Assembly Election 2022 Updates: BJP to release manifesto for Uttar Pradesh polls tomorrow

Former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has put the stamp of approval on "corrupt activities" of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi by declaring him as the party's CM face for the Assembly polls.
Gandhi on Sunday declared Channi as his party's chief ministerial face.
"Even though ill-gotten wealth had been recovered from the chief minister's nephew, who had also confessed that this was on account of money received from the sand mafia and bribes for postings and transfers, the Congress high command had chosen to stand with him," the Shiromani Akali Dal leader alleged.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday reached Lucknow, where she will address an election rally and hold a joint press conference with Samajwadi Party president Akhilsh Yadav during her two-day visit ahead of the state Assembly polls. Yadav welcomed her at the Amausi airport here and shared this information on Twitter. "We defeated together in Bengal, now we will defeat in UP. This is a promise to Didi, we will emerge winners. Warm welcome and greetings to Didi in UP," the SP chief tweeted sharing a picture with Banerjee. Mamata Banerjee, who came out of the airport with the SP chief, was also welcomed by her party workers. On Tuesday, Banerjee is scheduled to reach the SP office where she will address a joint press conference with Akhilesh Yadav.

Terming the Congress "a family-centric party", BJP president J P Nadda on Monday said only his party works for all sections of society and appealed to people to vote it back to power in Uttarakhand for uninterrupted development. At his rallies in Bageshwar and Pithoragarh, Nadda exuded confidence that the people of Uttarakhand have made up their mind about "rejecting the negative and anti-poor politics of the Congress" and go along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his development journey. Before beginning his campaign, the BJP president offered prayers at the Bagnath temple in Bageshwar. At the rally, he said, "Whenever the Congress comes to power in Uttarakhand, it works for the development of one family and sets new benchmarks of corruption. But when BJP comes to power in the state, it scripts a story of growth."

Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary on Monday trained his guns at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying for him everyone is a goon, and asked if anyone believes that a former PM’s grandson can instigate a riot. The RLD chief is the grandson of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh. "In the eyes of Babaji all are goons and mafia. I am also a goon in his eyes. I am the grandson of Chaudhary Charan Singh. Can anyone believe that I will ever instigate a riot," Chaudhary said addressing a public meeting at MGM Inter College here. He asked, "Yogiji, what crime did I commit that lathis were used against me when I was going to meet the family of Hathras rape victim." The leader promised that if the RLD-SP alliance comes to power in the state, they will work without any discrimination. The RLD president promised to increase the maximum age for recruitment in government jobs so that the youth could get employment. 

Accusing Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant-led coalition government of greed, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday said that the BJP-led coalition government in Goa wanted to exhaust the state's natural resources much like the farmer couple in the golden goose fable.

"If you listen to the speeches of BJP leaders, they tend to say they want to build a golden Goa. And everytime I hear that I think of that story. of the goose that laid the golden eggs. Of the farmer and his wife who found a goose selling golden eggs and they were enriching themselves by selling these golden eggs," Gandhi said at an election campaign meeting in South Goa.

Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and Delhi BJP Kisan Morcha president Vinod Sehrawat on Monday announced to stage an indefinite sit-in outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence from February 9 over alleged non-fulfilment of farmers' demands by the AAP government.

The protest, in support of 12-point demands, will be joined by thousands of farmers from rural areas of Delhi, Bidhuri and Sehrawat said at a press conference.

They alleged that Kejriwal had promised free electricity for irrigation to the Delhi farmers but did not fulfil the promise. The promise of installing tube wells for irrigation and providing electricity connections were also not fulfilled, they charged.

 Accusing the SP, the BSP and the Congress of doing the politics of appeasement and spreading hatred among Hindus and Muslims, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the BJP followed the message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is a family).
He also advised the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party to do politics of humanity instead of politics based on caste or creed.
"SP, BSP and Congress do politics of appeasement. They have always done the work of spreading hatred among Hindus & Muslims, whereas for the BJP, all Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jews are brothers... as this country is of sages and mystics, from where the message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' has gone all over the world," the Defence Minister said while campaigning in the Miranpur Katra assembly segment here.

BJP leader Smriti Irani on Monday hit out at Akhilesh Yadav, wondering why the Samajwadi Party president was seeking support of Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had "insulted" the people of Uttar Pradesh. While addressing a poll programme in Gautam Buddh Nagar's Jewar, the Union Minister claimed Yadav's reach out to Banerjee was an indication that he is "not getting people's support on his own strength". Banerjee, whose TMC had defeated the BJP in the high-stake West Bengal elections last year, on Monday reached Lucknow, where she is expected to campaign in support of the SP on Tuesday.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday spelt out his party's 10-point agenda for Uttarakhand if voted to power, promising to end corruption and giving free quality education and medical treatment to all.
"First of all, we will wipe out corruption, not just reduce it. We alone can do it because we know how it is done. Other parties cannot because they do not have the intentions to do it," he said releasing the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) agenda at a press conference in Haridwar.    
Accusing successive Congress and BJP governments in Uttarakhand of only "looting" the state, he said AAP alone can provide an "honest alternative" to people. "Nothing is going to change if you give another five years to either BJP or Congress. All they would do is fill their coffers," he said.  
"You have a chance in these elections to elect a party with clean intentions. AAP is the only honest alternative to the corrupt governments given by Congress and BJP alternately over the past 21 years," he said. 

The Samajwadi Party on Monday released a list of 24 candidates, naming Subhawati Shukla, wife of BJP leader, late Upendra Dutt Shukla, from Gorakhpur.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party will release its manifesto for Uttar Pradesh polls tomorrow. The election document will be released by CM Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister Amit Shah. 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday spelt his party's 11-point agenda for Uttarakhand if voted to power, promising to end corruption and giving free quality education and medical treatment to all. Accusing successive Congress and BJP governments in Uttarakhand of "looting" the state, he said his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alone can provide an "honest alternative" to people. "Nothing is going to change if you give another five years to either BJP or Congress. All they would do is fill their coffers," he said. "You have a chance in these elections to elect a party with clean intentions. AAP is the only honest alternative to the corrupt governments given by Congress and BJP alternately over the past 21 years," the AAP supremo added. 

Just days ahead of the crucial assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that she wants Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party to win the polls.  | READ MORE 

The full bench of Election Commission will be in poll-bound Manipur for two days beginning Monday, sources said. Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra Pandey left for Manipur this morning along with other senior officials to take stock of preparation in the northeastern state. Manipur will go for a two phase assembly polls on February 27 and March 3. While the Commission had been to Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Goa, it held a virtual meeting with state administration officials, poll machinery and political parties just before announcing poll schedule for the five states. Though the poll panel usually visits poll-going states before announcing elections, there have been instances of it visiting states after announcement of polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the upcoming Assembly election in Uttarakhand is a fight between those who created the state and those who "conspired to block its creation". Addressing a rally in Haridwar virtually, he accused the previous Congress governments in Uttarakhand and at the Centre of not allowing development in the state as it was "created against the party's wishes". Modi termed the previous Congress dispensations in the state and at the Centre as "double-brake" governments.

Stressing that the Apna Dal (S) stands for social justice, Union minister Anupriya Patel on Monday dissociated her party from 'Hindutva and all those issues' and said it is ideologically different from the BJP.  Muslim candidates are not untouchable for her party, the Apna Dal (S) chief told PTI three days ahead of the first round of the seven-phase Uttar Pradesh elections beginning on February 10. FULL STORY 

The Amarinder Singh-led Punjab Lok Congress has taken a jibe at Congress's state unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu after Charanjit Singh Channi was declared the chief ministerial candidate for the assembly polls. Using a hashtag '#CurtainsForSidhu' on its Twitter handle, it shared a picture in which Gandhi, Sidhu, Channi and Sunil Jakhar held each other's hands and raised them in the air. However, the face of Sidhu got covered accidentally for a few seconds because of his shawl. "A picture is worth a thousand words," said the PLC in a tweet on Sunday. Further mocking Sidhu, the PLC said, ôThoko Thoko, Ruko!! Zoor k Thoko!,ö a reference to Sidhu's penchant of saying "Thoko Tali". Before the announcement of the CM face, Sidhu had said in a tweet, "Nothing great was ever achieved without an act of decisionà.Warm welcome to our leading light Rahul Ji, who comes to give clarity to Punjabà All will abide by his decision !!!". To this, the PLC replied, "You won't." Singh was removed from the post of the chief minister by the Congress last September and later he floated his own party. The PLC is fighting the February 20 Punjab assembly polls in alliance with the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt).

Bollywood actress Mahi Gill on Monday joined the BJP in the presence of Haryana CM Manohar Lal, Union Minister Gajendra Shekhawat and Dushyant Gautam. Punjabi actor Hobby Dhaliwal also joined the BJP.

Former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, who was once being considered for the chief minister's post, has said he has quit electoral politics but would continue to remain with the party. "I am out of active politics. I have been saying this for the last five days. But I am very much part and parcel of the Congress," Jakhar had said on Sunday in Ludhiana.

With Charanjit Singh Channi, the Chief Ministerial face in Punjab, the Congress eyes Dalit votes in other states too -- Uttarakhand and Goa which are going to polls on February 14. The party does not have high stakes in UP but it could make inroads in the Dalit vote bank which is with the BSP. The Congress leaders belonging to the community are happy that the party has taken a big step forward. Leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, who missed the Karnataka bus twice said, "The announcement of the name of Charanjit Singh Channi as the CM candidate of Punjab by Rahul Gandhi is a big step taken by the Congress party towards social justice and empowerment of Dalits. I applaud this decision and hope the people of Punjab support this historic decision." Kharge too belongs to the SC community and has been stalwart in the state but was overlooked. After a Dalit CM in Punjab, the Congress is eyeing gains in Uttarakhand but it is unlikely that the party will get much traction in UP as Mayawati is a formidable force in the state and non-Jatav Dalits have mostly aligned with the BJP. Political observers believe the decision of the Congress in Punjab, which is witnessing a five-corner contest, is to woo the Dalit Sikh votes that constitute 32 per cent, under the leadership of three-time legislator Channi, the state's first Dalit Chief Minister.

Many ministers under the previous Congress and SP governments had corruption charges against them. But there is no such charge against any leader of BJP. Our party will never let down the public: Defence minister Rajnath Singh in Katra, Shahjahanpur

They are hoping for the old 'mafia raj' govt to come back. Criminals who had run out of UP, are hoping for govt to change so that they can come back. These criminals want reimbursement from the people of UP for their dacoity and loot business which is shut for the last 5 years: PM

During CM Yogi's tenure, criminals themselves ran to jails and demanded that they be locked up. They have been waiting for these elections for years. They have just one hope, that the elections come soon and there is a change of govt so that they can come out of jail: PM Modi

Earlier, molestation of women was very common. Situation was so bad that after incidents of chain snatching, people were thankful that they were still alive. CM Yogi's govt freed women from that fear. We gave women their true honour: PM Narendra Modi

Remember during the Muzaffarnagar riots, this pair of boys disappeared, one was operating the riots in Lucknow & other was witnessing it from Delhi. Where are they now? Today, they know BJP can cool down their heat: UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Bijnor

We want that in the next 25 yrs, when nation would complete 100 yrs of independence, UP make a mark with its development story. Our govt is making continuous efforts to see that the businessmen, industrialists, farmers here get all possible help: PM Modi 

PM Modi fulfilled the commitment of 'one rank one pension' (OROP) scheme. This has benefitted over one lakh OROP pensioners in Uttarakhand: BJP President JP Nadda in Bageshwar, Uttarakhand

Addressing a rally in Bijnor, PM Modi said that water in the river of development in UP was stagnant. It was stagnating among the fake 'Samajwadis' & their close ones. These people never had anything to do with the thirst of the development of common man, the thirst of progress, the thirst of freedom from poverty.

The Indian National Congress is not a national political party anymore, but belongs to a brother-sister. For them, the family is the party: BJP President JP Nadda in Bageshwar, Uttarakhand

Did anyone get electricity five years ago? SP/BSP members were used to living in darkness; there's a phrase "chandni raat choro (thieves) ko achhi lagti hai", they looted in these hours. Today, every house is illuminated, free of cost: UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Bijnor

BJP is the only political party that can proudly talk about the works done by its leaders and their future plans. You (public) must measure the promises made by leaders against their previous works, and then caste your vote: BJP President JP Nadda in Bageshwar, Uttarakhand

First of all, I'd like to apologise to you. After some relaxation by the EC, I had thought of beginning my campaign by coming to Bijnor (UP) in person. But due to weather conditions, my helicopter couldn't leave and I could see you only through video conferencing once again: PM

Punjab model is shared for entire state, I've no copyright on it. I intend to ensure people's welfare. Anyone can take up any good point from it, I've no objection. I've already handed it over to party but Charanjit Channi has power to implement it: Navjot Singh Sidhu

We will make Uttarakhand an international spiritual capital for Hindus. This will enhance the tourism extensively, we hope that it will provide employment to thousands of youth here: Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal in Haridwar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses 'Jan Chaupal' rally in UP's Bijnor virtually. He couldn't visit Bijnor due to bad weather. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bijnor visit has been cancelled due to bad weather. He will address the Jan Chaupal rally virtually.

A pre-poll alliance called Manipur Progressive Secular Alliance (MPSA) was formed in the state by six non-BJP parties - the Congress, CPI, CPI (M), Forward Block, RSP and JD (S) for the February-March Assembly poll. The alliance was announced at a press conference held jointly by the six political parties at the Congress Bhawan. AICC election observer in charge of Manipur, Jairam Ramesh, former state chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Left parties representative Moirangthem Nara Singh attended the meeting. The MPSA leaders said that they have agreed to implement a 18-point agenda if they voted to power in Manipur. The agenda includes saving the territorial integrity of Manipur and historical boundaries of the state, to enact the right to free healthcare laws to benefit the people of Manipur, to provide unemployment allowance to the youths of the state, to preserve communal harmony in the state and to deliver economic justice by ensuring livelihood income to every family in Manipur, the leaders said. Polling for the 60-member Manipur Assembly will be held in two phases - February 27 and March 3. Votes will be counted on March 10.

This is a historic election wherein a major change is possible. For the first time, an honest govt can be formed in Uttarakhand. Corruption can be ended: Delhi CM & AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, in Haridwar 

The Congress has released its manifesto for the upcoming Goa Assembly polls, and senior party leader P Chidambaram promised the resumption of mining activities in the coastal state if his party comes to power. The mining operations, which used to be one of the main sources of revenue for Goa, came to a grinding halt in the state in March 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases. Chidambaram, who is the Congress' senior election observer for the Goa Assembly polls, said the problem for the state is not about finding resources, but the allocation of resources, Chidambaram said. “There are three avenues for the state budget - government's own resources, share of central government revenue and central government grants,” he said. The source of funds was never a problem, but the problem was with the allocation of funds. If wise hands and thinking minds can allocate funds, then all the issues highlighted in the manifesto can be achieved in five years, he said.

The Election Commission has rescheduled the biennial election for Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council till after the upcoming Assembly elections, and now the poll process to begin from March 15, as requested by the political parties. According to the new EC notification, in respect of the 29 Constituencies notified on February 4, the process of filing of nomination has been suspended and it shall restart on March 15, while the rest seven constituencies will follow as the same notified earlier. Now, for all 36 constituencies, March 15 will be the new date for start of nominationx while March 19 will be the last date, scrutiny will be held on on March 21, and last date for withdrawal of the candidature will be March 23. Voting to these seats will be held on April 9, counting will take place on April 12, and April 16 will be the date by which the election process will be completed. It was also clarified that the nomination papers that may have been filed in respect of any of the above-mentioned constituencies on February 4-5, shall also be taken up along with other nomination papers that may be filed from the new schedule of March 15.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami conducts a door-to-door campaign in Kotdwar

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee will campaign for Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav. Mamata and Akhilesh will address a joint press conference in Lucknow. The polls in the state are being held across seven phases.

It's great that for the first time in the country, a Congress candidate (Charanjit Singh Channi) will be from the Dalit community (for CM). Punjab public will accept it, too, as he's a common man who does good work. Rahul Gandhi has given a good message: Mallikarjun Kharge

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has attacked the BJP government, saying the "eyes and ears of the government will open in the first phase itself", as farmers and youngsters have "made up their mind" to defeat the BJP. It was Akhilesh Yadav’s first meeting in Karhal after he filed his nomination papers from the assembly seat in the Mainpuri district. Karhal goes to the polls in the third phase on February 20. "The way the wind is blowing and seeing the atmosphere (of elections), it seems the eyes and ears of the (BJP) government will open in the first phase itself,” said the former UP chief minister. “The government’s eyes and ears, which have been staying closed till now, will open up in the first phase itself as the farmers and youngsters have made up their mind to defeat the BJP," Yadav asserted in the meeting.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said if voted to power, his government will relax the age limit in state police recruitment to facilitate those who had turned overage during the Covid pandemic. "Many youngsters have become overage for recruitment in the Army and police during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will send a special request to the Army to recruit the youth of Uttar Pradesh for the service of the nation. If needed, we will also relax the age limit in police recruitment."

We had given him (Akshay Kumar) a proposal, he has accepted it. He will also work as a brand ambassador of Uttarakhand: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami

Actor Akshay Kumar met Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami at the CM residence in Dehradun this morning.

The BJP has cancelled the launch of its manifesto for the elections in Uttar Pradesh as a mark to respect to Lata Mangeshkar, who died on Sunday at the age of 92. The government has announced a two-day mourning. The election document will now be launched on Tuesday. 

Actress Mahie Gill is set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party in Punjab today. She had campaigned for a Congress candidate in December last year.

With Assembly polls less than a week away in western Uttar Pradesh, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait made a veiled attack on the ruling BJP on Sunday as he said Muzaffarnagar is "not a stadium for Hindu-Muslim matches". The national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), which is a part of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), said those talking on communal lines will not witness electoral gains in the region. "Western Uttar Pradesh wants to talk about development. Those talking about Hindu, Muslim, Jinnah, religion will lose votes. Muzaffarnagar is not a stadium for Hindu-Muslim matches," Tikait said in a tweet in Hindi.

When the Samajwadi Party was in power in Uttar Pradesh, electric lines were used only to dry clothes, and now, it is going around promising 300 units of free electricity to the people, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said on Sunday. Maurya was addressing a public meeting in favour of BJP candidate Kiratpal Singh from the Gangoh assembly seat in the district. In an apparent jibe at the SP-RLD alliance, the deputy chief minister said, "The alliance which is claiming it will win 400 seats in the state will not even be able to cross the 40-mark." He claimed that like 2017, the BJP will form the government in the state by winning more than 300 seats in the assembly elections.

Days after gunshots were fired at AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi's car in Pilkhuwa of Hapur district, his poll partner and former state minister Babu Singh Kushwaha on Sunday claimed that he and the Hyderabad MP have been getting threats. Kushwaha, the convenor of newly-launched Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha, said, “Owaisi told me that after the formation of the Morcha (outfit), he is getting death threats.” “I (Kushwaha) also told him that I am also getting threats. We took the threats as a joke but the attack took place and the threats proved to be true," Kushwaha, the chief of Jan Adhikar Party, added. Kushwaha made the claim here while campaigning for his party candidate for the Bisauli assembly seat, Rekha Chandra.

The security of Gorakhpur temple has been beefed up following a tweet, threatening to blow it up along with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Police launched a search operation on the temple premises after the tweet, but nothing was found after which a case was registered and probe launched. A tweet from a Twitter handle with the name 'Lady Don' said that bombs had been planted to blow up the Vidhan Sabha in Lucknow, railway and bus stations and that the chief minister will also be eliminated by Bhim Sena state president Seema Singh and one Rashid has planted explosives. The next tweet said that one Sulaiman Bhai has planted a bomb in Gorakhnath Math. After an hour, a tweet from the same handle warned about a blast at Meerut CDA Army Cantt adding that one Furqan Bhai has planted bombs at 10 places in Meerut. Gorakhpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vipin Tada said a massive combing drive was launched at Gorakhnath temple and other places after the tweet but no explosives or detonators were found. "It seems that it was some kind of prank," the SSP said.

Defence Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh will address public meetings in Katra (Shahjahanpur) and Sikandrabad (Bulandshahr) assembly constituencies today.

Savita Pandey, the Congress candidate from the Tarabganj constituency in Gonda district in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls, joined the ruling BJP on Sunday. In a statement, the Uttar Pradesh unit of the BJP said Pandey, along with her supporters, joined the party at its state headquarters. Pandey took the membership of the saffron party in the presence of former Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Laxmikant Bajpai. She said she joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after being influenced by the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. "In the last five years, every woman in the state has got a feeling that they are safe only under the BJP government," Pandey said.

Rahul Gandhi & Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to campaign for Congress candidates, on Feb 10th & 12th respectively. 

Rahul Gandhi to address rallies in Srinagar-Almora on Feb 10. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to address rally in Udham Singh Nagar & Haridwar on Feb 12.

The Congress on Sunday said the "Awaaz Punjab Di"  virtual rally addressed by Rahul Gandhi from Ludhiana was watched by more than 11 lakh people through live viewing, the former party chief's Facebook page and other social media platforms.

The social media department of the Congress claimed that the rally was watched live by 90,000 people and viewed by 8.8 lakh people on Gandhi's Facebook page.

The unique thing about the rally was that Gandhi's Facebook page had 42,000 comments with a total reach of 11 lakh and 6,000 shares, making it one of the most successful virtual rallies, Congress leaders said.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) has lodged a complaint with the chief electoral officer of Uttar Pradesh, alleging that the district panchayati raj officer of Lucknow is working to influence the upcoming biennial polls to the state legislative council, and urged the CEO to transfer him immediately.

In a letter to the CEO, state SP chief Naresh Uttam Patel said the poll schedule for the members of the legislative council from the local authorities has been announced and the election process is underway.

He alleged that the district panchayati raj officer of Lucknow, Shashwat Singh, is acting like a worker of the ruling BJP and building pressure on people to vote for the saffron party.

The BJP named 45 more candidates on Sunday for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, fielding Sanjay Sinh from Amethi and Daya Shankar Singh from Ballia Nagar.

Daya Shankar Singh and his wife Swati Singh, currently a minister in the state government, were both seeking the party ticket to contest from Sarojini Nagar, a seat currently represented in the Assembly by the latter, but the ruling party fielded former Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer Rajeshwar Singh from there.

The party has dropped the incumbent MLA, Surendra Singh, and fielded state minister Anand Swaroop Shukla from Bairia.

Sinh hails from the erstwhile royal family of Amethi and had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019 after quitting the Congress.

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Sunday attacked the AAP, alleging that its leaders have come from Delhi to “loot” Punjab. He also hit out at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal, saying how can he call himself an 'aam aadmi' (common man) while staying in expensive hotels whenever he visits Punjab for the February 20 state assembly elections.

Addressing a virtual rally here, Channi, who was declared as the Congress’ chief ministerial face by party leader Rahul Gandhi, alleged that the AAP gave tickets to at least 40 people who were denied a ticket by other parties.

“What kind of change do they want to bring here? They have come here to loot Punjab,” alleged Channi.

“How can Kejriwal be an 'aam aadmi'? He stays in big hotels here, lives in big houses in Delhi. The Delhi chief minister draws the highest salary among all chef ministers in the country,” he claimed.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday unveiled the party's manifesto for the Goa Assembly elections stating that is centered around the three Ps- Preservation, Progress, and Prosperity. The manifesto was unveiled in the 'sabhas' held in Shiroda, Cumbarjua, Cortalim, Nuvem, and Benaulim.

Sisodia explained that the AAP is committed to preserving the rich culture, heritage, and progress through the development of public utilities, city infrastructure, and amenities to ensure the prosperity of every individual through improved governance and holistic development.

AAP's Shiroda candidate Mahadev Naik said that if the party is voted to power, he will resolve the unemployment problem of the people of his constituency on a priority basis.

Ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Savita Pandey, the declared candidate of Congress from Tarabganj Assembly Constituency of Gonda district joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday.

Notably, the BJP has declared their candidate, Prem Narayan Pandey, from the constituency.

Nishad Party on Sunday released another list of three candidates for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. The candidates and their respective constituencies are Ketaki Singh (Bansdeeh), Ramesh Singh (Shahganj), and Rishi Tripathi (Nautanwa).

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday termed Congress' announcement of naming Charanjit Singh Channi as the party's chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming polls as the "victory of sand mafia."

"It's the victory of the sand 'mafia'. Their CM face is a sand 'mafia'," said Badal.

He further added, "People of Punjab have made their mind. We (SAD) are winning the polls with a landslide victory."

Dimple Yadav, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and wife of party chief Akhilesh Yadav, offered prayers at the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan district on Sunday. Later, she performed 'Dehri Pujan' at the temple. She washed the 'dehri' with rose water and applied perfume on it.

After worship, she said to the media, "We have come here to receive the blessings of Thakurji. Samajwadi Party will form a government with a strong majority."

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday slammed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his "garmi nikal denge" remark and said that "garmi nikle na nikle, lekin Samajwadi sarkar aayegi to bharti niklegi" (Not sure about heat, but if our government is formed, there will be job recruitments).

Notably, Yogi, referring to the Samajwadi Party candidates in the upcoming Assembly polls in the state, had said last month that his government will take out the heat that is being displayed, after March 10.

UP polls: BJP UP vice-president Dayashankar Singh to contest from Ballia Nagar

Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu says no MLA's son will get the chairmanship if he continues as PCC chief. 

"Workers will get it.. will resign if someone privileged gets it," Sidhu says