Assembly Election 2022 Updates: Samajwadi Party, RLD release first list of candidates

Sanjay Raut met me today regarding the farmers' protest that was held in Delhi. He invited me to Maharashtra. We are not contesting any elections: BKU leader Rakesh Tikait in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh

SP, RLD first list of candidates: The Samajwadi Party (SP) and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) alliance released first list of candidates for upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election 2022. 

While Samajwadi Party candidate Nahid Ahmed will contest from Kairana, RLD's Prasann Chaudhary has been fielded from Shamli. From Meerut, Ahmed Hamid will contest on RLD ticket. Amarpal Sharma will be SP's candidate from Sahibabad and Zafar Alam will contest from Aligarh constituency.

Swami Prasad Maurya on Thursday met Akhilesh Yadav along with 'rebel' BJP MLAs 

The fight is to change this system which has eroded Punjab-like terminates and is being run by Mafias in connivance of mischievous politicians. This  system cries for a change & reforms as the glory of Punjab has been annihilated by the nexus of Few political leaders and Mafia, says Navjot Singh Sidhu 

BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting to select candidates for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, concluded on Thursday and the first list is expected to be released on Friday, party sources said, according to a report in IANS. A total of 172 candidates have been finalised for three of the seven-phased polls in the state. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

The BJP in Goa has shortlisted names for 37 out of the 40 seats, which go to polls on February 14, Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik said on Thursday. "We have shortlisted names for recommendation to the party's parliamentary board for 37 seats. Some seats will be finalised soon after more discussion," Naik told reporters after consecutive meetings of the BJP's state election committee and the party's core committee. The final list of candidates, Naik said, would be declared by the BJP parliamentary board in Delhi soon. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and state BJP president Sadanand Shet Tanavade are scheduled to leave for Delhi on Friday to attend the BJP's parliamentary board meeting on January 16.

In BJP's Central Election Committee meeting today, a very fruitful discussion was held regarding candidates on 172 Assembly seats (in Uttar Pradesh). We are hopeful of registering a glorious victory in the 2022 Assembly elections: UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya in Delhi

A non-bailable warrant has been issued against me in an 8-year-old case. It's just 2nd day of my resignation (as UP min). Even if dozens of cases are registered against me, my morale will not be weakened. The more they trouble me, the more strongly I will defeat them: Swami Prasad Maurya

We have decided to contest elections with Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. One seat has been announced and talks are on for other seats. We will support the alliance which is forming in Uttar Pradesh: NCP leader & Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik

Shiv Sena on Thursday reached out to prominent farmers' leader Rakesh Tikait as it seeks to make an electoral foray in Uttar Pradesh to dent the prospects of its former ally BJP. Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut met Tikait, who had emerged as the face of the year-long farmers' agitation against the now-repealed three farm laws, at Muzaffarnagar in western Uttar Pradesh. "I discussed the serious problems and issues faced by farmers of Uttar Pradesh and political situation in the country. The burning issues of farmers of western Uttar Pradesh too figured prominently. Shiv Sena is committed to delivering justice to the farmers," Raut said on Twitter.

Gajraj Singh, Congress MLA from Hapur, joins RLD 

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has already decided at least 300 of its total 403 candidates for Uttar Pradesh. Of these, 90 are Dalits, party general secretary S C Misra said on Thursday. Taking a swipe at the rival parties, he said the BJP and the Samajwadi Party were yet to finalise their candidates at the two parties lacked confidence in their leaders. "Of the 300 names finalised so far, 90 are Dalits and their number will rise as candidates for the rest of the seats are decided," Misra told PTI. When asked about Brahmin and Muslim candidates, he said, "You will know when the list is formally declared after Mayawati's birthday on January 15." Another party leader said Brahmins and Muslims have been given a good representation.

Uttar Pradesh minister Brajesh Pathak alleged that Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is trying to run the show with the help of others as he has nothing of his own. He was reacting to the recent defections of BJP ministers and legislators, who are likely to join the Samajwadi Party. "Akhilesh Yadav is trying to run the show with the help of others as he has nothing of his own, but his dream will not come true as the election environment in the state is in favour of the BJP," Pathak said at a meeting of 'Prabudh Varg' (enlightened class, including Brahmins) here on Wednesday.

Uttar Pradesh minister Dharam Singh Saini resigns ahead of Assembly polls. 

The Income Tax department has made elaborate arrangements to curb the use of black money in the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, a top official said on Thursday. A control room with toll-free number 18001807540, which will remain operational round the clock, has been set up in Lucknow.  People are encouraged to call this number to furnish specific information relating to cash or other valuables suspected to be used for unduly influencing the election process, Director General of Income Tax (Investigation), Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Mohan Kumar Singhania said here on Thursday. He assured that the identity of the callers will be kept confidential, and that teams of officers and inspectors have been deployed in every district to act on complaints. About 300 officers and inspectors have been deputed for this specific purpose. These teams will be acting in close coordination with the district control room of the district election officer as well as the other agencies at the district level, he said. Close surveillance is being maintained over persons, places and activities likely to be involved in handling of unaccounted cash during the election process, Singhania mentioned. Air Intelligence Units are functional at all airports to keep strict vigil over movement of cash by air. The movement of cash, etc. through railways is also being monitored in coordination with Railways authorities, he said. Information relating to cash withdrawals from bank accounts, exceeding a certain limit, is being received for identifying suspicious transactions, he added.

Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said his party will be asking the general public as to who should be the party's chief ministerial face in the Punjab Assembly polls even as he indicated that his own preference for the post was state unit president Bhagwant Mann. Kejriwal, however, ruled himself out in the race. The Delhi chief minister in the presence of AAP's Punjab unit president and MP Mann and party senior leader Raghav Chadha launched a mobile number on which people can give their feedback by 5 pm till January 17 by recording their voice, sending SMS or WhatsApp as to who among the party leaders they want to be declared as the chief ministerial candidate. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Chidambaram, who is the Congress' senior election observer for the Goa Assembly polls, also said that some days ago, the TMC hinted that it would like to form an alliance with the Congress and other parties and the AICC leadership was aware of the TMC's desire and may have responded to it, but he has "no official word or instruction" from the AICC on the matter.

P Chidambaram said that TMC, AAP do not have cadre base in constituencies in Goa, attempted to build their parties through defections. Strong 'anti-BJP, anti-incumbency wind' blowing in Goa; will appeal to electorate that 'Goa should be ruled by Goans', he said.

Congress, BJP main contestants in Goa; if AAP, TMC secure some votes, they will be splitting non-BJP vote: Cong leader P Chidambaram to PTI. 

Vinay Shakya, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Bidhuna assembly seat of Auraiya district, quits the party. He is the 8th MLA to resign from the party. 

The Shiv Sena is upset at being given a cold shoulder by the Congress over its proposal to repeat the Maharashtra coalition experiment in the Goa Assembly elections. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday said the political situation it Goa is such that the Congress cannot go beyond single digit if it contests the assembly polls in the coastal state on its own. "The Congress has only three MLAs in Goa. The party's MLAs have deserted it enmasse. Key political parties, we (Shiv Sena and NCP) had offered to support the Congress in its difficult times. But I don't know what the Congress is thinking. It cannot cross the single digit mark if it contests alone," Raut said.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that by fielding 40 per cent women & 40 per cent youth in UP, "we hope to start new kind of politics in state". "We will not run a negative campaign; We will run positive campaign for bright future of Uttar Pradesh," she said.

UP Govt is dictatorial;Our focus is to bring people's issues, women & development in centrestage in Uttar Pradesh: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. 

Congress has fielded Unnao gangrape victim's mother as the party candidate from the seat for the upcoming Assembly election. Announcing the first list of 125 candidates on Thursday, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi said that the list includes 50 women. "Our Unnao candidate is the mother of the gangrape victim. We have given her a chance to continue the struggle. The power which oppressed them and ruined their family, they should now get that power," Priyanka Gandhi said as she announced the name of candidates during a virtual press conference. "Some of the women on our list are journalists, some are struggling for the various causes. There are social workers, there are women who have suffered immense atrocities," Gandhi added.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has released a number where people of Punjab can text the name of the person whom they want to be the next Chief Minister. The number is 7074870748. Kejriwal is likely to announce the AAP's CM face for Punjab next week. 

The Election Commission of India has sent show cause notices to Uttarakhand Congress vice president Vijaypal Singh Sajwan and District President (Uttarkashi) Jagmohan Singh Rawat. The two leaders allegedly held a meeting without permission at a public building in Gangotri assembly constituency on January 11. They have been asked to file their reply within 48 hours.

Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has complained to the Election Commission of India that the BJP-led Manipur state government has violated the election Code of Conduct by issuing several policy orders after the announcement of the Code of Conduct. K Meghachandra Singh, Working President of MPCC in a Press conference held at Congress Bhavan, Imphal on Tuesday, said that state government issued orders converting many private colleges into government aided colleges. The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting held late Friday night, hours ahead of the election Code of Conduct kicking in. Singh also demanded a CBI enquiry into cases of alleged misappropriation of state government funds meant for public works. 

The Congress party has announced the first list of 125 candidates for the Uttar Pradesh polls. Addressing the media, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said that 50 women have been given tickets in the first list. 

Ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled on February 14, police along with Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) held a flag march in Chamoli's Gopeshwar. 

The AAP Wednesday announced a 10-point "Punjab Model" that promises jobs to youths, ending drug menace and bringing justice in sacrilege cases, as Arvind Kejriwal asserted people will vote his party to power to break the "partnership" between the Congress and the Badals. The Aam Aadmi Party's national convener and Delhi chief minister also said the party's chief ministerial face for Punjab will be announced next week.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has said the state's people consider his party as an alternative to the BJP and in this assembly polls, they will wipe out the saffron party. He also alleged that the BJP has betrayed farmers and youths, while prices of diesel, petrol and fertilisers have increased manifold during its regime. "The people of the state consider Samajwadi Party (SP) as an alternative to the BJP and this time, they will wipe it out in the assembly polls and form the SP's government," Yadav said while addressing party workers at the SP's headquarters in Lucknow.

The BJP Core Committee on Wednesday discussed Assembly constituencies including Ayodhya where the party may field Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, according to sources. It may be noted Adityanath, who represented the Gorakhpur constituency in the Lok Sabha five times, has never contested Assembly elections and is currently a member of the Legislative Council. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE 

Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Mukesh Verma has resigned from the party. He is an MLA from the Shikohabad constituency in Firozabad. This is the seventh resignation in three days in Uttar Pradesh where polls will be held in seven-phase, starting February 10. 

Shiv Sena will contest 50-100 seats in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. I will be visiting western Uttar Pradesh tomorrow: MP Sanjay Raut 

Shiv Sena will not be part of any alliance in UP. We have ideological differences with Samajwadi Party but we want a change in the state. We have been working for a long time in UP but didn't contest elections because we didn't want to hurt BJP: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will lose the upcoming Assembly polls. The departure of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is certain and the process has started, Baghel claimed after the exodus of MLAs from the saffron party. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

The Sanyukt Samaj Morcha, a political front launched by various farmer bodies for fighting the February 14 Punjab assembly polls, has released its first list of 10 candidates. The list included the names of farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal as the outfit’s candidate for the Samrala assembly seat. Rajewal is leading the SSM. The list revealed that farmer leader Prem Singh Bhangu will fight from Ghanaur, Harjinder Singh Tanda from Khadoor Sahib, Ravneet Singh Brar from Mohali and Dr Sukhmandeep Singh from Tarn Taran. Additionally, Rajesh Kumar will fight from Kartarpur, Ajay Kumar from Phillaur, Ramandeep Singh from Jaiton, Balraj Singh from Qadian and Dr Navdeep Singh from Moga.

Mayawati has welcomed Noman Masood, the brother of Imran Masood who quit the Congress to join the Samajwadi Party, to the BSP after he resigned from the RLD. He will be contesting UP assembly polls from Gangoh constituency. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

The BJP Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting is underway in Delhi to finalise candidates for Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. The meeting is being held in hybrid form as few of the CEC members, including party chief J P Nadda, have tested positive for Covid-19. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other CEC members are present at the party headquarters.

Salman Sayeed quit the Congress and joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Wednesday night, party supremo Mayawati said in a tweet. Salman Sayeed will be fielded from the Charthaval assembly seat.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath arrives for BJP's CEC meeting, along with Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma and UP BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh

BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting will start at the party headquarters in Delhi shortly to finalise the party candidates for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. PM Narendra Modi will also join the meeting

A meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Core Committee on the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls was held on Wednesday where discussions took place on seat sharing with allies.

The meeting which was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah lasted for 14 hours and concluded at 1:35 am today.

According to sources, the seat-sharing agreement will be announced after the CEC meeting on Thursday.

Full Coverage