Assembly Election: BJP trying to win support of Muslim women beneficiaries of govt schemes in UP

More than 10,000 people including citizens over 80 years of age and persons with disability have opted for postal ballot to cast their votes at home in phase one of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, according to data collated by Election Commission. A total of 58 seats would go for polls in phase one of the polls on February 10.

The BJP on Friday lodged a complaint against the AAP with the National Commission for Women (NCW) for objectifying women in a video clip, saying that it has been released with the intent to insult Indian women and demanded legal action against the party. In a written complaint to NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma, Bharatiya Janata Party Mahila Morcha national president Vanathi Srinivasan said that a video clip objectifying women has been released by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is clearly humiliating, and has been released with the intent to insult Indian women. She said that the BJP Mahila Morcha strongly condemns this video put up on the AAP's official Twitter handle, in which it has depicted actress Vidya Balan as the Chief Minister's chair and shows Punjab's Congress leaders Charanjit Singh Channi and Navjot Singh Sidhu as lusting for the CM's chair.

Utpal Parrikar, son of former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, has quit BJP to contest election from Panaji as independent candidate.

BJP has released a list of 85 candidates for Uttar Pradesh Elections 2022.

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Friday said he will file a defamation case against AAP leader Arvind Kejrwal for dubbing him a dishonest man after the ED carried out some raids, including at the premises of the Congress leader's nephew.

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar will lead the party's campaign in Uttar Pradesh where the party is contesting the assembly elections in alliance with the Samajwadi Party. Besides Pawar, senior leaders and parliament members Praful Patel, Supriya Sule, Sunil Tatkare and Fauzia Khan have been named as star campaigners for the assembly elections. NCP has fielded party general secretary K K Sharma from Anupshahr assembly constituency in Bulandshahr district of western Uttar Pradesh.

The BJP on Friday declared its first list for Punjab Assembly elections. Check Full list here

Tickets have been given to 12 candidates who belong to farmers' families, 8 tickets to members of the SC community, 13 tickets to Sikhs. The list has doctors, lawyers, sportspersons, farmers, youth, women & former IAS: Tarun Chugh, BJP National General Secy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that Manipur deserves peace and freedom from closures and blockades, adding that the government is steadfast in its commitment to make the state Indias sporting powerhouse. In his recorded speech on the occasion of the 50th Statehood Day celebrations on Friday, the Prime Minister said that the government is committed to make Manipur the sporting powerhouse of the country. Manipur along with two other northeastern states -- Tripura and Meghalaya -- on Friday celebrated their 50th Statehood Day through diverse events. 

BJP is thankful to the Election commission for postponing the date of polls in Punjab in view of Ravi Dass Jayanti. 

Signalling the way forward for the Congress as Uttar Pradesh heads towards elections, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday pitched herself as the party’s chief ministerial face as she released a ‘youth manifesto’ for the state along with Rahul Gandhi. The Congress general secretary, however, evaded queries on whether she would contest the assembly polls beginning next month. She also said the party would be open to a post-poll alliance if the need arose.

Goa Forward Party MLA Vinod Palienkar on Friday resigned from the party and the Assembly in the poll-bound state. Palienkar, representing Siolim seat, tendered his resignation to the office of the Speaker during the day, and became the second GFP legislator after Jayesh Salgaonkar to resign ahead of the polls, reducing the strength of the Vijai Sardesai-led party in the 40-member House to one. Palienkar said he resigned as his supporters want him to fight the polls, scheduled for February 14, as an Independent candidate from Siolim.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh, on Friday, launched its theme song for the Assembly elections. The song 'UP phir mange BJP sarkar' comes with the tag line 'Soch imandar, kaam damdar'. Releasing the song, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said it encapsulated the work done by his government in the past five years.

Under fire from its political rivals over the ED raids, the Congress in Punjab has launched a campaign on social media stating that the entire state is with Charanjit Singh Channi and blaming the BJP-led Centre for trying to defame Punjab's first chief minister from the scheduled caste community. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday had said it seized cash amounting to over Rs 10 crore, including about Rs 8 crore from a relative of Channi, during raids conducted in connection with an anti-money laundering investigation against illegal sand mining operations in the poll-bound state.

Two Congress leaders in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh have resigned from the party, reportedly unhappy over the selection of candidates for the assembly election. Ahead of the polls, Bulandshahr district president and state Congress committee member Sheopal Singh and district general secretary Rahul Valmiki resigned from the party. Sheopal Singh was reportedly seeking the party ticket from the Anoopshahr assembly constituency, but the Congress fielded Chaudhary Gajendra Singh, a two-term BSP MLA. Gajendra Singh had joined the Rashtriya Lok Dal last month but switched over to the Congress recently after being denied ticket by the Jayant Chaudhary-led party.

In his first political programme in Uttar Pradesh after the assembly poll dates were announced, Home Minister Amit Shah will be on a door-to-door campaign in support of the BJP candidate in the western UP constituency of Kairana on Saturday. The senior BJP leader, who is playing a key role in the party's campaign in the politically crucial state, will also hold a meeting with party workers in Shamli and Baghpat, sources said, adding that he will later have an interaction with eminent citizens in Meerut.

The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) on Friday announced its first list of ten candidates for the Goa Assembly elections. 
Party chief Deepak Dhavalikar and his brother Sudin Dhavalikar figure in the list. The MGP has forged an alliance with the Trinamool Congress Party for the February 14 elections.

The BJP in its first list of 59 candidates has once again shown a preference for Congress defectors rather than its own cadres to field in the state polls on February 14. According to the list released on Thursday, the party has not only chosen to field leaders who revolted against the Harish Rawat government in 2016, but also those who defected to its camp over mere past few days. Such leaders include former Pradesh Mahila Congress president Sarita Arya and Durgeshwar Lal, who had joined the party on Thursday just a few hours before it announced its first list of candidates. Durgeshwar Lal enters the fray from Purola while Arya is slated to contest from Nainital - a seat she had lost to BJP's Sanjeev Arya in 2017. Sanjeev, son of Yashpal Arya, a prominent Dalit face of Kumaon, is now in the Congress. Most of Congress defectors -- several of whom had been made ministers in 2017 -- have been nominated from the seats they represent in the state assembly. These include Satpal Maharaj from Chaubattakhal, Subodh Uniyal from Narendra Nagar, Pradeep Batra from Roorkee, Umesh Sharma Kau from Raipur, and Rekha Arya from Someshwar. Khanpur MLA Pranav Singh Champion -- one among the 10 Congress defectors who had joined the BJP in 2016 -- may have been dropped from the list due to his controversial image, but the seat remains in the family with his wife Kunwarani Devyani chosen to fight the contest instead of him. It is not unlikely that a few more Congress defectors find place in the party's second list of 11 candidates, to be announced soon. The trend has left a section of workers disappointed within the BJP. Pradesh BJP secretary (organisation) Balbir Ghuniyal said it dents the morale of dedicated party cadres. Ghuniyal, who had sought a ticket for himself from Tharali, said he has been trying for it since 2007 but he was overlooked in favour of Bhopal Ram Tamta, who quit the Congress to join the BJP in 2018.

Goa Public Works Department Minister Deepak Prabhu Pauskar on Friday resigned as an MLA, as a Minister and from the BJP's primary membership, a day after he was denied a ticket to contest from the Sanvordem assembly constituency. Pauskar, who joined the BJP from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party in 2019, said that he would be contesting as an Independent from his constituency.

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Friday said he would file a defamation case against AAP leader Arvind Kejirwal, who has dubbed him as a dishonest man after the ED carried out raids at many places including at the premises of the Congress leader's nephew. Channi alleged that Kejriwal was in the habit of levelling accusations to malign the image of others and that in the past it was seen how he had to later apologise to BJP leaders Nitin Gadkari, late Arun Jaitley and SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia. Speaking to reporters in his constituency in Chamkaur Sahib, he claimed that Kejriwal has now crossed all limits and that he has requested his party to give permission to file a defamation case against the AAP leader. "I will file a defamation case against Kejriwal and have requested my party to give permission to do so. I am compelled to do this...he is dubbing me as dishonest and he has put that on his Twitter handle," he said. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

The Congress has promised 20 lakh jobs, filling 1.5 lakh vacant teacher posts among other things in its youth manifesto for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

On question of alliance for the Uttar Pradesh election, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "If the situation arises, we will be open to that (alliance) but we would ensure that our commitment towards women and youth are brought in to being."

"Can you see any face other than me?" Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said this while responding to India TV's question about who will be the party's chief minister candidate in Uttar Pradesh. Polling for the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly is scheduled to be held in seven phases from February 10 to March 7 and the counting of votes will be held on March 10. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will visit Bulandshahr on Saturday. He will reach Bulandshahr at 1 pm.

Goa: Two BJP MLAs resign after being denied tickets. They are MLA Isidore Fernandes and PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar.

Vacancies to various posts will be filled; job calendar will be created which will have specifics of recruitment process: Priyanka Gandh.

If our govt comes to power, budget allocation for education will be increased: Cong leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. PTI SKC/ASK

The Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) on Friday launched its manifesto for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, announcing free quality healthcare and education for all, fertilizer and seeds to farmers and writing off all farm loans. The manifesto was shared on social media by party president Chandra Shekhar Aazad, who will be fighting his debut assembly poll from the Gorakhpur (Urban) seat against UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. If voted to power in UP, the ASP (K) promised fixing a minimum support price (MSP) on all crops and payment to sugar cane farmers within 10 days. Keeping in mind the inflation, it said all tolls would be made free for commuters. The party said the Muslim Wakf will be freed of mafia and government control and the benefits would be used for uplifting the community. After clearing encroachment on Wakf properties, schools and universities would be built on them, it added. The ASP (K) promised passing an anti-mob lynching law under an independent panel of retired judges.

Shiv Sena releases first list of party candidates for Goa Assembly election 2022 

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday released the party's youth manifesto for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Addressing the media at the party's headquarters in Delhi, both leaders said that youth in Uttar Pradesh are angry with the Yogi Adityanath government and they want a change. "Only Congress party can give a vision to the youth of Uttar Pradesh," Rahul Gandhi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Friday that impediments to Manipur's progress have been removed and its development has started at a fast pace, as he asked its people to not allow the forces that kept it down for 70 years to rear their head again. Greeting the people of the poll-bound state on Manipur statehood day, Modi said in a speech that the state deserves peace and also deserves to be ridden of frequent bandhs and blockades, and added that it has been achieved under the leadership of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The BJP is in power in the state. 

A case has been registered against the BJP candidate from Asmoli assembly seat here for violation of model code of conduct and COVID-19 guidelines, a senior police official said on Friday. On Thursday evening, the BJP candidate and Asmoli assembly constituency MLA Harendra Singh Rinku was holding an election meeting in Chaupa village in which a large number of people had gathered without masks violating social distancing, Police Superintendent Chakresh Mishra said. Taking note of the incident, a case has been registered against the BJP MLA Rinku and 50 to 60 unknown persons under relevant sections at the Bahjoi police station area, the SP added.

Refused ticket for his son, Former MLA and Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Rajeshwar Bansal has resigned from the party. The SP-RLD alliance had earlier announced Prasanna Chaudhary its candidate from Shamli constituency. Bansal had demanded ticket for his son Akhil Bansal from the same assembly seat. Bansal and his son sent their resignations to party leader Jayant Chaudhary on Thursday.

AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi will face defeat from his Chamkaur Sahib seat in the next month state assembly polls as he cited some survey to corroborate his claim. The Delhi Chief Minister further said that "people are shocked" to see the seizure of crores of rupees from Channi's nephew during the recent Enforcement Directorate raids. "Our survey is showing that Channi ji is losing from Chamkaur Sahib. People are shocked to see on TV the ED officers counting bundles of notes," said Kejriwal in a tweet. Channi will fight the February 20 state assembly polls from the Chamkaur Sahib seat.

BJP president J P Nadda will undertake a door to door campaign in Bareilly and hold organisational meetings with party leaders in different parts of western Uttar Pradesh on Friday, its chief spokesperson Anil Baluni said. Party sources said that Home Minister Amit Shah may visit Mathura on Saturday for holding political meetings. Baluni said Nadda will hold two meetings in Agra with party leaders associated with 20 assembly constituencies each before heading to Bareilly where he will also hold meetings before carrying out door to door campaign while adhering to Election Commission guidelines related to COVID-19. Western Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls in the first two phases of the seven-phase elections in the state.

Our central leaders are in touch with Utpal Parrikar. Delhi CM Kejriwal had said different things when Manohar Parrikar was CM and now he is saying different things for political gains. People of Goa understand this & will form BJP govt again: Goa CM Pramod Sawant

 "I will hold a press conference today to announce my decision for #GoaAssemblypolls2022," Utpal Parrikar to ANI 

Lone Trinamool Congress MLA Tongbram Robindro Singh on Thursday joined the ruling BJP in Manipur ahead of the assembly elections in the northeastern state, a saffron party leader said. Singh was elected from Thanga constituency in Bishnupur district on a Trinamool Congress ticket in the 2017 assembly polls and later supported the coalition government led by the BJP. Former Congress leader Yengkhom Surchandra Singh, who had left the party last month, also joined the saffron camp. They switched over to the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik, Assam Minister Ashok Singhal and party's Manipur unit president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi.

The BJP announced its first list of 59 candidates for the February 14 Uttarakhand Assembly polls on Thursday, dropping 10 MLAs including rape accused Mahesh Negi and former chief minister Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri's daughter Ritu Khanduri, while reposing confidence in new faces. The ruling party has not announced its candidates for the 11 remaining seats, most of which are in the Congress's kitty. A decision on some of these seats could not be taken due to the changed political circumstances in the state, sources said. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will contest from Khatima and state BJP chief Madan Kaushik from Haridwar, as in the last Assembly polls, while most of the cabinet ministers and MLAs have been fielded from the seats they hold. However, the BJP has dropped Dwarahat MLA Mahesh Negi from his seat as he had caused embarrassment to the party when a woman accused him of rape, the sources said. He has been replaced by Anil Shahi. Yamkeshwar MLA Ritu Khanduri has also been dropped and Renu Bisht fielded from the seat. Other MLAs who failed to get a party ticket are Munni Devi from Tharali, Surendra Singh Negi from Karnaprayag, Kunwar Pranav Singh "Champion" from Khanpur, Mukesh Singh Koli from Pauri, Meena Gangola from Gangolihat, Balwant Singh Bhauryal from Kapkot and Raghunath Singh Chauhan from Almora. Kashipur MLA Harbhajan Singh Cheema has also been replaced with his son Trilok Singh Cheema.

Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot said on Thursday that the Congress will form the government in the upcoming assembly elections in Uttarakhand and Punjab. He also said the Congress is emerging as a better option for voters in Uttar Pradesh. Talking to reporters in Tonk on Thursday, Pilot, who returned after visiting Uttar Pradesh, said, "We will form the government in Uttarakhand and Punjab, and people in Uttar Pradesh want change and the Congress is emerging as a better option."

The Congress sought the Election Commission's (EC) intervention on Thursday on the ED raids on a relative of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and alleged that the action was politically motivated to malign and defame the chief minister and the party-led state government. A delegation of Congress leaders met EC officials virtually and submitted a memorandum to them, alleging that the raids were conducted ahead of the February 20 Punjab Assembly polls to create a perception and influence the voters.

The BJP prioritised development, good governance and nationalism as poll agenda while other parties promoted dynastic and family politics, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Wednesday as he hit out at rivals ahead of state assembly polls. While on an official visit to Gautam Buddh Nagar, Adityanath also trained guns at the Samajwadi Party over its choice of candidates for the polls, accusing the Akhilesh Yadav-led outfit of selecting candidates with criminal records. “We made development, good governance and nationalism the agenda. The dynastic and family politics which prevailed in the state earlier not only encouraged nepotism and exploited the people of the state, the poor, farmers and the youth but it also created an environment of insecurity,” he said.

BJP leader Aparna Yadav on Friday met her father-in-law Mulayam Singh Yadav in Lucknow.

Priyanka Maurya, Congress' face for the 'Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon' campaign in Uttar Pradesh has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Maurya was the face of Congress 'Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon' poster in Uttar Pradesh. Besides Maurya, Ayodhya's folk singer Vandana Mishra also took membership of the BJP. "I have joined BJP for a better platform for social service...I was constantly working in Congress...contrary to their slogan "Ladki Hun Lad Sakti Hun",  I wasn't given the chance to fight," Priyanka Maurya said.

Although the BJP has said that options for Utpal Parrikar, the son of late Goa CM Manohar Parrikar, are being discussed, he has expressed his desire to contest from Panaji. Utpal said that he will enter the poll fray from the Panaji seat. "I am firm on contesting from Panaji seat. I will clear my stand soon," he told India TV. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Bhim Army's Chandra Shekhar will contest the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The BJP has fielded Adityanath from Gorakhpur Sadar. Azad, a prominent Dalit leader, had said earlier he would contest against Yogi Adityanath. Today, his party, Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshiram), formally announced Azad's candidature from Gorakhpur Sadar. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav will contest the Uttar Pradesh assembly election 2022 from Karhal seat in Mainpuri district, reports said on Thursday. Akhilesh, who is an MP from Azamgarh seat, had on Wednesday said he would decide on contesting the polls after talking to the people of his constituency. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will on Friday release the party's youth manifesto for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The party is going to the polls with youth and women in focus and has announced that it will reserve 40 per cent of tickets for women in Uttar Pradesh.