will help BJP, but we simply don't have any choice left," said AAP leader Gopal Rai at a press conference here.

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Delhi CM: This is the mentality of BJP, even today BJP leaders are saying the same things that were written in the pamphlet. They have filed defamation case against us after defaming us. We are sending defamation notice to Gautam Gambhir today. We will not leave this matter. <a href="https://t.co/06bD9SkuZW">https://t.co/06bD9SkuZW</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1126788103631450113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, reacting over the ongoing row involving BJP's Delhi East candidate and AAP's Atishi, Kejriwal said that "this is the mentality of BJP, even today BJP leaders are saying the same things that were written in the pamphlet".&nbsp;

"They have filed defamation case against us after defaming us. We are sending defamation notice to Gautam Gambhir today. We will not leave this matter," the Delhi CM told reporters in New Delhi today. &nbsp;

AAP candidate from Delhi East Atishi accused her BJP opponent Gautam Gambhir of circulating pamphlets with derogatory and casteist remarks against her. Gambhir has asserted that if proven guilty, he would request AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal to draft his resignation letter, which he will tender publicly.

Speaking to ANI, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/will-tender-resignation-drafted-by-kejriwal-if-proven-guilty-gautam-gambhir-217400">Gambhir said he would retire from politics the day allegations against him are proven</a>.

"If he has proof, then he must bring it today. My resignation would be written by Arvind Kejriwal and I will sign it publicly," said Gambhir.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that the Aam Aadmi Party will support "whoever will be forming the government at the Centre except for Modi ji and Amit Shah" on the promise that "Delhi will be given statehood".

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that the Aam Aadmi Party will support "whoever will be forming the government at the Centre except for Modi ji and Amit Shah" on the promise that "Delhi will be given statehood". Last month, the party chief had accused the Congress of unsuccessful alliance talks between the two parties, saying they tried hard but the Congress 'backtracked'. "We tried very hard to forge an alliance with the Congress. We were ready to accept their every demand for Haryana and Punjab, but still, they backtracked. We cannot do anything more, the talks of alliance with Congress are over. We know, this will help BJP, but we simply don't have any choice left," said AAP leader Gopal Rai at a press conference here. Delhi CM: This is the mentality of BJP, even today BJP leaders are saying the same things that were written in the pamphlet. They have filed defamation case against us after defaming us. We are sending defamation notice to Gautam Gambhir today. We will not leave this matter. https://t.co/06bD9SkuZW — ANI (@ANI) May 10, 2019 × Meanwhile, reacting over the ongoing row involving BJP's Delhi East candidate and AAP's Atishi, Kejriwal said that "this is the mentality of BJP, even today BJP leaders are saying the same things that were written in the pamphlet". "They have filed defamation case against us after defaming us. We are sending defamation notice to Gautam Gambhir today. We will not leave this matter," the Delhi CM told reporters in New Delhi today. AAP candidate from Delhi East Atishi accused her BJP opponent Gautam Gambhir of circulating pamphlets with derogatory and casteist remarks against her. Gambhir has asserted that if proven guilty, he would request AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal to draft his resignation letter, which he will tender publicly. Speaking to ANI, Gambhir said he would retire from politics the day allegations against him are proven. "If he has proof, then he must bring it today. My resignation would be written by Arvind Kejriwal and I will sign it publicly," said Gambhir.

Will support whoever forms government, except for Modi ji, on condition of full statehood to Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took a jibe at West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamta Banerjee for saying she doesn't consider him as the country's prime minister.

"If you don't consider me as a leader, I can understand. But Prime Minister's post is a constitutional post. You consider Pakistan's prime minister as PM, but India's Prime Minister is not PM for you. This is an insult to the Indian constitution," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/bjp-will-win-lok-sabha-polls-opposition-can-keep-dreaming-pm-modi-to-wion-217331">PM Modi told WION Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary</a>.

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The jibe comes days after Mamata Banerjee said in an election rally that she refused a meeting with Narendra Modi over Cyclone Fani as she does not consider him the country's prime minister.

"I do not consider him the country's prime minister, hence, I did not sit for the meeting. I do not want to be seen with him on the same platform. I will speak to the next prime minister. We can take care of the cyclone damage by ourselves. We do not need the Centre's help ahead of polls," she said in Jhargram on Monday.

At an election rally in West Bengal's Bankura, PM Modi said, "One can easily gauge the level of her anxiety hearing the language she has been using. Now she talks of stones and slaps for me... I am used to abusive language and have inculcated a power to digest all the slangs present in dictionaries around the world. But Didi is now in a frenzied condition. She is even insulting the Constitution of the country."

Modi also accused Banerjee of destroying West Bengal for "the sake of her addiction of power in the state".

"Now, she is further bent on destroying the state out of fear of losing her power. She is not bothered about 'Ma Maati Maanush' but her own benefits, the seat of power and also her relatives, nephew and extortionists," he said.

The Prime Minister also reiterated his earlier accusation that the Trinamool Congress chief neither received nor returned his calls to assess the losses inflicted by Cyclone Fani last week.

The rivalry between BJP and TMC has been the talking point in West Bengal politics with the workers of both party's clashing on several occasions. During his campaign, Modi alleged that the TMC government "made efforts to stop his rally, but failed".

&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took a jibe at West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamta Banerjee for saying she doesn't consider him as the country's prime minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took a jibe at West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamta Banerjee for saying she doesn't consider him as the country's prime minister. "If you don't consider me as a leader, I can understand. But Prime Minister's post is a constitutional post. You consider Pakistan's prime minister as PM, but India's Prime Minister is not PM for you. This is an insult to the Indian constitution," PM Modi told WION Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary. × The jibe comes days after Mamata Banerjee said in an election rally that she refused a meeting with Narendra Modi over Cyclone Fani as she does not consider him the country's prime minister. "I do not consider him the country's prime minister, hence, I did not sit for the meeting. I do not want to be seen with him on the same platform. I will speak to the next prime minister. We can take care of the cyclone damage by ourselves. We do not need the Centre's help ahead of polls," she said in Jhargram on Monday. At an election rally in West Bengal's Bankura, PM Modi said, "One can easily gauge the level of her anxiety hearing the language she has been using. Now she talks of stones and slaps for me... I am used to abusive language and have inculcated a power to digest all the slangs present in dictionaries around the world. But Didi is now in a frenzied condition. She is even insulting the Constitution of the country." Modi also accused Banerjee of destroying West Bengal for "the sake of her addiction of power in the state". "Now, she is further bent on destroying the state out of fear of losing her power. She is not bothered about 'Ma Maati Maanush' but her own benefits, the seat of power and also her relatives, nephew and extortionists," he said. The Prime Minister also reiterated his earlier accusation that the Trinamool Congress chief neither received nor returned his calls to assess the losses inflicted by Cyclone Fani last week. The rivalry between BJP and TMC has been the talking point in West Bengal politics with the workers of both party's clashing on several occasions. During his campaign, Modi alleged that the TMC government "made efforts to stop his rally, but failed".

Insult to India's Constitution: PM Modi on Mamata Banerjee's 'do not consider him PM' remark

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed concern over the sexual harassment allegations levelled against Chief Justice of India (CJI), Ranjan Gogoi. The PM said he is shocked to see the country's top position being maligned like this.

"I saw the allegations levelled against the Chief Justice of India, and the clean chit given to him by Supreme Court's in-house committee. I am seeing all this in the media because it's a secret report and I have not seen it. But I am shocked to see that even the people sitting in top position can be attacked and maligned like this," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/bjp-will-win-lok-sabha-polls-opposition-can-keep-dreaming-pm-modi-to-wion-217331">PM Modi told WION Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary</a>.

A woman staffer (an entry-level cleric), who worked at the Supreme Court, accused the CJI of sexually harassing her. An in-house committee was formed to look into the issue and it gave clean chit to CJI Gogoi, who appeared before the panel on May 1.

Sources later said that the complaint was part of a conspiracy to malign the image of the CJI. The woman staffer worked as junior court assistant for around seven weeks and during this period, had no occasion to meet the CJI, said sources. They also said that the woman never said anything about the alleged sexual harassment when she was arrested in connection with taking a bribe in the name of providing employment in the Supreme Court.

The sources further added that the conspiracy was hatched because the CJI's bench handled several high profile cases such as the Rafale case, the Ayodhya case, the case of CBI Director's appointment as also sub-judice cases such as contempt case against Congress president Rahul Gandhi and other constitutional matters which did not go well with certain quarters.

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They also questioned why the complainant is skipping participation in the procedural inquiries repeatedly. "She participated in the proceedings for three days and when she was supposed to answer the queries about an unexplained delay of more than six months, she concocted reasons to walk out," sources said.

The in-house committee led by Justice SA Bobde had on Monday given a clean chit to CJI Gogoi in the sexual harassment case. The committee also comprises Justices Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee said it found no substance in the sexual harassment allegations against the CJI.

The Bar Council of India (BCI) had earlier said that there was "something fishy" in the sexual harassment allegations levelled by her against CJI Gogoi. In a statement directed to members of legal fraternity, judges and people of the country, the BCI claimed that there was some very strong support behind the complaint against the CJI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed concern over the sexual harassment allegations levelled against Chief Justice of India (CJI), Ranjan Gogoi. The PM said he is shocked to see the country's top position being maligned like this.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed concern over the sexual harassment allegations levelled against Chief Justice of India (CJI), Ranjan Gogoi. The PM said he is shocked to see the country's top position being maligned like this. "I saw the allegations levelled against the Chief Justice of India, and the clean chit given to him by Supreme Court's in-house committee. I am seeing all this in the media because it's a secret report and I have not seen it. But I am shocked to see that even the people sitting in top position can be attacked and maligned like this," PM Modi told WION Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary. A woman staffer (an entry-level cleric), who worked at the Supreme Court, accused the CJI of sexually harassing her. An in-house committee was formed to look into the issue and it gave clean chit to CJI Gogoi, who appeared before the panel on May 1. Sources later said that the complaint was part of a conspiracy to malign the image of the CJI. The woman staffer worked as junior court assistant for around seven weeks and during this period, had no occasion to meet the CJI, said sources. They also said that the woman never said anything about the alleged sexual harassment when she was arrested in connection with taking a bribe in the name of providing employment in the Supreme Court. The sources further added that the conspiracy was hatched because the CJI's bench handled several high profile cases such as the Rafale case, the Ayodhya case, the case of CBI Director's appointment as also sub-judice cases such as contempt case against Congress president Rahul Gandhi and other constitutional matters which did not go well with certain quarters. × They also questioned why the complainant is skipping participation in the procedural inquiries repeatedly. "She participated in the proceedings for three days and when she was supposed to answer the queries about an unexplained delay of more than six months, she concocted reasons to walk out," sources said. The in-house committee led by Justice SA Bobde had on Monday given a clean chit to CJI Gogoi in the sexual harassment case. The committee also comprises Justices Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee said it found no substance in the sexual harassment allegations against the CJI. The Bar Council of India (BCI) had earlier said that there was "something fishy" in the sexual harassment allegations levelled by her against CJI Gogoi. In a statement directed to members of legal fraternity, judges and people of the country, the BCI claimed that there was some very strong support behind the complaint against the CJI.

Shocked to see CJI's image being maligned: PM Modi to WION

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the BJP will win the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with an even bigger margin than 2014.

"I assure you that the BJP is again going to form the government with an absolute majority. All the NDA constituents will emerge victorious with even bigger margins than 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The new government will be strong, and the work we have done in the last five years will speak for itself," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/insult-to-indias-constitution-pm-modi-on-mamata-banerjees-do-not-consider-him-pm-remark-217332">PM Modi told WION Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary</a>.

The Prime Minister also dismissed speculation that the BJP and NDA will need partners to form a government after the results are announced on May 23.

"I don't know what our opponents are thinking, they have full right to dream. But I have confidence that the people have decided to give more votes to the BJP. All the NDA constituents will also get more votes," he added.

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The BJP won the Lok Sabha polls in 2014, capturing 283 of the 543 seats. A Narendra Modi wave catapulted the BJP to power after 10 long years in the opposition.

This was only the second time in Independent India that an Opposition party came to power in such a manner, the earlier being the 1977 election that was held after the infamous Emergency era that brought the Janata Party to power.

The BJP came to power in 2014 for the fourth time since it was founded in 1980 after the split in the Janata Party. Its first government in 1996 lasted for merely 13 days and was dubbed 13-day wonder by the Congress.

In 1998, the next government of the BJP via the NDA route lasted 13 months while in 1999 it again came to power leading the NDA in the backdrop of the Kargil conflict with the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee projecting it as a victory over Pakistan. The largest number of 182 seats was won by BJP in this election.

&nbsp;In stark contrast, the fortunes reversed for the Congress in an unprecedented way as it saw the party's kitty dwindle from a record 415 to just 45 seats.

This year, India is witnessing a seven-phased Lok Sabha election which will end on May 19. The results will be declared on May 23.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the BJP will win the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with an even bigger margin than 2014. "I assure you that the BJP is again going to form the government with an absolute majority.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the BJP will win the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with an even bigger margin than 2014. "I assure you that the BJP is again going to form the government with an absolute majority. All the NDA constituents will emerge victorious with even bigger margins than 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The new government will be strong, and the work we have done in the last five years will speak for itself," PM Modi told WION Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary. The Prime Minister also dismissed speculation that the BJP and NDA will need partners to form a government after the results are announced on May 23. "I don't know what our opponents are thinking, they have full right to dream. But I have confidence that the people have decided to give more votes to the BJP. All the NDA constituents will also get more votes," he added. × The BJP won the Lok Sabha polls in 2014, capturing 283 of the 543 seats. A Narendra Modi wave catapulted the BJP to power after 10 long years in the opposition. This was only the second time in Independent India that an Opposition party came to power in such a manner, the earlier being the 1977 election that was held after the infamous Emergency era that brought the Janata Party to power. The BJP came to power in 2014 for the fourth time since it was founded in 1980 after the split in the Janata Party. Its first government in 1996 lasted for merely 13 days and was dubbed 13-day wonder by the Congress. In 1998, the next government of the BJP via the NDA route lasted 13 months while in 1999 it again came to power leading the NDA in the backdrop of the Kargil conflict with the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee projecting it as a victory over Pakistan. The largest number of 182 seats was won by BJP in this election. In stark contrast, the fortunes reversed for the Congress in an unprecedented way as it saw the party's kitty dwindle from a record 415 to just 45 seats. This year, India is witnessing a seven-phased Lok Sabha election which will end on May 19. The results will be declared on May 23.

BJP will win Lok Sabha polls, opposition can keep dreaming: PM Modi to WION

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/there-is-no-unity-in-mahagathbandhan-they-came-together-knowing-there-isnt-any-other-way-pm-modi-to-wion-217335">In an exclusive conversation with WION</a> Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he hopes to implement his 100-day agenda for another term if he gets re-elected.&nbsp;

"I admit that last time I had to learn a lot. We all evolved with time. I spent a lot of time learning, I was cautious but today is not the same situation. Today I am ready and confident," PM Modi said. &nbsp;

The prime minister said that he wants the government to be always prepared for a state of continuity and that is why "I never take leaves not let anyone take one. I tell them the agenda for the future way ahead" he said.&nbsp;

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Talking about terrorism and the recently conducted IAF strikes on JeM camp in Pakistan's Balakot, the prime minister said that "we must hit where terrorists are being fed and bred".&nbsp;

Taking a dig at the opposition and the various names he has been called by, PM Modi said he has a list of what all he has been called as by various leaders.&nbsp;

"It exhibits their mentality. Those who want to serve the nation are empathetic, we don't want any pedestal or any seat. I get pained as well but I have responsibilities to fulfil and that is why I gulp down that pain and have been doing so since past 20 years," the PM said. &nbsp;

PM Modi also said that his second term is going to be different as he now has an experience of five years.&nbsp;

"I just want to maintain the speed and see the country as a global player," he said.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

In an exclusive conversation with WION Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he hopes to implement his 100-day agenda for another term if he gets re-elected.

In an exclusive conversation with WION Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he hopes to implement his 100-day agenda for another term if he gets re-elected. "I admit that last time I had to learn a lot. We all evolved with time. I spent a lot of time learning, I was cautious but today is not the same situation. Today I am ready and confident," PM Modi said. The prime minister said that he wants the government to be always prepared for a state of continuity and that is why "I never take leaves not let anyone take one. I tell them the agenda for the future way ahead" he said. × Talking about terrorism and the recently conducted IAF strikes on JeM camp in Pakistan's Balakot, the prime minister said that "we must hit where terrorists are being fed and bred". Taking a dig at the opposition and the various names he has been called by, PM Modi said he has a list of what all he has been called as by various leaders. "It exhibits their mentality. Those who want to serve the nation are empathetic, we don't want any pedestal or any seat. I get pained as well but I have responsibilities to fulfil and that is why I gulp down that pain and have been doing so since past 20 years," the PM said. PM Modi also said that his second term is going to be different as he now has an experience of five years. "I just want to maintain the speed and see the country as a global player," he said.

I'm ready and confident, just want to see India as global player: PM Modi on his plan ahead

A day after AAP candidate from Delhi East Atishi accused her BJP opponent <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/gautam-gambhir-sends-defamation-notice-to-kejriwal-sisodia-atishi-demands-unconditional-apology-217366">Gautam Gambhir</a> of circulating pamphlets with derogatory and casteist remarks against her, the latter asserted that if proven guilty, he would request AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal to draft his resignation letter, which he will tender publicly.

Speaking to ANI, Gambhir said he <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/gautam-gambhir-demands-proofs-after-aaps-atishi-accuses-him-of-distributing-pamphlets-against-her-217298">would retire from politics</a> the day allegations against him are proven.

"If he has proof, then he must bring it today. My resignation would be written by Arvind Kejriwal and I will sign it publicly," said Gambhir.

"If they have proof I am ready to take retirement from politics today itself. I will take retirement on May 23 if they come with proof but what if he doesn't turn up with proof? Will he resign as Delhi Chief Minister and retire from politics?" he asked.

Gambhir went on to say that it is because of people like Kejriwal that "good" people don't enter politics.

"You know why good people avoid entering politics? It is because of people like Arvind Kejriwal. They know they have to fight people like Arvind Kejriwal who can stoop to any low just for the sake of winning elections," he said.

On Friday, Gambhir sent a defamation notice to Atishi, Kejriwal, and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, demanding an unconditional apology for making "defamatory" comments against him.

This came hours after Atishi, while addressing media in the national capital, claimed that pamphlets were being circulated with derogatory and casteist remarks against her.

"They have shown how low they can stoop. Pamphlet states that `she is a very good example of a mixed breed`," Atishi had said.

Delhi, which has seven Lok Sabha seats at stake, will go to polls on May 12. Counting of votes will take place on May 23. East Delhi constituency will witness a triangular contest between Gambhir, Atishi and Congress'&nbsp;Arvinder Singh Lovely.&nbsp;

A day after AAP candidate from Delhi East Atishi accused her BJP opponent Gautam Gambhir of circulating pamphlets with derogatory and casteist remarks against her, the latter asserted that if proven guilty, he would request AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal to draft his resignation letter, which he will tender publicly.

A day after AAP candidate from Delhi East Atishi accused her BJP opponent Gautam Gambhir of circulating pamphlets with derogatory and casteist remarks against her, the latter asserted that if proven guilty, he would request AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal to draft his resignation letter, which he will tender publicly. Speaking to ANI, Gambhir said he would retire from politics the day allegations against him are proven. "If he has proof, then he must bring it today. My resignation would be written by Arvind Kejriwal and I will sign it publicly," said Gambhir. "If they have proof I am ready to take retirement from politics today itself. I will take retirement on May 23 if they come with proof but what if he doesn't turn up with proof? Will he resign as Delhi Chief Minister and retire from politics?" he asked. Gambhir went on to say that it is because of people like Kejriwal that "good" people don't enter politics. "You know why good people avoid entering politics? It is because of people like Arvind Kejriwal. They know they have to fight people like Arvind Kejriwal who can stoop to any low just for the sake of winning elections," he said. On Friday, Gambhir sent a defamation notice to Atishi, Kejriwal, and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, demanding an unconditional apology for making "defamatory" comments against him. This came hours after Atishi, while addressing media in the national capital, claimed that pamphlets were being circulated with derogatory and casteist remarks against her. "They have shown how low they can stoop. Pamphlet states that `she is a very good example of a mixed breed`," Atishi had said. Delhi, which has seven Lok Sabha seats at stake, will go to polls on May 12. Counting of votes will take place on May 23. East Delhi constituency will witness a triangular contest between Gambhir, Atishi and Congress' Arvinder Singh Lovely.

Will tender resignation drafted by Kejriwal if proven guilty: Gautam Gambhir

The West Bengal State Commission for Protection of Child Rights ordered the arrest of BJP Diamond Harbour candidate Nilanjan Roy for allegedly molesting a minor girl. The Commission has demanded him arrested within 24 hours.&nbsp;

Elections to the Diamond Harbour constituency are scheduled to be held on May 19.&nbsp;

In a statement, the West Bengal State Commission for Protection of Child Rights said, “Taking cognizance following a complaint received by the commission in a POCSO case where the BJP candidate from the Diamond Harbour constituency in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections has been allegedly accused of sexually assaulting and outraging the modesty of a minor girl of 17 years under Falta police station, South 24 Parganas. The accused is yet to be arrested.”&nbsp;

The Commission further directed the Chief Electoral Officer to take the necessary action as per rules within 24 hours and also directed the police to arrest the alleged accused immediately under the POCSO Act, 2012. &nbsp;

The incident came to light when the Shiv Sena candidate Santosh Kumar from the same constituency wrote to the Commission seeking immediate action against the alleged accused Nilanjan Roy.&nbsp;

In his letter, Kumar stated, “The father was asked to wait outside when the minor girl was made to meet Roy to discuss the issue that had transpired earlier with other BJP supporters. Upon meeting him, it appears that instead of helping the minor girl, Roy carried out a sexual assault and harassed her”.&nbsp;

BJP candidate Roy could not be reached for comment.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, a complaint has been filed by the father of the minor girl at Falta police station. Charges under sections 354 IPC and sections 8 and 12 of the POCSO Act, 2012 have been slapped against Roy.&nbsp;

The West Bengal State Commission for Protection of Child Rights ordered the arrest of BJP Diamond Harbour candidate Nilanjan Roy for allegedly molesting a minor girl.

The West Bengal State Commission for Protection of Child Rights ordered the arrest of BJP Diamond Harbour candidate Nilanjan Roy for allegedly molesting a minor girl. The Commission has demanded him arrested within 24 hours. Elections to the Diamond Harbour constituency are scheduled to be held on May 19. In a statement, the West Bengal State Commission for Protection of Child Rights said, “Taking cognizance following a complaint received by the commission in a POCSO case where the BJP candidate from the Diamond Harbour constituency in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections has been allegedly accused of sexually assaulting and outraging the modesty of a minor girl of 17 years under Falta police station, South 24 Parganas. The accused is yet to be arrested.” The Commission further directed the Chief Electoral Officer to take the necessary action as per rules within 24 hours and also directed the police to arrest the alleged accused immediately under the POCSO Act, 2012. The incident came to light when the Shiv Sena candidate Santosh Kumar from the same constituency wrote to the Commission seeking immediate action against the alleged accused Nilanjan Roy. In his letter, Kumar stated, “The father was asked to wait outside when the minor girl was made to meet Roy to discuss the issue that had transpired earlier with other BJP supporters. Upon meeting him, it appears that instead of helping the minor girl, Roy carried out a sexual assault and harassed her”. BJP candidate Roy could not be reached for comment. Meanwhile, a complaint has been filed by the father of the minor girl at Falta police station. Charges under sections 354 IPC and sections 8 and 12 of the POCSO Act, 2012 have been slapped against Roy.

West Bengal State Commission for Protection of Child Rights orders arrest of BJP candidate for molestation 

Microphones fell silent as weeks of high-octane poll campaigning in the national capital, that had all elements of a political soap opera, ended Friday evening.

The campaigning witnessed an attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, acrimonious exchanges between the AAP and the BJP over allegations of horse-trading, rivals jabbing at one another over alleged discrepancies in affidavits and even a candidate of the ruling party in Delhi breaking down in a press conference.

As many as 164 candidates, including 18 women, are in the fray for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi which goes to polls on Sunday under the sixth phase of the general elections.

It is expected to be a three-cornered fight involving the BJP, AAP and the Congress in the seven parliamentary seats of the national capital all of which were won by the saffron party in 2014.

Prominent candidates in the fray include veteran Congress leader Sheila Dikshit, Olympian boxer Vijender Singh, Union minister Harsh Vardhan, Atishi from AAP and her BJP rival cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir.

Voting will begin at 7 am on May 12 and scheduled to go on till 6 am.

The 48 hour-period from 6 pm Friday to 6 pm Sunday, known as the silence period, will also be observed as 'dry day'.

Earlier in the day on Friday, Delhi CEO Ranbir Singh told reporters, "The campaigning will end this evening as the 48-hour silence period will kick in at 6 pm today which would stay till 6 pm on Sunday."

A total of 13,819 polling stations will be set up at 2,700 locations in Delhi, with one model polling station in each of the 70 assembly segments. Seventeen polling stations will be staffed only by women.

As many as 523 polling locations have been identified as critical, Singh said, adding, "Special paramilitary forces will be deployed there, besides webcasting and CCTV facilities. Micro-observers would also be there. We have made all arrangements for smooth polling."

Beyond Friday's 6 pm limit, no campaigning shall be allowed, including on social media, Singh said at the press conference, adding, "All print ads need to be pre-certified for publication in any newspaper."

Before the announcement of the silence period, the AAP had scheduled to hold campaigns at few places beyond 6 pm, but the party claimed those events were cancelled.

The campaign which got off to a slow start as alliance talks between the AAP and Congress lingered on till the last days of nomination, gained momentum over the last fortnight with senior leaders drawing huge crowds at mega rallies and road shows in the national capital.

It reached a crescendo in its last lap with Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding a massive rally at the iconic Ramlila Maidan here, Congress President Rahul Gandhi addressing two public meetings, while his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra taking out two road shows in the city.

The campaign also saw cine stars -- Hema Malini, Sunny Deol, Prakash Raj, Swara Bhaskar -- garnering support for the candidates.

From trying to strike a personal chord with the voters in parks at six in the morning to holding door-to-door campaigns till late night, the candidates literally sweated it out in the oppressive heat as mercury crossed the 40-degree Celsius mark.

While the BJP's campaign revolved around the party's high-pitched nationalism narrative and the popularity of Modi, the Congress kept him in the cross hairs and sought to hard sell its minimum income guarantee scheme -- Nyay.

The AAP, on the other hand, focussed on the demand for full statehood for Delhi.

Candidates also tried to out-manoeuvre each other before the poll body. AAP candidates Atishi and Raghav Chadha sought rejection of nomination papers of their BJP rivals Gautam Gambhir and Ramesh Bidhuri, respectively.

Poll officers were also hard-pressed as several Model Code of Conduct violations were reported.

In a security breach, Chief Minister Kejriwal was slapped by a man during a roadshow in Moti Nagar. Allegations of horse trading flew thick and fast as two AAP MLAs -- Anil Bajpai and Devinder Sehrawat -- crossed over to the BJP.

The campaigning also saw South Delhi BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri using a Hindi slur against Kejriwal. On a penultimate day, the AAP and the BJP sparred over a derogatory pamphlet that targeted Delhi's ruling party candidate Atishi.

The AAP alleged her rival Gautam Gambhir was behind it, a charge the former cricketer vehemently denied.

According to the summary of the electoral roll published on April 23, there are over 1.43 crore voters in Delhi -- 78,73,022 male and 64,42,762 female, while 669 belong to the third gender.

While 2,54,723 voters are in the age group of 18 and 19, there are 40,532 electorates with disability who would be provided pick up and drop facility.

As many as 2,674 complaints were found on 'cVigil' app out of which 2,057 were found to be correct. Nearly 270 FIRs and daily diary (DD) entries were registered against political parties and others here till date for violation of poll code, officials said.

The statistics surveillance team of Delhi's Chief Electoral Office, constituted to keep an eye on the expenses of political parties, has seized Rs 4.38 crore in cash and 1,411 kg of narcotics and drugs till date.

Police have registered 1,378 FIRs and arrested 1,381 people under the Excise Act. They have also seized 691 unlicensed arms and weapons, and 3,007 cartridges and explosives, a statement said, adding 1,14,482 people have been booked till date under various sections of the CrPC and the Delhi Police Act.&nbsp;

Microphones fell silent as weeks of high-octane poll campaigning in the national capital, that had all elements of a political soap opera, ended Friday evening. The campaigning witnessed an attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, acrimonious exchanges between the AAP and the BJP over allegations of horse-trading, rivals jabbing at one another over alleged discrepancies in affidavits and even a candidate of the ruling party in Delhi breaking down in a press conference.

Microphones fell silent as weeks of high-octane poll campaigning in the national capital, that had all elements of a political soap opera, ended Friday evening. The campaigning witnessed an attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, acrimonious exchanges between the AAP and the BJP over allegations of horse-trading, rivals jabbing at one another over alleged discrepancies in affidavits and even a candidate of the ruling party in Delhi breaking down in a press conference. As many as 164 candidates, including 18 women, are in the fray for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi which goes to polls on Sunday under the sixth phase of the general elections. It is expected to be a three-cornered fight involving the BJP, AAP and the Congress in the seven parliamentary seats of the national capital all of which were won by the saffron party in 2014. Prominent candidates in the fray include veteran Congress leader Sheila Dikshit, Olympian boxer Vijender Singh, Union minister Harsh Vardhan, Atishi from AAP and her BJP rival cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir. Voting will begin at 7 am on May 12 and scheduled to go on till 6 am. The 48 hour-period from 6 pm Friday to 6 pm Sunday, known as the silence period, will also be observed as 'dry day'. Earlier in the day on Friday, Delhi CEO Ranbir Singh told reporters, "The campaigning will end this evening as the 48-hour silence period will kick in at 6 pm today which would stay till 6 pm on Sunday." A total of 13,819 polling stations will be set up at 2,700 locations in Delhi, with one model polling station in each of the 70 assembly segments. Seventeen polling stations will be staffed only by women. As many as 523 polling locations have been identified as critical, Singh said, adding, "Special paramilitary forces will be deployed there, besides webcasting and CCTV facilities. Micro-observers would also be there. We have made all arrangements for smooth polling." Beyond Friday's 6 pm limit, no campaigning shall be allowed, including on social media, Singh said at the press conference, adding, "All print ads need to be pre-certified for publication in any newspaper." Before the announcement of the silence period, the AAP had scheduled to hold campaigns at few places beyond 6 pm, but the party claimed those events were cancelled. The campaign which got off to a slow start as alliance talks between the AAP and Congress lingered on till the last days of nomination, gained momentum over the last fortnight with senior leaders drawing huge crowds at mega rallies and road shows in the national capital. It reached a crescendo in its last lap with Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding a massive rally at the iconic Ramlila Maidan here, Congress President Rahul Gandhi addressing two public meetings, while his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra taking out two road shows in the city. The campaign also saw cine stars -- Hema Malini, Sunny Deol, Prakash Raj, Swara Bhaskar -- garnering support for the candidates. From trying to strike a personal chord with the voters in parks at six in the morning to holding door-to-door campaigns till late night, the candidates literally sweated it out in the oppressive heat as mercury crossed the 40-degree Celsius mark. While the BJP's campaign revolved around the party's high-pitched nationalism narrative and the popularity of Modi, the Congress kept him in the cross hairs and sought to hard sell its minimum income guarantee scheme -- Nyay. The AAP, on the other hand, focussed on the demand for full statehood for Delhi. Candidates also tried to out-manoeuvre each other before the poll body. AAP candidates Atishi and Raghav Chadha sought rejection of nomination papers of their BJP rivals Gautam Gambhir and Ramesh Bidhuri, respectively. Poll officers were also hard-pressed as several Model Code of Conduct violations were reported. In a security breach, Chief Minister Kejriwal was slapped by a man during a roadshow in Moti Nagar. Allegations of horse trading flew thick and fast as two AAP MLAs -- Anil Bajpai and Devinder Sehrawat -- crossed over to the BJP. The campaigning also saw South Delhi BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri using a Hindi slur against Kejriwal. On a penultimate day, the AAP and the BJP sparred over a derogatory pamphlet that targeted Delhi's ruling party candidate Atishi. The AAP alleged her rival Gautam Gambhir was behind it, a charge the former cricketer vehemently denied. According to the summary of the electoral roll published on April 23, there are over 1.43 crore voters in Delhi -- 78,73,022 male and 64,42,762 female, while 669 belong to the third gender. While 2,54,723 voters are in the age group of 18 and 19, there are 40,532 electorates with disability who would be provided pick up and drop facility. As many as 2,674 complaints were found on 'cVigil' app out of which 2,057 were found to be correct. Nearly 270 FIRs and daily diary (DD) entries were registered against political parties and others here till date for violation of poll code, officials said. The statistics surveillance team of Delhi's Chief Electoral Office, constituted to keep an eye on the expenses of political parties, has seized Rs 4.38 crore in cash and 1,411 kg of narcotics and drugs till date. Police have registered 1,378 FIRs and arrested 1,381 people under the Excise Act. They have also seized 691 unlicensed arms and weapons, and 3,007 cartridges and explosives, a statement said, adding 1,14,482 people have been booked till date under various sections of the CrPC and the Delhi Police Act.

High-pitched poll campaign in Delhi ends as city votes on Sunday 

Suresh, the man who slapped Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during a roadshow on May 4, expressed regret over his act.

"I don't know why I slapped him (Arvind Kejriwal). I regret it," Suresh said while talking to ANI on Thursday.

Suresh also claimed that he is not affiliated to any political party.

"I am not affiliated to any political party. Nobody asked me to do this. Police did not misbehave with me. They only said what I did was wrong," he added.

On May 4, AAP chief Kejriwal was slapped by a man (later identified as Suresh) in Moti Nagar in West Delhi while campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.

The CM had stepped on to an open jeep and was shaking hands with supporters and waving at the gathering when Suresh wearing a reddish maroon shirt climbed on to the vehicle and landed a slap on his face. AAP supporters immediately pulled him down and thrashed him.

This was not the first time that the Aam Aadmi Party convener was assaulted.

Kejriwal was also slapped in 2015 while campaigning for Delhi assembly elections and again in the same year when an autorickshaw driver slapped him during a roadshow in Delhi.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Suresh, the man who slapped Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during a roadshow on May 4, expressed regret over his act. "I don't know why I slapped him (Arvind Kejriwal).

Suresh, the man who slapped Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during a roadshow on May 4, expressed regret over his act. "I don't know why I slapped him (Arvind Kejriwal). I regret it," Suresh said while talking to ANI on Thursday. Suresh also claimed that he is not affiliated to any political party. "I am not affiliated to any political party. Nobody asked me to do this. Police did not misbehave with me. They only said what I did was wrong," he added. On May 4, AAP chief Kejriwal was slapped by a man (later identified as Suresh) in Moti Nagar in West Delhi while campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections. The CM had stepped on to an open jeep and was shaking hands with supporters and waving at the gathering when Suresh wearing a reddish maroon shirt climbed on to the vehicle and landed a slap on his face. AAP supporters immediately pulled him down and thrashed him. This was not the first time that the Aam Aadmi Party convener was assaulted. Kejriwal was also slapped in 2015 while campaigning for Delhi assembly elections and again in the same year when an autorickshaw driver slapped him during a roadshow in Delhi.

Man who attacked Delhi CM Kejriwal expresses regret; says don't know why I slapped him

Bollywood actor and BJP candidate from Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat Sunny Deol took out a roadshow on Thursday in Hari Nagar under West Delhi constituency in support of party nominee and sitting MP Parvesh Singh Verma.

Hundreds of people lined up along the road to catch a glimpse of the actor who reached the venue almost three-and-half-hours late.

Sporting an olive green shirt and blue jeans Deol started the roadshow around 5.30 pm from Hari Nagar bus depot, which passed through Jail Road in Tilak Nagar before culminating at Raja Garden.

He started the roadshow atop a truck, which carried a hand pump, and few metres from the bus depot. Later climbed atop a Range Rover along with Verma and BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa.&nbsp;

Flower petals were showered and people were busy taking snaps of the actor-turned-politician as his cavalcade passed through the area. Songs from the movie 'Border' -- starring Deol -- and his dialogues from the film 'Gadar' were played in the backdrop.

People carrying cutouts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Verma and Deol were seen walking in the crowd.&nbsp;

In the Sikh dominated seat, Deol greeted the crowd by 'Jo bole so nihaal'.

There was a massive traffic jam on both the carriageways of Jail road because of the roadshow while in Rajouri Garden, a vehicle carrying media persons and Verma supporters was stopped by police for playing loudspeaker after 10 pm and they were dispersed.

Bollywood actor and BJP candidate from Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat Sunny Deol took out a roadshow on Thursday in Hari Nagar under West Delhi constituency in support of party nominee and sitting MP Parvesh Singh Verma.

Bollywood actor and BJP candidate from Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat Sunny Deol took out a roadshow on Thursday in Hari Nagar under West Delhi constituency in support of party nominee and sitting MP Parvesh Singh Verma. Hundreds of people lined up along the road to catch a glimpse of the actor who reached the venue almost three-and-half-hours late. Sporting an olive green shirt and blue jeans Deol started the roadshow around 5.30 pm from Hari Nagar bus depot, which passed through Jail Road in Tilak Nagar before culminating at Raja Garden. He started the roadshow atop a truck, which carried a hand pump, and few metres from the bus depot. Later climbed atop a Range Rover along with Verma and BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa. Flower petals were showered and people were busy taking snaps of the actor-turned-politician as his cavalcade passed through the area. Songs from the movie 'Border' -- starring Deol -- and his dialogues from the film 'Gadar' were played in the backdrop. People carrying cutouts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Verma and Deol were seen walking in the crowd. In the Sikh dominated seat, Deol greeted the crowd by 'Jo bole so nihaal'. There was a massive traffic jam on both the carriageways of Jail road because of the roadshow while in Rajouri Garden, a vehicle carrying media persons and Verma supporters was stopped by police for playing loudspeaker after 10 pm and they were dispersed.

Sunny Deol's roadshow in West Delhi evokes massive response

West Bengal’s Maoists infested zones or the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) districts have been turned into a fortress with less than two days to go for the Lok Sabha polls here.

The largest paramilitary force – the CRPF - which was deployed in the Maoist-infested zones or Junglemahal in West Bengal was recently withdrawn by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in view of re-deployment of CRPF companies in other districts going to polls.

However, almost 80,000 jawans of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) have been deployed in the sixth phase of elections. This phase is one of the most crucial as LWE zones, comprising districts of Jungle Mahal – Jhargram, Purulia and parts of Bankura, West Midnapore and Birbhum, have not seen any Maoist movements in the last five years and the security agencies have chalked out massive plan to thwart any Maoist attempt to disrupt the poll process.

“Since the last week, we have started combing and search operations. Culverts, new roads, ambush locations have all been identified and we have started sanitizing all these areas. As many as 683 companies have been deployed in these zones and all of the 683 company commanders and ADHOC commanders have been asked to be on the field and be available on the phone at all times,” said S Raveendran, IG, CRPF, West Bengal sector.

“Our priority is safety and security of polling personnel. We have often seen either on their way to the polling station or on their way back from the polling station, they come under attack. We will ensure they are escorted safely to and fro from the polling stations in sensitive areas. As far as the security of the jawans is concerned, they have been asked to be on foot to prevent any landmine blast. Several anti-landmine and landmine assistant vehicles have also been pressed into service. Jawans in the most sensitive zones have been asked to wear the bulletproof jackets and bulletproof helmets,” added Raveendran.

In case of an eventuality, a chopper will remain stationed at Salboni CRPF camp to evacuate the injured or be pressed into service in case of an emergency.

West Bengal’s Maoists infested zones or the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) districts have been turned into a fortress with less than two days to go for the Lok Sabha polls here.

West Bengal’s Maoists infested zones or the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) districts have been turned into a fortress with less than two days to go for the Lok Sabha polls here. The largest paramilitary force – the CRPF - which was deployed in the Maoist-infested zones or Junglemahal in West Bengal was recently withdrawn by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in view of re-deployment of CRPF companies in other districts going to polls. However, almost 80,000 jawans of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) have been deployed in the sixth phase of elections. This phase is one of the most crucial as LWE zones, comprising districts of Jungle Mahal – Jhargram, Purulia and parts of Bankura, West Midnapore and Birbhum, have not seen any Maoist movements in the last five years and the security agencies have chalked out massive plan to thwart any Maoist attempt to disrupt the poll process. “Since the last week, we have started combing and search operations. Culverts, new roads, ambush locations have all been identified and we have started sanitizing all these areas. As many as 683 companies have been deployed in these zones and all of the 683 company commanders and ADHOC commanders have been asked to be on the field and be available on the phone at all times,” said S Raveendran, IG, CRPF, West Bengal sector. “Our priority is safety and security of polling personnel. We have often seen either on their way to the polling station or on their way back from the polling station, they come under attack. We will ensure they are escorted safely to and fro from the polling stations in sensitive areas. As far as the security of the jawans is concerned, they have been asked to be on foot to prevent any landmine blast. Several anti-landmine and landmine assistant vehicles have also been pressed into service. Jawans in the most sensitive zones have been asked to wear the bulletproof jackets and bulletproof helmets,” added Raveendran. In case of an eventuality, a chopper will remain stationed at Salboni CRPF camp to evacuate the injured or be pressed into service in case of an emergency.

CRPF draws massive plans to thwart Maoist attempts to disrupt poll process  

Speaking exclusively to WION, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/congress-has-lost-credibility-to-address-poverty-nitin-gadkari-217288">Union minister Nitin Gadkari</a> said that he does not harbour prime ministerial ambition and that he is confident that the BJP will form the next government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;

Gadkari also said that the NDA is not a one-man government and every minister has a voice in the decision-making process.

As the Union minister spoke on a host of other issues, he said that 2019 is not an election of regional parties as the polity is divided between the NDA and the UPA.&nbsp;

“2019 is not 1996. Most of the regional parties will take a decision after the results come out and will align with either the NDA or the UPA. The federal front has no future,” he said.

Gadkari also took on the critics on the issue of the government interfering in the work of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He told WION that the RBI is not an autonomous institution as it works within the larger umbrella of the government.&nbsp;

He added that the government has full right to advice and direct the RBI for the benefit of people.&nbsp;

“We are the elected representatives. People will come to us in case of an economic downturn, so it becomes our responsibility to set things right when required,” said Gadkari.

Gadkari also openly defended the candidature of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur who is contesting against Congress' Digvijaya Singh from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat.&nbsp;

He said that Sadhvi has been a victim of a conspiracy hatched by the Congress which had spawned the myth of Hindu terrorism. “She is innocent and will win the elections from Bhopal,” he said.

He also spoke on the farm crisis and said that it is a result of the economic policies of the Congress. He said that the agricultural sector needs a lot of innovation and needs to respond to the new global economy. On the issue subsidy, Gadkari said that subsidy is required as the farm sector is under a tremendous strain.

Downplaying the role of the RSS in the government, Gadkari said that the RSS does not interfere in the work of the government. “It is a wrong perception,” he said.

Speaking exclusively to WION, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said that he does not harbour prime ministerial ambition and that he is confident that the BJP will form the next government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking exclusively to WION, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said that he does not harbour prime ministerial ambition and that he is confident that the BJP will form the next government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gadkari also said that the NDA is not a one-man government and every minister has a voice in the decision-making process. As the Union minister spoke on a host of other issues, he said that 2019 is not an election of regional parties as the polity is divided between the NDA and the UPA. “2019 is not 1996. Most of the regional parties will take a decision after the results come out and will align with either the NDA or the UPA. The federal front has no future,” he said. Gadkari also took on the critics on the issue of the government interfering in the work of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He told WION that the RBI is not an autonomous institution as it works within the larger umbrella of the government. He added that the government has full right to advice and direct the RBI for the benefit of people. “We are the elected representatives. People will come to us in case of an economic downturn, so it becomes our responsibility to set things right when required,” said Gadkari. Gadkari also openly defended the candidature of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur who is contesting against Congress' Digvijaya Singh from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat. He said that Sadhvi has been a victim of a conspiracy hatched by the Congress which had spawned the myth of Hindu terrorism. “She is innocent and will win the elections from Bhopal,” he said. He also spoke on the farm crisis and said that it is a result of the economic policies of the Congress. He said that the agricultural sector needs a lot of innovation and needs to respond to the new global economy. On the issue subsidy, Gadkari said that subsidy is required as the farm sector is under a tremendous strain. Downplaying the role of the RSS in the government, Gadkari said that the RSS does not interfere in the work of the government. “It is a wrong perception,” he said.

We will form the next government, 2019 will not be like 1996: Nitin Gadkari to WION