Assembly Election 2022 Updates: BJP MLA in UP, 27 supporters booked for violating poll code, Covid norms

Former BJP president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to go on a marathon tour in the poll-bound state of Uttar Pradesh, sources said, adding the schedule for the tour is being finalised. READ MORE

The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Punjab unit has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to postpone the Punjab Assembly election. In a letter, Subhash Sharma, the state general secretary of BJP in Punjab said that Gurupurab of Sri Guru Ravi Dass ji falls on 16th February and a lot of their followers will be travelling out of the state to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Ravi Dass ji. READ MORE

I was a contender for the Bassi Pathana seat, but the party (Congress) has denied the ticket. I will contest the election as an independent candidate, I did the same in 2007 and won the election, said Dr Manohar Singh Bassi, brother of Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi.

Former Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco has resigned from the primary membership of the Trinamool Congress Party, informed Mahua Moitra, Lok Sabha MP and AITC Goa in-charge. Lourenco resigned from Congress and joined TMC on December 21.

An FIR has been registered against Congress leader and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday for flouting Covid-19 norms during his door-to-door campaign in Noida ahead of crucial 2022 assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. READ MORE

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday released the list of its 150 candidates for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections 2022. Check full list

The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Punjab unit has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to postpone the Punjab Assembly election. In a letter, Subhash Sharma, the state general secretary of BJP in Punjab said that Gurupurab of Sri Guru Ravi Dass ji falls on 16th February and a lot of their followers will be travelling out of the state to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Ravi Dass ji.  The SC community contributes around 32 per cent of the total population of Punjab and they are likely to visit Banaras in Uttar Pradesh to celebrate Gurupurab. A day earlier Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi also wrote to the Election Commission requesting him to postpone Punjab assembly polls for at least six days citing the same reason. The CM said that representatives of the Scheduled Caste community will be travelling out of the state to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Ravidass falls on February 16, 2022.

An FIR has been filed against SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia, after receiving an application from Manjit Kumar, flying squad magistrate, stating violation of COVID-19 norms at Golden Gate by Majithia. Around 200-250 people were gathered there. 

The Shiv Sena will contest 10-15 seats in the next month's Goa Assembly elections, party leader Sanjay Raut said on Sunday and stressed that the Maharashtra-based outfit will field “common men” as its nominees. Responding to a question on whether the Sena will contest the polls in Goa along with the NCP, its alliance partner in the Maharashtra government, Raut said, “We will also go. Their (NCP) leaders are coming to Goa…” “We will contest 10-15 seats in Goa,” he added.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said his party will welcome Utpal Parrikar, son of former Goa chief minister late Manohar Parrikar, if he is willing to join it. Utpal Parrikar has been lobbying to get the BJP's ticket for the Panaji Assembly seat, which his father had represented for more than two decades. But the ruling party has given him the cold shoulder.

Nishad party president Sanjay Nishad on Sunday said they will contest in 15 assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh as part of an alliance with the BJP, but the seats are yet to be finalised. Nishad said he will meet senior BJP leaders, including Amit Shah, in Delhi on Monday to finalise the constituencies where the party will field its candidates.

Accusing the BJP of indulging in polarisation in the run-up to the Uttar Pradesh polls, RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary on Sunday said the BJP is driving a "one-gear car" that is headed backwards, and asserted that the anti-Muslim rhetoric will not work as people are fed up of such politics. The 43-year-old leader, whose party has tied up with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, also said he will not contest the upcoming polls in Uttar Pradesh and would instead focus on campaigning.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday accused the BJP of importing workers from Gujarat to train its cadres in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh in spreading "hatred and rumours". He asked the Election Commission to take cognisance of the issue and send them back, failing which, he said elections may not remain impartial.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday released a list of candidates for the UP Assembly elections. Releasing the list, AAP MP Sanjay Singh said that the party had given tickets to doctors, engineers, and those who held MBA degrees. "We have got 14 Muslim candidates, 7 from traders, 31 Dalits, 36 Brahmins and 55 from OBCs. "Forty-one candidates are graduates. We have tried that educated and people with a clean image are put up in elections," he said. Replying to a question, he said that his party was preparing to contest all 403 seats on its own and was confident of winning the elections.

Police in Agra booked a Samajwadi Party MLA candidate and at least 40 others on charges of violating COVID-19 protocol, officials said on Sunday. Madhusudhan Sharma, SP candidate from Bah Assembly constituency, along with his supporters, had performed a 'puja' at Bateshwar Temple here on Friday after winning the election ticket, they said. They did not maintain social distance, wear masks and failed to follow other COVID-appropriate behaviour, according to an official.

Former Uttar Pradesh minister and OBC leader Dara Singh Chauhan joined the Samajwadi Party on Sunday, days after he resigned from the Yogi Adityanath cabinet ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. Besides Chauhan, Apna Dal (Sonelal) MLA from Vishvanathganj Assembly constituency in Pratapgarh district R K Verma too joined the Akhilesh Yadav-led party which has emerged as the main challenger to the BJP in the state. Apna Dal (Sonelal) is an ally of the BJP. On Friday, former ministers Swami Prasad Maurya and Dharam Singh Saini, five BJP MLAs and one from the Apna Dal (Sonelal) had crossed over to the Samajwadi Party.

With an aim to form a government for the second time in a row in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP is focussing on its Hindutva agenda and has started campaigning with a theme song which focusses on Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura. BJP Lok Sabha member Manoj Tiwari has launched a theme song mentioning Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura and started electioneering. This theme song talks about Ram temple being constructed in Ayodhya, redevelopment of Kashi Vishwanath and what Mathura will be in the times ahead.

Some politicians in Uttar Pradesh are making much of the number 7 in the seven-phase assembly elections, saying the "auspicious" numeral will help them win. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Seth said number seven is considered auspicious.

Archana Gautam got an early glimpse into the murky world of politics soon after the Congress picked her as its candidate from Uttar Pradesh’s Hastinapur seat but the actor-model says she is emboldened by party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's words -- don't get scared, be strong. The 26-year-old political debutante and former Miss Bikini India from the largely rural, conservative belt of western Uttar Pradesh is unfazed by old pictures of her doing the rounds of social media and the derogatory comments, just as she is undeterred by attacks from rival BJP and groups such as the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha. “I'm not scared, I'll march forward," Gautam told PTI in a phone interview from Hastinapur.

Each family in Goa would benefit by Rs 10 lakh over five years through state government's schemes, if the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) comes to power in the state in the February 14 assembly polls, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday. Addressing a press conference in Panaji, Kejriwal also said that ordering failed raids on AAP officials, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has inadvertently given a certificate of honesty to his party.

If the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) fails to secure a majority in the upcoming Goa polls, the party would think of forming a post-poll coalition with a non-BJP party, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday. Addressing a press conference in Panaji, Kejriwal also ruled out a pre-poll coalition with the Trinamool Congress, while also saying that the doors of his party were open to the son of former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar, Utpal, whose request for a BJP ticket to contest from Panaji is tipped to be denied by the ruling party.

Former Uttar Pradesh Cabinet minister Dara Singh Chauhan, who recently quit the state council of ministers, joined the Samajwadi Party (SP) on Sunday.

Goa public is looking forward to the upcoming elections on Feb 14. AAP is fresh hope. They didn't have any choice except BJP/Congress earlier, they want a change & are frustrated: AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal in Goa

Another UP BJP Minister, Dara Singh Chauhan has resigned from the party, likely to join Samajwadi Party (SP). 

Fomer IPS Aseem Arun joins BJP in Lucknow

Former IPS officer Asim Arun has joined BJP in the presence of Union Minister Anurag Thakur and other BJP leaders, in Lucknow.

The top BJP leadership on Sunday will discuss the names of candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections with the leaders from Goa and Uttarakhand. Sources said that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Pushkar Singh Dhami along with senior leaders of their respective states -- Goa and Uttarakhand -- will meet BJP central leadership. BJP central leadership will hold separate meetings with Goa and Uttarakhand units. Assembly polls in 40-member Goa and 70-member Uttarakhand Assemblies will be held on February 14 and counting of votes will take place on March 10.

Goa CM Pramod Sawant left for New Delhi this morning. He is likely to meet BJP national president JP Nadda for the upcoming state assembly polls.

Congress candidate from Uttar Pradesh's Hastinapur, Archana Gautam, who is a winner of various beauty pageants including Miss Bikini India 2018, has given a befitting reply to the critics who questioned her credential as a politician.

Talking to IANS, Gautam, 26, said: "Those who are commenting on my candidature, I would like to tell them that, I have not committed a crime. I have represented India in various beauty contests. Nor have I hurt anyone's sentiments, so why comment like this on me?

"There are also BJP leaders who have been associated with the film industry. Two of them are Smriti Irani and Hema Malini. They have acted in films and have worn short clothes. They never represented India in any contest. But I contested against candidates from 30 countries and attained the first place."

Sources have said that Aparna Yadav, wife of Mulayam Singh Yadav's son Prateek is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). An official confirmation on the same is yet awaited. 

The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday issued a notice to the Samajwadi Party for allegedly violating Covid protocols in Lucknow on Friday and asked it to file a reply within 24 hours.

The Commission, in the notice, said that available reports, prima-facie, suggest that the Samajwadi Party has violated the aforementioned lawful directions of the Commission and "therefore, the Commission, after considering the available material and extant instructions in the matter, has decided to provide you an opportunity to explain your stand regarding the said violations," it said.

Abdullah Azam, the son of senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, was released from Sitapur jail late Saturday evening. Abdullah Azam and his father were lodged in Sitapur jail after they were shifted from Rampur jail on 27 February 2020.

According to Sitapur jail superintendent Suresh Singh, Abdullah Azam's release order was received earlier but there was discrepancy in it. A fresh order was sent from a Rampur court paving the way for his release, he said.

Abdullah has as many as 43 cases registered against him in Rampur and the jail authorities got release orders in all the cases.

Soon after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced that the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be contesting the upcoming state assembly elections from Gorakhpur, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday took a dig at the BJP stating that now since the saffron party has sent him back to his stronghold, he should stay there.

Addressing a press conference, the SP chief said, "Earlier they used to sometimes say 'he will fight from Ayodhya' or 'he will fight from Mathura' or 'he will fight from Prayagraj'. I am thankful to BJP. They have already sent him home even before polls, though people would have done it. Now Yogi should stay there. There is no need for him to come back."

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Ahead of the Goa Assembly elections, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal promised an honest government in the state as he launched a door-to-door campaign in St. Andre and Siroda constituencies on Saturday.

Kejriwal, who arrived in Goa on Saturday afternoon, kicked off a door-to-door campaign from St. Andre along with party candidate Ramrao Wagh, AAP Goa convener Rahul Mhambre and party leader Amit Palekar.

Ahead of Assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate from Kairana seat Nahid Hasan was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police under the Gangsters Act and was sent to 14-day judicial custody by a Kairana court.

Hasan was wanted in connection with a case registered against him under Uttar Pradesh Gangsters Act in Kairana police station in February last year.

On Friday, when Hasan was going to Shamli Collectorate to file his nomination papers, Kairana police arrested him, after which he was presented in Additional District Sessions Court before a Fast Track Court bench.

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Ever since the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force in Punjab for the Assembly elections, various enforcement teams have seized valuables worth Rs 40.31 crores in violation of the code till January 14, 2022, said Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), S Karuna Raju, on Saturday.

Giving details in this regard, Raju said that the surveillance teams have seized 2.72 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 81 lakh. Similarly, the enforcement wings have also recovered psychotropic substances amounting to Rs 38.93 crores besides confiscating unaccounted cash of Rs 14 lakhs, he added.

Flying squad team of Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday evening seized cash worth Rs 50 lakh from a car in Kanpur during checking in view of Assembly polls in the state, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) East, Pramod Kumar Singh.

According to the police, a car registered on Lucknow number was caught by the flying squad team from the Ramadevi intersection in the Chakeri area police station.

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Ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, former State Cabinet Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Ramveer Upadhyay on Saturday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Agra.

Speaking about the development, the BSP MLA's son, Chirag Upadhyay told reporters, "My father has joined BJP. We will make the BJP retain power in the state. My father has applied for a ticket from the Sadabad constituency in the Hathras district but it is upon the party to decide."

With Congress rejecting an offer by Trinamool Congress for an alliance for Goa assembly polls and AAP also fighting on its own, the incipient efforts to form a broad coalition and prevent division in anti-BJP votes do not appear to be fructifying and have apparently made the ruling party's task less challenging in the coastal state.

Trinamool Congress, which is keen to leave a mark in its outing in Goa, had suggested a broad alliance but not much has moved on the proposal due to competing interests and apparent lack of faith between the opposition parties. Congress is peeved at the Trinamool Congress "poaching" its leaders.

The Aam Aadmi Party, which could not perform well in the last assembly polls, is also keen to give an impressive performance on its own.

Political observers have said that a "mahagathbandhan" of various parties opposed to the BJP will help prevent division of votes but that appears unlikely now with less than a month left for assembly polls.

Congress and Trinamool Congress leaders looking after the affairs of their parties in Goa have taken potshots at each other amid suggestions for an alliance.