<p>AIMIM chief <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/asaduddin-owaisi-dismisses-allegations-of-goondaism-confident-of-the-fourth-term-from-hyderabad-207923&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwioztS4o97hAhU48HMBHfhuDQIQFggIMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1js5mU-6vDlhumHTHpAuSj">Asaduddin Owaisi</a> said on Friday that only one month is left for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to become an ex-Prime Minister.</p>

<p>He slammed PM Modi and BJP for fielding Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur as Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal.</p>

<p>"Insha Allah only one month is left and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to become ex-Prime Minister," said Owaisi while addressing a public rally at Aurangabad on Friday.</p>

<p>"At every place Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his useless speeches has been reiterating that security issue has been resolved, terrorism has been controlled, but I ask the PM, BJP and NDA - which also includes Shiv Sena - why have they given a ticket to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur who allegedly planted a bomb near a mosque in Malegaon killing 6 innocent people and injuring hundreds," said Owaisi.</p>

<p>"Is this the proof of fight against terrorism? To give party ticket to someone who has charges of terrorism against her?" asked Owaisi.</p>

<p>Pragya Thakur is among the seven accused facing trial in Malegaon blast case. Six people were killed and a dozen others were injured after a bomb placed on a motorcycle exploded in Maharashtra`s Malegaon on September 29, 2008.</p>

<p>Owaisi further slammed the Prime Minister for <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/i-take-back-my-statement-and-apologise-for-it-sadhvi-pragya-on-her-remark-on-hemant-karkare-211889&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiq5pfMo97hAhUe6XMBHf5HD8EQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2mILc2ScvbI3nd04n2I0hb">Sadhvi`s controversial statements</a> on former Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare.</p>

<p>"How will the PM ask for votes from the people of Mumbai after Sadhvi Pragya said that Hemant Karkare died because of her curse.</p>

<p>Karkare laid down his life fighting the demon Ajmal Kasab and other terrorists from Pakistan. He has not seen who is Hindu and who is Muslim but laid down his life for Hindustan," said Owaisi adding that the "Prime Minister should now break his silence".</p>

<p>In a controversial remark, Sadhvi Pragya had said: "I called Hemant Karkare and asked him to let me go if there is no evidence (against me). He (Karkare) said that he will bring evidence but will not leave me. I told him -- You will be ruined."</p>

<p>Karkare was killed along with two other senior police officers while fighting terrorists during the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai in November 2008.BJP was quick to distance itself from Sadhvi Pragya`s statement. The party has fielded her to contest Lok Sabha election against Congress leader Digvijaya Singh from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said on Friday that only one month is left for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to become an ex-Prime Minister. He slammed PM Modi and BJP for fielding Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur as Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said on Friday that only one month is left for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to become an ex-Prime Minister. He slammed PM Modi and BJP for fielding Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur as Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal. "Insha Allah only one month is left and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to become ex-Prime Minister," said Owaisi while addressing a public rally at Aurangabad on Friday. "At every place Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his useless speeches has been reiterating that security issue has been resolved, terrorism has been controlled, but I ask the PM, BJP and NDA - which also includes Shiv Sena - why have they given a ticket to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur who allegedly planted a bomb near a mosque in Malegaon killing 6 innocent people and injuring hundreds," said Owaisi. "Is this the proof of fight against terrorism? To give party ticket to someone who has charges of terrorism against her?" asked Owaisi. Pragya Thakur is among the seven accused facing trial in Malegaon blast case. Six people were killed and a dozen others were injured after a bomb placed on a motorcycle exploded in Maharashtra`s Malegaon on September 29, 2008. Owaisi further slammed the Prime Minister for Sadhvi`s controversial statements on former Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare. "How will the PM ask for votes from the people of Mumbai after Sadhvi Pragya said that Hemant Karkare died because of her curse. Karkare laid down his life fighting the demon Ajmal Kasab and other terrorists from Pakistan. He has not seen who is Hindu and who is Muslim but laid down his life for Hindustan," said Owaisi adding that the "Prime Minister should now break his silence". In a controversial remark, Sadhvi Pragya had said: "I called Hemant Karkare and asked him to let me go if there is no evidence (against me). He (Karkare) said that he will bring evidence but will not leave me. I told him -- You will be ruined." Karkare was killed along with two other senior police officers while fighting terrorists during the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai in November 2008.BJP was quick to distance itself from Sadhvi Pragya`s statement. The party has fielded her to contest Lok Sabha election against Congress leader Digvijaya Singh from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.

After a month, PM Modi will become ex-PM: Asaduddin Owaisi

Lok Sabha polls got underway today with voters excercising their franchise in 91 constituencies nationwide.

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Voting underway in 91 constituencies

<p>As polling got underway in Telangana for the 17 Lok Sabha constituencies on Thursday, Nizamabad has become a cynosure of all eyes with a large number of candidates in the fray necessitating the deployment of as many as 12 EVMs in each booth.</p>

<p>"This is the first time in the world where elections are conducted with such a large number of candidates using (such a large number of) EVMs," said Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-lok-sabha-polls-2019-voting-underway-in-91-seats-in-first-phase-209404"><strong>Live Lok Sabha polls 2019: West Bengal sees 71.01% voter turnout till 3pm; Mizoram at 55.20%</strong></a></p>

<p>In the field are 185 candidates, including 178 farmers who jumped into the fray to support their demand for the remunerative price for turmeric and red sorghum and setting up of a Turmeric Board based in Nizamabad.</p>

<p>Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) President and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha is seeking re-election from here. Blaming the BJP, she had said it was the Centre which should take initiative for setting up the Turmeric Board.</p>

<p>While voting began at 7 a.M in other constituencies, it commenced in Nizamabad an hour later as planned due to mock polling in view of a large number of candidates in the fray and as also deployment of EVMs.</p>

<p>The sitting MP Kavitha along with her husband Anil cast her vote in Potangal village in Bodhan Assembly constituency.</p>

<p>The contesting farmers have alleged that the TRS government failed to ensure minimum support price for turmeric and red sorghum produce and in getting Turmeric Board established.</p>

<p>TRS Rajya Sabha member D Srinivas's son D Arvind is contesting as a BJP candidate while AICC Secretary Madhu Yashki Goud is in fray from Congress in Nizamabad. Elaborate arrangements have been made for the polling.</p>

<p>In view of a large number of contestants, 12 ballot units are coupled in series and attached to a control unit in inverted 'L' shape. The Election Commission is using M3 type EVMs which can support up to 24 BUs. Each BU will have 24 names.</p>

<p>In a normal situation, the EC drafts 15 to 16 engineers in a constituency, for troubleshooting, whereas for Nizamabad it has kept as many as 600 engineers, Rajat Kumar had earlier said adding one helicopter would be kept ready in case any large number of machines had to be airlifted.</p>

<p>Over 26,000 ballot Units, 2,200 control units and about 26,000 VVPATs are being used for Nizamabad constituency.&nbsp;</p>


As polling got underway in Telangana for the 17 Lok Sabha constituencies on Thursday, Nizamabad has become a cynosure of all eyes with a large number of candidates in the fray necessitating the deployment of as many as 12 EVMs in each booth.

As polling got underway in Telangana for the 17 Lok Sabha constituencies on Thursday, Nizamabad has become a cynosure of all eyes with a large number of candidates in the fray necessitating the deployment of as many as 12 EVMs in each booth. "This is the first time in the world where elections are conducted with such a large number of candidates using (such a large number of) EVMs," said Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar. Live Lok Sabha polls 2019: West Bengal sees 71.01% voter turnout till 3pm; Mizoram at 55.20% In the field are 185 candidates, including 178 farmers who jumped into the fray to support their demand for the remunerative price for turmeric and red sorghum and setting up of a Turmeric Board based in Nizamabad. Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) President and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha is seeking re-election from here. Blaming the BJP, she had said it was the Centre which should take initiative for setting up the Turmeric Board. While voting began at 7 a.M in other constituencies, it commenced in Nizamabad an hour later as planned due to mock polling in view of a large number of candidates in the fray and as also deployment of EVMs. The sitting MP Kavitha along with her husband Anil cast her vote in Potangal village in Bodhan Assembly constituency. The contesting farmers have alleged that the TRS government failed to ensure minimum support price for turmeric and red sorghum produce and in getting Turmeric Board established. TRS Rajya Sabha member D Srinivas's son D Arvind is contesting as a BJP candidate while AICC Secretary Madhu Yashki Goud is in fray from Congress in Nizamabad. Elaborate arrangements have been made for the polling. In view of a large number of contestants, 12 ballot units are coupled in series and attached to a control unit in inverted 'L' shape. The Election Commission is using M3 type EVMs which can support up to 24 BUs. Each BU will have 24 names. In a normal situation, the EC drafts 15 to 16 engineers in a constituency, for troubleshooting, whereas for Nizamabad it has kept as many as 600 engineers, Rajat Kumar had earlier said adding one helicopter would be kept ready in case any large number of machines had to be airlifted. Over 26,000 ballot Units, 2,200 control units and about 26,000 VVPATs are being used for Nizamabad constituency.

With long list of 185 candidates, Nizamabad in Telangana is cynosure of all eyes

India Election Watch: No contest in Telangana?

<p>TRS MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha on Saturday thanked people for giving her party landslide victory in the recently held Assembly elections.</p>

<p>"As you all supported Dr Sanjay in an unexpected way, I promise there will be unexpected development for this constituency," she said.</p>

<p>"The TRS government has brought many developmental schemes for everyone. We are not just satisfied with it," she said and announced that the pension amount will be increased to Rs 2,000 from Rs 1,000 from May 1.</p>

<p>She accused the Central government of being non-responsive to Telangana government's bill which mandated 12 per cent reservation for the minorities.<br />
"TRS is the only party which thinks about the problems of Telangana public," she said.</p>

<p>She also accused the BJP and the Congress of being an expert in giving fake statements.</p>

<p>"BJP says the Central government contributes Rs 800 out of Rs 1,000 in the pension given by the state government, but the fact is that Central government gives only Rs 200 out of Rs 1,000," she said.</p>

<p>Telangana will go to polls on April 11, and the counting of votes will take place on May 23.</p>


TRS MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha on Saturday thanked people for giving her party landslide victory in the recently held Assembly elections. "As you all supported Dr Sanjay in an unexpected way, I promise there will be unexpected development for this constituency," she said.

TRS MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha on Saturday thanked people for giving her party landslide victory in the recently held Assembly elections. "As you all supported Dr Sanjay in an unexpected way, I promise there will be unexpected development for this constituency," she said. "The TRS government has brought many developmental schemes for everyone. We are not just satisfied with it," she said and announced that the pension amount will be increased to Rs 2,000 from Rs 1,000 from May 1. She accused the Central government of being non-responsive to Telangana government's bill which mandated 12 per cent reservation for the minorities. "TRS is the only party which thinks about the problems of Telangana public," she said. She also accused the BJP and the Congress of being an expert in giving fake statements. "BJP says the Central government contributes Rs 800 out of Rs 1,000 in the pension given by the state government, but the fact is that Central government gives only Rs 200 out of Rs 1,000," she said. Telangana will go to polls on April 11, and the counting of votes will take place on May 23.

Lok Sabha 2019: TRS MP Kavitha thanks people for 'landslide victory' in recent Telangana polls, promises 'unexpected development'

<p>Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are all set to rope in star campaigners and senior party leaders for its election campaign in the state.</p>

<p>According to Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) spokesperson Gudur Narayan Reddy, the Congress has planned at least three public meetings to be addressed by party chief Rahul Gandhi and has urged the party to send AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi for the campaign in the state.</p>

<p>Reddy further said the list of star campaigners would be released after candidates are finalised for all constituencies in the state. "Roadshows and public meetings would be held as part of the campaign,” he added.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, BJP Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Ramchandra Rao said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have agreed to address four and six public meetings, respectively, in Telangana. Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Nirmala Sitaraman will visit Telangana in the coming days, he added.</p>

<p>Rao also said the schedule of their campaign will be announced in a day or two.</p>

<p>All 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana will go to polls in a single phase on April 11.</p>


Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are all set to rope in star campaigners and senior party leaders for its election campaign in the state.

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are all set to rope in star campaigners and senior party leaders for its election campaign in the state. According to Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) spokesperson Gudur Narayan Reddy, the Congress has planned at least three public meetings to be addressed by party chief Rahul Gandhi and has urged the party to send AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi for the campaign in the state. Reddy further said the list of star campaigners would be released after candidates are finalised for all constituencies in the state. "Roadshows and public meetings would be held as part of the campaign,” he added. Meanwhile, BJP Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Ramchandra Rao said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have agreed to address four and six public meetings, respectively, in Telangana. Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Nirmala Sitaraman will visit Telangana in the coming days, he added. Rao also said the schedule of their campaign will be announced in a day or two. All 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana will go to polls in a single phase on April 11.

Lok Sabha polls: BJP, Congress to rope in star campaigners for Telangana

<p>K. Chandrashekar Rao-led Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Thursday announced its candidates for all the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana.</p>

<p>The party has again fielded KCR's daughter K Kavitha from the Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat.</p>

<p>Besides her, Vemireddy Narasimha Reddy will contest from Nalgonda, Pasunuri Dayaker from Warangal, G Nagesh from Adilabad, Talasani Saikiran Yadav from Secunderabad, Manne Srinivas Reddy from Mahabubnagar and Puste Srikanth from Hyderabad, among others.</p>

<p>The party has also announced two names for the Legislative Council positions out of the four legislative council seats that are going to be vacated shortly.</p>

<p>The Telangana Chief Minister has picked Nalgonda MP Gutha Sukhender Reddy and Kukatpally TRS leader Kurmaiah Gari Naveen Rao for the two seats.</p>

<p>Telangana will go to polls in a single phase for all 17 Lok Sabha seats at stake on April 11.&nbsp;</p>


K. Chandrashekar Rao-led Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Thursday announced its candidates for all the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana. The party has again fielded KCR's daughter K Kavitha from the Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat.

K. Chandrashekar Rao-led Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Thursday announced its candidates for all the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana. The party has again fielded KCR's daughter K Kavitha from the Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat. Besides her, Vemireddy Narasimha Reddy will contest from Nalgonda, Pasunuri Dayaker from Warangal, G Nagesh from Adilabad, Talasani Saikiran Yadav from Secunderabad, Manne Srinivas Reddy from Mahabubnagar and Puste Srikanth from Hyderabad, among others. The party has also announced two names for the Legislative Council positions out of the four legislative council seats that are going to be vacated shortly. The Telangana Chief Minister has picked Nalgonda MP Gutha Sukhender Reddy and Kukatpally TRS leader Kurmaiah Gari Naveen Rao for the two seats. Telangana will go to polls in a single phase for all 17 Lok Sabha seats at stake on April 11.

Lok Sabha elections: TRS announces candidates for 17 seats in Telangana

<p>Taking a jibe at the BJP's 'Main Bhi Chowkidar'&nbsp;campaign ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said India wants an honest Prime Minister and not a <a href="http://cms.wionews.com/india-news/biggest-casualty-of-dynastic-politics-are-institutions-pm-modi-204458">'Chowkidar'</a>.</p>

<p>"Under your (Prime Minister's) nose terror attacks took place in Pathankot, Uri and, Pulwama. What kind of a 'Chowkidar'&nbsp;are you? India wants an honest Prime Minister, not a 'Chowkidar'," Owaisi said while addressing a rally in Hyderabad&nbsp;on Wednesday.</p>

<p>The AIMIM chief also asked why the Prime Minister was "afraid" of Swami Aseemanand.</p>

<p>"If you are really a 'Chowkidar', then announce tomorrow itself that you will appeal against the decision taken by the court to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/all-four-accused-in-samjhauta-blast-case-acquitted-204558">acquit Aseemanand in Samjhauta blast case</a>. Why are you so afraid of Aseemanand? Aseemanand, at one point of time, was associated with RSS," he said.</p>

<p>Owaisi's comments came hours after a special NIA court on Wednesday acquitted Swami Aseemanand and three others in the 2007 Samjhauta Express blast case.</p>

<p>Continuing his tirade against the Prime Minister, Owaisi said the latter "deeply follows" the ideology of RSS, an organisation which, he claimed, wants to "weaken the composite culture of India."</p>

<p>"When Narendra Modi gave his first speech in Parliament after becoming the Prime Minister, I understood that this person (Modi) has spent 25-30 years of his life with RSS and deeply follows its ideology. If you will read textbooks of RSS then you will understand that these people are against the composite culture of the country and India's secularism," Owaisi said.</p>

<p>"In his speech, Prime Minister Modi said we have come to power after 1200 years of struggle. There was one Congress MP sitting next to me at that time. He asked me what the Prime Minister was referring to. I told him (Congress MP) that he was talking about the times when the Delhi Sultanate was ruled by Muslim leaders," he added.</p>

<p>Owaisi also asserted that the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat is one that "shatters RSS` dream of ending India`s secularism.</p>

<p>"The Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat is a fearless voice and fearless identity against Hindutva. This seat shatters RSS` dream of ending India`s secularism. They (RSS) want to weaken the composite culture of India," he added.</p>

<p>Telangana will go to polls on April 11, while counting of votes will take place on May 23.&nbsp;</p>


Taking a jibe at the BJP's 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said India wants an honest Prime Minister and not a 'Chowkidar'.

Taking a jibe at the BJP's 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said India wants an honest Prime Minister and not a 'Chowkidar'. "Under your (Prime Minister's) nose terror attacks took place in Pathankot, Uri and, Pulwama. What kind of a 'Chowkidar' are you? India wants an honest Prime Minister, not a 'Chowkidar'," Owaisi said while addressing a rally in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The AIMIM chief also asked why the Prime Minister was "afraid" of Swami Aseemanand. "If you are really a 'Chowkidar', then announce tomorrow itself that you will appeal against the decision taken by the court to acquit Aseemanand in Samjhauta blast case. Why are you so afraid of Aseemanand? Aseemanand, at one point of time, was associated with RSS," he said. Owaisi's comments came hours after a special NIA court on Wednesday acquitted Swami Aseemanand and three others in the 2007 Samjhauta Express blast case. Continuing his tirade against the Prime Minister, Owaisi said the latter "deeply follows" the ideology of RSS, an organisation which, he claimed, wants to "weaken the composite culture of India." "When Narendra Modi gave his first speech in Parliament after becoming the Prime Minister, I understood that this person (Modi) has spent 25-30 years of his life with RSS and deeply follows its ideology. If you will read textbooks of RSS then you will understand that these people are against the composite culture of the country and India's secularism," Owaisi said. "In his speech, Prime Minister Modi said we have come to power after 1200 years of struggle. There was one Congress MP sitting next to me at that time. He asked me what the Prime Minister was referring to. I told him (Congress MP) that he was talking about the times when the Delhi Sultanate was ruled by Muslim leaders," he added. Owaisi also asserted that the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat is one that "shatters RSS` dream of ending India`s secularism. "The Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat is a fearless voice and fearless identity against Hindutva. This seat shatters RSS` dream of ending India`s secularism. They (RSS) want to weaken the composite culture of India," he added. Telangana will go to polls on April 11, while counting of votes will take place on May 23.

India wants an honest prime minister, not a 'chowkidar': Owaisi

<p>Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday termed leaders of BJP as 'duplicate Hindus'&nbsp;while referring to himself as a 'real Hindu'.</p>

<p>"Political parties should not decide where should Janmabhoomi stay, the matter is in the court. Are we not Hindus? We are going to temples and performing puja. Are we going to temples only after BJP says? Hindu religion says everyone should be respected. You (BJP) are duplicate Hindus and we are real Hindus. You also belong to political Hindutva," KCR said while addressing a public meeting in Nizamabad.</p>

<p>He further said that he will announce the TRS candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha election on March 21.</p>

<p>"The central governments since the last 73 years have always neglected farmers and labours. There is no water available, nothing has happened till now. Many Naxal movements have started. They have staged dramas, but not done any work. That is why I am saying federal front should come," the Telangana Chief Minister said.</p>

<p>"BJP has moulded 15 to 20 groups and the BJP leaders are abusing me in the groups. Today, the public is listening to the speeches of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. They are screaming and I want to ask who they are screaming at. Congress ruled for 65 years and BJP ruled for 11 years. If Congress could have done correct work then the country would have developed a lot."</p>

<p>KCR further claimed that Telangana is the only state in the country which is giving 24 hours power supply to farmers.</p>

<p>"If Congress comes to power, one thing is certain - they will name all the Yojanas (schemes) after Jawahar Lal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi. The schemes will come up with these names. And if BJP comes to power, they will name Yojanas after Deendayal Upadhyaya, Shyam Prasad Mukherji. The names of the schemes will change but the fate of the public will not change in the country," he said.</p>

<p>"Today in the country more than three lakh megawatts current is available, but half of the country is under darkness. Congress and BJP are not competent enough to use the available current in the country," added KCR.</p>

<p>He later went on to compare India with countries like Singapore and China.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday termed leaders of BJP as 'duplicate Hindus' while referring to himself as a 'real Hindu'. "Political parties should not decide where should Janmabhoomi stay, the matter is in the court.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday termed leaders of BJP as 'duplicate Hindus' while referring to himself as a 'real Hindu'. "Political parties should not decide where should Janmabhoomi stay, the matter is in the court. Are we not Hindus? We are going to temples and performing puja. Are we going to temples only after BJP says? Hindu religion says everyone should be respected. You (BJP) are duplicate Hindus and we are real Hindus. You also belong to political Hindutva," KCR said while addressing a public meeting in Nizamabad. He further said that he will announce the TRS candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha election on March 21. "The central governments since the last 73 years have always neglected farmers and labours. There is no water available, nothing has happened till now. Many Naxal movements have started. They have staged dramas, but not done any work. That is why I am saying federal front should come," the Telangana Chief Minister said. "BJP has moulded 15 to 20 groups and the BJP leaders are abusing me in the groups. Today, the public is listening to the speeches of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. They are screaming and I want to ask who they are screaming at. Congress ruled for 65 years and BJP ruled for 11 years. If Congress could have done correct work then the country would have developed a lot." KCR further claimed that Telangana is the only state in the country which is giving 24 hours power supply to farmers. "If Congress comes to power, one thing is certain - they will name all the Yojanas (schemes) after Jawahar Lal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi. The schemes will come up with these names. And if BJP comes to power, they will name Yojanas after Deendayal Upadhyaya, Shyam Prasad Mukherji. The names of the schemes will change but the fate of the public will not change in the country," he said. "Today in the country more than three lakh megawatts current is available, but half of the country is under darkness. Congress and BJP are not competent enough to use the available current in the country," added KCR. He later went on to compare India with countries like Singapore and China.

KCR calls BJP 'duplicate Hindus', says 'we are real Hindus'

<p>The BJP would go it alone in Telangana for the upcoming general elections and contest in all the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state, senior party leader Bandaru Dattatreya said Sunday.</p>

<p>Asserting that his party is making efforts to cross 400 Lok Sabha seats this time, the former Union minister and an MP from Secunderabad claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a corruption-free government and his image and popularity continues to rise.</p>

<p>"The BJP will independently contest in all the 17 Lok Sabha seats. The Assembly election was a totally different scenario. This is is parliamentary election and we are confident," Dattatreya, the lone BJP MP from Telangana, told reporters in Hyderabad.</p>

<p>In the December Assembly polls in Telangana, BJP managed to win only one out of 120 seats.</p>

<p>Dattatreya alleged that opposition leaders are involved in one scam or the other and they are "criticising" Modi only to garner votes of minorities.</p>

<p>Be it Congress president Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu or Telangana Chief Minister and TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao, no opposition leader can match him, he claimed.</p>

<p>According to Dattatreya, nearly 40 crore people have benefited from various welfare schemes launched by the Modi government, including around 16 crore who had benefited from the MUDRA Yojana alone.</p>

<p>"We are making efforts to cross 400 Lok Sabha seats. We are confident BJP will come to power and Modiji will again become Prime Minister," he said.</p>

<p>Dattatreya said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari will on February 5 take part in the BJP's cluster meeting of Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Malkajgiri parliamentary seats here and Amit Shah is expected to visit the state on February 13 to review the party's poll preparedness.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several central ministers are also likely to visit Telangana in the coming days, he said.</p>

<p>Dattatreya slammed the TRS government in Telangana for not implementing Central schemes including the PMJAY health insurance scheme in Telangana.</p>

<p>The Telangana government will get Rs 3,000 crore towards the 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi', under which Rs 6,000 will be transferred into bank accounts of farmers holding up to two hectares land, he said and demanded the TRS government to separately implement the Centre's scheme and its 'Rythu Bandhu' scheme.</p>

<p>Under Rythu Bandhu, an agriculture investment support scheme, the Telangana government is providing farmers Rs 4,000 per acre per season for purchase of inputs like seeds, fertilisers and pesticides, twice a year -- for rabi and kharif seasons.</p>


The BJP would go it alone in Telangana for the upcoming general elections and contest in all the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state, senior party leader Bandaru Dattatreya said Sunday.

The BJP would go it alone in Telangana for the upcoming general elections and contest in all the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state, senior party leader Bandaru Dattatreya said Sunday. Asserting that his party is making efforts to cross 400 Lok Sabha seats this time, the former Union minister and an MP from Secunderabad claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a corruption-free government and his image and popularity continues to rise. "The BJP will independently contest in all the 17 Lok Sabha seats. The Assembly election was a totally different scenario. This is is parliamentary election and we are confident," Dattatreya, the lone BJP MP from Telangana, told reporters in Hyderabad. In the December Assembly polls in Telangana, BJP managed to win only one out of 120 seats. Dattatreya alleged that opposition leaders are involved in one scam or the other and they are "criticising" Modi only to garner votes of minorities. Be it Congress president Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu or Telangana Chief Minister and TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao, no opposition leader can match him, he claimed. According to Dattatreya, nearly 40 crore people have benefited from various welfare schemes launched by the Modi government, including around 16 crore who had benefited from the MUDRA Yojana alone. "We are making efforts to cross 400 Lok Sabha seats. We are confident BJP will come to power and Modiji will again become Prime Minister," he said. Dattatreya said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari will on February 5 take part in the BJP's cluster meeting of Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Malkajgiri parliamentary seats here and Amit Shah is expected to visit the state on February 13 to review the party's poll preparedness. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several central ministers are also likely to visit Telangana in the coming days, he said. Dattatreya slammed the TRS government in Telangana for not implementing Central schemes including the PMJAY health insurance scheme in Telangana. The Telangana government will get Rs 3,000 crore towards the 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi', under which Rs 6,000 will be transferred into bank accounts of farmers holding up to two hectares land, he said and demanded the TRS government to separately implement the Centre's scheme and its 'Rythu Bandhu' scheme. Under Rythu Bandhu, an agriculture investment support scheme, the Telangana government is providing farmers Rs 4,000 per acre per season for purchase of inputs like seeds, fertilisers and pesticides, twice a year -- for rabi and kharif seasons.

BJP to go it alone in Telangana, to contest in all 17 Lok Sabha seats

<p>Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday vowed to make Telangana roads "shine like a mirror".</p>

<p>The chief minister, in a review meeting held here at Pragathi Bhavan to discuss the current condition of state roads, directed concerned officers to complete the task in the next two years.</p>

<p>The Chief Minister made it very clear that after irrigation projects, the top priority will be accorded to roads and highways.</p>

<p>He further instructed that including the newly formed village Panchayats, the entire 12,751 village Panchayats in the state should be provided with BT road facility.</p>

<p>He also directed the R&amp;B officials to assess the existing conditions of the roads in the state and prepare a plan accordingly.</p>

<p>Following the assessment, a budget will be allocated for the same.</p>

<p>The Chief Minister in the meeting underlined that several roads and bridges in the state need to be repaired.</p>

<p>He also asked his ministers to constantly monitor the progress of road repair work.</p>

<p>In the meeting, the Chief Minister also instructed the officials to immediately pay the compensation to the farmers who lost their land in the construction of Canals of Kaleswaram Project.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday vowed to make Telangana roads "shine like a mirror". The chief minister, in a review meeting held here at Pragathi Bhavan to discuss the current condition of state roads, directed concerned officers to complete the task in the next two years.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday vowed to make Telangana roads "shine like a mirror". The chief minister, in a review meeting held here at Pragathi Bhavan to discuss the current condition of state roads, directed concerned officers to complete the task in the next two years. The Chief Minister made it very clear that after irrigation projects, the top priority will be accorded to roads and highways. He further instructed that including the newly formed village Panchayats, the entire 12,751 village Panchayats in the state should be provided with BT road facility. He also directed the R&B officials to assess the existing conditions of the roads in the state and prepare a plan accordingly. Following the assessment, a budget will be allocated for the same. The Chief Minister in the meeting underlined that several roads and bridges in the state need to be repaired. He also asked his ministers to constantly monitor the progress of road repair work. In the meeting, the Chief Minister also instructed the officials to immediately pay the compensation to the farmers who lost their land in the construction of Canals of Kaleswaram Project.

KCR vows to make Telangana roads 'shine like mirror'

<p>Expressing confidence that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/trs-to-hold-talks-with-ysr-congress-on-federal-front-190677">the TRS would be a decisive force</a> at the Centre, its working president K T Rama Rao Friday claimed that neither the BJP nor the Congress were in a position to get a comfortable number of seats in the coming Lok Sabha elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Addressing a party gathering here, he said the UPA was not a position get more than 100-110 Lok Sabha seats and the ruling NDA would also not get more 150-160 seats.</p>

<p>"That means, even if the Congress and the BJP come together, they cannot reach the magic number of 273," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said the Congress, on its own or as the UPA, was not in a position to win more than 100 or 110 seats and the BJP had nothing on the ground, it was the 'Build up Jateeya (national) Party'.</p>

<p>"The NDA and the UPA both are not in a good situation. The way political developments are taking place... The day is not far when the TRS would be a decisive force, an important force, in Delhi," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Noting that the BJP lacked support on the ground, he said the party had suffered a massive defeat in the recent Telangana Assembly polls, though a host of BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah, had campaigned in the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The situation is no different nationwide. Modiji's build up is good outside... There is nothing on the ground. KCR (K Chandrashekar Rao) has been saying, the Congress and the BJP have done grave injustice to the country," Rama Rao alleged.&nbsp;</p>

<p>TRS president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has been advocating for the formation of a non-Congress, non-BJP federal front to realise the spirit of federalism and to bring about a qualitative change in politics, he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rama Rao said he met YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy as part of efforts to build the federal front because joint effort by the MPs from both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh could increase their say in getting their due from the Centre.</p>

<p>He alleged that since after the meeting, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been attacking the TRS, though it is making efforts for a qualitative change in politics and end Centre's control on the states, he alleged.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Naidu is trying to confuse the people of Andhra Pradesh by showing the BJP as an object of fear to hide his own failures, despite the TDP having been a part of the NDA government, he claimed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rama Rao, the son of Chandrasekhar Rao, was speaking at an event where Congress leader Vanteru Pratap Reddy, who contested against the TRS president in Gajwel Assembly segment in the recent polls, joined the TRS.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pratap Reddy joining the TRS could be a setback for the Congress in Gajwel.&nbsp;</p>


Addressing a party gathering here, K T Rama Rao said the UPA was not a position get more than 100-110 Lok Sabha seats and the ruling NDA would also not get more 150-160 seats.

Expressing confidence that the TRS would be a decisive force at the Centre, its working president K T Rama Rao Friday claimed that neither the BJP nor the Congress were in a position to get a comfortable number of seats in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a party gathering here, he said the UPA was not a position get more than 100-110 Lok Sabha seats and the ruling NDA would also not get more 150-160 seats. "That means, even if the Congress and the BJP come together, they cannot reach the magic number of 273," he said. He said the Congress, on its own or as the UPA, was not in a position to win more than 100 or 110 seats and the BJP had nothing on the ground, it was the 'Build up Jateeya (national) Party'. "The NDA and the UPA both are not in a good situation. The way political developments are taking place... The day is not far when the TRS would be a decisive force, an important force, in Delhi," he said. Noting that the BJP lacked support on the ground, he said the party had suffered a massive defeat in the recent Telangana Assembly polls, though a host of BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah, had campaigned in the state. "The situation is no different nationwide. Modiji's build up is good outside... There is nothing on the ground. KCR (K Chandrashekar Rao) has been saying, the Congress and the BJP have done grave injustice to the country," Rama Rao alleged. TRS president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has been advocating for the formation of a non-Congress, non-BJP federal front to realise the spirit of federalism and to bring about a qualitative change in politics, he said. Rama Rao said he met YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy as part of efforts to build the federal front because joint effort by the MPs from both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh could increase their say in getting their due from the Centre. He alleged that since after the meeting, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been attacking the TRS, though it is making efforts for a qualitative change in politics and end Centre's control on the states, he alleged. Naidu is trying to confuse the people of Andhra Pradesh by showing the BJP as an object of fear to hide his own failures, despite the TDP having been a part of the NDA government, he claimed. Rama Rao, the son of Chandrasekhar Rao, was speaking at an event where Congress leader Vanteru Pratap Reddy, who contested against the TRS president in Gajwel Assembly segment in the recent polls, joined the TRS. Pratap Reddy joining the TRS could be a setback for the Congress in Gajwel.

TRS will be decisive force at Centre: KT Rama Rao

<p>The new legislative assembly will commence its proceeding on January 17, and will continue till January 20.</p>

<p>A day prior to the commencement of the session, Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, and MLA representing Charminar constituency will take oath as Pro-tem Speaker in Raj Bhavan.</p>

<p>The oath will be administered by Governor ESL Narasimhan. On January 17, the schedule of election for the speaker will be announced and the nomination will take place.</p>

<p>On the next day (January 18), polls are slated to be held, results of which will be declared on the same day. On January 19, the governor will address a Joint Session of the Telangana Legislature and motion of thanks will be introduced on the next day.</p>

<p>On December 16, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi was elected as floor leader of the party in the Telangana Legislative Assembly.</p>

<p>The decision was taken at the AIMIM`s executive committee meeting, which was held under the leadership of party president Asaduddin Owaisi at the party headquarters in Darussalam.</p>

<p>The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) emerged victorious in the December 7 Assembly elections, bagging 88 seats in the 119-member Assembly.</p>

<p>Second in the race was Congress which achieved 19 seats, followed by the AIMIM, which won seven seats.</p>

<p>The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to win only one seat.TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao took oath as the chief minister of Telangana on December 13 and appointed his son and Siricilla MLA KT Rama Rao as the working president of the party on December 14.&nbsp;</p>


The new legislative assembly will commence its proceeding on January 17, and will continue till January 20. A day prior to the commencement of the session, Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, and MLA representing Charminar constituency will take oath as Pro-tem Speaker in Raj Bhavan.

The new legislative assembly will commence its proceeding on January 17, and will continue till January 20. A day prior to the commencement of the session, Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, and MLA representing Charminar constituency will take oath as Pro-tem Speaker in Raj Bhavan. The oath will be administered by Governor ESL Narasimhan. On January 17, the schedule of election for the speaker will be announced and the nomination will take place. On the next day (January 18), polls are slated to be held, results of which will be declared on the same day. On January 19, the governor will address a Joint Session of the Telangana Legislature and motion of thanks will be introduced on the next day. On December 16, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi was elected as floor leader of the party in the Telangana Legislative Assembly. The decision was taken at the AIMIM`s executive committee meeting, which was held under the leadership of party president Asaduddin Owaisi at the party headquarters in Darussalam. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) emerged victorious in the December 7 Assembly elections, bagging 88 seats in the 119-member Assembly. Second in the race was Congress which achieved 19 seats, followed by the AIMIM, which won seven seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to win only one seat.TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao took oath as the chief minister of Telangana on December 13 and appointed his son and Siricilla MLA KT Rama Rao as the working president of the party on December 14.

Telangana Assembly session to commence on January 17

<p>Telangana is a role model for the cause of farmers and it is at the top in Gross State Domestic Product in the country with revenue growth of 29.97 per cent for the financial year 2018-19, said the state Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday here, adding that state government would spend Rs 10 lakh crore in the agriculture sector.</p>

<p>Conducting a high-level review meeting at Pragathi Bhavan on various aspects of the food processing industry, KCR stated: "Telangana is a role model for the cause of farmers and it should be at the top among other states in the country and it is at the top in GSDP" in the country with revenue growth of 29.97 per cent for the financial year 2018-19 ."</p>

<p>Stressing that there is a need for effecting change in certain traditional habits of farmers, KCR said, "There is a need to overcome the difficulties arising out of non-availability of appropriate statistical data pertaining to food and agriculture sectors, and greater results could be achieved if farmers are brought into the organised sector. The state is required to be divided into crop colonies and the entire crop produced by farmers shall be sold on demand."</p>

<p>The Chief Minister further said that rectification and purification of land records have been done and the extent of agriculture land is identified, and now we need to ensure minimum support price for the agriculture products.</p>

<p>Highlighting the needs to educate farmers to achieve better results, KCR asserted, "Traditional habits of farmers can be changed through a cooperative model and by bringing the farmer into organised sectors."</p>

<p>KCR also outlined that the farmers of the state should grow vegetables in the urban agglomeration by next rainy season since the government is getting water under Kaleshwaram project.</p>

<p>"In the next two year, most of the irrigation project will be completed bringing more than a crore of acres under cultivation," he said.</p>

<p>"These days every product is being adulterated if we can establish a brand name to products produced through government-sponsored food processing units and create confidence among the buyers then it will yield good results," KCR added.</p>

<p>Emphasising that it is the beginning of a revolution in food processing, KCR said, "The government is ready to spend any amount of money for learning, and for successful food processing units, officers should visit foreign countries to learn the best practices."</p>


Telangana is a role model for the cause of farmers and it is at the top in Gross State Domestic Product in the country with revenue growth of 29.97 per cent for the financial year 2018-19, said the state Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday here, adding that state government would spend Rs 10 lakh crore in the agriculture sector.

Telangana is a role model for the cause of farmers and it is at the top in Gross State Domestic Product in the country with revenue growth of 29.97 per cent for the financial year 2018-19, said the state Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday here, adding that state government would spend Rs 10 lakh crore in the agriculture sector. Conducting a high-level review meeting at Pragathi Bhavan on various aspects of the food processing industry, KCR stated: "Telangana is a role model for the cause of farmers and it should be at the top among other states in the country and it is at the top in GSDP" in the country with revenue growth of 29.97 per cent for the financial year 2018-19 ." Stressing that there is a need for effecting change in certain traditional habits of farmers, KCR said, "There is a need to overcome the difficulties arising out of non-availability of appropriate statistical data pertaining to food and agriculture sectors, and greater results could be achieved if farmers are brought into the organised sector. The state is required to be divided into crop colonies and the entire crop produced by farmers shall be sold on demand." The Chief Minister further said that rectification and purification of land records have been done and the extent of agriculture land is identified, and now we need to ensure minimum support price for the agriculture products. Highlighting the needs to educate farmers to achieve better results, KCR asserted, "Traditional habits of farmers can be changed through a cooperative model and by bringing the farmer into organised sectors." KCR also outlined that the farmers of the state should grow vegetables in the urban agglomeration by next rainy season since the government is getting water under Kaleshwaram project. "In the next two year, most of the irrigation project will be completed bringing more than a crore of acres under cultivation," he said. "These days every product is being adulterated if we can establish a brand name to products produced through government-sponsored food processing units and create confidence among the buyers then it will yield good results," KCR added. Emphasising that it is the beginning of a revolution in food processing, KCR said, "The government is ready to spend any amount of money for learning, and for successful food processing units, officers should visit foreign countries to learn the best practices."

Telangana tops in GSDP with revenue growth of 29.97% for financial year 2018-19: KCR

<p>After sweeping the Assembly elections in Telangana, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) has revived his efforts for a non-Congress and non-BJP Federal Front.</p>

<p>Rao, who was instrumental in the formation of the Telangana state, has asserted that his party will play a crucial role in national politics. KCR &nbsp;has said that he intends to give a new definition to the national scenario - just like Telangana which stands a non-Congress and non-BJP state.</p>

<p>KCR's victory in the state Assembly polls was no less than a historic one, bagging 88 seats in the 119-member House.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Monday, KCR met Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. However, both Patnaik and Mamata have not committed their participation in the Federal Front yet. Hiding his visible disappointment, Rao said their dialogue will continue for an alternative front to the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliances.</p>

<p>Carrying on with his mission of creating a non-Congress Federal Front, KCR will now meet Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
On the other hand, KCR's arch-rival and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu is also running pillar to post to unite all the like-minded Opposition parties to take on the BJP in 2019 elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a significant move, Naidu dropped his 'non-Congress Third Front' plank and approached party president Rahul Gandhi to garner his support for the Grand Alliance. Putting aside over three decades of rivalry, both the leaders even addressed public meetings together as part of their campaign for just-concluded Telangana Assembly polls.</p>

<p>Mamata Banerjee, a key interlocutor among Opposition parties, too has been trying to bring anti-BJP parties under one umbrella. Naidu and Mamata have been in sync with each other to achieve their common goal - demolishing BJP. Therefore, it's unlikely that Mamata will support KCR's Federal Front (Regional Federation) over the national-level Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan).</p>

<p>Furthermore, seasoned leaders like Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah have authorised Chandrababu Naidu to speak to Opposition leaders to devise the future strategy for United Opposition. DMK chief Stalin has already proposed the Congress president's name as United Opposition's PM candidate. Naidu also has the support of Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.</p>

<p>Here is another reason which might hold back political parties from supporting KCR - the Telangana chief minister is accused of acting as team B of BJP-led NDA and trying to weaken the proposed Mahagathbandhan.</p>

<p>Moreover, after Congress's triumph in the recently held Assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi has emerged as a confident and formidable leader. It is nearly impossible for Opposition leaders to ignore the Gandhi scion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>KCR has indeed proved his mettle by leading the struggle for Telangana and forming government in the state for the second time, however, only seasoned politicians coming together on one platform - Mahagathbandhan, can put up a strong candidature against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has done some unparalleled work in the last four and a half years.<br />
<br />
<em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


After sweeping the Assembly elections in Telangana, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) has revived his efforts for a non-Congress and non-BJP Federal Front.

After sweeping the Assembly elections in Telangana, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) has revived his efforts for a non-Congress and non-BJP Federal Front. Rao, who was instrumental in the formation of the Telangana state, has asserted that his party will play a crucial role in national politics. KCR has said that he intends to give a new definition to the national scenario - just like Telangana which stands a non-Congress and non-BJP state. KCR's victory in the state Assembly polls was no less than a historic one, bagging 88 seats in the 119-member House. On Monday, KCR met Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. However, both Patnaik and Mamata have not committed their participation in the Federal Front yet. Hiding his visible disappointment, Rao said their dialogue will continue for an alternative front to the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliances. Carrying on with his mission of creating a non-Congress Federal Front, KCR will now meet Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati. On the other hand, KCR's arch-rival and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu is also running pillar to post to unite all the like-minded Opposition parties to take on the BJP in 2019 elections. In a significant move, Naidu dropped his 'non-Congress Third Front' plank and approached party president Rahul Gandhi to garner his support for the Grand Alliance. Putting aside over three decades of rivalry, both the leaders even addressed public meetings together as part of their campaign for just-concluded Telangana Assembly polls. Mamata Banerjee, a key interlocutor among Opposition parties, too has been trying to bring anti-BJP parties under one umbrella. Naidu and Mamata have been in sync with each other to achieve their common goal - demolishing BJP. Therefore, it's unlikely that Mamata will support KCR's Federal Front (Regional Federation) over the national-level Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan). Furthermore, seasoned leaders like Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah have authorised Chandrababu Naidu to speak to Opposition leaders to devise the future strategy for United Opposition. DMK chief Stalin has already proposed the Congress president's name as United Opposition's PM candidate. Naidu also has the support of Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. Here is another reason which might hold back political parties from supporting KCR - the Telangana chief minister is accused of acting as team B of BJP-led NDA and trying to weaken the proposed Mahagathbandhan. Moreover, after Congress's triumph in the recently held Assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi has emerged as a confident and formidable leader. It is nearly impossible for Opposition leaders to ignore the Gandhi scion. KCR has indeed proved his mettle by leading the struggle for Telangana and forming government in the state for the second time, however, only seasoned politicians coming together on one platform - Mahagathbandhan, can put up a strong candidature against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has done some unparalleled work in the last four and a half years. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

KCR is trying hard, but is a non-Congress Federal Front possible?

<p>Exhorting people to concentrate on the development of villages, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/assembly-election-results-2018-kcr-20-and-his-national-ambitions-183701">Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao</a> has stated that the state and the country can only develop if the villages are developed.<br />
<br />
The Chief Minister instructed concerned officers to appoint village secretary in every gram panchayat in Telangana. He said that by effectively implementing new Panchayat Raj Act, the overall picture of the villages must be changed and bettered.<br />
<br />
Rao, commonly known as KCR said that immediately after the village panchayat raj elections, programmes concerning to sanitation and environmental cleanliness in the villages must be stepped up.<br />
<br />
He held a review meeting on Sunday at Pragathi Bhavan on various aspects of panchayat raj and electoral promises made in the recent Assembly elections.<br />
<br />
As part of its efforts to strengthen the gram panchayat system, the state government has appointed 9355 new panchayat raj secretaries. This is the first of its kind recruitment process after the creation of the New Zonal system. With the appointment of new village secretaries, the Chief Minister said that every village will have village-level officers who will be made responsible for the development of the villages, greenery and sanitation programmes.<br />
<br />
In addition to the existing village secretaries along with the newly-recruited village panchayat secretaries, there will be an awareness conclave on December 27 in Hyderabad. The Chief Minister will deliver the inaugural address and make suggestions on the action plan for the development of villages.<br />
<br />
Rao also announced in the review meeting that in accordance with the electoral promises, every senior citizen on completion of 57 years will be provided with old age pensions. He has instructed Chief Secretary SK Joshi to draft modalities pertaining to this and decide on the process of identifying eligible persons for the old age pension. Rao added that once the details of beneficiaries are worked out and the number is decided, adequate budgetary provision will be made in 2019-20 budget and pension should be given with effect from April 1, 2019.<br />
<br />
The Chief Minister also instructed Revenue Principal Secretary Rajeshwar Tiwari to commence the process of formation of two more districts namely Mulugu and Narayanpet in accordance with his electoral promises made in the Assembly elections. He told the revenue secretary to initiate the process of formation of Korutla new revenue division and Ghattuppal Mandal in Nalgonda district, Mallampally Mandal in Bhupalapally district. KCR also suggested that the existing Gundala Mandal in Jangoan district should now be merged into Yadadri Bhuvangiri district.<br />
<br />
The Chief Minister further instructed the concerned officers that the Bathukamma sarees should be distributed from December 19.</p>


Exhorting people to concentrate on the development of villages, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has stated that the state and the country can only develop if the villages are developed.

Exhorting people to concentrate on the development of villages, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has stated that the state and the country can only develop if the villages are developed. The Chief Minister instructed concerned officers to appoint village secretary in every gram panchayat in Telangana. He said that by effectively implementing new Panchayat Raj Act, the overall picture of the villages must be changed and bettered. Rao, commonly known as KCR said that immediately after the village panchayat raj elections, programmes concerning to sanitation and environmental cleanliness in the villages must be stepped up. He held a review meeting on Sunday at Pragathi Bhavan on various aspects of panchayat raj and electoral promises made in the recent Assembly elections. As part of its efforts to strengthen the gram panchayat system, the state government has appointed 9355 new panchayat raj secretaries. This is the first of its kind recruitment process after the creation of the New Zonal system. With the appointment of new village secretaries, the Chief Minister said that every village will have village-level officers who will be made responsible for the development of the villages, greenery and sanitation programmes. In addition to the existing village secretaries along with the newly-recruited village panchayat secretaries, there will be an awareness conclave on December 27 in Hyderabad. The Chief Minister will deliver the inaugural address and make suggestions on the action plan for the development of villages. Rao also announced in the review meeting that in accordance with the electoral promises, every senior citizen on completion of 57 years will be provided with old age pensions. He has instructed Chief Secretary SK Joshi to draft modalities pertaining to this and decide on the process of identifying eligible persons for the old age pension. Rao added that once the details of beneficiaries are worked out and the number is decided, adequate budgetary provision will be made in 2019-20 budget and pension should be given with effect from April 1, 2019. The Chief Minister also instructed Revenue Principal Secretary Rajeshwar Tiwari to commence the process of formation of two more districts namely Mulugu and Narayanpet in accordance with his electoral promises made in the Assembly elections. He told the revenue secretary to initiate the process of formation of Korutla new revenue division and Ghattuppal Mandal in Nalgonda district, Mallampally Mandal in Bhupalapally district. KCR also suggested that the existing Gundala Mandal in Jangoan district should now be merged into Yadadri Bhuvangiri district. The Chief Minister further instructed the concerned officers that the Bathukamma sarees should be distributed from December 19.

KCR urges people to concentrate on development of villages in Telangana

<p>"KCR will continue to be chief minister, but play a national role," said parliamentarian and K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha hours after Telangana Rashtra Samithi trounced Congress-led <em>Mahakutami</em> (Grand Alliance) in the Telangana Assembly elections.</p>

<p>"We will go wider, we will go to national politics. Tomorrow, we will certainly declare a national agenda and there is a need for a national alternative," Kavitha said.</p>

<p>KCR has often talked about his national ambitions and how both the BJP and Congress-led alliances have undermined the rights of states by wresting all powers with the Centre.</p>

<p>Rao's decision to dissolve the House in September, several months before its tenure was to end, and go for an early election&nbsp;is being seen as a masterstroke, but what kind of role KCR &nbsp;will play in uniting the anti-Congress, anti-BJP forces ahead of parliamentary elections in 2019?</p>

<p>While the TDP chief and KCR's Andhra Pradesh counterpart, Chandrababu Naidu, has been playing a key role in finding a common ground among the opposition forces and unifying the anti-BJP parties, including the Congress, ahead of parliamentary polls, KCR's stand has always been about creating an anti-Congress and anti-BJP coalition government at the Centre by uniting all the regional parties.</p>

<p>Naidu was crisscrossing the country trying to stitch together a <em>Mahagathbandhan</em> (Grand Alliance). Now, various political leaders who got pictures taken at the 'Naidu-sponsored' Opposition meet will not be keen to be seen with him. With Naidu’s embarrassing defeat in KCR's home-turf, whether the Andhra CM can continue to be the same unifying force that he was a few days ago is doubtful. &nbsp;</p>

<p>On the other hand, with Telangana firmly under his belt, KCR could very well seek greater space for himself in national politics should a non-BJP, non-Congress front materialise amid growing aspirations of regional parties eyeing a piece of New Delhi's power pie.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


"KCR will continue to be chief minister, but play a national role," said parliamentarian and K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha hours after Telangana Rashtra Samithi trounced Congress-led Mahakutami (Grand Alliance) in the Telangana Assembly elections.

"KCR will continue to be chief minister, but play a national role," said parliamentarian and K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha hours after Telangana Rashtra Samithi trounced Congress-led Mahakutami (Grand Alliance) in the Telangana Assembly elections. "We will go wider, we will go to national politics. Tomorrow, we will certainly declare a national agenda and there is a need for a national alternative," Kavitha said. KCR has often talked about his national ambitions and how both the BJP and Congress-led alliances have undermined the rights of states by wresting all powers with the Centre. Rao's decision to dissolve the House in September, several months before its tenure was to end, and go for an early election is being seen as a masterstroke, but what kind of role KCR will play in uniting the anti-Congress, anti-BJP forces ahead of parliamentary elections in 2019? While the TDP chief and KCR's Andhra Pradesh counterpart, Chandrababu Naidu, has been playing a key role in finding a common ground among the opposition forces and unifying the anti-BJP parties, including the Congress, ahead of parliamentary polls, KCR's stand has always been about creating an anti-Congress and anti-BJP coalition government at the Centre by uniting all the regional parties. Naidu was crisscrossing the country trying to stitch together a Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). Now, various political leaders who got pictures taken at the 'Naidu-sponsored' Opposition meet will not be keen to be seen with him. With Naidu’s embarrassing defeat in KCR's home-turf, whether the Andhra CM can continue to be the same unifying force that he was a few days ago is doubtful. On the other hand, with Telangana firmly under his belt, KCR could very well seek greater space for himself in national politics should a non-BJP, non-Congress front materialise amid growing aspirations of regional parties eyeing a piece of New Delhi's power pie. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Assembly election results 2018: KCR 2.0 and his national ambitions

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated the Congress, Telangana's K Chandrashekar Rao and the Mizo National Front for their victories in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/assembly-election-results-2018-live-stakes-high-ahead-of-2019-general-elections-183025">Assembly elections.</a></p>

<p>PM Modi, in a series of tweets, thanked party workers and said that "we (BJP) accept the people's mandate with humility."</p>

<p>"We accept the people’s mandate with humility. I thank the people of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for giving us the opportunity to serve these states. The BJP Governments in these states worked tirelessly for the welfare of the people," tweeted PM Narendra Modi.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We accept the people’s mandate with humility.<br />
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I thank the people of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for giving us the opportunity to serve these states. The BJP Governments in these states worked tirelessly for the welfare of the people.</p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1072526642357198849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>He also wrote party worker and other parties on Twitter: “The family of BJP Karyakartas worked day and night for the state elections. I salute them for their hard work. Victory and defeat are an integral part of life. Today’s results will further our resolve to serve people and work even harder for the development of India. Congratulations to the Congress for their victories. Congratulations to KCR Garu for the thumping win in Telangana and to the Mizo National Front (MNF) for their impressive victory in Mizoram.”</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The family of BJP Karyakartas worked day and night for the state elections. I salute them for their hardwork.<br />
<br />
Victory and defeat are an integral part of life.<br />
<br />
Today’s results will further our resolve to serve people and work even harder for the development of India.</p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1072528590443610112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations to the Congress for their victories.<br />
<br />
Congratulations to KCR Garu for the thumping win in Telangana and to the Mizo National Front (MNF) for their impressive victory in Mizoram.</p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1072527036181303298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Yesterday, Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference sometime back saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had "failed to listen to the heartbeat of the nation."</p>


Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated the Congress, Telangana's K Chandrashekar Rao and the Mizo National Front for their victories in Assembly elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated the Congress, Telangana's K Chandrashekar Rao and the Mizo National Front for their victories in Assembly elections. PM Modi, in a series of tweets, thanked party workers and said that "we (BJP) accept the people's mandate with humility." "We accept the people’s mandate with humility. I thank the people of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for giving us the opportunity to serve these states. The BJP Governments in these states worked tirelessly for the welfare of the people," tweeted PM Narendra Modi. We accept the people’s mandate with humility. I thank the people of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for giving us the opportunity to serve these states. The BJP Governments in these states worked tirelessly for the welfare of the people. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 11, 2018 × He also wrote party worker and other parties on Twitter: “The family of BJP Karyakartas worked day and night for the state elections. I salute them for their hard work. Victory and defeat are an integral part of life. Today’s results will further our resolve to serve people and work even harder for the development of India. Congratulations to the Congress for their victories. Congratulations to KCR Garu for the thumping win in Telangana and to the Mizo National Front (MNF) for their impressive victory in Mizoram.” The family of BJP Karyakartas worked day and night for the state elections. I salute them for their hardwork. Victory and defeat are an integral part of life. Today’s results will further our resolve to serve people and work even harder for the development of India. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 11, 2018 × Congratulations to the Congress for their victories. Congratulations to KCR Garu for the thumping win in Telangana and to the Mizo National Front (MNF) for their impressive victory in Mizoram. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 11, 2018 × Yesterday, Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference sometime back saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had "failed to listen to the heartbeat of the nation."

'We accept the people’s mandate with humility,' says PM Narendra Modi

Assembly Elections 2018: Voting underway in Rajasthan, Telangana

<p>AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said that he will meet TRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao again tomorrow.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While speaking to the reporters, Owaisi noted that he wants all 8 candidates from his party to win and KCR to become Telangana's chief minister.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I’ll meet him (K Chandrashekhar Rao) again tomorrow, I want all my 8 candidates to win and we want KCR to become Chief Minister of Telangana," he said.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi: I’ll meet him (K Chandrashekhar Rao) again tomorrow, I want all my 8 candidates to win and we want KCR to become Chief Minister of Telangana <a href="https://t.co/LgVj5Wmuqk">pic.twitter.com/LgVj5Wmuqk</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1072094680244867077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/trs-will-form-govt-in-telangana-on-its-own-asaduddin-owaisi-182779">On Sunday, Owaisi had said</a> that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is going to form the government in the state with a clear majority.</p>

<p>Speaking to ANI, Owaisi said: "The TRS is going to form the government in Telangana on their own strength; all the speculations which are being raised are baseless. We should wait for the result. I don't want to comment on the Congress welcoming the AIMIM to Praja Kutami."</p>

<p>Nearly all the exit polls have predicted incumbent caretaker Chief Minister Rao-led TRS retaining another term with a clear majority.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The counting of votes in five poll-bound states, including Telangana, will take place on December 11.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said that he will meet TRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao again tomorrow. While speaking to the reporters, Owaisi noted that he wants all 8 candidates from his party to win and KCR to become Telangana's chief minister.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said that he will meet TRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao again tomorrow. While speaking to the reporters, Owaisi noted that he wants all 8 candidates from his party to win and KCR to become Telangana's chief minister. "I’ll meet him (K Chandrashekhar Rao) again tomorrow, I want all my 8 candidates to win and we want KCR to become Chief Minister of Telangana," he said. AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi: I’ll meet him (K Chandrashekhar Rao) again tomorrow, I want all my 8 candidates to win and we want KCR to become Chief Minister of Telangana pic.twitter.com/LgVj5Wmuqk — ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2018 × On Sunday, Owaisi had said that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is going to form the government in the state with a clear majority. Speaking to ANI, Owaisi said: "The TRS is going to form the government in Telangana on their own strength; all the speculations which are being raised are baseless. We should wait for the result. I don't want to comment on the Congress welcoming the AIMIM to Praja Kutami." Nearly all the exit polls have predicted incumbent caretaker Chief Minister Rao-led TRS retaining another term with a clear majority. The counting of votes in five poll-bound states, including Telangana, will take place on December 11.

Want all my candidates to win, KCR to become Telangana's chief minister: Owaisi

<p>The results of the electoral battle in five states will be declared on Tuesday. According to reports, exit polls for the recently concluded assembly elections have predicted a tight finish between the ruling BJP and the Congress in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and a win for the opposition party in Rajasthan.</p>

<p>Experts bill the 5-state assembly elections as semi-finals before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls -- a major test for the two biggest political parties in the country, the BJP and the Congress.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The exit polls have also predicted a clean-sweep for KC Rao's TRS in Telangana, whereas the Mizo National Front is predicted to have an edge in Mizoram's electoral battle, throwing up a hung assembly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/what-exit-polls-say-in-5-state-elections-182303">What exit polls say in 5 state elections</a></p>

<p>Reports suggest the trends to begin pouring in as early as 8am. By noon, the larger picture of the results in the poll-bound states is likely to emerge.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tuesday's results are set to test the hold of the incumbent governments in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana and examine the potency of the Opposition's challenge.</p>

<p>The BJP holds power in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan at present, however, the exit polls hint at the Congress putting up a tough fight to change the game in its favour in the states with incumbent BJP governments.</p>

<p>These assembly elections are being seen as crucial for the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections as it is in power in three of these states.</p>

<p>The saffron party is trying for a fourth term in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and is seeking to retain power in Rajasthan. The three states also played a significant role for the BJP in the 2014 general elections, when it had won 62 out of the 65 Lok Sabha seats in these three states.</p>

<p>The elections are also significant for Congress, which is out to challenge the BJP's rule in three states and protect its last bastion in the North-East, where Mizoram remains the only state not (rpt) not under the rule of BJP-led NDA. The eight North-East states together have 25 Lok Sabha seats.</p>

<p>In the multi-phase polling, Chhattisgarh voted on November 12 (18 seats) and November 20 (72 seats); Madhya Pradesh (230 seats) and Mizoram (40 seats) on November 28; and Rajasthan (199 seats) and Telangana (119 seats) on December 7.</p>

<p>(<em>With inputs from PTI</em>)</p>


The results of the electoral battle in five states will be declared on Tuesday. According to reports, exit polls for the recently concluded assembly elections have predicted a tight finish between the ruling BJP and the Congress in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and a win for the opposition party in Rajasthan.

The results of the electoral battle in five states will be declared on Tuesday. According to reports, exit polls for the recently concluded assembly elections have predicted a tight finish between the ruling BJP and the Congress in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and a win for the opposition party in Rajasthan. Experts bill the 5-state assembly elections as semi-finals before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls -- a major test for the two biggest political parties in the country, the BJP and the Congress. The exit polls have also predicted a clean-sweep for KC Rao's TRS in Telangana, whereas the Mizo National Front is predicted to have an edge in Mizoram's electoral battle, throwing up a hung assembly. Also read: What exit polls say in 5 state elections Reports suggest the trends to begin pouring in as early as 8am. By noon, the larger picture of the results in the poll-bound states is likely to emerge. Tuesday's results are set to test the hold of the incumbent governments in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana and examine the potency of the Opposition's challenge. The BJP holds power in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan at present, however, the exit polls hint at the Congress putting up a tough fight to change the game in its favour in the states with incumbent BJP governments. These assembly elections are being seen as crucial for the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections as it is in power in three of these states. The saffron party is trying for a fourth term in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and is seeking to retain power in Rajasthan. The three states also played a significant role for the BJP in the 2014 general elections, when it had won 62 out of the 65 Lok Sabha seats in these three states. The elections are also significant for Congress, which is out to challenge the BJP's rule in three states and protect its last bastion in the North-East, where Mizoram remains the only state not (rpt) not under the rule of BJP-led NDA. The eight North-East states together have 25 Lok Sabha seats. In the multi-phase polling, Chhattisgarh voted on November 12 (18 seats) and November 20 (72 seats); Madhya Pradesh (230 seats) and Mizoram (40 seats) on November 28; and Rajasthan (199 seats) and Telangana (119 seats) on December 7. (With inputs from PTI)

Billed as semi-finals to 2019 Lok Sabha polls, election results in five states due on Tuesday

<p>All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday claimed that K Chandrashekar Rao's Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is going to form the government in Telangana with a clear majority.</p>

<p>Speaking to ANI, Owaisi said: "The TRS is going to form the government in Telangana on their own strength; all the speculations which are being raised are baseless. We should wait for the result. I don't want to comment on the Congress welcoming the AIMIM to Praja Kutami."Nearly all the exit polls have predicted incumbent caretaker Chief Minister Rao-led TRS retaining another term with a clear majority.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For Telangana's 119 seats, Times Now-CNX projected a clean sweep for the ruling the TRS with 66 seats. It gave 37 to Congress and 7 to BJP while others were given 9.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Republic TV-Jan Ki Baat gave TRS 50-65 seats and 38-52 to Congress, 4-7 to BJP and 8-14 to others. The majority mark is 60. Telangana Legislative Assembly election was held on December 7. The results will be announced on December 11.</p>


All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday claimed that K Chandrashekar Rao's Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is going to form the government in Telangana with a clear majority.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday claimed that K Chandrashekar Rao's Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is going to form the government in Telangana with a clear majority. Speaking to ANI, Owaisi said: "The TRS is going to form the government in Telangana on their own strength; all the speculations which are being raised are baseless. We should wait for the result. I don't want to comment on the Congress welcoming the AIMIM to Praja Kutami."Nearly all the exit polls have predicted incumbent caretaker Chief Minister Rao-led TRS retaining another term with a clear majority. For Telangana's 119 seats, Times Now-CNX projected a clean sweep for the ruling the TRS with 66 seats. It gave 37 to Congress and 7 to BJP while others were given 9. Republic TV-Jan Ki Baat gave TRS 50-65 seats and 38-52 to Congress, 4-7 to BJP and 8-14 to others. The majority mark is 60. Telangana Legislative Assembly election was held on December 7. The results will be announced on December 11.

TRS will form govt in Telangana on its own: Asaduddin Owaisi

<p>Telangana BJP Chief, K Laxman, on Sunday hinted at the possibility of an alliance in the state noting that in the absence of a clear mandate the party will be a part of the government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We’ll not support Congress or AIMIM, but other options are open. The decision will be taken in consultation with our high command," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Telangana Rashtra Samiti spokesperson Bhanu Prasad said that the party doesn't need an alliance.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">K Laxman, Telangana BJP Chief: There can't be a govt without BJP in Telangana. In case people have not given a clear mandate we’ll be a part of govt. We’ll not support Congress or AIMIM, but other options are open. The decision will be taken in consultation with our high command. <a href="https://t.co/LdwpwmmaEB">pic.twitter.com/LdwpwmmaEB</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1071671559775936512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>"We don’t need any alliance, we will form the Government on our own. We are confident that we will win enough seats," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The final voter turnout in Friday's Assembly polls in Telangana was recorded at 73.20 per cent.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We don’t need any alliance, we will form the Government on our own. We are confident that we will win enough seats: Bhanu Prasad,TRS Spokesperson <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TelanganaElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TelanganaElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/jYL2jdQTwO">https://t.co/jYL2jdQTwO</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1071702147853627393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Polling concluded in the poll-bound state on Friday evening. According to reports, the interim voter turnout recorded in Telangana on Friday was reported at around 67 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Vote was taken for all the 119 seats of Telangana assembly for the first time after the division of Andhra Pradesh and creation of India's youngest state in 2014.</p>

<p>Final results for both the states will be out after the counting of votes concludes on December 11.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Telangana BJP Chief, K Laxman, on Sunday hinted at the possibility of an alliance in the state noting that in the absence of a clear mandate the party will be a part of the government.

Telangana BJP Chief, K Laxman, on Sunday hinted at the possibility of an alliance in the state noting that in the absence of a clear mandate the party will be a part of the government. "We’ll not support Congress or AIMIM, but other options are open. The decision will be taken in consultation with our high command," he added. Meanwhile, Telangana Rashtra Samiti spokesperson Bhanu Prasad said that the party doesn't need an alliance. K Laxman, Telangana BJP Chief: There can't be a govt without BJP in Telangana. In case people have not given a clear mandate we’ll be a part of govt. We’ll not support Congress or AIMIM, but other options are open. The decision will be taken in consultation with our high command. pic.twitter.com/LdwpwmmaEB — ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2018 × "We don’t need any alliance, we will form the Government on our own. We are confident that we will win enough seats," he added. The final voter turnout in Friday's Assembly polls in Telangana was recorded at 73.20 per cent. We don’t need any alliance, we will form the Government on our own. We are confident that we will win enough seats: Bhanu Prasad,TRS Spokesperson #TelanganaElections2018 https://t.co/jYL2jdQTwO — ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2018 × Polling concluded in the poll-bound state on Friday evening. According to reports, the interim voter turnout recorded in Telangana on Friday was reported at around 67 per cent. Vote was taken for all the 119 seats of Telangana assembly for the first time after the division of Andhra Pradesh and creation of India's youngest state in 2014. Final results for both the states will be out after the counting of votes concludes on December 11.

Won't support Congress or AIMIM, other options are open: Telangana BJP chief

<p>The final voter turnout in Friday's Assembly polls in Rajasthan and Telangana was recorded at 74.21 and 73.20 respectively.</p>

<p>Polling concluded in poll-bound states on Friday evening. According to reports, Rajasthan recorded around 72.7 per cent voter turnout till 5pm. The interim voter turnout recorded in Telangana on Friday was reported at around 67 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The turnout till 11 am was 23.4 per cent in Telangana and 21.89 per cent in Rajasthan.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Total voters turnout in yesterday's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanAssemblyElections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanAssemblyElections</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TelanganaAssemblyElections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TelanganaAssemblyElections</a> are at 74.21 and 73.20 respectively.</p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1071443374421434368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Nearly 9 per cent voters had cast their votes in Telangana by 9 am and 6.11 per cent in Rajasthan.</p>

<p>The voter turnout during this legislative assembly election in Rajasthan was recorded less than that of the year 2013 wherein 75.23 per cent of the registered voters in the state cast their vote.</p>

<p>Vote was taken for all the 119 seats of Telangana assembly for the first time after the division of Andhra Pradesh and creation of India's youngest state in 2014.</p>

<p>Final results for both the states will be out after the counting of votes concludes on December 11.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The final voter turnout in Friday's Assembly polls in Rajasthan and Telangana was recorded at 74.21 and 73.20 respectively. Polling concluded in poll-bound states on Friday evening.

The final voter turnout in Friday's Assembly polls in Rajasthan and Telangana was recorded at 74.21 and 73.20 respectively. Polling concluded in poll-bound states on Friday evening. According to reports, Rajasthan recorded around 72.7 per cent voter turnout till 5pm. The interim voter turnout recorded in Telangana on Friday was reported at around 67 per cent. The turnout till 11 am was 23.4 per cent in Telangana and 21.89 per cent in Rajasthan. Total voters turnout in yesterday's #RajasthanAssemblyElections and #TelanganaAssemblyElections are at 74.21 and 73.20 respectively. — ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2018 × Nearly 9 per cent voters had cast their votes in Telangana by 9 am and 6.11 per cent in Rajasthan. The voter turnout during this legislative assembly election in Rajasthan was recorded less than that of the year 2013 wherein 75.23 per cent of the registered voters in the state cast their vote. Vote was taken for all the 119 seats of Telangana assembly for the first time after the division of Andhra Pradesh and creation of India's youngest state in 2014. Final results for both the states will be out after the counting of votes concludes on December 11.

Assembly polls: Over 73% voter turnout recorded in Rajasthan, Telangana

<p>Telangana's Chief Electoral Officer, Rajat Kumar, on Friday stated that a final report has been called for from the Electoral Registration Officer over the incident of Shuttler Jwala Gutta's name being missing from the state voter list.</p>

<p>Indian badminton star <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/my-name-missing-in-list-could-not-vote-in-telangana-polls-jwala-gutta-182232">Jwala Gutta</a> on Friday expressed sadness on not being able to cast her vote in Telangana assembly polls as her name was missing from&nbsp;the voter list.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana, Rajat Kumar on Shuttler Jwala Gutta's name missing from voter list: We are asking for a final report from the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TelanganaElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TelanganaElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/ef20Sn7vhI">pic.twitter.com/ef20Sn7vhI</a></p>
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<p>"I had checked (name) and then only went today (to vote) and my name was missing. My point is, my father and sister's names have been missing since the time we checked online," the badminton star said in a video message on Twitter on Friday.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana, Rajat Kumar on Shuttler Jwala Gutta's name missing from voter list: I do empathise with her.Actually,her name has been missing from electoral roll since 2016. So, in 2016,2017,2018, the inclusion was not there. We will rectify that situation. <a href="https://t.co/HMx67QUgzv">pic.twitter.com/HMx67QUgzv</a></p>
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<p>She sought to know why her name was deleted as she has been residing in the same residence for the past 12 years.</p>

<p>If the names are deleted, the concerned persons should definitely be informed, she said.</p>

<p>Gutta's mother, however, was able to vote.</p>

<p>Gutta has brought laurels to the country in the sport of badminton, she has won several medals, including in the Commonwealth Games.</p>

<p>(<em>With inputs from PTI</em>)&nbsp;</p>


Telangana's Chief Electoral Officer, Rajat Kumar, on Friday stated that a final report has been called for from the Electoral Registration Officer over the incident of Shuttler Jwala Gutta's name being missing from the state voter list.

Telangana's Chief Electoral Officer, Rajat Kumar, on Friday stated that a final report has been called for from the Electoral Registration Officer over the incident of Shuttler Jwala Gutta's name being missing from the state voter list. Indian badminton star Jwala Gutta on Friday expressed sadness on not being able to cast her vote in Telangana assembly polls as her name was missing from the voter list. Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana, Rajat Kumar on Shuttler Jwala Gutta's name missing from voter list: We are asking for a final report from the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) #TelanganaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/ef20Sn7vhI — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × "I had checked (name) and then only went today (to vote) and my name was missing. My point is, my father and sister's names have been missing since the time we checked online," the badminton star said in a video message on Twitter on Friday. Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana, Rajat Kumar on Shuttler Jwala Gutta's name missing from voter list: I do empathise with her.Actually,her name has been missing from electoral roll since 2016. So, in 2016,2017,2018, the inclusion was not there. We will rectify that situation. pic.twitter.com/HMx67QUgzv — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × She sought to know why her name was deleted as she has been residing in the same residence for the past 12 years. If the names are deleted, the concerned persons should definitely be informed, she said. Gutta's mother, however, was able to vote. Gutta has brought laurels to the country in the sport of badminton, she has won several medals, including in the Commonwealth Games. (With inputs from PTI)

Telangana election chief calls for report over Jwala Gutta's name missing in voter list 

<p>Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday urged party workers in Rajasthan and Telangana to put all their efforts at their respective polling booths to ensure the party's win in both the states.</p>

<p>In his audio message to the workers of Rajasthan, Gandhi told them that they have to defeat the BJP by taking people to the polling booths and make the Congress win.</p>

<p>"Put all your effort into your booths to defeat the BJP. The people are standing with you...The government that will be formed will be of poor people and of the weaker sections. It will be a government of farmers, small traders, Dalits, adivasis, backwards, and also your government," he said in the message posted on the Congress' official Twitter handle.</p>

<p>In his audio message to the party workers in Telangana, Gandhi said the Congress party realised the "dream of Telangana" for the state's people.</p>

<p>"That dream of Telangana has been betrayed for the last five years. KCR (Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao) ji did not do what he had to. Now your time is coming. Stand at the polling booth and put all your effort to make the Congress win," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Voting for the assembly polls in Rajasthan and Telangana will take place on Friday. The results will be declared on December 11.</p>


Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday urged party workers in Rajasthan and Telangana to put all their efforts at their respective polling booths to ensure the party's win in both the states.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday urged party workers in Rajasthan and Telangana to put all their efforts at their respective polling booths to ensure the party's win in both the states. In his audio message to the workers of Rajasthan, Gandhi told them that they have to defeat the BJP by taking people to the polling booths and make the Congress win. "Put all your effort into your booths to defeat the BJP. The people are standing with you...The government that will be formed will be of poor people and of the weaker sections. It will be a government of farmers, small traders, Dalits, adivasis, backwards, and also your government," he said in the message posted on the Congress' official Twitter handle. In his audio message to the party workers in Telangana, Gandhi said the Congress party realised the "dream of Telangana" for the state's people. "That dream of Telangana has been betrayed for the last five years. KCR (Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao) ji did not do what he had to. Now your time is coming. Stand at the polling booth and put all your effort to make the Congress win," he said. Voting for the assembly polls in Rajasthan and Telangana will take place on Friday. The results will be declared on December 11.

Rahul asks party workers to ensure win in Rajasthan, Telangana

<p>Voting concluded on Friday evening in poll-bound Rajasthan. According to reports, around 74 per cent of the total 4.74 crore registered voters in the state exercised their voting rights. Around 72.7 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5pm.</p>

<p>At the end of the polling day, the Election Commission said the turnout was recorded at 73.85 per cent.&nbsp;However, the officials said the final figure could be higher.</p>

<p>The voter turnout during this legislative assembly election was recorded less than that of the year 2013 wherein 75.23 per cent of the registered voters in the state cast their vote.</p>

<p>Around 51,687 booths were set up across the state wherein the polling started as early as 8 am. Besides few clashes among supporters, the police reported that the polling went largely peaceful.</p>

<p>Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sachin Pilot and other leaders were among those who exercised their franchise.<br />
Raje (Jhalrapatan), Pilot (Tonk), former chief minister Ashok Gehlot (Sardarpura) are among the 2,274 candidates in the fray.</p>

<p>Raje, who is the BJP's chief ministerial candidate, is fighting against veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh's son Manvendra Singh in Jhalrapatan, the constituency she has represented since 2003.</p>

<p>This is the maiden assembly election for Sachin Pilot, a two-time MP who is seen as a chief ministerial possibility if the Congress wins. He has represented Dausa and Ajmer Lok Sabha constituencies in the past.</p>

<p>In about 130 constituencies, the contest appears to be mainly between the BJP and the Congress. In the current House, the BJP has 160 seats and the Congress 25.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The final results will be made public after the counting of votes concludes on December 11.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(<em>With inputs from PTI</em>)&nbsp;</p>


Voting concluded on Friday evening in poll-bound Rajasthan. According to reports, around 74 per cent of the total 4.74 crore registered voters in the state exercised their voting rights.

Voting concluded on Friday evening in poll-bound Rajasthan. According to reports, around 74 per cent of the total 4.74 crore registered voters in the state exercised their voting rights. Around 72.7 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5pm. At the end of the polling day, the Election Commission said the turnout was recorded at 73.85 per cent. However, the officials said the final figure could be higher. The voter turnout during this legislative assembly election was recorded less than that of the year 2013 wherein 75.23 per cent of the registered voters in the state cast their vote. Around 51,687 booths were set up across the state wherein the polling started as early as 8 am. Besides few clashes among supporters, the police reported that the polling went largely peaceful. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sachin Pilot and other leaders were among those who exercised their franchise. Raje (Jhalrapatan), Pilot (Tonk), former chief minister Ashok Gehlot (Sardarpura) are among the 2,274 candidates in the fray. Raje, who is the BJP's chief ministerial candidate, is fighting against veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh's son Manvendra Singh in Jhalrapatan, the constituency she has represented since 2003. This is the maiden assembly election for Sachin Pilot, a two-time MP who is seen as a chief ministerial possibility if the Congress wins. He has represented Dausa and Ajmer Lok Sabha constituencies in the past. In about 130 constituencies, the contest appears to be mainly between the BJP and the Congress. In the current House, the BJP has 160 seats and the Congress 25. The final results will be made public after the counting of votes concludes on December 11. (With inputs from PTI)

Assembly elections: Rajasthan registers around 74% voter turnout, lower than 2013

<p>Telangana and&nbsp;Rajasthan are undergoing elections today to elect their&nbsp;legislative assembly members.</p>

<p>While the polling in Telangana started at 7 am, voting in Rajasthan began at 8 am.</p>

<p>The polling in Telangana will end at 5 pm&nbsp;while in 13 constituencies classified as Left Wing Extremist-affected, polling ends an hour before at 4 pm.</p>

<p>Election Commission is using Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in Telangana for the first time.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="in">Telangana: Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyan Srihari cast his vote in Warangal. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TelanganaElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TelanganaElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/MLrZdGI4Dc">pic.twitter.com/MLrZdGI4Dc</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1070879905238396928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Telangana: BJP's G Kishan Reddy casts his vote at polling booth no.7 in Kachiguda, Hyderabad. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TelanganaElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TelanganaElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/HRuneW8maY">pic.twitter.com/HRuneW8maY</a></p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Telangana: Actor Allu Arjun stands in a queue to cast his vote at booth no. 152 in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TelanganaElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TelanganaElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/5kuui5v5Wy">pic.twitter.com/5kuui5v5Wy</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1070872658852634624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Telangana: Actor Akkineni Nagarjuna and his wife &amp; actor Amala Akkineni stand in a queue to cast their votes at booth no. 151 in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TelanganaElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TelanganaElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/IZpOhBmyTU">pic.twitter.com/IZpOhBmyTU</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1070872175576576000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Telangana: State Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao casts his vote in polling booth no. 102 in Siddipet constituency. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TelanganaElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TelanganaElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/2q2tqbgoXl">pic.twitter.com/2q2tqbgoXl</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1070864248266518529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Nizamabad: People cast their votes at a polling station in Pothangal. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TelanganaElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TelanganaElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/yFq8I8ZBtg">pic.twitter.com/yFq8I8ZBtg</a></p>
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<p>199 out of 200 assembly seats will go to polls in Rajasthan today. Polling has been cancelled in&nbsp;Alwar district’s Ramgarh constituency following the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Laxman Singh.</p>

<p>A total of 2, 274 candidates in the fray in Rajasthan. As many as 4,74,79,402 people are eligible to&nbsp;cast their vote at 51,667 polling stations across the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With 32,815 polling stations across Telangana, around 1,821 candidates including a transgender are in the fray in the election.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje casts her vote at polling booth no. 31A in Jhalrapatan constituency of Jhalawar. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/DRJVYFkBb4">pic.twitter.com/DRJVYFkBb4</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1070878365802876928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sachin Pilot, Congress on CM face from Congress: We will sit and discuss this after our party gets a majority in the election. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/fy6PCtY9D9">pic.twitter.com/fy6PCtY9D9</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1070883757207547904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="et"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanAssemblyelection2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanAssemblyelection2018</a>: Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore casts his votes at polling booth 252 in Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur. <a href="https://t.co/R0KqDbn95I">pic.twitter.com/R0KqDbn95I</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1070882257085198337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rajasthan: An 80-year-old woman cast her vote at booth no. 103 in Sardarpura constituency of Jodhpur district. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/wmTiniu07u">pic.twitter.com/wmTiniu07u</a></p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Congress-led alliance is challenging the ruling TRS in Telangana with the BJP seeking to make it a triangular contest. In Rajasthan, BJP will try to retain its&nbsp;power in the state assembly.</p>

<p>Counting of votes will take place on&nbsp;December 11.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Telangana and Rajasthan are undergoing elections today to elect their legislative assembly members. While the polling in Telangana started at 7 am, voting in Rajasthan began at 8 am.

Telangana and Rajasthan are undergoing elections today to elect their legislative assembly members. While the polling in Telangana started at 7 am, voting in Rajasthan began at 8 am. The polling in Telangana will end at 5 pm while in 13 constituencies classified as Left Wing Extremist-affected, polling ends an hour before at 4 pm. Election Commission is using Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in Telangana for the first time. Telangana: Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyan Srihari cast his vote in Warangal. #TelanganaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/MLrZdGI4Dc — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × Telangana: BJP's G Kishan Reddy casts his vote at polling booth no.7 in Kachiguda, Hyderabad. #TelanganaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/HRuneW8maY — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × Telangana: Actor Allu Arjun stands in a queue to cast his vote at booth no. 152 in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. #TelanganaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/5kuui5v5Wy — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × Telangana: Actor Akkineni Nagarjuna and his wife & actor Amala Akkineni stand in a queue to cast their votes at booth no. 151 in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. #TelanganaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/IZpOhBmyTU — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × Telangana: State Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao casts his vote in polling booth no. 102 in Siddipet constituency. #TelanganaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/2q2tqbgoXl — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × Nizamabad: People cast their votes at a polling station in Pothangal. #TelanganaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/yFq8I8ZBtg — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × 199 out of 200 assembly seats will go to polls in Rajasthan today. Polling has been cancelled in Alwar district’s Ramgarh constituency following the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Laxman Singh. A total of 2, 274 candidates in the fray in Rajasthan. As many as 4,74,79,402 people are eligible to cast their vote at 51,667 polling stations across the state. With 32,815 polling stations across Telangana, around 1,821 candidates including a transgender are in the fray in the election. Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje casts her vote at polling booth no. 31A in Jhalrapatan constituency of Jhalawar. #RajasthanElections2018 pic.twitter.com/DRJVYFkBb4 — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × Sachin Pilot, Congress on CM face from Congress: We will sit and discuss this after our party gets a majority in the election. #RajasthanElections2018 pic.twitter.com/fy6PCtY9D9 — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × #RajasthanAssemblyelection2018: Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore casts his votes at polling booth 252 in Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur. pic.twitter.com/R0KqDbn95I — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × Rajasthan: An 80-year-old woman cast her vote at booth no. 103 in Sardarpura constituency of Jodhpur district. #RajasthanElections2018 pic.twitter.com/wmTiniu07u — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × The Congress-led alliance is challenging the ruling TRS in Telangana with the BJP seeking to make it a triangular contest. In Rajasthan, BJP will try to retain its power in the state assembly. Counting of votes will take place on December 11. (With inputs from agencies)

Assembly elections 2018: Rajasthan, Telangana go to polls today

<p>An estimated 67 per cent of over 2.80 crore voters cast their ballots in Telangana on Friday in an election that will test the popularity of the ruling TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao and the wisdom of the great gamble he made in going for early elections.</p>

<p>Barring stray incidents of clashes and malfunctioning of voting machines at a few places, the polling was largely peaceful, including in areas affected by Maoist insurgency.</p>

<p>"As of 5 pm, we have reports that the polling was at 67 per cent. Webcasting shows that some people are still in queues. So, we expect the polling to go up by another two per cent," the state's chief electoral officer Rajat Kumar told reporters.</p>

<p>Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Jitender told PTI that the entire polling process was "incident free".</p>

<p>However, independent reports said TRS and Congress workers clashed at a place in Nagar Kurnool district.</p>

<p>Kumar said there was a delay in start of polling at some booths on accounts of malfunctioning of EVMs and voter verifiable paper audit trail machines.<br />
Thirty odd complaints of model code violation were also received.</p>

<p>Vote was taken for all the 119 seats of Telangana assembly for the first time after the division of Andhra Pradesh and creation of India's youngest state in 2014.</p>

<p>Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan, caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, ministers K T Rama Rao and T Harish Rao, BJP's Telangana president K Laxman, state Congress chief Uttam Kumar Reddy and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi were among leaders who cast their ballots.</p>

<p>Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that his party candidate in Kalwakurthy Assembly segment Vamsichand Reddy was attacked by BJP cadre in Amangal where he had gone to observe the poll pattern.</p>

<p>However, BJP's chief spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao denied the allegation claiming the Congress was "playing victim games sensing disastrous defeat."</p>

<p>TRS supremo and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, widely credited for the creation of Telangana, exuded confidence that his party would come back to power with a "huge majority."</p>

<p>Adding a dash of glamour to the poll process, celebrities turned up in good numbers to cast their votes.</p>

<p>Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, veteran actor Krishna, popular heroes Nagarjuna, "junior" NTR and Mahesh Babu, and 'Baahubali'-fame director S S Rajamouli exercised their franchise.</p>

<p>Tennis ace Sania Mirza and star badminton player P V Sindhu also cast their vote.</p>

<p>Chiranjeevi, Krishna, Nagarjuna, "junior" NTR and Sania Mirza turned up at the polling stations along with their family members to vote.</p>

<p>At some places, people were seen taking selfies with celebrity voters.</p>

<p>However, disappointment was in store for shuttler Jwala Gutta, who said she could not vote as her name was missing from the voters list.</p>

<p>Additional DG (Law and order) Jitender said about one lakh security personnel, including 20,000 drawn from other states and 25,000 central paramilitary forces, were deployed to ensure peaceful polls.</p>

<p>The Congress has stitched together "Praja Kutami" (People's Front) with the TDP, Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) and CPI in a bid to wrest power from the TRS, which is seeking a second term in office.</p>

<p>The TRS has gone it alone in the polls and so has the BJP.</p>

<p>As many as 1,821 candidates including a transgender are in the electoral fray.</p>

<p>Counting of votes would be taken up on December 11.&nbsp;</p>


An estimated 67 per cent of over 2.80 crore voters cast their ballots in Telangana on Friday in an election that will test the popularity of the ruling TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao and the wisdom of the great gamble he made in going for early elections.

An estimated 67 per cent of over 2.80 crore voters cast their ballots in Telangana on Friday in an election that will test the popularity of the ruling TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao and the wisdom of the great gamble he made in going for early elections. Barring stray incidents of clashes and malfunctioning of voting machines at a few places, the polling was largely peaceful, including in areas affected by Maoist insurgency. "As of 5 pm, we have reports that the polling was at 67 per cent. Webcasting shows that some people are still in queues. So, we expect the polling to go up by another two per cent," the state's chief electoral officer Rajat Kumar told reporters. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Jitender told PTI that the entire polling process was "incident free". However, independent reports said TRS and Congress workers clashed at a place in Nagar Kurnool district. Kumar said there was a delay in start of polling at some booths on accounts of malfunctioning of EVMs and voter verifiable paper audit trail machines. Thirty odd complaints of model code violation were also received. Vote was taken for all the 119 seats of Telangana assembly for the first time after the division of Andhra Pradesh and creation of India's youngest state in 2014. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan, caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, ministers K T Rama Rao and T Harish Rao, BJP's Telangana president K Laxman, state Congress chief Uttam Kumar Reddy and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi were among leaders who cast their ballots. Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that his party candidate in Kalwakurthy Assembly segment Vamsichand Reddy was attacked by BJP cadre in Amangal where he had gone to observe the poll pattern. However, BJP's chief spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao denied the allegation claiming the Congress was "playing victim games sensing disastrous defeat." TRS supremo and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, widely credited for the creation of Telangana, exuded confidence that his party would come back to power with a "huge majority." Adding a dash of glamour to the poll process, celebrities turned up in good numbers to cast their votes. Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, veteran actor Krishna, popular heroes Nagarjuna, "junior" NTR and Mahesh Babu, and 'Baahubali'-fame director S S Rajamouli exercised their franchise. Tennis ace Sania Mirza and star badminton player P V Sindhu also cast their vote. Chiranjeevi, Krishna, Nagarjuna, "junior" NTR and Sania Mirza turned up at the polling stations along with their family members to vote. At some places, people were seen taking selfies with celebrity voters. However, disappointment was in store for shuttler Jwala Gutta, who said she could not vote as her name was missing from the voters list. Additional DG (Law and order) Jitender said about one lakh security personnel, including 20,000 drawn from other states and 25,000 central paramilitary forces, were deployed to ensure peaceful polls. The Congress has stitched together "Praja Kutami" (People's Front) with the TDP, Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) and CPI in a bid to wrest power from the TRS, which is seeking a second term in office. The TRS has gone it alone in the polls and so has the BJP. As many as 1,821 candidates including a transgender are in the electoral fray. Counting of votes would be taken up on December 11.

Telangana records 67% polling, voting largely peaceful

<p>Polling concluded in poll-bound Rajasthan on Friday evening. According to reports, Rajasthan recorded around 72.7 per cent voter turnout till 5pm.</p>

<p>Official figures for Telangana are still awaited, which saw over 55 per cent turnout by 3pm. Polling is still underway in some parts of the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The interim voter turnout recorded so far in Telangana comes to around 67 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Umesh Sinha, Election Commission: Voting is still underway at some polling stations. Final figures are still to come. Interim voter turnout recorded till now in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TelanganaAssemblyElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TelanganaAssemblyElections2018</a> is 67%. Last year, voter turnout recorded was 69.5%. <a href="https://t.co/g5rH6AMiG0">pic.twitter.com/g5rH6AMiG0</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1071031269847261184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to reports, while Rajasthan witnessed 59.43 per cent voter turnout by 3 pm, 56.17 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Telangana by 3 pm.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Voter turnout recorded till 5 PM in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanElections2018</a> is 72.7% <a href="https://t.co/FOJ7frlNuT">https://t.co/FOJ7frlNuT</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1071005454292213760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>The turnout till 11 am was 23.4 per cent in Telangana and 21.89 per cent in Rajasthan.</p>

<p>Nearly 9 per cent voters had cast their votes in Telangana by 9 am and 6.11 per cent in Rajasthan.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Visuals from Jhalawar as polling concludes at polling booth no. 31(A). Voter turnout recorded at this particular booth is 73.83%. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanAssemblyElection2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanAssemblyElection2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/cKtUw3xdNL">pic.twitter.com/cKtUw3xdNL</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1071017069896916992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Telangana and Rajasthan are undergoing elections today to elect their legislative assembly members.</p>

<p>While the polling in Telangana started at 7 am, voting in Rajasthan began at 8 am.</p>


Polling concluded in poll-bound Rajasthan on Friday evening. According to reports, Rajasthan recorded around 72.7 per cent voter turnout till 5pm. Official figures for Telangana are still awaited, which saw over 55 per cent turnout by 3pm.

Polling concluded in poll-bound Rajasthan on Friday evening. According to reports, Rajasthan recorded around 72.7 per cent voter turnout till 5pm. Official figures for Telangana are still awaited, which saw over 55 per cent turnout by 3pm. Polling is still underway in some parts of the state. The interim voter turnout recorded so far in Telangana comes to around 67 per cent. Umesh Sinha, Election Commission: Voting is still underway at some polling stations. Final figures are still to come. Interim voter turnout recorded till now in #TelanganaAssemblyElections2018 is 67%. Last year, voter turnout recorded was 69.5%. pic.twitter.com/g5rH6AMiG0 — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × According to reports, while Rajasthan witnessed 59.43 per cent voter turnout by 3 pm, 56.17 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Telangana by 3 pm. Voter turnout recorded till 5 PM in #RajasthanElections2018 is 72.7% https://t.co/FOJ7frlNuT — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × The turnout till 11 am was 23.4 per cent in Telangana and 21.89 per cent in Rajasthan. Nearly 9 per cent voters had cast their votes in Telangana by 9 am and 6.11 per cent in Rajasthan. Visuals from Jhalawar as polling concludes at polling booth no. 31(A). Voter turnout recorded at this particular booth is 73.83%. #RajasthanAssemblyElection2018 pic.twitter.com/cKtUw3xdNL — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018 × Telangana and Rajasthan are undergoing elections today to elect their legislative assembly members. While the polling in Telangana started at 7 am, voting in Rajasthan began at 8 am.

Assembly elections: Polling concludes in Rajasthan, 72.7% turnout till 5pm

<p>A US official has said that Washington is preparing to buy South Korean artillery shells to send to Ukraine. Amid ongoing talks, the officer said that the US wants to send South Korean 155mm artillery shells to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Seoul insisted that its policy against lethal aid for Ukraine remains and that the United States must be the ammunition's end user.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The official further informed that Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds will probably be used to purchase the ammunition. However, it was unclear if they would be shipped though the US territory.</p>

<p>South Korea's defence ministry agreed that negotiations are underway, but only under the premise that US would be using the artillery since the country does not provide lethal aid to Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-calls-south-korea-us-military-drills-open-provocation-threatens-with-retaliation-531722">North Korea calls South Korea-US military drills 'open provocation', threatens retaliation</a></p>

<p>"In order to make up for the shortage of 155mm ammunition inventories in the US, negotiations are ongoing between the US and Korean companies to export ammunition," the ministry said in a statement.</p>

<p>Even though South Korea is a US ally, it avoids antagonizing Russia, both for economic reasons and because of the influence that Moscow can exert with North Korea. It stations some 27,000 US troops in the&nbsp;South&nbsp;to help protect it from the nuclear-armed North.</p>

<p>The Wall Street Journal also reported on the matter and said the agreement would involve 100,000 rounds of 155mm artillery rounds that would be delivered to Ukraine.</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said last month that Seoul has not provided any lethal weapons to Ukraine following a statement from Russian President Vladimir Putin that such a decision would destroy bilateral relations. However, Seoul has given non-lethal aid and assistance to Ukraine.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, US National Security spokesperson John Kirby had said last week that North Korea was supplying Russia with a "significant" number of artillery shells of its own for use in Ukraine. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied any arms shipments.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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A US official has said that Washington is preparing to buy South Korean artillery shells to send to Ukraine. Amid ongoing talks, the officer said that the US wants to send South Korean 155mm artillery shells to Ukraine.

A US official has said that Washington is preparing to buy South Korean artillery shells to send to Ukraine. Amid ongoing talks, the officer said that the US wants to send South Korean 155mm artillery shells to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Seoul insisted that its policy against lethal aid for Ukraine remains and that the United States must be the ammunition's end user. The official further informed that Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds will probably be used to purchase the ammunition. However, it was unclear if they would be shipped though the US territory. South Korea's defence ministry agreed that negotiations are underway, but only under the premise that US would be using the artillery since the country does not provide lethal aid to Ukraine. Also Read | North Korea calls South Korea-US military drills 'open provocation', threatens retaliation "In order to make up for the shortage of 155mm ammunition inventories in the US, negotiations are ongoing between the US and Korean companies to export ammunition," the ministry said in a statement. Even though South Korea is a US ally, it avoids antagonizing Russia, both for economic reasons and because of the influence that Moscow can exert with North Korea. It stations some 27,000 US troops in the South to help protect it from the nuclear-armed North. The Wall Street Journal also reported on the matter and said the agreement would involve 100,000 rounds of 155mm artillery rounds that would be delivered to Ukraine. × South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said last month that Seoul has not provided any lethal weapons to Ukraine following a statement from Russian President Vladimir Putin that such a decision would destroy bilateral relations. However, Seoul has given non-lethal aid and assistance to Ukraine. Meanwhile, US National Security spokesperson John Kirby had said last week that North Korea was supplying Russia with a "significant" number of artillery shells of its own for use in Ukraine. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied any arms shipments. (With inputs from agencies)

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